Photo by John Berthold,
courtesy Wisdom Publications
Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche was born in Thami, Nepal, in 1946. At the age of three he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, who had lived nearby at Lawudo, within sight of Rinpoche's Thami home. Rinpoche left Thami when he was about four years old and went to a monastery that was very close to the border of Nepal and Tibet. Rinpoche stayed at this Monastery for several years until he went to Tibet and took getsul ordination in 1958, and continued his studies in Domo Geshe's monastery in Phagri, Tibet.
The Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 forced him to forsake Tibet for the
safety of Bhutan. Rinpoche then went to the Tibetan refugee camp at Buxa Duar,
West Bengal, India, where he became the disciple of Geshe Rabten Rinpoche and
then of Lama Thubten Yeshe. He and Lama Yeshe went to Nepal in 1967, and over
the next few years built Kopan and Lawudo monasteries. In 1971 Lama Zopa
Rinpoche gave the first of his famous annual lam-rim retreat courses, which
continue at Kopan to this day. In 1974, with Lama Yeshe, Rinpoche began
traveling the world to teach and establish centers of Dharma. When Lama Yeshe
passed away in 1984, Rinpoche took over as spiritual head of the FPMT, which has
continued to flourish under his peerless leadership.
Location of Events
All events will be held at Kadampa Center in Raleigh.
There is a strong possibility that the schedule could still change before
the event. Any changes will be announced on the website, but we strongly
encourage you to subscribe to the Kadampa Yahoo! Group to be
notified of the latest updates. Alternately, you can call the Center at
919-859-3433.
Sponsorship
We are committed to creating a beautiful and hospitable environment for Rinpoche
and all who will attend. As always, Kadampa Center will offer all of these
events on a dana or
generosity basis. There are very few other centers such as ours that are able to
do this - especially for an event of this magnitude.
In order to make this possible, we will need the help of a significant number of generous sponsors. The costs for this series of events and teachings are quite substantial - including renting some facilities for the overflow crowd we expect. If you are able, we hope you will consider offering either a full or half sponsorship for any of the events or uses listed below.
| Program material and handouts | $ | 1,500 |
| Guru Puja | $ | 300 |
| Opening Ceremony | $ | 2,500 |
| Opening Teaching | $ | 750 |
| Book Signing | $ | 500 |
| Thursday Teaching | $ | 750 |
| Children's Program | $ | 1,000 |
| Refuge Ceremony | $ | 750 |
| Lay Vows Ceremony | $ | 750 |
| Saturday Teachings | $ | 750 |
| Food & Supplies for Rinpoche and Attendants | $ | 700 |
| Flowers and Altar Offerings | $ | 500 |
| General Sponsorship (we will use this offering where it's most needed) |
$ | 500 |
| * If
you would like to offer a sponsorship, please contact Julie Jones and let her know which event and your pledge amount. | ||
Child Care
Child care will not be provided at any of the events.
Important Considerations
The consecration and ribbon-cutting will begin outside the Center. As the length
of time outside is unpredictable, please be prepared to enjoy the elements (sun,
rain, etc.)! The remainder of the teachings will take place in the gompa, with
overflow seating throughout the building and, if needed, outside under tents.
For your comfort, please remain flexible for cool or warmth.
Please note as you plan your time: A lineage lama such as Lama Zopa Rinpoche may see the need to change schedules and plans, even at the last minute. You may find it useful to view a visit by Rinpoche as an opportunity to work with your mind to be flexible and positive and a great chance to let go of attachment and practice patience. Also, Rinpoche's teachings have historically run into the early morning hours. Keeping your morning schedule free on the day following a teaching may help you keep your mind fresh for the remaining events.
Please note also that other than the start time listed for the first event on a given day, the start times of the subsequent events are not set.
Those who register first will be seated in the gompa. If overflow seating is necessary, there will be video feeds to those areas so that everyone can see Lama Zopa Rinpoche on screens.
All teachings at the center are transmitted within the building at 90.3
FM. Any FM radio can receive this inside the building. If you have any
difficulty with hearing, you may wish to bring a small FM radio with
earphones to Rinpoche's teachings. Using earphones may allow you to hear
over all the little noises that naturally will occur with so many people
in the building.
Local Hotels
Kadampa Center has arranged for discounted blocks of rooms at two area hotels for your convenience.
Both hotels are located within 2.4 miles of the Center, are located next to each other, and are
surrounded by shopping and dining areas for every budget. Both hotels will hold rooms until July
14th. You must reserve your room by July 14th in order to get the discounted rate. If you have
questions concerning accommodations, please contact our Hospitality Coordinator. (View Map from hotels to Kadampa Center.)
- Best Western
(919) 481-1200
1722 Walnut Street
Cary, NC
The discount rate for Kadampa Center is $65.00/night plus tax. Please mention that you are with Kadampa Center in order to get the above rate. Additionally, the Best Western works closely with two shuttle services and you will be able to call either service for rides in the area. - Days Inn
(919) 481-4011
1716 Walnut Street
Cary, NC
The discount rate for Kadampa Center is $49.99/night plus tax. Please mention that you are with Kadampa Center in order to get the above rate. Please note that there is no shuttle or car service available at this hotel.
Parking
Just a reminder that parking is limited on Etta Burke. Please carpool to
reduce carbon footprint and conserve our limited parking options! If everyone
carpools we might have enough space near the Center. Parking attendants will
direct you to parking available in lots on Etta Burke. Several spaces will
be reserved for special needs.
If needed, additional parking is available in 2 business complexes on Powell Drive. Powell is located between Hillsborough St. and Western Blvd. The parking attendants will direct you if Etta Burke lots are full. To get to Powell Dr. from the Center, turn right onto Hillsborough and turn right on Powell Dr. at Burke Brothers. Cross railroad tracks and just past the 'T' at Beryl Dr., turn right into the red brick office complexes as directed by parking attendants and signs.
There is a path to walk through to the Agri Waste Bldg parking lot next to the Center. Shuttle service will also be available before and after the teachings. Shuttle service will not be available unless arranged once the teachings begin and limited service will be available during the teachings as needed. Shuttle service ends at 6:15pm on Weds and Thurs., and at 12:45pm on Saturday. Return shuttle service will begin immediately following the teachings. If you have to leave the Teachings early, please car pool with others leaving early when possible. Also, arriving at the Center early may help ensure that you park closer to the Center.
Registration
We expect attendance will be high. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, you
must register to participate in all events. Registration will be handled on
a first registered, first reserved basis. We ask that you read all of the
information on this page carefully before completing the registration
form. If you have questions about registration, please
contact the Registration Coordinator.
- Sunday, July 27 (Registration not required)
- Guru Puja, 10:30am
(before Rinpoche arrives)
- Rinpoche Arrives at RDU, 5:45pm
- Guru Puja, 7:30pm. Rinpoche will be attending.
Rinpoche's Arrival at RDU
Everyone is invited to greet Rinpoche with katags!Guru Puja
By paying respect and offering sincere, heartfelt requests to the teachers to please bless our minds, we make our minds ripe to receive the full blessings of the teacher so we can quickly put into practice the teachings we receive. This will be a truly special and joyful prayer ceremony -- our first official greeting of Rinpoche. We encourage everyone to attend. - Wednesday, July 30 6:30pm
- Official Opening
Ceremony and Consecration of the Altar
- Welcome and reports
to Rinpoche by Kadampa Center
- Teaching on Lama
Atisha's A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
Official Opening Ceremony
The opening consecration and ribbon cutting ceremony will begin outside the building with prayers and extensive offerings. Then, Rinpoche will "cut the ribbon" and we will move into the Gompa.Lama Atisha's A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
Lord Atisha's most celebrated text, titled A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation on the part of the practitioner. Atisha's text thus became the source of the Lam Rim tradition, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment, an approach to spiritual practice incorporated within all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Due to the kindness of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and Thubten Dhargye Ling Publications everyone will receive a copy of Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment, a commentary on Lama Atisha's text by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. -
Thursday, July 31 6:30pm
- Book Signing Event:
Dear Lama Zopa
- Teaching Continues
on Lama Atisha's A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
Book Signing Event
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a master at explaining Buddhism's radical but effective methods for transforming suffering into happiness. It's a challenging way to think — how can it be that the things that cause us pain are actually blessings? In Dear Lama Zopa, Rinpoche applies that challenge to our everyday, real-life problems — from the littlest to the biggest. Every year he receives thousands of letters from people around the world asking for advice — on coping with everything from addiction, grief, and depression, to war, terrorism, and death. Copies of Dear Lama Zopa will be available for purchase in the bookstore. -
Friday, August 1 7:00pm
(Registration not required)
- Teaching Continues
on Lama Atisha's A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
As this is a last-minute addition to the schedule, we are not requiring registration to attend Friday night.
- Saturday, August 2 1:00pm 3:00pm
- Children's Offering
and Blessing
- Refuge Ceremony
- Lay Vows
Ceremony
- Teaching Continues
on Lama Atisha's A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
- Meal Break
Children's Offering and Blessing
Children are invited to start the day's events (Note time change) by participating in a sound offering for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. We will be offering The Four Immeasurables in Tibetan and possibly an additional song. Following the sound offering, Lama Zopa Rinpoche will offer a blessing to each child present (all ages).If you are bringing any children to attend this event and are not staying for any other part of the day, you do not need to register for this day. However, please contact the Children's Program Coordinator so we can have an idea of how many children will be participating. If you are attending other events on Saturday, you do need to register.
Refuge and Lay Vows Ceremonies
A Refuge ceremony is being offered for those who have not taken refuge before. Rinpoche will also offer the five lay (pratimoksha) vows. The lay vows are being offered to those taking refuge, if they wish, and to those who have taken refuge in the past and now wish to take the lay vows. Having taken refuge in the Three Jewels is a requirement for taking the lay vows. Please note that there is no set time for the Refuge and Lay Vows Ceremonies, though they are expected to be offered later in the evening. Teachings will often precede and follow these ceremonies. If you hope to participate, it is best to plan to attend all events on Saturday.Meal Break
Since the events on Saturday, August 2, begin at 1pm and have an unknown end time, we are offering the opportunity to purchase a Neomonde boxed vegetarian meal for Saturday. Meal time will be decided at Rinpoche's discretion (late lunch? dinner? midnight snack?). Cash payment of $10 for the meal will be expected when you check in at the Center upon your arrival. You must submit your registration on or before July 26 in order to reserve a meal.
Kadampa Center, Raleigh, NC, USA -- Affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition