Gen Don Handrick Online Teachings Hosted by Kadampa Center Aug 25-30

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7:00 pm Tuesday, August 25, to 4:00 pm Sunday, August 30, 2020

It is the best of times and the worst of times - with a crazy political climate and fear of pandemic, life presents us with two clear choices: we can freak out, or or we can dive deep and find new strengths.

If we choose to dive deep, our best scuba gear is the Buddha Dharma.

In a series of teachings, Gen Don Handrick will help us explore how to develop our better selves, and how to overcome the fears that arise when life gets scary.

Don brings a masterly understanding of the Buddha's teachings, coupled with a kind and gentle approach to life, to his teaching style. We are happy to welcome him back to Kadampa Center!

The teachings will take place August 25 through August 30. They are hosted by Kadampa Center on Zoom (registration required) and streamed on YouTube.

Students will need to register for each individual teaching they plan to attend.

The online environment creates an opportunity to develop new etiquette when attending a teaching.

We ask students to please log in at least 10 minutes early, so that we have time to resolve any technical issues before the teacher arrives.
To minimize distractions, please avoid using group chat during the teachings. Private chat will be available
We take our cue from the teacher for questions. You can send questions via chat to the host, or, if the teacher opens it up, unmute your mic and ask questions directly.

More about Gen Don Handrick

Schedule of events:

Tues, Aug 25, 7-9 pm Activating Feminine Energy in Spiritual Practice

Although we all feel that our gender strongly identifies who we are, within each of us there is an unlimited source of both male and female energy. The beloved deity Tara, a familiar figure in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, is a female manifestation of enlightenment and, as such, serves to aid all practitioners in arousing their feminine energy. In this session, we examine Tara's qualities and activities and explore the transformative power of feminine energy in Buddhist practice.

To register: Please register here for Activating Feminine Energy.

Wed, Aug 26, 7-9 pm Staying Sane in Trying Times

Most of us would agree that we are living in quite challenging times, and it is important to have some perspective on things in order to maintain our sanity. The Buddha’s eternal advice is to work with our minds in the midst of whatever we encounter, using our spiritual practice to make the best out of these trying times – but perhaps we haven’t been that successful! In this session we will examine the ways that we are being continually tested in this era and discuss how to transform the current political climate into “grist for the mill,” allowing us to truly learn and grow from all that we’re experiencing.

To register: Please register here for Staying Sane in Trying Times.

Thurs, Aug 2 Break; no teachings

Fri, Aug. 28, 7 pm through Sunday, Aug. 30, 4 pm Weekend Workshop: How to live with Compassion: The Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland

Download Thubten Jinpa's translation of Dipamkara's Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland, the root text for this workshop, here.

Bodhisattvas are driven by their deep compassion to attain enlightenment, the fully developed state in which they can benefit other beings most effectively. In this weekend course, we will examine a brief and lyrical text by Lama Atisha, the great Indian master who came to Tibet in the 11th century, in which he presents the most essential instructions for living one’s life perfectly as a bodhisattva. Like a string of precious gems, these guidelines are to be worn like a beautiful garland by all those who wish to journey the path of full awakening.

Fri, Aug. 28, 7-9 pm How to live with Compassion: The Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland Weekend Workshop begins

To register: Please register here for Friday night session Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland.

Sat, Aug. 29, 1-4 pm How to live with Compassion: The Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland Weekend Workshop cons

To register: Please register here for both Saturday and Sunday sessions Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland.

Sun, Aug. 30, 1-4 pm How to live with Compassion: The Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland Weekend Workshop concludes

To register: Please register here for both Saturday and Sunday sessions Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland.

Supporting the teachings

Supporting the teachings is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering teachings without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to hear the precious teachings and participate in the practices. We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay.

Although we don't have the expense of travel and hospitality for a teacher's virtual visit, donations are still needed and meaningful, and make it possible for us to make a generous offering to the teacher on behalf of everyone attending the teachings.

Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support the teachings: Sponsorships and Donations.

Sponsorships begin at $108.

Sponsors receive:

- The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post for all to share. We must receive the sponsorship and dedication by the previous day to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

There may be more than one sponsor for any event.

Donations are any amount less than $108.

Donors of $75 or more receive:

Supporting the teachings is a two-step process

Step One is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page),

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention! You also can dedicate for more than one intention. If you'd like, you can team up with friends on a sponsorship - please have one person make the donation and work it out among yourselves.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu..

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!