Gompa

Weekend Workshop with Venerable Amy Miller: Self-Compassion, Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques for Challenging Times Session 1: Friday, February 21, 7:00pm - 9:00pm (EST) ~ offered in person and online ~ Volunteers are needed, please sign up HERE to help! Join us ~ all are welcome!

DESCRIPTION of WEEKEND WORKSHOP

Self-Compassion, Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques for Challenging Times

Daily life can be overwhelming with relentless distraction from social media and life experiences.  There instances too often contribute to a world that can appear cruel, angry, polarized, and fixated on material gain.  Anxiety, depression, and stagnation follow, and as a result, many of us harden our hearts and fall into judgement, blame ourselves or others, or simply numb out.  By responding in this way, an authentic flow of who we really are, and our interconectedness gets blocked, and a negative ruminating mind takes over.

The good news is there's a way out of this cycle!  Using time-honored spiritual tools, as well as modern psychological insights, we can bring presence, clarity, compassion, joy and connection back into our lives.  Chenrezig, in Tibetan Buddhism, embodies the Infinite Compassion of the Awakened Mind.  Exploring a simple Chenrezig practice along with mantra recitation, participants can not only expand their view beyond their own boundaries of self-reflection, but can also develop a greater sense of compassion for themselves and others.

In this weekend workshop, Venerable Amy Miller will help us explore how being present with our pain, fear, and aversion, and moving with kindness through these less than comfortable mind states, is the key to transformation.

Learn more about Venerable Amy HERE. 

SCHEDULE of WEEKEND WORKSHOP

Fri Feb 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EST) - Session 1

Sat Feb 22, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm (EST) - Session 2

Sat Feb 22, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm (EST) - Lunch Break: students are encouraged to bring their lunch and discuss the teachings together

Sat Feb 22, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (EST) - Session 3

Sun Feb 23, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (EST) - Lunch Break: students are encouraged to bring their lunch and discuss the teachings together

Sun Feb 23, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm (EST) - Session 4

HOW TO ATTEND the WEEKEND WORKSHOP

• Attend in person at Kadampa Center

• Join via Zoom

• Live Stream on YouTube

SPONSOR the WEEKEND WORKSHOP

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. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but 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.

Sponsors will receive an invitation to attend a private event with Venerable Amy Miller during her visit and are also invited to dedicate the merit of their generosity.  Dedications will be posted on the gompa door so that all may share and rejoice in your intentions.  Please make your sponsorship and dedication no later than Saturday April 4th to give us time to post your dedication and send the invitation to the private event (Note: there may be more than one sponsor for any event).    SUBMIT YOUR DEDICATION HERE!

If you are unable to sponsor, and would still like to support the teachings with Venerable Amy Miller, we happily welcome all heartfelt donations in any amount!

Click on a link below to select a SPONSORSHIP LEVEL or to make a DONATION ~ Thank you!

Enlightened Activity ~ sponsor the entire weekend workshop -- $350

Insight Activity ~ sponsor Venerable Amy's care and travel -- $250

Compassionate Activity ~ sponsor the altar, flowers & spiritual materials -- $150

Donation in any heartfelt amount -- $ your choice

>>> Don't forget to SUBMIT YOUR DEDICATION HERE!

Sunday Dharma with Venerable Amy Miller:  The Buoyant Cushion of Dharma Practice Sunday, February 23, 2025, 10:30am - noon (EST) ~ offered in person and online ~ Volunteers are needed, please sign up HERE! Join us, all are welcome!

The Buoyant Cushion of Dharma Practice - Life is more uplifting when we can train our mind to reflect on the great advantages many of us have.  We then tend to spend our lives in a more meaningful way that can become a cause of happiness and enlightenment.  Then the happiness of future lives comes...and even though you are not looking for that at times, the cause of that naturally happens.  Venerable Amy will discuss some unique ways to explore and appreciate our precious human rebirth based on the FPMT's Living in the Path online module.  Learn more about Venerable Amy Miller HERE. 

HOW TO ATTEND

• Attend in person at Kadampa Center

• Join via Zoom

• Live Stream on YouTube

SPONSOR 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. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but 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.

Sponsors will receive an invitation to attend a private event with Venerable Amy Miller during her visit and are also invited to dedicate the merit of their generosity.  Dedications will be posted on the gompa door so that all may share and rejoice in your intentions.  Please make your sponsorship and dedication no later than Saturday April 6th to give us time to post your dedication and send the invitation to the private event (Note: there may be more than one sponsor for any event).  SUBMIT YOUR DEDICATION HERE!

If you are unable to sponsor, and would still like to support Venerable Amy's teachings, we happily welcome all heartfelt donations in any amount!

Click on a link below to select a SPONSORSHIP LEVEL or to make a DONATION ~ Thank you!

Enlightened Activity ~ sponsor the entire weekend workshop -- $350

Insight Activity ~ sponsor Venerable Amy's care and travel -- $250

Compassionate Activity ~ sponsor the altar, flowers & spiritual materials -- $150

Donation in any heartfelt amount -- $ your choice

>>> Don't forget to SUBMIT YOUR DEDICATION HERE!

Kadampa Center welcomes Venerable Amy Miller for a weekend of teachings! Friday - Sunday, February 21 - 23, 2025 Please find below Venerable Amy's teaching schedule and volunteer opportunities during her visit. These teachings will be offered both in person and online. Learn more about Venerable Amy HERE.

FULL TEACHING SCHEDULE ~ all times are in EST

Fri Feb 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Session 1, Weekend Workshop: Self-Compassion, Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques for Challenging Times

Sat Feb 22, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm - Session 2, Weekend Workshop: Self-Compassion, Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques for Challenging Times

Sat Feb 22, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm - Lunch Break: students are encouraged to bring their lunch and discuss the teachings together

Sat Feb 22, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Session 3, Weekend Workshop: Self-Compassion, Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques for Challenging Times

Sun Feb 23, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Sunday Dharma Teaching with Venerable Amy:  The Buoyant Cushion of Dharma Practice

Sun Feb 23, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch Break: students are encouraged to bring their lunch and discuss the teachings together

Sun Feb 23, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Session 4, Weekend Workshop: Self-Compassion, Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques for Challenging Times

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES

Help create a beautiful and welcoming space in which to receive Venerable Amy and her teachings!  There are many ways to get involved. 

Please sign up HERE ~ your help is greatly needed and appreciated! 

SPONSOR VENERABLE AMY'S VISIT AND 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. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but 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.

Sponsors will receive an invitation to attend a private event with Venerable Amy Miller during her visit and are also invited to dedicate the merit of their generosity.  Dedications will be posted on the gompa door so that all may share and rejoice in your intentions.  Please make your sponsorship and dedication no later than Saturday April 6th to give us time to post your dedication and send the invitation to the private event (Note: there may be more than one sponsor for any event).  SUBMIT YOUR DEDICATION HERE!

If you are unable to sponsor, and would still like to support Venerable Amy's teachings, we happily welcome all heartfelt donations in any amount!

Click on a link below to select a SPONSORSHIP LEVEL or to make a DONATION ~ Thank you!

Enlightened Activity ~ sponsor the entire weekend workshop -- $350

Insight Activity ~ sponsor Venerable Amy's care and travel -- $250

Compassionate Activity ~ sponsor the altar, flowers & spiritual materials -- $150

Donation in any heartfelt amount -- $ your choice

>>> Don't forget to SUBMIT YOUR DEDICATION HERE!

WHITE TARA RETREAT  Kadampa Center is happy to announce our first week-long retreat in our gompa! Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 16. Geshe Sangpo will lead us in a White Tara retreat. In this “approaching” retreat, we will go  deep into White Tara’s practice. With four daily sessions, we will do the White Tara Chitanchakra Sadhana and recite mantras, with the aim of reciting 100,000 mantras. At the end of the retreat, we will have a fire puja right here on our grounds.

The retreat is full! Registration is closed.

This retreat is open to all students – it is not necessary to have the initiation – and there are opportunities to participate on several levels:

• Full participation in the retreat. This means attending all sessions, every day. (If there’s an emergency or other need to miss a session or two, that’s fine.)
• Joining for a few sessions. Students who cannot do the full retreat but wish to join in and recite White Tara mantras during retreat sessions are welcome to come. These participants will be seated in the lobby, to maintain the retreat energy in the gompa. Copies of the text and audio from the gompa will be available in the lobby. Students who participate this way should not register.
• Volunteering in support of the retreat. We will need cooks, folks to stock supplies for our self-service breakfast, and volunteers to help Geshe Sangpo prepare for the fire puja.
  • We will especially need volunteers on Sunday, March 16, to help serve lunch, clean up after the fire puja, and get the gompa back to its default setup.
  • SIGN UP HERE TO HELP FOR THE FIRE PUJA
• Offering financial support to help cover the cost of meals and supplies for the retreat and the fire puja. There is great merit in sponsoring spiritual practice – giving the Dharma is the highest form of generosity.
  • To support the retreat in any amount click here.
  • To  sponsor the fire puja ($108) click here. 

Schedule:

On the opening day, retreat participants will help set up the gompa, the White Tara altar and offerings. We will have a very short session before departing for the night. On the following days, each session will include doing the sadhana and reciting mantras.

Friday night, March 7

Saturday, March 8 through Saturday, March 15:

Sunday, March 16:

There will be karma yoga responsibilities for retreat participants, including cleaning the gompa, setting up offerings, washing dishes after meals and more. These will be arranged on the first night.

Accommodations and meals:

We do not have sleeping quarters at the Center, so students will go home each night to sleep and then return in the morning for our first session. Kadampa Center will serve three meals each day. Meals are covered by the registration fee and are for registered retreat participants only.

Registration: 

The retreat is full! Registration is closed.

GURU PUJA WITH TSOG Join us for a Guru Puja with Tsog as we celebrate all our precious teachers! Friday, February 7, from 6:45 - 8:30 pm This monthly offering takes place in person only at Kadampa Center.

SPONSOR GURU PUJA WITH TSOG

Anyone is welcome to sponsor a puja and offer a dedicaton to benefit themselves, a loved one, world peace, all living beings, etc. ~ whatever you choose.

Here's how to sponsor this Guru Puja with Tsog:

1. Make your sponsorship donation HERE.
2. Submit your dedication HERE.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A GURU PUJA WITH TSOG AT KADAMPA CENTER

During his last visit to Kadampa Center, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Delek advised us that it is most beneficial for our community to come together twice a month to do Guru Puja with Tsog practice – and especially for students who have taken Highest Yoga Tantra initiation.

The puja will be led in English and Tibetan.

Students are requested to participate fully in the practice by:

• bringing food offerings (see below for ideas)

• arriving by 6:45 pm to prepare offerings and help with setup

• staying after the puja to help with cleanup

MORE ABOUT GURU PUJA WITH TSOG

Guru puja (Lama Chöpa in Tibetan) is a practice of making offerings and requests to all the Buddhas and holy beings, but especially the root guru, who, according to the teachings, is the root of the path to liberation.  As part of the puja, we perform a special practice called Tsog, in which we make extensive food offerings to the teacher, and share the food among ourselves as well.

Traditionally, students who attend a Guru Puja with Tsog bring food offerings – fruit, cupcakes, candy, snacks – festive items that can easily be shared and distributed (via paper lunch bags) to take home among all who are present.  This creates great merit for all of us who bring the food offerings!  When everyone participates in this way, our gompa is blessed with a bountiful offering to make to the holy guru.  Because this is a community practice, all students who attend will participate in preparing for the puja by setting up the offerings in the gompa, as well as in returning the gompa to "default" setup following the prayer service.  Students are requested to arrive at the posted time (6:30pm) and then remain afterwards to assist with cleanup.

This puja also includes chanting and playing instruments - cymbals and drum.  Geshe Sangpo has kindly offered, if students are interested, to teach us how to play these instruments so we can fully take part!  Please let our Puja Coordinator (Donna Seese) know if you are interested.

Anyone is welcome to attend pujas, even if you are unfamiliar with the practice.  This puja is chanted in Tibetan, and we will have the English translations of the whole puja available to follow along.  We plan to occasionally read the lamrim verses in English so both English- and Tibetan-speaking students can hear and understand these teachings.  Traditionally the financial offerings for the sangha and puja are sponsored by Dharma students, especially if they want to dedicate the puja to their spiritual teachers or loved ones in need of support and prayers (see above for how to sponsor the puja).

2025 Dharma Movie Series:  As part of our Spiritual Program, Elise Strevel, Outreach Coordinator and Buddhism in a Nutshell instructor, is hosting dharma-related movies introducing Buddhist teachers and their work to our Kadampa community of students. She will be providing a brief intro to each showing and lead an educational discussion afterward.

	DISCOVERING BUDDHISM 04: THE SPIRITUAL TEACHER
	Mondays, April 28 - May 19, from 7 - 8:30 pm Investigate the role of the teacher on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities of teacher and student, and how to relate to a teacher for greatest benefit. ~ offered in person and online ~

HOW TO ATTEND

• In person, onsite at Kadampa Center - the most interactive way to participate, and is especially beneficial for those who live locally.

• Join via Zoom HERE - a somewhat interactive way to participate.  If you choose to join us on Zoom, you are considered part of the class, thereofore, please plan to have your camera turned on and refrain from eating and other distracting activities.

• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE - a non-interactive choice.

HOW TO SUPPORT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

Whether you attend class online or in person, please consider making a donation to Kadampa Center to enable us to keep Dharma classes like Discovering Buddhism possible.  Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated ~ thank you!  Donations can be made in any of the following ways:

• Cash or checks (made to Kadampa Center) can be dropped in the Donation Box just outside the gompa door.

• Checks can be mailed to Kadampa Center at:  5412 Etta Burke Court, Raleigh, NC 27606.

• Donate any amount online HERE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

• Visit the General Information webpage HERE to learn about the Discovering Buddhism course offered at Kadampa Center.

• Visit the FPMT website HERE for more in-depth details about the Discovering Buddhism course, how to take the course online, and how to work towards Certificates of Acheivement for each module.

• Questions?  Email Linda Saah, Spiritual Program Coordinator, at program.linda@kadampa-center.org.

	DISCOVERING BUDDHISM, MODULE 03: PRESENTING THE PATH
	Mondays, March 24 - April 21, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM (EDT) Get an overview of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path to awakening.  Study the life story of the Buddha and discover the lam-rim, or graduated path to enlightenment. Find resources for this module HERE. NOTE: Class will NOT be held on Monday April 7.  Join us instead, that evening, for a Guru Puja with Tsog.

HOW TO ATTEND DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

• In person, onsite at Kadampa Center - the most interactive way to participate, and is especially beneficial for those who live locally.

• Join via Zoom HERE - a somewhat interactive way to participate.  If you choose to join us on Zoom, you are considered part of the class, therefore, please plan to have your camera turned on and refrain from eating and other distracting activities.

• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE - a non-interactive choice.

HOW TO SUPPORT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

Whether you attend class online or in person, please consider making a donation to Kadampa Center to enable us to keep Dharma classes like Discovering Buddhism possible.  Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated ~ thank you!  Donations can be made in any of the following ways:

• Cash or checks (made to Kadampa Center) can be dropped in the Donation Box just outside the gompa door.

• Checks can be mailed to Kadampa Center at:  5412 Etta Burke Court, Raleigh, NC 27606.

• Donate any amount online HERE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

• Visit the General Information webpage HERE to learn about the Discovering Buddhism course offered at Kadampa Center.

• Visit the FPMT website HERE for more in-depth details about the Discovering Buddhism course, how to take the course online, and how to work towards Certificates of Acheivement for each module.

• Questions?  Email Linda Saah, Spiritual Program Coordinator, at program.linda@kadampa-center.org.

	DISCOVERING BUDDHISM, MODULE 02: HOW TO MEDITATE
	Mondays, February 10 - March 3, from 7 - 8:30 pm Learn the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation. ~ offered in person and online ~

HOW TO ATTEND

• In person, onsite at Kadampa Center - the most interactive way to participate, and is especially beneficial for those who live locally.

• Join via Zoom HERE - a somewhat interactive way to participate.  If you choose to join us on Zoom, you are considered part of the class, thereofore, please plan to have your camera turned on and refrain from eating and other distracting activities.

• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE - a non-interactive choice.

HOW TO SUPPORT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

Whether you attend class online or in person, please consider making a donation to Kadampa Center to enable us to keep Dharma classes like Discovering Buddhism possible.  Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated ~ thank you!  Donations can be made in any of the following ways:

• Cash or checks (made to Kadampa Center) can be dropped in the Donation Box just outside the gompa door.

• Checks can be mailed to Kadampa Center at:  5412 Etta Burke Court, Raleigh, NC 27606.

• Donate any amount online HERE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

• Visit the General Information webpage HERE to learn about the Discovering Buddhism course offered at Kadampa Center.

• Visit the FPMT website HERE for more in-depth details about the Discovering Buddhism course, how to take the course online, and how to work towards Certificates of Acheivement for each module.

• Questions?  Email Linda Saah, Spiritual Program Coordinator, at program.linda@kadampa-center.org.