Gompa

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this practice.

Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Robbie Watkins, this session is aimed at students in the course, but is also open to students who meet the above criteria. An important part of the Discovering Buddhism course is trying the practices, and this class allows students the opportunity to have guidance and the support of group practice to learn.

In five classes, we introduce you to the major terms and concepts of Buddhism - a fast tour of the basics to enable you to take the next steps if you want more. Topics covered include the Four Noble Truths, different kinds of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, etc.), Buddha's teachings organized in a graduated path to enlightenment, and a brief introduction to meditation. We'll let you know of additional reading you can do if you're interested, but there are no specific requirements.

The course is based on the teachings found in the book "Buddhism in a Nutshell" by Ven. Amy Miller, an excellent supplement to the classes (and available in Kadampa Center's bookstore).

In keeping with our tradition, no fee is required to attend the class. We do rely on donations, so any offerings are greatly appreciated! No registration is required, but we recommend attending the entire course for the most benefit.

This course will be led by Elise Strevel.

Tired of lugging all your mental baggage around?  We can free ourselves of the guilt, depression and low self-esteem that arise from carrying negative karma around in our mindstream. The key is purification practice.

Come for a morning of Vajrasattva purification practice on Saturday, August 22, from 9:30 a.m. to noon -- give your purification practice a boost and close out your summer on a high note!

Many of us hold anger in our hearts either because we blame others for harming us or ourselves for our mistakes. Learn the Buddhist method of forgiving ourselves and others through purification. The basis of purification practice is the four opponent powers - regret, reliance, remedy, and resolve. This allows us to see harm done to us by others as the result of our karma, and helps us let go of our own mistakes and reduce or eliminate their harmful effects. This practice helps eliminate guilt, grudges, anger and frustration.

Geshe Gelek has been emphasizing the importance of purification this year. In this session. Kadampa Center founder Don Brown, who led the recent Vajrasattva retreat and also retreat preparation sessions in June and July, will lead us in Vajrasattva practice with guided visualizations and mantra recitations.

Meditation 101 is a five-week introductory course on Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners. It teaches basic Buddhist meditations that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in daily life.

In keeping with our tradition, no fee is required to attend the class. We do rely on donations, so any offerings are greatly appreciated!

No registraiton is required, but we recommend attending the entire course for the most benefit.

The basic Buddhist meditation techniques covered include:

• What is meditation?
• Breathing meditations
• Mindfulness meditations
• Visualization meditations

This class will be led by Venerable Ngawang Lhamo.

If you would like to ask questions about the Center and Buddhism in an informal setting, this orientation is for you!  Orientation sessions are on the third Sunday of each month starting after the morning teachings (approx. 12pm).  An experienced Center member will give a brief introduction to the Center and answer your questions. These sessions will include information about how we are organized, membership,volunteer opportunities, information about our e-mails lists, and information about the different aspects of the center, such as the Bookstore and Library.

 A prisoner once wrote to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, pleading for help dealing with the suffering of confinement. Rinpoche replied that most of us are in a worse prison than the inmate's, because our prisons are created by our minds.

Did you know that....

Our own Kadampa Center has a vibrant Prison Project that, for more than 20 years, has brought our students together with prisoners in a mutually beneficial study of Dharma.

On Sunday, August 9, we'll bring the Kadampa Center Prison Project to life in our gompa with an interactive hour of exploring the incredibly moving experiences of our prison volunteers.

    ♦ What is a class like in Prison? Join us for a live demonstration  -- and you can participate if you want!
    ♦ What do pen pals write back and forth about? Actual pen pals will read some amazing correspondence to give us a taste of what prisoners and pen pals discuss in their letters.
    ♦ What types of people do the volunteers interact with? You'll hear the testimonies from past and present participants, and hear from volunteers about their experiences.
    ♦ What happens when someone who is incarcerated gets out? We'll have a chance to walk for a few minutes in the shoes of a released prisoner. Through a guided visualization, we'll get a taste of how people are able to pick up their lives -- or not -- after prison, and experience how the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against most returning citizens.

Our volunteers go great distances and dedicate many hours to this project. What makes it worthwhile to spend so much time on this? Come at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday Aug. 9 to find out!

This special Medicine Buddha puja is sponsored by Sandi Mitchell for Charles Mitchell, Kolleen's father, who died recently.

Doing Medicine Buddha practice for sure benefits loved ones who are in the intermediate state (bardo), so we invite everyone in the community to come and say these prayers together in support of the family. The puja is done in English, so easy to follow if you are not already familiar with the prayers.

Please join us as we take a moment to reflect upon our Sangha here at the Center, rejoice in their presence, and show our gratitude for them. 

Kadampa Center Director Robbie Watkins will lead a discussion of International Sangha Day, what it means and why it’s important.  Our nuns will be on hand to talk about their experience choosing to ordain and living in vows.

Come and get inspired!

It’s also an auspicious time to make offerings to our sangha. 

Find out more about the monks and nuns of FPMT here. 

Seven weeks after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, the Buddha gave his first teaching at the Deer Park in Sarnath. He expressed his profound realization of the nature of existence in the Four Noble Truths:

    The Truth of  the Nature of Suffering
    The Truth of the Origins or Causes of Suffering
    The Truth of the Cessation of, or Liberation from, Suffering
    The Truth of the Eight Fold Path as the means to attain ultimate happiness and freedom from suffering.
This teaching, referred to as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, led to the formation of the Sangha, the community of disciples committed to following the Buddha's example of living simply, following the Path, and teaching the Dharma.

 Kadampa Center's Observance of the First Turning of the Wheel, Chokor Duchen,  will include:

5:30 am   The Eight Mahayana Precepts, followed by a light breakfast, and a group reading of the Vajra Cutter Sutra.

The Center will also be open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., so that members can engage in individual practices in the Gompa, as their schedule permits.*

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*Lama Zopa Rinpoche notes that on a Buddha Holy Day such as Chokor Duchen, karmic consequences are multiplied 100 million times, according to a Vinaya text.

Center members who have previously taken the Eight Mahayana Precepts are encouraged to take them at the center, or at home.

Additionally, it is an auspicious day for prayers, practices, and meditations focusing on any aspect of the Mahayana path to enlightenment.

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Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this morning practice. Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Don Brown, it's aimed at students in the course, but is also open to students who meet the above criteria. An important part of the Discovering Buddhism course is trying the practices, and this class allows students the opportunity to have guidance and the support of group practice to learn.