Gompa

Prelminary setup for Tara practice

In this lively two-hour chat and slideshow, Venerable Jampa Ludrup presents the captivating world of Feng Shui -- the art of creating harmony in your surroundings. You will learn some of the ideas behind Feng Shui, and the many ways in which it can benefit you and your loved ones. He may also show a 30 minute segment of his television series, Wind and Water.

The Discovering Buddhism (DB) two-year course emphasizes an authentic yet culturally relevant presentation of the Buddha's teachings. Taught by FPMT registered teachers and facilitators, the classes lay a strong foundation of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path including how to integrate study and practice. This is an excellent “next step” for students who have taken the Buddhism in a Nutshell class and want to learn more. There are no pre-requisites or fees, although donations are appreciated. We ask that new students starting the course, if entering after the course begins, start at the first week of any module, which typically begin the first Monday of a given month.

This module, Mind and Its Potential, is the first module of the course, and examines the mind and how it creates happiness and suffering. Learn the Buddhist definition of mind, and how to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes to create a positive and joyous mind! Taught by Robbie Watkins.

Our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, recommends reciting the Golden Light Sutra on holy days for world peace. When we read as a group, we divide the sutra up into short sections for each individual. Once we've each completed our part, we are able to count that as a full recitation and all share in the merit!

More about the sutra, including free downloads, visit FPMT's website. If you can't join us but instead recite the sutra at home, please dedicate it for world peace and enter your count on FPMT’s website:
http://fpmt.org/education/teachings/sutras/golden-light-sutra/email-reporting/

Center volunteer opportunities will be coming at you in a whole new way on Sunday, September 21, at 12:15pm. After the second teaching, we are offering a spirited, interactive presentation on the many ways to offer service at the Center. Snacks will be provided, hands will be enthusiastically raised, questions will be joyfully answered.

As a teaser, did you know there is a crew of volunteers who quietly comes into the Center and regularly cleans the holy objects on the altar? Or that there is an open position to learn from Geshe Sangpo and arrange animal blessings and liberations? Or that a team of folks meet regularly behind the scenes to arrange a calendar of special events?

We hope to demystify some of the inner workings of the Center, explain the several ways to engage with offering service, and have some laughs along the way. This informal session is for anyone who has been thinking about volunteering but has been unsure of where to start OR for anyone who just can't stay away when you hear that we are debuting a Center trivia game.

Come learn about offering service, feeling more deeply connected to our community, and sharing in the Center's operations.

Questions? Please contact Ven. Choekyi at support@kadampa-center.org.

On Sunday, July 6th, His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 79! Please join us for a birthday celebration during the 10:45am program. We'll invite His Holiness to join us (represented by a large photo), learn a little about his life story, say a prayer for his long life, and at the end present cake and sing happy birthday. The 9:00am program that morning is canceled - let's all party together!

In addition, FPMT encourages participation in Compassion Day as a way of honoring His Holiness by putting his teachings into practice. We'll be launching a very special Compassion in Action project by our Outreach program to help alleviate hunger and participate in http://www.1billionacts.org/ - a joint project led by 13 Nobel Laureates, including His Holiness. Let's be a part of One Billion Acts of Peace!

Would you like to help make His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday party special? We'd love it if you'd bring some watermelon or iced tea/lemonade (perfect for a summertime treat!) for everyone to enjoy at the end of the 10:45am program. It's easy - just pick what you'd like to bring and sign up on Volunteer Spot! Go to http://vols.pt/inL5fn, put in your email address, and sign up on July 6th!

This morning session of meditation is part of the Basic Program (registered students only) and part of the required classes.

In preparation for Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche's visit, will be setting up extensive offerings based on instructions from our rituals expert, Geshe Sangpo. We'll set up extensive offerings across our altar to make a beautiful offering and create the conditions to receive the teachings. Students are welcome to come help do the water bowl and offerings practice and have the opportunity to participate in this lovely and meritorious activity. We also hope to help decorate with light and flower garlands to help beautify the gompa. No need to sign up ahead of time - just show up! Tim Powell will be the coordinator of this event.

Whether you just want more veggies in your diet, or are already a vegetarian who is struggling to achieve nutritional balance,

THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!

Join us for a fun and interactive workshop where you will learn:

• The basics for how to be a HEALTHY vegetarian
• How to make being vegetarian easy and affordable
• Basic nutritional “know-how’s” for supplements and food combining for optimal absorption of nutrients.
• How to improve your energy and feel grounded and focused after meals.

This workshop will cover all of the essentials that you should know about being vegetarian, so that you can feel good and have a stronger practice than ever!

Eating well will improve your meditation or other spiritual practice and your ability to foster compassion and love in this world.

Your body is a temple…Health, Love and Compassion starts with OURSELVES! If we cannot love and nourish ourselves, how can we truly love and nourish others?

Julie Hutsell-Starling is holistic health coach and a licensed acupuncturist. She specializes in helping people find the foods and ways of being that make their bodies hum, so that they can live life fully and happily. She gives practical tools and steps for implementing a healthier diet and lifestyle making the transition fun and simple for her

Suggested donation of $3 to contribute towards overhead costs.

Our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days. This is a set of vows that are taken for 24 hours, from just before dawn to sunrise of the following day.  Those who have taken precepts previously from a qualified teacher can take them at the center, or at home, at “first light”.

If there are Kadampa Center students who haven’t taken the vows before and wish to do so, Geshe Gelek will come on the 16th, but as is traditional only if requested by the students. Please contact our holy day coordinator, Patrick McGinity, if you haven’t previously taken precepts and want to make this request, or have questions about the practice.

For more information about the Eight Mahayana Precepts you can also go to http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=503&chid=973