Gompa

Guru Puja is a practice consisting of making offerings to and requesting inspiration from the Spiritual Master. Spiritual vows and commitments which might have degenerated are also restored through the practice of tsog offering (feast offering). In this practice, we unite our minds with the holy mind of the Spiritual Master, who is considered the root and life-force of the spiritual path in order to receive blessings and generate realizations on the path to enlightenment.

We need merit, or positive energy, for our enlightened potential to grow and become perfect and one of the best ways to do that is to make beautiful offering and prayers to the Three Jewels and to our Spiritual Teachers. This is what happens in the Guru Puja. A special type of offering called tsog is made. Here we offer platefuls of fruits and biscuits, which are distributed afterwards to the participants. The tsog can be eaten by oneself or shared with friends who have faith in the Three Jewels, but should not be given to animals or thrown in a dirty place.

Written by Ven. Sangye Khadro

The center will not be holding a puja, but according to the Tibetan calendar it is the day for performing tsog offering (and is a commitment for anyone with a Highest Yoga Tantra Initiation according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche).

Special guest Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, will present a talk on the current affairs in Tibet. The oppression of the Tibetan people and culture affects everyone in our community because it threatens the lineage, holy sites, and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, so it is important to be informed. It is also quite an honor for such a distinguished representative ot visit our center, so please come if you can. Light refreshments will be served after the program.

Mr. Lobsang Nyandak assumed the post of Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas in September 2008. Previously, from 2001 to 2006, Mr. Nyandak served as a Cabinet member of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India. As a Cabinet member, he headed the Department of Information and International Relations, the Department of Finance and the Department of Health. He implemented Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche’s policy of privatization of the Tibetan exile economy.

Prior to his appointment to the Tibetan cabinet, he served as a member of the Tibetan Parliament, and also held executive positions with various Tibetan NGOs: in particular, the Tibetan Youth Congress, the National Democratic Party of Tibet and the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

He was the first Executive Director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, one of the premier institutions that track and promote human rights and democracy for Tibetans.

Mr. Lobsang Nyandak holds Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Education from Punjab University, Chandigarh, India.

About Ryan

Ryan Draper was born in Durham, North Carolina on March 8, 1983.  In 1990 he and his family moved to Chapel Hill.  He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy a neurological disease that causes his muscles to progressively weaken over time.  Despite this illness he has always had an affinity with animals and the natural world.  He attended Carolina Friends School in Durham.  He graduated from high school in 2002.  He then attended Elon University studying Environmental Sciences until the travel became too much.  Then he transferred to UNC Chapel Hill and switched majors to Native American Studies because he thought it related well to nature.  In 2011 he began work at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham where he displays insects and arachnids to the public.  He began taking Discovering Buddhism classes last year.

About Wednesday Night Class

Lama Atisha organized all of the Buddha's teachings into a step-by-step guide how to become enlightened in a short text called "Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment." Lama Tsongkhapa (the founder of our Gelugpa lineage) wrote a detailed explanation of Lama Atisha's text to help students understand and practice the instructions called The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo). This lamrim foundation is the basis of all practice in our lineage, including tantra. These incredible teachings by Geshe Gelek on this text is probably a once in a lifetime rare and precious opportunity, and likely to span a couple of years. This class is open to all students and you can join anytime, but be sure to prepare by reading the first volume of the Lamrim Chenmo, available in Kadampa Center's bookstore (proceeds benefitting the stupa project) or many online book sellers.

In addition to the teachings by Geshe-la, part of class time will be devoted to discussion. This is an important part of learning and practice - to check that we heard the instructions correctly and understand them, and, if not, to ask questions of the teacher the following week.

Join us for our a social vegetarian potluck lunch!  Volunteer sponsors bring the main dish, and we ask others to bring a side dish, salad, dessert, or beverages to share. Afterwards, Geshe Sangpo and center members will perform a Tibetan cultural dance in the gompa in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 78th birthday.

If you don't have time to prepare something, please come along anyway. There's always plenty of food and all are welcome! Please remember that a crockpot won't heat a cold dish and it's best to heat your food before you come. We ask that you put your name on serving dishes and utensils and please take them and any leftover food home with you.

In honor of the Buddha's first teaching, Wheel Turning Day (July 12), the FPMT commits to educating students about the importance and role of monks and nuns to the Dharma and our community. We've asked our sangha to talk about their experiences becoming monks and nuns and why it was important to them to take vows and dedicate their lives to the Dharma and service for others. Students are encouaged to take advantage of this opportunity to make offerings to Geshe Gelek and the rest of our sangha by making offerings. Bring your kata (white offering scarf, also available in the bookstore) and any other offerings - money in an envelope is traditional, but cards of thanks, flowers, or other appropriate gifts are always fine as well (for health reasons, please no sweets for Geshe-la!).

If you are unsure when to visit the center for the first time, Sundays are a great time to start.

There is no children's program at the 9:00am program, but the nursery is available for parents who would like space for young children. The teachings will be broadcast into the nursery so parents can still hear the teachings while supervising their children.

For the 10:45am program, the same topic will be taught again; our full range of children's programs will be available during this session. Children are invited to sit on the blue cushions at the front of the gompa, and then are dismissed to their classes after opening prayers. They will do an activity this Sunday tied to Compassion Day.

In honor of the Buddha's first teaching, Wheel Turning Day (July 12), the FPMT commits to educating students about the importance and role of monks and nuns to the Dharma and our community. We've asked our sangha to talk about their experiences becoming monks and nuns and why it was important to them to take vows and dedicate their lives to the Dharma and service for others. Students are encouaged to take advantage of this opportunity to make offerings to Geshe Gelek and the rest of our sangha by making offerings. Bring your kata (white offering scarf, also available in the bookstore) and any other offerings - money in an envelope is traditional, but cards of thanks, flowers, or other appropriate gifts are always fine as well (for health reasons, please no sweets for Geshe-la!).

If you are unsure when to visit the center for the first time, Sundays are a great time to start.

There is no children's program at the 9:00am program, but the nursery is available for parents who would like space for young children. The teachings will be broadcast into the nursery so parents can still hear the teachings while supervising their children.

For the 10:45am program, the same topic will be taught again; our full range of children's programs will be available during this session. Children are invited to sit on the blue cushions at the front of the gompa, and then are dismissed to their classes after opening prayers. They will do an activity this Sunday tied to Compassion Day.

In honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 78th birthday, we'll be celebrating together with a special Sunday morning program and participate in FPMT International's Compassion Day. At the beginning of the program, we'll have a procession inviting His Holiness to join us, symbolized by his image being brought into the gompa and placed on a special throne - Geshe Sangpo says it is important to visualize His Holiness is actually with us for the program. Students are encouraged to bring katas (traditional white offering scarves, also available in the bookstore) to make an offering to His Holiness. In addition to saying long life prayers and meditation on loving kindess, we'll be enouraging students to commit a random act of kindness and dedicate it to His Holiness's health and long life.

If you are unsure when to visit the center for the first time, Sundays are a great time to start.

Our full range of children's programs will be available. Children are invited to sit on the blue cushions at the front of the gompa, and then are dismissed to their classes after opening prayers. They will do an activity this Sunday tied to Compassion Day.

Join Geshe Gelek and other center members as we all plant the seeds to become bodhisattvas! There is huge benefit from reading entire Dharma texts (including many times!) and having that imprint on your mind, so this retreat is an opportunity to read and meditate on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life cover to cover. It's even more amazing that we would come together as a group, and all be thinking about the practices of a bodhisattva for the entire day. It can be difficult to set aside the time to read and focus on Dharma books in our busy lives, so here are the ideal conditions to accomplish this goal!

Please bring your own copy of the book - texts are not provided. Copies of several translations are available in Kadampa Center's bookstore.

Lunch will be provided as part of the retreat: costs and registration information will be provided closer to the date.

As part of the statue blessing ceremony, the statues must be carefully filled with rolled mantras, incense, and juniper. We'll meet at 9:00am and will be filling statues all day - there are so many we expect to be there until dinnertime. The day will be spent with Geshe Gelek and Geshe Sangpo preparing the statues. Anyone is welcome to attend and help, but it's particularly recommended for those who are having a statue blessed so they develop a strong connection to it as a holy object. All the statues had to be registered, and need to be cleaned and delivered ahead of time - please email program@kadampa-center.org if you have questions about this process.

In five short 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 in a gradual form for the practice of one individual, 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 Buddhism in a Nutshell by Ven. Amy Miller, an excellent supplement to the classes.

In keeping with our tradition, these classes are offered on a donation basis. No pre-registration is needed - drop in for any class or come to the whole series. Led by Sandy Carlson.