Gompa

Many eons ago, seven bodhisattvas strongly prayed for the temporal and ultimate happiness of all sentient beings, that their names become wish-fulfilling in order to heal both the mental and physical sicknesses and diseases of sentient beings. They became the seven Medicine Buddhas, and the puja is prayers and offerings to create merit and make requests of the Buddhas. Just some of the benefits of this practice include healing of mental and physical suffering, helping those who have died, as well as removing obstacles and creating the causes of enlightenment.

This puja is being held by Kadampa Center to benefit Geshe Gelek's father, Kami Tshering, on the 49th day of his passing away - according to Buddhism, it's very auspicious to say prayers at this time which is the final day he may still be in the bardo about to take a rebirth.

Anyone is welcome to attend pujas, even if you are unfamiliar with the practice, and this puja is recited in English. Traditionally the offerings for the sangha and puja are sponsored by Dharma students, especially if they want to dedicate the puja to someone who is ill, dying, or generally in need of support and prayers. Sponsorship of a Medicine Buddha puja is $50 - if you'd like to sponsor this puja, please contact pujas@kadampa-center.org for instructions about making the donation and sending your personal dedication.

In Buddhism, the Spiritual Teacher is considered the root of the path. Without a teacher who can explain the essence of the teachings and help us understand the mind and our habits, it's very difficult to progress on the path to enlightenment. In the practice of tantra, the relationship of the student and teacher (Guru) is at the heart of the practices.

For the first half of the class, we'll learn in general about the relationship between the student and spiritual teacher, and is open to students of all levels. There will be a break, then the second half of the class is restricted to students who have a Highest Yoga Tantra initiation (i.e. Chittamani Tara, Guhyasamaja, Kalachakra, Yamantaka, etc.). If you are unsure about your initiation, please email the Spiritual Program Coordinator with your questions. 

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, “All human beings want the same thing -- we want to be happy.” The challenge is where to look for that happiness. The things we might think bring happiness - consumerism, relationships, security, chocolate cake - all have the characteristic of change and impermanence. Happiness just comes and goes. So what might bring a more stable, unending happiness? To answer that question, we have to look at the deeper cause of our experiences - karma, or cause and effect. While the term karma has become very commonly used, what's not as widely known is how karma works. Learn more about the Buddhist definition and properties of karma, and how we can affect our karma to live a happier life.

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

To give an opportunity to discuss the teachings and treat the day like a retreat, students are encouraged to stay for the vegetarian potluck lunch and bring a dish to share. A dish or beverage that serves 4-6 people is typically a good portion, although larger entrees are always helpful. If your dish is dairy, nut, or gluten free, please make sure it's labeled so people with dietary issues can enjoy them. We don't have facilities for storing and reheating food, so hot dishes should come in a crockpot and cold dishes in a small cooler or coolerbag. 

We usually talk about depression as a symptom of outside conditions, for example a broken relationship, holiday blues, getting bad news, even cold and gray weather! Learn how depression can be seen as an inner state of mind, coming instead from how we think, and that with the proper tools and practice it can be countered and transformed into happiness.

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

Guru puja (Lama Chöpa)  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. It is a practice recommended by FPMT's Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who says:

This practice of Guru Puja is very profound, with many extra benefits, and is very quick to bring enlightenment. The lam-rim prayer, the prayer of the steps of the path to enlightenment, in Guru Puja has lam-rim and also lo-jong, or thought transformation. Generally, the whole of the lam-rim, from guru devotion up to enlightenment, is thought transformation. If your mind is not transformed into the path, how can you have realizations of the path? There’s no way, without transforming your mind.

As part of the puja, we perform a special practice called tsog which has extensive offerings. According to the Liberation Prison Project Tibetan calendar, on the 10th and 25th of every Tibetan (lunar) month, Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, “Those who have received an initiation into Highest Yoga Tantra have a commitment to perform tsog” on these days. Kadampa Center holds pujas with tsog on these dates (when they don't conflict with other programs).

Anyone is welcome to attend pujas, even if you are unfamiliar with the practice. This puja is recited partly in English and partly chanted in Tibetan. (It is possible to read the English translations of the whole puja, and there is optional sheet music available to help learn the Tibetan tunes.) Traditionally the 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. Sponsorship of a Guru puja is $70 - if you'd like to sponsor this puja, please contact pujas@kadampa-center.org for instructions about making the donation and sending your personal dedication.

Many eons ago, seven bodhisattvas strongly prayed for the temporal and ultimate happiness of all sentient beings, that their names become wish-fulfilling in order to heal both the mental and physical sicknesses and diseases of sentient beings. They became the seven Medicine Buddhas, and the puja is prayers and offerings to create merit and make requests of the Buddhas. Just some of the benefits of this practice include healing of mental and physical suffering, helping those who have died, as well as removing obstacles and creating the causes of enlightenment.

Anyone is welcome to attend pujas, even if you are unfamiliar with the practice, and this puja is recited in English. Traditionally the offerings for the sangha and puja are sponsored by Dharma students, especially if they want to dedicate the puja to someone who is ill, dying, or generally in need of support and prayers. Sponsorship of a Medicine Buddha puja is $50 - if you'd like to sponsor this puja, please contact pujas@kadampa-center.org for instructions about making the donation and sending your personal dedication.

Meditation 101 is an 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, the class is offered on a donation basis. No pre-registration is needed - drop-ins are welcome anytime during the course. This session will be led by Jill Marie.

The basic Buddhist meditation techniques covered include:

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

Special guest teacher Geshe Kelsang Wangmo will be leading this evening's class about how to develop a successful daily practice. She brings a very unique perspective as the first female Geshe (comparable to a PhD in the monastic system) as well as being a Westerner (originally from Germany). We are honored to be part of her first teaching tour, and students will not want to miss this incredible opportunity to hear her teach!

Originally from Germany and fluent in many languages, special guest teacher Geshe Kelsang Wangmo is the first female Geshe (comparable to a PhD in the Buddhist monastic system), recently earning this prestigious degree granted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Ministry for Religion and Culture. She will be talking about her experiences studying Buddhist philosophy at the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India, with classmates from the great Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. We are honored to be part of her first teaching tour since earning her degree and hearing her unique perspective!

If you are unsure when to visit the center for the first time, Sunday is 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.