Gompa

2019 Interfaith Annual Dinner theme is "Making a Difference."

[posted 1/28/2019]

Spend the evening on this merit-multiplying holy day by joining our communithy in a group reading of the Golden Light Sutra. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, our Spiritual Director, has advised us at Kadampa Center to recite this sutra to create the causes for hosting another Light of the Path Retreat.

We will read the sutra monastery-style:  All the pages will be divided among those who attend, and then we will all read aloud at the same time until all are finished. The idea is that, even if we are not consciously comprehending the words, the entire sutra is entering our mindstream because we can hear one another speak. It's a joyful cacophony!

Learn more here about the Golden Light Sutra.

Spend the lunch hour on this merit-multiplying holy day by joining our community in a group reading of the Sanghata Sutra. 

We will read the sutra monastery-style:  All the pages will be divided among those who attend, and then we will all read aloud at the same time until all are finished. The idea is that, even if we are not consciously comprehending the words, the entire sutra is entering our mindstream because we can hear one another speak. It's a joyful cacophony!

About the Sanghata Sutra, according to FPMT:

The Sanghata Sutra is a direct teaching by the Buddha that promises to transform all who read or recite it. At www.sanghatasutra.net, visitors can learn all about this sutra, view stories of how others have been changed by the text, and get tips on reciting the text. The site includes a global satellite map marking places the text has been recited or copied, and a discussion forum devoted to the Sanghata.

Read the words of Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the Benefits of the Sanghatasutra

Sponsoring the sutra readings is a great way to create merit, and it's especially auspicious to do so during the Days of Miracles, when our merit is multiplied exponentially.

Sponsorship is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your sponsorship (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation (use the buttons below on this page),

Sponsors may wish to dedicate very simply - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might make more extensive spiritual wishes, such as ""May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below. 

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your sponsorship!

Sponsor a Sutra Reading ~ $75

Spend a day focusing on examining the mind and your potential to create a positive and joyous mind.

The day will be will be from 9 am - 3 pm and divided into four 60-minute sessions with 15 minute breaks and lunch. To enable participants to keep focus and concentration, this mini-retreat will be silent other than guided meditations and essential communication. Sessions will consist of information on the topic presented by the facilitator, motivation, meditation on the topic, and dedication. To maintain a stable and peaceful retreat environment, participants should commit to attending the entire day if at all possible. Meditations: Continuity of Consciousness, Equanimity, Clarity of Consciousness, and Meditation on the Buddha.

Please bring food for your day such as snacks and lunch.

Registration Requested. Click here to register.

About lam rim: The presentation of Buddha’s 84,000 teachings into a step-by-step method is known as “lam-rim” in Tibetan and can be translated as “graduated path.” Indian and Tibetan masters have offered short texts, prayers, commentaries and extensive texts with instruction, all based on this approach. Lama Zopa Rinpoche emphasizes that a foundation for our study is understating our mind. Venerable Robina "As Rinpoche says; [the mind is] where the workshop is. That’s what we have to become familiar with, that’s what we have to get to know deeply, and that’s where we have to be our own therapist. And that’s what we have to change, because that’s where the potential for enlightenment is." 

Note about DB: If you are working on the requirements for completing the DB Practice Retreats, these meditations are required for The Mind and its Potential module. Please be aware that these mediations will be guided by a fellow student and not an FPMT teacher, so for DB purposes, your approach is similar to if you were preparing for and practicing independently. However, we offer this opportunity in the center’s spiritual setting with other students with the hope that you find the environment beneficial and to cultivate a supportive environment in which we all practice.

Come join in celebrating Losar!

Kadampa Center will mark the Tibetan New Year, on Sunday, February 10, with traditional stories and prayer,  hosted by Geshe Gelek. We will begin with processing the photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama into the gompa to a seat of honor and respect on the high throne at the front of the room.

We will enjoy milk tea, Tibetan rice, and cookies during the celebration.

There will be no classes for the Family Program -- children are invited to remain in the gompa for the festivities.

Sponsoring the Losar Celebration is a great way to create merit, and it's especially auspicious to do so during the Days of Miracles, when our merit is multiplied exponentially.

Sponsorship is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your sponsorship (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation (use the button below on this page),

Sponsors may wish to dedicate very simply - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might make more extensive spiritual wishes, such as ""May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below. 

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your sponsorship!

Sponsor Losar Celebration ~ $125

I will be away January 23- January 31.
Will have phone and email access in the early am and evening. I will be in Montana which is 2 hours earlier than Raleigh.
I am visiting Louise and Lane.

Meditation 101 is an introductory course on basic Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners, and includes Buddhist meditations that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in daily life. Presented in five sessions. Students are encouraged to come for the whole class, but drop-ins are welcome. The basic Buddhist meditation techniques covered include:

• what is meditation?
• breathing meditations
• mindfulness meditations
• visualization meditations

Registration requested. Click here to register.

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, Kadampa Center does not charge a fee for any Dharma course. These teachings are too precious to allow money to be an obstacle for anyone to hear them!  We do, of course, have expenses to offer the course, so we happily welcome any heart-felt donations. 

Led by Venerable Ngawang Lhamo

We offer this Medicine Buddha Puja to benefit two members of Kadampa Center's community who recently passed away. The puja will be at 12 pm Monday, January 14. Jared Citron, a member for about two years, passed away January 2.  Jose Moreno, close friend of our member Julie Quetel, passed away in December 22.  We will dedicate our prayers for their peaceful and happy passage through the bardo and beneficial rebirth. Medicine Buddha Puja is particularly beneficial for those who have passed away and are passing through the bardo. In this beautiful prayer service, we recollect the qualities of the seven Medicine Buddhas and pray for a beneficial rebirth.

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 vowed that their prayers will be actualized during these degenerate times when the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha are in decline. When they became enlightened, one of the ten powers of a Buddha is the power of prayer - that means that all the prayers that have been made get fulfilled. As the Buddha's holy speech is irrevocable, you can wholly trust in their power to quickly grant blessings to help all sentient beings in these degenerate times. They are called the Seven Medicine Buddhas, the main one is `Lapis Buddha of Medicine, King of Light'. Buddha Shakyamuni taught the teachings on the Medicine Buddha, and according to one tradition, is also considered as one of the Medicine Buddhas, and hence the Eight Medicine Buddhas.

The seven Medicine Buddhas manifested in order to pacify the obstacles to the achievement of temporary happiness, liberation and the ultimate happiness of full enlightenment. They are powerful in healing diseases as well as for purification. The Medicine Buddha practice can be used to help purify those who have already died and liberate them from suffering. It is also very powerful in bringing about success, both temporary and ultimate.

The reason why the Medicine Buddha practice brings success is that in the past when the seven Medicine Buddhas were bodhisattvas practicing the path to enlightenment, they promised and made extensive prayers to actualize all the prayers of living beings of the degenerate time when the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha are in decline. They generated a very strong intention to become enlightened for this reason; this was their motivation for meditating on and actualizing the path.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, "It is very important that the elaborate Medicine Buddha puja with extensive offerings be done regularly. The offerings should be as extensive and as beautiful as possible, and done in order to benefit all sentient beings."

Sponsoring pujas is a great way to create merit and honor those who have passed.  Sponsor this puja here.

Awakening the Warrior Within:  Lojong and How It Inspires Everyday Enlightened Engagement

A weekend workshop with Venerable Amy Miller

Lojong or “mind training” is a profound part of Mahayana Buddhism that teaches us how to transform problems into opportunities for spiritual growth. Join this insightful workshop that can lend support to life’s greatest challenges.

Discussion on the famous lojong prayer, The Eight Verses of Mind Training by Geshe Langri Thangpa and Master Atisha’s 59 slogans will be included as a blueprint for practicing the bodhisattva path along with tonglen meditation.

Open to all levels although some Buddhist background is helpful. 

Venerable Amy's workshop will run 7-9 pm Friday, and 10 am - 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.   We will break for lunch for 90 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Students are strongly encouraged to bring a bag lunch so we can get to know each other and discuss the teachings over our meal.

We encourage students to bring a bag lunch Saturday and Sunday, so we can discuss the morning's teachings over our meal.

Registration requested so we can prepare enough materials for all at the course. Click here to register.

Want to serve the teacher? Volunteer!  There are lots of little tasks that don't take too much time and reap heaps of spiritual benefit!  Sign up here to volunteer.

Learn more about Venerable Amy and her teaching schedule at other centers at her website.

Sponsor the teachings here