Gompa

We offer this Medicine Buddha Puja to benefit Kadampa Center member Russell Allen, father-in-law of Kadampa Center member Christine. Russell passed away May 28. The puja will be at 1 pm Sunrday, June 17. 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. Geshe Gelek encourages us to attend pujas when members of our community or their loved ones have passed away, to offer our support for those who are grieving and those who have died.

About Medicine Buddha puja:

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."

Guest Speaker Som Paneru

Join us on June 13, 7 - 8 pm, for an informative presentation about Nepal problems and living conditions of the gentle Nepalis. Mr. Paneru will also describe what Nepal Youth Foundation is doing to address the suffering of the girls sold into the “indentured servitude" KAMARI system.

The evening promises to be a moving presentation.

Som Paneru's bio

Som Paneru is from Nepal and is a Social Entrepreneur. Som is serving as the President of Nepal Youth Foundation, a 501 ( c ) (3) public charity registered in California (www.nepalyouthfoundation.org), founded by Olga Murray. The NYF has programs only in Nepal as Olga is solely dedicated to improve the lives of Nepalese children and youth. Som joined this organization in 1995 and climbed the ladder all the way from Social Worker to the President in 2012. The NYF works for the welfare of underprivileged children and youth in Nepal, predominantly in giving access to good education and healthcare. The organization has transformed the lives of over 50,000 Nepalese youngsters. He led the very successful anti-slavery movement in Nepal against a practice of enslaving young girls, named Kamlari Practice, and liberated over 12,000 young girls from slavery and played an instrumental role in its abolition. Som firmly believes in sustainable solution to any social problems. Setting up Nutritional Rehabilitations Homes at every referral hospitals to treat malnourished children, establishment of Sunaula Chowa School in Dhading district, creation of Olgapuri Children’s Village together with a Vocational School are some of the notable social enterprises that he established.

Som has a vast experience in charity management as well as in developing educational institution. He is the founding President (pro-bono) of Ullens Education Foundation in Kathmandu that established Ullens School in 2006 (www.ullens.edu.np). The Ullens School is well known for its unique financial model, an extraordinary social enterprise and philosophy of inclusiveness. Ullens School is now considered as one of the best independent schools in Nepal in terms of education quality as it offers truly a world class education. It is the first and still the only IB World School in Nepal that runs International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). The school runs from K-12 and has 1200 students, 150 academic faculties and 200 non-teaching staff. Som's vision and imaginative leadership has made Ullens School an iconic academic institution in Nepal in a very short period of time.

Som is a graduate of University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK where he earned his M.A. in International Child Welfare. Born and raised in a humble farming family in rural Gorkha District of Nepal, Som is one of the nine siblings in the family. He always received education through the help of others which has left within him a huge sense of ‘giving back’ to his own society. He is a father of two children and lives a very happy life with his wife Sajani Amatya, a passionate social worker.  

May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness
May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering
May all sentient beings be inseparable from the happiness that is free from suffering
May all sentinet beings abide in equanimity, free from attachment for friends and hatred for enemies

The Four Immeasurables are powerful and inviting meditation techniques to activate the heart of kindness, counter the distortions in our relationships to ourselves, and deepen our relationships to others. In this weekend course with Don Handrick, we will explore these four attitudes – the cultivation of equanimity, loving-kindness, compassion, and empathetic joy –and learn how to skillfully advance them to a limitless degree, eventually making our hearts as wide as the world. The workshop will meet Friday from 7pm-9pm, Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and Sunday from 1030am to 4pm. On Saturday and Sunday, we invite students to bring lunch and eat together while discussing the morning's teachings. Learn more about Don here.

Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering teachings without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to hear the  precious teachings and participate in the practices.  We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay.

You can support the teachings here.

Kadampa Center will open at 5 am; the Eight Mahayana Precepts will begin at 5:30 am.

5:30 am  The Eight Mahayana Precepts,  a set of eight vows taken for a period of 24 hours, from sunrise on one day to sunrise the following day. The vows include no killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying, sitting on high seats, and more.

We welcome all who wish to take precepts on this day to join in the gompa for the vows. There is great benefit to doing spiritual practice together. Geshe Sangpo says that sweeping the floor with a single straw would not be very effective, but several straws joined together become a broom, the perfect tool for cleaning.  Likewise, when we join with one another in spiritual practice, we increase the power of our practice. 

The first time you take these precepts, it must be from a qualified master. After that, you can take them from your altar. Geshe Gelek or Geshe Sangpo will offer precepts if students who have never taken them before request the vows. 

Please register here if you plan to come to precepts.

Following the precepts, we will have a light breakfast and a group reading of a sutra.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a set of vows that are taken for 24 hours, from first light before dawn to sunrise of the following day. The only prerequisite is that the first time one takes precepts it should be from a qualified teacher who has received the oral transmission of the practice. Thereafter you can perform the ceremony at first light yourself, reciting the prayers before an image of your teacher or the Buddha, imagining you are taking the vows from Buddha himself.

 It is good to take them on full and new moon days, and especially beneficial on Buddha Holy Days, when Karmic results are multiplied exponentionally, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
 

These Mahayana Precepts enable you to live in the essence of pure moral conduct, and since you take them with the strong motivation of cherishing and wishing to benefit all others, their value is immeasurable. Taking these precepts is a powerful and effective way for you to build, maintain and increase deep propensities for spiritual practice and attainment and thus is a profound method for giving meaning to this precious human life.
 

The essence of this practice is to recall the Mahayana motivation; to take these precepts in order to become enlightened in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.
 

The eight precepts are:
 

1.    Not to kill, even insects.
2.    Not to steal (Not to take what is not offered).
3.    Not to engage in sexual contact.
4.    Not to lie.
5.    Not use intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and drugs (except for medicinal purposes).
6.    Not to eat at wrong times.*
7.    Not to sit on high, expensive beds or seats with pride. Avoid sitting on animal skins.
8.    Not to wear jewelry, perfume, or makeup; and not to sing, dance, or play music with attachment.
 

*It is alright to eat a light breakfast before or after the precepts. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, onions, garlic, and radishes. The main meal of the day is to be finished by midday. After that one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp, nor any food until sunrise of the following day.
 

You may read more about the precepts here.

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

This course runs August 2 through August 30.

In keeping with Kadampa Center traditiion, we do not request a fee to attend this class -- the Dharma is too precious to let money be an obstacle to hearing teachings. We do welcome any heartfelt donations to help cover the cost of offering Meditation 101. This class is led by Venerable Lhamo

In October and November this year, Geshe Sangpo and Venerable Khando will lead a pilgrimage to India, including Sera Jey Monastery and holy sites in and near Bodhgaya. Expected dates are October 31 to November 17 or 18 and may vary by one or two days. If you have any interest please attend one of the following information meetings: Sunday, May 13 in the Gompa immediately after the teachings. Monday, May 14 at 6pm. Monday, May 21 at 6pm. Trip size is limited to 15. We will be a spiritual family creating great imprints together.

Venerable Khando is responsible for trip planning and preparation.

Are you interested in Buddhism but don't know where to start? Have you heard words like dharma and karma and samsara thrown around and wondered what they meant or why they mattered? Do you want to get a quick overview of Buddhism without making a long-term commitment?

Then…we have just the program for you. 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.

In five classes we provide a broad, simple overview of these and other key aspects of Buddhism and our practice. There is no required reading, no homework and no quizzes! There is, however, a suggested reading list for those who want to read more. Topics covered include:

• The Four Noble Truths
• Different kinds of Buddhism: Theravadan, Mahayana, Vajrayana, etc.
• Buddha's teachings in a gradual form for the practice of one individual...where to start, what next, etc.
• A brief introduction to meditation

In keeping with our tradition, these classes are offered on a donation basis. No pre-registration is needed. This course is led by Patti Pandya

On this auspicious holy day, Saka Dawa, Geshe Sangpo will offer Refuge, and the Five Lay Vows. It is especially wonderful to be able to take these vows on a Buddha holy day, when the karmic effects of our actions increase exponentially! Taking refuge vows is making a commitment to Buddhism as one's spiritual path. It also creates a karmic bond with the teacher who offers the vows. When you take refuge in the Three Jewels, the refuge master conferring the vows will also give you a refuge name in Tibetan. The Five Lay Vows are a set of basic ethical principals, vows not to kill, take what has not been given, lie, take intoxicants or commit sexual misconduct (that is, have sex with someone else's partner). The Five Lay Vows are lifetime vows, so only need to be taken once, and should be taken with the confidence you will keep them.

Geshe Sangpo will offer a Refuge and Five Lay Vows ceremony.  Taking Refuge is making a commitment to the Buddha-Dharma as your spiritual path. Refuge must be taken with a qualified master, and creates a karmic bond between the student and the master offering the vows.

In order to participate, you must register ahead of time.  The deadline to register is Friday, May 25. Registration is closed.

Students who have already taken refuge are welcome to attend and renew their vows, but should not register.

Geshe Gelek recommends anyone interested in taking refuge should read the refuge section in the book Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand (available in our bookstore). He also taught a class on refuge in 2013 for students interested in the ceremony - you can listen to it in the recordings section of our website.

The ceremony will likely be in Tibetan, but it is first explained in English what you are saying. Please plan to be there at least 15 minutes before the ceremony starts. At the end of the ceremony, it is traditional to offer two katas (white offering scarfs, available in the bookstore) - one to the Buddha statue on the altar, and one to the teacher giving the vows, who returns it by placing it over your head as a blessing. While we often have spare ones to lend, it is best to buy them so you are actually making an offering of your own. It is also auspicious to give the teacher a gift, typically money (any amount) in an envelope, in appreciation for the incredible gift he has just given you with this opportunity. The center will also be giving you a copy of the FPMT booklet on refuge and how to practice it daily.

Kadampa Center will open at 5 am; the Eight Mahayana Precepts will begin at 5:15 am.

5:15 am  The Eight Mahayana Precepts,  a set of eight vows taken for a period of 24 hours, from sunrise on one day to sunrise the following day. The vows include no killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying, sitting on high seats, and more.

The first time you take these precepts, it must be from a qualified master. After that, you can take them from your altar. Geshe Sangpo will offer precepts if students request it.  If you wish to take precepts for the first time, please register here by Saturday, May 26.

Please register ONLY if you have not taken precepts before.

Following the precepts, we will have a light breakfast and a group reading of a sutra.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a set of vows that are taken for 24 hours, from first light before dawn to sunrise of the following day. The only prerequisite is that the first time one takes precepts it should be from a qualified teacher who has received the oral transmission of the practice. Thereafter you can perform the ceremony at first light yourself, reciting the prayers before an image of your teacher or the Buddha, imagining you are taking the vows from Buddha himself.

 It is good to take them on full and new moon days, and especially beneficial on Buddha Holy Days, when Karmic results are multiplied exponentionally, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
 

These Mahayana Precepts enable you to live in the essence of pure moral conduct, and since you take them with the strong motivation of cherishing and wishing to benefit all others, their value is immeasurable. Taking these precepts is a powerful and effective way for you to build, maintain and increase deep propensities for spiritual practice and attainment and thus is a profound method for giving meaning to this precious human life.
 

The essence of this practice is to recall the Mahayana motivation; to take these precepts in order to become enlightened in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.
 

The eight precepts are:
 

1.    Not to kill, even insects.
2.    Not to steal (Not to take what is not offered).
3.    Not to engage in sexual contact.
4.    Not to lie.
5.    Not use intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and drugs (except for medicinal purposes).
6.    Not to eat at wrong times.*
7.    Not to sit on high, expensive beds or seats with pride. Avoid sitting on animal skins.
8.    Not to wear jewelry, perfume, or makeup; and not to sing, dance, or play music with attachment.
 

*It is alright to eat a light breakfast before or after the precepts. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, onions, garlic, and radishes. The main meal of the day is to be finished by midday. After that one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp, nor any food until sunrise of the following day.
 

You may read more about the precepts here.