Gompa

Every Friday from 12:00-1:00, (except Puja days when we meet later, see calendar.)

Come to the Center (BYOL, bring your own lunch) and hang out around the big conference table.

Connections made now will support you and your practice in the future!

“Time is an illusion, lunch time doubly so.” ~ Douglas Adams

Join us for the power of group practice to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts, followed by a light breakfast, on the celebration of Saka Dawa. This day marks Shakyamuni Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana (passing from this life).

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are 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 beds, taking intoxicants, wearing perfume or jewelry, or eating after noon. Our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days.

These precepts must be taken from a qualified master the first time; afterward the student may take them at home before their altar.

Following the precepts ceremony, there will be a light breakfast and a group reading of the Vajra Cutter Sutra.

Geshe Gelek will offer precepts if students request it. If you wish to take precepts for the first time, please register here.

On this auspicious holy day, Saka Dawa, Geshe-la will offer Refuge, the Five Lay Vows, and Bodhisattva 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) Bodhisattva Vows are a set of 18 principals that areguides to which actions to practice and which to abandoned in order to be of greatest benefit to others, develop compassion, and overcome selfish ways of being.

You can learn more about these vows in this Mandala Magazine article. The Five Lay Vows are lifetime vows, so they only need to be taken once, and should be taken with the confidence you will keep them.

Those who have already taken refuge are welcome to attend and renew their vows.

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 arrive by 6:30. 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. 

Lay Vows and Bodhisattva Vows

Following the refuge ceremony, Geshe-la will offer the five Lay Vows and the Bodhisattva Vows.

Thanking the teacher

If you take any vows with Geshe-la, it is auspicious to thank him by offering and kata and a small gift, typically money (any amount) in an envelope. 

As with all our programs, we offer the Dharma and many resources freely to the community, and rely on your donations to cover the costs involved. Please consider supporting the center by making an offering in the donation boxes, through the bookstore, online, or by mailing a check.

If you have any questions, please email Donna at program.donna@kadampa-center.org

The Nuns will be in the gompa doing a Medicine Buddha Puja for Venerable Khando's sister.

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, we do not charge a fee to attend these classes. We do, however, welcome heartfelt donations to support our ability to offer them!  No pre-registration is needed.

This course is led by Elise Strevel.

Kadampa Center is happy to welcome VIsiting Teacher Don Handrick for a weekend workshop on Eight Steps to a Happy Life!

The Noble Eightfold Path is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha and still has great relevance today, providing us with effective guidelines for how to live our lives and develop spiritually. In this weekend course we will explore these eight factors that can alleviate our suffering and train in their skillful and practical application in order to find true happiness in daily life and beyond.

Don Handrick will help us explore these guidelines and how they can help us live truly happy, meaningful lives.

The schedule:

Friday, June 2  7-8:30 pm

Saturday, June 3  10 am - noon and 1:30 - 4 pm

Sunday, June 4   1:30 - 4 pm

Don will also teach our regular  Sunday morning Dharma for a Happy life, from 10:30-noon.

We encourage folks to bring a bag lunch on Saturday and Sunday, so we can keep our momentum by discussing the morning's teachings over lunch -- and get better acquainted in the process!

As always, these Dharma teachings will be offered with no entrance fee. However, there are extensive costs involved in bringing a visiting teacher from another city, including travel and food.  A great way to support the teachings is through sponsorship!

Sponsor Taking the Path to a Happy Life

Want to do more than just come and hear teachings?  We need volunteers to help greet folks at the door, and set up and take down water bowl offerings.  Sign up here for the volunteer job of your choice!

Learn more about Don Handrick.