Gompa

Imagine your heart is so warm and full that all you can think about is giving others all they need -- possessions, happiness, fearlessness.

Imagine your mind is so patient, ou're not bothered by the neighbor's loud stereo, the driver who cuts in front of you, the co-worker who takes credit for your work.

Imagine you have developed such concentration that you can focus for hours on a single thought.

These are just some of the Six Perfections, the summary of all the deeds of a bodhisattva.

Through these practices -- Generosity, Patience, Morality, Joyous Effort, Concentration and Wisdom-- bodhisattvas hone and perfect their ability to work tirelessly for the benefit of others.

In this weekend retreat, Geshe Gelek will lead us in meditating on the Six Perfections.

Noland’s farm is a lovely setting for retreat – a peaceful place in the country with lots of space for reflection. The accommodations are quite rustic – sleeping is indoors, but be prepared to bring sleeping bags and padding. Camping is also an option. The farm is not fully handicapped accessible, including uneven ground for walking and stairs or steps to entrances. The farm is located in Alamance County, off Route 87 about halfway between Route 40 and Route 64 (about 15 minutes north of Pittsboro). Exact directions will be sent after registration.

At the retreat, we uphold the five retreat precepts of no lying; no taking something that isn’t freely given; no killing; no sexual contact; no use of drugs, alcohol or smoking.

Please plan to arrive at the farm on Friday betwen 3:30-5:30pm (if possible to check in). Dinner will be at 6:00pm and a mandatory orientation session begins at 7:00pm.

After a noon lunch on Sunday is a final cleaning and packing session.

Click on the link below to register.

Register here

Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth.

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this evening practice. Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Shankha Mitra, this session is aimed at students in the course, but is also open to students who meet the above criteria. An important part of the Discovering Buddhism course is trying the practices, and this class allows students the opportunity to have guidance aLearn the essential facts about the law of cause and effect. Explore ways to deal with life most effectively and take control of your future!nd the support of group practice to learn.

Investigate the role of the teacher on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities of teacher and student, and how to relate to a teacher for greatest benefit.

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this evening practice. Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Don Brown, this session is aimed at students in the course, but is also open to students who meet the above criteria. An important part of the Discovering Buddhism course is trying the practices, and this class allows students the opportunity to have guidance aLearn the essential facts about the law of cause and effect. Explore ways to deal with life most effectively and take control of your future!nd the support of group practice to learn.

Investigate the role of the teacher on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities of teacher and student, and how to relate to a teacher for greatest benefit.

Relating to the Spiritual Teacher is part of a two-year series of classes called Discovering Buddhism. In this course we explore 13 essential topics in Buddhism, from Meditation to Karma to Death and Rebirth, with much, much more! This is an excellent course of study for those who have the very basics and wish to start going a little deeper into Buddhist philosophy.

DB was developed by our affiliate organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, and is taught at Kadampa Center by senior lay students with many years of study and practice. Students who take the course together tend to develop great friendships with their Dharma buddies!

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.  No pre-registration is required.

This class is led by Don Brown.

Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth.

Refuge in the Three Jewels is part of a two-year series of classes called Discovering Buddhism. In this course we explore 13 essential topics in Buddhism, from Meditation to Karma to Death and Rebirth, with much, much more! This is an excellent course of study for those who have the very basics and wish to start going a little deeper into Buddhist philosophy.

DB was developed by our affiliate organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, and is taught at Kadampa Center by senior lay students with many years of study and practice. Students who take the course together tend to develop great friendships with their Dharma buddies!

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.  No pre-registration is required.

This class is led by  Shankha Mitra, with visiting teacher Don Handrick on Monday, June 5.

The great sage Lama Tsongkhapa taught that the four-point analysis is the best tool to use for meditation on emptiness.

In this class, Geshe Gelek will teach how to do the four-point analysis meditation.

This class is designed for students who are interested in developing their understanding of emptiness, and/or those who attended the Basic Program class on the Heart Sutra.

Lama Tsongkhapa is the founder of our lineage, the Gelugpa tradition, in Tibetan Buddhism. He was a renowned scholar, practitioner, meditator, teacher and author.  His studies and meditations in all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism resulted in the founding of the Gelugpa lineage.        Among his major accomplishments is writing the Lamrim, or the Great Treatise on the Path to Enlightenment, a step-by-step guide to the spiritual practices that lead to enlightenment. He also wrote several condensed versions of the Lamrim, including Foundation of All Good Qualities, the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, and Song of Experience. He also revitalized the monastic code in Tibet, established the annual Great Prayer Festival, established Ganden Monastery, the first of the great monasteries in the Gelugpa tradition, and wrote 18 volumes of teachings.  Lama Tsongkhapa Day is a celebration of the anniversary of his parinirvana. Practices recommended for this day include making offerings and reciting Lamrim texts, as well as Guru Puja.

At Kadampa Center, we will celebrate the day with a few events.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day honors a very powerful practitioner so there is great power in the merit of supporting it financially. Supporting this holy day's spiritual practices – whether you are able to attend or not – is an opportunity to collect great merit. If you are sponsoring but not attending, you can offer prayers for those who are participating in the events.

Geshe Gelek encourages students who have previously taken Eight Mahayana Precepts to take them at home before their altar.

At 10:30 am, we will do practices honoring Lama Tsongkhapa and meditating on the major points of the lamrim. Sponsor the morning practice ($75)

At 6 pm we will make light offerings to the stupa. Sponsor the light offerings ($50)

At 7 pm we will have Guru Puja. All are welcome to come and join in!  Sponsor the Guru Puja ($125)

In Guru Puja, we reflect on and celebrate the good qualities of all our teachers -- and Lama Tsongkhapa is such an important lineage teacher for us! This
beautiful practice includes many stanzas meditating on key points of the lamrim.