Gompa

New Member Orientation CANCELLED due to weather

Sunday morning Meditation CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER.

It is a fundamental insight of the Buddha that the quality of our life depends primarily on the quality of our mind. As stated in the collection of Buddha’s sayings known as the Dharmapada:
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts; it is made up of our thoughts. If we speak or act with an impure mind, suffering follows us, as the wheel of a cart follows the foot of the ox that draws it….
If we speak or act with a pure mind, happiness follows us, like a shadow that never leaves.
    
Therefore all of Buddha’s teachings can be thought of as mind training: how to lessen and eventually eliminate the various harmful states of mind responsible for suffering and dissatisfaction, and how to cultivate and bring to perfection the beneficial states of mind that lead to temporary and ultimate happiness and fulfillment.

However, the term “mind training” (and its equivalent “thought transformation”) is most commonly used to translate the Tibetan term lo-jong, which refers specifically to those spiritual instructions concerned with cultivating the altruistic motivation of a bodhisattva, the supremely compassionate being aiming to achieve enlightenment for the sake of benefitting others. The selfless motivation of a bodhisattva is known as the precious bodhichitta and, as Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche always emphasizes, the greatest obstacle to developing this supremely altruistic motivation is what he calls "the demon of self-cherishing."

The work we will look at this weekend is called the Seven-point Mind Training, one of the fundamental texts of the lo-jong tradition, and it contains very profound and eminently practical advice for reducing the strength of our habitual selfishness and generating in its place the peerless jewel of bodhichitta.
The workshop will consist of lecture, meditation practice and Q&A.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

It is a fundamental insight of the Buddha that the quality of our life depends primarily on the quality of our mind. As stated in the collection of Buddha’s sayings known as the Dharmapada:
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts; it is made up of our thoughts. If we speak or act with an impure mind, suffering follows us, as the wheel of a cart follows the foot of the ox that draws it….
If we speak or act with a pure mind, happiness follows us, like a shadow that never leaves.
    
Therefore all of Buddha’s teachings can be thought of as mind training: how to lessen and eventually eliminate the various harmful states of mind responsible for suffering and dissatisfaction, and how to cultivate and bring to perfection the beneficial states of mind that lead to temporary and ultimate happiness and fulfillment.

However, the term “mind training” (and its equivalent “thought transformation”) is most commonly used to translate the Tibetan term lo-jong, which refers specifically to those spiritual instructions concerned with cultivating the altruistic motivation of a bodhisattva, the supremely compassionate being aiming to achieve enlightenment for the sake of benefitting others. The selfless motivation of a bodhisattva is known as the precious bodhichitta and, as Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche always emphasizes, the greatest obstacle to developing this supremely altruistic motivation is what he calls "the demon of self-cherishing."

The work we will look at this weekend is called the Seven-point Mind Training, one of the fundamental texts of the lo-jong tradition, and it contains very profound and eminently practical advice for reducing the strength of our habitual selfishness and generating in its place the peerless jewel of bodhichitta.
The workshop will consist of lecture, meditation practice and Q&A.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

It is a fundamental insight of the Buddha that the quality of our life depends primarily on the quality of our mind. As stated in the collection of Buddha’s sayings known as the Dharmapada:
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts; it is made up of our thoughts. If we speak or act with an impure mind, suffering follows us, as the wheel of a cart follows the foot of the ox that draws it….
If we speak or act with a pure mind, happiness follows us, like a shadow that never leaves.
    
Therefore all of Buddha’s teachings can be thought of as mind training: how to lessen and eventually eliminate the various harmful states of mind responsible for suffering and dissatisfaction, and how to cultivate and bring to perfection the beneficial states of mind that lead to temporary and ultimate happiness and fulfillment.

However, the term “mind training” (and its equivalent “thought transformation”) is most commonly used to translate the Tibetan term lo-jong, which refers specifically to those spiritual instructions concerned with cultivating the altruistic motivation of a bodhisattva, the supremely compassionate being aiming to achieve enlightenment for the sake of benefitting others. The selfless motivation of a bodhisattva is known as the precious bodhichitta and, as Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche always emphasizes, the greatest obstacle to developing this supremely altruistic motivation is what he calls "the demon of self-cherishing."

The work we will look at this weekend is called the Seven-point Mind Training, one of the fundamental texts of the lo-jong tradition, and it contains very profound and eminently practical advice for reducing the strength of our habitual selfishness and generating in its place the peerless jewel of bodhichitta.
The workshop will consist of lecture, meditation practice and Q&A.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

It is a fundamental insight of the Buddha that the quality of our life depends primarily on the quality of our mind. As stated in the collection of Buddha’s sayings known as the Dharmapada:
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts; it is made up of our thoughts. If we speak or act with an impure mind, suffering follows us, as the wheel of a cart follows the foot of the ox that draws it….
If we speak or act with a pure mind, happiness follows us, like a shadow that never leaves.
    
Therefore all of Buddha’s teachings can be thought of as mind training: how to lessen and eventually eliminate the various harmful states of mind responsible for suffering and dissatisfaction, and how to cultivate and bring to perfection the beneficial states of mind that lead to temporary and ultimate happiness and fulfillment.

However, the term “mind training” (and its equivalent “thought transformation”) is most commonly used to translate the Tibetan term lo-jong, which refers specifically to those spiritual instructions concerned with cultivating the altruistic motivation of a bodhisattva, the supremely compassionate being aiming to achieve enlightenment for the sake of benefitting others. The selfless motivation of a bodhisattva is known as the precious bodhichitta and, as Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche always emphasizes, the greatest obstacle to developing this supremely altruistic motivation is what he calls "the demon of self-cherishing."

The work we will look at this weekend is called the Seven-point Mind Training, one of the fundamental texts of the lo-jong tradition, and it contains very profound and eminently practical advice for reducing the strength of our habitual selfishness and generating in its place the peerless jewel of bodhichitta.
The workshop will consist of lecture, meditation practice, and Q&A.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

The meaning of Om Mani Padme Hung by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

The Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the process of spiritual growth and maturation are presented in terms of what is known as the Stages of the Path, or Lam-rim. The lam-rim demonstrates how all the teachings of the Buddha can be understood as the step-by-step training for properly motivated disciples, from their entrance into the spiritual path all the way up to their attainment of the full enlightenment of buddhahood.
There are many versions of these lam-rim teachings, including Atisha’s original Lamp of the Path and Lama Je Tsongkhapa's extensive Great Treatise. The text we will be following here is The Foundation of All Good Qualities, a short poem by Je Tsongkhapa called “the most concise and stirring outline available” of these lam-rim teachings.” In only fourteen stanzas, Tsongkhapa offers the practitioner a prayer that covers the entire graduated path to enlightenment, short enough to recite every day yet profound enough to study for a lifetime.
During these two Wednesday evening classes, we will be taking a look at this overview of the entire path while concentrating on certain points of particular interest to present-day students. Questions are welcome.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

Learn the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation.

How to Meditate is the second in 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. Jon guest-teaches the first session in this module.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Final night of the class will start early and incorporate meditation practices.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

Before he passed away, Shakyamuni Buddha advised his followers to visit the places where the main events of his life occurred: where he was born, achieved enlightenment, first turned the wheel of the Dharma, and entered parinirvana. Many people visiting these and other holy sites associated with the life and deeds of the Buddha and other great masters report receiving powerful inspiration that greatly enhanced their faith in the spiritual path. As Lama Yeshe used to say about visiting Bodh Gaya, site of Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, “When you go there you don’t even have to try to meditate; because of the power of the place, your mind automatically enters into meditation.”

In 2012 Jon led a three-week pilgrimage to many of these holy sites in Nepal and India. Come along to this evening’s session and enjoy a presentation of the photos he took during this inspiring pilgrimage and listen to stories about what took place in these remarkable places so many centuries ago.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.

Jon takes great delight in relating the events of Buddha’s life in a way that appeals to children and adults alike. Everyone is welcome to come to today’s session and listen to the story of Buddha while watching a colorful PowerPoint presentation of scenes from his life as illustrated by pictures from Jon’s popular work, Prince Siddhartha. Healthy snacks will be available.

As with all Dharma teachings at Kadampa Center, we offer Jon's classes without charging a fee, so that no one is prevented from hearing the precious Dharma because of money. Of course, there are costs involved in bringing the teachers to Kadampa Center, so we rely on the heartfelt generosity of our members, friends and visitors to cover those costs.

Click here to sponsor Jonathan Landaw.