Gompa

Examine the mind and how it creates happiness and suffering. Learn to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes to create a positive and joyous mind!

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this evening practice. Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Robbie Watkins, 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 and the support of group practice to learn.

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.

This class is led by Shankha Mitra.

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 Sandy Carlson.

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.

On this day, who have taken these precepts before will meet to take them together.

The first time a student takes these precepts it must be from a qualified teacher.

Join us for the power of group practice to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts, followed by a light breakfast, on the celebration of Chokor Duchen, the first teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha on the Four Noble Truths.

Examine the mind and how it creates happiness and suffering. Learn to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes to create a positive and joyous mind!

Mind and Its Potential is the first 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. 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 module is taught by Robbie Watkins

Tonglen meditation is a powerful tool for developing bodhicitta, the altruistic wish to benefit others.

Tonglen literally means send and take, and in this meditation we breathe out and send all our very best -- our happiness, well-being, wealth, health, everything beneficial -- to others, then breathe in and take all their suffering.

We can do this on a simple scale (just ourselves or our nearest, dearest friends), or on a grand scale: all sentient beings!
The crucial piece of this practice is using it to destroy our self-cherishing mind.

Geshe Gelek has been teaching this practice and leading us in it at Wednesday night classes; here we will devote an hour to the same practice.
Led by Erin Sloan

Let's get ready for Lama Zopa Rinpoche's visit on August 13th by making our grounds beautiful and clean!
Join us from 9 am - noon followed by lunch after.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche Teaches on The Seven Point Mind Training

Don't miss this rare and precious opportunity - a one-day visit from our Teacher and Spiritual Director Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. On his way to our Light of the Path Retreat, Rinpoche agreed to spend the day at Kadampa Center to teach the fundamental text Seven Point Mind Training.

Known for his unpredictable teaching style, Lama Zopa Rinpoche often will change the subject to better suit the needs of the students. As an FPMT center we place all our vision, practices, and programs under his guidance. Just meeting Rinpoche is extremely special, much less directly hearing his unique humor, insight, and compassion!

In addition to offering a teaching, Rinpoche has granted us the rare opportunity to celebrate a Guru Puja with him. By joining in this puja with Rinpoche, we create the cause to meet him again in future lives. Our prayers also create the cause for him to remain in this life even longer – how wonderful!  There will be ordained sangha from around the world participating in the puja, so don’t miss it!

Lama Yeshe on Guru Puja and Tsog:

Tsog means gathering. We gather together the things we’re offering, and we ourselves gather together to do the practice. Gathering together with other practitioners, concentrating our minds into the same space, gives us great inspiration. It’s much better than just doing puja alone in our own rooms. This is the Tibetan connotation of tsog.

Tsog in the Tibetan tradition is a most profound method of purification, a profound way of gaining realizationns. When you recite the text in English you can see how many subjects are included in the practice.

The Guru Puja, for example, covers the entire path to enlightenment from beginning to end. So it can happen that in your daily meditations on the lamrim you’re not making any obvious progress, then suddenly during a puja, because of the conducive atmosphere you’ve created, zoom! — some realization comes into your mind. Many people have gained realizations during a puja simply because of the atmosphere.

Another connotation of tsog is ‘party’ — a party at which we share simultaneously born great wisdom and bliss. Now that’s a party.

Click here for more information about Guru Puja.

The schedule:

We advise arriving at least 15 minutes in advance.  We will greet Rinpoche with katas in the parking lot when he arrives.

     11 am  Teaching on Seven Point Thought Transformation

      1 pm  Lunch break (light snacks offered)

      3 pm   Guru Puja with Tsog

Students are encouraged to bring katas (or buy one in the bookstore – best to get one in advance if you can!) and line up to welcome Rinpoche as he arrives, and there will be an opportunity to present offerings at the end of the day. The teachings will be transcribed live during the event in case anyone has difficulty understanding his English with an accent. Copies of the text will be handed out at the event.

Sponsors

You can help make this visit possible -- see below for information about sponsoring Rinpoche's visit!

Volunteers

You can also help by volunteering! A meeting for volunteers will be held on Sunday, July 31 after the Sunday teaching.  Also, join us on August 6 for an outdoor work day or drop by on Friday August 12 to help inside the Center.  There will also be a lot happening at the center the week before the visit. For questions please contact program.donna@kadampa-center.org.  

A Short Biography

(From Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive)

Rinpoche was born in Thami, Nepal, in 1946. At the age of three he was recognized as the reincarnation of Sherpa Nyingma yogi, Kunsang Yeshe, the Lawudo Lama. Rinpoche’s Thami home was not far from the Lawudo cave, in the Mount Everest region of Nepal, where his predecessor meditated for the last twenty years of his life. Rinpoche’s own description of his early years may be found in his book, The Door to Satisfaction (Wisdom Publications). At the age of ten, Rinpoche went to Tibet and studied and meditated at Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s monastery near Pagri, until the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 forced him to forsake Tibet for the safety of Bhutan.

Rinpoche then went to the Tibetan refugee camp at Buxa Duar, West Bengal, India, where he met Lama Yeshe, who became his closest teacher. The Lamas went to Nepal in 1967, and over the next few years built Kopan and Lawudo Monasteries. In 1971 Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the first of his famous annual lam-rim retreat courses, which continue at Kopan to this day.

In 1974, with Lama Yeshe, Rinpoche began traveling the world to teach and establish centers of Dharma. When Lama Yeshe passed away in 1984, Rinpoche took over as spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), which has continued to flourish under his peerless leadership. More details of Rinpoche’s life and work may be found on the FPMT Web site.

Teachings by Rinpoche

Thousands of pages of Rinpoche's teachings have been made available as transcripts, books and audio by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, and most are freely available on the Archive's website. Rinpoche’s other published teachings include Wisdom Energy (with Lama Yeshe), Transforming Problems, Dear Lama Zopa and and many prayer and practice booklets available in Kadampa Center's bookstore.

Sponsorship Opportunities 

Kadampa Center has a tradition of offering these precious teachings solely on a donation basis so that money is never an obstacle to hearing the Dharma. In order to support the hosting of visiting teachers without ticket fees, we offer various sponsorship opportunities. Each sponsor can elect to prepare a personal dedication to be read aloud and posted at the center during the teacher's visit, and will have reserved seating. Part of the money received is offered to the teacher at the end of the event on behalf of the entire center community.

Any of the options may have multiple sponsors. Choose from one of the options in the drop-down below, and you will be taken through our online process. Or, you may email centermanager@kadampa-center.org to offer your precious sponsorship! 

Special note to our precious sponsors:  Our center manager and office admin will be out of town setting up for the retreat, so if you wish to include a dedication for your sponsorship, please submit it by noon, Thursday, August 11.  You can still create the incredible merit of giving the Dharma through sponsorships after that time, but we won’t be able to include your dedication.

Donations

Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. You may place cash or check in one of our conveniently located donation boxes. If you would like to give by credit card, click here.

Sponsor Rinpoche's visit here