Gompa

Meditation 101 is a five-week introductory course on Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners. It teaches basic Buddhist meditations that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in daily life.

In keeping with our tradition, no fee is required to attend the class. We do rely on donations, so any offerings are greatly appreciated!

No registraiton is required, but we recommend attending the entire course for the most benefit.

The basic Buddhist meditation techniques covered include:

• What is meditation?
• Breathing meditations
• Mindfulness meditations
• Visualization meditations

The final session on March 15 will be taught by visiting teacher Venerable Robina Courtin.

We are able to host Venerable Robina thanks to the generosity of sponsors. Sponsor the teachings.

The realization of emptiness is crucial for the attainment of liberation and enlightenment. Learn to develop calm abiding and different methods of meditation on emptiness.

Guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin will teach the course on Monday, March 14.

We are able to host Venerable Robina thanks to the generosity of sponsors. Sponsor the teachings.

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this practice.

Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Stephanie Smith, 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.

The realization of emptiness is crucial for the attainment of liberation and enlightenment. Learn to develop calm abiding and different methods of meditation on emptiness.

This module is led by Stephanie Smith.

Guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin will teach the course on Monday, March 14.

Stay tuned for more info.

Our Sunday morning teachings are a vibrant, interactive experience where we explore applying the methods of Buddhism to the nitty-gritty of daily life.  With the guidance of one of our resident teachers, Geshe Gelek Chodha or Geshe Palden Sangpo, we discuss the complications that make us unhappy, and how the tools of Buddhism sheds new light on our thoughts and emotions. In this process we discover how to steer our minds toward happiness.

Sunday mornings typically begin with prayers, a brief meditation, and the rare opportunity to learn from a highly trained Buddhist monk. When Geshe Gelek and Geshe Sangpo are away, one of several senior students will lead the session. The teachings and prayers are in English.

Geshe-la welcomes questions and frequently will ask for questions from us, so that he can tailor his teachings to our needs.  We collect questions at any time at the Center (there’s a box on the desk just inside the door for them), and you can also submit questions online.

Sunday is a great time for a first visit to Kadampa Center – students at every level come, from newcomers to practitioners with 30+ years of experience, and it's a great opportunity to meet others and start making new friends. 

We offer a full range of children's programs on Sundays. Children are invited to sit on the blue cushions at the front of the gompa, and then depart to their classes after opening prayers. Any child who wishes to is welcome to remain in the gompa for the teachings.

On many Sundays, we also host other events, such as the Newcomer Orientation, New Member Orientation, pujas, and more. Special events for holy days, special practices, or exhibits and visiting teachers are also occasionally held on Sundays, so for all these events please check the calendar for more information and specific times.

On Sunday, January 24, 2016, we will hold our Annual Meeting to close out 2015. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The teachings will end 30 minutes early at 11:30 and the meeting will end at 12:15. (There will be care for the children.)

We will have an address from:
Director, Robbie Watkins
Board of Directors President, Hemant Pandya
Center Manager, Jill Marie
Co-Spiritual Coordinator, Donna Seese

End of Year Financial Reoprt from Treasurer, David Strevel

We will have time for concerns, questions and discussion.

We hope you will attend and find out what's going on at YOUR Center.

As the great Bodhisattva Shantideva said, “If you churn the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha, their essence is bodhicitta.”  Therefore, it is extremely important for us to strive to achieve the uncontrived, effortless experience of bodhicitta.  To quote Rilbur Rinpoche, "The aspiration to attain enlightenment in order to benefit all living beings is something that is truly inconceivable, truly splendid and marvelous.”

Bodhicitta is the doorway to the great vehicle (Mahayana) and the higher practices that ultimately lead to the freedom, joy and happiness of enlightenment.  Bodhicitta is more than just compassion or a good heart; it is an attitude that transforms all of our actions into the causes for enlightenment.  It is an antidote to our worst enemy, selfishness/egocentricity.  

Our lives are so precious and yet so short.  To make life meaningful we must make the time to study, practice and actualize this most important teaching of the Buddha.  To make excuses and procrastinate would be truly unfortunate.  As Pabongka Rinpoche said in Heart Spoon:

“Who’s faster:
Yama, the Lord of Death,
Or you in your practice of realizing the essence of you eternal dream -
The welfare of both yourself and others (bodhicitta) - as much as you can each day?
Unifying the three doors of you body, speech and mind,
Put the whole of your effort into your practice.”

Please join us for this one-day retreat on Saturday, February 13 from 7:30 a.m. to  5 p.m. at Kadampa Center.  The retreat will incorporate the 12 successive meditations that result in the experience of bodhicitta, so attendance for the full day is essential. 

We will break for a brown-bag-style lunch. Because of time restraints, lunch will not be a potluck.

You must commit to participate in the entire retreat. This creates powerful energy in the retreat mandala!  

This retreat is open to everyone in the Kadampa Center community and is also the final session of the Discovering Buddhism module on How to Develop Bodhicitta.  
It will be led by Don Brown, the course facilitator.  

In keeping with our tradition, we charge no fee to participate in the retreat. Donations to Kadampa Center are happily welcomed!