Gompa

Buddhism is a psychology of the mind, providing us methods to understand our emotions and how to change our bad habits and thoughts to be happy. The Sunday teachings about how to practice Dharma in daily life, led by one of our resident teachers, Geshe Gelek Chodha or Geshe Palden Sangpo,  are appropriate for visitors and students of all levels of study and interest in Buddhism. The session typically includes a brief meditation, prayers, and the rare opportunity to learn from a highly trained Tibetan Buddhist monk. When Geshe-la is away, several senior students typically lead these sessions. The teachings and prayers are offered in English.

The creation of a sand mandala is a rare and beautiful practice that requires extensive training in rituals. Over the weekend, Tibetan monks will be creating a Green Tara sand mandala, and students and visitors are invited to come watch as the monks build this ritual artwork by hand. The "sand" is actually mostly colored marble ground to a powder, sometimes with other precious substances.

The completed mandala will be on view during theGreen Tara puja from 2:00-3:00pm. At 3:00pm, there will be a brief closing ceremony where, with a remembrance of impermanence, the sand mandala will be deconstructed. Some of the blessed "sand" will be available to attendees with instructions how it can be used in Buddhist practice.

Kadampa Center monks will perform a Green Tara puja at 2 p.m.  Green Tara, a female Buddha, has the power to remove obstacles and is the embodiment of compassion in action.

There will be a Green Tara sand mandala on display during the puja. At 3:00pm, there will be a closing ceremony where, with a remembrance of impermanence, the sand mandala will be deconstructed and taken to a body of water to be dispersed. Some of the blessed "sand" will be available to attendees with instructions how it can be used in Buddhist practice.

The creation of a sand mandala is a rare and beautiful practice that requires extensive training in rituals.

From Thursday, Nov 12 through Sunday, Nov 15, Geshe Sangpo and Gen Norbu will create a Green Tara mandala for happiness, peace and prosperity. Students and visitors are invited to come watch as the monks build this ritual artwork by hand. The "sand" is actually mostly colored marble ground to a powder, sometimes with other precious substances.

Tara is a female Buddha whose qualities include enlightened action and swiftly removing obstacles to our spiritual growth, happiness, health and prosperity. The sand mandala represents the sacred space that is Tara's universe, and in creating the mandala we invite Tara to be present.

At 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, there will be a very short opening ceremony (about 5 minutes).

On Sunday the 15th, after the mandala is completed, the monks will perform a Tara puja at 2 p.m. When the puja is complete,  there will be an opportunity to view the mandala up close, followed by a closing ceremony where, with a remembrance of impermanence, the sand mandala will be deconstructed and taken to a body of water to be dispersed. Some of the blessed "sand" will be available to attendees with instructions how it can be used in Buddhist practice.

When he was 41, Shakyamuni Buddha ascended to Tushita to repay his mother's kindness by giving teachings to liberate her from samsara. After three months, he returned  to earth to continue his teachings at the request of his disciples.  As a Buddha Holy Day, this is an auspicious day for practice, when the karmic effects of actions are multiplied exponentially, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

At Kadampa Center, we will complete the day with a Shakyamuni Buddha puja at 7 p.m.

Anyone is invited to bring their own flower or food offerings to this puja -- please arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time to set them on the altar!

Click here to sponsor this puja.

When he was 41, Shakyamuni Buddha ascended to Tushita to repay his mother's kindness by giving teachings to liberate her from samsara. After three months, he returned  to earth to continue his teachings at the request of his disciples.  As a Buddha Holy Day, this is an auspicious day for practice, when the karmic effects of actions are multiplied exponentially, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

At Kadampa Center, we will begin the day with offering precepts, and complete the day with a Shakyamuni Buddha puja. The center will be open all day for personal practice. 

6 a.m.-Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts, followed by a light breakfast and a group reading of the Vajra Cutter Sutra 

  Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts:

Our FPMT Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends taking  these precepts on full and  new moon days, and especially  on Buddha Holy Days.
 
The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a set of vows that are taken for 24 hours, from dawn to sunrise of the following day. The first time one takes precepts it should be from a qualified teacher who has received the oral transmission of the practice. Thereafter you can perform the ceremony at first light yourself, reciting the prayers before an image of your teacher or the Buddha, imagining that you are taking the vows from Buddha himself.

If you haven’t previously taken precepts with Geshe Gelek or another qualified teacher and wish to do so on November 3rd, please email Patrick McGinity so that we can plan accordingly.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are to avoid the following:
1.  Killing, even insects.
2.  Stealing, taking what is not offered.
3.  Sexual contact.
4.  Telling lies, being deceitful.
5.  Intoxicants:  alcohol, tobacco, and drugs (except for medicinal purposes)
6.  Eating more than one main meal during the 24 hours.  The meal should be taken before noon, with only light liquids permitted after that. At other times of the day one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, onions, garlic, and radishes.
7.  Sitting on a high or expensive bed or seat with proud motivation.
8.  Wearing jewelry, perfume, make-up, and singing, dancing, or playing music with attachment.

The essence of this practice is to recall and maintain the Mahayana motivation:  taking these precepts to become enlightened in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.

This special Medicine Buddha puja is sponsored by Susan Potter for Sandy Wimbish, Susan't sister, who died recently.

Doing Medicine Buddha practice for sure benefits loved ones who are in the intermediate state (bardo), so we invite everyone in the community to come and say these prayers together in support of the family. The puja is done in English, so easy to follow if you are not already familiar with the prayers.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says the practice of Guru Puja “is very profound, with many extra benefits, and is very quick to bring enlightenment. …  The lam-rim prayer in Guru Puja contains all the profound, vital points of the complete path of sutra and tantra.”

At Kadampa Center, we do Guru Puja practice twice a month.

On Wednesday evenings in October, Geshe Gelek will teach us the meaning of Guru Puja, going through the practice and explaining the meaning and purpose of each section. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about this beautiful prayer ritual.

The entire Kadampa community is invited to a marriage blessing ceremony for Todd and Jenny Bustamante Ferrell. The purpose of this event is to practice together as a community; offer our support; and remove obstacles to a happy, prosperous, long-lasting relationship for these Center members.

The hour-long Ceremony will take place at Kadampa Center.  It will be led by Geshe Gelek.

 Geshe-la has counseled us that it is important for all in our community to come together for these kinds of practices, following in the footsteps of the Tibetan tradition, to support one another even if we do not know the particular individuals involved. So please do consider coming.