Sunday, December 1, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Tea meditation 

Led by Acharya Chöying Gyurmey and Tea Master Vivian Li

A tea meditation involves being mindful and present during all aspects of the tea ritual including making the tea, drinking the tea, and being aware of the environment and the effects on your mind and body. Tea meditation is an example of how to apply meditation to daily life.

By donation 

Please join us for a potluck lunch after the meditation. (Bring vegetarian food to share.)

Mondays, December 2, 9, 16, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Beginners’ Tibetan Language Class

Taught by Miriam Paknys under the direction of Acharya Chöying Gyurmey

Wednesdays, December 4, 11, and 18, 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Chenrezik and Amitabha Sadhanas

Love, compassion, joy, and wisdom—together known as bodhicitta—are the indivisible nature of the Buddha’s enlightened mind. Chenrezik (Skt. Avalokiteshvara), the Buddha of Infinite Compassion, embodies these virtuous qualities. 

Through the practice of Amitabha, the Buddha of Boundless Light, beings, especially those with faith, are guided to rebirth in Dewachen (Skt. Sukhavati), the pure realm of immaculate happiness, joy, and bliss. 

By donation

Thursdays, December 5, 12, 19, and 26, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Intermediate Tibetan Language Class

Saturdays, December 7 and 21, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
IN PERSON ONLY

Dharma Book Club

We are reading Excellent at the Beginning by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. We will be discussing the chapter “The Four Foundations of Mindfulness.”  

Everyone is welcome.

By donation

Sunday, December 8, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Medicine Buddha Day
Medicine Buddha Sadhana

Medicine Buddha is the practice of physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. This Healing Buddha practice reveals the true cause of any affliction.

By donation

Tuesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Guru Rinpoche Day

Kunchok Chidu Sadhana and Tsog offering 

Prayers to Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, are considered increasingly powerful in these difficult times. He is often invoked for protection and to remove obstacles.

By donation

Saturday, December 14, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

King of Aspiration Prayers and Tonglen meditation

The recitation of the Aspiration Prayer (Mönlam) is made to spread the seeds of loving kindness and pure motivation, to activate their power, and hence bring about genuine peace, love, happiness, and well-being in the world. ~ 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Tonglen (a Tibetan word meaning “sending and receiving”) is a meditative practice of mind training (lojong) to develop the inner qualities of loving kindness, compassion, and bodhicitta.

By donation

Sunday, December 15
IN PERSON ONLY

Full Moon Day

6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Sojong, Treasury of Blessings, Heart Sutra, Lamp Offering

Sojong is a short ritual for taking the eight Mahayana vows of a lay practitioner for a single day. These vows are to be taken before sunrise and include not eating after the midday meal.

The Treasury of Blessings Sadhana is a simple and beautiful meditation on Sakyamuni Buddha that anyone can practise.

The Heart Sutra encapsulates the topic of the Prajnaparamita (Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom) Sutra on the unerring paths of methods taught in all Sutras. 

Through the Lamp Offering, we offer light with the aspiration that obstacles to personal and global peace be overcome; and that happiness, love, and compassion spread throughout the world and benefit all beings.

8:00 a.m. Breakfast. Please bring vegetarian food to share for breakfast.

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Shamatha (calm abiding meditation)

By donation

Sundays, December 15 and 22, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Shamatha (calm abiding meditation)

Shamatha meditation is a fundamental Buddhist contemplative practice that develops the mind’s ability to reach a state of tranquility and lucidity.

By donation

Wednesday, December 25, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dakini Day

Green Tara sadhana

The all-victorious Saviouress manifests 21 emanations to help beings. Tara vanquishes obstacles and fear and protects those in danger and difficulty who call to her. The Green Tara prayer and recitation of the 21 Tara Praises avert and dispel obstacles. 

By donation

Saturday, December 28 & Sunday, December 29, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Annual Mahakala Retreat

The Two-Armed Mahakala Bernatchen is a Wisdom Deity, a Bodhisattva whose wrathful manifestation is an expression of skillful means to subdue harmful forces affecting beings, personally and globally. Prayers to Mahakala are traditionally offered before the New Year to clear away obstacles of the previous year, and to give rise to a fruitful New Year of peace, harmony, and prosperity.

Everyone can participate and benefit from the blessings for one’s personal well-being, the well-being of one’s loved ones, and for the world in general. 

Everyone is invited to stay for lunch.

This month December 29 is a Protector Day, so we will do the Mahakala Tsog offering. You can bring an offering for the Tsog such as fruit, juice, or cookies.

Opportunities for sponsorship:

Sponsorship of the noontime meal: $150  

Sponsorship of flowers for the shrine: $50

Sponsorship of 108 electronic candles: $21

General donations of any amount are also appropriate and appreciated on this occasion.

For donations and sponsorship: https://rigpedorjemontreal.org/en/dons-activites/