Tuesday, September 2, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Guru Rinpoche Day
Kunchok Chidu Sadhana and Tsok

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.

Note:  Please bring fruits, cookies, cake, juice, etc. to offer for the Tsok. Out of concern for the environmental impact of our practice, we ask that you limit the amount of plastic packaging in any Tsok offerings you bring. Thank you for helping in this way.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Wednesdays, September 3 and 17, 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 are guided to rebirth in Dewachen (Skt. Sukhavati), the pure realm of immaculate happiness, joy, and bliss.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Thursdays, September 4, 11, 18, and 25, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Intermediate Tibetan language class

This intermediate-level Classical Tibetan class is now open to new participants.  People interested in joining the class should contact Acharya to find out if their level of Tibetan is appropriate for the class.

Suggested donation:  $10 per class

Saturday,  September 6, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

King of Aspiration Prayers

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.

—17^th Gyalwang Karmapa

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Sunday, September 7

Full Moon Day  

6:00 a.m. Mahayana Sojong Vows, Treasury of Blessings, Heart Sutra, and 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 practice.

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

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. In loving memory of the father of Dorje Tso (a Tibetan Dharma sister), the following prayers will be dedicated to him on the first anniversary of his passing: Chenrezig and Amitabha Sadhanas, King of Aspiration Prayers.

Note – Lunch will be offered. Kindly let us know if you’ll be joining so we can prepare accordingly.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Wednesday, September 10 and 24, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Guru Yoga and Calling the Lama from Afar

In the Vajrayana tradition, devotion to the guru is a fundamental practice.   With a heart filled with renunciation, we cultivate devotion to the guru, as we recite heartfelt supplications, asking for their blessings to realize all the stages of the path to enlightenment. We chant the prayer melodiously, confident in the knowledge that our guru is none other than the Awakened One.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14,
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Weekend teaching with Khenpo Tenkyong from Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) in Woodstock, N.Y. on the Creation and Completion Stages of Meditation, applied to the practice of Green Tara.  

According to the Vajrayana tradition, the creation and completion stages of meditation are essential components of ritual practice. This program focuses on these stages, exploring the wisdom of Green Tara.

As the all-victorious Saviour, Mother Tara manifests 21 emanations to benefit beings. Through her practice, we can experience swift and efficacious blessings, as Tara vanquishes obstacles, illness, and fear, as well as protecting those in danger and difficulty who supplicate to her. By praying to Tara, we can receive worldly and ultimate protection, assistance, benefits, and dispel many kinds of obstacles.

The sessions will include teaching, meditation, and Q&A.

Members:  Suggested donation $20 per session or $70 for the entire weekend
Non-members:  Suggested donation $25 per session or $90 for the entire weekend

Note:  If you are attending this teaching online, you will receive a special Zoom link after registering. 

REGISTRATION

Tuesday, September 16, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dakini Day
Green Tara Sadhana

Led by Khenpo Tenkyong and Acharya Chöying Gyurmey

Dakinis embody wisdom, spiritual power, and the feminine principle in Buddhism. In Vajrayana Buddhism, every 25th day of the lunar calendar is celebrated as Dakini Day, associated with the female embodiment of enlightenment. Dakini Day is considered auspicious for deepening spiritual practice, spiritual growth, overcoming obstacles, enhancing wisdom and intuition, and cultivating feminine energy.

Green Tara is a fully enlightened female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She represents both wisdom and compassion. Through her practice, which includes mantra recitation, visualization, and meditation, we receive protection and guidance and achieve spiritual growth. Her mantra, “Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha,” awakens one’s inherent Buddha-nature, promoting inner peace, compassion, wisdom, and enlightenment.

Note:  We will be using our regular Zoom link for this evening’s practice.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Saturday, September 20, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dharma Protector Day
Mahakala Puja

Mahakala Bernagchen is a Wisdom Deity, a Bodhisattva whose wrathful manifestation is an expression of skillful means to subdue harmful forces affecting beings, personally and globally.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Sunday, September 21, 10 a.m. to 11:30 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.

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Buddhism for the Curious 

Led by Anne Lynch

The story of the life of Buddha, his quest, and the path of liberation from suffering that he taught will be presented. There will be a short introduction to calm abiding meditation.

This introductory workshop is for people who are curious about Buddhism or who only know a little about it and would like to know more.

Everyone is welcome.

Free

Sunday, September 28, 10:00 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 can be practised at any time during the day. It’s an example of how to apply meditation to daily life.

Note:  Please bring some vegetarian food to share and join us for a potluck lunch after the meditation. 

Members: Free
Non-members: Suggested donation $10