Courses in Buddhism and Meditation | The Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center for Meditation (FPMT), Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland

A Restriction: Guhyasamaja Center has a new policy regarding the Shugden practice in accordance with the general approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and the teachers at the great Gelugpa monasteries. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has expressed the wish "not to have a guru-disciple relationship with anyone who is practicing Shugden." Likewise, Gyume Khensur Rinpoche has recently made a commitment at Sera Monastery with respect to the Shugden issue. Therefore, those who are doing this practice are requested not to attend any initiations or tantric teachings with Rinpoche or at the center in general.

We are truly fortunate that Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche returns to teach at our Center from May - September, 2009. He will also be teaching at the Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Center in Fairfax, VA. Please visit their website for more information.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche encourages us to practice Lama Chopa with Tsok, Chittamani Tara, Medicine Buddha, and to read the Sanghata Sutra as important means for deepening our own Dharma practices and for building the Center. We welcome you to participate, please see below for specific dates.

In the listing below, Dharma classes are presented first followed by group prayers and other practices. And don't forget the monthly "virtual" Golden Light Sutra readings (first Sunday of the month) organized by Ven. Tenzin Lhamo, click here for more information.

Saturdays
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190, lower level

For the Sake of Others: meditation on love and compassion

Saturdays
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190, lower level
Suggested offering: $10

How do we guard our commitment to help rescue sentient beings from suffering? Conscientiousness or carefulness is the key practice to protect our commitment from deteriorating. Ven Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche explains these core practices as they are described beginning with Chapter 5 of the great Indian master Shantideva's most famous work, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life . More...

You are welcome to attend even if you have missed some of the classes. Please bring your own cushion if you prefer sitting on the floor.

Recordings of the weekly teachings are available on our website . Discussion questions are posted on our blog as part of the Center's offering of the FPMT Basic Program. Details about the Center's program and registration are available here.

Suggested offering: $35 members, $50 non-members (No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Please read our policy on donations and/or contact us for special arrangements if necessary.)

Sunday
International Campaign for Tibet
1825 Jefferson Place NW
Washington, DC 20036 (not wheelchair accessible, metro: DuPont Circle Red Line)

In order to help all sentient beings escape from suffering, we strive to become Enlightened. The main causes for Enlightenment are great compassion, bodhicitta and perfect method. The methods, commonly referred to as the Six Perfections are: generosity, ethical discipline, patience, perserverance, meditative stabilization, and wisdom. Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche explains how we can live in accordance with these principles and thus find peace. He bases his teaching on the famous Guru Puja prayer by the First Panchen Lama Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen (Six Perfections: verses 101 - 108).

Suggested reading: Text: Lama Chopa Expanded Edition Spiral Booklet (SKU: E-LCS) http://www.fpmt.org/shop/

Saturdays
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190, lower level
Suggested offering: $10

Relax with us as we slow down and watch our breath, experiencing how our thoughts gradually settle like doves returning to their nests at dusk.

Silent meditation with some guidance. Open to people of all faiths. Please bring your own meditation cushion. Led by: Ven Tendrol

The Lama Chopa (Guru Puja) combines chanted prayers (in Tibetan), offerings, and meditation. It contains all the elements of the Lam Rim with a focus on the profound nature of guru devotion. Traditionally participants bring flowers, fruits and other food offerings. Led by Ven Khensur Rinpoche. Open to all. More...

The month of saka dawa celebrates Buddha Shakyamuni's birth, Enlightenment, and parinirvana. It is one of the holiest periods of the year and during this time our prayers and practices are particularly beneficial and create unlimited merit.

To honor our beloved teacher Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Losang Jampa, we invite you to join us in offering our White Tara practice to him. His teacher, Ven Dhakpa Rinpoche suggested that we each do as many recitations of the White Tara mantra as possible. For those who have not had the White Tara initiation, you can still recite the mantra.

The mantra is: om tare tuttare ture guru ayur punye jnyana pushtim kuru ye soha

Also recite om tara tuttare ture soha as many times as possible. Please dedicate your practice to Rinpoche's continued good health and well-being, pray that all his holy aspirations for the benefit of all sentient beings are quickly realized.

This year Saka Dawa runs from May 25 - June 22nd. On June 22nd , please email the total number of your mantra recitations (i.e., the number of malas you completed) to: longlifemantras at gmail.com. If you would like to commit to reciting a certain number of mantras ahead of time, you can email your pledge.

Please feel free to share this with Rinpoche's students, we would like as many people as possible to participate. We will publicize the final mantra count via email and our website. If you have questions, please email Tendrol (longlifemantras at gmail.com ).