Member of the
Foundation for the
Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
|
~ Upcoming Special Events ~
Golden Light Sutra Reading Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana |
|---|
We are extremely fortunate that Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Losang Jampa will be teaching at our Center from May 17 to the fall of 2008. Khensur Rinpoche has agreed to teach on a wide variety of subjects to meet the needs of students at all levels. His teachings will include:
- Weekly classes on Shantideva's A Guide to A Bodhisattva's Way of Life in Reston, VA
- Biweekly classes on the Lam Rim section of the Lama Chopa puja in Manassas, VA
- The Bliss of Inner Fire Retreat -- June 26 - 30 (Highest Yoga Tantra initiation required) in Beallsville, MD
- Mahamudra Retreat: Meditations on the Nature of Mind - August 15 - 18 in Reston, VA
- An opportunity to take refuge in the Triple Gem
- A Tara initiation and practice day in September in Reston, VA
- A Mahakala Initiation in September in Manassas, VA
- Monthly Lama Chopa with Tsok pujas and other practices held beginning in the Spring at 8120 Erika Drive, Manassas, VA. Note: this is a private residence and is only open to the public during these events.
As always, if you have questions about your Dharma practice, you can meet with Rinpoche and ask his advice. This is a very rare opportunity to get detailed, customized guidance on your daily meditation practice from a fully qualified guru. Consultations will be held by appointment only at: 8120 Erika Drive, Manassas, VA.
Ven. Tashi will be accompanying Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche. He prepares the ritual offerings, plays a lead role during our upcoming retreats, and manages Rinpoche's schedule.
We are also fortunate that Tenzin Bhuchung, the translator who has served Khensur Rinpoche for the past two years will be accompanying Rinpoche during his visit. We would like to thank Khacholing Center, Minnesota for making Tenzin Bhuchung's translation services available here through its Dharma Outreach Program.
During Rinpoche's visit, the Discovering Buddhism class will not be offered. We plan on continuing in the Fall of 2008.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche encourages us to practice Lama Chopa with Tsok, Chittamani Tara, Medicine Buddha, and 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.
All events are subject to change, please check the website for updates.
Printable May calendar
Printable June calendar
Directions to The Unitarian/Universalist Church
Mindfulness & Compassion
Saturdays, April 19 - May 3, 2008
10:30 am - noon
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190 (lower level)
Often our lives are so busy and stressful that it's easy to lose touch with ourselves, not really appreciating or learning deeply from our own experiences. It's also easy to lose track of what really matters to us. This series of three classes are about coming back to our senses and getting back in touch with our own hearts. In each class, we'll spend some time doing guided meditations to practice mindfulness. There's a huge body of scientific research showing many benefits from mindfulness practice including stress reduction, improved immune function, relaxation, decreased anxiety, increased self-awareness, and more. Together we will deepen our experience of the practice of mindfulness. And, we'll also spend time each session doing meditations and psychological exercises for increasing feelings of love, gratitude and compassion.
Lorne Ladner has written a book, The Lost Art of Compassion, which teaches practical methods for increasing compassion and other positive emotions based on meditations from the Buddhist tradition. So, in each session one or two such methods will be taught and then practiced together. Overall, the Mindfulness & Compassion classes will be experiential, giving a chance to practice core meditations and also to discuss your experiences with others with the goal of then being able to use what you've learned at home to live in a more mindful, satifying and loving way.
Instructor: Dr. Lorne Ladner
Suggested donation: $10 - $20 per class. Your generous donation helps make it possible for us to offer classes.
For the Sake of Others: meditation on love and compassion
Saturdays: May 17, May 24, May 31, June 14, 21
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., lower level, Reston VA 20190
The practice of confession is vital for eliminating obstacles and negative karma that prevent us from attaining everlasting peace. Ven Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche explains these core practices as they are described in Chapter 3 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.
Lama Chopa Commentary
2:00 - 4:00 pm
8120 Erika Drive, Manassas, VA.
Ven Khensur Rinpoche gives a commentary on the practice of the Lama Chopa puja. He will discuss the stages of the path section from the Guru Puja. Open to all. More...
Seeing Yourself through Compassionate Eyes, a study group
Tuesdays, January 8 - May 20th
6:45 pm to 8:15 pm
1727 R St. NW, Apt 501, Washington, DC 20009
Directions: from the Dupont north metro exit: right on Q, left on New Hampshire , right on R (total 3 1/2 blocks) if driving: R Street is one-way heading west, between 17th St (one-way, heading south) and New Hampshire, north of Dupont Circle by a few blocks and south of U St by a few blocks
The text for this group: How to See Yourself as You Really Are, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Using discussion, meditation, and self-reflection, our group will draw on the teachings of Buddhism to develop new ways to understand ourselves better, to accept ourselves with compassion and redefine ourselves with wisdom, and to become truly able to create the lives we yearn for.
Any requests and suggestions for the text used in our next study group can be sent to aniTenzinLhamo_at_gmail.com (replace the "_at_" with "@"), and announcements about that class will be made in August.
Instructor: Ven Tenzin Lhamo. 
The text How to See Yourself as You Really Are, is available through Snow Lion Publications
This class is offered under the auspices of the Guhyasamaja Center. For an interview with Ven Lhamo about the study group, please visit our blog.
Printable May calendar
Printable June calendar
Directions to The Unitarian/Universalist Church
Sangatha Sutra Reading
Saturday, May 3
12:30 - 1:30 pm
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., lower level, Reston VA 20190
The Sanghata Sutra is a direct teaching by the Buddha that promises to transform all who read or recite it. We will read certain chapters together and then each choose additional chapters to read on our own. Together we hope to complete at least one complete reading. At www.sanghatasutra.net, visitors can learn all about this sutra, find translations in nine languages, view stories of how others have been changed by the text, and get tips on reciting the text. Lama Zopa explains the benefits of reading the sutra: http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/pdf/BensofSanghatastraapr06.pdf
Newcomers Orientation
Saturday, May 17
10:15 - 10:30 am
A center volunteer gives a brief introduction to the Center and answers questions. More info for newcomers...
Lama Chopa with Tsog
Friday, May
30 and Friday, June 13
7:30 to 9:00 pm
8120 Erika Drive, Manassas, VA.
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...
Text: Lama Chopa Expanded Edition Spiral Booklet (SKU: E-LCS) http://www.fpmt.org/shop/
"Reciting Medicine Buddha mantra has inconceivable merit. Manjushri requested to
reveal in front of the "Eight Gone to Bliss Ones" (Guru Shakyamuni Buddha and the
Seven Medicine Buddhas), the special mantra that makes the Eight Gone to Bliss Ones
quickly actualize the prayer they made in the past: to actualize sentient beings' happiness
by attaining the path to enlightenment and pacifying various problems, for them to see all
the buddhas, and for all their wishes to be quickly fulfilled; for the sentient beings of the
five degenerations who have small merit and who are possessed and overwhelmed by
various diseases and spirit harms."
~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
"May all sentient beings such as ourselves
Be freed from epidemics, execution, criminals, and spirits;
Have faculties fully complete; have the continuum of suffering and negativities cut;
Not fall to lower realms; and experience the happiness of humans and gods...
And when we pass away from this life,
May we be born from a lotus in that buddha-field, qualities complete,
Become a vessel for transmitting the teachings of conquerors such as Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs
And cause them delight."
~ Wish Fulfilling Jewel: Medicine Buddha Puja
Saturday, May 17
9:30 - 10:15 am
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190, lower level
Suggestion donation (to cover the facility rental fee): $5
The Medicine Buddha practice is a powerful means of healing ourselves and others of sickness and disease. It helps us purify the negative karma that may ripen at any moment in the form of untimely death and other sufferings. Led by Dina Li.
Four Mandala Offering to Chittamani Tara
Saturday, May 24
1:30 - 3:00 pm
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190 (lower level)
Tara (the Liberator) is a Buddha in female form who represents in particular all enlightened beings' skilful activities. Contemplating Tara brings quick results in whatever we want and need – the ultimate happiness of enlightenment.
Join us for the Four Mandala Offering to Chittamani Tara, a practice that both Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche strongly recommended for strengthening the Center. Open to all. Please bring flowers and food offerings if you would like. Chanted in Tibetan.
Suggestion donation (to cover the facility rental fee): $5
Guhyasamaja Practice
Saturday, May 31
9:15 am - 10:15 am
The Unitarian/Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston VA 20190 (lower level)
Guhyasamaja is one of the key practices of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. We will be reading a middle length version of the Guhyasamaja sadhana that was recommended by Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche. Open to Guhyasamaja initiates only. Led by Dina Li.
Suggestion donation (to cover the facility rental fee): $5
Saturday, May 31
2:30 - 3:15 pm
Washington, D.C., exact location to be announced.
Ven Khensur Rinpoche leads prayers for peace throughout the world.
Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana
Wednesday, June 18
5:15 am
8120 Erika Drive, Manassas, VA.
last updated: April 26, 2008
The
Guhyasamaja Center is a religious non-profit 501(c)(3) organization registered
in the State of Virginia.
Copyright @ 2008 The Guhyasamaja Center