Summer 2013 North America Dharma Courses

Here’s an incomplete list of summer Dharma courses taking place in North America this year. These are primarily FPMT Centers with a few other Gelukpa Centers and teachings from other traditions as well. For registration information and the most up-to-date information, please visit the links below.

Rejoice! We are truly blessed to have so many unbelievable opportunities to learn from incredible masters.

Tsechen Kunchab Ling. H.H. Sakya Trizin: Teachings and Empowerments. April – July, 2013. Walden, NY.

Land of Medicine Buddha. Jangtse Choje Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche Fri-Sat, June 7-8, 2013. Soquel, CA.

Vajrapani Institute. Summer Program – Jangtse Choje Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche Jun 12, 2013 – Jun 20, 2013. Boulder Creek, CA.

Land of Medicine Buddha. Lam Rim Teachings with Chöden Rinpoche – Day 1 Sun, June 30 at 3pm; Mon, July 1 at 7pm; Tue, July 2 at 7pm. Soquel, CA.

Guhyasamaja Center. Realizing Emptiness: Praise to Dependent Origination. July 1 to 7, 2013. Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Losang Jampa. Am Kolel Retreat Center, Beallesville, MD.

Vajrapani Institute. Open Your Heart to Others: Eight Verses of Mind Training. Choden Rinpoche and Jon Landaw. July 5 – 7, 2013. Boulder Creek, CA.

Jewel Heart. 2013 Jewel Heart Joyful Summer Retreat
Gelek Rinpoche. July 4 – Sunday, July 14. Ann Arbor, MI.

Deer Park Buddhist Center. Wisdom/Special Insight Chapter of Je Tsong Khapa’s Middle Length Lam Rim Monday, July 8th through Friday, August 2nd, 2013. Ganden Jangtse Choje Rinpoche. Oregon, WI.

Bodhicitta Chapter of Je Tsong Khapa’s Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path
Jangtse Choje Rinpoche. August 5th through August 16th. Oregon, WI.

Mindrolling Lotus Garden. Summer Shedra H.E. Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche. July 24 – August 4. Lotus Garden Retreat Center. Stanley, VA.

Vajrapani Institute. Teen Camp at Vajrapani. Jul 19,2013 – Jul 22, 2013. Boulder Creek, CA.

Namgyal Monastery. Kalachakra Six Session Guru Yoga Retreat July 28 – August 4, 2013. Geshe Lobsang Dakpa. Du Khor Choling, The Land of Kalachakra Study and Practice.

Six Yogas of Naropa & Hevajra Empowerment Chodon Rinpoche and Geshe Gyalten. August 2-11, 2013. Lasell College. Newton, MA.

Do Ngak Khunphen Ling. Nine-day Teaching on the Vajrayogini Generation Stage. Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Losang Jampa. August 17-25, 2013. New York City.

May our precious gurus never leave us, and may we always have opportunities to study and practice the holy Dharma.

Last updated: April 26, 2013

Read Full Post »

Annual Long Life Puja for Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche

According to the FPMT website, the annual long life puja for Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be held at Kopan Monastery in Nepal on December 29, 2012. You are welcome to donate by December 18.

Here is the donation website.

May Rinpoche continue to guide and inspire us for many, many more years!

Read Full Post »

Lama Zopa Rinpoche September 30 Vajrasattva Motivation Broadcast

Here’s an opportunity to connect with Lama Zopa Rinpoche Sunday night.

LIVE-BROADCAST
We’re delighted to announce the Live Broadcast of Rinpoche’s teachings on Sunday, September 30th, at 7:00pm Pacific Time.  Please note the Vajrasattva Initiation is restricted to attendees only. The Motivation part of the evening is what will be broadcasted live.

Click here for livestream.

The event will begin around 7:00pm Pacific Time.  Please note that the stream time displays in Eastern Time which is three hours later than Pacific Time.

(source: fpmt Vajrapani Institute)

Read Full Post »

Explore Maitripa College: Attend for Free the Week of Aug 27

Here’s a great opportunity to check out the amazing courses offered at Maitripa College. Maitripa continues to offer more and more courses both onsite as well as online.

(source: fpmt email group)

Yangsi Rinpoche and Maitripa College invite you to sit in for free on the first two weeks of our Fall term during our “Explore Maitripa” event. Free and easy. Available for online and onsite courses.

A list of courses and RSVP info are available here:

http://www.maitripa.org/event_exploreMC_fall2012.html

For more information, contact Sara at:
503-235-2477
studentservices@maitripa.org

Read Full Post »

Our Center’s Compassion Day Celebration

In honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday, Guhyasamaja Center participated in the FPMT Compassion Day project. Thanks primarily to Lynne Invram who filled the trunk of her SUV with groceries and delivered them from NJ, the Center donated 17 bags of groceries (estimated value $500) to the local food pantry here in Reston, VA. According to the food pantry manager, donations are most needed after the Christmas holidays through late summer.

In addition, Tenzin and I created a card for His Holiness with his short long life prayer in Tibetan. The back of the card reads,

“With deep respect and our sincere prayers,
Guhyasamaja Center, Washington DC,
Ani Losang Tebdrol and Tenzin Namgyel”

Although I have no talent whatsoever when it comes to arts and crafts projects, the card looks better than it does in the photos (trust me! ). The gold paper has a floral pattern throughout and the red paper is thick and textured.

If you are interested in participating in Compassion Day, submittals are being accepted until July 23. Visit the organizer’s website for more information:
http://www.compassionday.org/
.

Read Full Post »

FPMT: Advice for Rinpoche’s Quick Recovery

Just in case you missed this in the March 2012 FPMT eNewsletter:

“Ven. Roger recently checked with Denma Locho Rinpoche whether there was anything FPMT centers, projects, services and students can do to help with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s quick recovery. Denma Locho Rinpoche kindly advised a few pujas, which we are arranging now, and then gave the following advice:
“The students and centers really need to work according to Rinpoche’s wishes. Whatever Rinpoche has advised for them to do, it’s important to follow Rinpoche’s advice. 

The main thing is that everyone in the organization should really strive to fulfill Rinpoche’s advice.

In order to be harmonious, generally, you should not look for any faults in others, but look for the positive, the inner qualities. Thinking negatively like, ‘He is bad, she is bad,’ will not lead to harmony. Try to see the qualities in others and try to work harmoniously.

Recite the prayer The Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsongkhapa’s Teachings (Losang Gyaltänma) well. Please recite it well. If students can do that, that’s really great.

But the most important thing is not looking at each others’ faults, but looking at the qualities of others.

Then, whatever responsibility you have in the center [project or service], do the work from your heart, put all your energy into that, take the difficulties/hardships upon yourself and do the work wholeheartedly. If the work is done well, this will benefit the teachings of the Buddha, and also it will bring about happiness and joy to all sentient beings.”

source: FPMT International Office eNewsletter, March 2012

Read Full Post »

FPMT Masters Program: Tantric Grounds and Path Starts May 2012

The FPMT Masters Program is now accepting applications for online and residential students for the Tantric Grounds and Paths module (May – December 2012). A Highest Yoga Tantra initiation is required.

The final module, Guhyasamaja Tantra is scheduled to be taught from January – June 2013. Students must have received the Guhyasamaja initiation. EDIT: any HYT initiation is acceptable.

The classes will be taught by the new residential teacher, Geshe Jampa Gelek.

For more information, please visit the ILTK website and the online course home page.

I’m in my third year of the Masters Program as an online student, and I have found it to be extremely beneficial. Be prepared to spend 15 hours a week reading the materials, and listening to the recordings. Of course, studying online pales in comparison to being on-site because we don’t have an opportunity to discuss the material. It is still worthwhile, and like anything, the more effort you can put into it, the more you’ll learn.

Read Full Post »

Prayer Request From Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Thanksgiving Day

Prayers to be said on behalf of the millions of turkeys who will be killed for Thanksgiving Day dinner.

prayer composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

For a delicious vegetarian alternative, please see this post: Give Up Turkey This Thanksgiving.

Read Full Post »

Lama Zopa Rinpoche: 10 Quotes on Compassion

Chandrakirti said, “At the beginning, COMPASSION is like a seed; in the middle, it is like water; at the end, it is like a ripened fruit. Achieving the result of full enlightenment is all due to COMPASSION.”

Rinpoche recently composed these 10 inspiring quotes on compassion with the wish for them to be beautifully designed so that they could be printed, framed and displayed on one’s wall to be read and reflected upon, used in one’s daily prayers, and serve as a motivation, as a basis for meditation, and as a reminder of what is of utmost importance in one’s life. (source: FPMT website)

Links to the free PDF downloads on the FPMT website:
Ten frame-ready quotes

Read Full Post »

Quick Return Prayer for Lama Lhundrup

A prayer for the quick return of the most Venerable Lama Lhundrup is now available on the FPMT website.  Please note that October 28th marks the 49th day of his passing.

Read Full Post »