Lectures, Workshops, and Special Events
Learning Dharma means less ignorance and more wisdom. It means more light in your life, no darkness in your mind. It means you have more freedom in your life to achieve liberation from samsara and great enlightenment. The more you understand Dharma, the more you can benefit others. –Lama Zopa Rinpoche
We invite you to participate in our talks, special events and occasional weekend workshops designed for both long time members and the general public showing how Buddhist methods can help with everyday problems and explaining the work on the mind. Unless otherwise indicated, most talks, workshops and events are for students of all levels.
To find additional information on classes look under Discovering Buddhism Courses or Basic Buddhist Studies Program Courses or contact us at office@tsechenling.org or (415) 621-4215.
Shantideva - Bodhisattva's Way of Life
Living a life of compassion, wisdom and courage |
Starts Wednesday, January 13, 7:00 pm
Weekly through April 21
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
No classes Feb 24, Mar 3 and Mar 10. These teachings on the bodhisattva’s activities are based on Shantideva’s inspirational verses for the person dedicated to the enlightenment of all beings. Geshe Dakpa will continue where he left off last year, with Chapters 4, 5 and onward as time permits. This commentary will continue throughout the year with at least two additional terms. Students are welcome to join at any time.
Suggested donation: $135/12 week course or $15/class
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Preparing for Tantra
Foundation of All Good Qualities |
Starts Friday, February 19, 7:00 pm
Weekly through February 26
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Of course the best preparation for tantra is the lam rim and of all the lam rims, Je Tsongkhapa's Foundation of All Good Qualities is both complete, yet concise. If you are considering taking Highest Yoga Tantra when Choden Rinpoche comes to visit, or if you just need to be reminded of the stages of the complete path to enlightenment, which begins with the spiritual teacher, or if you've never learned those stages, please come do this class with us. All are welcome. Although we've called this a preparation for tantra it stands on it's own as a sutra teaching too!
Suggested donation: $15/25% off for members
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| Getting Started: Basic Buddhist Rituals |
Saturday, February 27, 10:30 am
Teacher:
Ven. Lobsang Chökyi
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
10:30am - 1:30pm. In this fun and interactive workshop you’ll learn how to set up an altar and offer waterbowls, learn about prostrations and basic temple (gompa) etiquette in addition to practicing some daily practices recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You’ll learn and practice the mandala offering with mudra which represents offering an entire and perfect world-system and is done at most Buddhist teachings. Buddhist rituals have special meanings which will be explained in the
workshop as well.
Suggested donation: $20. 50% discount for those doing DB: Establishing a Daily Practice
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Conscious Contact
Prayer and Meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition for People in Recovery from Addiction (and their Friends) |
Starts Saturday, February 27, 5:30 pm
Weekly through March 14
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
5:30-7pm. An open and on-going Eleventh Step Workshop.
This Conscious Contact workshop focuses on developing and maintaining basic skills in meditation and prayer as practiced in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Themes will include refuge, mantra recitation and purification practices as well as insight and calm abiding meditation as they relate to recovery. Sessions will consist of instruction, discussion and practice. Guest speakers with experience in recovery and meditation will be asked to share with us on occasion.
Suggested donation: By Donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.
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Guhyasamaja Empowerment
King of Tantras |
Friday, March 5, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Chöden Rinpoche
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment. Empowerment is for advanced students, but it is possible for all interested students to attend the first night (March 5) as a blessing.
Event is three days: March 5th (7pm), 6th (3pm), and 7th (3pm)- expect each session to last at least three hours.
Note: this is a 3-day empowerment and one must attend all three days to receive it as an empowerment.
Guhyasamaja – King of Tantras – is one of the oldest of the tantric teachings of the Buddha. This tantra was given by Shakyamuni Buddha to King Indrabhuti who asked, “By what means can people like myself, who are not yet detached from the world of the senses, attain liberation?” In response Shakyamuni Buddha manifested as Guhyasamaja and taught this profound tantra. It is called King of Tantras because this tantra and its commentaries provides the key for all tantra.
General commitments for the empowerment include taking Bodhisattva Vows and Tantric vows and agreeing to recite Six Session Guru Yoga six times a day for life. Rinpoche requires reciting of the mantra daily (number of recitations per day decided by the student at empowerment). There may be suggestions or encouraged practices beyond this, but these are the required commitments as far as we have been informed.
Suggested donation: $90 advance for 3 days/$120 at door or $30 advance for blessing night/$40 at door
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Guhyasamaja Empowerment
King of Tantras |
Saturday, March 6, 3:00 pm
through March 7
Teacher:
Chöden Rinpoche
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment. Empowerment is for advanced students, but it is possible for all interested students to attend the first night (March 5) as a blessing.
Event is three days: March 5th (7pm), 6th (3pm), and 7th (3pm)- expect each session to last at least three hours.
Note: this is a 3-day empowerment and one must attend all three days to receive it as an empowerment.
Guhyasamaja – King of Tantras – is one of the oldest of the tantric teachings of the Buddha. This tantra was given by Shakyamuni Buddha to King Indrabhuti who asked, “By what means can people like myself, who are not yet detached from the world of the senses, attain liberation?” In response Shakyamuni Buddha manifested as Guhyasamaja and taught this profound tantra. It is called King of Tantras because this tantra and its commentaries provides the key for all tantra.
General commitments for the empowerment include taking Bodhisattva Vows and Tantric vows and agreeing to recite Six Session Guru Yoga six times a day for life. Rinpoche requires reciting of the mantra daily (number of recitations per day decided by the student at empowerment). There may be suggestions or encouraged practices beyond this, but these are the required commitments as far as we have been informed.
Suggested donation: $90 advance for 3 days/$120 at door or $30 advance for blessing night/$40 at door
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| Sunday Morning Dharma Talk and Gathering |
Starts Sunday, March 7, 10:30 am
Weekly through June 30
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
10:30am - noon. Join resident Lama, Geshe Dakpa, for these talks geared towards all levels of student as well as the merely curious!
All are welcome! No class Jan 3 and 17, Feb 28, Mar 7 and 14.
Suggested donation: By Donation
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Guhyasamaja Empowerment
King of Tantras |
Sunday, March 7, 3:00 pm
Teacher:
Chöden Rinpoche
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
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Understanding Emptiness: In Search of Reality
Weekend workshop |
Friday, March 12, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Guy Newland
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Weekend workshop: Fri, Mar 12, 7-9pm, Sat-Sun, Mar 13-14, 10am-noon & 2-4pm. Beginner/Intermediate. Join renowned scholar and author, Guy Newland, as he teaches on emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality, as explained in the Buddhist tradition. Mr. Newland is known for his ability to simplify what seems a difficult subject and this is a weekend not to be missed!
Not understanding emptiness creates great suffering and understanding emptiness can lead us to greater happiness and ultimately enlightenment. Mr. Newland will bring his many years of teaching experience to this weekend workshop. His recently published book 'Introduction to Emptiness' discusses these ideas in simple language, using the Insight chapter of Lama Tsong Khapa’s 'Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment' as the foundation for his commentary and this workshop. Note: due to the in depth nature of the material it is recommended that you attend the entire workshop. If you would like to attend part of the weekend, please contact office@tsechenling.org.
Suggested donation: $125/member discount applies
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Understanding Emptiness: In Search of Reality
Weekend workshop |
Starts Saturday, March 13, 10:00 am
Daily through March 14
Teacher:
Guy Newland
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Weekend workshop: Fri, Mar 12, 7-9pm, Sat-Sun, Mar 13-14, 10am-noon & 2-4pm. Beginner/Intermediate. Join renowned scholar and author, Guy Newland, as he teaches on emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality, as explained in the Buddhist tradition. Mr. Newland is known for his ability to simplify what seems a difficult subject and this is a weekend not to be missed!
Not understanding emptiness creates great suffering and understanding emptiness can lead us to greater happiness and ultimately enlightenment. Mr. Newland will bring his many years of teaching experience to this weekend workshop. His recently published book Introduction to Emptiness discusses these ideas in simple language, using the Insight chapter of Lama Tsong Khapa’s Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment as the foundation for his commentary and this workshop. Note: due to the in depth nature of the material it is recommended that you attend the entire workshop. If you would like to attend part of the weekend, please contact office@tsechenling.org.
Suggested donation: $125/member discount applies
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Conscious Contact
Prayers and Meditation in the Tibetan Tradtion |
Starts Sunday, March 21, 7:00 pm
Weekly through May 30
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
New day and time! 7-8:30pm An open and on-going Eleventh Step Workshop.
This Conscious Contact workshop focuses on developing and maintaining
Suggested donation: Donation/no one turned away for lack of funds
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Arjia Rinpoche Book Tour
Surviving the Dragon - A Tibetan Lama's Account of 40 Years Under Chinese Rule |
Thursday, April 1, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Arjia Rinpoche
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Surviving the Dragon opens a window to events from inside Tibetan-Chinese history during the final half of the twentieth century, a conflict that continues today between China and its ethnic minorities. Arjia Rinpoche is on a book tour to discuss his newly published autobiography. He will present the book by talking about his facinating life and the events in Tibet that took place during his life there. In addition, copies of the book will be available for sale and he will sign copies for those interested.
Suggested donation: $15
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