Pujas and Group Practice
To support students in their Buddhist practice, Tse Chen Ling offers an ongoing program of prayers, practices and ritual ceremonies especially from the tantric Tibetan Buddhist teachings. We also offer study and practice groups that combine discussion and practice allowing all levels of students to connect, learn, exchange and practice as a group.
A puja is a tantric ritual or ceremony done primarily to dispel obstacles that includes making offerings, reciting prayers, requests and mantras, and doing visualization. The literal meaning of puja is ‘to make offering.’
Within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, pujas are practiced in accordance with the lunar calendar on special Buddhist days of celebration. The rituals involve a gathering of the community to practice together, offering a way to connect as a group, help dispel obstacles for the center, and our own lives, or to help those facing illness and other difficulties as a way of generating compassion. Beginners welcome!
It is possible to sponsor a puja for yourself or a loved one facing serious illness or other difficulties, or at the time of death.
For further information, please email office@tsechenling.org or call (415) 621-4215.
| Tara Puja |
Friday, December 2, 2:30 pm
Teacher:
Karen Villanueva
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Come join us for our monthly Tara practice. Everyone is welcome to join in or sit in on this puja, or offering ceremony. There will be chanting of mantra's, extensive offerings and prayers. For those unfamiliar with the special devotional practice of puja, the whole practice is guided.
Suggested donation: free
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Tsog
Lama Chopa Guru Puja |
Sunday, December 4, 7:00 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Everyone is welcome to attend this ritual of offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, reaffirming our vow to become enlightened in order to help all beings.
Feel free to bring an offering of food, flowers or a donation.
Suggested donation: Free
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| Medicine Buddha Puja |
Saturday, December 10, 2:30 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Lobsang Chökyi
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
The practice of Medicine Buddha Puja is a very special practice invoking the blessings and healing energy of the 7 Medicine Buddha's. This practice is recommended for everyone, however people that are undergoing difficulty of any kind and those that would like to do something beneficial for a friend or loved one are most welcome to come and practice. The puja is guided and we make offerings of fruit, water bowls, cakes etc.. If you would like to bring some offerings, please feel free. (Make sure they do not have eggs in them)
Suggested donation: By donation
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| Lama Tsong Khapa Day Tsog |
Tuesday, December 20, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Join us on the anniversary of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was known even in his own lifetime as a great scholar, teacher, yogi and practitioner. He was also incredibly prolific and composed nearly 10,000 pages of commentary in his short life.
We begin at 5:30pm by offering extensive light offerings in the Gompa.
Bring flowers, food or offerings for Tsog.
Come as early as 4pm to help set up the light offerings and tsog. Thank you!
Suggested donation: Free
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| Lama Chopa Tsog Offering |
Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Twice a month, based on the Lunar Calender, Tse Chen Ling has a Lama Chopa Tsog Offering, which is one of the central practices of our tradition. Lama Chopa means, Offering to the Guru or Spiritual Guide, and it is a profound practice of both purification of negative karma and accumulation of positive energy or merit. During the Puja, or offering, extensive prayers are said to reaffirm our commitment to the spiritual path and seek inspiration from our teachers. Tsog means 'Gathering' and practitioners face one another throughout the practice, some of whom have ritual implements such as a Bell and Vajra and a Damaru (Ritual Drum) which are played at various parts of the Puja. At a certain point in the practice, having offered the offerings, they are distributed to everyone and you may partake of them. Most of the Puja is performed in Tibetan if Geshe-la (Our Resident Teacher) is present and there are books where attendees can refer to both languages. The page numbers are read aloud to keep everyone informed of where we are in the Puja, but the most important thing is to follow the Umze (head chant-leader, normally Geshe-la). Please feel free to bring offerings of flowers or food or anything else you would like to offer.
Suggested donation: Free
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| Medicine Buddha Puja |
Monday, January 9, 6:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Carol Corradi
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
All are welcome to our practice of the Medicine Buddha Puja, no experience or requirements. We make request thru mantra, praise and various chants to invoke the healing energy of the Medicine Buddha's. According the Lama's, this practice is very beneficial for those who have passed away and for those in need of healing energy.
Suggested donation: by donation
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Lama Chopa Tsog Offering
Offering to the Spiritual Guide |
Wednesday, January 18, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Twice a month, based on the Lunar Calender, Tse Chen Ling has a Lama Chopa Tsog Offering, which is one of the central practices of our tradition. Lama Chopa means, Offering to the Guru or Spiritual Guide, and it is a profound practice of both purification of negative karma and accumulation of positive energy or merit. During the Puja, or offering, extensive prayers are said to reaffirm our commitment to the spiritual path and seek inspiration from our teachers. Please feel free to bring offerings of flowers or food or anything else you would like to offer.
Suggested donation: Free
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| Tara Puja |
Tuesday, January 31, 2:30 pm
Teacher:
Karen Villanueva
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
All our welcome in this popular Tibetan Buddhist devotional practice led by a long-time Tara practitioner. You may bring offerings of flowers or food.
|
Tsog
Lama Chopa Guru Puja |
Thursday, February 2, 7:00 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
This practice commitment for practitioners of highest yoga tantra restores vows and pledges. Everyone is welcome to attend this ritual of offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, reaffirming our vow to become enlightened in order to help all beings. Bring offerings of food or flowers.
Suggested donation: Free
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Introduction to Nyung Ne
Information meeting for those interested in participating in TCL's Nyung Ne Feb 24-27 |
Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Lobsang Chökyi
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
This informal meeting is specifically created for those students who are considering doing the Nyung Ne Retreat at Tse Chen Ling on February 24 -27. We’ll discuss the retreat in detail including schedule, daily commitments, what to expect and possible difficulties. Students will receive a handout with many questions answered along with suggestions for the retreat. Both practical and spiritual tools will be provided to make the retreat a success. Plenty of time for questions.
Note: this does not take the place of the orientation meeting just before the retreat begins on Friday February 24th, during which students set up their seats and discuss logistics of the retreat.
Suggested donation: Free
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Tsog
Lama Chopa Guru Puja |
Thursday, February 16, 7:00 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
This practice commitment for practitioners of highest yoga tantra restores vows and pledges. But everyone is welcome to attend this ritual of offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, reaffirming our vow to become enlightened in order to help all beings. Bring offerings of food or flowers, or a donation.
Suggested donation: Free
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Nyung Ne - Chenrezig Fasting Retreat
Powerful Retreat in the City |
Friday, February 24, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Lobsang Chökyi
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
If you have never attended a Nyung Ne retreat or if you have any questions, please contact us at chokyi@tsechenling.org
This is a very special purification practice for developing compassion. This 2.5 day retreat consists of three sessions a day for two full days(Saturday and Sunday) of reciting praises and prayers to Chenresig, making offerings and doing prostrations and ends after the final session on Monday morning (followed by breakfast and cleanup).
On the first day, we take the Eight Mahayana precepts and have one meal (and unlimited drinks) and on the second day, we abstain completely from all eating, drinking, and speaking.
In this way, the body is purified by abiding in the retreat, the speech is purified through the recitation of mantra and prayers, and the mind is purified by compassionate motivation.
This is a powerful retreat though not appropriate for those with health issues for whom fasting is unsuitable. Prior retreat experience and study of lam rim useful.
There will be a gathering of retreatants the night before (February 24th) to talk about logistics, set up our seats and discuss karma yoga jobs at 7pm. If you have never participated in a Nyung Ne before this orientation session is mandatory.
Lunch on Saturday is provided along with drinks throughout the day. Sunday will be a total fast. Breakfast on Monday is provided.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED-VERY LIMITED SPACE!!!
Because we are not a residential center, we ask for patience and tolerance from all who attend. Participants will either commute or can arrange to sleep in dorm situations (or in the bookstore). Participants must bring their own bedding and towels.
To have information about the Nyung Ne retreat and an application sent to you contact Chokyi@tsechenling.org
Suggested donation: $108/$80 for members - work study applications are available
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Nyung Ne - Chenrezig Fasting Retreat
Powerful Retreat in the City |
Starts Saturday, February 25, 5:30 am
Daily through February 27
Teacher:
Ven. Lobsang Chökyi
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
If you have never attended a Nyung Ne retreat or if you have any questions, please contact us at chokyi@tsechenling.org
This is a very special purification practice for developing compassion. This 2.5 day retreat consists of three sessions a day for two full days(Saturday and Sunday) of reciting praises and prayers to Chenresig, making offerings and doing prostrations and ends after the final session on Monday morning (followed by breakfast and cleanup).
On the first day, we take the Eight Mahayana precepts and have one meal (and unlimited drinks) and on the second day, we abstain completely from all eating, drinking, and speaking.
In this way, the body is purified by abiding in the retreat, the speech is purified through the recitation of mantra and prayers, and the mind is purified by compassionate motivation.
This is a powerful retreat though not appropriate for those with health issues for whom fasting is unsuitable. Prior retreat experience and study of lam rim useful.
There will be a gathering of retreatants the night before (February 24th) to talk about logistics, set up our seats and discuss karma yoga jobs at 7pm. If you have never participated in a Nyung Ne before this orientation session is mandatory.
Lunch on Saturday is provided along with drinks throughout the day. Sunday will be a total fast. Breakfast on Monday is provided.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED-VERY LIMITED SPACE!!!
Because we are not a residential center, we ask for patience and tolerance from all who attend. Participants will either commute or can arrange to sleep in dorm situations (or in the bookstore). Participants must bring their own bedding and towels.
To have information about the Nyung Ne retreat and an application sent to you contact Chokyi@tsechenling.org
Suggested donation: $108/$80 for members - work study applications are available
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