Programs at Tse Chen Ling
Without understanding how your inner nature evolves, how can you possibly discover eternal happiness? Where is eternal happiness? It's not in the sky or in the jungle; you won't find it in the air or under the ground. Everlasting happiness is within you, within your psyche, your consciousness, your mind. That's why it's important that you investigate the nature of your own mind.
– Lama Thubten Yeshe
Tse Chen Ling offers a full curriculum of classes, meditation, practice and community activities to benefit the merely curious, new students, experienced practitioners, and every member of our varied community. We warmly welcome you to our center and want you to feel at home here. We invite you to explore our comprehensive program to find where you feel most comfortable to begin or continue your investigation of the incredible Buddhist path.
Our program provides proven methods of study, contemplation and meditation on the Buddha's teachings as afforded within the tradition of Lama Tsong Khapa. An important element of our program is learning how to apply the Buddha's timeless wisdom within the context of our daily lives here in the West, especially within the busy urban environment of San Francisco. These teachings show us how to plumb the mysteries of reality beginning with the profundity of our own mind because the Buddha taught that the key to our own happiness and to eliminating all of our deepest pain is found inside our own mind – not out there somewhere separate from us. These teachings give us the methods to find that happiness that we all seek and the tools to help others as well. The classes and activities of Tse Chen Ling also provide opportunities for the students and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism to create a supportive community of friends and students along the way, to support this learning and practice. An overview of the programs we offer follows, but if you need assistance figuring out where to start, contact us at office@tsechenling.org and we can help!
New to Buddhism?
Try our Drop in Meditations, Beginner Courses (like Buddhism in a Nutshell) and Public talks…
Drop In Meditations — weekly drop in meditation instruction; helpful to both beginning and experienced students. Lots of time for questions.
Lectures, Workshops, and Special Events — talks, events and occasional weekend workshops designed for both long time members and the general public on various topics or practices showing how Buddhist methods can help with everyday problems and explaining the work on the mind.
Setting the Foundation
Once you’ve decided to go deeper, try our Discovering Buddhism Program intended for beginning and advanced-beginning students.
Discovering Buddhism—a fourteen-module curriculum designed for beginning students that provides a basic grounding in the Buddhist path of Lama Tsong Khapa's tradition.
Buddhism in Depth
For the intermediate and advanced student with some previous study of Buddhism, our Basic Studies Program provides a clearly defined and more serious level of study; also designed for the intermediate/advanced student are Study and Practice Groups, Pujas and occasional advanced commentaries and Tantric Empowerments.
Basic Buddhist Studies Program—an intermediate to advanced-level curriculum for students interested in a fully integrated study program based on the great texts of the Tibetan monastery system.
Pujas and Group Practice—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.
Other programs at Tse Chen Ling
Family Program— Tse Chen Ling offers a Sunday School program timed to coordinate with our Sunday Morning Dharma Talk to introduce younger school aged children (6-12 years) to universal values such as kindness, compassion, and generosity. Activities include meditation instruction, stories and arts and crafts. Parents welcome.
Community—events and programs to nurture a sense of community of Buddhist practitioners including information about our bookstore and café which provides a breathing space and meeting place in our busy lives.
Please note that members of Tse Chen Ling receive a 25% discount on all classes, lectures, and workshops (along with a discount in our bookstore), and it is always Tse Chen Ling's policy not to turn anyone away due to lack of funds. For scholarship or work/study information, please contact office@tsechenling.org. |
