Preregistration is strongly recommended. Online registration coming soon - please register at the center until then.

Ven. Rita will introduce Buddhism especially through the practical methods of training the mind. This workshop is great for beginners but also for more intermediate students. 10am-4pm w/vegetarian lunch. Ven. Rita said that what attracted her to Buddhism is the non-violence, the logic, and that it is doable. Her direct, down-to-earth teachings, with much emphasis on the link between theory and practice and how to integrate it in daily life has attracted many students worldwide.

Suggested donation: $50-lunch included. 25% off for members, free for sangha.

Schedule: Sun 10am-4pm. Two sessions with lunch included.

ALL LEVELS (geared towards Beginner/Intermediate)

How do we determine what level of commitment is appropriate on the path? Discussing the problems we all face in creating a balance between spiritual and secular life and our commitment to the dharma community. Ven. Rita will pull this together by discussing her own life choices and leaps of faith, but leave lots of time for questions!

Ven. Rita Riniker is a most unique nun—a pragmatist who is entirely at ease with “street Dharma”. The hard-hitting but gentle words from Ven. Rita, who lived as an alcoholic before becoming a Buddhist nun, give us a living example of our own potential—the potential to transform our minds. Born in 1950, Ven. Rita grew up in Switzerland. She met Buddhism in 1990 at Kopan Monastery, took ordination there in 1991, and has been living at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala since then. In recent years, she has been one of the main teachers of Tushita’s famous “Introduction to Buddhism” course. She currently teaches in Switzerland.

Class fee: $20 for talk/member discount applies

ALL LEVELS (geared towards Beginner/Intermediate)

Preregistration is strongly recommended. Online registration coming soon - please register at the center until then.

Public Talk Fri, May 21 7-9pm at Tse Chen Ling

Please join us at this very precious teaching on Vipassana Meditation given by Ven. Antonio Satta. For beginners and seasoned practitioners alike, this teaching will be very practical and extremely useful to all those looking to make progress in their meditation practice or looking to begin one.

"Mini-Retreat" Sat May 22 and Sun May 23 10am-4pm
Workshop location: 134 Laurel Avenue, San Anselmo (home of Judith Hunt and Jack Sonnenbaum)
Simple vegatarian lunch included both days

On these two day-long teaching and practice days with Ven. Satta, the student will get a taste of some of the benefits and joys of Vipassana practice. This is not a retreat in the proper sense given the time constraints and that it is not residential, however it is a precious opportunity to excercise the mind to achieve its highest potential.

Ven. Antonio Satta was first introduced to Tibetan Buddhism in Italy where he was born. His main teachers are Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In late 1981 Ven. Antonio spent a number of months in Sri Lanka learning the practice of Vipassana. For many years Ven. Antonio has been concentrating on trying to bring the Vipassana practice as taught in the Theravada system to westerners of Tibetan tradition. This is his 2nd visit to Tse Chen Ling.

Suggested Donation: $20 for talk/$108 for "Mini-Retreat"/Membership discount applies

Public talk and "mini-retreat": ALL LEVELS (geared towards Beginner/Intermediate)

Learn the methods to generate loving kindness, compassion and the powerful mind of bodhicitta.

Bodhicitta, the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of others, is considered to be the heart of Buddha's teachings. As the great Bodhisattva Shantideva said, "If you churn the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha, their essence is bodhicitta." They are the cream of Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings and without this brave mind, one cannot attain enlightenment itself.

This class explores this mind and the techniques used to generate it ourselves. Each class includes time for presentation, discussion and meditation. Clear instruction is provided to enable students to develop the qualities of loving kindness and compassion.
Separate Retreat Day to be held Saturday July 31.

Developing Bodhicitta is part of the Discovering Buddhism Program, a 2-year program designed with the beginning student in mind. For information on the teacher, click on Lobsang Chokyi. Please click onDiscovering Program for more information on current and upcoming courses.

Is this course right for you? This class is open to anyone including those with no background as well as those with a few classes under their belt. New students are welcome as your schedule permits - please join us!

Suggested Donation: $99 per term/member discount applies

ALL LEVELS (geared towards Beginner/Intermediate)

Preregistration is strongly recommended. Online registration coming soon - please register at the center until then.

There are two different methods taught for generating bodhicitta (the mind wanting to become a buddha for the sake of all others). One method is called the Seven Points of Cause and Effect which was taught by Master Atisha and the other is Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others which was taught by Master Shantideva in his book The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.

They say that one of the advantages of equalizing and exchanging self is that you will be able to transform everything into the practice - in other words every problem, everything you see, every person in front of you, every moment of every day can become your practice with this method.  With this method you will learn the steps and develop the bravery to face your own selfishness and other delusions in order to become a bodhisattva warrior.

It has been taught that of the two methods, this one is for students of the higher capacity, but His Holiness the Dalai Lama also says that this method makes the most sense to the western mind.  Tenzin Chogkyi will teach this powerful method and lead us in the meditations that have been handed down from master to disciple over many generations.  There will be time for questions and practice, for discussion and silence.  Join us for this powerful weekend and learn the steps to become a bodhisattva warrior for the benefit of all living beings.

Suggested donation: $108 including lunch/member discount applies

Work study available - no one turned away for lack of funds

ALL LEVELS (geared towards Beginner/Intermediate)

(no class on May 11 and July 6)
 
This class will focus primarily on the practice of the Six Perfections, which forms the basis of the deeds of a Bodhisattva. These six perfections are generosity, ethical discipline, patience, joyous effort, concentration, and wisdom, and are essential to practice if we want to achieve enlightenment.  

Please click onBasic Buddhist Studies Program for more information on current and upcoming courses. Buddhism from A-Z is being offered three terms per year (each term running about 3 months). We've broken up the more lengthy curriculum of the extended Basic Studies course into manageable modules – similar to a university type format. For information on the teacher, click onEmily Hsu, FPMT Masters Program graduate.

Is this course right for you? Anyone who has taken some Discovering Buddhism classes or has some background in the Lam-rim is welcome to join the class. New, qualified students are welcome as your schedule permits - please join us!

These courses are part of FPMT's Basic Buddhist Studies Program, designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as an in depth study of the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment (lam-rim). Teachings are based on Lama Tsongkhapa's middle-length commentary on the subject and are geared towards those interested in deeper understandings of the teachings.

Suggested Donation: $135/3 month term, $50/month term, $15/class; Member Discounts apply.

Work study available - no one turned away for lack of funds

INTERMEDIATE

Join anytime! 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.

Check website for any updates or changes to the schedule.

By Donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.

ALL LEVELS