This is mostly a personal retreat in a container of group support and one teaching from Khenpo Chophel. The center can accommodate up to 10 people and meals are not provided but we may use the onsite kitchen to prep our own meals.
Every Saturday, 10:30-11:30 am, Khenpo Chophel leads us in meditation. Currently we are practicing the 7 stages of sitting meditation under his guidance. Sit on a cushion or in a chair, and stay afterward for tea and informal discussion if you wish, followed by our other Saturday programs at 12 noon. Newcomers are welcome, and no prior experience is required. Free; donation appreciated.
Join us as we sing and contemplate songs of the masters together. Buddhist teachings and spiritual experiences are often communicated through songs, such as those famously sung by the great Tibetan yogi, Milarepa. Following the teachings of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, we will sing in English, without judgment of "good" and "bad" as we try to move beyond an intellectual approach to the Dharma. As Khenpo Rinpoche sums up, "Know this life to be like a dream, […]
This is individual practice done in a group--i.e. we are all in the same room doing our own practice at the same time. Especially designed for those doing the Ngondro (Foundation) practices of Tibetan Buddhism, but also open to anyone who wants to do their individual chanting, visualization, or mantra practice in a group environment. Bring your own text and supporting materials and stay for all or part of the session.
Live from India: Why are we still stuck in samsara after all this time? One reason is that we haven't fully developed the motivation to transform our lives. Deep contemplation of the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to the Dharma will arouse our desire to free ourselves and others from suffering. Khenpo Tshering Chophel will continue his teachings on this topic. Suitable for all levels. Zoom info: Meeting ID 432 235 3275, passcode Karuna21, Phone: 312 […]
Bring your questions about meditation practice, thoughts about your Dharma study, and responses to the teachings to a group discussion lead by senior students. All of us go through doubts, confusion, and stuck places as we progress on our spiritual journeys, and sharing these experiences with others helps us create community as well as understanding.
It can be hard to stay in touch with the awareness we experience during meditation once we get up off of the cushion. With suggestions for waking, working, eating, sleeping and more, Lama Nancy will present some quick and easy hacks for staying in touch with our Buddha nature during the stressful and the mundane moments of our lives.
Please join us for our first traditional Tibetan ritual chanting practice or "Sadhana" at Karuna Buddhist Center. This is the feast (tsok) offering of Guru Rinpoche as compiled by the late Bardor Tulku Rinpoche (1949-2021), well-loved teacher of many of us. Through the practice of tsok offering, we swiftly accumulate merit and wisdom, and purify our obscurations, which is the essence of the path to buddhahood.
Visualization exercises where we practice exchanging ourselves with others come from the Lojong or Mind Training tradition and help us develop compassion as we imagine what it might be like to be in someone else's shoes. To quote Shantideva, Strive at first to meditate/Upon the sameness of yourself and others. In joy and sorrow all are equal./Thus be guardian of all, as of yourself. In this workshop, Lama Nancy will lead guided meditations to help develop our […]
We all experience regret about things we have done, especially when we feel ashamed of our past motives or behavior. Buddhism has a number of approaches for processing such events so we can learn from our mistakes and not stay stuck in them--accepting ourselves as imperfect while making better choices in the future. Lama Nancy will take us through a series of steps for working through our regrets and moving forward in a productive manner.
Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo (1925 -1961) was one of the main teachers of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, as well as other great modern masters such as Thrangu Rinpoche. Mark will give a brief introduction to the life and times, and teachings of Khenpo Gangshar. Then we will use newly translated, short texts of his mind instructions for meditation, contemplation, and discussion together. Mark Nowakowski met the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1972 and has been his student ever since. […]
NOTICE: We will not be meeting on Saturday, July 22, because of Art Fair in the downtown and campus areas of Ann Arbor. See you next week!