Karuna Buddhist Center

Mindfulness--whether in meditation or in daily life--involves awareness, nonjudgment, and acceptance of what is. For most of us, however, judgment of whatever we encounter happens automatically, leading to a lack of compassion for ourselves as well as others. Lama Nancy will talk about unconditional positive regard and how we can cultivate it even if don't necessarily have much experience of it. Learning to accept everybody as they really makes our life much easier while making the world [...]

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. [...]

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.

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 [...]

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.