RigDzin Dharma Foundation
Tibetan Buddhist Center
Classes, Practices, and Events
Calm Abiding Meditation Practice - "A Peaceful
Mind in a Hectic World"
Tuesdays and Thursdays
12:15 - 12:45 pm
5:15 to 5:45 pm
Fridays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Everyone can experience benefits from meditation. Calm abiding meditation, or
shamatha, offers us an opportunity to bring some peace and stillness into our
mind. This type of meditation provides a foundation for all other meditation
practice, regardless of religion or spiritual tradition. These sessions include
brief instructions as well as practice time. We hold this practice regularly,
except during teaching events. Please check the
calendar for dates. Donations gratefully accepted.
Click here for an overview of calm abiding
practice by His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche.
PRACTICES
Buddhist practices, chants, or pujas include chanted prayers, mantra recitation, and meditation. We practice together on important days throughout the month, and the practices are scheduled according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Donations gratefully accepted.
Achi Chokyi Drolma Protector Practice
Achi Chokyi Drolma
Achi Chokyi Drolma, an enlightened protectress, was the great grandmother of
Lord Jigten Sumgon, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. At the time of her
death, Achi Chokyi Drolma did not pass away in an ordinary manner but rode off
into the sky on a blue horse. As a protectress, Achi is visualized on a blue
wisdom horse to symbolize the swiftness of her enlightened activities, and she
holds a wish-fullfilling jewel to symbolize her ability to bestow everything
needed and desired when asked.
Achi Chokyi Drolma vowed to protect the Drikung Kagyu lineage, and those who
practice her meditation and recite her mantra are sure to be protected from
obstacles and hindrances.
Amitabha Buddha Practice
Amitabha Buddha
Amitabha Buddha is the Buddha of Long Life. It is beneficial to perform his
practice for the benefit of a person who is passing on, in order that they will
have a smooth transition from this life to the next, and also a very good
rebirth. In general, Amitabha practice can help to ward off obstacles to long
life. His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche has said of this practice "in all Mahayana
countries this practice is very prevalent...because of the nature of the vows of
Amitabha Buddha... Anyone can engage in the practice. You do not have to be a
great exalted being who has abandoned all non-virtue. You do not have to be a
superb practitioner. Depending upon the power of the vows of Amitabha Buddha,
you can engage in this practice. This is a Sutrayana practice. Therefore, it is
something that can work for anyone."
Chenrezig Practice
Vajrayana Buddhism, the "Diamond Path," offers many deity practices, such as
those related to Chenrezig, in which the deity mirrors to us our natural
enlightened mind. As our practice brings us into an ever closer relationship
with the deity, delusion and obscuration are revealed as illusory, and the
energies of deluded mind transform into their natural enlightened qualities.
Chenrezig is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas,
and is known by many different names, including Avalokiteshvara in India,
Kuan-yin in China, and Kannon in Japan. It is said that all the teachings of the
Buddha are contained in Chenrezig's mantra, OM MANI PADME HUNG, and it carries
with it the power to purify our mind's obscurations. We develop the enlightened
quality of compassion through Chenrezig practice and mantra recitation as well
as by compassionate conduct toward all beings.
Guru Rinpoche Tsok Practice
Guru Rinpoche
Padmasambhava is said to have brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th
century. He is also known as Guru Rinpoche ("Precious Master".) In a tsok
practice, we make food offerings, imagining that the Buddhas come and accept our
offerings. Then we enjoy the food offerings together. You may bring an offering
of food or flowers if you wish. In general, we perform the tsok offering to
generate immeasurable merit. Guru Rinpoche promised his Sangha that when
offerings are made to him on his special day, the 10th day of the Tibetan
calendar, their merit will be multiplied immeasurably. The numbers and intention
of practitioners participating in the tsok, the abundance of offerings and the
dedication of the practice to all sentient beings, all increase and multiply the
good karma for ourselves and countless others. Therefore, the vast benefits of
participation in Guru Rinpoche tsok are truly immeasurable.
Lama Chopa Practice
Lord Jigten Sumgon
Guru Yoga meditation practice is one of the most important and effective methods for attaining enlightenment. Lama Chopa is the Guru Yoga practice of Lord Jigten Sumgon, the incarnation of Arya Nagarjuna and founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. Lord Jigten Sumgon says, "From today on, with one-pointed devotion pray to your great master and practice according to what he teaches. Thus, it is certain you will achieve the ultimate accomplishment (Buddhahood)." The practice is a complete meditation for purifying the four obscurations through receiving the four empowerments of transforming one's body, speech, and mind into the pure enlightened state.
Medicine Buddha Practice
Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is a Buddhist deity associated with the health and well-being
of ourselves and others. During this practice, we make heartfelt prayers that
everyone will be healed of all suffering and sickness. Medicine Buddha is one of
many buddhas who have attained the state of perfect enlightenment for the
benefit of all sentient beings. The enlightened mind has eliminated all
negativity and perfected all positive qualities. Medicine Buddha's blue
sky-colored holy body signifies omniscient wisdom and compassion as vast as
limitless space and is particularly associated with healing both mental and
physical suffering. Making a connection with him, practicing meditation,
reciting his mantra or even just saying his name helps us achieve our potential
for ultimate healing.
Phowa Practice
The practice of Phowa requires empowerment or transmission. Please contact us
for more information.
White Dzambhala Practice
White Dzambhala
This practice, "Summoning Good Fortune, the Practice of White Dzambhala", is
a newer practice for our Center and one that His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche
encouraged us to do when he visited in February 2007. In general, this practice
encourages good fortune for our sangha as well as all individual Dharma
practitioners. We do the practice with the wish that all beings be relieved of
all suffering of poverty, hunger and thirst, and that all needs may be
fulfilled. No empowerment is required, and it is appropriate for everyone.
White Tara Practice
White Tara
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche has taught extensively on the benefits of White
Tara practice. White Tara offers peace, prosperity, health and long life through
her enlightened activities. She is depicted with a female body that is the
brilliant white of a thousand autumn moons. Her third eye in her forehead
symbolizes her vision of the unity of ultimate reality while she simultaneously
sees the relative and dualistic world with her other two eyes. Her hands and
feet also have eyes, showing that all her actions are governed by her ultimate
wisdom and compassion. She is the protective, helpful and comforting mother who
shows limitless kindness, generosity and protection towards those who are tossed
in the ocean of suffering, and if we recite her mantra and make a connection to
her, we draw closer to developing her enlightened qualities in ourselves.