The Way of Shambhala

Thursday Evenings*                         Starting May 17                    7 pm to 9 pm

*This is a five week class

Meditation in Everyday Life will be presented by Bob Pressnall, senior student of Chögyam Trungpa and Sakyong Mipham. He is the regional Director for Practice and Education.

The five week class explores the view and practice of sitting meditation as it applies to our daily lies. The evening class allows students a deeper experience of peaceful abiding as the foundation for their path and offers practical suggestions for developing a meditation practice at home.

It provides continuity between Sambhala Training Levels I and II and offers a community in which to discuss and clarify basic sitting meditation. The class will study the principles of meditation as presented in the books Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham and Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa.

We recommend you have access to both books for readings for the class, but especially Turning the Mind into an Ally.

We'll be providing light food and refreshments. We ask for a $100 donation for all five week/sliding scale.

LIVING BEAUTIFULLY WITH UNCERTAINTY AND CHANGE: A VIDEO PRESENTATION WITH PEMA

How do we work skillfully with rough times

How do we transform our lives during times of upheaval and unpredictability

How do we broaden our tolerance for uneasiness?

On February 25-26 2012 these and related questions will be explored in detail by Pema Chödrön.We'll be watching this interactive video from 9 to 5 on Saturday and 9 to 4 on Sunday.

The main theme of this weekend’s presentation is the Hopi Prophecy of 2000. This foretells very challenging times ahead but Pema encourages us to see this as an opportunity to realize who we are in the fullest sense.  

Pema Chödrön’s message is as simple as it is bold: We can do it! And we can all do it beautifully. 

Suggested Donation is $40

You can preregister by clicking the PayPal button below to make your contribution.

The Heart Sutra – Its Mantra and Emptiness

February 18 - 19, 2012
Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Sunday from 9am to 4pm

An in depth teaching on the meaning of the Mantra and Emptiness will be presented in this week-end Seminar by Lama Dudjom Dorjee.The Heart Sutra is a chant fundamental to all Mahayana Buddhist traditions and it is filled with many pith instructions, especially on the notion of Emptiness.

The word Emptiness implies nihilism to many westerners but that is not it’s implication from a Buddhist point of view, quite the contrary. This will be clarified along with the meaning of the Heart Sutra Mantra itself.

Lama Dudjom will also be teaching from excerpts of his book “Heartfelt Advice” on matters that relate to these teachings. You are invited to this meet this great and very cheerful teacher. Please come and join us.

A donation of $80 is requested for the weekend with a traditional teacher's gift at the end of the retreat. Sliding scale donations are acceptable if needed. Out-of-towners can be accommodated. Let us know if that is necessary and if you are coming. Preregistration will be $70.

The Shambhala center also meets regularly on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 7-9 pm. Call 831 316 8282 for more info or preregistration.

Lama Dudjom Dorjee was born to a nomadic family in the mountains of eastern Tibet. He grew up in India as a refugee from the Communist invasion. He received the Acharya Degree upon completion of intensive study of the Buddhist doctrine at Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India.

Lama D. Dorjee accomplished the traditional secluded three-year retreat as required by the Karma Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism. He did this under the auspices of H.E. Kalu Rinpoche and H.E. Khyentse Rinpoche.

In 1981 the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa authorized Lama Dorjee to be one of the representatives of the Kagyu lineage in the United States. Shortly thereafter, he accepted an invitation to come to America from Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery in New York. He has been teaching Dharma in the West since that time. He is known for bringing joy, humor, and clarity to his presentation of the Buddhadharma. Lama Dorjee provides practical ways for his students to apply Buddhist wisdom while living in the modern world

Being Present

with

Impermanence and Uncertainty

           

Impermanence is here to stay and the advent of 2012 adds an even greater uncertainty to the future which all of us are facing. The upcoming challenges of this new year (global warming, political unrest and economic instability), coupled with our own personal daily issues may seem to be overwhelming.

Being present means relating to what happens in our lives with a sense of heightened awareness and an open heart, accepting and embracing the teachings along the path.

Lama Lena Yeshe Kaytup has spent almost 40 years of dharma study and practice under the tutelage of Venerable Wangdor Rinpoche. This includes 7 years of retreat in a small cave above Tso Pema – home of the Holy Caves of Guru Padmasambhava. As a westerner Lama Kaytup is particularly familiar with our styles of dramas and upsets. She is extremely articulate and clear in her presentation of Dharma Teachings, especially of the Direct Mind Perception Meditation. This mini-two-day-evening seminar offers a rare and valuable opportunity to be with her, and given her busy schedule, it would be best if practitioners make the extra effort to be there for both days. That is because she travels extensively and, having studied Chinese Medicine, she also spends much of her time providing medical assistance to Tibetan refugees and local Indian villages and mountain tribe peoples in North India.

Teachings are open to everyone. In Lama Lena's tradition, there is never a charge for teachings, while an offering is made directly to the teacher at the end of the teaching.

The Shambhala Center would appreciate a donation of $30 for the two days to help cover expenses.Please, if possible, let us know if you are coming. Contact Michael @ 831-316-8282.

Dates and Time:

January 2012

Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th

7:00 to 9:00 pm

Location:

920 41st ave, Santa Cruz behind the Family Cycling Center