Drop-in Practice

Join us for a rotating schedule of practices led by experienced Dharma practitioners.

Practices include:

• Vajrasattva (1st Monday of the month)

Bring a mala (rosary) if you have one to help keep count of mantras. Practice leader will give instructions on this part of practice.

This Vajrasattva practice and other purification practices are the ultimate answer, so everything in the world—what you see, every situation—tells you to practice Vajrasattva. To purify and do Vajrasattva practice is the ultimate answer, to stop the cause to be reborn in the lower realms and the immediate [result] is to have a higher rebirth, to make preparation for death and then to meet the Dharma, to meet the virtuous friend who reveals the path to enlightenment. Then to achieve ultimate happiness, to be free from samsara and to achieve enlightenment for the numberless sentient beings and to free them from the oceans of samsaric sufferings and bring them to full enlightenment.”

From “Benefits of Vajrasattva Practice,” posted in “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Online Advice Book”:
http://www.lamayeshe.com/advice/lama-zopa-rinpoches-online-advice-book

• Green Tara (2nd Monday of the month)

Tara is a completely enlightened buddha who had previously promised to appear, after enlightenment, in the form of a female bodhisattva and goddess for the benefit of all beings. Her primary activity is to protect from the eight fears. Tara or simply Drol-ma in Tibetan, goddess of protection and compassion, is one of the widest worshiped deities in Tibet. Tara represents the miraculous activities of all buddhas. In myth she is born from Chenrezig’s tears of compassion. There are innumerable manifestations of Tara arising according to sentient beings’ needs, such as the dynamic Green Tara who quickly overcomes obstacles and saves beings in dangerous situations.

From Short Practice of Green Tara by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Thubten Yeshe

• Chenrezig (3rd Monday of the month)

All students, old and new, should practice Chenrezig, the Compassionate-Eye Looking One. Doing his recitation-meditation brings all happiness, temporary—the happiness of this and all future lives—and ultimate—the happiness of liberation and enlightenment—to the numberless sentient beings, yourself included. Reciting the Chenrezig mantra brings skies of benefit, especially if you do it with bodhicitta.

The practice and realization of bodhicitta is the most important thing in life because it fulfils not only your own wishes for happiness but also those of all other sentient beings—each and every one.

From Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice for Daily Practice

• Medicine Buddha (4th Monday of the month) Led by Venerable Yangchen

• Leader’s Choice of one of the 4 Practices (If there is 5th Monday of the month)

Each session includes some quiet stabilizing meditation and then a simple deity practice (sadhana) with basic prayers and mantra recitation.

When we say “deity” we are referring to enlightened beings, i.e., buddhas. By doing these sadhanas, we activity the qualities of these enlightened beings within ourselves.

Open to all.