Taking Refuge means taking the Buddha, his teachings (the Dharma), and the Sangha as one’s primary guidance and protection, and keeping the Refuge vows and commitments. Geshe Tsultrim will bestow the ceremony in an unbroken lineage from the time of the Buddha. In this ceremony new students can take refuge for the first time, and established students can renew their vows. (IN-PERSON)
Join us for our annual Shakyamuni Buddha puja, offering all the Christmas trees and lights in the world! We make many elaborate and beautiful offerings and recite praises, all in English with the traditional Tibetan tunes. We offer chai and community dedications for the year, and at the end we strew of flowers to the ten directions. Don’t miss the best Buddhist party you could ever come to!
Make the very most of your karmic connection with your pets, and bring them to the Dharma, lasting peace and happiness. Discover how to skillfully help your pets in daily life, and how to keep your own mind calm and focused during illness or at their passing, so our presence can benefit them in the very best way. Each participant will receive a special Animal Blessing Kit.
Today we celebrate ‘Buddha’s Descent from Tushita’ by chanting the Heart Sutra and with a group recitation of the Diamond Cutter Sutra, dedicated to the health and long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Merit created on this day is greatly multiplied, so it’s a perfect opportunity to re-focus our Dharma practice and altruistic intention. No need to book, just come along!
A short recitation of the Diamond Cutter Sutra and lots of light offerings on this special Buddhist day, SAKA DAWA – Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana! This short recitation helps to purify one’s speech, calm and harmonise the mind, and bring the blessings of the Buddha’s wisdom directly into one’s heart. We will also have a chance to bathe the Baby Buddha, a practice that helps to cleanse all negativities and sufferings of oneself and others.
Join in the community recitation of the Diamond Cutter Sutra, especially powerful as today is a special Buddha Day and the anniversary of Milarepa. Remove the causes of confusion and plant the seeds of wisdom in your mind. Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that even just hearing about emptiness, even with a mind of confusion, is like an atom bomb to the delusions!
All families are warmly invited to our re-designed Mindful Families event. This year the kids will create their own ‘stained glass’ style Buddha window silhouette! So come along and enjoy the elephant loaded with offerings, a short meditation, animated DVD about Buddha’s life, bathing the baby Buddha, singing happy birthday and sharing cake afterwards.
Make the very most of your karmic connection with your pets, and bring them to the Dharma, lasting peace and happiness. Discover how to skillfully help your pets in daily life, and how to keep your own mind calm and focused at the time of death or during illness, so our presence can benefit them in the very best way. Each participant will receive a special Blessing Kit.
To commemorate World Vegetarian Day and World Animal Day, we are holding a special sutra recitation dedicated especially for all the beings in the animal realm. We have three short recitations, and special community dedications at the end. You can dedicate for your own pets (past and living), and for the freedom and safety of animals everywhere.
Join in the community recitation for First Wheel-Turning Day, the anniversary of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching, and one of the holiest days of the Buddhist calendar. The merits created on this holy day are magnified many millions of times! Dedications for the health and long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
