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E-News: November/December 2016
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Dear Friends,
As the year draws to a close, we have so much to be grateful for at SMC! Under the guidance of our amazing teachers, we've worked harmoniously and joyously together on many temporal and spiritual levels, generated the positive potential grounding the conditions leading to our enlightenment, and opened our hearts to benefit others. Thank you to all of our precious teachers who are helping us to achieve our fullest potential.
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Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche at
Kachoe Dechen Ling. |
I am constantly humbled and deeply moved by the generosity of our community throughout the year. As we launch our
Annual Appeal, benefactors have begun coming forward to support the Center in founding a stable future and expanded program during challenging times. Only with
your support can SMC continue to serve the vast compassionate vision of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which is to achieve the ultimate happiness of each and every sentient being. Sustaining the Center and sharing the beautiful gift of the Dharma will
help us to continue operating for the benefit of all. Thank you for your contributions!
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to
Ven. Amy Miller who has so generously and compassionately accepted the role of leading teacher at the Center in addition to her already full schedule. Venerable's inspiring teachings have made a profound impact in the lives of students around the world and are deeply appreciated by our community. Thank you, Venerable for taking such good care of us!
Over the past two months we've rejoiced in the fundraising auction organized by
Jennifer Kim,
Leilani-Kali Rivers, and
Caitlin Bailey (thank you for your astounding joyous effort and to
Gigi and Rodrigo Salomon for donating their beautiful gallery!);
Ven. Amy's session with the Discovering Buddhism group via Skype and
Glen Svensson's visit with the group to teach a session on emptiness; meditation series on Freeing the Mind, Opening the Heart and Courageously Facing Change and Uncertainty; Cittamani Tara, Green Tara, Medicine Buddha, and Guru pujas, and two full practice days including Shakyamuni Buddha and Chenrezig pujas, prostrations, and sutra recitations. May we continue our momentum of accumulating merit and wisdom to benefit all.
Stay tuned for exciting news and information on events in 2017, including eagerly-awaited teachings from
Ven. Amy,
Geshe Thubten Sherab, and
Ven. Robina Courtin!
On behalf of everyone at SMC, and with thanks from the bottom of our hearts for the presence in body or spirit of each and every member of the community, may you, your families, and all universal sentient beings swiftly receive perfect temporal and ultimate prosperity, happiness, and peace.
With Oceans of Big Love,
Desmond
Director
Shantideva Meditation Center - FPMT NYC
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Featured Announcement
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| Graphic design by Mercedeh Mirshamsi. Photo by Edward Sczudlo |
Make a lasting impact for good in the world by supporting Shantideva Meditation Center and the Buddha's teachings! Join us in contributing to the vast compassionate vision of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the FPMT, and His Holiness
the Dalai Lama!
Please help us reach our goal of $6,000 by February 27!
For more information and to donate, please click here.
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Practice Generosity
Shantideva Meditation Center relies entirely on the generosity of individual donors to support our activities. Every gift at any level is needed and deeply appreciated. To create positive potential to collectively keep the wheel of Dharma turning, please consider offering your support. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, December 24 - Wednesday, January 4
Winter Break 
Shantideva Meditation Center will be closed for Winter Break.
We look forward to resuming activities after the break and wish you a restful and rejuvenating start to the new year.
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Friday, January 6 from 7pm to 9pm
at Jewel Heart Center
Cittamani Tara, the highest yoga tantra manifestation of the deity Tara, can lead us to liberation and enlightenment within a single lifetime.
Well known as a source of swift assistance in all temporal and spiritual matters,
Cittamani Tara is called upon to bring success
-
including for
situations
involving family, relationships, business, and career - and
for protection from all negativities and fears
.
K
yabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche has specifically advised that the Cittamani Tara Puja be practiced by Shantideva Meditation Center. All are welcome!
For more information, please click
here.
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Tuesdays, January 10, 17 and 24 from 7pm to 8:30pm
at Jewel Heart Center
Our next Tuesday meditations will consist of a series of visualizations of the different qualities we can develop in ourselves: the unlimited ability to help all others, enlightened energy, and infinite love and compassion.
Each session will focus on one quality embodied by one aspect of the enlightened mind embodied in a specific deity such as Shakyamuni Buddha, Tara, and Chenrezig.
For more information and to register, please click
here. Next dates: Jan 17 & 24.
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Wednesdays, January 11 - February 22 from 7pm to 9pm
at Jewel Heart Center
In this module, we will learn the definition of tantra, investigate how tantra works, and explore why it is a powerful form of practice. We will get a broad overview of the four classes of tantra, learn how to practice simple Kriya tantric methods, and discuss how to integrate the practices of tantra with lam-rim meditation for optimal results.
We are pleased to announce Ven. Amy Miller will be joining us in NYC to teach the first session on tantra on January 11 and will lead a Q&A session via Skype on February 8.
For more information and to register, please click
here
.
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Upcoming Pujas
Pujas are offered twice monthly beginning at 7pm
Shantideva Meditation students gather regularly for pujas,
a practice in which prayers are offered to enlightened beings to request blessings and invoke help. Pujas help
clear away obstacles and allow practitioners to realize their worldly and spiritual aspirations. Come as an observer or participant in this highly beneficial practice! There is now no need to register in advance.
Cittamani Tara Puja
Well known as a source of swift assistance in all temporal and spiritual matters, Cittamani Tara is called upon to bring success to any situation, and for protection from all negativities and fears.
Friday, January 6 from 7pm to 8:30pm
 Guru Puja
lays the whole path to enlightenment on our mindstream, connects us more strongly to our teachers, and allows us to quickly and effectively accumulate merit and purify negative karma.
Friday,
January 20 & February 21
Medicine Buddha Puja
purifies and heals on all levels - physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental. This puja is considered particularly powerful for people who are sick or have recently died.
Friday, February 10
from 7pm to 9pm
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Rejoice! Recent Dharma Activities
Thursday, November 10
at Salomon Arts Gallery
Thank you to our amazing donors, sponsors, and bidders who supported Shantideva Meditation's second auction!
While we did not hit our fundraising goal this year, the energy was powerfully positive and our guests had a great time. People reported that their spirits were uplifted, which is core to our mission!
If you might like to support the Center, you can do so through our
Annual Appeal.
To view photos of the event, please click here.
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| L: Shantideva's Spiritual Program Coordinator, Arnaud. M: Director, Desmond. Salomon Arts Gallery, November 10, 2016. Photo by Rodrigo Salomon. |
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Saturday, December 10 from 10am to 6pm
at Jewel Heart Center
The Center offered a Dharma practice day on December 10! We did important practices advised by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the Center, as well as for peace in the United States and in the world.
These practices create the causes for success in practice, service, and daily life, and they prepare us to develop profound realizations on the path to enlightenment.
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Wednesdays: November 9 - December 21 from 7pm to 9pm
at Jewel Heart Center
In this module, we worked to enhance our ability to bring about the realization of emptiness, discussed and practiced different methods to use in meditation on emptiness, and went over the practices of accumulation of merit and purification of obstacles, which are indispensable for generating realizations within the mind.
On December 14, Ven. Amy Miller joined the study group, giving teachings on mahamudra, four-point analysis, purification, and other topics related to emptiness.
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Tuesday Meditations 
This series incorporated advice and practices to use between sessions.
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Open Volunteer Positions
Be part of the Shantideva
volunteer team! We are looking to expand our volunteer positions. If you are interested in volunteering, please
contact us.
"
Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something
." - Author Unknown
Click
here for details on our volunteer positions:
host visiting teachers, registration manager,
assist with video, and volunteers for altar setup.
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Acknowledging Our Contributors
Thanks to those who enable Shantideva Meditation Center to exist and offer benefit.
VISITING TEACHERS: November and December 2016
Ven. Amy Miller and Glen Svensson
VOLUNTEER & STAFF CONTRIBUTORS: November and December 2016
Caitlin Bailey,
Meg Sweetland Baker,
Tara Baltazar, Arnaud Berger,
Lisa Besso, Robyn Brentano,
Josh Builder,
Lauren Coleman, Bonnie Costa, George Cuesta, Gustavo Cutz,
Charles Freehhof, Sam Go, Desmond Hosford
,
Jennifer Kim, Amy Krantz,
Charlotte Lowson
, Dana McCurdy,
Gail Pickett,
Sheila Richardson,
Leilani-Kali Rivers,
Gigi Salomon,
Sean Tanaka,
Jan Tilley
MEMBERS:
November and December 2016
Jed Aicher, Hailey Aldren, Volodymyr Andreiev, Ricardo Aragon,
Tara Baltazar,
Arnaud Berger, Joel Bernardo, Steven Bernhaut,
Elizabeth Besso,
Jane Bosveld,
Robyn Brentano, Josh Builder,
Jeff Caspari,
Emma Cobb,
Mary Cotta, George Cuesta, Catherine DeLong,
Jaleh Farahani,
Marc Freed,
Charlie Freehof, Augusto Giacoman,
Sam Go,
Snehy Gupta,
Pattie Hansen,
Jeff Holloway,
Desmond Hosford,
Marianna Janicelli,
Bill Kelly,
Marcus Keyzer,
Jennifer Kim, Mary La Rosa, Charlotte Lowson,
Wendy McCaffery,
Aniko Muriglan, Sheila Odessey,
Michael Pafford,
Georges Piette, Sheila Richardson, Marianne Richter,
Leillani-Kali Rivers, Gigi Salomon, Rodrigo Salomon,
V
ictoria Samosvatova,
Jay Sautter, Vijay Sharmapuri,
Pamela Sherrid, Sean Tanaka,
Jan Tilley,
Elisabeth Wassman,
Janna Weiss, Johan Wiberg, Michael Wick,
Jesse Willard
ADDITIONAL DONORS & SPONSORS:
November and December 2016
Ven. Tenzin Pelyang, Caitlin Bailey, Jeffrey Caspari, Rosemary Caviglia,
Lauren Coleman, Conna Craig, G
eorge Cuesta, Charles Freehof, Snehy Gupta,
Bernie Handler,
Desmond Hosford,
Jennifer Kim, David Kittay,
Georges Piette, Gigi Salomon, Rodrigo Salomon, Charlotte Lowson,
Pamela Patton,
Jennifer Rumbach,
Loren Kantor,
Lynne Sonenberg,
Marian Oneil, Mary Jo Pagano,
Michael Pafford,
Olga Dobroskok,
Richard Einhorn, Robert Schwabe, Andy Spreitzer, S
ean Tanaka,
Sheila Richardson, Tara Baltazar
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About Us
Shantideva Meditation Center is dedicated to cultivating wisdom and compassion through the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism within the New York community.
We are affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), which is based on the Gelugpa tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by Founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, and Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
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