"My religion is kindness to all."

~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama
QUICK LINKS TO TAKE ACTION
Jun 4-10, 2018
MONDAY, JUN 4

TUESDAY, JUN 5

THURSDAY, JUN 7

FRIDAY, JUN 8

SATURDAY, JUN 9

SUNDAY, JUN 10
2018 STUPA CIRCUMAMBULATION COUNT: 12,470
Please enter your count at the Stupa
– PUJAS & HOLY DAYS–
Sat, Jun 9, Noon-1:30p
Sat, Jun 16, 6:00-8:30p
Sat, Jun 23
No puja at Center; reminder for those who may wish to perform tsog at home
Thu, Jun 28, Noon-1:00p
– UPCOMING RETREAT –
Kadampa Center will host a Nyung Nä Retreat, a powerful practice for purification and the accumulation of merit, led by Venerable Amy Miller. The retreat will be held at the Thousand Buddha Temple in Greensboro.

  • WHAT: Nyung Nä Retreat
  • WHEN: Thu, Jul 19-Sun, Jul 22
  • WHERE: Thousand Buddha Temple, Greensboro
  • REGISTRATION: Opens soon!
– UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS –
Creating merit is an essential part of Buddhist practice. When we build up stores of merit, it removes obstacles in our spiritual lives. Making merit is also great purification! In these sessions, Geshe Sangpo will briefly explain the purpose and benefits of the practices and teach us how to do them, and then we will all do the practice together, benefiting all participants.

– Jun 7: Prostrations
– Jun 16: Mandalas
  • WHERE: Kadampa Center Gompa
– VISITING TEACHER –
In this weekend course with Don Handrick, we will explore four attitudes – the cultivation of equanimity, loving-kindness, compassion, and empathetic joy – and learn how to skillfully advance them to a limitless degree, eventually making our hearts as wide as the world.

  • WHAT: Four Paths to Awaken a Kind Heart with Don Handrick
  • WHEN:
– Fri Jul 6, 7:00-9:00p
– Sat Jul 7:
  • 10:00-12:30p
  • 12:30-2:00p (lunch break)
  • 2:00-4:00p
– Sun, Jul 8:
  • 10:30-Noon
  • 12:30-2:00p (lunch break)
  • 2:00-4:00p
  • WHERE: Kadampa Center Gompa
– UPCOMING HOLY DAYS –
CHOKHOR DUCHEN – BUDDHA'S FIRST TEACHING
Seven weeks after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, India, the Buddha gave his first teaching at the Deer Park in Sarnath. He expressed his profound realizations of the nature of existence in the Four Nobel Truths. Kadampa Center's Observance of this teaching, referred to as the First Turning of the Wheel, Chokor Duchen, will include Eight Mahayana Precepts, an Animal Blessing and Liberation, and a Shakyamuni Buddha Puja.

– 5:30-7:00a, Eight Mahayana Precepts, register here
– 7:00-8:30p, Shakyamuni Buddha Puja
  • WHERE: Kadampa Center Gompa
– UPCOMING CLASSES –
Meditation 101 is an introductory course on basic Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners, and includes Buddhist meditations that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in daily life. Presented in five sessions. Led by Linda Saah.

  • WHAT: Meditation 101
  • WHEN: Tuesdays, Jun 5-Jul 3, 7:00-8:30p
  • WHERE: Kadampa Center Gompa
  • REGISTRATION: None required
BUDDHISM IN A NUTSHELLNew Daytime Hours!
An introductory course that provides a broad, simple overview of key aspects of Buddhism and our practice in five short classes. No homework or quizzes, just a suggested reading list for those who want to learn more. Presented in five sessions. Led by Patti Pandya.

  • WHAT: Buddhism in a Nutshell
  • WHEN: Thursdays, Jun 7-Jul 5, 10:00-11:30a
  • WHERE: Kadampa Center Gompa
  • REGISTRATION: None required
Learn the disadvantages of self-cherishing and the advantages of cherishing others. Learn to employ the special techniques of mind training ( lojong) to transform problems into happiness. Transforming Problems is part of a two-year series of classes called Discovering Buddhism. On the first night, Jul 9, the session will be led by visiting teacher Don Handrick. Presented in five sessions. Led by Stephanie Smith.

  • WHAT: Discovering Buddhism: Transforming Problems
  • WHEN: Mondays, Jul 9-Aug 6, 7:00-8:30p with a break Jul 16 for Chokhor Duchen
  • WHERE: Kadampa Center Gompa
  • REGISTRATION: None required
– SPIRITUAL PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT –
KADAMPA CENTER COMMEMORATES SAKA DAWA
Our community celebrated Saka Dawa, an especially auspicious day for spiritual practice, with a full day of events. Tuesday, May 29, was the 15th day of the month of Saka Dawa, the month when Shakyamuni Buddha was born, became enlightened and passed away. It is one of four major Tibetan holy days related to the Buddha.

The day began before dawn with Eight Mahayana Precepts, a set of vows taken with Geshe Palden Sangpo. A light breakfast and a group sutra reading followed.
The day continued with a special afternoon Animal Blessing and Liberation led by Venerable Ngawang Lhamo, with assistance from Venerable Choekyi Lhamo. This wonderful practice of compassion for beings born in the animal realm began with a pet blessing and included the opportunity for members to bring their pets to circumambulate the stupa. We released into the garden 300-350 worms who otherwise might have been used as bait.

PHOTOS/David Strevel and Erin Sloan
In the early evening, Geshe Sangpo offered Refuge in the Three Jewels, and nine members of our community took these refuge vows, making the commitment to Buddha-Dharma as their spiritual path. Several others attended to renew their vows.

After the refuge ceremony, we capped the day in prayer. Geshe Sangpo led a Medicine Buddha Puja, joined in the Tibetan chanting by Gen Norbu while Westerners followed along in the prayer book. This beautiful prayer service includes praises to the seven Medicine Buddhas, requests for their help, and chanting of the Medicine Buddha mantra (which we are now chanting on Sunday mornings). The puja is especially beneficial for those who are experiencing physical or mental illness, or those who have recently passed.
WELCOME FAMILIES – JOIN US!
Sunday morning classes begin at 10:30

NEW FAMILY PROGRAMING NOW UNDERWAY LEARN MORE
Dharma Parents, check out our new Family Programing for Sunday Morning. For six weeks (through June 10), families will learn about:

  • Shakyamuni Buddha
  • Four Noble Truths
  • Saka Dawa
  • His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Compassion Day
Following prayers in the gompa, a facilitator will lead parents and their children to the eduction building and guide them through discussion, meditation, and activities to discover the dharma. Parents will learn alongside their children throughout the six-week course. Middle school class and preschoolers will continue to have drop-off classes available, with special thanks to Adriana Ortegon and Michael Flaherty. LEARN MORE

Note: Dharma parents, if this type of class is not for you, children may always accompany you in the gompa. If they are restless or noisy or distracting – it's okay! We understand that children are children, and we welcome them in our gompa.

  • Sundays in June, July and August (Jun 17-Aug 19) Operation 16G: Highlight the four branches (Think, Act, Relate, and Meaning) of the 16 Guidelines using a condensed format. This will be achieved through various activities and the summer sessions. Two of the pre-selected electives are Right Speech and Service. Electives from the other two branches will be selected by summer program participants. NOTE: In the 10 weeks over the summer, kids will produce a movie, interact with art projects, and volunteer service. This is a drop-off program. Ages five and up will meet in the classroom building. Middle school and high school members will act as co-facilitators of the program. Preschoolers will continue to have drop off in the main building. LEARN MORE

  • 5th Annual Family Dharma Camp at Agape in Fuquay-Varina, Aug 25-27 Registration opens soon!
The 16 Guidelines are an initiative of The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW), an international non-profit organization.

Ready to be a Family Program volunteer? Sign up here!
GUEST SPEAKER - Som Paneru
Join us on June 13, 7 - 8 pm, for an informative presentation about Nepal problems and living conditions of the gentle Nepalis. Mr. Paneru will also describe what  Nepal Youth Foundation  is doing to address the suffering of the girls sold into the "indentured servitude" KAMARI system.
LOVE NOTES PROJECT
Write a note with a simple expression of hope and love to brighten someone's day. We are pleased to work with Meals on Wheels to deliver Love Notes with daily meals. Send your message of Love and Hope to hungry hearts. Pick-up/drop-off at Kadampa Center.
10 cards
10 minutes
10 hearts touched
NOTE: This project is coming to a close, so please complete your cards and return them to the Center.
NEW COLLECTION OPPORTUNITIES
Stay tuned for information on new ways you can help others through your generous donations, coming soon!
FLOW, FLOW, FLOW
~ By Andree & Ivette Salom
Four children set off on a magical voyage of imagination. Along the way, they meet different animals, and as the scenery changes our travelers learn to go with the flow, welcoming each new experience for what it is in the moment, and accepting when those experiences drift away, to be replaced with a whole new adventure.
HAND MADE JOURNALS AND NOTEBOOKS
Hand made Lokta paper journals and notebooks are available in several sizes and styles. Suitable for use as a journal or diary, the paper is handmade using a traditional method without mechanical equipment. Eco-friendly and available in multiple colors.
  • Small $8; Large $10
BOOKSTORE HOURS
Office hours and before/after teachings
Lend a hand...
 Help Dharma thrive – with your help we can accomplish so much more this year.

OPEN POSITIONS INCLUDE:

  • Front Desk Greeter
  • Painters, Interior - June & July - sign up today!
  • Membership Coordinator
– MERIT MAKERS –
Thanks go out this week to Christine Wiecek for working on the old shed contents by taking items to recycling, the dump and hazardous waste. She works in the heat without complaint and with no asking. Thank you for taking on this difficult task Christine, we appreciate your valiant effort!
– SIDE NOTES –
For a light version of a side note, here’s a book series recommendation that many of us at the Center are enjoying: The Rules of Ten (Tenzing Norbu Dharma Detective) by Gay Hendricks.
A Tibetan detective, former young monk, finds his identity in Los Angeles and faces...
– WORDLY WISE –
A discourse of the Buddha recognized as a canonical text.
One of the three baskets of the Buddha’s teachings.
– QUICK CONNECTIONS –
KADAMPA CENTER HOURS
Tue-Fri: 10:00a-5:30p (call ahead to check)
Silent Meditation: During open hours
TUNE-IN TO TEACHINGS
Tune to 90.3 FM when listening to teachings live in the Gompa
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Sincerely,

Kadampa Center                              
Kadampa Center is an affiliate of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) in the lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.