December at the Center

"I want to say without hesitation that the purpose of our life is happiness."

~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama
PUJAS Everyone Welcome!
No puja at Center; reminder for those who may wish to perform tsog at home
UPCOMING AND ONGOING TEACHINGS, CLASSES and PRACTICES
Come join us as we celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of our lineage, the Gelugpa tradition, in Tibetan Buddhism. This day marks the 600th anniversary of his passing.
Geshe-la encourages us all to come, even if we can't attend the entire festival. Students are welcome to drop in and drop out throughout the afternoon.
WHEN: Sat, Dec 21, 1:00p

When: Tues, Dec 10, 7:00-8:30p
Nalanda is named for the great Indian monastery that produced highly acclaimed Buddhist scholars, including Lama Atisha, Chandrakirti, Nagarjuna and Shantarakshita, whose works we continue to study today.
Kadampa Center is happy to host an evening with Venerable Tendar, a resident of Nalanda in France, who will speak about the traditions at the monastery.
Besides Dharma studies, the current Nalanda monastery is also famous for its work in creating, and helping others create, holy images through their tsatsa workshop. Tsatsas are plaster statues, cast in molds. The Nalanda workshop creates molds for others to use - and in fact, our own Family Program used molds at this year's Family Dharma Camp, and we also used Nalanda molds to create tsatsa for filling our stupa with sacred objects. So Kadampa Center has a great connection to Nalanda!
Come learn more about this sister center in our FPMT family.
This is the sixth module in a two-year series. In this module, learn the essential facts about the law of cause and effect. Explore ways to deal with life most effectively and take control of your future. The class is led by Stephanie Smith .
Registration requested
WHEN: Nov 4 - Dec 9, Childcare provided

Our Sunday morning teachings are a vibrant, interactive experience. With the guidance of one of our resident teachers, we discuss the complications that make us unhappy, and how the tools of Buddhism sheds new light on our thoughts and emotions.
WHEN: Every Sunday

MEDITATION 101 (Evening class)
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. 
The class is led by David Machles .
Registration requested

The purpose of the meditation circle is to channel our energy in positive, healing ways to benefit the group and all other living beings. The practice is followed by tea-time for meditators to share experiences, discuss topics, and to get to know one another.
WHEN: Every Sunday

Everyone is welcome!
Tara is a female Buddha whose qualities include enlightened action and swiftly removing obstacles. Geshe Gelek translated this special practice for us and assures us that this will greatly benefit not just our center and community, but have the best benefit of helping all sentient beings.
WHEN: Dec 14
Over the course of the year, it's easy to make lots of mistakes with our body, speech and mind. We create harmful karmic seeds from unskillful actions that will eventually ripen as suffering. Kadampa Center's annual New Year's Eve Dorje Khadro Fire Puja, a powerful Mahayana purification practice, offers us an opportunity to go into the new year with a relatively clean slate. 
WHEN: Dec 31
Meditation is a foundational tool of the Buddhist practitioner. We use different types of meditation in our practice to clear and calm the mind, review and deepen our understanding of teachings, develop concentration, and so on. Led by senior students.
WHEN:  Dec 7

Our precious spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, advised us to recite 100,000 Praises to the 21 Taras to create the causes for the next Light of the Path Retreat.
See our new commitment page here!
Enter your personal count here.
 Our progress as of today: 61,663
Read about our Tara retreat in the FPMT Mandala blog here!
"At Kadampa Center, we always look forward to the Light of the Path retreats when we have the opportunity to spend so much time with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and students from all over the world. Before each retreat Rinpoche kindly advises us about..."
Written by Donna Seese
Photo courtesy of David Strevel
What do we do when there’s a problem and we can’t fix it? When we encounter a hungry child – not just one, but dozens – and lack the resources to feed them all. When we read about the plight of millions of people...

from Donna Seese, Spiritual Program Coordinator
WELCOME FAMILIES – JOIN US!
Sunday morning classes begin at 10:30
Our Sunday Program is a vibrant mix of drop-off and family programming. Much of our curriculum content is based on the 16 Guidelines .
WINTER SESSION info available soon. See our Family Program page
(No classes held in December, children welcome in Gompa)
Sundays, 10:30 - Noon
The Family Program will host 3 Children's classes from the ages of 5 to 17.
See the  Family Program page  for more information about the Elementary, Middle and Teen class offerings.
We have a Refuge Room for those with children under age 5 - Learn more
Curriculum
Each month we explore one of the 16 Guidelines, celebrate Buddhist holy days (such as Saka Dawa and Lama Tsongkhapa Day), introduce Buddhist practices (including prostrations and reciting mantras), and participate in Center-wide celebrations (like Losar and Compassion Day). Learn more
Parents, are you interested in attending Discovering Buddhism sessions
on Monday evenings? Childcare is now provided!
Adopt-a-Stream Success!
Many thanks for a successful Adopt-a-Stream trash collection event at Lake Johnson on Sat, Nov 2. They gathered 9 large bags of trash from the waters’ edge, making the environment a little better for all sentient beings!
Standing: Paul Krebs, Sandra Hess, Jon Morris, David Strevel, Elise Strevel
Front: Virginia Morris, Alex Hess, Link Freedom
You guys are appeciated!!
Zen of R2-D2 by Matthew Bortolin
Bortolin shows us how to discover our own inner R2—and the truth about who we really are! 
This delightful and illuminating romp unfolds in the form of a fictional dialogue between the author—a die-hard Star Wars devotee with a deep connection to Zen—and two cosplayers dressed as C-3PO and R2-D2 who insist on being called by their character names. Along the way, you’ll come to see what everyone’s favorite astromech can teach us about peace, happiness, and life’s true meaning.
WOOL HATS FROM NEPAL
The Winter hats are out! See our selection from adult to children's fashion. Toboggans are available for $15 for those not quite as adventurous.
Cost: $20
BOOKSTORE HOURS
Office hours and before/after teachings
Interested in becoming a KCPP pen pal? Email Amanda Henry , Pen Pal Coordinator, or call 919.859.3433
We have a waiting list – can you help? Kadampa Center Prison Project (KCPP) volunteers offer prisoner-support workshops using meditation to more skillfully navigate life, in prison and out. Many class participants have questions about meditation and Buddhism that cannot be addressed during our limited workshop time. Still others who are interested are located where our workshops are not available. It doesn't take a Buddhist scholar to write to an inmate. Just someone with a warm heart, a compassionate ear, and the willingness to keep a conversation going.
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BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE - November

The board of directors are grateful for many reasons this time of year: Our teachers, volunteers, staff, community and for all of those who sustain Kadampa Center in so many ways. We celebrate the exciting, wonderful visit by Venerable George who gave insightful teachings and touched our hearts. The 2020 Annual Appeal is underway and we are hopeful that it will be a great success!
 
Looking to the Future,
Your Kadampa Center Board of Directors
Questions on giving?
Email centermanager@kadampa-center.org or call 919.859.3433
The 2020 Annual Appeal has started! There are many ways you can 'Look to the Future" in support of the Center you love. It takes all of us together to help our Center thrive!


Time to celebrate the Holiday Season together!
Bring: Your favorite party dish
Dress: Holiday casual
Where: Kadampa Center
We'll have ice breakers games for the adults, good food and holiday music. 
The children will have their own party in the education building with snacks and games.
See you there!
KADAMPA CENTER HOURS

Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
(please call ahead to ensure staff is available to unlock building)
Wed-Fri: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm: Silent meditation - all welcome (call ahead)
Classes and events take place throughout the week. Check the calendar for full listing. Doors open 30 minutes prior to start times.
Brought to you by the
Hospitality Team!
We've expanded our social activities to include small groups with common hobbies or interests. Groups will meet informally and as often as they like.
  • Fitness/Health (Ex. walk/run/bike)
  • Movies/Game Night (Ex. movies/museum/board games)
  • Outdoor Activities (Ex. gardening/hiking/nature walks)
  • Spur-of-the-Moment (Ex. Meet me at the _______ in an hour.")
Click below to learn more and register.
Join us Saturday nights, for an evening of fun, food and conversation as we create the cause and conditions for a strong dharma community.
  • WHAT: Dinners at 6
  • WHEN: 6:00p, Saturdays, (see calendar for weather or conflict cancellations)
  • WHERE: Aladdin's Eatery, 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd., Suite 136, Raleigh (Quail Ridge Bookstore side, North Hills Mall)
Brought to you by the Hospitality Team!
PLEASE NOTE: Everyone is responsible for their own meal; click here for menu and pricing
The Hospitality Team offers the opportunity to meet after the teachings on the last Sunday of each month to snack, chat, and hang out together. Food and drink will be provided.
Read  here  about Sponsoring a Sunday Tea!
QUICK CONNECTIONS
TUNE-IN TO TEACHINGS
Tune to 90.3 FM when listening to teachings live in the Gompa
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Kadampa Center is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) in the
lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama