Ann Arbor Programs April – August
TEACHINGS with GELEK RIMPOCHE
The SONGS OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE are inspirational verses spontaneously composed by the great 14th century Tibetan Buddhist scholar, Je Tsong Khapa. As commentary on the stages of the path to enlightenment, Je Tsong Khapa’s deep understanding and personal experience offers us the opportunity to similarly transform ourselves and how we participate in the world.
GELEK RIMPOCHE will teach these verses over the coming months from both Jewel Heart in Ann Arbor and New York. Among the last generation of incarnate lamas tutored by the great masters of Old Tibet, Rimpoche’s command of western culture allows him to convey the Tibetan Buddhist tradition with wisdom, kindness and wit. Rimpoche is the Founder and Spiritual Director of Jewel Heart.
LIVE IN ANN ARBOR:
Saturday, April 2
10am – 12pm, 2 – 5pm
Saturday May 21
10am – 12pm, 2pm – 5pm
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Special Guest Speaker – Lene Handberg
ANCIENT TIBETAN DREAM WISDOM: Mobilizing the Creativity of the Unconscious
Friday, September 23 – Sunday, September 25
Friday, September 23: 7 – 9pm
Saturday, September 24: 10am – 12pm, 2 – 5pm, 7 – 9pm
Sunday, September 25: 1 – 4pm
Our dreams, rather than non-sensical repetition of daytime experiences, are doorways into the mystery of our own inner realms and opportunities for transformation. Because the dream state is an energy state, it is possible to gain intuitive insight into matters impenetrable from our otherwise materially-bound reality.
As guide and translator through unfamiliar landscapes, Lene Handberg of Copenhagen, Denmark, will present this intensive dream course based on Unity in Duality as developed by her teacher, Tibetan master Tarab Tulku Rinpoche.
Ms. Handberg will introduce the first part of Tibetan Dream Yoga, with methods to recall dreams and gain lucidity in the dream state, enabling students to gain facility in dealing with dreams for the purpose of self-development. These ancient Tibetan dream methods give practitioners powerful tools to directly address underlying emotional and psychological issues manifesting through dream.
Please bring a journal of recent dreams to the workshop.
Cost: $45 – $60 sliding scale
Please register by Monday, September 19.
Contact [email protected] or 734 994 3387, extension 223.
Questions ~Contact [email protected] or call 734 994 3387, extension 221 or 224.
Click Here to download the flyer.
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A PERSONAL JOURNEY – MEDITATION AND MEDICAL PRACTICE IN THE EAST AND WEST – Venerable Barry Kerzin (Dr.)
Friday, June 10, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Dr. Barry Kerzin (Tenzin Choerab) is a Buddhist monk, teacher, and medical doctor. Completing short and long meditation retreats over the last 27 years, Dr. Kerzin has played an important role, along with other long-time meditation practitioners, in the seminal research conducted by Drs. Richard J Davidson and Jonathan Cohen on the structure and function of the brain and mind through neuroscience.
Currently a consultant for the Max Planck Institute in Germany on research studying the influence of compassion training for every day individuals, as well as Chairman of Ippan Shadan Hojin – Human Values Institute – based in Japan, Dr. Kerzin continues his efforts to promote human values and happiness.
Join us for a fun and informative evening following the life story of Dr. Barry Kerzin as an American medical doctor, later ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, living 22 years in Dharamsala, and teaching and practicing in eastern and western cultures.
$5 – $20 Sliding Scale Register at [email protected] or 734 994 3387 x 223 or pay at the door.
Click here to download the flyer.
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SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
Thursday, May 19, 7:30 – 9pm
SCIENCE AND DHARMA: TOWARDS A SYNTHESIS
with Dr. Richard J Davidson.
This talk will review the short history of the development of contemplative neuroscience as a hybrid discipline. It will showcase important new findings as well as methodological strategies in the study of meditation. The talk will also highlight the important role of contemplative practice on the part of the scientists who are conducting this research and will invite the audience to consider the complementary goals of each.
Visit www.investigatinghealthyminds.org for more about Richard Davidson’s work.
$5 – $20 Sliding Scale
For more information, contact [email protected]
or call 734 994 3387
“Dr. Richard Davidson, one of the world’s leading experts on the mind-body connection. Davidson calls buddhist monks the Olympic athletes of meditation, making them ideal candidates for research into how a positive disposition affects our health.” – Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN.
Also available as live video webcast through participating Jewel Heart chapters and Jewel Heart Webcast Subscription Service. Click Here to subscribe now.
Click here to download the flyer.
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MEDITATION AND WISDOM: Bringing Focus and Understanding to our Lives
Sat, June 11, 10am – 12pm and 1:30 – 3:30pm
Buddha’s methods for balance, peace and joy in our relationships, whether with ourselves or with the world around us, are as valuable to us today as they were 2600 years ago. Through meditation methods involving focus and intention, we can develop mindfulness powerful enough to clear our fears and confusion over how we and the world exist.
$35 Register at [email protected] or 734 994 3387 x 223 or pay at the door.
If you are unable to afford the fee, we invite you to speak with registration for other arrangements.
Questions? Contact [email protected] or 734 994 3387 extension 221 or 224
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Special Event Workshop
JATAKAS ARE US:
Embodying the Way and Being Embodied by It!
with
RAFE MARTIN
Noted Author and Storyteller
Saturday, April 9
9:30am – 12:30pm
Jataka tales are mythic sources of depth for spiritual seekers of all traditions. Take care not to mistake them as quaint tales for children only! For the Jataka tales tell us the ways of bodhisattvas, those with boundless hearts dedicated to the happiness and enlightenment of all beings.
In this workshop, finding ourselves reflected through the experience of the jataka mirror, we will take up the work of bodhisattvas, embodying these stories through our own body, speech and mind and bringing renewal to our lives, our understanding, and our spiritual practice.
You don’t want to miss Rafe Martin and this inspiring workshop, geared to energize our life relationships in all their opportunities for creative delight.
Register in advance or pay at the door $45
Contact: [email protected]
or 734 994 3387 x 223, 221, 224
For flyer and more details, click here
Friday, April 8, 7pm Rafe Martin will also offer an evening of storytelling – World Tales of Wisdom and Compassion – at the Ann Arbor Zen Temple, 1214 Packard Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
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GOM Weekends
Friday, April 29-Sunday May 1
Friday August 5- Sunday August 7
Fridays 7-9pm, Saturdays 9am-8:30pm, Sundays 9am-6pm
GOM, or concentrated meditation, is an essential tool that helps develop peace and joy as well as the power to deeply understand wisdom. This intensive weekendincludes practice session with light guidance. Silence is maintained. Sessions include sitting and walking meditations. Instructors are available for assistance. Pleasebring brown bag meals and snacks. Tea/Coffee provided.
Donations only
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Creating Space: Clarity and Insight through Meditation – Thursdays, 7pm – 8:30pm
May 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21
Meditation provides a clear stable mind, necessary for a happy life and foundation for deepening our spiritual journey. This course offers hands-onexperience with the basic elements of meditation, using breath, posture and techniques for coping with distractions and laxity of the mind.
$80 / Free for Jewel Heart Members
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Odyssey to Freedom Section 2 and 3 – Wednesdays, 7pm – 8:30pm
Section 2 Continues – April 6, 20, May 4, 18, June 1, 15
Section 3 – June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, September 7, 14, 21. No meetings in August.
Gelek Rimpoche created Odyssey to Freedom as an accessible and concise Lam Rim, encompassing the stages of the spiritual path from our currentsituation, as it is, to full enlightenment. Transcript is available from the Jewel Heart Store.
$80 / Jewel Heart Members Free
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Yamantaka Section 4 and 5 – Mondays, 7pm – 8:30pm
Section 4 Continues – April 4
Section 5 – April 18, May 2, 16
Open to Vajrayana members interested in deepening their daily Yamantaka sadhana practice. This five section course follows Gelek Rimpoche’sYamantaka transcript.
$30 / Jewel Heart Members Free
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Vajrayogini Self – Initiation Workshop
Saturday, May 14
10am – 5pm
Open to those who have completed the Vajrayogini retreat and fire puja. Will include tsoh.
$15 for costs
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Six Session Guru Yoga– Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30pm
May 23, June 6, 20, July 11, 25, September 12, 26, October 17, November 7, 21. No meetings in August.
Based on Gelek Rimpoche’s Six Session Guru Yoga transcript illuminating the long and short Six Session Guru Yoga, a foundational meditationpractice to deepen the understanding of guru yoga and keep vajrayana commitments. Open to those with Vajrayana initation.
$100 / Jewel Heart Members Free
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Dharma Discussion and Debate – Tuesdays, Monthly 7pm – 8:30pm
April 26, May 24, June 28, July 26. No meeting in August.
Drawing on the traditional Tibetan Buddhist mode of learning through open debate, you are invited to participate in groups of two to fiveparticipants to analytically challenge and deepen your relationship with the Dharma. Join in for free pizza and discussion!
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Celebrated Tsoh Dates and Holidays
Saturday, April 16 (10), Sunday, April 24 (25), Saturday, May 14 – Vajrayogini Workshop, 10am – 5pm (details tocome), Saturday, May 28, 6pm (25), Saturday, June 11, 6pm (10), Wednesday, June 15 – Sakadawa Day, Sunday, June 26, 6pm (25), Wednesday, July 6 – His Holinessthe Dalai Lama’s birthday, Sunday, July 10, 6pm (10), Sunday, July 24, 6pm (25), Sunday, August 7, 6pm (10), Saturday, August 27, 6pm (25).
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Free Films and Discussion – Fridays – Monthly 7pm
Bring your friends and enjoy a free film and discussion about dharma and the film. Concessions are also available.
April 29 – Mystic Tibet: An Outer, Inner and Secret Pilgrimage. Hosted by John Schramm.
May 20 – Ghost World (2001, USA). Hosted by Elizabeth Hurwitz. Enid and Seymour are stubborn loners who find one another under unusualcircumstances. Then things really get interesting. A great movie about karma, caring and fake 1950s diners.
June 24 – Fried Green Tomatoes (1991). Hosted by Gloria Boyaijan. The story taking place in the early 20th century American South with plenty ofrich material for thought, there are a few surprising twists and turns and a good dose of humor wrapped up in a story you will not soon forget.
July 29 – The Invention of Lying (2009, Written, directed and starring Ricky Gervais) – Hosted by Rowena Villarias. An alternate reality whereeveryone tells the truth and lying is unheard of.
August 19 – Doing Time, Doing Vipassana (1997). Hosted by Akiko Yamada. This award-winning documentary takes viewers into India’s largestprison – known as one of the toughest in the world – and shows the dramatic changes brought about by the introduction of Vipassana meditation.
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Jewel Heart Readers – Tuesdays, Monthly, 7pm – 8:30pm
April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12. No meeting in August
Enjoy lively discussion of dharma related book selections monthly.
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Knitting Social – Sundays, Monthly, 1pm – 4pm
April 3, May 8, June 5, July 10 and August 7
All are invited to this monthly Sangha Council social gathering. Loving Kindness Knitting & Crafts includes all crafts, arts and handiwork. Bring yourcurrent project(s) if you have one or join our Squares project. We have lots of yarn to go around. Donations accepted.
New Programs Added
Art of Living Class
Dates: Tuesdays, beginning April 12
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Based on Gelek Rimpoche’s book, Good Life, Good Death, this 8 week course will explore pragmatic methods to bring depth, meaning, and joy to our lives. Each class session will include discussion as well as brief opening and closing meditations. The book is available for sale or may be checked out of the JH Cleveland library.
Class leader: David Hunter [email protected] Contact for more information.
Cost: $80. Free for Jewel Heart members. Please come even if you cannot afford this and give what you can to help support Jewel Heart and Gelek Rimpoche’s teachings.
Request for donations for our Silent Auction
Our Silent Auction fundraiser will take place in May and June this year. Please bring donations of items for the auction to any Jewel Heart event. Your donations are tax deductible. Contact Anne [email protected] if you need to have items picked up.
Let’s make this year’s fundraiser the best yet!
Concentrated meditation evenings
Time: 7-8:30 pm every Thursday
These free meditation sessions are open to all, and will include time for questions and discussion from 7-7:30 followed by two 25 minute meditation practice sessions.
Beginners are welcome, as are those who are working on the GOM stages.
For more information: contact Anne at [email protected]
Ven. Thubten Chodron to teach at Jewel Heart Cleveland!
Hold these dates: Monday May 23 and Tuesday May 24 Thubten Chodron, author of many wonderful books and a skilled and knowledgeable teacher with a great sense of humor will teach at Jewel Heart Cleveland on those evernings. Watch for future emails for details, or check our webpage as the date approaches.
News from Jewel Heart Cleveland
On March 19, full moon day and Buddha’s Day of Miracles, Kyabje Gelek Rimpoche gave an engaging and powerful teaching on impermanence. For the first time in Cleveland, his talk was video recorded. By the time Rimpoche returns to Cleveland in September, we may have the capacity to webcast the teaching live to other chapters.
Our first Losar party was a rousing success, with traditional New Year’s offerings, games of sho, and tastes of chang porridge, along with tons of food. This may have to become an annual event.