Cleveland Programs January – February 2014

Lama Chopa Tsoh in honor of Je Tsongkhapa, Losang Drakpa, December 27

This year December 27 is Ganden Ngam Chu, the day Tibetans commemorate the life and enlightening activities of Je Rimpoche, often known as Je Tsongkhapa. On this evening, thousands of butter lamps are offered in Tibetan communities throughout the world.

At Jewel Heart Cleveland we will offer a traditional Lama Chopa offering ceremony (with at least 108 light offerings!), reciting in a combination of English and Tibetan, with copies available at the center. All are welcome to participate. Please bring an offering of food such as bread, cake or fruit, which participants may share after the ceremony.

All are welcome!  Copies of the practice are available at the center.  Vajrayana students, please bring your ritual implements

Friday, December 27, 7-9 pm  Please come a little early to help set up. We would like to be ready to start the practice by 7 pm 

Ganden Lha Gyema Practice session

Gelek Rimpoche has encouraged all Jewel Heart centers to practice the Ganden Lha Gyema with Migstema recitation around the time of Ganden Ngam Chu, Je Tsongkhapa Days.  On December 27, Jewel Heart Cleveland will open at 2 pm for those who want to do this practice. We will start a lightly guided practice at around 2 and 4 pm, though those who wish to continue mantra recitation throughout may do so.
Friday, December 27, 2-6 pm

Heruka Yab-Yum Great Bliss Festival (aka Compulsory Tsohs)

January 26 and February 9 are the two Tsoh practice dates in 2014 that are mandatory for everyone who has taken a Heruka or other Mother Tantra initiation into Highest Yoga tantra. For more information about Tsoh offerings, scroll to the end of this message for information taken from the Jewel Heart website.

Sunday, January 26, 6-8:30 pm.  (25th of month in Tibetan calendar)   Vajrayogini Tsoh, restricted to those with Highest Yoga tantra initiation.  Please let Anne or Susan know if you need a Vajrayogini Tsoh practice book.

Sunday, February 9, 6-8 pm (10th of month in Tibetan calendar)  Lama Chopa Tsoh, open to all, required for Mother Tantra initiates.
Please bring food offerings, and your ritual implements if you have them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JH Study Program

New classes

Introduction to Tibetan Meditation

Although the benefits of meditation are widely recognized, developing and sustaining a meaningful meditation practice can seem daunting. In reality, anyone, Buddhist or not, can learn and use the skills of meditation.   This new eight week class is designed to give students an experiential introduction to many types of meditation practices, and will include basic posture and breathing meditation, concentrated meditation, analytical or investigating meditation and visualization.

This class will be useful to beginners as well as those with meditation experience who want a refresher. No prior knowledge or experience with meditation is required.

Wednesdays, beginning January 8, 7-8:30 pm
Instructor: Bill Kirchner
Cost: $80 for the 8 week course, or free for Jewel Heart members. Jewel Heart classes are open to all, regardless of ability to pay, so if you cannot afford this, please speak with Bill about fee reduction.

Lojong: Seven Point Mind Training

This new ten week class will use Gelek Rimpoche’s commentary on the Seven Point Lojong or Mind Training. This classic work by the Kadampa master Geshe Chekawa presents the advanced practices of exchanging self with others and tonglen, the practice of taking and giving, precise methods to overcome our narrow selfish self-interest and gain happiness.

Transcripts are available online for download, or contact Anne Warren if you want to order a paper copy.

Prerequisite: Odyssey to Freedom, or any Lam Rim
Tuesdays, Feb. 4, 11, Mar. 4, 25 and continuing, 7-8:30 pm (Note: no class Mar. 11 or 18)

Continuing class:

Perfection of Wisdom Mantra

Tuesdays, Dec. 17, Jan. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 7-8:30 pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Practice of the Tsoh Offering

There are several regular significant practice days in Tibetan Buddhism and in Jewel Heart in particular, such as Buddha’s Birthday, Je Tsongkhapa Day, the Dalai Lama’s Birthday, Gelek Rimpoche’s Birthday, and also the twice monthly Tsoh days. Click on the charts below to see them all in one view.

Tsoh litarally means ‘collection’ or ‘gathering’. In most Jewel Heart chapters on every 10th and 25th day of the lunar we meet to celebrate these Tsoh offerings. In some chapters these days have been adjusted to make it possible to observe them on either Saturdays or Sundays. See individual chapter calendars for the specific meeting times.

In general, on the 10th day of the lunar calendar we come together to celebrate the tsoh in the context of the Lama Chopa. This is open to everyone.

The Lama Chopa is an incredibly beautiful practice, which richly illustrates and guides us through each stage of the path towards enlightenment. Reciting the Lama Chopa has been said to be one of the best practices for purification. When accompanied by a Tsoh offering, this practices also allows us the opportunity to generate and dedicate great amounts of merit. Again, the Lama Chopa is a practice open to everyone. We welcome anyone interested in developing a better understanding of the principles and motives, which inspire our daily lives.

On the 25th day of the lunar calendar, we celebrate a Mother tantra tsoh. All those Vajrayana practitioners who have received a Heruka and Vajrayogini initiation are invited to participate in the long Sadhana practice/self-initiation and Tsoh. Although the practice is primarily for those indicated, anyone inclined to take part in the Tsoh offering alone is welcome to come and join in at the appropriate time, simply call ahead in order to confirm the timing. There are two mandatory Tsohs per year called Heruka Yab Yum Festival.

These are mandatory for Heruka and Vajrayogini practitioners. They are indicated on the chart below. Tsoh offerings allow us, students and practitioners, a simple yet profound way to repay the kindness, inspiration, and guidance we receive from our teachers. Tsoh offerings can be done individually though it is lovely to come together as a Sangha.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click here for more information or to register for the retreat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Consider a gift for Kyabje Gelek Rimpoche as we come together to say:

“May all your prayers be answered, and your wishes fulfilled.“

Click here for more information

Cleveland Sunday Talks November – December 2013

Sunday talks by Gelek Rimpoche