Bardo Teaching & Transmissions by Lopön Lama Tobden

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Santa Monica KTC and Karma Mahasiddha Ling present

Bardo Teaching & Transmissions by Lopön Lama Tobden

Register

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

Refuge & Bodhisattva  Vows

10:30 am – 12 noon

Bardo Teaching

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Amitabha Empowerment

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023

Bardo Teaching

10:30 am – 12 noon

Bardo Teaching

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Please join us in welcoming Thrangu Vajra Master Lama Tobden for his first visit to California!

In this historic visit, Lama Tobden will present a three-part teaching on the “Bardo” with sessions on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24, morning and afternoon.

Khenpo Sangye Trinley of KTD Monastery in Woodstock, NY, will assist and translate for Lama Tobden.

On Saturday morning, Sept. 23, Lama Tobden will bestow the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows to those wishing to start the Buddhist path, followed by the empowerment of the Buddha Amitabha, considered a powerful blessing for the removal of obstacles and obscurations in our minds and lives.

This event is a precious and extraordinary opportunity to meet and receive teachings from a meditation master born and trained in Tibet and blessed by many years of dharma practice.

For Zoom participation, register here:

Register

No one turned away for lack of funds.

ABOUT Lopön Lama Tobden:

Vajra Master (Lopön) Lama Tobden from Qinghai Thrangu monastery was born in 1975 at Punang near Princess Wencheng Temple north of Jiegu, Ga District.

He began his dharma studies at age eight, and at 16, he received his initial monastic vows at Thrangu Tashi Monastery. After completing the traditional Karma Kagyu three-year retreat, he received full monastic ordination, attended monastic college, and served as monastery chanting master (Umdze).

In 2007, Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche and Lodro Nyima Rinpoche jointly appointed Lama Tobden as the Vajra Master (Lopön) of Thrangu monastery, and he has held this position ever since.

Lama Tobden has visited Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery several times, accompanying Lodro Nyima Rinpoche in 2016 to establish the annual longevity practice and in 2017 to help consecrate KTD’s Eight Stupas. In 2019 he gave the two-month Reading Transmission of Karma Chakme Rinpoche’s written works at KTD. Afterward, when KTD founding abbot Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche passed away, Lama Tobden led the 49-Day memorial pujas.

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche has praised Lama Tobden in his public talks, calling him a truly qualified Vajra master of the lineage. With his knowledge and compassionate approach to students, he has inspired admiration among the sanghas of KTD.

Bardo Teaching

Bardo refers to transitional states, such as between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhist belief, encompassing various stages of consciousness and opportunities for spiritual liberation.

Amitabha Empowerment

Amitabha, the Buddha of Limitless Light, is called upon at the time of death. He is the embodiment of the wisdom of discernment. Rinpoche will conduct a ritual that provides the necessary empowerment to engage in Amitabha practice.

Refuge Vow  

The Refuge Vow is a fundamental Buddhist pledge where one seeks guidance, protection, and direction from the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (spiritual community).

Bodhisattva Vow

The Bodhisattva Vow is a commitment in Mahayana Buddhism to strive for enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, foregoing personal liberation until all beings are liberated.

September KTC Events

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Dear Sangha,

Welcome to the September edition of Santa Monica KTC’s online and in-person programs!

On September 23 -24, Santa Monica KTC will host a special in-person Bardo Teaching & Transmissions by Lopön Lama Tobden at  Karma Mahasiddha Ling in Idyllwild. To find out more information and how to join in this unique event, click here:

Register

Of course, we will continue with our regular events with our esteemed teachers: Lama Kathy, Lama Karma, and Lama Adam.

We hope you can join us in the profound teachings, guided meditations, and practical sessions to enhance your meditation practice and connect with fellow seekers on the path of awakening.

Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC

Karmapa Khyenno!

  • September 7 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation
  • September 14 | Chenrezig Practice
  • September 21 | Lama Adam – Resilience and Resourcing on the Buddhist Path
  • September 23-24 | Lopön Lama Tobden – Bardo Teaching & Transmissions
  • September 28 | Lama Kathy – Joy of Living Book Study
September 7Guided Practice with Lama Karma
Lama Karma’s guidance carries a profound wisdom that touches the heart and calms the mind. This guided meditation will delve into inner stillness, cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness. Lama Karma will lead a reflective session, offering insights and answering questions.
No matter your experience level, everyone is welcome to participate in this transformative gathering. Whether you are a longtime practitioner or new to meditation, we encourage you to embrace this opportunity to deepen your practice and connect with our compassionate community.
Please join us tonight and be part of this enriching experience with Lama Karma. Let us come together, creating a space of tranquility, wisdom, and compassion as we embark on this guided meditation and reflection journey.
September 14Chenrezig Practice
Chenrezig’s practice is a profound meditation that cultivates compassion and loving-kindness. This practice is open to all, it will be in English and Tibetan, and we encourage everyone to participate and experience its transformative effects.
Chenrezig, also known as Avalokiteshvara, embodies compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Through this practice, we tap into the limitless wellspring of compassion within ourselves and extend it to all sentient beings. It is a beautiful opportunity to nurture our hearts, deepen our connection with others, and bring positive change into the world.
No matter your experience or familiarity with the practice, we welcome you to join us. As a compassionate community, we will create a collective space of love, kindness, and healing energy.
Let us unite in our dedication to cultivating compassion and making a positive difference in the world.
September 21Resilience and Resourcing on the Buddhist Path with Lama Adam
Cultivating the ability to skillfully lean into discomfort is an undeniably vital factor in our progress on the Buddhist path. But bare ambition for awakening may mask counterproductive tendencies when we neglect to develop the balancing factor of a keen awareness of our resources and vulnerabilities. In this series, Lama Adam will share practical means to increase resilience on the path through discernment and compassion in our formal and post-meditation practice.  
September 23 – 24Bardo Teaching & Transmissions with Lopön Lama Tobden
Please join us in welcoming Thrangu Vajra Master Lama Tobden for his first visit to California!
In this historic visit, Lama Tobden will present a three-part teaching on the “Bardo” with sessions on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24, morning and afternoon.
Khenpo Sangye Trinley of KTD Monastery in Woodstock, NY, will assist and translate for Lama Tobden.
On Saturday morning, Sept. 23, Lama Tobden will bestow the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows to those wishing to start the Buddhist path, followed by the empowerment of the Buddha Amitabha, considered a powerful blessing for the removal of obstacles and obscurations in our minds and lives.
This event is a precious and extraordinary opportunity to meet and receive teachings from a meditation master born and trained in Tibet and blessed by many years of dharma practice.
September 28Joyful Wisdom Book study with Lama Kathy
Lama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective which addresses the timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives. “From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Rinpoche writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.”
So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option. We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience as stepping stones to freedom. Instead of rejecting or surrendering to them, we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent Wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”

ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:


Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084

Please be mindful, mute yourself, and keep questions to a maximum of two, concise and to the point. We can arrange an interview with the teacher if you have more in-depth questions.

Inspirational Quote:

If you find that meditation does not come easily in your city room, be inventive and go out into nature. Nature is always an unfailing fountain of inspiration. To calm your mind, go for a walk at dawn in the park, or watch the dew on a rose in a garden. Lie on the ground and gaze up into the sky, and let your mind expand into its spaciousness. Let the sky outside awaken a sky inside your mind. Stand by a stream and mingle your mind with its rushing; become one with its ceaseless sound. Sit by a waterfall and let its healing laughter purify your spirit. Walk on a beach and take the sea wind full and sweet against your face. Celebrate and use the beauty of moonlight to poise your mind. Sit by a lake or in a garden and, breathing quietly, let your mind fall silent as the moon comes up majestically and slowly in the cloudless night.

Teaching Link:
Obstacles Become Opportunities with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

August Santa Monica KTC Events

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Dear Sangha,

Welcome to Santa Monica KTC’s online programs this August! Join our esteemed teachers: Lama Kathy, Lama Karma, and Lama Adam.

Through engaging weekly Zoom sessions, we present profound teachings, guided meditations, and practical techniques to integrate mindfulness and compassion into your everyday existence seamlessly.

Immerse yourself in the wisdom of Buddhist teachings, elevate your meditation practice, and forge connections with kindred spirits walking the path of awakening.

May this month be a serenity, insight, and boundless compassion journey for you.

Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC
Karmapa Khyenno!

August 10 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation
August 17 | Lama Adam – Resilience and Resourcing on the Buddhist Path
August 24 | Lama Kathy – Joy of Living Book Study
August 31 | Chenrezig Practice
August 10
Guided Practice with Lama Karma
Lama Karma’s guidance carries a profound wisdom that touches the heart and calms the mind. This guided meditation will delve into inner stillness, cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness. Lama Karma will lead a reflective session, offering insights and answering questions.
No matter your experience level, everyone is welcome to participate in this transformative gathering. Whether you are a longtime practitioner or new to meditation, we encourage you to embrace this opportunity to deepen your practice and connect with our compassionate community.
Please join us tonight and be part of this enriching experience with Lama Karma. Let us come together, creating a space of tranquility, wisdom, and compassion as we embark on this guided meditation and reflection journey.
August 17
Resilience and Resourcing on the Buddhist Path
Cultivating the ability to skillfully lean into discomfort is an undeniably vital factor in our progress on the Buddhist path. But bare ambition for awakening may mask counterproductive tendencies when we neglect to develop the balancing factor of a keen awareness of our resources and vulnerabilities. In this series, Lama Adam will share practical means to increase resilience on the path through discernment and compassion in our formal and post-meditation practice.  
August 24
Joyful Wisdom Book study with Lama Kathy
Lama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective which addresses the timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives. “From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Rinpoche writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.”
So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option. We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience as stepping stones to freedom. Instead of rejecting or surrendering to them, we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent Wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”
August 31
Chenrezig Practice
Chenrezig’s practice is a profound meditation that cultivates compassion and loving-kindness. This practice is open to all, it will be in English and Tibetan, and we encourage everyone to participate and experience its transformative effects.
Chenrezig, also known as Avalokiteshvara, embodies compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Through this practice, we tap into the limitless wellspring of compassion within ourselves and extend it to all sentient beings. It is a beautiful opportunity to nurture our hearts, deepen our connection with others, and bring positive change into the world.
No matter your experience or familiarity with the practice, we welcome you to join us. As a compassionate community, we will create a collective space of love, kindness, and healing energy.
Let us unite in our dedication to cultivating compassion and making a positive difference in the world.
ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084

Please be mindful, mute yourself, and keep questions to a maximum of two, concise and to the point. We can arrange an interview with the teacher if you have more in-depth questions.
Inspirational Quote: We might think that thought arises from the mind. If so, we ask, what is the manner of its arising from mind? Does a thought arise from the mind in the way that a child is born from its mother so that they become distinct and individual entities that can exist each on their own? If not, does a thought arise from the mind in the way that light radiates from the sun or the moon, so that each has its own power and dawning? Or does the mind itself become the thought, so that first it is mind and then transforms and becomes thought? If we look carefully, we see that none of these processes describe it. We see that, in fact, thought is unborn.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Teaching Link:
Innate Well-being with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

July Santa Monica KTC  –  Lama Karma – Lama Kathy – Lama Adam

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Dear Sangha,

We invite you to join our online programs at Santa Monica KTC this July. Led by our teachers, Lama Kathy, Lama Karma, and Lama Adam, our weekly Zoom sessions offer profound teachings, guided meditations, and practical techniques for integrating mindfulness and compassion into your daily life.

Deepen your understanding of Buddhist teachings, strengthen your meditation practice, and connect with like-minded individuals on the path of awakening.

We wish you a month filled with serenity, insight, and boundless compassion.
Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTCKarmapa Khyenno!
  • July 6 | Chenrezig Practice
  • July 13 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation
  • July 20 | Lama Adam – Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking
  • July 27 | Lama Kathy – Joy of Living Book Study
July 6
Chenrezig Practice
Chenrezig’s practice is a profound meditation that cultivates compassion and loving-kindness. This practice is open to all, it will be in English and Tibetan, and we encourage everyone to participate and experience its transformative effects.
Chenrezig, also known as Avalokiteshvara, embodies compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Through this practice, we tap into the limitless wellspring of compassion within ourselves and extend it to all sentient beings. It is a beautiful opportunity to nurture our hearts, deepen our connection with others, and bring positive change into the world.
No matter your experience or familiarity with the practice, we welcome you to join us. As a compassionate community, we will create a collective space of love, kindness, and healing energy.
Let us unite in our dedication to cultivating compassion and making a positive difference in the world.
July 13
Guided Practice with Lama KarmaLama Karma’s guidance carries profound wisdom that touches the heart and calms the mind. This guided meditation will delve into inner stillness, cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness. Lama Karma will lead a reflective session, offering insights and answering questions.
No matter your experience level, everyone is welcome to participate in this transformative gathering. Whether you are a longtime practitioner or new to meditation, we encourage you to embrace this opportunity to deepen your practice and connect with our compassionate community.
Please join us tonight and be part of this enriching experience with Lama Karma. Let us come together, creating a space of tranquility, wisdom, and compassion as we embark on this guided meditation and reflection journey.
July 20
Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively SpeakingIn each session, we’ll go deep into one of the practical aspects of tantric Buddhist visualization, using the Short Chenrezig practice as our jumping-off point. Drawing on the teachings of great masters such as Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche, and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, this series will be a “how-to” for cultivating and reenergizing a meaningful everyday Vajrayana practice, with an emphasis on revealing the thread of sacredness connecting everything.
July 27
Joyful Wisdom Book study with Lama Kathy
Lama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective, which addresses the timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives. “From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Rinpoche writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.”
So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option. We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience as stepping stones to freedom. Instead of rejecting or surrendering to them, we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent Wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”
ZOOM
credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084
Please be mindful, mute yourself, and keep questions to a maximum of two, concise and to the point. We can arrange an interview with the teacher if you have more in-depth questions.

Inspirational Quote:

He who binds to himself to Joy,

Does the winged life destroy;

He who kisses the Joy as it flies,

Lives in Eternity’s sunrise.

WILLIAM BLAKE

Teaching Link:
Three Lifelong Skills with Meditation by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Event Update! The Golden Rosary, Stories of the Karma Kagyu LineageThe Golden Rosary

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Lama Karma Drodhul at Santa Monica KTC, July 1
Saturday, July 1
10 AM – 12 PM | Stories of the Karma Kagyu Lineage
1 PM – 3 PM     | Mahamudra Lineage Prayer practice
Click Here to Register
Dear Dharma friends,

We are delighted to announce a special teaching event with Lama Karma Drodhul. Lama Karma will delve into the rich history and profound teachings of the Kagyu Lineage Holders, offering a rare opportunity to discover stories about their lives.

The Kagyu Lineage is among the most revered and influential in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. It encompasses a long lineage of enlightened masters, and this teaching will focus on several notable figures, including:

• Vajradhara: The primordial Buddha and ultimate source of all past, present, and future Buddhas.
• Tilopa: The Indian Mahasiddha who received direct teachings from Vajradhara and transmitted them to his disciple, Naropa.
• Naropa: The renowned scholar and mystic who played a vital role in the development of the Kagyu Lineage.
• Marpa: The great Tibetan translator and yogi who undertook arduous journeys to India to receive teachings from Naropa and other masters.
• Milarepa: The celebrated poet, hermit, and yogi who achieved enlightenment within a single lifetime through his unwavering devotion and practice.
• Gampopa: The renowned physician who combined the Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings, forming the foundation of the Kagyu Lineage.
• Dusum Khenpa: The first Karmapa, an emanation of Amitabha Buddha, who established the Karma Kagyu tradition.

These luminous beings and other Karmapas have inspired countless practitioners throughout the centuries. Lama Karma will share profound insights, anecdotes, and teachings, shedding light on their remarkable lives and deepening our understanding of their contributions to the path of liberation.

The teaching event will consist of two sessions, providing ample reflection and discussion opportunities. In the afternoon session, Lama Karma will guide us through meditation practice, allowing us to integrate the teaching, cultivate a direct connection with the Kagyu Lineage Holders’ wisdom, and develop inner peace and clarity.

Whether you are new to Buddhism or a seasoned practitioner, this will be a transformative experience that will enrich your spiritual journey.

Click Here to Register

We will send you a Zoom link upon registration.

If you like to request an interview with Lama Karma or have any other questions, please get in touch with us:
Email
Call

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC
Karmapa Khyenno!

June Events/ Lama Karma Visit

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Lama Karma at Namo Buddha cave in Nepal May 18, 2023
Dear Sangha,

We are delighted to announce that Lama Karma Drodhul will be gracing our center with his presence at the end of this month. Lama Karma brings a warm, energetic vibrancy to his teaching and guidance of students. It is an incredible opportunity to learn directly from him and deepen our understanding of Buddhist meditation practices. We send out a detailed schedule and theme for Lama Karma’s upcoming teaching weekend soon. Be on the lookout for this announcement and save the dates!

Our regular schedule will continue as usual. Lama Adam Berner and Lama Kathy Wesley will continue guiding us on our spiritual journey. Their teachings have been a source of inspiration and growth for all of us.

In addition to the regular teachings, we also have our monthly Chenrezig group practice. This powerful collective practice allows us to cultivate lovingkindness and compassion, benefiting us and all beings. We invite everyone, regardless of experience or background, to join us in this transformative practice.

Please mark your calendars and make plans to be with us as we welcome Lama Karma, continue our regular teachings with Lama Adam and Lama Kathy, and participate in the Chrenrezig group practice. Together, let us create a space of tranquility, wisdom, and compassion.

May our collective efforts bring peace and joy to all sentient beings.

With deep gratitude,
Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC
Karmapa Khyenno!

June 1 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation
June 8 | Chenrezig Practice
June 15 | Lama Adam – Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking
June 22 | Lama Kathy – Joy of Living Book Study
July 1-2 | Lama Karma – In-person teaching TBA

June 1
Guided Practice with Lama Karma

Lama Karma’s guidance carries a profound wisdom that touches the heart and calms the mind. This guided meditation will delve into inner stillness, cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness. Lama Karma will lead a reflective session, offering insights and answering questions.

No matter your experience level, everyone is welcome to participate in this transformative gathering. Whether you are a longtime practitioner or new to meditation, we encourage you to embrace this opportunity to deepen your practice and connect with our compassionate community.

Please join us tonight and be part of this enriching experience with Lama Karma. Let us come together, creating a space of tranquility, wisdom, and compassion as we embark on this guided meditation and reflection journey.

June 8
Chenrezig Practice

Chenrezig’s practice is a profound meditation that cultivates compassion and loving-kindness. This practice is open to all, it will be in English and Tibetan, and we encourage everyone to participate and experience its transformative effects.

Chenrezig, also known as Avalokiteshvara, embodies compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Through this practice, we tap into the limitless wellspring of compassion within ourselves and extend it to all sentient beings. It is a beautiful opportunity to nurture our hearts, deepen our connection with others, and bring positive change into the world.

We welcome you to join us regardless of your experience or familiarity with the practice. We will create a collective space of love, kindness, and healing energy as a compassionate community.

Let us unite in our dedication to cultivating compassion and making a positive difference in the world.

June 15
Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking

In each session, we’ll go deep into one of the practical aspects of tantric Buddhist visualization, using the Short Chenrezig practice as our jumping-off point. Drawing on the teachings of great masters such as Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche, and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, this series will be a “how-to” for cultivating and reenergizing a meaningful everyday Vajrayana practice, with an emphasis on revealing the thread of sacredness connecting everything.

June 22
Joyful Wisdom Book study with Lama Kathy

Lama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective, which addresses the timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives. “From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Rinpoche writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.”

So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option. We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience as stepping stones to freedom. Instead of rejecting or surrendering to them, we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent Wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”


ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084

Please be mindful, mute yourself, and keep questions to a maximum of two, concise and to the point. We can arrange an interview with the teacher if you have more in-depth questions.


Inspirational Quote:
It might seem hard to understand karma. But if we look at it, the teachings on karma simply say that if we have a good intention and do a good act it will bring a good result. If we have a bad intention and do something bad, that will only bring a bad result—harm to ourselves and to others. If you actually think about it, it is not all that difficult.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Teaching Link:
Meditation and Climate Change with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

May KTC Events

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Dear Dharma family

Please join us this May as Lama Karma, Lama Kathy, and Lama Adam return to teach at our Sangha.

Weekly meetings are on Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:15 PM PST via Zoom.
Invites will be sent on the day of each event.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Karmapa Khyenno!

Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC

  • May 4 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation
  • May 11 | Chenrezig Practice
  • May 18 | Lama Adam – Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking
  • May 25 | Lama Kathy – Joy of Living Book Study
Lama Karma will lead us in guided practice and discussion.
Lama Karma will lead us in a guided practice and discussion.
May 11Chenrezig Practice
Chenrezig Practice in English and Tibetan.
May 18Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking
In each session, we’ll go deep into one of the practical aspects of tantric Buddhist visualization, using the Short Chenrezig practice as our jumping-off point. Drawing on the teachings of great masters such as Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche, and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, this series will be a “how-to” for cultivating and reenergizing a meaningful everyday Vajrayana practice, with an emphasis on revealing the thread of sacredness connecting everything.
May 25Joyful Wisdom Book study with Lama Kathy
Lama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective which addresses the timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives. “From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Rinpoche writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.”So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option. We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience as stepping stones to freedom. Instead of rejecting or surrendering to them, we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent Wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”

ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:


Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084

Inspirational Quote:

Dudjom Rinpoche used to say that a beginner should practice meditation in short sessions. Practice for four or five minutes, then take a short break of just one minute. During the break, let go of the method, but do not let go of your mindfulness altogether.

Sometimes when you have been struggling to practice, curiously, the very moment when you take a break from the method—if you are still mindful and present—is the moment when meditation actually happens. That is why the break is just as important a part of meditation as the sitting itself. Sometimes I tell my students who are having problems with their practice to practice during the break and take a break during their meditation!

Rigpa Glimpse of the Day

Teaching Link:
How to go Beyond Failure with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

APRIL Events

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Dear Dharma family,

Please join us this April as Lama Karma, Lama Kathy, and Lama Adam return to teach at our Sangha.

Weekly meetings are on Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:15 PM PST via Zoom.
Invites will be sent on the day of each event.

Looking forward to seeing you all.
Karmapa Khyenno!Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC
April 6 | Chenrezig Practice
April 13 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation
April 20 | Lama Adam – Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking
April 27 | The Four Stations of Mindfulness with Charles Dawes
April 6
Chenrezig Practice
Chenrezig Practice in English and Tibetan.
April 13
Guided Practice with Lama Karma
Lama Karma will lead us in a guided practice and discussion.
April 20
Ultimately Chenrezig, Relatively Speaking
In each session, we’ll go deep into one of the practical aspects of tantric Buddhist visualization, using the Short Chenrezig practice as our jumping-off point. Drawing on the teachings of great masters such as Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche, and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, this series will be a “how-to” for cultivating and reenergizing a meaningful everyday Vajrayana practice, with an emphasis on revealing the thread of sacredness connecting everything.
April 27
The Four Stations of Mindfulness with Charles Dawes



The Four Stations of Mindfulness with Charles Dawes

“Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana” Charles will offer observations regarding the practices of the three vehicles of Buddhism with special emphasis on techniques of mindfulness meditation based on the four stations of mindfulness which form the foundation for Mahayana and Vajrayana practices.

Charles Dawes is a senior practitioner member of Santa Monica KTC. He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, and celebrated his 50th year of taking refuge in 2021. Initially a student of vipassana meditation, he met HH 16th Karmapa in 1976 and later became a student of Ven Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche in the late 1970s when he returned to his childhood home in Columbus, OH. He served on the board of Columbus KTC for many years and joined Santa Monica KTC when he moved to California in 2012. He currently lives in Desert Hot Springs, CA.
ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833 
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084

March Events

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Dear Dharma family,

Please join us this March, as Lama Karma, Lama Kathy, and Lama Adam will continue to teach at our Sangha.

Weekly meetings are on Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:15 PM PST via Zoom.
Invites will be sent on the day of each event.

Looking forward to seeing you all.Karmapa Khyenno!
Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC

March 2 |  Dharma Discussion
March 9 | Chenrezig Practice
March 16 | Lama Adam – Compassionate Communication
March 23 | Lama Kathy – Joy of Living Book Study
March 30 | Lama Karma – Guided Meditation

March 2
Dharma DiscussionJoin us in a casual discussion of all things Dharma related.


March 9
Chenrezig Practice.
Chenrezig Practice in English and Tibetan.

March 16
Compassionate Communication Pt. 3 with Lama Adam.

The Buddha established the equality of all beings by our common need to be happy and to avoid suffering.  If that’s true, why does it seem like we have so much to argue about? 

In this final talk in the series, we’ll learn how to bring our internal experience of feelings and needs into productive dialogue with the outer world through communicating observations unburdened by our projections, and through making clear requests with an openness to “no”.


March 23
Joyful Wisdom Book study with Lama KathyLama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective which addresses the timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives. “From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Rinpoche writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.”So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option. We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience as stepping stones to freedom. Instead of rejecting or surrendering to them, we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent Wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”


March 30
Guided Practice with Lama Karma
Lama Karma will lead us in guided practice and discussion.


ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833 
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084


Inspirational Quote:
“A meditation technique used a great deal in Tibetan Buddhism is uniting the mind with the sound of a mantra. The definition of mantra is “that which protects the mind.” That which protects the mind from negativity, or which protects you from your own mind, is mantra.

When you are nervous, disoriented, or emotionally fragile, inspired chanting or reciting of a mantra can change the state of your mind completely, by transforming its energy and atmosphere. How is this possible? Mantra is the essence of sound, the embodiment of the truth in the form of sound. Each syllable is impregnated with spiritual power, condenses a deep spiritual truth, and vibrates with the blessing of the speech of the buddhas. It is also said that the mind rides on the subtle energy of the breath, the prana, which moves through and purifies the subtle channels of the body. So when you chant a mantra, you are charging your breath and energy with the energy of the mantra, and so working directly on your mind and your subtle body.”
Rigpa Glimpse of the Day 

Teaching Link:
Is Meditation a Cop-out? – with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Dear Dharma family,

Posted on by
Reply


Lama Karma, Lama Kathy, and Lama Adam will continue to teach at our Sangha.

Weekly meetings are on Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:15 PM PST via Zoom.
Invites will be sent on the day of each event.

 

Guided Practice with Lama Karma

February 2
Lama Karma will lead us in a guided practice and discussion.

Chenrezig Practice
February 9

 

Compassionate Communication with Lama Adam

February 16
The Buddha established the equality of all beings through our common need to be happy and to avoid suffering. If that’s true, why does it seem like we have so much to argue about? With the cultivation of mindfulness and patient inquisitiveness, we can reveal the universal needs underneath our words—and those of others—developing a practical means for compassionate communication and common ground.

The Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a Book Study with Lama Kathy

February 23
Lama Kathy will teach Rinpoche’s illuminating perspective on the science of meditation and how to find joy and contentment in the everyday. Using basic meditation practices, we can discover paths through our problems, transforming obstacles into opportunities to recognize the unlimited potential of our minds.
 


Looking forward to seeing you all.
Karmapa Khyenno!
Your Dharma Family at Santa Monica KTC

ZOOM credentials for our regular sessions will remain the same:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87204694084

Phone
+1 669 900 6833 
Meeting ID: 872 0469 4084

Become a Supporting Member

SM KTC YouTube Channel with previous events

Inspirational Quote:

“In the quintessential instructions on Mahamudra, we talk about the mind either being too tight or too loose, too focused or too relaxed. The advice given is that if the mind is not luminous, clear, and vivid, we need to tighten or concentrate it more. And if it is too bright, vivid, luminous, and clear, we need to relax it somewhat.”
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Teaching Link:
How to Manage Conflict with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche