NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS
The new membership gives members at the $30+ monthly level a 10% discount on all classes and events. The Board also has extended the benefit of a waived class fee for Discovering Buddhism classes or Basic Program classes for members at the $120+ monthly level.  Please check out the New Membership Program on our website.

NEW PRE-REGISTRATION AND CLASS CHECK IN
GGBC will expand the pre-registration process to ensure that all our existing and new members receive the discount.  To help us with this, please register in advance for all classes whenever possible. There will also be a discount for non-members who pre-register.  Of course, we are always happy to see you even if you’ve been unable to pre-register.  We will ask everyone to check in at the door, and if you haven’t pre-registered, we will be happy to take care of it then.  If you are unable to contribute at the registration amount, please see Dave Jeffords to let him know what you can afford.

WORK STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
As always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you are unable to contribute at all financially, please see Dave Jeffords to arrange a work study. If you have a work study arrangement, this will be noted on our registration listing with a code when you check in.

MAKING MERIT
In order to help with the class check in, we need some helpers who are available to arrive early to help at the door.  Please let Dave know if you can help us with this.

REJOICING
Please rejoice in all the ways you are able to practice the Dharma.  Supporting the Dharma with your time and your money is one of the best ways to ensure that Gyalwa Gyatso Buddhist Center remains.  We are fortunate to have a central Silicon Valley location where we have consistent offerings by qualified teachers.  Please look in the mirror and know that GGBC is here for you, because of you.  Thank you for your ongoing support.  Happy New Year to all.

With Pam Cayton
Author of a book and program called
“Creating Compassionate Cultures”

Overview Talk: 
Tuesday, February 7th

Review of the 7 Steps:
(7) Thursdays, March 22nd – May 3rd
7:00-8:30pm

Discount Pre-Registration
Welcome to all or any of the talks.
For more information:  Registration & Check-in

Please join Pam Cayton for an overview talk and 7-week series to review 7 universal steps we can take to unlock our inner wisdom, transform emotions, and gain new skills and learning tools to make a positive difference.

“Creating Compassionate Cultures” offers an approach to awakening and nurturing a more compassionate, altruistic attitude.  Although based on ancient wisdom it reflects recent discoveries in neuroscience.  Emphasizing intention, interconnection, change, perception, empathy and compassion, this program provides a guide to empowering you and the people in your life to make a positive difference in the world.

There is a systematic step-by-step process called the ‘Seven Steps’.  This process leads participants along a journey of discovery, beginning with the question, “What do I really want?” and concluding with an inquiry of “How can we put compassion into action”.   The journey follows a logical sequence of steps that engages one’s own wisdom and experience by employing logical reasoning, dialogue and reflection.   Although the approaches have been developed primarily for children, they are easily adapted for any age group and are suitable for everyone.  Everyone is invited!

“I believe that at every level of society, the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.”
          -His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Series of talks to include: 

Self – Awareness: What do I/we really want? (Step 1)
An in-depth exploration into the dynamic psychology of our daily lives and the impact of developing our awareness of what we really want, how we can get it, and the often unconscious psychology that thwarts our efforts.

Interconnection: Everything is connected (Step 2)
An exploration into the nature of our world and how this reflects our inner psychology and experience. Approached from two perspectives, implications of interconnection sets the stage for further development of the knowledge that ultimately leads to a happier life for ourselves and others.

Change: Everything changes. (Step 3)
A growing sense of self-awareness and responsibility, rooted in an interconnected world, often welcomes the freedom that comes with an understanding of the pervasive nature of change. This highlights the dynamic aspect of interconnectedness and the psychological implications of change. Neuro-plasticity, the ability of our neuropathways to develop and change, further informs our exploration into our ability to bring positive transformation into the world.

Perception: My mind creates my reality. (Step 4)
This focuses on the role of perception and its impact on our co-creation of belief systems/values, our relationships, our understanding of the way the world exists, and of course, ourselves. The emphasis here is on familiarizing ourselves with the nature of perception, our own obvious and hidden perceptions, and how they relate to our everyday experience.

Transformation: Transforming Harmful Emotions (Step 5)
This describes the neuroscience behind the method and material, an overview of the Seven Colors, and how they are used to help develop self-awareness, logical reasoning and helpful language to express emotions and experiences with grace. This is done through the use of color and symbolism that children and adults can easily integrate into conflict resolution strategies, art, imagination, and their environment.

Empathy: Extend your understanding to others (Step 6)
This is built on the foundation and practice applied throughout the Seven Steps so far. As one begins to see the universal wish for all beings to be happy, the impact and power the individual has as a part of this interconnected dynamic world becomes evident. Here we explore how to maintain this understanding daily in practical ways.

Compassion: Put your compassion into action! (Step 7)
This concludes the Seven Steps and focuses on putting our sense of inspiration and empowerment into positive beneficial action towards oneself and others, while maintaining the rationale and understanding that makes the behavior logical and natural, and sustainable.

About Pam:
Pam Cayton spent 10 years in Nepal studying Asian philosophy and religion and teaching English to Buddhist monks.  During this time Pam also organized courses in Buddhist philosophy and meditation for Western students and co-founded The Himalayan Yogic Institute in Kathmandu, Nepal.  In 1988 Pam moved to the United States where she completed her Montessori training at Montessori World Education Institute and the ECE department of Cabrillo College.  In 1989 she started Tara Redwood School with the aim of educating the whole child: to convey the joy of learning and also to provide a foundation for the emotional and inner development of each child.  The success of Tara Redwood School encouraged Pam to found Creating Compassionate Cultures to develop training programs, tools and resources and share them with educators around the world.

Suggested donation:  $15 per talk, no one turned away due to lack of funds

About the book:  Compassion in Education

About the program:  Institute for Creating Compassionate Cultures

with Emily Hsu

January 12 – March 15
Thursdays at 7pm

In this module, we will conclude the section on Special Insight as well as the entire Middle Length Lam Rim text written by Lama Tsongkhapa. This is the last of a four-part series on this subject of Special Insight.

We will begin with a brief review of the two truths, and then we will proceed to cover the different kinds of special insight, how to cultivate special insight, how calm abiding and special insight unite, and complete the course by reviewing the entire path and how to get realizations.

“By meditating upon emptiness for even one second, the heavy negative karma of the ten non-virtuous actions is purified. As is mentioned in various sutras, even the intention to meditate upon emptiness – or merely having faith in the teachings upon emptiness – can purify heavy karma.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

This ongoing course is part of the FPMT Basic Program (intermediate level) module on the Stages of the Path (module 1).

Root text: Tsongkhapa, Middle Length Lam-Rim

Prerequisite: Having received some prior teachings on emptiness is highly recommended.

Levels: Intermediate to Advanced

Registration at door: $15 per class
Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this.  No one turned away due to lack of fees.  Please contact us to make arrangements.

The Buddha performing miracles at Sravasti.

the Eve of the Tibetan Lunar New Year
Tuesday, Feb. 21
7pm

(Read more about Losar and the Days of Miracles at the bottom of this post.)

Venerable Drimay will lead an evening of cleaning up and renewing our Bodhisattva resolve–our determination to attain the complete full enlightenment of a buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings. We will go over: 

• a brief explanation of the two types of bodhisattva vows
• some ways to re-take the bodhisattva vows
• practices for keeping our bodhisattva vows fresh and meaningful.

We will be doing the Bodhisattva Confession to the Thirty-five Buddhas, including prostrations. Those who are not able to do full prostrations will still benefit by reciting the practice.

All are welcome.  No pre-registration required.  Donations appreciated.

About Losar

The word Losar is a Tibetan word for New Year. ‘Lo’ means year and ‘Sar’ means new. The Tibetan calendar is made up of twelve lunar months and Losar begins on the first day of the first month. In 2012 Losar falls on February 22. Our Western year 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon, Tibetan year 2139. See calendar at: http://www.fpmt.org/media/resources/dharma-dates.html

According to Tibetan custom, the preparations for the New Year start a couple of days before. On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month (Monday, Feb. 20, 2012), the monasteries perform a protector puja. That day is for cleaning things up, physically and spiritually.

Losar Eve (Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012), is by definition a new moon, which means it’s already a good day to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts. It’s also the day that the monks and nuns would do their twice-monthly confession and renewing of their monastic vows.

The Days of Miracles

The entire first two weeks of the lunar new year (Feb. 22 to Mar. 8), culminating in the full moon, are a special time for engaging in meritorious activities. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has quoted a scripture

which states, “Karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million.” In 2012, the actual Day of Miracles, the first full moon of the new year, falls on March 8. This year, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a short teaching from the Jataka Tales in the morning at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharmasala, India. (No other public teachings by His Holiness are scheduled this Losar.)

The days leading up to the full moon mark the anniversary of the time when Shakyamuni Buddha displayed miracles in Shravasti, India, in response to a challenge from an assortment of Hindu adepts. Normally the Buddha did not show off his miraculous powers, but he did on this occasion because he saw it would be of great benefit to many sentient beings.

Every Wednesday evening
7:00-8:00pm

Being present in the moment with what we are experiencing without resistance or clinging is a skill we can develop through meditation.  That skill gives us a stable framework from which to meet our lives with greater mental and physical calm and balance.  Meditation methods will be presented and practiced such as being with the breath, working with body sensations, including pain, emotions, and thoughts.

Prior meditation experience is not required.  Two meditation sittings will be given with a short break in the middle.  People can come for one sitting or do both to deepen their practice.  There will be time for comments and questions.

A regular meditation practice is a way to bring balance to busy lives and provide a refreshing break in the day and week.

No pre-registration required.  Drop-ins welcome!  Donations appreciated.

Sharon Allen’s website:  Be Mindful Now

10am to 11:30am, once a month

with Sharon Allen, our regular mindfulness instructor

♦  March 4

Mindfulness Meditation is a practical tool to help us respond rather than react to our day-to-day circumstances. The essence of Mindfulness Meditation practice is to live more fully in the moment with awareness of the flow of the breath, body sensations, emotional feeling tones, and thoughts. Recognizing the relationship between the mind and body is vital to our health and well-being. Research shows that being able to settle the body and mind on a regular basis improves the immune system, normalizes blood pressure, sleep patterns, and helps us deal with pain and anxiety more skillfully.

Each month a different aspect of Mindfulness Meditation practice will be presented. Some of the practice themes include: Mindfulness and the breath, Body awareness, The thinking mind, The motion apparent in emotions, Working with pain, Mindfulness walking, and Loving Kindness.

Sharon Allen is a long time practitioner and teacher of mindfulness meditation and movement. She is a Health Educator, Stress Reduction Specialist and has taught classes at Stanford University , Kaiser, the YMCA, corporations, senior living centers, and many community centers. Sharon has a degree in Human Development, is Certified in Transpersonal Studies from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology , and trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, which she taught at Kaiser for fourteen years. Sharon leads several meditation groups that explore spiritual growth through meditation and inquiry. Sharon encourages the practical applications of mindfulness in dealing with life’s ever-changing events.

Suggested donation: $15, no one turned away due to lack of funds.
No pre-registration required.  Drop-ins welcome!

See Sharon’s website:  Be Mindful Now.

"The Thinker" by Rodin

Discovering Buddhism Course 1

with Venerable Drimay

Tuesdays, February 28 to March 27 (5 classes)

7:00-9:00pm

Discount Pre-registration
For more information:  Registration & Check-in

Writing about the Mahamudra method of  meditating on the nature of mind, the first Panchen Lama said,

From cultivating such methods as these, you realize that, since the essential nature of the totally absorbed mind is a lucidity and clarity, unobstructed by anything, and not established as any form of physical phenomenon, it is, like space, an utter bareness that allows anything to dawn and be vivid.

The First Panchen Lama, Lozang-chokyi-gyeltsen in
“A Root Text for the Precious Gelug-Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra,”
trans. Alexander Berzin

Course Description:
Buddhist study and meditation are grounded in an understanding of consciousness, its nature and function.  To realize our spiritual potential fully, we must understand our own mind and the methods we can use to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes that bring harm to ourselves and others. During this course we will consider the Tibetan Buddhist perspective on consciousness through talks, meditation and discussion.  Suitable for both beginners and experienced students.

Topics covered in this course include:

• The nature of mind – as a knower
• Buddha-nature – our potential for enlightenment
• Mind as a continuity – spanning past and future lives
• The distinction between mind and brain
• Mind as the source of our experiences – happiness and suffering

Reading Materials:
*  Articles in the reading packet provided as a downloadable PDF
*  A booklet from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive provided as a gift to you  from the center
*  A section of the main Discovering Buddhism textbook “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand”

More details to follow.

Discovering Buddhism page.

Contact us.