Tuesday, May  21st, 2013
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Is it OK to have a healthy ego? What part of “me” am I trying to give up? And who am I, anyway?

Everyone has a natural tendency to focus on “me” – my body, my feelings, and my thoughts. This focus has played a critical role in keeping each of us safe, alive and fed… and in developing our ego construct – the story we tell ourselves about who we are. But there comes a time when this prioritization of “me” and limited view of “who I think I am” actually gets in the way of our personal and spiritual growth. Join Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi as she shares empowering, practical steps to identify and let go of the limited ego so we can make space for something much more expansive, loving and profound.

Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi became interested in meditation after reading Be Here Now and Autobiography of a Yogi in the early ’70’s. For the next 20 years, her spiritual path was meandering and haphazard, and included several dead ends, until she bought a one-way ticket to India in early 1991 with the intention of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In late 1991, she became co-director of Vajrapani Institute in California. In 1995, she began working at FPMT International Office, first as co-director and then later as center services coordinator.

In early 2000, she began a long, solitary retreat that lasted 6½ years. Tenzin Chogkyi decided to become ordained in the third year of her long retreat, and then left retreat for a quick trip to India in 2004 for novice ordination with His Holiness. Since 2008, Ven. Chogkyi has been teaching at various centers worldwide.

“Three Principal Aspects of the Path”

We are greatly honored that His Eminence Choden Rinpoche has accepted to teach at Ocean of Compassion.  Rinpoche will give a commentary on the Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Lama Tsongkhapa. The three aspects refers to cultivation of renunciation, bodhicitta and the correct view of emptiness.

Pre-register here to receive your discount.

Suggested donation:

Pre-registration discount:  $15 – $25 sliding scale
Price at the door:  $25
Your donations help support programs like these to continue.

For directions:  Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center

Born in 1933 in Eastern Tibet, Choden Rinpoche was recognized at age three as an important incarnate lama, and ordained by Pabongka Rinpoche at the age of six. He entered Sera Je Monastery when he was fifteen, where he mastered all the philosophical teachings required for the highest monastic title of Geshe Lharampa. Choden Rinpoche was one of the two Sera Je lamas selected to debate with His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ examination for the geshe degree.

Choden Rinpoche is regarded as one of the great masters of the day, and is particularly famed for his pure moral conduct. He has taught worldwide, and at the FPMT Centers at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s request. His great insight into the Dharma and his peerless and compassionate conduct have inspired many students in the West to follow in his example to take ordination vows.

Starting May 1st (offered weekly)
Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00pm

Since the time of the Buddha, people have practiced mindfulness meditation. Today, both neuroscience and medical research have studied the effects of meditation and discovered many benefits of this practice. These include stress reduction and an increase in our capacity for peace and happiness. 
These Wednesday evening mindfulness meditation classes are ongoing and a great place to start your own regular meditation practice or to deepen your current practice.

Suggested donation:  $5-$15 per session. Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this.  No one turned away due to lack of funds. All are welcome.

Venerable Jampa Sangmo is a Tibetan Buddhist Nun.  In 1966 she was first introduced to meditation at University of California at Los Angeles when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was invited to give a lecture. Her interest in meditation led her to the exploration Zen, where she studied with Thich Nhat Hanh, and Vipassana, where she did numerous long retreats. She came to Tibetan Buddhism in 1993 and began her studies with several Buddhist Masters including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Ribur Rinpoche, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  In 2008 she took robes with her teacher Khensur Jampa Tegchok Rinpoche. She has lead meditation groups and retreats for Chevron International, Land of Medicine Buddha, and has co-led retreats at Vajrapani Institute. For the past 4 years she has facilitated an ongoing group with “Woman Care Santa Cruz” to support women who have cancer. She is passionate about teaching meditation and how to incorporate it in every day life.

Sunday mornings
10:00-10:45am

Join us for weekly Sunday morning meditations. This is a peaceful way to start your Sunday, and a good opportunity to practice with a group and get your questions answered.

The sessions will include a period of silent meditation followed by a guided meditation on a topic from the stages of the path.  A short introduction to the topic and time for questions will also be included.

There will also be periodic Dharma talks following the meditation at 11am.

Led by:

thru May 19 – Emily Hsu

May 26, June, July, August – Ven Jampa Sangmo & Elizabeth Prather

All are welcome!  Offered free – donations appreciated.

The four qualities of love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity occupy a place of fundamental importance in the spiritual training offered by both the Theravada and the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. In the Mahayana teachings, the cultivation of these four heart qualities support the development of the precious bodhichitta motivation, and thus are indispensable to the bodhisattva’s path leading to full awakening.

Come join Jon Landaw as we explore how we can cultivate these so-called Four Immeasurables in a way that helps us avoid the pitfalls we encounter when we approach these four in a mistaken manner.

Everyone is welcome.  Donations appreciated.

Jon Landaw was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1944. He received his A.B. degree in English Literature from Dartmouth College in 1965 and spent three years teaching English as a Second Language with the Peace Corps in Iran (1966-69).

Jon worked as English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (1972-77) producing numerous texts under the guidance of Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. As a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche since the mid-1970′s, he has edited numerous works for Wisdom Publications, including “Wisdom Energy” and “Introduction to Tantra.” He is also the author of “Prince Siddhartha,” a biography of Buddha for children, “Images of Enlightenment,” published by Snow Lion in 1993 and “Buddhism for Dummies”. As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

Jon and his wife currently live in Capitola where he teaches regularly at the nearby Land of Medicine Buddha center.

Discovering Buddhism - all levels

Tuesdays, June 4th – July 2nd
7:00-9:00pm (5 classes)

Learn the methods to generate the powerful minds of loving kindness, compassion and bodhicitta.  Bodhicitta, the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of others, is considered to be the heart of Buddha’s teachings.  Without developing this brave mind, one cannot attain enlightenment itself.  This class explores this mind and the technique to generate this mind called ‘Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others’ by Master Shantideva.

Each class includes time for presentation, discussion and meditation.  Clear instruction will be provided to enable students to develop the qualities of loving kindness and compassion, and to begin now to apply these teachings in very practical ways. Separate Practice Day to be held Saturday July 13th to allow time for meditation and discussion.

Venerable Lobsang Chokyi has worked at Tse Chen Ling Center in San Francisco for many years.  She has been a Buddhist for 17 years and a nun for 13.

Her main teacher is Lama Zopa Rinpoche and she has had the good fortune to study with many amazing teachers including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ribur Rinpoche, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Dakpa, Ven. Robina Courtin, and Geshe Michael Roach. She has been Center Director, Spiritual Program Coordinator and bookkeeper for Tse Chen Ling and now is happy just to teach. She is deeply honored to serve.

Everyone is welcome!

Suggested donation:  $15 per class or $50 for (5) classes if paid in full on first class.  Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this.  No one turned away due to lack of funds - please contact us to make arrangements.

Fridays, June 7, 21, 28, July 12 & 26 (5 classes)

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

How do bodhisattvas meditate? In his renowned text, The Way of the Bodhisattva, Shantideva provides a guide to meditation through equalizing and exchanging self with others. Consequently, this instruction has become fundamental for the training of the mind in altruism and the bodhisattva vehicle.

Whether we are ready for the yogi’s life or not, this instruction will plant a seed to mature us for that path, and give us valuable tools to cultivate the spirit of enlightenment right now.

We will be drawing on verses from Chapter 8 of Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva by Padmakara Translation Group.

All are welcome.

Donations appreciated.  Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this.