Twice this month, the date for performing the tsok offering falls on a Saturday, the day that Ven. Drimay leads practices at 3:00 in the afternoon. Here is the schedule:
• March 3rd [lunar 10th]- Guru Puja with Tsok:
This will be led in chantable English. It takes about 1.5 hrs. We’ll have a break about halfway through. Guru Puja (Tib. Lama Chöpa) is a practice built around the “seven limbs,” strengthening our connection with the lineage masters in order to receive their blessings. The practice concludes with verses that review the entire path to enlightenment. Tsok is an offering of food. (Read more about tsok on this page.) Participants generally bring snack-type items that are offered in the puja and then shared. 3pm to 4:30pm.
• March 10th – Silent Meditation & Prayers for the Tibetan People:
We will begin with our usual stabilizing meditation which is conducted in segments, until about 3:30. March 10th is the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising in 1959, so we will take this opportunity to recite some verses of prayer and do some compassion meditation for the well-being of the Tibetan people. 3pm to 4pm.
• March 17th [lunar 25th] – Vajrasattva Purification Meditation with Tsok:
Vajrasattva is an enlightened figure related to purifying our obstacles and negative karma. The practice includes something called the Four Opponent Powers together with a visualization and recitation of a mantra. It being another one of the days for tsok offering, we will do the particular tsok offering related to Vajrasattva this time. 3pm to 4:30pm.
• March 24 – Tibetan Meditation:
Silent stabilizing meditation followed by contemplations on the stages of the path. 3pm to 4pm. http://gyalwagyatso.org/programs/saturdays/
• March 31 – Tibetan Meditation:
Silent stabilizing meditation followed by contemplations on the stages of the path. 3pm to 4pm. http://gyalwagyatso.org/programs/saturdays/
All are welcome. In addition to these practice times, the center is open from 1pm to 5pm for drop-in visitors and to ask questions of Ven. Drimay.
