Calm Abiding and Foundation of All Good Qualities (June 2-3)

Calm abiding reveals methods for overcoming afflictive states and disorders to create a mind which is stable, calm and alertly clear. The practice reveals the mind's potential for profound transformation, and upon that stable basis one is able to practice both Sutra and Tantra paths.

In the Buddhist path, calm abiding is an essential foundation for the realizations of renunciation, Bodhichitta, and special insight and carries many benefits.

• Temporal Benefits: One decreases the distractions of fear, anxiety and stress, while increasing focus, clarity, mindfulness and the strength of the mind.
• Ultimate Benefits: One gains perfect inner peace, and full enlightenment becomes achievable when Calm Abiding is combined with penetrating wisdom.

The Foundation of All Good Qualities is a brief text by Lama Tsong Khapa with a vast meaning. It is part of the genre of Buddhist teachings called Lam-Rim, the graduated stages of the path. The verses outline a step-by-step approach to spiritual development, from Guru devotion and the preciousness of our life, to impermanence, refuge, karma and morality, renunciation, the altruistic intention of Bodhicitta, and the wisdom of emptiness. The fourteen-verse text describes the practices that create a solid foundation for Dharma practitioners before they enter the vehicle of Tantra that leads to great enlightenment.

Genuine, authentic and valid instruction which is in accord with correct, unmistaken and complete Tibetan classic treatises, as presented by H.E. Choden Rinpoche,  is rare and precious.

Prior to Rinpoche's teaching, Geshe Gyalten will hold six sessions of instruction, in the month of May, on Calm Abiding practice. (Click here for more information.)

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• Open to everyone.

Commitments:

• None

Heruka Chakrasamvara Five Deity Initiation (June 9-10)

Heruka Chakrasamvara (Five Deity), is also known as The Source of Supreme Bliss. This is a Highest Yoga Tantra initiation. Heruka is a meditational deity of Clear Light Mind, and this is the primary practice that activates the development of wisdom of the Clear Light Mind, by way of cultivating intense experiences of bliss. Of the two "wings of enlightenment" taught by the Buddha - method and wisdom - this serves as the wisdom wing, an essential ingredient for awakening Buddhahood.

Note: Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows will be conferred on Day One. If you wish to receive Refuge and Bodhisattva vows only, you may attend Day One of the initiation, and leave after the vows are conferred, before the initiation occurs.

Geshe Gyalten will help prepare for this initiation by offering preliminary instruction on Tantra and Heurka. (Click here for more information.)

Prerequisites for Attendance:

1. Have some understanding of general Buddhist teachings
2. Have faith in the Tantra.
3. Must take and keep Bodhisattva & Tantric Vows (these will be given during the initiation)

Commitments:

• Daily six-session guru yoga, for life.
• Daily recitation of Heruka mantra (as much as one can). Usually student picks the number of recitations of the commitment.
• There are no sadhana commitments.

Vow Ceremony (June 9)

H. E. Choden Rinpoche will conduct a ceremony of Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows on Saturday, June 9th, during Day One of the Heruka Five Deity Initiation. Rinpoche will indicate when it is time to leave for those not attending the full Heruka initiation.

Students may newly take Refuge or Bodhisattva Vows or renew their existing vows. If you have never taken Refuge Vows, or never received a refuge name from Rinpoche, and would like to participate in the Refuge Vow Ceremony and receive a refuge name, please contact info@anandadharma.org.

Refuge Vows

Refuge in a Buddhist ceremony involves the practitioner's commitment to seeking liberation from suffering. The triple gem in which one takes refuge is the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings/path), and the Sangha (community of monks and nuns). Refuge in the Three Jewels is what makes one a Buddhist.

Bodhisattva Vows

A bodhisattva is one who has resolved to gain enlightenment in order to bringing lasting happiness to all sentient beings. To implement and engage in the activities of a bodhisattva one takes the precious Bodhisattva Vow. The effort to maintain these vows leads to greater mindfulness and awareness, provides guidance on which actions to avoid and which to undertake, and cultivates boundless compassion and a diminishment of self-centered attitudes.

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• Open to everyone.

Commitments:

• Uphold the vows taken.

Cittamani Tara Outer Initiation (June 16)

Cittamani Tara (the Wish Fulfilling Mother) is the embodiment of the heart-jewel wisdom and energy of the Buddha. Of the various types of Tara practice, Cittamani Tara is a unique practice of the Highest Yoga Tantra class, which possesses the heart-jewel method of developing the five deep awareness, or Buddha-Wisdoms. It has a special efficacy for developing the wisdoms of accomplishing activities and overcoming outer and inner obstacles in one's lifespan, clearing obstructions in the path to enlightenment.

His Eminence Choden Rinpoche holds the Cittamani Tara lineage.

To help introduce this deity yoga, Geshe Gyalten will present an introduction to the Cittamani Tara practice in June and July. (Click here for more information.)

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• A Highest Yoga Tantra Initiation (eg. Heruka, Yamantaka, Kalachakra, etc).

Commitments:

• Cittamani Tara Guru Yoga. Daily, for life.

Cittamani Tara Commentary (June 23, July 1, 7 & 14)

It is extremely rare that one encounters an opportunity to receive detailed commentary and instruction on Cittamani Tara practice directly from a highly realized master (and lineage holder) such as H.E. Choden Rinpoche. These sessions will illuminate the practice of Cittamani Tara, from Rinpoche's extensive experiential and lineage knowledge.

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• Cittamani Tara Outer Initiation in the Gelug Tradition

Commitments:

• None

Cittamani Tara Retreat, with Fire Puja (July 31 - August 8)

One does a deity yoga retreat to deepen one's practice and attune one's mind to the energy and blessings of Cittamani Tara. Rinpoche will be leading the first and last sessions of this retreat.

Details about the retreat will be posted here as they become available.

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• Cittamani Tara Outer Initiation in the Gelug Tradition

Commitments:

• None

Cittamani Tara Inner Empowerment (Body Mandala) (postponed to 2013)

For those who have received an outer initiation in Cittamani Tara, and completed a Cittamani Tara Retreat with Fire Puja, Rinpoche will offer a Cittamani Tara Inner Empowerment (Body Mandala).

The Inner Body Mandala Initiation has been postponed to next year (2013).

This is a most precious opportunity to unlock the door to a deeper level of practice.

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• Must have received Cittamani Tara Outer Initiation & Cittamani Tara Retreat with Fire Puja

Commitments:

• None

Long Life Puja for Rinpoche (July 28 - (new date))

To understand why a long life puja is essential, we must understand the value of the Guru. He is our guide in this life, the bardo, and future lives. He is immensely important. It is not a case where if we ask him to live he will, and vice-versa, but that to offer such a ceremony purifies our own broken samayas.
–Geshe Lama Konchog

Requesting the guru to stay for a long time is part of the Seven-Limb practice. Because of the special relation between teacher and student, the student's request for the guru to stay long brings forth an auspicious dependent arising of the teacher's longevity.

Similarly, a Long Life Puja ceremony is a powerful practice with the following benefits:

1. It purifies broken samaya with the guru.
2. It is a cause for long life for attendees.
3. It builds a strong karmic connection with the guru.
4. It gives students potential to meet qualified spiritual masters in the future.
5. It leaves seeds in the student to achieve one of Buddha's 32 main characteristics.

Prerequisites for Attendance:

• Open to everyone

Commitments:

• None