The Nalandabodhi International sangha announces our fifth annual Tara Drupchen to be hosted online with practices at Nalanda West in Seattle, Karmapa Center 16 in Chicago, and many Nalandabodhi centers around the world from September 24 – 27, 2020. In all wisdom traditions, including Buddhism, it is said that the antidote to fear is loving-kindness. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the figure of Tara symbolizes the fearless and compassionate energy of our mind’s true nature and a firm resolve to dispel the suffering and fears of all beings. Our 2020 Tara Drupchen is especially dedicated to overcoming the current pandemic, to all…

6-Week Class Series (every Thursday) 7-9 PM from Sept 30, 2020 through November 4, 2020. Includes a Day of Mindfulness on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Insight meditation also known as mindfulness or vipassana meditation comes from the Buddhist tradition. It aims to free the mind from the distortions of self-centeredness, negativity, and confusion. Seeing life as a constantly changing process, one begins to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing balance and equanimity. This balanced awareness, grounded in the present moment, leads to stillness and a growing understanding of the nature of life.…

A  FOUR WEEK, ON-LINE, EXPLORATION OF RINZAI ZEN PRACTICE Thursdays, Oct 1 – Oct 22 | 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm | www.choboji.org | Please register at intro@choboji.org for the zoom link.   Bring your curiosity and your questions, to our Introduction to Zen class. This 4-week, online course, will cover everything you need to develop a meditation practice and teaches the fundamentals of Zen Buddhism. Each class is taught by a different, experienced, Zen practitioner. Classes start with introductions, a 15 minute sit, followed by a presentation, and ample time to ask questions. Recommended donation is $5. per class.…

This daylong retreat will explore the Four Foundations of Mindfulness: the body, feeling tones, mental states, and dhammas. Mindfulness of the Four Foundations is described in the Satipatthana Sutta as the direct path to liberation. Mindful examination of these realms reveals the true nature of phenomena, leading to clear seeing and full awakening. This daylong retreat will include sitting and walking meditation, dhamma talks about the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, small group sessions with Q&As, and optional opportunities for 1-on-1 discussions with one of the Local Dharma Leaders about your practice. This daylong retreat is part of a nine-month series…

Monday, October 5 Time: 7:00 – 8:15 pm Instructor: Ron Hogan Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/96369950432 Meeting ID: 963 6995 0432 Free, donations accepted Open to those who have already taken Refuge What do you do once you have taken refuge? To help with questions like these, we will be offering a regularly scheduled “Life After Refuge” discussion group. The aim is to hold informal discussions on beginning your new spiritual path. This will be scheduled during the week following a Refuge ceremony. Comments from past attendees: “This class was much needed after taking refuge.” “Excellent follow-up to refuge.” Ron Hogan is…

During times of great disruption it is easy to slip into destructive habits –  fear, denial, confusion, negativity, short temper or a sense of righteousness.  All these guests appear when we feel threatened. When we are locked in these strong emotions we cannot see that everything that appears has a single ground – Buddha nature.  We do not see that there are two paths – delusion and non delusion and two different results  – samsara and nirvana.  We see only one  – samsara. What is the antidote to our delusion? A “lullaby to awaken the heart”, as Mitra Dean Karl…