Tuesday February 5, 2019

Nechung Dharmapala Center cordially invites you to join the celebration of Losar, the Tibetan New Year of the Earth Pig, 2146.

Program:

• 10:00AM Ritual ceremony to usher in the New Year and offer prayers of prosperity, good health and success for oneself and for all fellow sentient beings, to be followed by tea and ceremonial sweet rice.
• 11:30AM Sangsol – Ceremonial smoke offering for cleansing and renewal of the community and environment.
• 12:30PM Potluck lunch and Tibetan circle dance to celebrate the New Year.
  (Please bring a dish to share)

As Losar (New Year) approaches, Tibetans make preparations by cleaning their homes and places of worship such as temples, monasteries and dharma centers. Old possessions are often gotten rid of and new ones bought at this time of year. Temples and monasteries are ornately decorated for the occasion, and special “puja” rituals are performed.

Starting November 7th, Geshe Wangchuk of NDC will begin teaching a new series based on, “The Precious Garland of Tenets,” by Konchog Jigme Wangpo. This will be the introductory course to the four tenet systems of Buddhism.

The division of Buddhist thought into four systems of tenets has its origins in the Indian monasteries such as Nalanda, where the entire array of Buddhist presentations on the nature of reality are classified broadly into four schools of thought. The first two – Vaibashika and Sautantrika – are subdivisions of Hinayana, while the latter two – Cittamatra and Madhyamaka – are subdivisions within Mahayana. 

The Tibetan masters have continued the tradition of studying these four systems of thought but do so with an emphasis on these schools as graduated steps in an individual practitioner’s understanding and meditation on emptiness. Familiarity with the tenet systems is also applied when studying other philosophical texts in which the imagined interlocutor in debate is a proponent of one of the lower systems. Thus, an understanding of the four tenet systems is fundamental to listening, reflecting, and meditating in Buddhist study and practice. 

For this series of classes, we will be using, “Cutting Through Appearances,” by Geshe Lhundrup Sopa and Jeffrey Hopkins, published by Snow Lion. 

This class will take place every first and third Wednesday of the month. Students and practitioners of all levels are encouraged to attend and participate. For the full schedule of the class, please go on our Events page. Streaming will be available on NDC’s Facebook page. 

According to legend, the Buddha ascended the Trāyastriṃśa heaven temporarily at the age of 41, in order to give teachings to benefit the gods in that desire realm and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from Samsara.

On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.

Please join us at NDC for Lama Choepa Puja. You may bring food offerings which will be distributed after the ceremony.

Nechung Dharmapala Center is pleased to announce that we will be hosting Nechung Rinpoche together with several monks from Nechung Monastery in August. We look forward to seeing you at this auspicious event.

From left to right: Geshe Ngawang Sangye, Geshe Wangchuk, Geshe Tenzin Norbu, Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen

Nechung Dharmapala Center and UCI – Tibet Initiative are proudly presenting a panel discussion with visiting Tibetan Buddhist Scholars on the topic of “Mind in Buddhism.” The main subjects to be discussed are the following:

1. Mind, its nature and function in Buddhism
2. Non-conceptual Awareness
3. Conceptual Awareness
4. Mind in Tantric Buddhism

Guest Speakers:

1. Geshe Wangchuk – Tenzin Gaphel, Nechung Monastery – Resident teacher at Nechung Dharmpala Center, Los Angeles
2. Geshe Tenzin Norbu, Gaden Shartse Monastery – Professor of Buddhist Philosophy at the Central Institute of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, India
3. Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen, Sera Jey Monastery – Abbot of Rudok Choling Monastery, Ladhak, India
4. Geshe Ngawang Sangye, Kopan Monastery – Director of Secondary School at Sera Jey, Bylakuppe, India 

Translator: Taryn Sue.

Time & Location Details:

Saturday, June 09, 2018

10am ~ 12:30pm

Nechung Dharmapala Center

515 N Crescent Heights Blvd, Los Angeles, 90048

This discussion will also be live-streamed on NDC’s Facebook Page for those who cannot attend in person.

Help NDC bring more events and teachings like this to the public by donating through our website at www.nechungla.org/donate. Your support and generosity are sincerely appreciated!

Saka Dawa is the holy day in which Tibetan Buddhists celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. The Saka Dawa observations take place in the fourth Tibetan month, which in 2018 begins on May 16th and ends on June 13th. The high point of our three-day festival is the merit-multiplying day, which this year will be on 29 May.

Any action done during this time is multiplied in its power.  It is therefore a very powerful time to engage in virtuous activities and increase one’s commitment to both practice and study. For the duration of this sacred month, NDC will hold the following events:

Saturday, May 19th (6pm~8pm): Prayers and Mantra Recitations 

Saturday, May 26th (6pm~8pm): Prayers and Mantra Recitations 

Tuesday, May 29th – Main Saka Dawa day (6pm~8pm): Prayers and Mantra Recitations

These prayers will be dedicated to enhancing world peace, protection of the environment and ending human suffering in general. In particular, we will be joined by the Tibetan Community who will be praying for His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama continued success in his role as the spiritual leader of Tibet and the Tibetan exiled community. 

Please join us for these auspicious events.

Potluck dinner will be shared. Please bring a dish to contribute.

Nechung Dharmapala Center will be live streaming these weekly talks on our Facebook page in partnership with the UCI – Tibet Initiative. The event is open and free to the public. To attend the event in person, please click here for more details.

TRAINING THE MIND FOR PEACE, HAPPINESS AND COMPASSIONATE LIVING

Tuesdays (5:30pm ~ 6:30 pm) from April 17, 2018 to June 5, 2018

Guest speakers:

• Geshe Tenzin Gaphel, Nechung Monastery – Resident teacher at Nechung Dharmpala Center, Los Angeles
• Geshe Tenzin Norbu, Gaden Shartse Monastery – Professor of Buddhist Philosophy at the Central Institute of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, India
• Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen, Sera Jey Monastery – Abbot of Rudok Choling Monastery, Ladhak, India
• Geshe Ngawang Sangye, Kopan Monastery – Director of Secondary School at Sera Jey, Bylakuppe, India 

 Translators: Taryn Sue and Tenzin Tselha

Program Outline

Session Format

5:30 pm – Meditation: breathing practice to develop concentration and to relax one’s mind and body

5:45 pm – Talk (Part 1)

6:00 pm – Meditation

6:05 pm – Talk (Part 2)

6:20 pm – Meditation

6:25 pm – Questions and Answers

6:45 pm – Session ends

For more details and to access the talks live, please visit our Facebook page.

Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is celebrated all over the Himalayas. It is 2145 in the Tibetan calendar, the year of the Earth Dog, which represents loyalty, protection, and friendship.

Nechung Dharmapala Center would like to extend our heartfelt greetings to all of our friends, students, and supporters on the auspicious occasion of the Tibetan New Year! May all enjoy good health, prosperity & peace in this coming new year!

Please join us in the celebrations of the Tibetan New Year!

New Year Offerings can be made online at www.nechungla.org/donate. Nechung Dharmapala Center is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 religious organization. All donation are tax-deductible. 

Losar Program:

Friday, February 16th

10am  Prayers and incense offering followed by tea served with sweet ceremonial rice pudding

11:00am  Consecration of the new center stupa followed by traditional Tibetan singing and dancing

12:30pm  Potluck lunch – Please bring a dish to share!

For those who are unable to join the Friday celebrations, please join us for the potluck lunch on Saturday. 

Saturday, February 17th

10:00am  Nechung Dharma Protector Prayer Day – Prayers and Meditation, with an offering ceremony to the guardian deities

12:00pm  Potluck lunch – Please bring a dish to share!