Manjushri Dharma Center

Happy Lhabab Düchen!
2025-11-11
Lhabab Düchen is a Buddhist festival celebrated to observe the Buddha’s descent from the Trāyastriṃśa heaven down to earth. 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. He was exhorted by his disciple and representative Maudgalyayana to return, and after a long debate and under a Full Moon Buddha agreed to return. He returned to earth a week later by a special triple ladder prepared by Viswakarma, the god of machines. This event is considered to be one of the eight great deeds of the Buddha.
On Lhabab Düchen, 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.
This year Rinpoche is on retreat during this great occasion–to rejoice in his merit is a great virtuous act!

Happy Lhabab Düchen
About the image: The Buddha’s Descent from Tavatimsa Heaven, 19th Century, Thailand, from the Walters Art Museum, and Look and Learn History.

Garden Volunteer Day
2025-12-06 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
The rain has been falling and the weeds are growing at the Dharma Center! Please come enjoy some light weeding and gentle garden cleanup this coming Saturday after meditation. Tea and the best instant coffee you ever had, as well as some goodies will be on offer.
We will supply: coffee/tea/goodies and a few garden tools
You should supply: your own garden gloves, tools you like, etc.
Many thanks and hope to see you there!

Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2025
2025-12-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Lover’s Point Beach, 17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2025
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
4:00pm to 5:00pm
Lover’s Point Beach
17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA

This year is very special, because Rinpoche will be moving to Portland sometime in the next year, and this may be the last year we gather together in person at the winter solstice. Although it is Rinpoche’s intention to return for summer and winter solstices to Lover’s Point beach to conduct this ceremony every year, life is unpredictable. Please join us on the winter solstice for this special event!
December 21st, 2025 is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. For many years now, at both summer and winter solstices, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche offers a Blessing of the Waters, by reciting two prayers that he composed, Propitiating the Devas of the Four Elements and the Prayer for World Peace. This year we will once again gather in community and send our good energy to the ocean, to all the waters of the world, and to all of nature and humanity. Attendees will be provided with candles to light as we celebrate the light of love and wisdom. Attendees are encouraged to bring flower petals to scatter as we send our good wishes to the ocean and the world.
Entire Collection of Texts: Naga Torma and Blessing for the Four Elements (Tibetan and English)
Can’t make this event, but wish to participate? Practitioners may download these prayers to recite at the beach, by a river, or wherever you choose outside in nature. Bring some flowers to offer and send your good energy and wishes for healing to the waters of the world, all the elements of nature, and all sentient beings. Additionally, here is an “instruction on how to practice” the Blessing of the Waters, composed by Rinpoche and Pema Tsultrim with more information on how to conduct a “do-it-yourself” Blessing of the Waters. Instructions on Blessing the Waters
Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelmdc2016@gmail.com

Prayer for Peace
Through roots of goodness of us all on this vast earth,
May all living creatures become full of
love and compassion,
So that all enjoy peace on earth!

Stop bad intentions, thoughts and deeds
of all those who terrorize others,
That all living beings on this earth
come together like one family!

May all be well, have long life and health
with bliss of mind, free of illusion.
May all mothers have oceans of bliss
of body, for now, and ultimately of mind.

May this lamp of wisdom love, oneness,
highest remedy to clear darkness,
Enter the hearts of all living beings,
so their perfect path be illumined!

Footnote to Prayer for Peace: In the name of all religions on earth, as I see and hear of increasingly many unwarranted harmful actions being enacted, thinking, with a joyful, universal aspiration, how wonderful it would be if all such activities ceased entirely. Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, on 2-4-2015, on Wednesday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s auspicious day, wrote this dedication prayer to be recited at the conclusion of other prayers, meditation, or practices.

New Year's Eve Vajrasattva Purification Practice
2025-12-31 18:30 - 20:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Start the New Year of 2026 with a clean slate by purifying negative karma of body, speech and mind accumulated over the past year and in past lives through the powerful practice of Vajrasattva (Dorje Sempa).
This special event will consist of teachings by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche on the Vajrasattva practice, an explanation of the meaning of the mantra and on the four opponent powers (tob shi) that we perform to purify our negative actions. After a short break, we will then accumulate recitations of the Vajrasattva Mantra. After the Puja, MDC will celebrate the coming New Year with tea and treats. Please wear white clothing or adornments if you can (no worries if not), and feel free to bring some food or refreshments to welcome in the new year (again no pressure, just come! We will have plenty).
Link to texts: The Sadhana of Glorious Vajrasattva, a Terma Revelation of H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, and additional readings written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, The Four Powers of Purification , A Brief Confession, Heartfelt Advice of Dharma Nectar ; What Makes a Meaningful New Year?
Vajrasatva New Years Eve practice will be held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

Please do join us for this powerful practice. Tashi Delek!

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CANCELLED: New Year's Day Celebration, Yurt Blessing & Long Life Blessing
2026-01-01 12:00 - 14:00
Cancelled due to rain and storm:
Hello Dear Sangha! Our Dharma friends at Tsina Mani Choling have cancelled the new year’s day celebration in the Santa Cruz mountains due to the rain and possible high winds. While the Larung Hermitage is moving right along in becoming a beautiful retreat location, with the newly erected 30′ yurt situated nicely along with other smaller yurts and teacher’s quarters, the property is not quite ready for an indoor celebration in the rain. We will keep everyone posted on the yurt blessing in the year to come! Happy new year everyone!

Cancelled: New Years Day Celebration, Yurt Blessing & Long Life Blessing
Hosted by Tsina Mani Choling
with Lama Lakshey Zangpo Rinpoche, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, and Adzom Rinpoche
Thursday, January 1, 2026
12pm
In-person event
Location: Larung Hermitage in the Santa Cruz Hills
(detailed driving directions will be provided)
This special event is hosted by Lama Lakshey’s Dharma center, Tsina Mani Choling, and is a celebration of the coming year and a blessing of the yurt donated by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche to Lama Lakshey. This is a special invitation and sign up is required. Detailed driving directions will be sent directly from Tsina Mani Choling via Evite (please note–your name and email will be shared with them). Please wear sturdy shoes, layers for both cool and warm climates, and if possible, bring food or drink to share.
Here is a message from the hosts:

Dear Dharma friends,
We hope this message finds you well enjoying the holidays. You are invited to a New Year’s Day Celebration at Larung Hermitage! We hope you can join us by ringing in the New Year on the land.
This will be a potluck style gathering.
Carpooling encouraged 🙂
Please reach out with any questions!
If this is your first time to the land please follow the directions (they will be sent with the Evite) closely as GPS will only get you to lower driveway and cell service is spotty.
Hope to see you soon.
With gratitude–Megan Larson
and this update from our hosts:
Dear Dharma friends, We are very happy to update you that Adzom Rinpoche & Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will be joining our New Years Day celebration @ Larung Hermitage! Adzom Rinpoche has generously offered to bestow a longevity empowerment for all who join. This is a very auspicious occasion for our community as we walk on our spiritual path. We look forward to seeing you all very soon.
Here is background about the yurt:
The 30-foot yurt was originally donated to Khenpo Karten Rinpoche by Thay Kozen, Rinpoche’s dear friend and the spiritual leader of Mount Adams Buddhist Temple. When Rinpoche decided to move from Pacific Grove to the Pacific Northwest (no details on that yet, no timeline) Rinpoche offered the yurt to his dear Dharma brother Lama Lakshey Zangpo. The generous gift lives on and connects these three dear teachers and their students in a knot of unending good energy.
Read more about the yurt:

We have a yurt!
Yurt has arrived! Thank you Volunteers!
Yurt Moving Day

Questions?
Contact Rachel Christopherson at rachelMDC2016@gmail.com or text or call 831-277-0529.

Losar Tibetan New Year Celebration
2026-02-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Happy New Year Sangha! Tibetan lunar New Year or Losar will begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. We will gather to celebrate at 6:30pm with prayers and a “luckypot” celebration. Please bring a dish to share to celebrate the year of the Fire Horse on this auspicious occasion! (Perhaps we will even see some Lama dancing!)
Learn more: Tibetan New Year Traditions
2026 in the Gregorian calendar marks the transition to the year 2153, which is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Tibetan calendar.

The festival officially lasts 15 days, with the most significant celebrations occurring in the first three days:

February 16–17 (Preparation): Families clean their homes, settle debts, and prepare traditional foods like Guthuk (a noodle soup with symbolic dumplings).
February 18 (Day 1: Lama Losar): Focused on spiritual offerings and honoring one’s guru or household shrine. This day is typically reserved for immediate family.
February 19 (Day 2: Gyalpo Losar): Known as “King’s Losar,” it is a day for visiting friends, neighbors, and local leaders to exchange “Tashi Delek” greetings.
February 20 (Day 3: Chockyong Losar): People visit monasteries and stupas to hang prayer flags and make offerings to protective deities.
March 4: The festival concludes on the 15th day with the Butter Lamp Festival (Chotrul Duchen).

Happy Chötrul Düchen Full Moon Celebration of Miracles & Lunar Eclipse
2026-03-03
Chötrul Düchen is one of four major Tibetan Buddhist holy days, celebrated on the first full moon after lunar new year. It is known as the Butter Lamp Festival, Festival of Lights, or Great Day of Miraculous Manifestations. It commemorates the day that Buddha Shakyamuni settled the question of his enlightenment with naysayers by performing many miracles. This full moon day is considered a “merit multiplier” day, with the effects of both positive and negative actions multiplied ten million times.
This year, in addition to Chötrul Düchen falling on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, there is a total lunar eclipse, often called a “Blood Moon.” The eclipse will be visible across North and Central America, the Pacific, East Asia, and Australia. (Totality is at 3:04am Pacific Time). This is the only total lunar eclipse of 2026 and the last one visible from North America until 2028, making it a rare event.
Learn More: The Story of the 15 Days of Miracles, Rigpa Wiki-Brief Explanation of Chotrul Duchen
Learn More: Total Lunar Eclipse March 3, 2026

Although we will not host a celebration at MDC, practitioners are encouraged to celebrate their good fortune in encountering Dharma, to practice virtue and positive thinking on this day. There are miracles in every moment of being alive.

Tibetan Uprising Day 2026
2026-03-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Windows on the Bay, Corner of Del Monte and Camino El Estero, Monterey, 93940, United States
Join us on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm PST in-person at Windows on the Bay, the corner of Del Monte and El Estero (703 Del Monte Ave, Monterey, CA 93940) as we join a day of international protests known as Tibetan Uprising Day.

Please note: Protesters cannot step into the street or hand out leaflets to cars, as per a city safety mandate. Signs will be provided, or you may bring your own. We will be there rain or shine.

The annual protest on Tibetan Uprising Day is very special to Rinpoche, an event that he has organized with the MDC annually for many years. 2026 marks 67 years of oppression and resistance. Rinpoche, his students and supporters in Monterey will continue to make our community aware of the ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet, in solidarity with such protests around the world.
Since the Chinese occupation in 1959, more than one million Tibetans have been killed. To fly a Tibetan flag, even mention His Holiness the Dalai Lama, send an email abroad, or say the phrase “human rights,” is cause for imprisonment and torture. 99% of all Tibetan monasteries have been closed. These horrors and atrocities continue today throughout Tibet. The situation is desperate and worsening; the Tibetan people and their culture are being systematically attacked.
Around one million Tibetan children are forced to attend government boarding schools. Children as young as four are educated with CCP-approved lesson plans and taught almost entirely in Chinese. In some parts of Tibet, parents must attend language classes to make sure that Chinese is spoken at home. Buddhist monasteries are told to shut down their free language classes. Tibetan educators are threatened or detained for offering language instruction to children. Even the name “Tibet” is under threat.
Xizang Tibet
In an act of colonial violence, the CCP is pushing for English-language references around Tibet to be changed to “Xizang”, the Chinese name for Tibet imposed by the Chinese government.
Yet, Tibetans continue to stand up against this repression in a non-violent way, as they have each year for over 66 years. We cannot let the world forget. Please lend your voice to peace, justice, and freedom: Support Tibet!
Tibet is the least free country on earth. Tibet must be free
Learn the latest and how you can help:

UK-based Free-Tibet
US-based Students For A Free Tibet.

Learn about the historical context and current views with the resources below:

March 10 Commemoration: Rinpoche and his friend Pema wrote about why we commemorate March 10th–when more than 100,000 Tibetans surrounded the Norbulinka palace in Lhasa, putting their lives between the Chinese army and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

PBS Frontline: Battle for Tibet

PBS Frontline: Battle for Tibet Aired on Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Can be viewed on PBS app for free

Opinion | Dalai Lama:
My hope for the Tibetan people –
The Washington Post

Tibetans have spent nearly 75 years fighting for freedom. Their struggle should continue beyond my lifetime.
Published in the Washington Post on March 6, 2025. Shared by email from Khenpo Karten Rinpoche on March 10, 2025.
Link to read article in Washington Post (requires subscription, which can be canceled anytime) Need help accessing? Contact manjushridharmacenter831.org.

Rinpoche shared this video, which is on Facebook, posted by Lobsang Tsering Taying Tsang on March 10, 2025.

གསུམ་བཅུའི་དུས་དྲན་ཐེངས་༦༦ པ།
ཁྱེད་ཚོའི་ལས་འགུལ་དེ་ཅི་འདྲ་རླབས་ཆེ་ལ། མིས་ལྟས་ན་ཡིད་དུ་འོང་བ་འདུག ད་དུང་སོག་པོ་དང་ཐེ་ཝན་གྱི་དར་ཆ་མཉམ་དུ་ཡོད་ན་ཅི་མ་རུང་། མི་རབས་གསར་པ་ཁྱེད་ཚོས་རྣམ་དཔྱོད་དང་བློ་གྲོས་ཀྱིས་དེ་རིང་འཛམ་གླིང་ཚན་རྩལ་གྱི་ཁྲོད་དུ་གོམ་པ་མཉམ་དུ་སྤོ་ཐུབ་པའི་ངེས་པ་རྙེད་སོང་། ད་ལྟའི་ང་ཚོས་ཆབ་སྲིད་ཀྱི་ལང་ཕྱོགས་ནི་ཁྱིས་ཆུ་བཅད་པ་ལྟ་བུའམ། མདོར་ན་དགྲ་གཉེན་གོ་ལྡོག་པའི་སྤྱི་ཚོགས་སུ་གྱུར་ཟིན། ང་ཚོའི་མ་འོངས་པའི་ལས་དབང་དེ་མགོ་འབུལ་ལས་འབུལ་གྱི་མི་རིགས་ཆེན་པོ་ནང་དུ་བྲན་གཡོག་མི་བྱེད་པར་རང་དབང་སླར་གསོ་ཐུབ་པའི་རེ་བ་ཁྱེད་ཅག་ལ་བསྐྱང་ཡོད། བཀའ་དྲིན་ཆེ། བོད་རྒྱལ་ལོ།

May all cultures and peoples live together in harmony and peace.

UPDATE: 2026 ONLINE Amitabha Pureland Retreat
2026-03-19 17:30 - 2026-03-21 21:00
Update on Rinpoche’s Visit to Taiwan

“To all of my dear students in Taiwan,
Due to unforeseen circumstances related to travel documentation issues, I was unfortunately refused entry and unable to board my flight last night. As of last year, visa requirements changed in Taiwan, which was something that we overlooked when booking the flight. Therefore, I will not be able to travel to Taipei this year for our Amitabha retreat. I sincerely regret this situation and any disappointment it may cause.
However, we will still be holding our Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup online via Zoom on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 20th to 22nd. I warmly encourage all of you to join so that we may still practice together and maintain our connection in the Dharma.
Khenpo Karten Rinpoche”

Therefore, Rinpoche will be conducting the Amitabha Retreat from the Manjushri Dharma Center on ZOOM, with remote participants able to join together. It is scheduled for March 20th, 21st, and 22nd (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) in Taipei, or March 19th – March 21st ( Thursday, Friday, Saturday) in California, and will be held over three days. You are warmly requested to participate accordingly. The daily schedule is as follows (Please take note of the time difference):
Taiwan time: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (3/20-3/22)
California time: 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM (3/19-3/21)
Even though the proceedings will be in Tibetan and translated into Chinese, Rinpoche’s English speaking students can still benefit by soaking in the good energy of the practice.
Zoom Link for All Services
Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Text: Here is the Amitabha Retreat Text in Chinese and Tibetan (sorry, no English). Participants will recognize and can use the familiar Amitabha sadhana, which is in Tibetan, English, and Chinese: The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.

Garden Volunteer Day
2026-04-04 11:00 - 13:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Omigosh! The rain has been falling and the weeds are growing at the Dharma Center! We have not had a garden day since December–time flies! Please come enjoy some light weeding and gentle garden cleanup Saturday, April 4th, 2026 after meditation.
We will supply: coffee/tea/goodies and a few garden tools
You should supply: your own garden gloves, tools you like, etc.
Many thanks and hope to see you there!

Entrance to Dewachen
2026-04-25 10:00 - 16:00 | online event, CA, United States
This event is sponsored and hosted by TLC Transitional Life Care, a Vajrayana Buddhist education and support program offering spiritual resources for the end of life transition.
Entrance to Dewachen on the Path to Amitabha’s Pure Realm
Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
of Manjushri Dharma Center
Translated by Isis Hao
Saturday, April 25, 202610:00-12:00 & 2:00-4:00 PDT on Zoom
Sliding Scale Donation $45 – $65
REGISTER HERE
No one will be turned away for lack of funds and options are available.
‘The Four Causes for Rebirth in Sukhavati’ is a classic Buddhist teaching that helps us realize our aspiration to fully integrate pure dharma during our lifetimes and to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land following our dying process. Bringing the pure realm to mind, gathering immeasurable roots of virtue, generating bodhicitta, and the dedication of merit through prayer will be our focus. Khenpo Karten Rinpoche is delighted to share this profound teaching and considers the topic “his specialty.”
Registration questions? Contact: tlcservesregistrar@gmail.comPlease note our new registrar’s updated email address.

Amitabha Practice & Karma Shawa Remembrance Day
2026-05-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
This Monday night is a special combination of chanted prayers and remembering Khenpo Karten Rinpoche’s Dharma son, a little deer named Karma Shawa. 2026 marks three years since his passing.

About Karma Shawa
There was/is a deep karmic connection between Rinpoche and the deer named Karma Shawa. Rinpoche wrote about it in his blog, “Who was Karma Shawa? ཀརྨ་ཤྭ་བ། “, and he was interviewed in the Monterey County Weekly, “The story of a Pacific Grove Tibetan monk and his fawn friend.“

Please do join us for this profound practice. Tashi Delek!

Buddha Amitabha is the Buddha of Infinite Light.
Here is a link to the main text (in Tibetan, English, and Chinese): The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.

Chanted prayers are an important part of spiritual life, regardless of where you are at on the path. They allow us to still our minds, connect with the blessings of the Buddhas, and purify negative karma. With these prayers we transform ourselves and our world into pure beings and pure lands, free from suffering, and connect with the energies of love and compassion. Appropriate for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Prayer books provided/shown on screen. Donations are not expected, but always welcome

Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
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Saga Dawa Duchen - Buddha Shakyamuni Puja
2026-06-01 18:30 - 20:00 | 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
The MDC will celebrate Saga Dawa Duchen with a Buddha Shakyamuni Puja for Monday evening prayers. The 15th day of this lunar month is a full moon and is called Saga Dawa Duchen. This year, Saga Dawa Duchen will take place on Sunday, May 31st. Saga Dawa Duchen, the “Great Occasion” of the month of Saga Dawa, is one of the holiest days in Tibetan Buddhism and commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, the supreme and perfect Guru. The fifteenth day of the month is very special as the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni, which refers to the day the consciousness of the Buddha entered his mother’s womb rather than His physical birth. At the age of 35, the Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. This day also marks the anniversary of His parinirvana at Kushinagara at the age of 80. This is the single most important day of the year for all Vajrayana practitioners and Tibetan Buddhists. Therefore, this month represents a great opportunity to commemorate and honor the Buddha, and to accumulate merit and purify our body, speech, and mind. This month only occurs once a year, so please wholeheartedly practice the Dharma during this precious time! Tashi Delek
Learn more: What is Saga Dawa?
Text: Treasury of Blessings: A Practice of Buddha Shakyamuni

Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

Please do join us for this profound practice. Tashi Delek!

Zoom Link to Join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86274306749?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,86274306749#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (San Jose)
+16694449171,,86274306749#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
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All-Sangha Meeting 2026
2026-06-06 11:00 - 12:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Annual All-Sangha Meeting
Saturday, June 6, 2026
11:00am Pacific Time (after meditation)
In-person and on Zoom
Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Every year, the spiritual community of the Manjushri Dharma Center comes together to reflect on the past year, envision the year ahead, and confirm our Board Members for the next term. Join us after meditation on Saturday, June 6th to hear a brief overview of the state of center, updates on Rinpoche’s move to the Portland area, and the sangha trip to India.

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Summer Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2026
2026-06-21 18:30 - 19:00 | Lover’s Point Beach, 17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Sunday, June 21st, 2026 is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. For many years now, at both summer and winter solstices, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche offers a Blessing of the Waters, by reciting two prayers that he composed, Propitiating the Devas of the Four Elements and the Prayer for World Peace.We now have a new prayer book with many other prayers as well. This year, we will meet again in person at Lover’s Point Beach. We will gather in community and send our good energy to the ocean, to all the waters of the world, and to all of nature and humanity. Attendees are asked to bring flower petals/flowers for the offering.
Because this practice is on the beach, there is no opportunity for us to also broadcast online (as far as known).
This practice may also be done by any person in they place they live. Practitioners may download these prayers to recite at the beach, by a river, or wherever you choose outside in nature. Bring some flowers to offer and send your good energy and wishes for healing to the waters of the world, all the elements of nature, and all sentient beings.
Here is an “instruction on how to practice” the Blessing of the Waters, composed by Rinpoche and Pema Tsultrim/Aaron (past MDC President) with more information on how to conduct a “do-it-yourself” Blessing of the Waters ceremony. Instructions on Blessing the Waters
Tashi Delek!
Prayer for World Peace
Through roots of goodness of us all on this vast earth,
May all living creatures become full of
love and compassion,
So that all enjoy peace on earth!
Stop bad intentions, thoughts and deeds
of all those who terrorize others,
That all living beings on this earth
come together like one family!
May all be well, have long life and health
with bliss of mind, free of illusion.
May all mothers have oceans of bliss
of body, for now, and ultimately of mind.
May this lamp of wisdom love, oneness,
highest remedy to clear darkness,
Enter the hearts of all living beings,
so their perfect path be illumined!

Footnote to Prayer for World Peace: In the name of all religions on earth, as I see and hear of increasingly many unwarranted harmful actions being enacted, thinking, with a joyful, universal aspiration, how wonderful it would be if all such activities ceased entirely. Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, on 2-4-2015, on Wednesday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s auspicious day, wrote this dedication prayer to be recited at the conclusion of other prayers, meditation, or practices.

Walking Meditation at Asilomar Beach & Beach Fun
2026-06-27 09:30 - 12:00 | Asilomar State Beach, 800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Rinpoche invites all to carpool, bike or walk down to Asilomar State Beach where we learn and practice walking meditation. In walking meditation, you direct your attention to the movement of your feet and legs, and the motion of your body as it advances. You feel your feet on the ground, and arrive fully to the present moment.
After the walking meditation, participants are invited to bust out the frizbee & beach blankets, bring “luckypot” pot luck food or a bag lunch, and chill. (if it’s overcast or cold, we may do a beach fire)
We will meet at MDC at 9:30AM and head from there to Asilomar Beach for meditation.

Meet to Carpool at 9:30am at MDC: We will gather at the Manjushri Dharma Center and carpool to the Asilomar Conference Grounds/Asilomar Beach.
“LuckyPot” or bring your own bag lunch: After the formal meditation, we will gather on beach blankets to eat together.
Please Bring Your Own: bag lunch or food to share, chair or beach blanket, warm layers, and anything you’d like to play with at the beach.

Parking at Asilomar: Parking is free at the Asilomar Conference Grounds, or there is parking on the street on Sunset Blvd. The Asilomar Conference Grounds are located at 800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.
Questions? Contact Rachel C. at rachelichristo@gmail.com or 831-277-0529.
No Zoom on this day, so sorry!

Songs of Milarepa: Oral Transmission, Teaching, and Tsok Offering in Santa Cruz
2026-06-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz, 740 Front Street, The Galleria #155, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
Songs of Milarepa: Oral Transmission, Teaching, and Tsok Offering
Sunday, June 28, 2026
1:00pm to 4:00pm
In person event only
Teaching given in Tibetan with English consecutive interpretation (translation)
Location: Wisdom Center
740 Front St, Suite 240 (The Galleria Community Room),
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Suggested donation: $60.00 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. Registration link has option for $60.00 or $30.00 donation or you may email wisdomcenter.sc@gmail.com to register.
REGISTER HERE
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join Khenpo Karten Rinpoche for this immersion into the life and songs of the Great Tibetan Yogi Saint, Jetsun Milarepa, with an oral transmission, teaching, and tsok/ganachakra offering. Milarepa’s tragic childhood led him to train in black magic, eventually unleashing a tide of killing and destruction.
But he came to regret his actions and sought and found his teacher, Marpa, who, being aware that Milarepa had to purify his negative karma, exposed him to many extremely difficult trials. Eventually, Marpa gave Milarepa full transmissions of all the Mahamudra teachings from Naropa, Maitripa and other Indian masters. Practicing these teachings for many years in isolated mountain retreats, Milarepa attained enlightenment. He gained fame for his incredible perseverance in practice and for his spontaneous songs of realization.
ABOUT THE HOST
The Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz is a non-sectarian Buddhist teaching and meditation center. “Our goal is to generate enlightened activity through meditation, insight, and compassion in individuals and community.” See more about their teachers and schedule of events: https://www.wisdomcentersc.org/

Special Event--Chenrezig Practice & Birthday Celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
2026-07-06 18:30 - 21:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Khenpo Karten (right) with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (right)
Monday, July 6th is His Holiness Dalai Lama’s 91st birthday! We will celebrate after our Chenrezig chanted prayer practice with a “lucky pot” (pot luck) at the Manjushri Dharma Center. Rinpoche will set up a birthday shrine for His Holiness and lead prayers for his long life. If we are lucky, perhaps Michael Martinez will lend his talent and good energy with the piano! Bring your instruments, it will be a musical party!

Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig in Tibetan, is the Bodhisattva who embodies the love and compassion of all Buddhas. Chenrezig is an important deity* in Tibet and considered the patron Bodhisattva of the Tibetan people. Chenrezig is also believed by Tibetans to be the actual progenitor of the Tibetan people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Karmapa are considered living Buddhas, emanations of Chenrezig. It is said that in Tibet even babies upon birth know the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.
Chanted prayers are an important part of spiritual life, regardless of where you are at on the path. They allow us to still our minds, connect with the blessings of the Buddhas, and purify negative karma. With these prayers we transform ourselves and our world into pure beings and pure lands, free from suffering, and connect with the energies of love and compassion. Appropriate for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Prayer books provided. Donations are not expected, but always welcome.
Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

Please do join us for this profound practice. Tashi Delek!

Text:
https://manjushridharmacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ChenrezigPracticeText.pdf

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*The word deity in Buddhist context is not the same as in the west. A deity may have many meanings, but one meaning is the timeless energies that are also within us, rather than all-knowing beings outside ourselves.

Introduction to Ngöndro: The Kagyu Preliminary Practices
2026-07-11 11:15 - 13:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Introduction to Ngöndro: The Kagyu Preliminary Practices
Saturday, July 11, 2026
following meditation from 10:00am to 11:00am
11:00am to 11:15am–we take a break, have some tea/coffee/snacks/set up luckypot
11:15am to 1:30pm–teaching
1:30pm to 2:30pm–Luckypot (pot luck)
Manjushri Dharma Center
In-Person and on Zoom
Donations of any amount welcome, no one turned away for lack of funds
No registration needed–just show up!
About the Event
Our mind has the potential to bring forth a bountiful harvest of wisdom and compassion, but for such seeds to grow, the ground needs to be properly prepared. Preliminary practices serve to purify negative karmic imprints, enrich our mind with positive potential and blessings, and connect us to a long lineage of practitioners. Engaging in the preliminary practices serves as an invaluable tool to both create a firm foundation for practice and deepen our path. Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will present an overview introduction to the Kagyu preliminary practices known as Ngöndro along with an oral transmission blessing. Please bring a dish to share for a “Luckypot” luncheon on after the teaching (breakfast items welcome!). Consecutive interpretation will be provided by David Molk aka Jampa Tharchin.
Text

Ngondro Sadhana

Resources for Ngöndro Practice:

Turning Confusion into Clarity: A Guide to the Foundation Practices of Tibetan Buddhism, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (print or audio book)
Ngondro: Karma Kagyu Preliminaries, DVD–By: Lama Karma Wangdu
Torch of True Meaning: Instructions and the Practice for the Mahamudra Preliminaries–By: Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje
Ngondro for Our Current Day: A Short Ngondro Practice and Its Instructions–By: Seventeenth Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje
Ngondro Commentary–By: Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
Mandala supplies (purchase at Vajra Collection or other retail store selling items from Nepal/Tibet/India)
Kagyu Refuge Tree Guru lineage poster

Names on the Refuge Tree in English
བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་ཀྱི་བརྒྱུད་པའི་ཤིང་སྡོང་གི་པོ་སྟེར་ཐོག་གི་མིང་བྱང་བོད་ཡིག་ཏུ་བྲིས་པ།

About Ngöndro
Source: Adapted from Wikipedia
The Tibetan term Ngöndro refers to the preliminary, preparatory or foundational practices common to all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and also to Bon. Each tradition will have a variation on the practice. The version we will learn in this retreat is the Karma Kagyu practice. The term ngöndro literally denotes meanings in the range of “something that goes before, something which precedes.” The preliminary practices establish the foundation for the more advanced and rarefied Vajrayana practices of Dzogchen, Heruka and Mahamudra. Nevertheless, Vajrayana masters are careful to point out that “foundational” does not mean “lesser,” that the practice of Ngöndro is a complete and sufficient practice of the spiritual path, and that it can take the practitioner all the way to full enlightenment.
Outer and inner preliminaries
In general the preliminary practices are divided into two sections or kinds: the first are the common or ordinary kind of preliminary practices, and the second are the special or extraordinary kind of preliminaries.
Outer preliminaries
The common or ordinary preliminaries consists of a series of deep reflections or contemplations on the following four topics:
the freedoms and advantages of precious human rebirth
the truth of impermanence and change
the workings of karma
the suffering of living beings within samsara
The above four contemplations are sometimes referred to as “the four reminders” or “the four mind-changers” or “the four thoughts which turn the mind towards Dharma.” Additional reflections may be included in the specific instructions on the outer preliminaries within different lineages, but the above four topics are the main reflections.
Inner preliminaries
The special or extraordinary kind of preliminaries consist of :
taking of refuge in the three roots in conjunction with the performance of prostrations (purifying pride)
cultivation of bodhicitta (purifying jealousy)
recitations of Vajrasattva’s hundred-syllable mantra (purifying hatred/aversion/harsh words)
mandala offerings (purifying attachment)
guru yoga practices (purifying delusion)
These practices purify negative deeds and accumulate merit. Traditionally ngöndro practice is done for the enlightenment of the spiritual aspirant and for the benefit of all sentient beings. That is, the merit of doing the practices is dedicated to all sentient beings. These practices are typically done to reach a certain goal (100,00 prostrations, 100,000 Vajrasattva recitations, etc).

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Canceled: Four Noble Truths on Chökhor Düchen
2026-07-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
So sorry, but this teaching has been canceled. Rinpoche will host regular meditation on this day.

Four Noble Truths on Chökhor Düchen
Saturday, July 18, 2026
10:00am to 11:30am
In-person and on Zoom
Free event, but donations always welcome
About the Event
Chökhor Düchen is one of the four great occasions (Losar, Saga Dawa, Choekhor Duchen and Lhabab Duchen) celebrated by all Tibetan Buddhists. During those times, it is believed that the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It falls in the Tibetan Lunar calendar in the 6th month, 4th day. Tradition has it that Buddha was not convinced that teaching what he had discovered through his meditations could be communicated in a way that would be of any benefit to others. It took the intercession of the sky goddesses called Dakinis, and the great Hindu gods, Brahma and Indra, to persuade him to do so for the benefit of all sentient beings. After seven weeks, the Buddha finally addressed the five people who had been his companions during the time spent with the forest yogins, and at Sarnath in India, he taught this first teaching–the Four Noble Truths. This is the foundational teaching of all of Buddhism.
Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, resident monk and spiritual director at the Manjushri Dharma Center will celebrate Chökhor Düchen – ‘The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma’ with a teaching on the Four Noble Truths. This is rare public talk, and we invite all to attend.
Pre-Reading: Attendees may wish to read Rinpoche’s in-depth teaching on the topic, which covers the Four Noble Truths and the 12 Links of Interdependence. Essence of Buddhism As Related to the Four Noble Truths (http://www.khenpokarten.org/2019/10/normal.html)
About the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche

Khenpo Karten Rinpoche is an accomplished teacher and practitioner of the Karma Kagyu Lineage and is also trained in the Nyingma Lineage of Buddhism. He was born in the beautiful mountains of the Himalayas of Tibet. At the age of twelve, he was ordained at Japa monastery, where he began his formal education of reading, writing and ritual practice. At the age of fifteen having completed the basic studies, he furthered his studies in the Sutra and Tantric texts under the accomplished master Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche and Pema Tsewang Rinpoche for eight years. Subsequently Khenpo Karten Rinpoche went to the hermitage of anther accomplished teacher, who became his heart teacher and root guru, Japa Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche and completed five years of silent and solitary retreat under the great master. In recognition of his achievements, Sangye Tenzin Ringpoche bestowed upon him the title, Khenpo Karma Lekshe Tharchin in 1994.
In 1996, he left Tibet and traveled to Dharamsala, India to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Upon His Holiness’ advice, he spent another two years doing retreat. H.H Dalai Lama also recognizing his achievement, bestowed upon him the title Khenpo Rinpoche.
Khenpo Karten arrived in the United States in 2008, and taught in the Monterey Bay area for the first time in September of that year. After meeting a group of prospective students and seeing the hills of Big Sur which remind him of Tibet, he returned in 2009 to make the Monterey Bay his home. Rinpoche established the Manjushri Dharma Center in Pacific Grove, California, which has become his main teaching location and his home residence. Rinpoche and the Manjushri Dharma Center will be moving next year (summer 2027) to the Portland, Oregon area.
With unflinching faith in the precious Buddha Dharma, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, now a U.S. citizen, bestows sacred teachings to thousands of people all over the world, with weekly teachings and events.
More about Rinpoche here

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Garden Volunteer Day
2026-08-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
We have not had a garden day since April–time flies! Please come enjoy some light weeding and gentle garden cleanup after meditation. Summer garden fun!
We will supply: coffee/tea/goodies and a few garden tools
You should supply: your own garden gloves, tools you like, etc.
Many thanks and hope to see you there!

No Monday Night Chanted Prayers
2026-08-17 18:30 - 20:00
Rinpoche is leading the Portland Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup this week, so we will not have Monday night chanted prayers on 8/17/26 nor on 8/24/26. Our next practice will be on Monday, 8/31/26 with Medicine Buddha. Enjoy the week!

No Monday Night Chanted Prayers
2026-08-24 18:30 - 20:00
Rinpoche is leading the Portland Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup this week, so we will not have Monday night chanted prayers on 8/24/26. Our next practice will be on Monday, 8/31/26 with Medicine Buddha. Enjoy the week!

3rd Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup Northern California
2026-09-25 08:00 - 2026-09-27 16:00 | Sera Jey Foundation, 6712 Portola Drive, El Cerrito, 94530
The third annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup with the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche in Northern California will be held over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 25 to 27, 2026, 8:00am to 4:00pm each day, at the Sera Jey Foundation, 6712 Portola Drive, El Cerrito, CA. This special event is hosted by the Tibetan Association of Northern California. The event is held in Tibetan and there will not be an English translator, but all are welcome to join and enjoy the special energy of the practice of Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light.
Important Notes:

The event is held in Tibetan and there will not be an English translator, but all are welcome to join and enjoy the special energy of the practice of Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light.
Here’s a copy of the Sadhana ‘Dechen Shingdrup’ (Tibetan text only)
Breakfast and lunch will be provided (vegetarian). All meals are sponsored by community members and offered free of charge.
They will have cushions there and chairs, but participants should bring their own cushions (whatever will help make your sit comfortable).
They may need help with food preparation and/or cleanup, so come early/stay late if you can offer to volunteer

Shrine room etiquette
Rinpoche is informal here in California, but it is good for students to know how to show respect in a traditional way in the gompa (shrine room):

Remove shoes and hats before entering the gompa
As soon as you enter, make 3 prostrations in the direction of the altar
When the teacher enters, please stand and bow slightly, hold your hands in prostration or “lotus blossom” at your heart
After the teacher makes 3 prostrations and sits down, the students then make 3 prostrations before sitting down
Keep all texts, Buddha images, or images of the Lama off the floor
Do not show the soles of your feet to the teacher/altar during the session. (Exceptions can be made for those with back problems or leg problems or anyone who needs to stretch their legs–use a scarf or cloth to cover your feet as you extend and stretch is good.)
Dress modestly, don’t show too much bare skin or wear super-tight or revealing clothing
Feel free to move and adjust your sitting position, but try not to disturb others; as you leave make a slight bow to the altar/teacher before turning away
At the end of the whole retreat, there will be a “kata ceremony” where white silk scarves are presented to Rinpoche as a sign of respect and thanks, and typically attendees also give “dana” at this time–a special monetary offering. Please bring your own kata if you have one. Dana should be concealed in an envelope.

Buddhist Pilgrimage to India and Nepal
2026-10-11 - 2026-10-29
Buddhist Pilgrimage to India and Nepal
October 11 to October 29, 2026
Click here for all the details
