Manjushri Dharma Center

17th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup 2024 4
2024-08-23 07:00 - 2024-08-25 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association, 4401 NE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97230, United States
The 17th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup with the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will be held over two weekends in late August in Portland, Oregon, 2024. The annual event is hosted by the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association in Portland, Oregon. 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’
The detailed schedule is below in English and Tibetan. Rinpoche is encouraging participation from his western students for the second/closing weekend, and we started a “google doc” to encourage carpooling and to help with travel coordination. Attendees will be responsible for their own transportation and accommodations, but the Portland sangha is offering to pick folks up from the airport.

Test Event 1
2024-08-29 08:00 - 10:00 | In Nature, Outside, In Nature, CA, United States
This is just for purposes of seeing four events on the home page, as is normal when the Events Calendar is functioning normally.

Test Event 2
2024-08-30 08:00 - 10:00 | In Nature, Outside, In Nature, CA, United States

Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup--Northern California
2024-09-27 08:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-28 08:00 - 16:00 | Tibetan Association of Northern California, 5200 Dalai Lama Avenue, Richmond, CA, 94804, United States
The first Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup with the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche in Northern California will be held over Friday and Saturday, September 27-28th, 2024. This special event is hosted by the Tibetan Association of Northern California in Richmond, CA. 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’

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.

An Evening with Ginger Chih
2024-10-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Unitarian Universalist Church of Monterey County, 490 Aquajito Road, Carmel, CA, 93923, United States
Our dear Sangha member, author and photographer Ginger Chih is giving a book talk! Her book, The Dalai Lama: Leadership and the Power of Compassion is available for sale on her website where proceeds benefit the Tibet fund, or at the Manjushri Dharma Center where funds benefit MDC, and likely you can pick up a copy at this talk!

Garden Volunteer Day
2024-10-19 11:00 - 13:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Calling all green thumbs and those with not-so-green thumbs! Calling all volunteers! We are hosting “Garden Volunteer Day #3: It’s Been Too Long!” 🙂 Many hands make light work and we will focus on pulling weeds, mulching and blocking weeds before the rains come. If you can lend one hour (or two) after meditation on Saturday, October 19, you will make a monk happy!
We will supply: coffee/tea/goodies and a few garden tools (and mulch)
You should supply: your own garden gloves, tools you like, etc.
Many thanks and hope to see you there!
Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelichristo@gmail.com or 831-277-0529

Happy Retreat Rinpoche!
2024-11-20 10:00 - 17:00 | CA
We are so happy that our dear Khenpo Karten Rinpoche is taking a few weeks away to go on retreat. Normally, a one-month retreat (or longer) is the goal each year for Rinpoche, but this year due to many circumstances, he has chosen a short retreat. He will be staying in Santa Cruz at the home of his dear friend Lama Lekshey. He will have all the food and provisions needed and will enjoy the time he needs for deep meditation and practice in solitude. We wish you well Rinpoche!
Rinpoche will return on Sunday, December 8, and we will not welcome him home this time with a kata ceremony. Instead, we will celebrate his freedom to come home at any time that works for him, and his wish to quietly return home.
Monday night prayers will return on December 9th with Amitabha practice, and Saturday morning meditation will return on December 14th.

Rinpoche Returns
2024-12-08 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Welcome back Rinpoche! Khenpo La will return Sunday, December 8th, and he wishes to simply come home anonymously, we will honor that! Welcome home Dear Teacher!

New Year's Eve Vajrasattva Purification Practice
2024-12-31 18:30 - 21:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Start the New Year of 2025 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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Refuge Ceremony January 2025
2025-01-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Taking refuge has a very profound meaning, and Buddhist practitioners take refuge regularly in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha–but there is also a very special refuge ceremony. In a refuge ceremony, you are formally becoming a Buddhist and creating a deep karmic link with the teacher. You commit yourself to the path of love and compassion and to awakening the non-dualistic freedom that already exists within you.
If any member of the community would like to take refuge with Rinpoche, he has chosen an auspicious date: Wednesday, January 8th, 2025 from 10-11am at the Dharma Center. Please contact him in person or by phone at 831-917-3969 to make arrangements. If that day does not work for you, alternative dates can be arranged.
Those who have already taken refuge may join the ceremony to renew their vows.
The meaning of taking refuge is very profound, and there are many layers. Here are a few resources explaining the meaning of the refuge ceremony in Buddhism:
https://www.samyeling.org/buddhism-and-meditation/teaching-archive-2/choje-akong-tulku-rinpoche/the-meaning-of-taking-refuge/
https://www.lionsroar.com/the-decision-to-become-a-buddhist/
Taking refuge does involve certain specific commitments. Here is a copy of the Refuge Vow Book Example that each person taking refuge with Rinpoche will receive. The date & your Dharma name will be added in the back.
Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelmdc2016@gmail.com.
Image: One of a Pair of Manuscript Covers from the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra); Original public domain image from Art Institute of Chicago.

New Year Retreat 2025 - Phowa Teaching, Transmission, & Green Tara Empowerment
2025-01-10 09:00 - 2025-01-12 17:00 | Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
New Year Retreat 2025: Phowa Teaching, Transmission, & Green Tara Empowerment
with Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
Friday through Sunday, January 10-12, 2025
Wave Street Studios
9:00am to 5:00pm Friday/Saturday, 9:00am to 3:30pm Sunday
In-Person Only (no Zoom option, will not be recorded)
Open to all who have taken refuge or who have the basic foundations of Buddhist teachings
Registration required, donations requested, but no one turned away for lack of funds
Suggested donation: 180.00 for all three days

Register Here

Can’t register online? No problem! Contact Rachel at rachelmdc2016@gmail.com or call 831-277-0529. We will get you signed up to attend!
About Phowa
The subject of the retreat is the profound and esoteric practice of Phowa, often translated as ‘transference of consciousness’. In Phowa practice, the consciousness of a person is transferred to enlightenment or a higher state of being, and is based on the Buddhist beliefs of righteous Buddha worlds where spiritual enlightenment is easy and fast and on the Tantric Buddhist concept of the psycho-physical human anatomy made up of energy channels, vital energies and flexible nature of consciousness. Phowa is often practiced or applied by spiritual people at the time of death. Please click this link for a brief explanation of the practice. Rinpoche received the Phowa lineage from Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, who was well known for it’s practice. The text for this practice has been prepared by Rinpoche from the Karma Kagyu lineage, with translation by Jampa Tharchin.
About Transmission
For those who have not practiced the Amitabha or Phowa, a transmission of the texts will a part of the retreat, either as a separate oral transmission ceremony or by reciting together. It is important to note that Phowa practice is deeply connected to Amitabha practice. Please refer to Rinpoche’s writing: Seeds of Liberation: The Four Causes for Rebirth in Sukhavati, July 2024 (in Tibetan, Chinese, and English). Also refer to our main (western) Amitabha text: The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.
About the Green Tara Empowerment
This is the first time in more than 15 years that Rinpoche will offer an empowerment. Green Tara is the feminine embodiment of enlightened activity, she is known as the swift liberator, a compassionate and loving protector in times of distress and great danger. Rinpoche received his Green Tara empowerment first from Lama Gephel, then from Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche. This venerable lineage is now being extended to Rinpoche’s students. Students who receive the empowerment will have some commitments to keep, such as regularly practicing Green Tara. The empowerment will be offered on the first day of the retreat. More information about empowerments in general can be found here and here.
Empowerment commitments:
Rinpoche asks his students in receiving the Green Tara empowerment to practice her prayers once a month, or at least have that intention. We practice a Green Tara sadhana in-person and on Zoom each month at our center–attending that or another Dharma center’s practice, or practicing on your own will keep the commitment. Even if you can’t take that time, or don’t have a Dharma center, Rinpoche’s teacher and uncle, Lama Gephel, wrote a brief Tara practice that can be performed in minutes. He is making it very easy on us westerners!

Special Message from Rinpoche about Empowerment and Blessings

I have received a few messages from some of my students who have expressed concern regarding the upcoming empowerment at the New Year Retreat. For this teaching and transmission, my students should not worry. With this type of empowerment, there are not so many commitments, samaya, and tantric vows and connections between the Teacher and students. Thus, I want to briefly say something about this type of empowerment, called jenang (རྗེས་གནང་།).
The Green Tara empowerment which I will be giving at the retreat is referred to as jenang in Tibetan, meaning “subsequent permission”. With this empowerment, practitioners are given ‘permission’ from the Lama to practice, visualize, and chant mantras associated with the deity, etc. Though one can most definitely practice a deity without being given this empowerment, this je nang empowerment ensures that the practice is being properly rooted and practiced. At the Manjushri Dharma Center, we often practice Green Tara at the Monday Night Puja, so this will be beneficial for my students. Moreover, Green Tara is the deity associated with healing and removing obstacles, which will be good for my students. Students also can see this as the Lama’s blessing of body, speech, and mind for the Sangha and may enable you to do some practice. This is good to have for all Buddhist practitioners.
The second type of empowerment which I will not be giving is referred to as wang chen (དབང་ཆེན།), which is a full initiation into the Vajrayana path and also has many types and stages. This is much longer, much more elaborate, tantric empowerment, establishing deeper connections between the Lama and disciples and is associated with more serious vows and samaya. This type of initiation is something that I may consider for the future.
Written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche with assistance from Karma Choeying (Tony) on 1-4-25

Retreat Schedule
8:30am: Venue will be open for you to arrive & get settled
Friday/Saturday
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm
3:40pm to 5:00pm
Sunday
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm
Prerequisites to Attend

Refuge with Rinpoche or another teacher, and the basic foundation of Buddhist teaching and practice.

Because of the nature of this teaching and transmission, Rinpoche has requested that students who attend the retreat are those who have taken refuge, have fundamental teachings of the Buddhist path, and who are Buddhist practitioners. Thus, this will not be an open-to-the-public event.

Commitment to all three days of the retreat

Because of the complex nature of this teaching, it is requested that students attend all three days, so the continuity of the teachings is unbroken. With understanding and compassion for any unforeseen circumstances that may cause disruption, we ask attendees to sign up with the intention to remain for all three days of the retreat.
Other Considerations

Special Retreat Commitment: As with most Buddhist retreats, there are some commitments asked of attendees for the retreat days. Rinpoche asked only that no alcohol or drugs be consumed. He did not state that participants need to be vegetarian, etc. , though participants can follow the retreat traditions they are familiar with.
Texts: texts will be provided during the retreat (Rinpoche and David have created a new text for this retreat that is from the Kagyu lineage)
In-person only: the teaching will not be available via live-stream nor will it be recorded
Food and personal comfort: there will be floor seating, floor cushions, and chairs available, but attendees should bring anything that would make them comfortable for the teaching; attendees should plan to bring their own food/beverages or purchase from nearby restaurants. There are many options for coffee/tea/food in the area around Wave Street studios.
Flowers for the altar: participants may bring flowers for the alter if they wish, but this is not to be considered a burden or requirement.

Donations & Registration

Sliding scale: Participants can make the suggested donation of $180.00 through the EventBrite registration, but if you cannot donate at this time, please do not feel any shame or hesitancy to attend. A minimum of $1.00 is required by the EventBrite system to complete the registration. All donations are tax deductible.
Additional Donations to Help Fund Others: When you register with EventBrite, you will have the opportunity to donate additional funds on behalf of those who cannot afford to give at this time. Please specify your wishes in the registration.
Dana: On the last day of the retreat, it is customary to offer Dana (a monetary gift of respect) for Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and for translator Jampa Tharchin (David Molk). Please bring cash and please put it in an envelope. For Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, we will also offer katas, a white ceremonial scarf–we will have katas and envelopes available at the retreat.
Other ways to donate: Participants can donate via PayPal, Venmo, by check or cash if preferred. Please visit the Manjushri Dharma Center donation page for details, or contact: manjushridharmacenter831@gmail.com (please be patient as this is volunteer staffed)
Other ways to register: Participants who cannot complete the EventBrite registration are asked to email manjushridharmacenter831@gmail.com (please be patient as this is volunteer staffed)

Retreat Location & Parking

Wave Street Studios is located at 774 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940, and the main entrance is accessible from the Recreation Trail.
For more than 20 years, Wave Street Studios has created a beautiful space for the community, supporting the arts, honoring history, demonstrating sustainable building and lifestyle practices, and celebrating cultural expressions of many kinds. They have created sacred space for weddings, meditation, yoga, healing, and prayers of many traditions. Thank you Wave Street Studios for hosting our retreat once again! Want to know more? About Wave Street Studios
Parking
Free parking on Ocean View Blvd. and walk up the recreation trail. There is also a garage on Foam and Prescott.

Questions
Please contact our volunteers at manjushridharmacenter831@gmail.com. We have no phone number to call, apologies–inquiries by email only.

The Lineage Gurus–Khenpo Karten Rinpoche’s Precious Teachers
Here are some photos and links to stories about Khenchen Karma Tseten, Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, and Drupchen Karnor Rinpoche.

Mahamudra Teacher Khenchen Karma Tseten

Khenpo La’s Uncle, Lama Gemphel Rinpoche, Green Tara lineage

Venerable Japa Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, Rinpoche’s heart teacher, Phowa and Green Tara lineage

Dzogchen Teacher Taritur

Mahamudra Teacher Second Milarepa Lama Kharnor Rinpoche

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 Ja-pa 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, Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche and completed five years of retreat under the great master. In the retreat he completed the practices of the Naropa’s six yoga, Mahamudra and many others. 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. After his retreat, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche was requested by H.E Tai Situ Rinpoche to go to the monastery of Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche, to teach the young monks there.
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 permanent home. Since then, Rinpoche has established the Manjushri Dharma Center (MDC) in Pacific Grove, California, which has become his main teaching location and his home residence. 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.

About David Molk aka Jampa Tharchin, esteemed Translator, Interpreter, and Author
David Molk studied Tibetan language at Venerable Geshe Rabten’s Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Mont-Pèlerin, Switzerland. Since 1987 he has interpreted and translated for many Tibetan lamas. David will be joining us in-person.
Learn more about David’s translated books: David Molk (shambhala.com)

Image used in this announcement: Amitabha in Sukhavati Paradise.

Garden Volunteer Day
2025-01-18 11:00 - 13:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Calling all volunteers! We are hosting “Garden Volunteer Day #4: A Day of Trimming” 🙂 Many hands make light work and we will focus on trimming the bushes and flowers so they can spring back in the spring. Our last garden volunteer day was in October (can you believe it?) and the Mountain of Mulch is keeping the weeds down and helping the soil to rest. Thanks to all volunteers of the past, present, and future! If you can lend even 15 minutes (or an hour, or two) after meditation on Saturday, January 18, 2025, you will make a monk happy!
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!
Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelichristo@gmail.com or 831-277-0529

Happy Travels Rinpoche!
2025-02-25 | CA
Rinpoche will be departing to spend the Lunar New Year with his family in New York. This is a very joyful occassion, as it has been over 18 years since Rinpoche has had the opportunity to be with family during this auspicious time (a tradition in Tibet). After spending some time giving teachings in the New York area, he will travel to Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. Rinpoche will be returning on April 1st. Happy travels Rinpoche!

Happy Losar! Tibetan New Year 2152!
2025-02-28 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
Friday, February 28th, 2025, marks the first day after the new moon in the first month of the Tibetan lunar new year, called Losar. “Lo” means year and “Sar” means new. 2152 is the “Year of the Wood Snake.”
Happy Losar!

Image: Monk dancing during Tibetan New Year (Losar) on Wikimedia
More info on Losar on Wikipedia

Online Losar Event hosted by the Buddhist Studies Institute
2025-03-05 18:00 - 19:30 | online event, CA, United States
Rinpoche recently posted this event, which is hosted by the Buddhist Studies Institute, on his Facebook page. It is open to all, hosted online via Zoom. Details are below–must register to receive the Zoom link.

Happy Losar!

Tibetan New Year Celebration

Register for Zoom Link Here

All are welcome to join Pema Khandro for our annual Tibetan Lunar New Year Celebration This is a free online program; open to the public.

Losar Address with Pema Khandro
Vajrakilaya Phurba Dance
Celebration of 21-Day Meditation Marathoners
Dedications of Merit
Year of the Wood Snake Begins!

Tibetan Uprising Day 2025
2025-03-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Windows on the Bay, Corner of Del Monte and Camino El Estero, Monterey, 93940, United States
Join us on Monday, March 10th, 2025 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. 2024 marks 66 years of oppression and resistance. Rinpoche will be traveling on that day, but 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 at the UK-based Free-Tibet website or the US-based Students For A Free Tibet.

PBS Frontline: Battle for Tibet

PBS Frontline: Battle for Tibet Aired on Tuesday, February 18, 20257:00pm Pacific/9:00pm Central/10:00 pm Eastern
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.

2025 Amitabha Pureland Retreat in Taiwan
2025-03-13 17:30 - 2025-03-16 02:30 | online event, CA, United States
Rinpoche will be leading an Amitabha Retreat in Taiwan at the Taichung City Deguang Cultural and Educational Foundation, and our Dharma brothers and sisters there kindly agreed to allow Rinpoche’s international sangha to attend via Zoom. Even though the proceedings will be in Tibetan and translated into Chinese, Rinpoche’s English speaking students can still benefit by seeing Rinpoche and soaking in the good energy of the practice. It’s a late night puja for us!
Participate via Zoom
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/6624834307?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 662 483 4307
Password : [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.

2025 Amitabha Pure Land Retreat
Retreat Dates & Sessions:

Friday, March 14, 2025 (full moon day)
Session 1: 08:30 to 10:00 Taipei Time (Thursday, March 13, at 5:30pm to 7:00pm Pacific Time)–UPDATE –THIS SESSION MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM (Releasing of the animals–in-person event)
Session 2: 10:30 to 12:00 Taipei Time (Thursday, March 13, at 7:30pm to 9:00pm Pacific Time)–UPDATE –THIS SESSION MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM (Releasing of the animals–in-person event)
Session 3: 14:00 to 15:30 Taipei Time (Thursday, March 13, at 11:00pm to 12:30am Pacific Time)–THIS MAY BE FIRST SESSION AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM–NOTE THAT IS IS ALSO THE START OF THE FULL MOON, A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE, AND MARKS CHOTRUL DUCHEN
Session 4: 16:00 to 17:30 Taipei Time (Friday, March 14, at 1:00am to 2:30am Pacific Time)
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Session 1: 08:30 to 10:00 Taipei Time (Friday, March 14, at 5:30pm to 7:00pm Pacific Time)
Session 2: 10:30 to 12:00 Taipei Time (Friday, March 14, at 7:30pm to 9:00pm Pacific Time)
Session 3: 14:00 to 15:30 Taipei Time (Friday, March 14, at 11:00pm to 12:30am Pacific Time)
Session 4: 16:00 to 17:30 Taipei Time (Saturday, March 15, at 1:00am to 2:30am Pacific Time)
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Session 1: 08:30 to 10:00 Taipei Time (Saturday, March 15, at 5:30pm to 7:00pm Pacific Time)
Session 2: 10:30 to 12:00 Taipei Time (Saturday, March 15, at 7:30pm to 9:00pm Pacific Time)
Session 3: 14:00 to 15:30 Taipei Time (Saturday, March 15, at 11:00pm to 12:30am Pacific Time)
Session 4: 16:00 to 17:30 Taipei Time (Sunday, March 16 at 1:00am to 2:30am Pacific Time)

Chötrul Düchen Full Moon Celebration of Miracles & Lunar Eclipse
2025-03-13 23:00 - 2025-03-14 23:00 | CA
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, the moon will be full over the evening of Thursday, March 13th into the early hours of Friday, March 14th. Additionally, this year, there will be a total lunar eclipse visible on the west coast at roughly 11pm Pacific Time, and 2am Eastern. On this auspicious day, we rejoice that Khenpo Karten Rinpoche is giving Amitabha teachings to our Taiwan Dharma family–Khenpo La’s international sangha can join in via Zoom on this special occasion–see the Zoom link and details here: 2025 Amitabha Retreat in Taiwan
Learn More: The Story of the 15 Days of Miracles, Rigpa Wiki-Brief Explanation of Chotrul Duchen
Learn More: Total Lunar Eclipse March 13-14, 2025

Singapore Amitabha Retreat
2025-03-23 | online event, CA, United States
No further details but will keep Sangha posted if we can join via Zoom.

Hosted at:
Kagyu Monlam Singapore
6B Lorong 7 Geylang, Level 3
Singapore 388790

TEACHING SCHEDULE & Zoom Link TBD

Malaysia Teaching & Meditation
2025-03-29 | CA
No further details but will keep all posted!

Rinpoche Returns Home--Kata Ceremony ~ 7-9pm
2025-04-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Ven. Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
We have details! Rinpoche will land in Monterey at 8pm on Tuesday, April 1st. It’s suggested that you come to the Manjushri Dharma Center by 7pm and plan to wait until 9pm–as due to travel, Rinpoche may be home early or late. We will welcome Rinpoche home with a traditional kata ceremony (white silk scarf used to show respect). Katas provided. Offerings of flowers for the altar or healthy food (Rinpoche is diabetic) for his fridge is welcome!
Rinpoche will be very tired, so after we welcome him home, we will depart quickly and let him rest. Please remember to let him rest this coming week, and honor the “monk’s office hours” and not contact him prior to 12pm PT if possible. (He uses the mornings for his personal practice).
We will all be together on Saturday, April 5th for meditation–hope to see you there!

Garden Volunteer Day
2025-04-19 11:00 - 13:00 | CA
Calling all volunteers! We are hosting “Garden Volunteer Day #5: Weeding with Warm Hearts” 🙂 Many hands make light work and we will focus on the happy weeds springing up after the rains. Don’t worry, they will spring up elsewhere! We can help balance their immense success allowing our flowers more room to grow. Our last garden volunteer day was in January before Rinpoche’s travel, so there is much to do! If you can lend even 15 minutes (or an hour, or two) after meditation on Saturday, April 19th, 2025, you will make a monk happy! Thanks to all volunteers of the past, present, and future!
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!
Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelichristo@gmail.com or 831-277-0529

All-Sangha Meeting 2025
2025-06-14 11:00 - 12:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Annual All-Sangha Meeting
Saturday, June 14, 2025
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 14th to hear a brief overview of the state of center and goals for the future.

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
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Summer Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2025
2025-06-20 18:00 - 18:30 | Lover’s Point Beach, 17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Friday June 20th, 2025 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.
Images: Header is from 2020 summer solstice, photographer unknown, same for first of the three combined photos–last two are from 2017 summer solstice, photographer Bill Cox.

Traditional Tibetan Medicine with Dr. Jetsun Cheme
2025-06-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Traditional Tibetan Medicine
Dr. Jetsun Cheme
Saturday, June 21st, 2025
11:00am Pacific Time (after meditation)
In-person event
Manjushri Dharma Center
When Rinpoche was in New York, he had an appointment with the well-known Dr. Jetsun Cheme, at the Jetsun Kunphen Ling Center in Elmhurst, NY. Rinpoche was so impressed with her skills, he invited her to California, and she accepted! After meditation on Saturday, June 21st, Dr. Cheme will see anyone who wishes to be examined by her. She known to be an intuitive healer, and she will offer a pulse reading consultation. She does not charge for her services, only for the herbal medicines she may recommend.
More about Dr. Jetsun Cheme

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday Celebration in the MDC Backyard
2025-07-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
The MDC will celebrate the momentous occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday in the MDC backyard! The event will take place after meditation on Saturday, July 5th, at 11:00AM. (Actually, His Holiness’s birthday is July 6th but we will celebrate a day early when we are all together). This is a luckypot (potluck) so bring whatever food you like! The spiritual leader, father, and protector of the Tibetan people, manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion; please do join us to celebrate the life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso La, a Buddha appearing in human form.

ཁྱེད་ས་སྟེང་འདིར་བཞུགས་པ་ཙམ་གྱིས། ང་ཚོ་ལ་སྤོབས་པ་ཡོད།
ཁྱེད་རྒྱལ་ཁབ་འདིར་ཕེབས་པ་ཙམ་གྱིས། ང་ཚོའི་བསོད་ནམས་ཡིན།
ཁྱེད་ཀྱི་གསུངས་ཐོས་པ་ཙམ་གྱིས། ང་ཚོའི་སེམས་ལ་བདེ་སྐྱིད་སྟེར།
ཁྱེད་ཀྱི་ཞལ་མཇལ་བ་ཙམ་གྱིས། ང་ཚོའི་སེམས་ཀྱི་ཟུག་རྔུ་སེལ།
“Your mere presence on this earth gives us encouragement,
Your mere arrival on this soil is our meritorious good fortune.
The mere sound of your voice is a symphony which hearing brings us great happiness,
And with the mere sight of your face, all our sorrows disappear and joyfulness dawns.”
~Khenpo Karten Rinpoche

Dzam Ling Chi Sang: Universal Prayer Day Smoke Puja
2025-07-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Universal Prayer Day, or Dzam Ling Chi Sang, is celebrated on the full moon of the 15th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, which is July 10, 2025 of the Gregorian calendar. It is a time for spiritual cleansing. Tibetans hang prayer flags and burn juniper twigs. Rinpoche will lead us in a smoke puja in the backyard of the Manjushri Dharma Center, and the ceremony will go for one hour from (approximately) 10:00AM to 11:00AM. Participants are invited to wear all white clothing to symbolize purification. After the Dzam Ling Chi Sang ceremony, all are invited to stay for tea.
“Here is a brief history of Dzam Ling Chi Sang . During the time of Trisong Detsen , the first emperor of Tibet , there were many evil mountain deities in Tubo Kingdom. Guru Rinpoche was invited to Tibet to subdue these evil deities and turned them into Dharma protectors instead. Also after Samye Monastery was built, Guru Rinpoche held a ceremony to give thanks to all the deities, nagas, yakshas, devas and so on. During the day, humans built Samye Monastery but at night, all the devas and spirits continue to construct the temple. That is why at the completion of Samye Monastery, Guru Rinpoche held a smoke offering ceremony to commemorate this and to honor the deities. This is the beginning of Dzam Ling Chi Sang since the time of Guru Rinpoche till the present day. Also Sang is Tibetan for incense powder which is also used to purify our body, speech and mind.”
From Rinpoche’s 2023 Facebook post
Questions? Contact Rachel (MDC volunteer/president) at rachel.i.christo@gmail.com.

Chökhor Düchen - First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma
2025-07-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Please join Rinpoche and the MDC to celebrate Chökhor Düchen – ‘The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma’ with a Buddha Shakyamuni Puja. This is an important holiday in which we honor the day that the Buddha Shakyamuni first taught after attaining enlightenment. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Finally, encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time, at Sarnath, by teaching the ‘Four Noble Truths’. Before the event, please read Rinpoche’s in-depth Teaching and blog Essence of Buddhism As Related to the Four Noble Truths (http://www.khenpokarten.org/2019/10/normal.html)
Text for evening: Treasury-of-Blessings-Shakyamuni-Practice-byMiphamRinpoche
About Chökhor Düchen
Chökhor Düchen is one of the four great occassions (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. Choekhor means “Prayer Wheel” or “Dharma Wheel”, the common religious objects in Tibet, and Duchen means “great occasion” in Tibetan. Hand held wheels are hollow wooden or metal cylinders attached to a handle which are printed with mantras and when turned spread spiritual blessing. Mantras invoke the attention and blessings of the Buddhas, for example —Om Mani Padme Hum–the mantra of Chenrezig also known as Avalokiteshvara who is the Buddha of Compassion, invokes great love, compassion, and wisdom. 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 great gods, Brahma and Indra, to persuade him to do so for the benefit of all sentient beings. The Buddha then addressed the five people who had been his companions during the time spent with the forest yogins, and taught this first teaching–the Four Noble Truths.

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18th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup 2025
2025-08-16 07:00 - 2025-08-18 16:00 | Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association, 4401 NE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97230, United States
The 18th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup with the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will be held over two weekends in late August in Portland, Oregon and Trout Lake, Washington. The annual event is hosted by the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association. 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.
Note that the first weekend will be held at the NTCA in Portland, and the second weekend will be held at the Mount Adams Buddhist Temple (also known as Trout Lake Abbey), the home of Rinpoche’s Dharma brother Thay Kozen. Rinpoche is encouraging participation from his western students for either weekend, but especially for the second/closing weekend.
More details/carpooling: We started a “google doc” to encourage carpooling and to help with travel coordination. Attendees will be responsible for their own transportation and accommodations, but the Portland sangha is offering to pick folks up from the airport.
If you plan to attend, please contact Pema Tsomo at 503-544-3938.
Text in Tibetan: Here’s a copy of the Sadhana ‘Dechen Shingdrup’
The detailed schedule is below in English and Tibetan.
