Rinpoche Homecoming Welcome and Khata Ceremony!
2023-03-19 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
On Sunday, March 19, 2023, our precious Lama will return to the Manjushri Dharma Center in Pacific Grove after a long tour throughout Asia. The local Sangha will welcome Rinpoche back with a traditional khata ceremony; we hope that all Rinpoche’s dear students and friends are able to make it to rejoice and give our Lama a heartfelt welcome home! Regarding the event, here’s a message from MDC President, David Winkler (Karma Dorje):
“Precious MDC Sangha members: Rinpoche is scheduled to return to San Francisco at 3:50 P.M. on Sunday 19 March. Tenzin and Dechen will be picking him up and bringing him home to Pacific Grove. Many of us would like to be on hand to welcome him back to his California home. Assuming that it will take about 2 hours to make the drive and that it will take at least 1/2-1 hour for Rinpoche to get off the plane and collect his bags, the earliest we could expect to welcome him home would be about 6:30. Tenzin will text me when they are leaving the airport, so we will be able to fine-tune our preparations a bit on the fly.
I’m guessing that Rinpoche will be pretty tired after his 11 hour flight, and I think we don’t want to do anything more than make sure he has some food in the kitchen and greet him on either side of the walk into his home, katas at the ready.
Please let me know if you are planning to be there on Sunday evening, and please pass the word to other Sangha members for whom I don’t have email addresses handy?
Blessings and dry warmth to all,
Wink/Karma Dorje”
For more information about the event, please feel free to reach out to MDC Board Secretary, Miles McBreen (Karma Palden) at montereymiles222@gmail.com or 831 521-2954

Saturday Morning Meditation
2023-03-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-04-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-04-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-04-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-04-22 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-04-29 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-05-06 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-05-13 10:00 - 11:00 and 5 more dates | online event, CA, United States
This Saturday at 10am PST, Rinpoche will continue Saturday Morning Meditation both in-person at the Manjushri Dharma Center and on Zoom due to a large number of the Sangha members participating online.
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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Amitabha Puja
2023-03-27 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-05-01 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-05-29 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Monday night prayers are held both in person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom. Our main Monday night prayer practice has always been Buddha Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light). Here is a link to the main text: The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.
We also have a shorter text for reference: Amitabha Prayer Practice.
Please join us as we wish for all beings to have health and peace of mind.

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers Online-Amitabha Puja
2023-03-27 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Our main Monday night prayer practice has always been Buddha Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light). We have moved to Zoom practice, and branched out to many sadhanas, but each week we include the Amitabha mantra in every session. This Monday evening we will once again return to our main text: The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.
We also have a shorter text for reference: Amitabha Prayer Practice.
Please join us as we wish for all beings to have health and peace of mind.

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Japa Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche Parinirvana Day -- Online Guru Yoga Practice
2023-04-03 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
March 27th, 2023, marks the 22nd anniversary of the Parinirvana of Kyabje Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, the kind hearted Root Guru of our own Khenpo Karten Rinpoche.
On Monday, April 3rd, at 6:30pm PST on ZOOM, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will remember the great kindness of his Guru Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche with the profound practice of Guru Yoga composed by Khenpo Karten and His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The Sadhana text can be downloaded here: The Guru Practice, Rain of Blessings.
Sangye Tenzin spent 21 years in Chinese prison, yet he transformed the experience into pure spiritual food, and left the prison with only good wishes for his captors. He was truly a Buddha appearing in this world. To learn more about Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche: “Medicine for the Mind: On Using Suffering and Obstacles for Mental Development.” or read about how Sangye Tenzin came to Khenpo Karten Rinpoche in his dreams by reading “An Amazing Dream Of My Root Guru.’
Online via the MDC Zoom:
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“Master, though you have passed to the sphere of reality, Without thinking that I lack a Guru, May I realize the whole of existence As the Guru’s mandala and so be Liberated.
Master, You equal all Buddhas in realization, Yet, for this disciple, you surpass them all. Father, unrivaled Guru, may all be auspicious For your presence in all places and times!”

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Chenrezig Practice
2023-04-10 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-05-08 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-06-12 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Note* Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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, and HH Dalai Lama and the Karmapa, who are considered living Buddhas, are also believed to be emanations of Chenrezig. It is said that even babies upon birth know the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.

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

Please do join us for this profound practice. Tashi Delek

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Medicine Buddha
2023-04-17 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-05-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-06-19 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Note* Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.
On Monday we will practice the prayers of Medicine Buddha (Buddha of Infinite Healing), creating the causes for a world that is healed from illness and disease. You can find a link to the prayer text here: MedicineBuddhaPuja_༄༅།-།སྨན་བླའི་སྒྲུབས་ཐབས་བཞུགས་སོ།-།.pdf
Additionally, Rinpoche wrote a very short but beautiful teaching on the practice of Medicine Buddha, which includes the visualization: Medicine Buddha Practice for Corona Virus from Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, posted on the Teachings page originally in March 2020.
Also, our main Monday night prayer practice has always been Buddha Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light), so we typically also recite the Amitabha mantra. Here are two versions of that text–first a short version: Amitabha Prayer Practice. And here is the long text (this is our main text for practice): The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.
Please join us as we wish for all beings to have health and peace of mind.

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Green Tara Practice
2023-04-24 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Note* Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.
The feminine embodiment of enlightened activity, Green Tara is the swift liberator, a compassionate and loving protector in times of distress and great danger. Through meditating on the form and mantra Arya Tara, and chanting the Praises to her 21 different manifestations, we receive the blessings to become inseparable from Tara herself, actualizing the potential to liberate all motherly sentient beings from the suffering ocean of samsara.
She is known as the Mother of all Buddhas, born from Chenrezig’s tear of compassion. She will swiftly come to comfort and protect those who supplicate her. Especially from emotional, and physical sufferings. In her hands she holds utpala flowers which symbolize power and purity.
This is also my daily practice; we will pray for overcoming fear and clearing of obstacles. Also pray for those who have passed away from coronavirus. We will recite the mantra “OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA “. You can see me and recite the mantra at the same time so we can practice together for those who have recently died. Thank you and Tashi Delek.
Prayers will be recited in both Tibetan and English.
Text:

Main prayer text, courtesy of KTD Publications in Woodstock NY (for students only, please do not make or distribute printed copies): Green Tara Sadhana of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
Supplemental texts:

Concise Tara Prayer by Lama Gephel
GreenTara-Sevenfold Supplication by Drikung Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon

Description of the Tara practice above was written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche. Image courtesy of Miles McBreen.

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Karma Shawa Rememberance Day
2023-05-27 11:00 - 11:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Saturday, May 27th, marks the one year anniversary of the passing of Rinpoche’s precious son and baby fawn, Karma Shawa. Immediately following Saturday morning meditation, we will move to the MDC backyard where Rinpoche will conduct a short ceremony and prayers in his memory. You can bring flowers if you would like
For those who are not familiar with Karma Sharwa’s story here is the link to my blog that I wrote one year ago and also an article written by Christopher Neely on Monterey County Weekly.
http://www.khenpokarten.org/2022/06/karma-shawa-first-draft-i-would-like-to.html
https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/opinion/mcnow_intro/the-story-of-a-pacific-grove-tibetan-monk-and-his-fawn-friend/article_53381ca6-ff0f-11ec-9803-0b96561ba5c2.html
Do pray for Karma Sharwa on his anniversary day 🙏 Tashi delek
Here is a prayer that Rinpoche wrote for his friend:
Prayer for Karma Shawa
OM SVASTI
Protector Amitabha of Sukhavati,
Supreme Deity of Infinite Light, closest to our lives,
As you hear my bereaved, yearning request,
Quickly come, unimpeded, to the space before me!
During this time when images of Dharma can still be seen,
Though our bodies were different, me, a human being,
And you, a dear little animal, we came together
In this place, here, like a father and his son.
Separated in the briefest moment, the nature of impermanent things,
Yet, by power of our profound connection during this short time,
And the positive potential of your good instincts for compassion,
Through forceful methods, may you take birth in Sukhavati!
Even if you are not reborn in Sukhavati,
May you take ordination, meet a Virtuous Spiritual Guide,
Train your mind in successive hearing, contemplation, and meditation,
And finally become irreversible on the path.
Supreme Deity, Amitabha, Lord of hundreds of Buddha families,
Through blessings of your compassion, coming close from afar,
Please calm all frightening visions of the fawn’s intermediate state
and swiftly guide the departed Karma Shawa to Sukhavati!
For your parents who are left behind
May our sorrow for you be consoled
May we enjoy health, peace and happiness,
And never part from Dharma for a moment of the day or night.

Summer Solstice Blessing of the Waters
2023-06-21 17:00 - 18:30 | Lover’s Point Beach, 17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Wednesday, June 21st 2023 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. This year, we will meet again in person. 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.
Additionally, here is an “instruction on how to practice” the Blessing of the Waters, composed by Rinpoche and Pema/Aaron 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: 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.

No Monday Night Chanted Prayers
2023-06-26 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States

Dzamling Chisang - Universal Prayer Day
2023-07-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
The MDC will celebrate Dzam Ling Chi Sang, Universal Prayer Day, on July 3 with a Fire Puja in the backyard of the Dharma Center at 10AM PST. The Tibetan Festival, Universal Prayer Day or Dzam Ling Chi Sang is a Tibetan Buddhist festival celebrated on the 15th day of the fifth month in Tibetan Calendar. It is a time for spiritual cleansing. On the Universal Prayer Day, Tibetan people go to the tops of local mountains to burn incense and hang prayer flags.
Dzam Ling Chi Sang was originally meant to commemorate Guru Rinpoche’s subjugation of the local deities and the founding of Samye Monastery. In Lhasa, there is the spectacle of large amounts of ‘Sang’ being burned up on the hills of Chakpori, Bumpari (on the southern side of the Kyi-chu) and Gephelri ( behind Drepung Monastery ), etc. ‘Sang’ is a Tibetan ‘ritual fireworks’. There is a variety in selection of material for Weisang, like branches pine and cypress, leaves of herbs such as Artemisia argyi and heath.
