Dzamling Chisang - Universal Prayer Day
2023-07-03 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

No Saturday Morning Meditation
2023-07-08 10:00 - 11:00 | online event, CA, United States
Due to the Mahamudra Teaching being given by Rinpoche on Saturday, July 8-9, 2023, there will be no regular Saturday morning meditation on July 8. Regular meditation will begin again the following week, on July 15, 2023.
May all beings be well. May all beings be happy. May all beings know love. May all beings know peace.

Mahamudra Teaching, Sat.&Sun, July 8-9
2023-07-08 10:00 - 2023-07-09 16:00 | In-Person at MDC and Via Zoom, 724 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, 93950, United States
Mahamudra Teaching
by Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
Saturday and Sunday, July 8 and 9, 2023
10:00am to 12:00pm & 2:00pm to 4:00pm (Pacific Time) each day

Four sessions in total, held in-person and on Zoom
In-person attendees limited to 22 people

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: $40.00 per day or $60.00 for all four sessions
REGISTER HERE
If you participated but did not register–we appreciate your donation!

What is Mahamudra?
The Tibetan nonsectarian, Jamgon Kongtrul, characterizes mahāmudrā as the path to realizing the “mind as it is” (Tibetan: sems nyid) which also stands at the core of all Kagyu paths. He states, “In general, Mahamudra and everything below it are the ‘mind path’ ” (Tibetan: sems lam). Mahāmudrā traditionally refers to the quintessence of mind itself and the practice of meditation in relation to a true understanding of it. (Source, Wikipedia)
Here is a 2013 teaching by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche here: Mahamudra’s Four Stages of Yoga – Manjushri Dharma Center

Texts
The Ganges Mahāmudrā Instructions by Tilopa
༄༅། །ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོའི་མན་ངག
Tilopa (T. ti lo pa ཏི་ལོ་པ་) (988–1069) was an Indian tantric practitioner who is counted among the eighty-four mahasiddhas. In Tibet, and he is known as the originator of the Kagyu lineage and the teacher of Naropa. Source: Encyclopedia of Buddhism (Tilopa – Encyclopedia of Buddhism)
Image courtesy of the Himalayan Art Resources

A Way of Settling into the Realization of Mind’s Essence by Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo
༄༅། །སེམས་ངོ་འཇོག་ཐབས་བཞུགས་སོ། །
Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo (b. 1925-?) was a highly respected lama in Eastern Tibet and one of the primary teachers of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (the 11th Trungpa tulku) and the 9th Thrangu Rinpoche. Khenpo Gangshar was trained in Shechen Monastery, a monastic center established in the end of the seventeenth century and part of the Mindröling lineage within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the teacher of Kyabje Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, and Sangye Tenzin was the kind Root Guru of our own Khenpo Karten Rinpoche. Source: Wikipedia (Gangshar Wangpo – Wikipedia)
Image courtesy of the Himalayan Art Resources
Additional texts/supporting prayers

Preliminary Prayers (in English) Rinpoche will recite these in Tibetan
Mandala Offering and Request for Teachings (in Tibetan and English) To be recited by the students before the teaching
Khenpo Karten Long Life Prayers (in Tibetan, updated version) To be recited by the students after the last session
Khenpo Karten Long Life Prayers (in English, updated version) To be recited by the students after the last session
Closing Prayers (in Tibetan and English) Rinpoche will recite these in Tibetan at the end of each session
Butterlamp Prayer (In Tibetan and English) To be recited by all at the conclusion of all sessions; it is auspicious for all to have a lit candle in hand while you recite this prayer.
Rinpoche quoted from additional texts, “Striking the Vital Point in Three Statements,” by Mipham Rinpoche and Garab Dorje and “Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King,” by Patrul Rinpoche, here is the link to those texts in both Tibetan and English: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/topics/three-striking-statements/
Chapter 2 of the “Excellent Path Of Freedom, The Jewel Ornament of Liberation in Brief,” by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
The Four Points that Turn the Mind Towards the Dharma (as they appear in the Ngondro Sadhana “The Chariot that Carries Us Along the Noble Way,” author uknown. (More texts and information on Ngondro here.

First, this precious human birth, so favorable for the practice of Dharma, is hard to obtain and easily lost, at this time I must make my life meaningful.
Second, the world and all its inhabitents are impermanent, in particular the life of each being is like a water bubble, it is uncertain when I die and become a corpse; as it is only the Dharma that can keep me at that time, I must practice now with dilligence.
Third, at death there is no freedom, and karma takes its course; as I create my own karma, I should therefore abandon all unwholesome action, and always devote my time to wholesome actions. With this in mind, I should observe my mindstream each day.
Fourth, just like a feast before the executioner leads me to my death, the homes, friends, pleasures and possessions of samsara cause me continual torment by the means of the three sufferings. I must cut through all attachment and strive to attain enlightenment.

A Guide To the Bodhisattva Way Of Life, Shantideva Bodhisattva, Rinpoche referenced the chapter on Wisdom and quoted from it. There are many translations of this text, but here is one version freely available.
Rinpoche mentioned this quote from Padmasambhava:

“Padmasambhava said: ‘Though the view should be as vast as the sky, keep your conduct as fine as barley flour.’ Don’t confuse one with the other. When training in the view, you can be as unbiased, as impartial, as vast, immense, and unlimited as the sky. Your behaviour, on the other hand, should be as careful as possible in discriminating what is beneficial or harmful, what is good or evil. One can combine the view and conduct, but don’t mix them or lose one in the other. That is very important.
‘View like the sky’ means that nothing is held onto in any way whatsoever. You are not stuck anywhere at all. In other words, there is no discrimination as to what to accept and what to reject; no line is drawn separating one thing from another. ‘Conduct as fine as barley flour’ means that there is good and evil, and one needs to differentiate between the two. Give up negative deeds; practice the Dharma. In your behaviour, in your conduct, it is necessary to accept and reject.”
~Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Rinpoche shared part of his life story about receiving these teachings, and the hardships and austerities he went through. We are so fortunate to receive these teachings, and to receive them so easily. Here is that link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10pA7CGHQD71YbrKVp24zQSHHkTuOpsARFXo4BmnnLFI/edit?pli=1
Inducing the Dzogchen View; this text was read and recited all the time at Khenpo La’s monastery in Tibet. They put “Don’t wander” signs up everywhere–in the bathroom, in the kitchen, everywhere as a reminder to always “catch your mind with you.”

The Lineage Gurus–Khenpo Karten Rinpoche’s Precious Teachers
Khenpo-La shared with us photos of those Precious Teachers, his kind Gurus, who gave to him the oral transmission and commentary on the two texts he shared with us.

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

Video from all sessions
The videos from sessions 1 and 2 are available now (via Zoom link), and the video from all sessions will be available soon. Please email manjushridharmacenter831@gmail.com to request the links. The videos (like the teaching) are available only to those with a basic foundation of Buddhist teachings, Rinpoche’s students, etc.

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. He lives in Big Sur, California.
Learn more about David’s translated books: David Molk (shambhala.com)

Photos Courtesy of Miles McBreen (Karma Palden)
The photos of Rinpoche used in this announcement are from Saturday, April 22, 2023, Earthday, taken in the Carmel Valley by Rinpoche’s kind student Karma Palden. (there is one exception, next to Khenpo-la’s biography, that photo is from Big Sur in 2015)

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Medicine Buddha
2023-07-17 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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General Sangha Meeting 2023
2023-07-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Reminder: All Sangha Meeting, Saturday, July 29 at 11:30 Pacific after Meditation
In Person and On Zoom
Dear MDC Sangha members,
Just a note to remind you of our annual meeting—whether you’re new to Manjushri Dharma Center of a long-time member, please join us for this chance to strengthen our connections as a Sangha.
Covid has affected all our lives, and while we have all grown more comfortable getting together via Zoom, one of the most tangible impacts on our MDC community has been that, since 2020, we have not had an in-person retreat and the general meeting of the Sangha that traditionally has been part of that retreat. To remedy the latter situation, the MDC Board recently decided to call a general meeting of all MDC Sangha members for Saturday, the 29th of July at 11:30 am at the MDC. Though we encourage you to attend in person, we provide a zoom link to the meeting below so that Sangha members everywhere can attend.
This meeting is a great chance to hear about changes that have transpired at the MDC recently as well as some upcoming initiatives that the Board is considering. Please let me know directly if you have time that you could commit to helping MDC in its mission, as we are always looking for more help to extend the reach of Khenpo Karten Rinpoche’s precious teaching and counsel.
I really hope to see you all on the 29th of July, right after morning meditation with Rinpoche!
Wink/Karma Dorje
MDC Board President
mobile: 607 227-0558
Zoom Link:
Online via the MDC Zoom:
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16th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup 2023
2023-08-19 07:00 - 2023-08-27 15:00 | Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association, 4401 NE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97230, United States
The 16th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup with the Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will be held from August 19th to August 27th in Portland, OR. 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’

No Saturday Meditation
2023-08-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-08-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
There will be no Saturday morning meditation practice on August 19th or 26th, as Rinpoche leads the 16th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup 2023. The next prayer practice will be likely September 2. The MDC newsletter will have the most up-to-date information. Sign up to receive the newsletter HERE.
Photo courtesy of Miles McBreen.

No Monday Night Prayers
2023-08-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
There will be no Monday night prayer practice on August 21st or August 28th, as Rinpoche leads the 16th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup 2023. The next prayer practice will be likely September 4, which is also the Labor Day holiday. Our newsletter will have the most up-to-date information. Sign up to receive the newsletter HERE.

No Monday Night Meditation
2023-08-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
There will be no Monday night prayer practice on August 21st or August 28th, as Rinpoche leads the 16th Annual Amitabha Dechen Shingdrup 2023. The next prayer practice will be likely September 4, which is also the Labor Day holiday. The MDC newsletter will have the most up-to-date information. Sign up to receive the newsletter HERE.

Photo courtesy of Miles McBreen.

East Coast Trip 2023
2023-09-01 08:00 - 2023-09-14 17:00 | CA
Following the 16th Annual Amitabha Retreat in Portland, OR, Rinpoche will continue on to the East Coast where he will give teachings and meet with students, family, and friends, as it has been some years since Khenpo La visited his Sanghas on the East Coast. Here is a tentative schedule of Rinpoche’s East Coast Trip:

9/1 – 9/3 in New York, NY
9/4 in New Jersey
9/5 – 9/8 in Boston, MA
9/9 – 9/11 Chicago, IL
9/11 – 9/13 Minneapolis, MN
9/14 return to Pacific Grove, CA

Please stayed tuned for updates on Rinpoche’s tour!

Blessing of the Butterflies 2023
2023-10-07 13:00 - 14:30 | Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary, 250 Ridge Road,, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Every year, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche prays together with the Pacific Grove community for the monarch butterflies as they make their epic 3000 mile migration, stopping at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. The monarchs need prayers more than ever.
On Saturday, October 7th starting at 1:00PM PST, Rinpoche will offer a prayer of blessing, and scatter flower petals in the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. Attendees are encouraged to bring flower petals to add to the ceremony.
Typically in October, monarch butterflies cluster together on pine, cypress and eucalyptus trees in the Sanctuary. Their migration to Pacific Grove is so unique that Pacific Grove is nicknamed ‘Butterfly Town, U.S.A.’ The community has always welcomed the butterflies and advocated for their protection. Citizens of Pacific Grove voted to create an additional tax to create the Monarch Grove Sanctuary which is cared for by dedicated volunteers.
The Monarch Grove Sanctuary is located at 250 Ridge Road, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950.
Directions and More information: https://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/visiting/monarch-butterfly-sanctuary
Note 1: That paragraph drawn from the City of Pacific Grove website.

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Guru Yoga
2023-10-16 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
On Monday 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.’
“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!”

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers Online-Chöd Practice
2023-10-30 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Please join us on Monday at 6:30PM PST on Zoom for the practice of Chöd.

Here is the text for the practice: The Longchen Nyingthig CHÖD PRACTICE, “The Loud Laugh of the Dakini.”

Chöd, which means “to cut,” is a profound path of severing dualistic fixation and ego-clinging. For the chod practitioner, the body is regarded as the primary object of clinging. Through visualizing one’s consciousness as the female Buddha T’hroma Nagmo (The “Wrathful Black Mother”) the yogi or yogini offers the ordinary body to the assembled guests: enlightened beings, gods and demons (personifications of the five poisons), and those owed karmic debts, purifying negative karma and accumulating merit on a vast scale. Combining the view of the Prajnaparamita Sutra with the highest view of Dzogchen, Chöd is known for its haunting melodies and ritual instrumentation. When performed for others, it is a powerful healing ritual.

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Khenpo Karten Rinpoche's Nepal Retreat
2023-10-31 00:00 - 2023-12-05 23:30 | CA
On October 31st, Rinpoche will be flying to Nepal to go into a 1-month retreat, and will return to the Manjushri Dharma Center in Pacific Grove December 5, 2023.

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Amitabha Puja
2023-12-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-01-29 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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Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2023
2023-12-21 16:30 - 17:30 | Lover’s Point Beach, 17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2023
Thursday, December 21st, 2023
4:30pm to 5:30pm Pacific Standard Time
Lover’s Point Beach
17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA
Thursday, December 21st, 2023 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, which is not bound by time or seasons. Attendees are encouraged to bring flower petals to scatter as we send our good wishes to the ocean.
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/Aaron with more information on how to conduct a “do-it-yourself” Blessing of the Waters. Instructions on Blessing the Waters
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.

Saturday Morning Meditation
2023-12-23 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-12-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-01-06 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-01-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-01-27 10:00 - 11:00 | 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.
Online via the MDC Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86274306749?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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NO Monday Evening Prayers on Christmas Day
2023-12-25 18:30 - 20:30 | CA
This Christmas Day, the MDC will NOT hold any Monday Evening Prayers. For those who celebrate, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all! Tashi Delek

New Year's Eve Vajrasattva Purification Practice
2023-12-31 18:30 - 20:30 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Come and start the New Year with a clean slate by confessing and purifying any negative karma accumulated through transgressions of body, speech and mind over the past year through the powerful Vajrasattva (Dorje Sempa) practice. This event will be held in-person at the Manjushri Dharma Center on Sunday, December 31 (12/31/23) from 6:30PM to 8:30PM.
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 thoughts, speech and actions. After a short break, we will then accumulate recitations of the Vajrasattva Mantra. After the Puja, if you would like to stay and celebrate, the MDC will be welcoming in the New Year with tea and treats. For those who would like to join virtually on Zoom, please join us:
Online via the MDC Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86274306749?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
This is a very powerful practice, not to be missed. Please wear white clothing or adornments, and feel free to bring some food or refreshments to welcome in the new year.
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

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Green Tara Practice
2024-01-08 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.

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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New Year Retreat 2024 - Phowa Teaching and Transmission
2024-01-13 09:00 - 2024-01-15 15:30 | Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
New Year Retreat 2024: Phowa Teaching and Transmission
Venerable Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
Saturday through Monday, January 13-15, 2024
9:00am to 5:00pm Sat/Sun, 9:00am to 3:30pm Mon
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: $150 for all three days
REGISTER HERE
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.
Retreat Schedule
8:30am: Venue will be open for you to arrive & get settled
Saturday/Sunday
9:00am to 10:30am
10:40am to 12:00pm
2:00pm to 3:30pm
3:40pm to 5:00pm
Monday
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 as a photocopied booklet during the retreat
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. (we hope to have the Momo Food Truck again, but this is not yet certain).
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 $150.00 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.
Dana and additional donations: When you register with EventBrite, you will have the opportunity to offer Dana (a monetary gift of respect) for Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and translator Jampa Tharchin (David Molk). We ask that Dana be in addition to the suggested donation for the retreat. Beyond giving Dana, you may choose to donate additional funds on behalf of those who cannot afford to give at this time. Please specify your wishes in the registration.
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: Pam Krone, MDC Co-Treasurer: pamkrone@gmail.com
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)

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

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. He lives in Big Sur, California.
Learn more about David’s translated books: David Molk (shambhala.com)

Image used in this announcement: Amitabha in Sukhavati Paradise, Tibetan Thongka circa 1700, public domain courtesy of the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Chenrezig Practice
2024-01-22 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

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Canceled: Saturday Morning Meditation
2024-02-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Rinpoche is not feeling well, so this Saturdays (Feb.3, 2024) meditation is canceled. Thank you for understanding! Get well Rinpoche! (posted 2-1-2024)

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.
Online via the MDC Zoom:
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
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 360 209 5623 US
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 507 473 4847 US
Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdVGgCWTHU

Canceled: Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Medicine Buddha
2024-02-05 18:30 - 20:00 | online event, CA, United States
Monday, February 5th, 2024 evening prayers are canceled, as Rinpoche is not feeling well. Thank you for understanding! Get well Rinpoche!

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.

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Dial by your location
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+1 564 217 2000 US
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+1 646 931 3860 US
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+1 305 224 1968 US
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