Manjushri Dharma Center

Saturday Morning Meditation
2024-10-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-26 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-28 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-04 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Meditation is a helpful way to relax the body and calm the mind, and it can help us connect to timeless, deep inner peace. Join us Saturday mornings as Rinpoche gives a brief teaching followed by silent meditation practice. A donation of $10.00 per class is requested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Saturday morning meditation is held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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

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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

Monday Night Chanted Prayers--Chenrezig Practice
2024-10-21 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-12-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig in Tibetan, is the Bodhisattva who embodies the love and compassion of all Buddhas. Chenrezig is an important deity in Tibet and considered the patron Bodhisattva of the Tibetan people. Chenrezig is also believed by Tibetans to be the actual progenitor of the Tibetan people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Karmapa are considered living Buddhas, emanations of Chenrezig. It is said that in Tibet even babies upon birth know the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.
Chanted prayers are an important part of spiritual life, regardless of where you are at on the path. They allow us to still our minds, connect with the blessings of the Buddhas, and purify negative karma. With these prayers we transform ourselves and our world into pure beings and pure lands, free from suffering, and connect with the energies of love and compassion. Appropriate for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Prayer books provided. Donations are not expected, but always welcome.
Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.
Please do join us for this profound practice. Tashi Delek!

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

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

Monday Night Chanted Prayers-Chöd Practice
2024-10-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Please join us on Monday at 6:30PM PST on Zoom for the extraordinary 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.

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

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

*
Header photo of Rinpoche practicing Chöd with Lama Wangdu in 2016 (? we think).

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers-Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche Guru Yoga
2024-11-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
On Monday, November 4, 2024 Khenpo Karten Rinpoche will remember the great kindness of his root Guru Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche with a special practice of Guru Yoga composed by Khenpo Karten and His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje.
Texts:

The main sadhana text can be downloaded here: The Guru Practice, Rain of Blessings.
༄༅། །དཔལ་ལྡན་བླ་མ་དྲན་པའི་གདུང་དབྱངས་ས་མཐའི་རྒྱང་འབོད་ཞེས་བྱ་བ་བཞུགས་སོ། །
Calling Afar from the Border Regions: A Song of Heartfelt Devotion in Commemoration of My Glorious Guru, Sangyé Tenzin Rinpoche
Prayer for World Peace-Tibetan and English

Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche 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 “The Appearance of my Root Guru in a Dream.”
Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Medicine Buddha
2024-11-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
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, both of the body and of the mind. You can find a link to the prayer text here: MedicineBuddhaPuja_༄༅།-།སྨན་བླའི་སྒྲུབས་ཐབས་བཞུགས་སོ།-།.pdf
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.
Additionally we typically recite a short Buddha Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light) mantra: Om Ami Dewa Hri. Here is the text for Buddha Amitabha: 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.
Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers--Chenrezig Practice with special guest Thay Kozen
2024-11-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig in Tibetan, is the Bodhisattva who embodies the love and compassion of all Buddhas. Chenrezig is an important deity in Tibet and considered the patron Bodhisattva of the Tibetan people. Chenrezig is also believed by Tibetans to be the actual progenitor of the Tibetan people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Karmapa are considered living Buddhas, emanations of Chenrezig. It is said that in Tibet even babies upon birth know the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.

Tonight we will have a special guest, Thay Kozen of the Mount Adams Buddhist Temple in Trout Lake, Washington. Thay will lead us in a Metta practice (loving kindness). See the additional text below!
Chanted prayers are an important part of spiritual life, regardless of where you are at on the path. They allow us to still our minds, connect with the blessings of the Buddhas, and purify negative karma. With these prayers we transform ourselves and our world into pure beings and pure lands, free from suffering, and connect with the energies of love and compassion. Appropriate for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Prayer books provided (and shown on screen). Donations are not expected, but always welcome.
Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.
Please do join us for this profound practice. Tashi Delek!

Texts:
Chenrezig Practice https://manjushridharmacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ChenrezigPracticeText.pdf

Metta Sutra

Metta Practice:

May you be well;
May you be happy;
May you know love;
May you know peace.

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

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.

No Saturday Meditation
2024-11-23 10:00 - 11:00 | CA
There will be no practice on Saturday, November 23rd as Rinpoche is on a brief retreat! All are encouraged to meditate and practice at home. Meditation practice will resume on December 14, 2024.
Tashi Delek!

No Monday Night Prayers
2024-11-25 18:30 - 20:00 | CA
There will be no practice on Monday, November 25th as Rinpoche is on a brief retreat! All are encouraged to meditate and practice at home. Monday night chanted prayers will resume on December 9, 2024.
Tashi Delek!

No Saturday Meditation
2024-11-30 10:00 - 11:00 | CA
There will be no practice on Saturday, November 30th as Rinpoche is on a brief retreat! All are encouraged to meditate and practice at home. Meditation practice will resume on December 14, 2024.
Tashi Delek!

No Monday Night Prayers
2024-12-02 18:30 - 20:00 | CA
There will be no practice on Monday, December 2nd as Rinpoche is on a brief retreat! All are encouraged to meditate and practice at home. Monday night chanted prayers will resume next week on December 9, 2024.
Tashi Delek!

No Saturday Meditation
2024-12-07 10:00 - 11:00 | CA
There will be no practice on Saturday, December 7th as Rinpoche is on a brief retreat! All are encouraged to meditate and practice at home. Meditation practice will resume on December 14, 2024.
Tashi Delek!

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!

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Amitabha Practice
2024-12-09 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Buddha Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is a main practice of Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and the Manjushri Dharma Center. Here is a link to the main text (in Tibetan, English, and Chinese): The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.

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

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

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

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Saturday Morning Meditation
2024-12-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Rinpoche is back! This will be our first meditation session together in several weeks. Meditation is a helpful way to relax the body and calm the mind, and it can help us connect to timeless, deep inner peace. Join us Saturday mornings as Rinpoche gives a brief teaching followed by silent meditation practice. A donation of $10.00 per class is requested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Saturday morning meditation is held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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

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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Green Tara Practice
2024-12-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
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 sentient beings from the suffering ocean of samsara. She is known as the Mother of all Buddhas, born from Chenrezig’s tear of compassion (in one of many origin stories). She will swiftly come to comfort and protect those who supplicate her, she gives protection from emotional and physical sufferings. In her hands she holds utpala flowers which symbolize power and pure compassionate intention.
“This is also my daily practice,” writes Rinpoche. “We will pray for overcoming fear and clearing of obstacles. 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.
Texts:

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

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

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Saturday Morning Meditation
2024-12-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Winter solstice meditation! Meditation is a helpful way to relax the body and calm the mind, and it can help us connect to timeless, deep inner peace. Join us Saturday mornings as Rinpoche gives a brief teaching followed by silent meditation practice. A donation of $10.00 per class is requested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. At 4pm on this day, we will also meet at Lovers Point Beach to honor the cycle of nature with a winter solstice Blessing of the Waters, 4pm.
Saturday morning meditation is held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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

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Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2024
2024-12-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Lover’s Point Beach, 17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2024
Saturday, December 21st, 2024
4:00pm to 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time
Lover’s Point Beach
17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA
December 21st, 2024 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.

Canceled--Monday Night Chanted Prayers
2024-12-30 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
There will be no chanted prayers on Monday, December 30th, 2024 but please do join on Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 at 6:30pm for our New Years Eve Vajrasattva practice. Happy new year everyone!

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!

Zoom Link to Join:
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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Green Tara Practice
2025-01-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
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 sentient beings from the suffering ocean of samsara. She is known as the Mother of all Buddhas, born from Chenrezig’s tear of compassion (in one of many origin stories). She will swiftly come to comfort and protect those who supplicate her, she gives protection from emotional and physical sufferings. In her hands she holds utpala flowers which symbolize power and pure compassionate intention.
“This is also my daily practice,” writes Rinpoche. “We will pray for overcoming fear and clearing of obstacles. 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.
Texts:

We hope to use a new text for 1/6/24, the same one we will use for our Green Tara empowerment. It is not yet scanned and posted, but will be added here as soon as possible.
Our usual 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.
Monday night prayers are held both in-person at the Dharma Center and virtually on Zoom.

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

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

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
+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

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.
