Manjushri Dharma Center

New Year Retreat 2025 - Phowa Teaching, Transmission, & Green Tara Empowerment
2025-01-10 09:00 - 2025-01-12 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

No Saturday Morning Meditation
2025-01-11 10:00 - 11:00 | CA
There will be no meditation session at the Manjushri Dharma Center on Saturday, January 11th, due to our retreat. Even if you cannot attend the retreat, meditation at home, on the beach, wherever you are is so important! Please keep up your daily practice. We will return to our group meditation (so powerful to meditate all together with Rinpoche) on Saturday, January 18th.

Canceled: Monday Night Chanted Prayers - No Amitabha Practice
2025-01-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
After the weekend retreat, Rinpoche is feeling tired and needs a little rest. There will be no chanted prayer practice on Monday, January 13th, but Saturday morning meditation is ON, and we will resume chanted prayers again next week.

Saturday Morning Meditation
2025-01-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-22 10:00 - 11:00 | 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. After meditation, enjoy some tea with Rinpoche and talking together. 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!

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
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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

Monday Night Chanted Prayers--Chenrezig Practice
2025-01-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-02-17 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. Monday, January 20th is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day–what better way to honor his legacy of peace than by practicing the path of love and compassion. Peace in our hearts. Peace on earth!

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

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

Zoom Link to Join:
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
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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 - Medicine Buddha
2025-01-27 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!

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)
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Dial by your location
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+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
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+1 564 217 2000 US
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+1 305 224 1968 US
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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Green Tara Practice
2025-02-03 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 have a NEW text from 1/6/24, the same one used for our recent Green Tara empowerment. NEW translation/text of the Green Tara Sadhana of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
Supplemental texts:

Concise Tara Prayer by Lama Gephel
GreenTara-Sevenfold Supplication by Drikung Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon
YouTube video of the Sevenfold Supplication prayer sung by Phub zam with beautiful imagery

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
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Dial by your location
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+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
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Meeting ID: 862 7430 6749
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Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Amitabha Practice
2025-02-10 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Buddha Amitabha is the Buddha of Infinite Light.
Here is a link to the main text (in Tibetan, English, and Chinese): The Recitation for Accomplishment of Sukhavati from the Sky Dharma Mind Terma.

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

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

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

Monday Night Chanted Prayers - Medicine Buddha
2025-02-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Medicine Buddha is the 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.

Texts
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!

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

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

Student-facilitated Saturday Morning Meditation
2025-03-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
We will have student-facilitated meditation each Saturday that Rinpoche is away in March. There is no better way to honor our teacher than to practice! The MDC will be open from 10-11 for silent meditation. Come and create some good energy collectively! (No Zoom for this month, however, in-person only.)

No Monday Night Chanted Prayers
2025-03-03 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-03-10 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-03-17 18:30 - 20:00 | CA
While Rinpoche is traveling, we will not be hosting Monday night chanted prayers. Rinpoche will be returning the week of April 1st, and we will quickly set the schedule for April. Monday night chanted prayers will resume on April 7th.
Tashi Delek!

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!

The Power of Compassion in New York
2025-03-08 08:00 | Astoria New York, 41-12 29th Street, Long Island City, Astoria, NY, 11101
We have details! This is an in-person only event. Flyers in English and Spanish below.

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

CANCELED: Student-facilitated Saturday Morning Meditation
2025-03-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Manjushri Dharma Center, 724 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
So sorry, but due to medical difficulties, our volunteers cannot facilitate meditation on Saturday, March 15, 2025. We hope to see everyone on March 22nd, 10-11am as usual!
