Cleveland Programs November – December 2017
Demo Rimpoche to teach Ganden Lha Gyema
Demo Rimpoche will teach the Ganden Lha Gyema: The Hundred Deities of the Land of Joy, a guru yoga practice of Je Tsongkhapa, on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3. Teachings may be attended onsite in Ann Arbor, individually by webinar, or locally in Cleveland at the Jewel Heart center. He will also speak on the life of Tsongkhapa during the Sunday talk on December 3. These teachings are open to all, and especially recommended for those planning to do a Ganden Lha Gyema mantra retreat.
Saturday, Dec. 2; 10 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm
Sunday, Dec. 3: Life of Je Tsongkhapa, 11 am to noon, conclusion of Ganden Lha Gyema teachings, 2 to 5 pm.
Registration for those watching online or in Ann Arbor at jewelheart.org Fee: $100, no one turned away because of inability to pay.
For those attending in Cleveland, registration possible at the center.
Guided Ganden Lha Gyema Meditation webinar
On Saturday, December 9, there will be a detailed guided meditation on the Ganden Lha Gyema in Ann Arbor, which will also be available by webinar.
Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 am to noon. More information to follow
Je Tsongkhapa Day Tsoh: The Tibetan Festival of Lights
This year Tuesday, December 12, is Ganden Ngamchu or Je Tsongkhapa Day, a time to commemorate the life and teachings of Je Rimpoche, the great yogi and scholar who founded the Gelug tradition. At Jewel Heart Cleveland, we will chant the Lama Chopa offering ceremony in English with a few verses sung in Tibetan. Our center will be illuminated by light offerings, with flowers and water bowl offerings on the altar.
Please bring a food offering such as bread, fruit, cake, cookies or canned goods. Nonperishable items will be donated to local charities, while other food will be shared after the ceremony. All are welcome, children included! A flyer describing the practice is available for newcomers.
Tuesday, December 12. 7 pm set-up. Ceremony 7:30-8:30 pm.
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Jewel Heart Study Program
Continuing classes:
Yamantaka Short Sadhana
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm, through November 21.
Led by Susan Kirchner and James Jorah
No cost for Jewel Heart members
Lojong: Heart of Enlightenment
The Seven Point Lojong is a form of mind training geared towards developing ultimate, unlimited, unconditioned love and compassion. Join guest speakers Robert Thurman, Ven. Thubten Chodron, Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, and Dr. Joe Loizzo, along with Jewel Heart Instructors, as we explore Gelek Rimpoche’s teachings on transforming our minds through training in exchanging ourselves and others.
This class is offered online via webinar
Schedule: Thursdays through December 7, 7-8:30 pm. No class Nov. 23.
Webinar class to begin in January:
Good Life, Good Death
This 6-week class , based on Gelek Rimpoche’s book Good Life, Good Death, will include weekly talks, a copy of the book, and an online discussion forum moderated by the instructor.
Led by Amy Hertz. Online Thursdays, January 4, 18, and 25 and February 1, 8 and 22, 7 to 8 pm..
Watch the Jewel Heart website for registration information.
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Cleveland open meditation evenings
Learn and practice focusing meditation in this small group, beginner friendly setting. Brief meditation instruction will be followed by two silent sittings each week. You may choose to meditate on a cushion (we have several types available at Jewel Heart) or a chair.
Led by Mike Sherman and other senior students
Mondays, 7:30-8:30 pm No session Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Free and open to all.
November-December Tsohs
We hold these offering ceremonies to benefit all beings about twice a month, on or near the 10th and 25th days of the lunar calendar. All are invited to attend the Lama Chopa Tsohs, which will be chanted mostly in English, with just a few tunes in Tibetan. You may bring an offering of fruit, bread or cookies if you wish; these will be distributed to participants after the ceremony.
Vajrayogini Tsohs are restricted to those who have received the Vajrayogini initiation.
Tuesday, November 28, 7-8:00 pm Lama Chopa Tsoh
Tuesday, December 2, 7-8:30 Lama Chopa Tsoh for Je Tsongkhapa Day (see above)
Thursday, December 28, 7-8:00 pm Lama Chopa Tsoh
Cleveland Stupa Fund
As many of you know, Jewel Heart, with Demo Rimpoche’s guidance, has commissioned stupas for Kyabje Gelek Rimpoche to be made and consecrated. A four foot tall stupa will go to Ann Arbor, and two and a half foot stupas to Cleveland and New York. All stupas represent enlightened mind, and a stupa with a lama’s relics is a powerful source of blessings and inspiration for all.
We will be fundraising locally for our Cleveland stupa. Please make donations at the Cleveland center, or add a note ‘for Cleveland’ if you send money to the general stupa fund. If you have any questions about this project, please contact Anne aewarren at sbcglobal dot net.
All-Sangha Council potluck and meeting held Oct. 22
All attending enjoyed delicious food and time to reconnect with other Cleveland sangha. Reports were given on Ven. Chodron’s wonderful teaching weekend; we voted unanimously to extend thanks to all who contributed, especially Elliott and Margaret who organized our table at the Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival. Thanks also to Patricia, who volunteered to take over as secretary from Tim, who now lives in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Next meeting (sans potluck): Tuesday, Dec. 12, 5:30-6:30 pm (before Lama Chopa). All are invited to attend.
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Cleveland Programs September – October 2017
Weekend Purification Retreat with Venerable Thubten Chodron
September 29-October 1
In acknowledgement of the Day of Atonement, Jewel Heart Cleveland has invited Ven. Chodron to give teachings on Purification, the Buddhist practice of atonement and forgiveness.
We all make mistakes. Overwhelmed by negative emotions, we act in ways we later regret. How can we learn to drop the burden of guilt and shame and cultivate forgiveness and compassion instead? In this weekend retreat, Venerable Thubten Chodron will show us ways to confront our negative actions and afflictive emotions, letting go of our past negativities and creating the causes for long-term happiness.
Public talk on: Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering.
The Buddha’s teachings on karma can help us understand our experiences and emotional patterns in order to transform them for the benefit of ourselves and others. In this talk, Ven. Chodron will draw from her book Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering, a commentary on the Tibetan Buddhist poem The Wheel of Sharp Weapons.
Friday, Sept. 29, 7-8:30 pm.
Teaching and practice sessions with guided instruction on the Vajrasattva purification practice.
Learn how this Vajrasattva meditation along with analytical meditation can help us harness the power of our mind to release disturbing emotions and cultivate beneficial mental states.
Saturday, Sept. 30, 10-12pm and 2-4:30 pm.
Sunday talk on Purification: Why We Need It and How to Do It
In this public talk and webinar, Venerable Thubten Chodron unpacks the practice of purification, showing us how to apply this powerful psychological tool to heal the mind , overcome negativity, and develop inner peace.
Sunday, Oct. 1, 11am-12pm
Teaching and practice session, conclusion of retreat
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2-4:30 pm
Ven. Thubten Chodron, an American born Buddhist nun, has written many inspiring and practical books. Her teaching style is accessible, grounded in tradition and livened by her sense of humor. She is founder and abbess of Shravasti Abbey in Washington state. She has long been a friend to Jewel Heart and has taught in Cleveland since the 1990’s. To learn more about Ven. Chodron, visit thubtenchodron.org and sravastiabbey.org
Cost: Free will donation. A suggested donation is $5 to 20 per session, but please come even if you cannot afford this and give what you can. If you can afford to give more, please be generous!
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Buddha Happy Hour
(with tea and cookies but no booze!)
Want to know a bit more about meditation and Buddhism? Curious about what Jewel Heart has to offer? Come join us once a month for a different kind of “happy hour,” a free one hour drop-in event where you can ask questions, see our center and learn who we are and what we do. Depending on what people are interested in, the session may include any of all of the following: guided meditations, Q&A, and learning about the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism and our founding teacher, Gelek Rimpoche,
Monday, Sept. 11, 6-7 pm
Monday, Oct. 2, 6-7 pm
Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival
Visit Jewel Heart’s table in Lincoln Park!
The Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival will be held this year in Lincoln Park on Saturday, September 16 (11-6), and Sunday, September17 (noon-5pm). For those who haven’t attended this festival before, it has juried art and artisans, great food and live entertainment. The festival is free of charge.
Come visit and rest your feet or take a shift at the Jewel Heart Cleveland non-profit table, which will have informational flyers and freebies as outreach to festival goers.
Saturday, September 16, 11am-6 pm
Sunday, September 17, noon-5 pm
Call for volunteers to staff our table – if you are available for 2-3 hours on the above dates, contact Margaret at elliottpatrick at sbcglobal dot net or 216-544-8701
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Jewel Heart Study Programs
Continuing class:
Six Session Guru Yoga Class
Based on Gelek Rimpoche’s Six Session Guru Yoga transcript, this course is open to those who have the commitment to say this practice.
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm, September 5, 12, 19 and 26
New classes beginning soon:
Lojong: Heart of Enlightenment webinar begins Sept 7
The Seven Point Lojong is a form of mind training geared towards developing ultimate, unlimited, unconditioned love and compassion. Join guest speakers Robert Thurman, Ven. Thubten Chodron, Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, and Dr. Joe Loizzo, along with Jewel Heart Instructors, as we explore Gelek Rimpoche’s teachings on transforming our minds through training in exchanging ourselves and others.
NOTE: The Jewel Heart Cleveland center will NOT be open for the remaining sessions of Lojong.
This class is offered online via webinar. All registrants receive a digital copy of Gelek Rimpoche’s transcript, Lojong: Training the Mind in Seven Points, and the webinar link for viewing sessions online. Also, a link will be provided to a course webpage for access to session recordings at any time.
Schedule: Thursdays from September 7 through December 7, 7-8:30 pm. No class Oct. 26 or Nov. 23.
Cost: Registration is via website www.jewelheart.org, with sliding scale from $100-$160 for the entire course.
If you wish to take the course, but cannot afford this, please contact Anne aewarren at sbcglobal dot net for scholarship information. No one will be turned away because of inability to pay.
Yamantaka Short Sadhana Class to start Oct. 10
For those who have taken the Yamantaka initiation, this class will provide opportunity for deeper understanding of the practice of the Yamantaka short sadhana. The required readings will be from Gelek Rimpoche’s Three Short Vajrayana Practices, but additional information may be drawn from the long Yamantaka transcript, and other sources recommended by Rimpoche.
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm beginning October 10.
Led by Susan Kirchner and James Jorah
No cost for Jewel Heart members
Open meditation evenings
Learn and practice focusing meditation in this small group, beginner friendly setting. Brief meditation instruction will be followed by two silent sittings each week. You may choose to meditate on a cushion (we have several types available at Jewel Heart) or a chair.
Led by Mike Sherman and other senior students
Mondays, 7:30-8:30 pm Free and open to all
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September-October Tsohs
We hold these offering ceremonies to benefit all beings about twice a month, on or near the 10th and 25th days of the lunar calendar. All are invited to attend the Lama Chopa Tsohs, which will be chanted mostly in English, with just a few tunes in Tibetan. You may bring an offering of fruit, bread or cookies if you wish; these will be distributed to participants after the ceremony.
Vajrayogini Tsohs are restricted to those who have received the Vajrayogini initiation.
Thursday. August 31, 7-8 pm. Lama Chopa tsoh
Friday, September 15, 7-8:30 pm. Vajrayogini tsoh
Sunday, October 1, 1-2 pm. Lama Chopa tsoh
Sunday, October 15, 1-2:30 pm. Vajrayogini tsoh.
Sunday, October 29, 1-2 pm. Lama Chopa tsoh.
Come join the crew of cleaning dakas and dakinis to get the center ready for Ven. Chodron’s visit! Benefits include supporting sangha, aerobic exercise and lotsa purification!
Saturday, September 16 and 23, 11 am – 1 pm. Let Nancy know if you are coming, or if another time that week would be better for you. Nancyestherf at att dot net 216-662-6999
Cleveland Stupa Fund
As many of you know, Jewel Heart, with Demo Rimpoche’s guidance, has commissioned stupas for Kyabje Gelek Rimpoche to be made and consecrated. A four foot tall stupa will go to Ann Arbor, and two and a half foot stupas to Cleveland and New York. All stupas represent enlightened mind, and a stupa with a lama’s relics is a powerful source of blessings and inspiration for all.
We will be fundraising locally for our Cleveland stupa. Please make donations at the Cleveland center, or add a note ‘for Cleveland’ if you send money to the general stupa fund. If you have any questions about this project, please contact Anne aewarren at sbcglobal dot net .
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National programs:
Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way
Geshe Yeshe Thapke
Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe will present these teachings based on the commentary by Gyeltsap, one of Je Tsongkhapa’s two most influential disciples. The commentary is arguably the most complete and important of the Tibetan commentaries on the Four Hundred Stanzas.
Offered online via Webinar from Jewel Heart Ann Arbor, course registrants can also participate onsite at various Jewel Heart Chapters and Study Groups. Check local JH groups for participating chapters and study groups.
Click here for details: https://www.jewelheart.org/events/aryadevas-four-hundred-stanzas-on-the-middle-way-with-geshe-yeshe-thabkhe/
Gateway to Enlightenment
Venerable Thubten Chodron, onsite at Jewel Heart New York and online via Webinar
Over the course of two evenings, celebrated American Buddhist nun Venerable Thubten Chodron will explore the process of attaining full enlightenment from the reasons and history behind developing the wish for enlightenment to the activities necessary to achieve it.
Monday, October 2 — 7:00-8:30pm: Becoming a Bodhisattva
Tuesday, October 3 — 7:00-8:30pm: Bodhisattva Activities
For more information: https://www.jewelheart.org/events/gateway-to-enlightenment/
CBCT (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training)
with Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi
CBCT® is a cognitively-based compassion training that deliberately and systematically works to cultivate compassion. Through progressive exercises (beginning with the development of attentional stability and progressing through various analytical meditations), one gains insight into how one’s attitudes and behaviors support or hinder compassionate response. The practice of CBCT intensifies the desire to help others, allowing compassion to become more natural and spontaneous in one’s everyday life. It also helps increase personal resiliency by grounding one in realistic expectations of self and others.
Continuing Education Units may be available (http://ece.emory.edu/policies/ceus.html)
Dates: Friday through Sunday, November 3, 4, 5 from 9:30am – 5:30pm
Jewel Ann Arbor
1129 Oak Valley Drive
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
For more information: https://www.jewelheart.org/events/cbct-cognitively-based-compassion-training-with-geshe-lobsang-tenzin-negi/