Cleveland Programs May – June 2017

Geshe Nawang Tharchen will teach Saturday, May 6  on the Lojong Training of the Mind in Eight Verses.

Composed by the Kadampa master Langri Tangpa, the Eight Verses of Mind Training gives us the tools for opening the heart, revealing true happiness. Providing practical methods for transforming difficulties into spiritual insights, these beautiful verses show us how to develop an altruistic mind through the practices of equalizing and exchanging self and others and tong len, the technique of giving and taking.

Geshe Nawang Tharchen was born in Northern India in 1966. At age 14 he entered Drepung Nyagre Khangtsen Monastery in Southern India. Geshe-la became a novice monk in 1981, and in 1992 was ordained by H.H.the 14th Dalai Lama. He was awarded the degree of Geshe (Lingtse Tsoramp) in 1999 and further studied for an additional year at Gyüto Tantric University, also in India.
Geshe-la has taught in Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Malaysia and Singapore.

Saturday, May 6, 10:30 am. – 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. – 4:00 pm.
Feel free to bring a sack lunch to eat at the center during the lunch break.

Suggested donation $20. However, if the expense is a difficulty, please come anyway and donate what you are able.

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 or all of the following: guided sitting meditation and learning about the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, about Jewel Heart’s founding teacher, Gelek Rimpoche, about Jewel Heart programs and events..
All are welcome to attend these sessions at no cost.

Monday May 8    6 to 7 pm
Monday June 5    6 to 7 pm.

Jewel Heart Cleveland Annual Picnic

It wasn’t much of a winter but it’s gonna be a heckuva summer! And what better way to start it than by joining us for our annual Jewel Heart Cleveland Picnic on Sunday, May 28,
when we will once again gather on Bill and Susie Kirchner’s deck to burn some hot dogs and veggie burgers and celebrate Sangha. Please bring a side dish to share and whatever you care to drink.

Saturday, May 27, from 4:00-9:00 pm.

RSVP by May 21 to eklipse at zoominternet dot net or 330-722-7770.
Indicate if you need directions.

Tsoh and Precepts at Jewel Heart Cleveland for Sagadawa

On Sagadawa, the full moon day of the fourth Tibetan month, Tibetan Buddhists commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. The effects of any positive action done during this month and, in particular, on this most auspicious day are greatly multiplied. This year Sagadawa falls on Friday, June 9. At Cleveland Jewel Heart we will be offering the opportunity to take 24 hour precepts on Friday, and a GOM practice day and Lama Chöpa tsoh on Saturday (see details below). All are welcome to attend any or all of these events.

For more information on these 1 day vows, please check Ven. Thubten Chodron’s website under 8 Mahayana Precepts. You can read the text we will use in the Jewel Heart Prayerbook.

Friday, June 9  5:15 am. Eight Mahayana Precepts. These 24 hour vows must be taken before sunrise, and last until sunrise on Saturday, June 10. For questions contact Anne  aewarren at sbcglobal dot net.

Saturday, June 10, 9 am -12 noon and 1-4 pm.  GOM practice day. We will alternate 20 minute sitting sessions with 10 minute break periods that can include walking meditation if you like. For those practicing only part of the day, it would be helpful if you could arrive either 10 minutes before the hour, or 20 minutes after (ie at the beginning of a break period). Bring a packed lunch for convenience.

Saturday, June 10, 4:30-5:30 pm   Lama Chöpa Tsoh. Please bring an offering of food such as fruit, cake, muffins, etc.

All-Sangha Potluck and Meeting, Sunday June 25

Come share potluck and some quality time with other sangha members. Bring a favorite dish to pass around, something you make or purchased salad, bread and cheese or fruit are fine. The usual hot drinks, plates, napkins, and cutlery will be provided.

Everyone is welcome, new or old – even if you have never been to JH before, come check us out.

We will follow the meal with a brief and informal meeting of Sangha Councils Execs, who invite everyone to bring questions, ideas, requests, and aspirations for what you would like to see happening in Jewel Heart Cleveland over the next few years.

Sunday, June 25.  Potluck at 1 pm,   Meeting begins around 2 pm
You are welcome to come for just the potluck or just the meeting, but come to both if you can!

TSOH Offerings

We hold Tsoh offering ceremonies about twice a month, on or near the 10th and 25th by the lunar calendar. All are welcome to attend the Lama Chopa Tsohs, which will be chanted mostly in English with just a few tunes in Tibetan.

Saturday, May 6, 5-6 pm   Lama Chöpa Tsoh
Sunday May 21, 1-2:30pm   Vajrayogini Tsoh  Restricted to those with Vajrayogini initiation
Sunday June 4, 1-2 pm   Lama Chöpa Tsoh
Saturday, June 10, 4:30-5:30 pm   Lama Chöpa Tsoh for Sagadawa
Sunday, June 18, 1-2:30 pm   Vajrayogini Tsoh  Restricted to those with Vajrayogini initiation

Jewel Heart Study Program:

Ganden Lha Gyema – The Secret Teaching, begins Tuesday, May 2

The Ganden Lha Gyema, one of the most important practices in our tradition, deepens the connection with the enlightened through meditational exercises that enrich inner development on the spiritual path. Grounded in appreciation for our spiritual teacher, this is a practice of guru devotion, considered to be the “backbone” of our spiritual practice and the root of all spiritual development. This course also offers instruction on specific visualization practices interwoven with the mantra commonly referred to as Migstema.

Gelek Rimpoche’s transcript Gandan Lha Gyema, The Uncommon Teachings is the basis of the course.
Led by Susan Kirchner and Sarah Ralston

8 weeks, Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm  beginning May 2
Restricted to those with Highest Yoga Tantra initiation.

Love Your Life: Finding Joy and Purpose      

Webinar class to watch at home. At this point we do not plan to open the Cleveland center for this webinar.
Thursdays, Jume 15-July 20, 7-8:30 pm
For more details and to register please see www.jewelheart.org

Continuing course:

GOM: A Course in Concentrated Meditation
Thursdays from 7-8:30 pm, through June 8

Six Session Guru Yoga class to start on Tuesdays in July – watch for details in the next newsletter. This class is for those who have received Highest Yoga Tantra initiation.

National programs:

Sundays with Gelek Rimpoche
Tibetan Buddhism with Gelek Rimpoche series
Sundays at 11am EDT
via webinar www.jewelheart.org

Living with Loss: Grief, Consolation and Communion with Guy Newland
May 19-21 onsite and online
For details and to register see www.jewelheart.org

Jewel Heart Summer Retreat ~ GPS for your Spiritual Journey
Saturday, July 29 – Saturday, August 5
Jewel Heart Ann Arbor, Michigan and Online via Webinar
To register:  www.jewelheart.org

Cleveland Programs March – April 2017

Brief remembrance

As many of you know, Kyabje Gelek Rimpoche passed away on Wednesday, February 15. The rituals around his passing concluded on Saturday February 18 and everything went very smoothly. In accordance with his wishes, we are continuing our Cleveland courses and guest speakers. Additional commemorative practices, recommended by Demo Rimpoche are described below.

Please go to the Jewel Heart main webpage to connect to hundreds of very moving remembrances from so many whose lives have been uplifted by knowing Rimpoche.

Commemorative Lama Chopa Tsohs, open to all

We will recite the Lama Chopa together mostly in English. Texts are available at the center. You may wish to bring an offering of fruit, bread or pastry.
Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm   Feb. 28, Mar. 7, 14, 21, 28, Apr. 4

Note: It is also possible to join the Ann Arbor sangha by webinar from 7-8 pm on these same Tuesdays. Please see the Jewel Heart website to register for these webinars.

Vajrayogini Self-Initiation Practiceand Tsoh: at JH Cleveland and by webinar from Ann Arbor

Open to those who have received the Vajrayogini initiation. Those who have done the mantra retreat with fire puja may stay throughout, others must leave the practice for a 30 minute period which will be announced.

Dates and times: Saturdays, Feb. 25 at 6:30 pm, March 4 at 2 pm, March 11 at 6 pm, March 18 at 4 pm,
March 25 at 2 pm, April 1 at 2 pm and April 8 at 2 pm.

NOTE Glenn Mullin may join us for the March 4 self-initiation
The Ann Arbor sessions will be webcast to eligible participants. Please see the Jewel Heart website to register.

Jewel Heart Cleveland Study Program

Continuing class:

Vajrayogini class   For those who have received the Vajrayogini Blessing Initiation.

Tuesdays, 7:30-9 pm, Feb 28 to April 4,  7-8:30 Apr. 11 and 18.

Vajrayana Salons

These informal sessions will resume in June.

Open meditation evenings

Learn and practice focusing meditation in this small group, beginner friendly setting. Brief meditation instruction followed by two silent sittings are included each week. You may use a cushion (we have various types available) or a chair for your practice.

Led by Mike Sherman and other senior students
Mondays (beginning  March 6) , 7:30-8:30 pm