In Heart Jewel, we engage in the Guru Yoga practiced in conjunction with Je Tsongkhapa which helps us to purify negativity, accumulate merit, receive blessings, and attain a very special compassion, wisdom, and spiritual strength. By relying upon the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden we can overcome obstacles to our practice and create favorable conditions. These two practices are the very essence of Kadampa Buddhism. This puja includes a 10-minute silent meditation. (1 hour)

Wishfulfilling Jewel is a longer version of Heart Jewel in which we make prayers to create good fortune, remove negativity from our mind and gain positive energy. During this puja, a food offering is made to our Spiritual Guide and the assembly of holy beings (Tsog). (1 hour 15 minutes)

This is a special chanted prayer requesting our Spiritual Guide to increase our compassion, wisdom and spiritual power. This practice includes a tsog offering. For tsog pujas, we gather together to pray and make special offerings. You are welcome to bring a vegetarian food offering if you wish. (2 hours)

Every 10th and 25th of each month (check Calendar for times)

Tara is a female Buddha, a manifestation of the ultimate wisdom of all the Buddhas. Her name means “Rescuer” because she rescues us from all outer and inner fears. Ultimately she rescues us from all suffering and guides us to full enlightenment. Like a mother she protects us from all internal and external dangers; she provides us with all the necessary conditions for our spiritual training, and guides us and inspires us with her blessings as we progress along the spiritual path. These prayers include praises to the twenty-one manifestations of Tara.

Every 8th of the month (check calendar for times)

The practice of taking and keeping the eight Mahayana precepts is a special practice of moral discipline that is performed with bodhichitta motivation – the supreme good heart. The essence of the practice is to take eight precepts – promising to abstain for twenty-four hours from eight actions: (1) killing, (2) stealing, (3) sexual activity, (4) lying, (5) taking intoxicants, (6) eating after lunch, (7) sitting on high or luxurious thrones or seats, and (8) wearing ornaments, perfume, singing and dancing and so forth – and to keep them purely for this period of time.

Every 15th of the month (check Calendar for times)

This is a monthly practice of making offerings and requesting the Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, to remove obstacles and to gather all favorable conditions for our spiritual practice. This practice includes a tsog offering. For tsog pujas, we gather together to pray and make special offerings. You are welcome to bring a vegetarian food offering if you wish. (3.5 hours)

Every 29th of the month (check Calendar for times)

Through practicing transference of consciousness, known as ‘powa’ with faith, compassion and concentration we can transfer the consciousness of those recently deceased to a higher rebirth or to the Pure Land of a Buddha. The Powa Ceremony can be done either by a group of practitioners or individually on behalf of one or more deceased persons, or countless deceased beings. By engaging in this practice we also create a great collection of virtue, which will also lead us into the pathway to a Buddha’s Pure Land.

First Friday of the month (check Calendar for times)