Saturday Teaching
3:30 – 5:00 pm
Geshe Rapgyal offers a teaching most Saturday afternoons, with the exception of the third Saturday when he leads a meditation retreat.
These Saturday teachings, covering a wide range of topics over the course of the year, provide a strong foundation for beginning and experienced Buddhist practitioners alike.
Geshela teaches in Tibetan, and Tenam interprets in English.
All are welcome to attend.
Sunday Teaching
10:00 am - Noon
Each Sunday Geshe Rapgyal teaches from a respected text by Buddha Shakyamuni or a Great Master, offering careful commentary on it and providing illumination and applications.
He works through a single text over many months. Geshela teaches in Tibetan which is translated to English by Tenam.
All are welcome to attend, even those new to Buddhist practice. Insights are accessible whenever one listens with an open heart and mind.
A donation, though not required, both respects the gift of the Dharma shared through our teacher and makes it possible to maintain the Dharma Center.
Teaching Schedule
Intro to Buddhism class topic for 2019 (Second Saturday of the month)
January– Intro to Buddhism: Difficulty in attaining human rebirth and how to make it meaningful
February– Intro to Buddhism: The Refuge practice
March– Intro to Buddhism: Faith and its three forms
April– Intro to Buddhism: The Cause and Effect precept
May- Special teaching on 'Meditation and its practices' by visiting Scholar Geshe Dhonam
June– Intro to Buddhism: How to generate Altruism (Bodhichitta)
July – Intro to Buddhism: The First wheel of teaching and Four Noble Truth
August – Intro to Buddhism: Three training Paths and three baskets of Scriptures
September – Intro to Buddhism: The practice of Six Perfections
October – Intro to Buddhism: The practice of Patience
November – Intro to Buddhism: The practices of the Four Mindfulness and the Four complete abandonment (from The Thirty-seven practices of Bodhisattva)
December – Intro to Buddhism: Seven branches of awakening mind and Eight-fold noble path (from The Thirty-seven practices of Bodhisattva)
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The 2019 topics for fourth (fifth if any) Saturday of the month from His Holiness the Dalai Lama book ‘Kindness, Clarity and Insight’
Jan 26, Saturday: Religious Values and Human Society
Feb 23, Saturday: The Luminous Nature of the Mind
March 23, Saturday: Four Noble Truths
March 30, Saturday: Karma
April 27, Saturday: Medicine of Wisdom and Compassion
May 25, Saturday: Eight Verses for Training the Mind
June 22, Saturday: The Path to Enlightenment
June 29, Saturday: Self and Selflessness
July 27, Saturday: Buddhist Views on Death and Dying
August 24, Saturday: Transforming the Mind through Meditation
August 31, Saturday: Special teaching by Drepung Tri-Rinpoche
Sept 21, Saturday: The Conventional Truth and Cause and Effect precepts
Sept 28, Saturday: The Two Truths
Oct 26, Saturday: Altruism and the Six Perfections
Nov 23, Saturday: Introduction to Vajrayana/Tantric path
Nov 30, Saturday: Union of the Old and New Translation Schools
Dec 28, Saturday: TBA
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The weekend teaching schedule from Oct 2019 – Feb 2020
Oct 5, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation: Meditation of Emptiness through Special Insight
Oct 6, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Oct 6, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – Only for registered participants!
A Method of Offering the Guru, The Profound Path Entitled the Indivisibility of Bliss and Emptiness (The Practice of Guru Yoga) by Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen
Oct 12, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: The Practice of Patience
Oct 13, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Oct 13, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – Only for registered participants!
A Method of Offering the Guru, The Profound Path Entitled the Indivisibility of Bliss and Emptiness (The Practice of Guru Yoga) by Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen
Oct 19, Saturday (3:30am – 5:00)
Altruism and the Six Perfections (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
Oct 20, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Oct 20, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – Only for registered participants!
A Method of Offering the Guru, The Profound Path Entitled the Indivisibility of Bliss and Emptiness (The Practice of Guru Yoga) by Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen
Oct 26, Saturday - Oct 27, Sunday – No regular classes!
A Meditation Retreat with Gerardo Abboud: The Six Bardos
Nov 2, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation: Special Insight meditation
Nov 3, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Nov 3, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – Only for registered participants!
A Method of Offering the Guru, The Profound Path Entitled the Indivisibility of Bliss and Emptiness (The Practice of Guru Yoga) by Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen
Nov 9, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
The practices of the Four Mindfulness and the Four Complete Abandonment (from The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattva)
Nov 10, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Nov 10, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – Only for registered participants!
A Method of Offering the Guru, The Profound Path Entitled the Indivisibility of Bliss and Emptiness (The Practice of Guru Yoga) by Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen
Nov 16, Saturday (10:30 – 4:30pm)
Meditation Retreat: Shamatha Meditation Retreat: Preliminary Practices and Single-pointed Meditation
Nov 17, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Nov 17, Sunday (1:00 – 2:30pm) – Only for registered participants!
A Method of Offering the Guru, The Profound Path Entitled the Indivisibility of Bliss and Emptiness (The Practice of Guru Yoga) by Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen
Nov 23, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Introduction to Vajrayana/Tantric path (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
Nov 24, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Nov 30, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Union of the Old and New Translation Schools (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
Dec 1, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Dec 7, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation
Dec 8, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Dec 14, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Intro to ‘Five fields of Study in Tibetan Buddhism’ by Tenam
Dec 15, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
Intro to ‘Psychology in Buddhism’ by Tenam
Dec 20, Friday (6:30-8:00pm)
Celebration of Lama Tsongkhapa’s 600th Anniversary
Dec 21, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm) – Center Closed!
Closed in honor of Lama Tsongkhapa’s 600th Anniversary
Dec 22, Sunday (10:00am –12:00) – Center Closed!
Closed in honor of Lama Tsongkhapa’s 600th Anniversary
Dec 28, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm) – No teaching!
Visit the creation of a Buddha of Compassion Sacred Sand Mandala
Dec 29, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
Special teaching with Minyak Rinpoche
Jan 4, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Discussion of His Holiness' book "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World", led by Anne Walter. Registration required (3 session class); $30 fee.
Jan 5, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Prayer Book and Meditation
Jan 11, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Discussion of His Holiness' book "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World", led by Anne Walter. Registration required (3 session class); $30 fee.
Jan 12, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Prayer Book and Meditation
Jan 18, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Discussion of His Holiness' book "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World", led by Anne Walter. Registration required (3 session class); $30 fee.
Jan 19, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Prayer Book and Meditation
Jan 25, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation with Geshe Rapgyal
Jan 26, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal – Renunciation (The Three Principal Aspects of the Path)
Feb 1, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation with Geshe Rapgyal
Feb 2, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00pm)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal – Compassion (The Three Principal Aspects of the Path)
Feb 8, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism with Geshe Rapgyal
Feb 9, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00pm)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal – Bodhichitta (The Three Principal Aspects of the Path)
Feb 15, Saturday (10:30am – 4:30pm)
Mindfulness Meditation Retreat with Geshe Rapgyal (Registration Required: $40 includes lunch)
Feb 16, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00pm)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal – The Wisdom realizing the ultimate nature
(The Three Principal Aspects of the Path)
Feb 22, Saturday (2:00 – 5:00pm)
Losar Preparation Prayer: Great Fulfillment Petition of Dharma Protector Mahakala (No Regular Teaching)
Feb 23, Sunday (11:00am – 2:00pm)
Losar (Tibetan New Year) Community Celebration followed by a potluck (No Regular Teaching)
Feb 29, Saturday (3:30 - 5:00pm)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal
Mar 1, Sunday (10:00am - 12pm)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal
Mar 7, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation
Mar 8, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
The weekend teaching schedule from July - Aug, 2019
July 6, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)– No class!
His Holiness the 14thDalai Lama Birthday Commemoration with Interfaith Prayers for World Peace and Long-Life Prayers
July 7, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
July 7, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm)– only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
July 13, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: The First wheel of teaching and Four Noble Truth
Buddhist Values Program for Kids (aged 5-10) so that parents can attend Geshe Rapgyal’s 3:30pm teaching (no children dropped-off, please). Sign up required: [email protected]
July 14, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
July 14, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm)– only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
July 20, Saturday (10:30am –4:30)
Meditation Retreat: Medicine Buddha
July 21, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
July 27, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Self and Selflessness(Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
July 28, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Aug 3, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation: How to achieve Calm Abiding (Nine stages according to ‘Hearers Ground’ and ‘Compendium of Higher Training’)
Aug 4, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Aug 10, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: Three training Paths and three baskets of Scriptures
Aug 11, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Aug 17, Saturday (10:30–4:30pm)
Meditation Retreat: Tong-len (Giving and taking)
Aug 18, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Aug 24, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Transforming the Mind through Meditation(Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
Aug 25, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Aug 30, Friday – Sept 1, Sunday
Special teaching opportunities by Drepung Tri-Rinpoche Lobsang Tenpa
Please find all details under “For All Events & Courses Sign Up Here” on our home
Sept 1, Sunday– No Class!
Sept 7, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: The practice of Six Perfections
Sept 8, Sunday(10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Sept 14, Saturday (10:30–4:30pm)
Meditation Retreat: Green Tara
Sept 15, Sunday(10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Sept 21, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
The Two Truths(Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
Sept 22, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Sept 28, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
The Two Truths (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
Sept 29, Sunday(10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
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The weekend teaching schedule from April - June, 2019
April 6, Saturday
(3:30–5:30pm)
Intro to Meditation: How to attain Calm Abiding (How to eliminate Fave Faults through Eight Antidotes base on text ‘Extreme and Middle’)
April 7, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
April 7, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
April 13, Saturday
(3:30–5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: Three forms of Faith
April 14, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
April 14, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
April 20, Saturday (10:30am –5:00)
No Class/Retreat!
April 21, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
Dharma Talk with Geshe Rapgyal (No regular teaching!)
April 21, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm)
No Teaching!
April 27, Saturday
(3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Karma (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
April 28, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
April 28, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
May 4, Saturday
(3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation: How to achieve Calm Abiding (Nine stages according to ‘Hearers Ground’ and ‘Compendium of Higher Training’)
May 5, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
May 5, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
May 11, Saturday
(3:30 – 5:00pm)
Special teaching on 'Meditation and its practices' by visiting Geshe Dhonam
May 12, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
May 12, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
May 18, Saturday
(3:30–5:00pm)
No Class!
May 19, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
May 19, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
May 25, Saturday (3:30–5:00pm)
Eight Verses of Training the Mind (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
May 26, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
May 26, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
June 1, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation: Achieving Calm Abiding through Six Powers & Four Mental Engagement, Signs and Measures
June 2, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
June 2, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
June 8, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: How to generate Altruistic mind (Bodhichitta)
June 9, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
June 9, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
June 15, Saturday
(10:30–4:30pm)
Meditation Retreat: Practicing Bodhichitta Mind
June 16, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
June 16, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
June 22, Saturday (3:30–5:30pm)
The Path to Enlightenment (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
June 23, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
June 23, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
June 29, Saturday (3:30–5:30pm)
Self and Selflessness (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
June 30, Sunday (10:00am –12:00)
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
June 30, Sunday (1:00–2:30pm) – only for registered participants!
Lamp So Bright: An Extensive Explanation of the Mahamudra Root-Text of the Teaching Tradition of the Precious Geden Oral Transmission (the auto-commentary)
by Losang Choekyi Gyeltsen
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The weekend teaching schedule from Jan-March, 2019
Jan 5, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Meditation
Jan 6, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
Jan 12, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: Difficulty in attaining human rebirth and how to make it meaningful
Jan 13, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
Jan 19, Saturday (10:30am – 4:30pm)
Vajrasattva Meditation Retreat
Jan 20, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
Jan 26, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Practical Buddhism: Religious Values and Human Society
Jan 27, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
Feb 2, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
The Methods of Meditation
Feb 3, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
Feb 9, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm) – No Class!
Tibetan New Year (Losar)
Feb 10, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00) – No Class!
Tibetan New Year (Losar)
Feb 16, Saturday (10:30 – 4:30pm)
Meditation Retreat: Practice and Meditation on the Four Immeasurables
Feb 17, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
Feb 23, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm) Introduction to Meditation: The Luminous Nature of the Mind
Feb 24, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
March 2, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Six Preliminaries, Actual Meditation, Physical Postures
March 3, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
March 9, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Intro to Buddhism: The Refuge Practice
March 10, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
March 15, Friday - 17, Sunday
There are no Saturday or Sunday regular classes! More details available under "Sign up for Classes"
March 23, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
Four Noble Truths (Ref book: Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
March 24, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training
March 30, Saturday (3:30 – 5:00pm)
No Class!
March 31, Sunday (10:00am – 12:00)
Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun – Nam-kha Pal, A Commentary to Seven Point Mind Training