Your Words or Action In Life

Event at Gyuto Vajrayana Center

Dear Friends,

Tibetan Buddhist Monastery May - July 2007

May 2007

Tuesday So-Jong (Confession Ceremony)
May 1 9 am - 10 am

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
May 6 7 pm -9 pm

Thursday Lamrim Teaching
May 10 7 pm - 9 pm

Saturday Guru Puja (Tsog offering)
May 12 7 pm- 8 pm

Tuesday So-Jong (confession ceremony)
May 15 9 am-10 am

Tuesday Tara Puja for long life
May 15 7 pm - 8 pm

Wednesday Mahakala Puja
May 16 9 am - 12 pm

Thursday Holy Month of Buddha's Birth (Saka Dawa)
Water Bowl Offering
May 17-31 6 pm - 7 pm

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
May 20 7 pm - 9 pm

Thursday Lamrim Teaching
May 24 7 pm - 9 pm

Saturday Guru Puja (Tsog offering)
May 26 7 pm – 8 pm

Wednesday So-Jong (Confession Ceremony)
May 30 9 am -10 am

Thursday (Saka Dawa) Full Moon
May 31 Buddha Shakyamuni's Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana Day
8 Mahayana Precepts
5.30 am - 6 am

Last day of water bowl offering
6 pm -7 pm

The King of Prayers
7 pm - 8 pm

JUNE

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
June 3 7 pm - 9 pm

Tuesday Six-Armed Mahakala puja
June 5 10 am - 12 pm

Friday Tara Puja for Long Life
June 8 7 pm - 8 pm

Sunday Guru Puja (Tsog offering)
June 10 7 pm - 8 pm

Thursday So-Jong (Confession ceremony)
June 14 9 am -10 am

Thursday Lamrim Teaching
June 14 7 pm - 9 pm

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
June 17 7 pm - 9 pm

Friday Medicine Buddha Puja
June 22 7 pm - 8 pm

Saturday 8 Mahayana Precepts
June 23 5.30 am - 6 am

Nyung-Nye (Fasting Retreat)
7 am - 6 pm

Sunday 8 Mahayana Precepts
June 24 5.30 am - 6 am

Nyung-Nye (Fasting Retreat)
7 am - 6 pm

Monday Nyung-Nye (Fasting Retreat)
June 25 8 am - 11 am

Monday Guru Puja (Tsog offering)
June 25 7 pm - 8 pm

Thursday Lamrim Teaching
June 28 7 pm - 9 pm

Friday So-Jong (Confession Ceremony)
June 29 9 am - 10 am

JULY

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
July 1 7 pm - 9 pm

Wednesday Six-Armed Mahakala Puja
July 4 9 am - 12 pm

Tuesday Guru Puja (Tsog offering)
July 10 7 pm - 8 pm

Thursday Lamrim Teaching
July 12 7 pm - 9 pm

Friday So-Jong (Confession Ceremony)
July 13 9 am - 10 am

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
July 15 7 pm -9 pm

Wednesday Turning the Wheel of Dharma
Praise to Buddha Shakyamuni (Thap-kay Thuk-je)
July 18 7 pm -8 pm

Saturday Medicine Buddha Puja
July 21 7 pm - 8 pm

Tuesday Guru Puja (Tsog offering)
July 24 7 pm - 8 pm

Thursday Lamrim Teaching
July 26 7 pm - 9 pm

Saturday So-Jong (Confession Ceremony)
July.28 9 am - 10 am

Sunday Guide to Bodhisattva's Way of Life
July 29 7 pm - 9 pm

Tuesday Tara Puja for Long life
July 31 7 pm - 8 pm

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Saka Dawa (Holy Month of Buddha's Birth)

Eight Mahayana Precepts

According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Saka Dawa is the

time of Lord Buddha's enlightenment and also the anniversary of his passing into Parinirvana. We begin celebrating at the Center by taking the 8 Mahayana precepts before sunrise (5:30 am). The 8 precepts are: refraining from killing, stealing, sexual conduct, lying, and all intoxicants, eating no more than one meal a day, not sitting on high seats with pride or wearing jewelry, perfume and makeup. Keeping the 8 Mahayana precepts for one day or one hour, and thus protecting our mind from disturbing negative thoughts becomes a contribution to peace for all sentient beings. Everyone is welcome to take the 8 Mahayana precepts.

15 Days of Water Bowl Offerings

During this holy month, we will be offering thousands of water bowels and lights to the Buddhas in the ten directions. We will be doing this practice every day for fifteen days and all the members are invited to join these offerings with resident monks. Participants can bring filtered water, candles, fresh flowers and fruits to offer.

Nyung-Ney (Fasting Retreat)

This is an intensive practice to purify obscurations and negativities and accumulate merit. A Nyung-Nye retreat consist of taking the 8 Mahayana precepts, reciting praises and prayers to Avalokiteshavara, the Buddha of Compassion (Chenrezig) and making offerings and prostrations. This is one the most common practices in all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Requirements:

1. Must take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

2. Should take the 1000-Armed Chenrizig Initiation or at least one should have received an initiation from one of the three higher classes of Tantra, or an initiation of one of the deities of the Tathagata or lotus family of Kriya Tantra. All the new participants should attend the Friday night session and learn more about the retreat. There are no commitments for Friday. The schedule for Saturday and Sunday begins with the 8 Mahayana precepts. On Saturday only one pre-noon meal is to be taken. You may take light liquids as you wish on Saturday until you lie down to sleep that night. Sunday is a day of silence, other then the recitation of the prayers. No food or liquids are to be taken on Sunday until the fast is broken on Monday morning. A beautiful breakfast will be served early Monday morning. Student must maintain the commitments at home over Saturday and Sunday nights. In this way the practitioners' body, speech and mind is purified through the extensive practice.

Space is limited, so please register by email: info@gyutocenter.org or call 408-926 9430. There will be a $60 per person donation to cover the cost of hosting the retreat. Also, we need volunteers on Saturday to prepare lunch for the retreat. If anyone would like to sponsor the retreat meals, they are most welcome.

ONGOING PROGRAMS

The Path to Bliss (Lamrim Teaching)

The Lamrim is a special set of instructions that includes all the essential teachings of the Buddha. These instructions are easy to understand and practice, and can readily be applied to solving the problems of one’s everyday life. Rinpoche will be giving this teaching every other Thursday night and everyone is welcome. There are no fees for the teachings but donations are most welcome.

Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life:

These teachings on the bodhisattva's deeds are based on the great Indian master Shantideva's inspirational verses on Mahayana aspiration and practice. In the whole of Tibetan Buddhism there is no single text more deeply revered nor widely practiced than this one. This teaching will be held every other Sunday night and everyone is welcome.

Ongoing Programs

Guru Puja: (Tsog Offering)

This profound invocation ritual and offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is traditionally practiced on the 10th and 25th day of the lunar calendar. It is a commitment for those practicing Highest Yoga Tantra and restores vows and pledges. Everyone is welcome to attend. Members can bring flowers, candles and cookies for offering.

Medicine Buddha Puja for Healing:

The Medicine Buddha practice is extremely powerful and beneficial for the sick and the dying, as well as for those who have already passed away. If you wish to dedicate this puja to your loved ones, please send us their names and photos by mail or email: info@gyutocenter.org so that we can include them. Everyone is welcome.

Tara Puja for Long Life:

Tara embodies all the Buddhas’ enlightened actions of body, speech and mind. She is said to be the liberator, the one who has the power to release us from samsara and the causes of samsara. One special attribute that makes Tara particularly popular is the swiftness with which she responds to those who invoke her. Everyone is welcome.

Mahakala Puja for Removing Obstacles:

Every month according to the lunar calendar, the Gyuto monks perform a Mahakala puja dedicated to the Center’s members, friends and all sentient beings. Mahakala is the in the wrathful aspect of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Everyone is welcome. Members can bring fruits, cookies, flowers, candles, etc. for the altar.

So-Jong (Confession Ceremony)

Within the Buddhist tradition every fifteen days (based on the lunar calendar) Buddhist monasteries and nunneries hold a confession ceremony to restore all broken pledges and to reaffirm their vows. This is a ceremony specifically for ordained Sangha members and all Sangha members are welcome to join us at the Gyuto Center. This particular ceremony is not designed for lay members and they are not required to do this practice.

Thank You!

Ven. Thupten Donyo

*********************************************************

May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes.
May all sentient beings be free from suffering and its causes.
May all sentient beings never be separated from sorrowless bliss.
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity free of bias, attachment and anger.

Gyuto Vajrayana Center
1439 Old Piedmont Rd.
San Jose, CA 95132
Tel: (408) 926 9430
Fax: (408) 272 1275
Email: gyutovc@aol.com
Website: http://www.gyutocenter.org

For all past events, please Click Here to read them.

*********************************************************

Note: All the above events are published are for information basis. It is not in any way related or affiliated with our website. If you are interested in attending or finding out more, please contact the above website or email to the above email address.