Spiritual Practices

Please consult the monthly calendar to confirm the meditation schedule.

MEDITATIONS AT THE MONASTERY

Calm Abiding Meditation ~ Open to the Public. Good for beginners and for developing concentration.	Friday 7:00 pm
Sixteen Arhat Puja ~ Open to the Public For H. H. J. D. Sakya’s long life.	Sunday 8:00 am
Chenrezi Meditations ~ Open to the Public. Practice for cultivating compassion.	Sunday 10:00 am; Thursday 7:30 pm
Green Tara Practice ~ Open to the Public For the bestowal of numerous Blessings.	Full Moon
Ngondro Practice ~ Requires having taken Formal Refuge or Refuge from a Deity Initiation. Removes our obscurations of body, speech, and mind to accumulate merit and wisdom.	Mon - Fri 7:00 am
Shitro Practice ~ Requires Shitro Empowerment Prayers for the deceased.	Sunday 7:00 am
Medicine Buddha Practice ~ Requires Medicine Buddha Empowerment. To alleviate suffering, sickness and injury.	New Moon
White Tara Practice ~ Requires White Tara Empowerment For long life, health, protection, etc.	New Moon
White Mahakala Practice ~ Requires the White Mahakala Initiation. Removes material and spiritual poverty and bestows wealth.	8th Lunar Day
Padmasambhava Tso Kor ~ Requires having taken Refuge A tantric feast honoring the tantric master who made Tibet safe for Buddhism. It's appropriate to bring a food offering (fruit, meat, etc)	10th Lunar Day
Vajrayogini Practice ~ Requires a major mandala empowerment or Vajrayogini Initiation. A highest yoga Tantra, with tantric feast.	25th Lunar Day
Mahakala Practice ~ Requires the Sakya Mahakala Empowerment For the Dharma Protectors.	29th Lunar Day

HOLY DAYS ~
For the memorial of Lamas, the celebration of Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and first teachings, please see the monthly calendar for dates, or visit our website calendar at www.sakya.org. These Holy Day Observances are open to the public.

TAKING REFUGE ~
When you decide to follow the Buddhist path, it is appropriate to take refuge. Refuge is taken in the Buddha (the Perfect Teacher), the Dharma (His Teaching), and the Sangha (the Accomplished Followers of the Perfect Teaching). There is a formal refuge ceremony in which you receive a Dharma (religious) name. Refuge is offered periodically upon request. If you are interested or have questions, see Adrienne Chan (she is the person who makes the announcements following the meditations).

EMPOWERMENTS ~
In general, when you decide to do a tantric practice (a tantric practice is one in which meditational deities are visualized), you must receive an empowerment for that practice. The empowerment permits you to do the practice at home and at the Monastery. Some practices have special restrictions, which are explained during the initiations. Receiving an empowerment from a lama creates a special bond and commitment. For information on requesting or sponsoring an empowerment, see Adrienne Chan.