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Dear Dharma Friends,
 | | Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2012 |
On the auspicious days between the Tibetan New Year and the Day of Miracles, Buddhists worldwide -- from those making prayers for world harmony and peace at Kopan to those reciting the sacred Arya Sanghata Sutra here in New York -- were practicing and dedicating the merits of their actions for the welfare and enlightenment of all sentient beings.
That is why it seemed a blessing when a member from FPMT's Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore wrote to us when he learned that his beloved daughter had died peacefully in New York and asked for help to arrange for blessings, prayers, and other support.
In being present for our Dharma brother, we felt the power of interdependence and the value of providing care and support when needed, both within our own and the larger FPMT mandala. It also served as a motivator to find ways to better serve our members in this way as well as through compassion in action projects like volunteering as a group for social service agencies providing front-line support.
Within the context of study, practice becomes more meaningful. Coming up soon are teachings on understanding Buddhist prayers in Tibetan with Geshe Choewang Dakpa Rinpoche who is recognized as a tulku by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is now living in New York. Introduced to us by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, our community will benefit from as Geshe Dakpa's knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism and determination to perfect his English through interaction with students.
In our workshop on Meditation, we will learn and practice techniques passed down from our lineage masters that will help to integrate teachings in our daily lives. We will also read about and explore profound ideas in our next Discovering Buddhism Study Group topic, All About Karma.
Programs are made possible because of the efforts of volunteers who devote their time and skills and work as a team to create an FPMT center for New York. It is a pleasure to announce that Tricia Clark, a steadfast volunteer and benefactor, has been appointed to our Board of Directors, bringing expertise in financial and project management, real estate, and strategic planning. We also welcome our newest volunteer staff member, Meg Sweetland Baker, who is helping to manage financial and administrative tasks with skill and enthusiasm.
All of us aspire to serve the Dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings and look forward to seeing you at one of our programs or events soon.
With warm wishes and oceans of love,
Mary Esbjornson, Director
Shantideva Meditation Center
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V I S I T I N G T E A C H E R P R O G R A M
Understanding Essential Buddhist Prayers in Tibetan
Teachings with Geshe Choewang Dakpa Rinpoche
Thursdays for 4 weeks: March 21, 28; April 4, 11 at 5:30-7pm
Private Residence (44th Street b/w 1st and 2nd Ave) -- RSVP for Complete Address
Have you had the experience of reading or reciting prayers and wished you had a better understanding of the meaning behind the Tibetan words and phrases?
In the Mahayana lineage, started by Shakyamuni Buddha and passed down by masters such as Lama Tsongkhapa, we are introduced to sacred texts translated from the Tibetan, which derived from the ancient Sanskrit language of India.
When Tibetan Buddhism is studied and practiced with an awareness of the meaning of the original language, our recitation of daily prayers, chanting rituals, and reading of Dharma texts becomes a much more powerful practice.
During this 4-week class, Geshe Choewang Dakpa will inspire an appreciation of this rich cultural heritage by touching upon Tibetan language vocabulary, grammar and syntax, and working with the transliteration of basic Buddhist prayers recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for daily practice.
This class is open to students with no experience in Tibetan language, but with a curiosity to explore. Shantideva Meditation will provide handouts, practice materials, and information on resources for further study.
Suggested Donation:
$100/class or $20/session. Entire proceeds to be offered directly to Geshe Choewang Dakpa to support basic living expenses so that he may remain in New York City.
About the Teacher:
Geshe Choewang Dakpa Rinpoche was born in 1980 to the Pad Tra (Shining Lotus) family in the district of Sok in the Snow Land of Tibet. On February 21, 1992, he was recognized by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 8th Tri Do Shab Drung, Tenzin Tsultrim Gyatso, and was subsequently enthroned in the Tri Ru Dril Da Monastery. At the age of 13, he entered Ronpo Rabten Monastery, where he studied for two years. In 1996 Choewang Dakpa arrived in India and entered Sera Je Monastery, where he studied the various great Buddhist philosophical texts for 14 years and was awarded the Geshe degree (equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist studies).
REGISTER NOW
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M E D I T A T I O N I N O U R T R A D I T I O N
An Experiential Workshop for Beginners
Saturday, March 16 from 10am-2pm
Jewel Heart
260 West Broadway, NYC 10013
Would you like to learn how to work with your mind and create more peace and happiness in daily life? This workshop is suitable for students who are new to meditation in the Gelugpa tradition or for those who have taken refuge and wish to establish a daily practice.
This workshop will include a brief explanation of Tibetan Buddhist meditation techniques (including calm abiding, vipassana, visualization, and analytical meditation), followed by group meditation using these techniques. There will also be an opportunity to reflect on the experience and ask any questions. Handouts will be given for home study and practice after the workshop.
A complimentary light lunch will be offered to participants.
This workshop is led by George M. Cuesta, Ph.D., who has been studying and practicing the Buddhadharma since 2005. George has been a member of Shantideva Meditation Center since 2008 and also leads our Medicine Buddha and Guru Pujas. He is a licensed psychologist in the State of New York and is the Supervisory Psychologist and Team Leader for the Manhattan Vet Center.
Suggested Donation: $40 to cover the cost of expenses.
REGISTER NOW
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D I S C O V E R I N G B U D D H I S M S T U D Y G R O U P
All About Karma
Tuesdays for 6 Weeks: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7 from 7-9pm
Tibet House
22 West 15th Street, NYC 10011
The Discovering Buddhism Study Group series is geared for beginning students who wish to deepen their understanding of fundamental Buddhist concepts.
In this module, we will review the essential facts about the law of cause and effect of actions, and generate a clear understanding about how karma works. We will discuss effective tools to accumulate merit -- the cause of happiness and success -- and purify mistaken actions done in the past. Together, we will also explore ways to become adept at dealing with life most effectively, and thereby take control of our futures.
Shantideva Meditation works with a version of the curriculum which includes transcripts of teachings by qualified Western teachers, presentations by facilitator Gustavo Cutz, discussion among peers, and guided meditations.
Ven. Fedor Stracke will be a guest teacher via Skype for the final session, offering a teaching and Q&A about points discussed during the module.
Readings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe will be provided to students via e-mail at the first session; other readings that may be studied are drawn from Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche and Healing Anger by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
About the Facilitator
Gustavo Cutz has worked at Wisdom Publications in Boston and has been an active volunteer with Shantideva Meditation for the last three years, most recently interpreting/summarizing Geshe Thubten Soepa's teachings on The Four Noble Truths, The Eight Worldly Dharmas, The Six Perfections, and The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation. He also facilitated the DB modules, Death and Rebirth, Mind and Its Potential, and The Spiritual Teacher.
Suggested Donation
$50 for the 6-week series to help support direct costs, including space rental, Dharma materials, and administration. Please register in advance as space is limited to 20 participants. To receive the full benefit of the study group, it is recommended that students attend most sessions in the series.
REGISTER NOW
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P U J A S A N D P R A C T I C E S
Pujas are offered twice monthly beginning at 7pm
Jewel Heart Center
260 West Broadway, NYC 10013
Shantideva Meditation students gather regularly for pujas, a ritual where prayers are offered to enlightened beings to request blessings and invoke help. Pujas help clear away obstacles and allow practitioners to realize their worldly and spiritual aspirations. Come as an observer or participant in this highly beneficial practice within a supportive community.
Guru Puja with Tsog lays the whole path to enlightenment on our mindstream, connects us more strongly to our teachers, and allows us to quickly and effectively accumulate merit and purify negative karma.
Medicine Buddha purifies and heals on all levels -- physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental. It is considered particularly powerful for people who are sick or have recently died, and for bringing both temporary success and the ultimate success of enlightenment.
Green Tara puja is especially swift in helping to grant wishes and quickly remove obstacles to our worldly success and spiritual development, helping us to accomplish our goals.
You may wish to bring a small offering of food or flowers to create merit (positive energy). Please contact Jennifer Kim to request a dedication for yourself or someone else to be recited during the puja.
You may also sponsor a puja via this link or make an offering at the door.
RSVP Green Tara Puja Friday, March 8
RSVP Guru Puja with Tsog Friday, March 22
RSVP Guru Puja with Tsog Friday, April 5 RSVP Medicine Buddha Puja Friday, April 19
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C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S
Compassion in Action
"It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come."
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
As part of Shantideva Meditation Center's pilot initiative to engage with our growing community of Buddhist students and practitioners, we are developing partnerships with select New York City social/human service agencies to provide opportunities for our members to volunteer together.
The purpose of the program is to develop our compassion and good hearts through direct experiences that benefit other sentient beings. We will work in small teams to help out with action such as serving meals to the homeless, caring for animals in shelters, or assisting the sick or elderly. Our aspiration is to eventually expand care and compassion services for our membership and broader community, working with resources of FPMT.
Shantideva Meditation is seeking several volunteers to help distribute food and clothing to families at St. Francis Xavier Church in Chelsea beginning in May. Thank you to Bonnie Costa for organizing.
If you are interested in participating or helping to organize activities, please contact us.
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R E J O I C E - R E C E N T D H A R M A A C T I V I T I E S
A Drop from the Ocean of Mind and Mental Factors
Teachings with Ven. Fedor Stracke
On Feb 1-3 at Tibet House,Ven. Fedor Stracke addressed features of mind and mental factors and specifically which mental factors must be abandoned and which should be adopted and developed in order to attain enlightenment.This retreat was part of Shantideva Meditation's series of topics from FPMT's Basic Program (beginning with The Heart Sutra in 2012), designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for students committed to more in-depth study and practice.
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Students with Ven. Fedor after the retreat at Tibet House
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Thank you to the volunteers who joyfully offered their time and skills to plan and coordinate Ven. Fedor's teachings: team leaders Tricia Clark and Tara Baltazar for registration; Barbara Standley and Lauren Coleman for the altar and sacred space; Anne Marie Witzel for preparing and serving lunches; Jennifer MacLeod Kelley and Cynthia Greene for hospitality; Gus Giacoman and Paul Gruen for space set-up; Allan Tarantino for sound recording and editing; and Teddy Sczudlo for photography. We also wish to acknowledge Ganden Thurman and Tibet House for making their beautiful space available to Shantideva Meditation.
Listen to the audio recording of Ven. Fedor's retreat. For highlights of other Shantideva Meditation recordings, visit our archive. For more photos from the retreat, visit our Facebook album. Arya Sanghata Sutra Recitation
Shantideva Meditation Center invited members of our  community to recite chapters from the Arya Sanghata Sutra in their own homes each day from February 11 to 25, the precious time when the merit of whatever practice or virtue performed was increased 100 million times -- according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Fifteen people, including Dharma friends from abroad, wrote in to report 16 complete recitations of the sutra. One member hosted a small group recitation in her home, followed by a delicious home cooked meal. Some wrote out the sutra in gold-colored ink and one student wrote out the entire sutra by hand and remarked:
"The experience felt very joyful all around, and I now have a better appreciation and deep respect for FPMT's Prajnaparamita Project, and Rinpoche's own efforts in writing-out the Prajnaparamita Sutra in gold over the past several years."
Another student reported, "I recited the Sutra over the past two weeks, found myself deeply touched by it, and experienced great inner peace."
We rejoice in the merits collected by all those who participated in this powerfully beneficial practice -- which can be done from anywhere at any time of the year. Discovering Buddhism Study Group  | | Students from the Discovering Buddhism Study Group Death and Rebirth |
For six weeks from January to March, students of the Discovering Buddhism Study Group, Death and Rebirth, explored the process of death and rebirth and its impact on how we live our
lives. We investigated questions such as: How can we use the practice of remembering death as a method to stop delusions? What are the different stages of the death process? What determines the kind of rebirth we will have?
Many thanks to Gustavo Cutz for facilitating and Tricia Clark for registration.
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G E T I N V O L V E D
Opportunities to Offer Service
Shantideva Meditation Center activities are organized by a team of amazing volunteers who are devoted to serving the Dharma and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, our Spiritual Director. As a practice, offering service is a wonderful way to make your life meaningful, generate merit (positive potential), and be of benefit to others.
Would you like to get to know our community, participate in organizing events and resources, and help to develop our dynamic and harmonious FPMT Center in New York City?
Spiritual Program Assistants
At this time we are looking for volunteers to work with co-spiritual program coordinators Jennifer Kim and George Cuesta in creating a beautiful sacred space and arranging altar offerings for pujas and Dharma teachings; to respond to requests for prayers and dedications from our community; and other spiritual program tasks. Benefits include instruction in altar offerings and an opportunity to practice with others.
Accommodations Needed for Visiting TeachersShantideva Meditation is looking for people with lovely homes who may be able to host FPMT teachers during the next year. This is a wonderful way to support the sangha -- one of the three jewels -- and create positive karma, as it benefits the center and the community. Teachers typically prefer private, simple, and quiet accommodations in Manhattan. An apartment that is free while someone is away is ideal, so there is no inconvenience. We have an immediate need to accommodate a teacher in June and July. Please contact Mary Esbjornson for more information or to express your interest in offering service at Shantideva Meditation Center.
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P R A C T I C E G E N E R O S I T Y
This year marks Shantideva Meditation Center's establishment as a nonprofit religious organization. We are grateful to those who contributed a tremendous amount of energy and time to get us to this place. Now we need financial support to create a solid foundation to sustain the center during our founding year and many years to come.
Join our Founding Circle of Friends and support our retreats and public talks with visiting FPMT teachers, meditation classes, Discovering Buddhism study groups, pujas, and community events and activities serving you. If you wish to create positive potential and serve the Dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings, please consider making a donation via the link below. Thank you!
In giving we not only find wealth while in cyclic existence
but we achieve the zenith of prosperity in supreme enlightenment.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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A B O U T U S
Shantideva Meditation Center is dedicated to developing the good heart by cultivating wisdom and compassion through the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism within the New York City area community. We are affiliated with The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), which is based on the Gelugpa tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by Founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
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