Tantra and Our Potential for Limitless Peace, Love and Meaning

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of our tradition, taught that our experiences of ourself and everything around us are reflections of our mind. In his commentary, Modern Buddhism, he explains that Tantra is defined as an inner realization that functions to prevent ordinary appearances and conceptions and to accomplish the four complete purities — purity of our world, our self, our enjoyments and our activities. This will happen in the context of our everyday experiences and interactions with others. Understanding that there is no happiness or suffering outside our mind, and by purifying our own mind through Buddha’s Tantric methods, we will be happy all the time.

This is great news and so relevant in our world today. With Tantra we create and nurture a powerfully positive and enlightened view of who we are and how we can help everyone around us. 

Whether we think or say it to ourself or not, we really do wish to be happy all the time. Our ordinary way of seeing and relating to ourself and everything around us makes it impossible to fulfill this wish. We can feel stuck, unhappy and depressed. But Buddha taught that these feelings are just reflections of our ordinary minds. Tantra gives us a pure view of ourself and the world around us, and allows us to relate to our potential for limitless peace and love. With this view, our daily problems and worries can’t be sustained and our life becomes truly meaningful. 

For me, these special teachings are significant for two reasons: they can be practiced in all aspects of my life, and they show me how enlightenment is actually possible to attain. The Kadampa method of practicing allows us to train in the union of Sutra and Tantra methods. Whether we are new at meditation or more experienced, we don’t have to wait to begin our practice of Tantra. In fact, we’ll see that Tantra is the quick method to fulfill the goal of Sutra teachings, namely freeing ourself and others from suffering completely. They are profound teachings while also being highly practical.

-Resident Teacher John Baker

A Special Guest This Saturday!

Introduction to Tantra

Saturday, May 6th 

With Special Guest Teacher, Gen Kelsang Demo

Buddha’s Tantric teachings and meditations are all about taking charge of our own identity and steering it in a meaningful direction. By imagining ourselves as more loving, more compassionate and more wise we can break free of our own mundane appearances and ideas, and awaken our vast potential for happiness. Through special Tantric meditation methods, we can develop both our wisdom and our compassion until they produce a bliss so powerful that it completely purifies our mind and we quickly attain enlightenment. In this day course you will learn what Tantra is, why we need it and how to practice it for yourself. Everyone Welcome, no experience necessary.

To learn more and register, visit our Special Events page. Everyone welcome.

Living in the Pure Land of Compassion

June 23rd - 28th 

At The World Peace Temple, Kadampa Meditation Center New York, Glen Spey, NY

Compassion is the best wealth—an inner treasure greater than any external possession. Buddha’s “training the mind” teachings allow us to see how to see our challenges in a new way so that we can increase our compassion. This makes our mind more and more positive, eventually transforming it into a completely pure mind, the state of enlightenment. We all want the world to be free of suffering, or a “pure land.” To do this we simply need a pure mind, the mind of compassion.

During this festival, Gen-la Kelsang Jampa will grant Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara Empowerment, who is the Buddha of Compassion, the embodiment of the universal compassion of all enlightened beings. An empowerment is a special ceremony where we receive blessings and inspiration into our mind through making a connection with an enlightened being. Through receiving the inspiring energy from Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara, our compassion will become stronger than ever before.

For registration and to learn more visit the US Festival page. The festival will take place in beautiful Glen Spey, NY in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Carpooling will be available from Philadelphia. Everyone welcome.

This Week's Schedule: May 1st - May 8th

Lunchtime Meditation

M-W-F -  12:15 - 12:45pm -  $5, Included in membership

with Meditation Teacher, Eve Miller

Register.

Mindful Mondays: Meditations for Everyday Life

Mondays -  7:30 - 8:30pm -  $15, Included in membership

with Meditation Teachers Sarah Bly & Tatiana Buonassisi

This Monday 5/1: Rejoicing - Simply rejoicing in the virtues of others benefits us as well

Register.

Tuesday Night Meditation

7 - 8pm -  $15, Included in membership

with Meditation Teacher, Julie Francisco

This Tuesday 5/2: Opening Our Heart - Meditation on Cherishing Others

Register.

Wednesday Guided Meditation

7 - 7:45pm -  $5, Included in membership

with Meditation Teacher, Fred Graumuller

Register.

Wednesday Meditation - Collingswood, NJ

7 - 8pm -  $15, Included in membership

with Resident Teacher, John Baker

This Wednesday 5/3: Following a Path to Mental Freedom

Register.

Foundation Program in Philadelphia

Thursdays -  7 - 8:30pm -  Learn more about this program

with Meditation Teacher, Julie Francisco

Inquire about a free trial class

Email us [email protected] 

Foundation Program in Collingswood, NJ

Thursdays -  7 - 8:30pm -  Learn more about this program

with Resident Teacher, John Baker

Inquire about a free trial class

Email us. [email protected] 

Wishfulfilling Jewel with Tsog

Friday 5/5 -  6 - 7pm -  Free of charge

Drop-ins welcome

Learn more.

Daycourse: Introduction to Tantra

With Special Guest Teacher, Gen Kelsang Demo

Saturday 5/6 -  10:30am - 4pm -  $30

Drop-ins welcome

Learn more.

Sunday Morning Meditation

10:30am - 11:45am -  $15, Included in membership

with Meditation Teacher, John Baker

This Sunday 5/7: Finding Reliable Support

Register.