Weekly Meetings

SUNDAY MEETINGS

What to Expect

Sunday is our main public meeting with a focus on introductory dharma concepts and readings. We begin our sessions with a brief chanting practice and some meditation followed by the readings for that day. We typically close with a little meditation and closing prayers, praying for our teacher’s long life and dedicating the merit of our time together.
You may notice some people bowing or prostrating to the shrine 3 times at the beginning of the session. This is a traditional way of showing respect yet there is no expectation for anyone to do this.
In our tradition there is a great emphasis on ‘lineage’ so we also chant some opening prayers in Tibetan and English to honor and request the support of those who have come before us. This is also entirely optional so participate at what ever level feels comfortable to you.
Casual comfortable dress is fine.

Shrine Room Protocol

Traditionally, there are a few points of protocol when attending a practice.

Please try to enter the shrine room quietly and keep talking to a bare minimum.

Once you have your seat, you may get settled and meditate until the session begins.

If we are going to be chanting special texts, you can pick them up by the entry-way and have yours ready to go. Also avoid letting any text, dharma book or object touch the ground, using one of the provided mats.

Also, we ask that those sitting on cushions do not point their feet towards the Shrine.

Please keep any questions for after the session, unless the umze opens the floor.

There is tea and snacks following Sunday’s meeting, this is a good a time to ask any questions, look through the dharma store or socialize a little.

Yeshe Tsogyal House

Padma Gochen Ling

WEEKLY MEETINGS AT YESHE TSOGYAL HOUSE

Sundays at 11 am

Discovering Buddhism
Join us Sunday mornings for the "Discovering Buddhism" series at 11 AM. Especially for beginners and those looking for some exposure to Buddhism, but also for experienced students. This session includes some chanting and meditation with a focus on Dharma readings, and generally lasts about an hour. Some newcomers may find a brief orientation helpful; if you'd like one, or just to ask a few questions, please arrive 5-10 minutes early, someone will be there to help you.

Wednesdays 7 - 8:15 pm

Calm-Abiding Meditation
Wednesday night meetings are focused on Calm-Abiding Meditation, a foundational practice found in most schools of Buddhism. Through focusing on the natural breath with single pointed concentration we learn to calm the mind and eventually break the habitual patterns of following our thoughts in every direction. Becoming familiar with this type of mental stability will be the basis of all other types of meditation and so is considered very important.
These meetings are open to beginning meditators as well as more experienced students wishing to further refine their practice. Wednesday’s meditation begins at 7:00 pm with brief instruction and lasts usually a little over an hour.

Fridays 11:30 am

Heart Sutra Practice
One day on Vulture Peak in India, the Buddha listened to two students expound on the interrelationship of all things. Their historic exchange became the text for one of the most profound and inspiring practices in Tibetan Buddhism. One of the few Tibetan prayers spoken mostly in English, the Heart Sutra contains the essence of all Buddhist doctrine -- at once simple and very profound. Beginners are Welcome.

Saturdays 9 – 11 am

Ngondro Accumulations
Saturday’s session is for those who have taken refuge and made some commitment to accumulating the 4 main sections of the Ngondro Practice. Sometimes know as the “Four Hundred Thousands” practice, Ngondro is actually a collection of practices that one accumulates, typically around 100,000 repetitions of various mantras and other active meditations such as prostrations and mandala offerings.

Other Information

No knowledge or prior experience with Buddhism is necessary for Sundays and Wednesdays. Newcomers; participate at what ever level you feel comfortable.

Our sessions are casual and relaxed -- come dressed comfortably for floor sitting.

Chairs and meditation cushions are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own cushion or pillow if you prefer. Some folks also like to bring a shawl to wear on their shoulders or lap.

We generally burn incense but if you have allergies or other issues, please let the umze know.

If you have any questions before you attend, please email info@pbc-tn.org

Directions to the Center

WEEKLY PRACTICES AT PADMA GOCHEN LING
Our Retreat Center outside of Monterey, TN

Wednesday
11:00 AM-NOON
Medicine Buddha Practice

Sunday
11:00 AM-NOON
Ngondro Practice

More information and map to Padma Gochen Ling

If you have questions, please call Padma Gochen Ling at 931-445-3909 or send an email

Quotes

Instead of allowing ourselves to be led and trapped by our feelings, we should let them disappear as soon as they form, like letters drawn on water with a finger.

HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

If we can recognize and abide in the nature as it is, then grasping and obscurations will be removed

The Khenpo Rinpoches

Strive with a good heart to do everything that benefits others. Follow in the footsteps of the wise and examine finely everything you do. Do not be the slave of unexamined fashions. Be sparing with your words. Be thoughtful rather, and examine situations carefully. For the roots of discrimination must be nourished: the desire to do all that should be done and to abandon all that should be abandoned

HH Dudjom Rinpoche

We have a long journey to make through the six realms of samsara. We should approach the Dharma like a sailor making his meticulous preparations for a voyage around the world, and prepare ourselves properly for our far longer journey ...

HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

In the company of others, guard your speech; Whenever you are alone, guard your mind.

Atisha Dipamkara Shrijnana (982-1054)

To explore and understand our own mind is the most important thing we can do in this lifetime.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

The essence of meditation is the continuity of mindfulness: maintaining a steady focus and not letting the mind wander.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

Love, compassion, and wisdom are the essence of any daily spiritual practice.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

When a person has true love and compassion, patience will spontaneously be there.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

To wish happiness for others, even for those who want to do us harm, is the source of consummate happiness.

HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Through observation and contemplation, we are able to see how change is natural. We understand that change and movement apply to everything, we can accept what is happening and not be obsessed with mistaken thinking.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

Having the great freedom of human birth,
Failure to practice virtue at this time,
Would be the height of deceit and foolishness.

Shantideva

The moment you shatter the chain of thinking, you are free from the three realms of samsara.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

In actuality, thoughts are continually and instantly self-arising and self-liberated, leaving no trace.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

Just as a good planning is important in ordinary activities, discipline accompanied by mindfulness and joyful effort is important in practicing the dharma.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

When you practice with bodhicitta you will be able to reveal profound treasures never previously available to you.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

The practice of a true yogi is to recognize the state free of the three poisons and continuously remain undistracted.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

May everything I do with my body, speech, and mind, become of real benefit to all parent sentient beings, at all times and in all situations.

Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa

Whatever forms exist,
Impermanent and transitory,
Are illuminated in contemplation
By the power of each mind.

Mipham Rinpoche

My view is as vast as the sky, yet my conduct is as refined as finely ground flour.

Guru Padmasambhava

Bring out joy and appreciation from your heart. This is not some strange thing that we are trying to add to our Buddhist practices.This very motivation is the practice.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

The cause of confusion and frustration in life
Is the virulent passion of the mind.
Distortion and dispersion, the causes of passion,
Must be replaced by incisive attentiveness.

Mipham Rinpoche

If we understand the causes and effects of ignorance and wisdom, we can work to remove confusion and bring out the inherent enlightened qualities.

The Khenpo Rinpoches

I hold the sword of vigilance at the gate of my mind.
When emotions threaten, I threaten them back.
Only when they relax their grip,
Do I relax mine.

Kadampa Masters of Old

The greatest of evils is to hold religious prejudice and to criticize other people without knowing their mind. So give up prejudice as if it were a poison.

Guru Padmasambhava

Padmasambhava Buddhist Center of Tennessee

Buddhist Meditation and Study Centers in the Nyngma Tradition

Weekly Meetings

PBC-TN in touch

Quotes