August Events

Dear Dharma Friends, As the summer season continues, we invite you to join us for another month of practice, reflection, and community. Through meditation, discussion, and shared contemplation, we continue to explore ways of bringing the Dharma into everyday life. This month, we are also introducing a new “Ask Anything” Dharma Q&A with Lama Jinpa, an opportunity to explore questions about meditation, Buddhist practice, and daily life in an open and welcoming setting. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather together each month and support one another on the path. Yours in Dharma, KTC SoCal

• August 6 – Lama Karma Drodhul: Chenrezig Practice A practice of compassion and lovingkindness dedicated to the benefit of all beings.
• August 8 – Mindfulness Meditation (in person) An opportunity for quiet sitting and mindful presence together.
• August 13 – Lama Rina Otero: Actuality of Being – Dzogchen and Mahamudra Perspectives Continuing this four-part series exploring awareness, experience, and the nature of mind.
• August 20 – Lama Kathy Wesley: Getting Familiar with Your Mind Meditation and discussion supporting clarity, awareness, and inner stability.
• August 27 – Ask Anything: A Dharma Q&A Open questions and discussion with a visiting Lama.

August 6 Lama Karma – Chenrezig Practice

Join us with Lama Karma as he guides us in Chenrezig Practice, a profound meditation cultivating compassion and lovingkindness. Chenrezig, known as Avalokiteshvara, embodies compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Through this practice, we tap into the limitless wellspring of compassion, extending it to all sentient beings. It’s a beautiful opportunity to nurture our hearts, deepen our connection with others, and foster positive change in the world. Whether you are new to this practice or have practiced it before, everyone is welcome to participate.

August 8 Mindfulness Meditation Class

Join Dr. Charles Dawes, senior meditation practitioner and KTC SoCal Board member, every first Saturday in Desert Hot Springs for instruction on practicing mindfulness meditation. Class is held at 11 am, Hidden Springs Country Club, Community Center Clubhouse, 14912 Yerxa Rd, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240. Class is free, open to all, reservations not required.

August 13 Lama Rina – Actuality of Being: Dzogchen and Mahamudra Perspectives

Dzogchen and Mahamudra meditation is practiced in order to bring forth what is latent or hidden in our subconscious or unconscious. It is used to bring forth what is already there. These emotions, prejudices, attitudes, and disturbances have a direct or indirect effect on our lives. When experiencing fear, anger, jealousy, or other strong emotions, we become caught in habitual patterns of thought and behavior, and pulled into a cycle of reactivity that often leads to unskillful actions or words that reinforce our emotional entrapments. This moment of confusion is pivotal because, while it is a natural part of the human experience, it also presents an opportunity for awareness and transformation. Without these opportunities, there is no path to greater awareness or the cessation of suffering. Based on foundational Buddhist teachings, we will explore those habitual patterns, embracing uncertainty as a gateway towards personal growth and wisdom, and learn to work with confusion through sitting meditation and post-meditation experiences, to gain insight into our habitual patterns, work with our fears, cultivate a deeper sense of compassion, and discover how to step into the unknown with openness, clarity, and confidence. Lama Rina Otero studied with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche beginning in the 1970s and was authorized as a meditation instructor and program coordinator within the Shambhala tradition. She completed the traditional three-year, three-month retreat at His Holiness the Karmapa’s retreat center under the guidance of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. Alongside her Dharma training, she has had a long career in educational consulting and school leadership in the U.S. and Canada.

August 20 Lama Kathy Wesley – Getting Familiar with Your Mind: Meditation Practice and Discussion.

Lots of people are meditating these days, which is wonderful, since the practice can help reduce anxiety and promote positive change in our minds and lives. And getting tips and pointers can help us work through the rough spots and deepen our understanding of ourselves. Using Thrangu Rinpoche’s short book, “A Guide to Shamatha and Vipashyana Meditation,” Lama Kathy will offer tips and sit with us to encourage us to get familiar with ourselves and create space for positive inner change.

August 27 Ask Anything: A Dharma Q&A with Lama Jinpa

Have a question about meditation, Buddhist practice, daily life, karma, compassion, confusion, or the path in general? Join Lama Jinpa for a short Dharma teaching followed by an open question-and-answer session. Whether you are completely new to Buddhism or have been practicing for many years, all questions are welcome. To help us make the most of our time together, we encourage you to submit questions in advance using this form: https://forms.gle/whDm5ntmP5BBEbxC6 There will also be an opportunity for live questions during the session.

ZOOM starts at 6:15 PM PST with a 15-minute silent meditation; regular teaching begins at 6:30. Please be mindful when entering at that time. We encourage you to keep your video on as much as you’re comfortable. Seeing each other’s faces helps create a sense of presence and connection in the space we’re sharing today.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81574392660

Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 815 7439 2660

Ask questions via chat and keep them concise and to the point. If you have more in-depth questions, we can arrange an interview with the teacher.

Inspirational Quote:

Ordinary mind isn’t altered by something else—it is just itself. There is no need to try and get rid of what we regard as bad or to turn it into something good. If we realize ordinary mind, this is called, “the wisdom that knows itself.” If we do not realize it, even though it has always been there, this is called, “coemergent ignorance.”

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Teaching Link:
What Are the 3 Types of Awareness? with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche