2009 - Workshops and Events

Literary Tibetan, Track 1 October - December

Due to multiple requests, Geshe Jampa has agreed to repeat Track 1 of Literary Tibetan. You can register with the PayPal button below, or pay at the beginning of the series. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Learning the history of the Tibetan language and being able to recognize and pronounce characters aids us in realizing the full potential of our Buddhist studies.

A series of 8 classes provides an introduction to the Tibetan language. If you attended any of the previous series, you can repeat at no cost.

Please note the schedule has changed.
As of September 27, the new schedule is:

  • Saturdays, 12-1:30 pm, October 17 - December 12
    Total of 8 classes for $80

Materials and handouts are provided and students participate in an online blog to share questions, concerns and course notes. Included in the curriculum is language history, recognition and pronunciation of the characters of the alphabet, basic grammar, phrase construction and useful vocabulary.

To register for the series, you can use the Paypal button below, or email Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org that you will be attending and pay at the first session.

Total of 8 classes for $80

AHIMSA Celebration December 6, 1-3 pm

Please email us at mail@emahofoundation.org if you are planning to attend the AHIMSA Celebration.

Ahimsa is the Buddhist term for non-harming. We will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1989 awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the world’s best-known Tibetan Buddhist leader and international figurehead in the cause for peace on our planet.

Join us to watch the film 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama. Geshe Jampa will introduce the film, and cake and tea will be served.

Click here to read The Dalai Lama's inspirational Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

37 Practices of the Bodhisattva 2009 Teachings Series

This year ZaChoeje Rinpoche has chosen to teach The 37 Practices of the Bodhisattva. The root text, written by renowned Gyalsay Togme Sangpo (1295-1369), contains practical advice on developing the love and compassion necessary to sustain lasting happiness.

The first teaching will be on Friday April 10, 7-9 pm.

The final teaching of the series will be November 15.

»view/download flyer with full information

37 Practices Class Materials

(view/download course texts)

37 branches of Enlightenment

Introduction

Verses 0-17

 

Chenrezig Empowerment November 8

We are happy to announce that ZaChoeje Rinpoche will offer the Chenrezig empowerment on
Sunday November 8.

Chenrezig (or Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) is considered an enlightened emanation of the essence of all the Buddhas’ love and compassion, one who applies active wisdom to alleviate the suffering of sentient beings.

Chenrezig holds a special place as the most popular and the most available protector for beings. Many consider the seat of the Dalai Lama to be the worldly expression of Chenrezig’s wisdom and compassion towards all beings. With the mantra “OM MANI PEME HUM” Chenrezig draws all suffering beings into his enlightened experience.

EVENT: Rinpoche will confer the Chenrezig empowerment and will give instruction on Sunday November 8, 2009. The ceremony will begin at 10 am at the Emaho Center.

If you have an Emaho practice book, please bring the Chenrezig Sadhana. For those who don't have one, we will have extra copies. We ask that participants observe the traditional diet restrictions and not eat onions, garlic or meat on the day of the Empowerment.

»view/download flyer

Suggested donation $60. Pre-register below:

No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

Fall Intensive: The Practice of Meditation Oct 9–15

Beginning October 9 and continuing through the 15th, Venerable ZaChoeje Rinpoche will offer detailed instructions on Shamatha and Vipassana meditation. The teaching will include commentary on Chapter 8 of Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Written in the 8th century by the monk Shantideva, this classic Mahayana text is a guide to realizing enlightenment through the practice of the six perfections.

We are fortunate to receive meditation instructions from an authentic Tibetan master who understands our modern Western minds.

Without a thorough examination of our mind and its habits, it is impossible to make change in our daily lives. With the motivation of achieving enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings — the motivation of the Bodhisattva — we engage in the practice of meditation to become familiar with our minds and free ourselves from habitual patterns and emotional afflictions.

Meditation is also important to achieving wisdom in the Mahayana tradition. Meditative concentration and stabilization are necessary to achieving a direct realization of the true nature of things. This type of realization does not come from the senses, but instead from the deep insight that comes during meditation.

SCHEDULE, 9 SESSIONS:
Fri Oct 9, 7–9 PM
Sat & Sun Oct 10 & 11, 10–4
Mon & Tues Oct 12 & 13, 7–9 PM
Wed Oct 14, 8–10 PM
Thurs Oct 15, 7–9

»view/download revised flyer with full information

Fee for the full intensive is $180. No one is ever turned away for lack of funding.

No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

Pennies for Peace September 21, 6-8 pm

In keeping with Rinpoche’s teaching of “doing small things with great love,” the Emaho Children’s Group and the Bodhisattva Teens are collecting pennies for peace.

Our collection will be donated to the “Peace One Day” project. September 21 has been designated by the UN as a world day of peace.

Join us:
Lighting the candle of peace
Prayer for peace by Geshe Jampa
Music
Followed by the movie “The Day after Peace”
Popcorn
»view/download flyer for full information

Film Club: "What Remains of Us" September 19, 1-3pm

Mustang Library, Saturday September 19, 1-3 pm
Documentary "What Remains of Us" will be followed by Q&A with Geshe Jampa

This film has never been shown to the public in Phoenix. Please join us to share this powerful experience.

This documentary was secretly filmed inside Tibet between 1996 and 2004, without the knowledge of Chinese authorities. Kalsang Dolma, a Tibetan woman born in a refugee camp and raised in Montreal, narrates the film.

Dolma smuggled a video into Tibet containing a message from the Dalai Lama, urging his people to be true to the Buddhist ideals of compassion for our enemies and to continue their peaceful resistance. Participants were warned that there might be severe persecution for those filmed watching the video if the Chinese authorities should obtain the film and recognize them.

The five-minute message of hope was shown to all manner of people, from shopkeepers in Lhasa, to priests in remote monasteries, to yak herders living in tents in the hills. As many Tibetans see the image of the Dalai Lama and hear him speak for the first time, watching their reactions is deeply touching. Some cry, others pray, many shake. All are speechless at first. When they do speak, some offer expressions of joy, some hope, others cynicism and despair, but all express gratitude to the Dalai Lama.

One reviewer has observed that "What Remains of Us" allows us to understand not only how much Tibetans have lost but how much of our own humanity is in danger if indigenous cultures disappear. If we silently observe this destruction within our human family, we may have to ask ourselves the same question: “What remains of us?”

Note: this film review was compiled from several online reviews.

Bodhisattva Teens Game Night September 11, 6-9 pm

The Bodhisattva Teen Group was formed in 2007 under the spiritual guidance of ZaChoeje Rinpoche at the request of teenagers who wanted a “place of their own” to explore and practice Buddhist teachings.

Check us out/get involved!

Drop by for Game Night, Friday, September 11.
Video games, board games, pizza, music, a good time. We hope to see you there.
»view/download flyer

Emaho Family Potluck Sunday May 3, 4:30-6:30 pm

[UPDATE] We apologize for the last-minute change, but, due to an unscheduled trip out of state, Rinpoche will not be able to attend the family picnic on May 3. We still hope that sangha members and their families will take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy being with each other and exploring the Firedancer Ranch.

The Emaho family potluck will be held at the Firedancer Ranch, 8645 S. 20th St, in Phoenix. Horses, a pool, a trampoline, a sandtable and more are all available to provide fun for the whole family.

Join us at this special family picnic, for families of all sizes and children of all ages. (Parents are asked to watch over small children and keep them safe in the ranch environment.) Bring friends, a dish to share and some folding chairs. If you plan to bring friends, please carpool if possible. For more information e-mail us at mail@emahofoundation.org. Handouts with directions are available at the center.

It's a potluck! Contact Donna at donna@emahofoundation.org to let her know what dish you would like to bring.

Spring Retreat April 3-5

Rinpoche will offer the empowerment of Vajrapani, Lord of the Secret.

»view/download FLYER

»view/download POSTCARD [6 MB] (Note - Use these to share the Dharma: postcards can be printed on your home computer for distribution)

»view/download SCHEDULE/LOCATION INFORMATION

To Register:
»view/download REGISTRATION FORM

or Register online:

RETREAT OPTIONS

Saturday empowerment: no one will be turned away from lack of funds.
Full Retreat: we ask for full payment in order to provide facility and meals.

Thank you.

The Six Perfections March 7 2009

Geshe Jampa will offer a traditional teaching on the Six Perfections, known also as the Six Paramitas. The Paramitas are principles of enlightened living followed by the bodhisattvas. Applying these principles to all our actions enables us to follow the path of awakening.

»view/download flyer

The Four Thoughts February 22 2009

Geshe Jampa will teach on the classic Buddhist topic The Four Thoughts, which turn the mind from samsara. Contemplating the Four Thoughts releases our minds from grasping and attachment and turns them toward the Dharma.

»view/download flyer

Mantrathon 2009 February 28 2009

ZaChoeje Rinpoche has selected the practice of Chenresig for this year's Mantrathon and has prepared an introduction and commentary that is now on YouTube. Click here to see Rinpoche's commentary on the Om Mani Pe Me Hum mantra. You can forward the video to your friends and/or post it on your Facebook or MySpace page.

The center opens at 6:00 am. Come and spend as much time as you are able and recite mantras!

Mantra recitation will be at the following times:
8-10, 10:30 - 12, 1:00-2:30 and 3-5
Come for any or all of the sessions: it is not necessary to attend the full day.

There will be a signup sheet at the center to count all the mantras we recite. If you do all or part of your recitations at home, email Emaho at the end of Mantrathon day and tell us how many mantras of compassion you were able to recite. We will count them all and dedicate the merit to Emaho Foundation and all the centers in the world that support the flourishing of the Dharma. Send your email to mail@emahofoundation.org.

And, contribute to theMantrathon fundraiser by using the simple ChipIn widget ->

»view/download flyer
»view/download MANTRATHON POSTCARD [3 MB] (Note - Use these to share the Dharma: postcards can be printed on your home computer for distribution)

The Foundation of All Good Qualities January 18 2009 - 10am-4pm

ZaChoeje Rinpoche will give a workshop on Lama Je Tsong Khapa's Lamrim prayer, written in the 14th century, entitled The Foundation of all Good Qualities.

A copy of Lama Tsong Khapa's poem-prayer is available on the Practice Texts page.

Tibetan Yoga to Balance the Five Elements January 10-11 2009

Exercises for Health, Energy and Well-Being

After many requests ZaChoeje Rinpoche has agreed to share with the teaching of Tibetan Yoga.

Please join us on Saturday January 10, from 1 pm to 4 pm, as Rinpoche introduces us to Tibetan Yoga. On Sunday January 11, from 10 am to noon, Rinpoche will teach us the exercises

Start your New Year learning these five dynamic, easy exercises.  Practiced throughout the year, they will increase your energy and help sustain stamina. The exercises are designed to keep your body in balance. When the body is in balance, it can heal more quickly from injury and disease.

A daily practice of Tibetan Yoga takes only a small amount of time and effort. Benefits include increased physical strength and flexibility, and the mind becomes clearer and more pliant.

Rinpoche will help us understand the significance of Tibetan Yoga to the five Buddha families and to our daily practice. When we engage in this simple yoga routine it helps heighten our practice.  In meditation we find ourselves more serene and expansive.

Tibetan Yoga is helpful for all people of all ages and all beliefs. 

Come join ZaChoeje Rinpoche for this much-anticipated teaching.  Please wear comfortable clothing so you will be relaxed during the physical sessions.  DVDs of the sessions, included in the suggested donation, will be available to participants from Donna Tash on January 18th.