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 2008 Special Events

For a brief preview of upcoming events in 2008, see our At a Glance.

May 17: Shelter from the Storm Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Fort Myers
May 23-26 :International Spring Festival 2008 with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in Ulverston, UK
June 13-15: Je Tsongkhapa Empowerment and Teachings on Mahamudra Tantra
June 21: Shelter from the Storm Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Fort Lauderdale
June 21: Shelter from the Storm Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Orlando
Jun 22:Shelter from the Storm Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Tampa Bay
Jun 28:Shelter from the Storm Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Jacksonville
Jun 29: Shelter from the Storm Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Sarasota
Jul 25-Aug 9 :International Summer Festival 2008 with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in Ulverston, UK
Aug 23: Making Relationships Work ~ Half-Day Course in Fort Lauderdale
Aug 24: Making Relationships Work ~ Half-Day Course in Tampa Bay
Aug 24: Making Relationships Work ~ Half-Day Course in Sarasota
Sept 26-28: Clear Light Mind ~ The six stages of training in Mahamudra Weekend Retreat in Tampa Bay
Oct 25: A Pure Life ~ Lay Pratimoksha Vow Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale
Oct 31-Nov 9 :International Fall Festival 2008 with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in Paris, France


International Spring Festival 2008 with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Empowerment and commentary to the practice of Buddha Vajrapani

Friday May 23 - Monday May 26

At the International Spring Festival 2008, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso will grant the empowerment and commentary to the practice of Buddha Vajrapani.

The Festival will be held at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England.

Please visit the International Kadampa Buddhist Festivals website for more information and online booking.


Je Tsongkhapa Empowerment & Teachings on Mahumudra Tantra

Friday June 13 - Saturday June 15

Resident Teacher JoAnn Lawrence will grant the empowerment of Je Tsongkhapa and give commentary on the practice of Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka. Je Tsongkhapa is the supreme Spiritual Guide – an embodiment of the compassion, wisdom and spiritual power of all the Buddhas. If we rely upon him with faith, he will bestow these same extraordinary qualities upon us. These spiritual gifts will help us fulfill our deepest wish for lasting happiness, and give us the ability to help all living beings in the same way. Where is there kindness greater than this?

This empowerment gives us the ability to practice the profound meditations of Mahamudra Tantra.Mahamudra is the union of great bliss and emptiness – the very subtle mind that experiences great bliss and realizes ultimate truth. By enabling us to use the very subtle mind to meditate on ultimate truth, Mahamudra practice destroys all our delusions at their root and propels us quickly to the state of full enlightenment.

The Empowerment and teachings will be taking place on the 13-15th June in Naples and Fort Myers. This very special event requires booking in advance.

Please visit the Je Tsongkhapa Empowerment website for more information and online booking.


Shelter from the Storm ~ Refuge Ceremony and Teachings in Sarasota, Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Myers

A Special Day Course with Florida Resident Teachers
9:30am – 1:00pm, followed by lunch party
Saturday May 17 with JoAnn Lawrence at Samudrabadra Center
Saturday June 21 with Kadam Nick at Drolma Center
Saturday June 21 with Ricc Bishop at Vajrapani Center
Sunday June 22 with Gen Demo at Parbawatiya Center
Saturday June 28 with Kadam Nick at Drolma North East
Saturday June 28 with Gen Demo at Kadampa Meditation Center Florida

Everyone wants to feel confident and safe. Yet the world seems full of uncertainty. We often feel an underlying insecurity about our situation. As a result we seek shelter or protection in a number places and things, that only seem to offer temporary relief or safety from our mental and physical pain.

Buddha taught that there are reliable sources of protection that we can seek refuge in. He called these the Three Jewels, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

In this day course we will learn how to take refuge in the Three Jewels, Buddha the source of our spiritual instructions, Dharma the actual teachings and inner experiences of these teachings and Sangha the spiritual community that supports our spiritual practice. Buddhist practitioners take as their ultimate source of refuge these Three Jewels.

At the end of the day there will be the opportunity for those who wish to, to take Mahayana Refuge Vows.

Cost: $35 ( $20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price.

The events will be held at:

Samudrabadra Buddhist Center, Horizon Plaza, 16050 S Tamiami Trail, # 108, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Please call(239)567-9739 or email info@meditationinfortmyers.org to pre-register.

Drolma Buddhist Center, 140 W Prospect Rd, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Please call (954) 537-9191 or e-mail: drolma@meditationinflorida.org to pre-register.

Vajrapani Buddhist Center, 55 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32801. Please call (407) 245-7574 or email vajrapani@meditationinorlando.org to pre-register.

Parbawatiya Buddhist Center, 201 6th Ave S, Safety Harbor, FL 34695. Please call (727) 797-9770 or email parbawatiya@meditationinflorida.org to pre-register.

Drolma North East, UU Church, 7405 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville, FL 32211. Call (386) 246-4092 or (386) 793-3013 for more information.

KMC Florida, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234. Please call (941) 373-1600 or e-mail: kmc@meditationinflorida.org to pre-register.


International Summer Festival 2008 with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Empowerment and commentary on the practice of 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara, and commentary to the book Universal Compassion

Friday July 25 - Saturday August 9

At the International Summer Festival 2008, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso will grant empowerment and commentary on the practice of 1000 Armed Avalokiteshvara, and commentary to the book Universal Compassion.

The Festival will be held at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England.

Please visit the International Kadampa Buddhist Festivals website for more information and online booking.


Making Relationships Work ~ Half-Day Course in Fort Lauderdale

A Meditation Course at Drolma Buddhist Center
with Teacher Kadam Nick Gillespie
Saturday, August 23 at 9:30am-2:00pm

A half-day course using Buddha’s teachings to help us get along -- making friends and spiritual progress!

All of us – whether living alone or married with six kids – need good relationships. We need others for every aspect of our existence, both worldly and spiritual. On this course, we will look at ways to get along with each other and the rationale for doing so – combating a creeping global indifference with an ideology of love. We can learn to relish all our relationships and look forward to all our interactions, making our lives more meaningful and satisfying.

Everyone is welcome. No previous experience is necessary.

Cost: $35 ( $20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price.

Drolma Buddhist Center, 140 West Prospect Road, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Please call (954) 537-9191 to pre-register, or email drolma_admin@meditationinflorida.org


Making Relationships Work ~ Half-Day Course in Tampa Bay

A Meditation Course at Parbawatiya Buddhist Center
Sunday, August 24 2008, 9:30am-2:00pm

A half-day course using Buddha’s teachings to help us get along -- making friends and spiritual progress!

All of us – whether living alone or married with six kids – need good relationships. We need others for every aspect of our existence, both worldly and spiritual. On this course, we will look at ways to get along with each other and the rationale for doing so – combating a creeping global indifference with an ideology of love. We can learn to relish all our relationships and look forward to all our interactions, making our lives more meaningful and satisfying.

Everyone is welcome. No previous experience is necessary.

Cost: $35 ( $20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price.

Parbawatiya Buddhist Center, 201 6th Ave S, Safety Harbor, FL 34695. Please call (727) 797-9770 to pre-register, or email parbawatiya@meditationinflorida.org


Making Relationships Work ~ Half-Day Course in Sarasota

A Meditation Course at Kadampa Meditation Center Florida
Sunday, August 24 2008, 9:30am-2:00pm

A half-day course using Buddha’s teachings to help us get along -- making friends and spiritual progress!

All of us – whether living alone or married with six kids – need good relationships. We need others for every aspect of our existence, both worldly and spiritual. On this course, we will look at ways to get along with each other and the rationale for doing so – combating a creeping global indifference with an ideology of love. We can learn to relish all our relationships and look forward to all our interactions, making our lives more meaningful and satisfying.

Everyone is welcome. No previous experience is necessary.

Cost: $35 ( $20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price.

Kadampa Meditation Center, 2016 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234. To pre-register please call (941) 373-1600 or email kmc@meditationinflorida.org


Clear Light Mind ~ The six stages of training in Mahamudra Weekend Retreat in Tampa Bay

A Special Weekend Retreat at Parbawatiya Buddhist Center
Friday, September 26 6:00pm to Sunday, September 28 1:00pm

Mahamudra is a Sanskrit word that means union of bliss and emptiness, the very essence of Buddhist Tantric meditation.

During this weekend, we will finish covering the teachings on Mahamudra that Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso gave in 2006-2007. We will be guided in meditations to help us experience great bliss through the six stages of training in Mahamudra, emphasizing meditation on the conventional nature of the mind. This will be accompanied by teachings and meditations on how to realize ultimate truth, emptiness.

"If you realize your own mind, you will become a Buddha. You should not seek enlightenment elsewhere." Buddha Shakyamuni

"The real meaning of human life is finding and following the correct path to enlightenment, and the supreme path to enlightenment is Highest Yoga Tantra, especially Mahamudra Tantra."  Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Mahamudra Tantra

These teachings are open to everyone who wishes to learn how to meditate on the mind, and especially suitable for those who have attended a Je Tsongkhapa or Buddha Heruka empowerment.

Cost: $50 ($30 students/limited income) and includes some meals. Center Sponsors receive a discount. Enquire about available accommodations.

Parbawatiya Buddhist Center, 201 6th Ave S, Safety Harbor, FL 34695. Please call (727)797-9770 to pre-register, or email parbawatiya@meditationinflorida.org


A Pure Life ~ Lay Pratimoksha Vow Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale

A Special Course at Drolma Buddhist Center
with Resident Teacher Kadam Nick Gillespie
Saturday, October 25, 9:30am-2:00pm

If we become pure, our world becomes pure, and we experience pure happiness. The practice of pure moral discipline is the foundation of all other spiritual realizations. In particular, it is the essential basis for meditative concentration and wisdom.

One very important way to observe and improve our moral discipline is through taking and keeping vows, such as the refuge, Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Tantric vows. Committed lay Buddhist practitioners are encouraged to take and keep the lay Pratimoksha vows: to abandon killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants.

We are delighted that experienced teacher Kadam Nick Gillespie has agreed to grant the Pratimoksha vows at Drolma Center. During this special course she will also give particular advice to lay practitioners on practicing Pratimoksha discipline in their daily lives.

The day is open to all lay Buddhists, including those who would like to renew and strengthen their vows.

"For anyone who takes these vows, their life becomes pure." Ven. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso 2005

Cost: $35 ( $20 students/limited income) and includes a delicious vegetarian lunch! Center Sponsors receive a $25 discount off the regular course price.

Drolma Buddhist Center, 140 West Prospect Road, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Please call (954) 537-9191 to pre-register, or email drolma_admin@meditationinflorida.org


International Fall Festival 2008 with Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Empowerment and commentary to the practice of Prajnaparamita

October 31 - November 7

The 2008 International Fall Festival will be held in France.

Venerable Geshe Kelsang will grant empowerment and commentary to the practice of Prajnaparamita.

Please visit the International Kadampa Buddhist Festivals website for more information and online booking.