Lunchtime Meditation
2023-02-14 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-02-07 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-31 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-24 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-17 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-10 12:30 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mahakankala Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1825 State Street Suite 202, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Tuesdays
Simply Breathe

Everyone is welcome to drop in at the Center for lunchtime meditations.
During these half hour sessions we are guided through a simple guided breathing meditation. This type of meditation is perfect for beginners and advanced meditators. By focusing on the breath all our worries, distractions, and obsessive ways of thinking fall away and we experience inner peace. Our mind is refreshed and relaxed and we’ll find it easier to deal with day to day stress.

Guided Lamrim Meditation
2023-02-13 18:30 - 19:45, 2023-02-06 18:30 - 19:45
Transform Your Life

In these meditation classes we will familiarize ourselves with the minds of Lamrim.

Lamrim is a special set of meditations presented by the Indian Buddhist Master Atisha and clarified by the great Tibetan Buddhist Master Je Tsongkhapa. Lamrim condenses all the essential teachings of Buddha into a practice that modern people can use in their daily life.

Each class begins with a guided breathing meditation, preparatory prayers, and culminates with a second meditation based upon the eveningâ€™s topic. Drop in to any or all classes in this course. Perfect for beginners or those with meditation experience.

Please arrive five minutes early to settle.
Suggested donation is $10.

Powa Prayers
2023-02-12 12:15 - 13:00
Through practicing transference of consciousness — known as ‘powa’ — with faith, compassion, and concentration we can transfer the consciousness of those recently deceased to a higher rebirth or to the Pure Land of a Buddha. The Powa Ceremony can be done either by a group of practitioners or individually on behalf of one or more deceased persons, or countless deceased beings. By engaging in this practice we also create a great collection of virtue, which will also lead us into the pathway to a Buddha’s Pure Land.
All chanted prayers are free.

Meditation for World Peace
2023-02-12 10:30 - 11:45, 2023-02-05 10:30 - 11:45
â€œWithout inner peace, outer peace is impossible.â€ ~
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche

Prayer and meditation are neither small nor passive actions. Rather, they are a force for change in our shared world. Join us to bring peace to our world through the action of meditation, and dedicating our prayers for world peace. Everyone is welcome â€“ you do not need to be a Buddhist to attend.
Class is $10, payable at the center or through our Donate page.

Each class consists of a guided breathing meditation, a short teaching on the practice of wisdom and compassion, and prayers (in English) to the Buddha of Compassion. Prayer booklets are available for use at the center. Prayer booklets and downloaded e-prayer booklets can be purchased HERE.

Lunchtime Meditation
2023-02-09 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-02-02 12:30 - 13:00
Thursdays
A Joyful Path

Everyone is welcome to drop in at the Center for lunchtime meditations.
Joy is a state of mind. In these lunchtime meditations we will hear about different Buddhist views that cultivate joyful minds. These Introductory meditations are based on Lamrim, the backbone of Kadampa Buddhism.

Wednesday Evening Meditation Class
2023-02-08 18:30 - 19:45, 2023-02-01 18:30 - 19:45, 2023-01-18 18:30 - 19:45, 2023-01-11 18:30 - 19:45
Class Fee $10 – Keeping a Balanced Attitude

It doesn’t matter what is going on in the world; we can have a peaceful, confident attitude if we loosen our tight grip on our worldly concerns. This doesn’t mean neglecting our responsibilities – it means having a balanced attitude that can accept the ups and downs of life.
Each class begins with a guided breathing meditation and culminates with a second meditation based upon the eveningâ€™s topic. There is no requirement to attend the the whole series.

Please arrive a few minutes early to settle.

Lunchtime Meditation
2023-02-08 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-02-01 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-25 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-18 12:30 - 13:00, 2023-01-11 12:30 - 13:00
Wednesdays
Stress Relief

Everyone is welcome to drop in at the Center for lunchtime meditations.
Let go of your stress and concerns, unwind, and enjoy a place of peace in the middle of your work week. In our busy lives, we need to nourish our mind as well as our bodies. Come enjoy a relaxing lunchtime break with a guided breathing meditation.

Foundation Program
2023-02-07 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-01-31 18:30 - 20:30
We are studying How to Understand the Mind by living Buddhist Master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. This book offers us deep insight into our mind, and shows us how an understanding of its nature and functions can be used practically in everyday experience to improve our lives.

Through systematic study and meditation on this program we can deepen our understanding and insight of Buddhaâ€™s teachings, gain confidence in our meditation practice, and transform our lives by transforming our own mind. By learning to understand our own experiences of difficulty, problems, and suffering, we will be better able to support to those around us, and impact their lives in a more positive, meaningful way.

This study program requires enrollment, with a commitment to attend scheduled classes. Classes meet on Tuesday nights. Please click here to learn more.

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Long Protector Puja
2023-01-29 15:00 - 18:30
This extensive sadhanaâ€”ritual prayers for spiritual attainmentsâ€”is called â€œKangsoâ€ in Tibetan, which means â€œFulfilling and Restoring Ritual.â€
Usually performed once a month in Dharma Centers in our tradition, it is used for fulfilling our heart commitment to practice Lamrim, Lojong, and Mahamudra, for restoring any degenerate or broken commitments we may have incurred, and to rely on the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, regarding him as inseparable from our Spiritual Guide and Buddha.
All chanted prayers are free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Amitayus Day-Retreat
2023-01-27 18:30 - 2023-01-28 18:00
The practice of the path of Buddha Amitayus is an auspicious start for our new year. Amitayus is the Buddha of Long Life, Great Wisdom and Good Fortune.
Friday introduction to the practice – 6:30-8pm with our Resident Teacher, Kadam Keli Vaughan.
On Saturday, the first three sessions will be guided. Prayers for this practice can be purchased in our bookstore or in a downloadable format HERE.

Saturday Retreat Schedule:
Session 1 10:00-11:15 am (guided session)
Session 2 11:45 am-1:00 pm (guided session)
Session 3 3:00-4:15 pm (guided session)
Session 4 4:45-6:00 pm (self-guided session)

$25 for retreat, including introduction to the practice
$15 for Friday only
Free for monthly members.

Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka Retreat
2023-01-20 18:30 - 2023-01-24 20:00
Suitable for Highest Yoga Tantra practitioners and those who have intention to receive HYT empowerments in UK in 2023.
Friday introduction to the practice – 6:30-8:00pm with our Resident Teacher Kadam Keli
Saturday
9-10am (guided session)
10:30-11:30am (guided session)
5-6pm (guided session)
6:30-7:45pm (self-guided session)
Sunday
9-10am (guided session)
10:30-11:30am (guided session)
5-6pm (guided session)
6:30-7:45pm (self-guided session)
Monday
5-6pm (guided session)
6:30-7:45pm (self-guided session)
Tuesday
5-6pm (guided session)
6:30-7:45pm (self-guided session)

Prayer booklets for the practice, Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land According to Highest Yoga Tantra, are available for purchase in our bookstore. This prayer also appears as an appendix in the texts The Oral Instructions of the Mahamudra and Mirror of Dharma with Additions.
Bring your mala for mantra recitation, or pick up a new one in our bookstore.

Cost for whole retreat $35
Friday introduction only $15
Free for monthly members

Quick Path to Great Bliss w/ Offerings
2023-01-10 18:00 - 20:30
*Highest Yoga Tantra practitioners only, please.

Blissful Path Retreat
2023-01-06 18:30 - 2023-01-08 19:45
Suitable for Highest Yoga Tantra practitioners and those who are planning on receiving HYT empowerments in UK in 2023.
Friday night introduction to the practice – 6:30-8:00pm with Resident Teacher Kadam Keli
Saturday
9-10am (guided session)
10:30-11:30am (guided session)
5-6pm (guided session)
6:30-7:45pm (self-guided session)
Sunday
9-10am (guided session)
10:30-11:30am (guided session)
5-6pm (guided session)
6:30-7:45pm (self-guided session)

Blissful Path prayer booklets are available for purchase in our bookstore. These prayers also appear as an appendix in the texts The Mirror of Dharma and Modern Buddhism.

Cost for whole retreat $25
Friday teaching only $15
Free for monthly members

Open Pre-Registration for Kids Meditation Class Series (click here for details)
2023-01-02 08:00 - 2023-01-07 17:00
This pre-registration window from January 2 through January 7 enables us to plan the Kids Class series according to actual number of registered attendees. No drop-in classes are available at this time. Pre-registration is for entire series.
Introduction to this series of classes will be 3:30-4:30pm on Monday, January 16…then we skip a week.
5-week series will commence on Monday, January 30 and finish Monday, February 27. Each weekly class is on Monday 3:30-4:30pm at our Center at 1825 State Street upstairs.
– Parent(s) must attend each class
– $120 per family
Please send a message to us through this form if you have questions or would like to register.
