Did you know that every single day at KPC, there is a group practice anyone can attend? Every day, there are opportunities to explore and learn about Tibetan Buddhism, get to know our community, and everyone is welcome.
If you’ve never been to a Tibetan Buddhist practice, here are some things you can expect:

Tibetan Buddhist practices are not quiet!

This is probably different from other religious services you’ve been to, or the way you may have seen it on TV or in the movies. Some practices have drums, cymbals, bells, or even conch shells being blown – sometimes all of them are being played at once!

Don’t worry if you don’t speak Tibetan – most of us don’t either!

Practices typically include meditation and lots of chanting, most of which is in Tibetan, but some is in English. Copies of the practices are available that include the written Tibetan, phonetic pronunciation of the Tibetan, and English translation. Don’t be embarrassed if you get lost – everybody has! The chant leader calls out page numbers when needed, or you can just ask someone near you and they will help.

In every practice, at some point, participants go quiet and recite mantra – sacred words and syllables – using their malas (prayer beads) to repeat the mantra at least 108 times.

Some practices also include food offerings, some of which will be given during the practice, some of which you can enjoy after the practice is over.

There is usually no “sermon,” what we call a teaching. Practices are not the same thing as teachings.

We hope you’ll stay to receive the blessing of the practice, but…

You can come and go as you please. You will not be disturbing anyone if you arrive after the practice has started or leave before it ends.

Sound fun? Join us! Here’s a schedule of our regular practices that anyone is welcome to attend. All times are in Eastern Time and subject to change. All lengths are approximate.

Practices and Activities have different purposes and meanings.

Here are more in depth descriptions of what we do and why, and where you can participate.

Chime Sog Tik

A guided meditation and offering puja (also called a tsog) practice dedicated to balancing Mother Earth’s elements. By meditating on earth, water, fire, wind, space and life force through your own body, you extend your life force and the planet’s.

  • Monday at 5:30pm
  • Wednesday at 4:30pm
  • Thursday at 5:30pm
  • Friday at 4pm

(Prayer Room, Zoom) 90 minutes

Condensed Medicine Buddha

Medicine Buddha is known specifically to help eliminate pain and sickness, purify disease, and restore health for both yourself and those whom you are practicing for. However, the practice is as much about the mind as it is the body. The practice purifies and removes the underlying, karmic causes of disease and cultivates the causes for holistic well-being.

Daily at 5:30pm

(Facebook Live, YouTube Live) 15 minutes

Drum Circle for Rain

At KPC, we drum while chanting mantra and praying for rain to ease drought conditions around the world. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and any drums and instruments you have – the more the merrier! If you don’t have any drums, there may be extra available. The Tara mantra is: Om Tare Tuttare Ture So Ha (pronounced om tar-ray too-tar-ray too-ray so-ha). To learn more about Tara, please visit Tara.org/deities-and-practices/tara/

  • Sunday at 11:30am – Peace Park Guru Rinpoche statue
  • Tuesday at 6:30pm – Totem pole in the back of the temple
  • Wednesday at 6pm – Totem pole in the back of the temple

45 Minutes

Guided Meditation

Shamatha meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice to calm and center the mind. Both relaxing and healing, this meditation can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their religious tradition. All are welcome whether new to meditation or regular practitioners looking for a supportive group with whom to sit.

  • Saturday at 10am
  • Sunday at 10am

(Prayer Room, YouTube Live)

50 minutes

P’howa

P’howa generates positive merit to help someone who has just passed away.

  • Monday at 10am
  • Thursday at 4pm

(Zoom)

1 hour

Rigdzin Dupa

Rigdzin Dupa, or “Gathering of Awareness Holders,” is a powerful practice that removes blocks to happiness, reduces mental suffering, restores broken spiritual promises, and creates compassion, peace and harmony. It also celebrates the masculine energy of method or compassion and is performed on Guru Rinpoche day (the 10th lunar day of the Tibetan calendar) to celebrate.

  • Sunday at 4pm (Peace Park at Guru Rinpoche statue weather permitting)
  • Tuesday at 7:30pm
  • Saturday at 12:20pm (immediately following Riwo Sang Chöd listed below)

(Prayer Room, Zoom)

90 minutes – 2 hours

Riwo Sang Chod

Riwo Sang Chöd is a smoke offering created by a fire built with wood, incense, and medicine. The smoke purifies past negative actions, cleanses the environment, increases health and prosperity, and stimulates world peace.

Saturday at 12pm (immediately followed by Rigdzin Dupa practice listed above)

(Outside and Inside Prayer Room Facebook Live, Zoom)

20 minutes

Teachings

Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo 

For nearly three decades, American-born lama, Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, has been transferring the meaning of Buddhism in the English-speaking world. She is cherished for the clarity, warm humor, and immediate practicality she brings to even the most subtle aspects of the Buddhist path. Her teachings, originally recorded over the span of more than 35 years, are rebroadcast on YouTube Live to make them freely available to anyone who wants to learn about the Dharma.

  • Sunday at 1pm
  • 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm

(YouTube Live)

1 hour

Khenpo Karze

Khenpo Karze offers regular Dharma teachings at KPC. He is knowledgeable, cheerful, open and delighted to engage with westerners, offering his wisdom from years of study at Namdroling in India. He is interested in all of Jetsunma’s activities, and is busy bringing the traditional Dharma teachings into the mandala on a regular basis to broaden our experiences.

  • Teachings – first and third Wednesday at 7:30pm
  • Q&A Session –  fourth Wednesday at 7:30pm

Registration required

(Prayer Room, Zoom – link provided upon registration)

90 minutes

Yumka

One of the most profound practices performed at KPC, Yumka celebrates the feminine energy of wisdom. The Yumka puja (also called tsog) creates positive energy and wisdom, purify past negative actions, and repair broken promises. The central meditation visualization is on the wisdom Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, foremost consort to Guru Rinpoche. The Yumka sadhana is renowned as a full path to enlightenment.

Yumka is celebrated on Dakini Day (the 25th lunar day of the Tibetan calendar) with a practice and tsog to celebrate the feminine energy of wisdom.

(Prayer Room, Zoom)

90 minutes – 2 hours

KPC Calendar

Our calendar has a complete and up-to-date list of times and locations for the practices.