You are here: Home ›
Regular/Ongoing Classes
Mahakaruna Buddhist Center offers a variety of classes in several locations throughout Northern California and Nevada. Regular days, times and locations are described below. However, from time to time certain special events may require a change to our regular schedule. Please see our calendar to confirm the schedule for a particular day.
Introductory Classes:
The General Program (GP)
The General Program offers a basic introduction to Buddhist philosophy, meditation and practice that is suitable for beginners. It also includes advanced teachings and practices from both Sutra and Tantra, presented in ways that make them accessible to everyone. GP is an ideal starting point for those who would like to find out more about Buddhism and meditation.
Each General Program class offered by Mahakaruna Center is self-contained, and no prior experience or background is necessary. These classes are an ideal way to explore your interest in Buddhist meditation.
GP classes meet weekly in many locations (please be sure to check our calendar for last minute changes to the schedule):
- Davis, CA: Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm, Davis Healing Arts Center, taught by Edward Gutknecht
- Reno, NV: Monday evenings, 6:30-8:00pm, taught by Ace Remas
- Healdsburg, CA: Monday evenings, 7:30-8:45pm
- Santa Rosa, CA: Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:15pm, taught by Steve Pazin
- Sacramento, CA: Thursday evenings, 7:15-8:45pm, Sierra 2 Community Center, taught by Kelsang Daosang
- Napa, CA: Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:15pm, taught by Maxine Wright
- Petaluma, CA: Tuesdays 7:30-8:45pm taught by Daniel Potter and Wednesday 7:30-8:45 pm taught by Ace Remas
- Stockton, CA: Monday evenings, 6:15-8:45pm, Unitarian Church, taught by Kelsang Daosang
We suggest you make a donation of $10 for each class you attend.
Prayers for World Peace
A perfect Sunday morning activity, Prayers for World Peace is dedicated to manifesting world peace.
We all wish for world peace, but how can we expect the world to be at peace if we cannot establish peace within our own minds? World peace can not arise until our minds are at peace. In these sessions, we accept responsibility for our role in world peace by overcoming our own anger, ignorance and other negative states of mind, and developing instead great compassion for all living beings.
These drop-in meditation classes are open to everyone, regardless of experience. Please join us for a short inspirational talk, special prayers and guided meditation aimed at creating peace inside our hearts and thereby the world.
Prayers for World Peace meets in Petaluma every Sunday morning, 10:30-11:30. Prayers for World Peace are also performed on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 6:45pm at Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento. We suggest you make a donation of $5 for each session you attend.
Noontime Meditation
Offered Wednesdays from noon to 1:00 pm in Petaluma,
Noontime Meditation sessions are an excellent introduction to basic meditation, and a wonderful “bliss boost” in the middle of the day.
Meditation is suitable for everyone and brings many benefits that include improved concentration, a peaceful mind, a positive approach to difficulties and better relationships at work and home. These classes include methods for cultivating mental calm and clarity, special breathing meditations and techniques for progressing on the spiritual path.
Check out a session any Wednesday — whatever you find on that day will be just what you were looking for. We suggest you make a donation of $5 for each session you attend.
The Foundation Program (FP)
The Foundation Program is a structured study and meditation program. It enables us
to gain a deeper understanding and experience of Buddhist teachings, and to develop a regular
meditation practice. It is ideal for those who have a general understanding of Buddhism but who
wish to learn more.
Beginning April 20, 2008 we will be studying Joyful Path of Good Fortune. In this extraordinary book, Geshe Kelsang explains the Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment.
We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of good qualitites, but to fulfil this potential we need to know what to do at every stage of our spiritual journey.
With this book, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso offers us step-by-step guidance on the meditation practices that will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness. With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha's teachings in the order in which they are to be practiced, enriching his explanation with stories and analogies. A perfect guidebook to the Buddhist path.
The Foundation Program meets weekly in Petaluma: Sunday afternoons, 4:00-6:00. Anyone is welcome to attend any class. However, regular attendance requires enrollment. Please contact the Education Program Coordinator, , if you'd like to enroll.
For the benefit of those who can't make it to Petaluma weekly, these classes are recorded and uploaded to the internet. However, you must be enrolled in the class and make special arrangements with the Administrative Director, , in order to download the recordings.
We suggest that students participating in the Foundation Program make a donation of $80 per month, or $800 for a year. Please contact the Administrative Director, , if you'd like to attend FP classes regularly. Of course you're welcome and encouraged to attend a class or two to see if the Foundation Program is appropriate for you at this time.
The Teacher Training Program (TTP)
The Teacher Training Program is designed for people who wish to train as authentic
Dharma Teachers. We are currently studying Understanding the Mind. This book offers deep insight
into the nature and function of the human mind. We learn the relationship between our
mind and its external objects. If we understand that objects depend upon the subjective mind,
we can change the way objects appear to us by changing our own mind. Gradually, we will gain
the ability to control our mind and in this way solve all our problems.
The Teacher Training Program meets weekly in Petaluma: Thursday evenings, 7:00-9:00. Anyone is welcome to attend any class. However, regular attendance requires enrollment. Please contact the Education Program Coordinator, , if you'd like to enroll.
For the benefit of those who can't make it to Petaluma weekly, these classes are recorded and uploaded to the internet. However, you must be enrolled in the class and make special arrangements with the Administrative Director, , in order to download the recordings.
We suggest that students participating in the Teacher Training Program make a donation of $80 per month, or $800 for a year. Please contact the Administrative Director, , if you'd like to attend TTP classes regularly. Of course you're welcome and encouraged to attend a class or two to see if the Teacher Training Program is appropriate for you at this time.
Pujas
A puja is a chanted prayer to a specific Buddha, requesting that Buddha to bestow his or her blessings upon us. Pujas vary in length from one to four hours. All pujas are in English and are open to everyone. Even if you are just curious and would prefer only to listen and observe, feel free to drop by.
Regular pujas are practiced in Petaluma at the following times:
- Wishfulfilling Jewel: Every Friday evening, 7:30-8:30. Bring an offering if you wish.
- 35 Confession Buddhas: Every Thursday evening, 6:00-6:45
- Lama Chopa: The 10th and 25th of every month (see our calendar for times). Bring an offering if you wish.
- Protector Puja: The 29th of every month (see our calendar for times). Bring an offering if you wish.
We suggest you make a donation of $5 for each puja you attend.
Offerings
Physical offerings are usually small food items or flowers. Fruit, small baked goods (cookies, brownies, cupcakes), boxes of tea, even bars of chocolate are common offerings. Offerings are made, not because the Buddhas "need" offerings from us, but because we need to practice our own generosity and improve our ability to give.
Donations
Donations are not payments for classes, and you are welcome to attend any class, regardless of your ability to make a donation. Rather, donations are an expression of your kindness. Like all New Kadampa centers, Mahakaruna relies entirely on donations. Everything that Mahakaruna Center has to offer you now has been made possible by the kind and generous donations of others. Your kind donations will provide to those who come after you everything that has been provided for you. When you drop a donation in the jar, please think to yourself that you are offering the gift of Dharma or peace of mind to countless others who currently participate, or will participate, in the Center's activities.
