Karma Thegsum Choling Jacksonville invites you to join us for our annual First Light Prayers for World Peace in our new home on New Years Day, Monday, January 1st 2024 at 10:30am.

We continue a tradition that began in 2000 with the aspiration of bringing peace into our daily lives and to the world. Part of His Holiness Karmapas’ activity is to point the way to living a life of love and compassion, to teach us to protect our environment and to provide the light of wisdom. Lamp offerings have special meaning in this regard: shining the light on our inner wisdom and reminding us of the clear path to living each day to create a life of peace.

We invite you to light your lamps of peace — to join in our offering and prayers to help the light of wisdom reach all corners of the world.

Together we celebrate First Light with KTD Monastery, other KTC Centers, and Buddhist communities around the world. Let us together make aspirations, dedications, offerings, and prayers for World Peace and happiness to reach all corners of the world. We will chant the traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayers of the Amitabha sadhana, followed by a lamp offering ceremony dedicated to those we may wish to remember who have passed away, those who are ill, and all beings who may suffer. Each participant will have the opportunity to light a candle for his or her own loved ones, make aspirations, or offer prayers.

First Light is also an auspicious occasion to renew our commitment to practice for the benefit of all sentient beings & to make offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as represented by our shrine. Making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is considered highly meritorious and an effective way of removing obstacles. Participants are encouraged to bring individual offerings: particularly flowers, fruit, sweets, baked treats, or monetary offerings. This too is considered especially meritorious. We ask that those bringing offerings please try to arrive around 9:30 am in order for offerings to be placed and the shrine properly prepared by volunteer shrinekeepers.

Following the ceremony we will hold a vegetarian potluck luncheon to which all are welcome. Please feel free to bring a vegetarian dish of your choice. You do not have to be Buddhist to attend. We welcome all interested in learning more about Buddhism.

If you would like to attend on zoom use the following link:

Zoom link to attend:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81838910616?pwd=YkN4OGlxQURHNklpYUtXcmg5NWlTdz09

Karma Thegsum Choling Jacksonville warmly invites you on Saturday, October 21st to a teaching on the Riwo Sangcho practice taught by Lama Karma Drodhul and Lama Losang. Lama Karma will teach on the text of this practice over Zoom and then after lunch, Lama Losang will lead us in the Sangcho practice at KTC Jacksonville. From beginners to experienced meditators, everyone is welcome to attend. We hope that after learning the Sangcho practice from our Lamas, we can regularly engage in the practice as a community at KTC Jacksonville.

About Riwo Sangcho: The smoke offering, called the “sang offering” is a Tibetan Buddhist practice consisting of offering prayers and fragrant incense smoke outside. It is a practice that Tibetan Buddhists have engaged in for over a thousand years.

Riwo Sangcho is a powerful way of removing obstacles before any special activity and performed daily at Tibetan monasteries. This offering enriches one’s environment, pacifies negativities, and increases our awareness of the suffering of all beings, which helps us cultivate a compassionate heart.

Schedule:

10am-12pm: Instruction on the Riwo Sangcho text led by Lama Karma

12pm-1pm: Lunch Break

1pm-2pm: Engaging in the Riwo Sangcho practice led by Lama Losang

$30 suggested donation $25 for members. Please consider a $50 donation to be a teaching sponsor.

In person registration

Zoom registration

ABOUT LAMA KARMA: Lama Karma is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and past president of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery in Woodstock, NY. He also is the nephew of KTD’s first Abbot, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, and assisted Khenpo Rinpoche at KTD. As a youth, Lama Karma excelled in all aspects of dharma study at Thrangu Monastery and Thrangu Rinpoche sent him to the United States. to deepen his understanding of the dharma under the tutelage of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche.

In March 2004, Lama Karma completed his first, and in February 2008 his second, traditional three-year, three-month retreat under Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche at Karme Ling Retreat Center. He has traveled to centers throughout North and South America to teach for the past 10 years. He was appointed as the president of KTD by H.H Karmapa in September of 2018 and completed his term in September 2021.

Karma Thegsum Choling Jacksonville is happy to announce that Vajra Master Lopön Tobden will be visiting us for the first time August 29th-31st. It is an honor to have such an accomplished teacher visit our center as part of his tour of the KTCs. We hope you will join us for this special weekday event. He will be assisted by translator Khenpo Sangye Trinley of KTD Monastery in Woodstock, NY.

PUBLIC TALK:

August 29th, Tuesday Night 7:00-8:30pm Being Fearless In Our Meditation Practice

The evening topic will cover Meditation, Buddhist Refuge and working through difficult emotions.

$10 suggested donation

TEACHING: August 30th, Wednesday Night 7:00-9:00pm

Green Tara Sadhana – 21 Praises to Tara

The topic will be the 21 Praises to Tara, recited during the Green Tara Sadhana. This practice is done the first Saturday of the month at KTC Jax and helps remove obstacles within our lives and practice.

Prerequisite: It is preferred for the practitioner have Refuge or plan on taking Refuge Thursday if attending this teaching.

$25 suggested donation ($20 for members)

Refuge and Green Tara Empowerment: August 31st, Thursday Night 7:00-8:30pm

ABOUT Lopön Tobden: Vajra Master (Lopön) Lama Tobden from Qinghai Thrangu monastery was born in 1975 at Punang near Princess Wencheng Temple in the north of Jiegu, Ga District.

He began his dharma studies at the age of eight, and at the age of 16 he received his initial monastic vows at Thrangu Tashi Monastery. After completing the traditional Karma Kagyu three-year retreat, he served as monastery chanting master (Umdze). He received his full monastic ordination from Thrangu Rinpoche, and attended Thrangu Monastic Buddhist College, completing his studies after three years. Afterward he made pilgrimages to many holy places and received many teachings from distinguished Buddhist masters.

In 2007, Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche and Lodro Nyima Rinpoche jointly appointed Lama Tobden as the Vajra Master (Lopön) of Thrangu monastery, and he has held this position ever since.

In 2016, Lama Tobden came to KTD with Lodro Nyima Rinpoche to help KTD start the practice of the Thrangu Tsedrup Tabshé Khajor (Longevity Practice: Union of Skillful Means and Insight. In 2017 he returned to assist with the consecration of KTD’s Eight Stupas.

In July of 2019, at the invitation of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Lama Tobden visited KTD to give the reading transmission of Karma Chakme Rinpoche‘s Complete Works for two months. Shortly after the completion of this transmission Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche passed into parinirvana, and Lama Tobden remained to organize and lead the 49 days of prayers and ceremonies that accompanied Khenpo Rinpoche’s cremation.

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche has praised Lama Tobden in his public talks, calling him a truly qualified vajra master of the lineage. With his rich and profound knowledge, his devotion and tireless effort in the service of Dharma and his many naturally displayed qualities, Lama Tobden has touched Khenpo Rinpoche‘s students’ hearts and inspired their admiration.

If you have further questions please e-mail info@ktcjax.org