This Week at Kurukulla Center                           September 20, 2010 - September 26, 2010
From the Director


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 Dear Kurukulla Community,


Thank you for your interest in and support of the Center.


Geshe-la UpdateGeshe Tsulga-la

This Sunday Geshe Tsulga-la finished teaching Chapter 9 of Guide to the Bodhisattvas' Way of Life.  In doing so we are reminded of his commitment and generosity to all of his students, especially in context of his continued physical frailty.  Despite having physical discomfort, Geshe-la has been particularly jovial these past few days and continues to circumambulate regularly. 

Our offerings of prayers and practice for his continued health and long life are especially important and meaningful.  Thank you for all that you do.  Contact us for more information, and please remember to let us know your weekly tallies. This week's tallies are:

Vajrapani  mantras - 13 malas
White Tara mantras - 94 malas
Golden Light Sutra - 3 recitations

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Stupa Update

Although the Kalachakra Stupa for Peace at Kurukulla Center has already been consecrated and blessed, work is not quite finished yet and continues to move forward.  Our gate has been newly painted, and the Tara palace and pond have begun to be painted and have additional ornamentation added.
Back Gate
Tara Palace

Tara Palace detail

As work moves forward, we haven't yet raised all of the necessary funds for the successful completion of the entire project.  As Choden Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche both emphasized in their teachings, the benefits of stupas are myriad and vast, and the completion of our stupa will be of immeasurable benefit not just to our Center members or the neighborhood, but to all sentient beings.  I invite you to make an offering to assist in the successful completion of this project, which you can do in any of the offering boxes at the Center or online via PayPal.  Be sure to include "stupa" in the Memo line.  


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Global Sanghata Sutra Recitation Day

This Tuesday, September 21, is a Global Sanghata Sutra Recitation Day.  For more information, please visit the Sanghata Sutra website. While we have nothing organized to happen at the Center, Kurukulla Center member Michele Schmalvogl has invited anyone who wishes to attend to a recitation at her home in Watertown, starting at 7:30 pm.  The recitation takes about two hours, and you will need your own copy of the text, which you can download from the FPMT website.

Please email Michele at mschmalvogl@yahoo.com or call her at 417.840.1095 if you are interested in attending or if you have any questions.  Buses 57, 71 and 70 all stop near her home.
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Kurukulla South

Several people have asked about classes south of Boston, for people who live in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With this in mind, it is with great pleasure that we would like to announce Kurukulla South! 
Tsultrim Davis
Our co-Spiritual Programming Coordinator, Tsultrim Davis, will begin teaching introductory classes on Tuesday nights starting September 28 at Dancing Crow Yoga Studio in Hingham, MA.   

You can download a flier with more information for these classes here.  Spread the word! We are hoping for auspicious turnout as we launch this new venture for Kurukulla Center. Please post and circulate the flier anywhere you think it might be of benefit, and as always, feel free to email us with any questions. 

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Monthly Book Club

The next book club with Tsunma-la will meet on October 2, and the book will be Blue Poppy and the Mustard Seed. Please visit our calendar for more information. 


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Thank you again for your wonderful support.


Much love,


Sean-la

  Sean Gonzalez
  Assistant Director
Calendar of Events

Monday, September 20

Introduction to Buddhism with Ven. Ani YesheAni Yeshe-la
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Introduction to Buddhism is an on-going series. Each class introduces a new topic as a way of providing newcomers a broad overview of Buddhism. The course is designed for those who are new or newly acquainted with the Center to hear basic Buddhist teachings, ideas and concepts, especially those emphasized by our resident lama (teacher), Geshe Tsulga. Bring all your questions. It is fine to attend any class without having attended prior classes. All welcome!

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Tuesday, September 21

Morning Meditation with Tsunma-la (Sue Macy)Ani Tsunma-la
6:30 am to 7:00 am
Start your day on the right foot by calming your mind, setting your day's purpose to be a meaningful one and remembering to just breathe! Resident nun Tsunma-la leads basic meditations that help stabilize the mind by learning to focus on the breath. By using these simple techniques, you can bring a sense of tranquility to your day. If you plan to join Tsunma-la in the meditation hall (gompa) at Kurukulla Center please arrive a few minutes early. We will start promptly at 6:30 am. Feel free to listen live online.

Yoga & Meditation with Wendy CookWendy-la
7:00 pm to 8:45 pm
These classes include therapeutic movements, standing postures, back strengthening postures and hip openers. The last twenty minutes are spent in guided meditation, including breath awareness, visualization, and analytical techniques to enhance our inner good qualities. Suitable for both experienced and new students, you are welcome to attend on a drop-in basis. Please arrive a few minutes early and wear comfortable, fitted and modest clothing.

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Wednesday, September 22

Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas with Venerable Geshe TenleyGeshe Tenley-la
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Geshe-la continues an explanation of the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas by Togme Sangpo (1245-1369.) Come and discover what it means to model your actions after those of a bodhisattva. All are welcome. A copy of the text will be distributed in class and a commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is available on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website. Other contemporary commentaries are available for purchase in our bookstore. Feel free to listen live online.

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Thursday, September 23

Medicine Buddha Puja (Full Moon)Medicine Buddha
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Puja is a Sanskrit word that means pleasing by making offerings. Making offering prayers to the Medicine Buddhas is the same as offering to numberless buddhas and brings inconceivable merit like the limitless sky. The special mantra of the Medicine Buddha quickly actualizes prayers that the Medicine Buddhas made in the past: to bring happiness to all beings by showing them the causes of enlightenment, pacifying their problems, fulfilling their positive wishes and, especially, helping those afflicted by illness. The Medicine Buddha practice is extremely powerful and beneficial for the sick and dying, helps those who have already passed away, allows those practicing healing methods to benefit others more profoundly and helps bring success in general. We dedicate the merit from this practice to the full recovery and long-life of our precious resident teacher Geshe Tsulga.

All are welcome.

To create merit for yourself and others we recommend that you bring offerings for the altar; these offerings then become the basis for the visualized offerings made during the puja. Cookies, fruit, flowers, tea lights (unscented) and saffron are suggested.

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Friday, September 24

Morning Meditation with Tsunma-la (Sue Macy)
6:30 am to 7:00 am
Start your day on the right foot by calming your mind, setting your day's purpose to be a meaningful one and remembering to just breathe! Resident nun Tsunma-la leads basic meditations that help stabilize the mind by learning to focus on the breath. By using these simple techniques, you can bring a sense of tranquility to your day. If you plan to join Tsunma-la in the meditation hall (gompa) at Kurukulla Center please arrive a few minutes early. We will start promptly at 6:30 am. Feel free to listen live online.

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Sunday, September 26

Teaching with Venerable Geshe TsulgaGeshe Tsulga-la
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Geshe-la completed the ninth chapter of Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life this morning, and we will be announcing the new class this week. Feel free to listen live online.


     Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies
     68 Magoun Avenue
     Medford, MA 02155
     617.624.0177
     http://www.kurukulla.org
May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes!