http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/ New Kadampa - Clear Light Buddhist Center en jamesl@zipcon.net Copyright 2010 2010-03-10T05:12:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/everyone-is-welcome/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/everyone-is-welcome/#When:08:00:00Z Introductory Retreats and Workshops Intro Workshop: How to Meditate Saturday, March 27th, 9:30am – 3:30pm Healing Meditations – The Practice of Taking & Giving Saturday, April 24th, 9:30am – 12:30pm IntroWorkshop: Understanding Karma Saturday, May 15th, 9:30am – 12:30pm Intro Workshop: Understanding Reality Saturday, June 19th, 9:30am – 12:30pm ‘Cherishing others also protects us from the problems caused by desirous attachment. We often become strongly attached to another person who we feel will help us overcome our loneliness by providing the comfort, security, or excitement we crave. If we have a loving mind toward everyone, however, we do not feel lonely. Instead of clinging onto others to fulfill our desires, we will want to help them fulfill their needs and wishes’. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Eight Steps to Happiness Clear Light Buddhist Center Clear Light Buddhist Center is located at 614 E Townley Ave in Phoenix near Dunlap and 7th Street. Open to everyone, the Center offers meditation classes, a variety of introductory and in-depth courses, chanted prayers and retreats.  Classes take place in our beautiful meditation room and are suitable for all individuals whatever their level of interest, from those who seek simple relaxation to those who wish to find lasting inner peace and contentment through following the Buddhist path. Everyone is Welcome You are welcome to visit the Center - spend time in our inspiring meditation room, browse in our bookstore or speak with other practitioners from our community. Clear Light Buddhist Center was founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 2001 and is a member of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union (KMC-IKBU) a global network of over one thousand Centers and groups around the world. Classes in Buddhism and meditation are also offered in Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, North Scottsdale, Prescott, and Scottsdale. Clear Light Photo Album Photos from Clear Light Buddhist Center events and celebrations. Learn to Meditate Normally we seek happiness outside ourselves. We try to obtain better material conditions, a better job, higher social status and so forth. But no matter how successful we are in improving our external situation, we still experience many problems and much dissatisfaction. We never experience pure, lasting happiness. This shows us that we should not seek happiness outside ourself but instead establish it within by purifying and controlling our mind through sincere spiritual practice. If we train in this way we can ensure that our mind remains calm and happy all the time. Then, no matter how difficult our external circumstances may be, we will always be happy and peaceful. Make a tax-deductible donation to Clear Light Buddhist Center Main Menu pages 2007-10-30T08:00:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/clear-light-center-calendar/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/clear-light-center-calendar/#When:21:34:00Z **Starred events have prerequisites for attendance Main Menu pages 2007-06-01T21:34:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/how-to-meditate/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/how-to-meditate/#When:01:43:00Z The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness; but if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions. If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances. Usually we find it difficult to control our mind. It seems as if our mind is like a balloon in the wind – blown here and there by external circumstances. If things go well, our mind is happy, but if they go badly, it immediately becomes unhappy. For example, if we get what we want, such as a new possession or a new partner, we become excited and cling to them tightly. However, since we cannot have everything we want, and since we will inevitably be separated from the friends and possessions we currently enjoy, this mental stickiness, or attachment, serves only to cause us pain. On the other hand, if we do not get what we want, or if we lose something that we like, we become despondent or irritated. For example, if we are forced to work with a colleague whom we dislike, we will probably become irritated and feel aggrieved, with the result that we will be unable to work with him or her efficiently and our time at work will become stressful and unrewarding. Such fluctuations of mood arise because we are too closely involved in the external situation. We are like a child making a sand castle who is excited when it is first made, but who becomes upset when it is destroyed by the incoming tide. By training in meditation, we create an inner space and clarity that enables us to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances. Gradually we develop mental equilibrium, a balanced mind that is happy all the time, rather than an unbalanced mind that oscillates between the extremes of excitement and despondency. If we train in meditation systematically, eventually we will be able to eradicate from our mind the delusions that are the causes of all our problems and suffering. In this way, we will come to experience a permanent inner peace, known as “liberation” or “nirvana”. Then, day and night in life after life, we will experience only peace and happiness. To read more on this subject, see The New Meditation Handbook, Transform Your Life, and Eight Steps to Happiness. Meditation, Helpful Links 2007-05-02T01:43:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/clear-light-photo-album/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/clear-light-photo-album/#When:05:12:00Z Oracle Mountain Retreat, January 8-10, 2010 The first annual January retreat in Oracle, AZ provided Dharma practitioners with perfect conditions to concentrate more fully on the practice of Mahamudra. View photos here: Oracle Mountain Retreat Clear Light Center 2010-03-10T05:12:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/introductory-workshop-understanding-reality/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/introductory-workshop-understanding-reality/#When:08:21:01Z All of our suffering comes from our ignorance of not understanding how things exist. Understanding Buddha’s most profound teachings on the ultimate nature of reality will free us from our delusions and suffering. Saturday, June 19th, 9:30am – 12:30pm Registration: $20, Please register in advance. Free for FP/TTP and pledge members. Meditation 2010-02-13T08:21:01-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/introductory-workshop-understanding-karma/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/introductory-workshop-understanding-karma/#When:07:13:00Z The teachings on karma help us to understand the relationship between our actions and what we experience. If we understand karma we can understand which actions are the causes of happiness and which actions are the causes of suffering. With this wisdom we can begin to create the happiness and seek and avoid problems and difficulties. This workshop offers an in-depth explanation of karma and includes guided meditation. Saturday, May 15th, 9:30am – 12:30pm Registration: $20, Please register in advance. Free for FP/TTP and pledge members. Meditation 2010-02-13T07:13:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/healing-meditations-the-practice-of-taking-and-giving/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/healing-meditations-the-practice-of-taking-and-giving/#When:06:10:00Z Combining breathing meditation with the practice of taking and giving has the power to transform our mind from its present suffering and self-centered state into the blissful and altruistic mind of a Bodhisattva. It improves our concentration, makes our love and compassion very strong and accumulates vast merit. In this way the simple act of breathing is transformed into a powerful spiritual practice. Meditating on taking and giving can also be very effective in curing disease. By taking on the sickness and suffering of others with a mind of compassion we can purify the negative karma that causes the continuation of our disease. Saturday, April 24th, 9:30am – 12:30pm Registration: $20, please register in advance.  Free for FP/TTP and pledge members. Meditation 2010-02-13T06:10:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/introductory-workshop-how-to-meditate/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/introductory-workshop-how-to-meditate/#When:05:59:01Z This workshop offers a more in-depth explanation on how to meditate. It will include teachings on setting up a shrine, the meaning of the prayers for meditation as well as how to engage in 21 Lamrim meditations from the New Meditation Handbook by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Everyone is welcome. Saturday, March 27, 9:30am – 3:30pm Registration: $40, please register in advance. Free for FP/TTP and pledge members. The cost includes a vegetarian lunch. Upcoming Events 2010-02-13T05:59:01-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/refuge-retreat/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/refuge-retreat/#When:05:45:00Z Sunday, March 14th – Friday, March 19th Everyone takes refuge in something or someone because everyone experiences fear and difficulties. Often the things we turn to for refuge only provide a temporary relief from our problems. During this retreat we will establish a strong refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.  Our real refuge, what actually protects us, are the Dharma realizations within our own mind. It is this Dharma wisdom that takes away the main source of all our problems, the delusions. We gain these realizations by relying upon Buddha-his teachings and blessings and the Sangha-the spiritual community that inspires us and helps us in our practice. Session Times: Mon-Fri:  7:00am, 10:30am, 3pm, 5:30pm Sunday: 7am, 10am Prayers for World Peace, 3:30pm & 6:30pm Registration: Full retreat ($55), Per day ($10), Per Session ($3). Reduced donation for students/seniors. Free for CLBC FP/TTP students and pledge members. Refuge Vow Ceremony Refuge Vow Ceremony will be on March 13st, 10:am-1pm:  Kadam will give an introduction to Buddhist Refuge Vows and will offer a traditional Refuge Ceremony. Cost: $25 Upcoming Events 2010-02-13T05:45:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/mahayana-refuge-vow-ceremony/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/mahayana-refuge-vow-ceremony/#When:05:40:00Z Mahayana Refuge Vow Ceremony March 13st 10:00am - 1:00 pm. Cost: $25 By taking refuge vows we enter into the gateway of Buddha Dharma and become a Buddhist. This special ceremony is for those wishing to commit to the Buddhist spiritual path. There will be an explanation of refuge and the twelve refuge vows, and for those who wish to do so, there will be the opportunity to take vows. Upcoming Events 2010-02-13T05:40:00-05:00