http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/ New Kadampa - Clear Light Buddhist Center en kelsanggamo3@gmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-06-28T00:32:01-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/everyone-is-welcome/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/everyone-is-welcome/#When:08:00:00Z New Summer Series: Learn to Meditate Living Meditation Series Beginning July 6 Mondays, 7-8:30pm ‘When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within.’ Series One: Meditation for Relaxation These meditations will help us to calm the mind, reduce stress, and create an experience of inner peace and well being.   Series Two: Meditations for a Kind Heart These meditations will help us to develop greater peace of mind, happiness, and to improve our relationships through learning to cherish others.   Series Three: Meditation for A Clear Mind Learn how to experience mental clarity and inner peace by meditating on the mind itself. Beginner Retreat:The Art of Meditation Saturday, July 25th, 10am - 2:30pm In this retreat you will learn why we meditate, how to meditate and how to overcome obstacles to meditation… 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. 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 Chandler, Prescott, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, and Fountain Hills. 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. 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/course-fees/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/course-fees/#When:00:32:01Z CLASSES: Sunday Morning Regular: $5 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: $5 $50 pledge: Included $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: Included General Program Regular: $10 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: 50% reduction $50 pledge: Included $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: Included Branch Classes Regular: $10 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: 50% reduction $50 pledge: Included $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: Included Lunchtime Meditations Regular: $4 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: 50% reduction $50 pledge: 50% reduction $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: 50% reduction FP & TTP Programs Regular: $65 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: $45 $50 pledge: Included $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: $65 INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS: 9:30am-12:30pm Regular: $20 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: 50% reduction $50 pledge: 50% reduction $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: Included DAY COURSES: 9:30am-4:30pm includes vegetarian lunch Regular: $45 Senior (Age 60+) & Students: 50% reduction $50 pledge: 50% reduction $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: 50% reduction RETREATS Regular: $3 session; $10/day; $50/week Senior (Age 60+) & Students: 50% reduction $50 pledge: Included $100 pledge: Included FP/TTP Student: Included EMPOWERMENTS: 10am-5pm includes vegetarian lunch Regular: $75 (early registration $65) Senior (Age 60+) & Students: $75 (early registration $65) $50 pledge: $75 (early registration $65) $100 pledge: $20 off regular or early registration FP/TTP Student: $75 (early registration $65) Upcoming Events 2009-06-28T00:32:01-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/other-locations/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/other-locations/#When:22:52:00Z All branches will resume in September. Please check back for our fall schedule Classes in your area 2009-06-27T22:52:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/guru-yoga-mandala-retreat2/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/guru-yoga-mandala-retreat2/#When:02:12:00Z During this retreat, we have an opportunity to strengthen our faith and connection with our Spiritual Guide.  By practicing Guru Yoga, we receive abundant blessings to help Dharma realizations grow in our hearts. By offering the universe as a mandala to our Spiritual Guide we accumulate vast amounts of merit.   SCHEDULE: Tuesday, August 25th – Friday August 26th: 7am, 10:30am, 3:30pm & 6:30pm Saturday, August 27th: 8am, 10:30am, 3:30pm & 6:30pm Sunday, August 28th: 8am, (10am Prayers for World Peace), 1pm, 3:30pm, & 6:30pm Monday, August 31st: 7am, 10:30am, 3:30pm (Last Session)   Registration: No registration is necessary. Each session is a $3 donation, $10/day or $50 for the week. Upcoming Events 2009-06-17T02:12:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/beginner-retreat-the-art-of-meditation/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/beginner-retreat-the-art-of-meditation/#When:23:37:00Z with Susan Stubler 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 and relaxation. In this retreat you will learn why we meditate, how to meditate and how to overcome obstacles to meditation. You will also learn three breathing/visualization meditations from the Meditation For Relaxation CD. This retreat is perfect for the beginner and for those who cannot attend our evening classes but wish to learn how to meditate. $30 (includes the price of the guided meditation CD)   Schedule 10am - 11am: Inner Peace 11:30am - 12:30pm: Pure Light 12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch Break 1:30pm - 2:30pm: Inspiration Upcoming Events 2009-06-15T23:37:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/living-meditation-series1/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/living-meditation-series1/#When:23:24:00Z Each class is $10 or $40 for each series (includes the guided CD and booklet) Mondays, 7:00pm-8:30pm Series One: Meditation for Relaxation with Susan Stubler These meditations will help us to calm the mind, reduce stress, and create an experience of inner peace and well being. July 6th: Inner Peace July 13th: Pure Light July 20th: Inspiration   Series Two: Meditations for a Kind Heart with Jack Lancaster These meditations will help us to develop greater peace of mind, happiness, and to improve our relationships through learning to cherish others. July 26th: Cherishing Others August 3rd: Taking Away Suffering August 10th: Giving Happiness   Series Three: Meditation for A Clear Mind with James Lane and Kadam Michelle Learn how to experience mental clarity and inner peace by meditating on the mind itself. August 17th: Body of Light (James) August 24th: Clarity (James) August 31st: The Root Mind (Kadam Michelle) Upcoming Events 2009-06-14T23:24:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/prayers-for-world-peace/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/prayers-for-world-peace/#When:03:38:00Z July 5th: Teaching & Tara Puja (one recitation of the praises) July 12th: Compassion July 19th: Taking July 26th: Wishing Love   August 2nd: Giving August 9th: Bodhichitta August 16th: Tranquil Abiding August 23rd: Superior Seeing August 30th: Reliance Upon a Spiritual Guide Upcoming Events 2009-06-14T03:38:00-05:00 http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/festivals-and-celebrations/ http://www.meditationinarizona.org/en/festivals-and-celebrations/#When:16:23:02Z International Festivals Spring Festival 2009 Summer Festival 2009 National Festivals Kadamp National Festivals Regional Festivals and Celebrations Coming soon! Festivals & Celebrations 2009-03-14T16:23:02-05:00