Pujas and Group Practice
To support students in their Buddhist practice, Tse Chen Ling offers an ongoing program of prayers, practices and ritual ceremonies especially from the tantric Tibetan Buddhist teachings. We also offer study and practice groups that combine discussion and practice allowing all levels of students to connect, learn, exchange and practice as a group.
A puja is a tantric ritual or ceremony done primarily to dispel obstacles that includes making offerings, reciting prayers, requests and mantras, and doing visualization. The literal meaning of puja is ‘to make offering.’
Within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, pujas are practiced in accordance with the lunar calendar on special Buddhist days of celebration. The rituals involve a gathering of the community to practice together, offering a way to connect as a group, help dispel obstacles for the center, and our own lives, or to help those facing illness and other difficulties as a way of generating compassion. Beginners welcome!
It is possible to sponsor a puja for yourself or a loved one facing serious illness or other difficulties, or at the time of death.
For further information, please email office@tsechenling.org or call (415) 621-4215.
| Medicine Buddha Puja |
Tuesday, August 24, 2:30 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Come join us in a practice devoted to the Medicine Buddha, especially dedicated to healing and for those who have died.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised us to do this practice every month on the 8th day of the Tibetan calendar for the flourishing of the Dharma.
Everyone is welcome to attend. For first-timers there is always someone here to explain what and why we do pujas.
Suggested donation: Free
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| Lama Chopa Tsog Offering |
Friday, September 3, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Twice a month, based on the Lunar Calender, Tse Chen Ling has a Lama Chopa Tsog Offering, which is one of the central practices of our tradition. Lama Chopa means, Offering to the Guru or Spiritual Guide, and it is a profound practice of both purification of negative karma and accumulation of positive energy or merit. During the Puja, or offering, extensive prayers are said to reaffirm our commitment to the spiritual path and seek inspiration from our teachers. Tsog means 'Gathering' and practitioners face one another throughout the practice, some of whom have ritual implements such as a Bell and Vajra and a Damaru (Ritual Drum) which are played at various parts of the Puja. At a certain point in the practice, having offered the offerings, they are distributed to everyone and you may partake of them. Most of the Puja is performed in Tibetan if Geshe-la (Our Resident Teacher) is present and there are books where attendees can refer to both languages. The page numbers are read aloud to keep everyone informed of where we are in the Puja, but the most important thing is to follow the Umze (head chant-leader, normally Geshe-la). Please feel free to bring offerings of flowers or food or anything else you would like to offer.
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| Green Tara Puja |
Wednesday, September 15, 2:30 pm
Teacher:
Karen Villanueva
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Green Tara Puja is a beautiful expression of the importance of the female principle within spiritual practice. We make extensive offerings, both imagined and real and recite the '21 Praises to Tara' which brings to mind the holy qualities that She embodies planting the seeds of enlightenment in our mind-stream. Mandala offerings are made several times throughout the Puja and are representative of offering the entire universe to Tara with all possible enjoyments and beauty. Her mantra Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha is recited and further connects us to the sacred feminine energy that She embodies and allows us to mindfully focus our energies on how to cultivate those qualities ourselves. Please feel free to bring offerings of flowers and food, (For this Puja we do not offer black foods such as eggs, onions, garlic or meat) Vegan sweets are good to offer.
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| Lama Chopa Tsog Offering |
Friday, September 17, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
Twice a month, based on the Lunar Calender, Tse Chen Ling has a Lama Chopa Tsog Offering, which is one of the central practices of our tradition. Lama Chopa means, Offering to the Guru or Spiritual Guide, and it is a profound practice of both purification of negative karma and accumulation of positive energy or merit. During the Puja, or offering, extensive prayers are said to reaffirm our commitment to the spiritual path and seek inspiration from our teachers. Tsog means 'Gathering' and practitioners face one another throughout the practice, some of whom have ritual implements such as a Bell and Vajra and a Damaru (Ritual Drum) which are played at various parts of the Puja. At a certain point in the practice, having offered the offerings, they are distributed to everyone and you may partake of them. Most of the Puja is performed in Tibetan if Geshe-la (Our Resident Teacher) is present and there are books where attendees can refer to both languages. The page numbers are read aloud to keep everyone informed of where we are in the Puja, but the most important thing is to follow the Umze (head chant-leader, normally Geshe-la). Please feel free to bring offerings of flowers or food or anything else you would like to offer.
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| Medicine Buddha Puja |
Thursday, September 23, 1:00 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
During the Medicine Buddha Puja, we offer prayers to the 7 Medicine Buddha's so that we may embody more of their healing energy and seek there blessings. A great practice for anyone who is sick or dying, or in need of healing energy. We dedicate the merit of this Puja to all those sentient beings who have passed and pray that they may find a precious human rebirth. There is a tradition of sponsoring Medicine Buddha Puja's for people that need the healing energy of this profound practice, if you would like to sponsor please contact Charles@Tsechenling.org
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Lha Bab Duchen Holy Day
Lord Buddha's Descent/16 Arhats Puja |
Friday, October 29, 5:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
On this merit-multiplying day where the effects of virtuous and non-virtuous karma (actions) are multiplied 10 million times we celebrate the descent of Lord Buddha from heaven to earth to once again turn the Wheel of Dharma after spending 3 month's in Tushita teaching his mother and the gods, having vowed to save her and all sentient beings from the pitiful samsaric state they were in. We celebrate the life and enlightened activities of Buddha Shakyamuni and perform the Extensive Offerings Ceremony at 5:30pm, following that at 7pm Geshe-la will lead us in the 16-Arhats Puja where we pray for the long lives of our teachers and invoke the energy of the 16-Arhats who manifest as keepers of the word of the Buddha. Feel free to bring offerings of candles, candies, fruit etc... for the altar.
Suggested donation: By Donation
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| Preparation for Lama Tsongkhapa Day |
Monday, November 29, 5:00 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
In preparation for Lama Tsongkhapa day, where we commemorate the life and enlightened activities of Je Tsongkhapa and his boundless kindness in developing the Lam Rim Teachings, giving us practitioner a sublime method for cultivating the realizations necessary to accomplish highest enlightenment for the benefit of others. We ask that all those able to volunteer for this amazing merit-multiplying day by helping us hang lights and set up the 1000 candle offerings as well as the puja set up. We also are going to be doing an extensive cleaning of the entire center so many hands are needed to accomplish this goal, please contact charles@Tsechenling.org, our Program Coordinator for more details and various task to be done and inquiries about sponsorship opportunities for the many offerings to be made on this holy day.
Suggested donation: volunteer time
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1000 Light Offerings-Lama Tsongkhapa Day
Extensive Offering Practice |
Tuesday, November 30, 11:00 pm
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
(11am-1:30pm) In commemoration of the great Lama Tsongkhapa, the illustrious founder of the Gelug tradition, we will offer 1000 light offerings thru the Extensive Offering Practice. After offering the lights thru that method, which is the best way to accumulate the most amount of merit we will will recite the following prayers in an extensive way: The Praise to Lama Tsongkhapa (Migtsema), The Glory of the Triple Ground, The Abbreviated Points of the Lam Rim, Destiny Fulfilled, The Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsongkhapa's Teachings, Je Tsongkhapa's Secret Biography and Dependent Arising: A Praise to Shakyamuni Buddha. By practicing in such an extensive way we make the strong aspiration to always be around the teachings of the Je Tsongkhapa so that we may gain further realizations of the path leading to full enlightenment. Set up for this Puja which is quite extensive will be done the night before (11/29 from 5-8pm) and will include extensive cleaning of the center, set-up for the light offerings and other lights (Xmas lights), and setting up the gompa for the following day. Please consider being a part of this meritorious activity by volunteering, please contact Charles our Spiritual Program Coordinator for more details including sponsorship of various offerings. Charles@Tsechenling.org
Suggested donation: By Donation
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Lama Chopa Tsog Offering
Lama Tsongkhapa Day |
Tuesday, November 30, 7:00 pm
Teacher:
Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa
Location:
Tse Chen Ling Center
On this date where we celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa day, remembering his great kindness in formulating the sublime system of Lam Rim teachings which systematized the teachings of Lord Buddha in a step-by-step manner allowing fortunate students of the dharma a method thru which realizations could be achieved. This tsog offering will be lead by Geshe Ngawang Dakpa. For more information about a Tsog Offering, please read the description below: Twice a month, based on the Lunar Calender, Tse Chen Ling has a Lama Chopa Tsog Offering, which is one of the central practices of our tradition. Lama Chopa means, Offering to the Guru or Spiritual Guide, and it is a profound practice of both purification of negative karma and accumulation of positive energy or merit. During the Puja, or offering, extensive prayers are said to reaffirm our commitment to the spiritual path and seek inspiration from our teachers. Tsog means 'Gathering' and practitioners face one another throughout the practice, some of whom have ritual implements such as a Bell and Vajra and a Damaru (Ritual Drum) which are played at various parts of the Puja. At a certain point in the practice, having offered the offerings, they are distributed to everyone and you may partake of them. Most of the Puja is performed in Tibetan if Geshe-la (Our Resident Teacher) is present and there are books where attendees can refer to both languages. The page numbers are read aloud to keep everyone informed of where we are in the Puja, but the most important thing is to follow the Umze (head chant-leader, normally Geshe-la). Please feel free to bring offerings of flowers or food or anything else you would like to offer.
Suggested donation: By Donation
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