CHENREZIG Sand Mandala

presented by Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center

at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

February 4-9, 2018

A Chenrezig sand mandala of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition will be constructed by TRTCC resident teacher Venerable Lama Kalsang and visiting teacher Venerable Lama Sonam from Sunday to Friday, February 4-9, 2018, with the opening ceremony on Sunday, February 4th, starting at 10am, and the dissolution ceremony on Friday, February 9th, 10am-noon. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is located at 6300 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

 

Pittsburgh Center For the Arts will open for this Sand Mandala event for these hours:
Sunday-Thursday
February 4-8, 10am-5pm;
Friday February 9, 10am-Noon.
Admissions are free.
Donations are welcome.

 

 

Lama Sonam and Lama Kalsang will work on the Sand Mandala everyday from 10AM – 3:30PM.
At 4PM, Lama Sonam will give a short teaching followed by a period of meditation.

The sand mandala being built here is the mandala of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit), the Buddha of Compassion. The outermost ring of the mandala is a ring of fire. Just inside that is a lotus ring. The central form is the dwelling place, with four gates, each representing a cardinal compass direction and each having its own iconographic significance. Banners fly from the corner ramparts, flanking auspicious parasols. Imagine it coming up into three dimensions. The lotus in the center represents the wisdom seat of the Buddha Chenrezig.

On Friday, February 9th, 2018, at 10AM, the mandala is dissolved to allow the blessings of its making to be shared through the sand from which it was built.  Some of the sand is given to those in attendance.  The remainder is released into a body of water so that the blessings of the mandala will be carried widely to all beings and bring peace to the world.  The sand from this mandala will be taken to the Point and released into the three rivers.  You are also invited to attend that ceremony.

Please help us to spread the words.  To download a flyer please click:  Mandala flyer

 

 ALL ARE WELCOME

 

Your donations to Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center will help sustain TRTCC’s many teaching and cultural events year round. Our heartfelt thanks to your continual supports to TRTCC!

Nyungnay Fasting Retreat at TRTCC

January 13-14, 2018

Saturday, January 13,  7-8:30pm
Sunday, January 14, 
10am-12:30pm
1:30-4pm

NYUNGNAY is a fasting silent retreat focusing on the cultivation of loving-kindness, compassion and Bodhicitta and purifying negative past actions. Participants of this retreat at Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center will observe eight vows in a 24-hour period, practicing meditation, visualization and mantra recitation of the Thousand-Armed Chenrezig.

This retreat will be led by our new resident teacher Venerable Lama Kalsang, who came to TRTCC from Nepal in November 2017.

On Saturday from 7-8:30pm, Lama Kalsang will give us instructions on how to observe the eight vows during the retreat. On Sunday, participants will observe the vows and start the fasting for a 24-hour period. TRTCC will provide fresh fruit and light yogurt in the morning and during lunch time. This practice is purposefully designed for lay people and is very popular in Tibet. The physical fasting helps to overcome obscurations of the body; the silence helps to purify obscurations of speech; the one-pointed concentration purifies obscurations of the mind.

We invite you to join us and participate in this special one-day retreat for the benefits of oneself and all.

To download a flyer: Nyungnay Retreat Jan13 2018 flyer

 

 ALL ARE WELCOME

 

As always, your donations to our center will help sustain TRTCC’s many teaching and cultural events year round.  Our heartfelt thanks to your continued supports to TRTCC!

Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center  is located at: 7313 Florence Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15218

 

Dakini Day Practice: Guru Rinpoche

led by Venerable Khenpo Choephel

 November 18, 2017,  7-8:30pm

Our monthly Dakini Day GURU RINPOCHE Practice will be this Tuesday, November 18, at 7pm.  Dakini Day is on the 10th day of each month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.

We will have opening prayers on bodhicitta and refuge prayers, and a special text on the practice of Guru Rinpoche.  Ven. Khenpo Choephel will guide us on the visualization, meditation, chanting of mantra, TSOK (food offering), and dedication of merits.  

 

 ALL ARE WELCOME

 

Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center  is located at: 7313 Florence Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15218

 

Wednesday Deity Practice: Manjushri

led by Venerable Khenpo Choephel

 November 15, 2017,  7-8:30pm

Our weekly Deity Practice is on Manjushri tonight.

Manjushri is the embodiment of Perfect Wisdom.

The iconography of Manjushri is often depicted as wielding a flaming sword in the right hand which cuts through ignorance and delusion, and holding in the left hand a lotus flower containing the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, the Sutra of the Perfection of (Transcendent) Wisdom.

How do we practice perfecting actions of our body, speech, and mind as guided by wisdom?  Our practice starts with opening prayers on bodhicitta, meditation on the nature of our mind, visualization, chanting of mantra, and finally, the dedication of merits to benefit all beings.

 

 ALL ARE WELCOME

 

Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center  is located at: 7313 Florence Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15218

 

Continuation on the Teaching on Lord Jigten Sumgön’s “Bestowed Words of Essential Point“

by Venerable Khenpo Choephel

Sunday, November 19, 2017, 10am-noon, 2-4m**

Lord Jigten Sumgön Ratna Shri (1143-1217) is the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and one of the most accomplished teachers and scholars of the lineage.  This year marks the 800th anniversary of his passing.  To commemorate his great achievements TRTCC‘s spiritual director venerable Khenpo Choephel will give two special teachings on the “Bestowed Words of Essential Point” based on the collected teachings of Jigten Sumgön written in Tibetan.  This is the second one on this.

According to the comments of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön’s teachings were “his personal and direct experience shared with his closest disciples.”  They were continuation of the wisdom teachings of the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni through the Drikung Kagyu lineage masters: Great Marpa Lotsa, Milarapa, Lord Gompopa and Pakmodrupa.

To download a flyer: Jigten Sumgon Nov19 2017 flyer

TRTCC Annual General Meeting Sunday Nov 19,  Noon – 2pm

You are all invited to join us on November 19 for this teaching event.  A simple vegetarian lunch will be provided. During our lunch break the TRTCC board will conduct our Annual General Meeting and present a report of our center’s 2017 activities and future direction.  All friends of TRTCC past and present are invited to attend.

 ALL ARE WELCOME

As always, your donations to our center will help to sustain TRTCC’s many teaching and cultural events year round.  We are a charitable non-profit organization and do not charge admission fees for attending our teaching events but rely solely on your voluntary donations.  We appreciate your support to further our mission to cultivate compassion and wisdom through Tibetan Buddhist teachings and meditation practices.

Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center  is located at: 7313 Florence Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15218

**New Ending time has been changed from 5pm to 4PM

The 800th Commemoration of Lord Jigten Sumgön’s Maha Parinirvana

Teachings and ceremonies are live-streamed from October 19-25 2017 between 9am-5:30pm (local time) from Dehradun, India

Our beloved teachers Venerable Garchen Rinpoche and Venerable Konchog Gyaltsen Khenchen Rinpoche at the 800th Maha Parinirvana Commemoration of Lord Jigten Sumgön in Dehradun, India.
http://facebook.com/Drikung.live

 ALL ARE WELCOME

Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center’s Picnic Practice at Frick Park

with Venerable Khenpo Choephel

Sunday, October 15, 2017, 10am-12:30pm

 ALL ARE WELCOME

• Parking is plenty on Beechwood Blvd.
• Enter at Beechwood and Nicolson Street (the Blue Slide Park of Frick Park)
• Walk straight along the main road (Riverview Trail)
• When seeing the big Riverview Trail sign on your left, DO NOT go down onto that trail but continue a few more yards and walk up a grassy slope. Our destination (the red circled area on the map — click here to download: Frick Park TRTCC Picnic direction ) is at the top of the slope with a wide open view on a flat grassy high ground.
• The total walking time from entrance to destination shou(ld be about 10-15 min. (We will put up a sign to direct you.)
• Practice will start at 10am, and plan to be there a little earlier to get settled in first.
• Bring what you need to make a seat on the grass— mats, cushions, a picnic blanket, folding chairs, etc. or just simply sit on the grass, and wear comfortable clothing.
• Wear a hat if you don’t want too much sun. Bring your water bottle.
• Bring some picnic food that’s easy to carry: fruit, crackers, sandwiches, trail mix, nuts, etc.
• ALL ARE WELCOME. Encourage or bring your family or friends to practice with us.

Teaching on Lord Jigten Sumgön’s “Bestowed Words of Essential Point“

by Venerable Khenpo Choephel

Sunday, October 8, 2017, 10am-noon, 2pm-5pm

Lord Jigten Sumgön Ratna Shri (1143-1217) is the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and one of the most accomplished teachers and scholars of the lineage.  This year marks the 800th anniversary of his passing.  To commemorate his great achievements TRTCC‘s spiritual director venerable Khenpo Choephel will give a special teaching on the “Bestowed Words of Essential Point” based on the collected teachings of Jigten Sumgön written in Tibetan.

According to the comments of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön’s teachings were “his personal and direct experience shared with his closest disciples.”  They were continuation of the wisdom teachings of the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni through the Drikung Kagyu lineage masters: Great Marpa Lotsa, Milarapa, Lord Gompopa and Pakmodrupa.

You are all invited to join us on October 8th for this teaching event and celebration.

To download a flyer: Jigten Sumgon Oct8 2017 flyer

 ALL ARE WELCOME

We are very fortunate to have this lineage of teachings passed down to us and are still able to benefit from them decades later.  To express our gratitude towards our many precious teachers and to support the 800th Commemoration event, TRTCC will make some special collections to be sent to the Jangchubling Monastery, the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu organization, with a member who is traveling to the occasion.  For more information on this please look at The LJS 800 commemoration prepared by one of our board members.

As always, your donations to our center will help to sustain TRTCC’s many teaching and cultural events year round.  We are a charitable non-profit organization and do not charge admission fees for attending our teaching events but rely solely on your voluntary donations.  We appreciate your support to further our mission to cultivate compassion and wisdom through Tibetan Buddhist teachings and meditation practices.

Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center  is located at: 7313 Florence Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15218

 

Continuation on Vipasyana Meditation

by Venerable Khenpo Choephel

Sunday, August 27, 10am-12pm, 1:30-4:30pm

VIPASYANA is a meditation method that cultivates special insight or excellent seeing.

According to Ven. Khenpo Choephel, Vipasyana Meditation is the concentrative method that can conquer wild mind, overcome afflictive emotions and uproot sorrow. One can find ultimate inner peace and realize perfect wisdom with this practice, so it is most important to take on this practice again and again until the ultimate accomplishment of seeing one’s true nature is reached.

This is the third Vipasyana Meditation teaching by Khenpo Choephel.  It will be held on Sundays, August 27, 2017 at Three Rivers Tibetan Cultural Center

ALL ARE WELCOME

This teaching is free. Your donations will help to sustain TRTCC’s many teaching and cultural activities.

To download a flyer for this event: Vipasyana Meditation Aug27 flyer

TRTCC is located at: 7313 Florence Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15218