Evening Practice Sessions
Tuesday Evening Chant Pranidhanaraja
Tuesdays from 6:15 – 6:45 pm (with breaks between School Quarters; check Calendar for dates)
Samantabhadra’s Pranidhanaraja or “Aspiration to Good Actions,” also known as the king of aspiration prayers, is one of the two main prayers that are recited at the annual World Peace Ceremony in Bodh Gaya, India. During this 10-day period, a stream of blessings flows forth from the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment, activated by the chanting of approximately 7,000 monks and nuns. Our Nyingma Mandala organizations have been working for the last 30 years to support their education and the continuation of this wisdom tradition through a tremendous distribution of sacred texts – over 4 million to date.
When we chant the Pranidhanaraja, we connect to this stream. Not only are we practicing with the Asian sangha in mind, but the prayer itself also invokes the power of merit – the practice and accumulation of positive actions and the resulting momentum of goodness – that connects us with growing surety to the Enlightened Ones and creates conditions for the realization of our own Buddha nature.
Cost: Free
This practice session is in Tibetan, accompanied by drum. It pairs well with the Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers class! View courses.
Wednesday Evening Meditation
Silent Sitting
Wednesdays from 6:15 – 6:45 pm (with breaks between School Quarters; check Calendar for dates)
30 minute silent meditation sessions with a brief overview of fundamentals. The session starts promptly at 6:15 PM, please arrive a few minutes early.
Please note that if the 8th of the lunar month or the full moon are on a Wednesday, there will be a special chanting practice from 6:15 – 6:45 pm instead; check the calendar to see which days this applies to. This practice is held during Quarters; it goes on break when there are no classes.
Cost: $5, free for students enrolled in a certificate program
Full Moon Chant
Vajra Guru Mantra
Full Moon Days from 6:15 – 6:45 pm
The full moon is a time to gather for prayer and meditation. Join Nyingma students and friends in chanting the Vajra Guru Mantra interspersed with periods of meditation. The chant is held in one of our classrooms and is led by a community member.
2018 Full Moon Dates:
- March 31 (Saturday) – 7 to 8:30 pm
- April 29 (Sunday) – 5 to 5:45 pm
- May 29 (Tuesday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
- June 28 (Thursday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
- July 27 (Friday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
- August 26 (Sunday) – 5 to 5:45 pm
- September 24 (Monday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
- October 24 (Wednesday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
- November 23 (Friday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
- December 22 (Saturday) – 6:15 to 6:45 pm
Please note that if a full moon day falls on a Sunday, we will hold the chant from 5 – 5:45 pm instead.
Cost: Free
Medicine Buddha Day
Medicine Buddha Mantra & Prayers
8th Day of the Lunar Month from 6:15 – 6:45 PM
Join us in chanting traditional Tibetan prayers and mantras that invoke healing on all levels for each and every being.
The day for this practice varies each month, please see the schedule below:
2018 Lunar 8th Dates:
- April 23 (Monday)
- May 22 (Tuesday)
- June 21 (Thursday)
- July 20 (Friday)
- August 18 (Saturday)
- September 17 (Monday)
- October 17 (Wednesday)
- November 15 (Thursday)
- December 15 (Saturday)
The chant starts promptly at 6:15 PM, please arrive a few minutes early.
Please note that if a lunar 8th day falls on a Sunday, we will hold the chant from 5 – 5:45 pm instead.
Cost: Free