Medicine Buddha Phowa Saturday July 18

Please join us to welcome Rinpoche back! Come this Saturday, July 18, 10 am - 4 pm, for a special teaching on Phowa.

Phowa, or "transference of consciousness at the time of death," is the profound Buddhist method to deal with the after-death. It also enables us to experience pure land in our next life. Through a combination of breaths, mantras and visualization of Medicine Buddha, a practitioner can transfer his or her consciousness from the Golden Door (crown).

Master Marpa said "If you study Phowa, then at the time of death, you will not be in despair. If beforehand you have become accustomed to the path of phowa, then at the time of death, you will be full of confidence."

Saka Dawa Celebration May 30 10 am

Led by ZaChoeje Rinpoche, hosted by the Children's Hour and the Bodhisattva Teens

The celebration of Saka Dawa at Emaho has been rescheduled for Sunday May 30. This year it will be a family celebration.

Rinpoche has requested Emaho's children and teen groups to be the hosts for this auspicious event. The children and teens invite you to stay for cookies, milk, tea and coffee immediately following the ceremony.

Please join us for Emaho's first family celebration led by Rinpoche.

Saka Dawa, an auspicious day in Tibetan Buddhism, is the celebration of Buddha Shakyamuni's birthday, enlightenment and Parinirwana (passing away). In Tibet, this is the most important holy day of the year, a day to remember Buddha.

According to Tibetan tradition, the day that marks the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment and parinirvana is the full moon day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar. According to Theravada tradition it is marked on full moon day of the third month lunar calendar.

Medicine Buddha Retreat May 21-23

Emaho's 7th Annual Retreat. Medicine Buddha Empowerment and Retreat with Rinpoche at Dairy Springs Group Campground in Flagstaff AZ.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. Please email Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org to be included on the waiting list.

Download flyer with map and full information

Download flyer with the Story of the Medicine Buddha

This summer, Rinpoche will offer a retreat that will include empowerment in the Tibetan Buddhist Medicine Buddha meditation practice.

Medicine Buddha is considered an enlightened emanation of the healing Buddha, who applies active wisdom in alleviating the suffering of all sentient beings. By identifying with the healing and compassionate aspect of Medicine Buddha we are able to create beneficial results that allow us to bring happiness into our lives and the lives of others.

For those who do not wish to take the Empowerment, the initiation can be taken as a blessing. For everyone involved, regardless of level of participation, the Medicine Buddha teaching serves as a universal tool to cultivate compassion and courage in oneself.

The retreat will take place at the Dairy Springs Campground in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mormon Lake Lodge has cabins for those who prefer not to camp, and Flagstaff (about 40 minute drive) has hotels. Further information will be available on the Emaho website during the month of April.

EVENT: Rinpoche will confer the Empowerment on Saturday May 22 at 9 AM. You may come on Saturday for the Empowerment only. The full retreat begins on Friday and ends Sunday.

You may take the Empowerment only. Rinpoche will offer instruction on the practice during the full retreat.

REGISTRATION: The cost for this special event will be $150 for the entire weekend. The cost for the one-day Empowerment and teaching on Saturday is $108; however, no one will be turned away from the one-day event for lack of funds. Payment is non-refundable unless Emaho cancels the event. If you are unable to attend, you may count the payment as a tax-deductible donation to Emaho Foundation.

DOWNLOAD FLYER TO PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE.
(flyer revised 4/17/10)

Literary Tibetan, Track 1 January-March 2010

Due to multiple requests, Geshe Jampa has agreed to repeat Track 1 of Literary Tibetan. You can register with the PayPal button below, or pay at the beginning of the series. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Learning the history of the Tibetan language and being able to recognize and pronounce characters aids us in realizing the full potential of our Buddhist studies.

A series of 10 classes provides an introduction to the Tibetan language. If you attended any of the previous series, you can repeat at no cost.

Schedule:

• Saturdays, 12-1:30 pm
  The Tibetan Language class, originally scheduled to begin on January 23, has been postponed and will begin in a few weeks. A notice will be sent out when the schedule is determined.
• Total of 10 classes for $100

Materials and handouts are provided and students participate in an online blog to share questions, concerns and course notes. Included in the curriculum is language history, recognition and pronunciation of the characters of the alphabet, basic grammar, phrase construction and useful vocabulary.

To register for the series, you can use the Paypal button below, or email Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org that you will be attending and pay at the first session.

Total of 10 classes for $100

Lam Rim Intensive with Geshe Jampa Begins January 2010

All of the teachings of the Buddha should appear as a form of practice for us to undertake.
      from Practicing the Path by Yangsi Rinpoche

New Series Begins January 16, 2010
(continues on Saturdays for 12 sessions)
5:00-6:30 PM

We are happy to offer a special opportunity to receive teachings on the Lam Rim from Geshe Jampa. The Lam Rim Intensive will consist of 12 Saturday sessions of 1-1/2 hours each. This is a great opportunity to study in the monastic style, in a personal setting with a learned Geshe.

For more information, please call 480-704-4169 or e-mail Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org. The cost for the full 12 sessions will be $120.

Recommended reading:

• Path to Bliss by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
• Path to Enlightenment by His Holiness The Dalai Lama

The Lam Rim, known as the gradual path to enlightenment, contains the essence of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha. When one studies the Lam Rim, one studies the three principal aspects of the path, leading one ultimately to a full realization of the aspects of renunciation, bodhicitta, and emptiness. The skillful teachings of the gradual path are meant for all practioners, whether of small, medium, or great scope.

In the early eleventh century, the Indian Buddhist master Atisha condensed the essential points of the Buddha’s teachings into the text Lamp of the Path. These teachings were then expanded in the fourteenth century by the Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Tzong Khapa into the text The Great Exposition on the Gradual Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim Chenmo). These texts form the basis of our contemporary understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

Join your Emaho friends in this profound study of one of Buddhism’s great texts.

Register now with Paypal or register at the first session.
No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

Tathagatagarbha, The Buddha Nature Sunday April 4, 10am-4pm

Rinpoche will offer teachings on Tathagatagarbha. The incredible potential of Tathagatagarbha is common to all of us -- we are all capable of attaining this ultimate happiness state.

Join Rinpoche at Emaho Center Sunday April 4, 10 am - 4 pm.

2010 Pilgrimage to Nepal and India Feb 20- Mar 15

Follow in the Footsteps of Buddha

ZaChoeje Rinpoche will be our guide to the places Buddha himself suggested the spiritual seeker visit.

Registration begins October 20. Email Lou Ann at mail@emahofoundation.org for registration information.

Pilgrims have been sitting in practice at these sites for thousands of years.  The experience of this pilgrimage helps us get closer to the essence of our practice, closer to our heart allowing us to live our lives with more compassion and understanding.  

Enrichment is the key to a rewarding journey.  

We have made a slight adjustment to the schedule beginning the trip on February 20th and concluding March 15th.  These dates work better for those of you needing to take time from work.  The itinerary itself will remain the same.   

If you are interested, please join us as we travel with Rinpoche through the spectacular landscapes of Nepal, India and the Himalayan foothills. Discover treasured cultures and legendary architecture.  

The best way to reach our remote destinations is bus.  We set our own schedules as we travel.  We have the flexibility and freedom to adjust the routing if necessary.  We travel from one destination to the next on our luxury bus enjoying the ultimate in convenience and security.  We’ll unwind in many world-class accommodations.  

Under Rinpoche’s guidance we are experienced in managing multi-destination expeditions.  Travel worry-free knowing Rinpoche is dedicated to your safety and well being.  

We will stay in some of the world’s finest and most interesting accommodations such as the Kathamadhu Hyatt and the Taj Ganges in Varanisis.  We’ll take a boat ride, a taste of a bygone area. Travel overnight by train. We offer the opportunity to stay in smaller boutique properties that offer a one of a kind experience, such as the Mahayana Guest house in Bodhigaya and Taj Mahal Palace in Rewaksar in the Himalayam foothills.  

At the end of the trip we’ll take our bus to Agra site of the one of the seven wonders of the world; the Taj Mahal.  We’ll wander this enchanting work of art, which incorporates and expands on Persian, Hindu, and Islamic styles.  Admire the Taj Mahal's lovely form among the reflecting pools and gardens that surround it and observe up-close the intricate ornamentation of inlaid precious stones.  

Each property where we stay has been carefully selected for its amenities and location.  In remote areas where hotels are limited we stay at the best accommodation to ensure your comfort.   

It has been requested we extend the deadline for reservations and deposits to the end of October.  If you are interested, please contact Lou Ann at mail@emahofoundation.org  for a reservation form and a list of what is covered, what is not, airfare, reservations and payment, itinerary  single/shared accommodations and suite upgrades, itinerary changes, health requirements  and responsibility.  

For those interested, we welcome you and look forward to ensuring this journey is a life-changing adventure that will lead you to greater understanding and happiness.

Flyer, page 1 (2.4 MB)
Flyer, page 2 (2.7 MB)
Flyer, page 3 (2.6 MB)

(flyers revised 10/4)

Fall Intensive: The Practice of Meditation Oct 9–15

Beginning October 9 and continuing through the 15th, Venerable ZaChoeje Rinpoche will offer detailed instructions on Shamatha and Vipassana meditation. The teaching will include commentary on Chapter 8 of Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Written in the 8th century by the monk Shantideva, this classic Mahayana text is a guide to realizing enlightenment through the practice of the six perfections.

We are fortunate to receive meditation instructions from an authentic Tibetan master who understands our modern Western minds.

Without a thorough examination of our mind and its habits, it is impossible to make change in our daily lives. With the motivation of achieving enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings — the motivation of the Bodhisattva — we engage in the practice of meditation to become familiar with our minds and free ourselves from habitual patterns and emotional afflictions.

Meditation is also important to achieving wisdom in the Mahayana tradition. Meditative concentration and stabilization are necessary to achieving a direct realization of the true nature of things. This type of realization does not come from the senses, but instead from the deep insight that comes during meditation.

SCHEDULE, 9 SESSIONS:
Fri Oct 9, 7–9 PM
Sat & Sun Oct 10 & 11, 10–4
Mon & Tues Oct 12 & 13, 7–9 PM
Wed Oct 14, 8–10 PM
Thurs Oct 15, 7–9

»view/download revised flyer with full information

Fee for the full intensive is $180. No one is ever turned away for lack of funding.

No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

Pennies for Peace September 21, 6-8 pm

In keeping with Rinpoche’s teaching of “doing small things with great love,” the Emaho Children’s Group and the Bodhisattva Teens are collecting pennies for peace.

Our collection will be donated to the “Peace One Day” project. September 21 has been designated by the UN as a world day of peace.

Join us:
Lighting the candle of peace
Prayer for peace by Geshe Jampa
Music
Followed by the movie “The Day after Peace”
Popcorn
»view/download flyer for full information

Film Club: "What Remains of Us" September 19, 1-3pm

Mustang Library, Saturday September 19, 1-3 pm
Documentary "What Remains of Us" will be followed by Q&A with Geshe Jampa

This film has never been shown to the public in Phoenix. Please join us to share this powerful experience.

This documentary was secretly filmed inside Tibet between 1996 and 2004, without the knowledge of Chinese authorities. Kalsang Dolma, a Tibetan woman born in a refugee camp and raised in Montreal, narrates the film.

Dolma smuggled a video into Tibet containing a message from the Dalai Lama, urging his people to be true to the Buddhist ideals of compassion for our enemies and to continue their peaceful resistance. Participants were warned that there might be severe persecution for those filmed watching the video if the Chinese authorities should obtain the film and recognize them.

The five-minute message of hope was shown to all manner of people, from shopkeepers in Lhasa, to priests in remote monasteries, to yak herders living in tents in the hills. As many Tibetans see the image of the Dalai Lama and hear him speak for the first time, watching their reactions is deeply touching. Some cry, others pray, many shake. All are speechless at first. When they do speak, some offer expressions of joy, some hope, others cynicism and despair, but all express gratitude to the Dalai Lama.

One reviewer has observed that "What Remains of Us" allows us to understand not only how much Tibetans have lost but how much of our own humanity is in danger if indigenous cultures disappear. If we silently observe this destruction within our human family, we may have to ask ourselves the same question: “What remains of us?”

Note: this film review was compiled from several online reviews.

Bodhisattva Teens Game Night September 11, 6-9 pm

The Bodhisattva Teen Group was formed in 2007 under the spiritual guidance of ZaChoeje Rinpoche at the request of teenagers who wanted a “place of their own” to explore and practice Buddhist teachings.

Check us out/get involved!

Drop by for Game Night, Friday, September 11.
Video games, board games, pizza, music, a good time. We hope to see you there.
»view/download flyer

Emaho Family Potluck Sunday May 3, 4:30-6:30 pm

[UPDATE] We apologize for the last-minute change, but, due to an unscheduled trip out of state, Rinpoche will not be able to attend the family picnic on May 3. We still hope that sangha members and their families will take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy being with each other and exploring the Firedancer Ranch.

The Emaho family potluck will be held at the Firedancer Ranch, 8645 S. 20th St, in Phoenix. Horses, a pool, a trampoline, a sandtable and more are all available to provide fun for the whole family.

Join us at this special family picnic, for families of all sizes and children of all ages. (Parents are asked to watch over small children and keep them safe in the ranch environment.) Bring friends, a dish to share and some folding chairs. If you plan to bring friends, please carpool if possible. For more information e-mail us at mail@emahofoundation.org. Handouts with directions are available at the center.

It's a potluck! Contact Donna at donna@emahofoundation.org to let her know what dish you would like to bring.

Spring Retreat April 3-5

Rinpoche will offer the empowerment of Vajrapani, Lord of the Secret.

»view/download FLYER

»view/download POSTCARD [6 MB] (Note - Use these to share the Dharma: postcards can be printed on your home computer for distribution)

»view/download SCHEDULE/LOCATION INFORMATION

To Register:
»view/download REGISTRATION FORM

or Register online:

RETREAT OPTIONS

Full Retreat $225.00 Saturday Only $85.00

Saturday empowerment: no one will be turned away from lack of funds.
Full Retreat: we ask for full payment in order to provide facility and meals.

Thank you.

The Six Perfections March 7 2009

Geshe Jampa will offer a traditional teaching on the Six Perfections, known also as the Six Paramitas. The Paramitas are principles of enlightened living followed by the bodhisattvas. Applying these principles to all our actions enables us to follow the path of awakening.

»view/download flyer

The Four Thoughts February 22 2009

Geshe Jampa will teach on the classic Buddhist topic The Four Thoughts, which turn the mind from samsara. Contemplating the Four Thoughts releases our minds from grasping and attachment and turns them toward the Dharma.

»view/download flyer

Mantrathon 2009 February 28 2009

ZaChoeje Rinpoche has selected the practice of Chenresig for this year's Mantrathon and has prepared an introduction and commentary that is now on YouTube. Click here to see Rinpoche's commentary on the Om Mani Pe Me Hum mantra. You can forward the video to your friends and/or post it on your Facebook or MySpace page.

The center opens at 6:00 am. Come and spend as much time as you are able and recite mantras!

Mantra recitation will be at the following times:
8-10, 10:30 - 12, 1:00-2:30 and 3-5
Come for any or all of the sessions: it is not necessary to attend the full day.

There will be a signup sheet at the center to count all the mantras we recite. If you do all or part of your recitations at home, email Emaho at the end of Mantrathon day and tell us how many mantras of compassion you were able to recite. We will count them all and dedicate the merit to Emaho Foundation and all the centers in the world that support the flourishing of the Dharma. Send your email to mail@emahofoundation.org.

And, contribute to theMantrathon fundraiser by using the simple ChipIn widget ->

»view/download flyer
»view/download MANTRATHON POSTCARD [3 MB] (Note - Use these to share the Dharma: postcards can be printed on your home computer for distribution)

The Foundation of All Good Qualities January 18 2009 - 10am-4pm

ZaChoeje Rinpoche will give a workshop on Lama Je Tsong Khapa's Lamrim prayer, written in the 14th century, entitled The Foundation of all Good Qualities.

A copy of Lama Tsong Khapa's poem-prayer is available on the Practice Texts page.

Tibetan Yoga to Balance the Five Elements January 10-11 2009

Exercises for Health, Energy and Well-Being

After many requests ZaChoeje Rinpoche has agreed to share with the teaching of Tibetan Yoga.

Please join us on Saturday January 10, from 1 pm to 4 pm, as Rinpoche introduces us to Tibetan Yoga. On Sunday January 11, from 10 am to noon, Rinpoche will teach us the exercises

Start your New Year learning these five dynamic, easy exercises.  Practiced throughout the year, they will increase your energy and help sustain stamina. The exercises are designed to keep your body in balance. When the body is in balance, it can heal more quickly from injury and disease.

A daily practice of Tibetan Yoga takes only a small amount of time and effort. Benefits include increased physical strength and flexibility, and the mind becomes clearer and more pliant.

Rinpoche will help us understand the significance of Tibetan Yoga to the five Buddha families and to our daily practice. When we engage in this simple yoga routine it helps heighten our practice.  In meditation we find ourselves more serene and expansive.

Tibetan Yoga is helpful for all people of all ages and all beliefs. 

Come join ZaChoeje Rinpoche for this much-anticipated teaching.  Please wear comfortable clothing so you will be relaxed during the physical sessions.  DVDs of the sessions, included in the suggested donation, will be available to participants from Donna Tash on January 18th.