Current Spiritual Program Offerings

Classes and Courses

Introductory Courses for Newcomers to Buddhism and Meditation
TNL currently offers two introductory courses for those who are newly approaching Tibetan Buddhism and its practices. These courses are scheduled quarterly and are held either as a weekend course or in four or five weekly sessions.
     • Buddhism in a Nutshell introduces students to the basic teachings of the Buddha and provides the essentials of what it means to practice Buddhism. An audio recording of Buddhism in a Nutshell taught October 6 and 7, 2007, by Joan Stigliani is available on-line here. An audio recording of Buddhism in a Nutshell taught April 25 and 26, 2009, by Judith Bailie is available on-line here, and recordings for another round of Buddhism in a Nutshell taught by Judith on September 13 and 20, 2009, are available here .
     • Buddhist Meditation 101 familiarizes students with the various types of meditation and includes practical advice for daily meditation. Audio recordings of Meditation 101 taught during July and August 2009 by Don Handrick are available on-line here .

Continuing Programs for Both Beginners and Experienced Practitioners
TNL offers three ongoing weekly programs to provide both newcomers and experienced practitioners with an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of Buddhism and integrate the Buddha’s teachings in their lives.
     • Discovering Buddhism is designed as an experiential course in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice. Discovering Buddhism encompasses fourteen subject areas or “modules.” Within each module students are expected to attend lectures covering required topics of understanding, engage in meditation practices relevant to those topics, read texts and teaching transcripts, and do short retreats. The final module "Special Integration Experiences" includes a list of longer retreats and other experiences to integrate Buddhism into one’s life. The entire course of teachings extends over roughly two years. (SUNDAY MORNINGS AT THUBTEN NORBU LING)

Discovering Buddhism teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling are available on-line.  Click each link to hear the audio recordings available.
Mind and Its Potential: Don Handrick: April 6, 2008
How to Meditate: Don Handrick: June 1, 2008
Presenting the Path: Don Handrick: June 20, 2008
Death and Rebirth: Don Handrick: September 14, 2008
All About Karma: Don Handrick: November 9, 2008  
Refuge in the Three Jewels: Don Handrick: January 18, 2009
The Spiritual Teacher: Don Handrick: March 15, 2009 Suggested Reading for The Spiritual Teacher
Establishing a Daily Practice: Don Handrick: May 10, 2009  Suggested Reading for Establishing a Daily Practice
How It Is and How It Could Be: An Exploration of the Four Noble Truths: Samsara and Nirvana - Part 1: Don Handrick: July 12, 2009   Suggested Reading for Samsara and Nirvana
The Ultimate Revolution: Breaking Free from the Wheel of Life: Samsara and Nirvana - Part 2: Don Handrick: August 16, 2009
How to Develop Bodhichitta: Don Handrick: October 11, 2009
Transforming Problems: Don Handrick: December 6, 2009
Wisdom of Emptiness: Don Handrick: January 14, 2010
Introduction to Tantra: Don Handrick: January 13, 2008

Creating a Daily Space for Meditation is a series of classes with Ven. Connie Miller in which she leads and reviews the Daily Meditation on Shakyamuni Buddha that is a major topic of Module 8 "Establishing a Daily Practice" in the Discovering Buddhism program. This is an excellent opportunity to become more familiar with this comprehensive and inspiring daily practice, in a group setting under Ven. Connie's skillful guidance.
AugSepOct 2009 Classes

Introduction to Medicine Buddha Practice  Venerable Sarah Thresher, born in London in 1960, was ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1986. Ven. Sarah has worked with her Root Guru, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, to help lead practices according to his instructions at several major retreats, and she is particularly interested in trying to preserve and spread the special flavor of Rinpoche's way of leading pujas and practices. In her first visit to Thubten Norbu Ling, Ven. Sarah led a Medicine Buddha Puja, and offered an introduction to the practices of the Medicine Buddha.
Sunday October 4, 2009, 10:00 am  

The Heart of Practice is a weekly series of individual classes consisting of videos and teachings to provide additional support for integrating the Buddha’s teachings into daily life. These stand-alone sessions are intended for all who wish to bring the practices of wisdom and compassion into their heart. Here is the list of audio recording of these sessions available on-line. (THURSDAY EVENINGS AT THUBTEN NORBU LING)
The Power of Listening: Don Handrick: February 21, 2008
Overcoming Pride with Genuine Humility: Don Handrick: March 6, 2008
The Keys to Conscious Relationship: Don Handrick: April 3, 2008
The Stages of Conscious Relationship: Don Handrick: April 17, 2008
The Importance of Accepting Death: Don Handrick: May 1, 2008
Using Work As A Spiritual Path: Don Handrick: May 15, 2008
Learning to Like Problems: Don Handrick: June 12, 2008
Fostering Harmony in Community: Don Handrick: June 26, 2008
The Practice of Equanimity: Don Handrick: July 17, 2008
Making Sense of It All: Don Handrick: July 31, 2008
Developing the Peaceful Heart: Don Handrick: August 14, 2008
Making Friends with Ourselves: Don Handrick: August 28, 2008
What's So Bad About Complaining: Don Handrick: September 11, 2008
Activating Feminine Energy in Spiritual Practice: Don Handrick: September 25, 2008
Practicing Buddhism Minute By Minute: Don Handrick: October 30, 2008
Buddhism & Vegetarianism - The Ethics of Eating Meat: Don Handrick: Dec 11, 2008

Feminine Energy in Spiritual Practice  Tara, a female manifestation of enlightenment, is a beloved and familiar archetypal figure in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. In the language of Jungian psychology, she embodies the anima, the Mother archetype, and sometimes even the Trickster. In this Valentine's Day 2009 teaching we examine Tara's qualities and activities, experience basic meditations on Tara together with her mantra, and explore the transformative power of feminine energy in Buddhist tantra using the tools of both Jungian analytical psychology and Tibetan Buddhist practice. This special two-session course was taught by visiting teacher Venerable Connie Miller.
February 14, 2009 - 10:00am to 12:30pm and 2:00 to 4:30pm

Out of the Brain and Into the Heart: Energizing Your Buddhist Practice  is a series of classes with Venerable Connie Miller which use the realization that the power of Buddhism lies in the heart to discover: how to put the teachings into practice, how to integrate them with our everyday experiences, and how we can use this wisdom to transform our lives. The classes offer the opportunity to explore the basic practices of listening, contemplating, and meditating on the Buddhist path. Together we investigate the meaning of "ritual" and how to bring it alive every day, how to make use of the seven branches of regular practice by means of practical methods to accumulate wholesome inner skills and resources and purify our unwholesome karmic imprints, and various techniques and methods that help us deal with our habitually afflicted states of mind through the skillful application of the Buddhist view in our daily life.
August 2008 Sessions
In September and October 2008 Venerable Connie Miller resumes her series of teachings to continue our exploration of how to bring the Buddha's teachings into our lives and give us more techniques to make daily practice sustainable and fruitful. These teachings include more direct practice of meditation on the Lam Rim.
SepOct 2008 Sessions  

Gimme Shelter: Seeking Refuge in Difficult Times   When faced with problems and hardships in life, everyone seeks some kind of sanctuary or refuge, in order to weather the difficulties, in order to feel safe. In this class, taught by Venerable Connie Miller, we explore different kinds of refuge, which kinds may be truly relied upon and which kinds, if we count on them too much, will inevitably let us down.
January 12, 2010
 
Mahayana Mindfulness   In "Mahayana Mindfulness" Venerable Connie Miller explores with us the application of mindfulness and awareness techniques conjoined with the powerful Buddhist practice of loving kindness and compassion for all living beings. Like the practice of alchemy, this profound combination - mindfulness and compassion - can fundamentally transform our relationships with the world and with those around us, like lead is transformed into gold.
Tuesday February 9, 2010

 
Continuing Program for Experienced Practitioners
For experienced Buddhist practitioners, Thubten Norbu Ling offers the Basic Program, devised by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche as an integrated program of Buddhist studies suitable for a contemporary setting. The Basic Program is a comprehensive, practice-oriented transmission of the Buddhadharma that will be of interest to committed students who wish to progress beyond introductory-level study and practice. This program provides the opportunity for in-depth study of various texts in the Indian and Tibetan Buddhist Mahayana tradition, including the Heart Sutra and the Lam Rim (Stages of the Path).  (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT THUBTEN NORBU LING)

The Basic Practice teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling are available on-line.  Click each link to hear the audio recordings available.
1. Stages of the Path (Lamrim):
     Course 1: Don Handrick: May 7 to September, 2008
     Course 2: Don Handrick: September 2008 to April 2009
     Course 3: Don Handrick: April 2009 to ...
     Course 4:
2. Heart Sutra : Not Available
3. Mahayana Mind Training (Lojong): Don Handrick: January 6, 2008
4. Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds:
     Course 1: Don Handrick: May 17 to July 19, 2006
     Course 2: Don Handrick: August 2 to October 11, 2006
     Course 3: Don Handrick: October 24 to November 29, 2006
     Course 4: Don Handrick: June 13 to September 26, 2007
     Course 5: Don Handrick: October 10 to December 19, 2007
5. Mind and Cognition (Lorig): Not Available
6. Tenets (Drubtha):
     Course 1: Don Handrick: January 10 to June 7, 2007
     Course 2: Don Handrick: March 7 to June 7, 2007
7. Ornament for Clear Realizations - Fourth Chapter: Not Available
8. Sublime Continuum if the Mahayana (Gyulama) - First Chapter: The Tathagata Essence: Not Available
9. Ground and Paths of Secret Mantra: Not Available

Meditation and Practice Sessions

Thubten Norbu Ling offers a number of opportunities weekly for both individual and group meditation practice.  Everyone is welcome to attend these sessions.

     • Open Meditation – The center is open on both Tuesday and Thursday mornings for silent meditation practice.
     • Tara Practice – A meditation held on alternate Tuesday evenings on Green Tara, the female deity embodying the swift energy and activities of enlightened beings.
     • Guided Meditation – Meditations on the path to enlightenment in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, held on alternate Tuesday evenings.

Please check our monthly schedule for the times and dates of these practice sessions.

Pujas (Offering Ceremonies)

Pujas are held each month at Thubten Norbu Ling on specific days in the Tibetan calendar.  All are welcome to attend these events.

     • Medicine Buddha Puja – A healing practice to make offerings and requests to the Eight Medicine Buddhas, especially dedicated to benefit those who are ill, dying or recently deceased.
     • Tara Puja – A ritual for making extensive offerings and singing praises to Green Tara, the female deity who embodies the skillful activities of all enlightened beings, in order to swiftly clear all obstacles and achieve success.
     • Guru Puja – A special ceremony to make offerings to our teachers in order to gain blessings and generate merit.

Please check our monthly schedule for the dates and times of these pujas.

Student / Teacher Meetings to Support Spiritual Practice

Thubten Norbu Ling’s Resident Teacher, Don Handrick, is available for individual meetings with students to provide guidance and support in their spiritual practice.  Please contact Don directly at [ email ] if you would like to schedule a meeting.

Retreats and Special Events

Thubten Norbu Ling also periodically offers group retreats, which are an excellent opportunity to deepen one’s own meditation practice and strengthen the connection to the spiritual community. When possible, we also offer teachings and tantric empowerments with visiting Tibetan and Western Teachers. For more information, please check our web site (tnlsf.org) or add your name to our email distribution list for notification of these special events (you can subscribe to our email at the bottom of this web page or you can send a message to [ email ]).