Editor

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Manjushri this week. This will be the last Wednesday evening practice until January 8 – we will be on pause as Christmas and New Year’s fall on the next 2 Wednesdays.

Thursday evening at 7pm is our final introductory class on The Four Noble Truths (online only). Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

In the past we have offered the ability to purchase a calendar from the Tibetan Nuns Project from us – for 2025 calendars the process is a bit different, and you may purchase directly from them by following this link.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Thursday, December 19, 7pm, The Four Noble Truths introductory class. Online only. This class offers an introduction for newcomers to the Buddha’s first teaching. A description of the class can be found here. Join us on Zoom.

Saturday, December 21, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, December 22, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Green Tara this week. Thursday evening at 7pm is our introductory class on The Four Noble Truths (online only). Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

The TRTCC Annual Sangha Meeting will be held this Sunday, December 15. We will have a potluck lunch following a short break after practice. At the meeting the board will talk about what we have accomplished over the last year and what we hope to accomplish in years to come. There will be time for feedback from attendees and open discussion. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP here and let us know if you’ll be attending and if you are able to bring a vegetarian dish, fruit, or healthy snack to share.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Thursday, December 12, 7pm, The Four Noble Truths introductory class. Online only. This class offers an introduction for newcomers to the Buddha’s first teaching. A description of the class can be found here. Join us on Zoom.

Saturday, December 14, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, December 15, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Tuesday December 3rd is Introduction to Practice at 7pm (online only). Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Chenrezig this week. Thursday evening at 7pm is our introductory class on The Four Noble Truths (online only). Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

The TRTCC Annual Sangha Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 15. We will have a potluck lunch following a short break after practice. At the meeting the board will talk about what we have accomplished over the last year and what we hope to accomplish in years to come. There will be time for feedback from attendees and open discussion. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP here and let us know if you’ll be attending and if you are able to bring a vegetarian dish, fruit, or healthy snack to share.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Tuesday, December 3, 7pm, Introduction to Practice. Online only. This introduction to the center’s practices and to the meaning of the invocations that are part of every practice is offered monthly. Newcomers may find this short introduction to Tibetan Buddhism helpful. Join us on Zoom.

Wednesday, December 4, 7pm. Chenrezig Practice. Online and in person. Chenrezig is the embodiment of universal compassion. This yidam practice focuses on the cultivation of compassionate qualities and activities in all of us.  Join us on Zoom.

Thursday, December 5, 7pm, The Four Noble Truths introductory class. Online only. This class offers an introduction for newcomers to the Buddha’s first teaching. A description of the class can be found here. Join us on Zoom.

Saturday, December 7, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

 

Sunday, December 8, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

 

Dear Dharma Friends,

We are on a modified schedule this week for the Thanksgiving holiday. Our Wednesday evening yidam practice and Thursday evening class are on pause but both will return next week.

Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Jigten Sumgön Guru Yoga practice and meditation at 10am.

The TRTCC Annual Sangha Meeting will be held this year on Sunday, December 15. We will have a potluck lunch following a short break after practice. At the meeting the board will talk about what we have accomplished over the last year and what we hope to accomplish in years to come. There will be time for feedback from attendees and open discussion. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP here and let us know if you’ll be attending and if you are able to bring a vegetarian dish, fruit, or healthy snack to share.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 30, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, December 1, 10 am. Jigten Sumgön Guru Yoga practice. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Jigten Sumgön Guru Yoga. This practice cultivates a deep connection with Jigten Sumgön, the founder of our Drikung Kagyu tradition, through visualization, mantra recitation, and devotion. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Medicine Buddha this week. Thursday evening at 7pm is our introductory class on The Four Noble Truths. Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

The TRTCC Annual Sangha Meeting will be held this year on Sunday, December 15. We will have a vegetarian potluck lunch following a short break after practice. At the meeting the board will talk about what we have accomplished over the last year and what we hope to accomplish in years to come. There will be time for feedback from attendees and open discussion. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP here and let us know if you’ll be attending and if you are able to bring a vegetarian dish, fruit, or healthy snack to share.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Thursday, November 21, 7pm, The Four Noble Truths introductory class. Online only. This class offers an introduction for newcomers to the Buddha’s first teaching. A description of the class can be found here.  Join us on Zoom.

Saturday, November 23, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 24, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Manjushri this week. Thursday evening at 7pm is our introductory class on The Four Noble Truths. Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Thursday, November 14, 7pm. The Four Noble Truths introductory class. Online only. This class offers an introduction for newcomers to the Buddha’s first teaching on the truth of dukkha (unsatisfactoriness); the origin of dukkha; the cessation of dukkha; and the path to cessation.  Join us on Zoom.

Saturday, November 16, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 17, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Tuesday November 5th is Introduction to Practice at 7pm (online only). Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Green Tara this week. Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Tuesday, November 5, 7pm, Introduction to Practice. Online only. This introduction to the center’s practices and to the meaning of the invocations that are part of every practice is offered monthly. Newcomers may find this short introduction to Tibetan Buddhism helpful. Join us on Zoom.

Wednesday, November 6, 7pm. Green Tara Practice. Online and in person. Green Tara, the meditation deity in female form, embodies the wisdom energies of compassionate fearlessness. This yidam practice helps us remove fears and obstacles, and cultivates the connection to her feminine energy of compassion and wisdom through visualization and chanting.  Join us on Zoom.

 

Saturday, November 9, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

 

Sunday, November 10, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

 

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Chenrezig this week. Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Jigten Sumgon Guru Yoga practice and meditation at 10am.

On this Sunday, November 3rd, two Tibetan nuns from the Jangchub Choeling nunnery in the Gelug lineage will be visiting TRTCC and joining our regular practice in the morning.  They are Ani Choyang and Ani Choedon.  Ani Tenzin Choyang received the Rapjampa Degree (similar to a master’s degree) in 2022 after completing a 17-year course of Buddhist studies.  She was one of the first women to attend a two-year science-training program at Emory University as part of the Emory Tibet Science Initiative.  She also participated in a science research internship at Northwestern University in 2022, where she received training in the theory and methods of neuroscience.  She will give a short talk after our practice.  This is going to be an informal gathering and a great cultural learning opportunity.  To get to know them in person and give your support, please join us this Sunday.

If you would like to donate to their nunnery here is a PayPal site you can use:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=V5773HN7UCJJ8&source=qr

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 2, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 3, 10 am. Jigten Sumgön Guru Yoga practice. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Jigten Sumgön Guru Yoga. This practice cultivates a deep connection with Jigten Sumgön, the founder of our Drikung Kagyu tradition, through visualization, mantra recitation, and devotion. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Medicine Buddha this week. Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

In some unfortunate news, our center was broken into and ransacked last week between Wednesday evening and Saturday morning practices. There was some physical property damage, but we are thankful that it was not worse. The Swissvale police are investigating, and we are implementing some new security measures.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, October 26, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, October 27, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.

Dear Dharma Friends,

Our Wednesday evening yidam practice is Manjushri this week. Saturday is Vajrasattva practice at 9am. This Sunday we will be offering King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice and meditation at 10am.

Venerable Lama Kalsang is in Nepal in order to assist with the Dam-Ngak Dzo, (The Treasury of Instructions) teachings at Rinchen Ling monastery, and will be away until mid-December. While he is away we will continue our regular practices at TRTCC on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Sundays we will have Jigten Sumgon Guru Yoga practice on the first weekend of the month, and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice on the other weekends. Both will include King of Aspiration Prayers meditation and recitation.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution. We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, October 19, 9am. Vajrasattva Practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, October 20, 10 am. Online and in person. Practice will include recitation of the King of Aspiration Prayers and Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Join us on Zoom.