Weekly Events at KTC
visit www.chicagoktc.org.
Summary of Meditation Schedule:
Sundays:
9:30 AM Green Tara (short version)
10:00 AM Shinay (sitting meditation)
11:00 AM Chenrezig (chanting liturgy)
Wednesdays:
7:00 PM Shinay (sitting meditation)
7:30 PM Dharma readings and discussion
Shinay Meditation
Time: Sunday at 10:00 AM and Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Shinay means “calming” in Tibetan. Shinay meditation is the process of calming the mind to allow deeper awareness to come forward. This meditation involves holding the correct physical posture while focusing the mind on the sensation of breathing. Variations of this meditation are done in almost every other Buddhist tradition.
Instruction in Shinay is available before or during any Shinay meditation session.
A talk given by Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche entitled “Meditation and Mental Well-Being” provides an excellent overview of the need for and purpose of Shinay meditation. There are also many good books on the subject.
Chenrezig: Boddhisattva of Compassion
Chenrezig (Tibetan) or Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit):
Boddhisattva of Compassion
Chenrezig Meditation
Time: Sunday at 11:00 AM
Chenrezig is the representation of compassion. Through Chenrezig meditation one develops a deeper compassion for the suffering of others and purifies one’s tendency for selfish motivation. The meditation itself involves chanting a liturgy while mentally performing a series of visualizations and finishing with mantras and an insight visualization. This liturgy also contains brief meditations of Amitabha and Guru Padmasambhava.
Instruction and guidance is available upon request. There are bimonthly guided Chenrezig sessions which walk practitioners through each step of the visualization.
The female Boddhisattva Green Tara
Green Tara
Green Tara Meditation
Time: Sunday at 9:30 AM
Description: Green Tara is the female representation of compassionate activity and fearlessness. This meditation is similar to Chenrezig meditation both in purpose and content.
There are as yet no scheduled Green Tara teaching sessions. There are a number of fine texts available on the subject however. A teaching about Green Tara will also be available on-line in streaming video format (coming soon).
Dharma Reading and Discussion
Time: Wednesday at 7:30 PM (Shinay starts at 7:00 PM)
The Dharma reading and discussion at KTC focuses on the study of sutras (in English), commentaries and texts by current Kagyu masters followed by discussion of practical aspects of Buddhist practice for Americans. Food and beverages provided. The sessions offer a very congenial, informal environment to study and discuss the Dharma. All questions and comments are welcome. All discussions are self-contained and require no previous instruction.
Please note: followers of other buddhist traditions (or even other religious faiths) are welcome to come to Chicago KTC to practice meditation or discuss Dharma. There is no need to be a 'Buddhist' or 'Karma Kagyu Buddhist' to join us in practice.
May precious Bodhicitta arise within those where it has not arisen.
Where it has arisen, may it not decline, but ever grow and flourish.
