Chanted Meditations (Pujas)
Chanted Prayers (pujas) are traditional prayers translated into English and set to beautiful tunes composed by ordained Sangha of this tradition. The practice of prayer in the Buddhist tradition has many aspects; it enables us to make a close connection with enlightened beings, receive their blessings and inspiration and thereby strengthen our minds of wisdom and compassion. Through concentrating on their meaning with a good motivation we can purify negative karma, gather virtuous karma, and fill our minds with pure, positive healing energy. An explanation of each is listed below:
"Heart Jewel" is an ancient practice that prepares our mind for meditation by transforming our mind from an ordinary state to a positive, virtuous state. During the first half of Heart Jewel, we make prayers to receive the blessings of the holy beings to help us realize each stage of the path to enlightenment.
"Lamrim" means "stages of the path to enlightenment." In our tradition, we use the Lamrim text called The New Meditation Handbook, which consists of a cycle of twenty-one meditations which we practice again and again to gain increasingly deeper understanding. Some of the more popular meditations in The New Meditation Handbook are the meditations on our precious human life, karma, compassion, and taking and giving.
After 15 - 20 minutes of Lamrim meditation, we practice absorbing our Spiritual Guide into our heart for five minutes, then conclude our practice with prayers to Dorje Shugdan, our Dharma Protector who helps protect the seeds of the stages of the path we have just sown in our mind.
The entire Heart Jewel Lamrim practice takes about one hour. Newcomers are always welcome to join us.
Wishfulfilling Jewel
Longer version of Heart Jewel. Sometimes done with tsog offering.
Offering to the Spiritual Guide
Prayers for relying upon the Spiritual Guide. It includes all the essential practices of the stages of the path (Lamrim) and training the mind (Lojong). Done on Sundays closest to the 10th and 25th days of the month, with tsog offering.
35 Confession Buddhas
Officially called "The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls," this is a purification sadhana (method). It emphasizes the "three superior heaps" of Prostration, Confession, and Dedication.
Powa Ceremony
This is a puja for transferring the consciousness of the deceased to a Pure Buddha Land. This is a sadhana of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion.
Liberation from Sorrow
Praises and requests to the twenty-one Taras. The twenty-one Taras are manifestations of Green Tara. "Tara" means "Rescuer," and she is also known as the "Mother of the Conquerors." If we rely upon Green Tara sincerely, she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfill all our wishes.
* Tsog Offering *
We offer food, drink, flowers, and other pleasant objects to the Buddhas during some pujas. You may bring nice offerings that you would give to a good friend.