Welcome!
Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center of Cleveland was established
as a nonprofit organization in November, 2008. We are in the process of negotiations to rent a home for use as our Center.
Please click here for more information.
Buddhist nun Ani Palmo, our resident teacher and director, is a native Clevelander who has been studying Buddhism since 1988. She has been teaching courses in Buddhism and Meditation in the Greater Cleveland area since 2003.
Our aims for the new Center are many. We want to provide instruction in Buddhist meditation and philosophy in a way that is applicable to both non-Buddhists and Buddhists alike. The Center will also serve as the focal point for forming a true spiritual community where we can support one another in our practice and benefit the larger community as well.
Look forward with us to making full use of Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center of Cleveland.
(We'll soon have a new website that reflects our new Center) 4
Donate or Pledge Online! (Just click on the balloons)
Great News! We are now able to accept Donations and Pledges online. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Please click here (or on the balloons) to learn about our proposed programs and how to make a donation.
See below for information on our summer program with Taklung Matrul Rinpoche.
You can now buy tickets for the Teachings online.
Please scroll down for details.
TAKLUNG MATRUL RINPOCHE'S VISIT TO CLEVELAND
Tuesday June 30 through Sunday July 5, 2009
Taklung Matrul Rinpoche
This is a unique opportunity to receive six days of teachings from a highly qualified Lama. Please be kind to yourself and take advantage of it.
Taklung Matrul Rinpoche is young, very educated and speaks perfect English.
He
will be teaching two sessions a day from Tuesday June 30th through Sunday July 5th.
See below for complete details.
Please note that all teachings except for July 4th will take place at West Shore UU Church in Rocky River.
On Saturday July 4th we'll be meeting at the Olmsted UU Congregation in
North Olmsted. There will be teachings in the morning and a picnic in the
afternoon where we can meet with Rinpoche in an informal setting.
We've also scheduled a time for him to meet with children
for a brief teaching with question and answer time.
Bring your friends and family!
Please bring some food to share (vegetarian, if possible)
Another chance to see the house we'd like to rent for our Center! Click here for info.
On Sunday July 5th we are back at West Shore.
We've added an opportunity to receive Massage, Reiki,
Energy Work and Yoga in between Rinpoche's teachings.
These sessions will be offered between teachings (4:30-6:30 pm) at West Shore UU Church from Wednesday through Friday and at Olmsted UU on Saturday Individual sessions $25/half hour. Yoga class $10/hour per person with group. (Bring your yoga mat)
All proceeds will go to support Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center.
If you are a professional and would like to provide services or you want
to sign up to receive services, please contact Leah.
Dinner and Parking
If you are staying in between teaching sessions, we suggest brown-bagging it. There's a lovely park across the street, and pleasant areas inside and around the church where you can relax and enjoy your meal.
We will provide a list of area restaurants if you would like to go out to eat.
Parking on Wednesday, July 1st may be tight as West Shore has a big meeting that day. If you need to, you can park at the Our Savior Lutheran Church near West Shore.
If you live out of town and need lodging or you can provide it,
please contact me and I will put you in touch with each other.
Picnic, and Massage / Reiki / Yoga are all open to the public,
even if you don't attend the Teachings.
Walk-ins welcome!!
Can't decide if you want to do the whole program? Come to one and test it out.
Do make the time to join us for these very special teachings.
It is so rare to meet realized beings like Taklung Matrul Rinpoche.
And so wonderful to have them come to us. We are very fortunate!
For further information please contact Palmo at (216) 320-9589
or email palmo@anipalmo.org
____________________________________________________________________________
RINPOCHE'S TEACHINGS
A Practice of the Buddha:
Sadhana of Buddha Shakyamuni
A sadhana is a spiritual, meditative practice which includes chanting, visualization
and mantra recitation. This particular practice focuses on the historical Buddha
Shakyamuni and is lovely in word and tune. Rinpoche will explain the text to us
and then we'll have an opportunity to practice together with him.
Texts and CD's of the sadhana will be available for purchase.
Cultivating Compassion:
The 37 Bodhisattva Practices
The 37 Bodhisattva Practices is a classic text on how to cultivate compassion. It is simple, yet profound. Practical, yet poetic.
If you have the text, please bring it with you. If not, the text will
be available for purchase or you can download it here.
Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows
For those interested in following the path of the Buddha, Rinpoche will be giving these vows on Friday July 3rd at the end of the last session. They are not a requirement, but mark a significant first step on the path.
We take Refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Buddha represents our own enlightened potential. Taking refuge in the Dharma means relying on the teachings. When we take refuge in the Sangha -- Bodhisattvas and our own spiritual community --
we receive the support we need to follow the path.
The Bodhisattva Vow is the promise to return to cyclic existence for the benefit of all sentient beings until they have all attained enlightenment. It is the ultimate expression
of compassion.
_____________________________________________________________________________
EVENT SCHEDULE
Tuesday June 30 through Sunday July 5, 2009
(Saturday July 4th in North Olmsted)
LOCATIONS
Tuesday June 30 through Friday July 3 AND Sunday July 5:
West Shore Unitarian Church
20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116
Tel: (440) 333-2255
Click here for directions
*************************************
July 4th:
Olmsted UU Congregation
5050 Porter Road, North Olmsted, OH 44070
Tel: (440) 777-6622
Click here for directions
*July 4th at 9 pm: FIREWORKS at Clague Park
*Fifteen-minute drive from the church. We can carpool.
*Click here for directions.
*************************************
Sunday July 5:
West Shore Unitarian Church (see above)
Click here to download the Event Schedule
_____________________________________________________________________________
REGISTRATION and FEES
REGISTRATION
Please take a moment to register regardless of how you are paying for the tickets.
Simply click here to download the Registration Form and follow the instructions.
We would love to see you there. No need to commit to specific dates ahead of time.
Just buy as many sessoins as you can and come whenever you like.
Some participants have decided to buy the entire range of sessions and donate any unused session fees to Songtsen Gampo.
Just let us know what you want and we'll be happy to accommodate you.
FEES
We do all we possibly can to keep costs to a minimum, and the fees are quite low
when compared with similar programs. Nevertheless, we do need to cover the airfare
for Rinpoche, food, lodging, advertising, venue rental and other financial obligations
that come with hosting this event.
If you cannot meet the cost, please contact Palmo here.
If you can afford to offer more than the fees listed below so that others are able to
attend at a reduced fee, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
SCHEDULE TABLE
DAY |
DATE & SESSION
|
TIME |
TEACHING |
TUE |
6/30: A |
2-4 pm |
A Practice of the Buddha (WS) |
|
6/30: B
|
7-9 pm |
Cultivating Compassion (WS) |
WED |
7/1: A |
2-4 pm |
A Practice of the Buddha (WS) |
|
7/1: B
|
7-9 pm |
Cultivating Compassion (WS) |
THU |
7/2: A |
2-4 pm |
A Practice of the Buddha (WS) |
|
7/2: B
|
7-9 pm |
Cultivating Compassion (WS) |
FRI |
7/3: A |
2-4 pm |
A Practice of the Buddha (WS) |
|
7/3: B
|
7-9 pm |
Cultivating Compassion (WS) |
SAT* |
7/4: A |
10 am-Noon |
Cultivating Compassion (OU) |
|
7/4: B
|
7-8 pm |
A Practice of the Buddha (OU) |
SUN* |
7/5: A |
3:00-4:45 pm |
A Practice of the Buddha (WS) |
|
7/5: B
|
5:15-7:00 pm |
Cultivating Compassion (WS) |
*(WS)=West Shore Unitarian; (OU)=Olmsted Unitarian
*Please note the variations in times, teachings and locations for Saturday and Sunday
TWO METHODS OF PAYMENT: Check or PayPal
CHECK:
Please click here to download the Registration Form
and follow the instructions.
Mail check and registration form to:
Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center
PO Box 181132
Cleveland Hts, OH 44118
Your tickets will be waiting for you at the event.
PAYPAL in three easy steps:
1) Using the drop-down menu Number of Sessions below, click on the TOTAL NUMBER of sessions you will attend.
2) Write your dates and session letters (A +/or B) in the Your Dates & Sessions box using the same format as the yellow column in the Schedule Table above. Use commas to separate. (Example: 7/1:A, 7/2:B, 7/3: A & B)
3) Click "Add to Cart" button which takes you to the PayPal site.
You will be returned to this site after completing your transaction.
Please Note:
*You do NOT need to have an account with PayPal to buy tickets.
*Use the "Quantity" column on the PayPal site ONLY IF you are buying the same series of tickets for two or more people.
*A charge of 0.04% of the total will be added to cover the transaction fee PayPal charges us.
Your tickets will be waiting for you at the event.
Please remember to download the Registration Form to register. To email the form just fill it out, re-save it and attach it to your email to Leah.
*All prepaid tickets (by check or PayPal) are non-refundable.
