Weekend Retreat
Tantra for Today:
The Cittamani Tara Practice as a Path Towards Enlightenment
with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
Sat-Sun, Jan 24-25, 10:30am-4:30pm EST
IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Note: Registration will be available soon.
Tara is the female personification of enlightened activity, who appears in several different forms. Cittamani Tara is the highest yoga tantra practice of Tara, which can offer powerful support to Dharma practice and assist in clearing away obstacles, while accumulating energy on the path to enlightenment.
For those who have yet to be introduced to the popular Cittamani Tara practice and for those looking to better understand some of its ritual aspects, Geshe Tenzin Zopa has kindly offered to lead a weekend retreat for Shantideva students.
In 2024, Geshe Zopa led Shantideva Center in a Cittamani Tara Puja, among other teachings. He returns for this opportunity to help us deepen our understanding of this profound and energetic practice. Geshe Zopa has the perfect background and perspective to discuss how to approach common features of advanced practice, like offerings, purification, and visualizations. He will offer advice on some of the most common impediments practitioners encounter and strategies to overcome them. This is an ideal opportunity to directly ask Geshe-la all your questions.
All are welcome. No empowerment is needed to participate in these teachings or the practice.
Sponsorship
These teachings are a perfect occasion to practice generosity in the presence of an extraordinary scholar and practitioner and helps us cultivate the perfection of generosity. Your kind donations related to this event will be used exclusively to cover hosting expenses, such as rent, transportation, food, audiovisual equipment, other logistical needs, and to support general center expenses. Your support enables us to continue sharing the wisdom of the Dharma with our global community.
Any level of sponsorship is most welcome and greatly appreciated! Please donate using the registration process below. If you just wish to help sponsor the teachings, you can do so via this link using any card or PayPal.
Important Note
This is an in-person and online event. For online, the events will be administered using Zoom*.
After registering, the system automatically sends a confirmation and/or a receipt email that contains the Zoom meeting link and/or other instructions. If you don’t immediately receive the system email(s) or you have any other questions, please contact us at registration@shantidevanyc.org.
*Zoom is an interactive video-conferencing tool that allows participants to see one another and ask questions. You will need a computer, a tablet or a smartphone with the Zoom application to attend. If you are using Zoom for the first time, please login earlier to allow any necessary installations on your device.
Registration / Schedule
Suggested: $20 per session
Other offering options: free, $5, $10, $30
The suggested amount helps sustain Shantideva Center’s Dharma programs, covering essential expenses and allowing us the option of offering our teachings to everyone at no cost. Shantideva member benefits will apply automatically if you have a membership in MindBody.
Schedule:
Morning Session: 10:30am-12:30pm
Lunch: 12:30-2:30pm
Afternoon Session: 2:30-4:30pm
Shantideva Center may publish recorded sessions in the public domain (e.g., on YouTube). By registering for this event, you are agreeing to give your consent to this process. Please be conscious of any personal information you share. Recordings are typically made to spotlight only on the teacher or facilitator so participants are usually not visible.
Time zone: US Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC-5)
For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.
Additional Materials
Participants should obtain the practice text in advance: The Abbreviated Four-Mandala Ritual to Chittamani Tara by Kyabje Gaden Trijang Rinpoche. It is available on the FPMT Foundation Store here.
Recordings
Recordings will be posted here, Archive page and on our YouTube channel afterwards.
About the Teacher
Geshe Tenzin Zopa holds the honoured Geshe (Doctorate) degree from Sera Jey Monastic University, South India. He was born in the remote Himalayan region of Tsum valley in Nepal and was ordained at the age of 9 in Kopan Monastery by the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. He received novice ordination from H.E. Geshe Lundrup Sopa Rinpoche and full ordination from H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama. Geshela was under the direct tutelage of H.E. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, H.E. Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, The Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog and Eminent Gurus including those from the Sera Jey Monastic University H.E. 104th Ganden Tri Rinpoche Losang Tenzin, 70th Abbot of Sera Jey Monastic University H.E. Khensur Losang Tsering Rinpoche and the 76th Abbot of Sera Jey Monastic University H.E. Logoan Tulku Tenzin Jampa Choesang Rinpoche.
Geshela possesses vast scriptural knowledge, holds many rare transmissions and initiations lineages, has completed many retreats, extensive teaching experience and is skilled in rituals and astrology. Geshela has also undertaken many meaningful projects for many years.
He is the principal and focal point of the award winning documentary film titled ”Unmistaken Child” which chronicles the search for the reincarnation of his master Geshe Lama Konchog. Now he is taking responsibility of overseeing the overall wellbeing of H.E Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the reincarnation of late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. He has frequently taken part as a speaker at many Buddhist, interfaith and peace dialogue conferences for many years. He has taught at Oxford University (UK) under “Visitorship for Traditional Scholars” in the Tibetan and Himalayan Studies program. Since 2000 he has been actively teaching in FPMT centers as a visiting and resident teacher. Currently, he is serving as a touring teacher for the FPMT centers.
