Joy: An Invitation to Lasting Happiness
Special Saka Dawa Teachings & Practices with Khandro Kunga Bum-ma
Sun Jun 4, 10am–4pm EDT
IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Online: Registration is open now.
In-Person: Seats are full at the moment. Please check back as spots may become available.
Shantideva Center is overjoyed to host Khandro-la (Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma) on the auspicious day of Saka Dawa, which commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. Khandro-la will offer teachings, Q&A, meditations, and a brief tsog on this day.
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent passing has reminded us, we cannot rely on the outer world for stability and lasting happiness. All compounded phenomena are impermanent. Our physical body is getting older and will perish one day. Our teachers and friends will also pass away. The things that provide us some level of happiness on a daily basis, such as food and entertainment, can never satisfy us indefinitely. And even if we have some physical pleasure, we often suffer from depression, anxiety, jealousy and other painful states of mind.
Even though outer conditions cannot bring us the genuine happiness we seek, there exists great potential within us to find that lasting happiness. We just need to learn how to unlock it. If we investigate where happiness comes from, we will see that every experience is dependent on causes and conditions. Positive experiences come from positive causes and negative experiences come from negative causes. There is nothing existing that is not in the nature of dependent arising. We tend to create the causes of suffering out of habit, but it is definitely possible to create the causes of lasting happiness by developing our wisdom and compassion.
Everyone attending in-person must pre-register, due to capacity limitations in our gompa. We are deeply sorry that we cannot host everyone in-person who wishes to join. If registration for in-person is full, we invite you to join us online via Zoom to share in these teachings and blessings as a global community. Please check back for the latest information and details.
Sponsorship
We rejoice in the wonderful opportunity to receive Khandro-la’s teachings on Saka Dawa. On this holy day, karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times, as we celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events: birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana.
These teachings are a perfect occasion to practice generosity in the presence of an extraordinarily realized being and helps us cultivate the perfection of generosity.
Our sponsorship goal of $6,000 will be used for flights, tsog puja, food, flower, local transportation, A/V and other expenses associated with Khandro-la and her attendants. Funds received in excess of our goal will be used to support teacher offerings, other event expenses, and/or general center needs.
Any level of sponsorship is most welcome and greatly appreciated!
If you offer $500 or more before Sun May 21, we will reserve a seat for you as a thank you for your kind generosity.
Please use the Donate button if you don’t plan to attend in person or online. Please make sure to select in the dropdown menu: “Khandro Kunga Bum-ma – Saka Dawa, Jun 4”.
Please use the Register buttons further below if you plan to attend in person at the center, or online via Zoom.
Schedule
| 10am-12pm | Morning Session: |
| 12-2pm | Lunch break |
| 2-4pm | Afternoon Session: |
Important Note
For in-person: you must be pre-registered. Each registration is for 1 person only. The morning and afternoon session have separate registrations. You must arrive at least 15 mins before the start time to secure your seat. We may give your spot to others after that. Please review our latest Covid-19 policy beforehand.
For online: We will be using Zoom*. The Zoom meeting link will be in the confirmation email (not the receipt email).
After registering, the system automatically sends a confirmation email. If you don’t immediately receive the email, it may mean that you are not registered. Please contact us at registration@shantidevanyc.org if you have any questions.
*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
Online: Registration is open now.
In-Person: Seats are full at the moment. Please check back as spots may become available.
Open donation: $1,000, $500, $250, $108, $50, $35, $21, $10, free
Your generosity makes it possible for us to share the Dharma and continue working together for the benefit of all sentient beings.
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. To protect your privacy, we recommend being conscious about any personal information you share during the sessions. To further enhance anonymity, you may want to consider turning off video or naming yourself using abbreviations.
Time zone: US Eastern Daylight Time (GMT/UTC-4)
For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.
COVID-19 Policy
To review the policy please click here. For questions, please email registration@
Additional Materials
If you are attending in-person and wish to follow the prayers, kindly download or print out the following texts and bring them with you to the Center:
Recording
Available soon.
Dana for the Teacher
About the Teacher
“People try spiritually to achieve realization. The true realization is to achieve a kind heart. Other than that, there is nothing really that is useful.” — Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma
Described as a living embodiment of the bodhisattva ideal, Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma is cherished for her humility, deep wisdom and compassion. While she was not educated within the traditional monastic system, she was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a realized practitioner and an oracle of the Tibetan people.
Khandro-la’s life story is not linear. It is filled with visions and prophecies that often extend beyond our understanding. As a young woman, she received a vision to leave her homeland of Tibet and head to Nepal. Upon arriving in Nepal, she met a man who told her that she must meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After great hardship, including extreme health challenges, she finally met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and began to serve in her current role as oracle and dharma teacher.
Khandro-la believes that the essence of life is to realize bodhicitta and emptiness. In turn, her sole focus is on helping beings achieve indestructible faith in these two. In the end, she says that If she cannot help people realize bodhicitta and emptiness, meeting with her is just a waste of time.
Click here for her autobiography in verse.
