All are welcome to participate in our meditations (in-person and via Zoom). These practices are suitable for new and experienced practitioners alike. Please email us at office@kscashland.org to receive the zoom links, have your questions answered and sign up for our monthly meditation listing and special class announcements.

Meditations Requiring Empowerment & Instruction

The following offerings are available only to experienced practitioners who have received formal empowerment and instruction. To learn more about empowerment, click here.

PRACTICE GROUPS ARE 6-9 MONTH IMMERSIVE PROGRAMS TO DEEPEN YOUR PRACTICE

Practice groups are offered as a way to deepen sangha connection with meditation practice while studying with other dedicated practitioners. Groups meet monthly, for six or nine months, depending on the group. Group members commit to daily meditation, as well as readings and contemplations, to build a reliable meditation practice. Joining a practice group is a great way to create space for regular practice and to connect with a community of practitioners.

TRANQUILITY PRACTICE (November–MArch)

The Tranquility Practice Group works with the Calm Abiding meditation as its central focus. Variations on this meditation will be explored, to build or reinforce daily practice. During the 5 month commitment, a book will be proposed for practice support and discussion. A half day mini-retreat at KSC in the spring. Practitioners of all levels are welcome to join and this is a wonderful entry point for folks new to Tibetan Buddhism.

Registration for Tranquility Practice Group is open. Please follow this link. Email us if you have any questions: practicegroups@kscashland.org

INSIGHT I & II PRACTICE GROUPS
(OCTOBER – JUNE )

The Insight Practice Groups work with the Calm Abiding meditation, but take it a step further with contemplating and exploring the mind. Prior empowerment & instruction required to attend. Permission of Lama Pema is required to attend either Insight group. Please contact her at lamas@kscashland.org.

Registration for Insight I and Insight II is currently open. Follow this link for Insight I. Follow this link for Insight II. to learn more and apply

Email us if you have any questions: practicegroups@kscashland.org

JOYFUL EFFORT PRACTICE GROUPS

(Ongoing)

Joyful Effort Practice Group focuses on learning and practicing the Ngöndro or Preliminaries meditations. We are in a transition with Joyful Effort, which has been a year-round program in the past. This year, we will have this short spring session, taking our time with the first chapter of the Preliminaries, the chapter on Refuge. Beginning in the fall, the Joyful Effort Practice Group will run October 2024 through June 2025, similar to other practice groups at KSC.  

Be sure to register for Joyful Effort if you wish to attend the first meeting. This will guarantee that you receive supportive materials to print before the meeting, as well as the Zoom link if needed.

Spring Session 2024 

April 21, May 12, June 16

All classes are on Tonglen Sundays, from 12:00 - 2:00 pm

In-person and via Zoom

Spring Tuition: $50

October 2024 - June 2025

Dates to be announced

Fall-Spring Tuition: $158

Scholarships are available

Joyful Effort meets monthly following the Tonglen Sunday meditation. (Note: There will be a break in August, due to the lamas’ retreat). The meditations are supported by a text (available at the KSC office for $26), many study aids, and supportive readings from three major lineage teachers. The monthly meetings are dedicated first to practice instruction, and thereafter, will focus on the practitioners’ experience and questions.

Registration is required, and the text will be needed for the first meeting. New participants may join the group in April and all members of the group must continue to register every six months. You may contact Lama Yeshe if you have questions about the group or the meditations: lamas@kscashland.org. 

To register, please complete a Joyful Effort Group Registration Form. Email us if you have any questions about your registration: practicegroups@kscashland.org

SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING PRACTICE GROUP (PENDING)

Lama Liza led six-month practice group on the Seven Points of Mind Training in 2023 (Lojong in Tibetan). This is a system of 59 slogans organized into seven points that help us transform negative mental habits into fuel for awakening wisdom and compassion. This is on pause.

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS

Meditation practice is an essential activity for every Buddhist. When we enter into a retreat of any length, we enter a sanctuary, a physical and mental refuge in which we can disengage from the activities that distract us from our goal of liberation. Retreat provides favorable conditions for our inner practice, which directly affects the realization of our limitless potential, and the resultant benefit to beings

There will be a five-day Personal Practice Residential Retreat in Spring, 2023. This is an opportunity to deepen personal practice with individual guidance from the resident Lamas. These retreats include periods of silence, periods of personal practice and meditation, group meditations, and teachings by the Lamas.

NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREATS

Non-residential retreats are held at KSC throughout the year, and are led by either our resident Lamas, or a guest teacher. These are 1-2 day teaching immersives, held on a weekend in our sanctuary. Typically, there is a two hour morning session, a mid-day break, and then a two hour afternoon session. Topics vary, and are announced in advance of the retreat.