September 17, 12:30-5:00pm 

$45 pre-registered/pre-paid, $50 at the door.

The purpose of the SOUND is to elicit a mindful state, a single pointed meditation of concentration, guiding us back to the truth of our nature. This is a special sound healing journey based on the rhythms of nature, in the Autumnal Equinox. We are introduced to the healing effects of the Tibetan Singing Bowls and Chants. The combined sound vibration and guidance of Thupten Dadak and Lee Ann Dzelzkaln will take you on a journey of great proportions, grounded in your Truth of Being. Experience a myriad of sacred sound instruments, as well as Thupten chanting the Heart Sutra and One Chord. We will end with a discussion of the Four Immeasurables, an opportunity to play the bowls, and experience closure in gratitude for our day together.

Facilitated by Cathy Ashton and members of the Rochester Compassionate City Committee.

 

September 15, 22, 29 and October 6, 6:30-8:00pm

$20 pre-registered/pre-paid for the series, $25 at the door.

Pulling from the latest Western research, as well as traditional Buddhist psychology, A Fearless Heart offers us a path to awakening and cultivating compassion. Using a revolutionary course in Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) at Stanford University, Thupten Jinpa, one of CCT’s creators and highly acclaimed thought leader and longtime English translator for the Dalai Lama, takes us from mindfulness practice into a deeper and more powerful practice of compassion. We recommend that you purchase and read the book in its entirety before the evening’s discussion, if possible.

Facilitated by Cathy Ashton, who is working with Mayor Brede, Rochester Franciscans, and others to develop Rochester as a Compassionate City.

This is an introduction to the “Compassionate Rochester 2016 Workshop” on October 15, 2016. See page 18 for workshop description.

Facilitated by Cathy Ashton p. 10 in the catalog

 

October 15, 9:00am-4:30pm $45 pre-registered/pre-paid, includes lunch. No registration at the door.  A free will offering will be accepted for the instructors.

The Heart: Thupten Dadak, former Gyuto Tantric monk, will lead us into the daylong workshop with the vibration of Sound Healing, and share his living compassion in the Tibetan culture. This will open our hearts to receive the practical personal and community experience of the day.

Thupten Dadak was born in Tibet and grew up in a traditional household where daily life was defined by the devotional practices of Tibetan Buddhism. Taught mantras and simple rituals at age six, he eventually became a monk at the famed Gyuto Tantric Monastery and discovered he had the “Gyuto voice”, the deep vibrational sound of Gyuto’s famous multi-tonal sacred choir which is known for its transcendent power. The Gyuto monks spend countless hundreds of hours chanting prayers for peace and enlightenment for all sentient beings, and in doing so they deeply absorb the experience and vibrations of the secret teachings they practice.

Thupten’s deep affinity for these practices is lifelong, though he eventually gave up his robes and left the Monastery to come to America where he helped establish the first branch Gyuto Monastery outside Asia. He also founded the Tibetan American Foundation of MN, and led the Tibetan resettlement project which resulted in the 2nd largest Tibetan community in USA.

The Mind: Robert Cusick, former monk, teacher at Stanford and certified Compassion Cultivation trainer, will facilitate a one-day introduction to CCT (Compassion Cultivation Training) designed to strengthen the qualities of compassion, empathy, and kindness for oneself and others. The full course combines traditional contemplative practices with contemporary psychology and scientific research, and was developed by the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University School of Medicine.   http://ccare.stanford.edu/about/mission-vision/  

Robert Cusick trained at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). He is a Certified Stanford CCT™ (Compassion Cultivation Training) Instructor and teaches at Stanford University, UCSF, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and in multiple other venues. As a long time meditator and former monk, Robert ordained in Burma under the renowned meditation master, Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, and studied with him from 2003 – 2012.  He has studied in the Soto Zen tradition while in residence at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, in the Ridhwan School’s Diamond approach with A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center with Gil Fronsdal PhD, Jack Kornfield PhD, and others. He provides grief and bereavement support for adults and children at Kara kara-grief.org in Palo Alto, where he co-leads men’s grief groups and facilitates retreats for fathers grieving the death of a child. He serves at Kara as an Educational Consultant and directs, teaches and co-facilitates trainings for Kara’s Caregivers Forum and Adult Services Program. Robert sits on the Board of Directors of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies http://www.sati.org/.

 

October 23, 2:00-4:00pm - no registration necessary

Calling all people of faith and goodwill!

Join us in building a culture that promotes the interrelated causes of compassion, peace, justice and sustainability for our planet and our people.

COME! As we celebrate various expressions of compassion flourishing in our community and nurture new seeds of compassion.

 

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