Book Club
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Nina & Jeff’s Farewell Party
Quartiertreff Enge Gablerstrasse 20, Zürich, SwitzerlandCelebrate a happy past and future with us! WHEN: April 30, 4.30 pm CET WHERE: Quartiertreff Enge, Gablerstrasse 20 REGISTRATION: Please REGISTER HERE Big changes are happening at Lhagsam. Nina and Jeff - our founders and long time coordinators - will go on a retreat for a longer period. Their contributions during the past are countless, and their actions have benefited many sentient beings: How amazing that our community had the conditions for having such wonderful people with us for a long time. Thank you - thank you – thank you! Though with a heavy heart due to their departure, we rejoice in their wonderful and courageous ventures. May their spiritual path be blessed with oceans of progress and happiness. For Lhagsam, the future's looking bright: We just became an FPMT center, and with Theres and Fabienne we have two experienced practitioners to share the director positions. Lots of reasons to celebrate the past, present and future. It is also a great opportunity to come together again in person after a lengthy period of social distancing. Please join us for Tibetan momos, cakes, fun, and community on April 30! Please register until April 26 enabling us to adjust quantities. We would like to create a Word Cloud for Nina & Jeff! How does it work? Just write down three words that describe Nina & Jeff in this FORM PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: The event is sponsored by a member, but donations to the center are always welcome. Ideas: If you have ideas for program items or gifts to Nina and Jeff, please contact Maria at finance@lhagsam.ch Registration: Please REGISTER HERE
HHDL Birthday Celebration
Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, SwitzerlandHappy Birthday! We will spend this evening together to celebrate His Holiness Dalai Lama's birthday. WHEN: Wednesday, 6. July, 07.00 pm - 09.30 pm CET CATEGORY: Buddhist Practice, Meditation and Coming Together LEVEL: Everyone is welcome Join us via Zoom or at the Lhagsam location. Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88981082038?pwd=NENXMVdlaVhnaXQvaWVXT0oxSGppQT09 Meeting ID: 889 8108 2038 Passcode: 707984 For as long as space remains, for as long as sentien beings remain, until then may I too remain to dispel the miseries of the world. - Shantideva The evening's program is: 7.00-7.15: Welcome Bring your own flowers, candles, candy, cake or whichever you find suitable Lhagsam offering a cake to HHDL If you join us on zoom, you can likewise offer from your side of the screen 7.15-8.30: Avalokiteshvara Guru Yoga We’ll recite the Sadhana ”The Inseparability of the Spiritual Master and Avalokiteshvara” - composed by HH the 14th Dalai Lama We’ll do 1000 Mani Chants on the mala and dedicate these to HHDL 8.30-8.40: Break 8.40-9.10: Tonglen We’ll meditate on giving and taking, Tonglen 9.15-9.30: Longlife Prayers to His Holiness and Dedication Prayers You can join for any part of the program! PRACTICAL INFORMATION Level: No prior knowledge required Language: English Cost: Suggested donation is 0 - 15 CHF. Noone will be turned away due to lack of funds. Find out how to donate here.
Death Café
Museum Rietberg Gablerstrasse 15., 8002, Zürich, SwitzerlandWe are organising a Death Cafe picnic edition! At a Death Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. WHEN: July 9, 4:30 – 7 pm CET WHERE: Museum Rietberg (at Lhagsam in case of rain) LEVEL: Everybody is welcome! REGISTRATION: Registration is required, please REGISTER HERE The objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'. A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session. This event is organized by Lhagsam members with the simple wish of bringing people together, sharing our thoughts and creating connections. The Death Cafes are always offered: On a not for profit basis In an accessible, respectful and confidential space With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action Alongside refreshing drinks and nourishing food – and cake! The Death Cafe model was developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid from the UK. The idea originates with the Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz (fr), who organized the first café mortel in 2004. If the weather allows, we will meet in front of the Museum Rietberg and then find a nice spot to sit. There are benches, but please bring a blanket or whatever you need to make yourself comfortable. In case of bad weather, we will meet at Lhagsam. Please register, so we can send you more information some days in advance. PRACTICAL INFORMATION About the Death Café: This is a religiously neutral event, open for everybody to participate and share Level: No prior knowledge required Language: We speak German and English. Registration: REGISTER HERE Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Book Club
Join us reading and discussing! WHEN: Sunday, July 24, 7 - 9 pm CET WHERE: Online LEVEL: The book club is open to anyone who is interested to meet and discuss the books we read Please note that registration is required. Register here Join our relaxed and easy-going book club! You find more information here. About the book in July: Book Title: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying Author: Sogyal Rinpoche The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, written by Sogyal Rinpoche in 1992, is a presentation of the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead or Bardo Thodol. The author wrote, “I have written the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying as the quintessence of the heart-advice of all my masters, to be a new Tibetan Book of the Dead and a Tibetan Book of Life”. The book explores the messages of impermanence, evolution, karma and rebirth, the nature of the mind, and the spiritual practices for the moment of death. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: free Language: English Level: open for everyone Registration: Register here
Book Club
Join us reading and discussing! WHEN: Friday, September 23, 7 - 9 pm CET WHERE: Online LEVEL: The book club is open to anyone who is interested to meet and discuss the books we read Please note that registration is required. Register here Join our relaxed and easy-going book club! You find more information here. About the book in September: Book Title: A Step Away from Paradise: The True Story of a Tibetan Lama’s Journey to a Land of Immortality Author: Thomas K. Shor A Step Away From Paradise tells the story of Lama Tulshuk Lingpa’s life and his unlikely expedition to a land beyond cares while reflecting on what this means for the rest of us. It draws on both research and extensive interviews with the surviving members of this extraordinary expedition. The book is richly illustrated with portraits of those who went with Tulshuk Lingpa and the places he traveled to. The book also delves into the tradition within Tibetan Buddhism of Shambhala and the hidden valleys, which mirror legends around the world of utopias and lands of milk and honey, thus showing that the quest for the hidden land is a universal urge of humanity. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: free Language: English Level: open for everyone Registration: Register here
Momo Dinner & Movie Night
Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, SwitzerlandJoin us for a delicious taste of authentic Tibetan Momos and a movie documenting the difficult life of ordinary Tibetans today. WHEN: October 7, 2022, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, movie starts at 7:00 pm CET CATEGORY: Get together, community LEVEL: Everybody is welcome! REGISTRATION: If you plan to attend the Momo dinner, please write us at info@lhagsam.ch and state whether you prefer vegetarian or vegan option, and possibly have other dietary preferences. About the Movie “Windhorse” The film is set in Tibet. In a remote Himalayan village in Western Tibet, three young Tibetans - Dorjee, his sister Dolkar and their cousin Pema - witness their grandfather murdered by Chinese soldiers. Years later, the three children are living in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and their lives have taken different directions. Dolkar becomes a popstar and assimilates into contemporary Chinese culture. Dorjee turns to hating the Chinese government. Pema becomes a Buddhist nun, joining a nunnery a few miles from Lhasa. When Pema is arrested after demonstrating against the Chinese government, her cousins are caught up in the dangerous activities of the Tibetan resistance movement. Partly shot in secret in Tibet, this movie makes a real effort to tell some of the realities of life for Tibetans, and to do so with a degree of realism seldom found. It is not a happy story, and it contains scenes that are disturbing to watch – like the brutal beatings of Tibetan nuns. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: Suggested donation is 0 – 40 CHF. The event will include a sponsored meal. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. You can donate upon arrival or online (via Paypal, Twint or E-Banking). Language: English Level: Everybody is welcome! Registration: If you plan to attend the Momo dinner, please write to info@lhagsam.ch...
Book Club
Join us reading and discussing! WHEN: Saturday, November 26th 2022, 7 - 9 pm CET WHERE: Online LEVEL: The book club is open to anyone who is interested to meet and discuss the books we read Please note that registration is required. Register here Join our relaxed and easy-going book club! You find more information here. Book Title: Enlightened Vagabond: The Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoch Author: Matthieu Ricard Colorful stories about and profound teachings of Patrul Rinpoche, one of the most impactful teachers and thinkers in the Tibetan tradition from the nineteenth century. The life and teachings of the wandering yogi Patrul Rinpoche - a revered Buddhist master and scholar of nineteenth-century Tibet - come alive in true stories gathered and translated by the French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard over more than thirty years, based on the oral accounts of great contemporary teachers as well as written sources. Patrul's life story reveals the nature of a highly realized being as he transmits the Dharma in everything he does, teaching both simple nomads and great lamas in ways that are often unconventional and even humorous, but always with uncompromising authenticity PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: free Language: English Level: open for everyone Registration: Register here
Death Café
Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, SwitzerlandAt a Death Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. WHEN: Friday December 9, 6.00 – 8.30 pm CET WHERE: Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation, Gablerstrasse 51 LEVEL: Everybody is welcome! REGISTRATION: Registration is required, please REGISTER HERE The objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’. A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session. This event is organized by Lhagsam members with the simple wish of bringing people together, sharing our thoughts and creating connections. The Death Cafes are always offered: On a not for profit basis In an accessible, respectful and confidential space With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action Alongside refreshing drinks and nourishing food – and cake! The Death Cafe model was developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid from the UK. The idea originates with the Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz (fr), who organized the first café mortel in 2004. PRACTICAL INFORMATION About the Death Café: This is a religiously neutral event, open for everybody to participate and share Level: No prior knowledge required Language: We speak German and English. Registration: REGISTER HERE Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Open Center Café
Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, SwitzerlandWhether you are a Buddhist practitioner, a follower of another spiritual tradition, or none at all, you are welcome to join. WHEN: Friday February 10, 6.30 – 8.30 pm CET WHERE: Onsite, Gablerstrasse 51 LEVEL: Everybody is welcome! REGISTRATION: Registration is required, please REGISTER HERE Nourishing on Togetherness is written on a plate in the dining hall at Land of Joy, a retreat center in the UK. At the “open center café”, we come together to drink tea, eat snacks, exchange ideas, and create connections. There is no agenda or predefined themes. The most important goal is to create a joyful and respectful space where everyone feels welcome and supported. Whether you are a Buddhist practitioner, a follower of another spiritual tradition, or none at all, you are welcome to join, exchange, and nourish our interconnectedness. If you are interested in activities at Lhagsam, but are not sure whether it is for you, this is also a good opportunity to just come by and see. Our Gompa is open for private practice during these hours, but you will overhear people chatting in the upstairs Tara lounge. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Level: Everybody is welcome! Language: We speak German and English. Registration: Registration is required, please REGISTER HERE Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Losar – Tibetan New Year
Losar means New Year in Tibetan. It is the most important festival in Tibet. It is an opportunity to celebrate, to leave behind any negative aspects and to invite positivity and auspiciousness into our lives. WHEN: February 21, 6.30 - 9.00 pm CET WHERE: Online LEVEL: All levels, beginners welcome Join us via Zoom under the following link and login. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84921928952?pwd=UEd1RTltOFlkZHpTWmVtRU1tT0RLUT09 Meeting ID: 849 2192 8952 Passcode: 871688 This year, Losar falls on February 21 and is followed by The Fifteen Days of Miracles. According to the Tibetan calendar, Losar will mark the first day of the year of the Water Rabbit. The Fifteen Days of Miracles are powerful time for Buddhist practice. All fifteen days starting on Losar are merit-multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on these days is multiplied by 100 million, as cited by Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the vinaya text “Treasure of Quotations and Logic”. It is a perfect moment to renew and strengthen our practice. For the FPMT, Losar is a special time as it commemorates the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s passing at dawn of Losar in 1984. Program 6.30-7.30 pm: Together on the Path 7.30-9.00 pm: Losar with Lama Chopa and commemoration of Lama Yeshe Find the practice here PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: Suggested donation is 0-15 CHF. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. You can donate online via Paypal, Twint or E-Banking. Language: English Level: No prior knowledge required. Registration: No registration necessary. Drop-ins are welcome anytime. PDF: Find the practice here
Lhagsam General Assembly Meeting
ONLINE + ONSITE Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, 8002, SwitzerlandYou are cordially invited for the Lhagsam General Assembly meeting onsite at Lhagsam and online. WHEN: Sunday, March 19, 5:00 – 8:00 pm CET WHERE: Onsite at Lhagsam and Online LANGUAGE: English LEVEL: All are welcome! I know that we all have a lot going on these days, but we hope that some of you may be able to find the time to help us to shape the future of Lhagsam :) Here is the Zoom link for the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83498690687 Meeting-ID: 834 9869 0687 If you live in Zurich or near Zurich, you are welcome to join us onsite. The main topics we will discuss are: Opening of the meeting, Minutes 2022 Yearly Financial Report 2022 and Budget 2023 Personnel announcements: Lhagsam volunteers + open volunteer positions Board elections Decision regarding yearly membership fees Spiritual program 2023 and beyond GV closing We are looking forward to seeing you soon and we thank you for all the kindness and support you continue to offer to Lhagsam and to all sentient beings. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Language: English. All are welcome!
Momo Dinner & Movie Night
Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, SwitzerlandJoin us for a delicious dinner of authentic Tibetan Momo and a documentary about the remarkable friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. WHEN: Sunday, April 23, 2023, 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm, movie starts at 6:30 pm CET CATEGORY: Get together, community LEVEL: Everybody is welcome! REGISTRATION: If you plan to attend the Momo dinner, please write us at info@lhagsam.ch and state whether you prefer vegetarian or vegan option, and possibly have other dietary preferences. Momo and Movie Night “Mission: Joy - Finding Happiness in Troubled Times” The movie is laugh-out-loud funny, but also deeply moving. It invites viewers to join the two unlikely friends as they recount stories from their lives. Both lived through periods of incredible difficulty and strife. With genuine affection, mutual respect and a healthy dose of teasing, they impart lessons gleaned from lived experience, ancient traditions, and the latest cutting-edge science regarding how to live with joy in the face of all of life’s challenges. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: Suggested donation is 0 – 40 CHF. The event will include a sponsored meal. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. You can donate upon arrival or online (via Paypal, Twint or E-Banking). Language: English Level: Everybody is welcome! Registration: If you plan to attend the Momo dinner, please write to info@lhagsam.ch and state whether you prefer vegetarian or vegan option, and possibly other dietary preferences.
Momo Dinner & Movie Night
Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, SwitzerlandJoin us for a delicious dinner of authentic Tibetan momo and a documentary about our very kind and dear guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. We will be watching “Mystic Tibet” that documents Rinpoche guiding a group of pilgrims to various sacred places and temples of worship in Tibet. The evening serves as a celebration of Rinpoche’s life and generous contribution to the Buddha-dharma and the FPMT organization. The evening concludes with us sharing fond memories and anecdotes about Rinpoche. WHEN: Friday, May 26, 2023, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, movie starts at 7:00 pm CET CATEGORY: Get together, community LEVEL: Everybody is welcome! REGISTRATION: HERE - please state whether you prefer vegetarian or vegan option. Momo and Movie Night “Mystic Tibet” The 2007 full-length documentary film Mystic Tibet tells the story of a 2002 pilgrimage to Tibet undertaken by a group of fifty Western students guided by FPMT co-founder and spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche. With a profound well of knowledge and direct understanding of the qualities of the holy Buddhist objects and their sacred locations, Rinpoche transformed the trip into a spiritual journey of merit and benefit for the pilgrims involved, as well as for the viewers of the documentary. Rinpoche expertly supported the conditions for transformative personal experience by leading the pilgrims to many locations precious to the spiritual heritage of Tibet. These sights included the meditation caves of great masters such as Pabongka Rinpoche, Lama Tsongkhapa, and Milarepa. Other sacred sites included Ganden Monastery and the famous sacred residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Potala Palace in Lhasa. View the movie trailer here. Mystic Tibet vividly captures the grandeur and mystery of this life-changing journey. One feels intimately a part of the experience, seeing these holy objects that seem to live and breathe, enduring the hardships...
HHDL Birthday Celebration
ONLINE + ONSITE Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, 8002, SwitzerlandHappy Birthday! We will spend this evening together to celebrate His Holiness Dalai Lama's birthday.
