Discovering Buddhism: REFUGE IN THE THREE JEWELS

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth. WHEN: 4 Thursdays, March 3–24, 6:30 - 9.00 pm (CET – Zurich) WHERE: Online and Onsite LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE The formal entry point for becoming a Buddhist is to participate in a ceremony in which one takes refuge in – commits to rely upon – the Three Jewels or, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, the Three Rare Sublime Ones: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Students will learn about absolute Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the enlightened mind, the experiential knowledge in that mind, and the superior beings who’ve realized emptiness; and relative Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the buddha of our time, Shakyamuni, the texts that present his teachings, and the ordained monks and nuns. Students also learn about the power of living in vows. Of the three levels of vows – those of individual liberation, the bodhisattva, and tantra – the first are taken after having taken refuge. Schedule 6:30 pm Meditation 6:50 pm Break 7:00 pm Teaching by Ven. Robina 8:30 pm Discussions 8.50 pm Conclusion & Dedication 9.00 pm End Discovering Buddhism is an FPMT study program aimed at giving Buddhist and non-Buddhist students a solid footing in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. The program is not meant to be an academic study of Buddhism, it is meant to change our daily lives through experiential training in meditation and thought transformation. About the Teacher Ven. Robina Courtin, Australian-born, has a powerhouse personality and has been a Buddhist nun for nearly 40 years. Well known for her work with people in prisons, Ven. Robina’s life and work is the...

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Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Recently FPMT's Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended for Lhagsam to perform the Cittamani Tara Four-Mandala Offering Puja, everyone is welcome to join! This is to ensure a successful transition of Lhagsam to an FPMT center status, to find a great Center Director and for Lhagsam to be able to benefit numberless sentient beings. WHEN: Friday March 4, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm CET, Saturday March 5, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET Friday March 11, 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm CET, Saturday March 12, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET WHERE: Onsite & Online LEVEL: Intermediate. Some knowledge of Buddhism is of benefit but everyone is welcome! PDF: If you join us onsite, please bring your own device or printout to read the text. You can find it here: Cittamani Tara ZOOM LINK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88296658110?pwd=djdQbGhLR2hPdnhVbGRXamcyRnRyZz09 Meeting ID: 882 9665 8110 Passcode: 940984 There are so many inner obstacles to the development of your mind, and these inner obstacles create many outer obstacles. Therefore, for the success of your Dharma practice, of your actualizing the graduated path to enlightenment, you must rely upon a special deity or Buddha, such as Tara. - Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Kopan Monastery, May 1987) It is important for Lhagsam's future that we do this practice together, therefore we invite all our friends and supporters to join us for one or more of the pujas. We have a great opportunity to collect great merit through this practice, as we will be doing it during the Days of Miracles, which this year will fall between the 3rd and 18th of March. Ven. Tsultrim will kinldy lead us through the practice. Cittamani Tara is the highest yoga tantra manifestation of the deity Tara. Tara, a female personification of the enlightened mind, is known as Tara the Liberator, an embodiment of...

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Dharma Toolkit – Demystifying Tibetan Buddhist Ritual

With Miffi Maxmillion. This course is aiming it as an entry level course for the committed beginner and the curious practitioner. WHEN: Saturdays in February and March 2022, 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm CETWHERE: OnlineLEVEL: Intermediate. Some basic understanding of Mahayana Buddhism is of benefit. Beginners are welcome as well! REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE Dharma Toolkit is an interactive beginner series on everything you ever wanted to know about Tibetan Buddhist ritual but were afraid to ask! We may feel awkward or even slightly embarrassed performing rituals of a culture different than our own until we learn the meaning of those rituals and integrate them into our practice. With an understanding, Tibetan Buddhist ritual becomes a powerful connector to inner transformation and growth. A means to unify body, speech, and mind into a sum greater than its parts. The Dharma Toolkit series is a great introduction for beginners to combine Tibetan Buddhist philosophy with daily practice. As well as a refresher for returning students, to check they have all the ingredients necessary for a stable and flourishing Dharma practice. February 5 - Session 1: Why have an altar?Discover how to set up your own altar with the essential elements and how to customize it as a living practice, reflecting your own inner journey. February 12 - Session 2: Why and how to make offeringsMaking water bowl offerings is a simple yet profound practice that gentles the mind, and it is a unique way to practice generosity no matter your financial resources. February 19 - Session 3: What is a mandala?Mandalas are universal symbols of wholeness and transformation, found across cultures. In Buddhism this is also a way to break down our habitual ordinary (and often distorted) view of reality. February 26 - Session 4: How to make a mandala offeringExplore the...

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Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Recently FPMT's Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended for Lhagsam to perform the Cittamani Tara Four-Mandala Offering Puja, everyone is welcome to join! This is to ensure a successful transition of Lhagsam to an FPMT center status, to find a great Center Director and for Lhagsam to be able to benefit numberless sentient beings. WHEN: Friday March 4, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm CET, Saturday March 5, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET Friday March 11, 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm CET, Saturday March 12, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET WHERE: Onsite & Online LEVEL: Intermediate. Some knowledge of Buddhism is of benefit but everyone is welcome! PDF: If you join us onsite, please bring your own device or printout to read the text. You can find it here: Cittamani Tara ZOOM LINK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88296658110?pwd=djdQbGhLR2hPdnhVbGRXamcyRnRyZz09 Meeting ID: 882 9665 8110 Passcode: 940984 There are so many inner obstacles to the development of your mind, and these inner obstacles create many outer obstacles. Therefore, for the success of your Dharma practice, of your actualizing the graduated path to enlightenment, you must rely upon a special deity or Buddha, such as Tara. - Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Kopan Monastery, May 1987) It is important for Lhagsam's future that we do this practice together, therefore we invite all our friends and supporters to join us for one or more of the pujas. We have a great opportunity to collect great merit through this practice, as we will be doing it during the Days of Miracles, which this year will fall between the 3rd and 18th of March. Ven. Tsultrim will kinldy lead us through the practice. Cittamani Tara is the highest yoga tantra manifestation of the deity Tara. Tara, a female personification of the enlightened mind, is known as Tara the Liberator, an embodiment of...

Continue Reading

Discovering Buddhism: REFUGE IN THE THREE JEWELS

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth. WHEN: 4 Thursdays, March 3–24, 6:30 - 9.00 pm (CET – Zurich) WHERE: Online and Onsite LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE The formal entry point for becoming a Buddhist is to participate in a ceremony in which one takes refuge in – commits to rely upon – the Three Jewels or, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, the Three Rare Sublime Ones: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Students will learn about absolute Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the enlightened mind, the experiential knowledge in that mind, and the superior beings who’ve realized emptiness; and relative Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the buddha of our time, Shakyamuni, the texts that present his teachings, and the ordained monks and nuns. Students also learn about the power of living in vows. Of the three levels of vows – those of individual liberation, the bodhisattva, and tantra – the first are taken after having taken refuge. Schedule 6:30 pm Meditation 6:50 pm Break 7:00 pm Teaching by Ven. Robina 8:30 pm Discussions 8.50 pm Conclusion & Dedication 9.00 pm End Discovering Buddhism is an FPMT study program aimed at giving Buddhist and non-Buddhist students a solid footing in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. The program is not meant to be an academic study of Buddhism, it is meant to change our daily lives through experiential training in meditation and thought transformation. About the Teacher Ven. Robina Courtin, Australian-born, has a powerhouse personality and has been a Buddhist nun for nearly 40 years. Well known for her work with people in prisons, Ven. Robina’s life and work is the...

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Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Recently FPMT's Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended for Lhagsam to perform the Cittamani Tara Four-Mandala Offering Puja, everyone is welcome to join! This is to ensure a successful transition of Lhagsam to an FPMT center status, to find a great Center Director and for Lhagsam to be able to benefit numberless sentient beings. WHEN: Friday March 4, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm CET, Saturday March 5, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET Friday March 11, 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm CET, Saturday March 12, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET WHERE: Onsite & Online LEVEL: Intermediate. Some knowledge of Buddhism is of benefit but everyone is welcome! PDF: If you join us onsite, please bring your own device or printout to read the text. You can find it here: Cittamani Tara ZOOM LINK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88296658110?pwd=djdQbGhLR2hPdnhVbGRXamcyRnRyZz09 Meeting ID: 882 9665 8110 Passcode: 940984 There are so many inner obstacles to the development of your mind, and these inner obstacles create many outer obstacles. Therefore, for the success of your Dharma practice, of your actualizing the graduated path to enlightenment, you must rely upon a special deity or Buddha, such as Tara. - Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Kopan Monastery, May 1987) It is important for Lhagsam's future that we do this practice together, therefore we invite all our friends and supporters to join us for one or more of the pujas. We have a great opportunity to collect great merit through this practice, as we will be doing it during the Days of Miracles, which this year will fall between the 3rd and 18th of March. Ven. Tsultrim will kinldy lead us through the practice. Cittamani Tara is the highest yoga tantra manifestation of the deity Tara. Tara, a female personification of the enlightened mind, is known as Tara the Liberator, an embodiment of...

Continue Reading

Dharma Toolkit – Demystifying Tibetan Buddhist Ritual

With Miffi Maxmillion. This course is aiming it as an entry level course for the committed beginner and the curious practitioner. WHEN: Saturdays in February and March 2022, 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm CETWHERE: OnlineLEVEL: Intermediate. Some basic understanding of Mahayana Buddhism is of benefit. Beginners are welcome as well! REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE Dharma Toolkit is an interactive beginner series on everything you ever wanted to know about Tibetan Buddhist ritual but were afraid to ask! We may feel awkward or even slightly embarrassed performing rituals of a culture different than our own until we learn the meaning of those rituals and integrate them into our practice. With an understanding, Tibetan Buddhist ritual becomes a powerful connector to inner transformation and growth. A means to unify body, speech, and mind into a sum greater than its parts. The Dharma Toolkit series is a great introduction for beginners to combine Tibetan Buddhist philosophy with daily practice. As well as a refresher for returning students, to check they have all the ingredients necessary for a stable and flourishing Dharma practice. February 5 - Session 1: Why have an altar?Discover how to set up your own altar with the essential elements and how to customize it as a living practice, reflecting your own inner journey. February 12 - Session 2: Why and how to make offeringsMaking water bowl offerings is a simple yet profound practice that gentles the mind, and it is a unique way to practice generosity no matter your financial resources. February 19 - Session 3: What is a mandala?Mandalas are universal symbols of wholeness and transformation, found across cultures. In Buddhism this is also a way to break down our habitual ordinary (and often distorted) view of reality. February 26 - Session 4: How to make a mandala offeringExplore the...

Continue Reading

Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Recently FPMT's Spiritual Director Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended for Lhagsam to perform the Cittamani Tara Four-Mandala Offering Puja, everyone is welcome to join! This is to ensure a successful transition of Lhagsam to an FPMT center status, to find a great Center Director and for Lhagsam to be able to benefit numberless sentient beings. WHEN: Friday March 4, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm CET, Saturday March 5, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET Friday March 11, 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm CET, Saturday March 12, 8.30 - 10.30 am CET WHERE: Onsite & Online LEVEL: Intermediate. Some knowledge of Buddhism is of benefit but everyone is welcome! PDF: If you join us onsite, please bring your own device or printout to read the text. You can find it here: Cittamani Tara ZOOM LINK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88296658110?pwd=djdQbGhLR2hPdnhVbGRXamcyRnRyZz09 Meeting ID: 882 9665 8110 Passcode: 940984 There are so many inner obstacles to the development of your mind, and these inner obstacles create many outer obstacles. Therefore, for the success of your Dharma practice, of your actualizing the graduated path to enlightenment, you must rely upon a special deity or Buddha, such as Tara. - Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Kopan Monastery, May 1987) It is important for Lhagsam's future that we do this practice together, therefore we invite all our friends and supporters to join us for one or more of the pujas. We have a great opportunity to collect great merit through this practice, as we will be doing it during the Days of Miracles, which this year will fall between the 3rd and 18th of March. Ven. Tsultrim will kinldy lead us through the practice. Cittamani Tara is the highest yoga tantra manifestation of the deity Tara. Tara, a female personification of the enlightened mind, is known as Tara the Liberator, an embodiment of...

Continue Reading

Discovering Buddhism: REFUGE IN THE THREE JEWELS

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth. WHEN: 4 Thursdays, March 3–24, 6:30 - 9.00 pm (CET – Zurich) WHERE: Online and Onsite LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE The formal entry point for becoming a Buddhist is to participate in a ceremony in which one takes refuge in – commits to rely upon – the Three Jewels or, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, the Three Rare Sublime Ones: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Students will learn about absolute Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the enlightened mind, the experiential knowledge in that mind, and the superior beings who’ve realized emptiness; and relative Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the buddha of our time, Shakyamuni, the texts that present his teachings, and the ordained monks and nuns. Students also learn about the power of living in vows. Of the three levels of vows – those of individual liberation, the bodhisattva, and tantra – the first are taken after having taken refuge. Schedule 6:30 pm Meditation 6:50 pm Break 7:00 pm Teaching by Ven. Robina 8:30 pm Discussions 8.50 pm Conclusion & Dedication 9.00 pm End Discovering Buddhism is an FPMT study program aimed at giving Buddhist and non-Buddhist students a solid footing in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. The program is not meant to be an academic study of Buddhism, it is meant to change our daily lives through experiential training in meditation and thought transformation. About the Teacher Ven. Robina Courtin, Australian-born, has a powerhouse personality and has been a Buddhist nun for nearly 40 years. Well known for her work with people in prisons, Ven. Robina’s life and work is the...

Continue Reading

Dharma Toolkit – Demystifying Tibetan Buddhist Ritual

With Miffi Maxmillion. This course is aiming it as an entry level course for the committed beginner and the curious practitioner. WHEN: Saturdays in February and March 2022, 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm CETWHERE: OnlineLEVEL: Intermediate. Some basic understanding of Mahayana Buddhism is of benefit. Beginners are welcome as well! REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE Dharma Toolkit is an interactive beginner series on everything you ever wanted to know about Tibetan Buddhist ritual but were afraid to ask! We may feel awkward or even slightly embarrassed performing rituals of a culture different than our own until we learn the meaning of those rituals and integrate them into our practice. With an understanding, Tibetan Buddhist ritual becomes a powerful connector to inner transformation and growth. A means to unify body, speech, and mind into a sum greater than its parts. The Dharma Toolkit series is a great introduction for beginners to combine Tibetan Buddhist philosophy with daily practice. As well as a refresher for returning students, to check they have all the ingredients necessary for a stable and flourishing Dharma practice. February 5 - Session 1: Why have an altar?Discover how to set up your own altar with the essential elements and how to customize it as a living practice, reflecting your own inner journey. February 12 - Session 2: Why and how to make offeringsMaking water bowl offerings is a simple yet profound practice that gentles the mind, and it is a unique way to practice generosity no matter your financial resources. February 19 - Session 3: What is a mandala?Mandalas are universal symbols of wholeness and transformation, found across cultures. In Buddhism this is also a way to break down our habitual ordinary (and often distorted) view of reality. February 26 - Session 4: How to make a mandala offeringExplore the...

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Discovering Buddhism: REFUGE IN THE THREE JEWELS

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth. WHEN: 4 Thursdays, March 3–24, 6:30 - 9.00 pm (CET – Zurich) WHERE: Online and Onsite LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE The formal entry point for becoming a Buddhist is to participate in a ceremony in which one takes refuge in – commits to rely upon – the Three Jewels or, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, the Three Rare Sublime Ones: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Students will learn about absolute Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the enlightened mind, the experiential knowledge in that mind, and the superior beings who’ve realized emptiness; and relative Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the buddha of our time, Shakyamuni, the texts that present his teachings, and the ordained monks and nuns. Students also learn about the power of living in vows. Of the three levels of vows – those of individual liberation, the bodhisattva, and tantra – the first are taken after having taken refuge. Schedule 6:30 pm Meditation 6:50 pm Break 7:00 pm Teaching by Ven. Robina 8:30 pm Discussions 8.50 pm Conclusion & Dedication 9.00 pm End Discovering Buddhism is an FPMT study program aimed at giving Buddhist and non-Buddhist students a solid footing in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. The program is not meant to be an academic study of Buddhism, it is meant to change our daily lives through experiential training in meditation and thought transformation. About the Teacher Ven. Robina Courtin, Australian-born, has a powerhouse personality and has been a Buddhist nun for nearly 40 years. Well known for her work with people in prisons, Ven. Robina’s life and work is the...

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Book Club

Join us reading and discussing!

Dharma Toolkit – Demystifying Tibetan Buddhist Ritual

With Miffi Maxmillion. This course is aiming it as an entry level course for the committed beginner and the curious practitioner. WHEN: Saturdays in February and March 2022, 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm CETWHERE: OnlineLEVEL: Intermediate. Some basic understanding of Mahayana Buddhism is of benefit. Beginners are welcome as well! REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE Dharma Toolkit is an interactive beginner series on everything you ever wanted to know about Tibetan Buddhist ritual but were afraid to ask! We may feel awkward or even slightly embarrassed performing rituals of a culture different than our own until we learn the meaning of those rituals and integrate them into our practice. With an understanding, Tibetan Buddhist ritual becomes a powerful connector to inner transformation and growth. A means to unify body, speech, and mind into a sum greater than its parts. The Dharma Toolkit series is a great introduction for beginners to combine Tibetan Buddhist philosophy with daily practice. As well as a refresher for returning students, to check they have all the ingredients necessary for a stable and flourishing Dharma practice. February 5 - Session 1: Why have an altar?Discover how to set up your own altar with the essential elements and how to customize it as a living practice, reflecting your own inner journey. February 12 - Session 2: Why and how to make offeringsMaking water bowl offerings is a simple yet profound practice that gentles the mind, and it is a unique way to practice generosity no matter your financial resources. February 19 - Session 3: What is a mandala?Mandalas are universal symbols of wholeness and transformation, found across cultures. In Buddhism this is also a way to break down our habitual ordinary (and often distorted) view of reality. February 26 - Session 4: How to make a mandala offeringExplore the...

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Discovering Buddhism: Intensive Practice Day

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Meditate with us on the meaning of taking refuge in the Three Jewels; Buddha, Dharma & Sangha! WHEN: Sunday, March 27, 10:00 - 16.00 pm (CET – Zurich) WHERE: Online and onsite LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced REGISTRATION: REGISTER HERE Each FPMT Discovering Buddhism course ends with an intensive practice day, which is designed to review the material one more time and to practice the meditations in a retreat setting. It can also be a great way to get a summary of the course, if you did not have the chance to attend regularly. Everyone is welcome. Schedule 10.00 – 12.00  Meditation 1 & 2 12.00 – 14.00  Lunch break – Bring a vegetarian dish to share! 14.00 – 16.00  Meditation 3 & 4   Discovering Buddhism is an FPMT study program aimed at giving Buddhist and non-Buddhist students a solid footing in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. The program is not meant to be an academic study of Buddhism, it is meant to change our daily lives through experiential training in meditation and thought transformation.   PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: You would make us very happy by supporting us with a donation. Suggested donation is 0 – 50 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: Beginner to Advanced. Registration: REGISTER HERE

Retreat Day (onsite only)

Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation Gablerstrasse 51, Zurich, Switzerland

Our monthly meditation retreat day at Lhagsam WHEN: Saturday April 2nd, 10.30 - 16.00 WHERE: Lhagsam Tibetan Meditation LEVEL: All levels, beginners welcome If you would like to join, please send an email to info@lhagsam.ch "Meditation gives us breathing space in the mind; it gives us the space to experience. Normally our lives are so cluttered that we don't even have breathing space. But meditation gives us the breathing spaceso that things can arise, so that understanding anc experience can come up. Normally we are so busythat they can't surace, because there is no room...meditation is about coming back to our silent inner spaciuousness" Tenzin Palmo How about giving yourself the gift of withdrawing from this busy world for a day?  Turn off your phone, be in silence, settle your mind and look inwardly instead of following your senses to the external world. We will come together for a day of meditation. For anyone not being able to commit for the whole day, you can join half a day.  It is okay to leave or join during lunch break between 13:00 - 14:00, but please do so quietly, as we will be in silence. Beginners are encouraged to join the morning session at 10:30 AM as there would be more guidance in the morning and we will reduce interactions as we move deeper into the retreat. Schedule - 10:30 - 13:00 Setting Motivation, Shamatha Meditation - 13:00 - 14:00 lunch break - 14:00 - 16:00  Meditation, Dedication PRACTICAL INFORMATION Cost: Suggested donation is 30-50 CHF for the full day.  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: No prior knowledge required Registration: We will meet at our location in Zurich. If you...

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