Exploring Creativity, Cultivating Mindfulness

Join us for a unique art workshop where we'll explore the intersection of creativity and mindfulness. This workshop is designed to help you tap into your inner artist, find joy in the creative process, and cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness.

Through a variety of art mediums, you'll be guided to express yourself freely and without judgment. As you create, you'll learn to observe your thoughts and emotions without attachment, fostering a state of mindfulness. This practice can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself and a more peaceful state of mind.

What to Expect:

Mindful Art Practices: Engage in art activities that encourage present-moment awareness and reduce stress.
Creative Exploration: Experiment with various art techniques and materials, regardless of your artistic experience.
Self-Discovery: Use art as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth.
Community Connection: Connect with like-minded individuals in a supportive and inspiring environment.

No prior art experience is necessary. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to explore your creativity. Come and discover the joy of creating without judgment.

Each workshop will feature a different type of art or craft. The artist will shrare their work and guide you through creating some aspect of that work.

The fee for each workshop will vary depending on the types of materials required. The workshop will take approximately 4 hours.

Movie Night at Gampopa Center

The first Movie Night at he Gampopa Center starts on January 24th at 7 PM! Details to follow!

Under the Bodhi Tree: Exploring Buddhist Concepts is an introduction of essential Buddhist practices, philosophy, and culture. This program highlights Buddhism’s usefulness in everyday life, and how one should follow these concepts.

There are two Dharma facilitators leading the Dharma session. The session starts with some beginning prayers, followed by a greeting and a brief explanation of the center for any newcomers. This is followed by a simple meditation on the Four Immeasurables, and on the breath technique—calm abiding. Then, a Dharma topic is discussed by the facilitators wherein questions can be asked by participants. The session concludes with dedication prayers.

Meeting: Weekly on Mondays 7pm – 8pm. at the Gampopa Center Shrine Room at 1831Forest Dr., Suite C, Annapolis MD 21403.

Attend on Zoom:
Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 823 093 8654
Passcode: 8888

Calendar

In his great compassion, the Buddha emanated as Chenrezig, a form of the bodhisattva
Avalokiteshvara. Practices such as the Chenrezig sadhana can be approached by someone leading an
ordinary life, and the Chenrezig meditation is uncommon both in the ease of its performance and the blessing that it bestows.

Giving up the ordinary activities of the mundane world to devote ourselves to spiritual practice
alone would create an ideal condition for inner growth; however, this is possible for very few
individuals.

For the rest of us who must juggle work, family, friends, and deal with all kinds of emotions,
ways to integrate our spiritual practice into daily life are much needed.

Oṃ Mani Peme Hung

Luckily, Chenrezig is the Mahayana and Vajrayana essential practice. It is very effective to new
practitioners, opening their hearts to the path of liberation.

Also, this practice is very helpful for someone who has been practicing a long time, yet has lots of obstacles that they are encountering on the path. This practice is also for someone who is a more advanced practitioner; this will lead deeper to the heart essence of the Buddhist path.

Tara is considered the mother of all Buddhas. She represents the enlightenment mind and the
feminine divine. Reciting Tara prayers and mantra is meant to remove obstacles one may
encounter in this life, such as fears and illnesses, as well as removing inner obstacles to the
realization of emptiness and interdependence, to go beyond one’s common experience of
duality.

These contemplations and meditations are part of creation and completion processes
found in Buddhist practices that train our mind to maintain a state of mindfulness and
awareness, meditative stability, aimed at cultivating loving kindness and wisdom or
discriminating awareness

Green Tara Sādhana practice

In the practice of the Sādhana, an invocation to Green Tara, we follow the text and are
instructed on various visualizations of Green Tara, images and symbols that represent
enlightened mind and Green Tara’s vast activity for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā

White Tara Sādhana practice

This Sādhana is traditionally recited to promote longevity. White Tara is the mother, enlightened
mind, who represents expansive and unlimited compassion, steady mindful awareness and
protection.

As we follow the text, we are instructed on various visualizations of Tara, of
enlightened beings and of images and symbols that represent enlightenment mind.

OṂ TĀRE TUTTĀRE TURE MAMA ĀYUR PUṆYE JÑĀNA PUṢHṬIṂ KURUYE SVĀHĀ

21 Praises of Tara practice

We recite 21 Praises of Tara as a repeated invocation to Tara to be our refuge and protector, to
help us develop genuine compassion and loving kindness, to rejoice in her activities of
generosity, to support us, as we follow in her footsteps towards the realization of the true nature
of reality for the benefit of all sentient beings.

These practices were taught to us by Lama Phurbu Tashi Rinpoche, the spiritual leader of the Gampopa Meditation Center. Currently, Rinpoche leads 21 Praises of Tara practice on Thursdays
8:15-9:15pm (EDT) on Zoom.

Exploring Creativity, Cultivating Mindfulness

Movie Night at Gampopa Center

Giving up the ordinary activities of the mundane world to devote ourselves to spiritual practice alone would create an ideal condition for inner growth; however, this is possible for very few individuals.

For the rest of us who must juggle work, family, friends, and deal with all kinds of emotions, ways to integrate our spiritual practice into daily life are much needed.