“An empowerment bestows upon us special blessings that heal our mental continuum and awaken our Buddha nature.” — Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
During this very special event, our Resident Teacher Trina Gunther will grant the blessing empowerment of Buddha Shakyamuni. By receiving this empowerment we make a deep personal connection with Buddha that leads us to spiritual protection from all suffering and problems, known as Buddhist refuge.
Everyone is welcome!
Buddha Shakyamuni is the founder of Buddhism in this world. In general, Buddha means "Awakened One," someone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. A Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions and has become a compassionate refuge and protector for all living beings.
Buddha Shakyamuni was born as a royal prince in 624 BC in a place called Lumbini (now part of Nepal). He showed the manner of accomplishing enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in India in 589 BC. Buddha gave eighty-four thousand teachings, and from these precious teachings Buddhism developed in this world.
Though his human body passed away, Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightened mind remains with us, emanating as spiritual guides and other beneficial things and constantly bestowing blessings on all living beings.
Through his enlightened actions, Buddha is actively liberating us from suffering permanently. If we come to rely upon him through the practice of Buddhist refuge, we will become our own and other's protector, transforming all our fear and anxiety into real strength and confidence, and progressing swiftly towards enlightenment.
Fill your heart with the sublime sunshine of Buddha's blessings.
Become your own and others' protector through relying on Buddha.
Learn how to transform fear and anxiety into strength and confidence.
“Every living being has the potential to become a Buddha, someone who has completely purified his or her mind of all faults and limitations and has brought all good qualities to perfection. Our mind is like a cloudy sky, in essence clear and pure but overcast by the clouds of delusions.
“Just as the thickest clouds eventually disperse, so too even the heaviest delusions can be removed from our mind. Delusions such as hatred, greed, and ignorance are not intrinsic parts of the mind. If we apply the appropriate methods they can be completely eliminated, and we shall experience the supreme happiness of full enlightenment.”
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, The New Eight Steps to Happines.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the empowerment so that we can get everyone comfortably seated on time. Thank you!
Everyone attending has the opportunity to bring a small offering to place on the empowerment shrine, such as a fruit or chocolate. You can bring an offering or purchase one from our shop if you like.
Trina will be giving commentary to the practice of Prayers for Meditation, and in particular the important Buddhist practice of 'going for refuge'. We will learn how to develop our mind of refuge in formal practice and how to maintain it in our busy daily lives.
We will engage in the chanted prayer practice, Prayers for Meditation, with special meditations guided by Trina.
Trina Gunther is a long-time practitioner of Modern Kadampa Buddhism. She has studied and practiced in Dharma centers under Gen-la Dekyong and Gen Rigpa, and she has worked as Education Program Coordinator at centers in Los Angeles and the UK. She is an inspiring example of a lay practitioner of Kadampa Buddhism, and brings with her a wealth of practical experience of putting Buddha's teachings into practice amidst a busy daily life.
149 W Harvard St, Suite 102, Fort Collins, CO 80525
info@meditateinfortcollins.org
