Chanted Meditations (Pujas)
Pujas (chanted prayers) are an important component of training in a spiritual life. They help us to still our mind, connect with enlightened beings, and receive blessings.
Below is a list of the pujas we practise together at the centre. Please check the online calendar for any schedule changes. All pujas are free of charge. Everyone is welcome.
Prayers for World Peace
Come along and feel empowered to change yourself and change the world. In this class our focus is on the solutions to problems in daily life, including genuine optimism through the development of a peaceful heart. Details for this event will be advertised.
Offering to the Spiritual Guide
This is a special Guru Yoga of Je Tsongkhapa in conjunction with Highest Yoga Tantra that is a preliminary practice for Vajrayana Mahamudra. The main practice is relying upon our Spiritual Guide as a Buddha and making praises and requests, but it also includes all the essential practices of the stages of the path and training the mind, as well as both the generation stage and completion stage of Highest Yoga Tantra. By relying upon Je Tsongkhapa our compassion, wisdom, and spiritual power naturally increase. This practice includes a tsog offering so you can bring a vegetarian food offering with you if you wish. (1hr 45min).
Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja
This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part we visualise our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, accumulate merit, and receive blessings. This prepares our mind for a fifteen-minute meditation on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.(unguided but meditation handbook available) After the meditation we make prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. Through this we can overcome obstacles to our practice and create favourable conditions so that we can nurture and increase our pure Dharma realisations.
Once a week, usually on a saturday, this practice includes a tsog offering so you can bring a vegetarian food offering with you if you wish.
Tara Puja
At Kadampa Centres worldwide, the eighth of the month is Tara Day. Tara is a female Buddha, whose name means “Rescuer. She is the embodiment of swift compassion. If we rely upon Tara sincerely and with strong faith, she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfil all our wishes. Everyone is welcome and invited to join us for Tara’s chanted prayer practice, Liberation from Sorrow. (45 mins)
Prayers for the Deceased
Once a month the Centre engages in a lovely ritual practice on behalf of those who have recently deceased. The practice entails a transference of consciousness, whereby through chanted prayers and mantras, the participants assist in directing the consciousness of the recently deceased directly to the Pure Land. Food and flower offerings are welcome. (45 mins).
If you would like someone who has recently passed away to be added to the dedication prayers, please write to epc@meditationincheltenham.org.uk
Melodious Drum
Melodious Drum puja is recommended for experienced practitioners only. Newcomers are welcome but please contact us first – epc@meditationincheltenham.org.uk
This monthly practice consists principally of prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. A Dharma Protector is an emanation of a Buddha or Bodhisattva whose main functions are to avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from attaining spiritual realisations, and to arrange all the necessary conditions for their practice. Dorje Shugden always helps, guides, and protects pure and faithful practitioners by granting blessings, increasing their wisdom, fulfilling their wishes and bestowing success on all their virtuous activities. This practice includes a tsog offering so you can bring a vegetarian food offering with you if you wish. (3.5 hours).
“I feel a real connection with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha with friends and I like the shot in the arm it gives me, if I’m feeling a little bit low on energy beforehand, then certainly afterwards I feel uplifted.”
Max
“I love doing pujas here. It makes me feel very connected, I close my eyes and I imagine that I am surrounded by all the world wide kadampa community. So many other people doing pujas.”
Jennie
