We don't need any notice-- come as you please.

2. I'm interested in Buddhism, but some of it seems a little "foreign." What about meditation, mantras, and chanting in Tibetan?

If any of it seems foreign, that makes sense, as the teachings come from centuries-old wisdom, far away in the Himalayas! At the beginning, some find the words difficult to pronounce, the mantras slow going relative to the warp-speed cadence of the older students, and keeping the mind focused a challenge. Generally, that's where most of us started.

However, it should not be lost among all this that, from the mantras to meditation to the good conduct which is an essential part of the path, everything about Buddhism is designed with great care and wisdom to maximize progress towards true happiness for oneself and others. In that sense, it can hit close to home. In fact, it is about coming home-- to one's own original, perfect true nature.

Considered by many to be the quick path to enlightenment, the Tibetan path has many means available for self-liberation, but, as the Buddha stressed, take nothing on blind faith and choose only those parts that work from your own experience. So only do what you are comfortable doing.

If you have little or no experience, generally our 11 AM Sunday meeting at Fondren Hall at Scarritt Bennett is recommended as a starting point. It's geared for newcomers, although many seasoned practitioners also attend. But anyone, regardless of experience, is welcome to attend any meeting. Some newcomers fit right in our more advanced programs.

If you are a beginner and our Sunday meeting is not convenient for you to attend, feel free to stop by one of our other meetings for some direction on reading, our teachers, etc. Or you can email us.

Enlightenment is a state of mind: one of total awareness, peace, joy, ease, fulfillment, and perfect freedom. It is the highest form of everlasting happiness, experienced following liberation from ignorance and delusion, as well as from conflicting emotions such as attachment and aversion. Anyone can realize this innate reality, which is your true Buddha nature. Meditation, the intentional cultivation of attention and awareness, is a method leading directly to enlightenment.

To awaken fully and irrevocably is Buddhahood.

Although it is possible to achieve enlightenment in this path during this life, enlightenment can take many lifetimes. The length of each path depends on where one starts, while the speed depends on how hard and effectively one works. Every step along the path, however, can yield positive future results-- that is the law of karma. Some of these results are almost immediate, while others take much longer. Peace of mind is a by-product of all Tibetan practice, although that also comes according to the same factors above. So, while it is important not to have expectations in your practice, good things do happen over time; in fact, at some point-- it is more often like going downhill than uphill.

We are chanting the very words in which these prayers and practices were revealed by enlightened masters; therefore, the syllables themselves carry a blessing. All Tibetan Buddhist teachings have three levels of meaning: outer, inner and secret. The English translation can only communicate the outer level, whereas Tibetan communicates all three.

Tibetan language was codified to communicate the dharma; the vibration of Tibetan actually brings the meditator into desirable states. Add to that the numerous methods of visualization as well as working with breath and subtle energy, and you have a powerful combination.

2500 years ago the Buddha prophesied many times that he would be reborn. This came true in the 9th century with the greatly auspicious birth of Guru Padmasambhava, or Lotus-Born. Guru Rinpoche, as he is also known, came to Tibet from India in 817 C.E. There, in collaboration with King Trisong Deutsen and the great Abbot Shantarakshita, he firmly established Buddhism in Tibet.

Padmasambhava gave widespread teachings to many, especially his 25 principal disciples. For posterity he also hid hundreds of Treasures (termas) in the forms of scriptures, images and ritual articles, with instructions for their revelation for the benefit of future generations.

Over the centuries, more than 100 masters have revealed these Treasures and taught them to their disciples. His own tantric teachings, the lineages of revealed teachings, as well as the Dzogchen (or Great Perfection) view, form the essence of our Nyingma lineage, of which the PBC is a part.

The core heart practice on this great master connects us with our true nature, as well as with our long lineage.

There is no short answer to this question, but an excellent discussion of the differences between all the traditions can be found in the Berzin Archives here.