Free Public Talk: The Medicine of Hope
May 8 | Free Public Talk | 7pm – 8:30pm
with Gen Samten Kelsang
Registration Opens March 25 at 2pm
Learn how meditation relates to the medicine of hope. A hopeful vision for ourselves, others, and the world is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Without this expansive optimistic imagination, nothing good is possible.
Through using meditations on wisdom and the power of the mind, we can create a positive, hopeful worldview that will gradually come into being. This will give us strength, and will empower those around us. Ultimately, it will bring healing to everyone, everywhere.
Everyone welcome!
Make it a Weekend Getaway!
Making this weekend a getaway is a perfect blend of meditation, nature, and rest. Many people take the opportunity to take a weekend up to the Catskills and enjoy KMC New York’s activities and the environment. The weekend schedule is is the Food for Thought, Saturday Workshop, and Sunday Meditation class. It’s a restorative weekend that offers as peaceful experience on a lighter schedule.
Saturday, May 9th
Meditation Workshop:
The Power of Loving Kindness
with Kelsang Rak-ma
Love heals, anger divides. Love inspires and energizes, where frustration paralyzes and make us stagnate. True loving-kindness coming from wisdom and compassion does not make us a pushover, but gives us confidence and strength to do what is right.
Come experience practical methods and timeless meditations on how to train in loving-kindness. We will see exactly how to increase our loving mind, how to work through obstacles that can arise in these meditations, and how meditations on love can solve our daily problems. We will leave feeling that we have the tools we need to go into our life to be a force for good. Everyone welcome!
Workshop Schedule
Session 1: 10 – 11:15am
Session 2: 11:45am – 1pm
Lunch: 1 – 2pm
These half-day workshops offer people a chance to deepen their meditation practice within the quiet space of the World Peace Temple. Each workshop consists of two 75 minute sessions with guided meditation and teachings on a particular topic. This is a perfect opportunity to get a taste of meditation and take to heart some advice from Buddha’s teachings. Many people attend these workshops if they want to spend part of the day at KMC New York, whether they have been here before or not, while others make it a weekend to take a break from the city and relax in the Catskills.
Sunday, May 10th
Mother’s Appreciation Breakfast
and Meditation Class with Gen Samten Kelsang
Join us for our Mother’s Appreciation Breakfast and a special Prayers for World Peace! The breakfast will include an extensive vegetarian brunch, with all the amenities lovingly prepared for you. You can come alone, bring friends or even a mother!
Afterwards, join in our Prayers for World Peace. In Buddhist meditation, we use a mother or a guardian as an example of a selfless type of love. Through admiring that example, we can then embody that kind-hearted attitude with more and more people, and eventually the whole world. We will see how to bring that mindset into our life so we can be a force for good. Everyone welcome!
Food for Thought Schedule
Food for Thought: 9:30am (main building)
Meditation Class w/Gen Samten: 11am – 12:30pm
Our Food for Thoughts offer a great opportunity to visit the World Peace Temple, enjoy some guided meditation to relax, and experience great food with friends, family and the community and Kadampa Meditation Center New York. This event is run entirely through the help of many volunteers who love treating people with an evening of delicious food and company. Many people come to this event who are new, regular locals, or people wanting to get away from the city and enjoy a nice weekend in the Catskills.
Teachers:
Public Talk and Sunday Class Teacher, Gen Samten Kelsang:
One of Venerable Geshe‑la’s senior disciples with decades of meditative and teaching experience, Gen Samten Kelsang oversees the spiritual program at KMC New York, and teaches throughout the US and around the world. He is renowned for the clarity of his teachings, ability to help students improve their practice, and his skill in leading practitioners to profound meditative insights.
Meditation Workshop Techer, Kelsang Rak-ma
Kelsang Rak-ma has studied Kadampa Buddhism for many years. Under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, she has taught at many Kadampa Centers in the US. Kelsang Rak-ma brings a light hearted approach to Buddha’s teachings and makes in fresh an accessible to everyone.
Registration Details:
There are three parts to registration: course fee, accommodation and meals. Certain types of accommodation may require booking for the full event. Dorm and BYO camping accommodations are usually available by the night. Please confirm availability at booking. Our meals are vegetarian, with vegan and wheat-free options, and are cooked onsite by our resident chef. You can book the entire event or just part of the event.
Food for Thought: $20 per person, or $35 for 2
Saturday Workshop: $30 per person, lunch is included
Sunday Prayers for World Peace: by donation
Accommodations: based on booking
Meals: $10/each lunch or dinner
Membership Discount:
Basic: no discount | Standard: 50% | Plus: 100%