Teaching Schedule 2017

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Tibet House
January 10, 7 – 8:30pm: New Meditation Series
January 11, 7 – 9pm: Discovering Buddhism Questions and Answers

Philadelphia area (Swarthmore)
Swarthmore Buddhadharma Group
New Year Purification: Vajrasasttva Practice and the Four Opponent Powers
January 17, 7:30 – 9:00pm
When we know we mess up, we are often left with feelings of guilt and a lethargy of not having an effective means to change negative habits. By understanding and applying the four opponent powers with Vajrasattva visualization and mantra recitation, effective purification can take place. Most suitable for those with some background in Buddhism. By donation.

South Florida (Deerfield Beach)
Tubten Kunga Center
Get Real: Emptiness and Authenticity in Challenging Times
January 22, 11:00am – 4:00pm

South Florida (Miami)
Namdrol Ling Study Group
January 24: Developing the Good Heart: Raising Children with Wisdom and Compassion (4:00 – 5:30pm)
Battling Addiction (7:30 – 9:30pm)
January 25: Mindfulness for Children (12:15 – 2:00pm)
January 26: Waking Up to Emptiness (7:30 – 9:30pm)
January 27: Introduction to Tantra (7:30 – 9:30pm)
January 28: Introduction to Tantra (cont.) (10am – 1pm)

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Tibet House
Public Talk – Riding the Wave: Moving Forward in Vulnerable Times
February 3, 7 – 9:00pm

When we experience difficult times and our certainties crumble, our instinct is usually to run away, blame, or feel depressed. This only makes matters worse by trapping us in a circle of negative emotions while thickening the gloomy veil we put on our perceptions of the world. In this public talk, Ven. Amy will introduce the weekend teachings by sharing simple techniques for changing our experience of difficulty, helping us get through difficult times, and using them as opportunities to grow kinder and more confident.

Weekend Retreat: Facing Difficulty with Love and Compassion
February 4 & 5, 10am to 5pm: 

Ven. Amy will delve deeper into the topic of facing difficult times. What are their causes? What causes must we create in order to have a different experience? How can we use our vulnerability to generate a strong wish to emerge from samsara and spark a deep compassion for others? How can we gain perspective and realize the illusory nature of all these experiences? Please join use as Ven. Amy guides us toward the inspiring answers to these timely questions! Open to all levels.

Weekly Meditation Series – Calmly Meeting Change: Staying Strong and Positive
February 7, 7 – 8:30pm

This series focuses on how we have everything we need to be happy, to make others happy, and change the world. This evening will focus on how we have every perfect opportunity now to practice due to the advantages of our precious human rebirth.

Discovering Buddhism: Introduction to Tantra
February 8 (in-person) and February 15 (via Skype), 7 – 9:00pm

Sessions 5 and 6 of this worthwhile module involving transforming our ordinary reality into something extraordinary.

Raleigh, North Carolina
Kadampa Center
The Courage of Compassion: Awakening the Fully Opened Heart
February 10: 7 – 8:30pm
February 11: 10am – 4pm
February 12: 10am – 4pm

Treat Yourself to this Special Valentine’s Program!
“Cherishing others more than oneself” rests as the crux of the Buddhist path and seems beneficial in theory, but how do we truly cultivate that mindset? This class presents the two main methods for developing bodhichitta, the enlightened attitude, and introduces meditations on tonglen and equanimity to begin the process of fully opening our hearts.

Philadelphia Area (Drexel Hill)
Sojourn Yoga
What Goes Around, Comes Around: How Karma Works
February 22, 7:30 – 9:00pm
Why do bad things happen to good people? Explore the workings of karma and how you can create a more peaceful and happier life. Open to all levels.

Philadelphia area (Havertown)
The Philadelphia Meditation Center
What’s Love Got to Do with It?: Love, Desire, and Enjoying Meaningful Relationships
February 24, 7:30 – 9:00pm
“Love” and “attachment” are often confused creating conflict in our relationships, particularly the most intimate ones. If we can lessen attachment, grasping, and control and more fully appreciate all of the goodness in our lives, experiences of genuine love and freedom organically arise. Open to all levels.

Philadelphia Area (Paoli)
Purenergy Yoga
What’s Love Got to Do with It?: Love, Desire, and Enjoying Meaningful Relationships
February 25, 12:30 – 2:30pm
“Love” and “attachment” are often confused creating conflict in our relationships, particularly the most intimate ones. If we can lessen attachment, grasping, and control and more fully appreciate all of the goodness in our lives, experiences of genuine love and freedom organically arise. Open to all levels.

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Jewel Heart, 260 W. Broadway
February 28, 7 – 8:30pm: Meditation Series – Facing Fear – postponed
March 1, 7 – 9pm: Discovering Buddhism Module 1: Mind and Its Potential

Philadelphia area (Swarthmore)
Swarthmore Buddhadharma Group
Chenresig Practice
March 21, 7:30 – 9:00pm
Experience a simple, yet profound sadhana (daily spiritual practice) with visualization and mantra recitation involving the Buddha of Infinite Compassion. Most suitable for those with some background in Buddhism, but open to all. By donation.

South Florida (Deerfield Beach)
Tubten Kunga Center
March 23 – April 6

Buddhism in a Nutshell
Thursdays, March 23, March 30 and April 6, 7 – 9pm
Here’s your chance to get a fun overview of the entire path to enlightenment or refresh your knowledge of Buddhist philosophy. Meditation and practical exercises included. Perfect for beginners, as well as introductory level students. An in-person experience with the teacher of the FPMT course and co-author of the book, Buddhism in a Nutshell. More will be gained by attending all three sessions, but feel free to drop in to one or two classes if necessary.

Ultimate Healing: Empathy, Compassion, and Loving Kindness as a Path to Awakening
March 25 and 26, 11am – 4pm with potluck lunch

This weekend retreat explores sustaining compassion in all walks of life and how we can turn from fear, burnout, depression, and anxiety to replenish our core resources. Meditation on Chenresig (the Buddha of Compassion), exercises, and discussion will be included. The weekend is perfect for all levels of practitioners and particularly helpful for caregivers or those struggling to develop more self-care and compassion. Best to attend both days, but partial attendance is fine.

The Chains that Bind You: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
Tuesdays, March 28 and April 4, 7 – 9pm
What happens when our pursuit of happiness is thwarted again and again? Why do the same problems continue to arise? If we are dissatisfied with our lives and the external reality that is mirroring back to us, is it possible to change that?

By exploring the Twelve Links, we are able to recognize delusion and karma as the root of our suffering. It is through “facing the music” that we can begin to understand and apply the mechanisms to dismantle the addictions and dysfunction.

A full explanation of the Wheel of Life will be included along with meditation and practical exercises. All are welcome although this class is better suited for more experienced practitioners.

April Fool’s Delight: Mindfulness, Mahamudra, and Meditative Stability
April 1 and 2, 11am – 4pm with potluck lunch

Don’t let yourself be fooled this weekend! Treat yourself to a weekend of exploring mindfulness through a variety of stabilizing meditations on the nature of mind and other topics of Buddhist philosophy. Shiné (calm abiding) meditation will be taught and practiced throughout. Exercises in cultivating mindfulness will be included along with discussion on its application in everyday life. All levels welcome and partial attendance is fine although you will certainly get more out of full attendance.

South Florida (Miami)
Namdrol Ling Study Group
Two Wednesday Evenings, 7:30 – 9:30pm
March 29: Choosing Kindness: Empathy and Empowerment in Challenging Times
How can we use our vulnerability to generate a strong wish to emerge from our confusion and separation and spark a deep experience of compassion for others? In this evening, Ven. Amy Miller will walk us through a path of fully waking up and being present with our pain, fear, aversion and how moving through these less than comfortable mind states is the key to transformation. Open to all levels of students.

April 5: Making Friends with Death: Finding Peace and Perspective in this Ultimate Transition for You and Your Love Ones
For most of our culture, death often presents an anxious situation ridden with fear, loss, hopelessness and grief. Explore and learn a more expansive view of this natural transition and how it is possible to prepare and face death with peace, dignity and no regrets. Discussion and meditation included along with practical applications for your self and your loved ones. Open to all levels of students.

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Jewel Heart, 260 W. Broadway
April 11, 7 – 8:30pm: New Meditation Series (via Skype)
April 12, 7 – 9pm: Discovering Buddhism Module 1: Mind and Its Potential Questions and Answers (via Skype)

New York Area
Shantideva Meditation Center
Third Annual Meditation Retreat
at Garrison Institute, Garrison, New York
April 14 – 16
A variety of guided meditation sessions to include shinay (calm abiding), the nature of mind, death and dying, developing the good heart, emptiness, and other topics on the path to enlightenment. Help kickstart your practice or invigorate an already-existing one. Comments from the last retreat included, “Totally life inspiring” and “The best thing I chose to do this year.” Some background in Buddhism a great help, but not necessary.

California
Vajrapani Institute (Boulder Creek)
Kopan West Spring Retreat: A Practical Guide to True Happiness
April 21 – 28
We all want to be happy and we all want to be free of suffering. This retreat will not only provide you with a clear roadmap of how to overcome suffering and to find true happiness but it will also provide you with the tools necessary to undertake that journey.

Have you been curious about Buddhist practice, but don’t know where to begin? Have you attended Buddhist teachings, but don’t know how to meditate on the subjects you’ve studied? An extensive introduction into the theory and practice of the path to enlightenment within the Tibetan Buddhist view, this retreat is also an excellent opportunity for more advanced students to deepen their understanding and own practice.

This retreat will be based on the “Stages of the Path” (lamrim) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and will include lectures, guided meditations, discussion periods, and experiential homework assignments. Subjects to be discussed will include: appreciating your human rebirth, impermanence, karma, death and rebirth, developing loving-kindness, compassion and the awakening mind (bodhicitta), the ultimate nature of reality, and more.

This class will also teach you the fundamentals of Buddhist meditation, and give you the tools you need both to begin a daily meditation practice and to deal with problems and difficulties once you have started to meditate.

Land of Medicine Buddha (Santa Cruz area)
Trust Kindness: Empathy and Letting Go in Vulnerable Times
April 30, 3:30 – 5:30pm
Challenging times can cause certainty to crumble and erode our seeming happiness. Our instinct often is to escape, blame, or numb ourselves to what we are experiencing. This only perpetuates the cycle of negative emotions and the ruminating mind while deepening a false veil on our perceptions of reality. How can we use our vulnerability to generate a strong wish to emerge from our confusion and disconnection and spark a deep compassion for others?

In this public talk, Venerable Amy will walk us through a path of fully waking up and being present with our pain, fear and aversion with the full expression of our wisdom and compassion.

This talk is open to all students though it would be helpful to have some familiarity with Buddhism.

Tse Chen Ling Center (San Francisco)
Introduction to Tantra
May 4, 7 – 9pm
Join us as we learn what tantra is, how it works, and why it is a powerful form of practice. We’ll get a broad overview of the four classes of tantra and learn to practice simple Kriya tantric methods. We’ll also learn to integrate tantra with lam-rim meditation for optimal results! Open to all levels.

Ocean of Compassion Buddha (Campbell, CA)
May 5, 7 – 9pm: What’s Love Got to Do with It?
“Love” and “attachment” are often confused creating conflict in our relationships, particularly the most intimate ones. If we can lessen attachment, grasping, and control and more fully appreciate all of the goodness in our lives, experiences of genuine love and freedom organically arise. Join us and explore creating more love, spaciousness, and fun in your relationships. Open to all levels.

May 6, 10am – 4pm: Riding the Wave: Empathy, Emptiness and Empowerment in Vulnerable Times
In our daily lives, we are often bombarded by external experiences that show cruelty and heartlessness. We are influenced by these situations and begin to believe that in order to be happy we need to follow a particular behavior, obtain an array of material items and/or attain a certain status. Little by little, our kind heart becomes obscured by shields; the natural authentic dynamic flow of who we really are gets blocked. So we escape, blame or numb ourselves to what is really happening. Then the ruminating mind takes over deepening a false veil on our perceptions.

How can we use our vulnerability to generate a strong wish to emerge from our confusion and separation and spark a deep experience of compassion for others? Join this insightful day of teachings, meditation, exercises, and discussion and venture into a path of fully waking up and being present. Open to all levels.

May 7, 10am – 2pm (includes brunch): Family Fun: Meditation and Parents’ Session on Raising Children in the Dharma

10-10:45am:                    Special Sunday Meditation w/Ven. Amy (families welcome so bring your kids!)
11am – 12:00 Noon       Brunch with Ven. Amy
12:00 Noon – 2pm         Parents’ Session: Mindfully Raising Children with Wisdom and Compassion
Parenting provides a profound opportunity for life-long spiritual practice. Often times, caretaking is demanding and can take the mind away from the presence of one’s compassion and wisdom. Through self-compassion, one can tap into one’s innate courage and fearlessness to lead families with equanimity, love, compassion and wisdom.

Come explore skillful techniques that can transform more challenging daily interactions into magical moments as a family engaged in spiritual practice.

This teaching is open for anyone with young or teen children in their lives—such as parents, grandparents, step-parents, aunts, uncles, teachers and caregivers. Parents with young babies are welcome to bring them. Childcare can be arranged–please RSVP for childcare to meet the needs.

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Jewel Heart, 260 W. Broadway
May 9, 7 – 8:30pm: New Meditation Series
May 10, 7 – 9pm: Discovering Buddhism Module: How to Meditate

Philadelphia area (Swarthmore)
Swarthmore Buddhadharma Group
Tara Practice
May 16, 7:30 – 9:00pm
Experience a simple, yet profound sadhana (daily spiritual practice) with visualization and mantra recitation involving the female manifestation of enlightened energy. Most suitable for those with some background in Buddhism, but open to all. By donation.

France (Paris)
Centre Kalachakra
Love, Attachment and Creating Healthy Relationships
May 27 and 28
“Love” and “attachment” are often confused creating conflict in our relationships, particularly the most intimate ones. If we can lessen attachment, grasping, and control and more fully appreciate all of the goodness in our lives, experiences of genuine love and freedom organically arise. Open to all levels.

UK Tour

Liverpool
Jamyang Liverpool
Meditation, Mindfulness and Making Life Meaningful
June 3, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Bring more calm and joy to your life with a consistent meditation practice; discover resources within you that lend to more mindful approaches to everyday living. Meditation instruction and practice will be offered along with insightful techniques for de-stressing and inviting more gratitude and compassion into your life.

Leeds
Jamyang Buddhist Centre
Choosing Kindness: Empathy and Empowerment in Challenging Times
June 4, 10:30am – 5:00pm
In our daily lives, we are often bombarded by external experiences that show cruelty and heartlessness. We are influenced by these situations and begin to believe that in order to be happy we need to follow a particular behaviour, obtain an array of material items and/or attain a certain status. Little by little, our kind heart becomes obscured by shields; the natural authentic dynamic flow of who we really are gets blocked and instead manifests as something more constrictive, negative, hostile or fearful. So we escape, blame or numb ourselves to what is really happening. Then the ruminating mind takes over deepening a false veil on our perceptions. This is the perfect time for practice opening our heart and mind!

How can we use our vulnerability to generate a strong wish to emerge from our confusion and separation and spark a deep experience of compassion for others? In this teaching, Ven. Amy will walk us through a path of fully waking up and being present with our pain, fear, aversion and how moving through these less than comfortable mind states is the key to transformation. Open to all levels.

Hull
Living an Authentic Life: Spirituality, Daily Practice and Making Life Meaningful
Contact: danny@fuelvenues.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HullBuddhistGroup/
June 5, 6 – 8pm
Bring more calm and joy to your life by developing a consistent meditation practice or enhancing an already existing one. Discover resources within you that lend to more mindful approaches to everyday living. Meditation instruction and practice will be offered along with insightful techniques for getting real and living a more authentic life. Open to all levels.

London
Jamyang Buddhist Centre
Choosing Kindness:  Empathy, Emptiness, and Empowerment in Challenging Times
June 6, 7:30 – 9:00pm
In this evening, Ven. Amy will walk us through a path of fully waking up and being present with our pain, fear, aversion and how moving through these less than comfortable mind states is the key to transformation. Open to all levels.

Salisbury
Jamyang Salisbury Study Group
Transforming Negative Emotions: Coping with Anxiety and Depression
June 7, 6:30 – 9:00pm
The desire for happiness serves as a major motivation in our lives, yet we often experience numerous obstacles to achieving it. Despite our material comforts and beneficial circumstances, frustration, fear, anxiety, depression, along with other less than generous mind states, cloud our view.

Philadelphia area (Swarthmore)
Swarthmore Buddhadharma Group
Cultivating Joy in Daily Life
August 8, 7:30 – 9:00pm
Join this insightful evening with Venerable Amy Miller, a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, as we explore finding more joy in everyday life.  

We all wish to be happy, but we can’t make happiness appear just by saying “I’d like to be happy.”  Surprisingly, our individual joy is related to how much we consider others. Ven. Amy will discuss some of the passages from The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu and how a slight change in our thinking can tremendously expand our happiness. Open to all. By donation.

On Retreat: Light of the Path, North Carolina
August 20 – September 17

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Jewel Heart, 260 W. Broadway
September 27, 7 – 9pm: Discovering Buddhism Module 3: Presenting the Path (via Skype)

Philadelphia area (Swarthmore)
Swarthmore Buddhadharma Group
Meditation Instruction and Practice
October 3, 7:30 – 9:00pm
Many of us keep meaning to finally get on the cushion and learn how to meditate or would just like a like-minded group to sit with. Here is your chance to get things started (again!) – often the hardest part of the practice. Learn the fundamentals of meditation or refresh an already existing practice in a practical format. Open to all levels. By donation.

Philadelphia
Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia
October 8, 9:30 am – Noon
Get Real: The Wisdom Realizing Emptiness and How It Creates a Happier, More Peaceful Life
Our experiences of holding ourselves as solid, unchanging, and independent are inevitably threatened by daily life. Explore the profound Buddhist topic of emptiness, a lack of this inherent nature, and begin to dismantle the web of mistaken perception that keeps us suffering.

South Philadelphia
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Substance Abuse Programs
Imagining the Positive: Psychologist/Social Worker Training Program
October 27, 1:00-4:00pm

Boston
Northeastern University
Lecture: Karma and Finding Purpose in Life
October 30, 2:50 – 4.30pm

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Jewel Heart, 260 W. Broadway

November 8, Session 1, Discovering Buddhism Module 4: The Spiritual Teacher, 7 – 9pm
Explore the role and the importance of the teacher on the spiritual path. Is it really necessary to find a teacher and if so, what are the qualifications? What does it mean to be a suitable disciple? Also, examine how best to relate to a teacher for the greatest benefit.

November 10, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Celebration of Lhabab Duchen (Buddha’s Descent from Heaven) – a Major Tibetan Festival Day
Practices and rituals for creating the most auspiciousness! All are welcome.

Please click HERE for detailed information

November 11 – 12 Wake Up Time: Establishing a Path to Peace and Contentment in Challenging Times

– A Retreat with Ven. Amy Miller
November 11: 10am – 5pm
November 12: 1 – 6pm
Isn’t it tiring trying to get ahead of all of your daily activities? We’re often like hamsters on an endlessly-spinning wheel. Wouldn’t you like to insert a realistic and positive change to the system? What about treating yourself to some delectable meditation? If not now…then when? It’s wake up time!

Join this delightful retreat experience and explore a variety of guided meditations that will enhance your happiness, wholeness and peace of mind. Meditations will be included that follow a graduated path to enlightenment such as:

• appreciating our precious human life
• death and impermanence
• karma
• transforming suffering into happiness
• developing the good heart
• the nature of reality (emptiness), and
• tonglen (taking and giving)

Short teachings, discussion, and questions and answers will be included.

This retreat is especially recommended for Discovering Buddhism students who have participated in Module 3: Presenting the Path. It is a unique opportunity to integrate the teachings and instructions from this module through formal meditation practice. This is also a wonderful chance for anyone interested in developing a meditation practice or deepening an already existing one. Open to all levels of practitioners.

Please click HERE for detailed information and registration

November 13, Guru Puja (Lama Chopa) and Tsog, 7pm
The ritual (puja) we perform is a profound practice that includes Tibetan chanting, English recitation, visualization, and making offerings in a highest yoga tantra format. All are welcome. Please bring offerings to share such as snacks foods, fruit, and juices that can be easily distributed.

November 14, Final Session, Meditation 101, 7 – 9pm

South Florida (Miami)
Namdrol Ling Study Group
Buddhism in a Nutshell (via Skype)
November 16, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Session 1: Introduction to the course and to the life of Shakyamuni Buddha — how the Buddha’s life exemplifies the search for the answers to life’s big questions and finding the answers. Additional topics included are: a brief overview of the four noble truths, history and dissemination of Buddhism, types of Buddhism, the Indian masters, Tibetan lineages, and the three baskets. There will also be an explanation of the seven-point meditation posture and guided meditation.

December 5, 7:30 – 9:30pm 
Session 2: Overview of mind in Tibetan Buddhism, what it means to be a Buddhist, the four seals of Buddhism, an explanation of the role of motivation and dedication, a summary of the eightfold path and more details on the four noble truths. A guided meditation on 
the Clarity of Consciousness will also be included.

Additional sessions week of  January 29, 2018 in person in Miami Beach.

Philadelphia
Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia
November 19, 9:30 am – Noon
What Goes Around, Comes Around: How Karma Works
Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? Join this lively workshop to understand the workings of karma and how some small positive adjustments in life can move you to a more peaceful and happier experience.

Philadelphia area (Swarthmore)
Swarthmore Buddhadharma Group
Experiences of Faith
November 28, 7:30 – 9:00pm
At a time of giving thanks, it’s often helpful to hear about experiences and tools that can deepen our faith. Excerpts from Sharon Salzburg’s book, Faith, will be included along with personal experiences of how faith has opened up the spiritual path to the greatest benefit. Open to all levels. By donation.

Philadelphia Area (Media)
Ohev Shalom Synagogue
Lunch ‘n Learn
December 7, 12noon – 1:30pm
Restaurant to be determined
Overview of my life as a Buddhist nun…

Philadelphia Area (Paoli)
Purenergy Yoga
Living an Authentic Life: Spirituality, Daily Practice and Making Life Meaningful
December 9, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Bring more calm and joy to your life by developing a consistent meditation practice or enhancing an already existing one. Discover resources within you that lend to more mindful approaches to everyday living. Meditation instruction and practice will be offered along with insightful techniques for getting real and living a more authentic life. Open to all levels. . Click HERE to register.

New York
Shantideva Meditation Center
Jewel Heart, 260 W. Broadway
December 12, 7pm:  Guru Puja (Lama Chopa) and Tsog in Commemoration of Lama Tsong Khapa Day

Lama Tsong Khapa (1347-1419), the patron saint and founder of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, is honored on this auspicious date. The ritual (puja) we perform is a profound practice that includes Tibetan chanting, English recitation, visualization, and making offerings in a highest yoga tantra format. All are welcome. Please bring offerings to share such as snacks foods, fruit, and/or juices that can be easily distributed. The holiday is also a light offering festival so helpful to those living in the northern hemisphere at the darkest time of the year. As the Tibetan calendar is lunar, similar to the Jewish calendar, Lama Tsong Khapa Day always falls on the first day of Hanukah, another light offering festival.

December 13, 7 – 9pm Fifth Session: Discovering Buddhism Module 4: The Spiritual Teacher