Chanted Prayers (or Puja in Sanskrit) are an important element of our spiritual training. They help to still our mind and receive blessings from enlightened beings in order to create the best internal conditions for our meditation practice to bear fruit. Prayer, “monlam” in Tibetan, simply means “wish path”.  The prayer booklets we use are known as ‘sadhanas’ meaning “methods for accomplishing attainments”. Using ancient prayers translated into English, these practices help us to purify our negativity and fill our mind with positive energy.

Chanted Prayers sessions combine guided meditation with the prayers, as well as a talk about how to engage in the practice. The sessions are suitable for beginners as well as those with experience. No need to book, just come along and relax.  Chanted prayers also help us create a direct connection with enlightened beings so that we can receive their special blessings, guidance, and protection as we travel along the spiritual path.

Everyone is welcome, you do not have to be Buddhist to attend these sessions or to derive benefit from them.

See below for an explanation of the different practices.

weekly schedule

WISHFULFILLING JEWEL/ HEART JEWEL
with silent meditation

Daily 

This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part of this practice, we visualize Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, and accumulate merit. This prepares our mind for a period of silent meditation on the Lamrim, or stages of the path. The second part of this practice contains prayers to the wisdom Buddha and Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, to help us overcome obstacles to our practice.

WISHFULFILLING JEWEL
with tsog offering

Weekly

Once a week we have Wishfulfilling Jewel with tsog offering, which included a special offering of food and drink. There are many benefits to making tsog offerings. Through this specail practice we can renewing commitments, avert obstacles and increase our wealth, merit, and great bliss. Through developing pure minds we can see beyond ordinary appearance and connect to our pure potential. If you wish you can bring a small tsog offering of food or drink.

LIBERATION FROM SORRW
Tara prayers 

8th each month

At Kadampa Centres  around the world, the eighth of the month is Tara Day. Tara is a female Buddha, whose name means ‘rescuer’. She is the embodiment of swift wisdom and 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 to join us for these beautiful Tara prayers of protection.

OFFERING TO THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE
with tsog offering 

10th & 25th each month

The main practice within the sadhana is relying on the Spiritual Guide, but it also includes all the essential practices of the stages of the path (Lamrim) and training the mind (Lojong). We develop a strong conviction that our Spiritual Guide is a Buddha, in particular the same nature as Je Tsongkapa. We make prostrations and requests and receive profound blessings.  In this way, our compassion, wisdom and spiritual power naturally increase.  If you wish you can bring a small tsog offering of food or drink.

POWA CEREMONY
for those who have recently dies

Last Thursday of each month

Powa is a special ceremony to help those who have recently died experience peace of mind after death and be cared for by the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara. During this ceremony we engage in the traditional Buddhist practice of transference of consciousness in conjunction with the prayers, ‘Powa Ceremony’. 

Specific dedications can be made for friends or relatives that have recently died, please get in touch.

"In general, prayers made by an assembly of many practitioners are very powerful and cannot be compared to the prayers of one or two people. The scriptures give the analogy of a broom. If we try to clean a floor with a few bristles we shall make little progress, but if we gather many bristles to make a broom we shall be successful."
VENERABLE GESHE KELSANG GYATSO RINPOCHE