At 10:00 AM on the fourth Saturday of the month, we perform the Medicine Buddha practice. The practice of the Medicine Buddha was taught by Shakyamuni Buddha as well as by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), and is one of the foundational practices of the Kagyu lineages. Gelug master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has taught:

"[The eight] Medicine Buddhas are not only very powerful in healing disease, but in purification, for both the living and the dead. The Medicine Buddha practice can purify even those who have already died and liberate them from suffering."

This is a traditional tantric practice, for which recitation is only open to those who have taken refuge in Buddhism. However, visitors wishing to learn about and experience the sadhana may quietly attend or meditate during the practice. For more information, please contact the KTC Co-Director at
co-director@abqktc.org.

We hold our monthly member's meeting on the second Saturday of every month. During these meetings, the KTC Board of Directors reports on recent expenditures and income, new and ongoing improvements, and current maintenance issues. Plans for Lama visits are also discussed, and all current members are encouraged to make (and vote on) requests for Lamas, teaching topics, book/media purchases, and tantric empowerments.

The term "sadhana" means "practice" or "meditation". More generally, it refers to a type of liturgical practice. Here, it refers to the recitation of several short sadhanas which are performed in sequence.

The Sunday morning practice involves chanting in the Tibetan language (translation is provided), interspersed with brief periods of silent meditation and song. The liturgy invokes the bodhisattva of compassion, Chenrezig and the Buddha Amitabha.

As is true of tantra in general, the Chenrezig and Amitabha sadhanas are designed to reveal the true, stainless, and pure nature of our mind. In addition, the sadhanas help us to develop Bodhicitta, compassion for others, by expanding our awareness of their suffering. By studying and practicing sadhanas, practitioners attain deeper states of meditation, and transcend the ordinary state of confusion. Disturbing emotions such as desire and anger melt away, replaced by mental clarity and peace. Proper sadhana practice, combined with daily meditation and accumulation of merit, can lead to realization of one's true nature, and ultimately to enlightenment.

The Sunday practice includes a short prayer to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), one of the principal founders of Tibetan Buddhism. We close with prayers for the good health and long life of our teachers, and aspirations that our practice benefits all beings.

Buddhist and non-Buddhist visitors may attend the Sunday practice. A short introduction to the main practices of our lineage is available at the Center, and more detailed teachings on this sadhana and its visualization practice generally can be obtained from the Namse Bangdzo Bookstore. A teaching on the Chenrezig sadhana by the Most Venerable Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, abbot of KTD, can be found here.

Please feel free to contact us at info@abqktc.org for information on these practices.

At around 10:35 AM on Sundays (following sadhana practice), we hold a group meditation session. The length of the session varies, but is usually between 30 and 60 minutes. However, participants are free to come and go as they please during the session. A brief instruction on meditation can be requested before the session. Meditation cushions are provided.