Eight Mahayana Precepts

Held on the 15th of each month at 6.30am
(30 minutes)

The practice of taking and keeping the Eight Mahayana Precepts is a special practice of moral discipline undertaken with bodhichitta motivation – the supreme good heart.

The essence of the practice is to take eight precepts, promising to abstain for twenty-four hours from the following actions:

1. Killing
2. Stealing
3. Sexual activity
4. Lying
5. Taking intoxicants
6. Eating after lunch
7. Sitting on high or luxurious thrones or seats
8. Wearing ornaments or perfume, and engaging in singing, dancing and so forth

We then make a commitment to keep these precepts purely for the twenty-four-hour period.

We use the prayer booklet A Pure Life for this practice. Copies are available to use at the Centre, or you can purchase your own from Tharpa Publications in either printed or electronic form: A Pure Life – Tharpa Publications.

Extensive Protector Puja

Held on the 29th of each month
(3.5 hours)

This monthly practice involves making offerings and requesting the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden to remove obstacles and gather favourable conditions for our spiritual practice.

The extensive protector puja, Melodious Drum, also known as Kangso, includes a tsog offering. During tsog pujas, we gather together to make prayers and special offerings. You are welcome to bring a vegetarian food offering if you wish.

We use the prayer booklet Melodious Drum for this puja. You can purchase your own copy from Tharpa Publications: Melodious Drum – Tharpa Publications. At present, the booklet is available in printed form only.

Avalokiteshvara Puja

Please consult the puja timetable for current dates and times
(40 minutes)

Avalokiteshvara is an enlightened being and a manifestation of the compassion of all the Buddhas. By relying sincerely upon Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, and reciting his mantra with strong faith, we can improve our realizations of the stages of the path, especially our realization of great compassion.

Ultimately, through this practice, we create the causes to attain supreme Buddhahood in Avalokiteshvara’s Pure Land.

We use the prayer booklet Avalokiteshvara Sadhana for this puja. Copies are available to use at the Centre, or you can purchase your own from Tharpa Publications in either printed or electronic form: Avalokiteshvara Sadhana – Tharpa Publications.

Vajrayogini Pujas

Please consult the puja timetable for current dates and times
(1 hour – 1.5 hours)

Blissful Path, Dakini Yoga, Quick Path to Great Bliss and Vajrayogini Self Initiation are practices associated with Vajrayogini, a female wisdom Buddha.

To attend these practices, practitioners need first to have received, or have a strong intention to receive, Highest Yoga Tantra (HYT) empowerments.

If you have questions about these practices or would like information about receiving HYT empowerments, please ask at the Centre.

Prayer booklets for these practices are available from Tharpa Publications:

• Quick Path to Great Bliss
• Dakini Yoga
• Blissful Path