Chanted prayers (pujas) are an important component of training in a spiritual life. They help us to connect with enlightened beings, accumulate merit, purify negativity and receive blessings. Below are some of the prayers that we practice together at Kalpa Bhadra Buddhist Centre
All prayers are free of charge. Everyone is welcome.
Heart Jewel Prayers
The daily puja at Kadampa Buddhist Centres is Heart Jewel. This puja includes two practices revealed by the Wisdom Buddha Manjushri, with a Lamrim meditation between. The first practice is a special Guru Yoga in which we visualise our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa, who is a manifestation of Manjushri. By relying on this practice we can purify negativity, accumulate merit, and receive blessings.
The second practice is a method for relying upon the Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. Through this practice we can overcome obstacles to our practice and create favourable conditions so that we can nurture and increase our Dharma realizations. (Approximately 1 hour)
Wishfulfilling Jewel
Wishfulfilling Jewel is held on Fridays 6.30 – 8.00pm. It contains all the essential practices of the Heart Jewel with the addition of a tsog offering. Tsog’ means ‘collection’ and when we make Tsog offerings we do them collectively, as a group. During a Tsog puja we arrange a table of food and drinks – making it look as beautiful as we can. We imagine that we are preparing a banquet of delight for the holy beings to enjoy. We then invite the holy beings to the place of offerings and imagine they enjoy this blissful banquet. Afterwards, we enjoy the Tsog offerings with our Spiritual friends. These Tsog puja’s are a great way to get to know your Spiritual friends and to feel a part of a Spiritual Community.
Everybody is welcome to join in with these chanted prayers and offerings. Please bring an offering of your own to add to the table – any food or drink that you feel is beautiful. (No meat or alcohol please). The food will be blessed, offered to the Buddhas, and then shared by all.
Offering to the Spiritual Guide Puja
Offering to the Spiritual Guide is a special puja that takes place fortnightly and involves a tsog (food) offering. By engaging in this puja we have the opportunity to receive our Spiritual Guide’s enlightened blessings and inspiration, and gain experience of all the stages of the spiritual path. It takes place on the 10th and 25th of each month. (Approximately 2 hours)
Tara Prayers
Buddha Tara is an enlightened being in female aspect. She is often referred to as the ‘swift rescuer’ because she is quick to come to the aid of those who call on her. If we rely on Buddha Tara sincerely and with strong faith she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfill all our wishes. Tara Pujas are generally on the 8th of the month. (Under 1 hour)
Melodious Drum (Long Protector Puja)
Melodious Drum is our long protector puja and involves extensive requests to the Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, for the removal of obstacles on the spiritual path. This puja involves a tsog offering. It takes place on the 29th of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend, bring a vegetarian food offering, and stay for the tsog afterwards. (Approximately 3.5 hours)