Bodhisattva Vow: Seminar / Retreat

Led By: 
Lama Michael Conklin
Location: 
KCC Urban Center, Non-Residential Retreat
Date: 
Aug 19 2011 8:00am - Aug 20 2011 3:00pm



In the Mayayana Tradition of Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is one who has made a commitment, a promise to attain complete awakening in order to benefit all sentient beings. While the focus of the Bodhisattva’s path is primarily the benefit of others, our motivation to take the vow and follow the Bodhisattva’s path is always driven at least in part by the recognition of the harm we are doing to ourselves through ill-will, anger, greed, various conflicting emotions, and more. Having recognized how we hurt ourselves, we are naturally inclined to stop.

This two day event will include a seminar/retreat that meets at KCC for 2 full days, Friday & Saturday August 19-20th. We will explore important elements of the path and the vow.  There will be teachings and discussions on The Six Perfections, practices which constitute the core of the Bodhisattva’s path.

On August 20th, Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm, anyone interested in taking the Bodhisattva Vow will have an opportunity to do so.  

The prerequisite for taking this vow is to have previously taken the vow of refuge in the three jewels of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Refuge will NOT be given at the Bodhisattva Vow ceremony; you must have taken it prior to this event.
The refuge vow will be given @KCC on August 7th, Sunday at 4:30 pm

For both the refuge vow and the Bodhisattva Vow, it is appropriate to invite family members and friends to witness the ceremonies.

Suggested Reading
“Taking the Bodhisattva Vow”, by Bokar Rinpoche. San Francisco, ClearPoint Press, 1997.

Schedule
This is NOT a residential retreat. Lunch on Friday and Saturday will be potluck. All other meals will be on your own.  Participants are asked to bring one potluck dish to the retreat.  Please contact the registrar if you have questions.

August 19th
Arrival/Registration – 8 am
First session – 9 am
Last session ends – 5:30 pm

August 20th
First session – 9 am
Last session ends – 3:00 pm
Bodhisattva Vow will be given at 4:00 pm

Pre-requisites
This retreat is suitable for beginning and experienced practitioners, regardless of background.  Having previously taken the refuge vow is a requirement.

Registration:
Registration forms are online:
    -Bodhisattva Seminar/retreat/vow:
       
https://kccretreats.wufoo.com/forms/bodhisattva-seminarretreat/

for Refuge Vow:    
https://kccretreats.wufoo.com/forms/refuge-ceremony-sunday-august-7-at-430-pm/

Suggested Donation: $30 - $80, depending upon your resources and in accordance with the value you place on the teachings and the vow.  No one will be excluded due to lack of funds.
Please contact Sherry Bohannan, registrar,  for any questions at
sherrybohannan@comcast.net or 503-381-5669


Sponsor
Kagyu Changchub Chuling (KCC)
http://www.kcc.org , a Dharma Center in Portland, Oregon, is sponsoring this retreat. KCC was founded in 1976 by the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, one of the eminent meditation masters of modern Tibet and a holder of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineages. The mission of KCC is to make the teachings of these lineages accessible for all practitioners, whether they are just beginning to investigate Buddhism or are long-time students.