Jefferson Tibetan Society

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- April 19
2025-04-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Following Lama Tashi’s teaching on the Heart Sutra last autumn, we are excited to invite you to our 2025 Heart Sutra Practice and Study Series on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month at 1:00 p.m. at Unity of Charlottesville’s Fillmore House. Each session includes silent meditation, recitation of the Heart Sutra together to remove obstacles, discussion on this profound practice and how it fits into the overall Buddhist path, and an optional social time for tea & snacks, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. All are welcome to participate.
The text for the discussion of this series is Essence of the Heart Sutra by The Dalai Lama’s Heart of Wisdom Teachings, translated and edited by Geshe Thupten Jinpa. Please order this text as soon as possible! Readings for the next session are discussed at each session. Please visit our Support & Connect With Us page to be placed on the Jefferson Tibetan Society mailing list to receive email notifications of the designated readings between sessions.

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- April 5
2025-04-05 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- March 15
2025-03-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- March 1
2025-03-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Feb. 15
2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Feb. 1
2025-02-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Jan. 18
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Following Lama Tashi’s teaching on the Heart Sutra last autumn, we are excited to invite you to our 2025 Heart Sutra Practice and Study Series on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month at 1:00 p.m. at Unity of Charlottesville’s Fillmore House. We celebrated the New Year with our practice, meditation and discussion on January 4, and the series will continue on Jan. 18th, Feb. 1st & 15th, March 1st and 15th, and continue on for the year. Each session includes silent meditation, recitation of the Heart Sutra together to remove obstacles, discussion on this profound practice and how it fits into the overall Buddhist path, and an optional social time for tea & snacks, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. All are welcome to participate.
The text for the discussion of this series is Essence of the Heart Sutra by The Dalai Lama’s Heart of Wisdom Teachings, translated and edited by Geshe Thupten Jinpa. Please order this text as soon as possible! Readings for the next session are discussed at each session. Please visit our Support & Connect With Us page to be placed on the Jefferson Tibetan Society mailing list to receive email notifications of the designated readings between sessions.
Readings for Jan. 4 were Chapters 1 and 2 – Quest for Inner Development & Religion in Today’s World. Reading discussion for Jan. 18 will focus on Chapter 3: The Foundations of Buddhism, though you are welcome to bring up questions/discussion also from previous chapters.

Meditation, Dharma Discussion, and Heart Sutra Practice
2025-01-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Group meditation, Lama Tashi Reflection, and 2025 Dharma Planning
2024-12-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Join us for group meditation, reflection on Lama Tashi’s visit and teachings, and a discussion of future Dharma topics that would be of greatest benefit to the JTS community and beyond.
We start at 1:00 p.m. with short Buddhist prayers and then have a longer group meditation. This is followed by discussion, and we would love to get your feedback on which of the session topics below you’d be interested in for 2025. We set aside 2:30 – 3:00 for each session for socializing time, with tea and snacks.
Here are the topics being considered:

A continuation of the book study on The Art of Happiness, by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Prior to Lama Tashi’s visit, we completed the first two of five sections of this book, and we would be happy to complete our study of this book if the JTS community is interested. Please bring your copy of the book this Saturday if you have one and participated in some of our previous sessions.
A deeper look at the Heart Sutra practice. We were fortunate to receive Lama Tashi‘s teaching on this significant work, and can hold space for further practice, study and discussion of this profound topic. A number of excellent books have been identified which can deepen our practice.
An open space for practice and continued discussion of Lama Tashi‘s teaching, mantra & meditation practice topics, such as on Tara, Manjushri and Vajrapani, or on the Tibetan Buddhist practices around death and dying. We are open to a discussion of people’s personal explorations following Lama Tashi‘s teachings.

Please register using the links below if you are able to attend. We will be happy to bring tea and snacks accordingly.
If you are unable to attend either of the Dec. meetings, we would still love to hear from you! Email us at JTS108Va@gmail.com to indicate your interest in JTS programming in the 2025 year, and to let us know if you’d be interested in helping out with any number of different volunteer opportunities such as assistance with social media, website, providing other computer skills, help with set-up and break down at events, fundraising, or program planning.

Embracing the Transition: Tibetan Buddhist Perspectives on Death and Dying with Lama Tashi
2024-11-23 10:00 - 17:00 | The Sanctuary at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Saturday, November 23rd, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Co-sponsored by The Jefferson Tibetan Society and Unity of Charlottesville
Location: the Unity Sanctuary, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville
Overview:
This daylong retreat will delve into the rich and profound teachings of Tibetan Buddhism regarding death and the dying process. It aims to provide attendees with a deeper understanding of how the Tibetan Buddhist view can help prepare us for this inevitable part of life.
We are excited that Lama Tashi has agreed to talk about this Buddhist perspective on death and dying. Unique among all the world’s wisdom traditions, Tibetan Buddhism offers not only a kind of guidebook to the dying process, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, it also offers insight into the psychological fears we may have anticipating the end of our life.
The teachings also help us understand the Buddhist view of karma and reincarnation, and the hopeful message that one’s Buddha nature never dies, no matter how many incarnations we go through, and that even in death we can continue to evolve towards enlightenment. Additionally, many Tibetan lamas are trained in the meditations, prayers and ceremonies designed to help an individual make the transition through the bardo as effortlessly as possible. Many Westerners engaged with Tibetan Buddhism report feeling enormously relieved upon knowing their loved one was receiving such support.
The day will cover these key points:
Understanding the Bardo

Explanation of the bardo, the intermediate state between death and rebirth, as well as the bardos of this life.
Insights from The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) on navigating the bardo with awareness and compassion.

The Nature of Mind, Impermanence and Karma:

Teachings on the impermanent nature of life and the continuity of consciousness.
Benefits of increasing our awareness of karma and practices to cultivate a calm and clear mind, essential for facing death with equanimity.

Meditation and Visualization Practices:

Guided meditations to develop mindfulness and compassion.
Visualization techniques to prepare for the bardo and support the dying process.

Chanting, Prayers and Rituals:

The role of mantras, prayers and rituals in aiding the transition through death.
How these practices can support both the dying and their loved ones.

Compassionate Care for the Dying:

Approaches to providing compassionate care and support to those nearing the end of life.
Practical advice for caregivers and family members.

There will be a one-hour lunch break. Please note that this is a change from the original schedule. Participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch to eat in the dining room. Tea and coffee will be provided for lunch.
Advance Registration is Requested using the “Get Tickets” button below.
Email JTS108Va@gmail.com with any questions.

Protection and Spiritual Embodiment Practice & Discussion with Lama Tashi and Sangha
2024-11-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Saturday, November 16th

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Unity of Charlottesville, Fillmore House

It was good to be with so many of you Nov. 2nd for practice. As many found it to be quite helpful, we will continue these meditation & mantra practices this Saturday and provide more space for question & answers with Lama Tashi. This is a unique and fortunate opportunity to deepen your connection with Lama Tashi. We hope you can join us!

For anyone who was not able to attend Nov. 2nd, you are still most welcome and Lama Tashi will provide the transmissions for the Green Tara & Vajrapani mantra & meditation practices.

A beloved presence in the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, Tara offers support in times of need and swift protection from fears. Vajrapani, in complement, represents our ability to cultivate inner strength and to transform our challenging emotions into compassionate energy. Taken together, the practices of these two archetypal energies offer tremendous assistance for our well-being in our world today.

Protection and Transformative Power: An Afternoon Retreat with Lama Tashi
2024-11-02 13:00 - 17:00 | Bridge Between the Worlds, 2395 Paddock Wood Rd, Keswick, VA, 22947, United States
Join us for an afternoon retreat as Lama Tashi guides us in the powerful practices of Tara and Vajrapani. A beloved deity in the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, Tara offers support in times of need and swift protection from fears. Vajrapani, in complement, represents our ability to cultivate inner strength and transform our challenging emotions into compassionate energy. Taken together, the practices of these two deities offer tremendous potential through our journeys at this very moment.
This retreat will take place at the Bridge Between the Worlds retreat center from 1pm to 5pm on November 2nd. During this time, Lama Tashi will share stories and guide us through meditations with visualization and mantra, as we explore the practices of these two deities. Please see the details below for registration.

Heart Sutra Practice and Teachings with Lama Tashi
2024-10-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Lama Tashi will share his multiphonic chanting and guide a group recitation of the Heart Sutra, the best-known practice text of Mahayana Buddhism, and provide teachings on this practice. As part of the larger ancient Prajnaparamita (perfection of wisdom) Sutras, the Heart Sutra’s deep and profound meaning is practiced and studied in order to embody the brilliance of wisdom and compassion, which is beyond all words.
Copies of the Sutra will be provided for those who wish to join in the recitation.

From Confusion to Clarity: Buddhist Wisdom for Our World Today- Registration Open Now
2024-10-05 13:00 - 15:00 | The Sanctuary at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Lama Tashi returns to Charlottesville for the Fall 2024 Season! During this first teaching, Lama Tashi will guide us through Manjushri’s practice on cultivating discerning wisdom to find clarity amidst confusion in today’s world. This session will include meditation and mantra practice, and teachings on the Buddhist insight of the Two Truths. It will also serve as a time of introduction and re-connection to Lama Tashi and his teaching series for this visit to Charlottesville.

The Art of Happiness- September 7
2024-09-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This session is part of a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here. All are welcome to join the Art of Happiness group at any time, regardless of whether you’ve joined previous sessions in the series.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.
Please note: After making your credit card payment, you may be redirected to a page that says “Oops! That page can’t be found.” If you received an email from Jefferson Tibetan Society with the subject line “Your Jefferson Tibetan Society receipt [#…]”, please know that we have successfully received and processed your ticket order. Thanks for your patience as we work to fix this issue.

The Art of Happiness- August 17
2024-08-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

The Art of Happiness- August 3
2024-08-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This session is part of a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here. All are welcome to join the Art of Happiness group at any time, regardless of whether you’ve joined previous sessions in the series.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

The Art of Happiness- July 20
2024-07-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States

Celebration of H.H. the Dalai Lama's 89th birthday!
2024-07-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
On Saturday, July 6th at 1:00 p.m, join us in Celebration of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s 89th birthday, with meditation, long life prayers for His Holiness, recitation of the Heart Sutra, and a Dharma talk on understanding the Heart Sutra practice in the context of Buddha’s teachings on the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma, followed by social time with some birthday cake!
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

*Canceled* - The Art of Happiness- Session 5
2024-06-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This is the fifth session in a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

The Art of Happiness- Session 4
2024-06-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This is the fourth session in a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

The Art of Happiness- Session 3
2024-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This is the third session in a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

The Art of Happiness- Session 2
2024-05-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This is the second session in a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

The Art of Happiness- Session 1
2024-04-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
This is the first session in a twice-a-month series for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness. Read more about the series here.
We are offering an affordable, two-tiered, registration structure to make this series as available as possible. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!
Use the “Tickets” option below to register and submit your credit card payment via our secure payment portal.

Community Re-Gathering and Launch of Buddhist Meditation and Study Group
2024-04-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Join us on Saturday, April 6 from 1:00 – 3:00pm at Unity of Charlottesville’s Fillmore House** for meditation, an introduction to a new twice-a-month group for meditation and study of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness, an update on Lama Tashi’s return to Charlottesville, an opportunity to share your feedback and interests related to JTS programming when Lama Tashi returns, and time for socializing and reconnecting over refreshments.
**At the entrance of Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, park in the first upper parking lot on the Right; Fillmore House is the small house close to that parking lot. (As you face the primary Unity church building, Fillmore House is on the Right side.)
All are welcome, including newcomers as well as those who participated in Lama Tashi’s teaching series last fall. Please RSVP using the button below. Questions, e-mail JTS108Va@gmail.com

Ongoing, Biweekly Meditation/Study Group Inquiry
2024-01-07 15:00 - 16:30 | VA
Would you like to meet twice a month for Dharma practice/study during the next few months while Lama Tashi is traveling on pilgrimage in India?
We will be discussing the focus for this on-going group at our New Year’s gathering, as well as at our 1st meeting on Sunday, January 7th, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Location will depend on the number of interested people. One option may be meeting at Unity of Charlottesville on Hydraulic.

If interested in the on-going practice/study group, e-mail JTS108Va@gmail.com letting us know if you are able to meet Sunday, Jan. 7th and whether you have interest in on-going meetings.

Himalayan Melodies Meet Western Music: Buddhist Songs of Celebration and Compassion
2023-12-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Fillmore House at Unity of Charlottesville, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Jefferson Tibetan Society, in partnership with Unity, presents a special musical program with Lama Tashi that involves Tibetan mantras with Lama Tashi’s chanting, in combination with Western instruments. These are traditional tunes from his Himalayan home region of Arunachal Pradesh in India, where as a child he participated in the community gatherings to celebrate a spiritual holy day that occurred at the end of the growing season. The ritual master performed a puja to celebrate the harvest, and the entire village joined in the chanting. This will be a celebration of that tradition where participating members will be able to join in the chanting.
Lama Tashi has worked with Western musicians to create song sheets with English phonetics of Tibetan verses, which you can use to join in the chanting. Lama Tashi will discuss these verses and then lead the group in chanting them with instrumental accompaniment. If you would like music in bass clef or for a transposing instrument, please send an email with “Lama Tashi” as the subject to Lyle at themusicroomonmain@gmail.com.
These are photos of Thembang, Lama Tashi’s home village in Arunachal Pradesh, India:

How to Register
To pay by credit card, register with the “Tickets” option below using Stripe as the payment method. If you prefer to send a check or pay by PayPal, please send an e-mail to JTS108Va@gmail.com indicating who you are registering for and that you are sending a check or paying by PayPal. For PayPal, use JTS108Va@gmail.com for sending the fee.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Taking the Formal Refuge Vows: an Overview by Lama Tashi
2023-12-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Friends Quaker Meeting House, 1104 Forest St., Charlottesville, VA, 22903, United States
Lama Tashi will be giving an overview of what’s involved in taking formal refuge vows in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the Three Jewels of Buddhism. Bring your questions. For those who then wish to take the formal vows, we will collect names and find a mutually accessible time for the group, before Lama Tashi leaves Charlottesville at the end of December. Open Donation.

Community Gathering and Potluck
2023-12-10 15:00 - 18:30 | The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Join a JTS Community Gathering with Lama Tashi at the Center for Belvedere, Conf. Rm A for informal discussion & question/answers followed by a vegetarian potluck.
Bring your questions from the different sessions that Lama Tashi has offered. Please let us know at JTS108Va@gmail.com if you are able to join for the potluck so we have a general idea of how many people to prepare for.
Suggested Donation of $10.- $20. for the Q & A with Lama Tashi, but give what you are able. All are welcome and no one is turned away for lack of funds.
