Jefferson Tibetan Society

Group meditation, Lama Tashi Reflection, and 2025 Dharma Planning
2024-12-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Meditation, Dharma Discussion, and Heart Sutra Practice
2025-01-04 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Jan. 18
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00
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.

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Feb. 1
2025-02-01 13:00 - 15:00
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- Feb. 15
2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- March 1
2025-03-01 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- March 15
2025-03-15 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- April 5
2025-04-05 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- April 19
2025-04-19 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- May 3
2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- May 17
2025-05-17 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- June 7
2025-06-07 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- June 21
2025-06-21 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra session and HH the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration
2025-07-05 13:00 - 15:00
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.

This session will include a special long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, since July 6 is his 90th birthday!

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- July 19
2025-07-19 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Aug. 16 (Note: no meeting on Aug. 2)
2025-08-16 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Sept. 6
2025-09-06 13:00 - 15:00

Heart Sutra Practice and Study- Sept. 20
2025-09-20 13:00 - 15:00

Meditation Practice and Review of Types of Meditation, Power of Intention & Healing Within for Deeper Compassion Practice
2025-11-15 13:00 - 15:00
We cordially invite you to join us on Saturday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m. at Unity of Charlottesville’s Fillmore House to review some of the foundational principles of Buddhism and meditation practice. Topics will include śamatha (calm-abiding or tranquil awareness) and vipaśyanā (special seeing or insight), two qualities of the mind that are cultivated in tandem in Buddhist practice. The session will include silent meditation, recitation of the Prajñāpāramitā (the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom) mantra from the Heart Sutra, discussion, and an optional social time for tea & snacks, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. All are welcome to participate.

Review of Lama Tashi's Talk on Practicing Compassion in our Daily Lives, Pertaining to Bodhicitta
2025-12-06 13:00 - 15:00
We cordially invite you to join us on Saturday, December 6, at 1:00 p.m. at Unity of Charlottesville’s Fillmore House to review and discuss Lama Tashi’s talk on Practicing Compassion in our Daily Lives, as it relates to Bodhicitta–the aspiration to enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. The session will include silent meditation, recitation of the Prajñāpāramitā (the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom) mantra from the Heart Sutra, discussion of the concepts of great compassion and love in the context of Mahayana Buddhism, a guided meditation on compassion, and an optional social time for tea & snacks from 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. All are warmly welcome to participate.

Celebrate Saga Dawa, Buddha's birth & enlightenment with Heart Sutra Practice, Meditation & Community Connection
2026-05-31 15:00 - 17:00
This is the special holy day of Saga Dawa when millions of people in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition celebrate the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha. We will be practicing meditation, reciting the Heart Sutra, chanting mantra, and having Dharma discussion.
Recitation of the Heart Sutra is powerful for removing obstacles to one’s practice and dedicating merit for peace in our world.
Schedule:

3:00 – 4:30 — Setting motivation, meditation, recitation & discussion
4:30 – 5:00 — Social Time — You’re welcome to bring snacks to share.

Meeting at Unity of Charlottesville’s Fillmore House: see address and parking details below.
RSVP’s are appreciated, by emailing JTS108Va@gmail.com
Donations towards the rental space can be made at this link: https://jts.avenue.org/support-us/
All are welcome, including those new to our sangha. Email us at JTS108Va@gmail.com if you have questions. Feel free to share this email with others you know who are interested. We look forward to your joining us!
