901 E. St. Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA. Here is a map to our location http://tinyurl.com/ratnaling

Sundays

10 am-11:30 am Bodhicitta Practice-meditation on loving kindness and compassion

Thursdays

7 pm-8 pm Heart Sutra-meditation on the ultimate nature of phenomenon

First Wednesday of the Month

7:30 pm-9:00 pm Live webcast teaching with Rinpoche

Second Wednesday of the Month

6 pm-7 pm Tara Dance- an introduction to the dance practice of the female Buddha Tara, the Mother of Wisdom and Compassion.

Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet, in a region called Golok, which is the home of the monastery of which he is the abbot, Mardo Tashi Choling. Rinpoche is a highly qualified teacher, having received three Khenpo degrees (equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy). He has also been recognized as a Tulku, someone who is believed to have been a spiritual teacher in previous lives. Therefore his title is Khentrul, which means one who is both a Khenpo and a Tulku.

Through our spiritual director, Khentrul Rinpoche, Katog Choling is part of the Nyingma tradition, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Rinpoche has made CDs that are online at www.katogcholing.com. Begin with Introduction to Meditation and Tonglen: The Bodhicitta Practice of Giving and Receiving. An introductory class held at our center is available by special request.

We have a page on katogcholing.com katogcholing.com/ratnaling.php and a Yahoo group that we use to keep in touch groups.yahoo.com/group/katogcholing/

He regularly goes to California, Oregon, Louisiana, Washington, Alaska, Utah, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and Hawaii. His schedule also includes Canada (the Yukon Territory and Vancouver Island, BC), Taiwan, Tibet, Brasil, and India.

His current calendar is here: http://katogcholing.com/schedule.php

Tibetan and Sanskrit chants are the language of the ancient prayers and are considered to be sacred because of their use by the masters of the past.

Buddhists customarily prostrate three times as a sign of respect when entering a shrine, but it is not necessary to do so if you are not comfortable with the practice.

No, we have cushions, chairs, and texts.

The traditional way to greet the lama is to offer a katak (a special white or yellow Tibetan scarf). Lama will place the scarf around your neck as a blessing. Here in the U.S. greetings are usually very casual, but in general you should not hug or embrace a lama or monk.

This is accepting the Three Jewels or the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. Buddha is the goal, the dharma is the teaching, and the sangha are the practitioners who accompany you on your path.

We send books, clothing, and other necessities to the children being educated at Mardo Tashi Choling Monastery in Tibet. Monks and retreatants are also sponsored. At Stiles prison in Beaumont, Texas, Rinpoche has sangha of prisoners that he visits regularly to give teachings.

There is a board of directors whose members are from different areas of the United States. Regional and national committees spearhead certain activities such as website, fundraising, planning, and public relations committees.  It is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.