At Dorje Ling

Wednesday, November 5th - Thursday November, 20th: ALL LUNAR PUJAS CANCELLED DURING VAJRAKILAYA RETREAT @ Tashi Choling

Saturday, November 22nd, 7:00-8:30: Tröma Nagmo Red Feast (DL center only)

Sunday, November 23rd, 1:30-2:30:

Riwo Sang Chod, Smoke Offering

(DL center only)

Sunday, November 30th, 4:00-6:30: Guru Rinpoche Puja Hosted by Tashi Choling (DL center and online)

During the second weekend of October, Dorje Ling hosted the 3rd annual two-day meditation retreat that brought together 15-16 practitioners for an immersive journey into Shamatha and Vipassana meditation. Running from 8:30am to 5pm each day, the retreat offered participants the opportunity to deepen their practice and cultivate both calm abiding and insight.

The first day focused on Shamatha meditation, establishing the essential foundation of calm abiding. Through various guided sessions, participants worked to settle and stabilize the mind—a prerequisite for the deeper work that followed. On the second day, we transitioned into Vipassana practice, where insight naturally began to arise in our minds as we examined the nature of our experience more closely.

Matthew led the group skillfully through numerous meditation techniques over both days, helping us expand our understanding of these fundamental practices. His guidance allowed both newer practitioners and those with more experience to explore these teachings in fresh and meaningful ways.

Having helped organize these meditation retreats at Dorje Ling for three years now, I continue to feel grateful for the sustained interest and participation from our community. There's a genuinely friendly and inviting atmosphere here that welcomes everyone, regardless of where they are on their path.

The response from participants has been encouraging. Based on feedback from the community, we're exploring the possibility of expanding to two retreats per year—one in spring and one in autumn. This would offer more opportunities for practitioners to come together, deepen their practice, and support one another in this shared journey.

If you're interested in participating in future retreats, please stay tuned for announcements. May all beings benefit from the practice of meditation.

-Jeff Clemes

Some of our Dorje Ling sangha joined the No Kings Day Rally and March on October 18 - we don’t know how many of us! A few went first to the Interfaith Gathering at 10:30, spear-headed by Domyo Burke of the Bright Way Zen Center (located down in Cedar Mill not far from Dorje Ling). It was easier to find each other there, before the big event began.

Then this Interfaith group, which filled Pioneer Square, walked together down to the Waterfront, joining 40,000 others in one powerful, creative, energizing, and peaceful action–marching for our values, marching in support of the countless people and groups who are suffering from this increasingly authoritarian regime, marching for democracy and for the Earth itself.

Before the rally, Domyo sent a letter to area Buddhist centers that included these words: 

“I realize most Zen/Buddhist/meditation centers avoid taking any kind of political stand in favor of making sure the Sangha is welcoming to all who want to practice. At the same time, I know we each have a sense that events in the greater world can become so unjust and dangerous that we must take a stand as people of faith. Which of us would have limited our activities to quiet meditation through the Holocaust?

I hope you will consider whether things in our country have reached your threshold for action. I believe we can do this while making it clear we are standing up for our values and not taking a partisan position. I hope we would publicly oppose any administration, regardless of political party, that:

• Carried out a cruel, expensive, and disruptive campaign against people of color and immigrants based entirely on a lie about their criminality
• Sought to consolidate power by inflaming fear, xenophobia, divisiveness, and white supremacy
• Threatened the peace and stability of our country by deploying federal troops against American citizens.” ….

Now that the protest has passed and November begins, each of us must find our own path forward. Some wise advice to keep in mind might be to “find your lane.” What can each of us do to build hope, to ease suffering, to counter the darkness? And what can we do together? Even the smallest act matters–and there are no limits. In the coming weeks and months, let’s talk with each other, support one another, and find ways to act with both faith and wisdom.  -Jude Foster