Puja is a Sanskrit word for an act of devotion, such as bowing, prostrating, and making offerings. The term "sadhana" means "practice" or "meditation." As part of the Sunday morning puja, we perform the sadhana of Chenrezig, a chanting meditation that invokes the bodhisattva of compassion, Chenrezig (in Sanskrit, Avalokiteshvara). The sadhana is designed to awaken and expand our compassion for all beings.

We close the practice with a short prayer to Guru Rinpche (Padmasambhava), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Prayers for the long life of our teachers, and aspirations that our practice benefit all beings.

Visitors may attend the Chenrezig practice. However, only those visitors who have taken refuge in Buddhism are allowed to engage in the practice. A short introduction to the main practices of our lineage is available at the Center, and more detailed teachings, including DVDs, on these sadhanas and visualization practice generally can be obtained from the Namse Bangdzo Bookstore. Please feel free to contact us at info@abqktc.org for information on these practices.

The Kagyu school is called the "Practice Lineage" because of it's emphasis on meditation practice, and particularly the style of meditation known as Mahamudra. Besides our weekly group sitting practice at this time, members can use the center for individual meditation practice whenever group sessions are not taking place. Because of the many great teachers who have visited the center, it is a very powerful place for meditation.

Sitting practice is divided into two periods of about 30 minutes, separated by a short period of walking meditation. Before the first session, we recite a short passage taking refuge in the Three Jewels, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha (community of practitioners), and at the end the second session, we express the aspiration that the results of our meditation benefit all beings.

Those with experience in meditation are free to come and practice their usual (silent) meditation style, but basic instruction on the method of "tranquility meditation" ("shamatha" in Sanskrit, or "shine" in Tibetan) taught in the Karma Kagyu tradition is also available on request almost every Wednesday, or at other times by prior arangement. Several books on meditation, including Mahamudra practice, by Karma Kagyu masters are available in the center library. In addition, visiting lamas almost always have time for private interviews for practitioners with advanced questions concerning their meditation practice. If you have questions on any aspect of Tibetan meditation practice, please let us know; if we can't answer them, we'll do our best to find a qualified teacher who can.

Once a month, we perform the sadhana practice of Green Tara. This sadhana is widely practiced among all of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is necessary to have taken refuge as a Buddhist and received the specific empowerment and reading transmission for this practice in order to participate, although guests who have not done so are welcome to be present and meditate during it.

Twice a month, we perform the sadhana practice of Medicine Buddha entitled A Stream of Lapis Lazuli. This is a mind terma, or "treasure teaching." It is necessary to have taken refuge as a Buddhist and received the specific empowerment and reading transmission for this practice in order to participate, although guests who have not done so are welcome to be present and meditate during it.