Join Us for Year-Round, Traditional Non-Sectarian Buddhist Services and Classes in English. And New!
Private Special Blessings Services
Upon Request
Sundays: 10 -11:30 am
Newcomers to
Buddhism Welcome!
Plus Three Weekly Classes on
Buddhism
for Beginners to Bodhisattvas
BLDC's New Home In Webster Groves!
July 8, 2013 Venerable Sha'ul Hirschman (Ngakpa Chökyi Lodü ), Senior Priest, and the Governing Board of Blue Lotus Dharma Center announce BLDC has found a wonderful new home in the landmark Desoto Building of Webster Groves, located at the junction of Big Bend Blvd and E Lockwood just west of the Old Orchard Business District. Our new address is 607 E. Lockwood, Suite
106, 63119. Many of you will recognize
the building as the location of Cyrano's Restaurant! First Sunday Service and beginners Buddhism course (immediately following) is July 21.
Ven. Sha'ul said, "There is an enormous amount of work taking place in order to
create a beautiful and long-term temple in the Desoto Building, which has its
own parking lot and is surrounded by plenty of free street parking! It also has
a handicapped ramp and elevator for those in need of these amenities. And a
first-class restaurant renowned city-wide for its fine food, coffee and
desserts!"
Ven. Sha'ul said, "We also plan to take advantage of the easy accessibility of the Desoto Building to resume regular weekly silent, semi-formal meditation sittings, the only “formal” aspect being a “starting and ending” bell.
Each session will last 45 min. This will be free but donations to help support
the temple is most appreciated." The temple will also have daily (Monday –
Thursday) “informal” sitting periods wherein anyone is welcome to sit for
however long they wish.. Specific hours to be arranged and posted soon!
He is also excited that in addition to weekly classes (see below), the following upcoming new classes will be offered in the new space.
- Refuge in the Three Jewels, a 2 part discussion of the Three Jewels, approaches to taking Refuge Vows,
and the precepts/practices that follow, presenting views from
Mahayana and Vajrayana perspectives. Free, though dana (donation) is appreciated. This class will be held at in place of the Beginner's Buddhism Class on Sundays. Refuge Ceremony will be held the Sunday following the last class during the regular Sunday Service (at 10 am).
-
Dharma Hall Assistant Class, an on-going class that includes hands-on practice focusing on how to attend the shrine for Sunday services, opening and closing the Dharma Hall, assisting in tsogs/various ceremonies and proper shrine room etiquette. Additionally this class will also cover using the various instruments during service, leading the general liturgy or leading mediation sittings. Dates/times to be arranged and posted here soon!
Blue Lotus Dharma Center
Offers Introductory Dharma Classes in Buddhism
Through to Bodhisattva Training
Note: Check the Schedules Page for class updates (once in progress), schedule changes and/or details regarding text purchase (if recommended or required).
Quick Look:
Sunday Beginners Class: 12:15 - 1:30 pm Join Anytime!
Thursday Evening Seven Point Mind-Training Class: 6:30 - 8:00 pm Note: This class is taught in sequence. Class begins Thursday 15 August 2013 and closes to enrollment after Thursday, 12 September, 2013.
Tuesday Evening Advanced Class: 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Begins Tuesday, 17 September, 2013.
July 23, 2013 In keeping with the Center’s mission, all dharma classes are non-sectarian and taught in English by Sha’ul, who has extensive experience teaching Buddhism in both monastery and lay organization settings. Sha’ul said, “While we feel it is very important to offer traditional Buddhist services accessible to the lay practitioner, BLDC’s primary focus is to propagate the core teachings and tenets of Buddhism. In our classes, Buddhist terms and concepts will be thoughtfully presented in an understandable sequence, in order to make Buddhism a familiar and comprehensible subject for Western students."
The Center offers an on-going introduction to Buddhism class
called Buddhist Doctrines on Sundays from 12:15 - 1:30 pm following a refreshment break after regular Sunday services (held 10 – 11:30 am). This class
introduces newcomers to Buddhism to its major ideas and practices using very
simple, direct language in a non-academic, discussion format. Sha’ul said, “I always encourage lively interaction between students and
teachers. It is the best way to learn. And the most fun.” Class
topics include The Four Noble Truths, Karma, The Noble Eightfold Path, Taking Refuge
in the Three Jewels, The Three Dharma Seals, Interdependent co-origination,
Emptiness and Nirvana.There is no fee for this class although a dana (donation) of $25-$50 is strongly encouraged in order to help support programming at the Center. Weekly topics, class updates and text purchase (if recommended or required) will be posted on the website’s Schedules Page under the Classes heading.
Next up for the student familiar with basic Buddhist tenets covered in the Intro class is the Tuesday evening Advanced Dharma Study Group at 6:30 - 8:00 pm, which begins Tuesday, September 17. Ven. Sha'ul said, "This class will follow the same format as the Sunday Beginner Class, with topics treated individually. Full completion of this class meets the basic requirements of the academic portion of the BLDC Teacher Training. A specific text is recommended but not required." Join anytime!
For
those interested in Bodhisattva studies, the Center offers The
Seven Point Mind-Training, Thursday evenings from
6:30 - 8:00 pm. Sha’ul said, “The bodhisattva ideal is the primary path to
develop compassion and loving-kindness and is a crucial fundamental practice in
Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism." Classes focus on topics related
to the Bodhisattva such as the Root and Secondary Vows, Six Paramitas, Seven
Points of Mind Training (lojong) with corresponding slogans, and meditative
practices like Tonglen. Beginning 15 August 2013, the topic will be A Study of the Seven Points Mind-Training supported by the 59 Slogans of Lojong. Ven. Sha'ul said, "Please be aware that this class does require big commitment – it will meet weekly for nine months. It is very important to attend the classes as regularly as possible as each lesson is built upon the previous. Some make-up classes can be arranged but attendance is very important. Prerequisites and fee: Must have taken Refuge Vows and completed Intro to Buddhism class; fee is a one-time payment of $50 for the whole nine months. Information for ordering the required text will be given to all those that sign up for the class. Please note that after Thursday, September 12, the Lojong training class is closed and new students will be added only at the discretion of Ven. Sha'ul.
Check the Schedules Page, start dates, updates (once in progress) and details regarding text purchase (if recommended or required).
The Blue Lotus Dharma Center
is the result of the Center for American Buddhist Practice and Sha'ul's efforts to build a Sangha and Center in St. Louis for the past six years.
"The start of formal Dharma classes was a major milestone," said Sha'ul. BLDC is a Missouri
registered non-profit organization and is always in need of tax-deductible
donations. However, Sha’ul (who himself volunteers all his services)
stressed, “Those who are unable to make a donation for classes or services will
never be turned away. All are encouraged to give as they are able.”