Kadampa Meditation Center Florida

Heart Jewel with Silent Meditation
2026-04-01 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-07 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
The Heart Jewel prayer and meditation practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. It is used by many Kadampas as their main daily practice.
Through these beautiful prayers we can overcome obstacles to our Dharma practice and create favorable conditions so that we can nurture and increase our pure Dharma realizations.
Practice details: In the first part we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa. Then we make prayers and requests to purify any negativity, accumulate merit, and receive blessings. A pause for personal silent meditation is included. It is a very meaningful and enjoyable practice, especially when performed in a group setting.

Foundation Program (FP)
2026-04-01 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
The Foundation Program gives students the opportunity to engage in a more in-depth and structured approach to the practices of meditation and Buddhism. The structured curriculum allows us to develop a genuine experience of the Dharma while integrating it into our modern way of life. Participating in this program helps cultivate confidence in meditation, from fundamental techniques for addressing daily challenges to advanced practices that lead to ultimate happiness and lasting inner peace. Find out more HERE.

Teacher Training Program (TTP)
2026-04-02 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-06 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
The Teacher Training Program (TTP) is designed for students who wish to become qualified teachers of Modern Buddhism. There are twelve subjects and fourteen texts taught in TTP, including the six texts taught in FP. Students are also required to observe certain commitments and to complete a number of meditation retreats each year. Enrollment must be approved by the Resident Teacher. Find out more information HERE.

Meditations for a Meaningful Life
2026-04-03 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, or “Lamrim”, is a sophisticated, practical presentation of Buddhist teachings, which is designed to help us improve and grow in a deliberate and joyful way. Over 1000 years ago the Buddhist sage Atisha consolidated the 84,000 teachings of Buddha into the Lamrim, which are 21 essential meditations, revolutionizing the practice of Buddha’s teachings. Since then, Lamrim has flourished throughout the world and it perfectly fits within our modern lifestyle. It is simple, scientific, and incredibly potent.
The Lamrim takes us step-by-step through carefully crafted meditations so we can purposefully nourish the qualities in our mind that lead to our happiness and reduce our painful thoughts and feelings.
In this class, we will go one-by-one through the Lamrim, drawing out how we can personally use these meditations and create our own meditation practice. There will be a special emphasis on the art of meditation and how to really make our meditations effective.
Join us afterwards for lunch in our World Peace Cafe! Lunch is available for purchase at check in and will be served after the class.

Powa
2026-04-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Powa, or transference of consciousness, is a profound method for transferring the consciousness of the deceased to the Pure Land of Buddha. After a person dies and before they take their next rebirth, there is an opportunity for those who have some connection with them to guide their consciousness’ away from the painful rebirths of samsara and into the pure lands, worlds created by minds experiencing things in a pure way.

Awakening the Heart - beach meditation
2026-04-04 10:15 - 11:00 | FL
Beneath all the hustle, the conceptual thinking, and emotions lies an inner calm, an oasis of peace. Let’s come together and make that journey from the head to the heart. The world doesn’t have to stop; we don’t need silence to meditate and feel peaceful & connected with a clear mind and open heart
Free guided mediation at the Bay with Buddhist nun, Gen Lhadron
Everyone is welcome to this unique meditation experience along the beautiful public beach located at the end of Blvd of the Arts in Sarasota. Parking is available next to Van Wezel.

Beyond the Ordinary
2026-04-05 11:00 - 12:15, 2026-04-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
In this series of meditation classes, you will learn to harness your mind’s creative power to shape your karma, your experience, and ultimately your future. When we understand that the mind is not a passive observer but the architect of reality, we step beyond a limited version of ourself and tap into our true potential for change.
Everyone welcome!

Wishfulfilling Jewel with food offering
2026-04-05 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, accumulate merit, and receive blessings. This prepares our mind for a 15-minute meditation on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. After the meditation we make prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. Through this we can overcome obstacles to our practice and increase our pure Dharma realizations.
This practice includes a tsog offering so you can bring a vegetarian food or beverage, packaged or prepared, as an offering if you wish. Fruits, vegetables, cookies, crackers, dips, and bottled beverages include some examples of common tsog offering items.

Lunchtime Meditation
2026-04-06 12:15 - 12:45, 2026-04-08 12:15 - 12:45, 2026-04-13 12:15 - 12:45 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
These lunchtime meditations taught by teachers of KMC Florida are suitable for everyone. They consist of a short talk on meditation followed by a guided meditation to set you up nicely for a tranquil day. Followed by lunch in our World Peace Cafe.
Everyone Welcome!

Dakini Yoga (HYT)
2026-04-06 17:00 - 18:00 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Prayers and meditations that contain the essence of the self-generation practice of Vajrayogini – the female enlightened Deity of Highest Yoga Tantra who is the manifestation of the wisdom of all Buddhas. It is also a six-session yoga – a simple but powerful daily practice for maintaining all Tantric commitments for those who have received a Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment – that has been specially arranged for those who have received the empowerment of Vajrayogini. Also included are lists of the Bodhisattva and Tantric vows and commitments, and an explanation on how the practice of Dakini Yoga fulfils these commitments.
Those attending should have received Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment or have the intention to do so in the near future.

The New Essence of Vajrayana (HYT)
2026-04-07 12:00 - 13:30 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
This session is open only to those who have received the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments from the New Kadampa Tradition. If you have not received this empowerment please join us for another puja, such as Wishfulfilling Jewel with Lamrim Meditation. The New Essence of Vajrayana is the tantric practice of Heruka, an enlightened being.
WALK INS WELCOME!
There is no registration for this prayer.

Elevate Your Mind: From Reactivity to Love
2026-04-07 19:00 - 20:15 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Join us for Elevate Your Mind: From Reactivity to Love — a meditation series on developing inner strength, clarity, and lasting peace.
Reactivity narrows the mind.
Love expands it.
When we rise above anger and fear, we see more clearly — and choose more wisely.
Learn practical meditation tools to shift from emotional turbulence to inner strength.
In this series of meditation classes we will explore the profound and practical methods to improve the mind as presented in the book “The New Eight Steps to happiness” by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

35 Confession Buddhas
2026-04-08 11:00 - 11:45 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
The Boddhisattvas Confessions of Moral Downfalls
No matter how negative our mind is we have the opportunity to purify it completely by engaging in purification, the root of future happiness and spiritual realizations. In this practice, we visualize the Thirty-five Confession Buddhas and practice purification in their presence. Through the power of their blessings and prayers, we can swiftly purify even the heaviest negative actions simply by faithfully reciting their names. During this practice, we will make one prostration to each of the 35 Buddhas.

Tara Prayers
2026-04-08 17:00 - 18:00 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
At Kadampa Centers worldwide, the eighth of the month is Tara Day. Tara is a female Buddha, whose name means “Rescuer”. She is the embodiment of swift compassion. If we rely upon Tara sincerely and with strong faith, she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfill all our wishes. Tara has the ability to protect us from all inner and outer fears – such as the dangers from wind and water.

Vajrayogini Body Mandala
2026-04-09 09:00 - 18:00 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Spend the day as Vajrayogini going into the heart chakra using the sadhana blissful path. Our main focus will be learning about and meditating on the body mandala of Vajrayogini.

This is an advanced retreat for practitioners who have the HYT empowerment or an intention to receive this empowerment this summer.

Schedule

9:00 am – 10:30am
11:30am – 1:00pm
5:00pm – 6:00pm
TTP class at 6:30pm

In person retreat only.
Free for study program students and members.

Offering to the Spiritual Guide with food offering
2026-04-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Offering to the Spiritual Guide is a special Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa in conjunction with Highest Yoga Tantra. It was compiled by the first Panchen Lama, Losang Chökyi Gyaltsän, as a preliminary practice for Vajrayana Mahamudra. The main practice is relying upon the Spiritual Guide, but it also includes all the essential practices of the stages of the path (Lamrim) and training the mind (Lojong), as well as both the generation stage and completion stage of Highest Yoga Tantra.
This practice includes a tsog offering so you can bring a vegetarian food or beverage, packaged or prepared, as an offering if you wish. Fruits, vegetables, cookies, crackers, dips, and bottled beverages include some examples of common tsog offering items.

Mahayana Precepts
2026-04-14 06:30 - 07:15 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
The practice of taking and keeping the eight Mahayana precepts is a special practice of moral discipline that is performed with compassion for all living beings. The essence of the practice is to take eight precepts — promising to abstain for 24 hours from eight actions: (1) killing, (2) stealing, (3) sexual activity, (4) lying, (5) taking intoxicants, (6) eating after lunch, (7) sitting on high or luxurious thrones or seats, and (8) wearing ornaments, perfume, singing and dancing and so forth – and to keep them purely for this period of time. This practice is performed monthly at Kadampa Buddhist Centers worldwide on the 15th of each month.
To join via Livestream Click Here

Nyungnay Purification Ritual Practice
2026-04-14 06:30 - 2026-04-15 20:30 | Kadampa Meditation Center Florida, 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
This special fasting and purification practice is performed on Buddha’s Enlightenment Day in conjunction with Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara. It is very powerful for purifying negative karma of body, speech and mind, and for pacifying strong delusions such as desirous attachment and hatred. It is also a special method for receiving blessings and improving our experience of love, compassion and bodhichitta.

A qualified Nyungnay practice includes completion of and keeping the the Mahayana Precepts followed by 3 sessions of Avalokiteshvara practice for two consecutive days. The first day of fasting includes just one meal at lunch with liberal liquids throughout the day. The second day of fasting involves sustaining from all food and drink, including water, for 24 hours. This practice is an extraordinary method to increase our compassion, accumulate a wealth of merit and purify heavy negative karma.
Individual sessions are open to everyone.
Day 1
Mahayana Precepts:6:30-7:15am
Session 1: 7:15-8:30am
Session 2: 10-11:15am
Precepts Lunch: 12:30-1:30pm
Session 3: 4:00-5:30pm
Day 2
Buddha’s Enlightenment Day
Mahayana Precepts:6:30-7:15am
Session 1: 7:15-8:30am
Session 2: 10-11:15am
Precepts Lunch (if applicable): 12:30-1:30pm
Session 3: 4:00-5:30pm
OSG 6:30-8pm
