White Tara Longevity Initiation with Geshe Sonam

When:  Sunday, August 22, 2021, 10 am EDT

Where: In person at Lama Yeshe Ling Centre, 1287 Coric Avenue, Burlington ON L7R 3S4 (back yard)

While we are very pleased that Lama Yeshe Ling can finally hold in-person events, we ask that certain precautions are taken to protect the health of all of us. This event will be held in our backyard, weather permitting. Please use the gate on the NE side of the house to enter the backyard (house side rather than garage side) and arrive no more than 15 minutes ahead of time. Masks will be required (we will have some on hand for those who need them) and hand sanitizer will be at the entrance. Social distancing of 2 m is to be maintained. Please stay at home if you have any symptoms of COVID.

We ask that people register ahead of time as there are a limited number of spaces available in order to conform to provincial guidelines. If the weather is not cooperating, we will email you the day before and reschedule the event to another date.

Some chairs will be available. Please bring your own cushions to sit on the ground. A ground cover will be provided.

Please register in advance here.

The White Tara Longevity Initiation

This ceremony may be taken as an initiation with refuge and bodhisattva vows, or as a simple blessing.

White Tara is one of the many forms of the awakening activity of all the Buddhas in feminine form – the protector from all fears. White Tara meditation practise helps us to develop our potential to manifest our wisdom, and for having a long, healthy and prosperous life.

For this longevity initiation, Geshe Sonam is also giving the opportunity for this to be received as a blessing without vows or commitments. This is done during the ceremony simply by having the intention to receive a blessing rather than receive refuge and bodhisattva vows.

Geshe la requests that participants avoid meat, eggs, and the five pungent plants (onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives) the morning of the initiation. After receiving the initiation, these restrictions are relaxed.

For those who are curious about refuge and bodhisattva vows within the context of the longevity initiation versus the refuge ceremony and taking bodhisattva vows on the weekend earlier, this will be a very brief repetition of some lines of Tibetan, vs. a much more elaborate and personal experience the weekend before.

Here is a link to the Concise White Tara Sadhana associated with this initiation.