Welcome to Iowa City's Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Center
We are a home for meditation, the cultivation of compassion, and the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. The center is under the spiritual direction of His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche who is known for his vast realization, attainment, and great compassion. Everyone is welcome at the center.
2024 Special Events
Saturday, April 27
10:00–11:30am [U.S. Central time]
11:00–12:30 [U.S. Eastern time]
17:00-18:30 [German time]
*This teaching will be conducted via Zoom. Additionally, for those located in Iowa City, we will be hosting the teaching at the Dharma Center with the option to join in person or participate from home via Zoom.
Please email us for the full Zoom information: admin@milarepaiowa.org
If you are able, please make a donation of
$5-$10 to suppor Drupon Palkyi’s teaching.
SCHEDULE:
Thursday, May 16
7:00-8:30pm | PUBLIC TALK
Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A
Friday, May 17
7:00-8:30pm | VAJRAKILAYA EMPOWERMENT
Garchen Mila Buddhist Center | 209 E Washington St #200, Iowa City, IA
suggested donation: $25 | students & seniors $20
Saturday, May 18
10-noon & 1:15- 4:00pm | VAJRAKILAYA TEACHING & PRACTICE
Garchen Mila Buddhist Center | 209 E Washington St #200, Iowa City, IA
suggested donation per day: $35 | students & seniors $25
Vajrakilaya empowerment required to attend this practice & teaching.
7:00-8:15pm | ACHI CHOKYI DROLMA SMOKE OFFERING & TREASURE VASE BURIAL
outdoor location TBA
Sunday, May 19
10-noon & 1:15- 3:30pm | VIPASSANA MEDITATION TEACHING, PRACTICE, Q&A
Garchen Mila Buddhist Center | 209 E Washington St #200, Iowa City, IA
suggested donation: $35 | students & seniors $25 entire day
7:30-8:30pm: 10-min personal interviews available
location TBA
At beginning or end of an interview, it is customary to make an offering to the lama. This can take the form of money, food item or other items.
IMPORTANT RETREAT INFORMATION:
- Registration: Registration is required for all events held at the Dharma Center. The Public Talk and Smoke Offering do not require registration.
- Volunteering: To volunteer for one or all of these events, including lama-care, cooking and transportation – please contact us at admin@milarepaiowa.org
- Vajrakilaya Teachings: Vajrakilaya empowerment is required for participation in Saturday Vajrakilaya teachings & practice.
- Arrival: Please arrive 15 minutes early for events to get settled in. On Friday evening and Sunday afternoon the front doors will be locked after hours. Please arrive on time because we will have someone waiting at the door.
- Health Policy: Vaccination against Covid19 is encouraged for all visitors. Please refrain from attending if feeling at all unwell –or if you have been exposed to Covid. If positive for Covid or flu, wait at least ten days before returning. (We will refund your donation if you become ill before or during the retreat events.)
- Seating Options: include both cushions and chairs.
- Posture Custom: It is customary in a Dharma setting to not have your feet pointed towards the lama or the shrine.
- Flowers: If you would like to make an offering of a bouquet of flowers for the Shrine that is most welcome. Please bring a vase for the flowers. Please arrive early to get them set up.
- Lunch: We will take lunch on Saturday and Sunday together at the India Cafe. We will pay for our meals individually. However, please let us know in the regisration process if you will want to have lunch with us -so that the restaurant owner will have a headcount.
- About Lama Visits: We have put together this page that provides some information about elements of a lama visit.
- Questions: If you have questions – please text Ellen Marie at 937-244-1961
Exciting news! Garchen Mila Center will be hosting Drupon Palkyi as part of her upcoming first North American tour.
Spring 2024 . Weekly Schedule
“What does it mean to study Buddhism? It means that you cultivate a mind of love and compassion for others.” – H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
- Arrival: Please arrive 10 minutes early to get settled in.
- Health Policy: Vaccination against Covid19 is encouraged for all visitors. Please refrain from visiting if feeling at all unwell –or if you have been exposed to Covid. If positive for Covid or flu, wait at least ten days before returning.
- Our programs are mostly free of charge. Regular visitors are invited to become members to support the Center. Occasional visitors are encouraged to make a modest donation.
- Seating options include both cushions and chairs. Kindly take off your shoes before entering the practice area.
- All ages are welcome at the Dharma Center.
- Yearly Schedule: While some of our programs are held year round, others change on a quarterly basis. Please look out for new opportunities in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
FRIDAYS
Lunchtime Refuge –Silent Meditation
Fridays, noon–12:30
Discover the transformative power of silence and mindfulness in this shared meditation.
Join us at Lunchtime Refuge for a half-hour respite. We kindly request refraining from bringing food or beverages into the space. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a beginner exploring mindfulness, all levels are warmly welcomed.
Location: 209 East Washington Street, Suite 200, in downtown Iowa City.
Registration: No registration, drop-in
Fee: $0 | Donations welcome. Regular visitors are invited to become a member.
SATURDAY APRIL 27:
Special Event at the Dharma Center or Zoom from home!
In Iowa City we will be at the Dharma Center watching or you can join from home.
Please email us for the full Zoom information:
admin@milarepaiowa.org
Please consider making a donation for this teaching and translation >
SATURDAY MAY 4: we will resume our regular Saturday schedule
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation:
Green Tara Practice
Saturdays, 9:30–10:15am
Join us in this ancient meditation that allows us to experience love and compassion for all beings.
This is a chance to explore Tibetan Buddhist meditation. We always have time for instruction and Q&A. Through Green Tara meditation we can realize our own heart of compassion through the application of mantra recitation, mindfulness meditation and visualization. Newcomers welcome.
Exploring Buddhism: The Heart of Compassion
Saturdays, 10:30–11:15am
Join us for an introduction to Buddhism through discussion of the '37 Practices of a Bodhisattva.'
Explore the path of lovingkindness and compassion as guided by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s classic book The Heart of Compassion. Purchase of the book is optional. Suitable for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners.
Location: 209 East Washington Street, Suite 200, in downtown Iowa City.
Registration: No registration, drop-in
Fee: $0 | Donations welcome. Regular visitors are invited to become a member.
SUNDAYS
Dharma teachings by Khenpo Tamphel: 'In Praise of Dharmadatu' by Nagarjuna
Sundays, 9:30-10:25am
Join us for profound teachings on Nagarjuna’s ‘In Praise of Dharmadatu’ –all levels welcome!
This poetic work from the great 2nd century Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna shows us how buddha nature exists in all beings, and how it can be gradually uncovered by those who train in the methods described, and blossom into the fully enlightened state of dharmakaya–completely free from all imperfections. Open to all. Teaching will be held on zoom –but broadcast only at the Dharma Center. Khenpo's teaching will be followed by ten minutes of silent meditation.
“This basic element, which is the seed,
Is held to be the basis of all dharma.
Through its purification step by step,
The state of buddhahood we will attain.”
–Nagarjuna’s ‘In Praise of Dharmadatu,’
Bio: About Khenpo Tamphel.
Location: 209 East Washington Street, Suite 200, in downtown Iowa City.
Registration: No registration, drop-in
Fee: $0 | Contributions to Khenpo Tamphel are very much welcome.
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation
Chenrezig Meditation Practice
Sundays, 10:30–11:00am
Join us in this meditation to realize compassion.
Through Chenrezig meditation practice we can realize our own heart of compassion through the application of mantra recitation, mindfulness meditation and visualization. Everyone welcome!
Location: 209 East Washington Street, Suite 200, in downtown Iowa City.
Registration: No registration, drop-in
Fee: $0 | Donations welcome. Regular visitors are invited to become a member.
MONTHLY PRACTICES & EVENTS
Sangha Lunch at India Cafe
1st Sundays | May 5th, 11:15am
May 5, June 2
Join us for lunch and chatting.
This is an opportunity for us to get together and relax. Everyone welcome!!
Location: India Cafe is located at 227 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240
A Rainfall of Benefit and Happiness & Achi Chokyi Drolma Practice
2nd Thursdays | May 9, 6:00-8:00pm
May 9, June 13
In the Drikung Kagyu tradition, Achi Chokyi Drolma is revered not only as a wisdom dakini and protector deity but also as the grandmother of Jigten Sumgön, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. We invoke Achi Chokyi Drolma's blessings and guidance in this practice, through visualization, mantra recitation, and meditation on Achi, with the aim of cultivating wisdom, compassion, and realization.
Location: 209 East Washington Street, Suite 200, in downtown Iowa City.
Registration: No registration, drop-in
Fee: $0 | Donations welcome. Regular visitors are invited to become a member.
Vajrakilaya Practice
Last Thursdays | May 30, 6:00-8:00pm
May 30, June 27, July 25, August 29
Vajrakilaya is a wrathful deity associated with the removal of obstacles, particularly those related to spiritual practice. The meditation practice of Vajrakilaya is aimed at overcoming inner and outer obstacles on the path to enlightenment. H.E. Garchen Rinpoche has specifically requested our sangha to do this practice regularly.
[Refuge & empowerment are required to attend this practice. The next opportunity to receive both is in mid May during Khenpo Samdup's visit.]
Location: 209 East Washington Street, Suite 200, in downtown Iowa City.
Registration: No registration, drop-in
Fee: $0 | Donations welcome. Regular visitors are invited to become a member.
Dharma Center Location: The Dharma Center is located on the second floor of the Paul-Helen Building at 209 East Washington Street (Suite 200) in downtown Iowa City. The entrance to the building faces the Dubuque Street pedestrian mall. There is an elevator that opens directly to our doorway. The building and the center are accessible to individuals with mobility difficulties.
Parking: Iowa City’s downtown streets have metered parking. Parking is also available in three ramps with entrances from Dubuque and Linn Streets (Sheraton Hotel), Clinton and Capitol Streets (Old Capitol Center), and Iowa Avenue (Clock Tower Place).
Health: Please do not attend if you are feeling at all ill or know that you have been exposed to a contagious disease.
WE OFFER OUR MEDITATION IN THE TRADITION OF GENEROSITY…
The Garchen Mila Buddhist Center upholds the ancient 2600-year-old Buddhist custom of offering teachings without cost. Staffed exclusively by volunteers, the center functions through the kindness of our members, enabling us to provide meditation sessions to the community without any fees. For those who decide to make our center a regular part of their journey, we invite you to join us as a member and contribute to the sustenance of our programs. For those who drop by occasionally, a modest donation for the day would be greatly appreciated.
To send membership by mail, please send checks to:
P.O. Box 5352, Coralville IA 52241
Milarepa Buddhist Center of Iowa
