Buddhist Meditation Center Dechen Ling

DECHEN LING, in Ashland, Oregon, provides opportunities to study and contemplate the teachings of the Buddha, as transmitted by the Nyingmapa Lineage. We are the official, in-town center for Tashi Choling Center for Buddhist Studies, directed by Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche. Tashi Choling is located 30 minutes from downtown Ashland, in the Colestine Valley (Tashi Choling’s website). Dechen Ling offers classes and practice groups to a wide range of students, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Dechen Ling was incorporated in 1994 as a non-profit tax exempt corporation by Lama Yeshe Nyima, and has been at its present location since 2005. Dechen Ling is currently open during scheduled class times only.

WHAT WE OFFER: Study and practice groups led by teachers and senior students authorized to teach by the Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche. See our Events page for current information.

Dechen Ling is not financially dependent on any other organization, and relies on donations to cover operational expenses. Dechen Ling also relies on volunteer support. If you wish to make a donation, click on the “Donate” button below to make a donation through PayPal, or make checks payable to “Dechen Ling”. Visit our Donate page for additional info. Thank you! Volunteers, please visit our Contact page and let us know when you are available!

Kagyu Sukha Choling

WELCOME TO KAGYU SUKHA CHÖLING

Center for the Practice and Study of Tibetan Buddhism Kagyu Sukha Chöling is a Tibetan Buddhist center where the authentic teachings of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineages are openly offered to the community.Timeless and accessible, these teachings cultivate inner peace, compassion and insight. KSC is dedicated to welcoming and supporting individuals at any stage of their spiritual journeys.

Center for the Practice and Study of Tibetan Buddhism

Venerable Lama Lodru Rinpoche began giving Buddhist teachings in Eugene, Oregon, in the late 1970s. These teachings were sponsored by students living in Marcola, where Lama Lodru’s home center in San Francisco, Kagyu Droden Kunchab (KDK), had purchased land for a future retreat.

In 1980, Pema Clark attended a weekend of Lama’s teachings and took refuge at that time. A year later, Yeshe Parke and Norma Cordell took refuge with Lama Lodru as well, and the three women offered to sponsor his future teachings in Eugene at their place of business, the Eugene Center for the Healing Arts (ECHA).

In December, 1981, Lama Lodru gave teachings and the refuge vow, and these events were attended by many. During this visit, Lama asked if the Eugene group would be interested in hosting a visit by His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, the head of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. The response was resoundingly positive. In ensuing visits, Lama Lodru gave the Chenrezig initiation and instruction. Weekly meditations began, and Kalu Rinpoche sent a name to the group: Kagyu Sukha Chöling.

When His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche came to Eugene in November, 1982, over 300 people attended a teaching on “Love and Compassion” and a Chenrezig initiation. Rinpoche explained Kagyu Sukha Chöling’s name at that time: Literally translated as Place of Blissful Kagyu Dharma, the name also refers to Sukhasiddhi, an enlightened woman teacher and a source of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. Therefore, an alternative translation is Sukhasiddhi’s Place of Kagyu Dharma.During Rinpoche’s visit, Lama Lodru requested that Pema, Norma, and Yeshe act as directors of KSC under his guidance. KSC was to be housed within, though separate from ECHA.

From 1982 to 1985, KSC held weekly meditations of Chenrezig and Green Tara, and hosted Lama Lodru Rinpoche’s teachings and empowerments three or four times a year. From 1985 to 1988, KSC hosted Lama Tsang Tsing (who was leading the KDK Three Year Retreat in Marcola) for weekly Chenrezig and Mahakala meditations; sponsored Lama Tsang Tsing’s and Lama Lodru’s teachings (each twice a year); aided in site preparation of the retreat in Marcola; and hosted lineage masters such as His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Very Venerable Dezhung Rinpoche.

Calm Abiding

Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and one Sunday every month at 9:00 a.m.This meditation is common to many traditions of Buddhism. In this practice, we rest our attention on a simple meditative support, such as the breath. Instead of following thoughts and emotions as we usually do, we release them and maintain our connection to the support.

“From this practice, we can experience a stable and calm mind. We learn to maintain and return to a sense of stillness, no matter what our outer circumstances. The mind is relaxed, alert and aware. The results of this practice are serenity, freedom in the face of circumstances and ultimately, Buddhahood.” From Meditation for Beginners, by Bokar Rinpoche

Tonglen: Taking and Sending Practice

One Sunday every month at 9:00 a.m. The foundational perspective of Tonglen practice is to consider all beings as our kin, because we and all beings share the wish to be happy and avoid suffering. From that common perspective, we aspire to utilize our natural great heart of compassion to relieve beings of suffering and bring them genuine happiness.The guided Tonglen meditation begins with consideration and transformation of our own sufferings, and moves us outward to encompass the reality of others’ situation.

Chenrezig

Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Chenrezig meditation is a part of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It is a chanting practice that utilizes visualization and mantra as the means to cultivate and strengthen the kindness and compassion that is native to us.

Green Tara

Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. Green Tara meditation is a melodic visualization and mantra practice that strengthens our natural fearlessness.

Open Meditation

Tuesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the silence of the sanctuary during the Tuesday midday open meditation.

Mahakala

Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. Mahakala practice is a chanting practice that cultivates the energy of wrathful compassion to cut through our obstacles and obscurations. This meditation may be witnessed by anyone, but one must receive the empowerment and instruction in order to join in the practice.

Four Deities

Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. This purification practice is rarely done in American meditation centers, but was the gift of His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche to KSC in the 1980s.

Milarepa

This meditation creates a connection with the great yogi of Tibet, Milarepa. The practice is done seasonally and at Tibetan New Year.

Sukhasiddhi

One Saturday every month at 10:00 a.m. This long-life meditation utilizes a relationship with the fully realized lady of wisdom, Sukhasiddhi, who was a primary source of the Shangpa lineage.

Kagyu Sukha Chöling Meditation Center

Kagyu Sukha Chöling (KSC), a Tibetan Buddhist center in Ashland, Oregon, offers programs to the community, including a variety of meditations with instruction (see below), classes on a range of Buddhist topics, on-site and isolated retreats, a lending library, and individualized pastoral counseling. Two American resident teachers, Lama Pema Clark and Lama Yeshe Parke, present the timeless teachings of the Buddha in an accessible way. The center is dedicated to the cultivation of inner peace, compassion, and insight. Everyone is welcome. BEGINNING MEDITATIONS AT KSC You do not need to attend Newcomers’ Night to enter the KSC community! All the meditations listed below are recommended for those who are exploring KSC. Most practices contain instruction in a particular meditation, as well as a talk on Buddhism by one of the Lamas, or a Senior Student (with the exception of the Mid-Day Sit on Tuesdays, which is self-guided). These meetings also offer an opportunity to meet others in the KSC community. If you have been attending meditations or classes at KSC, you are welcome to meet with one of the Lamas for spiritual counsel. Contact the Center to request a 30 or 60 minute appointment. A donation for the counseling and teaching is appreciated, though not required.