Sunday Morning Meditation Group at Sanctuary

The Gainesville Karma Thegsum Choling, Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center, offers ongoing classes on Buddhist meditation, psychology and practice as taught in the Karma Kagyu tradition. We meet 11:00-12:30 p.m. Sunday mornings at the Sanctuary Yoga and Meditation Center (map/directions to Sanctuary). All are welcome and no previous experience is required. Join us to study the rich tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the teachings of the Buddha that have been preserved in an unbroken lineage over the centuries. Learn how to tame your mind and develop loving kindness and compassion to benefit yourself and others.

Florida Tibetan Buddhist Center

Florida Tibetan Buddhist Center is dedicated to bringing treasured Buddhist teachings to the southeastern United States. Located on pristine Osprey Cover of Lake Santa Fe near Gainesville, Florida, the Center will be a learning center for Tibetan meditation, arts, culture, and medicine. The center will also serve as a part-time residence and retreat for His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje, th 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, revered head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The ancient and spiritual culture of Tibetan Buddhism will be preserved, taught and practiced in a setting that celebrates the natural beauty of Florida and Lake Santa Fe.
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Taking Refuge

Gainesville Karma Thegsum Choling is pleased to offer the opportunity to take Refuge in the Karma Kagyu lineage, with Lama David Bole of Gainesville. Please call Lama David at 376-4947 to request Refuge.

To obtain more information about the meaning of Refuge, go to the kagyu.org website or read this article about Taking Refuge.

Buddhist Meditation: Finding the Heart of Enlightenment

Buddhism is a system of meditation, self-examination and self-awareness. Its goal is to understand and know the nature of the mind. One then uses that knowledge from direct experience to free oneself and others from suffering. Buddhism was first expounded by Shakyamuni Buddha in the 6th century B.C. The Buddha's teaching can be summarized in three ways:

1. cultivating virtue, such as, loving kindness and compassion for all living beings
2. avoiding negative action in body , speech and mind
3. taming the mind by practicing meditation

There are four major lineages or teaching traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Lama David is a lineage holder in Kagyu tradition. This lineage is called the "practice lineage" because of its emphasis on meditation practice. It is also known as the "whispering lineage" because of its history of orally transmitting the teachings from teacher to student in an unbroken line. His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa is recognized as the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He is a highly realized meditation master who represents the lineage and embodies its highest spiritual traditions. For more information about the Karmapa and this spiritual tradition, as well as, other teachings offered by Lama David and the Gainesville Karma Thegsum Choling Buddhist Meditation Center, please visit www.kagyu.org/kagyulineage/centers/usa/usa-gai.php.

The Gainesville Sun published an article about David Bole entitled Mastering the Art of Meditation.

For more information, call the Traditional Acupuncture Center, 352-335-1975, or email:

DAVID N. BOLE, Ph.D., A.P. is director of the Traditional Acupuncture Center, a holistic health care facility offering a multi-dimensional approach to health and healing. Read more about Dr. Bole...