Karuna Buddhist Center

05/26/2026

Results of 2026 Annual Membership Meeting

On May 21, 2026, members of Karuna Buddhist Center and the center's board gathered for the Annual Membership Meeting to reflect on a year of growth, service, and community connection. To read the minutes of the general membership and board meetings, click here. The meeting included several board updates. Leslie Rutkowski joined the board as Secretary, while longtime Secretary William Yeshe Soergel transitioned into a Director role and we thanked Matt Willis for four years of dedicated board service....

On May 21, 2026, members of Karuna Buddhist Center and the center’s board gathered for the Annual Membership Meeting to reflect on a year of growth, service, and community connection. To read…

05/25/2026

Yesterday, Khenpo La participated in Triple Crane Retreat Center’s Saga Dawa Düchen celebration, joining the community in honoring this sacred season.

Saga Dawa is the special month when Buddhists commemorate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. It is a time for reflection, devotion, generosity, and renewing our commitment to the path of awakening for the benefit of all beings.

As part of this celebration, we will hold a Buddha bathing ceremony. In this beautiful and symbolic ritual, participants gently pour water over an image of the baby Buddha. This act represents the purification of our obscurations, harmful habits, and delusions, while also awakening faith, humility, joy, and the sincere wish to cultivate wisdom and compassion.

The ceremony reminds us that the Buddha-nature is not something distant or separate from us. It is the pure potential already present within each being, waiting to be uncovered through practice, kindness, and awareness.

Our sangha, together with Ann Arbor Karma Thegsum Choling, will celebrate this Sunday, May 31, from 10:30 AM to noon, followed by a potluck lunch at noon.

Please join us for this joyous and meaningful occasion as we gather in community, devotion, and aspiration for the welfare of all beings.

05/08/2026

In a recent teaching, Khenpo Chophel shared that the specific purpose of the four establishments of mindfulness is to gain direct insight into the nature of our own body and mind. This wisdom acts as the primary tool to transform the destructive emotions that keep us bound in cycles of repetitive struggle.

By looking closely at our experience, we begin to see things as they truly are—witnessing the flow of impermanence, the reality of suffering, and the core truth of selflessness. In the Mahayana tradition, we recognize this deeper perspective as emptiness: the profound openness that allows for genuine liberation.

True mindfulness is more than just being present; it is a clear-seeing that unties the knots of our own confusion.

05/05/2026

The heart has a capacity we often underestimate.

During our recent retreat, we have been gathering to sing songs of devotion—simple melodies that carry profound truths. One that has stayed with us deeply is the Maitrīyogi’s Aspiration Song.

There is something transformative about lifting our voices together to affirm that our practice isn't about escaping the world, but leaning into it with uncompromising kindness. It asks us: Can we wish for the well-being of those who have hurt us? Can we see our own struggles as a bridge to understanding others?

When we move from "me" to "we," the heavy lift of life feels a little lighter. Not because the challenges disappear, but because our hearts have grown large enough to hold them.

Khenpo La arranged this song with a few others as part of our call and response singing session!

05/01/2026

Meditation is more than a temporary escape; it is a manual for how we inhabit our lives.

When we look at the core foundations of mindfulness, we find a guidebook that serves as our base. We begin with the body to find our ground, but the path leads us further—into the nature of our feelings and the landscape of the mind itself.

By returning to these basics again and again, we aren't just repeating a habit. We are giving ourselves the opportunity to go a little deeper each time. This is the work of a lifetime: gaining a clear understanding of our own presence, one layer at a time.

04/29/2026

The Body as a Mirror of Truth

In a recent teaching, Khenpo Chophel shared how the Four Establishments of Mindfulness serve as a direct gateway to understanding the Four Noble Truths. Rather than abstract concepts, these truths are lived experiences found within our own physical and emotional presence.

Mindfulness of the body reveals the truth of suffering. It is not a pessimistic view, but a clear-eyed investigation into the vulnerable and conditioned nature of our physical form. By staying present with the body, we begin to see its inherent fragility and the reality of its constant change.

When we extend this awareness to our feelings, we encounter the truth of the origin of suffering. We see, in real-time, how craving and attachment arise the moment we react to pleasure or recoil from unpleasant sensations. Our habitual responses to these feelings are the very seeds of our unrest.

To practice mindfulness is to look directly at these conditions without turning away, transforming our everyday vulnerability into a path of profound insight.

04/28/2026

The silence was deep, but the connection was deeper. 🧘‍♂️

We recently gathered for our largest retreat to date, and the energy of the community was truly palpable. Over the course of our time together, we immersed ourselves in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, exploring a variety of meditation techniques designed to anchor us in the present moment—from mindfulness of the breath to a clear awareness of our thoughts and sensations.

Beyond the cushion, the retreat was filled with moments of profound nourishment:

Heartfelt Sharing: A powerful space where we spoke from the heart and listened with full presence.

A Light for the World: A moving candle-lighting ceremony dedicated to world peace, sending our collective intentions outward.

Joyful Devotion: We closed our journey with devotional songs, lifting our voices in a beautiful celebration of the path we share.

While the retreat has ended, the practice continues. We will be building on these foundational techniques throughout the year in our regular sittings and classes. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or just beginning, there is a seat for you here. Also, thank you to Kori Kanayama for catering our Sunday lunch with delicious meal.

04/04/2026

03/18/2026

Spring Retreat: Finding Insight and the Peace Within

Finding Insight and the Peace Within A Weekend Vipassana and Compassion Retreat for Challenging Times

In a time of uncertainty and constant noise, many people are longing for clarity, compassion, and inner peace. This retreat offers a rare opportunity to step away from daily pressures and reconnect with the calm and wisdom within.

Held largely in noble silence, the retreat will include seated and walking Vipassana meditation, Tonglen compassion practice, and gentle Qi Gong sessions with Master Winnie to support both body and mind. Participants will also have the opportunity to observe the Eight Precepts, creating simple conditions that help deepen meditation and inner stillness.

Khenpo Tshering Chophel will offer daily teachings and guided reflections to support the cultivation of mindfulness, compassion, and insight—helping practitioners meet both personal challenges and the difficulties of our world with a steady mind and an open heart.

Past Retreat Testimonials
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to have made new friends and to have learned shamatha and vipassana mindfulness techniques, along with hindrances and how to overcome them."

"Khenpo planted the meditation seed in us. Since returning, I have already begun teaching my son simple meditation and clear-knowing exercises."

Visit the post for more.

03/09/2026

Finding Insight and the Peace Within

A Three-Day Vipassana and Compassion Retreat for Challenging Times

REVISED DATES: April 24–26th 2026

Start this spring with a meaningful retreat to rediscover clarity and inner peace. As we move beyond the harshness of winter and face the challenges of our times, let this retreat be an opportunity to renew the mind, open the heart, and revitalize your spirit.

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for registration details.
All are welcome—from experienced meditators to those beginning the path of insight and compassion.