Museum of New South hosts monk

A nationally known author and meditation master will talk about modern Buddhism on March 17 at the Levine Museum of the New South.

Gen Kelsang Jampa, an American Buddhist monk and the U.S. national spiritual director for the New Kadampa Tradition, has written extensively about Buddha’s teachings on compassion and wisdom. He is based in Texas.

Jampa is known as an engaging speaker who makes Buddhist teachings clear and accessible, said Gen Kelsang Tilopa, an ordained monk and resident teacher at the Vajradhara Buddhist Center in Charlotte.

Jampa will discuss the book “Modern Buddhism” by meditation master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The book addresses Buddha’s teachings on compassion and wisdom in a way that is easy to understand and put in practice for people who live in the West.

Jampa’s talk is an opportunity to learn more about Buddhism and the Buddhist viewpoint, Tilopa said. “From complete beginner to advanced meditator, it would be good for them to attend,” Tilopa said.

“You don’t have to be a Buddhist to enjoy these teachings. They apply to anybody. This is the real purpose of Kelsang’s endeavors, to enable everyone to find their own way to a peaceful stage and happy state.”

Passages from “Modern Buddhism,” which include many commentaries on 14th-century Buddhist texts, are taught almost daily at the Vajradhara center, Tilopa said.

Vajradhara Buddhist Center was founded in 2004 and opened as a residential center in 2005. After meeting in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte on North Sharon Amity Road for several years, the center moved to a larger building on South Boulevard in 2009.

The center also operates a branch in Cornelius.

Each session at the center begins with meditation, followed by a teaching that lasts about 40 minutes, and participants end with another meditation based on the teaching.

“In Buddhist meditation, the idea is we can transform our minds by becoming more and more familiar with thoughts that will lead to more happiness and peace,” Tilopa said.

The center offers a drop-in class on Mondays with teachings intended to help people in their daily lives. On Sundays, the center oversees a study program for those interested in deepening their understanding of the Buddhist viewpoint, Tilopa said.

Classes introducing meditation and on Buddhist practices are offered on other weeknights.

“Everybody wants to become more peaceful, and Buddhist meditation has a good reputation for enabling people to accomplish that,” Tilopa said. “People don’t have to have the intention to become Buddhist when they come to these classes.

“Anyone just looking for a bit of happiness and peace, that’s what these classes provide.”