Weekend Course
Understanding Refuge Vows and Precepts
Friday, September 5
7:00pm – 9:00pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)
Saturday, September 6 – Sunday, September 7
10:30am – 4:00pm PDT
Lunch break: 12:30pm – 2:00pm PDT
in-person and online
Program Category: Dharma Education — Foundational
This is a hybrid event, and we are using the
Zoom video conferencing system
for online participants.
Please register below to receive your online access information.
By registering for this event, you understand that the
sessions may be recorded and published in the public
domain (such as YouTube), and consent to this process.
Explore the meaning and practice of taking refuge in Buddhism in this welcoming weekend course, designed for beginners and those curious about the Buddhist path.
Together, we will explore:
- What it means to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
- What these objects of refuge are
- How they protect us from suffering and benefit us
- Why and how one formally goes for refuge as a Buddhist
- The practice of living in refuge
- The nature and function of the lay vows of individual liberation
- How to keep these vows
- Once one has gone for refuge, how to follow the advice and keep the other refuge precepts
No prior experience is required — all are welcome!
Whether you are new to Buddhism or seeking a deeper
understanding, this course offers a warm and supportive
space to learn under the guidance of a highly qualified
teacher.
Geshe Tenzin Legtsok has been ordained as
a Buddhist monk since 2001 and is the first American to
complete the twenty-year Geshe Studies Program in classic
Indian Buddhist treatises and their Tibetan commentaries at
Sera Jey Monastic University
in South India, following
the tradition of ancient Nalanda University. In 2025, he
completed the traditional study of tantra at
Gyudmed Tantric Monastery.
With over two decades of study and practice under the
guidance of great masters, including His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Legtsok
brings profound insights into the application of Buddhist
teachings. Born in Virginia, USA in 1973, he earned a
Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College in 1995. His quest to
answer the question, “What makes for the most happy and
meaningful life,” led him to major in philosophy,
eventually guiding him to study meditation and philosophy
with teachers among the exiled Tibetan communities in
India and Nepal since 1999.
Dedicated to studying and teaching Buddhist philosophy,
Geshe Legtsok seamlessly blends ancient wisdom with
modern-day relevance. His teachings emphasize
understanding and transforming the mind through practice,
and he is committed to helping others navigate the
spiritual path with clarity and patience.
Registration
Suggested Donation: $108
Registration is required to receive your online access information.
All our Dharma teachings and events are offered on a
dana (generosity) basis
— in the spirit of giving freely, just
as the Buddha taught. This is a beautiful opportunity to support
the teachings and open your heart through generosity.
There is no charge to attend, and no one is turned away. While
teachings are free, your support helps keep the Center running
and makes these precious teachings available to others. We have
included suggested donation amounts to help guide your offering.
Ordained sangha are warmly welcome to attend free of charge.
Thank you for joining in this shared act of support. We rejoice for you.