event briefs

from November 2020 - Natural Awakenings Tucson Edition

resource guide

event briefs

Celebrate Diwali Festival of Lights at Govinda’s

Join the celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at Govinda’s Hare Krishna Temple from 5:30 to 8 p.m., on November 15. The festival will include live music, temple ceremonies, kids’ activities, lighting of lamps and a free feast. Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Holy month of Kartik. Householders will prepare by cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and workplaces with oil lamps and candles. Villages and communities host fireworks and feasts. Gifts are exchanged, and love between all the relations within a family is shared. There is even a special ritual that celebrates a sister’s love for her brother.

Diwali is one of the most popular Indian festivals. This special time symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Some read The Ramayana and rejoice in the heroic story of Sita, Rama and Hanuman—a story where good did prevail under dire circumstances.

This coming season of Kartik and Diwali is especially meaningful. Attendees will observe mask-wearing and distancing, while sharing the warmth and love that faith brings.

For more information, call 520-792-0630 or visit GovindasOfTucson.com. See ad, page 21. ‘Overcoming Craving’ Talk Livestreamed via Kadampa Meditation Center Arizona

Kadampa Meditation Center Arizona will welcome special guest teacher Kelsang Dornying to present the talk “Overcoming Craving”, livestreamed from 2 to 4:30 p.m., on November 15. Attendees will learn how to overcome uncontrolled desires and let go of constant craving through simple but powerful meditation techniques, and find lasting inner peace and happiness. We are constantly craving— a new phone, a new partner, a nicer Kelsang Dornying house, a better job—or just some peace and quiet. Buddha explained this is because we lack inner peace and happiness, so we are constantly seeking something, or someone, to fill the gap in our hearts. This uncontrolled desire causes us so much unhappiness, that it is the root of all our suffering.

Whether we struggle with food, drugs, social media, relationships or any form of addictive behavior, this workshop will consist of talks and guided meditations designed to help participants gain insight into the pervasive and painful mental habits of craving, attachment and addiction in order to gradually transform them into the path of spiritual development.

Dornying is the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia. He is an inspiring and light-hearted teacher of modern Buddhism who makes Buddha’s teachings clear, accessible and applicable to modern life.