16 Conditions That Must be Present
​When Listening to a Dharma Talk

(Taken from the Upasakashila Sutra) 
  1. We should have enough time to listen to the end.
  2. We should listen with joy.
  3. We should pay close attention to what is being said.
  4. We should be respectful.
  5. We should not look for faults in the speaker(s).
  6. We should not look for disputes
  7. We should not look down on the speaker(s)
  8. We should not look down on the Dharma, even if we believe that our understanding is at a "higher" level.
  9. We should not look down on ourselves if we think that we do not understand everything that has been said.
  10. We should not allow ourselves to be distracted by form, sound, smell, taste or touch.
  11. We should  listen with pure minds, and not allow ourselves to be distracted by greed, anger, sleepiness, restlessness or doubt.
  12. We should allow ourselves to be inspired to continue reading on the subject after the talk is finished. 
  13. We should listen with open minds.
  14. We should listen with the idea that our knowledge will help us help others.
  15. We should listen with the idea that ultimately the Dharma will teach us to go beyond all listening.

Basic Temple Etiquette for Students, Volunteers &
​Visitors to be observed at all times.

INSIDE THE TEMPLE:
  1. Please set mobile phones (and other electronic devices) to vibrate or silent during temple Activities
  2. Please remove hats and shoes either at the front door or immediately upon entering.  Please do not walk on carpeted area with shoes.  
  3. Dress respectfully. No extremely short skirts, "revealing," offensive or overtly political attire. All beliefs are accepted we just like to keep our space politically neutral. This is so those attending can focus on the Dharma Teachings.
  4. Pleas talk softly as to not interrupt the sacredness of the space or the practice of others.
  5. Refrain from stepping over dharma books, practice items or meditation cushions.
  6. When seated, do not point the bottom of the feet at the shrine or towards the Dharma Teacher.  If this is not possible, cover the feet with a shawl, blanket, etc.
  7. Unless asked to do so, please do not handle the other practitioners' Dharma items. 
REGARDING SHRINE & TEACHERS:
  1. Do not enter the area with the Tara Shrine or the Dharma Teacher's seating unless invited to do so.
  2. Do not touch any items in theses areas (even lights) unless directly invited to do so. (We consider these items sacred objects.)
  3. One should stand and hold palms together when the Dharma Teacher enters the space and remain standing until the Dharma Teacher(s) have seated themselves.
  4. Address Dharma Teacher(s) by their appropriate title-such as "Lama," "Rinpoche," "Venerable," "Ngakpa," etc.  If the Title is not known, "Teacher" is a safe way to address them. 

Thank you. The Blue Lotus Dharma Center.