Khenpo Tenzin Norgay has kindly accepted an invitation from KPC Australia to conduct a retreat at the new Centre in Buninyong. Scheduled to run from 9^th to 19^th March 2012, there are flexible options to suit all.

This is a 10-day residential retreat with some accommodation available at the Centre and other accommodation available locally. For those with work or other commitments, it is possible to attend weekends only, when empowerments will be available or each evening when Khenpo will be teaching.

This retreat will focus on Ngöndro teachings and accumulation.  In the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, ” Ngöndro ” is considered “preliminary practice” or the preparation for more esoteric meditational practices that lead one to enlightenment.  Ngöndro practice consists of five accumulations - Refuge (prostrations), Bodhicitta (wish to benefit all beings), Vajrasattva (purification), Mandala (offering) and Guru Yoga (devotion).  Ngöndro practice is intended to purify the gross obscurations that prevent one from recognizing the enlightened nature of mind. For the excellent practitioner, this is accomplished through visualization and accumulation of 100,000 recitations of the mantra for each of these practices.

Suggested Donation

For those attending evening teachings there will be a suggested donation of $25, and weekend Empowerments $50.

Lodging

There is some accommodation available at the centre for those coming from Melbourne or Interstate.  Cost for those attending the whole retreat (includes retreat, teachings, accommodation and food) $200. There is also accommodation available in nearby Ballarat.

Registration

To register or for more information please email kpcaustralia@gmail.com
or call 0450 194 285 or 0418 585 532

About Khenpo

Khenpo Tenzin Norgay was born in Bhutan and trained at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the prestigious Buddhist studies center in Mysore, India.  He completed the Shedra (similar to a doctorate) program in 1995 and joined the Institute staff, teaching there for three years.  In 1998 he was formally bestowed the title of Khenpo by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche and was assigned to teach at the Buddhist college at Palyul monastery in Tibet.  Because of his knowledge and fluent command of the English language, he has been teaching students in the west for many years.  With his warmth and sense of humor, Khenpo has touched the hearts of many western students

To publicise and gather local interest in our centre we are having an open day on the 5^th of February. Activities will include DVD teachings, Seven-Line Prayer accumulation, Torma making and Mudra workshops, Stupa circumambulations, gift shop, food and friendly conversation.

All who are in the area are welcome to visit. Activities will start from 10a.m.

For more information contact kpcaustralia@gmail.com

It could be said that 2011 was an auspicious year for KPC Australia, with seven of Jetsunma’s students attending the annual Palyul New York Retreat in July and August. His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche attended Guru Yoga practice every day and gave many empowerments, thus attracting busloads of Tibetans and Nepalese on weekends who contributed greatly through their robust cheerfulness, great appreciation for the kindness of His Holiness and the Lamas, and their colourful national dress.

Lungtog, Ani Wangmo and Ani Sherab travelled from Victoria, Christine Lennard and Sonja Petter from Alice Springs, Virginia Quinn from South Australia and Sherida Carrick from Brisbane. For most, this was an opportunity to renew old friendships and for all retreatants, a visit to the Maryland Temple was front and centre on their travel itinerary.  Christine, Sonya and Virginia did an excellent job of managing the Dharma Shop during retreat, and such was the karma of the group that all Aussies had the amazing experience of greeting their Precious Guru – Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, when she arrived at retreat and even being on the receiving end of a hug! It doesn’t get any better than that!

After watching a video on Twitter tonight, Jetsunma asked that we share some information with the sangha regarding laws called “Breed Specific Legislation” aka BSL. These are laws that ban particular dog breeds due to stereotypes about their aggression. Pit bulls are typically singled out in BSL, but the ASPCA explains:

“It is worth noting that in some areas, regulated breeds include not just American Pit Bull terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, English Bull Terriers and Rottweilers, but also a variety of other dogs, including American Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Dalmatians, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, or any mix of these breeds—and dogs who simply resemble these breeds.”

If a “banned” dog winds up in a shelter in these areas for any reason, they are automatically euthanized, even if the dog is perfectly behaved and has no history of aggression. The goal of BSL is to eliminate the breed altogether.

BSL is occurring nationwide at state and local levels. A small number of states have restricted local municipalities from passing BSL but several of those laws are being challenged. This website indicates the state-by-state BSL laws and has more information about the laws.

Please take the time to read about BSL and watch this video. If you find online petitions, please share them via FaceBook and Twitter.

We cannot be silent or remain uninformed about BSL. The lives of these dogs depend on us taking action whenever possible.

The Garuda Aviary is one of a very short list of lifelong sanctuaries for parrots.   And of these, very few specialize–as Garuda does–in hard-luck-no-hope-left cases.

Take Harry, a blue and gold macaw.  When he came to The Garuda Aviary he was in a state that in a human would be called insane, crying out constantly in distress. He had spent possibly 25 years on display, a creature with the consciousness of a small child, sitting in one place for years with no toys to occupy him and no proper nutrition, “pinioned,” that is, with wings cut so that he could not fly.

Harry was smuggled into the USA as an object of art, valued for the brilliant colors of his plumage. The trapper who trapped him as a nestling and killed his parents didn’t hang around to watch Harry grow up. His purchaser finally tired of him and dropped him off at the Aviary, without support.

Fortunately, after much loving care, Harry has been brought to a state of good health, and, with an expected lifespan of about 75, he’s now in no more than a hearty middle age.

Like Harry, the majority of our parrots come to us abused and neglected–and rarely come with financial backing.  We get our parrots because no one wants them anymore, for whatever reason, and no one is able to care for them any longer.  Once we take them into the Aviary, they can be with us for 70 years or more.

Funding has ALWAYS been a challenge, especially now that many people are struggling to make ends meet.

On a much larger scale, The Garuda Aviary offers a much needed voice in the world.  We give voice to the belief that parrots should not be pets and that the parrot pet trade should end.  We want to see a world in which sanctuaries like ours are no longer needed. Very few people in the world take that goal seriously. Very few believe that ending the parrot trade is possible.  And there are very few consistent and strong voices for us to join with.

How about you?  Will you help end the suffering of millions of beings like Harry?  Make a financial donation today and change another being’s life!

Click here to donate

Senge was dumped by his owner in an over-crowded kill shelter, because the owner had “no time” to spend with his pet.  Affectionate, well-behaved and laid-back, Senge did not understand what had happened, and, although every volunteer fell in love with his affable nature, his time quickly ran out.  He was rescued by Tara’s Babies just a few hours before his scheduled euthanasia.

In this current economic climate, hundreds of family pets are being dumped at kill shelters or picked up as strays by animal control throughout the USA. The chances of their getting out alive are slim, as adoptions and donations are down with the economy. Still, at Tara’s Babies, we continue to work to save lives and care for dogs who have no other hope.

Please help us care for dogs like Senge.  Senge now has a chance to live a long and happy life only because a community of kind-hearted people rallied to help us.

We especially need money for the medical needs of our Sanctuary dogs, for daily medications, routine examinations and emergency visits.

Watch how wonderful Senge was during examination of his blind eye by our local vet:

One-Eyed Senge from NYCACC aces his Vet visit

You can directly help support Senge and his friends by donating here:
http://tarasbabiesdogs.chipin.com/taras-babies-medical-fund

Thank you–and have a safe and happy holiday season!

It was a hot fall day at the Amitabha Stupa. The sun glinted off the tigle (teardrop) at the top. Golden wildflowers garlanded the clearing, and chirping birds filled the air, adding their own praises. One Colorado blue bird regularly nose dives for one of the water offering bowls to get a quick drink and then resumes his antics in a nearby pinion pine.

Nearly a dozen KPC members from Sedona gathered to practice the “Shower of Blessings,” a moving, devotional ceremony which, each Saturday afternoon (currently at 4 p.m.) and on ritual holy days, includes a food feast or tsog offering. Often visitors join the practice or share in the food feast at the end. Everyone is welcome.

During the middle of the ceremony, a Sri Lankan family came to the stupa to say some traditional prayers. They had made the trip from California especially for this purpose. After a few moments of silent prayer, the three visitors walked around with candles. They were unlit because of fire restrictions. Although initially disappointed, the family was reassured that imagining them ablaze is considered to be equally effective.  In the Buddhist tradition, visualizing an offering is as potent as making one.

During the “Shower of Blessings,” visitors kept coming. Some hesitated to walk around the stupa at first, but were warmly greeted and told it is always appropriate to circumambulate a stupa, even if there is a ceremony in progress.

As the sun went behind the red rocks, more people came to meditate and pray. The cooler evenings always bring locals who come to the site to worship. By 6:30 the sun was gone, and the stupa park closed.

It is always surprising how much there is to experience in this absolutely still place.  Although the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park is in the heart of West Sedona and readily accessible, it seems very much removed from daily life. The 14-acre parcel of land is studded with arroyos, pinions, junipers, brush and cacti, as well as abundant wild life that either live on the land or pass through—from quails and ravens to the occasional meandering coyote.  In the center of this bounty, stands the stupa.

With so much to see, it’s no wonder that hikers come through the land as well (one day last week there were two groups of 25 people in addition to many individual hikers), and tour guides often bring visitors to experience the extraordinary beauty and calm energy. The stupa has even been dubbed “an unofficial vortex” by Sedonans.

As spectacular as the scenery is, it is secondary to the spiritual refuge that this sacred land provides. People come from all over the world to connect with the power and goodness of the stupa, often leaving offerings of personal meaning in addition to contributions to the upkeep of the land in designated offering boxes. One day it might be conch shells, a rose quartz, a red toad with a quarter in its mouth, a friendship ring and an American Indian sage bundle. At another time it might be silk flowers, cylindrical metal chimes, a clear jar of blood-red heart stones, a ceramic egg, a wooden cross, a black and yellow toy car and a Buzz Lightyear figurine.

A few years ago someone left a song of peace, which ended with “Feel the wind of love increase, as we move this world to peace. Come love the world with me.” A few months ago, a grieving son and daughter left a carved bird for a father who just passed away (he had spent many hours on the land bird-watching); and the other day, a Japanese visitor left a letter to her half brother, whom she had never met. She assured him that “nothing is your fault. … You are an heir of love, remember that. … My prayers are with you.”

People of all spiritual traditions are drawn to the stupa. It is a place where one can feel safely at peace and where the mind can experience stillness, hope, inspiration and love. It is a place to keep one’s spirits up during difficult times and a place to pray for those who are suffering. During times of world crisis, many people are drawn to the stupa to pray. This movement of consciousness from the particular to the general comes naturally at the stupa where the mind seems to expand easily and embrace all of life.

Ani Wangmo drove through a deluge of hail stones, as a huge storm hit the centre, a roar of thunder took out the power. As the final preparations for Tsok were taking place, the storm subsided and a vivid rainbow appeared. This was Dakini Day in Australia at KPCs new retreat centre in Buninyong, Victoria.

We are all happy to have a place for group practice and to anchor activities in Australia. We envisage having weekly group Tsoks, monthly weekend retreats and Lama visits throughout the year.

A General Assembly for KPC Australia was held the day following Dakini Day with the following Board members elected; President-Lungtog; Secretary-Ani Sherab; Treasurer-Sarah McMullen, Board Member-Sherida Carrick. We hope that we can work well together so that Jetsunma’s teachings and the Palyul lineage can flourish in Australia.

As “Caretaker in Chief,” Namgyal is proud of his work with the Prayer Vigil. “When I look back over my life, I’m most proud of the work I’ve done with the Prayer Vigil. As a team, we’ve done something unprecedented that has made a real difference in the world. We’ve had the opportunity to participate in many miraculous events.”

In particular, Namgyal remembers when Jetsunma and the Sangha held a weekend retreat in August of 1999. One could feel the probabilities at that time as somewhat ominous. Many spiritual groups were aware of the potential dangers of an unusual astrological configuration, called the “Grand Cross.” People around the world were praying to avert the negative probabilities. After that global effort, one could feel that something was different, that most of the negative potentials had dissolved.

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama heard about the 24-Hour Prayer Vigil, he jumped for joy. When other Lamas have come to KPC they have marveled and wondered how Jetsunma and the Sangha were able to accomplish so much – until they found out about our Prayer Vigil.  It is truly the heart of the mandala that keeps everything going.

Namgyal believes that KPC needs to strengthen the 24-Hour Prayer Vigil – especially the younger generation of newer practitioners needs to be involved in this effort. The Prayer Vigil has kept KPC alive and has kept many of the participants alive and on the Path. The best days of the 24-Hour Prayer Vigil may be in our future!