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!

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!

Jetsunma is currently on retreat at the Palyul Retreat Center in McDonough, New York.  Her intention while on retreat is to connect with her Palyul family, and to spend time with His Holiness Karma Kuchen. Jetsunma has been doing her heart practice, Chime Tsog Thig and Guru Yoga every day.

Jetsunma has encouraged her students that have never attended Palyul Retreat in New York to please do so, indicating that the Palyul Retreat center built by Kyabje Penor Rinpoche in 1998 will help her students to receive the entire cycle of Nam Cho teachings. Terton Migyur Dorje revealed the Nam Cho termas (hidden teachings) hundreds of years ago.   These are the same teachings taught at the New York Palyul Retreat Center during the annual summer retreat.

Jetsunma has also invited all retreatants at the Palyul Retreat Center to come to KPC throughout the year, to help them continue their practices in an environment that supports their Path.   While in retreat, Jetsunma has continuously spoken of the countless blessings His Holiness Penor Rinpoche brought into the world, and has written beautiful prayers for His Holiness Penor Rinpoche and His Holiness Karma Kuchen. She vows to uphold Kyabje Penor Rinpoche and work to ensure that His blessings continue to thrive in the world.

How did His Holiness Penor Rinpoche meet Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo?

In June of 1985, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche came to the United States and visited an American woman in Kensington, Maryland.  It was his first trip to the United States, and this was his only stop.  They had a wonderful summer meal outside on a patio, and many have talked about the laughter and joy that was shared that day.  His Holiness then proceeded to interview the students this American woman had gathered and began asking these students what she was teaching them.  After the interviews were completed, he called the American woman in to speak with her.  He told her that that she was teaching her students, no matter what she called it, were the basic teachings of Mahayana Buddhism.  Mahayana Buddhism is characterized by the bodhisattva ideal in which one seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, not just oneself.

While in Maryland, His Holiness bestowed refuge and bodhisattva vows on the American woman, and her students.  He also approved the refuge vow that she had been giving to her students as an authentic refuge vow and authorized her to conduct the refuge ceremony using that vow rather than the traditional one.

When requested, His Holiness prophesied the location of the new World Prayer Center for which members of the center were actively searching at the time.  He told the students that it would seem to be too costly but that they should get it anyway as their center would grow in the future.  In October of that year, settlement was made on the present location of Kunzang Palyul Chöling near Poolesville, Maryland, in a building that exactly matched the prophesy of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche right down to the four white pillars on the front porch.   And it was more expensive than anyone imagined they could handle, but devotion won out in the end.

After this amazing visit, events proceeded and a number of high lamas of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism visited the new center to give teachings, including the Khenpo brothers, Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, Chagdud Tulku, Ven. Gyaltrul Rinpoche, and others.  In February, 1987, the American woman traveled to India at the invitation of His Holiness where he officially recognized her as the incarnation of Genyenma Ahkön Lhamo, the Tibetan saint and sister of Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab, founder of Palyul Monastery.  After formally recognizing her, he gave her many teachings and transmissions and fully empowered her as a lineage holder in the Nyingma tradition.  He also gave her a name, Ahkön Norbu Lhamo.  The honorific title of Jetsunma was added later.

The next year His Holiness returned to Maryland to bestow the Rinchen Terdzöd cycle of empowerments for the first time in the West.   The Rinchen Terdzöd is a compilation by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great of all known terma revelations in the Nyingma tradition and takes three full months to confer.  Near the end of the empowerments, His Holiness formally enthroned Jetsunma as a tulku and lineage holder in the Palyul tradition.  This startling recognition of an American woman as a reincarnate Tibetan lama was picked up by news services around the world.

Migyur Dorje was only a young boy, about 12 years old, when he began spontaneously revealing the terma cycle known as the Nam Chö (Space Treasure) from his mind.  Although he died young at age 23 in 1667, Migyur Dorje did have students, and his closest heart students were Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab and his sister, Genyenma Ahkön Lhamo.   Kunzang Sherab was the first throne holder of the Palyul lineage that continues to this day, and Palyul is now considered to be one of the six principal mother monasteries of the Nyingma tradition.

Genyenma Ahkön Lhamo spent most of her life in retreat in a cave in the mountains above Palyul.  She was widely considered to be a saint because of her renunciate lifestyle and her accomplishment in her practice.  Held in particular by the ordained nuns (or anis) of Palyul, the valley in which her cave was located became known as the Red Valley because of the red-robed nuns who gathered there daily to seek blessings from Ahkön Lhamo.  It is said that Ahkön Lhamo never bathed or otherwise tended to her personal hygiene, yet the sweet smell of flowers always emanated from her cave.

When Ahkön Lhamo died, she was cremated, as was the tradition.  As the fire burned her body, suddenly the skull cap, or kapala, flew from the body and through the air, landing on her brother’s throne in the monastery about a kilometer away.  Upon examination, the kapala revealed a number of seed syllables – ultimate condensations of the Dharma into a single syllable, such as “AH.”  Such manifestations are only associated with practitioners of very high attainment.  This event was considered a miracle by those who witnessed it, and the kapala became the most sacred relic of Palyul Monastery.  For centuries it was used to distribute the blessed amrita during empowerments and large group practices or pujas.

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche often passed out the amrita to the gathered monks using this precious relic.  It so impressed him that he made prayers to find the reincarnation of Ahkön Lhamo if she lived in the world.  When the Chinese invaded and annexed Tibet, they destroyed nearly all the monasteries and temples in Tibet and killed many monks and lamas.  Among the monasteries destroyed was Palyul, and one of the many sacred objects destroyed was the kapala of Genyenma Ahkön Lhamo.  His Holiness Penor Rinpoche was able to recover a piece of the kapala, and after recognizing Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, he gave it to her.  This relic rests today at Kunzang Palyul Choling, and is shown on specific Buddhist holidays.  The piece of the kapala that His Holiness was able to recover displays the miraculous “ah” on the kapala itself.

For Jetsunma, recognition occurred at a much older age than was traditional in Tibet.  It also involved the recognition of a woman and a Western woman.  Jetsunma also had no formal training in Buddhism, instead teaching directly from her mind.  Such a recognition caused some controversy because of its nontraditional aspects.  Yet His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, who was widely venerated as a Living Buddha, was adamant in his recognition, and he was supported by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, also a former Supreme Head of the Nyingma tradition, and the Second Dzongnang Jampal Lodro Rinpoche, the most senior Palyul tulku.

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche enthusiastically supported Jetsunma’s efforts until the end of his life in 2009.  His successor, His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, has also stated on numerous occasions that he supports her just as His Holiness Penor Rinpoche did and that her activity and her center must continue.  Jetsunma has fully fulfilled His Holiness Penor Rinpoche’s trust in her, and countless sentient beings have benefitted.

While at the Palyul Retreat His Holiness Karma Kuchen indicated that he knows and understands that Jetsunma and the late His Holiness Penor Rinpoche were very close and that he would like for her to consider their relationship to be the same as hers with Kyabje Penor Rinpoche; that they both want to uphold Palyul in the world and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche’s legacy.

• To promote Jetsunma’s health and long life, and to encourage her to remain, he has advised the Medicine Buddha Mantra:  Tayatha Om Bekadze Bekadze Maha Bekadze Radza Samungate Swaha.
• To remove obstacles for KPC and to pacify negativity, he has advised the Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita) Mantra: Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha, and the recitation of the sutra itself.

Here is the text of the Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita):

THE SUTRA OF THE HEART OF TRANSCENDENT KNOWLEDGE
(Prajnaparamita)

Thus have I heard.
Once the Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagriha at Vulture Peak mountain, together with a great gathering of the sangha of monks and a great gathering of the sangha of bodhisattvas. At that time the Blessed One entered the samadhi that expresses the dharma called “profound illumination,” and at the same time noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, while practicing the profound prajñaparamita, saw in this way: he saw the five
skandhas to be empty of nature. Then, through the power of the Buddha, venerable Shariputra said to noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, “How should a son or daughter of noble family train, who wishes
to practice the profound prajñaparamita?”
Addressed in this way, noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, said to venerable Shariputra, “O Shariputra, a son or daughter of noble family who wishes to practice the profound prajñaparamita should see in this way: seeing the five skandhas to be empty of nature. Form is emptiness; emptiness also is form. Emptiness is no other than form; form is no other than emptiness. In the same way, feeling perception, formation, and consciousness are emptiness. Thus, Shariputra, all dharmas are emptiness. There are no characteristics. There is no birth and no cessation. There is no impurity and no purity. There is no decrease and no increase. Therefore, Shariputra, in emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no formation, no consciousness; no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no
mind; no appearance, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no dharmas; no eye dhatu up to no mind dhatu, no dhatu of dharmas, no mind consciousness dhatu; no ignorance, no end of ignorance up to no old age and death; no suffering, no origin of suffering, no cessation of suffering, no path, no wisdom, no attainment, and no nonattainment. Therefore, Shariputra, since the bodhisattvas have no attainment, they abide by means of prajñaparamita. Since there is no obscuration of mind, there is no fear. They transcend falsity and attain complete nirvana. All the buddhas of the three times, by means of prajñaparamita, fully awaken to unsurpassable, true, complete enlightenment. Therefore, the great mantra of prajñaparamita, the mantra of great insight, the unsurpassed mantra, the unequaled mantra, the mantra that calms all suffering should be known as truth, since there is no deception. The prajñaparamita mantra is said in this way:
OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA
Thus, Shariputra, the bodhisattva mahasattva should train in the profound prajñaparamita.”

Then the Blessed One arose from that samadhi and praised noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, saying, “Good, good, O son of noble family; thus it is, O son of noble family, thus it is. One should practice the profound prajñaparamita just as you have taught and all the Tathagatas will rejoice.” When the Blessed One had said this, venerable Shariputra and noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, that whole assembly and the world with its gods, humans, asuras and gandharvas rejoiced and praised the words of the Blessed One.

Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje

We can tell the story now:  KPC thanks Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje (Peter Yeung) of the Pathgate Institute in the United Kingdom for the generous donation that enabled us to meet the challenge of our recent financial crisis.

Lama Dondrup Dorje is the Principal of the Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies and the Founder of the Palyul Nyingma Buddhist Association in the United Kingdom, Greece, and Australia.  He was the donor who offered the challenge grant that doubled the proceeds of our second evening webathon on April 28, then made up the difference between our fund-raising results and our goal.

For those who just came in, KPC had a surprise at the end of April:  the note on our mortgage-backed line of credit was called by the bank—with five days notice.  (You can catch up on that story here.)

Lama Dondrup’s generous response to the plight of KPC was rooted in his devotion to the late Holiness Penor Rinpoche, 11^th Throne Holder of the Palyul Lineage, by whom he was entrusted with the charge of the largest Palyul ordained sangha in Europe.  He has always maintained his only mission in life is to promote and preserve the Dharma activities of his Root Guru, Penor Rinpoche.  For more information about the donation, click here.

Penor Rinpoche is also the Root Guru of KPC Spiritual Director Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo; he enthroned her as a Lineage Holder in 1988 and consecrated the center she had established as the first seat of Palyul in the Western Hemisphere.  She has gathered the largest Palyul ordained sangha in the Western Hemisphere.

Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo and the sangha at KPC are indebted to Lama Dondrup Dorje.  May he see the fruit of his generosity in this very life!

Y-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are happy to report that we have been able to raise the entire amount of the note being called by our bank:  $250,000.  (The blogger is almost too stunned to be able to type in that amount!)

Coincidentally, our attorneys were able to arrange a two-week extension, or “forbearance” period, yesterday.  It will take up to seven days for funds being transferred from overseas to arrive in the KPC account.

As you may know, through our Tuesday and Wednesday evening webcast telethons, we raised a total of $205,126.  A lot of people made this possible! We had worldwide support–with donations ranging from $5 to $10,000.

Then, at the end, a donor came forward with the offer to cover whatever we were not able to raise to meet the amount due. That donor wishes to remain anonymous.

In addition, His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, 12th Throne Holder of the Palyul Lineage, offered a loan of $50,000, in support of the work of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo at KPC.  Fortunately, we did not have to accept his offer because of the generous stop-gap donation.  (But we understand that the business manager for His Holiness stayed up all night in case the funds needed to be wired!)

We are thrilled and grateful beyond belief!  We thank our Precious Guru, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, for her blessing and for providing our connection with the precious Palyul Lineage.  We thank our Lineage Masters, whose loving support during this crisis was incalculable, and, of course, we thank the generous donors who made this outcome possible! E Ma Ho!

The “Keep the Lights On for Dharma” telethon was a lot of fun! We raised $1990, in addition to the $2,250 we raised in an internal appeal. Thanks to everyone who participated! We enjoyed it so much that we’re planning another one in a couple of months. In the works: A “KPC Comedy Quiz Show.”

We DO still need to raise $2000 to avoid the cut-off. You can donate here. Or send a check to KPC/ P.O. Box 88/ Poolesville, MD 20837. Thanks!

To who our appreciation, we are offering the following gifts:

For donations of $100 or more:

White Tara, Audio CD by Sarah Patterson

Inspired by Buddha White Tara, this beautiful CD weaves together new devotional chants and Irish-inspired music with traditional Tibetan mantras and prayers. It is a simple, joyful, and profound listening practice.

OR

Pure Light, Video CD or DVD

Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche chronicles the evolution of Palyul, from Tibet to southern India, where the Golden Temple at Palyul Namdröling is the largest in the region and attracts visitors daily by the thousands.

For donations of $500 or more:

All Pervading Melodious Sound of Thunder: The Outer Liberation Story of Terton Migyur Dorje, by Karma Chagme, translated by Lopon Sonam Tsewang and Judith Amtzis

Synopsis:
A translation of the biography of the great Nyingma master Terton Migyur Dorje composed by Karma Chagme. Penor Rinpoche made the request that this terton’s namthar, or liberation story, be translated into English. The namthar is not just the tale of one extraordinary terton, or treasure revealer, revealing as it does the deep personal relationship that existed between two great masters: Migyur Dorje and Karma Chagme Rinpoche. It also contains considerable information on the nature of liberation stories themselves, how authentic tertons and tulkus can be identified, the importance and significance of treasure teachings and sacred places, the nature of the guru-disciple relationship and other crucial topics.

Having His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche on the throne at KPC reminded us all of his predecessor–and our mutual teacher–His Holiness Penor Rinpoche.  (Karma Kuchen Rinpoche was raised as his heart son.)

That is Penor Rinpoche’s picture behind him, with the light beautifully reflecting as if from his heart.  In fact, seeing Karma Kuchen Rinpoche on the throne felt like being with Penor Rinpoche as a young man.  As Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, KPC Spiritual Director, remarked, His Holiness seemed to have “mixed his mind with that of Penor Rinpoche.”

His Holiness offered four empowerments:  Guru Rinpoche (or Precious Teacher), Vajrakilaya (wrathful remover of spiritual obstacles), Dorje Phagmo (the feminine mind of enlightenment), and Amitayus (Buddha of Long Life).  Here two Palyul monks, accomplished musicians, blow the long horns to signal the point at which the empowerment is transferred to those present.

People approached the throne to receive the blessings and empowerment substances.

Jetsunma was able to visit extensively with His Holiness.  Here they are, preparing to sit down for a long discussion.

His Holiness was very pleased with a gift that Jetsunma brought:  an empowered miniature stupa with a crystal  bhumpa .  The crystal contained a precious relic, carefully sealed inside.

When His Holiness asked to see the relic, Ani Dawa, who had sealed the stupa herself, started to tell him that it wasn’t possible.

“It’s permanently sealed . . .” she started to explain, then, seeing that it had yielded immediately to his hand, she trailed off,

“ . . . or not.”

His Holiness easily and securely re-assembled the stupa once he had looked inside.

The incident reminded observers of a story told about his predecessor, Penor Rinpoche, as a child.  He is said to have dropped an ancient, sacred vajra (a ritual instrument) and broken it.  Appalled, he quickly applied saliva to stick the parts together again—and successfully mended it!

Speaking of young people, they also came to visit.  Elizabeth and Riley were running a bake sale for the benefit of the Garuda Aviary, to which they are devoted.  They offered the first cupcake (it was the first one–right, girls?) to His Holiness, who seemed very pleased.

Not to be left out of the gift action, photographer Manny Garcia presented a portrait he had crafted of His Holiness.  (One of Manny’s photos of then-candidate Barak Obama became the basis for the famous “Hope” poster.  Now THIS would make a great poster, wouldn’t  it, Manny?)

At the end of the empowerments, Manny herded everyone outside for a group photo with His Holiness.

Of course, some people don’t need to be herded!  We’ve watched Ani Dolma (a former  U.S. Army major, now retired) organize a crowd!  Here she seems bemused by the goings on.  (TEN HUT!)

Finally, everyone was ready, and pictures were snapped.  We particularly like this shot:  look carefully at His Holiness, making the peace sign—and young Robin, in front of him, unconsciously but perfectly framing his gesture with her exuberant arms!  May we always act in such harmony with our teachers!