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Thank you!
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November 16, 2007 Vol. 2, Issue 46
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Whole valleys were filled with the pages of Dharma texts being destroyed. This scene was reported in the 1930's in Mongolia, over and over, as Stalin-Era efforts to root out religion resulted in the destruction of ancient monasteries, along with some of the finest libraries of Vajrayana texts in the world. Mongolia, once one of the pillars of Vajrayana Buddhism, was closed to almost all religious activity for three generations, until the democracy movement of the early 1990's restored the right of religious practice.
In this context, the KPC Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project has been cooperating with other Buddhist organizations to help Mongolians restore their rich Buddhist tradition.
 Several months ago, the Mandala Messenger reported a rather romantic picture of that restoration, as camels carried printed copies of Nyingma texts to a ceremonious reception at Khamarin Khiid, the monastery in the Gobi Desert founded by the 19th century Mongolian mystic and culture hero, Danzan Ravjaa. The texts were printed from scanned and formatted files generously provided by the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center. Yet a possibly even greater step in restoring Buddhism in Mongolia was recently taken with little ceremony. E. Gene Smith, founder of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, and TBRC Board member David Lunsford flew to Mongolia, encouraged that, for the first time in the ten-year history of their organization, they had fulfilled their purpose of restoring Buddhist texts to a monastery that had been destroyed in political upheaval and then rebuilt.
David Lunsford traveled with Konchog Norbu, KPC monk and Director of the Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project, to Khamar Monastery. While there, Mr. Lunsford offered to Z. Altangerel, the head of the monastery, a computer pre-loaded with the elaborate, searchable database of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center and the entire catalogue of texts from both the Gelug and Nyingma traditions, to both of which Khamar was originally dedicated. Also offered were the complete canon of the Buddha's teachings and the body of classic commentaries.
With one breath-taking stroke, the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center restored access to virtually every text destroyed in the 20th century upheavals--and perhaps more! Konchog Norbu reported that Altangerel seemed overcome and said, "You know, this is so unexpected. It's like someone has surprised me with the greatest treasure trove, real treasure. My grandfather taught me, and I've felt myself, that people could destroy our buildings, and kill our people, but if we could just save the books, we would have what we needed for our monastery to rise again. Now we have them, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Altangerel is in a position to recognize treasure. He is the guardian of the treasures of Danzan Ravjaa, hidden during the period of upheaval by Altangerel's grandfather, who trained him, and him alone, from childhood to be ready to reveal the treasures when the opportunity arose. Gradually, as he was able to ensure their security, he has been bringing forward the art and artifacts saved from Danzan Ravjaa's ravished monastery.
So, the whole valleys filled with pages from destroyed dharma texts? May the restored volumes fill all of space! Now Altangerel is the guardian not just of treasures in the ground, but also of treasures in cyberspace, ready and waiting to be transmitted for the benefit of all beings.
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| Jetsunma's Retreat |
 When the Guru Is on Retreat--It's Still a Story about You!
What does the altar in your heart look like? In a teaching on Guru Yoga, Jetsunma once pointed out that, even on a Western Buddhist's altar, images of Buddhas and spiritual teachers usually have Asian faces. But Guru Yoga, the practice of meditating on the teacher as the embodiment of the mind of enlightenment, "is a story about you," Jetsunma told her Western students.
The practice is to see the "face" of the Guru as one's own face. It's not a matter of what the teacher looks like; it's a matter of how we look upon the teacher. Jetsunma says, "If we truly understand the relationship between oneself and one's teacher, we come to understand that the teacher's appearance in the world is not different from our own appearance in the world, that the miracle of the appearance of these Bodhisattvas in the world is the miracle of our own life, is the miracle of our own nature to which we can awaken."
Jetsunma was teaching on this occasion to prepare her students for a Guru Yoga retreat. Afterwards, to help us understand this relationship, she instructed her students to establish a "Guru Yoga Altar" in the KPC Prayer Room in Maryland. Students maintain eight candles, representing the students, all lit from a single candle placed higher, representing the teacher. We burn with one flame; we manifest the same light.
To think in this way, Jetsunma said, "gives us a new and different way to understand the relationship with our teacher, because the teacher becomes for us not only a spiritual friend, not only a guide, but the very appearance of Bodhichitta, the very appearance of Guru Rinpoche in the world, just as he said."
Guru Yoga, no matter where the teacher is physically located, is still "a story about you," and, as Jetsunma pointed out, "If we really understand what can happen here, this is nothing less than a miracle."
If you wish to hear more of what Jetsunma said, the complete teaching, "Guru Yoga Is a Story about You," is available through Palyul Productions. We are happy to announce that Jetsunma has arrived swiftly and safely at Dakini Valley in Arizona, where she will stay for an indefinite period. We take this opportunity to add that, when the spiritual teacher is on retreat, it is all the more "a story about you." It is a very potent time to deepen in practice, particularly in the practice of Guru Yoga!
Moreover, the merit of supporting anyone in retreat, especially one's teacher, is tremendous: you thereby create the causes for accomplishment in retreat yourself at some future time. So you want to be a part of this retreat! We invite you to donate in support of Jetsunma's retreat, even in a small way, and help yourself make that spiritual connection.
Or, if you wish to pursue other methods of donation, contact Editor: kpc@tara.org. You may also call the KPC office in Maryland: 301-349-0440. Please leave a message, and someone will be glad to call you back.
May all beings benefit from your generosity, and from the generosity of the teachers who return, lifetime after lifetime, for our sake!
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| Spiritual Programs KPC-MD |
KPC Streaming Video of Khenpo Norgey's Teachings This Weekend
Everybody else is doing it! We're glad we can finally do it too! Last night, for the first time, we offered streaming video of a teaching, live as it happened in our Dharma Room in Poolesville, Maryland. Now when we receive teachings from Khenpo Norgey (currently teaching on Preliminary Practice), or other teachers of the Palyul Lineage, such as Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, KPC Spiritual Director, we can share those precious teachings in the moment with anyone who can link to our website. We are overjoyed: this accomplishment (not unique to us--we know!) is one step in fulfilling our vow to hold the enlightenment of all beings as equal to our own.
Khenpo will continue his series--foundational for all who wish to commit to practice the Path--on Saturday, November 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, USA. And a reminder: it is not only appropriate to make offerings on the occasion of receiving teachings; it is also essential for the fruition of those teachings in oneself. You can connect here for the teachings, and here to make an offering that will be included in the honorarium for Khenpo.
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| Tara's Babies |
More Arkansas Dogs on the Way--And More to Be Rescued!
The rural dog rescue effort in Arkansas is moving--but needs funding for transportation, and volunteers. While many dogs have been pulled out of the landfill shelter in Beebe, Arkansas, rescuers have to get the current group of dogs successfully moved out and on their way to rescue before they can save any more. If you can help, even if it's just to buy a tank of gas, you will be saving lives. And every life is precious!
Four of the dogs rescued recently are headed to Maryland as we write; all four will be going directly to foster homes, and are in need of adoption as soon as possible. Check out Jeannie and Gertrude, Sandy, and Cassie at Tara's Babies website. If you have room for one of these friendly dogs in your home and heart, you will have a buddy for life. They are so happy to be out of that shelter!
Twelve of the dogs have arrived at Dakini Valley, overflowing our capacity there by at least five dogs. These dogs are highly adoptable and desperately in need of forever homes.
If you would like to learn more please contact us at tarasbabies@earthlink.net or by phone at 866-574-9655. Make your contribution online at Tara's Babies to help with the considerable cost of transporting the dogs. You will be making a band of Arkansas country dogs very happy!
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| Sunday Schedule for Poolesville KPC-MD |
 Schedule for Sunday, November 18
10:00 a.m. Meditation Class
Led by Khenpo Norgey
Teens' Class
10:30 a.m. Meditation Practice
11:30 a.m. Instruction and Practice:
Chenrezig
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Children's Class
2:00 p.m. Teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon
Lhamo
4:00 p.m. Shower of Blessings Tsog
If you would like to listen to the 2 p.m. teaching from afar, just dial 1-712-432-2000 and press 82721 followed by the # sign. Make sure to call in just before 2 p.m. East Coast time.
It is considered auspicious to make an offering at the time of receiving teachings. If you are hearing the teaching by telephone transmission, we invite you to go to the tara.org donations page and mark your on-line donation as "Sunday Teaching." May this teaching lead to your swift enlightenment!
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| Holiday Bazaar and Open House KPC-MD |
| KPC Annual Holiday Bazaar and Open House
Saturday, December 1
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 What do Buddhists do for the holidays? We throw open the doors, and invite the world in for our annual Holiday Bazaar and Open House! Where else can you buy the kind of exotic gifts--for such reasonable prices--that will wow your friends and family? Where else can you have an original haiku composed for you on the spot, with calligraphy? What an original gift!
So plan to come for the experience of shopping at the Mani Jewel, but come also for music, food, and good times, with children's activities and services for all ages, including astrology readings, reflexology/massage, and more!
Of course, we're looking for volunteers of all kinds: for services, baking, set up, clean up. (You know what it takes!) Contact Ani Cara: kpc@tara.org.
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| Weekly Schedule for Sedona KPC-AZ |
 Saturday, November 17
4:00 p.m. Amitabha and Chenrezig Practice at the
Amitabha Stupa
Sunday, November 18
10:30 a.m. Stabilizing the Mind Meditation Class
Children's Dharma Class
Noon Teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
1:00 p.m. Teen Dharma Class
4:00 p.m. Shower of Blessings Tsog at the Amitabha
To call in for the Teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, dial 1-712-432-2000 and press 82721 followed by the # sign. It is considered auspicious to make an offering at the time of receiving teaching. Please go to tara.org and note in the memo space "Sunday Teaching."
Monday, Nov. 19: 6:30 p.m. Shower of Blessings Tsog (Prayer Center)
Wednesdays: 4 p.m. Amitabha and Chenrezig practice at the Amitabha Stupa
7 p.m. Dharma Discussion Group at Sedona Prayer Center
Thursdays: 7 p.m. Dharma Class in Flagstaff (400 W. Aspen)
The Amitabha Stupa is located at the corner of Andante and Pueblo and open from dawn to dusk. Visit Google Maps for directions.
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| Solar Power KPC-AZ |
Solar Power at the Amitabha Stupa
 A recently acquired solar array makes it possible to run the CD player and a fountain, a medley of soothing sound. (Yes, if you want to meditate in quiet, you can still do so in the meditation shelter.) Look for the hint of a rainbow in the picture above, taken while the equipment pictured at left was being installed.
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| Contact Information KPC-Aus |
 For information about KPC-Australia in Alice Springs, Brisbane, and Melbourne, contact kpcinaus@gmail.com.
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