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November 30, 2007 Vol. 2, Issue 48 |
The most conscientious parent. The most ardent lover. Where will they find you again, once you pass from this life? According to the Nam Cho Ngondro text for Guru Yoga,
"Wherever we are sent,
be it high or low,
Guru, only you will know."
In a teaching on Guru Yoga some years ago, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, KPC Spiritual Director, explained what happens when a student takes refuge--from the teacher's perspective. Refuge is the commitment through which the student enters onto the Buddhist path. While the student takes refuge in the Three Precious Jewels (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, as embodied in the spiritual teacher), the teacher takes a corresponding vow. Jetsunma said, "The teacher's commitment is to bring blessings and benefit to that student not only in this lifetime but in every future lifetime."
"Again and again and again," she told us, "this relationship returns. There are many stories about how lamas, recognizing their students from the time before, feel great joy at seeing the face of the student again--tremendous joy! As though having the opportunity to nurture their beloved child once more."
"The student then, becomes extremely important to the teacher, in that the teacher, upon accepting the student fully, promises to return lifetime after lifetime, in whatever form is necessary, in order to be of benefit to that student.
"When the teacher looks into the face of the student, the teacher thinks, 'I will not abandon you. I will not abandon you to remain alone in cyclic existence.'"
The teacher, Jetsunma said, "promises to see the student through until supreme realization. This then becomes a samaya or commitment that lasts life after life, from life to death, from life to death, from life to death."
For the student's part, of course, "The student has to be willing to follow Lord Buddha's teachings, has to be willing to accept the objects of refuge as their true refuge from the sufferings of samsara. So there is a reciprocal commitment."
When the student learns about the samaya they are keeping with the teacher, she said, "They should hold that samaya not so much as a duty and responsibility but more as a jewel: just as the teacher holds the student as a jewel."
For access to further teachings on Guru Yoga, click here. | |
| Jetsunma's Retreat |
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 When the Guru Is on Retreat: She's There for Us!
Our teacher is always looking out for us, even--or especially!--when she's on retreat. We are happy to report that Jetsunma sends word to her students, reminding us to keep our practice commitments: it's more important than ever!
Word also comes from Dakini Valley that the band (Blinded by View) has traveled there to visit her. Jetsunma's creative period has carried over into retreat, and she asked the band to come out and record. They have discovered that the tin roof and trusses of the farm's historic barn (see picture) make for some fabulous blues sounds! A new song, written by Jetsunma, is in process.
 When the spiritual teacher is on retreat, it is a potent time for practitioners to deepen in our own practice, especially the practice of Guru Yoga. (See story above. While Jetsunma's on retreat, we're reviewing her teachings on Guru Yoga in our Sunday afternoon classes.) It isn't necessary to be in the physical presence of the lama to take advantage of this blessing!
In fact, we have the additional opportunity to support Jetunma's current retreat financially. Making a donation in any amount strengthens the spiritual connection with the teacher by an exchange of energy, and one is actually able to benefit from the blessings of the retreat by supporting it.
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! |
| Tara's Babies |
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How Can We Say No?
The prospect can seem overwhelming: an endless stream of homeless dogs living on "death row." Phone calls from the rescue group in Arkansas every day . . ."Zach needs to be pulled today"; "Jeannie and Gertrude have until tomorrow"; "a litter of puppies rescued from a dumpster--need to be pulled out right away." The question is not, "How can we accommodate them all?" The question is, "How can we say no?" How can we decide which dogs will live and which will die?
We can't. We have to say yes. Yes to all these lovely mixed breeds of every possible combination-hounds, shepherds, labs, boxers, terriers-some abused and abandoned, but all delighted to be rescued and cared for.
Care to help? In both Maryland and Arizona, there are so many ways--join us for an afternoon of tabling at Petco or PetSmart; meet transport vans that are bringing the dogs from Arkansas; donate toys, treats, and dry dog food for the dogs here now and the new ones on the way. Spend some time with the dogs-they get bored and love to take a walk, chase a ball, or learn a new command. These dogs are friendly and love people! Most of them lacked proper care and training in their original environment, but they're all happy to learn new things. They just want to be in the company of nice humans!
And, of course, we're looking for foster and adoptive homes. Tell your family, friends and coworkers--help spread the word! In Maryland, you can meet Gertrude and Bobbie Sue at the Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 1. Both are in need of permanent homes.
In Arizona, where 10 Arkansas dogs are in the Sanctuary at Dakini Valley, we need help to buy meds, dog food, more straw for winter. Dogs there are ready for foster homes, and for volunteers to come and help!
If you would like to learn more, please contact us at tarasbabies@earthlink.net or by phone at 866-574-9655. You can make a contribution online at Tara's Babies to help with the cost of transporting, feeding, and providing veterinary care for the dogs.
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| Palyul Media |
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 Webcasts: A Dream Fulfilled!
You may have noticed: we've got geeks! We introduce a new blog in this issue, geeks4dharma, written by two intrepid KPC nuns who are giving their all to make sure the Dharma goes out into the world. They've helped us fulfill a long-time dream: to broadcast our precious teachers as they speak in the Dharma Room at KPC in Poolesville, Maryland. First to be broadcast was the series of teachings by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey of our own Palyul Lineage (picture at left), who taught at KPC just last weekend. If you missed his teachings, broadcasts are archived on the blog. (For a free download of Khenpo's teaching on meditation, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.)
With the advent of streaming video, now Sunday class is just a click away. If you can't make it in person to Poolesville or Sedona, tune in to the webcast every Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern time. (During Jetsunma's retreat, the webcasts will be teachings from our DVD archive of her Sunday teachings.) Stay on line for the announcements that follow every teaching for up-to-the-minute news on what's happening.
As always, if you would like to listen to the 2 p.m. teaching by phone, you can dial 1-712-432-2000 and press 82721 followed by the # sign. Many thanks to all whose generosity makes it possible to offer this technology to the world!
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| Sunday Schedule for Poolesville KPC-MD |
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 Schedule for Sunday, December 2
10:00 a.m. Meditation Class
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
New! Streaming Video!
To participate in the 2 p.m. class from wherever you are, go to tara.org and click on "Upcoming Events." You can then click on a link to the webcast.
As always, if you would like to listen to the 2 p.m. teaching by phone, you can 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 from a distance, 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.
 So . . . you went shopping on Black Friday, and you'll never do that again! But you still need some holiday gifts, and, well, admit it: you could use a little R 'n' R as well! The KPC Annual Holiday Bazaar and Open House, Saturday, December 1, might be just what you're looking for.
Is there someone on your shopping list who's hard to shop for? You'd need a crystal ball to figure out what to get? You could find that here! (The crystal ball, that is.) The Mani Jewel Gift Store has a shipment of rare and unusual crystals. Of course, an alternative to the crystal ball might be an astrology reading . . . why DO you always end up puzzling over this one person? You could purchase a reading for him or her! Or a haiku, composed on the spot at your request, and rendered for posterity in calligraphy.
And a little R 'n' R for you? There's a buffet lunch . . . and then, oh, how about some reflexology to let out the stress? And an iridology reading to see where it comes from?
And our gift to you, as always: the 24 hour Prayer Room is available for quiet time, along with the 65 acre Peace Park. See you at KPC: 18400 River Road, Poolesville. Contact kpc@tara.org for more information. |
| Holiday Bazaar: More! KPC-MD |
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 Whether near or far:
Haiku and calligraphy
We can do for you!
Too far away to take advantage of a haiku composed on the spot? You can e-mail your request before or during the bazaar! Contact Noreen: kpc@tara.org, give your name and information about the desired subject, as well as mailing information, so we can get this creative gift to you or a loved one. Make a donation ($15 or more) on tara.org.
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| Spiritual Programs KPC-MD |
 The Dharma: It's Immeasurable!
Class on the Four Immeasurables
Thursday, December 6, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Suggested donation: $10
If we were going to plant a garden, we would first have to prepare the soil: remove weeds, rocks, tree roots, and the like. Then we would till the soil and perhaps get some good topsoil and fertilizer. After preparing the soil, we would plant the seeds, water them, and protect them from deer, insects, and other hungry creatures. Having a picture of the end result in our mind's eye, we would tend our garden diligently with great care. And eventually, tiny green shoots would appear, growing larger and stronger each day, finally flowering in full colorful beauty.
 We can think of the Four Immeasurables--loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity--as if they are flowers that we wish to cultivate and our mind as the ground that we wish to prepare to plant them in. The upcoming classes will explain the nature of these beautiful blooms, help us to identify "the weeds and the rocks" that inhibit the garden's growth, and provide us with some tools for keeping the soil at its fertile best.
In truth, there is nothing more beautiful than the aspiration for the welfare of all sentient beings, nor anything more satisfying than the activity to accomplish it!
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| Garuda Aviary Benefit KPC-MD |
Join Us for Dinner and a Movie--It's for the Birds!
Our beloved birds of the Garuda Aviary, the KPC parrot-rescue operation, will benefit from festivities planned for Saturday, December 8. Join us for a Mongolian dinner, followed (appropriately) by the movie "Mongolian Ping Pong," by Director Hao Ning.
 About "Mongolian Ping Pong": A ping pong ball, found floating in a stream, becomes the source of wonderment for three young boys who live in the remote grasslands of Mongolia, a magnificent landscape little changed since the time of Genghis Khan. Bilike, the ball's discoverer, assumes it's a bird's egg. His wizened grandmother proclaims it a magic pearl. Unconvinced, the boys take the ball to the monastery, but even the grassland's most knowledgeable inhabitants are stumped. When a television show (seen on the region's only set) reveals that the object is the "national ball of China," the determined young scouts decide to embark upon a journey to return the precious talisman to the Chinese capital of Beijing, crossing the Gobi Desert.
When: Saturday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: KPC Buddhist Temple (site of the Garuda Aviary)
18400 River Road, Poolesville, MD 20837
Tickets: Adults $20. Couples $35. Children $5. Ordained $10.
All proceeds go to benefit the birds!
Reserve your seat today!
For advance registration and payment, please contact Ani Pema by email: garudaaviary@earthlink.net
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| Weekly Schedule for Sedona KPC-AZ |
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 Saturday, December 1
10:00 a.m. Guru Yoga Mini-Retreat (See story below.)
4:00 p.m. Amitabha and Chenrezig Practice at the
Sunday, December 2
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
2:00 p.m. Talk: "Tap into the Incredible Spiritual Power of the
Stupa" 3:00 p.m. Shower of Blessings Tsog at the Amitabha
Stupa
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."
This Tuesday: 7 p.m. Class on the Importance of Lineage (See story below.)
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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| Guru Yoga Retreat KPC-AZ |
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Guru Yoga Mini-Retreat Scheduled for Saturday, December 1
 When the spiritual teacher is on retreat, there is no better time for a Vajrayana Buddhist to practice Guru Yoga! (See related stories above.) For those who have been admitted to Ngondro (Preliminary Practice), KPC in Sedona will hold a one-day Guru Yoga Retreat on Saturday, December 1. Guru Yoga is the practice of meditating on the Mind of Enlightenment as embodied in the spiritual teacher, visualized as Guru Rinpoche. That title, "Precious Teacher," refers to the yogi Padmasambhava, who established the Dharma in Tibet.
The retreat opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m., with a community update scheduled at 1:30 p.m. The schedule for the day is as follows:
10:00 a.m. First practice Session
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Sangha update
3:00 p.m. Second practice Session
5:30 p.m. Retreat ends. |
| Special Class KPC-AZ |
 Globe-Trotting Monk to Speak in Sedona
Surprise! Our globe-trotting monk, Konchog Norbu, will be in Sedona to conduct a class on The Importance of Lineage: Tuesday, December 5, at 7 p.m. at the KPC Prayer Center, 835 Andante Drive, Sedona, Arizona.
Konchog, a senior student of KPC Spiritual Director Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, has had a chance to experience the importance of lineage from a number of perspectives. He is an American monk, with an American teacher, in a Tibetan lineage, and is also the in-country director of the KPC Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project.
Konchog is a speaker who manages to be both erudite and amusing--see his blog, Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa for examples of his craft. |
| Contact Information KPC-Aus |
 For information about KPC-Australia in Alice Springs, Brisbane, and Melbourne, contact kpcinaus@gmail.com. |
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