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Prayer: the Best of All Gifts! |
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December 7, 2007 Vol. 2, Issue 49 |
Rain falls in the Gobi Desert once every two or three years. So its blessing is not unknown--but rare! Here is a story of a shower of blessings that occurred in the Gobi, as recounted by KPC monk Konchog Norbu, in-country director of the Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project.
Konchog was on a rare visit to Sedona this last week, where he gave a talk about the importance of lineage. As he explained at the beginning, he was there because his teacher, KPC Spiritual Director Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, had invited him to visit during her retreat at Dakini Valley. He came, as his lama had told him to do, and while he was in Arizona, she told him to give a talk in Sedona about the importance of lineage. So he was doing that.
 In his talk, Konchog recounted the beginning of his assignment in Mongolia. In 2004, Jetsunma had declared her intention to "re-establish the blessings of Padmasambhava" in that land, and had asked him to help. Mongolia, traditionally a Vajrayana Buddhist country, was just emerging from three generations of brutal suppression of religious practice. Re-establishing the Nyingma School, the "red hats," once present in Mongolia alongside the dominant "yellow hat," or Gelugpa School, might seem a vast undertaking. But as Konchog saw it, his job was just to get his own thoughts about the matter out of the way, and do what his lama told him to do.
So he set about doing some internet research, and found that, while Gelugpa practitioners were already at work helping restore their practice lineages in Mongolia, as yet no similar Nyingma effort had been set in motion.
It wasn't long before Jetsunma sent him, as he put it, "to Outer Mongolia," about as far away as he could get from his New Jersey homeland and still remain on the same planet. She gave two directives: to have the essential Nyingma texts printed in Mongolia and to arrange for young practitioners to be sent to the Palyul monastery in India for training. He and his companion monk, Thubten Rinchen Palzang, set about doing what their lama told them to do.
How did it all turn out? Connections were made, one fortuitous event followed another . . . eventually, he and Palzang found themselves in the Gobi Desert, at Khamarin Khiid, the monastery established by the 19th century mystic, Danzan Ravjaa. (As Konchog pointed out in his talk, he was continually ending up in the Gobi Desert. Apparently, it was there that the blessings of the Nyingmapa had most flourished.)
The occasion was one of the four Buddhist holy days called Ten Million Days. They were there because Jetsunma had directed them to go there: they were to make offerings on her behalf at an auspicious shrine, and perform tsog, the food offering ceremony. Konchog and Palzang did what the lama told them to do.
Khamarin Khiid was a complex established in the 19th century with both a "yellow hat" temple and a "red hat" temple. On the afternoon of this particular holy day, Konchog and Palzang and a few traveling companions had the "red hat" temple to themselves as they set about offering tsog in the context of a practice called The Shower of Blessings. A Guru Yoga practice, it involves visualizing Padmasambhava, who established the Dharma in Tibet, as Guru Rinpoche, or "Precious Teacher," the embodiment of the Mind of Enlightenment. Students of Jetsunma have long considered Shower of Blessings a heart practice; it is usually the first practice that new practitioners encounter, and the one most frequently done in a group.
The practice began, as is the custom, with three recitations of the Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche. As they began the third recitation, they heard the unusual but welcome sound of rain on the tin roof. They continued to practice, and, as they began chanting the long section of instructions for visualizing Guru Rinpoche, the rattle of rain on the roof became stronger and stronger. Yet, through the open door at the end of the room, they could see the Gobi sunshine; apparently, the rain was falling only on this building. At the last chanted syllable of the visualization, the rain abruptly ended.
Almost immediately, the abbot of the monastery rushed in, took up one of their practice texts to see what they were doing, and conducted a quiet, intense conversation with one of the Mongolians who had accompanied them. The American monks continued with the practice.
Word must have spread. People who were gathered in the complex for the holy day had observed the phenomenon, and had come to investigate. So, when the American monks had wrapped up the practice and walked out of the building at last, a number of curious practitioners were there to greet them. "You must be very powerful monks," they said to the Americans, or words to that effect.
But the monks, fresh from their most familiar practice, the one they had first learned as new students, the one any casual visitor at KPC was welcome to join in, were taken aback, and were quick to protest, "Oh, no! It isn't like that at all!"
"We just did what our lama told us to do."
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| Jetsunma's Retreat |
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Jetsunma Shares Her Retreat (and an Extraordinary Practice Lineage!) with Students
The several dozen students who gathered at Dakini Valley on Tuesday, December 4, had been told in advance: prepare for something different, something special. Jetsunma had invited her students to share tsog with her on Dakini Day, the 25th day of the Vajrayana monthly calendar. ("Dakini" is a term for the feminine embodiment of the enlightened mind.) They were asked to bring not just the usual Shower of Blessings text for the ceremony, but also a practice relatively new to them called Chime Sog Thig, "The Life Essence of Deathlessness."
This practice forms part of the Dudjom Tersar (The New Treasures of Dudjom) teachings concealed for our time by Guru Padmasambhava and revealed by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-87). Jetsunma received this practice and commentary in 2006 from her root lama, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, who had himself received it directly from Dudjom Rinpoche.
From Padmasambhava, to Dudjom Rinpoche, to Penor Rinpoche, to Jetsunma, and us: the direct blessing of Padmasambhava in these revelations is extraordinarily fresh! And because this particular practice is intimately connected with Padmasambhava's spiritual consort and renowned disciple Lhacham Mandarava, of whom Jetsunma is a recognized incarnation, she has taken the Chime Sog Thig as her daily heart meditation.
Although many of Jetsunma's students received the Chime Sog Thig with her, up until this ceremony she has kept her own practice of it very private.
 Before beginning, Jetsunma said that two aspects of the afternoon would be unique. The first was that they would conduct the ceremony in English (a practice she generally recommends) in order to best understand the meaning. The second was that, during the tsog ceremony, she would don the crown and brocade cape, symbols of a primordial wisdom Dakini, conferred on her when she was enthroned as a Palyul lineage holder in 1988. Students have seen her wearing these symbols on only three previous occasions.
Jetsunma explained that the Chime Sog Thig provided the actual method of the accomplishment of full enlightenment engaged in by Padmasambhava and Mandarava together at Maratika Cave in the eighth century. She offered powerful commentary on the unique visualizations before leading the recitation of sacred syllables, for which she introduced a melodic sequence that no one had heard before. Later in the practice, she remarked, "I've shared with you how I remember doing it."
Long-time students remarked that they had never before seen Jetsunma display the splendor of her realization in such a magnificent and penetrating way. She finished the ceremony with a heartfelt plea to use the Chime Sog Thig practice to its utmost: it is such a swift and potent way to discover for ourselves our deathless nature beyond concept or contrivance.
 This event, she said, was just the beginning, and we could expect more guidance in this method for enlightenment. She also praised the qualities of Dakini Valley and urged that her students take advantage of it, as the environment was perfectly conducive for the practice of awakening.
We are more fortunate than we can imagine in having an opportunity to support Jetsunma's retreat! (Imagine having the opportunity to provide for Mandarava on that historic occasion!) 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 in this way.
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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 Foster Homes Save Lives!
ISO Loving Homes for Rescued Dogs
Rescue from a difficult shelter situation is just the first step for the dogs that have been coming to Maryland and Arizona from Arkansas. Once rescued from the shelter, they spend time at a local rescue site, then take a long trip by car, van, RV, or airplane to a second rescue site, where they wait until a foster or adoptive home is found. It can be unsettling, to say the least, for an abused or abandoned dog! The hope of Tara's Babies Animal Welfare volunteers is that each dog will be placed quickly in a loving forever home.
Unable to adopt a rescue dog? Would you like to foster a dog instead? Providing a foster home allows us to create a "virtual sanctuary," so dogs can be rescued and placed in a family environment. The foster family gains valuable information about the dog, which helps TBAW find a suitable permanent home. If you would like to foster a dog, please go to our website to get a form. To contact us about fostering, in the meantime, please call 866-574-9655.
Two-Dog Nights (and Days!)
 It may not officially be winter yet, but the weather in Maryland sure feels like it! And it's just barely balmier in Central Arizona! With nighttime temperatures in the teens and twenties, the rescued dogs have some winter needs: bales of straw for insulation inside and around their doghouses, old blankets for indoor bedding, good nutrition in the form of dry and canned dog food, treats (of course!) for training, and long brisk walks. Contributions of time or funding for any of these items would be joyfully accepted!
Tara's Babies Volunteers in Maryland and Arizona will have tabling events at local pet stores this Saturday, December 8, to introduce these lovable dogs to the community for potential fostering or adoption. The Maryland event is at the Germantown PetSmart. The Arizona event is at Sedona Pet Supply. Both events are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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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| Sunday Schedule for Poolesville KPC-MD |
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 Schedule for Sunday, December 9
10:00 a.m. Meditation Class
Teens' Ngondro Class
10:30 a.m. Meditation Practice
11:30 a.m. Instruction and Practice:
Amitabha
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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| 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 by the movie "Himalaya," by Director Eric Valli. (Yes, it's a change of movie.)
This film, which was first released under the title "Caravan," was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2000. This film has some of most breathtaking scenery ever filmed. Shot at heights of up to 17,400 feet, this film is a tremendous achievement both cinematically and historically, as it locks in time a little known culture and way of life.
The story, which is based upon real life events, details a generational struggle between the young and the old. The storyline is simple. This isolated village is dependent upon trading its salt for grain, so that the village may survive. To do so, a caravan of yaks must make an arduous trek through the Himalayan Mountains to Nepal to effect such a trade. Set against a breathtaking backdrop of Himalayan beauty, this is a must see film. The performances by those in lead roles are compelling.
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 8
4:00 p.m. Amitabha and Chenrezig Practice at the
Sunday, December 9
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."
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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| Community Service KPC-AZ |
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Copper Canyon Teens Choose KPC
Since early last summer, students from the Copper Canyon Girls Academy in Rimrock, Arizona, have been taking advantage of the Sunday morning meditation instruction offered at KPC-Sedona. The girls, ages 13 - 17 years, seem to enjoy learning how to use Jetsunma's Stabilizing the Mind method to calm the mind. Their counselor finds that meditation is a good complement to the girls' curriculum at the Academy.
Some of the girls have been motivated through this experience to begin to practice. Ani Lucia, on behalf of KPC, offered each of them a mala, a string of beads traditionally used to count mantra accumulation. Several have taken on the practice of accumulating 500 OM MANI PEDME HUNG.
On Saturday, December 1, Ani Lucia guided the young women in meritorious activity, which they performed in fulfillment of the community service component in their school curriculum.
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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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