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The Mirror 107
The Mirror 107
107
November, December 2010
Upcoming Retreats
with
Chgyal Namkhai Norbu
Photo: M. Almici
2011
Due to recent health issues Rinpoches
program may be subject to change.
New Zealand
February 1113
Auckland
Public talk & teaching The Master with members of the Peru Community discovers Mandarava inside the retablo, their gift to him. Photo: M. Carranza
Australia
I
April 1519 t is said that those who follow the this request, he laughed, adds Armando. pay so much attention to our ego, states
Tokyo teaching Dzogchen teachings do so due to a con- Luis Medina explains that he learned Luis in a pensive manner.
nection, consciously or not, with this about the teachings and the Master For others, such as Jose Eduardo Pad-
Russia
knowledge. Some events happen in our through the Internet. Although at first the ron, the experience of meeting the Master
April 25May 1
life and suddenly, by chance or causal- Tibetan culture was not something that included approaching him to ask a person-
Moscow retreat
ity, we have the fortune to come across this drew his attention, once he started read- al question. While this was happening,
May 26 ancient and invaluable self-liberation path. ing books on Buddhism and listening to my brother commented that we looked like
Kunsangar North At least that is what happened to Ar- several retreats through the webcast, the friends and that is exactly the way I felt the
Teaching of Medicine Srothig, mando Marquina, an artist to whom the teachings resonated with him. Masters presence, he states.
the root Terma text of Rigdzin teachings really clicked while watching a While listening to the Master explain- And what can Susana Rodriguez, the
Changchub Dorje Dzogchen practitioner talk about the Mas- ing the teachings, it seemed he was an- Gek, tell us about her experience of meet-
ter and the upcoming retreat on a TV in- swering my questions; he even appeared ing Rinpoche for the first time and being
Ukraine
terview. He would later go to Norbuling to in my dreams, he adds. He finally met around him during those days? It was a
May 1420
participate in a worldwide transmission. Rinpoche at the retreat and even walked unique and special experience that still
Crimea retreat
along side him with his Vajra brothers and >> continued on page 4
May 2125
SMS Base Level exam
May 26June 6
SMS First Level Training Teaching Teaching Focus
Romania
June 1016
Merigar East retreat Chgyal Namkhai Khyentse Our Masters
Norbu Yeshe Masters
Italy Integrating the Sense Longde Teaching
June 2430 of the Teaching
Merigar West retreat
July 1518
Thirtieth Anniversary of Merigar West
Page 2 Page 3 Pages 812
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Integrating
the Sense of
the Teaching
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Day 1, October 11, 2010
F
or this retreat we have three days of teaching and in
these three days I mainly want to communicate about
how we should understand the sense of the teaching
and how we can integrate. In this case, the first thing we
need to understand is our condition, because there is a rea-
son why people are interested in the teaching. When they
do not have any problems and they are enjoying themselves
then they have no need for teaching or practice. But life is
not like that, especially in the human condition.
Khyentse Yeshe
T
eaching in general, wheth- by being positive, but also being
er it is from sutra, tantra negative. Because in the same
or Atiyoga or Dzogchen, way we have contact and connec-
always relates with the cause and tion with teaching, we have con-
the cause is the transmission. tact and connection with karma
That means that once there was in exactly the same way.
Buddha Shakyamuni, and before We are not escaping the law of
Buddha Shakyamuni there were karma, the principle of the Four
other teachers and those teach- Noble Truths. Whatever, with our
ers had different kinds of forms. mind or our intention, when we
Some had more like the manifes- are following Atiyoga, Dzogchen
tation form, which we consider teaching and we are convinced
the Sambhogakaya form. This is that we are on a higher path, this
a manifestation that is not hu- higher path doesnt take us on
man for us, but can be an ordi- a different road. The road is the
nary manifestation in the dimen- same as sutra. It doesnt change
sion, the condition, where the the aspect, the material aspect of
teaching is transmitted, but is not having a physical body and every-
conceivable for us. thing works in this three dimen-
In this field we can always have sional reality with cause and ef-
this cause. Just like an object you fect. This will not change anyway,
throw into space, this object, for- even if we have the highest under-
ever, without finding an obstacle, standing with our mind in terms
will move because there is noth- of knowledge, in terms of teach- Photo: M. Farmer
ing to stop it. If you throw an ob- ing of Buddha, it doesnt change
ject in space, because of this ac- the fact that we are walking with initial approach with the dharma satisfaction. So it is not anymore When we are saying or we
tion, the object goes forever until our legs. is that we are interested to have a external support but its a com- are reading the Heart Sutra or
there is a cause for stopping. In If we are in the condition of vajra and bell, a thanka, books, pletely internal support. Support Prajnaparamita, we are say-
the same way, once the teaching life and death, it means that we something like this, something is a symbol. Before it was an ob- ing emptiness is form and form
is created, this cause leads to en- are still in the condition of the external, that if we own, that if ject, a circumstance, a context, is emptiness. That means that
lightenment and continues. principle of cause and effect. we have objects like this in our after, in Vajrayana, with for exam- when we see this form, its own
The way it is manifesting de- To receive teaching we need house and it looks like a Zen cen- ple with Mahayoga, it becomes essence is emptiness, but now it
pends on the way it was initially cause. To have cause we need ter, then maybe we are more near our own condition, the condition is form. So it means it is in time
transmitted. So we have a lot of connection. If we dont have con- this knowledge. We feel this. that is a symbol. It becomes the and space. Only this, nothing
manifestations, many types of nection we need to accumulate After a while we understand symbol, for example, of our own complicated. This time and space
forms. For example, some form merits. And even after we have that this is called support; sup- potentiality like a mandala, man- that we see is unreal. First of all
is related more to the life of the received the teaching, we need port should be connected with dala, deities and so on. All this because its impermanent, it will
teacher. Some forms are more re- to accumulate merits. Because the cause. If the cause, for exam- becomes our own aspect, and not last very long. Secondly, be-
lated with some aspect and then when we say the path of Bud- ple outer tantras like kriya, ubha- then remains always inside us. cause we see through our eyes
obviously that teaching is pre- dhism, the path related with the ya, and yoga tantra, use this sup- With the discovery or the un- and our mind. Third because its
sented for that function. So if we knowledge and in general with port and this support activates derstanding of our three root an appearance and we can see it
want to solve a problem, for ex- the condition, the discovery of a function, it makes sense, and passions, it means working with because we give a meaning, oth-
ample, we pray or we do a prac- ones own condition through then we see this function. The the aspects of emptiness, clar- erwise we would not even notice
tice related with Tara. For wis- observing ones own mind, this first time we see this function, ity and energy. Then through this form. We see things because
dom we use Manjushri. We have is also called the path of wis- we have this precise experience, these three aspects that mani- we are interested in seeing these
all possible forms, all possible dom. So it means that first we we understand, ah this sound, fest like three root emotions, at things and why are we inter-
actions, related with the inter- accumulate merit, we purify our this mantra, this word I am say- this point we understand what is ested? Fourth, because there is
est in the life of that teacher, that condition and then we have the ing, this activity I am doing with meant by wisdom, like self-aris- a cause, if there was not a cause
form, that manifestation. opportunity of discovering what the mind, relates with this expe- ing wisdom. And then wisdom like karma, we would not see.
In sutra, when we say karmic knowledge is. And wisdom is rience and now it makes sense becomes a quality; the quality of So when we have this under-
vision, that always relates with not something that comes from and its connected in my mind. our knowledge, not something standing and are fine with this,
our capacity. So it means with outside but is something related Then next time we see this object different from knowledge, like we become relaxed, not that
a lower capacity we dont have with our knowledge. That means we dont believe that we need all we are gaining or getting wis- there is something to accept, but
understanding, even of our self. that we have recognition of what possible objects. We dont think dom, it is just a qualification of we understand exactly how it ap-
Lower capacity means someone knowledge is. If we had recog- that we should look for the best our knowledge. pears outside of us and we are
who is satisfied by blessing, by nition before of what tension is, thanka because we understand So if there is a qualification of becoming this appearance, just
praying and so on. They are satis- interest, then this interest after a with this I have a connection, I knowledge that is related with like our self has the same value,
fied with some kind of ritual ac- while becomes knowledge. have this experience and now I simple understanding, then importance, perception, inter-
tivity and feel that this is impor- Then the same words, the have this knowledge; this was the when this simple understanding est, and feeling of anything that
tant, because they understand same text, the same teaching knowledge, the final goal. interconnects in different events is appearing outside. This means
this external aspect. heard different times, feels com- So if I am willing, for exam- and situations, we have the feel- that already, at least, the aspect
If someone is more interested pletely different. It has a differ- ple, to follow another method, ing to know how our condition of the teaching of sutra is clear.
in receiving a Vajrayana initia- ent flavor, different taste, differ- to apply another method, I know is, how reality is, how things It becomes a ground, a base for
tion, when an initiation is given ent experience, and the reason I need this support, this applica- work and then we start to say, development of the teaching of
in a correct way there is all under- is that it relates to knowledge. tion, it takes this time, and that Ah, this is wisdom. In a real tantra. So it means that at least
standing. Nothing is missing in Knowledge is changing and we I should do this and that. So I sense, simply, its a qualification the aspect of emptiness is some-
that initiation, from the external are changing. Usually when we know the function more precise- or just a different expansion of thing we really understand. With
factor to the real meaning, until are listening to a teaching, when ly; how it works. I am not any- this knowledge. the aspect of emptiness, there
what is called nature of mind or someone is teaching and saying more in doubt. I am not search- Going higher and higher or will never be any more doubt. If
our real condition. So it means the same things, more or less al- ing and looking at everything that wider and wider, in general we I am expecting that emptiness in
everything is contained and then ways the same thing, we listen a is outside, but I know that I am discover what function means. any phenomena manifests as a
leads to the possibility of enlight- different way because our condi- confident with this and that, and We have a clear understanding function, I dont have any prob-
enment. tion is changing. Because we are this relates with my possibility. and we are expecting that any as- lem, because I know there is a
In the same way, when we have more in the aspect of our energy Going more and more in the Tan- pect of our condition always has a function. I am not worried if this
this recognition, we spontane- or in the aspect of our mind and tras, we find this qualification. function. So whether the essence form, real or unreal, if this form
ously gain or develop this inter- then we discover what knowledge Not only do we discover that is completely unreal, like empti- is mine or someone elses, if this
est. Through this interest we have really is. there is not so much to search ness, it always has its own func- form is here or there, if this form
ideas, we have recognition in our So first knowledge is external, outside, but this qualification tion, this emptiness, because it makes sense or is useless. I know
mind that this is a teaching and like an object that we trust, an ob- that we are developing as knowl- appears and manifests in time that a form has a function.
we are interested in it. So we al- ject that we need, an object that edge of our own potentiality be- and space. This is the principle
ways discover interest, not only we want to own. For example, our comes something that gives us of sutra. >> continued on the following page
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Khyentse Yeshe
A
Retreat on Kunjed Gyalpo Teaching on The little Song for est. Negative things, for example, s most of you know, Chgyal Namkhai Norbu was hos-
(Kulayaraja Tantra) bringing down the blessings of we can say are attachments, or pitalized in Brazil on November 29, 2010 in Sao Paolo
the Mahamudra conditioning factors of society Brazil. Rinpoche received treatments for basically three
April 2125 and so on, but behind they always ailments, all quite challenging. As was announced by his son,
Italy, Merigar West May 2 hold some interest for us. We can Khyentse Yeshe on the Norbunet email list, Rinpoche was treat-
Retreat on Upadesha of Equal Italy, Grosseto/Siena University say, for example, that money is ed for a spinal infection with antibiotics, an aneurism in the
Taste Three Paths to Liberation very negative, its the base of all mesenteric artery with 3 stents and a tumor in the kidney with
our society, behavior and this and non-invasive surgery. All of these treatments were very success-
that. And then you can obviously ful.
>> continued from previous page How much are you projecting read and see it also relates to the Rinpoche received excellent care at the Albert Einstein Hos-
Form means it has a function. thoughts into the need of move- principle in the tripitaka, you can pital in Sao Paolo and continued to receive very good follow up
And how do we perceive this ment? So this doesnt mean that find the explanation, how impor- care at home. Rinpoche left the hospital on December 16 and
function? Its inseparable from the teacher is trying to say form is tant it is to have the correct as- was resting and receiving treatments 3 times a day by nurses
our energy. Every form will give negative. You should not do this pect of understanding, like point from the hospital with constant supervision from Dr. Alexan-
us a feeling. Form by itself gives or that. But it means this is form, of view, correct aspect of the ap- dre Marra, the attending physician. After leaving the hospital,
a feeling. So when we are trying, this is the aspect of our natural plication, just like our behavior, Rinpoche had been eating well, walking daily and regaining
for example, to do more than condition. Our natural condition our intentions or our actions and strength.
meditation, like Hindu medita- is movement. How real is move- so on. For example we say the On December 30 Rinpoche was admitted once again to the
tion, more than Buddhist medi- ment, the essence of movement, eightfold path and so on. All this, Albert Einstein Hospital after not feeling well during the night.
tation, we are pretending that the nature of movement? Its this anyway, relates with the aspect of He was taken to intensive care, received a blood transfusion and
form is not disturbing, it doesnt function, understanding that all observing oneself. We are paying a procedure was performed to 2 aneurisms in the right kidney
make sense, its not the principle. forms have their own function. attention to this because there is to stop bleeding. Rinpoche said he was feeling much better af-
We are not saying this form, for When we discover and under- consequence. If we are not pay- ter this surgery. As of December 31, he was moved out of inten-
example, when we do meditation stand this function it is called ing attention we create a cause sive care and is now resting comfortably.
like a calm state, shine/ lhagtong, clarity, which means that we have and with this cause we have a The morning of December 30, his daughter, Yuchen Nam-
for example, and we are trying to an understanding of the nature of problem. So it means we are not khai arrived from the USA for her second visit since Rinpoche
engage knowledge of how our things. If we have an understand- in the recognition of the cause. If has been ill. Yeshi Namkhai arrived very soon after the first hos-
state is calm, or how contempla- ing of the nature of things, things we are not in the recognition of pitalization and stayed for some time. Rosa Namkhai and Fabio
tion is, our real nature, and when are inseparable in our mind from the cause, it means we are lack- Andrico have been the constant, tireless and devoted compan-
form manifests we have thought, the mind itself, and it cannot be ing clarity. ions in Rinpoches recovery.
we have a vision of reality and that we dont understand what Thanks to everyone for the continued support, practice and
so on. And then for example the the nature of mind is. Transcribed and edited by Nicki Elliot communication to the Master and his family. Please continue
teacher says, Now you try and This is one of the main princi- Final editing Naomi Zeitz to hold Rinpoche in your prayers, practice and good thoughts
gaze in empty space, like one ples when we are going to a high- and know that with all of the love and care of the doctors,
palm, two palm, one meter from er level in the teaching of sutra, Rinpoches family and the Dzogchen Community, Chgyal
your nose for example like this, when we say dharmata, dharma- Namkhai Norbu is on his way to a complete recovery and per-
this is something we will do in datu, etc. All these things relate fect health.
next days, and in this moment try with the aspect of observing one- The Mirror
and observe how you feel when self. If we are in this knowledge,
there is no form. Before, for ex- which means we are keeping our
ample, you were concentrating presence in every instant, in the
on a letter, a statue, an image, perception, in the phenomena, in >> Meeting continued from page 1 ty and gentleness without any for- our hearts and awaken our minds
and now there is emptiness; the appearances and so on, then keeps me happy all the time. I malities has been quite a special always.
empty, empty space. from this first attitude derives the enjoyed the Masters sense of teaching to me, she emphasizes.
So how do you feel? How opportunity for discovering all humor, his daily comments, his And for all of us who partici-
much are you searching with this. smiles and warmth, walking pated in the retreat, these are
your eyes for a form? How much hand-in-hand before the teach- teachings that we hope will guide
is mind looking for an action? ings All this day by day simplici-
ASIA was able to provide relief for this tragic emergency thanks to the support of its
numerous friends who, despite the silence of the media, have actively responded to
the request of the population of Yushu for aid.
This calendar is a collection of photos taken by our assistants during the distribu-
tion of basic necessities. We have chosen not to show you photos of this catastrophe,
but rather the positive side through the smiles and hopeful looks of a population
worn out by hunger, cold and difficulty.
ASIA has devoted itself to bringing immediate support to the population and to work-
ing side by side with them in reconstruction. We will be involved in this work for the
next 35 years and will need help from everybody.
If you would like to do something more, you could make a donation or sponsor a Jigme and Sherab are friends and go the Yushu
primary school where ASIA has distributed
Jigme e Sherab sono amici, frequentano la scuola
elementare di Yushu in cui ASIA ha distribuito
child in Yushu so that he/she would be able to receive an education respectful of his toasted barley flour and yak butter.
Because of this the children can stay at the school
for lunch instead of having to make long journeys
farina dorzo tostato e burro di yak.
I bambini possono cos fermarsi a scuola
per il pranzo evitando lunghi tragitti tra le macerie
culture, would eat every day, would be protected from the cold. In this way you would home through the dangerous rubble of the city. insicure della citt.
You can order the ASIA calendar with a minimum donation of 10 Euro!
Visit our website www.asia-ngo.org, fill in the form and learn how to donate or write an email to [email protected]
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
ASIA
I
am writing to bring you up crammed between furniture tures. In this way they will lose 10 years (schools, health, nutri- tance sponsor a child, guarantee-
to date on the emergency and other objects that have been their cultural roots and will no tion). ing him or her a meal every day,
that has devastated the lives saved from their ruined homes longer be able to read and write clothes, medical help and school
of the Tibetan people this year, and the rubble. Conditions of hy- in their own language. Until now, thanks to the help of attendance.
striking one of the poorest and, giene are extremely serious, there a great number of friends, we
at the same time, most sacred ar- is no water and there are no toilet And so the vicious circle of pov- have managed to support the You can give these gifts:
eas of Tibet, the Autonomous Ti- facilities. Breeding grounds for erty, social ostracism and loss of lives of 13,000 people, includ- by credit card on the website
betan Prefecture of Yushu. tuberculosis are endangering the cultural identity that is leading ing the children and the teachers www.asia-ngo.org/en
health of thousands of people. to the disappearance of the Ti- of some schools (follow what is by bank transfer in the name of
I was there in person in the camps betan community of Yushu has happening on our website: www. ASIA Onlus
for displaced people from Yushu In this period there is a real emer- started. asia-ngo.org). But we have to do IBAN: IT 27 M 01030 72160
at the end of August to monitor gency within the emergency: the a lot more. 000000389350
ASIAs intervention and to verify freezing winter has brought the For these reasons it is not very BIC/SWIFT: PASCITMMXXX
the situation and the needs of the lives of these people to the limits realistic to think that a mere FOR THIS I ASK YOU TO ADD
population. of survival. At Yushu the winter emergency intervention will be A FAMILY OF YUSHU TO YOUR For more information visit the
lasts almost all year and in these able to give concrete hope for the LIST OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS THIS website www.asia-ngo.org/en
What I found there went well months, the temperature goes future to this population. YEAR.
beyond anything I could have down to minus 30. A heartfelt thanks from all of us
imagined! Eight months after In particular I am thinking You can support the people of at ASIA
the earthquake, the living condi- In addition to the emergency about the future of the chil- Yushu in three ways:
tions of the population in the tent there is also a loss of work and dren for whom it is essential to A one-time donation for the Andrea dellAngelo
camps are still dramatic. of sources of traditional income. have distance sponsorship over Emergency Intervention Director
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
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THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
T
o register for a Santi Maha tute or Edizioni, A.S.I.A.). There- Merigar: Igor Legati 1. The candidate must have suc- 3. The Gakyil should forward
Sangha exam (including fore Karma Yoga should always [email protected] cessfully taken the SMS exam at the candidates request for ac-
the Base), you must be a be arranged through the Gakyils, Tsegyalgar: Jim Valby the corresponding level. ceptance, together with its own
member of the Dzogchen Com- Shang Shung Institute/Edizioni [email protected] reflections on the candidacy, to
munity. For the Base Level exam and A.S.I.A. Tashigar: Ricardo Sued 2. The candidate should address the SMS Coordination Center.
the membership fee must have [email protected] the request for admission to the The Center in turn will send the
been paid at least one year before The completed form should be Namgyalgar: Elise Stutchbury Gakyil of his or her own Gar. The application to the Master and to
the examination; for the next lev- sent by the candidate to his/her [email protected] Gakyil, having verified that the the Gakyil of the Gar where the
els it should have been paid con- local Gakyil. The necessary form Russian-speaking Countries: candidate is up to date in pay- exam will take place. One month
tinuously since the year of the can be downloaded from the Igor Berkhin ment of membership dues and before the examination, the Gar
Base examination. webpage: [email protected] that Karma Yoga collaboration should present the complete list
www.dzogchen.it/dzogchen/ has been satisfactory, must also of candidates to the Master.
Instructions for the Candidate teachings/santi-maha-sangha express an opinion on the candi-
The candidate must complete the dates capacity to relate positively
official form, including the ad- If the Karma Yoga was done for to Vajra brothers and sisters.
mission request and a record of a Community organization(s)
his/her Karma Yoga collabora- other than the local Gakyil, the
tion, in the period two months to candidate should send the com- Fabio Risolo First Level
one month before the examina- pleted form to the appropriate Santi Maha Sangha [email protected] Igor Berkhin
tion date.
The candidate cannot con-
organization, which is responsi-
ble for validating it and sending it
Teachers Sasha Poubants
[email protected]
[email protected]
Jim Valby
sider him/herself enrolled in the either to the Gar where the exam Ricardo Sued [email protected]
examination until he/she receives will be held and to the SMS Co- Base Level [email protected] Elio Guarisco
the written confirmation that his/ ordinating Center: Costantino Albini Alexander Gomonov [email protected]
her admission request has been [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Jakob Winkler
approved by the examiners. A copy can be sent also to the Jim Valby Yeshi Silvano Namkhai [email protected]
The Karma Yoga service to the candidate. [email protected] [email protected] Alexander Poubants
Community, obligatory for en- Jakob Winkler Igor Legati [email protected]
trance to all SMS examinations, Instructions for the Local Gakyils [email protected] [email protected] Alexander Gomonov
must have begun at least a year As soon as the form filled out by Grisha Mokhin Raffaella Blasi [email protected]
prior to the Base exam (if the a candidate is received, the local [email protected] [email protected] Fabio Risolo
exam is scheduled for 2011, the Gakyil should validate the Karma Igor Berkhin Mikael Kazarian [email protected]
Karma Yoga must have started no Yoga claim (if the Karma Yoga was [email protected] [email protected]
later than 2010). In subsequent offered to the local Gakyil itself ), Angie Gilbert Oliver Leick Second Level
years, you must be able to dem- and should add a brief evaluation [email protected] [email protected] Elio Guarisco
onstrate a continuous history of of the candidates conduct, par- Adriano Clemente Wes Guo [email protected]
Karma Yoga between one level of ticipation and activity within the [email protected] [email protected] Jim Valby
SMS exam and the next. Any suit- context of the Community. Elise Stutchbury Steven Landsberg [email protected]
able work offered for the benefit The evaluation of the candi- [email protected] [email protected] Igor Berkhin
of the Dzogchen Community is dates conduct should be ap- Elias Capriles Oleg Troyanovsky [email protected]
valid as Karma Yoga, provided proved by at least three Gakyil [email protected] [email protected]
that it is done upon request of, or members after consulting with Cheh Goh Jacek Machowski
agreement with, the Dzogchen the SMS co-ordinator of the Gar. [email protected] [email protected]
Community Gakyils and related Elio Guarisco
associations (Shang Shung Insti- [email protected]
This book traces the life story of a twentieth century Tibetan yogin, Togden
Ugyen Tendzin (18881962), whose amazing realization of the rainbow
body at his death was witnessed in Eastern Tibet not only by his country-
men, but also, to their confusion and dismay, by the Chinese officers who
were responsible for his continuing imprisonment. The author of this fasci-
nating biography is Chgyal Namkhai Norbu (b. 1938), one of the great
living masters of Dzogchen, and nephew, on the paternal side, of the Togden,
a title which means endowed with realization, an expression accorded
to highly realized yogins in Tibet. Chgyal Namkhai Norbu, who received pro-
found teachings from his uncle, based his book on extensive notes he took
while with Togden in 1954 in Derge, and on information given to him
by Sala Kama Samten (19191993), also a disciple and nephew of the yogin.
Togdens master was Adzom Drugpa, Drodul Pawo Dorje (18421924),
one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of the last century, renowned for the
depth and clarity of his teachings. A short biography of this master is
here included, together with a biography of the yogini Lhundrub Tso (1864
1946), also a close student of Adzom Drugpa and grandmother of the Author.
I Wanchug
n this issue of The Mirror,
our Focus is on the lives of
some of the most important From The Crystal and the Way
Masters from whom Chgyal of Light
Namkhai Norbu received teach- Teachings of Chgyal Namkhai
ings. We offer sketches of these Norbu
Masters, some reproduced from Compiled and Edited by John Shane
existing publications, others Reprinted courtesy of Snow Lion
based on unpublished accounts Publications
and one (the sketch of Rigdzin www.snowlionpub.com
Changchub Dorje) drawn almost
I
entirely from transcriptions of personally received trans-
Rinpoches teachings. mission not only from my
To place them in a meaning- principal master, but also
ful time-frame, we touch on a from many others including my
very brief biography of Chgyal two uncles. My uncle Togden
Namkhai Norbu mentioning just was a great yogi, a practitioner of
some of the Masters he received Dzogchen. Like Changchub Dor-
teachings from. The sketches je, he did not have an intellectual
that follow are in chronological education involving study, and
order. was not attached to any school.
Our Master was born in the In Togdens case this was be-
district of Derge in East Tibet in cause his parents had decided
the Earth Tiger year (1938) and when he was very young that he
recognized at the age of two should be a silversmith, and so
as the reincarnation of Adzom his whole education was aimed
Drugpa. While he was still a child at preparing him for his work turbed. When I was a little older, of ones own physical body. The he must be a spy. His execution
he received teachings from his as a craftsman. But at a certain I learned the meaning of what he practice was developed by a great was ordered, but despite several
maternal uncle, Khyentse Chkyi point he became seriously men- was doing. Tibetan lady practitioner, Machig attempts to shoot him, it proved
Wanchug and his paternal uncle, tally disturbed, and none of the Togden wore his hair long and Labdrn (1055-1149), who came impossible to kill him. When he
Togden Ugyen Tendzin, as well doctors could cure him. Finally, had a big bushy beard, so that from a Bnpo family and who was released, the people of the
as receiving many initiations and he was taken to see a Dzogchen when I later saw pictures of Karl combined elements from the area began to call him Togden.
listening to many explanations master of that time, Adzam Drug- Marx I thought he bore a striking Bnpo traditions with the teach- He could also communicate so
from non-sectarian masters of pa, and as a result of contact with resemblance to my uncle, except ings of the Prajnaparamita Su- well with animals that even the
east Tibet. this master, he not only recov- that my uncle didnt wear glass- tra, of the tantras, and of the wild and timid mountain deer
Between the ages of eight and ered from his illness but became es, He was an example of the kind Dzogchen traditions that she re- that normally ran away from ev-
twelve he attended the college at a serious practitioner, a yogi who of practitioner who becomes rec- ceived from her two root maters, eryone freely came to him and
Derge Gnchen monastery where spent all his time in solitary re- ognized as a master through the Pha Tamba Sangye and Tragpa stayed wherever he did. Less
studied with and received ini- treats in isolated caves high in qualities he or she manifests as Ngnshe respectively, to produce docile creatures also frequented
tiations and transmissions from the mountains, where jaguars a result of practice, rather than a characteristically Tibetan form his company. On one occasion
Khyenrab ser. In the same pe- and leopards roamed. being recognized as the rein- of practice which is a complete when the King of Derghe himself
riod he also received teachings I was sometimes allowed to carnation of a previous master. path in itself, but which is also came to visit Togden, his minister
from other masters including the stay with him as a child, and I re- When he was first sent to Adzam practiced in conjunction with climbed up to Togdens cave to
illustrious Dzongsar Khyentse member that the leopards were Drugpa he was so disturbed that other methods announce the arrival of the King
Rinpoche Chkyi Lodr. particularly fond of butter, and he could hardly comprehend any The practitioner of Chd who and found an enormous moun-
Then in a meditation cave at that at night they would try to of the teachings that were be- accompanied my uncle Togden tain lion seated peacefully beside
Sengchen Namdrag, Great Lion creep stealthily into the cave in ing given at the masters annual to the cave in which he was to the yogi. The King had no choice
Sky Cliff residence of Togden which Togden stored his food summer teaching retreat that make his solitary retreat led him but to share the company of that
Ugyen Tendzin, he made a retreat to lick it up. I first learned Yan- was always held on the high pla- by an extremely circuitous route most royal of beasts if he wished
with his uncle for the practices tra Yoga in those high caves, as a teau pasturelands. The teachings that travelled by way of so many to be received. This he did, with
of Vajrapani, Simhamukha and very young boy, just copying Tog- would take place surrounded by lonely spots favourable to his no little trepidation.
White Tara. At that time the son dens movements. I first stayed a village of tents, like a nomad practice that instead of the usual Living as he did, far from any
of Adzom Drugpa, Gyurme Dor- with him when I was three years encampment, that would arise four days, it took them well over a centers of habitation, consider-
je, on his way back from central old, and I can remember my un- for the duration of the retreat month to reach their destination. able hardship was involved for
Tibet, stayed with them and gave cle practicing Yantra for hours and then disappear again after- And on the way, each day, in the all those who gradually heard of
teachings. stark naked, while I amused wards. By the time the retreat was course of the ordinary conversa- Togdens reputation as a practi-
When he was fourteen years myself as children of that age over that summer, Togden had, tion, he communicated straight- tioner and came to seek him out
old after receiving the initiations will, occasionally playfully slap- with the help of Adzam Drugpa, forward instructions on all as- to receive teachings from him.
for Vajrayogini, his tutor advised ping or kicking my uncles bare been able to overcome his prob- pects of practice, not just on the The same was also true of my oth-
him to seek out a woman master back, as part of my games, as lem sufficiently to be ready to do Chd, to my uncle, so that when er uncle, Khyentse Chkyi Wan-
called A-yu Khadro in order to he continued his practice unper- some practice. he was finally left alone, Togden chug, although the circumstanc-
receive transmission from her. The master suggested that he knew exactly what he should do. es of his early life had been very
At the time she was 113 and had make a solitary retreat, but be- My uncle stayed for several years different from Togdens. He had
been in dark retreat for 56 years. cause my uncle hadnt been able in that retreat, and when he final- been recognized at an early age
In 1954 Chgyal Namkhai also known as Khamdo Gar, and to follow the teachings, he didnt ly left it, he had already developed as a trulku, and was enthroned as
Norbu was invited to visit the from him Norbu Rinpoche was know what to do in such a re- the remarkable powers that led the reincarnation of the abbot of
Peoples Republic of China as a introduced directly to the experi- treat. This is how Adzam Drugpa people to give him the name, or four important monasteries. In
representative of Tibetan youth ence of Dzogchen. He remained resolved the difficulty: he sent title, of Togden, which means this position he was expected to
and became an instructor in Ti- there for almost a year. He also my uncle to a cave about four Accomplished Yogi, by which I confirm to a certain pattern of life
betan language at the University received transmissions from the days journey away, telling him always refer to him, although his involving administrative and even
in Chengdu, Sichuan. While he masters son, Gyurme Dorje. to stay there and practice until given name was Ogyen Tendzin. political duties, as well as fulfill-
was living in China, he met the As the political situation grad- he sent for him, and he sent an- He continued thereafter to ing scholarly and ritual obliga-
famous Gangkar Rinpoche and ually deteriorated in Tibet, Norbu other disciple to show him the make frequent retreats, between tions. He, however, despite con-
received many teachings from Rinpoche fled first towards Cen- way to the cave. This other dis- which he travelled from place siderable opposition, preferred
him. tral Tibet and finally arrived in ciple had been following Adzam to place. His wanderings came to spend his life in retreat, dedi-
When he was seventeen years Sikkim where he worked for two Drugpa for many years and was to the attention of the Chinese cating his life to practice. When
old, he returned to Tibet and years as an author and editor of a serious practitioner. He was a authorities who were then mak- in retreat he, too, lived in remote
following a vision received in a Tibetan textbooks for the Gov- simple man, not an intellectual, ing inroads into eastern Tibet, isolation, in his case in a cave
dream, he met his Root Master, ernment of Sikkim. In 1960, he and he personally concentrated a and they arrested him and called above the snow line, where there
Rigdzin Changchub Dorje, who went to Italy at the invitation of great deal on the practice of the upon him to explain himself. Be- was snow all the year round. But
was living in a remote valley to the Prof. Giuseppe Tucci. Chd. This is a practice in which cause of the way he was as an in- such was his reputation as a prac-
east of Derge. Changchub Dorje, one works to overcome attach- dividual, my uncle was not able titioner, and in particular as a ter-
who was a physician, headed a The paintings are from the Temple of ment and ego-clinging by mak- to give them an answer to their tn, or discoverer of texts and
community called Nyagla Gar, Great Liberation at Merigar West. ing a mentally visualized offering satisfaction, and so they decided objects hidden in the past to be
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
revealed later, that he was sought might up towards the rock face.
out by those determined to re- The pick lodged firmly in what Khyenrab Chki
ceive teachings from him.
Strange things frequently hap-
looked like solid rock, and held
there. My uncle said that that was
ser
pened around Khyentse Chkyi where the terma would be, and as
K
Wangchug connected with his everyone else watched, several of hyenrab Chki ser was
capacity as a tertn. On one occa- the younger men present made a born in the year of the
sion, when I was still quite young, ladder from a tree trunk, and set Female Earth Ox (1889)
I went to stay in a cave close to, it in position to climb up. One and was given the name Rinchen
but a little below, my uncles. young man then climbed care- Dorje by his uncle, Rinchen Nam-
While there, I had a dream one fully up and removed the pick. To gyal, abbot of ntd monastery.
night, in which a dakini appeared everyones amazement a certain ntd had been built by the king
to me and gave me a small scroll amount of rock came away from of Dege, Tenpa Tsering, who had
of paper on which there was writ- what had looked like solid stone. constructed twenty-five large and
ten a sacred text. She explained My uncle then told the young man small monasteries in Dege and
that the text was very important, to search gently with the pick in twenty-five temples belonging to
and that on waking I should give the opening thus revealed. It was the Sakya Ngor tradition.
it to my uncle. By this time my full of loose dry sand. My uncle At a young age Khyenrab ser
practice had already developed to told him to pull it out, and he very had great faith and devotion and
the extent that I could maintain slowly did so. Then he stopped asked his parents to let him be-
awareness through my sleep and and gasped, perched high above come a monk and study with his
dreams, and in this dream I knew us on the ladder. He said that he uncle, the abbot of ntd, but
that I was dreaming. I remember could see a smooth, round, lumi- they were not in agreement be-
closing one of my fists around nous, white object. My uncle told cause they wanted him to care for
the scroll, and then closing the him not to touch it. A blanket was the family when he became older
other first tightly around the first. then spread out below, held fairly so for some time he had to care
The rest of the night passed taut between several people, and, for the familys livestock.
uneventfully, and when I awoke using the pick, the young man At the age of thirteen, he se-
at dawn, I found that my fists up the ladder caused the object cretly prepared some supplies
were still tightly clenched one to fall into the blanket. My uncle and during the night ran away in
around the other. When I opened then picked it up in a white silk the direction of the great monas- Khyenrab Chki ser. Photo courtesy of Mr. Tashi Tsering Josayma. From A Saint in Seattle by
my hands, I found that there re- scarf, and when he held it up we tery of Dege. He spent the follow- David P. Jackson, Wisdom Publications.
ally was a small scroll in the palm all saw the mysterious luminous ing night sheltering under one of
of one hand. I at once went in white orb, made of no material the stupas and early next morn- he received numerous precious known as Shawa Dophag, noble
great excitement to knock on the known to us, and about the size ing left for the Lasya hermitage teachings from Shenga Rinpoche deer rock, near the Stupa of the
door of my uncles cave. It was of a large grapefruit. where Pnlop Rinpoche was in as well as teachings from other Five Families close to the large
not normally permitted to dis- When we returned home, my strict retreat at the time. Between non-sectarian masters such as Ja- monastery of Dege. The rock had
turb him at such an early hour, uncle closed the object in a spe- practice sessions the Master told myang Chokyi Lodro and Gang- that name because during the rit-
as he would be engaged in his cial wooden container that was him that he was happy that he kar Rinpoche. ual dances held by the great mon-
morning session of practice, but locked, and secured with a wax had come there to study but that Following the wishes of astery of Dege, the dancer who
I was too excited to wait. He came seal. He said that it would reveal he would write to his parents to Shenga Rinpoche and Khyentse impersonated the deer went to
to the door, and I explained what itself later. But when after sev- let them know that he was there. Rinpoche Chkyi Ldro he be- the top of the rock to dance. Khy-
had happened and showed him eral months, we opened the still When Rinchen Dorjes parents came the abbot of Khamje at the enrab ser said to Konchog that
the scroll. He looked at it for a sealed container, the object had came to know where he was they age of 34 where he remained for he was very tired and could not
moment, quite calmly, and said, mysteriously vanished. My uncle were relieved and happy to know several years after which he be- continue and asked if he could
Thank you. I was expecting this. did not seem surprised, but said that he was doing well at his stud- came abbot of Palpung where he rest for a moment. The Tibetan
Then he went back to his practice that the dakinis had taken it back, ies and finally agreed for him to gave a number of transmissions, asked the Chinese soldiers who
as if nothing extraordinary had as the time was not yet ripe for its remain at the monastery. Shortly empowerments and commentar- agreed.
happened at all. discovery and revelation. after this he took his vows as a ies. Khyenrab ser went to rest on
On another occasion, he asked As I have already said, strange novice and received the name of In 1938 he founded the college top of this rock, Konchog was
my advice about a vision he had things frequently happened Khyenrab ser. of ntd monastery, building nearby, while the Chinese sol-
had of where a terma, a hid- around my uncle, and partly as At this time his uncle Rinchen and renovating the big monastic diers had gone off for a moment.
den text or object, would be dis- a result of them many people Namgyal, the abbot of ntd, complex and sustaining a num- All of a sudden Khyenrab ser
covered. He always very kindly sought teachings from him. It became very ill so Khyenrab ser ber of monks. He taught there made the sound He Ka, his body
showed great respect for my was a long climb to get to his cave went to assist him. While he was for more than twenty years giving went limp and he died.
opinions, although I was still from the forest far below, but there his uncle told him he was a variety of teachings from differ- The Chinese soldiers came
quite young. He was not sure nevertheless sometimes twenty pleased that he had arrived there ent traditions: Sakya, Nyingma, back to guard the body and sent
whether to make a public an- or thirty people would make the before his death and advised him Kagyu and Kadam to disciples Konchog to explain what had
nouncement about the terma, or tremendous effort to climb up to to follow all the instructions of from many different parts of Ti- happened to the peoples com-
whether to go about find it qui- see him. Then his cave was very Pnlop Rinpoche, to write down bet including Chgyal Namkhai mittee. Later some activists car-
etly. I felt it could be of benefit to small, and all twenty or thirty the history of ntd monastery Norbu who was among his stu- ried away the Masters body to a
many beings, in confirming and people would have to squeeze and protect its teaching. A few dents. place called Black Water and hid
developing their faith, if many inside, and sit really squashed days later he passed away. In 1956 he accepted an invita- it under the ground.
people knew about it and were together to hear him teach. Khy- In the years that followed Khy- tion and moved to Dziphu college
present when it was found. My entse Chkyi Wangchug didnt enrab ser worked hard at his where he taught for two years. At
uncle agreed to this, and the an- plan to make it hard for people, studies and received many trans- that time the political situation
nouncement was made, declar- its just that these were the condi- missions and teachings from in that area was starting to dete-
ing that the terma was located in tions he himself lived in. Then at Pnlop Rinpoche who consid- riorate and consequently he re-
a certain area, and that we would the end of the day, all those who ered him to have an exceptional turned to ntd college where he
go to find it on a certain date. had come for teachings would mind. He studied the four tan- continued to teach. He remained
When the appointed day came, have to climb down the steep tras of medicine with their vari- there even though the political
we went out, and were soon ac- mountain-side in the dark and ous commentaries and started to situation was very negative and
companied by a large crowd of we didnt have flashlights in Ti- teach the upadesa tantra of medi- people were undergoing great
people. The place my uncle had bet. When they got to the bottom, cine and its application. He con- suffering.
indicated was high up on the side they would spend the night in the tinued to deepen his study and By the time Khyenrab ser
of a mountain, and as he was an forest, sleeping rough. There knowledge of medicine and at the was seventy-seven, he had be-
enormously fat man, he had to was no hotel there. And the next age of twenty started to serve as a come a famous Lama not only in
be carried by four men to get up morning they would climb all doctor to those at the monastery Kham but in the whole of Tibet.
there. Finally, he said that we had the way up again to receive more and became known as the doctor In this period this part of Tibet
arrived close enough and pointed teachings. of Yarlha. was under the control of the Chi-
to a smooth, sloping rock face When he was twenty-one he nese army and at a certain point
some way above us. He said that met Shenga Rinpoche and, en- Khyenrab ser was taken by the
the terma was within the rock couraged by Pnlop Rinpoche, Chinese to be brought to a peo-
there. He then asked for a small decided to study with him. Over ples trial. The Master was ac-
ice-pick, of the sort that climbers the next few years he received companied by a group of Chinese
use, and when one was given to many teachings from that mas- soldiers and a local Tibetan revo-
him, he stood with it in his hand ter, became one of his best stu- lutionary called Konchog.
in silence for a few minutes, dents and his assistant at the On the way from Dziphu, they
before throwing it with all his college. At Dzogchen Shriseng passed by an enormous rock
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
10
G
yalse Gyurme Dorje That year he let me leave a I went immediately, and as I The Khenpo, one of her prin-
(18951969) was born Homage to Dorje Paldron and Vajra month early for the autumn entered I noted that many more cipal disciples, told us that he
amid many marvelous Yogini! holidays with the understand- butter lamps were lit and she had, from time to time, received
signs as the third son of Adzom ing that I would be going to see touched her forehead to mine, a teachings from her, but the kind
T
Drugpa. From an early age he re- his biography is only a A-Yu Khadro. So first I returned great courtesy. She gave me a nice and extent of the teachings she
membered clearly his previous drop of the nectar of A-Yu home and prepared to go with breakfast of yogurt and milk and had given us were rare indeed.
lifetimes and was recognized by Khadros life. As I write my mother Yeshe Chodron and told me that she had had an aus- She normally did not give much
Jamgn Kongtrul as the emana- of her I will try to remember her my sister Sonam Pundzom. picious dream that night of her teaching and had never given so
tion of the great Master and ter- presence. I am the insignificant We set off, and after a journey teacher, Jamyang Khentse Wang- much in such a short time. He
tn Terdag Lingpa. disciple Namkhai Norbu, and of three days, we arrived at A-Yu po. He had advised her to give me was afraid this meant that she
His father, Adzom Drugpa, this is the story of how I met A-Yu Khadros place in Dzongsa. She the teaching of Khadro Sangwa might pass away very soon. Then
was his most important Master Khadro and how I came to write lived in a little stone hut near a Kundu, his gongter. This was not Palden, the old man, said that sev-
and transmitted to him all the her life story. river in a meadow under the cliff the teaching I had asked for, but eral months before we came she
instructions of Dzogchen, from When I was fourteen in the face of a mountain to the east of was a teaching she had received had had a dream indicating that
the preliminary practices up to Year of the Iron Rabbit, 1951, I a small Sakya monastery. The hut from him directly which she had she should give certain teachings
the advanced stages of tregch was studying at Sakya College. was tiny, with no windows. She practiced extensively. While we soon. Before we arrived they had
and thgal, and in particular the My teacher there, Kenrab Odzer, had two assistants, an old man, were having breakfast, she was begun the preparations. So there
complete teachings of the Secret had twice given me the complete Palden, and an old nun. Zangmo. examining the Tibetan calendar. was definitely a motive for giving
Essence, the Cetsun Nyingthig as teachings of Vajra Yogini in the They were also strong practitio- Then she said: Since tomor- these teachings.
well as his own termas. Gyurme ners of yoga and meditation. row is the day of the dakini, we Sometimes, at my request, af-
Dorje practiced these teachings We were very happy and will begin then. Today go to visit ter the afternoon teachings, she
diligently until he realized their sition of the path of illusory net amazed to see this situation. the Sakya monastery, and in the would tell me about her life. I
fruit. He also studied sutra, tantra (Mayajala). Moreover he had the When we entered Khadros room meantime we will make prepara- had the peculiar habit of writing
and many other fields of knowl- woodblocks made for the famous for the first time, only one butter tions. everything down, unusual for
edge under other Masters. text edition known as Adzom lamp was lit. She was 113 at that So we went off to visit the Tibetans, so I wrote down every-
Later on Adzom Drugpa de- Drugpa Chgar, which consisted time, but she did not look partic- monastery and made some offer- thing she told me. From these
cided that his third son should be in newly publishing important ularly ancient. She had very long ings there. They had statues of notes I constructed this biogra-
his successor at their main seat at texts from the Buddhist tradition hair that reached her knees. It the Buddhas of the Three Times phy. [The biography of A-Yu Khadro
Adzom Gar and consequently, on including the Seventeen Tantras was black at the tips and white at and a stupa five arm-lengths high follows]
his death, all of his numerous dis- of the Ancients and the Longchen the roots. Her hands looked like made of gilded bronze and stud-
ciples considered Gyurme Dorje Nyingthig of which this is consid- the hands of a young women. She ded with many jewels. It had been This text was written and verbally
as inseparable from the Mas- ered to be the best edition of the wore a dark-red dress and a medi- made according to Khadros in- translated from Tibetan to Italian by
ter and even the older students, works of Longchenpa. Through tation belt over her left shoulder. structions. Inside it was empty. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, and si-
overcoming all their hesitations, visions Gyurme Dorje received During our visit we requested The next day around eleven we multaneously orally translated into
prostrated at his feet recognizing the transmission of many terma teachings, but she kept saying began the initiation of Khadro English by Barrie Simmon in Con-
him as their spiritual guide. from Padmasambhava but de- that she was no one special and Sangdu. From that day on, every way, Massachusetts, on January 8,
Gyurme Dorje followed the cided not to transcribe most of had no qualifications to teach. morning she gave teachings in- 1983. It was taped in Conway, then
instructions of his father and them, choosing to transmit more When I asked her to give me cluding the practices of the sub- transcribed, edited, and annotated by
continued to teach bringing im- ancient terma. the Vajra Yogini teaching she tle nerves and the subtle breath. Tsultrim Allione, finished in Rome,
mense benefit to beings and be- He was the Master of Tarthang said: I am just a simple old In the afternoon at the end of her Italy on February 7, 1983.
coming a key figure most of all Tulku, Rago Chogtrul, Tulku woman, how can I give teachings meditation session, she gave fur-
for the spread of the Dzogchen Losel, Tulku Kunga and also of to you? ther explanation of the Khadro
teaching in recent times. He was Adzom Drugpas tulkus, Namkhai The more compliments we of- Sangdu and the Chd of Machig
also the author of several impor- Norbu and Drugpa Rinpoche. In fered her, the more deferential Lapdron, the Zinba Rangdrol.
tant commentaries and treatises 1958, Gyalse Gyurme Dorje was she became toward us. I was dis- This was the Chd practice she
including the Commentary on arrested and held in prison where couraged and feared she might had done for many years when
the Bhadracaryapra idhana and A he began to give teachings to not give us any teachings. she was younger. There were five
Drop of Amrita, a word by word other prisoners. He died in 1969 of us receiving these teachings:
commentary on the short expo- amidst many marvelous signs. Khenpo Tragyal, the abbot of the
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
11
T
(Infinity Publishing) & Buddhism China, had many students there students arrived from the Central he lineage of my I was very worried, thinking that
between Tibet and China by Matthew and was a very well-known Bud- Nationalities Institutes in Beijing Teacher Rigdzin maybe I wouldnt be able to find
T. Kapstein (Wisdom Publications) dhist teacher. On his death, and Chengdu sent by the CCP. Changchub Dorje all his books. In Tibet during the
Gangkar Rinpoche complied The group was led by Yu Dao- (Byang chub rdo rje) goes di- Cultural Revolution they were de-
G
angkar Rinpoche, the with Norlhas wish and went quan, the first Chinese teacher rectly to Guru Padmasambhava; stroying everything, but the stu-
5th in a series of in- off to China, stopping first in of Tibetan at the Institute and in- there are no human masters in it dents of Changchub Dorje hid
carnate teachers of Bo Chengdu where he gave empow- cluded some students who would because he is a great terton. One most of the books of his teach-
Gangkar Monastery in southern erments and teachings. This was become part of the new genera- of the sons of the Tibetan king ings in the rocks. Later when
Kham, was one of the most il- the first time that deep teachings tion of Central Institute Tibetolo- Trisong Detsen was called Muti they had more freedom they took
lustrious personages of the Ka- of the Kagyupa were given in gists. One of the instructors who Tsenpo. Changchub Dorje is con- them out. When we had the pos-
gyupa school and was consid- China and there were many re- worked with Gangkar Rinpoche sidered to be something like a re- sibility to have communication
ered among the most important quests for them even among the was the young Namkhai Norbu. incarnation of King Muti Tsenpo. with Tibet, I wrote to my friends,
religious authorities of the time rich and powerful. He continued The classes were to introduce the Guru Padmasambhava transmit- students of my master Chang-
with numerous disciples not only on to Chongqing where he gave Chinese students to Tibetan lan- ted this treasure teaching to him chub Dorje, and they sent me
in Tibet but also in China. Kagyu, Nyingma and Dzogchen guage and culture. and kept it in the mind of Muti most of the original books. Lat-
He was educated mainly at teachings to monks and laypeo- After the Chinese students had Tsenpo. Changchub Dorje woke er, when I went to Khamdogar, I
Pelpung Monastery in Derge, the ple alike. completed their course of study, up and he had that remembrance took all the other books. So now
foremost Karma Kagyu centre in He travelled by boat with his Gangkar was asked to teach at and he discovered that teach- I have all the terma teachings of
far eastern Tibet, where his for- entourage on the Yangtse River as the Central Nationalities Insti- ing. Guru Padmasambhava in- Changchub Dorje.
mer incarnation had been a stu- far as Lu shan in Jiangxi province tute where he remained until dicated that for the future Muti Rigdzin Changchub Dorje was
dent. At Pelpung, Gangkar met where he was greeted by huge 1955 giving teaching on Tibetan Tsenpo would appear again in a disciple of Adzam Drugpa, Nya-
the Eleventh Situ Rinpoche who crowds of people and monks in- studies and translating docu- the form of master Rigdzin sel gla Pema Dddul, Shardza Tashi
became a supporting figure dur- cluding the leaders of the party in ments for the National Peoples Lingpa, this is one of the four or Gyaltsen and Drubwang Shakya
ing his years of study. He studied power at the time, the Guoming- Congress. five different terton names of Mas- Shri, but he himself was not well
under the eminent teacher, Khen- tang, as well as army leaders. His It was during this period that ter Changchub Dorje. A terton of- >> continued on the following page
po Zhenga, a master of the Ris main purpose there was to build Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche had
med non-sectarian movement a stupa to house Norlhas relics, the opportunity to meet Gang-
and the founder of Sri Simha col- as the latters Chinese students kar Rinpoche and receive vari-
lege at Dzogchen Monastery and wished. This was an area where ous teachings from him, on mous benefit to that country, to After his death, his body was
became one of the most learned Norlha had taught frequently Chagchen or Mahamudra, on the Teachings, and to the welfare preserved with precious sand,
students at the college. and many of his Chinese students Dzogchen, the Konchog chindu and spiritual happiness of all be- herbs and salt and a stupa was
During his years of study, he were still there. series and the Six Yogas. Before ings. built at Chengdu to house it.
journeyed to Tsurpu in central Ti- After completing the construc- Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche left However before the body could
bet to receive Kagyu teachings on tion of the stupa, placing Norlhas him, Gangkar Rinpoche wrote a When Gangkar Rinpoche re- be placed there, protest cam-
the highest yoga tantras from the remains inside it and the inaugu- document on the twenty-fifth day turned to his monastery in the paigns had begun, the property
Fifteenth Karmapa. On his return ration, although he had agreed to of the third month of the wood same year the political situation of the monastery was seized by
to Pelpung, he was appointed stay for longer to teach, he was sheep year (1955) concerning the had changed once again and the government, the sacred texts
retreat master of the monastery forced to leave for his own mon- spiritual and historical role of there was even less religious free- were burned and the monks
meditation centre after which he astery in Tibet because of the Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche: dom than previously. Finally in forced to give up their robes.
returned to his home monastery, dangerous situation created by 1957 he received permission for Consequently, the body was
Bo Gangkar where he established the outbreak of war with Japan, This is what was revealed to me a months leave of absence and taken to a cemetery. Devoted in-
a new school. arriving home in 1939. in the nonduality of dharmad- returned to his monastery, telling dividual managed to wrap the
In 1930 he was appointed as When the Sino-Japanese hatu (dbyings) and the state of all his monks on his arrival that bones from the cemetery in silk
junior tutor to the Sixteenth Kar- war ended in 1946, in response rigpa. So that the opportunity of it was important to have an elab- leaving substitutes in their place
mapa and travelled to Tsurpu for to many invitations, Gangkar the manifestation of this master orate assembly. Following his and concealed them. Today these
a second time to instruct him for Rinpoche set out on his second not be wasted, if he could accede wishes, they made many offering are the most important relics of
a year in the essential teachings trip to China in order to give to the residency of the Dharma of precious objects and torma. In the monastery and people come
he had received himself from the teachings to his, by then, numer- Raja Ngawang Namgyal (Zhab the evening he gave instructions from many different places to
previous Karmapa. He returned ous Chinese disciples. He toured Drung Ngag dbang rNam rgyal) to the younger students and then pay their respects.
to his monastery after this be- much of China giving teachings Rinpoche of Bhutan (Lho brug), seated in the posture of Vairoca-
cause he felt that the spiritual on the profound doctrines of this would certainly bring enor- na, passed away.
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
12
>> continued from previous page his father to go to the other side in his medical activities and also ceived an initiation and I am very end he saw that I no longer un-
known as a teacher. He didnt of the house to the cave of eight to write down his termas. While satisfied. derstood. Then he stopped and
give formal initiations or wear Mandalas of eight Anuyoga Tan- attending to his patients Chang- We didnt do anything. said, O.K. Now you can go.
elegant robes. He dressed like a tras. When they entered the cave chub Dorje was simultaneously I was very surprised. He had My castle of concepts had
poor farmer and transmitted the they began to recite the Heart Su- receiving termas and dictating spent the whole day giving me an crumbled and I had finally dis-
teaching in a simple direct way. tra of the Mahayana. They went them at intervals. In the evenings initiation. covered what Dzogchen is and
Very few people knew him as a all around looking at everything. Chgyal Namkhai Norbu would Sit down! he said. I thought, what the essence of all teachings
great Master, but he was famous Some parts of mandalas were copy them in neat writing and This master is really very is. This is what Root Teacher
as an extraordinary doctor. visible but it wasnt easy to dis- was surprised at how they were strange. I sat down at once be- means. Later, when I read again
Although he had never re- tinguish which mandalas they perfectly coherent. At first he al- cause at times he was a bit fierce all the teachings I had received up
ceived any formal education and were. When they arrived back at ways thought, This teacher is and if one didnt behave well he until then, I discovered it was my
could hardly read or write and the door they had finished the not giving any teachings. Ive was likely to get cross. My fa- fault that I had not understood
had never studied traditional recitation of the Sutra and then spent a long time here but he is ther also sat down. After a little before. It was not the fault of all
medicine, he was widely known Rinpoche woke up. always asking me to work. He while he started talking. At first these teachers. The real meaning
as a marvellous doctor. Numer- Rinpoche told his father about never gives me teaching. He was he spoke in a very simple way to of Root Teacher is the one who
ous patients travelled long dis- the dream. One year later when he always treating people, giving in- clarify what is meant by the ne- makes us discover our real nature
tances to be treated by him. went back to his home he heard a formation and advice to his stu- cessity, the importance and the and then we discover the value of
When Trogawa Rinpoche gave visitor telling his father about a dents and chatting. None of this methods of direct introduction all Teachings and Teachers.
teachings on medicine in Lon- special Lama, and describing his seemed like teaching in the way in the Dzogchen teaching. He After I had received the in-
don in the early 1980s he said house and the chrtens. Everything Rinpoche was accustomed to be- said to me: You studied for many troduction and discovered what
there are three levels of doctors: was precisely like in his dream. ing taught. years in college but your mouth Dzogchen really is, what my real
the highest level is the Buddha Immediately he persuaded his I always received many teach- is logic and your nose is Mady- nature is, I saw in a completely
who gives the definitive cure; on father to accompany him there. ings when I was around teachers. amikha. You cant understand, different way. Before that I didnt
the medium level there are those They arrived after three days jour- Also at Khamdogar I received you cant get in the knowledge in understand that everything my
who never need to study because ney on horseback. The house and transmissions, instructions and that way. Then he gave a direct Teacher did was related to teach-
they are totally clairvoyant and the appearance of the Lama were initiations from two very good introduction. He gave me the ex- ing. He was always asking me to
know what is wrong with the pa- exactly as they were in his dream. disciples of Changchub Dorje: ample of the difference between do service and to work to pre-
tients and how to cure their dis- The first time I met my Teach- one called Aksoden and also his looking through eyeglasses and pare medicines etc. Sometimes
eases without even seeing them er Changchub Dorje I was a little son, Gyurmed Gyaltsen, who was looking in a mirror. If you dont he would say strange things. He
and on the lower level are those surprised because his appearance very learned. I was also accus- know how to look inside your- was also breaking down my at-
who have to study for many years. and his way of living was just like tomed to receiving Tantric style self all the explanations of the titudes. Even though I was not a
He said he had only known one an ordinary village farmer. He initiations. I always felt it was es- Dzogchen teachings become monk I had always been in col-
on the medium level and that was wore very thick sheepskin clothes sential to receive initiations from other points of view. Before then lege where everyone behaved just
Rigdzin Changchub Dorje. and big, thick sheepskin trousers important teachers. So I asked I was convinced that I had really like monks, so I also dressed like
He was born in the village of because it was cold in that coun- Changchub Dorje to give me an understood the tawa, the point a monk and had learned to have
Dhakhe in the Nyagrong (nyag try. Until then I had only met very initiation on the special day of of view, of the Dzogchen teach- the same attitudes as a monk. But
rong) district in South-Eastern elegantly dressed teachers; I had Guru Padmasambhava, on the ings. But then I realized that all I had only received two vows: one
Kham. His mother, Bochung never seen or met Teachers who 10th day of the 6th month. He my learning was external just was to wear clothes that showed
(bo chung), was originally from looked like that. The only differ- said that I didnt need it because something to study, analyze, talk one was a follower of Buddha
Dege and was a disciple of Gyal- ence in his appearance from a he had already given me an initia- about and think about. Now I saw and the other was a vow of Ref-
wa Changchub (rgyal ba byang normal village man was that he tion. The day I arrived he dreamt that what is called tawa is some- uge. I did not have any other
chub), a highly realized yogi from had long hair tied up on top of that he put a crystal rock on my thing alive, really related to our vows. But the rule of the college
Khrom. He founded his commu- his head and conch shell earrings three places and he had given condition something to work was that we should behave like
nity of mostly lay practitioners in and a conch shell necklace. I re- me initiation in this way. I said, on in oneself. monks. So I had that kind of at-
a remote valley in Konjo in east- member that when some impor- That was your dream. I didnt He also taught me that the titude very strongly. For example,
ern Dege. It was and is still to this tant Lamas went to visit him they have the same dream. It doesnt principle of Guruyoga isnt the if I saw nice females I would feel
day known as Nyaglagar and also felt shy about paying respect to work for me, and I insisted. So form and the system according to afraid and I would escape. Be-
as Khamdogar. him. How can important teach- finally he agreed to give me his lineages; the real principle is the fore I received these teachings, if
All those who lived there ers pay respect to a poor man? special terma (gter ma) teaching presence of the union of the state there were some very nice young
shared in the farming work, the But Mahasiddhas are not always of the Xitro (zhi khro), the Peace- of all the Masters with our own nuns nearby my teacher Chang-
gathering and preparation of me- elegant or dressed like monks ful and Wrathful Mandala. This state without any limitations. chub Dorje would say to me, Do
dicinal herbs and the treatment and nuns. is the only formal initiation I ever Without this principle, even if you like these nuns? Theyre nice
of patients. They were each of- Although I was a little sur- received from him. It is not a very you do a very elaborate, formal looking, arent they? I would
fered a bowl of simple soup every prised I had no doubt that he complicated initiation, like the Guruyoga there is no sense in blush. So as soon as I saw any
day. When the Chinese Commu- was my Teacher because of the Kalachakra, but it took my teach- it. We have to go beyond all the nice looking nuns I would try
nists arrived in the area in 1955, dream I had had one year before. er Changchub Dorje the whole limitations of lineages, etc. So in to escape, otherwise my teacher
with the intention of implement- I thought this dream was very im- day to give it. Sometimes he a few words he taught me many would make these kinds of com-
ing their agricultural reforms portant. Then I followed him and could not see well enough to read things and how to find real pres- ments. That is an example of my
they were surprised to find that I had no doubt. the words. Sometimes he was ence. attitude at that time. But, later
the Gar was already functioning Until I received direct intro- reading the notes that explained After the direct introduction after I had received direct intro-
as an agricultural commune and duction from him I only had a what to do and he was trying to of course I really discovered what duction, even if my teacher said
therefore was not in need of any kind of constructed faith, not do it. The initiation was a teach- the Dzogchen teachings mean. something as a joke I understood
reforms. really natural faith. I had spent ing from his own terma but he was Changchub Dorje went on talk- very well that everything he said
It was also in 1955 that Ch- many years in a college where I going ahead like that with great ing for about three hours. He was related to the teaching and
gyal Namkhai Norbu met Rigdzin studied many Sutras, all the phi- difficulty. When the initiation explained the base, the path and instructions.
Changchub Dorje. He had dreamt losophies, and all the different was finished his students and I the fruit and all the essence of
of a place where there was a white Tantras. I thought I was a scholar did a Ganapuja together quick- the Dzogchen Teaching. I un-
house that had some mantras of and I knew everything. I was very ly. My teacher was there but he derstood everything very clearly.
Padmasambhava painted in gold proud. I went to see my teacher didnt take part. Then it was al- But after a while it seemed as if
on a blue board above the door. Changchub Dorje, not because I ready late and dark, so I stood up he was reading a Tantra from
On the inner wall there was a didnt know the teaching, and I and said, Thank you very much. memory and the words of the ex-
thigle with A and there was an wanted a teacher but because of And I began to leave. planation were becoming more
old man sitting in a corner. He the dream I had had. Why and where are you go- and more difficult to understand.
looked like a farmer but he also During the time Rinpoche ing? He was really a strange Teacher,
had something of the aspect of spent at Khamdogar, Chang- Im going home to sleep now. a great Terton. He went ahead like
a Yogi. He told Rinpoche and chub Dorje asked him to assist I want to go back to my room and that for another half hour. In the
go to bed, because today I re-
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THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Obituary
13
I
t is with great sorrow we of Tibetan texts for publication. etry. He often succeeds in making
learned that E.Gene Smith, Armed with letters of introduc- his reader feel what 15th century
founder of the www.tbrc. tions to the leading lamas of all Tibet must have been like. Then
orgTibetan Buddhist Resource schools, Gene embarked on his in perfect meter, Smith translated
Center and an old friend of Ch- mission eventually becoming em- an exquisite ballad that is Shake-
gyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche ployed by the US governments spearean in scope rivaling the
died at home in NYC on Decem- Library of Congress in the New greatest of Western literature.
ber 16, 2010. Gene was univer- Delhi field office and later South I was blown away, as they say.
sally known among Tibetan and East Asia for whom he worked Reading this brief entry deeply
Western scholars as the man until his retirement in 1996. His inspired me that indeed there are
responsible for saving the vast innovative programs of recovery meritorious works of complex
treasury of Tibetan Literature and publication resulted in mak- literary achievement to be found
through innovative programs he ing available large collections of in Tibetan literature. I believe Mr.
created to collect, publish and Tibetan works that were dissemi- Smith intended this to be the cor-
digitize Tibetan texts. His digital nated to major university librar- rect response.
library is the most comprehen- ies and Buddhist libraries across
sive in the world. The leap from tellect and his prodigious schol- alleled among scholars. Without the world. After retirement he Gene Smith is the recipient of
the centuries old and labor in- arship of Tibetan bibliographic his work, there would be no field founded the Tibetan Buddhist many awards and accolades that
tensive tradition of printing with history, which was made avail- of Tibetan Studies in the West, as Resource Center with the aim of can be found online. A movie
carved woodblocks to storing an able to all who sought his advice. we know it today, for there sim- creating an online digital library. called, Digital Dharma: One Mans
entire library of millions of pages Matthew Ricard recounted that ply would be no texts to study and Mission to Save a Culture, is cur-
in the palm of your hand within Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche used translate. Personally, I found his book rently in production. To view vid-
a generation is one of technolo- to address him affectionately as Among Tibetan Texts: History and eo selections go to You Tube. For
gies most gripping stories and Mahapandita Jamyang Nam- For nearly five decades Gene Literature of the Himalayan Plateau, further information about The
Gene was at the forefront of this gyal The Great All Victorious Smith dedicated his life to pre- an extraordinary introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Resource Cen-
unique solution. Manjushri Pandita, a well-de- serve Tibets heritage as a stew- the greatness of Tibetan culture. ter visit, www.tbrc.org. Contin-
served name. Genes legendary ard of Tibetan culture, Smith be- Originally part of his textual an- ue the work
Upon hearing of his death hun- kindness and generosity served came acquainted with Tibetans notations, these essays (some-
dreds of colleagues from around to manifest a culture of serious in the early 1960s when he began what legendary) glow with keen Jacqueline Gens
the world including many impor- scholarship for virtually anyone study of the language among insights and deep appreciation Tsegyalgar East, New Years Day
tant lamas began circulating tes- studying in the field both high other obscure languages as an for the subject matter. His excite- 2011
timonials to Genes brilliant in- and low. His influence is unpar- acceptable option for conscien- ment is palpable. Once while do-
T
has made a cogent selection from he book takes its title
T
his collection, in Tibetan this fascinating work, including from the nickname given
with facing English trans- both specific instructions on the to an uncontrollable and
lation, is the first com- art of love and more philosophi- irreverent scholar from the mon-
plete collection of the poems of cal passages on the nature of pas- astery of Drepung: Gendun Cho-
Gendun Chopel, or at least of sion. pel, called The Madman by his
those not lost following his ar- In the second section, La- Buddhist themes and terms teacher Geshe Sherab. fourth has notes on the author,
rest. The book also contains a de- ments of an Unknown Sage, the pervade almost all the poems, It should be pointed out that while the fifths deals with the
tailed introduction both to the life poems are more autobiographi- and cynical observations on hu- the term mad (smyon pa) in Ti- criticism which it received, be-
and poetry of the author. cal, starting with the one he wrote man greed are frequently aligned betan has diverse connotations, cause part of the fame of this text
The poems are divided themat- after leaving Labrang monastery. with quotations or passages that not all of which are negative. by Gendun Chopel is due to the
ically in five sections. The first is Gendun Chopel felt misunder- bring to light Buddhas infinite Gendun Chopel did not appear controversies it inflamed.
called Teachings of a Master stood and unappreciated through- compassion. The aim or at least at all put out by this epithet, in This is a profound work on
without Disciples. Gendun Cho- out his life, and these feelings aspiration of this volume is to en- fact he took it on to define him- Madhyamaka philosophy, how-
pel was a great Buddhist scholar grew during the long years he able the finest of Gendun Cho- self, above all in the last years of ever written without the system-
who attained the highest academ- spent wandering in foreign lands pels compositions to be read by his life. atic superstructure typical of Ti-
ic qualifications within the far from home. the vast public that he deserved The Madmans Middle Way betan philosophical literature.
Gelugpa school, and this sec- The third section, The Ways while alive. shows us the more philosophical Often consisting of disjointed
tion comprises poems on this of the World, comprises poems side of this outr lama, denoting statements, these leap from one
theme, many of which contain in- that in one way or another contain his qualities as a considerable topic to another without appar-
structions on how to practise fol- keen observations of a man sure thinker and expert in scholar- ent connection, and are at times
lowing the Buddhist path, even of having seen everything, who ship. so cryptic that it is difficult to de-
though they were written without with some cynicism describes hu- It opens with a detailed bio- cipher their meaning. It should
the authorisation of a great lama man nature, the persons he met graphical essay on the life and be added that important Gelupga
or the request of a powerful pa- and the places he visited. works of Gendun Chopel, which scholars have written texts con-
tron. The title of the section al- The majority of the poems of also contained many poems with futing his work, at times longer
ludes to the fact that no student the fourth section, Songs of the reference to specific events in his than Chopels own. Nevertheless
ever asked to receive teachings Tibetan Kings, are connected life, and proceeds with the Eng- what emerges from reading this
from Chopel. with his most important histori- lish translation of his main phil- volume is the feeling that this is
cal work, The White Annals, osophical work, bearing the title an important text, the work of
unfortunately unfinished, which An Ornament of the Thought of someone who penetrated deep
deals with the ancient Tibetan Nagarjuna Clarifying the Core into the meaning of Buddhism
empire. In this part Chopel used of Madhyamaka. The third part beyond pure philosophical spec-
terms and themes he came across is a commentary to the text, the ulation.
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Tashigar Norte
14
I
want to tell something to everyone connected with the webcast. We are here in Margarita. And
you all know we had some problems in Margarita thats why I am not living here as I was before,
only coming for a short time while we are doing a retreat. But many people think I have almost
renounced Tashigar North: this is wrong, I will never renounce Tashigar North. In Tashigar North I gave so
many important Dzogchen teachings, this is a sacred place, we empowered it, we prepared it for ever we
will continue here so you must not think that.
But in the Dzogchen teachings we always say we should work with circumstances. When the circum-
stances are negative somehow, we adjust our attitude and our way of being. That is what we are doing, this
is with our awareness. It doesnt mean I am renouncing.
Some people assumed, when they discovered I like Tenerife very much, that I am concentrated on Tenerife
and that I am rejecting Margarita I have not at all this idea. But Tenerife is a very important place, a very
interesting place, something I discovered. We are developing something in Tenerife for Merigar; we are de-
veloping it more and more every year. Maybe I will also live there a little longer in the future, but it doesnt
mean I will not be living also in Margarita. Its very important to make this distinction.
Rinpoche with the Vajrapani thodrol. Photo: R. Friend Transcription by Lauri Denyer
Rinpoche Teaches
in Isla Margarita
Rosemary Friend
A
wonderful event heralded
the Chogyur Lingpa re-
treat due to commence on
November 5 here in Isla Margar-
ita. A public talk by Rinpoche or-
ganized by the Gakyil of Tashigar
Norte also provided continuous
videos of Yantra Yoga and Dance
of Six Spaces, information book-
lets, many Dzogchen books and
the large thodrol on display in the
foyer of the art and cultural centre Participants who attended the Dance of the Three Vajras course that was held during the re-
in Ascunscion. The large theatre treat with Rinpoche. Photo: R. Friend
O
n the night of December we continued to do collective should there be another heavy
4, 2010, heavy rain fell Mandarava practice several times rainfall.
in Margarita for about a day, mostly following the we- There are about twenty to thir-
eight hours without stopping, bcast from Merigar West. Steve ty practitioners here, most living
creating flood-like conditions Landsberg started to give a Man- on the Gar, and we are happy to
and landslides. The Gonpa was darava course in which he ex- report that Tashigar Norte is alive
inundated the entire floor was plained the meaning of each Ti- and thriving. Should anyone wish
covered in about four inches of betan word in the practice. to donate for the flood relief ef-
mud. Although the houses were The dormitory project has be- fort please contact the secre-
not affected, water got into the gun and we have located a site tary at tashigarnortesecretary@
offices and also damaged roads weeks. We are happy to report dala is intact and we are back to for the building that was outside gmail.com.
and drainage channels. The that the Gonpa was not seriously our usual practice schedule. of the flood zone in the recent
cleanup work began immediately damaged by the mud and is now During this challenging time, storm. Architect Carolina Her-
and went on continuously for two fully functional again. The man- everyone collaborated very well nandez has made a preliminary
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Kunsangar
15
an electric boiler that heats the around and could eat our young
Look at the Gonpa water in the system. The heat- trees and shrubs. We dug some
of Kunsangar South! ing system will be hydrous and
will consist of aluminum radia-
wooden poles into the ground
and stretched ropes between
Kunsangar South Gakyil tors around the perimeter of the them and hung up yellow and
windows and underfloor heating red flags. They look very nice,
A
lot has changed at Kun- beneath the floor of the laminate. and bring to mind Tibetan lung-
sangar South in the last Inside the gonpa we have built a ta, and the cows do not go there
two months. First of all, small streamshop consisting of and there is a sense of bordered
the gonpa now has a roof ! And two parts a boiler room (with a space. This fence looks very joy-
very soon in the New Year we switchboard) and bathroom. ful, and all the local inhabitants
will finish fixing the windows! In November we planted immediately began asking us:
We have practically no walls, ev- trees 27 practitioners from What kind of flags are they, is it
erything is mainly made of glass, Sevastopol, Bakhchisaray, Malyi necessary, yes?
and the windows are a non- Mayak Yalta, Simferopol, Mos- We are also organizing a se-
standard size, so our order was cow, Gelendzhik, Krasniy Luch curity system. We have an agree-
a complicated one, but finally and Dnepropetrovsk partici- ment with a security agency for
the task was completed and very pated. The weather was warm their services, and we are plan-
soon everybody will enjoy the and favorable. The total num- ning to install an alarm and an Photos: A. Balyura
new look of the gonpa. We have
also placed special forged hooks
on the columns inside the build-
ing for attaching the tented dome
to the gonpa at large retreats. At
the moment the tent has been
dismantled to preserve it from
the strong winter winds.
At present we only need to do
the drains and guttering on the
outside. Also we have to decide
about the important question of
condensation on the metal which
needs correct insulation outside
and inside the building.
Finally we got the necessary
documents and began the pro-
cess of engineering and connect-
ing to the power grid. By the end ber of trees was 91, we planted alarm button. We also plan to itself to make it all easy to use. we have fire inside and smoke
of December beginning of Janu- three lanes and several groups have one or two guards, karma- We have now all the information outside.
ary we will have our own electric- of trees. At the entrance to the yogis, staying in planned accom- and have finished working on all Thats the way Kunsangar
ity line and will finally give up the Gar there will soon be an alley of modation at the place who will be necessary questions to start the South is going ahead. We wish
rest of our generators and start plane trees growing traditional on duty according to a schedule. mounting. long life and health to our Mas-
getting about 40 kW of electric- Crimean plants that live up to 400 We will provide illumination on Previously we made a 100 m2 ter Chgyal Namkhai Norbu, do
ity. In general, it is not expensive, years. Around the Gonpa there is the land, even though electricity veranda around the house of the Mandarava practice for him and
we must enter into the planned now a circle of maples and oaks from the generators is quite ex- Geko and now this is our rescue prepare this beautiful Gar for all
budget. growing. pensive, it is necessary in any case from wind and cold and it also future activities!
There is a solution for the Many people make rope Man- for alarm. preserves the heat in the house.
heating system which Giovanni dalas we made a rope fence. At There is an important point We meeting there, eat, communi-
Boni likes and is currently the the moment we only have 20 % of we are currently working on all cate, do practices and enjoy some
most economical and practical the money for a concrete fence, the wiring: internet, audio, dif- moments of sunny weather. We
for us. The source of the heat will but we really needed to protect ferent kinds of alarms in the gon- have established a mini-boiler on
be electricity, and we will install the area from cows that walk pa, and, of course, the electricity the wood inside the house so now
and the rest of the infrastructure And now we also have Kun-
New Old Gar was bought by a Community sangar North! Due to the fact that
Kunsangar North member and became a Buddhist
retreat center. Rinpoche gave it a
community members who stayed
to work in Kunphenling proved Books by
Chgyal
new name Kunphenling. their devotion to our Master and
I
n the forests of Russia, in Over the next four years many Community over the years, Chg-
the Moscow region, a Gar great masters of Buddhism gave yal Namkhai Norbu returned the
was created in 1998 named
Kunsangar by Chgyal Namkhai
teachings there. There were also
courses there organized by the
status of Gar to Kunphenling and
named it Kunsangar North. Namkhai Norbu
Norbu. Dzogchen Community coun- After the retreat in Moscow
However, in 2006 Rinpoche tryside retreats on Santi Maha from 2nd till 6th of May 2011
decided to sell this place and Sangha, Yantra Yoga and Vajra Rinpoche will bestow the Teach-
it was no longer a Gar of the Dance. ing of Medicine Srothig, the root Yantra Yoga
Dzogchen Community. This Then another place was found Terma text of Rigdzin Changchub Dream Yoga and the
complex with a functioning Gon- in Crimea, Ukraine. Rinpoche Dorje there! How wonderful!
pa, a dormitory, a teachers house named it Kunsangar South.
Practice of Natural Light
Dzogchen Teachings
www.SnowLionPub.com
Tibetan Buddhist news and
thousands of items online.
FREE quarterly newsletter 800-950-0313
and catalog on request. [email protected]
Retreat on Tsalung Mandharava with Elio Guarisco, Moscow Rinchenling November 1821, 2010. Photo: D. Ibragimov
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
16
W
hat are the celebrations niversary will be an opportunity the Community can be present- of it, rather than being ignorant have this joy of being here. There
of the 30th anniversary to demonstrate the importance ed. The third aspect is to share of it, then there is some measure are many things that can be done.
of Merigar West? The of the Dzogchen Community the celebration with the people of joy in that. We can collaborate by participat-
first thing that comes to mind to the public in general because of the villages around Merigar And here also refers to Meri- ing in an artistic performance, in
are the words of Rinpoche first Merigar represents the begin- to show them that we are nor- gar, the Master, the transmis- the events, by helping the orga-
there is number one, then num- ning. The celebration will be a mal people just like them, with sion, the teaching and the whole nizers in their work, letting the
ber two, three, etc., because num- way to show that the Dzogchen our work, our interests, our lives, Community. Each one of us is the organizers know about Commu-
bers start with number one. And Community is a social entity inte- etc. The Dzogchen Community Community. We are all the Com- nity people with specific skills
Merigar represents number one grated into society, a way to give always represents the Master and munity. We have to make this joy and putting them in touch with
because it was from here that the people a concrete idea of what the Master always manifests in of being here felt. It is a unique them. Then we can help by sup-
whole international Dzogchen Merigar actually is. an impeccable and distinguished and extraordinary opportunity. porting the celebration with even
Community developed. Then as a cultural association way and we, as a Community, Merigar has existed for 30 years. a minimum donation.
We are celebrating an anniver- Merigar has steadily grown from should manifest in the same way The Community has developed, People should understand that
sary that is very special because it only a handful of people 30 years at the celebration. So to integrate there is the Master and we re- it really is a great joy to be here.
is the 30th anniversary of Meri- ago until now there are thou- the social aspect of the Dzogchen ceive his teaching, we are mini- This possibility that Rinpoche
gar. By special we mean that it sands of members all around Community the events will main- mally aware of our state this is has given us is truly extraordinary
wont be something internal like the world. So this celebration is ly be held in the three villages something that makes us truly and we need to treasure it and to
we did in the past when we just also an opportunity to show the around the Gar, in Arcidosso, joyful. By recognizing that this take this responsibility of col-
celebrated among people of the importance and relevance of our Castel Del Piano and Santa Fio- special occasion of the 30th an- laborating so that the celebration
Community and everything took whole international Community. ra, with people participating not niversary represents all the work becomes a success.
18:00 Presentation of the most, on themes in which people wide range of experiences and
The Joy of Being Here Dzogchen Community can talk about their personal ex- professionality, so there is space
Shang Shung Institute ASIA periences in life and at work. for everyone:
An event to celebrate the 30th anniversary 18:30 Activities Dancing on the The topics, listed below, are
of the Merigar Dzogchen Community Mandala, Yantra Yoga, Kumar many and varied, and relate to a >> continued on the following page
July 1518, 2011 Kumari, Ku-nye Massage
I
n July 2011 the Dzogchen Exhibition of Tibetan Art: 19:30 Gastronomic Stand with
Community will celebrate 30 Santa Fiora the Town Hall International Dishes
years since the birth of Meri- 20:30 Artistic Stage Performances
gar. The festivities will take place Friday July 15 22:00 Late Evening Show
on July 15, 16 and 17 and conclude Arcidosso the Aldobrandescan
on July 18 in the morning. Castle MONDAY JULY 18
10:00 Inauguration of a Arcidosso Town Hall
We are planning on giving the sculpture entitled To Peace 10:00 Thirtieth Anniversary
event an international tone by Closing Events
inviting people from the Com- Merigar Presentation of commemorative
munity all round the world, but 11:30 Meeting with the authorities plaques and thanks
we strongly believe in creating 13:00 Lunch
a programme of events that can Announcements
be shared with the population of Arcidosso Piazza Indipendenza
the Amiata area who hosted the 19:30 Gastronomic Stand with International Festival of popular
birth of Merigar and have always International Dishes and folk dances
followed its evolution attentively 20:30 International Festival of The first evening of the festivi-
and enthusiastically. popular and folk dances ties will be dedicated to popular
22:00 Firework display and folk dances from the places
We would like to create a series where Community people live.
of different situations in each Saturday July 16 & Sunday July 17 For this reason, those who know
village, in Arcidosso, Castel del Arcidosso Town Hall (only Sat- how to do these type of dances
Piano and Santa Fiora that will urday July 16) well should get in touch with
be characterized by an inter- 10:00 Opening Friendship Luda, [email protected],
mingling of artistic and cultural Meetings who will be coordinating all the
events and gatherings. groups coming from different
Arcidosso The Path of Kindness parts of the world.
We are organizing a programme Castel del Piano
that combines festivities and The Path of Well-Being Friendship meetings 2011 Wall Calendar for Merigars 30th Anniversary
meetings, two distinct moments Santa Fiora Three paths for meeting and ex-
C
structured in the following way: The Path of Equilibrium changing experiences between ontaining wonderful photos that recall the tireless work that our precious
10:30 Presentation and Speeches the Dzogchen Community and Master has carried out right from the beginning of the Community for the
Collective exhibition of Art 12:30 Buffet the community of Amiata. benefit of us all. Offerings collected for the Calendar will be used for organiz-
Collective exhibition of Sculpture: On July 16 and 17, in the morn- ing the 30th anniversary celebrations in 2011.
The Castle in Arcidosso Arcidosso Parco del Pero ings, in three different places Rinpoche considers this event to be important and will certainly appreciate the
Collective exhibition of Visual Art: Castel del Piano (Arcidosso, Castel del Piano and participation and collaboration of us all.
Castel del Piano Palazzo Nerucci Piazza Garibaldi Santa Fiora), there will be a series To order the calendar, please contact Shang Shung Institute:
Santa Fiora Piazza Garibaldi of talks, each 15 minutes at the www.shangshungstore.org [email protected]
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Merigar West
17
E
toration of the Paintings in very year on Chgyal Namkhai
the Precious Temple of Great Norbus birthday on December 8,
Liberation his students at Merigar West usu-
under the Guidance of Migmar Ciren ally send him a birthday present along
April 1June 30, 2011 with their greetings. This year because
of his health problems, the Merigar
The workshop will be held in the Gonpa. gakyil thought that as well as buying
Merigar West offers accommodation him a present it might be beneficial to
and food for those participating. buy some animals destined for slaugh-
The daily schedule will include 6 ter and free them. Liberating animals in
hours of techniques and practice of this way is a Tibetan custom that brings
restoration of the Gonpa and 2 hours benefit because you are saving life.
on techniques of Thangka painting. After collecting money from every-
Only those who have knowledge and one, some eels destined for Christmas
experience of painting techniques for tables (in Italy they are considered a Passages
restoration should apply. Those partici- delicacy) were bought from fishermen
pating should take part for at least one on the coast of Italy, in Maremma. This Born: Alessandra Policreti and Carlos
month. type of fish can live several days out of Garcia are very happy to announce the
Migmar is a Tibetan artist who is the water, can be transported fairly eas- arrival of their daughter, Rosa Gua-
expert in painting, decoration, restora- ily and, in addition, can be liberated in dalupe Garcia Policreti, who was born
tion and wood carving. One of his most either a river or the sea. in Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy on
recent works was in the Tashigar Norte In the photo you can see the eels be- December 14 at 11.51 am.
Gonpa on Margarita, which was com- ing liberated into the sea.
pletely decorated in traditional Tibetan We have already bought and liber-
style under his direction. This workshop ated the first batch of eels and have
is a special occasion because it will be asked the fishermen for another 60 ki-
the first time that Migmar has led a los. We also intend to continue this kind
work experience of this kind at Merigar. of activity by liberating other animals in
Those interested should contact the the near future.
Red Gakyil: [email protected] with Merigar West Gakyil
a short career description.
>> continued from previous page Visual Arts cific skills or who simply would
The Path of Equilibrium: man, peo- Three exhibitions of visual art like to offer their enthusiasm and
ple, the environment and nature will be set up in the three villag- creativity.
The Path of Well-Being: body, voice es closest to Merigar (Arcidosso,
and mind Castel del Piano, Santa Fiora) in This Thirtieth Anniversary will be
The Path of Kindness: respect and suitable places. a wonderful chance to meet each
collaboration One will be dedicated to Ti- other, spend time together, have The teaching was enjoyed by all
betan thangkas, the other two to fun and show our precious Mas- France the participants, as it reduced our dif-
Everyone is invited to send a pro- visual art in its widest sense. ter all our gratitude and affection. ficulties, and brought relaxation and
posal to [email protected] In order to participate and ex- Vajra Dance in Paris happiness, in place of the well known
hibit your art, contact: For this reason the Merigarw30 confusion, the struggling, the distrac-
A
Performances [email protected] Committee needs you all. t the beginning of December tion and the tensions of life!
A special section will be dedicat- 2010, Prima Mai came to visit We were reminded how the Mandala
ed to all the artists in the Com- The committee for the Thirtieth www. merigarw30.org the French community in Paris is a symbol of our existence, how this
munity who will give live perfor- Anniversary of Merigar West cel- http://merigarw30.org for the first time. She was welcomed precious practice is a tool for having
mances, whether they are musi- ebrations will carefully examine by a bout of brief but strong rain as she experiences, for discovering our real
cians, singers, dancers, magi- all proposals for the Dance Festi- got off the plane from Italy, and on her nature and integrating with our con-
cians, clowns or other. val, the Friendship Meetings, the way to Montmartre, the top of the city, dition. This practice, which opens the
The idea is to have a high level Performances and the Visual Arts where she stayed during these few days. three existences, makes our body taller,
celebration with the participation and will then choose participants From Pariss practitioners, a thou- harmonises the voice, and relaxes the
of the entire International Com- for the programme according to sand thanks to Nadia who taught the mind.
munity together with artists from quality, content and technique. Vajra Dance under supervision, and to Thank you again to the teachers,
Amiata during the evenings of Prima Mai for these three days of hap- their commitment and promise, their
July 16 and 17 in the main square Collaborating in the organisation piness, in St Ouen, on the Mandala of sacrifice and patience and all their
of Arcidosso. We need a large number of vol- the World, three days recalling pres- marvellous manifestations, waiting
We will also try to organise unteers for different jobs, some ence, through the practice of the Six for other opportunities, in Paris and all
performances by practitioners of which require particular skills Spaces of Samantabhadra. over the world.
from different places who will and others which dont. There were 13 participants, occa- Finally the snow came on the last
be able to perform together, for Contact: [email protected] sionally 14 in some sessions, and for day to greet Prima and tell her from
example in a piece of classical most of them it was their first contact our heart, that we hope to see her again
music with different soloists, or We are calling on the different with the Dance. Everyone participated soon.
a jam session, etc. Gars and Lings to let their prac- very diligently, first of all to get to St Homage and Long Life to the Master
All proposals should be sent to titioners know about the event Ouen, the place of the Mandala, in the
[email protected] in order to find people with spe- sudden cold of these days.
Merigar West
18
Italy
Dribselling The
Ling that Removes
Obstacles
Clara Lovisetti
A
fter a final rush that had
us working almost full
time in the final weeks,
we managed to open Dribselling,
the bright new centre of the Mi-
lan Community on November
1st, exactly on the occasion of the
Worldwide Transmission of Gu-
ruyoga for the anniversary of Ad-
zom Drugpa. It was an event we
had been waiting a long time for.
After Rome and Naples, Milan
has been one of the cities that first Dribselling practitioners met on the occasion of the Masters birthday to do the Mandarava practice. Photo: C. Lovisetti
hosted the Masters teachings.
In the 1980s he came here for a ergy, where we did the Dance to a tunately, only a few minutes on Right on the occasion of a In conclusion, around 7 pm,
conference held at the Palazzo background of clanking trains ar- foot to get from one to the other. Gomadevi practice retreat orga- a tun of Dance brought us back
delle Stelline, an ancient convent riving or leaving passing directly It was on this occasion that Ye- nized in mid-June 2010, this per- to a contemplative atmosphere
right opposite the Madonna del- over our heads and which we had shi, in a not very roundabout way, son gave us a wonderful surprise: with its harmonious melody and
le Grazie church which houses access to by going along a bit of chided us for our inertia, for this a set of keys. They were the keys the dancers recreating the magi-
Da Vincis famous Last Supper - tunnel under the platforms and dangerous catch 22 that we were to Dribselling, which had been cal choreography of the Dance of
which has become a conference then through a door that seemed not managing to get out of. We bought just a few days before and the Song of the Vajra with their
centre. like the door to Poliphemes cav- were only a few people because put at our disposition. movements.
The history of the Milan Com- ern. But people were not put off we didnt have a centre, but with- Dribselling had found a home Eight intense hours that had
munity is quite complex and diffi- by this and, in fact, a group of out the centre we would always in via Sibari 15/a, in a large open witnessed the participation of
cult to tell in just a few words and about ten dancers from Milan be just a few. With his words, a space of more than 180 sq.m. on about thirty people in the World-
then I dont really know much was created who were joined by marvelous unscheduled teaching the first floor, a square area with- wide Guruyoga Transmission,
about it first hand. So I will have some practitioners from Turin, on the afternoon of December 8 out columns which is perfect for around ten of them were new
to stop here and there will have given the convenience of the after the Ganapuja, he gave us the the Mandala. The building that people or had only recently ap-
to be an article in the future that trains. right push. houses it has only two floors and proached the Teaching.
goes into this in detail. On the whole it was a situa- We started to look around with is a new construction, situated This was the first official
What I can talk about, how- tion that was easy and didnt need renewed commitment, consider- in one of the many ex industrial event, open to all, which was fol-
ever, is my personal experience, great commitment, but it didnt ing, too, the particular aspects estates on the outskirts of Milan lowed on November 28th by an
that started ten or so years ago let us grow because we didnt of the space that we wanted, not that have been reclaimed partly open day with Emmanuel Jouan
when I arrived in the Communi- have a fixed reference point for only for its considerable dimen- for residential use and partly for dedicated to Yantra Yoga, in par-
ty thanks to a Yantra Yoga course new people. And so we started to sions but because a mandala for workshops and craftspeople. ticular beginners, and which,
led by Giovanna Conti at a Hatha turn to Valter Bianchinis hospi- the Dance had to fit in. Now we needed to structure once again had about ten people
Yoga centre in the heart of Milans tality for practice retreats, in his And so 2009 arrived, another the space to make it suitable for present who we hadnt met be-
China Town. Even then the Com- lovely house with a swimming decisive year. At the auction dur- our needs. We had no time to lose fore.
munity was on the point of clos- pool in the Piacentine hills. The ing the August retreat at Merigar, since the summer break would At the beginning of Decem-
ing a deal to share some space first of the series was a Manda- after hard bargaining, our Com- have made the time even lon- ber we hosted the webcast for
with another Dharma centre, but rava retreat with Nina Robinson. munity managed to get a thangka ger to get the Ling up and run- the Mandarava practices for the
then things fell through not be- Then a Tara retreat followed, then and a statue of Gomadevi, the lat- ning. And what better moment health of our precious Master and
cause of lack of goodwill on our another of Mandarava with Elio ter belonging to Yeshi and con- for an inauguration than the next on his birthday, December 8th, in
part but because our counterparts Guarisco and, in recent years, taining precious relics from Ayu Worldwide Transmission in the the intervals between the webcast
withdrew their offer. Gomadevi with Enzo Terzano. Khadro. autumn with our precious Master sessions, we held a little Christ-
For a while we didnt talk All wonderful experiences both A few weeks later, someone in webcast! mas market and sold some things
about finding another space, held from the point of view of prac- asked the Master and received November 1st was a beautiful for ASIA. There were some prac-
back by circumstances that were tice as well as the pleasant cheer- the name of the Ling, even before day even if it was accompanied by titioners from Como present who
not very favourable, such as the ful atmosphere, experiences that we had found it. The connection driving rain and a grey sky. How- had been invited for the occasion,
need to find a space that would reinforced our community even seemed obvious and we had un- ever that did not manage to spoil including Elio Guarisco who
be suitable to house the Mandala further but made us feel even derstood who could help us. But our joy at finally having a place of kindly explained the Mandarava
and also there were only a small more the lack of a centre where most of all now we really had to our own where we could meet, practice on the request of some
number of practitioners who, we could continue to practice dedicate ourselves because we practice and put ourselves for- people who were new. In Janu-
faced with quite exorbitant costs, with that same atmosphere once had a name and we had to find a ward as a stable reference point ary we are expecting Fabio Risolo
were ready to make sacrifices to we returned to Milan. place as soon as possible. In the in the Milan area. for a meeting on meditation and,
support the centre. Then 2008 arrived when we meantime, in confirmation, a This is a brief account of the after that, Maurizio Mingotti for
In this way on the one hand a invited Khyentse Yeshe at the person had unofficially appeared day which started at 11 with the a course of the Dance of the Six
virtuous circle was created, but on beginning of December, exactly who said they were willing to explanation of the Transmis- Spaces as well as other open days
the other a vicious one. For Yan- at the same time as the Masters make an investment by buying sion of Guruyoga followed by the and courses of Yantra Yoga.
tra Yoga and Dance of the Vajra we birthday. We had to find three a space for us. We immediately webcast from Costa Rica with All these events are to help
rented suitable spaces while for locations one for the morn- started to search in a more sys- our precious Master. After this Dribselling grow and develop
the practices and the Ganapujas ing teaching sessions, one for tematic and organized way, ap- there was a sumptuous ganapuja waiting for its real inauguration
we took turns at different peoples Yantra Yoga and another for the pointing a person to collect sug- thanks to the generous offerings when our precious Master and
homes. For a couple of years, for Dance and the Ganapuja on De- gestions and then organizing of some great Sri Lankan food Khyentse Yeshe can come to visit.
example, we practised the Dance cember 8th. For the teachings we visits. The search was not easy at brought from a nearby restau-
of the Vajra in the meeting hall found the Philological Society, a all but a couple of suitable spaces rant. After the practice, the atmo-
of the railwaymens social club, respected prestigious cultural as- were found. This person had to sphere became pleasantly merry,
right under platform one of Milan sociation with its headquarters in decide and choose on the basis human warmth making up for
Central Station. It was a space that a Liberty building near the Scala of the amount that they could in- the shortcomings of the early
was available practically for free, Theatre, in the heart of Milan. vest. November weather and a central
every Monday evening, thanks to For Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance heating system that still wasnt
a practitioner who worked for the we found two spaces more on working.
railway. A place with a strange en- the outskirts of the city but, for-
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
19
Merigar West
SMS Meditation and Contem- Yantra Yoga, Pranayama and
Germany plation according to Dzogchen Kumbhaka
with Jakob Winkler with Elke Glander
Vajra Dance, Beginners course April 13 in Dargyling, Cologne June 2226 in Hfen
6 Spaces of Samanthabadra registration Jil Self registration Martin Fleischer
with Lenka Kroh [email protected] [email protected]
January 79 Dargyling Cologne,
registration Viktoria Gershevskaya Yantra Yoga, Advanced course Public talk Dream Yoga
[email protected] third series of Yantra with Michael Katz
with Elke Glander July 21 in Dargyling, Cologne
Vajra Dance, Beginners course May 1315 in Munich
Song of the Vajra Part 2 registration Martin Fleischer Dream Yoga retreat
with Karin Heinemann [email protected] with Michael Katz
February 813 Dargyling Cologne, July 2224 in Hfen
registration Viktoria Gershevskaya Yantra Yoga Beginners course registration Jil Self
[email protected] with Saadet Arslan [email protected]
March 2527 in Dargyling, Cologne Italy
Yantra Yoga, Advanced course registration Martin Fleischer Gomadevi retreat
rst series of Yantra [email protected] with Enzo Terzano Naples, Namdeling
with Elke Glander September 911 in Dargyling, Cologne New Gakyil
February 1820 in Munich Vajra Dance, Beginners course registration Jil Self Blue: Alberto Carpasio, Gino Vitiello; Yellow: Giuliana Novelli, Lucrezia Bordoni;
registration Martin Fleischer Song of the Vajra Part 1 and 2 [email protected] Red: Antonio Capurro, Francesco Paolo Coppola
[email protected] with Karin Heinemann
April 30May 11 in Hfen SMS Base
Mandrava Tsalung course registration Viktoria Gershevskaya with Jim Valby Rome, Zhenphenling Lucilla Curini
with Sasha Pubants [email protected] Nov. 2327 in Dargyling, Cologne New Gakyil [email protected]
March 35 in Hfen registration Jil Self Blue Gakyil
Practice retreat Jnana Dakini and Vajra Dance [email protected] Yellow Gakyil Daniela Monaci
March 619 practice retreat Luigi Volpi (director) [email protected]
registration Martin Fleischer with Karin Heinemann [email protected] Monica Marinelli
[email protected] June 1722 in Hfen Federica Mastropaolo [email protected]
registration Viktoria Gershevskaya [email protected]
[email protected] Red Gakyil [email protected]
Gemma Di Santo www.zhenphenling.it
[email protected]
I
have to say that planting trees at
Merigar East was one of the best
karmayoga activities I have par-
ticipated in. The weather was beautiful,
already November, but it felt like it was
summer, at home. Blue sky, warm sun,
pleasurable wind which cooled us down
us while we were working. We planted
around seventy trees, also with the help
of the tractor which dug the biggest
holes. People arrived from Slovakia,
Russia, Moldavia, Poland and Romania
but it didnt feel as if there was any dif- Photos: G. Ladra
ference between us. It was as if we had
known each other a long time ago.
Everything went smoothly, and after After these adventurous years he
three days, we started to put wood- Passages returned to Budapest, and in 2002 his Czech Republic
en barriers around the trees, which we hometown became the very place where
connected with coconut rope in order In memory of Abel Paizs he met Rinpoche for the first time in his Advanced Retreat of the Song
to provide some protection against the (19682010) life. He immediately found refuge in the of the Vajra
strong winter wind. Of course we did not Dzogchen Community. As his mother with Rita Renzi
O
lack the local Palinka medicine dur- ur Hungarian Vajra brother, recalls: February 36, 2011 at Phendeling, the
ing our work. Thanks to the spacious bel Paizs, lately known as the My son, Abel, had always been Ling of the Czech Dzogchen Comunity
sky and the blessing of the place, we felt Yellow from the Gakyil of the a seeker. He only engaged himself in in South Bohemia. Please contact Nikol
very calm and aware mentally. Merigar East Community, unexpectedly inquiries that looked beyond his own Stanisova for more information:
We were able to share our life ex- passed away last month at the age of 43 existence. If he found some path of [email protected]
perience, to enjoy Gregs jokes, and we due to a sudden stomach ailment caus- that kind he dedicated himself to it.
purified our samaya with ganapujas. ing lethal internal bleeding. He got often disappointed, but always Yantra Yoga third series
After this experience, everybody Abel was a very kind, quiet and help- started all over again. At the end it was course
who participated felt ready to repeat it. ful single man with a very delicate sense as a founding member of one of the first always the cause that left him, as he with Zsolt Somogyvri
I hope that after winter finishes and the of humour. In the last couple of years he democratic parties of Hungary, he had would never give up on anything. The February 2527 (Friday till Sunday)
time comes for planting bushes around dedicated his life mainly to his activities been posted as secretary to the Minister Dzogchen Community was something at Phendeling
the Longsal symbol, we will see each in the Dzogchen Community. of Welfare in the first democratically very special in his life, the only cause You are very welcome to join in.
other once again. A la la ho. Abel was a university graduate in elected government. that stayed with him, that proved Good knowledge of the eight move-
religious philosophy, but also studied Right after that, he took off for him I feel he reached his goal, he ments and the first and second series
economy and finance. At the beginning Honolulu, Hawaii to join his younger realised the meaning of something he is necessary.
of his adulthood, still very young, he brother with his surfboard in his bag. had dedicated his life for.... For more information please con-
had shown some interest in politics and Aiming to enjoy life, he chose to stay tact: [email protected]
and became a Rider of the Waves.
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
20
MerigarEast
the Merigar East gakyil used this oppor- delicious local food. One of the days we They left with enthusiasm and good
Bulgaria tunity to connect to our members here even had the chance to go to Mt. Vitosa feeling, wanting to meet again and Hungary
and also invite new people. that towers above the city. What a great learn more. I was very happy to meet
Connecting with the Bulgarian members invited Igor experience! Taking the old public trans- them and see that there are other new
Transmission Bherkin to Sofia, so we used this oppor- port bus, moving through the traffic of vajra brothers and sisters in this part of
by Lune Jazudekova tunity and the WWT here was followed by the metropolis of Sofia and then, all of the world.
ME blue gakyil two public talks and small retreat with sudden, you find yourself in a wonder- Igor Bherkin came the next days and
him, during which we listened to the ful, almost zen-like atmosphere of the in his very special and catchy way ex-
N
ovember 1st 2010, the day of webcast and Igor answered questions mountain. Trees, waterfalls, silence plained Knowledge of Mind and Real
the Worldwide Transmission, and offered explanations of the basic the perfect place to meditate. Happiness during the two public talks.
one of the special days, when practices of the Dzogchen Community. At the weekend I walked to the Through the laughter, straight to
our precious master Chgyal Namkai Sofia welcomed us with beautiful little yoga place, where we organized the essence... actually presence.
Norbu introduces instant present to all weather that stayed with us all the time the explanations and the WWT, and Our trip came to an end and now
students and people that are interested up to our departure. Sunshine, warm found there 12 new people sitting we have some new people who want to Passages
in the teaching. temperatures, friendly people... I have with open hearts, ears and eyes, meet Igor again, and come to Merigar
Since the Dzogchen Community in to say, I really enjoyed the city, discov- eager to understand, experience, to East, to meet in person our Master Ch- Born: A daughter, Anita, was born to
Romania and Bulgaria is still growing, ering beautiful bio cafes, soup shops, meet the Master and to know more. gyal Namkai Norbu. Anna Mittich and George Tenger on
November 25 in Budapest, Hungary. All
best wishes to the new arrival!
So we only needed instructors and
Poland here Rinpoche came with compassion-
ate help. Some people passed exams, talks: Treasures of Tibetan culture
Polish Dzogchen Community and some were let to pass (like the one and Awareness in daily life.
Goes Into the Offensive writing this article) by Rinpoche. From It was really a great pleasure to meet
By Jacek Machowski summer 2010 we have one Vajra Dance these two teachers one after another,
SMS Base Level Trainer instructor, two Yantra Yoga instructors week after week. Sasha offered very
and one SMS Base level instructor! complex explanations, for people with
W
hen Yeshi Namkhai came This autumn/winter time it looks a high capacity of intellectual under-
to Poland in October 2009, like the Polish Dzogchen Community standing. And then, for newcomers one
we were quite a different is going into the offensive. In just a few week later Oliver gave a talk, in very
sangha. For years our Community was months weve done a lot of retreats. simple words, which everybody could
about 100 people... First of all we invited a lot of foreign understand. Someone said: Why are
Yeshi left us quite a direct message: teachers. Rita Renzi said that she al- there only 50 people here? There should
Youve lost Rinpoche! Now you have to ready feels at home in Poland, because be thousands listening to him! It seems
make Him come back. she has been coming here so often. so simple!.
Maybe the first thing He made us Participants with O. Leick at Namdag Ling, Warsaw, for the Seventh Lojong weekend course in Then for one week Sasha Pubants was Also our Polish instructors are very
understand was, It is not something December. Photo: S. Kosciuk our guest with Explanation of chapter active and every two weeks there is
bad, when the sangha grows!. five from SMS and Oliver Leick visited something going on somewhere. Many
First we had to change our ideas, unsurpassable Dzogchen teaching, Like Yeshi also left us this message: us for a weekend with Seventh Lojong new people are asking us to teach
that only people with very deep con- the sun when it rises in the sky, May it Where there is a place, there can be explanations. Dance, Yoga or explain practices etc.
nections from previous lives and high spread everywhere. Thats our wish a program and people would gather. Sasha also gave an open seminar So it seems we are following Yeshis
capacity of understanding come to and we have to act accordingly, using About a third of the whole Polish Com- in Warsaw entitled Dzogchen the directions and we are waiting for the
Dzogchen teachings, so there is no need swift methods and adapt to newcomers munity live in Warsaw, so we rented Path beyond limitations of the mind good health of our Master. We hope
to take care of newcomers after all levels of understanding. As a result in a small at for a Gonpa and asked and an open talk in dz, Dzogchen He will come to Poland one day very
they will find their own way. If that was one year we increased to 130 members, Rinpoche to establish a Ling. It is called enlightenment as ones natural state. healthy and in perfect condition! May
true, what would be the reason to pray almost 30 % more people! Namdag Ling Ever Pure. Oliver also found time for two open the lotus feet of the glorious masters
at the end of each session: (...) The remain firmly upon the earth. This
Earth.
KunsangarSouth
out of a fairytale, with oaks and firs, passed quickly and, at the same time, great inuence on me. Jim spent a lot The members of the Tashiling Dzog-
Ukraine immersed in peace and tranquility. The unforgettably. Jim was incredible. He of time with us explaining the Teach- chen Community who organized this
weather was summer-like on the eve is an instructor who creates a revolu- ing, doing the practices, answering our retreat showed the characteristic hos-
Retreat with Jim Valby of a snowy winter. One of Jims friends tion in your mind, a senior student, a questions, telling stories and having pitality of the people of Kiev. Everything
November 514 from Australia wrote, I sympathize vajra brother who is the same as you, fun with us near the campfire and at the was perfect and homelike. The retreat
by Vladislav Bespalov that you are now in Ukraine it is so a cheerful person, a wise man laugh- parties that his charming son helped to was attended by practitioners from all
cold there, so we specially took a ing at himself, a Ph.D. explaining the organize. At the end Jim thanked us for over Ukraine, and also from Poland,
T
his event took place in Ukraine, group photo to show that it was really Teaching directly and indirectly follow- coming and spending time with him! Romania, Russia and Tatarstan. I am
known for its stunning land- not so bad. ing Rinpoches advice, the person who Then the translation by Andrei Besedin sure that in their hearts, as in mine, the
scapes and beautiful heartwarm- We did retreats with Jim Valby on helps us to understand ourselves. erased all cultural differences with his memories of this wonderful time with
ing people, in the countryside of ancient the Base and First levels of Santi Maha What is the difference between inimitable enthusiasm. Jim will remain forever.
Kiev, in a place that looked like it came Sangha over a period of ten days that attending a good retreat and dharma-
tourism? A retreat changes your life. I
had done the same practices before but
after the retreat I did them in a differ-
ent way, with a different attitude, with
a new sense and inspiration. Before I
personally met him, I had heard about
some mythical Jim Valby to whom many
practitioners are thankful for acquiring
knowledge. After this retreat in the Kiev
countryside I started to understand the
meaning of their words.
About the retreats with Chgyal
Namkhai Norbu and Kyentse Yeshi
Namkhai, for me it seems like I was
born to meet them and listen to their
Teachings. When I met the SMS Instruc-
tor, Jim Valby, I felt as if we had met
before in a previous life that I couldnt
remember. And I also had a subtle Retreat with Liudmila Kislichenko, in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine from 19th to 30th of November,
Photo: I. Pinigin feeling that this meeting would have a both parts of the Dance of the Song of Vajra. Photo: I. Pinigin
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
21
China
Left:
Vajra Dance course led by Tracy Ni
and Wes Guo, Wuhai, Inner Mon-
golia, China Nov. 56.
Right:
Yantra Yoga course led by Tracy Ni
and Wes Guo, Wuhai, Inner Mon-
golia, China, Nov. 78.
Namgyalgar Namgyalgar
Dzogchen Community in
Australia
PO Box 214 Central Tilba
NSW 2546
Phone/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668
[email protected]
www.dzogchen.org.au
of Events
Vajra, 1st Part Qld. 1517 March at Namgyalgar A course taught by Vajra Dance trainee
1218 February in Brisbane, A beginners course taught by Vajra In this course Fabio will give instruc- instructor, Nicki Elliot, under the su-
Queensland Dance instructor, Cosimo Di Maggio, tions on inhaling and exhaling so that pervision of International Vajra Dance
A beginners course taught by Vajra supervised by International Vajra Dance we learn how to control and balance our instructor, Adriana Dal Borgo. This
Chgyal Namkhai Norbu Dance instructor, Cosimo Di Maggio, instructor, Adriana Dal Borgo. To at- breathing in such a way that our energy course is suitable for newcomers and
Revised Program supervised by International Vajra Dance tend the course it is necessary to have can become harmonized and our mind experienced dancers.
The following retreat has been cancelled: instructor, Adriana Dal Borgo. To at- transmission. can become clear and less distracted,
Retreat with Chgyal Namkhai Norbu tend the course it is necessary to have leading to less stress and a healthier All information available at Namgyal-
at Namgyalgar, 48 February transmission. March life. This course is suitable for new- gar website: www.dzogchen.org.au
The following Yantra Yoga supervision Public Talk/Weekend comers without transmission as well as
courses are being rescheduled, please check Sunshine Coast Retreat Seminar with Chgyal Dzogchen practitioners.
Namgyalgar website for new dates/ loca- with Chgyal Namkhai Namkhai Norbu
tions:
Norbu 1113 March, Melbourne, Victoria Retreat with Chgyal
Yantra Yoga Supervision Course at Namkhai Norbu
2327 February, Landsborough,Qld
Namgyalgar : 1015 February 1823 March at Namgyalgar, Tilba
Yantra Yoga Supervision Course: Tilba, NSW
26 February3 March 2011, Brisbane,
Queensland
New Zealand
News from New Zealand
By Slavica Voglar
W
hen people ask me where
I live, I say At the end of
the world. The location of
New Zealand has its advantages and
disadvantages. New Zealand is a place
that gives me a unique feeling of the
space element; it is spacious, and not
as densely populated as the cities in Eu-
rope. There is one disadvantage though:
if you wish to go elsewhere, it is very
expensive, except for trips to Australia.
T
he Dzogchen Community in those dreaming of it. Communal soups the end of the weekend our collective practice, as well as strong challenge for
D
Adelaide held its second Yantra were a good time to get together and uring the first weekend of Oc- expression of the movements resulted integration.
Yoga course at the end of No- talk between old practitioners and new tober, a group of practitioners in an extraordinarily integrated and
vember at the Unley Primary School students, as was Saturday nights group from South East Queensland light experience of this exquisite dance. In the last few years, the New Zealand
hall. Starting with the 8 movements BBQ, which was enjoyed by all. Many and Northern New South Wales joined It truly was totally beautiful, relaxing Gakyil has been organizing at least two
on the Thursday the 25th and Friday thanks from Adelaide to Rinpoche who dance teacher Cosimo Di Maggio in and yet energizing all at once. We are retreats a year, one in the summer, and
the 26th evenings, we then followed, has made all this happen, and to Emily Brisbane for another joyful Vajra Dance so fortunate to have Cosimo here in one in wintertime. This year, we have
for the very first time in Adelaide, with for another wonderful weekend full of experience. Queensland where he now lives with his also had three retreats: two times Yan-
the 1st and 2nd series of Yantras, the learning and fun, and all the others who This time Cosimo taught us the wife, Marie, in Cairns. Thankyou again tra Yoga and one Vajra Dance retreat.
Vajra Wave and the Rhythmic Breath- made it possible. We hope to repeat it Dance of the Three Vajras complete Cosimo !! Also on 9, 10 and 11 of September we
ing on Saturday and Sunday. A group soon! E Ma Ho! with its special aspects. As I have never held a small closed retreat of the Go-
of 15 people attended the evenings and tried this dance before with a complete madeva practice. At the moment we are
approximately 10 the weekend, with mandala and with the special aspects, I organizing another Vajra Dance in Oc-
a mixture of previous attendees and was very surprised at how beautiful and tober. As Rosa (the Vajra Dance instruc-
newcomers at both. All participants harmonizing the dance variation was. tor) now lives in New Zealand, starting
were very interested and interactive, >> continued on the following page
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
22
Namgyalgar Namgyalgar
Dzogchen Community in
Australia
PO Box 214 Central Tilba
NSW 2546
Phone/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668
[email protected]
www.dzogchen.org.au
of Events
met to eat cake and pizza, dance
the limbo, and wear Hawaiian
garb to celebrate the young girls
January 1516 birthdays.
Advanced Beginners Yantra Yoga At the same time, to have the
with Paula Barry in Northampton chance to learn about Green Tara
from Yuchen Namkhai felt like a
Feb 26 very precious and rare opportu-
Mandarava and Tsalung Retreat nity, one impossible to pass up.
with Nina Robinson And I clearly was not the only
one at Tsegyalgar East to feel
March 1721 so thrilled about this weekend:
Santi Maha Sangha Retreat a good group of us showed up
with Jakob Winkler on Saturday morning, eager to
get started. As Luigi drove away
April 89 with Maya and Emy, for a morn-
Dream Yoga in Northampton/ ing of winter shoe-shopping for
Benefit for Khandroling the girls, we entered the Gonpa,
with Michael Katz many of us carrying, as the Tse-
lenges that living with a dualistic gyalgar East Gakyil had sug-
April 29May 9 Green Tara Practice Retreat with vision can bring to us. gested, the images of Tara that
Song of the Dance of the Vajra Review
and Beginners Course
Yuchen Namkhai and Paula Barry I was thrilled to learn, there-
fore, that Yuchen Namkhai would
we had been practicing with to
share them with all the practitio-
with Bodhi Krause December 11 & 12, 2010 at Tsegyalgar East Conway MA give instructions and lead us in ners over the weekend. As a re-
practicing the Green Tara sadha- sult, the Gonpa quickly became
Details of courses and dates TBA. Paola Zamperini na over the weekend of December a veritable Tara field, and it was
11th and 12th. Particularly excit- quite lovely to see Rinpoches
G
Courses with Jim Valby: reen Tara is one of my the Dzogchen path. Ever since I ing (and not just for a Green Tara calligraphy of Taras seed syllable
Jan 2930 Guru Dragphur most favorite yidams in received the transmission of her groupie like myself ) was also next to all sorts of beautiful stat-
Feb 2627 Emptiness the vast Vajrayana pan- practice from our generous Guru, the fact that it was the first time ues and paintings of Tara, either
Mar 2627 Compassion theon. As an Aries born in the Chgyal Namkhai Norbu, many that Yuchen gave any instructions by herself or in her twenty-one
Apr 30May 1 Vajra Breathing year of the Fire Horse, her em- years ago, I have often turned to at Tsegyalgar East. True, Yuchen manifestations. We sat down in a
bodiment of compassion in ac- Green Tara not only to try and and her family have been living circle, and immediately Yuchens
For more information contact: tion and movement have always expand my limited understand- in Western Massachusetts for a calm and unpretentious manner
[email protected] resonated profoundly with my ing of the Dzogchen teachings, while, and they have truly become made us all feel welcome and re-
own passionate (albeit chaotic) but also to deal with various chal- integrated in the fabric of our laxed. She began the morning by
energy and engagement with lives: the most recent example >> continued on the following page
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
23
TsegyalgarEast
>> continued from previous page and unpretentious way, with her In the afternoon of both days, result shown here. There is so This is why, in my usual ram-
explaining the entire practice in a words first, and then with her Paula Barry, our wonderful Yantra much we all had to be grateful for bunctious and boisterous Ital-
very exhaustive and clear fashion. singing and chanting, Yuchen Yoga instructor-cum-Jana-da- at the end of this weekend and ian fashion, I made sure to ask
Regardless of whether she was il- gave us a very powerful teaching khini in residence, led us through our happiness clearly shows in Yuchen before she left to take
lustrating how to sing a melo- in presence and lucidity. The fol- many thuns of the sadhana. Her the photograph. Personally, the care of her girls to come back
dy or how to perform a mudra, lowing morning, Yuchen talked dedication to make us all more most inspiring lesson I took away to teach us and lead us in prac-
Yuchen, as Dan Zegunis put it, the history of Tara, the legends acquainted with the practice in from this weekend spent with tice again and again. She, with
worked in a way that was incred- about her birth and origins, and all its different aspects was out- Yuchen was perhaps her generos- her usual modesty, smiled and
ibly sweet and Tara-like, encom- she explained, in a very clear and standing. With her patience and ity in making herself available to demurred politely, but I know I
passing, embracing, and so very yet deep way, Taras significance generosity, Paula not only deep- each and every one of us. Being a am not alone in hoping that the
loving with everyone there. She in terms of the ultimate mean- ened our experience and un- full-time mom does not leave her December 2010 Green Tara re-
answered the many questions we ing of the Dzogchen path. This derstanding of the Karma fam- much time, and thus I know it treat will be just the first of many,
raised in a very simple and di- said, I must confess that my most ily goddess: she truly showed us was not easy for her to create the many wonderful experiences we
rect manner. This was not always favorite part of Sunday morn- how to integrate Taras presence opportunity to be with us. On top will share with Yuchen Namkhai
easy, as she had to deal with all ing was listening to the stories in our daily life. of this, Yuchen had just returned at Tsegyalgar East. I look forward
sorts of queries coming from a Yuchen told us, with humor and At the end of our Sunday morn- from Brazil, where she had spent to sitting soon again in a circle, in
very diverse body of practitioners: sweetness, about the connec- ing sessions, Ruben, as the Gaky- time with Rinpoche, in the hospi- our Gonpa, listening to Yuchens
some of us, like Ruben Mercado- tion between the Namkhai family il representative, thanked both tal; and yet, if I had not known it, words and stories, and to prac-
Lugo, (in his own words) had just and Tara. I know we all felt very Yuchen Namkhai and Paula Barry I would have never guessed that ticing together with her and as
met Tara and were still getting privileged to share this part of for their help and guidance, with she had just gone through what many of our vajra brothers and
to know her, while others were our Gurus family history directly words and presents, and we all must have been an incredibly try- sisters as possible.
clearly die-hard fans of the green with her. had a good time posing for group ing experience.
goddess. But in her even-keeled photos, as you can see from the
T
he journey ended where by Chgyal Namkhai Norbu. Tsegyalgar West impressed us
it began. Six years had Sometimes, it was difficult for me with its wildness and raw beauty
passed since Daniel, Nari, to follow Khyentses very precise the first time we visited. I can say
Jay and I hiked up to the future understanding of Longde that that this time, though still enor-
Gar from the flooded arroyo were skillfully delivered from a mously impressed by the wild-
where Chgyal Namkhai Norbu place of great familiarity with the ness and beauty of the land, the
and the others had turned back. teachings and practice. Comple- rawness of the facilities is reced-
Limited by the cars inability to menting the teachings were prac- ing. Through collaboration and
progress due to the high waters tice sessions done with Khyentse hard work the land, along with
and havoc wreaked by the recent demonstrating the Longde posi- our wild minds, is undergoing
hurricanes that hit back to back, tions in the spacious and well-sit- the process of taming. Together
they wished us well. Our curios- uated palapa style open-air gom- we are all preparing the ground,
ity to see the land that was being pa that gave ample opportunity laying the paths and hopefully
gifted to the Dzogchen Com- to gaze into the dark blue Mexi- to be almost everyone.) Near the enough for all of us to climb onto creating the auspicious circum-
munity urged us on; we had not can sky during hot afternoons. In end of the retreat the group was and comfortably sing the Song of stances so that we might soon
come this far to give up now. Ill the cool mornings the land was shuttled to the top most corner the Vajra. We all earnestly posed harvest the fruit of our endeav-
equipped in sandals, the hike alive with the sound of damarus, of the 1200 hectare (3000 acre) in our best Longde A position for ors, both physical and spiritual.
was long, brutally hot and spec- and chants of tuns. Wherever we land, where the road meets the an instantaneous sky practice. Just two weeks home, we already
tacular. went we came across practitio- large arroyo, to descend by foot The descent took longer than long to return. We urge you to
Six years later we find out that ners applying the teachings, us- what we had a few days previous- anticipated and Khyentse skill- visit this magical and powerful
the hike up to the land, over a ing the vast expanse of the land ly ascended for a spacious and fully shepherded his flock up and place for teaching programs or
ravaged road washed out in 37 as inspiration. Some of the after- direct teaching on the rocks. The down the giant sized boulders personal retreat.
places, was precisely 7.9 kilo- noon teaching and practice took uppermost reaches of the arroyo, strewn like mere marbles across For Daniel and Heidis pic-
meters. We know this because as place under the Big Fig, the Baja at its bend, has an almost gorge the sandy canyon floor. The tures visit www.dzogchenseattle.
we descended this long ago re- version of Ficus religiosa, the like feel to it with massive rocks group, aided by the luminescent org and click on: Photos from Tseg-
paired, but still rough road, from Bodhi tree under which Buddha ledges and escarpments large orb of the moon, trailed Khyentse yalgar West
a splendid Longde retreat with Shakyamuni attained enlighten-
Khyentse Yeshe, our rental car ment some 2500 years ago. Just
died in predawn darkness at this as Khyentse Yeshe started to talk
very same, now bone dry arroyo about the fruition of Longde prac-
crossing. On our way to the air- tice on the penultimate day of the
port, only 80 minutes before take teachings, a pair of bright yellow
off, no cell phone signal available Oriole landed in the branches
and with no chance of a passing high up in the Big Fig and started
car on this desolate dirt track to their beautiful melodious song.
save us, we began the 8-kilometer For other sessions we gathered
hike in the opposite direction to- in the large Western arroyo on
wards the highway. Miraculously, the massive granite slabs, whose
not only we, but also our luggage, rounded cavities were filled with
made the flight, arriving literally emerald colored pools. Dunking
5 minutes before take off; but in the pools refreshed the clarity
thats another story. and invigorated the body between
An international group of 20 practice sessions.
Europeans 20 Mexicans 17 US The entertainment team as
West Coasters and 10 East Coast- Khyentse laughingly referred to
ers, comfortably housed in the the land based crew devoted to
now finished casitas, gathered the upkeep and vision of the Gar,
each morning to hear Khyentse was prepared with afternoon out-
Yeshe expound upon the newly ings for the more adventurous
drafted version of Bright Moon amongst us (which turned out
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
24
TsegyalgarWest
Dondrubling, Berkeley Upcoming Programs at Dzogchen without Buddhism Vajra Dance Course in Canada
California is pleased to Dondrubling Retreat with Jim Valby Dance of Song of Vajra (Part 2) Vancouver
announce its 2011 Gakyil: Berkeley California Saturday and Sunday, February 1213 with Bodhi Krause
(10 am1 pm, 4 pm7 pm each day) at April 917 Save the dates Introduction to Yantra Yoga
Blue: Stefanie Kim, Logan Mclellan Two Yantra Yoga Courses Dondrub Ling, Berkeley with Oni McKinstry
(vice president), Kathleen MacDougall with Oni Mckinstry Cost: $ 90 at the door, $ 75 for members For more information contact: February 46, 2011
(president) Beginners Yantra Yoga or in advance; $ 25 drop-in per session, [email protected] Fri, Feb. 4th, 2011: 6:309 pm;
Red: Slivia Altamiranda, Luke Karamol, January 1619 at Yoga Mandala $ 20 for members Sat, Feb. 5th, 2011: 911am, 4:30
Tana Lehr Intermediate Yantra Yoga NB: Same retreat will be held in Los 6:30 pm, 6:458:45 pm; Sun, Feb. 6th,
Yellow: Heather Murphree (treasurer), January 2123 at Dondrub Ling Angeles/Ventura preceding weekend 2011: 911 am, 1:304:30 pm;
Scott Rome, Rich Taylor (secretary) (Feb. 56) The Friday and Saturday classes are an
Introduction to the Yantra Yoga System.
Sundays classes are an extension of
this teaching.
Fee: $ 25 a session / $ 125. for the whole
weekend workshop
http://unityyoga.ca/events/
New Gakyil Lottery panic or presence? three quarters of the high tickets. I re- One day to go, 7 high, 194 medium. have been learned from experience and
By Rosemary Friend ally felt I was doing well. And surprise surprise 200 small tickets which can assist a naive beginner as
Blue Gakyil We began the retreat on a Friday and also still to sell. Again I ask myself how myself.
I
Gloris Strauss was asked to assist with the lottery as this fortunately was an International much can I personally give? Burning up Thank you, really, thank you so very
[email protected] when I arrived for the Chogyur lottery, I tried to send messages out with fever has cleared something. much, for your generosity. Everyone.
Delma Miralles Lingpa retreat here in Tashigar to our community early in the retreat. Our international community comes And I can now say, without doubt, that
[email protected] Norte this November 2010, accepted Somehow, this did not work very well to the rescue bravsimo! Even so, af- helping with the lottery is a truly won-
without a thought of the enormity of over the weekend and I began to feel my ter the ganapuja on the last day of the derful practice experience.
Yellow Gakyil the task, considering the retreat at- anxiety rise. Not selling all the tickets retreat, we still have 43 medium tickets
Steven Landsberg tendants numbered 100 people and the was not an option. Somehow we had to and 35 small tickets available and the
[email protected] majority were new, local Venezuelan pay respect to this aspect of our practice lottery prizegiving is due to commence. Costa Rica
Aloka Pascual people with no experience of our com- generosity the lottery. The wonderful ending to my story
[email protected] munitys fund raising and for some of I began to doubt my own capacity of this lottery practice experience is Dekyitling New Gakyil
whom the purchase of one small ticket and the capacity of our community. I that sometimes we have heroes and
Red Gakyil was a challenge. There were 500 small began to feel unwell, developed a very heroines. And I am thankful to one of Dear practitioners, we are happy to
Michel Dubourdieu tickets for 25 prizes, 300 medium/active high fever and was unable to move our community heroes who came to me inform you that on Sunday November
[email protected] element tickets for 15 prizes and 100 out of my bed for almost 20hrs. What in that moment and purchased all the 29th we elected the new Dekyitling
Ana Mara Aranguren high tickets for 15 prizes. Everything is was that? I felt an enormous sense of remaining medium tickets so that we Gakyil, the new members are:
[email protected] fine. No problema. responsibility, not wanting to harangue could commence the lottery in respect- Red Gakyil: Gloriana Brenes
When I realised that Rinpoche people and perhaps simply not trusting ful time for our Master, ready to begin. [email protected]
Geko personally selected, named and gift- in guruyoga presence. Ok then, no more Thank you also to Rita Bizotto who Yellow Gakyil: Rafael Sanchez
Enrique Carlos wrapped each prize himself, spending panic. How much can I personally give? has assisted with so many lotteries [email protected]
[email protected] many hours preparing this lottery so Two days to go, still 26 high tickets and and has much wisdom and experience Blue Gakyil:
Secretary that our Gar could continue its devel- 225 medium tickets to go. And I am not with this practice. For all those who will Alejandra Gamboa
Rolando Carrasco opment, I was humbled and inspired. even looking at the small tickets yet. They embrace this practice in future retreats, [email protected]
[email protected] I asked many friends to contribute to are being sold by my Venezuelan compan- please feel free to contact Rita and / or Michela Moraglia
the high lottery and quickly sold almost ion who at least speaks Espanol well. myself. There are some strategies which [email protected]
Bolivia
Calendar
of Events
The Dance of the Six Spaces of
Samantabhadra in the Bolivian
Andes for the First Time
by Carmen T Rivas Dvila
Green Tara Practice Retreat
I
December 27th, 2010January 2nd, t was a great experience for me to
2011 go to the high mountains in the Bo-
The Explanation of the practice will be livian Andes to give a course on the
place the day before with the DVD made Dance of the Six Spaces of Samantab-
by Chgyal Namkhai Norbu in the Peru hadra in November 2010. A group of
retreat people welcomed me at my arrival at
4 Green Tara Thuns daily: 3500 meters high. Even though most of
7:309:30 am, 3:30 pm5:30 pm the group did not know Chgyal Nam-
Rate: U$ 25 khai Norbu personally, they showed
serious interest in his Teachings.
Course of the Dance of the Six The local people who attended the
Spaces of Samantabhadra course mostly belong to the ethnic
with Nlida Saporiti group the Aymaras, the original in-
December 28, 2010 to January 1, 2011 habitants of the land. Even though they
Open to all public are perfectly integrated in the modern
11 am1:30 pm society they maintain their ancestral
Rate: U$ 55 traditions, including the respectful way
they relate to nature and the Earth, as
well as their Aymara language. It was a nice experience for me to work with this people who are so open-minded, easygoing, kind and also keen to learn the Dance. The
organization of the course was also excellent. I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks so much to all our people in Bolivia. (Not all who attended the course are in the photo.)
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Travelogue
25
Journey to Maratika
Lacey Segal
I
s festival day he said,
staring off into the dis-
tance, blankly. When
the man from Tara Airlines left
to find a driver willing to sum-
mit and descend the winding
mountainous road to Maratika
Caves, the three of us felt little
confidence. Joel, Mary, and I had
landed in Lamidanda at 2:30 pm,
our flight four hours late, to find
no porters and no guide awaiting
us as promised in this tiny village View of the town from the hike to the Mandarava Cave. Doing the long Mandarava Puja.
where everyone was drunk and
no one really spoke English. was something soft about it. month old baby. The floors were ping of two worlds, a giant vor- that I wanted. The imagining
What should we do? I asked Drenched in sweat, thinking we earthen and smoke filled the air tex. We experienced life there as took effort. It was fine the way it
Joel. were almost there, Joel, Mary, from the hearth. Somehow, this fluid, flexible, with opportuni- was. It was blank; it was quiet. It
Relax, he said. and I summited to find the village womans son, a new father at ties every second; we noticed the had a sense of humor somehow.
Trekking up the steep moun- of Visule in celebration. Women the age of 19, was the only Eng- magnetism of our thoughts like It felt kind of flirtatious. I dont
tainous escarpments was out of walked hand in hand with bright lish speaker in the town, Naveen never before. Reality was con- know.
the question because we had big colored dresses, laughing. Every- Giri. He showed us to the monas- stantly and instantly re-calibrat- Then, on the last day, I en-
bags full of heavy gear in order ones forehead displayed a strik- tery and became our guide for the ing itself. tered the Heruka cave, the one
to make a film about Mandarava. ing red tika made of rice and week. We loved him. This feeling intensified at the with the portal to Amitabas pure
So we sat there. We hadnt eaten paste. A giant swing made of four Collapsing into the Monastery wish fulfilling vase in the main land where Mandarava and Guru
lunch, and none of us had water. bamboo trunks, bowing with the guest room we bowed to a than- cave. I practiced there for an Rinpoche ascended. I practiced,
It started to rain. weight of the children swinging, ka of Manjushri and sipped hot hour before I asked the rock if I experiencing an overwhelming
Then we heard a sound. It bounced and creaked as small chai. The teenage monks gave us had permission to enter its field wish that everyone I loved could
emerged as a small humming and feet kicked into the empty sky. a bowl of Hot Ramen. I felt nau- with my consciousness. I sensed have blessings from this cave.
grew slowly into a loud roar. Two Perched on the mountain crest, seous and my body trembled; so acquiesce; so I put my hand on Then, I wanted everyone they
skinny teenage monks in robes up against the sky at sunset, Chil- a monk took me to the special the stone, and I felt inside of it. loved to have blessings. As if it
skidded through the pools of wa- dren swung in slow motion, like bathroom, the one with a lock Palpable energy flowed from the was some big surprise, I realized
ter on the road splashing mud the rhythm of breathing, on this and key. center of my palm up my fore- that what I really wanted was for
everywhere as they struggled to otherworldly swing. The Hima- Dont be scared, he said arm into my central channel. everyone, everywhere, to be hap-
stop and balance their heavy mo- layan foothills stretched in every sweetly. Inside the wooden struc- The waves peaked, like a line on py. And that was it. After all the
torcycles. Maratika Lama had direction. The town possessed an ture awaited a tiny pit toilet with an echocardiogram. They were practice and all the complexity,
sent his students. The monks, ethereal quality, like nothing had three spiders the size of my hand grainy, like sand mixed in water. this was the answer. Walking out,
bashful, introduced themselves. changed in ten years, or one hun- dangling above it Suddenly I I relaxed to find my own con- a large drop of liquid hit the top
They both looked about 20 years dred years, and if we came back wasnt nauseous, and I didnt sciousness inseparable from the of my head. There was a pigeon
old. again it would look the same. have to go to the bathroom any stone. there, but I prefer to call it nectar.
It take us three hour, for you, There was nowhere to go; there more. I decided to have an anxiety What do you want me to see? One year ago I had never heard
maybe four they explained after was no hurry; there was no time. attack. That night I had a dream I asked, and a sultry female voice of Mandarava or Maratika. It is
strapping our gear to the back of People stared at us. My brown that I was smelling the putrid toi- answered, with tremendous gratitude for
their dirt bikes. Then, they gave T-shirt clung to my body, com- let and saying out loud, What do you want to see? Chgyal Namkhai Norbu and
us detailed directions to get from pletely soaked with sweat. Mary Mmm this smells good! and No pictures or smells or sounds the Dzogchen Community that I
Lamidanda to Haleshi: asked some women, I had to laugh at myself a little bit. or feelings came. It was like two write this article, so that all be-
You walk up mountain; you Maratika? and they smiled Couldnt there be a nicer way to mirrors facing each other. For ings may benefit!
walk down mountain to other warmly, directing us to the small communicate the idea of one a moment, my mind could see
side. With no other options and shrine where people put a tikas taste than this? that it was empty, and whatever
a lot of faith, we turned and be- on their foreheads. Back in the room, Mary was I wanted to see I would have to
gan walking in the rain. No, no, no, MAR-tika, Mary petting a medium sized dog that imagine. But there was nothing
We walked through a magi- said, laughing. They stared at us whimpered every now and again.
cal dream. In the distance, the blankly. I looked at the dog and noticed a
snowcapped mountain peaks of So we just kept walking, but tiny black puppy, and then two
the Himalaya lined the horizon. faster. We planned to get there more came out. Mama was lick-
Everest surpassed the foothills, before dark. Somebody made a ing them. They were slimy and
green majestic mountains with joke about purification and we all wet with their eyes closed. Then
mist creeping between the cor- laughed. I had a headache. It nine Joel saw the placenta sitting next
ridors. A light blue river flowed PM, after Mary twisted her ankle, I to his hand on the floor. Mary
through the valley, and waterfalls abandoned a heavy dharma book, stopped petting the dog. I said
streamed down hills terraced and Joel had extreme cotton goodnight and woke up 12 hours
with rice patties. We hiked past mouth, that we realized purifica- later.
tiny villages of houses made with tion was not so hilarious. With The next morning, none of us
earth, dried branches covering one headlamp and three people, were sore, and we felt extremely
rooftops, stones and mud like a we inched down the mountain in happy. Just before the full moon,
paste holding them together. We the rain in the dark, avoiding big Joel, Mary, and I hiked to the
crossed a bridge above a river to muddy ruts. We came upon two Mandarava Cave for Ganapuja.
a narrow trail along a rice patty, women and asked, We strolled across a narrow trail
fuchsia, yellow, orange and pur- Maratika? They said a lot of covered in wildflowers and prayer
ple wildflowers lining the hill- things in Nepali and kept walk- flags lapping in the wind. On a
side, until we came upon a little ing. We met an old man. steep cliff sits the crystal cave
girl sitting by herself on the trail, Uta, Uta! he said, and point- quietly. We did the long prac-
singing and crushing herbs with ed profusely with his cane. This tice, using incense sticks as da-
a mortar and pestle. Her voice meant go ALL the way down the dars, all of us deeply moved. As
echoed against the rocks. See- mountain. It was good we did we sang the Song of the Vajra in
ing us, she stopped suddenly and not understand. unison there was nothing else to
looked at her hands. We passed, When we arrived at a small do but deeply relax and feel grati-
making our way up the steep smattering of lights on a large ter- tude for everything that had ever
trail, and after a few moments we race that was the town of Haleshi happened, was to be, and existed
heard her sweet voice spiral up we wanted to cry. I approached a right then. We saw a double rain-
the hillside. house and asked for some water. bow.
The land felt alive, and fem- In one room slept the woman, The energy at Maratika felt
inine; although it was deep her husband, her daughter, and powerful. I am convinced that
and rugged wilderness, there her sons wife with a tiny one this place is a portal, an overlap- Wish fulfilling Vase in the main cave.
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Review
26
The Game of
Liberation
Lauri Denyer
T
he Game of Liberation is
a wonderful board game
created by Chgyal Nam-
khai Norbu. It is both a game and
a way to understand various as-
pects of our condition. The game
consists of a board with 108 di-
mensions or spaces, some playing
pieces and a booklet telling the
players where they should place
their tokens, which could be liter-
ally anywhere, ranging from the
Dharmakaya to the hell of Diverse
Desires, or any place in-between.
but far more comprehensive in ner, the hidden, working with In the Commentary section
Secret Teachings of scope, on the physiology and psy- the more hidden (specifically Kennard also offers a succint
Padmasambhava chology of sex and sexuality).
There are also three very use-
treating sexual practice with a
partner), and the final stage (how
presentation of the Dzoghen
approach to yoga, based largely
Essential Instructions on ful appendices, one on Buddhist to heal illnesses by harmonising on Namkhai Norbu Rinpoches
Mastering the Energies of Life cosmology treating Longchen- the phases). The second text, A teachings from the early 80s, with
pas systematisation of the Ab- Section of Hidden Instruction, considerations on bodhicitta and
Translated by Kennard Lipman, Ph.D. hidharmakosa mythology and the Innermost Essence of the Da- motivation, with examinations of
Shambhala Publications, another on the five phases, kini, offers a more comprehen- mind calming (shine/shamatha)
October 2010 treating the five elements in line sive treatment of the five phases and insight (vipassana/lhagtong)
with Guenthers adoption of the and includes a presentation of practice according to Dzogchen,
Andy Lukianowicz dynamic process thinking of cog- the Dzogchen view according to direct introduction, yoga energy-
nitive science. A third appendix is the Upadesha with quotes from body praxis, and applying pas-
M
any of us remember a considered appraisal of the evo- several important Upadesha tan- sion on the path.
scholar-yogi Kennard lution of Guenthers approach to tras. For ease, Kennard has sub- Also offered throughout this
Lipman, who in the the language and terminology of divided it too in sections: a pre- work are helpful reflections on
early 80s came to study with Ch- translation. (It is interesting that sentation of the initial ground the elusive and multifaceted
gyal Namkhai Norbu in Italy, master it? 3. What is the place Keith Dowman, too, has dedi- of being, how things are in the meaning(s) of primordial intel-
taking residence in Formia and of sexuality in the mastery of hu- cated his most recent translation midst of our present situation ligence, which translates the no-
attending Rinpoches courses at man energy for healing and en- from Longchenpa, Maya Yoga, (this part contains a description tion rigpa.
the university of Naples and his lightenment? Seeking answers to to Guenther, whom however he of the gestation of the body in This book, which many will
retreats in Europe. Now Kennard these questions in Padmasamb- witheringly disses in a somewhat terms of the five phases and en- find very helpful, is deceptively
has added to his (too) slim corpus havas teachings, Kennard draws cavalier, Stephen Potterish fash- ergetic pathways, energy and cre- short (less than 100 pages!) but
of translations this remarkable (among other things) on Chinese ion in his introduction to that ative potency), how primordial compact, replete with carefully
work, drawn from Longchen- medicine (of which he is a practi- book! His translation is, needless intelligence itself is present (with thought-out cogitations on is-
pas Nyingtig Yabzhi collection tioner) and Jungs considerations to say, clear, zingy and as fresh comments on trekchod and tho- sues succinctly expressed. The
of Padmasambhavas Upade- on alchemy and individuation, to as paint.) gal practice and the uniqueness penultimate section on Ken-
sha teachings and dedicated to further his explorations of tan- To return to our book, each of the Dzogchen view), and expe- nards brief Introduction is titled
Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and tric and Dzogchen physiology text translated by Kennard, re- riencing how pristine awareness The Relevance of these Teach-
in memory of Professor Herbert and human development, tho- freshingly free of jargon, is pre- is present in the body. It would be ings to Our Time, making clear
Guenther, his two main teachers. gal praxis, and sexual practice ceded by insightful examinations churlish to describe the contents that these teachings are not
Kennard takes as his remit with and without a partner (in- of its meaning. The first text The of these translations in too much merely mystical musings but are
three questions: 1. What is a teresting in this regard are Jeffrey Fivefold Essential Instruction, is detail, rather like spoiling a story in fact crucially and vitally nec-
holistic world view? 2. What is Hopkins ruminations ending usefully subdivided as present- by revealing a secret before time.) essary to us in these (and future)
human energy and how do we his book, ostensibly on gay love, ing five levels: the outer, the in- challenging times.
THE MIRROR No. 107 November, December 2010
Review
27
T
o ornament the nature of the mind, w. poetry, dance & music .and creation is not finished poet in mention, Dr. Dorothea
has been a prerogative of the yogic schools since time immemo- in the amazon jungle they recently Franck, is a noted expert.
rial. Efforts to follow suit in the 20th century, when the Eastern found a singing ape a small creature
schools of learning moved definitively westward, have met w. varying looking like a teddy bear
degrees of success. In certain initiatory instances, the above arts, form
in themselves, a path The Dance of the Vajra, a terma of Dzogchen and while the monkeys sing they
master & terton, Namkhai Norbu, is an example. hold each other hugging
A previous Mirror (No 103/ March-April 2010), has introduced, in hugging and singing
depth, a poet in this tradition, Doro Franck, a native German speaker oh happy apes, oh happy apes
who writes, in her recent publication ex nihilo nihil w. an amazing singing and hugging
alacrity & eloquence, in English as well as in her native German &
Dutch. The poet resides in Amsterdam. nevertheless biologist declare
that the singing is just a means of
What is protecting their territory
Is nothing (so much for the academic version of
Nothing things)
But they will go on singing and hugging
A coming and a going as long as we let them live
and as long as it lasts
What is is nothing? the songs will create other singers
Oh what an interesting nothing and perhaps trees and sweet fruit Flat for sale in Castel del Piano,
Nothing is as great as rich and sunshine and rain near Merigar West
As infinite Yuchen Namkhai and Luigi Ottaviani are selling
As and in any case the water will remember their flat in Castel del Piano (GR) in Italy,
Nothing and start all over if necessary 9 km from Merigar.
Fr. HOW THE UNIVERSE BECAME TRANSPARENT perhaps next time
without The flat is about 90 sq.m, on the 1st floor and con-
Franck has no specific background in oriental languages nor in the those scientists. sists of a large living area, a large fitted kitchen
linguistic traditions in which the poetry, for example, of the Indian & Fr. CIRCLE SMALL COSMOLOGY that is fully equipped, a box-room, a bathroom, 2
Tibetan cultures evolved, no faux-Sanskrit in her work. She is however, bedrooms and 2 balconies.
an excellent interpreter of the esoteric tradition in Ancient Greece (Ori- The flat has an autonomous heating system with
gen et.al.) & a connoisseur of modern American & European poetry, in radiators and a private GPL tank. In addition there
particular. is a private garden of about 200 sqm. The building
is in a sunny position, facing a small wood with
In ex nihilo nihil (creation myths Kosmischer Schwinder donkere ma- panoramic views over the valley.
terie) the poet practitioner writes the primordial within the context
of her daily life & her alarmingly personal perceptual & philosophic in- It is a real bargain at the asking price of
quiry. As in the teachings of (the above mentioned masters son) Khy- 105,000 euro.
entse Yeshe, traditional vocabulary, detailed references, w. relation to
text & source, is omitted in favor of direct speech in ex Nihilo a poetry For further information and to view the flat,
of amazing ingenuity & clarity, a view that seems to arise from immea- please contact Renata at [email protected]
surable rays (& realms) of a single crystal one is not sure of the poets
perspective ( where is she coming from?) making her poetry, though
apparently, quite straightforward, indeed mysterious.
I will not explore (or present) the work in Dutch or German, although
familiar w. these languages, to explicate poetry in these languages, is
far beyond my capacity. Even in English, can one ever understand that
which is, by nature, beyond understanding?
In your eye
Fr. WHERE THE LIGHT IS COMING FROM
I
n 2002 I was cleaning my house when pressure was very low. Everything seemed Venezuela. This time the Teachers Training
a book that I had never seen before fell unreal like in a dream. There were 1500 on Yantra Yoga 1st Level with Fabio Andri-
down into my arms. While I was read- practitioners at the retreat, all completely co and Laura Evangelisti also took place.
ing its title, Cutting off hope and fear, different people and many of them seemed Being deeply interested in Yantra Yoga I at-
inside me a deep experience of knowledge strange to me. Everything that happened tended this course that helped to deepen
arose that seemed to be one that had al- to me during the retreat didnt correspond my knowledge. For many years since 2004
ways been there but had never come out with my ideas of how it should be. But I have led classes on Yantra Yoga.
before. the most disappointing thing was the fact For me Yantra Yoga is a very fundamen-
I read this book in two days. Without be- that I didnt understand the instructions tal method for recognition of Dzogchen
ing acquainted with Buddhist terminology on the teaching and had no idea what to knowledge. Concretely working with expe-
it was hard to understand but despite this, do. But when all the people together with inside since the beginning. By participat- rience, it has physical benefits such as im-
the deepest source of real knowledge was the teacher pronounced the syllable A and ing and collaborating inside the commu- proving and strengthening health and also
opened and entered my heart. The intro- started singing the Song of Vajra, I recog- nity I had a unique opportunity to learn relaxation of the mind that is necessary for
duction was written by Chgyal Namkhai nized these sounds as myself. these precious methods, attending retreats deep practice. Now Yantra Yoga is open,
Norbu. I had strong feeling that he ad- After three days of the retreat I worried on Santi Maha Sangha, Yantra Yoga, Vajra many people have the possibility to come
dressed me in an accessible language with that I hadnt understood anything. Also Dance and group practices in my native into contact with this method, learn and
simple and clear words. The book also my physical condition was quite miser- city, Kiev. practice it, and that way get a connection
contained some photos in which he was able. My friends advised me to go directly with the community, teaching and teacher
playing some instruments for chd prac- to the teacher and ask him for help. Stand- One of the methods that has worked for who is the source of transmission.
tice. From the first look at these photos ing in the line that moved so fast I realized me is Yantra Yoga. Under the guidance of In April 2010 Khyentse Yeshe arrived in
it was clear that I should find this teacher that contact with Rinpoche is significant Fabio Andrico and Viktor Krachkovskiy I Kiev with teaching. For me he is insepa-
to make this knowledge concrete. Machig and I couldnt ask anything for myself, so learned this amazing practice. In 2002 at rable from Rinpoche and the line of trans-
Labdrn lived in past time, but Chgyal when my turn came I still did not know the retreat with Fabio I started with the 8 mission. He is an important support in
Namkhai Norbu is living at the same time what to say. The teacher was waiting, so lungsang the movements for purification understanding and correctly developing
and in the same space as me. My intention I told him about the pregnancy and asked and coordination of life energy prana. Even the precious teaching. After this retreat I
to meet the Teacher arose. him to bless the baby. With a wide smile without a clear understanding of all the as- wrote my first poem:
A few days after this discovery, I met he blessed my future child. I experienced pects of Yantra Yoga from the beginning I
my neighbor on the street. He told that complete bliss and peace from this con- felt a deep interest to this method. Before I In the empty bluish infinity
in two months time a Dzogchen Teacher tact. Walking back to my friends I found had practiced hatha-yoga and was quite fa- With the blissful sounding, opened the essence:
would come to Crimea called Namkhai that the books with the explanations of the miliar with working with the body and en- Unwashed, with a bitter sweetness of eternity
Norbu. I was shocked and could hardly practices had already arrived. I bought all ergy. When in 2003 my son was born I did Flattened, merged, no sleep
believe it - this information seemed to be the books that were available at that mo- the usual body exercises but didnt calcu-
unreal. I had just discovered the teaching, ment to understand what I had received late the stress on my body. I received a seri- Sweeping away all doubts fearlessly
found this knowledge and immediately the and how to work with it. ous injury associated with the spine. After Without hope to return anything
teacher manifests in my life. I did my best Returning from the Crimea, I started that my mobility was severely restricted. Laughing by tears about important things,
to get to this retreat and meet him. It was looking for the Dzogchen Community in Experiencing serious physical pain, be- To distinguish the path in the dream.
September 2002 in Crimea. Unfortunately, Kiev. I found a few old practitioners who ing in despair about this, I also had deep
I was not very well prepared, so it was hard met on special days and did Ganapujas. trust in the methods given by Chgyal Merging a moment with eternity in movement
to understand the teaching and practices, And so little by little I started to work with Namkhai Norbu. Doing these practices without interruption,
because I had no idea what Dzogchen was. a lot of practices that I had already received for a long time restored my health. I could Dropping to the source of wisdom and
Besides the book that had touched me to transmission for and started to get familiar only hope to do Yantra at that time! Begin- compassion,
the soul I also read The Golden Letters. with this knowledge. Since that time my ning Yantra Yoga practice, I felt a strong Vajra Master opening direct introduction
The only thing I understood from this life has been full of miracles that havent pain in my injured back. For a few years I Manifests the freedom of consciousness.
book was the Three Statements of Garab stopped even today. did everything possible and impossible to
Dorje. As my understanding developed I rec- balance my organism and get the possibil- This reincarnation has been extremely for-
While I was going to the retreat, an un- ognized that meeting the teacher, teach- ity to practice this precious method. tunate: I have met the teaching and teacher
expected event happened, as unexpected ing and community is priceless, rare and The next possibility to meet Chgyal who have given me the chance to recognize
as meeting the teacher and the teaching. fortunate. I have never had questions after Namkhai Norbu personally was in 2005: and realize real knowledge. And the com-
That day I discovered I was pregnant, so I the teaching. When some questions arose before going to the Crimean retreat he munity. Working on the Gakyil of Tashi-
arrived in Crimea in a changed state and I recognized them being invented and they stopped in Kiev where he gave a public talk ling was a remarkable experience. My true
felt strange sick and dizzy, my blood disappeared. I already have all the answers about the essence of the Dzogchen Teach- desire is to create favorable circumstances
ing. I had incredibly good fortune to live for many people to meet, learn and prac-
near the teacher for 3 days, taking care of tice these precious methods. Collabora-
his comfort, cooking and cleaning. I saw tion with other people for the teaching
with my own eyes how Rinpoche lives and and teacher makes my practice inseparable
travels bestowing his precious teaching. I from life.
understood and realized how hard it is for
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