54c PDF
54c PDF
VLADIVOSTOK RETREAT
WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU
RUSSIA
AVCL'ST, 2000
by Irina Pustovit
Merigar -|- t looked like this endless flight and because it was nine hours dif-
I which took many hours would ference between Riga and Vladi-
July 2000
never come to the end when the vostok we were sleeping in the day
by Tuula Saarkoski
pleasant voice of a flight attendant time and having fun by night, the
informed us: "Ladies and gentle- same as all the people from Eastern
J~\irect Introduction to the State of Atiyoga, the new joined to the electric current. The joining cord in this men, in twenty minutes we'll get to Europe. On the beach a tent camp
-Z-X Upadesha text of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, was case is the Master, the Guru. the place of Artems airport..." I had grown up. Fifty to sixty tents
the basis of the teachings at the Merigar summer retreat Thinking of all those who live far away and do not looked out the window and thought. sprouted there. About six hundred
in July, 2000. This text is an essential teaching concern- have the possibility to travel to receive teaching and "Will we be able to land with such people took part in the retreat. I
ing how to find oneself in the state of Atiyoga, the state transmission. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu has suggested a bad weather?". Or should we go and want to say T H A N K Y O U V E R Y
of Dzogpa Chenpo, and belongs to the cycle of "The solution which is based on the modern technology. It is look for another airport? Outside M U C H to all people who organized
Innermost Essence of the Dakinis of the Radiant Clarity not that he thinks transmission can work through videos there was fog, or maybe they were this retreat. It was done very profes-
of the Universe". Chögyal Namkhai Norbu received this or telephone or any mechanical device, but these things low settled clouds, out of which sionally and at the same time every-
teaching through his dreams, the first time in 1972, can be used as a tool. So, he is suggesting that on the hills were sticking out. It seemed one was very kind and tactful. They
again in 1978, and again in 1983, when he was finally anniversary days of Adzom Druizpa, Guru Padmasamb- like whipped cream generously found such a beautiful place for the
able to write it down without any outside interruption to hava and Garab Dorje. when the entire Dzogchen Com- covered the hills and nothing would retreat. Astonishing nature that was
stop him from remembering. This text consists of the munity joins together in Guruyoga at the same moment be able to get through the barrier. unspoiled by civilization. There
essence of the three testaments of Garab Dorje related to according to the international time table, he will give the The most gorgeous out of this world were a lot of huge butterflies, spi-
the state of tregchod and the three series of Semde, transmission and we can receive it practicing according sun rise and burning sun light were ders, sea stars and other creatures.
Longde and Mennagde. to a rite on video which is being prepared, (see Mirror penetrating the clouds three times We got a sensation like the whole of
Rinpoche started his explanation by speaking of the #53, page 3) In this case, the way to practice and receive before we finally landed on the nature was sounding A and Om A
importance of Guruyoga in the Dzogchen practice, and is shown on the video, but the transmission comes from small (and I mean small) airport at Hum. Even in the sound of the sea
so each day the teaching began with just that, the him, live, at that moment, in all the world, because dis- Vladivostok. and scream of the crows we were
Guruyoga exactly as he practiced it with his Master, tance is not an obstacle. Thanks to Rinpoche I traveled hearing it. The weather was spoiling
Rigdzin Changchub Dorje, in the dream, when receiv- Seeing that his old students are becoming older peo- so far from Latvia, otherwise I us.
ing this Upadesha teaching. After sounding a very slow ple. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu invited all to spend the would never have so many power- continued on page 11
and long A , Rinpoche remained like that for some time. rest of their time on the island of Margarita, out in the ful and beautiful experiences which
So I indissolubly unified my mind with his State and Caribbean, off the Venezuelan coast. There the climate I'll remember as long as I can.
remained in the equanimity of contemplation. After a is pleasant all year round, old people would feel good, There was a short pause to get
while my precious Master started singing the Vajra Song and the younger ones could follow after. A wonderful the luggage and our little group C O N T E N T S
beginning with "Etna K i r i K i r i . . . " and I also joined in and considerate offer. from Riga was speeding ahead to a
singing. That is what we all did in and around the Gonpa Every morning there was Yantra Yoga and Vajra boyscout camp called "Yunga". In 2 THE CAMP ON THE HILL
at the summer retreat at Merigar. A s Rinpoche pointed forty minutes the cab driver Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
Dance. After the teaching there was Yantra Yoga and
out, one has to be joined to the transmission, otherwise Vajra Dance again for beginners. Merigar was well pre- dropped us off near a gate of the 4 INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
the teaching is just words. He said to have a lamp is not pared and expected a large number of people, but the camp. In a few more steps we were
5 STORY OF SHAKYA SRI
enough, it is just an object, but to give light it has to be final number may have still been a surprise. We were all standing on the beach surrounded
Elio Guarisco
by an enormous and beloved Vajra
continued on page 11 5 BOOK REVŒW
family. Our Vajra brothers and sis-
ters welcomed by us with hugs and 7 Asia
NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE'S SCHEDULE 2000-2002
kisses. What was the most impor-
9 KALACHAKRA IN INDIA
tant for me - here in the water of the
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1
Sea of Japan, Chögyal Namkhai 11 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF
October 6th - 8th SOUTH A M E R I C A , PERU
Norbu was swimming and playing CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU
Teaching retreat. Taipei.Taiwan February 1st
October 11th-15th Leave for Peru in the company of a fifty people. 1 1 3 "THE CAMERA is ALWAYS IN RIGPV
Kaohsiung Longde Retreat, Taiwan
rushed into a little building on the Interview with Russell Richardson and
October 17th USA, WEST COAST
Leave for vacation at Taidung Island or elsewhere May 1st beach to put on my swim suit and Dorata Czerner
October 27th Public Talk jumped into the water. O K , Norbu
15 INTERNATIONAL
Leave for Thailand May 2nd-6th Rinpoche is here and that means
West Coast Retreat COMMUNITY CONTACTS
Vacation in Sri Lanka May 13th-16th I'm at home. People around me are
H.H. the Dalai Lama's teaching, Portland playing the new game - Samsara 16-25 COMMUNITY NEWS
November 17th-19th May 18th-20th and Nirvana. It was so great to see 2 7 - 2 8 INTERNATIONAL GAKYIL NEWS
Conference on Tibetan Medicine, Rome Portland Retreat the adults jumping and screaming
November 21st RUSSIA, KUNSANGAR like their children. M y friends
Day of Azom Drukpa Santi Maha Sangha swam to welcome me again and
November 25th-29th May 27th-29th again. Rinpoche got out of the water
SPECIAL ISSUE
Cape Town Teaching Retreat. South Africa SMS Base Level Exam
and the sea got so lonely. So we THE MIRROR HAS ADDDED 8
December 3rd May 30th-June 5th
Buenos Aires, Argentina SMS I Level Training decided to go on and find some MORE PAGES TO
June 6th-8th place to stay and rented a room in a ACCOMODATE ALL THE
SOUTH AMERICA, TASHIGAR SMS I Level Exam
sweet house on a hill. coMMiiNrn-NEws!
December 26th - January 1st June 9th-13th
New Year Retreat, Tashigar SMS Level II Training
Days and night were flying by,
continued on page 3
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
2
Teaching continued
continued from page 2
4
followed his own unhindered way
of The Great Compassionate One as tees. Thus a new door was opened without grasping at anything.
Lives of the Great Masters Mind at Rest, the pure vision of for his charismatic activity and Nonetheless, without closing the
Chandali the Mother of Life, The altruistic work. door of the wisdom that knows
continued from page 5
Quintessence of the Dakini, the ini Those who "harbored wrong manifold appearances, he was very
tiation, transmission and teaching ideas about him or belittled him felt cautious of the relative truth of
of the innermost treasure of Aval- regret and undertook everything actions and their consequences.
Lhadrag Yangdzong. On one of Monks and lay people devel okiteshvara Lotus King and the ini possible to confess their mistakes. When he undertook a second
these occasions Shakya Shri dis oped a wrong view about Shakya tiation, transmission and the yellow Later when they had established three year retreat on the fifteenth of
cussed his understanding of spiritu Shri's practice and began to shower scroll of the treasure of The Union their fortunate connection with the the third lunar month in the year of
al matters with Khamtrul Rinpoche, a rain of criticism and abuse on him. of the Three Roots. Master with faith and respect and the metal snake (1881) he had the
who dispelled his uncertainties on Viewing praise and blame as an After giving these teachings, became his disciples, he took them following experience. The red and
the state of realization and in a very echo, he remained in the state of Khyentse Wangpo empowered under his spiritual care, gave them white vital essence of his body
happy mood gave him a skull-cup contemplation greatly affecting the Shakya Shri and requested him to teaching and made them take up the entered the expanse of the central
filled with curd. Thereafter, he gave enhancement of his realization. be the holder of these teachings. practice. In the course of time, channel (dhuti) through the lunar
Shakya Shri the introduction Many auspicious signs indicating Shakya Shri spent many years in Shakya Shri became the pioneer and solar pathways, and met with
known as 'The Great Seal of the the blossoming of his life, and his intense practice in the Long Vajra who established a wealth of great the ascending and descending wis
Co-emergent Yoga' with the fol charismatic activities manifested Cave at Lhadrag Pema Yandzong meditators throughout the central dom or [element of] of 'rahu' or
lowing words of advice, "Oh excel and his good qualities waxed like and in other places. When he was and ail the surrounding regions of 'fire of time'. As a result he experi
lent son! You belong to the enlight the full moon. practicing meditation at a retreat Tibet. enced an extraordinary state of
ened lineage. Remain in the undis- His first place of practice was place situated above Jogarteng, Khamtrul Tenpe Nyima, the contemplation of the innate nature
tracted state. That alone is a suffi the great cave of Evam in Drugu, some stupid and arrogant young manifestation of the dance of the of the mind. Because of this experi
cient practice!" otherwise known as the residence monks from his old Drugon Victorious Lotus-Bom, Jamyang ence, Shakya was able to foretell
From that time on, whenever he of Drugu. When he undertook strict monastery strongly felt that there Khyentse Wangpo, the holder of the the day of the occurrence of the
found time, Shakya Shri dedicated retreat there he had only a broken was a dirty situation going on in the entire teaching, and other great lunar and solar eclipses without
himself to formal sessions, sitting clay pot for boiling water and a flat area of Chugosho, a mixture of pure masters, gave Shakya Shri the actu using any conventional astronomy.
crossed-legged and with the proper stone as a bed. He wore simple cot and impure and spoke disparaging al introduction to the state of intrin One time in a vision of sheer
gaze in a state of contemplation. ton clothes and went barefoot. He ly saying, "In that place there are sic awareness. On this basis, and lucency, he saw a woman with
Baro Chokyong and other young practiced day and night. At night he lots of families and women". With with perseverance in the practice, orange eyebrows who gave him a
monks of the monastery made fun knotted his hair on the top of his this and other evil rumors, these just like water and manure to nur plate of food resembling rice with
and mocked him with nicknames head. Because of the protracted monks caused as much harm as out ture the field of his faith, Shakya vegetables saying, "These are the
such as "Pema's nephew with the substance of the Ganachakra offer
big nose". They asked him what he ings of the Dakinis". After eating all
was doing and pricked his body
with needles and burning incense.
Though he experienced countless pure visions, he the food, Shakya Shri experienced
an unceasing realization of (the
His body would swell with bubbles, did not have the slightest impulse to hold on to them. union of) emptiness and bliss
but remaining faithful to the four throughout body and mind.
principles of being a good monk, he He let whatever he experienced vanish spontaneously As an external sign that he had
never became angry. grasped the sheer lucency of the
During the day he did not have like a bird thatfliesin the sky without leaving any mind, he could see the sun shining
time to engage in formal medita
tion, but at night he would sit with
imprint. in his (dark) retreat house.
During his waking state he wit
his body upright next to the central nessed indescribable magical dis
pillar of the kitchen of the plays of gods and demons. Howev
monastery on a cushion made of periods of meditation, there was no side fundamentalists caused to the Shri put into practice the instruc er, he exhibited the definitive
stones and remain there till dawn. part of his body and clothes that was Buddha. tions of his masters. For him the understanding that in the state of
Apart from a short period of sleep in not white with lice and their eggs. This happened when the omni dream-like and illusion-like magi instant and total presence demons
the middle of the night, he spent the When he no longer had any roasted scient Drugpa Yongdzin was travel cal display of all things of cyclic and gods are unreal, nothing but the
rest of the time in a state of contem barley flour to eat, he walked to the ing in the district of Chamdo for the life, as well as that of perfect peace playful energy of emptiness.
plation. He was an example of per vicinity of Drugu monastery to beg sake of the doctrine and the people. that is created by dualistic decep Not long after he had had these
fect asceticism. for food. He lived on whatever he When Shakya Shri went to meet tions of observed and observer, experiences, while he was staying
Then the lineage of the oral was given and dedicated himself him, Drugpa Yongdzin saw him as came to an end in their own place as in the Long Vajra Cave Secret Trea
transmission of the Dakini on the solely to practice. Moreover, it was if he were Lingchen Repa in person, just transparent; sometimes there sury of the Dakinis, one morning at
secret path came to him. The pre not his style to conform to worldly and the two teachers discussed and sometimes not. At all times he dawn he dreamt of meeting the
dictions of his masters and a Dakini people and go around the villages experiences and realizations. Drug was unperturbed, in the state of accomplished master Lingrepa.
urged him to take up that path and performing ceremonies or live off pa Rinpoche was extremely pleased naked awareness of the primordial From him he received numerous
he took Chozang Dronma of the the offerings of devotees, monaster and said, "Oh, it is marvelous that purity, endowed with the three wis introductions to secret teachings in
Thotsang family who exhibited ies etc. there is such a great hidden yogin in doms. Though he experienced a symbolic language. At the end,
signs of being a Dakini as his secret Shakya Shri met Khyentse this place", and united his hands at countless pure visions, he did not Lingrepa dissolved into Shakya
partner for training in the so-called Wangpo three or four times and on his heart in a sign of respect. He have the slightest impulse to hold Shri, becoming indivisible from his
'other-body' method of enhance these occasions and received from praised the master in a boundless on to them. He let whatever he intrinsic awareness. As this
ment of one's realization. When one him the initiation, the • liberation way and gave him the name of experienced vanish spontaneously occurred, the knowledge of the state
has reached the right level of prepa instructions and additional teach Shakya Shri. From that time on he like a bird that flies in the sky with of reality which is beyond any pos
ration this method serves as a swift ings on The Master Chakrasam- became known as Togden (or real out leaving any imprint. He sible identification dawned in his
cause for the experience of the vara, an innermost treasure of ized) Shakya Shri and came to be remained in the all-encompassing mind.
highest bliss. Khyentse himself, the earth treasure held in great esteem by his devo- great yoga of dwelling in space
continued on page 9
6
Gramagon and the Dzogchen Community of Japan
The Dzogchen Community Gramagon is a big College of Practice belonging to the biggest monastery of Derge Gonche. It
was founded by the MahasiddhaThantong Gyalpo and is the main Sakyapa monastery in Derge.
Sibdagon or Simda Gompa College of Traditional Studies and the Dzogchen Community
Tibet ofTashigar
(** see details below)
throughA.S.I.A. Sibdagon is a monastery of the Nyingma tradition. They have already built a new College of
Study and for years A.S.I.A. has been sponsoring a teacher there. They need help maintaining the
College and assistance with their standard of living.
D uring his trip to Central and East Tibet in l f 9 7 , Chögyal Namkhai Norbu visited several
monasteries. Rinpoche had a special link with some of them, others were where he had
spent part of his youth or places where his main masters had lived and practiced. In the meetings Dzolung and Tara Mandala
with representatives from the villages and monasteries, Rinpoche received many requests for
assistance and was able to understand the problems that the monasteries have to confront in this Dzolung or Dzolunggon is a small monastery of the Sakyapa tradition. This is the place where
day and age. On his return to the West, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu drew up a program for a series Ayu Khandro spent most of her life in dark retreat. The young tulku of Ayu Khandro recognized
of projects to assist some of the monastic communities he had visited and presented it for the first by H H Sakya Trizin has started to build a small College of Study there, and they need help to fin
time to the international Dzogchen Community in 1999.(See Mirror # 48, page 5) Chögyal ish this project as well as assistance in building a new College of Practice.
Namkhai Norbu asked people in the Community to take responsibility for these projects and
suggested that A.S.I.A. act as a liaison between the monasteries involved in the projects and that
the Community initiate the projects as soon as possible. DETAILS OF T W O PROJECTS F R O M
The day before his departure from Merigar this summer, Rinpoche met with the Gakyil and A.S.I.A
other Community members and presented a generous sum of money to the Director of the Gaky
il as Merigar's contribution to their sponsorship project of Galengon or Galenteng Monastery in * U P D A T E O F T H E RESTORATION OF
East Tibet. GALENTING MONASTERY'S HISTORICAL
Rinpoche asked that Merigar and other Communities not forget these projects and their com MONUMENTS
mitments to them. He also stressed that it is now very difficult for individuals to visit Tibet, and by The A.S.I.A. working Committee
we should use our already established a method for channeling money through A.S.I.A.. who Rome, June 2000
will, in turn, distribute the funds to the monasteries. It is not only a reliable method of sending the
funds, but it could be detrimental to all concerned if individuals or small groups of people decide These more detailed accounts of the activities of
to work independently, and therefore we should collaborate and use A.S.I.A. as our only means A.S.I A. and the Galenteng Monastery and Sim-
to distribute the funds. Following are the names of the monasteries and the corresponding spon da Gonpa Projects are excerpted from informa
sors: tion sent to The Mirror h\ A.S.I A.
Galengon or Galenteng Monastery and the Dzogchen Community of Merigar The Galenteng Monastery was founded as a
(* see details below) Nyingmapa monastery but later became the resi
dence of the important Sakyapa Master, Ga
Galenteng Monastery, in Dege County, is one of the most ancient monasteries of Eastern Tibet. It Anan Dampa. Subsequently, the monastery was
placed under the protection of the sovereigns of Dege, who affiliated it with the Sakyapa school,
was founded in the IX century A . D . by Lha Lung Dpal Gyi rDorje, a student of Gum Padmasam-
of which they were fervent supporters and patrons. Due to these peculiar origins, even today the
bava, who sought refuge there when he fled from central Tibet, which was at that time under the
practices used in the monastery combine methods from both the Nyingmapa and Sakyapa tradi
dominion of King Lhan Dharma who was a ferocious enemy of the Buddhist religion. We would
tions.
like to build a College of Study and later a College of Practice there.
Thus, Galen Gonpa became one of the seventeen main Sakyapa monasteries of the realm of
Khamdogar and the Dzogchen Community of Tsegyalgar Dege, visited annually by the sovereigns during the summer season. On these occasions perfor
mances of all kinds were organized for the king, his court and the general populace. These
Khamdogar was the residence of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's main teacher Rigdzin Changchub included ritual dances and religious ceremonies, as well as secular entertainments, such as horse
races, contests of strength and skill, folk dancing, recitations of ballads, storytelling and all of the
Dorje. Here we would like to build a College of Practice and one of Study.
traditional performances of Eastern Tibet. Galen Gonpa became not only one of the most impor
•
Wontod and the Dzogchen Community of Germany tant religious centers of the realm of Dege, but also one of its most important cultural centers.
The Monastery of Galenteng became known throughout the whole of Tibet because of the
Wontod Monastery, in Dege county, Szechwan Province, is a monastery of the Sakyapa tradition great masters who lived and studied there, including Lha Lung Dpal Gyi rDorje, the Mahasid-
and the residence of the famous Khanpo Wontod Khyenrab, who was one of the most important dhas A Gyi Dorje and G a Anan Dampa, Drubwang Kung Palden and Kyentse Qosgi Wangqyug.
students of Dzogchen Khanpo Zhanga. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu studied at this monastery for Thanks to the fame of these great masters and the long, rich history of Galenteng, Galen Gonpa
six years. The College was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and is now being rebuilt. It became one of the most important religious and cultural centers of Eastern Tibet.
would be good if the German Community to help to finish the building of this College and help The monastery grew and developed with all of its buildings and places of communal worship
bring better conditions to enhance the people's livelihood. including: the temple of the monastery surrounded by the living quarters of the monks, the resi
dential houses of the abbot and great lamas of the monastery, numerous Chortens or Stupas (c);
Ral u ng and the Dzogchen Community of France the Thunchor - votive offering caims (consisting of heaps of stones with mantras carved on
them), buildings for the practice of Mani (Manikhang), the College of Traditional Studies and
Ralung Monastery in Gyaltse County, T A R , is the original residence of the Dharmaraja and the the College of (meditation) Practice. In the past, the monastery housed about a hundred monks
and lamas of superior knowledge and experience.
source of the Drukpa Kagyud School. Here we would like to realize the project of building a new
College of Study. As for the historical events of the last decades, the Monastery of Galenteng suffered an
inevitable decline. Now, in line with a more open attitude to religious studies reflected in Chi
; Ralung and the Dzogchen Community of Taiwan nese policies concerning the Tibetan minority, the population of Galenteng has been able to start
to reconstruct the village Monastery, and some of the local families have entrusted their sons to
As well as a College of Study in Ralung Monastery as described above, we would like to ask the the Monastery to receive a religious as well as traditional cultural education.
Dzogchen Community of Taiwan to sponsor a College of Practice at the same location and help The villagers have saved everything they could from the ruins. In particular, they managed to
with better living conditions. keep in tact the ancient small temple of the Monastery, saving it from destruction. This temple
contains original frescoes dating back to the X century. They have also reconstructed some of the
Dzamthokgon and the Dzogchen Community of Singapore buildings that had been completely destroyed. The College of Traditional Studies and the Col
lege of Practice have yet to be rebuilt. Galenteng Monastery today has forty young monks under
Dzamthokgon or the Dzamthog Monastery, Jomda County, TAR, is a small monastery of the the guidance of the only three elderly monks who survived the tragic events of recent decades.
Sakya tradition and a very sacred place of Vajra Kilaya. Some years ago the temple collapsed They are dedicated to imparting instruction in traditional subjects to the young novices.
and they have asked for help to rebuild it. We would also like to construct a small College of The Social Composition of the Area:
Study for the young monks there, and then later they can teach at this College. A community of one hundred and fifty families is related to Galenteng Monastery. There are
roughly thirteen hundred inhabitants distributed in eleven small hamlets. The whole population
Sengchen Namdrak and the Dzogchen Community of the West Coast is nomadic and usually goes on the move about three or four times a year to find fresh grazing for
their herds.
Sengchen Namdrak Monastery is the residence of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's uncle Togden The local economy is based on the raising of yaks and horses and the sale or bartering of the
Orgyan Tenzin. They have already a small College of Study and one of Practice, but their living excess nomadic produce to farming communities. Each family possesses an average of seventy
conditions are very difficult and uncomfortable, so they need assistance for both Colleges as head of cattle, and this considerable quantity is thanks to the quantity and quality of the pastures
well as living conditions. belonging to the village.
The life of the population of Galenteng still follows the rhythms and traditions of long ago.
Dzongtsagon and the Dzogchen Community of the Netherlands The village of Galenteng has no school and no health center. Its administrative center is the
Kolondu municipality. For local matters there is a committee composed of the eleven heads of
Tagzik Dzongtsagon or Dzongtsa Monastery is a very small monastery of the Sakya tradition. In the village, the administrative monks of the monastery and the elderly lamas, who meet whenev
the 1950's Chogyal Namkhai Norbu took a commitment to look after and help the monastery. er there is an important decision to be made relating to the life of the village community or the
We would like to help them build a small College of Practice and Study there. monastery. The monastery is also a principal reference point for the village people's important
personal or family concerns. Close to the monastery, almost all the nomad families of Galenteng
have a house where the old people can spend their last years of life to attend to religious activi
Khrorugon and the Dzogchen Community of the U K
ties.
Khrorugon or the Khoru Monastery is one of the root monasteries of the Khoru Kagyu lineage Reasons for the Project:
and the residence of a famous Tibetan Doctor Troru Tsenam. They have already built a small Following the Cultural Revolution, almost all the monasteries and religious centers in Tibet
College of Study and a small hospital. Their living conditions are very poor and they still need suffered from decay and religious officials and followers lost their social and cultural position.
help to better their living conditions and maintain their College and hospital.
continued on page 10
Dakini practitioners of Chöd. More referring to ancient texts and oral just above where his head
"Laughter of than one hundred people would instructions of lineage masters, would lay on the bed, to
practice Chöd together in the while other times he gave very kind remember the kindness of
Dakinis" assembly hall from early morning
till late in the evening on important
and practical instructions from his his great master. During
own experiences. After staying in the New Year Days, he
days. Rinpoche's lineage of Chöd Japan for more than twenty-five would make tea with the
THE CHÖD RETREAT WTTH
comes directly from this tradition. years and traveling around the brick and deliver it to all
VES. NYICHANG KHENTRUL RINPOCHE
According to the tradition, his world, he is very aware of the situa the people who came so
teaching started with a general tion of the modern world, so the that they could share the
by Tetsu Nagasawa
explanation on the basic topics of Merigar Gonpa was sometimes blessing. Telling this story,
Sutra, the lineage and historical filled with bursting laughter tears started to slide down
background of Chöd, etc., proceed resounding like that of the Dakini, Nyichang Rinpoche's face
F ive years have passed since I
first heard about Nyichang Rin-
poche's plan to give teachings at
ing slowly towards the initiation
and oral instruction of Chöd, and
with his jokes, such as the "very lazy
Japanese" who are too busy mak
and his voice quietly went
into a small cry. I was
Merigar. Finally this dream came culminating in practical advice on ing money, etc. reminded again of the
true this July. Nyichang Khentrul how to apply the essence of the There were two especially necessity of keeping the
Rinpoche, one of the foremost inner meaning of Chöd in daily life. touching moments for me apart samaya pure and the zeal
lama/scholars of our time within the The last day of the teaching was from the main corpus of the trans for the truth which have
Nyingma lineage, visited Merigar ornamented with a Ganapuja of mission itself. The first one was kept the tradition alive
and gave a one week retreat on the thanksgiving to the three roots and when Nyichang Rinpoche tried to until now. During his stay,
Chöd of Longchen Nyingthig dharmapalas. explain the meaning of receiving everything went very
(kLong-chen sNying thig) cycle of There are so many kinds of teachings from different masters. smoothly thanks to the
Jigmed Lingpa. Being a student of Chöd, but the one Nyichang Rin Referring to Chögyal Namkhai kind effort and hospitality
both Nyichang Khentrul Rinpoche poche gave is named "Dakini's Norbu Rinpoche as an important of Giorgio, Martha, Lauri,
and our Master Chögyal Namkhai Laughter". Coinciding with its teiton of our time, he reminded all Mr. Inomoto, his sweet
Norbu Rinpoche, I had the good name, many women practitioners of us of the rare and incredible luck attendant, and others. Rin
Rinpoche, one of the main figures poche had a good time at Merigar
luck of visiting Merigar and attend attended from all over the world, we share, he explained how impor
of Rime movement during the 18th and enjoyed very much the hot
ing his teaching this summer. From mainly from Europe and American tant it is to follow a master in a cor
century and author of "The Words springs and the food. He was espe
childhood Nyichang Khentrul Rin Continent. He was very happy and rect manner, without harming both
of My Perfect Teacher" had a disci cially happy to see his long absent
poche was brought up and educated grateful to the translator, Iacobella the mental and physical health of
ple who was originally a great Gel- friend Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche,
by the famous Shugsep Jetsunma, a Gaetani, for working with him. Rin the Master. "He may look like a
ugpa Geshe. He came to have a who returned to Merigar just one
lady practitioner of the Longchen poche was very happy to recognize human being, but actually he is
debate with Patrul, but after being day before Nyichang Rinpoche's
Nyingthig (kLong chen sNying thig) the quality and the enthusiasm of something else. You should follow
defeated completely, became his departure to Japan.
cycle and great practitioner of Chöd those present and especially with and behave as best as you can, and
student and remained a pure monk
who lived more than one hundred the young people who were really everything will manifest according I pray that the Masters may live
all his life in his birthplace called
and forty years. At the time of her eager to practice. It seemed he felt ly.", he told everyone in a very long without hindrance so that they
Minyak in Eastern Tibet. At the
death, it is said that her body shrunk good connections with those pre warm and sincere manner. Every may see that all their intentions bear
time of his departure to his birth
as small as the size of a five year old sent participant was moved and listened beautiful fruits. May the whole uni
place, Patrul gave him, together
child. Shugsep Nunnery, in Central As is often the case with scholar carefully. The second moment came verse be filled with the great
with some Buddhist texts and a hat,
Tibet, was situated nearby the lamas, his way of teaching is both when he couldn't stop tears when resounding laughter of Dakinis
a small piece of Tibetan brick tea.
sacred caves of Gyalwa Longchen- traditional and practical. Some he was explaining about one of until the end of this world!.
The monk hung the small bag from
pa and was very famous for many times he would give explanations Patrul Rinpoche's disciples. Patrul
the ceiling in his small retreat cabin;
8
K i Monastery Kälach afra
Reported for The Mirror by Steven Landsberg
A blazing sun in a cloudless sky greeted the thousands of guests at the Kalachakra empower
ment hosted at K i Monastery in August. The Dalai Lama, in the midst of his discussion on
the importance of compassion and loving kindness, warned his audience
Commenting on the three kinds of suffering in samsara, he related the suffering of suffering
to the experience of those trapped in the lower realms of existence due to the intensity of the
afflictive emotions of anger, attachment, and ignorance. The suffering of impermanence is the
against the perilous sun and requested they open their umbrellas. Suddenly plight of those wandering in the three upper realms; and all sentient beings,
the monastery, located in a small northern Himalayan village in the Spiti val regardless of their status in samsara, suffer from compositional suffering due
ley at an altitude above twelve thousand feet, was brightened with the sight of to habitual dualistic clinging. His Holiness noted that this all-pervasive suffer
thousands of umbrellas spread open to protect us from a scorching sun so that ing is the cause of the first two; and unless it is eliminated, the former two
we could listen attentively to the Dalai Lama's commentary on two important types of suffering cannot be completely removed. Kamalasila's work goes
Mahayana texts: The Thirty -seven Practices of a Bodhisattva and Kamalasi- into an extensive discussion of the two truths and how they relate to relative
la's Middling Stages of Meditation. These two texts formed the basis for the and absolute bodhicitta. He stresses that enlightenment is the result of causes
preliminary teachings prior to the commencement of the Kalachakra initia and conditions which are the elimination of all afflictive emotion and the
tion. accumulation of merit and wisdom. Merit is cultivated through the practice of
Everyone who made the journey to the first Kalachakra of the millennium the five paramitas and wisdom gained through an understanding of the lack of
had bussed or jeeped hundreds of kilometers over fifteen thousand foot passes inherent existence of self and phenomena. The Dalai Lama emphasized that
and along roads that had recently been almost washed away by landslides due this did not mean that things do not exist, as such an extreme view would con
to the unusual heavy rains that had plagued the Himachal community in late tradict personal experience. Although everything is without inherent exis
July. It had been a tough pilgrimage and His Holiness was aware of it as he too tence on the level of absolute truth, things do manifest interdependently as an
had just spent twelve hours in a car from Manali to the K i Monastery. So with illusion or magical display on the conventional level. Just as one is liberated
genuine human kindness he made everyone feel welcome and at home in from samsara by understanding the absolute truth of emptiness, one is freed
spite of the difficulties that we all faced in this dry and desolate valley. from the extreme of nirvana by understanding the relative truth of illusory manifestation. The
great middle way becomes the path to enlightenment.
K i monastery is the only visible building for miles. Constructed over one thousand years ago
by Lochen Rinchen Zangpo, it remains one of the Gelugpa strongholds in the Lahul and Spiti After four days of extensive preliminary teachings and one day of the ritual dance before the
region. Consisting of numerous small buildings all built on the side of a mountain, K i monastery Kalachakra mandala, His Holiness began the teachings and empowerment of Kalachakra. He
is home to several hundred monks who must navigate through narrow passageways and tortuous made it very clear that this was another level of teaching in which the primordial condition of the
stairways to move from one small chamber to another. Clearly many improvements had been individual is used as a basis of transformation into the dimension of the deity, a path based upon
recently made in order to host this empowerment ceremony. The monastery commands a spec understanding the result of enlightenment rather than the Sutric concept of eliminating and culti
tacular view of the surrounding mountains and a one hundred eighty degree view of the river val vating particular causes. He advised the audience on the importance of having some understand
ley below. Although there is considerable snowfall during the winter months and all roads in and ing of emptiness and compassion before engaging such a practice. Without such a basis, Tantra
out of K i are completely closed, water from the high glaciers had mostly melted by August and and the method of transformation would remain some kind of egotistical fantasy.
there was not much water in the river. In the midst of his commentary His Holiness took time to emphasize to the Tibetan commu
Literally thousands of tents were set up during the initiation as temporary housing for nity that their religious practice should not just remain a matter of custom and that they should
approximately ten thousand pilgrims who made the journey from all over world. Thousands of seek a knowledgeable basis for their faith and ritual observance. To Westerners and those who
Tibetans, both monks and lay people from India and Tibet, crowded into the area behind the were not Buddhist by birth, he felt it was important that they not depart from their roots and at
monastery where the empowerment was held. Westerners were given priority seating up front least have some understanding of their own religious heritage.
and close to the Dalai Lama. They were divided into several groups so that they could receive After giving refuge and bodhisattva vows to many participants, he began the main body of
translation in their respective languages through F M radio transmissions. During the teachings the empowerment. On the last day of the empowerment many people witnessed a circular rain
prior to the Kalachakra and during the empowerment itself, there was not a space left untouched. bow around the sun and other colorful auspicious signs in the sky. At times this visual event
People were knee-to-knee, side-to-side, with hardly a space to get in and out. seemed to distract the audience's attention from the empowerment: but how could one avoid not
Security was tight with two long lines of males and females making their way through a bag having a look at this miraculous event. In spite of His Holiness's request that scarves not be
and body search. In order to find a proper seat it was necessary to reach the monastery at least thrown and offered, Tibetans could not resist flying a scarf. It was a beautiful sight to watch
two hours prior to the teaching. People started moving up the hill from their campsites from 7 am white kadags (scarves) thrown from afar gradually make their way closer to the podium where
for teachings that were to begin at 12:30. When it was decided that teachings would begin at 8 the Dalai Lama was sitting. The great feeling of devotion from the crowd was overwhelming and
am to avoid the hot sun, people started leaving their tents at 5 am to make sure they could the Dalai Lama's responsive smile removed any difficulties we may have incurred.
squeeze in somewhere. A massive and lengthy exodus from K i and the Spiti Valley ensued following these eight
Beginning with an extensive discourse on the importance of developing the aspiration for intensive days. The only way out is the same way we came in which just meant more twisting
enlightenment through the four boundless thoughts, the Dalai Lama stressed that there was no roads, high altitude passes, landslides and broken bridges. The Dalai Lama was going to do it
point in seeking enlightenment unless it was for the benefit of all sentient beings. Any lesser along with his entourage of security guards and Namgyal monks. They were going to return to
motivation would not be sufficient for bringing about the highest state of liberation as it would Dharamsala. The rest of us were to be scattered in all directions of the planet, each now orna
presume some subtle sense of grasping at inherent existence. mented with the seed of Kalachakra. •
Lives of the Great Masters quite a long time with a fever. When he finally recovered, one
day at dawn in a state of sheer lucency he saw the magnificent
continued from page 6Naropa seated at his right side on a white mat. His body was a
dark brown color, and he was adorned with ornaments made of
It was around this time that his state of meditative absorp out, "Now please come back. The night has come and it is pitch bones and wearing dry skulls as crown. With eyes bulging out
tion during the day merged to become one with his post medi dark." "How is it when it gets dark?", he replied. This was a sign of their sockets, he was looking at a volume of the oral tradition
tative state [at night]. A t first he experienced a sense of fear in Jhat he was constantly living in an infinite state of indivisible real that was placed on a white piece of felt [made with white yak
the dream, then he remained without wavering, constantly and ization as described in the following words of Naropa, and sheep wool]. When he opened his mouth he gave the Mas
exclusively within the state of reality and spontaneousl the ter the transmission of the teachings contained in that volume
sense of apprehension disappeared. from the first to the last page. Then he said, "I have given you
"By the kindness of the master,
the entire teaching without omitting or adding anything." His
One night, he dreamt of meeting Phadampa Rinpoche. The dark cloud of thoughts has vanished;
body dissolved like a rainbow and Shakya Shri remained in a
From the body of Phadampa emanated four knowledge-ladies There is no [sun] rising and no [sun] setting
state of contemplation within the sheer lucidity of the mind
who united inseparably with Shakya Shri. While in this union, No day or night.
until sunrise and woke within that state.
Phadampa told him, The citadel of the senses conquered by great bliss,
There is no hint of where to go and where to stay After this vision, Shakya Shri discovered The Cycle of
"By practicing this highest secret path This comes from the yoga in which there is nothing to think: Instructions on the State of Sheer Lucency, but impressed on it
As you experience the four joys Why should 1 bother to give in to thinking?" the seal of secrecy and taught it only to a few fortunate disci
I will find the great primordial purity ples. These were extraordinary mind treasures or attainments
E ma ho!" One night Shakya Shri arrived in the area of Lachi mountain of Shakya Shri that resembled the formation of masses of
and became absorbed in the practice of the essential meaning. It clouds of blessing of profound teaching through which fortu
Thereafter Shakya Shri, Phadampa and the four consorts was at that time that he first discovered the treasure teaching of nate disciples will be able to effortlessly gain the two accom
dissolved into the inner expanse (of reality) within the infinite Means of Accomplishment of the Master [Guru Rinpoche] - Great plishments, the common and the highest.
circle of clear light. Bliss together with its rite of ripening initiation and liberation The apparent and hidden constellations of his pure and
In various dreams he met Labkyi Dronma. In one she told instructions. He himself put that teaching into practice, and thus impure disciples were as numerous as the particles of matter of
him, nurtured common magical powers and the supreme attainment. our world. He exhibited a boundless kindness toward them,
For three years Shakya Shri kept this treasure he had discov bringing the immature ones to spiritual maturity and the
"The nature of the mind is emptiness beyond rational ered secret, then he gave the initiation and the teaching to a few mature to the wealth of numberless liberating qualities of the
thought; fortunate disciples for the first time. In the course of time, this path.
Whatever objectifying thought arises method spread and became known throughout all regions of Tibet. Among his disciples were many male and female house
Proceeds to the expanse of the sky of sheer lucency and, Beside the Means of Accomplishment of the Master - Great holders and merchants. Hundreds of them attained the highest
At the end, it is held in the kingdom of the unborn." Bliss, Shakya Shri discovered many other treasure teachings realization, many thousands attained some realization of the
replete with very deep essential points. These include, for exam path and persevered to further their attainments, and some
After saying these words she loudly sounded, "phat!" and ple, the treasure teaching on The Three Dimensions of Enlighten gained experiential proficiency of contemplation. Those who
with that he became inseparable from her in a state of all-per ment: of Reality, Enjoyment and Manifestation; The Peaceful and heard his teaching and thus established a connection with
vasive total sameness. Wrathful Master; The Glorious Kilaya; The Peaceful and Wrath Shakya Shri, were more than several hundreds of thousands. It
One night when he went to the toilet to urinate, he ful Manjusri. was evident to all that there were none that having heard his
remained there for a long time. One of his attendants called When Shakya Shri reached the age of forty-six, he fell ill for teaching and remained with him a little, did not experience
continued on page 11
-the residential house of the abbot of the monastery and for the guests of the monastery. TEL/FAX: 0086/8051/2130;
EMAIL:[email protected]
The general plane for the project for Galenteng was discussed by the village representatives,
monastery officials and A.S.I.A.'s personnel during Professor Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's visit
in 1997. BANK ACCOUNT IN U S $ IN CHINA:
A B I : 01030
Restoration of the Chortens
C A B : 03212
The Chortens, sacred reliquaries, are the important traditional religious buildings for
Tibetans. There is one main and four minor old Chortens that need restoration work. The original
external plaster is almost completely deteriorated and many parts the supporting wood structure
of the monuments is expose to the inclement weather. The intervention is to remove the external
plaster too damaged and to make a new one.
10
Vladivostok Retreat continued from page I Yongdzin predicted, "The place okiteshvara Resting in the Nature of
Lives of the Great where you are destined to fulfill the the Mind' - with his right hand
We were absorbing the teaching. Rinpoche kindly gave to lungs and
short explanations on Upadesha's "Direct Introduction into the State of Ati". Masters welfare of others is Cigchar in the behind his back and his left on his
great power place of Tsari!". In knee, in an extremely beautiful way
Days were going by full of the teaching, swimming together with Rinpoche,
continuedfrompage 9 accordance with this prediction to look at and as if falling asleep,
taking a nap, talking with friends with a bottle of honey beer in the evenings
Shakya Shri made pilgrimages to Shakya Shri withdrew his mind into
and walking under stars. On the third day we got a tiny typhoon; strong rain
that region several times, taking dif the ultimate realm. Thereafter,
and big waves. Anyway we were spending all of our free time in the water. some special sign such as the per
ferent roads: upper, lower and inter extraordinary signs manifested
On the morning of the fourth day a strong wind tore apart the big tent of manence of body heat at the time of
mediate. On these occasions, he which pervaded all the surrounding
Gonpa. The people who came there early heroically were fighting with wind death, etc.
dedicated himself to constantly area and lasted for many, many
trying to fix it. It was almost done and the tent tore into two pieces down the The people who came in contact
teaching ripening and liberation days..
middle. We turned one part and fixed it above Rinpoche's seat and we were with him became especially superi
instructions to gatherings of fortu
sitting under open sky. We were lucky - no rain, the wind gradually calmed or to the disciples of other teachers
nate disciples. Edited by Liz Granger
down and at the end of session the weather got better. The 5th day went by. by purifying their negative actions
Rinpoche gave us the last instructions concerning behavior and some lungs. At the age of seventy-seven, on
and developing their positive poten International Publications Meeting.
People had sparkling but a little bit sad eyes - the parting waited ahead. We the eighteenth day of the month of continued from page 4
tial through the preliminary prac
swam for the last time and had a closing Ganapuja and a charming party the constellation Spica Verginis in
tices, and by attaining the sequen that direction. It is very true,
after that. The end. Time to leave. The airplane was waiting and a long, bor the female year of the sheep (1919),
tial experiences and realization of because people studied this and
ing road is ahead. Good-bye Vladivostok and hello cold and wet Riga. What this adamantine master gifted with
the main practice. that and philosophy and they
can I say? It was the best week of the whole year. Dear Master, thank you so such wonderful qualities, appeared
Shakya Shri's far reaching have an idea and then they
much for your precious teaching, kindness and patience. to be slightly unwell.
enlightened activity for the precious explain everything in the way
In the Southern and Northern
teachings was felt throughout all they understand and they are not
Direct Introduction to the State of Ati Yoga directions of the sky, a rainbow-like
continued from page I regions of Tibet; he cared continu getting the real sense. Maybe I am
white light appeared resembling a
ously for his humble and poor disci not speaking English well and
together twelve hundred! Plus the organizers, children and dogs. A bigger lined pitched with a string. Without
ples by feeding them, giving them don't know it so well and have a
crowd than ever in Merigar. bending to the right or the left, the
clothes to wear and spiritual teach poor vocabulary, but I try to go to
Even though, everything went smoothly. The parking field tolerated one light went straight from the peak of
ing; and for the common and impor the real essence. This point is
night's rain and kept in shape, and the hundreds and hundreds of cars were a mountain to touch the Eastern
tant lay people, lamas and incarnate something really important."
safe. The white canvas canopy around the Gonpa sheltered hundreds of peo direction of the sky. In the Northern
masters by giving them the teaching Ana Maria Humeres, who is in
ple who could not get in. The Ganapuja was a bit of a problem for the orga direction of the sky there appeared a
which conferred the realization of charge of Spanish translation, made
nizers, but was enjoyed with a deep feeling of devotion and love by all. The white cloud, resembling a quadrilat
the ultimate reality. some points saying firstly that she
next day's picnic down in the forest was a total and complete success. eral ornamental canopy, and other
Shakya Shri also predicted that felt more translators were needed
The skies over the Tuscan mountains were high. The wind was refresh transforming signs that were wit
his enlightened activity was to be and not so many checkers, as mem
ing, the Merigar hawks busy on their daily jobs, and on the forest roads nessed by everyone, ordinary and
felt in India, Nepal, Lahul, Lachi, bers of the IPC. Igor replied that
hoopoes* realized their tendencies to guide the traveler. General joy and special people.
Bhutan, Tawang, Tsari and other IPC members can be both checkers
happiness prevailed and rainbows were seen. On the morning of the nine
places. and translators. Another point she
teenth day of the month, in a very made was that a centrally located
*A hoopoe is a bird: a mythological, magical guiding bird, and is supposed to add a certain When he decided to make a pil
balanced physical demeanor, nei record in an archive of every trans
miracle like touch; " hoopoe birds follow their instinct to guide the traveler on the more grimage to the holy places of India
ther tense nor loose, with his hands lation done is needed, as sometimes
quiet roads". and Nepal, the all-knowing Drugpa
placed in the position of 'Aval- it is necessary to review. They had a
r 1
T" he Project of the Ngak-mang Fundraising: problem with the Spanish language
A Institute was founded and when a translator who had done a
Like all projects, our primary
established on August 3rd, 2000, by The Project of the Ngak-mang obstacle to initiating our Institute is
lot of work lost a C D containing
many translations.
Hungchen Chenagtsang and Dr. funds. Our concrete needs are as
Nida Chenagtsang. The aim of the Institute follows: Fabio Andrico asked if there
was a glossary available for each
project is to contribute and spread
the development of Ngak-pa culture FOUNDED O N AUGUST 3,2000 - Buildings language to translate each term, like
according to its ancient tradition, to At present our office is located rigpa, for example, in the same
continue the Tibetan cultural tradi BY H l N G C H E N C H E N A G T S A N G AND D R . N l D A C H E N A G T S A N G at Hungchen's personal residence. way. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
tions by giving both male and We need a new office in Xining. replied. "I don't think this is the
female Ngak-pas the possibility of suitable practice poems in numer The location of the main activity work of the committee but of the
studying their own cultural her places, the level ous magazines of the Institute is in Achung Nam people of the specific language.
itage, to contribute to the prosperity of the knowledge and newspapers. Zong, Jianzha County. Huangan We are saying that we need a
of the nation of Tibet and enrich the and culture of Dr. Chenagtsang Prefecture. Qinghai Province. committee for each language, so
society by expanding the knowl these Ngak-pas is interested in Amdo. and here we need a wide you should work in this way.
edge of the Ngak-pa culture into the is low. the traditional variety of structures to house all the Comparing with other languages
wider population by teaching tradi Based on all medicine of his proposed activities from offices to and bringing all languages into a
tions which were before limited to of the above, people and grad classrooms to a library, dormitories, uniform way is impossible, it is
monasteries, and to give all Hungchen uated form the dining rooms, bathrooms, storage, not our work. I think you do your
Tibetans the possibility to study Chenagtsang and Tibetan Medical and a museum to house relics. best in your language, see which
Tibetan culture. Dr. Nida University in is the possibility, how you under
The projected amount that
Chenagtsang 1996. A t that stand the teaching, etc., and if you
In general there existed two would sufficiently cover the cost for
decided to estab time he was also have some doubt and don't
kinds of spiritual life in Tibetan reli building is$58.000US.
lish the Ngak- studying and understand something, then you
gious society, the monastic and the
mang Institute ( meaning many practicing the Tibetan Ngak pa tra can also compare and communi
Ngak-pas, or lay practitioners. In - Books
Nakpas) and has been granted the dition and has continued for ten cate with Adriano, Jim Valby or
the ninth century the Governor of Cost for collecting books for the
consent of the Buddhist Council of years. me. and you can make it clear, but
Tibet legitimized the separation of library is S2500US.
Qinghai Province. Qinghai. China, that is not for all things. So we
the two types of religious practice In 1998 he was invited by the
to do so. must go this way otherwise it is
respectively calling them "monks in Shang Shung Institute of Italy and - Objects
too complicated."
saffron vestments" and "those hav is now working as the Coordinator The cost for the new production
ing long hair in white vestment". The Founders of the Medical Department of the of about 100 ritual objects is Anya Wiswiewska. from
Throughout the history of Tibet Hungchen Chenagtsang was Institute. S2000US. Poland, asked if there was a dictio
many Ngak-pas lived among the bom in 1968 in the nomadic land of nary of difficult words from the
people and made great contribu Malho in Amdo. He completed four Location of Ngak-mang Insti - Museum teaching in every language and Igor
tions to Tibetan culture through years of study at the West Northern tute: The cost of the ancient objects said that is available in English.
education, medicine, spiritual life Nation University in Lan Zhou The planned location of the for the museum is S10.00OUS. Julia Lawless reiterated her con
and practice. To name a few Gansu Province in China and his office is in Xining, the capital of the cerns about the requirements of IPC
renowned Ngak-pas: Yutog Yonten specialty is the study of Tibetan Qinghai Province of China. The Any sponsors, individuals or members and she felt that transla
Gonpo, whose teachings were Culture. Hungchen Chenagtsang planned place of construction of the organizations are welcome! ! ! tors were more important than peo
among the greatest of all medical has worked as an editor and transla center is Achung Namdzong V i l Thank you very much and Tashi ple like herself, who have skills in
and astrological treatises in the tor for films and from 1996 as a lage, Jianzha County, Huangnan Delek!!! refining the language, and how we
Tibetan medical tradition, Marpa, journalist for the Qinghai Newspa Prefecture, Qinghai Province, Chi coordinate this. Chögyal Namkhai
the famous translator and founder per Center in Xining, Qinghai na. Contact persons and addresses: Norbu replied to this. "The com
of the Kagyu lineage and teacher of Province. He has collected the His Hungchin Chenagtsang mittees of different languages
Milarepa, and the Dakini Yeshe tory of Ngak mang in Amdo, which Program of Activity Qinghai Newspaper Center must understand one thing, and
Tsogyal and Machig Labdrön, two is has become a historically impor - Publication of books Department of Tibetan this thing is that what I transmit
famous and accomplished female tant book and is over one thousand - Library and bookstore Tel: 0086(0) 971 8122755 is not language. I transmit the
practitioners. pages. He is studying and practicing - Preservation of ancient items teaching. That is something
During and after the Cultural the Ngak pa tradition for many - Manufacture of new of objects important you must understand.
Dr. Nida Chenagstang
Revolution in Tibet the Ngak-pa years. used by Ngak-pas Then you do your best in writing
c/o Merigar
tradition did not escape destruction. - Teaching and study what you have understood in that
Arcidosso 58031
During the last twenty years some Dr. Nida Chenagtsang was bom language, and if you can't under
- students (GR), Italy
old Ngak-pas have tried to recon in 1971 in Malho, Amdo. He com stand what I am communicating,
- teachers Tel: 39 (0)564 966 941
struct temples and studios in an pleted four years of study at the then you communicate, like I told
- textbooks Mobile: 0339 8315081
attempt to save the ancient tradition. Teacher's College in Amdo Rigong. you already, with Adriano and
Fax: 39 (0)564 968 110
Now more people are becoming During these early years he began Jim Valby and me and we try to
Email: nidachenagstang@
Ngak-pas and have begun related writing poems and at age seventeen make it clear. Language is a sec
hotmail.com
studies, but due to difficult condi introduced his first works to the ondary thing; most important is
tions, such as lack of teachers and public. He has published over fifty understanding what is transmit-
conrinued on page 23
12
Cúmplete Works Project continued from
like Zen, I have looked and listened and then thought, "Hmm, not really". their lives; that is very impressive.
previous page
But this Dzogchen feels very refreshing to me and it's the first time some M : Were there any surprises for you in this experience?
ey comes in at the Expiry Dates and thing has come up to the horizon and I thought, " That's a possible way". D: What I didn't expect was that not only Russell got into this, but also our
will gently remind the participants M : Did it seem refreshing to you from Paris or after meeting Rinpoche? camera man and sound man got really into it and they received transmission.
of their Promise in case they forget. R: From Paris, because to actually get this far required an immense amount R: That was funny because I have known Richard for many years ( the cam
of effort and it wasn't like we could just say, "Oh yeah, let's go and see"; it era man) and we hadn't seen each other for a long time. Richard was one of
5. Each year all participants will was really digging the trenches. Now we're there it's very easy, on one level. the few people I knew then who had integrated spirituality into his life. He
be informed in detail about the We had to come to Merigar, that was important. had been practicing Tai Chi for thirty years. I also know his work as an artist
work that has been done and the I suppose we should mention a couple of other projects because they are and a camera man and director. It was logical to get him involved in the pro
Supervisor will send a message ask related to this film and our lives. We're trying to do the things we like more, ject and although he is very sought after all over the world, and expensive, he
ing everyone again to make a new and the things we don't want to do, unless they are necessary, less, in terms agreed to do it for next to nothing and he had a very good friend he always
Promise. of jobs, careers, etc. We have an idea of a series of documentaries about dif uses for the sound and so we agreed to use both of them.
ferent authentic ways of thinking in the modem world, and at first we We brought them in from London to shoot the last day of the retreat to get the
6. Instead of transferring money thought we could put them altogether or parallel. The first film idea was to sense of the masses of people and we thought we would shoot the Vajra Song
by bank, people can also bring mon come and speak to Rinpoche, to look at Dzogchen, and particularly to look at and then leave. We knew every day that Rinpoche began the teaching with
ey cash when they come to Merigar its application in the Western world and why all the students are here now. the Vajra Song. So, we put the sound man and Richard in the Gonpa and
or give cash to people that regularly The second film, on a much smaller scale, is about an Alquonquin Indian said, "When the Song is finished you come out". Then Rinpoche came in
come to Merigar from the different Shaman and how he is trying to integrate his tradition into the modem world. and said, " O K , today we'll talk about this", and started talking for two hours
Gars. This will reduce bank costs The third film will involve a Japanese architect who is also a philosopher and gave all the transmissions (lungs) to everyone, and then he sang the
considerably and is therefore rec and is introducing new, traditionally based ways of living in space. He is Song of the Vajra at the end and we filmed it. and after Richard said, " That
ommended as the preferred method building the capital of Kazakhastan and it's thirty miles long and one mile was amazing", because he had listened to all the explanations, all the
(if possible).» wide. He said the circle is no longer a symbol and we now need a line; he's mantras. They just got it completely and we would stay up every night until
making a nomadic city. We thought is would be easier to sell the films as two and three in the morning discussing. Richard said this was the most inte
series then one by one. gral documentary shoot he had ever been on.
The origin of this particular film was precisely to look Rinpoche D: This was the first film where there were no problems. Not the slightest
in the eyes and say, " O K , we think there are things wrong with obstacle or argument.
"The Camera is the modem world and we think that what you are teaching and
who you are teaching it to addresses that". We really wanted to
R: And that's the thing about film making, the technical faults can happen to
anybody but the interpersonal things are often difficult. And it was perfect, it
Always in Rigpa" do it from a point of view outside the Community, because if you
are inside the Community you look for different things.
couldn't have been better.
M : So this you found consistently through the making of this film, that
Our very first contacts were by email with Rinpoche. When we things went more smoothly than normal?
got the idea we wrote him and asked if it was possible and he R: No! From the moment we started to do what we believed and from when
The Making of Film about wrote back the next morning and said, "Sounds interesting, let's Rinpoche said yes to us in Paris, then I contacted Richard and Martin in Jan
talk.". Later we sent another email and asked when, where and uary and February, and told them maybe we'd shoot in the summer. Then
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu he said, "Come to Merigar." Then we decided we had to know many strange things happened and we had to confirm things, etc. There was
exactly what we wanted to do and we wrote a very long email a period when we thought we would use another documentary producer, a
and the reply was, "Fine, these dates are good. There's a lot of big one in Paris, but we discovered they had the wrong relationship to our
Intetyiew
things happening at that time, but we'll try and make it happen". film. They wanted to have all the rights and they didn't want us to have final
with Russell Richardson So it was very important to get that email. say in the editing of the film as well. They wanted to put the film about the
M : This is the first time you two have collaborated on a film? Indian shaman together with this one. and to take off with the idea.
and Dorota Czerner Dorota: Yes. D: They showed a complete lack of understanding of the matter and its
R: I started in experimental film making in England about twen importance and they wanted to make some kind of cocktail which would be
ty years ago. Then I started writing screenplays. I tried to make exciting and trendy, with the Indian medicine man and the Tibetan lama and
some of my own projects. There was a short film which I wrote glue them altogether and it started feeling completely wrong.
and directed that went to Houston and won a prize. That film R: By this point I had committed to Richard and then canceled, thinking we
made my credibility for making this film; but not for Rinpoche, would go with the other producer and hence another camera man. But I gave
he wasn't interested in my cinema past, he was interested in what Richard a call and said, "Look this is what happened, are you still free?", and
we were both saying to him about what we were wanting to do, he said, "Look I can be free".
which is how it should be. D: For some reason he kept it free. He's a busy guy, normally he is complete
M : So you had already presented this idea to potential produc ly booked up. At this point I decided we had to do this film from the right
ers? '-'fc ' ••• " '•"«••- place and that the money issue not become primary, so that the content and
R: Yes, all over the world and we've gotten to the point now integrity suffers.
where people say it's a great idea, so we finished shooting yester R: So everything was going, well, we found a marvelous place to stay, and
day and now they can see it, at least a bit of it. got tickets very cheap the day before. The camera man came with the latest
M : Dorota, what is your background? digital camera and I tried not to think about the money, and he took about 1/3
D: I am a writer and I have a background is in Zen. I studied Zen or 1/4 of his normal wages, and everything was like that. When we asked for
for many years, and I was even teaching. Then I took a step side time with Rinpoche and ended up getting seven hours of his personal time
ways into Dzogchen. and that's what happened.
M : How did you meet Dzogchen? M : So after the money was found and you arrived everything went smooth-
D: Through friends. I met Rinpoche for the first time here now, ly?
but participated with the Dzogchen Community in Paris for a R: Obstacle free. We had the camera man and sound man. both of whom we
Russell Richardson and Dorota
year. had total confidence in and no producer controlling us. So we arranged time
Czerner are a married team of
R: As soon as Dorota started to practice Dzogchen, she improved and was with Rinpoche for after the retreat. The camera man flew in on the last day
writer/film makers living in Paris
handling life better, infinitely. and we filmed that and then after the retreat ended we began shooting.
who came to Merigar this summer
D: Yes I felt many limitations in the Zen path. We went down and met Rinpoche and we said maybe we need a bit more
to make a film about Chögyal
R: Life is hard and can get you down, sometimes it's hard and we're not ther time than you have and maybe we could do it like this, one interview here
Namkhai Norbu. The Mirror inter
apy people, so to use meditation to calm and center yourself is one thing, but and one there, and he said, "OK. Arrange the times with Anna". We had
viewed them about the process and
I am a skeptic, and this [Zen] wasn't helping. It was not familiar. asked Rinpoche if we could film the Song of the Vajra and he said yes.
what inspired them to make this
D: From a practitioner's point of view, I cannot sit that long at home with a D: The first day we interviewed Rinpoche was in the library and he walked
film.
family, and I wonder if it is really necessary? It's a tradition of suffering and into the room and said, "Where are the lights?", and we weren't using them
you must go past this point and somehow I didn't feel it's right, but I tried. and everything was ready.
The Mirror: Can you tell me how R: He's very smart about film making.
But with Dzogchen you can get in this relationship and experience directly
you came up with the idea to make a in a more integrated way. It's not that it's more easy, some people understand D: Our camera man said he has done many portraits of big company execu
film about Chögyal Namkhai Nor it this way, that you do whatever you want to do, but it's not like this. tives and you have to use seven different lights to make them look good, and
bu? R: The Dzogchen sangha impressed me very much as people who are doing if they don't have enough lights they feel they won't look good, and Rin
Russell: Firstly, Dorota is a mem their practice as well as having a social life. poche walked in and has one little light and he looks great.
ber of the Dzogchen Community,
M : When you were interviewing Rinpoche in the Gonpa for the film you R: By the time we started filming I had full transmission after the retreat: and
and I am very interested and sympa
said something like, "I have noticed that your students seem to have a long there were some delicate areas of filming for the general public and our
thetic. In Paris I write screenplays
way to go?". What did you mean by that? questions were can we film the Vajra Song and the Vajra Dance and the
and make films. We developed this
R: Because we're in Merigar, it's a center where people come from all over answer was yes and so we did. We asked if there were any parts we could not
idea together with a number of oth
Europe and the States as well, and it was part of a long conversation we were film and Rinpoche said we could do anything. So Prima Mai made deci
er projects that would bring us
having as we were making the film; the camera man and the sound person sions, we assume with Rinpoche. about what and how we could film and we
together. With this film, Dorota
and ourselves, until early morning. We discussed the problems we saw, made some choices, the camera man. sound man and myself. We discovered
would provide the background,
about intellectual knowledge and this was our access to that on this day. I that the sound didn't work with the filming with the mechanical music, and
writing and frame of what the film
was saying, " O K , Westerners have a rational, dualistic, intellectual bent, and the movements didn't work together. For filming purposes it was too slow
was about, and I would organize the
Dzogchen is not like that, so is it really possible to get that across to Western and we asked Prima Mai if she could sing it and the Dance became magical.
shoot and find the camera man and
people?". The answer from Rinpoche was that it's not really possible to get it Richard's specialty is dance documentaries, and he says he's never seen any
decide how we would film. Doro-
across to Tibetans either. It's really hard to get it across altogether and it thing so beautiful. We filmed it very well.
ta's part was very important up until
depends on your capacity. Also it is interesting to me that Dzogchen is very D: Prima Mai said she hadn't had a practice like that for nine years, with that
the moment we arrived in Merigar,
fashionable, and we wondered if is this a help or hindrance. level of concentration. So the singing also changed it. Rinpoche saw the
and my part important for a week.
M : I n what sense? Dance of the Liberation of the Six Lokas first and asked why we didn't film
Now that we're finished shooting
we'll go through all the material and R: We wondered if perhaps Dzogchen is going too fast to the wrong places. the Vajra Dance also. We will still be very careful using the Vajra Dance and
collaborate on the film. Rinpoche's answer was that a lot of Westerners practice for a year or two and most of that footage will probably go into the archive.
We found that the force of Rin- then let it go. But the people who have the connection will do it irrespective R: In the film there will be three different montages, one will be fifty-two
poche's personality is a window of whether they have money or not, or whether they can come to all the minutes long, most of what we shot in Merigar, and the next, something
into a way of thinking and of being. retreats or not. That explains why he puts all the teachings out, why he trav longer, purely for the Community, can be put on a cassette, like two hours or
Like most people, we've known els so much, because if he was only in Merigar or somewhere very far, or something, and the Vajra Dance could be on that. We've made an agreement
lots of ways of orienting your life, you couldn't receive the teachings, it would be different. But that's not the verbally that all the material will be given also to the archive of Shang Shung
case. Many people we met seem so very well integrated with the teachings in
continued on page 23
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I N T E R N A T I O N A L
C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
M E R I G A R BEGINNING ON THE 24TH AT 10 AM 6:30 PM: SHORT GANAPUJA
FEB. 24TH AND 25TH: RUSHEN
C A L E N D A R
O C T O B E R 2 0 0 0 DECEMBER 2ND - 3RD SATURDAY THE 24TH OF FEBRUARY
A P R I L 2001 VAJRA DANCE PRACTICE RETREAT LOSAR - TIBETAN NEW YEAR
- PRACTICE AT SUNRISE
- GANAPUJA AT 12:30 AM
MANDARAVA 6 MONTH PRACTICE
DECEMBER 8TH - DINNER AND PARTY AT 8:00 PM
CYCLE
CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU'S
BIRTHDAY
FROM SEPTEMBER 28TH TO APRIL, ON
10:00 AM AND 4 P.M.: TWO SESSIONS MONDAY THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY -
THE 1ST AND THE 14TH OF EVERY LUNAR
WITH ADRIANO CLEMENTE 6:30 PM - THIRD DAY OF THE TIBETAN NEW YEAR
MONTH ACCORDING TO THE TIBETAN
TARA GANAPUJA WITH M A R M E SANG PRACTICE AT 9 AM AND INSTALLA
CALENDAR (THAT IS TO SAY, THE DAY
MONLAM (INVOCATION OF THE LAMP) TION OF PRAYER FLAGS (LUNGTA)
AFTER THE GANAPUJA OF THE LAST DAY
OF THE MONTH AND THE DAY BEFORE
THE GANAPUJA OF THE 15TH DAY) AT
7:00PM THERE WILL BE THE LONG LIFE DECEMBER 9TH MARCH 3RD
PRACTICE OF MANDARAVA IN THE 9 AM: KARMAYOGA FOR ALL AT 4 PM: EXPLANATION OF THE
4 PM: S A N G H A M E E T I N G GURUYOGA PRACTICE OF GARAB DORJE
Excerpt from a Talk with the New Gakyil of Merigar MANDALA HALL. IF POSSIBLE (SEE
8:00 PM: DINNER AND PARTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION ON MARCH 9TH
ABOVE) LEARNING SESSIONS WITH THE
HELP OF VIDEO CASSETTES COULD ALSO
Evolution of the Individual BE ARRANGED.
DECEMBER 10TH MARCH 9TH
4:00 A M : GURUYOGA PRACTICE OF
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 9:00 AM: COLLECTIVE PRACTICE
10:30 AM: KARMAYOGA FOR ALL GARAB DORJE FOR THE TRANSMISSION
SEPTEMBER 30TH - OCTOBER 1ST
VAJRA DANCE PRACTICE RETREAT
Merigar. August. 2000
DECEMBER 28TH - JANUARY 3RD MARCH 17TH - 18TH
NOVEMBER 18TH
EXPLANATION AND PRACTICE RELATED
ELECTION OF THE NEW GEKOES AND GAKYIL EXPLANATION OF THE GURUYOGA PRAC
TO THE FIRST LEVEL OF SANTI M A H A THE GAKYIL HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO
TICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION ON
SANGHA, KRIYA, CARYA AND YOGA FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE A T V AND
MERIGAR, JULY, 2000 NOVEMBER 21ST - AT 4 PM
TANTRA. VIDEO CASSETTE DECK FOR THE
MANDALA H A L L SO THAT PRACTITION
j would like to say a few words about the Gakyil. Every year we talk ERS OF THE VAJRA DANCE AND YANTRA
i i
NOVEMBER 21ST
1 about what the Gakyil is and how it should be. In general we have a FEBRUARY 3RD - 4TH YOGA CAN WORK WITH Y Y AND V D
ANNIVERSARY OF ADZOM DRUGPA
YANTRA YOGA COURSE OPEN TO THOSE TAPES DURING PRACTICE RETREATS, ETC.
Gakyil because we are an association and there are legal aspects to take GURU YOGA TRANSMISSION PRACTICE
WHO HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED AT LEAST (GIVING AT THE SAME TIME THE POSSI
care of. But the Gakyil does not exist merely for legal reasons. That is some WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU
ONE BEGINNERS COURSE WITH LAURA BILITY TO ALL TO STUDY OTHER PRAC
thing secondary. We are an association or spiritual community for the LIVE: ROME, 1:00 PM
EVANGELISTI BEGINNING ON THE 3RD AT TICE VIDEOS).
Dzogchen teaching. This is the precise point. We have to do things legally VIDEO: MERIGAR GONPA, 1:00 PM
10 AM
because we live within society, under the legal framework of this country, W H O E V E R IS I N A P O S I T I O N T O
and we have to be aware of this. But we should not forget what the aim of the DONATE A TV AND/OR AV C
NOVEMBER 24TH - 29TH
Community is. The Gakyil has been created for this from the beginning, as FEBRUARY 23RD AND 25TH DECK FOR T H E M A N D A L A H A L L
COURSE ON THE SECOND PART OF THE
you well know. DANCE OF THE VAJRA FOR BEGINNERS SANTI M A H A SANGHA BASE IS I N V I T E D T O C O N T A C T T H E
EXPLANATION AND PRACTICE M E R I G A R G A K Y I L . C A L L MAURIZIO
We have only a few Gars in the world. There are a lot of Gakyils, but all AS WELL AS INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS
FEB. 23RD AT 4 PM: PURIFICATION OF MINGOTTI, TEL. 0564-967705
of them are more or less concentrated at the different Gars. The number one WITH ADRIANA D A L BORGO
THE SIX LOKAS
Gar is Merigar and it should be an example [for the other Gars], therefore the
Merigar Gakyil should do things in the right way. If the Gakyil of Merigar
New Gekoes & Gakyil
isn't doing things in the right way it means that there is no hope for the oth with people. Otherwise we're not
of Merigar
ers. And this is the point. getting anywhere. Seriously.
The Gakyil shouldn't be authoritarian or arrogant. The people who make First of all, for those who wish to Gekoes: Patricia Monti Gracis Blue:
up the Gakyil should clearly have awareness to serve, to communicate and be chosen for the Gakyil and those Maurizio Mingotti, Vice Director
collaborate with people in the Community because the Gakyil is chosen for who want to continue in the Gakyil, Flavia Tomassini
these reasons. It is not chosen so they can become "bosses", or take up a reflect well on how things should be Lauri Marder
position. This is something important, because sometimes it really doesn't because this is something important.
work. Something linked to the teaching, Gakyil: Yellow:
In general, there are a lot of places where the Gakyils don't work! When linked to transmission and to the con Red: Fabiana Mela
people are in charge of something in the slightest way, they immediately get tinuation of the Community. It isn't Sicilia D'Arista, Director Silvana Pisani
very arrogant. And at Merigar in particular this is not fine. So I would really only something to control this piece Cristina Leonardo Anna Dessole
ask those who want to be part of the Gakyil, please don't do these type of things. of land, the Yellow House, etc.
Piero Bonacina
Don't become arrogant, don't think you are becoming "bosses", but collaborate Please remember this."
16
IHTEIKATIOHAI
ence of breathing in and breathing
C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
out (which is not as easy as seems to |
be), and of the khumbaka-holding.
Finally we went on to the third
group of Yantras and the "Breathing
of Humkara". Laura and Fabio
explained in a very precise way and
we had enough time to practice and
experience the extraordinary meth
ods. When we all sat in the position
of Humkara and were slowly and
directly exhaling with the sound of ;
Hum, 1 felt again the humming,
which is very similar to the hum- j
nationalities gathered around Laura ming of the bees flying around the |
T H E HUMMING OF THE
Evangelisti and Fabio Andrico in flowers in order to find nectar. We
BEES IN THE TEMPLE OF were not flying around, but every- ! VAJRA DANCE and limitation, and the effort it takes
order to deepen our knowledge and
body could feel the effect of this to learn them serves as a means to
THE GREAT LIBERATION experience of Yantra Yoga in a T E A C H E R TRAINING
practice which is beyond words to develop awareness and awaken our
retreat which lasted six days. It was
describe. COURSE infinite potentiality.
pointed out very precisely that this
A REPORT ON THE YANTRA YOGA COURSE,
IN M E R I G A R Although everyone felt compe
course is mainly for those people The main points of this Yantra
THIRD SERIES tent enough to sign up for the train
who have already followed a couple Yoga retreat for me were the inten
MERIGAR, JULY, 2000 ing, it became clear from the start
of courses of Yantra Yoga, that it is tion and the effort of Laura and JULY 13-18,2000
that all of us could become far more
course for advanced practitioners, Fabio to make us experience the
by Oliver F. Leick precise in our mastery of both the
but not a teacher's training course. fruit of the practice, their diligent by LidianKing
arm movements and our foot steps.
In the first days, Laura and checking and advising of each of us,
Blue: Stamatis Politis, Harris O n the last weekend of May the practitioners of Czechia and Slovakia
had a weekend retreat in Prague with Irmgard Pemwieser, an older
practitioner from Austria. Irmgard gave an explanation on Khorde Rushen
October 1990. At that time the walls
were lined with overfilled bookcas
es and a heavy duty vacuum cleaner
It was indeed a happy occasion
to be back in Merigar and to join
Pantelidis
Red: Dina Svoronou, Maria from the Santi Maha Sangha Base. sat close at hand, while a group of other dedicated Vajra Dancers from
Giakoumakou Around twenty people attended this short but intense retreat. We had the us tried to imitate Rinpoche on a around the globe in this advanced
opportunity to understand and gain a little taste of the experience of practic blue synthetic carpet that had hasti training course. Although some
Yellow: Thanos Svoronos,
ing these profound and most effective methods. On the last day, which was ly been painted with the Mandala! hope to become qualified teachers
Katerina Loukopoulou
the day of Dakini, we did a wonderful Ganapuja with Irmgard and Margit in the near future in the various
It now seemed very appropriate
Martinu. Margit is the director of Czech Gakyil, a translator, good friend and Gars and local Communities, others
Our first on-going project is the to return to the Capanone for an
was visiting Prague at the same time. She helped us with translations and simply find these courses an excel
listing, in database form, of all advanced training course, and to
other activities connected with Community. lent opportunity to deepen our
Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's teach continue the never-ending process
The next retreat with Irmgard was held on the September 1st - 3rd at the experience and practice of the
ings existing in the hands of the of refining and mastering the move
same place. This time she shared her knowledge and experience of the prac Dances. The only thing I hope will
members of the Greek Community, ments of these extraordinary
tice of the seven Semdzins with about tMrty people from Czechia, Slovakia change about these trainings in the
whether in printed form or as Dances of the state of contempla
and Austria. future is to have more men partici
audio/video cassettes, which would tion. It is always inspiring and
Thanks to help and support of older practitioners, we formed a Santi pate and balance the excess of
constitute a basis for a lending encouraging, rather than discourag
Maha Sangha study group of about thirty people. We had problems in a Bud female energy which invariably
library for members of the Commu ing, to know there is no end to
dhist center from the Theravadan tradition where we were forbidden to do seems to be present with the Dances
nity. Our second step in this direc learning the Dances, because the
Ganapuja because of the consumption of meat and alcohol. For this reason in general. •
tion would be the digitalization of Dances themselves are beyond time
audio magnetic recordings, as many we are searching for a new space to install a library, an archive with tapes
old cassettes are already beginning and pictures, etc. Moreover, we are looking for a retreat center near the city
to deteriorate. which could offer us a calm and inspiring place for spiritual growth.
In the future we plan to invite Jim Valby to lead a Santi Maha Sangha
Please address all communica retreat and in two or three years we wish and hope that Chögyal Namkhai
tions to:
Harris Pantelidis &
Norbu will come to our country for the first time.
New Gakyils
Maria Giakoumakou M O R E NEWS F R O M CZECH REPUBLIC
V.Olgas 84B The weekend retreat on the 7th Lojong from the Santi Maha Sangha Base
. 546 43 Thessaloniki will take place in Prague, Czech Republic at the Lotus Buddhist Center on
November 24th-26th, 2000. Czech Republic Spain
Email address:
Blue: Lukas Chmelik Blue:
[email protected]
([email protected], Oriol Aguilar
or
Thanos & Dina Svoronos News from Kunsangar [email protected]) Rosa Foms (Adela Moragas)
Maida Hocevar
Analipseos 32
Red: H.Chalupa
546 43 Thessaloniki
(00420604 689624) Red:
Email address: skyjewel 1@
hotmail.com I n Kunsangar we've started torebuildthe iron building (the summer theater); the
project which can be seen at <http://niir.ru/~dp/gompa/index_r.html>. We are
still looking for sponsors. We have already collected about S7000US and
Yellow: Milan Polasek
Ramón Vázquez
Eva Useras
([email protected]. Bernabé Ramirez
still need about $10,000US. The building is supposed to be used for the
004202 57 34 3450)
Santi Malia Sangha training with Rinpoche next year, and generally for
Yellow:
Yantra Yoga, Vajra Dance, Santi Maha Sangha retreats and other collective
Nuria Moro
practices. It is planned to be a heated, all season building.!
Julia Giménez
Masha Zmcic
1H
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PASSAGES
Developing Our Capacity: BORN: to Gianpaolo Tondo and Renata Chiesa in Florence on May 16th,
2000, a daughter called Gioia Metog.
Not Slipping into the Nothing or the Something
MARRIED:
Jay Callahan and Doreen O'Conner were married on September 16th, 2000
SMS Base Training with Jim Valby
in Brattleboro, Vermont. Jay was the gekoes of Tsegyalgar for one year.
Tashigar News
by Michel Bricaire
Margarita Island Project Update
Venezuela
I n Tashigar we are trying to take back in hand the activities of each color of
the Gakyil. This week the specialists of this country region are changing
the roof of the Gonpa while keeping the same style of Quincho; the tradi
ear International Community, will need to be given in full most [email protected] tional dry grass roofing. During the Karma Yoga days we are repairing the
D probably within a period of thirty to As all of you may already know, several leaking roofs and renewing the main water tank of the Gar. People
are cleaning our Master's little house; repairing and cutting the grass of the
Above all we want to thank sixty days. The exact date will there are only thirty possible lots to
everyone for all the support and appear later in Norbunet. Unfortu buy; country or city Communities garden, etc. We are also pruning the olive trees abandoned for several years
interest given to the Margarita Sum nately there is no chance for any have preference, and already many to provide them the possibility to bear good fruit instead of a decorative des
mer Gar during the last retreat in credit, so it is important to bear in have manifested their interest. It is tiny.
Merigar. Here is some news we mind to have the remaining amount for this reason that we call on those The main thing lacking here is people. During the Master's retreats we
would like to transmit: ready in your bank. Communities and individuals to can reach a number of one hundred twenty to two hundred people. During
make a formal reservation as soon the beautiful winter - the dry and sunny time - we could do many kind of
1- The final project has been 6- As all of you already know, as possible without waiting for the activities but very few people are coming. Some of the ones who do come
introduced to the official authorities Rinpoche will come to Margarita instructions on how to deposit the take Tashigar a little too easily, like an "Family Inn " (auberge de famille ),
for approval. We believe that by the Island in October 2001, which is $5,0OOUS of the reservation fee. where you can, in the silence of the bird songs, sleep until 10:30 or 11 am in
end of October we will be ready to very soon. He will be in Margarita Lots will be given to whoever the morning and after a couple of "mates"* be able to prepare the fire for the
finalize the acquisition of the land. from October 2001 until May 2002, comes first. best meat of the world to be eaten in a delicious asado, watered with good
where he will give various teach wine "black fire" and coffee!
2- As soon as we obtain the nec ings. We need to move in time; to At the moment we cannot give Good luck Tashigar ! ! !•
essary permits we will have to pay begin to build his house and for the details and final information about
the owners of the land immediately. development of the Gar. how big the lots will be, most prob
This has been our agreement with ably they will be from 1,000 to
NEW G A K Y I L
them. 7- In our next update we will 2,000 square meters. It is important Tashigar, Argentina
inform about the details of how to to mention that individuals or Com
3- Due to the short time left, we reserve, where to transfer the mon munities will privately own their Blue:
would like to begin to ask to those ey, etc. Also there will be a copy of lot. Ricardo Sued
Communities and individual fami the document to sign between those Griselda Galmez
lies or practitioners who have reserving and the Margarita Com We really appreciate your effort Marisa Alonso - President
shown a true interest in buying a lot, mittee which will describe such and cooperation for supporting this
to give a deposit of $5000US to transaction and its clauses. In order project for Rinpoche, all our love, Red:
reserve their right. to know right now how many and Your Vajra Family, the Margari Adriana Battisti
who are the Communities and indi ta Committee Horacio Toledo
4- The total price of the lots will viduals interested, we would highly Virginia Avedikian
be $16,0OOUS which includes the appreciate if all interested parties let Gilberto Parrella & Monika K l i -
development of the land and its us know immediately via email to etmann Yellow:
basic services, such as water, elec the following addresses: Chuo& Berta Ortoll Luisa Duri
tricity, etc. [email protected]>prat- Michel & Carmen Dubourdieu Paula Lucientes - Treasurer
5- After legally reserving, the [email protected] with a copy to Pablo Lau Beatriz Rossi - Secretary
remaining amount of $11,000US jortoll(gjworldwidetravel.com.ve>j Laura Yoffe
20
INTERNATIONAL
C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
Dzogchen Teachings of
Namgyalgar Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
News Taiwan
by Jean Mackintosh
October 6th-8th Taipei Retreat
A T a m g y a l g a r has been resting
October 11th - 15th Kaohsiung Longde Retreat
& Yantra Yoga Course with Fabio Andrico
I N quietly in the winter months
after the activity of Chögyal
For more information please contact :
Namkhai Norbu's generous visit to
A r m i m Lee
Australia and to Namgyalgar. He
was in Australia from December, Tel: 886-2-23250697
1999 to June, 2000 and practition Fax: 886-2-23258857
ers in Australia and those who visit
ed from many other places partook Sophia W u
of his presence and his teachings Email: [email protected]
with gratitude. The farewell to Rin
poche which took place in Caloun-
dra in Queensland was a very beau
tiful weekend. Practitioners came to Santi Maha Sangha
visit Rinpoche there from the South
and from the local area. Many of us
stayed in the Hibiscus Caravan Park Study Program
by the sea, in the center of town. We
drank coffee by the ocean, lay in the
Namgyalgar Land
with Jim Valby
sun by the blue Pacific Ocean, January, 2001
drove through the green sugar cane Coonowrin. His mother Beerwah, is still heavy with child as it takes a long Namgyalgar, Australia
fields and enjoyed time with our long time to give birth to a mountain.
Master playing Tibetan games and Following our happy weekend everyone made their way back to their Santi Maha Sangha Practice and Study Retreats with Jim Valby will be
listening to Tibetan music and homes to put into practice the teachings Rinpoche had given to us. At Nam held in January, 2001 at Namgyalgar in Australia.
singing. On the last day we had a gyalgar we have been resting a little and recuperating our energy in the short
picnic overlooking the valley of the days and long nights of Winter. Jonathan Schaeffer, is our new Gekoes who The Retreat Program is as follows:
Glass House Mountains where Rin came to us from Alaska and Tashigar, may be finding things a little slow at
poche is interested in establishing a this time of the year. However he is very diligently keeping the fires burning Jan 6th- 12th
Winter Gar. and the Gonpa warm and friendly for us. He is also testing his surf board on BASELEVELRETREAT
The Glass House Mountains are the waves at Mystery Bay. Members - Aus$260.
mysterious and ethereal, rising up We have some new local practitioners who are very interested to learn Non Members - Aus$ 330.
into the clear blue horizon. Their the practices and to practice with us. We have an explanation and practice (less $50 if not having meals at the Gar)
names come from Aboriginal group once a week with around twelve regulars. We have been going
mythology, Tibrogargan, the father through all the main practices together. People bring food to share and after Jan 14th -20th
and Beerwah the mother. One day the practice we sit around the big fire in the Gonpa and have a cup of tea. It is FIRST L E V E L R E T R E A T
there was a great rising of the a very friendly time. Recently we were able to fundraise enough to buy a Members Only - Aus$260
waters and Tibrogargan fled with video and T V on which we can watch practice videos and talks by Rinpoche. 2 weeks - Base plus First level = Aus $360
his children to the mountains asking Our local members have also become more active in looking after Nam
one child Coonowrin to help his gyalgar, meeting for regular working bees on the land. At present we are try Jan 22nd-28th
mother to safety as she was preg ing to organize weed control, fencing the cows out, clearing around the SECOND L E V E L RETREAT
nant. Coonowrin ran away and did retreat cabin and other hard work which is making us fit for the coming sum Members Only - Aus$260
not help so his father, very angrily mer. 3 weeks - Base plus First + Second level retreats = Aus$460
chased him hitting him with his Gakyil members come to the Gar once a month, and as well as the long
club, dislocating his neck. The meetings, they also work on the Gar cleaning and ordering different areas The retreat prices include food (3 meals per day prepared by retreatants on
mountain called Coonowrin has a and the garden. They have organized a retreat on Santi Maha Sangha with a shared roster basis). If you are not partaking in meals at the Gar please
crooked spine rising to the sky. Jim Valby to be held in January, 2001. at Namgyalgar which everybody is deduct Aus$50 per week from the retreat fees. Please note that due to bush
When the family returned Tibrogar looking forward to. Last weekend they joined in a retreat of Vajra Dance and fire danger self catering is not permitted on the Gar.
gan was filled with shame at his Mandarava for which practitioners came to Namgyalgar from Canberra,
son's cowardice and he wept copi Sydney and local areas. There were around thirty people at the Ganapuja on E V E N I N G S T U D Y SESSIONS of Semde Texts
ous tears which trickled along the Saturday night. During the retreats there will be evening sessions devoted to the study of
ground fomiing a stream which Spring is now blossoming forth, and the days are warm while the nights ancient Dzogchen Semde texts.
flowed into the sea. His brothers are still cool. The native clematis is flowering on the mountainside, flinging Non members: Aus$35 per session /AusS 150 per week
and sisters also wept and today itself over the trees and bushes with it's white flowers seeming like lace on a Members: AusS25 p.s. / Aus$ 100 p.w.
there are many small streams in the green mantle. Rinpoche's house is nestling in the trees and sometimes there (Additional cost if eating meals at Gar )
area said to originate from these is smoke curling up from the chimney when someone comes to do a private
tears. Today Tibrogargan gazes far retreat. Hopefully the Dzogchen teachings will flourish with the warmth and C H I L D C A R E will be provided for the Base Level retreat (first week)
out to sea and never looks around at the flowers, in the Spring and Summer at Namgyalgar.» only. Donations and help appreciated.
C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
S H A N G - S H U N G I N S T I T U T E
22
International Publications, continued front"The Camera is Always in Rigpa" continued from page
page 4 13
ted. Then you try to do your best Institute of Italy. The revenue from the film will go to Rinpoche. There will was wonderful. Then he told us about how he met his Dzogchen master,
with the language, that's why also be a television edit, classical documentary style, which we will try to sell, which he kind of glossed over, and the whole story of the dreams and signs
what was said before is very cor and the rest will go into the archives. and the meeting. He was 100% comfortable and 100% there.
rect. The committee must take I've done my own shoots and been on other people's shoots and have worked On the last day I wanted to get a bit more into the difficulties of the Western
responsibility and do translations for films and TV, and I have never had the pleasure, the emotional satisfac rational mind, like my mind. I wanted to say I understand you, I am very
and everything in different lan tion, like in the relationships with all the people from the Community. impressed, but it's still outside me, it's not part of me and I am wondering if I
guages. It is not very complicated, Everyone was fantastic and all of them had a real care and respect for the can integrate Dzogchen. We have been taught so many things to rationalize,
but if you go after secondary public image and all would come and say, so what do you really want to do systematize, and is it really possible? How can I really integrate that into my
things then we have no conclu here? They were not being police, but they were checking and cautious, and being, and we asked if there was really time to integrate all this and the
sion, only talking. We must go that was very nice for us. It's important, because films have a momentum answer was, yes, however perfectly or imperfectly, related to one's capacity.
more into the essence." that can carry you along and it's important you give up the power of the hold Personally, for me, I am thinking maybe more and more about my life and
Ed Goldberg asked about web ing the camera. I think one of the reasons Rinpoche agreed to the film is that living it more in relationship to Dzogchen. I feel maybe more sympathetic
sites and how they relate to the IPC. when I wrote and said I'm interested in this and I respect what you are doing, and but still feel on the outside.
Igor replied that the IPC had dis but the documentary we want to make is not only about student/teacher D: For me I feel closer to the center. This was the first time I had met Rin
cussed this newly developing prob devotion or turning on the camera and saying "Speak", but we gave him an poche. I had been practicing with the French Community for a year and the
lem with Rinpoche and they will explanation of what we wanted to do and that we wanted to know about first time I heard the Vajra Song I lost my place in the text and found myself
appoint an Internet Committee Dzogchen, what it means, about his life and the integration of it into his life, singing along without "knowing" the words, but somehow I knew them.
inside the IPC to review web sites. and Dzogchen comes out in every sentence without a formal description or And now I have transmission. And I have to learn the Dance. That I know.
The suggested members of this teaching. He is very direct, natural and human and I thought, very logical. M : What is the future of this film?
Committee are: Cheh Goh (Eng We also gave Rinpoche final cut and said if there's anything he doesn't like R: The future of this film is that we have shot mostly what we need and there
land), Maurizio Mingotti (Italy), we can change it and when it's finished we'll send it to the archives. probably is another line we have to introduce and we have a lot of editing
Loek Jehee (Holland) and Grisha M : What was it like working with Rinpoche and do you feel more interested and technical work to do. We can finish it slowly. We don't know about dates
Mokhin (Russia). in Dzogchen practice, Russell? yet. We may need more collaboration in the future with Rinpoche or Adriano
George Quasha brought up the R: I will be honest. It was very gratifying to be able to ask certain questions for clarification, and we hope something will be ready by the end of the year.
idea of a public internet space with in a certain way, and we constructed a couple of lines to follow and one was We hope we'll have it by the Merigar retreat next summer.
limited access where there could be his biography and we listened very well and there were a few points when M : Thank you both..
some dialogue about translation we would go back to things that we felt were important. In the library he
decisions discussed by members of talked about the education of children from a Dzogchen perspective, this
the IPC with Adriano Clemente and
Jim Valby. Igor said that we could
easily make a kind of open commu inform us, then later we know. printing and selling them, but
nication network through the IPC But today we can't decide these before printing the books the pub
members list. things. We know only there exist lishers should submit the texts con
Jakob Winkler proposed that different languages, so in this case taining Rinpoche's teachings to the Notecards and Posters
there be a list of suggestions of how for each language please form a IPC which has to check their style
one works on transcripts and how committee and inform us. In each and content and to get an IPC code. available at the
one does a translation with guide country they know very well who 2. If an internal publishing
lines based on experience. Igor sug should be in the committee house cannot be set up, the local Tsegyalgar Bookstore
gested that Jakob make this list. because they know their language Publications Committee is respon
and culture and we don't. I think sible for planning the books meant
Adriano Clemente made a state
that is not our job. Our job is to for publications, finding the transla
ment taking into account his long
inform and we are asking: please Notecards with
term experience as a translator say tors, checking the translations and
form your different language Artwork by
ing, "I would like to say something printing them in some way.
committee and inform us who is Glen Eddy
because I have some experience Both the publishers and the local
on the committee."
working with transcriptions of Rin- Publications Committees should be
poche's teachings; if something autonomous from their Gakyils in
seems strange then we go to the Transcribed by Naomi Zeitz the sense that, for instance, once a
source. I can give you an example; Edited by Igor Legati and year they could present to the Gaky
Naomi Zeitz VajrassatvaYab/Yum
someone wrote in one book that il their plans and financial budget
Rinpoche said "the five darkness and, upon approval of the Gakyil,
es", so I was wondering what it was, go on by themselves. This is not a Komadevi
and it was the five Dakinis. This Notes Regarding the IPC from
rule, of course, but it is a useful sug
book has been published all over Igor Legati:
gestion based on a long and con
the world. This person who pub In order to follow this last
crete experience.
lished the book knows the teaching advice of Rinpoche that every local
A close collaboration between
very well. So also the practitioners committee should decide if they
the publishers and the IPC members
who know the teaching very well need any changes, we must remem
is not only welcome but necessary,
can make mistakes and therefore it ber that we can increase the number
and they have to help one another in Machig Lopdron
is important that the IPC checks of members only if the original
order to reach their common goal.
these transcriptions and transla committee was made up by very
Any kind of collaboration is useful,
tions, like Igor and Jim Valby. few members, otherwise the new
but especially in planning the books
Mainly Igor is doing this job these members should replace some of
to be published.
days and then he can ask me. O f the old ones. Color Thanka
In short, the Gakyils have to Reproductions by
course, it is always good to publish We can set a deadline for the end
supervise the publishing activity Nick Dudka
many books, but we have to be sure of September. The Committees
without interfering with it and grant
that the teaching remains pure, and which do not communicate to me
the utmost autonomy to the autho
also that the transcription or transla by that date will be confirmed as
rized persons; the publishers (where
tion of Rinpoche's words corre they are presently. The new propos
an internal publishing house exists)
sponds one hundred percent to what als will be submitted to Rinpoche
publish and sell the books, and the
he means. That is why I am always and after his approval the new list of
IPC should guarantee that the books
working for the Shang Shung Edi IPC members will be published in
containing Rinpoche's teachings
zioni, to keep the teaching pure." The Mirror.
are correct for style and content. In
Moreover, I would like to share general, their different functions are
In wrapping up the meeting,
my personal opinion about a ques clear enough. These three bodies of
Igor brought up the issue of new
tion that was often raised during the our Community should be ground
members for IPC, Paula Barry, from
recent IPC and IG meetings, and ed on the principle of collaboration
the United States, suggested voice
that is the relationship between the and not on authority (for a clear
recognition technology as a solu
Gakyils, the publishing houses and Rinpoche's explanation of this
tion to faster transcriptions, and
the IPC. point see the article, "On Publica
Maurizio Mingotti, from Italy,
In general the Gakyils are Deity Cards by Master Thanka Painter Glen Eddy
replied that the software is not high tions in the Dzogchen Community".
responsible for everything in the These deity cards are exquisite line drawings suitable for fram
ly developed enough and then made The Mirror No. 50, Aug./Sept. 1999).
sense that they have to guarantee ing.
a few proposals for the IPC regard I conclude expressing my pro
that every useful activity of our The)' are available in two different sets of seven drawings.
ing: a mailing list of the IPC like an found gratitude to our Master who
Community is carried out in a cor Part of the proceeds from these sales go to the Shang- Shung
I PC/net, to always make the first is guiding us with his unsurpassable
rect way. But in the case of the pub Institute.
transcription word by word in the clarity and compassion and I give
lishing activity, which requires a Cardsets:S14US
same language Rinpoche is speak my heartfelt thanks to everybody
ing in, and that the IPC should make particular competence and continu
for their precious work and collabo
some guidelines so that members ity, the Gakyils are invited to
ration..
have a method to follow. appoint some practitioners granting Color Thanka Reproductions by Russian Master
them indispensable autonomy. Thanka Painter Nick Dudka
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's l'inai These beautiful color reproductions are available in a variety of
At this point there are two possi
statement of the meeting was, " I sizes and prices, from small cards to larger posters by this unique-
bilities available:
think we cannot decide here who lv talented painter.
I. If there are the conditions for
are the members for the different
having an internal publishing
languages. We can inform every
house, its staff is responsible for For more information regarding sizes, prices, shipping and han
body that the I P C members of
planning the books to be published, dling costs contact: Tsegyalgar Bookstore ( seepage 14)
each different language have to
lor having them translated and for
check who should be member and
LOSING HENRY THINKING O U TLOUD: A B O U T S-X sort out the mundane confusion about ordinary desire do not match our own. If our meditation
sex-for-pleasure. practice accelerates our confusion about sexuali
by Naomi Zeitz ty, our partner can be left bewildered. This can
The type of sexual guidance I have encoun
by Paul Bail tered in Buddhism is along three main lines: for lead to a multiplicity of further interpersonal
the monastic sangha there are vows of celibacy, complications, and at moments one may envy the
24
REFLECTIONS
When We Die 'properly' and the mother was left to sleep off awareness those responsible for doing this for you will only be able to
numbing drugs. Now, the dying process is still like this. In Vic give you the kind of send off you want if you leave clear and
toria, when someone dies, the body is removed as soon as pos precise instructions with your will. It is also advisable to tell
Funeral Information for Practitioners from Australia
sible so as not to be upsetting or offensive to others. It is imme family members that you have done this as sometimes the will
diately placed in a cold storage facility (fridge) until the mortu is not read until after the event. Also, other practitioners cannot
by Lily Giblin
ary attendant can prepare the body. Preparation can be a simple help you if they do not know you are dead or dying, so it would
matter of packing orifices, stitching the mouth and dressing the be good to take the time to leave contact numbers as well as
corpse, or it can incorporate embalming as well. Many compa instructions as to what you want done with your body.
I nspired by this article and the death of a close member of the
Community in Italy, Mirror Editor L i z Granger, wrote a let
ter to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu to ask some advice on a few
nies like to do this as a normal part of basic body preparation so
that the deceased person looks more life-like when people
As we are all getting older, it seems time to be thinking of
how, as practitioners, we can have good deaths and support
come to 'view'. Embalming is done by pumping the fluid from each other at this most important point in our lives. I would like
topics related to preparation for and activity after death. Here is
the body cavities and organs by means of a suction instrument to see some retirement domiciliary planning for those of us
Rinpoche's reply:
inserted directly through the abdomen. Blood is then replaced who would like to ensure that our passing is preceded by full
"Yes, there are many problems for the practitioners at
with the chemical Formaldehyde, which is dyed to give the time practice and preparation. Body, speech and mind. And I
the moment of death in our modern society. On the other
skin a pink color. As most funerals are arranged to take place would like to see us take care of our own if our families have
hand, it is not easy for me to give precise indications on this
within a day or two of death, this process is often performed no ideas about our practices and the great opportunity that
subject. There are so many different circumstances. Natu
within hours of the person being medically pronounced dead. death provides, especially if our bodies are treated in accor
rally, when it is possible, we try and keep the body for some
They are then placed in a coffin or casket and returned to stor dance with our wishes.B
time and do the appropriate practices. That would be very
age until just prior to viewing.
positive.
I also think that those practitioners who want to donate Legally, the body belongs to the family. There is no law Lily Giblin lives in Victoria, Australia and is a funeral
their organs should do so, because this is something posi requiring its removal to a mortuary. If a person dies in hospital, director. She arranges and conducts people's funerals, as well
tive and a part of compassion. But there cannot be one the family can request the funeral company to take it home as helps with the service, if it is not a religious ceremony held
solution for everybody. where it can stay for a number of days until disposal. In Aus in a church. She is trained in mortuary work (i.e. looking after
For the preparation of practitioners for their own tralia, this is done by burial or cremation. If the weather is dead bodies) and often collects them from homes or hospitals.
death, they should think which is the best way for them warm and there are concerns regarding hygiene, air condition She decided to do this work five years ago when her mother
selves and, with awareness, leave some instructions." ing and simple precautions like plastic under sheets can allevi died and she discovered that people need practitioners in this
ate most problems. Funeral companies will supply practical area of work. She saw that people who do not view death as a
advice if requested but it is better to check before it is necessary negative thing were needed in the funeral industry. The empha
W orking in the funeral industry has been an eye opener for
me. I decided to write a short article to inform other
practitioners what to expect when someone dies here, in Aus
which ones are open to being co-operative in this regard. I dis
covered, when my own mother died, that the family can do
sis is still on a 'rubbish collecting type of mentality and often
the public is not informed of their rights and/or choices. She
almost everything itself, except dispose of the body. We used a tries to encourage families to keep their dead at home as long
tralia. My experience is limited to the state of Victoria so some
funeral company only for transferring the body home and to as possible so that family can see them and say good-bye. She
procedures may differ from state to state. It is worth checking.
the crematorium on the day of the funeral. M y mother's body tries to influence the industry from within to leave bodies alone
People's wishes will usually be attempted to be carried out if
was never put in storage or touched by anyone except the fami if the families do not wish their dead to be tampered with. It is
you leave instructions with your will, however if there are no
ly. We ordered a solid wood casket to be made by a cabinet not easy as people do not know what goes on in mortuaries and
instructions or they are not found in time, family members or
maker and it was delivered to the house next day. The cost was what is done to dead people to make them look like they're still
those responsible for arranging the funeral are likely to be
a fraction of that charged by the funeral company and the cas alive.
guided by advice from the funeral company. Having worked
ket had no glue, nails or varnish so it burned cleanly and quick Lily writes articles for newspapers and through company
for family owned as well as multi-national funeral companies,
ly, leaving no residue with my mother's ashes. We all know advertising tries to open people's minds to the idea of doing it
I have found there is little difference in attitude and ethos. Not
how important it is to be able to die well. Preferably awake their way; thinking about their own funerals and planning
to mention an across the board reluctance to suggest alterna
with no drugs to dilute the experience. The teachers tell us that them in advance. That way they will have what they want and if
tives to traditionally accepted ways of dealing with deceased
our consciousness may stay with our body for some days after they are practitioners their bodies will not be cut open, drained
people.
death, even if we die like this. I have seen many people, clini and filled with chemicals by well meaning funeral people who
Ideas in the funeral industry are very similar to those held cally dead but who have clearly not finished the process, put
by the medical profession half way through the last century in think it's good to do this and who often don't tell the families
into freezing storage facilities, their bodies handled and invad what they do.
relation to childbirth. Then, the medical staff were responsible ed by workers unaware that consciousness is still present. It is
for the baby's delivery and the mother was told what to do, Lily met Rinpoche in 1993 or '94 at an Easter retreat in
very shocking.
where, and even when, to have it. Once bom, the baby was Australia. Since she has been to every retreat since except one.
immediately removed to a place where it could be taken care of Like a wedding, a funeral ceremony can be held anywhere
and can be conducted in any way you wish, but remember.
UNTIL THEN
M Y FRIEND JACK
I cannot give my heart to a house:
by Diane Campbell Until you can find wallpaper with
the grass green
of a bright field, rippling with dark
T H E MIRROR
NEWSPAPER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL DZOGCHEN
COMMUNITY
founded by
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
LITERARY EDITOR
John Shane
ADVISORS
Adriano Clemente
Anna Eid
Barbara Paparazzo
Des Barry
Jim Valby
ILLUSTRATION
Cartoons
Prima Mai (pg.3)
Patrizia Moscatelli (pg.25)
P. Koemig (pg.27)
PRINTERS
Turley Publishers
Palmer. MA
DISTRIBUTION
Tsegyalgar at
Conway, Massachusetts
26
I N T E R N A T I O N A L G A K Y I L N E W S
other work groups will be published Igor Koshkendey & Musicians (Tuva) Dingeladen)
soon.i Krishna Bhati, Zakir Hussain (India) Raag Kirwani (excerpt from)
Ibu Candii & Ensemble (Indonesia) Gender (excerpt from)
Monks for Sera Monastery (Tibet)
(For shipping and handling information seepage 14)
28