Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Newsletter - Vimala

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Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 1 Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Newsletter An Annual Publication of Mirror of Wisdom Message to the Sangha from Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche and youngsters at the Tashi Choling Childrens’ Program, Summer 2005 This message from Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche was read to the sangha by Sangye Khandro on the last day of the 2005 Vajrakilaya retreat at Tashi Choling. Rinpoche did not attend the retreat as he was preparing for a month-long trip to China to visit his sisters, whom he had not seen since leaving Tibet 55 years ago. I am so grateful to Lingtrul Rinpoche and Pema Tenzin. They always come to our ceremonies, especially to Vajrasattva and Vajrakilaya. Their kindness cannot be repaid. I hope that both of them will always bless us with their presence during these ceremonies in the future. I am also grateful that Lama Yönten participated in our Vajrakilaya practice this year. Lama Yönten is a direct disciple of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. He lived with H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and his family and learned in the Tersar monasteries in Bhutan and Nepal. While he was here, he taught the students at Tashi Choling how to play the instruments and just how to be good practitioners. In the future, I am hoping that Lama Yönten will continue to be one of our teachers and to help us as he did this year. To the entire sangha, including the geku Nick O’Connor and the chopons, I would like to say: please continue to increase your knowledge, your skillful means, your incisive knowledge and your loving kindness so that you will always uphold the Buddha’s doctrine in a very pure way. All disciples should know that we are not here practicing dharma just to dispel obstacles, even though dispelling obstacles is one of the functions of Kilaya practice. The main function of dharma practice is to completely tame and control one’s own mind. If we can do that, we will be able to achieve siddhis. It’s as simple as that. Everything that we hope to achieve in order to accomplish our own March 2006 Photo by Tara Thomas-Boucher

Transcript of Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Newsletter - Vimala

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 1

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo NewsletterAn Annual Publication of Mirror of Wisdom

Message to the Sangha from Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche and youngsters at the Tashi CholingChildrens’ Program, Summer 2005

This message from VenerableGyatrul Rinpoche was read tothe sangha by Sangye Khandroon the last day of the 2005Vajrakilaya retreat at TashiCholing. Rinpoche did notattend the retreat as he waspreparing for a month-long tripto China to visit his sisters,whom he had not seen sinceleaving Tibet 55 years ago.

I am so grateful to LingtrulRinpoche and Pema Tenzin. Theyalways come to our ceremonies,especially to Vajrasattva andVajrakilaya. Their kindness cannotbe repaid. I hope that both ofthem will always bless us withtheir presence during theseceremonies in the future.

I am also grateful that LamaYönten participated in our Vajrakilaya practice thisyear. Lama Yönten is a direct disciple of KyabjeDudjom Rinpoche. He lived with H.H. DudjomRinpoche and his family and learned in the Tersarmonasteries in Bhutan and Nepal. While he washere, he taught the students at Tashi Choling how toplay the instruments and just how to be goodpractitioners. In the future, I am hoping that LamaYönten will continue to be one of our teachers andto help us as he did this year.

To the entire sangha, including the geku NickO’Connor and the chopons, I would like to say:

please continue to increase your knowledge, yourskillful means, your incisive knowledge and yourloving kindness so that you will always uphold theBuddha’s doctrine in a very pure way.

All disciples should know that we are not herepracticing dharma just to dispel obstacles, eventhough dispelling obstacles is one of the functions ofKilaya practice. The main function of dharmapractice is to completely tame and control one’sown mind. If we can do that, we will be able toachieve siddhis. It’s as simple as that. Everything thatwe hope to achieve in order to accomplish our own

March 2006

Photo by Tara Thomas-Boucher

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Gyatrul Rinpoche greets students outside ofOrgyen Dorje Den

purpose and the purpose of others is completelydependent upon taming our own minds. Everyoneshould always be considering this. In order tobecome Buddha, to clear all obstructions andincrease all indwelling noble qualities, we must tameour minds.

Everything is dependent upon refuge. I alwaysrepeat this. I want to drive the point home again andagain, because people still do not get it. Refuge isthe single mostimportant practice.The worst obstacle isnot knowing refuge.The proof that refugeis not beingunderstood is thatpeople are notprogressing rapidlyon the path, becausedharma’s methodsproduce rapid resultswhen they arepracticed correctly. Alack of true faith inthe objects of refugecomes from notunderstanding thequalities of theobjects of refuge. It’sextremely important to come to know their qualitiesvery well. Then your path will be meaningful.

If you keep your refuge vows, then all three vows—pratimoksha, bodhisattva and vajrayana—aresubsumed there. Refuge vows contain all threekayas; they contain Buddha’s enlightened body,speech and mind. Generation and completion stageare subsumed in refuge. Refuge also includes theresult of all of our efforts to receive empowerment,transmission and upadesha instruction.

As for the children, you children are my special littlefresh sprouts. That’s because your seed is your ownlittle Buddhanature. You must not allow your sproutto be ruined or burned. Parents are responsible forthis. Children need to learn dharma as much as

possible. They need to cultivate the three wisdomsof listening, contemplating and meditating andparents must be responsible for giving them thisopportunity. The rest of the sangha must beresponsible to help ensure that the children arelearning. In that way everyone will be harmonious.

For myself, this is the future. When these childrenbecome tulkus, khenpos, translators or lamas, theyshould never be arrogant or boastful. Everyone must

always work to tamehis or her own mind.And once again,that’s dependent onhow well we hold thevows of refuge.These days it’s avery sad timebecause manypeople are givendharma names like‘tulku.’ Then rightaway they pop up,but they are empty ofqualities. There’snothing more sadthan that. So pleasedon’t follow thisempty tulku traditionwhere the demon of

godliness is cultivated. That demon of godliness ismeant to be eradicated, not encouraged. Therefore,all disciples must keep samaya.

Keeping samaya vows doesn’t mean looking at oneanother and pointing to see if others are keepingthem or not, saying he or she is good, he or she isbad. Of course, all beings are having a hard timekeeping samaya, just as you are. That’s becausethey are wandering in samsara. So rather thanfaulting and judging them, we must have compassionand love for them continuously. Tulkus can reallydestroy the doctrine, especially these days whenthey compete with each other for positions, like whosits on the highest seat in the shrine room. It’s a signof not knowing the dharma at all. Whoever sits on

Photo by Scott Globus

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the lowest seat in the shrine room is the one who hasthe highest qualities.

For example, it’s a well-known fact that there’s noowner of the Ganden Tri, the throne of the Ganden.Whoever has the qualities takes the seat on thatthrone. But these days, lamas and tulkus are fightingover positions. That’s the tradition of kings; it’s notthe dharma tradition. Buddha Shakyamuni neverworried about a throne. Guru Rinpoche neverworried about a throne. Our root guru, KyabjeDudjom Rinpoche, never worried about a throneand in the history of his lineage there’s never anyhistory of anyone fighting over who held the throneor competition about how many tulkus there may be.This has never existed in Dudjom Lingpa andKyabje Dudjom Rinpoche’s lineage. Usually thereare 5 tulkus for body, speech, mind, qualities andenlightened activities. All of these tulkus are busyincreasing the doctrine. They’re not thinking, “Mymonastery’s the seat,” or “I’m the only throneholder.” So don’t take the pure dharma and bless itwith demon’s views.

Think about the future and about keeping the lineagepure. It doesn’t matter if you’re a monk or angakpa. You should tame your own mind. That is themain responsibility of dharma practice. And also notbreaking samaya. No matter how scholarly you maybecome, if you don’t have pure samaya, your mindwill become like a poisonous snake and you’ll neverbe a good practitioner. You will only be a reflection.

In the future, always remember it doesn’t matterwhat you look like with your dharma clothes on,whether you appear to be handsome, pretty,powerful, even if someone is always praising you.You need to understand that all these ways ofthinking about dharma are detrimental because theydon’t help you to tame your mind and cultivatecompassion for others. So just work on taming yourmind and don’t worry about the rest of the stuff.Stay happy with who you are whatever status youhave. However much you can tame your mind, thatwill bring you more happiness. Have excellentthoughts toward others and give offerings as muchas you can without being proud or boasting.

These days people do one good thing and rightaway they want to tell everyone, pretending they’reso great. There’s never any reason to tell anyoneanything when you do something good. They willnotice it. It will be conspicuous. Remembering thatall parent sentient beings are equal to space weshould always have love for them and whateverhappens, we should always attribute that to thekindness of our root guru and our parents. This isvery important, to think that whatever qualities youhave are because of your guru’s kindness, notbecause of yourself.

For example, for me, I know that I don’t have anyqualities, but because of the kindness of my gurus, Ihave been able to do something meaningful in mylife. I do have confidence in that. But I have neverthought that I did this myself. I always thought that itwas because of their kindness and their kindnessalone that I had this opportunity. That makes mespecial. That makes me someone who can give thegift of dharma. When I think about myself doingsomething good, I attribute all the credit to my rootgurus. So if you are my friends, then you should dothe same. I would expect that of you. As for thisname tulku, a dog can be called a snow lion. Thetulku lineage does not matter any more. Just tameyour own minds. That’s the real tulku.

We’ve worked hard to create this little gompa ofTashi Choling. It’s filled with blessings of body,speech and mind; it’s been blessed by the greatestgurus of our time. So take care of it for the rest ofyour lives, and take care of one another. And whenthe lamas die, as they will, for example myself, mycorpse, I don’t want anyone making a big dealabout my corpse. I don’t want a stupa. I wouldprefer cremation or giving my body to the birds. Oryou could throw it in a river. I really don’t care.Milarepa didn’t care what happened to his body. Iwould like to be like him. He didn’t need a stupa. Apure Buddhist doesn’t care what happens to thebody after death. So please keep that in mind anddon’t forget my words.

Also, I wanted to say that ordinary dharmapractitioners should not have stupas for their bodies.

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Many of you misinterpret what to do with peoplewhen they die. You put ordinary practitioners’pictures on the altar and then make offerings to theirpictures. This is really incorrect. You should learnfrom lamas like Pema Tenzin what should be donewhen people die. Do not put their pictures on altars.This is not the way. That would cause the deceasedperson to go to the lower realms. Keep things in theproper context. If I die, please don’t do that. Anddon’t blow the trumpets either.

This is different from Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Youmay say, “Well his students did that for him,shouldn’t we do that for you, Rinpoche?” ButChagdud Tulku and I are very different. Don’t forgetthat his mother was a great dakini and she wouldactually pretend to pass away and go into the realmsand liberate thousands of beings from the bardos.And Chagdud Tulku’s sister did the same. ChagdudTulku came from an amazing lineage and he himselfwas an amazing guru. So of course the way he wastreated by his disciples was entirely appropriate. Wedon’t have to say these things. Everyone knows that.

Please listen carefully. If we follow BuddhaShakyamuni’s tradition, even though BuddhaShakyamuni lived two thousand five hundred yearsago, we don’t need to worry about eight worldlydharma concerns and we can always only practicepure dharma. You shouldn’t boast about visions.There are many of these so-called western tulkusand lamas who are busy boasting to their disciplesthat they had this vision and that vision trying toimpress their disciples. This is just worldly concern. Ihope none of you will ever do that. Why should youboast? If you’re my friends, in the future you won’tdo that. Just be harmonious with each other and doyour very best and follow the pure tradition, not “myway.” Don’t follow the highway of “my way,” that’svery shameful. That will cover up the pure Buddhistdoctrine. And don’t mix the tradition with otherthings, with your own ideas and your own cultures.Don’t follow cultures for that matter. You don’t needto follow any culture, just the pure Buddhadharma,and nothing ever needs to be changed.It’s so sad when people think they need to adjustBuddha’s speech, like pouring blood into pure milk.

As for the translators, especially the futuretranslators as I mentioned before, translators are thesecond lama and all of you really need to respectthis. Translators are not just like the postmandelivering letters, handing it over. You shouldn’t thinklike that. In order to become a true translator— andI know many of you are aspiring to do that— youreally must accomplish the dharma as a practitionerthrough listening, contemplating and meditating. Thenwhen you serve, you are really serving. You must betireless. You shouldn’t be a complainer saying I’mtoo tired, I’m so busy and ruining your merit. Somany westerners are always ruining their merit bycomplaining right after they do something good. Itdoesn’t make sense. Why do you always have tocomplain? Just be tireless. For myself, and I don’tmean to boast, the only reason why I went toArizona was to keep samaya. I didn’t want to go. Iwent there because I had some samaya commitmentthat I should go there. It was hard for me to go but Itried to keep that commitment. Like that, all of youshould always try to keep your samaya no matterhow difficult it is. You’re not keeping samaya just forthe lama, you’re keeping samaya only for yourself.So please keep this in mind.

What would we have done if the 25 disciples inTibet including Beirotsana had not gone through alltheir hardships to bring the dharma into a languagethat the Tibetan people could understand? Wewouldn’t have the dharma. So you see theimportance of this work of bringing dharma now intothe English language. It’s entirely dependent uponhow the translator can realize that information andpresent it accurately and correctly. Translating is askill that must be perfected. It is not just someordinary job. You can’t just think, I’m going to be atranslator, and think that it will be easy to learn toread, or that you can just learn some words and allof a sudden you will start translating. It’s really notquite like that. As a translator, you’re becoming amajor servant of the doctrine, spreading the doctrinein a most potent way by bringing it into a languagethat people can understand. So be very careful andkeep your samaya. Otherwise you will be just like apostman. It’s important for all students to respect

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Pacific Region Yeshe NyingpoNewsletter

March 2006Published by Mirror of Wisdom

Editorial Team: Gaea Yudron, BruceNewman, Shashi Reitz, and Barbara Caselli

Layout and Design: Nancy Yang

Sincere thanks to all those whocontributed to this issue.

translators and those who are training to betranslators. Encourage one another.

The sponsors of the dharma should always rejoice ifin this lifetime they have an opportunity to begenerous. They should try their best to offer withpurest intention, skillful means and prajna wisdom.

I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come to Kilaya this year. Ireally had every intention of coming. As you know, Ialways like to come. And in the future, I’ll be therenext time to bug you guys again, especially thechildren, my children, who are the future seeds, andmy shedra students, who better not be hanging outor trying to be slick. I want them all to be like Shashiand Ila and to guard the doctrine. I love those girlsand I love these students. They are supporting mylife more than anyone.

I’ll see you all soon when I come back from Chinaand maybe Taiwan. My final word is to keepsamaya with the guru. Everyone has thatresponsibility. Watch yourself and see whether youhave pure samaya. Whether someone else is a godor a demon, it really doesn’t matter. Just watchyourself.

The Chela’s Prayer

You came to us as if from dreamsfor years you have remained.

You welcome us into your heartwhere we are safe, a blessing

of infinite grace as you hold the vowto lead all beings from suffering.

We can never repay this, but our lovefor you, like a mountain, is unmoving.You are the voice of the enlightenedrevealing the essence of our minds.

You have offered us everything.There is nothing more sacred in this world.

We witness your flawless example,seeing the truth of equanimityin your body, speech and mind

the unerring motivation.Most Supreme Teacher of perfect faith,

your selfless love has changed us.Please stay, remain withinseated firmly in our hearts,

closer than breathyour wisdom and compassion

always present, always guiding us.

—Julie Rogers

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 20066

Rinpoche’s Journey to Chinaby Sangye Khandro

Dear Vajra Friends,

This message comes with warmest wishes for theNew Year ahead. May we all enjoy the benefits ofour present lifetime in the dharma, good health andgreat joy in our commitment to work for others’welfare.

At the end of 2005Gyatrul Rinpochefinally made his long-anticipated journeyback to China toreunite with family,friends and disciplesafter 55 years. In1987 Rinpoche andI did go to Tibet withKyabje PenorRinpoche. However,Gyatrul Rinpochewas unable to visitwith his family at thattime. Once again Ihad the good fortuneto accompanyRinpoche on this tripand will share withyou some of thehighlights.

This trip came at a time when Rinpoche’s health wasweak. Yet because of positive divinations performedby Kyabje Penor Rinpoche, Kyabje DodrubchenRinpoche and Dudjom Sangyum Kusho, Rinpochefelt confident that he could make the trip. Therefore,on December 7th, Rinpoche arrived in Beijing withthat big smile on his face that we all know so well!

This was Rinpoche’s first visit to Beijing and it allwent very well. We stayed in the lovely home ofJames and Teresa Chin. The weather was very cold,but Rinpoche was determined to pay respects to the

actual tooth relic of Lord Buddha enshrined in atemple in Beijing, where it has remained for some sixhundred years after being returned from Burma. Thisis one of four holy relics of the Buddha’s actual bodystill left in this world. Due to the efforts of Kris Yangand our new local friends we had a rare privateviewing of the relic. Rinpoche also visited the

Forbidden City. Hegave a well-receiveddharma teaching onthe last day; manynew students learnedthe importance ofrefuge.Finally the day cameto fly to Chengdu.Rinpoche and all of uswere warmly greetedby Khenpo LobsangChophel (Rinpoche’scousin, who is one ofthe main teachers atKhenpo Jigphun’sGar in Golog Serta),as well as lamas andmonks (all relatives),nephews and theirchildren.

Rinpoche hadinstructed his two

sisters, Kunga and Lotsima, not to come for severaldays after he arrived so that he could have a chanceto rest. Dr. Kris Yang made all the arrangements forRinpoche and the rest of us (Jigmed, Chonam,Tendar, David and Kris) to stay together in a verynice apartment on the outskirts of town. We settledin and began receiving the constant flow of visitors.The challenge quickly became trying to allowRinpoche ample time to rest while not disappointingthe anxious visitors.

Gyatrul Rinpoche with his two sistersPhoto by Kris Yang

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After resting, Rinpoche arranged to treat hisentire extended entourage of family, monks andnuns to a three- day pilgrimage for which KrisYang made all the preparations. We visited allthe important Buddhist sites around theChengdu area including the great Buddha ofLeshan, Mount Ermei and the holy shrine ofManjushri. Everyone gathered at that shrineand offered many prayers while Rinpocheblessed us with a teaching.

The day we arrived, the mountain wasshrouded in mist so we could only catchglimpses of bamboo forests, jutting peaks,perfectly manicured gardens and monkeysjumping from tree to tree. In order to get to theupper temple one either had to take the chairlift or walk straight up for one and a half hours.Guess what we did? This was very fun since most ofthe pilgrims in our group had never been on a chairlift before. It was fun to see how they clamored tograb the seat before being whisked off into space.During this time Rinpoche made everyone feel joyfulas he continued to make jokes and lighten up everysituation. His loving care and kindness shown to hissisters was extremely heartwarming to observe. Bythe way, they both look a lot like their brother!

After the pilgrimage Rinpoche was quite busy seeingmany visitors including a delegation from Dhomang,relatives of Rinpoche’s root guru Tulku NatsogRangdrol. In this group, there were two olderlamas who knew Rinpoche before he left andyounger ones meeting him for the first time. Therewere also some very traditional Tibetans wholooked like American Indians with large tallbodies and long wavy black hair. This groupcame every day until finally Rinpoche told them itwas time for them to return home.

Rinpoche spent time with both of his sisters,showering them with gifts and lots of advice. Theyounger sister Kunga is quite ill so she returnedhome early while the older sister Lotsima stayedto see Rinpoche off along with all the lamas fromKhenpo Jigphun’s Gar.

Rinpoche spent hours every day just talking to themalong with giving blessings and much advice. Oneday Rinpoche gave a scripture empowerment andtaught for several hours. Rinpoche’s health remainedvery good throughout this trip but he decided that itwas too much to make the trip to Taiwan andHawaii at this time. Therefore we rearranged thingsso that Rinpoche could fly back to Beijing and thenSan Francisco.

This has been a most wonderful and meaningful tripfor Rinpoche as well as everyone and I will tell youthat Rinpoche is telling his family that he hopes tosee them again in a few years!!!

In Beijing at the temple where the tooth relic of LordBuddha is enshrined

Rinpoche gave a Chenresig wang to this group at aresidence in Chengdu

Photo by Kris Yang

Photo by Kris Yang

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 20068

HEART NECTAR OF THE SAINTSA Prayer of Aspiration

That Condenses the Essence of the Oral Teachings

His Holiness Dudjom RinpocheJigdral Yeshe Dorje

This is an excerpt from Heart Essence of the Saints. This prayer wasorginally published in 1980 by the New York Yeshe Nyingpo center. It will

soon be republished by Mirror of Wisdom.

if it survives that’s all right, if itcollapses that’s all right.Without becoming entangledwith obsessions for food,clothes, and medicine,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This religious position, like achild’s game,if it’s kept up that’s all right, ifit’s dropped that’s all right.Without deceiving myself withnumerous diversions,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

These gods and demons, likereflections in a mirror,if they’re helpful that’s all right,if they’re harmful that’sall right.Without perceiving my ownhallucinations as the enemy,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This delusive talk, like atrackless echo,if it’s pleasing that’s all right, ifit’s unpleasing that’s all right.Taking the Three Jewels andmy own mind as witness,May I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

That which is useless at thetime of need, like the antlers of adeer,if it’s known that’s all right, ifit’s unknown that’s all right.Without simply relying on thevarious sciences,May I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

These religious possessions, likevirulent poisons,if they’re acquired that’s allright, if they’re not that’s allright.Without devoting my life tosinful, unwholesome means ofsurvival,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This form of greatness, like dogshit wrapped in brocade,if it’s obtained that’s all right, ifit’s not that’s all right.Having smelled the rottennessof my own head,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

These relationships, likegatherings on a market day,if they’re loving that’s all right,if they’re spiteful that’s all right.Cutting the ties of passionateattachment from deepwithin the heart,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This material wealth, likewhat’s found in a dream,if it’s acquired that’s all right, ifit’s not that’s all right.Without deceiving others byflattery and assent,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This rank, like a little birdperched in a tree,if it’s high that’s all right, if it’slow that’s all right.Without concentrating on thatwhich actually brings sorrow,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

Sole unfailing and unchangingRefuge, Lord of theMandala, most precious and kindRoot Guru, hold mewith compassion when I squanderthe freedoms andendowments, ignoring death,providing only for this life.

This fleeting human life, like adream,if it’s happy that’s all right, if it’sunhappy that’s all right.Without concern for happiness orsorrow,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This mortal existence, like acandle in the wind,if it’s long that’s all right, if it’sshort that’s all right.Without intensifying the tight gripof the ego,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

These intellectual judgments, likethe lure of a mirage,If they’re suitable that’s all right,if they’re not that’s all right.Discarding, like hay, talk thatcarries the eight worldly concerns,may I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This entourage, like a flock ofbirds in a tree,If it’s assembled that’s all right, ifit’s scattered that’s all right.Without letting others lead me bythe nose,May I constantly practice theSupreme Teaching.

This illusory body, like a hundred-year-old house,

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Voice of the Young

Keith LaCoste, the son of Markand Lisbeth LaCoste, was raisedwith the dharma. His mother hasbeen associated with VenerableGyatrul Rinpoche since the “olddays” when Rinpoche first arrivedin California. Now twenty yearsold, Keith is a full-time student inTashi Choling’s EducationalProgram and also serves as thelead chanter for several monthlypujas. He lives with his familydown the road from the temple.

I still remember the day youwere born. At that time yourparents lived on a propertyadjoining Tashi Choling. Doyou have any memories of thattime? He is quiet for a longmoment, then says “I don’t knowif it’ s true or not, but there’s onememory of a lama that looked alot like Dudjom Rinpoche sittingup on the throne, teaching. That isthe only memory I have before Iwas four. It could have even beena dream, or some mysticalexperience in my mother’s womb,or it could just be a picture I’veseen somewhere.”

What are your first memories ofGyatrul Rinpoche? He speakswithout hesitation, “My firstmemory was driving up in the carto the statue garden, even beforethere was a fence around it. Weparked in the field. Later, I helpedset up a tent where we were to

Conversation with Keith LaCosteby Julie Rogers

stay at Philip’s. We camefor an empowerment.That was the first time Iremember seeingRinpoche. I rememberseeing him on the throne,his hands pressedtogether, and I rememberhis voice as we repeatedafter him.”

How old were youwhen you came backfrom Seattle to live inAshland? Did you haveany idea of your futureas a dharma studentthen? He thinks back, “Iwas in seventh grade,about thirteen. One ofthe reasons we moved back herewas to be close to the temple. Idid start practicing ngondro ateight. My mom and Rinpocheencouraged me to practice then,so I was going along, but I alsohad interest. I had no clue I wouldbe a dharma student. Feeling likea student really started for me atthe tsalung retreat three yearsago.”

What inspired you to practicewhen you were younger? He’squiet, and then replies, “It waskind of a natural inclination. I wasslowly being integrated into thedharma. Once Rinpoche said,“Ha ha, you’re going to chip in.”That’s what I thought he meant--

help out around the temple orsomething. Later I found out hemeant chopon. My first choponteacher was Brian Carstens,during Vajrakilaya, and Trish wasalso involved with that. But myfirst real memory of choponingwas with Brian, showing me whatto do.”

How do you like living in theColestine Valley? He offers,“It’ s great because it’s easier toget to the temple.” I wonder, “Doyou like the quiet?” Keith shrugs.“It’ s always been quiet where Ilive.”

Keith has studied music for yearsand is a fine pianist. When I asked

Keith LaCostePhoto by Mark LaCoste

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200610

Voice of the Young

him whether he thought that hismusical training helped him as hebegan to lead pujas, he agreedthat it did. Keith attracted noticeas a potential omzed during thetsalung retreat.

“During tsalung, LoponRechungpa had each of us leadthe chanting, and some thoughtthen that I had some kind ofvoice. Someone decided I shouldstart practicing, probably Nick.Rinpoche also had someprophesy for me.” “What wasthat?” I ask. Keith repeatsRinpoche’s words, “First chopon,then omzed, then geku, then lama.I guess since I’d already beenchopon for a bit, it was time tomove on to being an omzed, and Istarted leading the Guru Rinpochepuja.”

You have taken part in theEducational Program since itsbeginnings. Could you talkabout your experience in theprogram? Keith replies withsome enthusiasm, “We were firsttaught the Bodhicharyavatara byKhenpo Orgyen Thinley withMichael Lewis translating. I don’tremember that much about thetext but did get an idea aboutwhat a Bodhisattva is. This was

taught again later by LoponRechungpa. But when KhenpoLodro Thaye taught the JewelOrnament of Liberation - at thatpoint I felt I knew something, likethe Eight Freedoms and TenEndowments and the TwelveInterdependent Links ofOrigination, all these differentpoints and enumerations ofdharma.” I wonder, “Was that aturning point for you?” He repliesconfidently, “I was able to beginintegrating the teachings into mymind. It gave me a goodfoundation for receiving theGuyagharba teachings.”

Is there an area of dharmastudy that inspires you most,that you really love and thriveon more than others?Keith says with feeling, “I reallylike getting teachings that I canactually integrate into my daily life,and teachings that explain how todo the practices, like what tsalungis all about for instance - learningthe meanings, the foundations ofthe higher teachings.”

You’re saying that you want toknow why things happen in thedharma – right? “Yes, and it’sreally satisfying when there is a

question and I get an answer thatexplains the meaning.”

When you consider your lifenow Keith, when are yourhappiest times? He pauses andthinks. “Well, there’s times whenI’m doing something like beingomzed, or chanting along witheveryone when Pema Tenzin isleading, when I become awarethat I am actually doing somethingthat is in accord with what ishappening. Like, I’m not doingthings because everyone wantsme to do it right. It’s wheneverything is happening as itshould, spontaneously. It doesn’thave to be in a dharma contexteither. Like if I were in a crowd, Ican just sit back and watch whatis happening, and I already knowthat what I am doing is normal. Idon’t have to pay attention towhat other people are thinkingabout me. It’s basically justknowing that you are right,knowing that whatever happens,whatever anybody else says,you’re doing something you knowis right.”

“Just one last question. Do youcontinue to enjoy video games?”Without hesitation Keith asserts,“Yes!”

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 11

Vintage Sangha

In order to write this article, Iasked various sangha membersabout Les Collins. Of course,each of them had somethingto say. One told me excitedly,“Oh, he has lived anabsolutely fantastic life!”Another said, “Have youseen his place? It’s so full ofart it’s like a museum!” Yetanother assured me, “He’sdone everything. He’s been afootball player, a jazzmusician, a world traveler, ahealer and an art collector.He even lived in a witch’svillage for a year.”

“He’s an odd character, bothsensitive and macho,” oneperson reported in anaffectionate tone of voice,while another quietly added,“He’s a classical person.Everything has to be 14th

century.” By the time Ifinished making the rounds, Ithought that Les Collins wouldhave been better off writing hisown Vintage Sangha article. Atleast he could have depictedhimself as he would prefer toappear. But then again, since weare all so transparent to eachother, this method is alsoeffective.

Monk Nick O’Connor met LesCollins 25 years ago when hewent to Les for healing work, andthe two of them have been friends

Les Collinsby Gaea Yudron

ever since. “Les is an incrediblyloyal person, one of the mostloyal people I’ve ever met,” Nick

says. “He has amazing karma withlamas, and he has brought a lot ofpeople into the Dharma. I cameto Tashi Choling through Les. TheDharma is his love. He is verydedicated,” Nick said.

Samantha Cheney also met Lesthrough his healing work. After acourse of treatment that shedescribes as physically andemotionally transformative,Samantha went on to takemeditation classes with Les. “He’sone of the more compassionate,

loving people I’ve met,” she said.“He’s funny, witty, and quite thecharacter. He can be challenging

too, but generally he is outto help people learn and tobe of benefit to others.When I started hismeditation class at OrgyenDorje Den two yeas ago, itmade a huge change in mylife,” she stated.

Born and raised in Canada,Les was quite an athlete,and it looked as if he washeading for a professionalcareer in either hockey orfootball. When he was 18,however, a bad caraccident laid him up forthree years and changedthe course of his life. By thetime he recovered, Les wasready for new vistas: “Iwanted to get away frommy conditioned

environment and learn aboutmyself.” That first trip and othersthat followed represent someserious traveling. “I’ve beenaround the world a half dozentimes. Europe, eastern Europe,Africa, Asia, everywhere,” hereported.

Les first encountered TibetanBuddhism in Toronto in the late60s when he met Kalu Rinpocheand then Namgyal Rinpoche. Notlong after, he traveled to NorthAfrica to participate in a program

Les Collinsphoto by Scott Globus

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200612

of dharma therapy with NamgyalRinpoche. “There was nothingelse like it then. It combinedmandala practice with Jungiantherapy. After I went through itwith the first group, I led a groupof 22-23 people through it. Itreally made you confront yourconditioning,” he said.In 1970, Les decided to hitchhikefrom Europe to India. “I wantedto experience the old Silk Route,and I wanted to do it slowly,” heexplained. “It took me threemonths. On that journey, I cameto see a lot of myself that I hadn’tdealt with.”

On his travels, he met and studiedwith many lamas and yogis. InRajpur, Les met H.H. SakyaTrizin and received teachings fromhim over a period of severalmonths. He went to Dharamsalaand received private teachingsfrom H.H. the Dalai Lama. Hemet H.H. Penor Rinpoche andH.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. Hetraveled to Rumtek, the seat ofthe H.H. the Karmapa, and tookrefuge with the Karmapa. “ Iknew when I went to Rumtek andmet His Holiness the Karmapathat I had come home.”

When you listen to Les talk abouthis various journeys, it allbecomes an impressionisticblur—stories of going throughIndia to Bombay, hitchhiking inAfrica to Cape Town, doingretreat in Australia and NewZealand, visiting Fiji, goingthrough Central America,

spending some time with LamaGovinda on a boat in Africa,studying healing with a doctor in aThai monastery….quite anodyssey.

In 1974, back in the Torontoarea, Les met Gyatrul Rinpochefor the first time. On a teachingtour, the Karmapa visited aDharma center near Toronto tobless a stupa and GyatrulRinpoche was with him. WhenLes saw Gyatrul Rinpoche, he feltvery concerned. “Rinpoche wasvery thin. He did not look well.So I immediately went up to himand asked him, ‘Do you needsome help?’ Rinpoche’s responsehas stuck with me ever since. ‘I’mnot the one who needs help,’ hetold me.” Les laughed as he toldthe story. It was over 10 yearsbefore Les connected withRinpoche again.

Les began to do healing workaround 1975. That year, he wasinvited to join a long-establishedosteopathic-naturopathic clinic inColumbus, Ohio. First he went toCrete to do retreat, then movedto Columbus where he worked atthe clinic for 3 years. He alsohelped to start a Kagyu center inColumbus with Khenpo KhatarRinpoche. Then he moved toCape Cod for a year and workedwith mentally retarded people.“I’ve always thought I wasmentally retarded, so I thought Icould learn something aboutmyself,” he joked. Chicago washis next home. He lived there for

Vintage Sangha

2 years, traveling to many citiesdoing healing work. He startedanother dharma center in Chicagoand was in that city at the time ofthe Karmapa’s death. After that,Les moved to Joshua Tree, aplace near Palm Springs, wherehe did 3 years of retreat.

Santa Monica was the next stopon his journey. As fortune had it,Gyatrul Rinpoche came to SantaMonica and gave teachings at thehouse where Les was living.“Rinpoche looked much different,much healthier. He invited me tocome to Tashi Choling and I did. Istayed on the land and took partin the tsalung retreat and in theNam Cho teachings,” Lesreported.

“I’ve never met a more profoundbeing than Gyatrul Rinpoche. Itotally love him. I have no need tolook further in terms of a teacher.The most profound experiencesI’ve had have been with GyatrulRinpoche,” Les continued. “He isa living Buddha.”

At present, the world travelerresides in the San Francisco Bayarea with Lindy Steele, his partnerof 18 years. Les leads classes andretreats based upon Ven. GyatrulRinpoche’s book NaturalLiberation: Padmasambhava’sTeachings on the Six Bardos atboth Orgyen Dorje Den and TashiCholing.

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 13

In last year’s issue of this newsletter, marking theTibetan year of the wood rooster, Ven. GyatrulRinpoche spoke at length about the significance ofMirror of Wisdom and the Buddha’s speech,pointing to how we as his students have greatopportunity as well as responsibility to serve asstewards of the teachings. Here is a brief excerpt:

In my opinion, there is no greaterway to serve the doctrine orsentient beings than through thedharma of scripture andtransmission. This is, in fact, thelife of the dharma. Mirror ofWisdom is the structure andsupport for this because itpreserves all the great teachingsgiven to us by the greatestteachers of our time.

Rinpoche has often spoken of a wish to see more ofhis students offer to help Mirror of Wisdom. Oftenwe need help in specific areas, and we encourageyou to inquire with us at any time. You will find moredetails as you read on.

Last year several capable and dedicated peoplevolunteered their time and skills. Without them wewould not have been able to function, let aloneimprove our operation. While our intention iscertainly not to blow our own horn, it is here that wewant to thank each of those individuals for helping usclear some of our cobwebs and carry us to freshplaces. We also remember and want toacknowledge those people who have helpedcontinually over many years; to mention all yournames and list what you’ve done would entail aseparate and lengthy story in itself, so instead wehope you’ll each accept this big thank you, eventhough it’s not personalized.

A Report from the Mirror of Wisdom Board of Directorsby Christine Moen

But first, we wish to offer our ongoing gratitude toour sublime teacher, Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche, whocontinues to guide us in infinite ways. Without thecompassion of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and GyatrulRinpoche, Mirror of Wisdom would never havemanifested. Similarly, we extend our appreciation tothe many lamas who have taught us as a result ofRinpoche’s kindness. It is our continuing aspirationto help serve and fulfill their vision for Mirror ofWisdom to the best of our abilities.

Without Sangye Khandro’s ever-increasing skill andgenerosity as translator, we would not have heardthe quality and vastness of teachings given overdecades. Thank you for an outstanding job, Sangye!Also in our immediate family our gratitude goes to B.Alan Wallace, and finally to the other translatorswho have served us over the years with work thathas resulted in many of our publications.

We’ve made several changes in 2005 that willenable us to grow more effective. We hope thatupdating you with the following details about currentpersonnel and what we are up to will serve to inspireyour interest about participating in some way, if notnow, perhaps in the future.

We changed our board membership slightly in 2005.Current board members include Mimi Hohenberg,Janis Feichtmeir, Lisbeth LaCoste, Willlie Korman,and Christine Moen. We thank Stephanie Lain forher past service on the board, her ongoing role asadvisor and her continuing work with severalcommittees. We welcome our new board member,Christine Moen, who is a longtime student of GyatrulRinpoche and Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche.

In 2005, the board concentrated its focus onoverseeing and streamlining of financial operations,an assessment of needs and development ofmanagement and procedural policies for office andbookstore operations, and enlistment, training andmanagement of new and existing personnel. This

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200614

year we wish to extend a particular thank you to ourMirror of Wisdom Treasurer and board member,Jan Feichtmeir, who also serves on the Bookstoreand Office Management committees. Jan hasdevoted countless productive hours to all the aboveactivities. Thank you for your attentive endeavor,Jan!

To facilitate the standardization, preservation,archiving and accessibility of our entire inventory ofwritten and audio archives, we recently acquiredupgraded computer and new digitizing equipment atour Tashi Chöling location. As we gain fundingnecessary to purchase the same state-of-the-artequipment for Mirror of Wisdom in Alameda, thedigital archive now being created at Tashi Chölingwill also become available in Alameda. Efforts arealso underway to create digital archives of ourvideos. Besides needing volunteers in other areas(see below), we’re currently in need of sanghavolunteers to oversee digitizing projects and manageequipment, particularly at our Alameda facility.

As most of you may know, our website has beenundergoing construction for some time, and will soonbe activated. It will feature a catalog of our inventorytogether with ordering information. (We appreciateyour continued patience, and please do stay tunedfor us at www.mirrorofwisdom.org) We wish tothank Stephanie Lain, who spearheaded this effort,and Trish DeMers, who volunteered her design skillsfor the site and also created standardized covertemplates we’ll eventually use with all our in-houseOral Commentary Series publications.

We are pleased to announce the projectedpublication and release in the first half of 2006 of oursecond self-published book, Path of theBodhisattva. This will be a convenient pocket-sizevolume compiled with a prayer by GyatrulRinpoche, a commentary by H.H. Penor Rinpoche,and translation by Sangye Khandro. We wish tothank the editors and many others who participatedin this project in various ways over the past severalyears, and, more recently, Willie Korman andDeborah Borin, who are overseeing the manuscriptthrough production and distribution. Excerpts fromthe book are included in this issue of the newsletter.

Another forthcoming title we are now revising andplan to republish in book format in 2006 is Buddhain the Palm of the Hand, adapted from anextensive teaching given by Gyatrul Rinpoche onngöndro according to the correspondingIntermediate Commentary by the VidyadharaKunzang Sherab of the Palyul lineage.

Those working on our Oral Commentary Seriescommittee have begun taking an in-depth look atthat portion of the archive with the intention ofediting and publishing new work as well as revisingoutdated material. Some forthcoming releases in thisseries will include Dudjom Rinpoche’s aspirationprayer known as Heart Nectar of the Saints(please see excerpts in this issue of the newsletter),and also a detailed teaching on chöd according tothe lineage of Dorje Dechen Lingpa, given by theVenerable Yangthang Rinpoche.

We’ve broadened the inventory in both our TashiChöling and Alameda bookstore outlets and arestocking some enticing titles, as well as manysadhanas and practices, and a variety ofdharmaware and photographs. Our thanks to LeeFurman who has run the Tashi Chöling store withgreat success for the past two summer and fallseasons, and Brian Flaherty, who moved from hisformer role as office manager to his current positionas bookstore manager in Alameda. Thank you alsoto Ani Chödran, who worked as office manager untilher recent departure to serve dharma projectsoutside the immediate local sangha, and to Anne Laufor serving as interim office manager until we found apermanent employee to fill the position. We’repleased to welcome and announce the recent hiringof Dixie Raile, our new office manager at Mirror ofWisdom headquarters in Alameda. Dixie is also anew live-in resident at Orgyen Dorje Den.

We value our volunteers and look forward tocontinued work together. With the recentrestructuring of some of our functions, we have aparticular need for volunteers in the Alamedabookstore as well as with digitizing the audio andvideo operations there. To offer volunteer assistancein these areas, to inquire about other areas, or to

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 15

offer comments or suggestions concerning currentinventory items or items we might consider makingavailable in the future, we encourage you to contactus at our email address or through the other optionswe’ve listed below.

We are indebted to Sangye Khandro and morerecently Lama Chönam for their crucial work in thetranslation and production of sadhanas and practicematerials. The Mirror of Wisdom committeeinvolved with this ongoing project is working incollaboration with the educational program studentsat Tashi Chöling to edit and compile these items forpublication. These groups are also working togetherwith the Digital Archives committee to create mastercopies of all sadhanas, prayers, and practicematerials. We thank everyone for their service inthese areas.

Longtime members of both the Video Archivecommittee and the Audio Archive committee arebeginning to work with the Digital Archivescommittee to create video and audio archives indigital format. The Photo Archive committeecontinues to maintain inventory and produce photosto fill orders. We thank all the dedicated people whocontinue to serve on these committees.

The Pecha Production committee is busy producingcopies of pechas to fill orders. Thanks go to JigmeLama and Scott Globus who have continued tomanage and maintain this inventory for years. Weneed more volunteers on this committee! TheNewsletter committee continues to compose,produce, and publish this annual publication. Ourthanks to the people involved, and particularly to theeditor, Gaea Yudron.

Mirror of Wisdom wishes to offer support to allPacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo-affiliated sanghaswho invite Rinpoche to teach. In order that we mighteffectively assist you should Rinpoche be scheduledto teach or perform ceremonies in your area, we askthat if possible you please contact Mirror of Wisdomat least three weeks before the event begins. We willneed to know the topics of Rinpoche’s teachingsand any ceremonies planned so that we can supply

you with the relevant Mirror of Wisdom materialssuch as texts and books, opening and closingprayers, and photos. In addition, if your grouprecords any of Rinpoche’s teachings or otheractivities while he visits, please be certain to send acopy of the cassette tapes, MP3s, and/or DVD orvideo files to Mirror of Wisdom for archivalpurposes.

We really appreciate your patronage of the Mirrorof Wisdom bookstores and related services. In fact,we rely on you. When you purchase dharma booksand supplies through Mirror of Wisdom, sales profitshelp fund our publishing and archival projects. Wealso offer special order services. Visit us in Alamedaor at Tashi Chöling; email us [email protected] ; or telephone ourheadquarters and main bookstore in Alameda at510- 521-9641; 866-647-7672 (866 mirror 2, tollfree); fax 510-647-7426.

We invite your financial contributions to help furtherour many projects that serve to preserve anddisseminate the dharma. We are grateful for anyamount we receive.

We dedicate all our effort and whatever merit wemight accrue to the ultimate benefit of all sentientbeings.

Best Wishes for the New Year of the Fire Dog!

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200616

PPPPPaaaaattttth of th of th of th of th of the Bodhishe Bodhishe Bodhishe Bodhishe Bodhisaaaaattvttvttvttvttvaaaaa

Because of favorable conditions, you have attainedthis extraordinary human body, which is like a greatsailing ship. Thus, while this opportunity is at hand,one should cross the deep and dangerous ocean ofsamsara by listening, contemplating and meditatingday and night on the teachings of the Bodhisattvapath. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice.

By attachment to relatives and friends you aretrapped as in a whirlpool and you cannot get out.Hatred for your enemy rageslike a blazing fire. Lackingmindfulness, you forget whatto accept and what to rejectand remain in the darkness ofignorance. For thesereasons, renounce yourhomeland. This is the way ofBodhisattva practice.

By avoiding that whichstimulates the five senses andgives rise to anger, desire,jealousy, pride andignorance, your conflictingemotions gradually fadeaway. Without these manydistractions, virtuous deedsalso spontaneously increase.As your mind is clear andfree from confusion, you willhave an unwavering trust inthe Buddhadharma. Therefore, one should live in ahermitage, in a remote and distant place, far fromthese disturbing influences. This is the way ofBodhisattva practice.

Close friends who have long been together willseparate. Wealth and possessions gained with mucheffort will be left behind. Consciousness, like aguest, will leave the guesthouse of the body.Sacrifice these worldly comforts in order to practicethe dharma thoroughly. This is the way ofBodhisattva practice.

Bad friends increase your emotions and cause doubtabout the dharma, diminishing your study andmeditation. Their influence obscures your lovingkindness and compassion. Therefore, you should

avoid such companions. This is the way ofBodhisattva practice.

The one by whose influence your faults decreaseand your good qualities increase like the waxingmoon should be considered your spiritual friend andeven more precious than your own life. Therefore,always hold the spiritual teacher with great respectabove all others. This is the way of Bodhisattvapractice.

How can worldly gods save uswhen they themselves are stillbound to samsara? You shouldtherefore take refuge in theThree Jewels, who will neverfail you, and can save you fromthe dangers of samsara. This isthe way of Bodhisattva practice.

The Buddha has said that theunbearable sufferings of thelower realms are the result ofsinful deeds. Therefore, even atthe cost of your own life, refrainfrom doing harmful deeds. Thisis the way of Bodhisattvapractice.

The happiness of the threerealms is like the dew on thegrass, which may vanish at any

moment. The happiness of liberation is unchanging.You should seek this permanent happiness by beingcourageous when facing hardships on the path. Thisis the way of Bodhisattva practice.

Since all beings have at one time been your veryown mother, you should think like this: ‘If all mymothers, who have loved me since beginingless time,continue to suffer, what is the use of my ownhappiness?’ Then, with the aim of liberatingcountless sentient beings, generate true bodhicitta(vowing to become enlightened). This is the way ofBodhisattva practice.

This excerpt is from Path of the Bodhisattva, abook soon to be published by Mirror of Wisdom.

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 17

Contortionist ofthe Bardo

Must stopexercising this ideaof self, this personification,the favorite label, “me”we worship, we blame.False god, poor girl,she has had it! All her lifetangled up in the racketof what should be. Thinksshe is certain of herselfbut can’t find a hammerbig enough to nail downthe image she thinksis stuck in her head, or heart,or mirror, or maybejust a phantom come and gone.Try to capture who you thinkshe is! She will disappeardisguised as sleepbut she might wake you upif you can seeshe is a dream.

—Julie Rogers

1.Just as I was about to bebeheadeda man rushed upand threw himselfat my feetprofessing love.

2.On a steep hillcrowded with cut trees andbig bouldersthe sangha was pushingboulders uphill.People were having a goodtime.“Yes, this is really theDharma!”one insisted enthusiastically.It’s our kind of party.Pressed into service,

moving along together, sure ofthe goalno matter what a mess it maylook like from the outside.

3.On the full moon nightI dreamed ofa beautiful little cottagein the forestits roof coveredwith a thick layer of snow.White snow coveredeverything in sight.I was in retreat inside.How peaceful to wakeon this holy dayso far from the world and itsturmoil.

—Gaea Yudron

Three Dreams

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200618

My ten-year old daughter recentlysaid, “I really like the sound whenRebecca cuts cabbage with herknife. Is there any cabbage I canchop?” You may wonder whatsomething as simple as a cabbageand a sharp knife might have to dowith dharma. According to sanghamember Rebecca Wood, there’s abig correlation.

Rebecca, a longtime foodprofessional, is the author ofseveral books including TheSplendid Grain, winner of boththe Julia Child and James BeardCookbook Awards. I got to knowRebecca during Marig Munsel, afour-year program we participatedin at Tashi Choling. I have alsoenjoyed the delicious food sheprepares during various TashiCholing retreats.

Recently my family took a five-week cooking class with Rebeccain her compact kitchen. Whilecooking, she lavished us with tastymorsels, inviting us to use all oursenses to experience the vibrantqualities of fresh produce andwhole grains. She inspired us toenjoy new foods, to investigateand taste with awareness and tobe mindful of how what we eatmakes us feel.

I asked her how food connects todharma. She answered, “We havea precious human birth and itbehooves us to skillfully care forour health. Diet is one effectiveway to do so. In the past all food

Rebecca Wood: May All Beings Be Well Nourishedby Stephanie Cook

was good. It had been grownpurely on rich land withoutchemicals. It was vibrant,alive and not highlyprocessed. People knew themedicinal properties of foodand they prepared and ateaccordingly.”

“When I take good care ofmyself,” she continued, “thissupports both my dailypractice and my postmeditation practice. Eatingwell impacts me directly. If Ifeel off kilter from skipping ameal or from eating shoddyfood, then it’s harder for meto recollect myself.”

“In terms of saving lives, favoringorganic foods make a significantand positive impact on insects,birds and farm laborers,” shecontinued. “Also, eatingsustainably grown and processedfoods supports the local economyand our neighbors. Eating well,eating organic and sustainablygrown food is a compassionatething to do for ourselves andothers.”

What Rebecca offers soundsgood. But I couldn’t help butwonder, given our busy lives anddivergent tastes, could my childrenand I really implement her ideas?Since studying with Rebecca, Inoticed that my children and I aremore open to and appreciative ofnew foods. For breakfast, ratherthan reaching for the usual toast

we find that a bowl of hot quinoais satisfying and a nice change.My seventeen year-old son, whilestill not sold on sauerkraut—homemade or otherwise—enjoysgrinding up sesame seeds andsprinkling them on almosteverything. Now, when I shop andcook, I experience moresatisfaction and joy. As a family,upgrading our food awareness andhabits supports our balance andtogetherness.

In our fragmented and speedyworld, experiencing the joy ofchopping cabbage and eating agood breakfast can indeed be anexpression of the dharma.

Rebecca freely posts supportiveinformation and many recipes atwww.RebeccaWood.com

Rebecca WoodPhoto by Tom Cox

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 19

Center Reports

As we approached year end, ourcenter completed its study ofJamgon Kongtrol’s classic textThe Great Path of Awakeningunder the guidance of LamaBruce Newman, and we beganonce again a weekly meditationpractice on Sunday mornings at11 AM. We continue to benefitfrom our connection to TashiCholing. Clark Hansen was ableto attend the Vajrakilaya retreat inNovember.

Our small center is composed ofpeople who often have heavywork loads and coming togetheris difficult. Nonetheless, we havepersisted in doing the best wecan. We have been enormouslyhelped by Lama Bruce’swillingness to join us every othermonth here in Portland for aweekend of instruction, both onmeditation practice and, in thecase of this past year, on TheGreat Path of Awakening.Lama Bruce’s patience andkindness towards us has made theteachings a most important part of

Portland Area Yeshe Nyingpoby Dick O’Connor

our lives, as his instruction oftenfocuses on the kitchen sink level.

Our group members havedeveloped a mutual respect forone another that has allowed for agreat deal of honest sharing aboutthe difficulties we face in makingthe teachings a living reality. Themain text of The Great Path ofAwakening, while only 50 pages,nevertheless took us sevenweekends to cover. While itsslogans were quite clear andsuccinct, they were verychallenging. For example, “Driveall blame into oneself,” is quitecontrary to the way the worldaround me works, and when Ifirst encountered this slogan Ithought,“Boy, my enemies wouldlove to have me adopt thispractice!”

And yet as I occasionally attemptto practice this slogan I havefound it enormously useful ingetting people to relax aboutfailure and to focus onaccomplishing the task at hand.

As Bruce so often reminds us,even a partial and imperfectattempt at practicing the teachingswill bring benefit to us. Suchbenefit also encourages us tokeep trying and to keep trying todo better.

Bruce is also very gifted at leadingdiscussions and getting us toclarify our thinking. One of hisfavorite stratagems is to ask us toexplain a Buddhist principle to ourmother, a task we role play witheach other, under the assumptionthat our mother is not a Buddhist.Several sessions ago the task wasto explain ultimate bodhichitta toour mother. Wow! Such aneffort is not only very humbling,but increases one’s appreciationof those teachers who can makesuch difficult conceptsunderstandable.

In the coming year our group willeither study The Words of MyPerfect Teacher or the 37Practices of the Bodhisattvaunder Bruce’s guidance.

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200620

Center Reports

Thanks to Rinpoche’s patientguidance and our consistentcollective effort, the temple isdeveloping nicely. New studentsare recognizing the opportunity tolearn and older students aresettling down in the practices andbeginning to receive the blessingsof the lineage. In short, thestudents from Orgyen Dorje Denare continuing to practice thedharma and working to tame ourminds and be of service to others.

We continue to have the merit toreceive teachings andempowerments with GyatrulRinpoche, both in person and viathe phone link. This past yearRinpoche gave a series ofempowerments at ODD and welistened to teachings broadcastfrom afar. Rinpoche frequentlystopped in to check on buildingprojects and connect with themonks and students. KhenpoNamdrol Rinpoche continuedteaching on the GuhyagarbhaTantra in a month long retreat andpromised to return to completethe cycle as well as continue withadditional material. Lama DrimedLodro started living at ODD andgave many teachings and ledseveral short retreats and monthlyfish release ceremonies in 2005.Since he has been teaching inChinese, with Benson Youngtranslating to English, we’vewelcomed many new additions toour Sangha from the Chinese

community. This past year TrinleyDorje, a monk who has beenliving at ODD for the past fewyears, started teaching on Wordsof My Perfect Teacher. Thisprogram has been very meaningfulfor the cluster of students who aretaking the time to hear these

teachings, delivered carefully lineby line. Les Collins has beencontinuing a bi-weekly sittingmeditation program based onRinpoche’s text NaturalLiberation and many enthusiasticstudents have started coming toODD as a result of this program.Finally, we continue to have thegood fortune to receive teachingsfrom visiting lamas. This year wereceived teachings from theKhenpo brothers and ChoklingRinpoche. Needless to say, wemaintain tsog practices on GuruRinpoche and Dakini days, andpractice on Losar and other

auspicious days. A group ofdedicated students have beencontinuing the practice ofVajrasattva on a nearly weeklybasis. We are making variousimprovements to the temple andthanks to a generous donor, wejust completed painting the ceiling

and installed a new bamboo floorin the shrine room. Last, but notleast, we maintain the basicfunctioning of ODD: keeping theplace clean, paying the bills andcommunicating with the sangha.

In summary, we hope that all thework and practice that we’vebeen engaged in will continue andthat we’ll be able to share the fruitof this meritorious activity withmany. We hope you will comeand join us in this effort to supportthe dharma unfolding in Americaand participate in some of theactivities at Orgyen Dorje Den.

Orgyen Dorje Den 2005: The Blessings Continueby Scott Globus

Khenpo Namdrol Rinpoche and sangha at theGuhyagarbha teachings.

Photo by Scott Globus

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 21

Center Reports

A Dharma Feast: Tashi Choling’s Educational ProgramViewed from the Kitchen

by Shashi Reitz

The Educational Program, Marig Munsel and the Childrens’ Sunday School Program are threeprojects that take place at Tashi Choling in addition to our ongoing puja and retreat schedule. Here

several sangha members offer reports and perspectives on these programs.

The Tashi Choling EducationalProgram enjoyed a hearty andnourishing repast in 2005. Tibetanlanguage study was our maincourse; it also appeared as a sidedish with everything that wasoffered. Our language study had asmooth, robust dharma flavor thatlingers on the palate...and withany luck it will linger a long, longtime! Lama Chonam, culinaryartist par excellence, led usthrough our Tibetan languagecourses. He taught us to slice anddice verbs, sauté them with nounsand particles and even therudiments of how to arrange themfor serving. We sampled the quicksnacks of slang phrases and thegourmet delicacies of verses ofpoetry.

Our year included a variety ofactivities. In spring, at the Dorsemretreat at Orgyen Dorje Den inAlameda, we enjoyed a paté ofpractice and ritual study under theguidance of Pema Tenzin. Thisprepared us for the month-longGuhyagarbha teachings whichfollowed. Keith LaCoste served as souschef to Pema Tenzin at bothDorsem and Kilaya retreats,soaking up umze tips and

occasionally leading sessionshimself. Our most junior cook,Sean Thomas, joining our kitchenfor the first time this year, learnedthe workings of the choponscullery under senior cook IlaReitz’s supervision.

Samantha Cheney was agodsend. She arrived from NapaValley in August and set the EastWing in order, in addition toattending classes wheneverpossible and studying chopontechniques, which she took towith the confidence of a pro. Inaddition to her studies, LeeFurbeck watered the groundsaround the temple, helped in theMirror of Wisdom bookstore andsewed beautiful clothing forRinpoche and others.Omnipresent, Ani Baba seemedto spend all her time in the kitchenwhen she wasn’t ringing thedinner bell for the protectors;Antal Toth joined us as he could,dropping in with adjectives pre-julienned and ready for the pot.

Sean and Keith researched thepurchase of our new, all-purpose,high-powered, 100 GB wordprocessor for translation andarchiving purposes. Then theybegan to convert teaching

archives from cassette to mp3format. This was just one of manyactivities that students kept trackof between classes.

We embarked on the marathon ofediting, standardizing and enteringthe long Dudjom ngondro into thecomputer. This proceeded withwhat felt like excruciatingslowness, but Lama Chonamseemed pleased with our detaileddiscussions of nuance and wordusage. “It was a wonderful year,”Lama Chonam summed up. “Itwas very beautiful the way thateveryone worked so hard andstudied so hard together—I thinkeach person learned a lot:grammar and sentences, poetry,translation and everything.” The kitchen really warmed upwhen translator Jules Levinsoncame to visit for a weekend,donning his apron and sharing histime-tested grammaticalrecipes with us. It was wonderfulto watch Jules, Sangye Khandroand Lama Chonam making shortwork of passages that would havetaken us days to chop our waythrough. Disproving the old adagethat too many cooks spoil thebroth, the results were aninspiration for our own efforts.

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200622

Center Reports The Reitz sisters arranged thelogistics of visiting teachers. In thefall, Venerable Khenpo TsewangGyatso stayed with us for twoweeks, finishing his presentationof Ascertaining the Three Vows.

He was very pleased to see ourstudies continuing and promisedto return whenever his schedulepermitted. After Khenpodeparted, we turned with eageranticipation to preparation of thefinal soup course of the year, thesharp, spicy Kilaya retreat.

At this point, however, the stupaproject commenced—a sort ofpost-prandial chef’s surprise. Forseveral weeks Philip Thomas,Derek Ridler and Brad Boucher

reigned as short-order cooks,producing literally tons ofconcrete, rock, rebar and gravelwith the speed and efficiency of adrive-thru and shaping the base ofa stupa on the hill above the

Amitabha shrine. Yohei andIridea, who visited us fromEnsenada for several months,helped to carve the sok shing,pour concrete and scrub thescullery again and yet again. Wereceived lists of sacredsubstances and instructions fortheir assembly. The east wing wasfilled with fabric and incensesauces and heaps of jewelgarnishes. With a little luck, wewill entice Tulku Sang-NgagRinpoche to take charge of our

kitchen next spring to show ushow to properly prepare thestupa feast. Pema Tenzin returned inNovember to serve as umze forthe Vajrakilaya retreat andoversee torma production. Hewas joined by Lama Yönten whoseasoned our chopon methods togive them a more authentic Tersarflavor. He also taught us how tomix gyaling, long horn, kanglingand other musical ingredients toenhance their combined texture.

Now, on the far side of Kilaya,we stand up from the table,content for the moment but neversatisfied. We will treat ourselvesto a final syllabub of syllables,singing with Venerable KhenpoTsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche inAshland for two days inDecember, and we are alreadyravenously planning the menu forthe time when Khenpo TenzinNorgey lends his expertise onMadhyamaka in January. Ourmany thanks to all of those whobrought such life and warmth toour kitchen throughout the year!Can anyone say “four stars”?

Educational Program studentsPhoto by Ila Reitz

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 23

Take Twoby Barbara Caselli

A couple of years into MarigMunsel, I had an aha! momentone morning. It hit me suddenly:This is my field of experience.This is what I have to work with.Not some other kind of life. Notsome other right kind of body orplace or family or language. Justthis, now.

Maybe that sounds more like awell, duh moment, but when youreally get it that it’s just youyou’re working with, you candrop a lot of hope and fear andstop wasting so much timeprocrastinating and posturing.What Marig Munsel had to dowith bringing me to that smallmoment is summed up by LamaBruce’s own posture. Bruce hasno pretense or show or anything.All you ever get is just the humanbeing, Bruce. When you workwith someone who persists inbeing ordinary and real, whosuffers and fails, delights andcares, who “doesn’t cover up hisshit like a cat” ever and whosecompassion, wisdom, passion forthe dharma and devotion to histeachers is also real and displayedwithout contrivance, then you seethe value of a life lived like that.And you start to think, “If it’spossible for Bruce, who started

out like me, then maybe I can dothat too.”

Everything about Marig Munselhad Gyatrul Rinpoche’s blessingin Bruce’s style. Though Bruce iskind, he won’t let you get awaywith mushy thinking. For fouryears we looked into what wethought, what we felt, what weknew, and what we thought wefelt we knew. He was patient butrigorous in trying to get us to havesome clarity of understanding andpurpose, whether throughacademic study, throughcontemplations and discussionson how current events or personalsituations would be viewed from aBuddhist perspective, or throughmindfulness and insightmeditation.

But the rigor was always in anatmosphere of complete freedom.Because of Bruce’s lack ofpretense, because of his honestyabout his own experiences withdharma, his own history withconfusion and contradictions, wefelt free to voice our confusionsand questions, from the mundaneto the sublime. When you canask, “What is it that people aredoing when they seem to bechanting mantra faster thanhumanly possible?” and, in thesame class, explore on which sideof the wisdom/faith divide you areerring, then you know you areengaging with the real deal,dharma in this human life as it is.

Take Oneby Suzanne Ducharmes

When I first heard that there wasgoing to be a four-year class onBuddhism offered by Lama BruceNewman, it was like a hugeopportunity that I had to takeadvantage of. I admit I was alsointimidated. Attending differentpujas over the years, I had somany unanswered questionsconcerning the practices, rightetiquette, etc. This class wouldprovide a safe place to askquestions and learn somethinginvaluable regarding TibetanBuddhism. It also meant anopportunity to spend more time atTashi Choling and to meet moreof the sangha.

Bruce was an impeccable teacher,staying with the Dharma as ourlineage teaches it, nevercompromising, neverwesternizing. When our four yearswere drawing to a close, I knew Ihad not had enough. Even thoughLama Bruce wanted all newstudents for his second MarigMunsel group, our wonderfulRinpoche somehow convincedhim that there were some thatreally needed to take it again. Iam one who is repeating MarigMunsel, and very happy about it.Thank you, Bruce. Thank you,Rinpoche.

Center Reports

Two Takes On Marig Munsel○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200624

At the end of our four-yearcommitment, the first MarigMunsel mandala dissolved andwe returned each to his or herown place. Bruce had said at thebeginning that one of his goalswas to give us a foundationsufficient to successfully completea three-year retreat. At the lastclass, he said that he felt he hadachieved that goal. I think he did,too. I don’t know if I haveassembled the causes andconditions for a three-yearretreat, but I do feel a lot moreconfident and a lot less alienated,anxious and awkward aboutdharma in this, my field ofexperience, otherwise known as alife.

Don’t Be a Fish!by Erin Del Carlo

“Don’t be a fish!” That was theteaching given by VenerableGyatrul Rinpoche to a small groupof curious children, parents andsangha members one warm fallafternoon, sitting in the grass nearthe Klamath River.

The lesson had begun earlier thatday at the Iron Gate FishHatchery, as a combinationdharma/science field trip. Thegroup first took a tour of thehatchery facilities. The childrenbuzzed about the strolling adults,observing young salmon growingin holding pools and spawningsalmon struggling up the fishladder.

Center Reports

In the shallow creek, fresh newsalmon eggs were being laidalongside the remains of maturesalmon, dead from exhaustion.Some scientific facts were shared

about the short and harsh lifecycle of the salmon and manyquestions were answered.Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, withinsightful wisdom andcompassion, kept repeating,“What karma! What karma!”and shook his head from side toside.

Afterwards, everyone met at anearby campground nestledagainst the rolling river. It wasthere, relaxing and sharing asnack, that Venerable GyatrulRinpoche shared his thoughts onthe meaning of the experience.He brought attention to theundesirable aspects of such anexistence and urged those presentto ask themselves what behavior

had led to that life and how toavoid that circumstance. Hereminded each person, young andold, to think about their actionsand their consequences everyday.

He advised the development ofcompassion towards all beings.What Venerable GyatrulRinpoche accomplished was totransform what would have beenan ordinary field trip into awalloping example of the truth ofdharma. He was able to awakeneach person’s senses to thepresence of dharma floweringbefore them in a seeminglyordinary occurrence.

The following weekend, some ofthe children and participants fromthe field trip gathered at TashiCholing to make fish prints andreview the teaching “Don’t be afish!” under the careful guidanceof Lama Chonam. Later, the

Tashi Choling Childrens’ Program field trip toIron Gate Fish Hatchery

Photo by Tara Thomas-Boucher

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 25

Center Reports

children shared their fish printswith Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche.

One thing I have come tounderstand is that one of the bestways I can help children connectwith dharma is to involve them infinding it in everyday mundanehappenings, interact alongsidewith them in recognizing it in theirworld, and allow them to share itin their own way with all beings.

Childrens’ SundaySchool Program

by Tara Thomas-Boucher

This year the Sunday schoolprogram at Tashi Cholingbenefited from Lama Chonam’sguidance and the spiritedparticipation of both Ila andShashi Reitz. Rinpoche gaveteachings to the children and theirparents. Tibetan languageinstruction was provided by LamaChonam and the Reitz sisters, andvarious sangha memberscontributed stories, games, andother activities. A truly wonderfulenvironment has been created,where the children have a way tomake the temple, and all itmanifests, their own. For the NewYear our goals include expandingthe types of activities to includemore children and their familiesand development of somesummer day camps. The rhythmand opportunity for connectionhas been a beautiful thing forsangha of all ages; anotherwonderful example of how “TashiCholing is like a family.”

I was a single mother living withmy 9-year old son in the Oakland“hood” when I discovereddharma. I decided that during thislifetime I wanted to see the DalaiLama in person. I also wanted togo to Nepal and see the Buddharelics. I wanted to find my guruand discover answers to all of myunanswered questions aboutdharma. I felt like I had all thetime in the world.Then I had the good fortune tosee the Dalai Lama and receivethe Medicine Buddhaempowerment. What a blessing.But the following year, I wasdiagnosed with a very rare andaggressive form of breast cancer.I was truly devastated. Whowould take care of my son, not tomention our two cats and twodogs?

I hate to admit it, but I was feelingvery sorry for myself. Iremember thinking, oh great, nowI’m going to die without havingfound my guru. Who would dophowa for me? Would I be luckyenough to connect with the

dharma in my next life, or would Ihave to wait 43 years like I did inthis lifetime? All of these thoughtsweighed heavily on my mind.

I had chemotherapy for threemonths. One day my son camebursting into my bedroomexcitedly. “Mom, guess what?The Buddha relics are inAlameda. We have to go seethem tomorrow because they’releaving in two days.”

I remember thinking that even if Icould get out of bed I shouldn’tgo. I was so sick. What if I threwup while I was seeing the relics?How embarrassing would thathave been? My son wouldn’t takeno for an answer. He keptinsisting that I go no matter what,saying it would be such a blessingfor me. He gave me the push Ineeded, and how could I deny myson this wonderful opportunity?

The next afternoon I mustered upenough strength to travel toAlameda. The minute I walkedinto the shrine room I knew that Ineeded to be there, even before Isaw the relics. It was so powerful.I knew that if I survived breastcancer, I wanted to move toAlameda to be closer to ODD. Ieven wrote this prayer on paperwhen I got home and put it undermy Buddha statue on my altar.

That day, a monk began placingthe relics over peoples’ heads asa blessing. While I received theblessing, this really nasty electricalenergy came darting out of myeyes. It was so strong that themonk and I both nodded our

On the Path

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200626

During the spring of 2004, severalfamilies talked about Rinpoche’swish for a childrens’s chool.Coincidentally, Lama Chonamalso had a wish and a vision of acomprehensive children’sprogram. It seemed that the timewas ripe to act on this wonderfulidea. All that was required wassome committed families, willingto explore the potential. So a fewof us, willing to work together andexplore the potential for achildrens’ school, decided tomake an effort to make this areality.

In July 2004, on a day chosenbecause of its astrologicalauspiciousness, we made a formalrequest to Gyatrul Rinpoche togive the children’s school a nameand to bless it. Rinpoche named

the program “Youthful Garden ofAwakening.” Since that time hehas provided encouragement andsupport. That summer, we startedwith a small core group ofchildren and met 3 or 4 days aweek. Thanks to Lama Chonam’scommitment to oversee and directday-to-day activities, and Shashiand Ila’s weekly language classeswe were able to begin in anexcellent way.

Our home is just down the roadfrom the temple. At first we met inour living room, but by June 2005we decided to turn a large privateapartment connected to our houseinto a classroom. With thesupport of a permanent space forthe children, they were able tostart meeting five days a week.The children started every day

Youthful Garden of Awakeningby Tara Thomas-Boucher

heads back at the same time. Itwas shocking; I also felt thatsomething very profound wastaking place. I took the bookletwith pictures of the relics homeand kept it on my bedside table. Ilooked at the pictures of the relicsoften. It was truly a blessingduring that dreadful time.

I didn’t really think my prayers ofmoving to Alameda would evercome true, but over a year later adharma sister called me. Therewas a place in Alameda for rentthat accepted animals. The recordin my head was playing all thereasons why this landlordwouldn’t rent to me, but I wasable to move in right away. I wasstill very sick; it was a whole yearbefore I healed enough to begincoming to ODD.

In December 2004, when Iattended the Three RootsEmpowerment at ODD, I had noidea who Gyatrul Rinpoche was,but within five minutes of sitting inhis presence I knew I had finallyfound my guru. Discovering thatRinpoche is the head of ODDwas like finding a hidden treasurein my back yard. Rinpoche, thankyou so much for everything youdo for all of us. I am trying mybest to be a good student, butthere is no way I could ever repayyou for all of your kindness. I amgrateful to be alive to write thisand grateful that I have found myguru, who means everything tome.

--A.B.

Children studying with Lama Chonam

Photo by Tara Thomas-Boucher

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 2006 27

with morning prayers (Manjushri,Tersar Ngundro), then hadDharma instruction and Tibetanlanguage with Lama Chonam.The children also exploredreading, writing, math andscience. We went on weekly fieldtrips to the library, sciencemuseum and participated inYMCA fall soccer. The childrenhave been attending tsok pujasand have assisted in some choponduties. They also received specialteachings from Gyatrul Rinpoche,Tulku Sang Ngak Rinpoche andKhenpo Tsewang Gyatso. BothSusie Strong and Drusilla Lopezhave been generous incontributing their expertise inteaching children. We have had awonderful first year. In manyways it has all occurred magically.There were so many blessings,teachings and new friends.

Now as we head into 2006, werecognize the need for somegrowth and long-term stability.With Rinpoche’s blessing, wehave applied to form a non-profitcorporation for the school. Wecontinue to work closely withLama Chonam and SangyeKhandro and we remain on thelook-out for additional Western-

trained teachers. We invite andencourage the participation of anyone interested inhelping us to manifest the goal ofblending the rich Buddhisttradition with a suitable Westerneducational model. Our aspirationis to eventually develop aprogram that meets theeducational needs of children K-12 in accord with our statedmission “to provide a rich, well-rounded learning environment thatis focused on offering theteachings of the Buddhadharma,Tibetan language, as well as thearts, sciences and disciplines ofsustainable culture.” Some ofthese students may choose toattend the Tashi CholingEducational Program, other maychoose to attend Westernuniversities. Our intention is toprepare the students with themethods and sensibilities for livinga meaningful life in whateverforms that may take. Mostimportant is that we begin now tocreate a supportive Buddhistenvironment for our children, andfuture children, and to providethem with a foundation that willsupport and benefit them in thisand future lives.

Precious HumanBody

To obtain a human body isextremely difficult, so it is

foolish to ignore the dharmaupon having found it. Only the

dharma can help you;everything else is worldly

beguilement.

—Padmasambhava

Letting Be

All your thinking is conceptualmind, so give up the doings of

this mind and rest. And as“rest” is also just a word, giveup holding onto words and let

be.

—Songtsen Gampo, the firstDharma king of Tibet

Verse ofAuspiciousness

May there be theauspiciousness of true

awakening indivisible from thespontaneous wakefulness, the

permanent and firm vajraabode of the changeless

innate nature.

—Padmasambhava

These three quotes aretaken from A Tibetan

Buddhist Companion,compiled and translated by

Erik Pema Kunsang,published by Shambhala in

2003.

Pacific Region Yeshe Nyingpo Annual Newsletter, March 200628

Yeshe Nyingpo

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