THE MIRROR Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community July/August 2005 • Issue No. 75

Schedule Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 2005 - 2006

2005 BARCELONA, SPAIN Oct. 4 Conference: The Three Ways of Spiritual Liberation Universitat Pompeu Fabra Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 Under the canopy, Crimea, May to June, 2005 A BESEDIN Oct. 5 - 9 25 Spaces of Samantabhadra Ukraine with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (Terma of Changchub Dorje). (see page 5) Kiev & Crimea BRAZIL May 31 - June 12, 2005 Oct. 14 Public Talk, Introduction to Dzogchen by Andrei Besedin n the beginning of February , recreational village called Malyi Dakini and the explanations on Oct.15 -19 we were absolutely happy to Mayak, practitioners who study how to integrate the knowledge in Brazilian retreat: The main teaching will be A Guru Dragphur find out that Rinpoche agreed Tibetan Medicine took a moxa- our daily life. Besides the thuns of Donwang and some other Dzogchen Instructions. Ito give a public lecture in Kiev on bustion course with our Master , teaching and practice with the his way to Crimea. Our Commu- and others studied the Vajra Master, beginners could also MARGARITA ISLAND, VENEZUELA nity consists of about thirty practi- Dance from Ruslan Kim and learn eight movements of Yantra Nov. 4 -8 tioners and more than a half Tania Pronicheva, under the Yoga with Fabio Andrico. Longsal Tregchöd retreat: The main teaching for this retreat is received transmission only by supervision of Adriana dal Borgo. The location for the retreat Longsal Tregchöd. video, so for many of us it wasthe Most people came on the 7th of was very nice, at the foot of the Closed Web Cast first possibility to meet our June to join the general retreat on Crimea Mountains, on the shore Teacher in person. “The Heart Essence of Guru of the Black Sea, which was sur- Nov. 25 -29 We didn’ t advertise for the Jnana Dakini” practice. A huge prisingly warm for the beginning Santi Maha Sangha Teacher training & Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance lecture, so before the event the awning was spread above the old of June. Everybody was able to Gakyil was a little worried if basketball playground that relax and integrate with the beau- Dec. 2 -8 enough people would come to fill housed the two thousand and five tiful surroundings. Longsal Jñanadhâkkini retreat: Teaching and practice of Gomadevi at least half of the 650 seat hall of hundred people listening to the Closer to the end of our the Artists’ House in Kiev . But Teacher and practicing together. retreat, after a Ganapuja, we had Dec. 26 -Jan.1 our worries were in vain, because Such a great number of peo- an auction for the ASIA founda- Longsal Longde retreat: The main teaching for this retreat is Longsal about 800 people attended the ple is definitely a record for tion. Practitioners bar gained for Longde lecture, filling the hall and sitting Rinpoche’s retreats in post-Soviet beautiful thankas, a damaru from Closed Web Cast in the aisles. With much attention territory - perhaps a world record skulls, a kapala with the marks of people listened to Chögyal for all the Community. The num- Phowa practice, and other items. 2006 Namkhai Norbu’s explanation of ber of people interested in the Very early in the morning of June Jan. 27 - Feb. 5 the three paths: Sutra, Tantra and teaching is increasing year after 13, a bout t wo h undred p eople Santi Maha Sangha Base Teaching and Practice Retreat Dzogchen, and the essence of the year. So, this June, in Malyi came to say goodbye to Open Web Cast Teaching. At the end, the Master Mayak, experienced practitioners Rinpoche. A trip by car to answered numerous questions. and newcomers gathered from Simferopol, a plane to Kiev , six Feb. 17 - 26 The next day Rinpoche took a Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Poland hours in the airport - and Chögyal Longsal Saltong Lung teaching and practice retreat flight to Simferopol from and other countries. Namkhai Norbu flew to Rome, to Closed Web Cast Terminal A of the Kiev Airport. During the retreat, Chögyal continue transmitting knowledge On that occasion the Gakyil Namkhai Norbu gave the trans- of our real nature to all interested March 10 -19 decided to rename the facility mission of body, speech and mind in the Dzogchen teaching. Retreat of Dzogchen Semlung Namkhache: Teaching and practice “the Terminal of White A”. On of Jnana Dakini, the instructions Namkhache. the first days of June, in a small on the short practice of Jnana Open Web Cast

April 14 – 23 Tibetan Moxabustion teaching and application retreat CONTENTS

May 5 -14 Interview with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Ati Lam-ngon Nasjyong: Aretreat of Longsal teaching Preliminaries by Bruno Baumann of the Path of Ati about the Purification of the Six Lokas, teaching pg 3 and practice. Open Web Cast pg 22 pg 2 FRANCE May 18 -22 Teaching Yartse Hunting Paris Retreat Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, Part II VAIDURYA’I CHUNPHYANGS by Daniel Winkler May 26-28 (THE GARLAND OF Karmaling Retreat LAPISLAZULI) OF PATRUL RINPOCHE continued on page 5 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

would like to welcome every- lady recognized that it was Patrul dition and not a school. All this is body to our five-day retreat Rinpoche. That is an example of relative in Dzogchen teaching. here at Merigar and good day how Patrul Rinpoche taught. When we say the Dzogchen Ito all Dzogchen Community peo- Another time, Patrul teaching, Dzogchen means how ple near and far - also to all the Rinpoche went to Palyul we can discover and get in that people listening and interested in monastery because it was one of knowledge and that kind of teach- this retreat. Each time we do a the biggest and most important ing is called Dzogchen teaching. retreat the most important aspect Nyingmapa monasteries in We know , for example, in the is our intention. When we do a Palyul. No one knew who he was Buddhist tradition, we start with retreat it doesn’ t mean that we because he seemed like an ordi- Sutra, Tantra and then arrive at learn everything and have realiza- nary person. While there, Patrul Dzogchen. All these teachings, tion, but for five days we can learn Rinpoche went to the top of the directly or indirectly , are related something and integrate what we monastery where people did per- to Dzogchen. Dzogchen teach- learn into our daily life. Integrat- sonal retreats and found a small ings mean being introduced to ing what we learn into daily life is house. A monk was living in that our real nature. This is something more important than learning in small house, came out and went very important for us. an intellectual way. Life is in time near to Patrul Rinpoche. Patrul For example, if we live an and time is passing; we don’t real- Rinpoche said, “Oh, you are fan- ordinary life in modern society , ize it is passing and for that reason tastic, being all alone here, you we have an idea of why we need we are not able to integrate the are a good practitioner . Can you Dzogchen teachings. In modern teaching and what we have give me some teaching?” The society we need money . We can- learned. If we learned something monk said, “Oh, I am trying to not make money with Dzogchen. and do not integrate it, there is not my best to do practice, but I We can make money working. very much benefit. If we have couldn’t give any teaching. I have When we make money we can learned something and integrated no experience of teaching. I am have everything - if we need a it into our daily life, even if it is doing practice of the explanation nice car we can buy it, or if we something very simple, it has of ngöndro practice by Patrul need a comfortable house we can great benefit. We need to have this Rinpoche (there is a famous book buy or build it. When we have no kind of intention from the begin- Rinpoche at Merigar R PIRO by Patrul Rinpoche on ngöndro money we have problems in soci- ning. called, something like, “The ety, so it seems money is more In these days I will try to Words of the Teacher important than other things. explain what we should do, what EXCERPTS FROM THE TEACHING ON Samantabhadra”). Then Patrul People think they can’ t make the teaching means and how it AIDURYA I HUNPHYANGS Rinpoche said, “Oh, that is very money with Dzogchen, so why functions in our daily lives. In V ’ C interesting, can you teach me should they be interested? that way , maybe we can have (THE GARLAND OF LAPISLAZULI) that?” The monk said, “Oh, I Dzogchen is very important benefit. Most people have don’t know, but if you like I can for our existence because we have probably read in the publicity OF PATRUL RINPOCHE try.” Patrul Rinpoche said, “Oh, I body, speech and mind; we can- that I am going to give a teach- am really very interested!” The not o vercome a ll p roblems o f ing by a famous Dzogchen monk started to teach and every body, speech and mind through Master, Patrul Rinpoche. I t is a DAY 1 day Patrul Rinpoche went there money. For example, if someone short teaching, v ery condensed, MERIGAR JULY 1 – 5, 2005 for one hour to receive that teach- has an ener gy problem of disor- and it is the real sense of the ing. He went for many days. dered or damaged ener gy, that Dzogchen Teaching. I am giving WEB CAST RETREAT Finally some people recognized person can have many problems. this teaching for a few reasons. It him and told people that Patrul That person can have both physi- is not so easy to teach on books Rinpoche was in the Palyul cal and mental problems that can- explaining the Dzogchen teach- monastery. Everyone was search- not be overcome with money. For ings. There are so many impor- ble he was there because there my lifetime. Do you know him? ing for him and discovered that he that reason, people think and feel tant teachings and books, so to was nothing there - no nomads Have you heard of him?” Patrul was going on the top of the moun- it is necessary we do meditation. choose one is not so easy . The and no people. The lady said, “I Rinpoche said, “Oh yes, I have tain everyday . They asked the Everybody can, more or less, reason I have chosen this particu- heard t hat P atrul R inpoche i s heard of him but I don’ t know people doing retreats if they had have a little idea of what medita- lar teaching is because I had a somewhere here.” I said, “I don’ t him.” “Oh,” she said, “He is a seen Patrul Rinpoche and the tion means, but more importantly, dream related to it. know and I have not heard that.” fantastic teacher!” Patrul monk who was giving teachings the real sense of meditation is that First of all, I received the She said, “So it is not so easy for Rinpoche was always hiding in realized to whom he had been we try to be in our real condition. trilung for all the teachings of us to find Patrul Rinpoche. Even that way and living every- giving teachings. That day when We can have many problems if Patrul Rinpoche in college. I if you are not direct students of where. Patrul Rinpoche said to Patrul Rinpoche went to receive we are not in our real condition. chose this teaching because I had Patrul Rinpoche, since you are the old woman, “ I don’t know the teachings, the monk shut the We can have an antidote to over- a dream in the year I went to following his lineage, could you Patrul Rinpoche very well, but I door and would not open it. come problems, but the possibili- Austria, Hungary and Crimea and explain this book? ” I said, “I can live in the same region.” Then the After the people discovered ty to globally overcome all prob- I want to explain this dream. My explain a little if you are interest- lady said, “Next year I want to go that Patrul Rinpoche was there, lems doesn’t exist. To overcome dream took place in the part of ed.” She said, “Oh yes, thank you, and see him, maybe if you in that they begged him to come to the all problems we need to get in our east Tibet where we have a place we want to receive that explana- place we can meet again.” The Palyul monastery and give teach- real nature and be in our real con- called a Dreu Pelthang (gre'u tion!” We stopped there and I old woman was very kind to him ings. He went to the Palyul dition. dpal thang) . Pelthang means a tried to explain and the women and invited him to live in her big monastery and the people pre- For that reason we need the very, very vast place that takes were listening, and because we nomad tent. Patrul Rinpoche was pared a big ritual ceremony . teaching, particularly a teaching two days of travel to reach. I had couldn’t do rushen my students happy and spent some days there, Patrul Rinpoche was not happy . like Dzogchen, from mind to a dream I was at this place with were listening too. I was explain- also doing some puja. Then he He said, “Some serious people nature of mind, direct introduc- some Western students. I was not ing the book and then I woke up. went away. interested in the teachings of tion. When we learn that, then we sure if the place was in Tibet, but After this dream, I became inter- The next year the same old Patrul Rinpoche interrupted the have the possibility to get in our it seemed like a place I know. My ested in this book and later I woman went to see Patrul very nice teachings I was receiv- real nature. So you see, the students and I were doing the found it in Merigar and read it Rinpoche in the place where he ing on the mountain top.” The Dzogchen teaching is useful for practice of outer rushen and we again. It is interesting and really was giving teachings; many peo- people in the monastery insisted all. People have different ways of thought no one was there. After a explains the principle of the ple came to this place in the sum- that he give teachings and he seeing Dzogchen teaching or little while, from very far, we saw Dzogchen teaching. I thought to mer time. Patrul Rinpoche gave remained one day and at night he knowledge. Sometimes people go two people coming and we were explain this book for the people teachings in an open place escaped and disappeared. That is very much in a traditional way; surprised. We stopped and waited who are interested and do a because there was no temple; he an example of how Patrul people have learned to use some for these people to arrive. One retreat. So, that is why I decided did not live in a monastery . He Rinpoche was. Patrul Rinpoche kinds of prayers or practices was a lady , quite old, a kind of to give this teaching. was a very simple man, so when was really very studied and linked to Vajrayana or Tantra and nun, and the other a little younger, Patrul Rinpoche is a very he gave the teaching the local learned and was a very high qual- apply methods and pujas related but also old. These two women important Dzogchen Master and a people made a kind of seat for ity practitioner , but he always to Tantrism. arrived and asked, “Are you stu- very special teacher , particularly him with small pieces of earth. lived his life in a very simple way. I have heard some people dents of Patrul Rinpoche?” I for ordinary people. Ordinary When Patrul Rinpoche sat on this He would escape if the monaster- saying they like Dzogchen teach- replied, “W e are not really stu - people can learn and understand seat, he was very comfortable and ies performed in a very elegant ing but don’ t feel to do rituals. dents of Patrul Rinpoche but we the teaching of Patrul Rinpoche. gave a nice teaching. One day style. These are the stories of Rituals are not Dzogchen teach- are following in the lineage of His more general writings are while he was giving teaching, he Patrul Rinpoche. It is important to ing, but in the Dzogchen teaching that teacher .” The woman said, very easy for ordinary people - saw quite far from his seat that know which kind of teacher there is no limitation. So if there “Oh, I thought maybe you are his they can understand when they the old lady was arriving and he wrote the books you are studying. are some ritual practices within direct students. I want receive this read them. Patrul Rinpoche lived recognized her immediately . He Now you can have some idea. the Dzogchen teaching, we apply teaching.” She showed me a a simple life. For example, once stopped teaching and said, “Oh, In Dzogchen, knowledge without limitation. Sometimes rit- small book and I took the book when he was traveling in north of we should take a break because a from a book is not the only ual practices can be very useful, and read just a little. (That is the eastern Tibet with the nomads he very important person is arriv- important knowledge. Our for example, in relationship to our book I am going to explain at this met an old lady, and that old lady ing.” All the students were very knowledge and understanding of attitude in daily life; we live with retreat.) Then I said, “Do you asked, “I heard there is a teacher surprised and Patrul Rinpoche Dzogchen, meaning our poten- dualistic vision in our physical know if Patrul Rinpoche is some- called Patrul Rinpoche, and I came down from his seat and tiality, is the most important. body and our physical body needs want to meet him at least once in went to welcome this lady and the where here?” It seemed impossi- Dzogchen is not a book, not a tra- continued on the next page

2 Teaching ChNN continued from previous page to move. We cannot remain like a teachings. The principle of dead body for many hours; move- Dzogchen is being in your real ment is necessary for our physical nature. If you are in your real BORN TO YESHI NAMKHAI AND EGLE body. In the same way our voice, nature, in your aspect of body , our ener gy level, needs move - speech and mind, your applica- ment, and we use our voice by tion is relative and for that reason The Dzogchen Community in Italy is very pleased to announce the happy event singing, chanting and talking. In there are no limitations. This is of the birth of Matilde to Yeshi Namkhai and his wife Egle. Yeshi, the son of the lower Tantra system called important to know. Otherwise, if Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and manager of Ambienti Web Consulting, is cur- nyung ne, nyung means diminish- we explain and use many ritual ing things like talking or eating. If practices, people think that is rently involved in the reorganization of the International Dzogchen Community. we do nyung ne in a perfect way, Dzogchen. We send all our warmest greetings toYeshi, Egle, their son Diego and their new one day we eat and one day we If you want to learn don’t eat; two days makes one Dzogchen seriously you must daughter Matilde. pair of nyung ne. When we eat we first understand what limitation can talk, but on the same day we is. We are always limiting our - are not eating, we cannot talk. We selves, and even if we receive can only chant prayers and very nice and beautiful teachings today from what it was in the past explains that there were eighteen that. It is something that is very mantras and not talk in an ordi- to help us liberate from limita- because the situation doesn’t cor- famous kings of Shang Shung important for ancient Tibetan his- nary way. Then we feel a kind of tions, the first thing we do is limit respond very much. We visited a who lived in dif ferent regions. It tory because at the time of the last sacrifice because we like to talk, that teaching. We say, “Oh, this is lot of these caves and we under- is a kind of rough history. Tibetan king, the kingdom of that is an example of our condi- our teaching, our teacher taught stood that even when the last In this period Tibet didn’ t even Tibet existed and also the king- tioning. For example, there are this teaching, this is my practice, Shang Shung king no longer lived exist. The land and people were dom of Shang Shung. When I practices where we are in total this is our way of practice”. If you there, some Bönpo groups contin- there, but it wasn’ t called Tibet wrote and taught about Tibetan silence for weeks, but we can’ t limit in any way it is negative, so ued to live there for many years. and there was no Tibetan king. history, I advised all my students apply t hese k inds o f p ractices it is not necessary to limit any- without preparation. That is an thing. If you don’ t want to limit, I was Tibetan and I am still Tibetan even though I am an Italian citizen; example of our real condition, so first you must discover what lim- in that case we are dealing with itation is. The first principle of even though I live here [in the West], I always feel I have a kind of movement, chanting, singing and Dzogchen is going beyond limita- responsibility for maintaining and helping Tibetan culture. doing pujas, etc., and that is how tions, any kind of limitation. Any we integrate our attitude in the kind of practice you learn to go practice. Of course, that is not the beyond limitation will produce Later on there were Buddhists. This came much later . The first that it was not enough to study principle of Dzogchen teaching. positive fruit and create great For example, at the time of La Shang Shung king mentioned Tibetan history in a traditional Some people think if we do benefit. Lama Yeshe O, there were some goes back to very ancient times. way, because in the traditional Dzogchen practice we need Buddhists living there who were Historically, the first Shang way they start with the first always to do Ganapujas. You can Transcribed and edited following the teachings of Shung king was more or less at Tibetan king and from this time to always do a Ganapuja, but that is by Naomi Zeitz Lochen Rinchen Zangpo and then the time of Tonpa Shenrab, the the time of Srongtsen Gampo not the principle of Dzogchen later, some followers of the founder of the Bön tradition. The there were something like thirty , Sakyapa tradition. There were Bön of that time and the Bon of thirty-one or thirty-two genera- INVESTIGATING THE ANCIENT Kagyupa and Nyingmapa practi- today are a little dif ferent. The tions of Tibetan kings. They say tioners who treated it more like a characteristic of ancient Bön was that during this period there was KINGDOM OF SHANG SHUNG refuge place because it was no knowledge of dif ferent kinds of no form of writing and no forms RUNO AUMANN INTERVIEWS longer that characteristic of the medicine and astrology , rituals of civilization that writing and B B last ancient residence of Shang for having good crops and elimi- civilization only existed after the CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU AT Shung. Finally there was a kind nating illness. It was related to the time of Srong tsen Gampo. So ERIGAR of small Gelugpa monastery countryside, to the people, the how could they have governed M there. We discovered that because local guardians and there was a the country? They governed it Austrian-born Bruno Baumann is Rinchen Zangpo and Atisha con- in one of the caves there were kind of interdependence within with Drung, Deu and Bön. These an awar d-winning writer and sidered that the last Tibetan kings, small remnants of books, and their knowledge and they studied three were the main means of photojournalist who lives in for example, Lha Lama Yeshe O even though not a single book very much in their own way , not government, even though they Munich, Germany. He is a con- had no form of writing. tributing editor to National Why do they say ‘Drung’? They Geographic Magazine and say ‘Drung’ because even if there author of numerous travel adven- was no form of writing, they ture books, trekking guides and a always spoke about history from popular lectur e series. In June the time Nyatri Tsenpo, the first 2004, using whitewater rafts he Tibetan king, to Srongtsen led a Eur opean expedition into Gampo. It is not a very rich histo- the Sutlej canyon in western Tibet ry, but there is some information to reach the ancient Kingdom of about this period. They say that Shang Shung. He interviewed this (historical information) was Chögyal Namkhai Norbu about passed from generation to genera- his own r esearch into Shang tion through memory , so this is Shung and about his visit there in called Drung because they say 1988. there was no writing. ‘Deu’ means signs or a ways to under- Bruno Baumann: Could you tell stand and refers to dif ferent us about your own research on aspects of divination or aspects Shang Shung and why you con- related to astrology. Even if there sider the area of Khyung Lung to was no writing, they used that be important? knowledge. ‘Bön’ refers to the kind of situation that exists: for Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: In lived there before the union of was intact, we could see in which in a Buddhist way . Modern example, if someone is ill, over- general in Tibetan history there Tibet. There were many ancient period different kinds of schools Bönpo have taken much from coming that problem, if there is are many important places related cultures during that period, there and traditions were there. The Buddhism and have almost lost no prosperity in the country, how to the ancient kingdom of Shang were characteristic paintings of books show this very clearly. the ancient Bönpo tradition. In to develop prosperity, etc. There Shung because the Shang Shung that period and so on, so they con- Later, during the Cultural that period there were the ancient were twelve dif ferent kinds of kings of the past lived in different sidered Guge to be very impor- Revolution, they did not permit Bönpo who were related to the Bön that developed, particularly places such as Guge, Khyung tant. But when we study and go a the Gelugpa community to con- eighteen famous kings of Shang in Tibet. Even if there was no Lung and many others. But we little deeper into the history of tinue living there and after , when Shung. Some of these kings lived writing, they used these things consider Khyung Lung to be a lit- Shang Shung, while Guge and things became a little freer , they in Khyung Lung; it was their res- and governed. There was no real tle more interesting because it is many other places are important, rebuilt the Gelugpa monastery in idence and later on they contin- explanation of Drung, Deu and the place where the last king (of Khyung Lung is more interesting a nearby town because it wasn’ t ued to live there. Bön. It says only that they [the Shang Shung) lived. So it is more because it is related to history. so comfortable to return to the Tibetans] were governed by recent for us even though it was at During our trip there we saw caves that were completely BB: I read in one of your books Drung, Deu and Bön. Everyone the time of Srongtsen Gampo, many caves and understood that empty. The way in which these that you consider Shang Shung as who talks about Tibetan history which was not so very near. Since in ancient times the Shang Shung kings and their functionaries lived the ancient roots of Tibetan cul- repeats that - Drung, Deu and the history of Shang Shung is kings lived there in the winter . in Khyung Lung was characteris- ture. There was already quite a Bön governed that way from the very ancient, it was for that rea- But I think that during that period, tic of the kingdom of Shang developed civilization with a time of Nyatri Tsenpo to son that I went mainly to Khyung they didn’t always live in a fixed Shung; in Khyung Lung, Ladakh, medical and astrological system Srongtsen Gampo. Lung to do research. palace such as the Potala. which now belongs to India, and the dif ferent Ways of Bön. I have done research on Drung, I know most Western professors Although they stayed mainly in a Guge and Purang and other areas, How was the tradition of Shang Deu and Bön and researched the have studied and made the area of stable place during the winter , in there were many of these kinds of Shung Bön transmitted? twelve characteristics of Bön to Guge very famous, but it was not the summer they moved to differ- places where people lived in an help people understand that the considered to be particularly ent places and did a lot of activi- unstable way. Here we are refer- ChNN: I want to thank you very idea that there was no writing at important in the past. It was relat- ties. I also think that the weather ring to a very ancient period in much for your interest and that time does not correspond. ed to the history of Shang Shung and general situation in that part which the Bönpo tradition research and attempt to discover Later I studied Tibetan history , and scholars such as Lotsawa of the country is a little dif ferent continued on next page

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 3 interview with ChNN by Bruno Baumann continued fr om previous page and hoped my research tribes developed, each Shangri-La? and study would with their own language become something sta- and their own attitude. CHNN: We have an explanation of Shambhala, an expla- ble; a base for people That is why the Shang nation of Oddiyana - all these ancient places. We have very interested in learning Shung language and lan- nice explanations and they are considered to be very about Tibetan history. I guage of central Tibet are important and for that reason today a lot of people think was Tibetan and I am not the same. that Oddiyana and Shambhala are something like paradise. still T ibetan, even So for that reason maybe they invented something like though I am an Italian BB: Was there any type Shangrila as a wonderful dimension. I think that is possi- citizen. Even though I of writing at the time of ble. live here, I always feel Shang Shung? I have a kind of BB: Since the Bön religion of Shang Shung is older than responsibility for CHNN: Officially we say Buddhism; can it be possible that the Buddhist concept of maintaining and help- that Thonmi Sambhota Shambhala is inspired by the Bön concept of ing T ibetan culture. invented T ibetan writing Olmolungring? For that reason, it is because Srongtsen not suf ficient for me Gampo said that Tibetans CHNN: I don’t know which concept is more ancient, but simply to write a nice needed their own writing Olmolungri was originally considered to be the place book on history. I want and language and went to where Tonpa Shenrab taught and many things developed to show something India to learn Sanskrit there in that period. That place was called Olmolung or very important - and then invented Tibetan Olmolungri. But later it developed a concept of something Tibetan culture is very writing. Tibetans consider like Shambhala. ancient and has value that to be the source of at an international written Tibetan. In the BB: I learned recently that in the Bön Gompa Gurugem, level. For that reason I real sense, some history located at the gateway of the Sutlej Canyon, a Shang Shung did all this research to records including statue was discovered which is quite similar to ancient explain that in the sec- Buddhist history, say that Indian statues from Latin America. Is it possible that Shang ond epoch, during the Shung was not only the source time of the kings of of Tibetan culture as you Shang Shung up to the wrote in one of your books, last king, the Tibetan but also the source of ancient kingdom was com- Indian cultures? posed of two main kingdoms. Others were CHNN: Some years ago there more like tribes, some was an article in the Peking stronger, others weak - People’s Journal saying that er, but in most parts of some Chinese researchers had Tibet it was that way in gone to an area near Kailash, that time period. they didn’t say Khyung Lung, and in some places they found BB: The Bön religion practiced today seems very similar a kind of writing was used Shang Shung writing on to Buddhism. Was the Bön religion like this in the past? before the time of Srongtsen rocks. I didn’ t see any pho- Gampo and that it originated tographs, only the article. ChNN: For me, ancient Bön was very different. Today, for in Shang Shung. Maybe t hey a ctually f ound example, all Bönpos are very similar to Buddhists and Historically, Tonpa Shenrab, something like that. there is no difference between Bönpo and Buddhist. But in the founder of the Bön tradi- When we were traveling in the real sense we say Bön and Bende*. Then there are a lot tion and the first historical the direction of Khyung Lung, of discussions and we never consider that Bön and Bende king of Shang Shung at one place we stopped to eat, is the same thing. Today Bönpos are considered to be invented Shang Shung writ- drink and rest a little, there Buddhist. It is not the same as ancient Bönpo. For example, ing. That refers back to a was a rock nearby and I went in ancient Bönpo, there was no development of the Vinaya very ancient time. They over and saw many figures style monks, like today . But, for example, in ancient lin- invented a form of writing and some writing on the rock eages like the Shang Shung Nyengyud and Shang Shung called ‘mar ’ (smar) which, that were very ancient. It Meri, both very ancient lineages, there are no monks. But looked like something I had there were monks later when Bön was reformed. seen before; the writing of the Aboriginal people on rocks in Australia. So there may be BB: What was the ef fect on Bön of the introduction of a possibility to find other writing and even objects there. Buddhism into Tibet? BB: Which sources did you use in your own research? Did ChNN: When Guru Padmasambhava arrived in Tibet, you find any Bönpo texts, which included historical data on Tibetans were practitioners of Bön. They had a very strong Shang Shung or something about the ancient form of Bön Bön attitude, and for that reason, Shantarakshita had not practiced at the time of Shang Shung? succeeded in teaching them Buddhism and had gone back to Nepal. Then they invited Guru Padmasambhava. When CHNN: I couldn’t find very much in the of ficial Bönpo Guru Padmasambhava arrived, he started to teach books, such as their history books. But when I was doing Vajrayana, explaining mainly about the real condition of research, I found many things in the Bönpo rituals. For the elements and ener gy. Then many Bönpos became example, the Bönpo still use many of their ancient rites and interested, because ancient Bönpo is based on the princi- there is a part of every rite called ‘mang’(smrang) in which ple of the five elements. However , the way that the five they explain a kind of short history. These historical expla- elements are considered in ancient Bön and modern Bön nations are very useful for understanding how ancient and Buddhism is not the same, so at the time of Guru Bönpo really was. Padmasambhava it was dif ficult to spread the Vajrayana teaching. For that reason, Guru Padmasambhava did not A question from the audience: How can we approach the destroy or eliminate many of the Bön rituals and attitudes, study of Tibetan history in the future? but transformed them into Vajrayana style. Guru Padmasambhava kept the way of seeing as it was. That is CHNN: We should be more aware of how the real situation why, I think, many Westerners call Tibetan Buddhism is, not only going after ‘of ficial’ histories, because official ‘Lamaism’. Tibetans don’t like this name very much, but books and histories change according to the situation, so the reason for this name is because the characteristics of we cannot put much faith in them. But we should look at Tibetan Buddhism compared to the characteristics of in the Shang Shung language, means ‘dewa’, so the ‘writ- the concrete situation and try to do research. I think that is Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism practiced in south Asia ing of the dewa’ (gods). And Tibetans continued to use that very important. When I was working at the university , at and in Japan are very different. language until the new writing was developed at the time the beginning, when I spoke about Shang Shung many peo- of Srongtsen Gampo. Today, for example, we have two ple laughed. They said that it was only a kind of legend; it BB: What do you consider to be the origin of the culture different kinds of Tibetan writing: one is cursive and the didn’t exist. That is an example of how histories change and language of Shang Shung? other is ‘uchen’, which we use for block printing. But the according to the situation, because it has been of ficially origin of ‘ume’ or cursive writing is, I believe, from Shang documented that way. Then when we are a little aware and CHNN: Originally, in ancient Tibetan history , in the Shung, and did not originate from the writing that was do some research, we can discover many things. T hat way Bönpo tradition, they say that everything originates from invented by Thonmi Sambhota because the way of writing in the future, I hope very much that Tibetans and particu - the egg of existence. Then from this egg comes ‘lha’, ‘lu’, is different. For example, when we use Tibetan ‘uchen’, larly Westerners, scholars, and people doing research, will ‘nyen’. That means ‘dewa’, ‘naga’ and ‘nyen’ beings of the we always write from left to right: first there is a kind of try to find something more concrete and develop this kind ‘masang’ (class of beings). So then from the ‘nyen’ beings head, and then we develop the written letters. But when we of research. I think that that is very important. spread many different types of human beings. And among write in ‘ume’, or cursive writing, it is the opposite - we them they say that originally there were ‘miu dung drug’. write from right to left. That is different, easier and much * Bende in Sanskrit Vandya means a Buddhist There were six brothers from the same origin. In the histo- quicker. This is called cursive. But when we write from left Transcribed and edited by Liz Granger ry of Lang kyi poti seru, there was one egg and from it to right, we have to write, stop, and even if you can write Photographs by A.Siedlecki / ISS,2005 © came forth six brothers. From these six brothers arose six quickly, it is never as fast as cursive writing. Therefore I kinds of tribes, one of which was called Khyung or dra think these two sources are very dif ferent. These photographs where made during the expedition led (sbra). That is the generation of Shang Shung. The others by ChNN to Khyung Lung and the Kingdom of Shang were in central Tibet and east Tibet. Then different kinds of BB: What is your opinion of the popular western idea of a Shung, in Western Tibet during the autumn of 1988.

4 ChNN’s schedule continued from page 1 CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU IN BARCELONA, SPAIN OCTOBER 2005 ITALY June 9 - 18 Merigar A CONFERENCE on Longsal Nadjyang of Tawa “THE THREE WAYS OF SPIRITUAL LIBERATION” Teaching of the Main Points of the View Totally Beyond the Conceptual Mind, with CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU Closed Web Cast October 4, 2005 at 19h BHUTAN June 30 Place: Universitat Pompeu Fabra Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 BANGKOK 08005 BARCELONA August 4 - 6 Tel. 93 542 17 00 – Fax 93 5

JAPAN Public transport: Subway L4 to Ciutadela stop or Bus n. 41 to C/ Marina stop August 10 - 14 Spanish Dzogchen Community: www.dzogchen.org.es (Tentative Retreat) TAWAIN DZOGCHEN RETREAT IN BARCELONA, SPAIN August 18 – 22 (Tentative Retreat) OCTOBER 5 - 9, 2005 with CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU SINGAPORE August 25 – September 3 Longsal Ati’i Gongpa Ngotrod Retreat THE 25 SPACES OF SAMANTABHADRA Closed Web Cast Terma of Rigdzin Changchub Dorje

AUSTRALIA http://www.dzogchen.org.es/dzogchen_retreat_in_spain.htm Caloundra September 27 – October 1 Vajra Dance course of The Three Vajra (OM A HUM) with Adriana dal Borgo (Internacional Longsal Yeshes Zangthal: instructor) & Yantra Yoga beginners course with Fabio Andrico (International instructor) Upadesha on All-Penetrating Wisdom Closed Web Cast REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION NAMGYALGAR On-line at the Cultural Association of the Dzogchen Community in Spain web page: October 9 - 15 www.dzogchen.org.es Jnana Dhakkini Teaching Retreat of Longsal Gomadevi At La Mar Bella: day 5th from 10-13 h. and from 15-16,30 h., next days from 8,30-9,30 h. and SANTI MAHA SANGHA from 12,30-13,30 h. October 24 -26 Santi Maha Sangha 1st Level Exam nd October 27 - 31 Santi Maha Sangha 2 Level Training More information: [email protected] and [email protected] November 10 – 17 Nadjyang of Tawa Retreat ADVICE The Main Points of the View Totally Beyond the Conceptual Mind. At the Dzogchen Community of Spain web-page you will find a lot of updated information on Closed Web Cast accommodation and transport, with a wide selection of hostels and guest houses in the centre of the city, well connected with C.E.M. La Mar Bella. Transports work well, and a card with 10 November 24 – 26 trips is only 6,30 Û. Teaching in Sydney We kindly request to be at the main hall, at least, half an hour before the teachings start. We (To be announced) advice to bring cushions for the teachings, comfortable clothes to practice Yantra Yoga and fine ARGENTINA socks to practice Vajra Dance. December 8 – 19 Buenos Aires Retreat It is not allowed to film the teachings, and to record is only allow with consumer pocket-size recording (To be announced) equipment and only from where they are seated.

December 26 – January 1 Although, usually at the beginning of October Barcelona weather is still warm, we advice to bring a light Ati’i Gongpa Ngotrod raincoat. Upadesha of the Introduction to the State of Ati Closed Web Cast All of you will enjoy Barcelona, it is a joy-full and well or ganized city. WELCOME!!!

Dzogchen Community in Spain

Budapest with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Introduction of the Dzogchen Teaching and the Longsal Ngöndro by Artur Skura

he retreat in Budapest gath- through this, to gain some knowl- in one’s own nature. At that point, all our thoughts, emo - ered a large number of prac- edge. That’s why now I can share tions, and confusion – all is at the level of reflections and titioners, especially from this knowledge with others and cannot influence us in any way . And when we are looking TCentral Europe – Austria, Slova- bring some benefit”. Rinpoche also dualistically, there is a huge dif ference between a Buddha kia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ger- took some time to explain that even and a pig, whereas when we go beyond dualism, there’s no many and others. We were happy if Dzogchen is considered to belong difference between pure and impure vision – both are to live and sleep in a Buddhist col- to Buddhist teachings, it was taught reflections. If someone understands that, there is no prob- lege; I wasn’ t the only one sur - much earlier. Moreover, when some- lem of impure vision, because it’s recognized as our quali- prised to learn some time ago that one is practicing Dzogchen, they can fication. Rinpoche ended the first day saying, “OK, today I there were Buddhist schools and use both Buddhist and non-Buddhist opened a great road before you. Tomorrow I will show you institutes in Hungary , with years Rinpoche teaching in Budapest A SKURA methods, as long as these methods how to ride”. of tradition. are helping them in reaching realiza- As we had some time before the end of the teaching, Rinpoche was teaching in a big hall in a Buddhist tion. Rinpoche asked us if we have some questions. Of course – Center. Before Rinpoche started to teach, there was a long The official topic of the retreat was the practice of the there were plenty. One person asked about visualization – introduction, presenting him as a great master and incarna- Purification of Six Lokas combined with Vajrasattva she had had an operation and was feeling her body very tion of Adzom Drugpa. Rinpoche alluded to that some time belonging to the Longsal cycle, which is contained in the strongly, because of physical pain, and it was disturbing her later, while explaining the Nirmanakaya level, asking us 3rd volume of the Longsal Teachings. Rinpoche transmit- practice of visualization. Rinpoche answered that even if not to follow the titles of “reincarnations” and not to think ted the lung to the root text and explained how to do the we don’t have any physical problems we still have a strong they are always true, because very often these are just titles. practice. In fact Rinpoche was introducing our real nature, feeling of our human body when we are transforming, and “You see, at the beginning someone introduced me as an using several examples. The single example of the mirror that’s why many methods of completion stage are used – to incarnation of Adzom Drugpa, who was a famous master . was used in two ways: first, as a metaphor of Dzogchen integrate the visualization in our existence in a more con- So you thought ‘Oh, Namkhai Norbu must be very impor- point of view, which is like looking at oneself rather than crete way. Someone else started a question by saying “The tant, because he is an incarnation of a great master .’ But I outside (this is how Changchub Dorje introduced the view mind is pure…” but Rinpoche immediately interrupted: don’t see it that way . I just had a good fortune to meet a of Dzogchen to Rinpoche), and second – not looking in a “Who said that?” The person asked, “I said that”. Rinpoche good master of Dzogchen, receive transmission, and mirror, but being the mirror itself, is an example of being laughed: “You said, but I didn’t say the mind is pure”.

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 5 shang-shung institute

Translator Training continued

ject into life, runs out after three For further information please years, we are a little worried contact Oliver Leick at about the continuation of the pro- [email protected] or check the ject. Presently we are looking for- web site at: www.ssi-austria.at. ward to meet again next year to explore an other text that will Saadet Arslan met Rinpoche in sooner o r l ater r each a ll w ho 1993, has participated in the share the same interest in the Translators’ Training since its Tibetan wisdom heritage. inception and is a student of Tibetan Studies at the University in Bonn, Germany.

IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM SHANG -SHUNG INSTITUTE, ITALY

Much to our regret, Doctor Nida has r epeatedly manifested his will to stop the collaboration with the ISS, and the Institute has decided to accept his r esignation. Consequently, the ISS Managing Board is temporarily for ced to cancel all the courses in progress in Italy and all over the world. In order to fulfill the expectations of all the students who have spent so much time and energy in Tibetan Medicine and corre- lated subjects and in order to expand the activity of the Medicine Department, the ISS is happy to announce that at the end of October the ISS will start a new collaboration with DoctorUgyen, REPORT ON THE THIRD ies...but the magic is that the point of view of these a medical doctor and astr ologer. We also have fully qualified, MEETING OF THE texts is the “state” that is directly speaking to you. after a five years’curriculum of intensive study, eight instructors TIBETAN TRANSLATOR You “hear” Rinpoche teaching and the transmission of first level Ku Nye who are authorized to hold courses wherev- is alive! er we received invitations from. We are planning to r esume our TRAINING Sometimes the participants, who bring dif ferent didactic activities from 2006. capacities and come from dif ferent backgrounds, by Saadet Arslan like professors, students or self-taught, are pondering The Managing Board of the ISS over the same textual problems (“who is who? where The Tibetan T ranslator T raining, initiated by is the subject? what is meant by ‘existing through Rinpoche, manifested due to a generous donation non-existing’???”), but through exchanging and dis- Shang-Shung Institute Austria from the Shang-Shung Institute, Austria, in 2003. cussing, somehow we come to some conclusion and KA-TER TRANSLATION PROJECT The aim of the project is to give further training to if not, there is still the precious presence of the people who have a basic knowledge of the Tibetan Master to consult for clarification. That is why we The main activity of Shang-Shung Institute, Austria, is the KA-TER language so they gain qualifications to properly try to meet in a place where Rinpoche is staying. TRANSLATION PROJECT, initiated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in translate Tibetan texts into Western languages. Since the first year , most of us improved our capa - the summer of 2004. The Ka-Ter Translation Project is divided into We are around twelve people from various countries bilities in Tibetan reading and translating very much three initiatives. who come together once a year for a period of six due to the strict learning schedule: two sessions a 1. The three main experts regarding translations of sacred Dzogchen weeks to collectively work on a text selected by day, in the morning two hours working on our own texts within the Dzogchen Community: Elio Guarisco, Jim Valby and Rinpoche. Our tutor , Elio Guarisco, supervises us with notebooks endowed with electronic Tibetan Adriano Clemente, work intensively on the Dzogchen Tantra with competence acquired during the last two dictionaries and trying to get to a provisional trans- Translation Project. Most of their work is done individually daily . decades of studying and translating Tibetan litera - lation and afterwards there is (are) the common Once or twice a year Elio, Jim and Adriano meet for some weeks to ture. From time to time, Adriano Clemente drops in hour(s) in which, one after another reads his or her work collectively on their translations. In that way, it should be guar- to share his knowledge about Tibetan written lan - version and communicates his or her understanding anteed that these timeless wisdom texts of Tibetan masters, which guage and especially early Dzogchen texts where he of the lines. The same procedure happens after the were preserved by the Tibetans, are correctly and precisely translated is certainly one of the rare experts worldwide. lunch break and we are worn out mentally , so to into Western languages. The first text we dealt with in Merigar , in the sum - speak beyond mind, so that some of us were looking 2. About fifteen qualified translators from all over the world take part mer 2003, was a new edition of Nascere e V ivere forward to the end of the day filled with Vajra Dance in the Training for Translators from Tibetan, which started in 2003. called “Birth, Life and Death”. Rinpoche had origi- and/or playing Bagchen for some grounding. (See article on page ) Under the supervision of Elio Guarisco, the nally prepared this book for the first international Sentences like “overcoming the net of concepts igno- translators have the unique possibility to deepen their knowledge and Conference on Tibetan Medicine in Venice, 1983. rance is subdued into Rigpa” understanding of ancient Dzogchen texts and how to bring their essen- The section on “Life” has been extended in the new or tial meaning into a Western language. This work is very intensive as version and a further section on “Death & Dying” “wherever the garuda flies that is the dimension of the translators not only meet for about 6 – 8 weeks every year, but also has been added. This very interesting book con- space, work individually throughout the whole year on their translations. cludes by showing the link between healthy living wherever the fish swims that is the depth of the 3. The preservation of the Tantras of Changchub Dorje, the master of and the practice of Dzogchen. It is translated now ocean, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, is another initiative and collaboration with into English and should be available by October this whatever thought arise that is the ultimate dimen- the Shang-Shung Institute of America. These precious texts are being year. Thanks to the multilingual translator group this sion, preserved in every possibly way - in digital as well as in paper form – publication will be soon also available in many dif- wherever the mind looks at that is the expanse of wis- and are put in an archive in Tibet and in the libraries of the various ferent languages. dom” Dzogchen Communities and the Shang-Shung Institutes. Last year, in the second round of the training, we met or in Tashigar Norte, Mar garita Island. At that time, “the nature of mind is primordially beyond place and Besides enormous individual effort of work and dedication to Tibetan Rinpoche suggested to study an ancient Dzogchen reference point, it is beyond change and transition, it Culture, all these initiatives also need large financial resources. In the Semde Tantra called “The Marvelous Primordial cannot be examined by the mind; it cannot be sought last months many people have given donations and I really want to State” (rMad du byung ba). This text belongs to the and accomplished; it is beyond failure and obscura- thank everybody for their contribution and support. twenty-one fundamental Semde texts, which the tion, beyond virtue and non-virtue” great Tibetan translator Vairocana, who lived in the In order to have some income for our work we now of fer you some- eighth century and is famous as one of the first seven compensate any hardship one undertakes like sacri- thing very special. Due to the generous and kind support of Steve monks ordained in Samye, introduced to Tibet ficing time, costs, one’ s annual holiday, just to take Landsberg, we were able to procure two wonderful statues, one fan - together with the Tantras and Instructions of the part in the training. The training is ego challenging tastic one of Garab Dorje and one wonderful statue of Dorje Legpa. Longde series after getting the transmission of the because twelve individuals means twelve opinions We will not do a kind of auction, so the first person that decides to get teachings of the lineage of Oddiyana from Shri concerning one sentence! Turning away from inter - one of these statues will get it. Simha. “The Cuckoo of Rigpa” (Rig pa’i khu byug ) pretation and moving towards the literal words writ- as well as “The Supreme Source - The All Creating ten, though often the grammatical interconnections Short description: King”(Kun byed rgyal po) belong to this subdivision are missing due to the poetic meter , that is the art of Garab Dorje: of the twenty-one texts. Recently , in Los Angeles, translation, of getting to the real meaning and anoth- It is fully gold plated with painted face. Rinpoche taught another Semde Instruction out of er lesson we were taught in the “training of Tibetan It is 13 inches tall (33 cm) and 9 inches wide (23,5 cm) on a deer skin the twenty-one Semde texts called “The flight of the translators”. base. great Garuda” (Khyung chen lding ba). After our pre-work on the Semde Tantras, “The Please have a look at: This training is a fantastic opportunity to come Marvelous Primordial State” and “The Sky-like Vast http://www.ssi-austria.at/ssi-engl/shop-engl-garabdorje.htm together and have access to these wonderful sources Expanse”, the advanced translator trio of the of wisdom. In the whole world only a few have this Dzogchen Community - Adriano Clemente, Elio Dorje Legpa: possibility, and even among Tibetans, not many read Guarisco and Jim Valby - are going to work more Height: 14,5 inch or 35,5 cm or understand these texts. precisely on them so that hopefully in two to three Width: 11 inch or 27 cm In this third year of the training we looked at anoth- years they will be published and available for the It is excellently carved and has a gold plated face. er Semde Tantra called “The Sky-like Vast Expanse” general public. Please have a look at: (mKa’ mnyam klong gi r gyud) and are facing the The Shang-Shung Institute, Austria, which is or ga- http://www.ssi-austria.at/ssi-engl/shop-engl-dorjelegpa.htm same difficulties as last year; it is written in poetic nizing the training, has expenses like room rental style, the grammatical structure is not easy , the text fee, salary for the tutor and scholarships for those in The regular price for the statue of Garab Dorje is 1000 Euro and that contains some terms you cannot find in dictionar- need. As the initial donation, which brought this pro- continued on next page 6 Ka-Ter Translastion continued from previous page ASIA IN SRI LANKA of the statue of Dorje Legpa is 950 Euro. As these two statues were bought for reasons of fundraising for the Ka- ssistance for reconstruction and redevelopment in the ter Translation project, we raise the price with 20 %. So, the first person zones worst struck by the Tsunami, using methods that is willing to offer 1200 Euro for this beautiful statue of Garab Dorje based on the active participation of the local commu- and/or 1140 Euro for the statue of Dorje Legpa will get the statue. The Anities. mailing costs to your address are not included in this price. The pay- Sri Lanka is one of the countries most seriously devastated ment can be done by credit card or by bank transfer . by the Tsunami. Thousands of Singalese people have lost In case that you cannot af ford these wonderful statues but you want to their homes and their livelihoods; entire villages have been contribute to our activities please feel free to use this web safe site: swept away with all of their inhabitants. The balance of the https://ssl13.inode.at/ssi-austria.at/creditcardoffering.htm victims amounts to more than 30,000, a third of them chil- dren. The damage to material structures: homes schools and Thank you very much for your interest and your support, workplaces and to the infrastructures is extremely severe. A little more than three months after the catastrophe it is still Very best wishes, enormously dif ficult to make a complete estimate of the Oliver F. Leick extent of the damage. Shang-Shung Institute Austria In order to make a rapid and effective response to this trag- Email: [email protected] ic emer gency immediate contact was made with the Web: www.ssi-austria.at Singalese Community and the Theravada Buddhist Community in Rome, or ganizations able to guarantee immediate and direct contact with the most af fected towns and communities. Both of them had already been in action since the first hours after the catastrophe, new web site sending funds and first aid materials through the available means of the Italian Civil Protection and activat - ing relations with the Sri Lankan authorities and the communities of the af fected areas, in particular the shang-shung institute, usa Districts of Galle and Matara. Already in January ASIA was able to send the first mission of experts who went to Sri Lanka, accompanied by some monks of the Rome Theravada Buddhist Community and by the head of the Singalese Community he Shang-Shung Institute in America is happy to announce the in Rome to evaluate the situation on the ground and to identify the hypothetical projects most suited to meet upgrade of its web sitehttp://www .shangshung.org to reflect the the needs of the stricken populations. Institute’s development ef fort and most recent activities. The strategy that ASIA is acting upon is to concentrate on the post-emer gency phase, on reconstruction and TAmong the new features you will notice, in addition to a renovated development and the individuation of capable and trustworthy counterparts with the aim of contributing, graphic layout, is first of all a more comprehensive Tibetan Medicine through medium and long-term projects to the gradual recovery of this country that has been so horrendous - section. In it, multiple Learning Options are described, including the ly stricken. With the collaboration of local communities a series of activities will be undertaken with the aim Institute’s Residential Program taught by Dr . Phuntsog Wangmo, the of re-establishing the minimum indispensable conditions for normal life in villages where people are facing Institute’s in-residence certified Tibetan Doctor graduated from the extremely difficult and precarious situations. Lhasa University School of Traditional Medicine. The web site now In the course of the mission, through an analysis made together with our local counterparts (including an provides you with all the current information and details pertinent to important environmental organization) one of the worst damaged centers, from the material point of view, was the program, including the aspects related to the Accreditation and identified in the district of Kalutara, along the coast to the south of Colombo, where homes, infrastructures, Certification in the USA: issues that the Institute considers of primary and equipment have been totally destroyed and where the request for help is most pressing. In this zone, in importance to bring the residential program to the level of a fully rec- spite of the presence of numerous international organizations, it has not been possible to cover all the collec- ognized professional career opportunity. This aspect is the flip side of tive needs. One of the most urgent necessities is to give back homes to the families who are at present living the growing effort to grow the Institute into a fully credited education in tents in refugee camps or in public building put at their disposal by the local authorities. body. On the user-friendly side, we have added the possibility allows Taking into account the local culture and customs and the particular climactic conditions (hot and damp), if to complete an online application form through the web site secure we succeed in obtaining the necessary funds through institutional financing and private collections of funds, server, as well as downloading forms and brochure in PDF format. ASIA, with its many years of experience in this field, will build as many homes as possible according to bio- The online shop is also being enhanced with Tibetan Medicine relat- construction and bio-climatic principles. ed products, including the Institute’ s unique 80-hour/MP3-formatted Since we do not intend to only limit ourselves to reconstruction, but also believe it to be indispensable to Foundation Course in T ibetan Medicine [3 levels] by Dr. Thubten reconstruct together with the interested communities, concrete sustainable development plans and building Phuntsok [recorded from lectures presented at the Institute from 1998 interventions will be accompanied by an economic-productive component aimed at sustaining traditional to 2001] and the 50-hour/MP3-formatted Foundation Course in activities like fishing and tourism and the cultivation and harvesting of medicinal herbs. Such activities will Tibetan Medicine by Dr . Phuntsog Wangmo [levels 1 & 2 only] guarantee the sustainability of the projects, offering to the beneficiaries the possibility to get back to work and [based on materials presented to the Institute in the years 2001 and support their families. 2002]. These 2 non-available-elsewhere audio courses are part of a Moreover, the ASIA intervention will also be directed to the maintenance of the most vulnerable members of Tibetan Medicine Audio Series that is further completed by10- a society: children and old people. In fact the maintenance of orphan children and those of families hardest hour/MP3-formatted The Theory and Practice of Moxibustion by hit by the Tsunami will be undertaken. Using its many years of experience in this sector ASIAwill contribute Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, based on teachings on this ancient healing to the maintenance of as many Singalese children and old people in need as is possible, covering all the technique that utilizes heat and herbs, given in November 1983 and expenses necessary to conduct a decent way of life, at the same time helping families and their villages. With the An Introduction to T ibetan Medicine also by Chögyal Namkhai regard to old people, on the proposal of our counterparts - who have also offered a gift of land - we are study- Norbu, based on an extensive lecture given in Bangkok. This materi- ing the possibility of restructuring a building to make an old peoples’ home. al is truly special and represents the first and only products that offers So, alongside the first aid emer gency assistance that has been managed by or ganizations with the necessary a complete, professional and authentic introduction to traditional technical and operational skills, ASIA is concentrating on the study and realization of long-term projects to Tibetan Medicine. raise the quality of life and to initiate real and true processes of development among the beneficiary popula - An additional innovation of the revised website is the new Micro- tions. donation System. Micro-donations represent a simple, af fordable To realize these projects ASIA does not hesitate to ask for contributions from all those who know of its com - opportunity to contribute to the Institute’ s support and development. mitment to aid minorities in Asia and who are sympathetic to its goals and methodology . The System allows activation of dif ferent virtual Prayer Wheels that To this end two modes of collecting contributions have been or ganized which - it is important to remember - will actually “spin online” for the amount of time associated to the are tax deductible on the basis of current laws. donation made. Starting at only US$7.00 for a week [US$1.00/day], the Micro-donation System is at once an innovative proposal to acti- Bank transfer to the account:c/c ASIA- Tsunami n. 000114660, (bank sorting codes) ABI 05018, CAB 03200 vate traditional Tibetan practices for the accumulation of merits in our of the Banca Popolare Etica S.c.a.r.l.The transfer should be made out to ASIA- Onlus. Western contemporary environment and an af fordable way to aggre- gate the efforts of Community members interested in contributing to Post office account: c/c 89549000 made out to ASIA-Onlus indicating the motive or “causal”: Emer genza the preservation of the Tibetan Culture through the Institute’ s effort. Tsunami. As we know, the Shang-Shung Institute, in its different locations, rep- resents a critical component of Rinpoche’s vision for the protection of It will be possible to follow the work of ASIA and the development of both the collection of funds and the the Teachings and the preservation of the Tibetan Culture. All of the activities in the field by directly contacting the person responsible in the ASIA office in Rome (Riccardo Dzogchen Community members and individuals interested in partic- Ducci - Tel: 06 44340034, Email: [email protected] g) and also by visiting the web site www .asia- ipating to this ef fort are cordially invited to visit the website section onlus.org. at http://www.shangshung.org/microdonation/index.php. W e would As in other situations in which we operate, our commitment remains constant in time and with the help of all love to have your feedback and, if you feel like it, your helpful and the people who are aware and sensitive we will succeed in helping as many people as possible who have been much appreciated contribution. struck by this terrible tragedy to rebuild their lives, contributing to the reconstruction of their hopes and More projects are currently in the preparation stages and will be prospects, with full respect for the identity and culture of this country . announced in the future within the Shang-Shung institutional mis- sion. Besides the progression of the academic ef fort in the area of A.S.I.A. Associazione per la Solidarietà Internazionale in Asia is a non-profit association founded in 1988 by Tibetan Medicine, projects related to Tibetan Art and Tibetan lan- Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. A.S.I.A. promotes the economic, social and cultural development of minorities guage are in preparation. whose ethnic and cultural identities ar e threatened and is committed in particular to help the T ibetan popu- The Shang-Shung Institute in America is a non-profit and tax-exempt lation. It has r ealized projects in the field of health and education, in the conservation and r estoration of 501 (c) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. The ancient monuments and manuscripts, projects of emergency aid with the distribution of cer eals and animals Institute receives funding from private donations, corporate matching to the nomadic peoples struck by natural calamities. W ith its project of adoption fr om afar ASIA maintains grants, and grants. Tibetan children and students in schools built by ASIA in the poorest and most disadvantaged zones of T ibet and in refugee settlements in Nepal and India.

More information can be accessed through http://www.shang- ASIA Associazione per la Solidarietà Internazionale in Asia shung.org or by calling Via S.Martino della Battaglia 31 413-369-4928. 00185 Roma Tel: 06/44340034 Email: [email protected] Web site:www.asia-onlus.org

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 7 book reviews Memory, Suicide and Reintegration tions of American middle class life with its strict Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, “However, it isn’ t certain what Her Voice Is Blackberries family roles and mores, who is stifled by these suf- Clarifying the Natural State. you mean by aware emptiness. by Joan Marie Wood focating conventions to the extent that she can’t cope Ranjung Y eshe Publications, Do you mean an aware emptiness Amherst Writers and Artists Press, Amherst, with, or find an outlet for her unnamable confusion, 107 pages, with T ibetan origi- that happens after a thought event Mass, 2004 with disastrous results for her fragile psyche as she nal on facing page to English has ceased or dissolved? Or is it commits herself into a psychiatric insti - translation. an aware emptiness while the oan Marie Wood’s ‘Her Voice Is tution that is run with precisely the same thought is present?. . .Someone Blackberries’ is at once a collection cultural and sexual conventions which nce again, Eric Pema of may say , ‘When I look directly of poems, a journey into memory she found so empty in the society from Rangjung Yeshe Publica- into a thought or perception it dis- Jand grief, and a ritual of integration. It which she sought respite. tions has prepared an solves a nd b ecomes a n a ware Oauthoritative translation of a clas- emptiness.’ This is a case of not begins with an invocation of the white With ‘Empty Squares of Lace’ the poet lotus of compassion in a Rockridge café confronts the moment when her father sic meditation text. “Clarifying having established certainty as the till clatters and the radio blares and announces her mother ’s suicide to the the Natural State” is a pithy set of about the nature of thoughts and the poet confronts her internal grief and children. practical meditation perceptions, but rage in the mundane and uncaring rou- As each successive section progresses, instructions composed rather o f u sing t he tine world of simple commerce, and this we travel on a harrowing journey as the by a sixteenth century idea of aware empti- invocation is followed by a song to the poet revisits those places in her life, or Kagyu lama and schol- ness as an antidote sea to give up its memories. takes up the objects, within which her ar, Dakpo Tashi Nam- against them” (p.31). This collection is the story of a daughter mother’s presence still dwells: a per- gyal. This lama also The remainder of the confronting her mother ’s suicide, look- fume bottle, the taste of a button on a composed “Moon- book discusses ing back from middle age to the painful years of silk shirt, a room in a mental hospital, a psychiatrist’s beams of Mahamu- pointing - out childhood when the rich and, at that time, inchoate office with would-be reassuring Japanese prints that dra”, instructions, how to mother-daughter bond was so violently ruptured. fail to mask an atmosphere of cold incomprehension. which has previously identify mistakes and From that devastating loss the poet uncovers, inves- The writing is spare, poignant, clear and precise. been published under faults in meditation, tigates and reconstructs the painful shards of memo- This poetic investigation confronts fear , reticence the title “Mahamudra, how to train in not ry into graceful poetry, a portrait of a lost mother, an and honesty , and creates a portrait of two female The Quintessence of separating medita- exploration of lost emotion, and in the telling and souls – mother and daughter – finding a way to meet Mind and Meditation” (translated tion and post-meditation, tran- retelling of the story , the poet weaves a tapestry of across lost years, and the stark reality of death by sui- by Lobsang P . Lhalungpa, pub- scending into non-arising, and reintegration and release. cide, to find reconciliation and release from rage and lished by Shambhala, but out-of- utilizing conduct. There follows The collection is divided into six main sections. grief. This is an extraordinarily courageous and pow- print; may be available from a brief description of the famous ‘Light on the Water’ gives us a child’ s eye view , erful collection of writing, which has transformed a Motilal Banarsidas, India). “four stages”, one-pointedness, often uncomprehending, often insightful as only devastating and inevitably scarring childhood expe- “Moonbeams” is a thick book, simplicity, one taste, and non- children can be, as her mother struggles with mental rience into poignant and beautiful poetry. very dense, full of scholarly quo- meditation. illness and the strains that it causes in her family tations and philosophical ar gu- One particular detail that I found relationships. From succinct poems and short prose by Des Barry ments. In contrast, “Clarifying interesting was the author ’s dis- pieces, a picture emerges of a bright and sharp-mind- the Natural State” is a much more cussion of the attitude toward ill- ed woman caught in the stifling post-war constric- practical, “hands-on” instruction ness: “Practitioners of Equal manual, which presumes that the Taste, ‘Ro-Nyom’, may hold that reader already is grounded in the one should now give up medical preliminaries, understands the treatment. Here, in this context, it SHANG SHUNG EDIZIONI context, and has received trans- is more a matter of using your mission. sickness for spiritual training, The following book was reprinted and it is now available: This book is a manual of rather than foolishly assuming Mahamudra, the ultimate teach- that it does not matter whether or Chögyal Namkhai Norbu ing of the Kagyu lineage. not the physical support for SANTI MAHA SANGHA LEVEL ONE TRAININGS Although the re are appare ntly attaining enlightenment dies” (p. July 1994 to June 2001 some distinctions between 75). Mahamudra and Dzogchen, to This book is authentic and enjoy- Edited by Jim Valby my non-expert mind, it is difficult able. It is short enough that I Two Volumes, 622 pages, Euro 40,00 for me to perceive how the might actually read it, and even Mahamudra instructions present- reread it. It contains the original Shang Shung Edizioni has published an English language book with transcriptions from Rinpoche’ s ed in this book differ greatly from Tibetan text on the page facing first thirteen Santi Maha Sangha Level One Trainings. Rinpoche’s explanations are arranged firstly by the spirit of Dzogchen Semde. A the English text. So after I have topic and secondly by the retreat dates. The content of the SMS Level One Training evolved over the meditation master or a scholar learned Tibetan, I will be able to years. Rinpoche added new topics and explanations. could probably point out dif fer- read the original. (This lat ter ences between the two, but it comment was meant to be humor- This book is intended for those who have already passed the SMS Base Level examination, received feels to me that there is much ous. I’ve tried learning Tibetan, the SMS Level One teachings, and kept their Nine Samayas. advice in this manual that could and have given up.) be useful to a student of I wonder if the students of this SMS practitioners who wish to receive this book should contact the SMS Dzogchen. sixteenth c entury t eacher e ver Coordinator of their own Gar: The book begins with instructions suspected that English-speaking of shamatha and vipassana, start- people in the age of computers Tsegyalgar: Jim Valby ing with supported shamatha, and television would be reading Merigar: Igor Legati through unsupported shamatha, this manual. I wonder who will be Kunsangar: Grisha Mokhin to various aspects of vipassana, to reading the teachings of Chögyal Namgyalgar: Elise Stutchbury ultimately seeing an identity Namkhai Norbu four hundred Tashigar: Ricky Sued between shamatha and vipassana. years from now. The author makes a point of stat- ing that in this method emptiness by Paul Bail is not used as an antidote:

APARTMENTS FOR SALE IN MONTALATERONE, ITALY 6 apartments in the historical center of Montelaterone, a medieval village about 8km from Merigar. The apartments are part of an 19 th century oil mill, 3 with lar ge private gardens and one with a 25 sq.m panoramic terrace, all with a wonderful view over the Val d’Orcia. Renovation will be carried out according to the principles of bio-architecture and using traditional materials such as terra cotta tiles, chestnut beams, “peperino” stone, and plastering in Errata in Issue 74 lime. Each apartment has an independent entrance and autonomous heating. In the front-page article by Jacqueline Gens in the last issue number 74 there was the following error: The Mani stones carved by Gyaltsen were placed in the ground corresponding to the six sacred syllables, not the Projects for the dif ferent apartments can be seen on four directions as stated in the article. www.abitaresani.com . On page of issue 74, in the second photo referring to Daniel Winkler and Soden, the photo caption was More information from Rita Renzi at rita.renzi@tis- reversed. Daniel is on the left and Soden on the right. Apologies. cali.it or Mob. Phone 0039-3356065058.

On the last page, 20, of issue 74, in the How I Met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu story by Oliver Leick, Oliver states that he met Kalu Rinpoche in the spring of 1997 but it was 1977.

8 new books from shang shung editions

CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU tion or lhundrub Chenpo is a famous invocation by Ju Mipham Gyatso. THE MIRROR - ADVICE ON PRESENCE through the symbol of The Invocation of the Lamp belongs to the terma cycle The AND AWARENESS the crystal. This upade- Secret Treasure of the V ajra of Luminous Clarity discov- EURO 13,00 sha was received in two ered by Adzom Drugpa. different dreams, in The Mirr or - Advice 1997 and in 1999, GENDÜN CHÖPHEL on Pr esence and respectively related to AN ORNAMENT OF THE Awareness was writ- the author ’s master and THOUGHT OF NAGARJUNA ten during a gathering paternal uncle T ogden CLARIFYING THE CORE OF of the Dzogchen Ugyen T endzin (1893- MADHYAMAKA Community held at 1959), and to his root Lu Cumitoni in guru Changchub Dorje Preface by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Sardinia at Christmas (1826-1961). Translated and with a Foreword by Pema Wangjié and Jean 1977. It is a brief text The Upadesha on the Mulligan that with astonishing Tregchöd of Primor dial Edited and with an Introduction by Elías Capriles simplicity and depth Purity, originally Euro 15,00 expounds the three received from the Fifth fundamental aspects Dalai Lama Lobsang From Chögyal Namkhai of the Dzogchen path: Gyatso (1617-1682) in Norbu’s Preface: the view , or intuitive a dream and written Gendün Chöphel, emi- understanding of down in its final form in 1998, contains special instructions nent scholar of 20th cen- one’s primordial state; on the practice of the Four Chogzhags, the essence of tury Tibet, was a master the meditation, or the Tregchöd. of both the traditional application of this The Upadesha on the Pr ofound Path of Illusor y Body curricula of his time — knowledge; and the conduct, or the integration of medita- reveals the fundamental points of the practice of Illusory the five branches of tion with all one’s daily activities. This text was written in Body according to the Ati Dzogpa Chenpo teaching. It is Buddhist wisdom and particular to define the principle of awareness and its con- mainly connected to a dream in which the author met the five subjects of tinuous presence, which is the only substitute for all the Gyalse Gyurmed Gyaltsen (1914-1972), son of Changchub Tibetan culture — and rules and limitations proper to the diverse religious tradi- Dorje. of numerous modern tions. The commentary that follows the text is based on an subjects in such fields as oral teaching given by the Author himself when he pre- CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU philosophy, language sented the book to his students. LONGSAL TEACHINGS – VOLUME SIX and history . I need not Often Chögyal Namkhai Norbu has said, “Dzogchen does- EURO 15,00 detail his accomplish- n’t ask you to change your religion, philosophy or ideolo - ments and life history gy, nor to become something other than what you are. It This volume contains here, as these are well only asks you to observe yourself and to discover the three upadeshas and known from other sources. ‘cage’ you have built with all your conditioning and limits. the histories of their The Ludrub Gonggyen (klu sgrub dgongs r gyan) clearly And it teaches you how to get out of the cage without cre- discovery. These demonstrates his profound knowledge of both Sutra and ating another one, in order to become a free, autonomous teachings were Tantra and his precise understanding of the essence of the person.” received through teachings of Buddha and the thought of Nagarjuna. Careful dreams over a period study and analysis of this work —whether by scholars who CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU of time from 1985 to approach it with impartial minds, practitioners who seek DZOGCHEN TEACHINGS 1998. understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, or those engaged MERIGAR, 6-11 JULY 2001 The Upadesha on the in research — will lead to an understanding of the essential EURO 13,00 Guruyoga of the meaning of the Buddha’s teachings. White A , received in It is important when we 1987, is a special are doing a retreat, that teaching on the you try to listen to what Guruyoga of Garab is being transmitted Dorje. The dreams and what is being said. related to this teach- Postage and packaging: in Europe add 4 Euro per You must be aware of ing are connected to order every 3 books. To order please send the list of this and try to listen Nubchen Sangye books you require by letter or e-mail: Shang Shung attentively. I have had Yeshe (9th century) Edizioni, 58031 Arcidosso, GR, Italy. Tel. 0564 this experience again and Garab Dorje. 966039, e-mail: [email protected]. and again that I explain The Actions of the Guru Jñanadakini , received in dreams Or order the books through our web site: something today and from 1992 to 2001, contains three extraordinary practices www.dzogchen.it repeat it again the next respectively related to the dimensions of the Body , Voice day. Then the day after and Mind of the Jñanadakini Gomadevi. The dreams that someone wants to through which these teachings were received are mainly talk to me and they ask related to Gomadevi herself and to the female master Ayu me something that I Khandro Dorje Paldrön. had already just The Pr ofound Essential Upadesha of the Long Life explained over the last Practice “The Thigle of V ajra Life”, written down in its couple of days. Then, I final form in 1998, belongs to the Mandarava cycle of prac- sometimes say, “But you didn’ t listen to what I told you”. tices and contains profound instructions on the methods of If you really listen well, then you will get all the answers. Tsalung. Included in this section is a dream in which Ayu TSEGYALGAR BOOKSTORE It is sufficient that you observe yourselves a little and lis - Khandro Dorje Paldrön clarifies important points of the ten carefully. main practice of Mandarava. This is important because the teaching is not only a tech- The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness is back nique about how you sit and how you do practice. The DZOGCHEN INVOCATIONS in print and is available at the Tsegyalgar Bookstore! teaching is also about how to live your life within society . This is what we need to know above all. For example, even This booklet contains five invocations, the first four partic- If you would like to place an order you can email, fax, or if the teaching doesn’ t tell you how to work in your shop, ularly tied to the principle of Dzogchen and the fifth to gen- call in to me the following information: when you are there, it can show you how to work with your eral Vajrayana. mind and your existence. Through the teaching, you can The Invocation of Samantabhadra belongs to the cycle of Credit card number (MC or Visa) with expiration date, learn how to guide your mind and how to deal with your the Northern Treasures ( byang gter ) discovered by the your billing and shipping addresses, and the list of items situa tertön Rigdzin Gödem you would like to order Chen. CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU The Invocation to the Base, The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness LONGSAL TEACHINGS – VOLUME FIVE the Path and the Fruit 219E EURO 15,00 belongs to the Longchen $15.00US Nyingthig cycle of Jigmed This volume contains four upadeshas and the histories of Lingpa. I look forward to hearing from you! their discovery . These teachings were received through The Invocation and dreams over a period of time from 1961 to 1999. Introduction to the Bardo is The Principle of the V iew T otally Beyond Conceptual found in the Miscellaneous Anna Mind, written down in its final form in 1983, contains the Writings of Longchenpa. Tsegyalgar Bookstore root verses of a special teaching on the View of Atiyoga. The Natural V ajra Ener gy Phone/Fax: 413-369-4473 The detailed explanation of this teaching has already been of Instant Pr esence and [email protected] published in volume 4 of this series as The Main Points of Emptiness - An Invocation the View Totally Beyond Conceptual Mind. to the Inseparable Meaning The Direct Introduction to the Principle of the Mirr or of of the Base, Path and Fruit Vajrasattva is an introduction to the nature of self-perfec- of Manjushri Dzogpa

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 9 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS Dance of the Song of the e u r o p e m e r i g a r Vajra For Beginners Mandarava Retreat Dzogchen Community in Italy Merigar, Italy with Nina Robinson September 2005 Prague, Czech Republic Arcidosso 58031 Sept.12 – Sept.18, 2005 GR Italy September 2 – 4, 2005 Tel: 39 0564 968 837 with Prima Mai Long Life Practice and Chüdlen of the Immortal Dakini Mandarava Email: [email protected] (Group: Place: Studio Modry ostrov, Dolnocernosicka 443, Prague 5 – Lipence Web site: web.tiscalinet.it/merigar Sambharathamekhacantapa - Masminsaguliitayapa) (A nicely renovated farm barn. Accommodation available on the spot – bring your own mattresses and sleeping bags; showers, toilets and kitch- Policy Regulating Recording Activities during September 23 – 24, 2005 enette at your disposal, meals available from T ue Sept. 13 for the price Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’ s Retr eats and other with Adriana dal Borgo of 150 CZK/day) Events, and the Distribution of such Recordings. (Group: Guragurasaghakharnalam - Price: 60 Ûor1800 CZK – 1 day/10 Ûor 300 CZK 1) RECORDING 1.1) During Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s retreats, Bhundhabhundhacishasakelam) public talks etc . recording activities cannot be indiscriminately Time schedule: allowed. As a rule, only the official operators appointed by the Shang Each course is open maximum to (Exact schedule of the practices will be specified on the spot) Shung Institute of Merigar are authorized to install and use profes- 24 participants (12 Pawo and 12 Sept. 12: starting 9.00 - 4 thuns a day, Sept. 13: 4 thuns a day sional or semi-professional recording equipment at the location of the Pamo). It is absolutely necessary Sept. 14: 4 thuns a day, Sept. 15: 4 thuns a day event. to book before the 27th of August Sept. 16: 4 thuns a day, Sept. 17: 4 thuns a day The same events can also be professionally recorded by operators for the 1st group with Prima Mai Sept. 18: 4 thuns a day, ending at 18.00 working for the local Archives of the organizing Gar or Gakyil, on and before the 16th for the 2nd condition that the legal representative of the local Gar/Gakyil signs group with Adriana dal Borgo. Accommodation at the place is included in the r etreat price the Authorization to Record (attached) and sends it to the Shang Shung Institute, Loc. Podere Nuovissimo 58031Arcidosso (GR) Italy, (If we don’ t reach the minimum Applications and information about the payment etc. at: before the event takes place. 1.2) All possible exceptions to the above number of participants the cours- [email protected] ¨ rule require a specific written permission by Yuchen Namkhai, es will be cancelled.) Director of the Shang Shung Institute and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s How to get there (from Prague): copyright proprietor. Such written permissions must be obtained well Beginning: Friday 4pm to 7pm By train: Take the train from Hlavni or Smichovske nadrazi (Main in advance of the date of the event. All requests must be addressed Saturday: with the Teacher, 10am Station, Smichovske Station) to the station Cernosice. Cross the bridge directly to Yuchen Namkhai, Director , Shang Shung Institute for to 1pm - 3:30pm to 6pm over the river Berounka to Dolni Cernosice; the second street to the Tibetan Studies, Loc. Podere Nuovissimo 58031 Arcidosso (GR) Sunday: with the Teacher, 10am right is Dolnocernosicka. The farm is at the very end of the street; above Italy. E-mail: [email protected]. to 1pm - 3:30pm to 6pm the gate of the farm you can see a sign Atelier Modry ostrov. 1.3) Individuals attending a retreat or other events with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu may be allowed to record exclusively for their own We would like to remind the peo- personal use, using consumer pocket-size recording equipment, but ple participating in the courses to Yantra Yoga with Fabio Andrico precise limitations must be applied. review the previous steps before the beginning of the related September 2005 Only official operators as specified in 1.1 and 1.2 can install camera stages. Kunsangar, Moscow and Latvia tripods at the place of the retreat or place microphones on Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s desk or close to him, or useextension cables of any For booking contact Merigar Advanced Yantra Yoga kind, or connect their equipment to the power outlets; no other person Office: Kunsangar, Russia attending the event can put microphones around Chögyal Namkhai Email: September 3 – 7 Norbu using extension cables, nor connect to power outlets, nor install [email protected] Contact: Oksana at [email protected] any tripods, even of the smallest size, for their pocket-size cameras or Tel: 0564 966837 mini-recorders or microphones. Breathing Moscow, Russia Students must always record from where they are seated, without Vajra Dance Course September 9 - 11 moving to find a more favorable position, without using extra space Part II at Dejamling, Contact: Oksana at [email protected] for bags or equipment, without ever standing or kneeling, - in short, France always avoiding to disturb the other students around them. October 23 – 29, Yantra Yoga for Beginners 2005 Riga, Latvia 1.4) The number of official operators must be kept as small as pos- with Stoffelina September 17 – 30 sible. There is no need for additional operators to come to the place of Verdonk Contact: Lena Beliutina at [email protected] the event to record on behalf of other Community bodies besides those specified in 1.1 and 1.2. Audio and video recordings of any YANTRA YOGA FOR ADVANCED PRACTITIONERS The course of the Vajra event can be obtained by all Gars and Gakyil from the Central 2nd AND 3rd SERIES OF YANTRA Dance of the Song of the Archives of Merigar, so there is no reason to allow redundant opera - with LAURA EVANGELISTI Vajra / 2 nd Part with tors to crowd the location with more tripods and other equipment. at TALAVERA DE LA REINA (near Madrid - Spain) Stoffelina Verdonk will be ??1.5) The Central Archives and the local Gakyil must at all times from September 7 to 11, 2005 held in Dejamling, South work in a co-coordinated way and with full collaboration in order to France near Montpellier , ensure that the event is properly recorded and the recording is pre- “Who ever approaches himself to spiritual practices and especially to from October 23 to 29. served both at the local and at the central archival levels. So whenev- Dzogchen should first of all developed the capacity to relax com- Cost (without meals or er the Central Archives cannot have their own operator present, the pletely body, speech and mind into ones own natural condition. The accommodation): 245 Euros local Gakyil representatives – after duly signing and sending the exercises of Yantra Yoga which imply all these three aspects are a Current discounts for the DC Authorization to Record as explained in 1.1 - should arrange the great method to reach this kind of relaxation, and consequently are a members are applied. audio/video recording and make sure that a 100% quality (1:1) dig- special kind of preliminary for every kind of practice.” For all information & regis- ital copy is sent to the Copyright Pr oprietor, as specified in the tration BEFORE October 8, Authorization to Record. ? From: The Base Yantras of the 3th, 4th and 5th series and the please contact: Seven Lotuses, Editors: Laura Evangelisti & Fabio Andrico 2) DISTRIBUTION 2.1) The only Community body currently Nadia Poureau authorized to edit, duplicate, stock and distribute Chögyal Namkhai Laura Evangelisti is an international instructor of Yantra Yoga, autho- Tel: +33 1 47 49 07 16 Norbu’s audio/video recordings is the SSI Central Archives, located rized by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu to hold courses of Yantra Yoga Email: cadette@club-inter - in Merigar and directed by Yuchen Namkhai. 2.2) All Gars and around the world and together with Fabio Andrico prepare and train net.fr Gakyils wanting to distribute/sell recordings of teachings or other new instructors for Yantra Yoga. Community productions must receive a case-by-case written autho- rization from SSI Merigar. In absence of this written authorization, to REQUIREMENTS FOR P ARTICIPATION: Participants must have duplicate and distribute/sell any of the recordings made loc received the Dzogchen transmission by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and should have a basic knowledge of Yantra Yoga. Please bring a mat New Gakyil and comfortable clothing for the practice. NEWS FROM THE VAJRA DANCE PROJECT Slovak Community TEAM FURTHER INFORMATION: There is the possibility of lodging at Blue: Juraj Sladek the homes of practitioners of Talavera. The course will be held at the It is now possible to purchase beautiful reproductions of the original Email: [email protected] open air in a beautifully wooded area. Gomadevi painting by Dugu Chögyal Rinpoche, traditionally framed Red: Tomas Chaban as thankas with silk brocade. The thankas can be ordered by email at Email: [email protected] RETREAT FEES will be 150 Û. 20% discount for ordinary member, [email protected]. All sales go to the various projects of ASIA and the Yellow: Martin Simcalek 50% reduced member, 40% sustaining and meritorious members. Vajra Dance. Email: [email protected] Asociación Cultural de la Comunidad Dzogchen de España

10 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS t s e g y a l g a r e a s t & w e s t

Vajra Dance Course in COSTANTINO ALBINI IN FRANCE Tsegyalgar, Dzogchen Community Berlin, Germany NOVEMBER 2005 in America, Dance of Three Vajras PO Box 277 September 16 – 18, 2005 MEDITATION & CONTEMPLATION Conway, MA 01341 with Costantino Albini Tel: 413-369-4153 | Fax: 413-369- with Karin Heinemann, a certi- Paris (in the center Dharma Ling) 4473 fied local instructor of the first November 5 & 6, 2005 level Vajra Dance for Germany Email: [email protected] The full immersion course (4 sessions of 3 hours each in 2 days) will Web site: www.tsegyalgar.org COST: members 120 /80 Euro - explain the fixation on an object and other exercises from dif ferent tra- with payment by 9/2/2005 ditions, in order to reach the knowledge of contemplation. Tsegyalgar West Without membership 135 /95 The course is open to all people* and is interesting for both beginners Baja Mexico Euro - with payment by 2/9/2005 & advanced practitioners, for those who want to perfect their practice of Dzogchen Community West Coast contemplation and for those who are beginning to study the Santi Maha 755 Euclid Ave. FOR MORE INFO Sangha. Berkeley, CA 94708 CONTACT: USA Natalia Gershevskaya (The number of participants is limited to 50) Tel: +49 (0)211-9179047, Email: [email protected] +49(0)1794804157 For the whole 2 days course the cost is: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Euro 50,00 (for the inscription before the 15th of September) Web site www.bajasangha.org Euro 60,00 (for the inscription after the 15th of September) Helga Betz Tel: +49(0)211682657 SANTI MAHA SANGHA BASE LEVEL RETREAT TSEGYALGAR UPDATE Email: [email protected] with Costantino Albini November 7 – 11, 2005 HELP WANTED: TO REGISTER: Registration is The Tsegyalgar Gakyil is looking to develop its office administration. We limited to 20 people. DEJAMLING, South France, near Montpellier are looking for independent, self-motivated practitioners committed to a strong future for Tsegyalgar. Dzogchen Gemeinschaft Cost (without meals or accommodation): Deutschland e.V Stadtsparkasse 150 Euro We plan to open 1 or 2 full or part-time positions at the Gar. Pay will be a Duesseldorf account number: 110 Current discounts for the DC members are applied. competitive per hour wage based on experience and knowledge. 478 91 Applicants must provide their own lodging and be able to work legally in For all information & r egistration for both these events, please con - the United States. Mail your check to: tact: Dzogchen - Gemeinschaft Nadia Poureau: The positions we create will depend on the applicants and may include the Deutschland, Geschaeftsstelle Tel: +33 1 47 49 07 16 following tasks: c/o Helga Betz, Lindemannstr. Email: [email protected] 12, 40237 Duesseldorf To apply please send your resume and cover letter to Patricia Shahen, Yantra Yoga for Beginners in Germany Yellow Gakyil, at [email protected] or fax to 413-369-4473 by Transmission of the Dzogchen with Elke Glander October 1, 2005. In your cover letter please refer to the number of hours teachings from Chögyal Namkhai November 11-13, 2005 per week you would be available, date of availability , and your pertinent Norbu is necessary. skills. Venue: Höfen 12, 91460, Baudenbach (at Hans Vogel´s retreat house) Accommodations for the Tel: 00499166995311 Please feel free to contact Ed Hayes at the Tsegyalgar Of fice at secre- Barcelona Retreat Email: [email protected] [email protected] 413-369-4153 with any questions. October 5 – 9, 2005 Cost: 80 Euro for Dzogchen Community members & Non-Members 95 The Farm Via Internet: You can find an Euro for pre-registration until two weeks before the course The Farmhouse was put to the test as a support system for retreats, and it overview about accommoda- After two weeks: 120 Euro for Dzogchen Community Members & Non- passed with flying colors. Meals were prepared there, loaded into the truck tion, registration, and trans- Members 135 Euro (recently donated by Vern Harrington and Joe Zurylo, many many portation on the web site: thanks!!), driven up to the pond, and served still nice and warm. People . A t Dorm facilities in Höfen could walk down to the Farmhouse for showers or to use the phone, and this site you can or ganize your several people stayed in the guest rooms there. accommodation and journey Bank account: Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf IBAN: On one of the karma yoga days during the retreat, a huge pile of debris from by yourself. DE40300501100011047891 BIC: DUSSDEDXXX the Barn was taken to the dump, bringing us closer to our goal of making For registration contact: Cristian Lang, Email: [email protected], Tel: the Barn a useable space. We have gotten one bid and are currently waiting Via Post: The Spanish Gakyil has 00497425/328226 for another, to see how much it will cost to rebuild the foundation of the an of ficial hotel list. If local barn so that it is a safe space to start working in. Dzogchen Communities want to The Gakyil has agreed that one of the first things to do next year is rebuild provide an accommodation ser- k u n s a n g a r the old logging road between lower and upper Khandroling (from the Farm vice for members who do not Kunsangar to the parking lot), which we estimate will cost about $16,000. This price have an internet connection, or would include the $4000 needed to buy a new tractor that would be strong for individuals who do not have 142500 RUSSIA, Moscow region enough to clear the trees out of the roadway . We need to begin a fundrais- internet access, you can request Pavlovskiy Posad, RUPS,a/ya 13, BF “Dostoyanie” ing campaign for this new road, which would greatly enhance the property, information from the Spanish Nina Rusanovich, Secretary making it much quicker to go from one end to the other, and truly united the Gakyil by sending your postal Tel /Fax: 7 096 43 21156 two pieces of land. When we purchased the land two years ago, Rinpoche addresses to: agreed this would be one of the first things that should be done. Also, with . Tel: 7 901 900 36 46 Email: [email protected] the Vajra Hall over the Mandala of the Universe still to be built, and many white pines to be cleared from the land, we will be having a lot of heavy Spanish Gakyil machinery driving up and down, and if we had our own road, we could pre- LETTER FROM THE MOSCOW vent the same kind of irritation to the neighbors that caused us so much trou- DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY ble in the past.

VAJRA Dear All, Retreat Cabins nearing Completion DANCE We are very happy to have this possibility, thanks to The Mirror, to tell The Mandarava and Thögal retreat cabins now have doors, windows, and CLOTHES you about ourselves. We are The Moscow Dzogchen Community even roofs! After several years of planning and fundraising, they are almost “Rinchen Ling”. Community in Moscow and have been in existence for finished, thanks to the many generous donors to this project and the hard twelve years. The Moscow Community is one of the first Dzogchen work of Santo Santoriello, assisted by Walter Paulus. (See photo) Also, the Communities of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche in Russia and the countries AS ORIGINALLY Bath House is functioning, and a pump has been installed to pump spring of the former USSR. water up from the pond for showers. Community members are invited to TRANSMITTED BY Everything started quite long ago when at the late 80’s, when a group of come do personal retreats in the cabins, just call the of fice to schedule and people from Moscow interested in Buddhism found out about the reserve. CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI Dzogchen Teaching. Piece by piece, they collected information and NORBU communicated with friends from Europe and North America. Finally Practice Schedule BEAUTIFUL, PURE SILK, they found the Master , Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, who was traveling CUSTOM MADE around the world and transmitting Dzogchen. In 1990, Vladimir Our schedule of practice weekends is as follows: Maikov and Yelena Antonova, in spite of many obstacles and dif ficul- INFORMATION AND ORDERS ties that were peculiar to the times of the USSR, went to Conway to the Anastasia McGhee will return to Tsegyalgar to teach the rest of the Dance retreat of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. During the retreat, a Russian dele- of the Song of the Vajra in sections, on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 (at Khandroling, AT gation met Rinpoche and invited him to come to Russia saying that [email protected] weather permitting) and Dec. 16 to 18. The cost for these weekends is $140. there were a lot of people there who were interested in the Teaching. Some reduced price scholarships available upon application. In 1992, the first retreat with Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche took place in Moscow. Up until this time, there had been already been some books on Sept. 17 - 18 4 pm Saturday to 4 pm Sunday at Khandroling: 24 hour collective practices translated and published in Russian. After this Nagong for Rinpoche’ s Long Life and the fulfillment of his vision for retreat, the first Gakyil was elected and Rinchenling appeared as one Khandroling. Followed by Ganapuja at the Mandala at 4:30pm. continued on page 18 continued on page 21

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 11 The Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche Vaidurya’i Chunphyangs (The Garland of Lapislazuli) of Patrul Rinpoche summer at merigar July Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu July 1 – 5, 2005 Merigar, Italy 2005 by Gabriela Cacho experience of the Santi Maha Sangha, I was able to seriously t was a memorable experience reinforce my commitment to the to return to Merigar after two teachings and try to integrate this years, especially to receive the understanding with Our Master ’s Iincredible teachings of the Great mind. Santi Maha Sangha was a Dzogchen Master Patrul Rin- very exciting experience for me poche from Chögyal Namkhai and a perfect summation of the Norbu. [See pages 2 & 3 of this path; why it is so important to rest issue] Patrul Rinpoche was often in the Primordial Nature, how to misunderstood, but as a free spirit recall the Three Statements of and great scholar of his time, he Garab Dorje, the importance of was able to transcend time and Our Master who introduces us to space to be recognized as one of our potentiality and therefore the the greatest Dzogchen Masters of supreme importance of practicing all times. Guruyoga. I had the feeling that I More than 700 practitioners came was free from duality for a for the July Merigar Retreat and moment and I was filled with pro- certainly t housands m ore w ere found gratitude toward the united through the web cast. Master. Together we listened to the pre- With incredible humility and cious teaching with the best inten- grace, Rinpoche asked us to work tion to put the knowledge into with circumstances and under- practice. Many of us were able to stand that though he will be trav- reconnect with fellow practition- eling less extensively to preserve ers from all over the world and his health, we can join the teach- that connection gives us the sen- ings via web cast or , if possible, sation that our planet is quite try to join him in Mar garita. small when our only purpose is to Recently I moved to Tashigar Veranda of Merigar Gonpa during Teachings N ZEITZ be near our Precious Master. Norte, Margarita, to be near Our I also came to Merigar to partici- Master and it has changed my Blessing the Animals pate in the Santi Maha Sangha life. with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu base level exam. Through this Thank You, Rinpoche! August 5, 2005

A Pilgrimage to Merigar n the morning of August 5th, under a splendid summer sun tempered by a fresh mountain breeze, Chögyal by Paolo Brunatto Namkhai Norbu blessed the many animals that had Ogathered there around the Gonpa. Seated outside the Great ince the beginning of the 80’s, whenever it was possible, Flower, Rinpoche softly recited mantras and sprinkled the ani - I have gone to Merigar to follow the precious retreats of mals with nectar and rice grains as they paused a moment in Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. With the passing of time, each front of him in the arms of their owners or in their cages. A Svisit to Merigar and the hills of Amiata, has made me feel how fluffy brown and white rabbit covered its face with its paws in sacred the place is so that when I go the Gar of the Fire Moun- fear and a tiny mouse started to nibble at the rice grains as they tain, I feel like a pilgrim or a traveler who has come to worship were blessed. There was an array of dogs and cats, big and at a sacred place. small, old and young, some clearly with health problems.There The last time that I was there for the Master’s Teaching retreat were little birds, some tiny insects and even a horse that arrived on Patrul Rinpoche’s “Vaidurya’i Chun-phyangs”, one day I for the final blessing. Rinpoche carefully and lovingly gave made a little ‘pilgrimage’ around the Gar with Marco Almici, attention to each one of them, bestowing a smile, a gaze, an one of Merigar ’s previous geköes, to discover some of the extra grain of rice, and a mantra blown through the grill of the recent architectural work and restoration that has been done. cage. At Merigar Two I discovered that two new mini apartments It was a special moment for the many fortunate animals present have b een b uilt f or g uests, d esigned b y P aola R ispoli, and the first time that this little ceremony has been held at Giovanni Boni and Augusto Trombetta with the indefatigable Merigar. The event also had a particular quality for many of the Migmar heading the construction team. humans there who were privileged to have been able to partic- Then I moved to the Capannone to see the new Reading and ipate in such a loving little ceremony. Consultation Room designed by Claudio Galeota, a luminous Rinpoche blessing animals place that is also used for courses and seminars. Liz Granger for The Mirror From there, Marco took me to the great Stupa to show me the work on draining the surrounding land that it is being done. I saw Augustinas Maceina perched on the scaf folding around Serkhang L GRANGER the rings of the Chorten’s spire patiently applying the gold leaf while battling the wind that threatened to carry Rinpoche’s Advice it away. All this against the golden luminosity of one of the sublime sunsets at Merigar while the Song of the to Young People Vajra wafted from the Gonpa shining golden in the last rays of the sun. Before leaving this sacred place, Merigar Marco showed me the garden of ‘Iceber g’ white roses around the Chorten that should be able to survive August 14, 2005 through the icy winters of Mount Amiata. But the biggest surprise was the renovation at the Golden House (Serkhang) which besides a thorough recon- n August 14th, Chögyal solidation and restoration has been ‘redesigned’ in its essential functions and its aesthetic form taking on the Namkhai Norbu had a special beauty of a Tuscan farmhouse, as Rinpoche had suggested to the person in char ge of the project, the gener- meeting with the young people ous Patrizia Moscatelli. Opresent at Merigar. A wide assortment of At Serkhang I made a pilgrimage within the pilgrimage individuals from small children up to starting from the Reception that was really comfortable young people of 25 years gathered and friendly with its wall of rough Tuscan bricks and an around the Master under the large tent in artistic flourish to the metal grill over the office windows. front of Serkhang. In the relaxed manner Passing to the Dining room I find that the old wood floor of an experienced story-teller, Rinpoche has been left: a memento of the Karma Yoga of so many spoke at length about his own childhood practitioners on the early 80’ s. The delicate Tibetan style in Tibet telling the attentive young peo- decorations by Migmar are still intact along the wood ple several anecdotes showing how beams. naughty he had been when he was young From there I move on to the kitchen that has been com- but how , at a certain point, he had pletely modernized with a new plumbing and electric sys- become aware of how his actions had tem and a new floor with emer gency drainage. I am hurt other people. He spoke about the impressed by the menu of the day that is refined and exot- importance of being aware and not get- ic: lemon rice, vegetable curry, dhal and fruit. ting distracted and char ged up and told Rinpoche speaks with the young people I go upstairs into the administration of fice that has been the young people how important it is to respect parents and old people renewed and then onto the terrace that has also become and to finish their studies. He said, “Now you are young but soon you the operative base for the coordination of the project will be adults. We don’t realize we are growing up and we have to inspired by Yeshi Namkhai. The wall painting of Dorje become a little responsible for ourselves. This means being aware and Legpa has been preserved there. knowing what life is.” I can’t resist the temptation to tiptoe into the little Gonpa Stupa N ZEITZ that has always fascinated me for its mystical atmosphere Liz Granger for The Mirror with the roof panels painted by Migmar with the vivid colors of a traditional Tibetan Gonpa. From there I move into the apartment and living room for guests complete with chimney . It has been mod- continued on page 21 12 Sailing through a Stormy Sea The August Retreat at Merigar with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at merigar August 10 – 16, 2005 005 by Liz Granger f a single image could spring to mind to encapsu- explain in details the practice of Guru Dragphur and late the experience of the August retreat at Meri- Simhamukha in order to eliminate negativities. As gar with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu,it would be the the weather dawned clear and calm on the final day Ibright rays of the sun cutting through the banks of of teaching, the Master transmitted many secondary Santi Maha Sangha Merigar angry grey clouds, like the light of understanding cut- practices that could be useful for people. ting through the heavy pall of ignorance. From the In spite of hail, wind and rain, the Master ’s teaching 58 people passed the Base Level Exam in Merigar , 38 in Mar garita and 120 unpredictable and unexpected change in the weather was flanked by a series of activities with senior stu- attended the 1st Level Training Retreat in Merigar with Chögyal Namkhai to the incisive and direct explanations of the Master, dents and qualified teachers. Early in the morning, Norbu from July 11 to July 15, 2005. it was a time of dynamic and immediate experience. practitioners gathered at the Gonpa for sessions of About 900 people from all the corners of our planet Yantra Yoga or met in the Mandala Room for came together at Merigar for the Master ’s teaching instructions on the Dance of the Three Vajras. In the on ‘the Essence of the Heart of Guru Jnanadhakkini’. afternoon, Vajra Dancers could either practice in the The retreat was held at the yurt shaped Gonpa of the Mandala Room or receive instruction on the outdoor Great Liberation from August 10 to 16, the climax of Mandala in the wood. Contemporaneously , there the torrid Italian summer. This year, however, in dis- were explanations of the practices in Italian at respect for tradition, the weather kept all retreat par- Serkhang or in English at the Gonpa. Later in the ticipants in a continual state of presence with its sud- afternoon there were group practices and explana- den and violent caprices. The first blustery day, with tions at the Gonpa followed by dif ferent sessions of its bursts of hot sunshine, later turned into an autumn Yantra Yoga for beginners and advanced students as scene of cold mists and dripping trees, and finally well as a complete Thun of the Vajra Dance in the built up into a wild and violent hailstorm that sent Mandala Room. people fleeing for refuge under the wings of the As usual, the magnificently decorated Tibetan tent Gonpa and left its offering of hard white ice balls in set up by ASIA in the meadow below struck visitors heaps around the scene. to the Gonpa. After the teachings, this became the The unpredictable climate provided the background meeting area for vast numbers of people who could for an intense series of teachings given by the Master enjoy food and drinks at the Meri-bar or browse that started with a concise and clear introduction to through the tents housing a wide variety of objects the basic tenets of B uddhism and then passed and publications from Community groups around through explanations of Hinayana and Mahayana up the world. to the Vajrayana and the Path of Self Liberation. Another summer retreat has come and gone, like a Besides the explanation of the simple practice of fast moving cloud in an autumn sky . For many peo- Guru Jnanadhakkini, Rinpoche also gave an empow- ple this was the first experience of receiving teach- erment one morning to enable participants to do the ings from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. For others, it New Gakyil & Geköes L GRAF practice. For those who had been unable to attend he was another possibility to receive transmission from gave a ‘ripe tsewang’ on another occasion to intro- the Master , for which we are profoundly grateful. Reorganizing for the Future duce them to the real state of Jnanadakkini. Towards Whether old or new students, we are all sharing the the end of the retreat he repeated that the essence of experience of traveling in the same boat through the The Meeting between the Gars and Gakyils and election the practice and teaching is Guruyoga through which storms of samsara with our Master at the helm. of the new Gakyil and Geköes at Merigar the teacher introduces the student to the path. He said “May the unsurpassable that although many people don’ t like to do rituals, Dzogchen teaching, by Liz Granger we should be free from accepting and rejecting and Like the sun when it rises in the sky , use whatever may be useful to us and went on to Spread everywhere.” n August 19th, two important meetings were held at the Merigar Gonpa in the presence of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. The first THE MOXA COURSE AT MERIGAR was a presentation by Yeshi Namkhai for Ambienti Web Con- WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU Osulting of the plan for reorganization of the Dzogchen Community cur- ULY rently under way at Merigar. Representatives from Gars and Gakyils in J 22-24, 2005 by Elisa Copello Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Britain, Holland, the Czech Republic, Argentina, Mexico, Tsegyalgar West and Baja were present. rom July 22 to 24 in the splendid setting of the Merigar Gonpa, Yeshi presented a broad picture of the project and accompanied his pre- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu gave an introductory course on moxa- sentation with slides, which gave a clear and concise breakdown of the bustion. Rinpoche had graciously accepted to hold the course at different steps in the process. The first part of his talk covered what is Fthe request of the Shang-Shung Institute. One hundred participants, happening right now while in the second part he spoke about what has most of whom were doctors or health workers, listened as Rinpoche already been done. This was followed by an ideal plan for going ahead. introduced the fundamental principles of moxa, mentioning that In the final part of his presentation he focused on what has to been done along with blood-letting, balneotherapy, hot or cold compresses and in the future. R PIRO Ku Nye massage, moxa constituted one of the external therapies in In a future issue of The Mirror, Ambienti Web Consulting will be pre- traditional Tibetan medicine. senting an outline of the reorganization project. Rinpoche went on to illustrate how to collect and dry ‘trawa’ (spra ba), the plant, which, once it has been correctly treated, is used in The second meeting of the morning was the election moxa or ‘metsa’ (mebtsa) in Tibetan. In general this plant is harvest- of the new Merigar Gakyil as follows: ed on an astrologically favorable day, washed on site, broken up until Blue Gakyil : Antje d’Almeida, Gino Vitello the veins on the leaves can be seen and then mixed with charcoal ash (Director), Mauro Nascari according to a very precise procedure that Rinpoche summarized. Yellow Gakyil: Gior gio Dallorto (V ice-Director), Among those diseases which chiefly benefit from this therapy , Andrea Calducci, Maria Grazia Florido Rinpoche listed the main ones: imbalance of the phlegm humor , Red Gakyil: Riccardo Giuntini, Fabio Tomassoni, insufficient digestive heat, water retention, epigastric pain, lymphat - Piero Marotta ic problems, tumors, hidden fever , certain forms of mental illness, associated imbalances of phlegm and wind, disturbances due to provocations or acute fever that should be Geköes: Michela Moraglia treated with moxa to eliminate them completely and avoid them returning, like applying moxa after blood- letting to avoid the illness manifesting again. After the new Gakyil had been presented, Chögyal Then the Master explained in which cases one should never use moxa, such as, for example, on the sense Namkhai Norbu gave a few words of advice to the organs, the glands, the muscles with the exception of the locations of some of the 500 points indicated by new and old Gakyils and to all those present. Rinpoche, or the channels linked to the sexual or gans. As with all therapies that are considered invasive, moxa should never be applied on the ‘lhane’ (bla gnas) “I would like to thank the old Gakyil, especially points or area, that is the area where the ‘lha’(bla) is located at that moment. The movement of the ‘lha’varies those who are leaving because those who work in the according to the lunar calendar, the day of the week and the hour of the day, thus one requires precise knowl- Gakyil are not paid for this, it is something they are edge about this in order to avoid damaging this protective ener gy by working on the point it is located in. offering, so it’ s very important. And also the old There are also unfavorable astrological combinations such as the movement of the planet BI TI (bi ti) on cer- Gakyil shouldn’ t think, “Ah, now I’ve finished!” tain days of the month; therefore one should deepen one’ s knowledge in order to avoid causing damage. They should carry on collaborating with the new Gakyil until they are perfectly ready . And then if APPLYING MOXA they don’ t have much experience the new Gakyil R PIRO shouldn’t think, “Ah, now I’m on the Gakyil and There are, said the Master, four principle methods used in moxa: “cooking”, or direct application of the moxa I’ve got many new ideas.” We have many programs based on the expe- on the skin, a painful technique which causes real burning and is beneficial in the case of dangerous illness - riences of many years so we’re going ahead in this way. So you should es and which only a doctor is able to carry out correctly; “burning” in which moxa is applied indirectly on a collaborate in this direction. In this way we won’ t have difficulties and layer of salt, for example, in order not to cause burns but only a sensation of strong heat. This is indicated for everything will go ahead. I give my best wishes to everyone that every- lymph and wind in the heart; “warming”, a technique which today is carried out with a sticky moxa mainly thing will go well. produced in Korea and Japan or with moxa sticks. It is beneficial for problems with the wind humor and I also wanted to say to many people who have come from dif ferent blockages in the channels. Each application is repeated five times; “give warning”, a slight sensation of heat. countries, you’ve heard what we’re doing and what the program is, so This is mainly used with elderly people and children.After treatment, the doctor massages the points that have maybe it’s important to inform and have other people understand so that been “burnt” or “heated” and the patient should have a short walk and avoid drinking cof fee, cold and alco- we can all collaborate. I think that this is a good time for us to collabo- holic drinks, eating yogurt and sleeping in the daytime. By following these precautions, the therapy will be continued on page 18 continued on page 18

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 13 INTERNATIONAL A Letter from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu to the Gars COMMUNITY NEWS To all Dzogchen Community Gars, I would like to inform all the Gars about the Baja Gakyil and Jardin Santi Maha Sangha Base Retreat at Khandroling: de los Naranjos. The land of Baja, together with Jardin de los Impressions of a New Student Naranjos, serves as the Winter Gar for North America or Tsegyalgar West. The entire international Dzogchen Community should collabo - by Kimberly Truitt rate with the Baja Gakyil in that way. With many Tashi Delegs, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

Hello from Jardin de los Naranjos!

We would like to of ficially open our doors to all who are interested in doing short or long-term personal retreat here. Rinpoche has empha- sized that this land is an ideal place for doing intensive practice, so our goal is to make it as available as possible for this use. Eventually we hope for this to be a true haven where practitioners can engage in long- term personal practice retreats, in an isolated, undisturbed and vibrant setting. We are still in the early stages of development, so at this time there are few modern amenities for those living here. We are working towards providing more infrastructure and support, in order to accommodate peoples’ varying circumstances; but for now, living is rather rough. Those interested should be familiar with outdoor living, and should have their own tent and camping gear , though we will be renting out stoves and cots for people who want them. You should be in fairly good physical condition. There will be some basic safety guidelines to follow, and you will have an attendant who will check in with you and bring you supplies as needed. There will be a few dif ferent areas on the land set up to accommodate N DENISENKO Jim and friends in Rinpoche’s cabin at Khandroling retreatants, which vary in terms of proximity to ‘base camp,’ degree of accessibility and isolation, and character . We will be expanding this choice of location as time goes on. rriving at Khandroling for reversal of our normal domestic Liberation of the Six Lokas . Few Those who come here at this early stage will also be helping us learn the first time, I was arrangement, my husband were bothered—it felt too good, how to best support retreatants in the future, so you will be an indis- amused to find the way assumed baby duty for the dura- and everyone danced pensable part of our growing process. As such, some patience and flex- Alies along a parallel destination tion of the retreat leaving me free barefoot…feet squeaking on the ibility is requested, though it will hopefully not be needed much. This identified as “Mary L yon’s birth- to participate. They spent their wood of the mandala as we will be a truly unique way to collaborate in a project that will benefit the place,” reminding me of the photo days lying in the grass, reading, whirled. It stopped, seemingly on whole Community, as well as to develop in one’s own practice. of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu with hiking (we have a baby back- cue, in time for dinner, and it was- In setting retreat costs, we will try our best to accommodate everyone a lion cub, both smiling “merrily.” pack), and swimming in the pond n’t until much later , after the last interested. The focus will be on covering expenses rather than on mak - It further reminds me that the – all of which they enjoyed of the stragglers made it up hill ing profit, and development will be planned in such a way that ongoing journey—the way—is as signifi- immensely. with their flashlights and into expenses are minimized, so that retreat facilities and services will be cant as any arrival: Are in fact Mornings officially began at 7am their respective tents, that the extremely affordable. For information on retreat costs, payment plans inextricable, and to find Khan- with breakfast, but some were up rains returned. The next day , I and work exchange possibilities, or to schedule a retreat, please write to droling the first time (and perhaps long before for an early morning was told how spectacular the . the second and third), it is impor- swim. At 7:30 dance instruction mandala looked during the storm As this land truly belongs to all of us Vajra brothers and sisters around tant to have a guide. began at the top of the hill with and regret not having seen it. the world, we invite you all to give us your ideas, hopes, suggestions, Certainly the way into either Anastasia for Dance of the And there were animals too, and collaboration, in whatever form it may take. In particular , right Khandroling poses challenges— Song of the V ajra or Bodhi for though I did not see them all. One now, in addition to retreatants, we are asking for participation in the the paved road turning to gravel The Liberation of the Six Lokas. greeted us the first night by taking building projects on the land, especially from people with specialized and then uneven dirt winding Then Jim held Santi Maha a few investigative rubs against knowledge and skills, and also for contributions towards building upward by grades alongside Sangha in Rinpoche’ s cabin, the tent. On our very last night I expenses. To contact us for any of these reasons, please write to gaky - farms, a golf course and miles of which lies partially back down heard the cry of an animal like I [email protected]. old stonewall and forest—to end the hill. It was an small, intimate never heard before—most proba- Thank you all for your participation, and stay tuned for more news! at a gate marking the entrance . I gathering with practitioners seat- bly a coyote I was told. And on suppose many decide to park here ed on cushions, pillows, steps both occasions, my husband, Sincerely, and hike in order to avoid the leading upstairs, a bed, chairs – Sam, slept straight through. He The Baja Gakyil inevitable scrapes to the under- anywhere at all – the room later said that he heard the cry , carriages of most cars as it cuts framed by the lar ge bay window half in his dreams, but thought it over lar ge stones as it winds up looking out over the pond. While was just spirits and continued and around the hill finally passing we listened to instruction the sun sleeping. under a string of prayer flags. Past moved through skylights. And on the final day at New York City has S P A C E this is a clearing. All that lay Afterwards, Jim sent us out into Khandroling at dusk on the man- before seemed like so many the world to practice…into the dala during Bodhi’ s instruction, The NYC Dzogchen Community is happy to announce that we thresholds to that moment. woods, up to the mandala, into dragonflies descended upon us— have finally gotten our new space, located at 151 West 30th Street, From here, the road traverses to our tents, into the pond…wherev- that is, they descended upon the 4th Floor. This is a dream come true. During Rinpoche’ s last visit the left a small pond bordered by er we found ourselves. And from entire area of the mandala—hun- to NYC, he listened to the Community’s proposal for getting a per- grass, reeds, and those purple all directions of Khandroling then dreds of them…mating, hunt- manent space, and stated that this was a good idea since the flowering weeds, which I always came sounds of mantras. My hus- ing—and continued to hang and Community “needed to have an address”. He said that it was fail to identify . Small patches of band, some days after the retreat, fly around us through the dance. important to have a place to practice, and supported our plan for lilies float on the surface. To the said that he had heard so much of I came to this retreat with very making it work. At that moment, many practitioners got together right lies a field of very health this that by the end of the retreat little knowledge of Dzogchen and and did a pledge to financially support the space monthly , with the grass. The road continues on an he heard mantras echoing contin- having had only one meeting with idea of renting it out when we are not using it in the near future to embankment to the far side to a uously through the woods. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu generate more income for rent. On Wednesday, July 6th, we did our set of picnic tables and a small A bell signaled lunch by the Rinpoche this past spring. I asked first Ganapuja at the space. It was a very special day and we were cabin—all of which encircled in pond—varied but always deli- Jim Valby near the end of my all very happy. Besides being in a central location of Manhattan, forest. Here, there is more room cious. After lunch, more instruc- retreat what he thought distin- the place is big enough to fit a mandala, do Yantra Yoga, and fit a for parking, and a wellhead by the tion with Jim followed by Yantra guished undertaking such intro- considerable number of practitioners for collective practices. pond perpetually pumping spring Yoga with L yn and more dance ductory instruction at Thanks to Rinpoche and the generous help of Mark and Jane water. Still the road continues with either Anastasia or Bodhi Khandroling from other sites, and Fulton, who teamed up with Johanna Bennett to find the right loca- uphill through woods and splits at and then dinner. his reply was that, apart from its tion, we now have a physical support for our practices and activi- the top where the Stupa is and Throughout we had perfect natural beauty , “Khandroling is ties. Rinpoche named the space Kundrolling (kun=all drol=libera- beyond which is located a new weather—sunny and clear though special because this is where tion ling=place). We are very excited and would like to invite peo- bathhouse. To the left are person- cool in the evening when the sun Rinpoche first received transmis- ple from all over the world to stop by and join us in our practices at al retreat houses (one of which had set. We had rain on one of the sion of the Dance of the Song of Kundrolling when they come to NYC. Our website will have our was occupied), and to the right, last nights of our stay , but it was the V ajra. In that very retreat activities posted. You can find us at www.nydzogchen.com or call and even further uphill lying upon pleasant. The lightening stuck so cabin where we held Santi Maha our hotline (212) 252-6818. the very crest of the mountain, is close by that there was sometimes Sangha is the place where the universal mandala. no room for counting between Rinpoche had his dreams... The There will be a gala opening party at Kundrolling on Friday , Sept. Most retreaters had pitched their sight and sound. The dome of our very first mandala was made near 23 starting at 7PM. All are welcome! tents here beneath the small shade tent would glow with each strike, that pond” …that pond beside trees in the grass encircling the but we remained dry and com- which we had slept. Maya Stolkiner mandala. However , my husband fortable—my baby slept quite Much thanks and best to all that and I with our 1 1-month-old normally in my arms. made this retreat possible. daughter decided to camp below Initially, the rain had begun dur- in the field by the pond. In a ing dance instruction for The

14 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS

PIONEERS (Longer-term water filtration, tent or tent cabin or unfin- COMMUNITY WILL PROVIDE DUTIES: Volunteers) NEEDED FOR ished dwelling; able to drive a truck or van 1. Vehicle for work and transportation 1. Provide support for and take part in BAJA DZOGCHEN with clearance and 4-wheel drive over around the property . Gas and repairs for work-parties and projects being conducted COMMUNITY LAND AT THE rough roads; be away from town for days personal vehicles when used for on the land. This requires working very TSEGYALGAR WEST at a time; O.K. with wild animals such as Community purposes. closely with the local members of the WINTER GAR, large lizards, wild pigs, wandering cows 2. Food expenses. Dzogchen Community and Gakyil, also JARDIN DE LOS NARANJOS, and donkeys, and the occasional snake; 3. Information and help with obtaining a requires some supervision of local work- BAJA physically hardy and able to do physical visa, locating car insurance, etc. ers. CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO work, walk distances on rough desert 4. A sheltered place to live on the proper- 2. Provide a friendly continuous presence trails, etc. A plus if you bring your own ty - tents and camping gear available on a on the land, as caretakers and observers, As many of you know, we have been given camping equipment. A double-plus if you first-come/first-serve basis. At present we and interface with visitors and neighbors, a wonderfully lar ge (3,000 acres) and own a high-clearance vehicle and are will- can accommodate three to four people acting as positive representatives of the beautiful piece of wild ranch land in Baja ing to bring it. with Community equipment; however , all Dzogchen Community. California Sur, Mexico, near the towns and others are welcome to provide their own 3. K eep G akyil a nd l ocal C ommunity beaches which are most attractive to We know that for some people, this camping gear. Shelter is also available in informed of land and road concerns, sug- tourists and to ex-patriots who have retired describes a paradise, but for others, this is the unfinished casitas, but a tent is neces- gestions, observations on trespassing, there. Small groups of rural ranchero fam- not what they had in mind. Our land is just sary. fencing, cattle, wild animals, changes due ilies live scattered throughout the valley starting to be settled and developed, and 5. Personal support - we have a very to weather , resource use, water flows, where the land of San Miguel is located. It the people who are there in the beginning friendly and supportive group of people in neighbor concerns, guest accommodation is a forty-five minute drive to the interna- need to be the outdoors types. Baja who are working on the land project, and management, etc. tional airport from the property on a rural, and who like to practice together. They are 4. Manage eco-tour and camping guest dirt road, which is sometimes challenging, 4. Prefer those with easy-going personali- very familiar with all details of living in traffic, and assist in developing these pro - and periodically can be closed during the ties, who will enjoy conversing positively Baja. This is a wonderful group to work grams. rainy season (August - mid-October). and casually with the locals in the area, and practice with! Plus, there is a full Baja 5. Help to ready the land for events to be Currently, we are in the process of plan- will not be overly paranoid or worried Gakyil, with members also in California held there by the Dzogchen Community. ning the completion of twenty-two one when something new or challenging and Mexico City, as well as Baja. 6. Meet and practice regularly with the room casitas already on the property , the comes up, and who like to work. 6. Retreats with Rinpoche in Baja will be local Dzogchen Community. water system, the toilets, and other related free for volunteers staying longer than two 7. Carry out defined roles conscientiously buildings. 5. Skills which are of use in this environ- months. and consistently: such as cooking and We are looking for members or close ment: garden and plant cultivation; first- 7. Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance Retreats shopping; obtaining supplies; hospitality friends of the Dzogchen Community who aid training and/or certification; experi- with certified members of the Dzogchen and management of guests; physical work would be comfortable living in this wild ence with eco-touring and/or providing Community on the land will also be free of all kinds; building; gardening and plant and unspoiled landscape, and who would hospitality services; construction (includ- for those volunteers staying longer than care; management of workers, etc. be able to commit themselves to a stay of a ing skills with cement, cement plaster , two months. 8. Those working on the land are expect- minimum of two months, but preferably up tiling, hardscape, stonework, and innova- 8. Opportunity to do supported personal ed to commit to a job description and to to a year if this is agreeable to them and to tive building techniques such as cob and retreat after serving as a Pioneer . One have periodic discussions with the local the local Gakyil. In addition, volunteers straw bale); familiarity with alternative month of volunteer service earns one-half Gakyil members about their progress. who wish to work for a shorter period of energy sources—solar in particular; heal - month of retreat; two months earns one Individual work agreements will be draft- time (a minimum of two weeks) are also ing and health; familiarity with water and month of retreat; where the working day ed according to each applicant’ s specific welcome. solar systems; tent and deck installation; constitutes four hours/day , five days per skills and strengths. shopping for supplies; cooking; engineer- week, and retreat means having an atten- QUALIFICATIONS: ing or fix-it mechanical background; trail- dant, but paying for ones own food. If you are interested in this opportunity , 1. Those applying are preferably bilingual building and maintenance; compost toilet please send a communication of interest to in Spanish and English. construction and maintenance; chipping At this point the Community cannot pro- the following: [email protected] g and composting; erosion control; botanical vide a salary or stipend, or transportation Include a resume or history of your back- 2. Having a history of attending retreats identification; writing and spreadsheet to and from Baja. However, hours spent as ground w ith th e C ommunity a nd y our with Rinpoche and practicing with other computer skills; leading practices; supervi- a Pioneer count toward membership in the work and skill background, as well as what Dzogchen Community members—highly sion of workers; general outdoors back- Baja Gar, until the new system of world - you wish to gain from this experience. We preferable. ground; general manual labor background; wide membership is fully instituted. look forward to hearing from you. and interfacing with the culture at lar ge in Pioneers can obtain a recommen dation 3. Familiarity and ease with the desert out- Baja which is friendly, and low-key. from the local Gakyil after their service, to Thank you, doors—comfortable using an out house, assist them in future employment. The Baja Gakyil

Adults Study Norbu children. She shows her enthusi- class designed for adults who are Rinpoche would patiently advise just completed the more challeng- asm, humor , and joy in talking students of Rinpoche who wish to them to avoid that negative ing third and fourth level adult Rinpoche’s Special about the program. She feels that teach their own or other children. behavior, and the teachings con - Yantra Yoga training. The Kumar Teachings for Children - every Yantra Yoga teacher and I sighed relief, and my spirits tinued. According to Rinpoche, Kumari has fifteen exercises ver- Kumar Kumari students of Chögyal Namkhai soared, as I realized that our this particular practice of Yantra sus the one hundred eight adult Norbu Rinpoche interested in Community would be offered this Yoga for children encourages Yantra Yoga ones, because there by Rev. Jacquelyn Sendak teaching children could benefit unique learning opportunity! good health and helps them to are less breathing that involve from taking the course. In May, ten of us from two gener- balance the five elements. “One holding one’s breath said Laura. According to Laura Evangelisti, a In Fall 2003, I joined five Yantra ations arrived to take this very could see the benefits resulting The Kumar Kumari Yantra Yoga senior Y antra Yoga teacher, Yoga students from the Dzogchen important course with Laura. from this program of yoga,” is based on the principles in the Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Community in Berkeley , Participants in our group were a added Laura. Nyi Zla Kha Sbyor, a Tibetan text Rinpoche took a special interest California, traveled cross-country Yantra Yoga teacher, elementary “It was very nice for the children that has the essential teachings on in designing a Yantra Yoga course to Conway , Mass. to study the school teachers, Hatha Yoga (usually ages 5-13) to learn coor- Yantra Yoga introduced by schol- for children, at the request of two Kumar Kumari Y antra Yoga teachers, and students of Yantra dination and attention,” said ar and master V airocana. This children, who wanted to learn to Course. Our class was so much Yoga. We felt the youth is our Laura. Some of us met the two yoga is based on the special needs do the yoga that their parents fun that when I heard that Laura future for continuing Rinpoche’ s teenagers in Conway, Mass, who of children using the same meth- were doing. Evangelisti would be in teachings, and since he took a were the original kids who ods as the Yantra Yoga taught to Rinpoche took on the project California to supervise a presen- personal interest in the children, requested a streamlined course of adults. Rinpoche made it adapt- because he felt that adult Yantra tation of the parts 3 & 4 Yantra we realized how vital the teaching Yantra Yoga years ago. Both are able for children’ s growing bod- Yoga was inappropriate for chil- Yoga teaching, I asked whether is. not only current adult Yantra ies and breathing abilities that are dren, and he decided that he per- we could ask her to teach the In Italy , Laura taught the pilot Yoga practitioners, but are also different from an adult’ s. sonally would draw the poses and Children’s Yantra Yoga. program of the Kumar Kumari, lovely human beings. We were so Rinpoche has emphasized that a do an oral translation from Because the two resident Yantra and the children also had a cur- impressed by meeting them in our child’s physical condition results Tibetan texts, which resulted in Yoga teachers were working so riculum of the Santi Maha first Kumar/Kumari class that we in a limited breathing ability the book, Kumar Kumari Y antra hard on setting up the adult Sangha (SMS) base study and continued to ask for an update on when holding the breath. Using – the Garland of Lotus Flowers . Yantra program, I was asked to practice to deepen their knowl- how they were doing during our the various sounds or mantras Laura explained that the Kumar help coordinate the training for edge of Dzogchen. Every California class. such as “OM”, “HA” “A” made Kumari (Kumar meaning boy the Kumar Kumari. I asked Laura Saturday their parents would “The main point of this teaching the Kumar Kumari very dif ferent and Kumari meaning girl) incor- to present the children’ s Yantra explain the SMS, and Laura is breathing and movement with from the adult Yantra. Using these porated inhaling, exhaling, short Yoga for adults in Berkeley , would do the Yantra Yoga. In the various syllables. These are very sounds during the Yantra Yoga and long breathing. Rinpoche California. At first, she hesitated summer, the children went before important and like a mantra,” said can help develop their breathing believes children’ s bodies, and saying that this teaching is rarely Rinpoche and took exams on Laura. Rinpoche coordinated a capacity by helping to produce a their breathing abilities were taught. Since I was requesting what they had learned. Rinpoche particular sound with the breath- different type of exhaling or undeveloped, and that youngsters that she teach this class at the could then monitor their progress. ing making it easier for the chil- inhaling, thus helping a child to could not hold the air after inhal- request for the our local Each child would have a personal dren to learn and develop. During enhance breathing naturally. ing as is done in the adult Yantra Community members, she said appointment with him to discuss the course, we experienced the Movement, breathing, and sound Yoga. she would consider doing it, things. ease of this by combining the are incorporated into the chil- Laura Evangelisti has taught the adding that many students inter- “Rinpoche always asked about movements, sounds, and breath- dren’s Yantra Yoga, resulting in Kumar Kumari Yantra Yoga sys- ested in this class are teachers and their behavior. For example, they ing, Laura stated. balancing the elements of the tem to people who wish to teach Yantra Yoga practitioners. would confess whether they beat I felt like a kid doing the simpler body which in the Tibetan system Laura finally agreed to teach a up another kid,” stated Laura. Kumar Kumari Yantra, having results in good health and can continued on next page

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 15 INTERNATIONAL DZOGCHEN RETREAT IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL COMMUNITY NEWS OCTOBER 15 - 19, 2005

New New Mexico Gakyil. with CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE

RED Denise Coady GURU DRAGPHUR DONWANG AND OTHER DZOGCHEN INSTRUCTIONS YELLOW Susie Marlow (Including Yeshe Zangthal Empowerment) BLUE Marta Macbeth São Paulo, 15 to 19 October, 2005 The contact email: Hotel Della Volpe Marta: [email protected] Rua Frei Caneca, 1199 Denise: [email protected] Phone (hotel): +55-11-3549-6466

Vajra Dance in New Mexico Cost of the retreat: October 7 - 9, 2005 Full participation: R$300 (= approx: USD 130 or 1 10 Euros, at today’s official rates) with Anastasia McGhee or R$100 per day

The Dzogchen Community of New Mexico is pleased to announce that Yantra Yoga classes for beginners and explanations of the practices in the afternoons. we will be hosting the second of a series of weekend courses in the Dance of the Song of the Vajra with Anastasia McGhee beginning REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION: September 9th, 2005. If you speak Portuguese or Spanish: The third course will be held on the second weekend in October , Please send an email to [email protected] or call Heloísa at +55-11-3287-1324 October 7-9 (or 10 We will begin where we have left of f, with a little review of where You can also send an email in English, French, Italian or Spanish to: we’ve been, and go from there. [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]

Cost: To Be Determined. We kindly request everybody (even if you are sustaining or meritorious members) to send us an email for the registration before the beginning of the retreat (as soon as you can). Note: To participate in this course, one must have already received transmission of the Dzogchen teachings and the lung of the Song of the With kind regards and many Tashi Delegs, Vajra from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. All sessions should be attended in sequence from the beginning if someone has not taken a course in this The Dzogchen Community of São Paulo, Brazil (Blue Gakyil) particular Vajra Dance before. If you have ever taken a course in this Vajra dance it is fine to come to this session. If you have never had this course, but wish to attend, please contact Anastasia at .

For further information or to inform us you are interested in attending, Tashigar South please email Marta Macbeth at . T o Rosa Altamirano – Secretary guarantee a place in the course(s), please r egister by sending a check or money order for US $50 (per course) or the whole amount, made out Comunidad Dzogchen to DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY OF NEW MEXICO, to DCNM c/o Tashigar Tashigar North Susie Marlow, 20 Outliers Road, Jemez, NM 87025 USA. Calle pública S/N Finca Tashigar Tanti 5155 Prolongación de la Calle Bolivar Pcia. de Córdoba Kumar Kumari continued from previous page Valle de Pedro González. Isla de Argentina Margarita improve the physical condition of added that it is nice to have a Tel & Fax: 0054- 3541-498 356 Tel: 00 58 295 415 5800 a child. According to Rinpoche, visual connection for the children Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] the particular sounds used can to follow. Web site: help a child develop clarity and “If you show them the mouth www.dzogchenvenezuela.org reduce obstacles through the with the sound, it is easier for the coordination and reinforcing of children to imitate the move- the child’ s ener gy. Breathing ment,” she said. brings the prana (vital ener gy) In contrast, she has found the that helps one to blend the breath older children are able to retain with the various mantras. and do more. Laura’ s relaxed, VAJRA DANCE AND YANTRA YOGA TEACHER TRAININGS, MARGARITA During the class, we were learn- joyful, humble and loving attitude ing helpful hints on how to pre- during the teaching of this class VAJRA DANCE FIRST LEVEL TEACHER YANTRAYOGA COURSE IN TASHIGAR NORTH, sent this teaching to the children. made it an inspiring and pleasant TRAINING TASHIGAR NORTE, MARGARITA MARGARITA ISLAND According to Laura, one should experience. We regretted the end ISLAND SECOND LEVEL TEACHER TRAINING never force a child to do this or of the class, and Laura encour- NOVEMBER 19 – 24, 2005 NOVEMBER 13 – 18, 2005 learn too much at once. She aged and inspired us to start a WITH PRIMA MAI AND ADRIANAN DAL BORGO WITH FABIO ANDRICO AND LAURA EVANGELISTI emphasized having a playful atti- group to teach children connected Tashigar Norte, Margarita Island, invites you to partic- tude at the beginning and includ- with our Community. After com- The Gakyil of Tashigar Norte is very happy to ipate from November 13 -18, 2005, in a Teacher ing simple yogic type stretches to pleting the course, I felt grateful announce the Teacher Training of the Vajra Dance, Training Course on the Second Level of Yantra Yoga, prepare them for the Kumar to Rinpoche who paid homage to first level with Adriana dal Borgo and Prima Mai. Kumari. A fun and relaxed atti- the enlightened beings, led by Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti. This tude was maintained during our Vajrasattva and Guru Rinpoche, Date: November 19 - 24 course is for those who wish to deepen their practice class, which was designed to be for this particular teaching to and knowledge of Yantra Yoga, particularly very structured. We concluded expand prosperity and benefit all Cost: $200US Pranayama practices and the application of our session with the final exercise sentient beings. I highly recom- Kumbhaka. It’s very useful and advisable for everyone exhaling to clear the breath and a mend that anyone interested We inform you that in order to participate in this and a good occasion to study in depth for those intend very short relaxation. teaching yoga to children not training you must know the Dances of OM AH engage to become local instructors. After completing the class, Laura miss this invaluable and precious HUM and the Dance of the Liberation of the Six advised us to start teaching the teaching next time it is offered. Lokas, Pamo and Pawo, very well. We, therefore, Cost: $200US, with no discounts. children locally. She said that it kindly, ask you to communicate with us your inten- was good to introduce the Yantra Reverend Jacquelyn Sendak, a tion to participate at the earliest possible date. We ask you to please register as soon as you can at: Yoga simply once a week for student of Chögyal Namkhai Email: [email protected] about 20 – 30 minutes with only Norbu Rinpoche since 2001, is a Tel: 00 58 295 2580332/00 58 295 4155800 one or two things for them to certified Hatha Yoga teacher who learn. Laura added that it is best has taught childr en yoga for Warm Greetings from Tashigar Norte!! (The course could be cancelled if we don’ t have to have similar ages gr ouped many years in V irginia and enough participants.) together; for example, a younger California. Blue Gakyil group of ages, 5-8, and with older Thank you. children ages 9-13. However, it is Tashigar Norte, Blue Gakyil. fine to mix the ages she stated. For younger children it is usually Subscribe to The Mirror Tashigar Norte more dif ficult to remember on line @ www.tashigarnorte.org things, however, eventually with www.melong.com repetition they do it, added Laura. While teaching, one should make On line only $25 eye contact with the younger chil- Paper only $35 dren while exaggerating with the Both $45 face the various sounds and breathing that use both the mouth Upgrades too and nose, stated Laura. She

16 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS n a m g y a l g a r & p a c i f i c r i m

Namgyalgar Gakyil News - June / July 2005 Namgyalgar DzogchenCommunity in Australia PO Box 14 Central Tilba, Namgyalgar Retreat Program 2005 – 06 NSW 2546 The Blue Gakyil is devising a retreat program for Namgyalgar for the Tel/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668 next 12 months, which will be finalized and publicized in the near future. Email: [email protected] A summer retreat program at the Gar, between December 26 and January 15, which will include a Family retreat (incorporating a program for chil- Web site: www.dzogchen.org.au dren) followed by two weeks of Santi Maha Sangha study and practice guided by SMS teachers, Angie & Lisse, is being planned. Vajra Dance Courses in Australia Tourism Grant September and October 2005 An application for a Federal Government Tourism Grant has been lodged with the AusIndustry. The grants, from $50,000 to $100,000, are for businesses that want to move some of their business activities into tourism with Rita Renzi, authorized Vajra Dance teacher activities. After seeking the approval of Rinpoche, the Gakyil applied for this grant with the view to con - from Italy structing the Camper ’s Kitchen and developing some walking paths for day tourists. This is an attempt to enable the Gar to become financially self-sustaining by tapping into an Eco-Cultural Tourism niche market. The Song of the Vajra Dance: Two Parts It would also raise the profile of the Dzogchen Community and facilitate more integration with the local region. If successful, the project, “ Sacred Spaces and Mountain Paths” will be overseen by a committee of Namgyalgar, Tilba Tilba, NSW (via Sydney or Melbourne): three Gakyil members from each of the colors. It will be known at the end of September if the grant applica - Sept. 24 - October 9 tion has been successful. For more information about the grant please contact the Red Gakyil. Caloundra, Queensland (via Brisbane): Dark Retreat Cabin October 15 - 30 The construction of the dark retreat cabin has just been completed. Furnishings and some finishing touches still remain to be done, such as installation of water and some painting (with non toxic paint), which local and Cost: visiting practitioners are welcome to help with during August. Guidelines for doing dark retreat are being Parts 1 & 2 Full Price: AUS $650. developed and will become available when it is announced that the cabin is ready for use. Parts 1 & 2 Concession Price: AUS $500. Parts 1 & 2 DzCmty Members: AUS $500. Namgyalgar Gakyil Madeleine Fogarty is our new Vice-President, providing support to President, Joanna Tyshing. One part only Full Price: AUS $325. One part only Concession Price: AUS $250. Building Fund Trust One part only DzCmty Members: AUS $250. Many thanks to Andrew Palmer who has joined the Board of Trustees of the BFT to help advise on legal and administration matters. This pricing does not include meals or accommodation.

DCN Fundraising Ideas Registration Deposit: $50. If regional groups or individuals in the community have any fundraising ideas they wish to pursue (on behalf of DCN) please convey these to Yellow Gakyil member Madeleine Fogarty at: Registration: Namgyalgar Course: Bookkeeper Position Part One: September 24th to 30th The Gakyil is considering applications that have been received for the position of bookkeeper for Part Two: October 3rd to 9th Namgyalgar. Registration forms are available from the Secretary, Viki Forscutt at: Tel / Fax: 02 44 737 668 Namgyalgar Website Email: Welcome Paul Kapp as new manager of the Namgyalgar Website, who replaces Paul Mortensen who has Postal address: kindly fulfilled this role for the past few years. Chris Kinross and Bruno Irmici will provide Website sup- Namgyalgar, PO Box 14, Central Tilba, NSW, 2546 Australia. port. Information about Namgyalgar and caravans or tent sites on the land, Happenings at the Gar as well as travel to the Gar is available from the secretary. If you are Catherine Williams continues as Geköe at Namgyalgar , welcoming people and ensuring the Gonpa, cabins interested in off land accommodation, please inform the secretary as and surrounds are kept tidy and functional and that wood heaters provide much needed warmth in the winter soon as possible - bookings must be made immediately owing to months. Assisting her with various tasks on the land are Geor gia and Paul, who will be resident for a few peak holiday period. months. Rabgyi and resident SMS Scholarship holder Angela and several local practitioners also assist Catherine. The Geköe, Gar residents and local practitioners meet regularly to discuss and coordinate the Caloundra Course: daily / weekly activities and operation of the Gar . Part One: October 15 to 21 Fundraising Film Nights: To help support Rabgyi Lama in obtaining a permanent residents visa the local Gar Part Two: community have been organizing film nights at the Narooma Cinema. 77 people, despite heavy rain on the October 24th to 30th night, attended a special screening of “Himalaya”. Elise Stutchbury gave an introductory talk and answered questions at Himalaya and will do so again at the next film, providing the audience with an opportunity to Inquiries & Registration: learn something about the films cultural and Buddhist aspects, as well as about the Dzogchen Community and Elizabeth Nielsen: the Gar. DCN pamphlets were made available in the foyer while wine and local practitioners served cheese. Tel: 07 54739146 The next fundraising film screening will be “T ravelers and Magicians” on the August 18. Email:

A meditation & contemplation course will be advertised on the night. Angie Gilbert at the Gar will lead the Information: course. Similar courses will be led by Elise Stutchbury in Moruya, (30km north of the Gar). Jean Mackintosh Tel: 02 44737 049 WWT: There were four new people in attendance at the World Wide Transmission at the Gar on 16 July. Email:

Tibetan classes at the Gar: Rabgyi is starting a Tibetan class for local people to attend. It is for written and spoken Tibetan and is starting around August 1st. These courses are available for beginners or advanced practitioners. However, practitioners must have transmission fr om Chögyal Broadband for Namgyalgar: The Gakyil is investigating the possibility of the Gar connecting to broadband. Namkhai Norbu, either by having attended a r etreat with Chögyal As the web casts are now being of fered in audio and video, broadband will be a definite advantage. Namkhai Norbu or thr ough participation in a W orld W ide Transmission Practice Session with a Dzogchen Community gr oup. Regional News

Melbourne: Recent events held in Melbourne included a ‘ Death & Dying ‘ workshop led by Joanna Giblin, This is a special opportunity to learn The Song of the Vajra Dance, a two weekend SMS Base level course of led byAngie Gilbert, and a fundraising stall that reaped $600, which and everyone who is inter ested is encouraged to par ticipate in one was offered in scholarships to assist people to attend the SMS course. of the courses. Thirty-five people in Melbourne attended the WWT on July 16. If you have difficulty with funds, please contact one of the r etreat Sydney: coordinators or the Namgyalgar secr etary. Concessions ar e avail- A practice weekend was held on July 23/24 led by Elise Stutchbury that focused on the training in the able and also fees may be paid off gradually in installments. You can Paramita of Discriminating Wisdom, including sessions on Reflection & Meditation and Absence of self- start paying now. Please don’t let finances stop you, contact us! nature.

Brisbane / SE Qld.: There will be a course in the Song of the Vajra Dance led by Rita Renzi on 15-30 October at Maroochydore, Southern Queensland (and not at Caloundra as was previously publicized). For further information and to register please contact Elizabeth Nielsen at: Tel: 07. 54739146 Email:

T HE M IRROR J ULY /AUGUST 2005 17 P ASSAGES MOXA continued from page 13 the books of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu published in Russia are more effective and long lasting. of the points on the upper part of DIED: made in Moscow . All Russian- the trunk. Then he announced that speaking Communities from THE POINTS in the future he plans to hold a Baltic Countries to the Far East JEY CLARK course of theory and practice of at It is with profound sadness that we inform the Dzogchen Community use these books. Rinpoche went on to speak about least fifteen to twenty days on the We have collected a large archive about the death of our Vajra Brother and beloved friend, Jey Clark. He the points in general, explaining same topic when he has finished passed away Tuesday morning, August 9, 2005 at 12:48am at a hospi - of audio and video recordings of how some of them become evi- the final version of the book. We different retreats, created a library tal in Berkeley , California. Jey was surrounded by his family and dent by swelling up and becom- sincerely hope that it will be friends. Jey died peacefully while practitioners were performing Shitro of books on Buddhism and, in ing painful when there is pressure translated as soon as possible for particular, the collection of books around him. Jey was a long time active member of the Dzogchen on them (one can apply moxa the benefit of all those who have Community and was certified by Rinpoche as a teacher of Yantra Yoga and texts on Dzogchen Teaching even in cases of trauma, wounds studied and developed the capac- of our Master Namkhai Norbu and Santi Maha Sangha. We are grateful for his loving contributions of and infections), while all the oth- ity to practice this ancient thera- hard work, humor, and a sparkling presence in our Community . Jey Rinpoche. Now in our library can ers are fixed and located in pre- peutic skill. be found about 800 dif ferent will be missed. We encourage everyone to include him in his or her cise points which can be identi- The course concluded with a few practice. types of books on Dzogchen fied using a unit of measure refer- moving wor ds from Rinpoch e Teaching, Buddhism and Bönpo ring to a thumb or two fingers who announced that even though in Russian, English, Italian, (tson), four fingers (sor), etc., cal- he has concluded his research on French, German and Tibetan lan- culated on the basis of the the ancient history of Tibet and guages. patient’s structure, not the doc- has almost finished his work on We are in a close contact and tor’s. moxa, he will never finish his fruitful collaboration with Shang In the book on moxa that commitment to the Dzogchen Shung Edizioni in Merigar . Our Rinpoche has almost completed, teaching. Edition helps Shang Shung he mentions 500 fixed points, We thank you Rinpoche for your Edizioni in annual publishing of which are distributed along the generosity and commitment. May the practices calendar by verifica- spine, at the sides of the spine, on that be an incentive for us all. tion it here in Moscow . Also, the the trunk, at the sides of the trunk, Moscow Community makes tran- on the head, on the arms and legs. scripts of dif ferent retreats and The map of these points is the GEORGETTE KELLY Moscow DZC continued from page 11 sends them to Merigar. result of very interesting research Constantly Rinpoche has been It is with sadness that we write to let you know that Geor gette Kelley carried out by the Master , in more center of Dzogchen reminding us about the necessity died in the early hours of Tuesday, July 12, 2005. She was at home, which he has compared various Community. Rinchenling or ga- of creating a Gar in Russia. with her life partner , Daphne Hawkes, and her two best friends. Her texts and documents and not lim- nized all the retreats in Moscow , Finally in 1998 there was found a passing was peaceful and filled with grace. Georgette was diagnosed ited himself to merely mentioning from 1994 till 1998. nice place in Moscow region and with Stage 4 cancer in August 2003 and elected to use alternative med- the points described in the “Four Since 1993 our Community was Kunsangar appeared. A lot of icine treatment, and her last two years were vital and fulfilling for her , Tantras of Tibetan Medicine”. officially registered in the Community members from as she continued her analytic practice, lectures and remarkable friend- Regarding each point, he speaks Ministry of Justice as a religious Moscow also took active part in ships and deep interests in spirituality and psyche. She was very grate- about the various sources and in organization. We actively started this process. So, this is our story. ful for these months, having been informed that her prognosis was some cases only one source is making translations, holding col- grave, her projected lifespan being under 9 months. She will be identified. The texts and docu- lective retreats on dif ferent prac- What is happening now? deeply missed by so many . Georgette was a long time member of the ments on which Chögyal tices and invited Fabio Andrico Unfortunately, the district where Dzogchen Community of North America and brought to it a generous Namkhai Norbu based his and Adriana dal Borgo for Yantra our Community had its premises heartt and wonderful spirit . research are the following: Yoga and Vajra Dance courses. is under reconstruction and old -“DAWE GY ALPO”(zla ba’i At the second retreat of Namkhai houses will be destroyed, so we rgyalpo), a text, which was trans- Norbu Rinpoche, which took were asked to move out. For two lated by Vairocana, in which there place in 1994 in the Moscow years we have been negotiating are many points, not mentioned in region, there were already about with the Moscow Government the Four Tantras; one thousand people who came about giving us another premises, - A text with the same title trans- from all parts of Russia, Ukraine but no results at the end. The lated from Sanskrit into Chinese and Baltic Countries. A lot of prices for rent in Moscow are and then from Chinese into people received the transmission unreasonably high so there’ s no Tibetan in which points not of the Teaching and the Moscow chance for the Community to rent described in the other are men- Community became very big, so a suitable place. tioned; we really faced the necessity to Considering our circumstances, - A document which was found at have our own premises. the Gakyil has made a decision to Tun-Huang in which they speak In 1997, thanks to large efforts of buy new premises. In this case the about moxa as a therapy that was some Community people, Community will get the possibili- ERIC FATABENE used very much at the time of the Rinchenling was able to rent a ty to develop for many years in Sadly, our Vajra brother and member of the Dzogchen Community from ancient kingdom of Shang Shung; small premises in an old house at the future and to continue its the United Kingdom, Eric Fatabene, took his own life late Sunday night, - A text on moxa written by DEU’ the center of Moscow. activities as it used to be before. July 26, 2005. Any friends or acquaintances that want to send their feel- UMAR or DILMAR( DE’U From this moment, there started a We still have Kunsangar, but it is ings or condolences, please send them to Peter White at peter@cam- DMAR DGE BSHES BST AN new stage in the life of our situated in the Moscow region bridgeacupuncture.net and we will make a compendium for his friends ‘DZIN PHUN TSHOGS), a Community: there appeared a and many practitioners are not and relatives to read. famous 18th century doctor who Gonpa and Library; we created a able to go there regularly to take was held in high esteem by Publishing House and mini part in collective practices, Vajra Changchub Dorje; Printing House. Many new mem- Dance or Yantra Yoga because it - A ‘gterma’ teaching by bers came to the Community and takes quite a long time to get Changchub Dorje in which he we permanently were holding there and back. All of us live and speaks about applying moxa for collective practices as well as work in Moscow and we need a illnesses that will manifest in the Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance. place there. future; As soon as the Community got its That is why we have created a - A text written by Kyungtrul own premises, a serious work Sponsorship Program and an (khyung sprul nam kha’ rgyal started on translating and publish- Accumulating Fund for purchas- mtshan), an erudite 18th century ing b ooks, c reating au dio a nd ing new premises. The “I place a certain trust in human nature, even the most limited.” Bönpo who was dedicated to the video archives. During work of Accumulating Fund exists with a Jean Genet study of medicine, Bön medicine. our Publishing House there were principal “a little bit but from everybody”. The majority of in this shivering evanescent dream illusion made 92 dif ferent types of Explaining all the points, their Community members don’ t have one isolated hermit poet Rinpoche’s books, including the location and the benefits from a large income, but thanks to the one piper at the gate books on the first three levels of moxa application on each one of collaboration of many people one ray of enlightenment from under a tree Santi Maha Sangha and also 30 them requires a great deal of time quite a considerable amount of one writer on the fringes books of other teachers of and so Rinpoche confined him- money has been already collect- one heroic solitary seeker Buddhism. T ranslating, editing, self to showing in detail the ed. Unfortunately , it’ s still not waking in the midst of this contrived universe typing, imposing, printing – all points on the back and on the enough. That is why we continue can cut throughthe fundament of conventionality this we were doing by ourselves. sides of the spine and then con- to ask Community members liv- and with pure individualistic naked mind awkward illumination At present, more then 90% of all cluded with a description of some continued on page 21 stand forth as one veritable thing in this phantom world PASSAGES Michael White BORN: Reorganizing, continued from page 13 On July 21 at 6:36 in the morning, Anabel was born to rate – at least during these years so that we can have a future. Otherwise, Aleksandra Adamek and Dimitri Fieri in when I was ill I thought what a shame that I hadn’ t managed to finish Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy. Mother and baby are the Santi Maha Sangha and we don’ t know how long the Dzogchen both doing well and the practitioners of Merigar send Community will continue. I sacrificed for so many years. My aim is that their very best wishes to the three of them. even though I won’ t be in this dimension any more, the Dzogchen Community will remain for future generations.”

18 Special Practice C alendar for Four Months W o o d B i r d Y e a r 2005-2006

Part IV and Final Calendar for the tioners nearby , you can do a practice at the same moment will be in the Year Medium Thun on your 8th Month, 30th day transmission and will thus receive the own. In either case, Tue. 1st Nov. 2005 transmission. This practice should be done Including the 7th – 10 th Tibetan months when y ou t ransform at the appointed time together with your (September 13th – December 31st 2005) yourself into the DARK MOON. Vajra brothers and sisters or , if that is not Dakini This day is excel- possible, alone. (In Italy , this practice will GLOBAL TIMETABLE Simhamukha, lent for practic- be done at 1 pm.) recite her heart ing the ANNIVERSARY OF ADZOM DRUGPA mantra as much “Purification SEE THE GLOBAL TIMETABLE as possible and of the Six 9th Tibetan month – 25th day then do an Lokas” if you 9th Month, 30th day Saturday 26th November 2005 intensive prac- know how to Thu. 1st Dec. 2005 tice of Ekajati. do it. 01.00 Wellington, Auckland Otherwise DARK MOON. This is a good day to do 02.00 Hawaii Month, you can do Namcho Shitr oi Naljor , the Yoga of the th 03.00 Fairbanks 30 day the M edium Peaceful and Wrathful Manifestations, in 04.00 San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mon. or Long the morning. It is also an important day for rd Vancouver 3 Oct. 2005 Thun or a the practice of Ekajati, so try to do a Long 05.00 Denver , Salt Lake City , Pagosa Ganapuja. or Medium Thun, reciting the heart mantra Springs, Edmonton DARK MOON. of Ekajati as many times as possible. 06.00 Chicago, Mexico City This day is ideal 9th Month, 3 rd 07.00 New York, Conway , Montreal, for purification day Atlanta, Detroit, Havana, Kingston, practices. Try to do Fri. 4th Nov. 2005 10th Month, 10th day Indianapolis, Ottawa, Lima, Quito either the Sat. 10th Dec. 2005 08.00 Caracas Purification of the Six This is the anniver- 09.00 Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Rio de Lokas or the Namchos sary of Rigdzin Jigmed This is a special day of Guru Janeiro, Santiago Shitroi Naljyor, the Yoga of Lingpa (1729-1798), a Padmasambhava, the day on which he 12.00 GMT, London, Dublin, Lisbon the Peaceful and Wrathful great Dzogchen master who arrived in central Tibet. It is considered that 13.00 Rome, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Madrid, Manifestations, either collectively or was the author of many books, on this day , at the end of the 8th century , Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Brussels, on your own. Try to do a Ganapuja as well, among which is the Longchen Nyingthig, King Songtsen Gampo, the ancient king of Geneva, Prague, Salzbur g, Stockholm, if possible. which he wrote after having contact with Dharma, vanished dissolving into a statue Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw Longchenpa through visions. Therefore, on of Avalokiteshvara. Therefore it is good to th th 14.00 Helsinki, Athens, Ankara, Beirut, 8 Month, 10 day this important day , you should try to do do the Guruyoga of Padmasambhava with th Jerusalem, Vilnius, Johannesburg Wed. 12 Oct. 2005 Akar Lamai Naljor, the Guruyoga with the the long life mantra and a Ganapuja. 15.00 Moscow , Murmansk, Baghdad, White A. Otherwise you can do the long life practice Kuwait City, Riyadh, Tashkent This is a special day of Guru “Universal Wisdom Union”. If it is possi - 16.00 Kabul Padmasambhava, therefore you can do the 9th Month, 10th day ble, the best moment to do the Guruyoga is 17.00 ODDIYANA, Islamabad Guruyoga of Padmasambhava. If you have Fri. 11th Nov. 2005 early in the morning between 7 and 8. You 17.30 Delhi, Bombay time and the possibility you can do a can do the Ganapuja later in the afternoon. 17.45 Kathmandu Ganapuja with the Guruyoga and the long This is a special day of Guru th th 18.00 Dacca life practice of Guru Padmasam bhava Padmasambhava. It is also the anniversary 10 Month 11 day th 19.00 Bangkok, Jakarta, Saigon together with your Vajra brothers and sis - of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa and of Sun. 11 Dec. 2005 20.00 Singapore, Beijing, Lhasa, Manila, ters. Otherwise you can do the long life Tertön Sogyal, a previous reincarnation of Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Perth practice”Universal Wisdom Union”. Sogyal Rinpoche and discoverer of many This is an important day for the practice of 21.00 Tokyo, Seoul terma. It is therefore a good day to do the Ekajati. th th 22.00 Brisbane, Vladivostok 8 Month, 15 day long life practice of Guru Padmasambhava th th th 22.30 Adelaide Mon. 17 Oct. 2005 “Universal Wisdom Union”, which is 10 Month, 15 day th 23.00 Kamchatka, Melbourne, Sydney included in the Medium or Long Thun. You Thu. 15 Dec. 2005 FULL MOON. This is an important day to can do this in the usual way or, if you have 7th Month, 10th day do the long life practice of Amitayus, the possibility , you can do it with a FULL MOON. This day is considered to be Tue. 13th Sept. 2005 “Union of Primordial Essences”. It is best Ganapuja. the day to honor the Lord Buddha in gener- to do it early in the morning and a al, and it is one of the best days to do the It is a special day of Guru Padmasambhava Ganapuja in the evening. 9th Month, 15th day long life Practice with the Dakini as well as the anniversary of Jomo Menmo Tue. 15th Nov. 2005 Mandarava in particular. Generally the best th th (1248-1283), a famous yogini, terton and 8 Month, 19 day moment to do this kind of practice is st reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal and consort Fri. 21 Oct. 2005 FULL MOON. This is a day of the Buddha between 7 and 8 in the morning but if you of the terton Guru Chowang. Therefore it is and a good day to do the long life practice don’t have this possibility, then do it in the an ideal day to do Akar Lamai Naljor , the This is an important day for the practice of of Amitayus, “Union of Primordial afternoon or later in the evening when you Guruyoga of the White A, and a Ganapuja, Ekajati, so try to do a Long Thun with your Essences”, either collectively or individu- are free. It is also a good day to do a if you have the possibility. Vajra brothers and sisters, or if that is not ally according to your possibilities, in the Ganapuja. possible, you can do a Medium Thun alone morning and in the evening a Ganapuja. th th 7th Month, 15th day reciting the heart mantra of Ekajati as many 10 Month, 25 day th Sun. 18th Sept. 2005 times as possible. 9th Month, 22nd day Mon. 26 Dec. 2005 Wed. 23rd Nov. 2005 th th FULL MOON. This is the anniversary of 8 Month, 25 day This day is the important celebration of Today is a Dakini day and the anniversary th Tsarchen Losal Gyatso and Padma Karpo, Thu. 27 Oct. 2005 Buddha Shakyamuni’ s descent to earth of Tsongkhapa (1357-1491), who made a a famous 17th century Drugpa Kagyupa from the realm of the Divinities. It is called synthesis o f t he p revious s chools a nd Master. Therefore it is an excellent day to This is a Dakini day and also the anniver- “Lhabab Tuchen”, the Great Time of the founded the Gelugpa School. It is a very do the long life practice of the Dakini sary of two great Dzogchen masters, Descent of the Divinities. It is an ideal day beneficial day for reinforcing the energy of Mandarava, “Cycle of Life’s Vajra”, with a Rigzin Kumaraja, who transmitted the to do a Ganapuja with your Vajra brothers the universe so try to perform a Ganapuja Ganapuja if possible as well as Akar Lamai Dzogchen teachings to Longchenpa and to and sisters. If there are none nearby , you with your Vajra brothers and sisters. If Naljor, the Guruyoga of the White A col- the third Karmapa, and of Rigzin Tsewang can do a Short or Medium Thun on your there are no other practitioners nearby you lectively with your Vajra brothers and sis - Norbu (1698-1755), a great Dzogchen own. can do the Medium Thun on your own, ters or alone. master of the Nyingmapa School. It is transforming into the Dakini Simhamukha therefore an excellent day to do Akar 9th Month, 25th day and reciting the heart mantra as many times 7th Month 19th day Lamai Naljor , the Guruyoga with the Sat. 26th Nov. 2005 as possible. Wed. 21st Sept. 2005 White A. If you can do it in the morning, that is best. Then, if you have the time, you The 25th is a Dakini day and also the 10th Month, 30th day st This is an important day for the practice of can do a Medium or Long Thun later in the anniversary of the great Dzogchen Master Sat. 31 Dec. 2005 Ekajati, so try to do a Long or Medium day, with an intense practice of Adzom Drugpa (1842-1924), a previous Thun in the usual way , reciting the heart Simhamukha, or a Ganapuja, if you have reincarnation of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. DARK MOON. This is an excellent day to mantra of Ekajati as many times as possi- the possibility. He was a disciple of Jamyang Khyentse do purification practice so try to do the ble. Wangpo and a master of great masters such Purification of the Six Lokas and a 8th Month, 27th day as Changchub Dorje and Ayu Khandro. Ganapuja in the evening. th 7th Month, 25th day Sat. 29 Oct. 2005 Therefore, when it is 7 pm in East Tibet on Tue. 27th Sept. 2005 this day, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu will give This is an important day for the practice of the transmission of Guruyoga with the spe- This is a Dakini day and also the anniver- Ekajati, so try to do a Long Thun with your cific practice linked to the anniversary of sary of Phagmo Drugpa (1 110-1170), the Vajra brothers and sisters, or if that is not Adzom Drugpa. In this way the transmis- chief disciple of Gampopa. Try to do a possible, you can do a Medium Thun alone sion will be live because the transmission Ganapuja together with your Vajra sisters reciting the heart mantra of Ekajati as many has no distance. Rinpoche will transmit and and brothers. If there are no other practi- times as possible. throughout the world people who do the

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 19 international community contacts ARGENTINA Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] Tashigar [email protected] Yael Rotbard Tel: 011 52 624 14 77525 Baikal DC Namseling Comunidad Dzogchen [email protected] Tel: 00972-52-2682291 Contact person Alexander Tashigar [email protected] Email: [email protected] Jardin de los Naranjos Vyaznetskovtsev: Rosa Altamirano - Secretary Web site: Apartado Postal 395 [email protected] Calle pública S/N http://www.dzogchen.cz ITALY 23400 San Jose del Cabo, BCS Samara DC. Tanti 5155 Merigar Comunita Dzogchen Contact person Viktor Krecker: Pcia. de Córdoba DENMARK Secretary - Anna De Sole NEPAL [email protected] Tel/Fax: 0054- 3541-498 356 Anne-Grethe Nyeng Arcidosso, 58031 GR, Italy Vikki Floyd Email: [email protected] Fax: 45 33 11 32 43 Tel: 39 0 564 966837 G.P.O. Box 8974 SERBIA/EX YUGOSLAVIA Email: [email protected] Fax: 39 0 564 968110 CPC 069 Jelena Zagorcic AUSTRALIA Email: Thamel Vojvode Stepe 280 Namgyalgar ESTONIA [email protected] Kathmandu 11000 Beograd Dzogchen Community in Estonia: Res.Tel# 00977-1-4270106 381 11 462555 Australia Svetlana Kollyakova Adzomling (after 8.00 p.m.) Email: [email protected] Vicki Forscutt - Secretary Email: [email protected] Moreno Marcato Email: [email protected] PO Box 14 Central Tilba, Via Culasso 2 Ivana Radicevic Karaman NSW 2546 FINLAND 14053 Canelli NEW CALEDONIA Otona Zupancica 36 Tel/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668 Mika Sillanpaa AT 0141 Marie Lascombes 11070 Belgrade Email: [email protected] Kuhankeittajankatu 22 Tel: (39) 0141 831002 Noumea Tel: 381 11 604115 Web site: www.dzogchen.org.au 50190 Mikkeli Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Finland Zhenphenling Gar Email: [email protected] Dzogchen Community of Rome NEW ZEALAND SINGAPORE Geköes of Namgyalgar Via G. Miani 5 NZ Dzogchen Community 1) Management Committee Tel: 61(0) 2 4473 7770 FRANCE 00154 Rome P.O.Box 90450 are: Email:[email protected] Association Dzogchen Tel. 0039 06 57300346 Auckland City President - Dejam Ling, Le Deves Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Edmund Tai Kwok Wah AUSTRIA F30570 St Andre de Email: Homepage: www.dzogchen.at Majencoules JAPAN Paora Joseph [email protected] Tel: 00 33 4 67 82 Ms. Tsugiko Kiyohashi Email: [email protected] Tel: (65)64811308, Dzogchen Community of 50 67 5-11-22-301 Shimomeguro (65)96373010 Vienna, Austria Web site: www.association- Meguroku, Tokyo 153-0064 Gabrielle Kearney Email: [email protected] dzogchen.org Tel&fax (home) +81 3 3712 Email: [email protected] Vice President - Michael Foo 7507 See Jin Peter Sochor GERMANY NORWAY Email: [email protected] Götzgasse 2/10, A-1100 Dzogchen Gemeinscaft LATVIA Gordon Cranmer Tel: (65)96155886 ] Wien, Austria c/o Helga Betz Padmaling 4157 Utstein Kloster Mosteroy Tel: 0043 1 602 91 16 Helga Betz Beljutins Elena Tel: 47 4 514705 Secretary - Wong Hee Kun Lindemannstr. 12 Lepju 5-55 Email: Dzogchen Community Austria, D-40237 Düsseldorf Riga LV 1016 Community Web site: [email protected] Regions Tel+fax 49 (0)211 682657 Tel: 371 -2-437343 http://go.to/dzogchen.no Tel: (65)93672288 ] Oliver F. 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Malaysia Portugal Florida North, Gauteng, CANADA Thessaloniki: Tel: 60 3 9847167 Tel: 081 323780 South Africa Peter Dimitrov Thanos & Dina Svoronos, Email: Tel: 011 672 7250 305 - 11806 88th St. (+30) 2310 828183 MEXICO [email protected] Delta, BC V4C 3C5 Mexico City Ling Darryl van Blerk Email: [email protected] HOLLAND Carolyn Bass, Yellow Gakyil Lydia Ferrera 104 Park Road, Walmer Estate Web site: www.dzogchen.nl Email: [email protected] Rua da Nazare 2 Cape Town Eve-Marie Breglia (under construction) Angela Mijares, Red Gakyil Vila Facaia 7925, South Africa 107 Armadale Ave. Email: 2560 Torres Vedras Tel: 27-21-4470129 Toronto, ONT M65-3X3 Martin Landsman, Groningen [email protected] Tel: 351 61 911235 Fax: 27-21-4221265 Tel: 416 767 5252 Email: [email protected] Monica Patiño, Blue Gakyil Email: Email: [email protected] Annalen Gall, Amsterdam < Email: monica_patino@hot- RUSSIAN FEDERATION [email protected] Email: mail.com Kunsangar CHILE [email protected] Phone: 011 52 55 581 30315 142500 Russia, Moscow region, SPAIN Lorena Hume 3A Cerrada de Juarez #33-1 Pavlovskiy Posad, RUPS,a/ya Dzogchen Community, Spain Marchant Pereira 1775 HUNGARY Colonia Tinajas Contadero 13, BF Dostoyanie? Apt. Postal 46220 A-22-Providencia. Santiago Zsolt Somogyvari Mexico City, Mexico 05370 Secretary 28028 Madrid Tel: 056-2-474-4782 Szalmarozsa ter 8. Tel: 7 096 43 21156 Email: [email protected] Budapest, H-1161 Tsegyalgar West/Baja Gar Tel: 7 095 740 79 98 Lella Guidotti Email: [email protected] Scott Schroeder, Gakyil Email: [email protected] c/o Tenor Masini CZECH REPUBLIC President 20 Bajos Dzogchen o.s. ISRAEL Email: [email protected] Moscow DC Rinchenling Barcelona 08028 U Bozich Bojovniku 3 Alex Polak Tel: 011 52 624 15 07407 [email protected] Tel: 00 34 93 4111563 / Mobile Prague 2 Tel: 00972-52-6020374 639311640 Tel: +420 603 529 784 Email: [email protected] Rodrigo Villalobos St. Petersburg DC Sangeling Email: [email protected]

20 international community contacts continued from previous page Moscow DZC continued from page 18 SWEDEN PO Box 35805 Juan Griego ing in Moscow to contribute into Alexander & Pernilla Juneau, AK 99803 Margarita, Venezuela the Accumulating Fund because Dobronravoff Tel: 907-780-6643 Email: even small donations give a lot at Ulrikedalsvagen 6i #201 [email protected] the result. 224 58 Lund, Sweden Chicago The Sponsorship Program has the Tel: 046 13 70 34 Lynn Sutherland Pablo Lau Rivera aim to work with the sponsors Mobile: 073 655 1968 5717 N. Washtenaw Ave. Lhundrubgar Pba. Res. who can donate lager amounts of Email: pernilla_liedgren_dobron- Chicago, IL 60659 Pedermales Av. money. Such people have already [email protected] Tel: 773 784 4168 Paez Montalban II appeared and we continue to col- Email: [email protected] 1021 Caracas laborate with them. SWITZERLAND Tel: 58 2 4421434 We made a decision to thank Gérald Mulin West Coast Fax: 58 2 340643 everybody who will donate some The Mirror rue du Mont 41 Dzogchen Community West Email: [email protected] money for buying new premises. Newspaper of the CH-1950 Sion Coast For this reason we prepared dif- International Tel: +41 (0)27 323 72 27 Dondrub Ling Elias Capriles ferent memorable gifts as a sign Dzogchen Community of Email: 2748 Adeline St. Suite D Apartado Postal 483 of our gratitude. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu [email protected] Berkeley, CA 94703 Merida 5101 We are working with several real- Tel: 510 644 2260 Tel & Fax: +58 274 2440026 tors and lawyers who consult us TAIWAN Email: aha@dzogchencommuni- Email: [email protected] and help us to find the right Main Office: Peter CY Pan tywest.org premises. At present, we have PO Box 277 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.dzogchencom- Merida Dzogchen Community collected one half of the minimal Conway, MA01341 or [email protected]. munitywest.org Apartado Postal 483 amount of money that we could USA Merida 5101 use to buy at least a small of fice. Tel: 413 369 4208 THAILAND Miami, Florida Fax: +58 274 2440026 All this has been done in one year. Fax: 413 369 4473 Geoffrey Blake & Lynne Dzogchen Community in Miami Full variant of “Own premises” Email: Klapecki Email: [email protected] program will soon be published [email protected] 33 Soi Lang Suan - Ploenchit Rd Web site: www.dzogchenmia- on our website www.rinchen- Bangkok 10330 mi.org ?? ling.ru European Office: 66-(0)2255-5150 “It’s very important to have own The Mirror 66-(0)2254-9061 Dominik Niceva place”, that’s what Rinpoche said Merigar Email: [email protected] Tel. (1) 305-726-9035 Is your contact at the meeting with Moscow Arcidosso Email: [email protected] Gakyil in Crimea during the 58031 GR Alex Souter, Bangkok information up to recently held retreat there when Italy Tel: 09 039 3992 or 02 742 1965 Dzogchen Community of New date? If not we told him about our program of Email: [email protected] Mexico please contact collecting money for buying the Tel: 39 3298865292 new premises. For us it’s a bless- UKRAINE Marta Macbeth mirror@ Fax: 39 0564- 968 110 Kiev DC, Ukraine P.O. Box 9211 mirror@ ing. [email protected] Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 tsegyalgar.or.org Until now we rent different places Editorial Staff: Tel: 505-986-1573 Thank you! in the city for the collective prac- Naomi Zeitz, Donetsk DC, Ukraine Email: rubystone1215@hot- tices, The Vajra Dance and Yantra Tsegyalgar [email protected] mail.com Yoga. In spite of hardships we try Conway, MAUSA not to interrupt the translators’ Kharkov DC Karmaling, Ukraine Colorado and publishers’ activity. And we Liz Granger [email protected] Lidian King Norbunet are sure our ef forts will be justi - Merigar PO Box 1014 The Mailing List fied after some time. Arcidosso, Italy Donetsk Crestone, CO 81131 Using this possibility that The Igor Berkhin Tel: 719 256 5263 of the Mirror kindly gave us, we would Literary Editor: Email: [email protected]; Email: [email protected] International like to thank everybody who par- John Shane [email protected] ticipated in Accumulating Donetsk DC New York Dzogchen Dzogchen Foundation or became Advisors: [email protected] Community Community Community sponsors. Adriano Clemente Email: [email protected] We wish all the Community all Anna Eid over the world had stable devel- UNITED KINGDOM Maya Stolkiner, Email: Administrator: Barbara Paparazzo Amely Becker [email protected] opment for the benefit of all sen- Des Barry Loek Jehee tient beings! 15A Langdon Park Road Kathy McGrane, Email: kathym- [email protected] Jim Valby London N6 5PS [email protected] Tel: 020 8348 6253 With best regards, Layout & Design: To subscribe: The Gakyil of Moscow DC Email: [email protected] Hawaii send a mail to: N. Zeitz UK web site: www.redsand- Dzogchen Community of Hawaii norbunet- Email: stonehill.net/dzogchen/ c/o Leilani Sim-Godbehere, request@mail. Illustration 48-495 Kamehameha Hwy., [email protected], Bepe Goia Wood Bird pg 19 dzogchen.ru with [email protected] USA Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 the subject line: Cartoon Jan Golden pg 8 Tsegyalgar East Tel: (808) 239-1165 Website: www.rinchenling.ru Ed Hayes -Secretary Email: [email protected] subscribe Web Site Managers: P.O. Box 277 [email protected] Pilgrimage from page 12 Thomas Eifler Conway, MA 01341 Malcolm Smith Tel: 413 369 4153 Susan Indich ernized and a raised platform has Fax: 413 369 4473 129 Kaelepulu Dr. Kailua Tsegyalgar Update continued from page been constructed there. At the Printer: Email: [email protected] Hawaii, 96734 11 moment the Shang Shung Turley Publications Gakyil: [email protected]. Tel: 808 261 3469 Institute is holding a meeting Palmer, MA Web site: www.tsegyalgar.org Fax: 808 524 4342 Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 Friday – Sunday , there with the new director , USA Email: [email protected] Part II of the Dance of the Song of Yuchen Namkhai. Tsegyalgar West the Vajra, with Anastasia McGhee I go out of the Golden House and Distribution: Baja Mexico Jerene see that on the east side of the gar- Tsegyalgar at Dzogchen Community West P.O. Box 2181 Oct. 14 – 16 Friday – Sunday at den, the acacia tree that was in Conway, Coast Kealakekua, Hi. 96750 Khandroling: Practice of the danger of falling on the roof and MA, USA 755 Euclid Ave. Tel: 808 323-9714 Purification of the Six Lokas. whose roots were interfering with Berkeley, CA 94708 Email: [email protected] Practice times: 9 am, 1 1am, 3pm, the drainage pipes has been Email: [email protected] and 5pm removed but that the garden has Subscription Rate/6 Issues: [email protected] Melinda Sacarob been adorned with three new rare $35US available Red: [email protected] 87-3139 Mamalahoa Hwy. Oct. 28 – 30 Friday – Sunday , at trees. A new boundary wall has through Blue: Capt Cook Hawaii 96704 Khandroling: Chöd Practice been built behind the house and a Tsegyalgar [email protected] Tel: 808-328-9473 Weekend. Practice Schedule: 9 are water cister n with double th e 35 Euro Yellow: yellowgakyil@bajasang- Sang Offering. Chöd: 1 1am, 3pm, capacity of the old one has been through Merigar ha.org VENEZUELA and 5pm. set up on the hill. Finally on the Visa and Master card Tashigar Norte east side of the house there is welcome Web site www.bajasangha.org Finca Tashigar Oct. 29 Saturday: Halloween Party something new: a lovely little Prolongación de la Calle Bolivar at the Farmhouse, Khandroling. porch with an external fountain in Alaska Valle de Pedro González, Isla de Potluck, 7pm brick. ON LINE MIRROR Dzogchen Community of Alaska Margarita At this point my moving pilgrim- www.melong.com.melong.com Peggy Leslie Tel: 00 58 295 415 5800 Nov. 4 – 8 Web cast of Rinpoche’s age comes to an end. Dzogchen Community of Alaska Email: teachings from Mar garita retreat, I do not go down to Gadeling, the All material ©2005 PO Box 240063 [email protected] and Guru Rinpoche Practice residence of the Master and his by The Mirror Douglas, AK 99824 Web site: www.dzogchen- Weekend. At Schoolhouse: Practice wife, Rosa, in respect for their Reprint by permission only tel. 907-364-2733 venezuela.org schedule: 9am Web cast. Guru privacy. We reserve the right to edit Rinpoche practice, Friday 7pm. Sat all subsmissions Pat Martin Carmen Rivas, Gakyil President & Sun, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm. Dzogchen Community of Alaska PO Box Apartado Postal 123

T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 21 Infested by the Caterpillar Fungus A once in a lifetime experience (Part II) by Daniel Winkler n April 2004, I found myself dle in the haystack? Sonam and index and middle fingers. ing on lab grown mycelia, since ing a fortune for these infested crawling on all fours over the Sherab were sure it was Yartsa Watching a Tibetan mixing tsam- most westerners don’ t encounter worms. When I asked some slightly moist ground, inhaling Gunbu. I got out my Swiss knife pa it seems very simple, even gra- enough social pressure to eat lar - Tibetan men in Lithang if they Ithe aromatic smell of the small- and was ready to dig it up. Wait a cious and clean. Actually, clean is vae. use some of the “bu” they gather , leafed rhododendron and the fun- a misnomer for two reasons— In Tibet, the use of Cordyceps I was answered with laughter . gal breath of soil awoken by first, I was using my dirty fingers sinensis was traced back by Dr . “We don’t need to take that!” spring. The pleasant warmth radi- after digging larvae and, second, Yonten Gyatso to documents of Regardless of how the ating from the strong subtropical the procedure is rather messy for the 14th century, where it is men- Tibetological discussion plays out sun was cancelled out by a cold the under skilled. I have devel- tioned in the Tibetan text regarding the first written refer- wind blowing down from the oped an approach to minimize the “Instructions on a Myriad of ence to Yartsa Gunbu, currently snow-covered jagged peaks sur - mess: I do the first mixing with Medicines” [ Man ngag bye ba the oldest Chinese reference to rounding us. However , the sun- my knife. Yes, in this instance the ring bsrel] by Zurkhar Nyamnyi “dong chong xia cao”—the light was supposed to be a major blade I had just used to cut turf. Dorje’s ( Zur mkhar mnyam nyid Chinese translation of the Tibetan help in spotting the tiny stromata, In the end the batter is sup- rdo rje’s [b.1439-d.1475]). Some name “winter worm-summer the fruiting bodies of the Caterpil- posed to turn into a kneadable Tibetan doctors (i.e. Gawä Dorje) grass”—is from 1757 by Wu lar fungus, which emerge with the mass. A Tibetan friend told me want to recognize Cordyceps Yiluo, but it was clearly used first green sprouts of sedge grass- how he had been admonished as a sinensis under a different name in before that date in China. In 1736 es in an otherwise brownish land- child for not cleaning his bowl the ancient Gyu Zhi [ rGyud the French Jesuit Du Halde, resid- scape. Sonam Doden, a Tibetan properly with the words “every bZhi], the “Four Tantras” [by ing at the imperial palace, butter dealer from Dardsemdo, dog is able to keep its bowl clean- Yuthog Yontan Gonpo [the older described how the court physi- who agreed to take my friend er than you,” which makes per- 8th, the younger 1 1th Century], cian treated him successfully with D WINKLER Sherab Gyaltsen and me on a Cordyceps in the ground fect sense when considering that but other Tibetan doctors and the “Hia Tsao Tong Tchong”. Du Yartsa Gunbu hunt, told me that minute, Daniel, I told myself; first Halde mentions the fact that it is the shadow of the tiny fungus you have to document it. Get out hard to “procure” and that its would help me to tell the stroma the camera. I had come half way value is four times its weight in apart from all the other little around the world to find some silver. brown objects that carpet the Cordyceps sinensis growing in There are other Chongcao ground in early spring, such as the wild after years of collecting species used in Traditional rhody twigs and withered stems of info and data, especially on its Chinese Medicine, such as the edelweiss and asters. Finding the importance for Tibetan nomads brightly orange fruiting elusive stroma by its shadow and farmers. Seven years after I Cordyceps militaris . This ento- sounded a bit better than the first encountered it in Bachen, I mogenous fungus grows all over Tibetan folklore that the caterpil- was finally looking at a stroma North America and Eurasia and is lar fungus can be best spotted on a pushing its way up from the soil. also widely cultivated. I came windless day, since only a plant Digging out the caterpillar across a zip-lock bag full of it in with an insect as its root would fungus I first used my knife to cut the of fice of a Chinese ecology tremble slightly. the turf. Kobresia sedges have professor, who swore that it had We had been crawling around very dense root systems. Often helped him to overcome his late for over an hour now at 4,500m Tibetans cut the turf into bricks afternoon exhaustion. [14,000 ft] and had not found a and build walls out of it, definite- There are a multitude of stud- single “bu” as Sonam called it for ly a form of ancient green con- Sonam Doden Cordyceps Hunting D WINKLER ies demonstrating the medicinal short. At least this mode of move- struction. Most of the biomass of potential of Cordycepin and other ment did not cause any altitude- Kobresia is concentrated under- the bowl is often licked clean scholars insist that Gyu Zhi’s “Da active components in Cordyceps induced shortage of breath. ground, a great strategy to protect after use. Along with the tea we byid” is clearly a lizard, not a fun- sinensis. Results include lower Scanning the ground so closely, I itself from extreme weather and were of fered bread and a tasty gus. bad HDL cholesterol, improved was reminded of the vegetation widespread intense grazing. The string cheese. I felt regret that I Thus, Tibetan Medicinal use blood circulation, and better uti- studies I had done in the early 90s “host” of Cordyceps, the ghost only had some roasted almonds to of Cordyceps sinensis is clearly lization of oxygen in the body. In in East Tibet, and in the absence moth larva, feeds of f these share. documented for over 500 1993, the latter was brought to the of the fungus my mind kept itself sedges, which make up most of Chatting about our Yartsa years, maybe even close to 1000 attention of the western world busy by babbling names of plant the grasslands of the Tibetan hunt, we found out that the fami- years. For sure Tibetan docu- during the track and field world remains I thought I recognized, Plateau, over which I was crawl- ly was also disappointed with ments predate the first references championships in Stuttgart, such as Kobresia pygmaea ing like a larva myself. Once I their meager harvest. Sherab in Traditional Chinese Medicinal Germany, when to everyone’ s sedges, Notholirion bulbiferum had carefully removed the speculated that there might be so (TCM, see below) texts by at surprise Chinese runners won lilies, and Meconopsis horridula humus-rich topsoil and tough few specimens because the area least three centuries. However , several long distance races. This blue poppies. Luckily , not far roots of the sedges from the front was well searched. This was a this fact is so far not to be found success raised eyebrows, and the above us a Tibetan family had side of the fungally transformed plausible explanation as evi- anywhere and Cordyceps is basi- coach partially attributed it to the interrupted their beautiful worm, I started carefully to peel denced by the multitude of color- cally presented as a TCM drug. fact that he had integrated singing, breaking out a few times back a thin layer of mycelium that ful dots in the brown landscape In Tibetan Medicine, Y artsa Cordyceps sinensis in the ath- into excited screaming. encapsulated the insect part of the moving steadily but trance-like in Gunbu is placed in the category letes’ diet, which is not restricted Apparently they were sharing whole Yartsa Gunbu. Finally, the slow motion searching all over on of “medicinal essences” ( Tsi as a performance-enhancing sub- their joy when finding some “bu.” larva showed its yellowish body this Saturday in late April. Also, it Man), which includes several ton- stance. This success, which was Their success told me, it should so I could take a photo of the was the very first week of the sea- ics. It is used as a tonic for gener- not repeated at the next world be only a question of time until whole organism in situ. We con- son. When I looked closely at the al strengthening, boosting the championships, is still being used we stumbled upon the elusive tinued our search but found only dug specimen, it was apparent immune system and increasing to advertise Cordyceps’ capacity Yartsa Gunbu too. two more “bu” within the next that the spore producing asci-cells virility, and is prescribed for kid- to enhance stamina, a scientifical- I marveled at all the small few hours. growing along the top of the fruit- ney and heart problems. It is also ly substantiated claim. azaleas that blanketed the slopes. Around noon, in typical ing body had not fully developed used for treatment of hepatitis B. If I had true fungal vision I All were about half a meter tall, Tibetan hospitality , the fungus yet. This is bad news for Unlike in China, where patients would insist that it is no coinci- kept in check by browsing live- foraying family invited us to join Cordyceps. In an ideal world consume the whole fungus, in dence that a stamina-enhancing stock. I recalled the beauty of their picnic. They had brewed a Cordyceps should not be collect- Tibetan medicine it is mostly pre- mushroom - our term “stamina” these shrubs in late May . Once I pot of tea, although to my tongue ed until after the first week or scribed in formulated composite referring to the threads of life drove by when all the surround- its taste did not invoke any mem- two, when they would have remedies, which contain a variety spun by the divine Fates—is ing slopes were ablaze in bluish ories of tea. It is better described released their spores to guarantee of ingredients to balance each made of thread-like hyphae spun purple from their tiny flowers. Set as a kind of broth, since lots of sustainability of collection. other, thus optimizing their ef fi- by the fungus, but I don’ t really on fire, my chain of thoughts salt and butter , most of the time However, no such regulations are ciency and minimizing side need to spin this thread too much, went on, probably all these slopes rancid, is added. But a cup of formulated anywhere yet, and so effects. since the story of the caterpillar had been burned before to create soup is just the right thing on a far Cordyceps seems not serious- In T raditional Chinese fungus itself suffices. good pastures. Pastures replaced cool spring day up in the moun- ly endangered, a promising fact Medicine “Dong chong xia cao”, uncountable slopes where dark tains, even if it tastes rancid. This for a very precious or ganism col- which is a literal translation of the Daniel W inkler is trained as a spruce-fir forests or ever green is the unique taste one has to lected intensely for centuries in Tibetan name, is regarded as a geographer and ecologist. He oak–spruce forests had grown accept to find culinary content- Tibet. powerful remedy for asthma and works as r esearcher and NGO and shrub lands owing to cen- ment in Tibet. At this point it might be time TB, and thus was rumored to help consultant on envir onmental turies of grazing and slope burn- I had my teacup with me. to explain what all this fuss is against SARS. However, its main issues of the Tibetan Plateau and ing. This must have substantially Every Tibetan always brings his about. This funky fungus, besides lure is its tonic function, to speed Himalayas. He has published on extended the habitat of the cater- own bowl with him wherever he its larva-fixated feeding fancy , is up convalescence, prevent sick- forest ecology, forestry, tradition- pillar fungus in Tibet. The yak goes, since it is also needed for a highly sought-after medicinal ness, and boost the immune sys- al land-use practices, and medic- and its herders as the best friends eating “tsampa,” roasted barley mushroom in the two ancient sys- tem and vitality . Of course, any- inal plants and fungi. His articles of Cordyceps sinensis ? flour mixed into the tea, Tibetan’s tems of medicine in Tibet and thing that boosts vitality will and photo essays ar e published Interesting idea. daily staple. Mixing tsampa into China. While there are plenty of boost libido as well, which in turn on his web pages [www .daniel- Suddenly I realized I was tea is a challenging exercise that fungi to go around for the 6 mil- attracts the segment of consumers winkler.com], where there is also looking at a minuscule brown takes practice and refined finger lion Tibetans living right among with the most disposable income, posted a much longer article with straight protuberance between coordination. First, one has to it, the demand of 1.5 billion Han namely men over forty . Many proper r eferences on Cor dyceps tufts of grey grass. And it had its guess the right amount of flour Chinese is a market force of a Tibetans perceive Cordyceps’ sinensis. Daniel lives in Kirkland, own shadow! But it did not move. and, second, the flour gets mixed completely dif ferent dimension. Viagra-like function as the main WA with his wife Heidi Schor and Could this be it? Was this the nee- into the greasy tea with your The western market so far is rely- reason why the Chinese are pay- two daughters.

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T HE M IRROR J ULY/AUGUST 2005 23 HOW I MET CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU

by Franz-Josef Heim lowed their thing ‘lock, stock and from Napoli. link to Rinpoche. talking about gurus and I told her barrel’, it was very difficult to see After the man left I finished the I was supremely happy at the the story of Assisi and she said, ow did I meet Rinpoche? what was real Christianity and pizza and went back to my cave. monastery; I could study , pray , “But wait, that is my guru, Naomi asked me to write what was not. At this point, I was That evening I met two fellows meditate, do yoga, all in a Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche!” I my story for The Mirror twenty-two years old and not while I was sitting doing my sun- Christian context. A dream had said, “What?! Are you sure?” Hwhen we met at the July retreat at exactly the brightest or very edu- set prayers asking the same ques- come true. I studied all the because somehow I had always Merigar and I replied, “Do you cated (I had left school Christian mystics, the considered this event as a kind of have a lot of space, like the whole early since I was taken Upanishads and the symbol, never as real. She said, Mirror?” It is dif ficult to tell a up by my dope Bhagavad Gita. After “Sure, he is the only Tibetan long story in a short space, but I research). It was really some time, my visa ran teaching anything at all in Napoli will try. a very agonizing time. out and I thought I would and he is a great master of I met Rinpoche because I was I eventually found my go back to Germany , Dzogchen”. I was very surprised; interested to accomplish some- way to Rome, looking apply for a residence visa I asked where he lived and how I thing meaningful with my life. for truth, living like a that would allow me to could meet him. She said he was First, it became obvious to me beggar, or Christian stay in India forever and coming to London in a month to that a life lived based only on eat- pilgrim, practically liv- live as a monk in the do a retreat in Wales and I could ing, drinking, deficating and ing in the churches and Shantivanam Ashram go, but later I got afraid, so I let sleeping, all the while waiting for going from holy mass with Father Bede as my the occasion pass. I now had a death to arrive but pretending to to holy mass all day guru. The plan was that I phone numb er of the L ondon enjoy, was quite ridiculous. Oh, I from morning to would stay in Germany Dzogchen Community in my forgot, of course, love, sex, evening, following a for one year until my visa pocket. This was in 1985. money and power were also com- more experienced pil- came through and study Meanwhile, my work was pro- ponents of “a nice life”. grim. I decided I want- Christian Zen in a gressing, I had clients and results, Nevertheless, that was apparently ed to become a monk Benedictine monastery I had many strange experiences how we lived in my society . because I felt I had during my wait. due to the techniques of When I was fourteen, that was finally found the truth When I went to this Alexander and a Swiss shaman I how it looked to me. I was sure I had been looking for. monastery to find the was studying with, and my stu- that there was more to life or I went to dif ferent priest who was in charge, dents asked me if their experi- there was no meaning at all. So I monasteries, living I discovered he had mar- ences were indications of enlight- proceeded to look for some. there f or a w eek o r ried his secretary and left enment. By the end of 1987, I met Rinpoche sixteen years two, trying to find my the order . The place many things had happened. I had later. This journey of sixteen place, my order . I was where he taught Zen was had many experiences, many years started with drugs, lots of very identified with taken over by a Jesuit. I dreams; I had received a them, expanding consciousness the Franciscans, but was also tion. Search guru? Their guru was thought that one is as good as the Manjushri initiation and a lot and reading all the esoteric books drawn to the the more contempla- a European esoteric man. The other, so I went there and asked to more. I was studying and teach- I could get hold of. After seven tive life of the Benedictines. A next day I figured no one else be allowed to study Zen until my ing. Finally, I felt limited by the years of dedicated practice, I Polish bishop who took me under would manifest and that some- visa came through. This innocent tradition of the Alexander tech- went to India and realized after his wing and gave me a copy of how I already knew my Catholic decision proved to be the begin- nique, and could no longer find taking a closer look at my gurus, the Philokaia, a collection of say- guru. I searched my memory and ning of the end, not only of my explanations for what was going those hippies ten years older than ings from a Christian master of after a few days understood the monk hood, but also my on with me or for my clients. me hanging around stoned in the Eastern Orthodox Church. next step. This all happened in the Christianity. This man tried to get Over the years I had read widely: Kathmandu’s pie shops, that Later I left for Assisi, on foot and summer of 1979. One year earli- me away from my Benedictine Ken Wilber, an every day reading somehow that road did not have begging all the way without er, when I had come down from guru into the Jesuit thing; in the companion ever since he was very much meaning either . I touching money, in the same way my Indian guru retreat in the end he had me convinced that it indicated by Father Bede, decided that I needed a real way , as St. Francis had done in his life. Himalayas and arrived in was pure madness for a young Trungpa Rinpoche, Krishnamurti, not some doped up fancy dream I arrived in Assisi and settled in a Rishikesh, I met a German man like me to become a etc. In the end, I felt maybe I states, so I looked for a guru, hut in the hills and practiced my woman called Maria Krieg. I told Benedictine monk in India and should look for a guru again. So I found a Hindu yogi and became prayers. I used to open the her about my doubts regarding that running away into a phoned the number I had kept his disciple. I did a forty-nine day Philokaia and just read a bit. One Hindu gurus and that I was inter- monastery was only for idiots and since 1985 expecting to hear I retreat with him on a mountain day I read: “Whoever aspires to ested in Christianity again, she cowards. He sent me to his psy- would have to travel to Italy or top in a mud hut in India, visions sainthood first of all needs to find told me about a remarkable chotherapy guide, Graf Von some distant place to meet this and all, waiting for “Babaji” to a perfect master or his road ends Christian monk she had met in Duerckheim, who headed a cen- master, and to my surprise John turn up. Babaji took his time, my in madness”. I was struck; I did- South India called Father Bede ter I had visited before my pil- Renshaw answered the phone visa expired and my guru proved n’t have a master and it was get - Griffiths. grimage to Rome. I went there, said, “You want to meet Namkhai to be very interested in using me ting obvious that my self-styled I had visited various monasteries studied psychotherapy , and took Norbu Rinpoche? No problem. to come to the West. way was not really working, so in Rome and had met a strange up the Alexander technique* as a Come to the Rigpa Center tomor- I decided that maybe I should what to do? monk clad in orange robes. This profession. I met a girl, fell in row, (more or less a mile down check my backyard first before I knew about a saint, St. Theresa monk told me that he was a disci- love and realized that three years the road from where I was living), looking further for strangers with of the Little Flowers, who said ple of that very man, Father Bede, of celibate living hadn’ t taught he will be doing a retreat there. It dubious motivations and got she would help all beings till the and that if I ever needed help on me a nything a bout p assion o r is the first ever in London. You myself a copy of the new testa- end of time. There was a specific the path I should go to Camaldoli how to deal with it. are welcome.” So I went, and, as ment. Originally raised strictly set of prayers done for a eleven Monastery and meet a certain In 1981 I lived and studied they say, the rest is history. Catholic, I had refused all things days, without fail. I immediately teacher who lived there. In Assisi Alexander technique and therapy Rinpoche has handed me the key Christian as outdated. I was sur- proceeded to do those prayers this all became clear, and I decid- in Basel, Switzerland. Over the to the magic marvelous world of prised to discover that what Jesus with the request to send me the ed to go to Camaldoli to meet this next couple of years, I lost my the crystal and the peacock feath- said was really fantastic. I took to perfect guru. After eleven days, I monk and ask him to become my belief in Christianity as a trans- er, and even though I suspected Christianity like a duck to water , went to the picnic area behind a guru. I went and asked him and formative force and grew in my that normal reality is not what it but I still felt that somehow the little monastery built on top of a he said no, but if I wanted to meet psyche and bo dy awareness. I seems, this vision was (and is) Catholic Church had made a mis- cave St. Francis used to stay in, to Father Bede, I wouldn’ t have to read many books about all reli- truly astonishing. For eighteen take. I was raised in the Church, look for food in the waste bas- go to India since the Father was gions and was very interested in years I have tried to live in this so why had I completely missed kets. As I approached, I saw a visiting this monastery in a week, Tibetan Buddhism. In this time I wonderful land of empty rainbow the marvelous teaching of Christ? funny looking man sitting at one so I came back and met him. As made my first contact through forms dancing in the sky . I know So, I took the Protestant way and of the tables and he waved to me soon as I saw him, I knew he was Ole Nydal and took refuge via the that I’m a rainbow too, but as I became a fervent member of the to come nearer . He said, “Hi, do my Christian guru. I immediately Kagyu order . Somehow I still soon discovered, old habits die first sect I met, the “Children of you want to eat something? I went with him to his monastery in couldn’t practice; my Christianity hard. Instead of living in my com- God”, and started to learn how to invite you.” He had a fresh pizza. India and took Brahmacharya, or was still opposed. fortable natural state home, I find be Christian in their way . After a I said, “Oh yes, thank you”. Then preliminary monks vows. After I graduated, I passed myself more often than I like in few months of running around he said, “I heard you are looking The day I arrived in the ashram through Paris on my way to exile on Main Street. But at least Kathmandu trying to show for a perfect guru”. I said, “Oh and Father Bede greeted me and London for post-graduate study sometimes I notice that I can find Westerners how great it was to yes, that is true”. He said, “I hap- said, “I want you to go down to in Alexander technique. In Paris I my way home. have all the answers, I got suspi- pen to know one and he is teach- the river and meet Rupert visited Sophia, the woman from cious about their way of interpret- ing soon in a place called fire Sheldrake.” I went to the river (a Father Bede’ s ashram. Sophia * The Alexander Technique is a ing the Bible. I decided that mountain and if you agree I can sacred river in south India) and recommended while in London method t hat w orks t o c hange maybe I should go again to those take you there now”. I said, “Oh, saw a man deep in conversation that I visit a woman who was (movement) habits in our every- guys who put it together and start- but is he Christian?”, and he with a woman. So I went and doing overtone-singing work- day activities. It is a simple and ed to eye up the old Catholic replied, “Oh no, he is a Tibetan said, “Are you Mr . Sheldrake? I shops. When I arrived in London practical method for impr oving Church. It was really out of sheer who lives in Napoli, he teaches am sent by Father Bede to meet I immediately contacted that ease and fr eedom of movement, desperation. there at the University”. I said, you.” He said, “Y es, and this is woman. When we met, I recog- balance, support and coor dina- The “Children of God” had really “I’m sorry, but I couldn’ t accept, my future wife.” At the time this nized her as the girl who had been tion. It is not a series of tr eat- devastated my mind planting you see, I need a Christian guru” interchange meant nothing, but standing next to Rupert Sheldrake ments or exer cises, but rather a some very devious double binds and he said, “Oh, never mind, I later it became clear it was a key . in the Shantivanam Ashram so reeducation of the mind and body. into my brain, so that now if I left will go then”. And he went. After I also met another woman in the many years ago and indeed she I was a traitor to God, selling out this meeting it took another eight ashram called Sophia, who later was his wife now. I did the work- to the devil and since I had swal- years before I met this teacher turned out to be another important shop and during a break we were

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