No. 98 May, June 2009

Upcoming Retreats with Chögyal

Photo: G. Horner 2009–2010 Italy August 10–16 Medjung, The Marvelous Retreat Sang at Merigar East. Photo: G. Ladra Oct. 2–10 Bepai Gumchung, The Hidden Collection of Buddhagupta Retreat Oct. 23–30 The sunfl owers are now Shitro Khorde Rangdrol Retreat Spain Nov. 13–17 budding Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Venezuela The retreat at Merigar East with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Dec. 4–11 June 12–21 Dzogchen Longsal Teaching Retreat Harri Jäälinoja Dec. 26–January 3 Mandarava Tsedrub Chüdlen Retreat reetings from Merigar East! For End of Merigar. In fact, getting here may be just fl y with Ryanair from Pisa or Bologna January 16–30 the third year now, our Master even easier. Most likely, you fi rst fl y to Bu- directly to Constanta, only about an hour The Drubchen of Mandarava and Vajapani GChögyal Namkhai Norbu is giv- charest and take a taxi downtown. When away from 23 August. ing Dzogchen teachings here near the vil- you tell the driver you want to get on a bus Argentina lage of 23 August. And for the second year to Mangalia (a holiday resort near 23 Au- The easiest accommodation in Merigar Tashigar Sur now, the normal teaching retreat, this time gust), he will drive you to a bus depot near East is the Romanian “cazare” system, February 12 focusing on the essence of the teachings the Gare de Nord railway station. Then you which means that you come to stay with Inauguration of Tashi Sur’s of , is followed by Santi Maha simply enter the bus to Mangalia (which a local family in their house. This is used February 14 Base Level exams and the First seem to go very often, I never had to wait by the native tourists as well. On the road- Tibetan festival with a Mandarava Level training. In addition to ’s for more than 15 minutes), and after some sides near tourist areas there are people, practice teachings we have a kumbhaka course 4 or 5 hours in a comfortable air-condi- usually elderly ladies, dangling keys as a by Fabio Andrico and teachings on the tioned bus with video entertainment you sign that they have rooms for rent. In the February 16 Kunjed Gyalpo by Yeshi Namkhai, which arrive! Once you know your way around, internet age, we don’t need to make the Sang and Serkyem Offerings means that altogether we have one month you may want to save the taxi fare (which daring move of making direct contact with February 12–24 of very intensive activity. depends on how stupid a tourist you are), the key person. Instead, the Merigar East Dzogchen teaching and practice retreat and take bus 790 instead, that costs only 1 offi ce can help you arrange the accommo- To some, coming to Romania may sound euro. Or if you arrive in a group, you may dation beforehand. And when you’ve done Venezuela like an exotic East European adventure, but notice it is actually a feasible idea to take it once, it just gets easier: you can just call March 8–12 when you make the trip once, you notice it the taxi all the way to the Black Sea. Ital- your hosts and tell them you are com- Tashigar Norte retreat is not so different than coming to the West ians are the most fortunate ones, they can ing again (ok, for this to work you maybe March 19–25 >> continued on page 8 Teachers’ trainings: SMS base, 1st Levels; Vajra Dance, Yantra Yoga 1st and 2nd levels Teaching Teaching News Trinidad April 23–25 Weekend teaching Chögyal Namkhai Yeshi Silvano Retreats in Norbu Namkhai Moscow and Venezuela Germany Tashigar Norte The Origins of the The Seven Line April 30–May 2 Dzogchen Teaching Prayer SMS Base Level Exam May 3–9 SMS 1st Level training >> continued on page 26 » Page 2 » Page 3 » Pages 14–15 THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

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countryside. Buddha was omniscient and sometimes he knew that there were some problems and for this reason he empowered things like a tree, like a , like a rock, from which the sounds of the teaching came out. People could hear and could understand and knew what they should do to overcome these problems, for example. One of these very important is called ‘Ngawo Che Chenpoi leu Do (rnga bo che chen po’i le’u’i mdo)’ which means the of the Devas’ Drum. In the dimension of the Devas there was a very big drum, but even though no- body was sounding this drum, a teaching came out from it which is called a sutra and is very long, not just a few words. This is also considered to be the words of Buddha Shakyamuni. So there are also these kinds of teachings of Buddha. Another is called ‘ du tenpai ka (lung du bstan pa’i bka’)’ which means that the Dzogchen Teacher Garab Dorje gave Dzogchen teachings. Dzogchen teaching goes beyond cause and effect, but what Buddha taught is kar- ma, cause and effect, and they are different. At the time of the Buddha, the Buddha understood that it was most important to teach cause and effect because most people couldn’t understand what going beyond cause and effect meant. So then Buddha said that one day there would be a teacher just like him who would give teaching going be- yond cause and effect. That is called ‘lung du tenpai ka (lung du bstan pa’i bka’)’ which means predicting about the Bud- dha to come in the future.

Garab Dorje The Origins of the Garab Dorje was the fi rst to teach Dzogchen teaching in our dimension in our epoch and he was born and taught at more or less the same period as , which means around 300 years after Buddha manifested death. And so Dzogchen Teaching that teaching of Dzogchen developed and then everybody, particularly scholars of the Buddhist tradition, immedi- An excerpt from a Teaching at Merigar East, Romania, June 12th 2009 ately understood that Garab Dorje was a manifestation of Buddha Shakyamuni and that Dzogchen teaching was the most important teaching. Why is it the most important? want to explain to you why Dzogchen teaching is con- We are practitioners and we approach this When you talk about cause and effect, this is the relative sidered to be Buddhist teaching. This is something in the way that Vajrayana is presented. First we consider condition and ordinary people do not have much knowl- I useful that you should know. ‘zhalne sungpai ka (zhal nas gsungs pa’i bka’)’ that means the edge or understanding or capacity to go beyond that. Of You see, in the Buddhist teaching, it is always consid- teaching of Buddha Shakyamuni, how Buddha taught by course if people know how to go beyond that, it means ered that Buddha Shakyamuni taught it. If we check in the mouth, which means oral teaching. This is sutra, Hina- they have a high capacity so for that reason in that peri- teachings that Buddha Shakyamuni actually taught to see and Mahayana. Buddha taught both of these orally. od there were many scholars who knew and taught that if there is Dzogchen teaching or not, we will see that no Buddha also taught some of the Mahayana teachings in knowledge and understood that it was an essential teach- type of Dzogchen teaching exists. So how should we con- the dimension of the Devas. Not all Mahayana teachings ing and needed high capacity. sider Dzogchen teaching? were taught in the human condition but were introduced When Garab Dorje was a small boy, he chanted one of For example, in the sutra style of teaching, some tradi- into the human condition later. In any case, these kinds the important Dzogchen texts called ‘Dorje Sempa Nam- tions of are very convinced that their way is the of teachings called the oral teachings of Buddha Shakya- kha Che’ which means the ‘Total Space of ’ and only teaching of Buddha Shakyamuni and they also do not muni are related to his physical body. However, this is not explains in a complete way how to go beyond cause and accept Mahayana teaching. After Buddha manifested Pari- the only type of teaching, but in the Hinayana, they only effect. When Garab Dorje chanted it as a small boy, many , most Mahayana teachings were not widespread know this type and do not accept others. Buddhist scholars heard about this and were worried be- in that period. Most Mahayana teachings were also not re- Another type of teaching is ‘jesu nangwai ka (rjes su gnang cause he was chanting a teaching going beyond cause and ceived by human beings. Of course, there were some hu- ba’i bka’)’ which means that Buddha gave permission. This effect. They thought that cause and effect was the essence man beings but mostly they were received by the class of also means giving the teaching of Buddha. ‘Jesu (rjes su)’ of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teaching. That was in Devas and these types of beings who invited all the Maha- means that Buddha was not teaching orally but asked one and they sent messages to India – in that period there yana teachings into their dimensions. Most of the teach- of his good students to explain something. Or someone was the very famous University in India where ings that were widespread were Hinayana. Especially when asked a question and another person replied after having there were many scholars. They discussed the situation Buddha manifested or death, the Hinayana received permission from Buddha who was simply in a and considered that it could be dangerous and should be tradition divided into 18 different schools each of which state of meditation, not giving that teaching. But later that eliminated which meant that some scholars would go to debated and only believed what they understood to be the came to be known as a teaching of Buddha Shakyamuni. Oddiyana and have discussions and then eliminate the real teaching of Buddha. They did not agree and argued, We have many teachings like this. problem. They chose fi ve or six pandits who were very er- so teaching developed that way. There was no possibility Perhaps you have seen the fi lm called ‘The Little Buddha’ udite, one of the most famous at that university was called to develop Mahayana teaching and even though there were in which there is a chanting a sutra saying ‘There are mitra. It was he who led the group and they Mahayana teachings somewhere, they were negated and it no eyes, there is no nose, there are no ears’ and so on. went to Oddiyana. was said that they were not really Buddha’s teaching. For He is chanting a very important Mahayana sutra called When they arrived, Manjushrimitra immediately start- that reason they did not accept Mahayana. the ‘ Hridaya’ which means the essence ed to debate with Garab Dorje. He began to ask him some But then after more or less 300 years, there was a fa- of the Paramita. This sutra exists in Japanese , questions to which Garab Dorje only replied with a few mous Buddhist teacher called Nagarjuna as well as many in and so on, and it is chanted in all words. And Manjushrimitra woke up. He understood other scholars and important teachers who were not only Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. Everybody chants this that this was really the essence of the teaching of Buddha scholars but also realized beings with a high level of real- and gives great importance to it because it is considered Shakyamuni. Then he apologised to Garab Dorje saying ization. Many of them invited Mahayana teachings from to be the words of Buddha. In the real sense there is not that he had done a very negative action and that he wanted different dimensions into the human condition and fi nally a single word in it that Buddha explained orally. Buddha to follow his teaching. And he asked Garab Dorje to ac- Mahayana teachings started to become really widespread. only gave permission. There was Shariputra – in thankas cept him as his student. Of course, Garab Dorje accepted Of course, people who are very much convinced about and paintings you can see two fi gures standing with the and Manjushrimitra became one of the fi rst and most im- sutra do not accept or Vajrayana. They say that Buddha sitting in the centre, the standing fi gure on the portant of his students. Then for many years Garab Dorje Vajrayana is not the true teaching of Buddha. But when right is Shariputra who was one of his very important stu- taught those teachings. you learn Vajrayana, and in particular Dzogchen teaching, dents – and then you know the Boddhisattva Avalokites- then there are explanations about how we should consider vara. And Shariputra asked a question to Avalokitesvara Oddiyana – the source of the Dzogchen teachings the teachings of Buddha. who replied with these words. When we say ‘There are no The place where Garab Dorje taught and which was the eyes, there is no nose, there are no ears’ and so on, these origin of all the Dzogchen teachings and the Vajrayana Teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni are the words of Avalokitesvara but they have now become teachings was called Oddiyana. It was a very famous coun- There are different ways of considering the teachings of the words of Buddha Shakyamuni because he gave his per- try for the Vajrayana teaching and everyone considered it Buddha. For example, in Tibet today we have all the origi- mission. This is not the only sutra like this, there are many to be a very sacred place. Later on, Westerners and schol- nal teachings of Buddha translated from etc., and kinds in the Mahayana. ars did a lot of research to discover the location of Sham- they are contained in 108 volumes. All of these are consid- Then another type of teaching is called ‘chingilab kyi ka bala and of Oddiyana etc. and they found that Oddiyana ered to be the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, not just (byin gyis brlabs kyi bka’)’ which means that Buddha em- was in present day and that the most important one or two volumes. So how can we consider these? powered it, he did not go and explain it to people or in the >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Yeshi Silvano Namkhai

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like when we think about fl y- Excerpt from a teaching on ing that we can’t think like God. The Seven Line Prayer of Having devotion for a statue is very simple. But having devotion Guru for the teacher is totally differ- Moscow May 17, 2009 ent, because we should always remember we have three dimen- sions – of body, voice and mind. But for example, if Guru Pad- egarding the Seven Line teacher; we just need a teacher, masambhava is manifesting in Prayer of Guru Padma- like we drink any water when we his real nature, we cannot see it Rsambhava, which is a very are thirsty. We don’t need ‘our’ because it is pure manifestation famous text, you know very well teacher. We don’t apply being, and only connected with the need that on the 10th day of the Ti- having, owning and so on. of manifesting, nothing else. It betan calendar, the day that Guru If the teacher is introducing doesn’t go into this dualistic re- Padmasambhava did many im- the mirror symbolically, it means lation where there is refl ection. portant things, he promised to we can’t have any knowledge We cannot recognize it. Then be visible in front of those who with out this interaction. What- there is the physical level, which have devotion. In this case, we ever we learn is double. That is is the human dimension. If we need to better understand how to why it is called dualistic vision. talk about Nirmanakaya, we have pray. We understood how we re- It is always a refl ection. Whatever this form. But that can be only late to the three paths of libera- we perceive is just like a mirror, a teacher. Because how do you tion as far as how we understand we are in this illusion and we communicate with a statue? You our . So we understand the never know which one is the mir- cannot. If you try to make a con- idea of existence is very impor- ror and which one is the object in nection with wisdom through the tant for us. front. You see this immediately statue, it is very diffi cult. Or if you Also the idea of ownership is in your language. We have this try to connect with something to- very important. Why do we need attitude of fi rst discovering ex- my girlfriend or a brand of some- nature of fl ying, there is no need tally abstract. Then you try to do to give a gift to our girlfriend? istence, then not losing this dis- thing. But I am feeling happy. It to fl y. Because in the Dzogchen it with teacher. The teacher rep- Because we want to move from covery, because when we say we is my capacity, my potentiality of teaching, we go into the nature resents all this wisdom at this girlfriend to ‘my’ girlfriend be- have, then we own. Then we are feeling happy. If I understand the and when nature is revealed and moment and what we are praying cause when it is ‘my’ girlfriend afraid to lose what we own. Then nature of being happy, then I can we discover our real condition, for at this point. We pray that we it feels different. But to do this we have projection. At this point be happy in any circumstance. So there is no action. There is no have the opportunity to discover it is not enough to enter into we have, we can do something, when we say instant presence, need of action. When there is no our real condition. the state of ownership. We have without owning. We don’t have it is connected with this under- need, and I think about fl ying, This experience is not some- an illusion that we have to make to do anything. If we need to own standing: entering into the na- I am like God. But why don’t I thing we receive. First we need to an action. Like we buy water, we it means we are working with our ture of things. It’s very diffi cult think about God? I don’t think discover that we have primordial have to give ring. Then we apply limited vision. to enter directly into something about God because I am limited. wisdom. This we can discover ownership. Then we don’t say, “I Our main limitation is that connected with nature of mind I think that my energy and my by observing our lives and see- met a girl”, we say, “I have a girl- one day we will die. And so if we because we have a tendency to capacity are limited by my physi- ing that we are limited. The more friend”. It means you are apply- are afraid of losing something, create fantasy. It is better to dis- cal body. Then someone starts to we discover we are limited, the ing the verb to have, ownership. we are afraid of the past. The cover through experience and think they will fall down. We fl y a easier it is to have a relation with This is our attitude. First we are, characteristic of the past is being then when there is something little and then the one with more teacher. We are all similar. At the then we have, and everything is afraid of losing something. Pro- in front of you, and you have a stress thinks about falling down. end there is this symbol of crys- connected at this level. jection is the future, like desire. clear understanding, then it can Instead if I have this understand- tal. The crystal means we have Then what does praying mean? Just today Rinpoche explained be a real experience. Then you ing that the nature of fl ying is like the same essence. According to It means we want to get some- attachment and desire, which is ask yourself, for example, do I God and I am everywhere, I don’t our dimension and circumstance thing. But praying is not asking like past and future. But the key need this, is this something real fall down. it can change. But it is just pre- for something, because what we point in Dzogchen is the pres- or is its nature emptiness, and There are two limitations of sented differently. The essence is really need is to discover our real ent. I have to be happy with my if it is emptiness why give it so time and space. Time means go- the same. We can be born in a sit- condition. So we need someone girlfriend now. I can’t always talk much importance. When I dis- ing beyond death. Space means uation where the brand of water to help open this understanding. about how happy I was, or how cover this, this tension liber- being everywhere. When we mix is very diffi cult to overcome. And Where is Guru Padmasambhava? I can’t be happy now because of ates. For example when we say these two things it is like God. then discovering that the brand He promised to be there on this something that will arrive in the we are praying, we understand This is a limitation of my human is not important can take also a special day, but in what form? His future. Since it is something I that it cannot be about being or vision. If I am expanding this un- whole life. But the moment we ar- form is his real nature, which is perceive, if it is something I per- having. Also we can discover it is derstanding and awareness there rive in front of the teacher means the rainbow body. Unfortunately ceive now, then I am happy. I will not about action, because doing is a lot more. Not only humans we have this capacity. Praying we cannot see it like this, we don’t die alone. If I discover a little bit, something means working with exist. Even animals have different means we want to confi rm this. have this capacity. How does this I can discover that I am feeling our limitations and our limita- perceptions, also humans among Then it will take the time it takes, work? It works through the pow- happy, because I have this poten- tions are time and space. themselves have different percep- but at least we try to be confi dent. er of transmission because we tiality of karmic vision. For example, our limitation tions, and children have different If we are not confi dent in our real have a teacher. Then we discover Because I am in this projection manifests very simply. I always perceptions from adults. So you nature then it is very diffi cult to that as we need water, we need of dualistic vision like a mirror, give this example. If I ask about can imagine that all these things realize something. a teacher. We don’t need a fancy then I think I am happy because of fl ying, everyone has his/her own are connected but our vision; a vi- Then we discover that every- idea. Then I say, think about the sion that is very limited and im- thing in our reality and what we >> continued from previous page nature of fl ying. Then you under- mediately we think about fl ying in perceive is relative. If we can be area of Oddiyana called Dumatala, (dhu ma tha la), where stand what the nature of fl ying an ordinary way. When someone conditioned by a brand of water Garab Dorje was born and from which originated all the is. Observe your thoughts. Some is asking the difference between you can imagine how our life is sources of the teaching, was recognized as the Valley. people think about angels, like perceiving an object and enter- totally conditioned. But remem- Today there are the Taliban there. So this is Oddiyana. And someone has wings and starts to ing the nature of an object, then ber when you close your eyes and they also discovered that Shambala was in Afghanistan. move like angels. Maybe they like always I give this example. The observe all, someone is observ- It corresponds with research into the biographies and the angels, so they have this idea. mind is same. It is when you fo- ing these thoughts. If you don’t histories of many teachers who traveled to Oddiyana and Someone thinks fl ying like poet- cus on the object of mind that you go after what is around you and and wrote down about their journeys. ry, fl ying and being in space and get distracted. The object of mind you stay in your situation as it is, But if Shambhala and Oddiyana are such sacred and so on. Some others have more is all this thought that creates all then there is presence. This pres- important places, why have they fallen into this condition? science fi ction style of going into these emotions. But the nature of ence is forever. That’s why for It depends on circumstances. We live in circumstances and space in a starship and so on. But mind is totally different. example in Tibetan Buddhism circumstances are impermanent. Today is not tomorrow. in the real sense I never said you We need experience to discov- we don’t talk about being alive We don’t know how tomorrow will be. That is an example should be limited by your vision. er and then to connect to the cor- and being dead. In the real sense of how circumstances change, particularly in those plac- But if I say focus on the nature of rect understanding to make this there is not even this idea. There es on the earth where energy is more concentrated, such fl ying, the nature of fl ying is mov- stable. If we are dealing with dis- is no problem of existence, there as the energy of the fi ve elements. Not all places are the ing and if we are limited by time covering our real nature, then we is no problem of ownership; ex- same. There are some energy channels, some important and space it means we are in one can have devotion and pray. But istence and ownership are con- points etc. and they become very important places spiritu- place and then in a few seconds in what are we are praying in this nected with action. If we are in ally, or even in a contrary way. So we can understand about another place. We are moving in seven line prayer to Guru Pad- our presence then everything is this and shouldn’t be suprised about it. In any case, these the air in this way. But if I want to masambhava? We pray that we fi ne. So this ends today. are the origins of the Dzogchen teaching.  go into the nature of fl ying, then I do not have this limitation; that am like God because I can be - we can be confi dent in ourselves. Transcribed and edited by N. Zeitz Transcribed and edited by L. Granger nipresent. So when I am in the That we don’t create limitations THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 ASIA

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ASIA Onlus Association for International Förderverein ASIA Deutschland e.V. Via San Martino della Battaglia 31 Solidarity in ASIA, Inc. c/o Gisela Auspurg 00185 Rome, Italy ASIA, Post Offi ce Box 124, Königswieser Str. 2 Tel +39.06.44340034 Conway, MA 01341-0124 USA 82131 Gauting Fax +39.06.44702620 Phone: 413.369.4153, Fax: 413.369.4473 Tel.: 089 / 127 630 32 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.asia-ngo.org www.asia-ngo.org/en/ www.asia-ngo.de

Reconstruction of Galingteng College An update from Tibet

Andrea Dell’Angelo

ear Friends, In the end a contract was I am writing from Tibet signed for the construction of D where I am carrying out two buildings. a mission for monitoring ASIA’s The fi rst is the building that projects. On June 9 I arrived in was completely destroyed by the Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, fi re last February and will have 18 to meet the local staff of ASIA rooms to accommodate the stu- coming from Derge. Unfortu- dents. Like the previous build- nately, after the revolt in March ing, it will be built on two fl oors, 2008, we “foreigners” are no using local seasoned wood and longer authorized to go into this then painted in traditional local county or into the whole territory style. of the Autonomous Prefecture of The second building – also on Ganze. two fl oors – will consist of a hall In Chengdu, Sonam Wangmo of about 150 square metres on the who is in charge of the Derge of- ground fl oor, and eight rooms – fi ce, brought us some estimates to be used as accommodation for from local carpenters based on masters who are invited to teach the designs and specifi cations at the college – some rooms for prepared by one of the most fa- retreats and a library on the up- After the fi re. mous Tibetan architects who per fl oor. is an expert in religious build- The work will fi nish in Decem- bles, bookcases, and the costs of After signing the contracts we to the practice and Teaching of ings. The negotiations, which ber 2009. The total cost of the building a plumbing system. informed Khempo Tashi Choepel Dzogchen. unfortunately had to be done by contract is 77,000 euro to which Together with the Khempo we who communicated the news to We express our most grateful telephone, were rather long and will be added the costs for the re- have also decided to include in the monks and the people of thanks to all those who are help- complicated. At the same time, construction of the old wing of the project some training for the Galinteng. He was very moved ing so generously. Khempo Tashi Choepel in Derge the college which was partially monks on the security systems and called us back to thank all who is in charge of Galenteng destroyed, the purchase of all and fi re prevention and to equip the people who, up to today, Xining, 18 June 2009, College was following the work the furniture and the equipment the building with all possible have taken the trouble to sup- Andrea Dell’Angelo and the talks between the carpen- for the college such as beds, ta- measures in order to be able to port this important place linked ters and ASIA. deal with this type of accident.

cm or 8.4 inches, width: 16.5 cm Raffl e to support or 6.4 inches. translation of 4th prize: a statue of Dorje Yudrönma, the Melong-Da- Tibetan texts kini riding on a snow-lion. Height: 31 cm or 12.3 inches, ne of the pillars of the width: 28.6 cm or 11.2 inches. tremendous work of 5th prize: a statue of Machig Lab- O the International Shang dron. Standing, fully gold plated. Shung Institute for the preser- Height: 12.7 inches or 32 cm, vation of Tibetan culture is the width: 7.7 inches or 20 cm. translation of various Dzogchen 6th prize: a statue of Vajra pani. texts written in Tibetan. Standing, fully gold plated. This translation work is a very In 2009 we did not receive Height: 27 cm or 10.6 inches, delicate process. As each publica- many funds and for that reason width: 24 cm or 9.4 inches. Changchub Dorje. Adzom Drugpa. tion guarantees a precise and cor- the International Shang Shung 7th prize: a statue of Jigmed rect translation of the real mean- Institute is organizing a RAFFLE Lingpa, one of the most famous “The Three Paths of Liberation - Bank Address: Hauptstr. 39, ing of the contents of the text, in to support the translation of Dzogchen masters, Yogi and The Essence of the Base of Santi 8262 Ilz, Austria general it takes more than three Dzogchen texts. tertön. Completely gold plated. Maha Sangha” DVD set: Vol. I– Bank Code: 38151 years to fi nish each translation There are only 100 tickets Height: 22 cm or 8.7 inches, III, the Santi Maha Sangha Base Account Name: Shang-Shung and to publish it as a book. Each and you can win 10 fantastic and width: 16.5 cm or 6.4 inches. Level MP3 by Chögyal Namkhai Institute Austria. translation is revised about 20– fabulous prices. You can win ex- 8th prize: a statue of Yutog Gon- Norbu, the “Santi Maha Sangha: Account number: 30387 30 times before it is sent to the traordinary statues, which you pa, known as the “father of Ti- Preliminary Practices of the Base” BIC (= SWIFT): RZSTAT2G151 publisher. In the last years many cannot fi nd in any shop around betan Medicine .” Fully CD, a round silver Longsal sym- IBAN: AT19 3815 1000 0003 0387 books of the “Ka-ter series” (for the world. The prizes are: gold plated. Height: 21.5 cm or bol pendant, and a golden Vajra example “Birth, Life and Death”, 1st prize: a statue of Samanta- 8.4 inches, width: 17 cm or 6.3 with antique gold plating, 8.6 cm On behalf of the Shang Shung Insti- ’s Advice from the bhadra Yab Yum. Seated, excel- inches. long. tute we want to thank you in advance Heart”) or the “Complete works lently formed, fully gold plated. 9th prize: Longsal Donation Each prize will also include a for your support, and we wish you series” (all Longsal books) have 16 inches or 40.5 cm high. Package. Includes: the booklet crystal with an A inside. luck for the drawing, already been published and at 2nd prize: a statue of Rigdzin “A Dream from the Display of the We would be very happy to Oliver Leick least two more books will be Changchub Dorje, the master of Moon in the Water.” Also includ- hand one of these prizes to you, Director of the Shang Shung published in 2009. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Seat- ed in this package are a round sil- so don’t hesitate to get your tick- Institute Austria All this work on translations ed, fully gold plated. Height: 22 ver Longsal symbol pendant, and ets now. Get them at the Shang Gschmaier 139 not only requires great dedication cm or 8.7 inches, width: 16.5 cm a golden Vajra with antique gold Shung Institute-Austria’s online 8265 Gr. Steinbach towards the Teachings, but also or 6.4 inches. plating, 8.6 cm long. shop. Austria an extremely long period of time 3rd prize: a statue of Adzam 10th prize: Santi Maha Sangha You can donate by credit card or Tel.: 0043 676 3221365 and a huge amount of money. Drupga, former incarnation of Donation Package. Includes: get the tickets for this raffl e by www.shangshunginstitute.org All translations are ONLY fi - Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Seat- the book “The Precious Vase” bank transfer: www.SSI-austria.at nanced by donations. ed, fully gold plated. Height: 21.5 by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, the Bank Name: Raiffeisenbank Ilz THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Shang Shung Institute

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We are looking for People who 2) By Bank transfer The Archive want to collaborate Video Journal 17 Account n.: 000 000 576448 Transcription Program We are looking for collaborators To: Istituto Shang Shung who: e are happy to an- Bank: Monte dei Paschi di Siena Oliver Leick · have been active members of nounce that the new Branch: 58031 Arcidosso (GR) the Dzogchen Community for Wissue of the Video ABI: 01030 ince its inauguration in ally, we offer a special Tibetan at least 2 years and Journal number 17 is already on CAB: 72160 1989 the international translation training program. · have followed or attended at its way to subscribers. Swift code: PASCITM1G99 SShang Shung Institute has The work we have done to ex- least 3 retreats of Chögyal IBAN: IT 60 Q 01030 72160 000 engaged in three main initiatives, pand and preserve our archives Namkhai Norbu This issue covers Rinpoche’s trav- 000 576 44 each of which corresponds to one is the SSI’s initiative related to els and Retreats in Peru, Tashigar of the three existences. MIND. This is probably the most Work to be done Norte, Kundrolling, Tsegyalgar, 3) Visiting our online-shop: The preservation of Tibetan important asset and responsibil- The retreats should be tran- Khandrolling and Toronto as http://shop-it.shangshunginstitu Medicine is the SSI’s initiative re- ity of the Shang Shung Institute. scribed word-by-word, exactly as well as Teachings by Yeshi Silva- te.org lated to BODY. We have achieved The Archives’ aim is to collect, Rinpoche speaks. no Namkhai in Russia in the fi rst great success in all aspects of this preserve, and disseminate ma- half of 2008. For information on how to sub- project, including the creation terials on all aspects of Tibetan How to apply scribe please write to: of a four-year training for those culture. If you know how to work with a The price is 50 € for 2 issues in a [email protected] who wish to study this authen- computer, you fulfi ll the require- year, including shipping expens- or l.velasco@shangshunginstitu tic and ancient healing system in The International Shang Shung ments mentioned above, and if es, while for sustaining members te.org depth, the production of Tibet- Institute is now ready to start a you think you have enough time of Merigar West the price is 25 €. an herbal medicines according new campaign called THE AR- and capacity to do this work, With the deepest gratitude for our to traditional formulas, and the CHIVE TRANSCRIPTION PRO- please send your CV to the Shang Payment can be made: Master and our thanks to all subscrib- training of students in Ku-Nye, GRAM. Most of the recorded Shung Institute. 1) By credit card directly on our ers, we send you all our warmest re- traditional Tibetan massage. Teachings of Chögyal Namkhai After checking your qualifi - webshop (service secured by Pay- gards! The translation of Tibetan wis- Norbu have not yet been tran- cations we will send you precise pal, no paypal account required; dom texts into western languag- scribed. This work must be done guidelines on how to transcribe our paypal account – The Video Journal Team es is the SSI’s initiative related to in order to make these precious correctly, and a contract to be [email protected]), The Shang Shung Institute VOICE. Books for the public such Teachings available in their writ- signed between the transcriber as “Birth, Life and Death” and ten form. Everyone is welcome to and the Shang Shung Institute. “Longchenpa’s Advice from the participate in this new initiative, When the Institute has re- posed timeframe, you will receive (o.leick@shangshunginstitute. Heart” were published this year and thus contribute to the preser- ceived your signed contract the a certifi cate that can be used for org), director of the Shang Shung by the international Shang Shung vation of the Teachings. audio fi le of one retreat will be Yoga, and 100 Euro. Institute Austria and coordinator Institute, and several more will sent to you. of the Archive Transcription Pro- be published in 2009. Addition- If we receive your completed Please send your replies to gram. transcription within the pro- Oliver Leick

tor of the Shang Shung Institute Tibet-Day with the Austria, Oliver Leick, gave a talk Job at the Shang SSI in Bucharest on “The unique treasure of Tibet- Shung Institute of an culture and its value for our ev- Romania eryday life” followed by Dr. Gino America 9th of May 2009 Vitiello from Italy who gave a very informative talk on Tibetan Med- he Shang Shung Institute icine. In between the talks our Ti- of America dedicated to Gino Vitiello betan friends entertained us with T the preservation of Tibet- Tibetan songs and dances. an culture, is looking for an inde- n the occasion of the 20th In the break between the fi rst pendent, self-motivated admin- anniversary of the inter- and second part people were able istrative assistant, who is com- Onational Shang Shung to sample Momo, traditional Ti- mitted to help building a strong Institute, the Austrian branch of betan dumplings, made by our future for the Institute. the Institute organized a Tibet- Tibetan friends – and everybody Day event at the Central Universi- really enjoyed them. After some Required Qualifi cations: ty Library in Bucharest, Romania. Tibetan music Oliver Leick spoke · Administrative background with The main aim of this event was to about the history, the aim and the Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo and Aldo Oneto. experience in general offi ce oper- present the unique treasure of work of the international Shang ation, profi ciency in word, excel, Tibetan culture to the Romanian Shung Institute. Then Aldo One- During the second part of my stay fi le maker pro [or other equiva- people, as up to now they have to from Italy gave an introduction Standardizing the four-year medicine course lent database]; Experience with had little information about the to Tibetan Ku-Nye massage and traditional Tibetan started again but we had other QuickBooks or similar account- richness of the various aspects of also demonstrated it on three meetings with the doctor even ing software is preferred. this marvelous culture. people. massage though she was busy with teach- The organization and carry- In the entrance hall of the ing sessions and with her up- · Ability to work with web and ing out of this happening was a Central University Library, be- coming journey to Tibet. During graphic applications welcomed; wonderful example of function- sides an exhibition of beautiful Aldo Oneto this time we considered the tech- ing collaboration between all the photos of Tibet contributed by nical/practical part of massage, · Ability to both work indepen- institutions founded by Chögyal ASIA, people could also get pre- ast April, over a period of and exchanged ideas about the dently and interact with the Namkhai Norbu – the interna- cise information about the activi- two weeks, I had the plea- two formats several times both at Shang Shung USA Board of Di- tional Shang Shung Institute, the ties of the Dzogchen Community Lsure and the opportunity meetings in her offi ce and collec- rectors and staff; international Dzogchen Commu- in Romania and about Merigar to meet the lady doctor Phuntsog tively in the Tsegyalgar Gompa nity and A.S.I.A. (Association for East, and purchase some of Chö- Wangmo at Tsegyalgar, Conway with people and students from · Excellent communication skills, International Solidarity in Asia). gyal Namkhai Norbu’s books in to verify and compare the tech- the school. facility in multi-tasking and com- Although at the beginning it Romanian. niques of Ku-Nye as they have municating with a diverse popu- seemed it would be quite diffi cult been adopted in Europe and in Without doubt, having the op- lation. to organize such a special event There was some very positive the USA, in the “on the ground” portunity to make comparisons in Bucharest as none of us live in feedback from the people who format and the “on the table” on all the different questions and Tasks will include, but may the Romanian capitol, in the end attended this event and hopefully one. on many practical aspects was not be limited to: it worked out really very well and some of them will also come for very important so that Tibetan 1. Maintaining accurate account- more than 150 people enjoyed a the retreats. We all did our very The fi rst part of my stay which massage will be able to adapt it- ing records of the Institute’s ac- fantastic afternoon. best and we hope that we were was during the Easter holiday pe- self to any type of circumstance. tivities. The program started with able to plant a seed that will man- riod for the traditional Tibetan After this break, we are planning some Tibetan music by three ifest some fruit in the future. Medicine school organized by the another meeting in the near fu- 2. Revision, consolidation, and young Tibetan singers and danc- doctor, we discussed the main ture with the instructors from update of the Shang Shung offi ce ers from Austria who played (Ti- Thank you to everybody who helped points for an eventual global the Italian Shang Shung Institute data bases. betan) guitar, sang excellently this special event take place. standardization and integration with the aim of going more deep- and danced very beautifully. Af- and spent many hours examin- ly what has already been done. 3. Managing communications, ter a short introduction by Dr. ing the audio-visual and printed such as emails, phone calls, mail, Gabriella Schneider from the material that the Italian Shang faxes, etc. Dzogchen Community, the direc- Shung Institute has. >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Shang Shung Institute

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pain as possible. The heat stim- Working with Fire ulates the point and produces a Moxibustion with Elio Guarisco therapeutic effect. Elio also gave us an introduc- tion to “Mongolian” moxa (a Susan Schwarz method using small cloth bags of herbs heated in oil) and cupping (the use of jars to create a rriving at Tsegyalgar East suction effect). In the afternoons, just after sunset, the dark- we had a chance to practice treat- A ness and the quiet of the ments on each other with the small town of Conway, Massa- cones, sticks, cups, and Mongo- chusetts, made it seem like late at lian moxa. Nearly all of us came night. Inside the light was on, the up with plenty of indications for giant wooden staircase creaked experimentation, occasionally as I walked up and into the heart with some success. of the old schoolhouse: the kitch- Our days off were fi lled with en. It already felt like home. The karma yoga, an expedition to Gekö explained where the dorm Khandro ling, where we enjoyed is, a Tibetan woman was making one of the fi rst swims of the sea- tea, and a big guy sitting at the son, and shared dinners at lo- table introduced himself with a cal restaurants. The therapists long, hard-to-remember Greek among us generously offered name. Two little girls were run- their time and expertise to class- ning from room to room, laugh- mates needing treatments, usu- ing and delighting in their new- ally combining massage, acu- found companionship. puncture, and moxa. As a group, Somehow the house fi lled up Learning cupping Photo: S. Schwarz we became very close, sometimes by the next morning and nearly sitting around the kitchen table every seat in the classroom was nated from the Tibetan me btsa went over the individual points As soon as the temperature be- until well after midnight. There taken. We had come here to par- or “fi re points,” but then again one by one. He used drawings on comes too hot to bear, the thera- were two birthday parties and ticipate in an intensive seminar it may also come from the Japa- the whiteboard to help us locate pist removes the cone. As a rule several Ganapujas. Yeshe cooked on moxibustion given by Elio nese mogusa. It works on energy the points, and when there was of thumb, we would apply about wonderful Tibetan lunches and Guarisco. The course happened and blood is particularly effective any ambiguity one of the class- seven cones in a row to each site. also provided breakfast with to begin just as the fi rst gradu- for wind and phlegm disorders mates served as a model. Some Another, more common, method home-roasted tsampa and home- ating class of The Shang Shung (rlung and bad kan). points are for treating multiple is to use a moxa stick made of made bread. Institute School of Tibetan Medi- For two weeks, fi fteen of us indications, not necessarily relat- compressed mugwort. The stick, Oh, to stay, and taste the po- cine was leaving for Tibet. received a transmission of sorts ed to their position on the body. usually a little less than two cen- tatoes we planted in the garden Our group included Dzogchen of The Silver Mirror: The Concise Others might be for a single in- timeters in diameter, is lit to pro- that last day. But we all had our Community members and non- Guide to the Practice of Moxibustion dication only. Moxa is good for duce a glowing tip, and then held tickets to elsewhere, and so we members, from countries rang- by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Elio phlegm, wind, lymphatic, and about two centimeters from the dispersed, taking with us what ing from the USA to Greece, It- is ideally suited for the presen- nerve disorders (ranging from relevant location on the patient’s we had learned from the Master aly, Germany, Iran, Argentina, tation of this manual as he has symptoms of the common cold body. Again the key is to time the through Elio and The Silver Mirror, and Australia. There were sev- been working on translating it such as coughs and respiratory process of warming so that you and from each other. eral second- and third-year stu- for many years and has gained infections to pains in the back get as close to the threshold of dents from the SSI School, also much direct knowledge of the and limbs), edema and other in- located in the old schoolhouse. subject in the process. The book stances of water retention, “cold” Many vocations were also repre- covers 500 moxibustion points tumors (benign or malignant), sented. Among the participants that Rinpoche has selected as cysts, abscesses, poor digestion, were a TCM practitioner special- the most important of a total of gastric disorders, mental insta- izing in acupuncture, tuina, and 3,000. When it is published in bility, epilepsy, depression, for- qigong, an aspiring acupunctur- the near, but not yet foreseeable, getfulness, illnesses caused by ist, a student of Tibetan medicine future, it will be a defi nitive ref- provocations, gout, and any kind training in India, an herbalist, erence resource for moxibustion. of arthritis. several yoga teachers and mas- It is a condensed version of Rin- The points are divided into sage therapists, an EMS nurse, a poche’s 3,000-point compen- groups: the back, the front, and midwife, and one or two people dium drawing on his research of the limbs (including the head). with no background in the thera- several different manuals as well In general, the area of pain can peutic arts. as the visionary teachings of his also be treated, even when there Moxibustion is a method of Root Master Changchub Dorje. is no specifi c point there. There healing practiced for centuries, None of the other Eastern heal- are several principal methods if not millennia, in many Asian ing arts has a system covering of applying heat. For horizontal countries. It uses the targeted nearly that many points. points, Elio’s preferred approach application of heat to specifi c The course was structured in- is to use small, hand-rolled cones points on the body to rebalance to three three-day sessions with of dried mugwort herb placed di- the elements and the humors classes in the mornings and af- rectly on the patient’s body. The when they are either in excess ternoons and two two-day recess- cones are then lit and allowed to or defi cient. Called “moxa” for es in between. In the mornings burn as close as tolerable to pro- short, the word may have origi- and part of the afternoons, Elio duce as much heat as possible. Moxa students with Elio at SSI USA. Photo: N. Zeitz

>>Job continued from previous page 6. Participation in the recruit- 9. Support in managing events, To apply please email your cov- Shang Shung Institute of America 4. Collaborating with directors to ment of students for the 4-year managing registrations, etc. er letter and resume to Anna PO Box 278 create and implement marketing Tibetan Medicine course: send- Bartenstein at a.bartenstein@ 18 Schoolhouse Road plans, including design and pro- ing out information to prospec- 10. Support the coordination of shangshunginstitute.org, or fax Conway, MA 01341 USA duction of publications (bro- tive students answering inqui- grant proposals and other devel- it to 413-369-4473. chures, posters, ads, fl yers, on- ries, processing applications. opment activities. line announcements, & newslet- The position will be fi lled as soon ter); direct mailings, and press 7. Being the offi ce liason to stu- 11. Assist in the support the ac- as a qualifi ed candidate is found. releases; dents of the School of Tibetan tivities of the Mirror (advertising, In your cover letter please refer Medicine, including maintaining mailing, etc.) to your date of availability. Also 5. Collaborate with directors student records on fi le. please include the contact infor- on development and consolida- 12. Provide support for the SSI mation for professional referenc- tion of offi ce procedures for the 8. Attending and keeping track bookstore es. Applicants must provide their maintenance of the Institute’s re- of all board meeting minutes own lodging and be able to work cords and documents, including and distribution of formal board Part Time, 20–25 hours per legally in the United States. donors and members database, communications and in general week. and related correspondence; being the point person for stu- dents, faculty, and BOD. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Tibetan Medicine

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Fourth Year Tibetan Medical Students go to Tibet Shang Shung Institute, US Two reports from Qinghai University Tibetan Medicine College (QUTMC)

Joey Mella, Matt Schmookler

Taken from email letters of Joey Mella about $ 511 US. That includes two and Matt Schmookler, both students baths a day, a room for the dura- from the fi rst graduating class of the tion, Tibetan medicinal herbs, unique program of Tibetan Medicine and any additional external treat- headquartered at Shang Shung In- ment (acupuncture, moxa, cup- stitute, Conway Massachusetts, US. ping, etc.) that may be needed. This program has been developed and This is really good. Also there is directed by Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo. are sliding scales for the poor, As the fi nal part of the 4-year and sometimes the patient does study, all the medical students do an not need to pay, and the hospital internship in a hospital in Xining, pays for their transportation back Qinghai Province, China. home – cool!

e have been run- The classes have been really ning all over the great. We have had the oppor- “Wplace, receiving tunity to sit with really old and teachings, medical rlungs, and skilled doctors, all of whom have working at the clinic. It is really received us so warmly and have This is us with some of the Monks/Doctors at Sku ‚Bum monastery/hospital. Photo: A. Weil cool here. Everyone is very nice, offered so much wisdom. We the Tibetans and Chinese. There covered an essential teaching on and in its correct place (accom- statue of Than Thong Gyalpo, We were then taken to the hos- are many young students here, rlung diseases and treatment, plished with medicine and exter- preserved herb plates of hun- pital where we are doing our in- so the energy feels very active and where the Teacher emphasized nal treatments in extreme cases, dreds of herbs and so on. There ternship. There we were taken to inquisitive. We are being treated the uniqueness of the “rlung” con- but with yoga and pranayama were two incredible things. One every department and introduced to dinners and sharing time with cept, and really how benefi cial it in general) then there is health, was the world’s biggest . to every department head that we the professors, learning more is to know it well. He included strength, and longevity.” It took us about 35 minutes to will work with. It is really hap- about the culture and status of many of his personal experienc- Joey Mella walk along it and look at each of pening! We got to see the medi- Tibetan Medicine in this now es and suggested the use of par- its features. It is so long at 680 cine bath process, the external melting pot of a city.

From what I gather the Tibetan Medical Program and hospital are very professional and cur- rently in a state of rapid growth. There are still some rough ends at the hospital, but the knowl- edge of healing is really working. There are many patients who real- ly benefi t from these treatments. For example, the medicinal bath department receives a majority of arthritis patients, some of whom have received Western Medical Treatment (they call it Bio-medi- cine) or Chinese medicine and have had no relief. However, after about seven days of baths, twice a day, and a specifi cally tailored Aku Nyima giving the transmission of the rgyud bzhi. Metsa (moxa) by Aku Nyima. regimen of Tibetan Medicine, the swelling, pain, and infl exibility is ticular formulas. Then we have verything is going meters. Breathtaking! It took 400 treatments department, the liver really completely gone. There are been learning more about rlung, fantastically. We were artists 4 years to make. It had and gall bladder department, the extreme cases that need longer but more related to the forma- “Egreeted very well every single king, deity, all the heart and brain department, the treatments, and sometimes peo- tion of the body, universe, and its and stuffed full of Tibetan food cultural features, medical, and women’s department and the ple come back in 3 or so years for subtle roles in health related to in the fi rst 2 meals here. Every- astrological images you could hospitals own medicine produc- where we go we are treated with imagine. There was also the tion facility. We even saw the ov- great respect. The people are world’s biggest rgyud bzhi, which ens for detoxifying metals and truly fl attering, kind and loving. also took four people four years so on. Afterwards we were once We are in a big dusty city, never- to make. It was so big. Then we again treated to a huge banquet theless, the heart of the ancient were taken to the top fl oor (4th), with a couple of the heads of the history and power of the land which we were told only special hospital. They really, really insist here can be felt underneath it all. guest were taken too. It was a that you eat and eat and eat and roof top pinnacle-like room. As drink and drink and drink. On the weekend we were invited we walked up the stairs we could to a Tibetan cultural celebration here the chanting of a monk. Today we had class at the school put on by the Tibetan Medical When entering the chamber, we all day for the fi rst time. Our teach- students of the college here. They a huge golden statue of the Medi- er is Rgan Karma Tsho Gnyis. He sat us in seats of honor with the all cine Buddha. Along the walls has been teaching us the Zin Tig, the department heads and teach- were 100’s of Buddha statues. which is the doctor’s experiential ers. They fed us tea and tsampa in knowledge. It is basically the real- the traditional way while present- We then were taken for a short ly practical simplifi ed knowledge ing traditional dances. tour of the pharmaceutical fac- on causes, symptoms and treat- tory, ARURA, which makes tons ments. Rgan Karma Tsho Gnyis Tibetan dance performance. Yesterday we were taken on a fan- of medicine daily. We didn’t get teaching has been very wonder- tastic tour. We got to see the Ti- to see the processing of herbs ful and made many things that more sessions, but most are re- all humors. Basically rlung is the betan Medical Museum, which because it is under construction, seemed so hard to understand ally cured. This is fantastic! most important, it is the prana was opened in 2007 and is the but we did get to see huge rooms and deal with in the rgyud bzhi, that governs our lives, we need only Tibetan Medicine museum where the raw herbs were stored much easier to understand. It is In addition, it is really inexpen- to control and have a concrete in all of China and the world for as well as the fi nished products. very practical for the clinic. Even sive compared to western treat- idea of that. That class was one that matter. It was unbelievable. We will go back another day Bad Kan Smug Po (brown phlegm) ments. The high-end treatment of those, aha of course, kind of The museum had ancient medi- when the construction is done to is easy to understand now.” for 10 days is 3500 Yuan, which is classes – if the rlung is balanced cal artifacts, a life size realistic see more. Matt Schmookler THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Tibetan Medicine

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Session II: Advanced Summer Intensives Mon, July 27–Wed, July 29, 2009 4-Year Course 8:30 am–12:30 pm, 2 pm–6 pm in Tibetan Medicine Price: $ 250 for Public Dear all, $ 75 for Students of the SSI Now Accepting Applications On the heels of our very suc- School of Tibetan Medicine for the Fall, 2009 Semester cessful course of Tibetan Moxi- bustion with Elio Guarisco, The Prerequisites: Tibetan Herbs I Shang Shung Institute School of Offered for SSI Medicine Program he American branch of the Persia, India, and Greece. Since Tibetan Medicine in Conway, MA Students and previous herbal International Shang Shung this time it has been practiced is pleased to announce further course attendees. TInstitute is now accepting continuously throughout Tibet, intensive courses this summer applicants for the Fall, 2009 class the Himalayan regions, India, includes foundation core stud- on the topics of Tibetan Herbs Discount for those who take both of our four-year School of Tibet- Mongolia, and Siberia, as well as ies based on the topics of the and Tibetan Astrology in Con- Herbal sessions: an Medicine. in the Western world wherever Four Tantras, complimentary way, MA. Details are below. $ 450 for Public With a history going back Tibetans live in exile. studies in Tibetan language and $ 125 for Students of the SSI over 2,500 years, traditional Ti- In the Fall of 2005, the Ameri- culture, and clinical practicum. For more information or to reg- School of Tibetan Medicine betan medicine is one of the old- can branch of the Shang Shung Students in the Shang Shung In- ister for these summer inten- est continuously practiced heal- Institute initiated the four-year stitute School of Tibetan medi- sive courses, please contact the Tibetan Astrology I & II ing systems on earth. Regarded program in Tibetan Medicine un- cine can expect to receive train- Shang Shung Institute secretary, Instructor: as science, art, and philosophy, der the direction of Dr. Phuntsog ing that thoroughly covers all the at [email protected] or Menpa (Dr.) Lobsang Tibetan medicine is an ancient Wangmo. This program closely traditional topics, presented in (413) 369-4928. Limited accom- form of holistic health care in- parallels the training of a tradi- English. For those students who modations are available on-site Tibetan Astrology is a tradition- digenous to the Tibetan people, tional Tibetan physician culmi- complete the fi rst seven semes- for a nominal fee, and we will be al practice used by Tibetan doc- which integrates the core Bud- nating in a supervised internship ters onsite, an optional intern- offering Tibetan meals at a rea- tors and . The study of the dhist principles of altruism, kar- and fi nal exams. ship at the Northeast Tradition- sonable price during these cours- Five Elements, combined with ma, and ethics. Over thousands Each semester of the four-year al Tibetan Hospital in Qinghai, es. trigrams, numbers, and animal of years, traditional Tibetan med- curriculum combines a tripar- China will be available at the con- American Branch, Shang Shung signs, form the basis for astro- icine evolved and incorporated tite approach to the study of the clusion of their studies. Institute logical calculations. Participants medical knowledge from China, Tibetan medical tradition that The Shang Shung program www.shangshung.org will learn how to accurately read offers eight consecutive semes- www.shangshunginstitute.org Tibetan astrological calendars ters, each consisting of 300 total for their personal use. hours. Each week, students will Please pass this information on to all participate in 20 hours of classes. who may be interested. These courses Session I: Beginners Among these 20 hours per week; are open to the general public. Fri, August 28–Sun, August 30, 16 hours are used for lecture, 2 2009 hours for Tibetan language and Tibetan Herbs I & II 8:30 am–12:30 pm, 2 pm–4 pm culture studies, and 2 hours for Instructor: Menpa (Dr.) Yang Ga Price: $ 225 for Public a clinical practicum. There are Herbal Medicine is one of the $ 75 for Students of the SSI School no electives or part/time study four lines of treatment in Tibetan of Tibetan Medicine options in the Tibetan Medicine medicine; diet, behavior, external four-year program and students therapies, and medicines. This Prerequisites: This course is open to are expected to participate in all course will present an overview the Public aspects covering each semester’s of the theory and practice of Ti- topics. Classes meet for two and betan herbal medicine including Session II: Advanced a half consecutive days a week. plant identifi cation. 30 % of the Mon, August 31– This way, students have time dur- course will be spent in lecture Wed, September 2, 2009 ing the week for study, work, and and 70 % of the course will be 8:30 am–12:30 pm, 2 pm–4 pm time for other obligations. spent in the fi eld, outdoors. Price: $ 225 for Public $ 75 for Students of the SSI School More details, and an online ap- Please make sure to bring and wear of Tibetan Medicine plication are available on our appropriate clothing for the weather website at and time that will be spent in nature. Prerequisites: Tibetan Astrology I www.shangshung.org. Offered for SSI Medicine Program The secretary of the American Session I: Beginners Students and previous Astrology branch of the Shang Shung In- Fri, July 24–Sun July 26, 2009 course attendees. stitute can also be contacted at 8:30 am–12:30 pm, 2 pm–6 pm [email protected] Price: $ 250 for Public Discount for those who take or by phone at +1 (413) 369-4928. $ 75 for Students of the SSI both Astrology sessions: School of Tibetan Medicine $ 400 for Public $ 125 for Students of the SSI vision, the GoogleEarth-sized ing there with his fi rst students? so most of the time we can be on Prerequisites: This course is open to School of Tibetan Medicine Longsal symbol is now written If those stories ever made you the . And not only that, the Public with white sand on a background feel a longing for contributing, since this is now teacher train- of black earth and some green really participating in person, ing for Zoltan Czer, under the su- shrubs. This element is fl anked well, here is your chance! For me, pervision of Adriana Dal Borgo, >>Sunfl owers continued from page 1 distance is only some 3 kilome- in the north, south and west by a even painting a road sign meant we have two teachers to keep an need to learn a little Romanian, ters, and it is not uphill like when green sea of sunfl owers, the sym- overcoming my limitations, so I eye on our steps. And this for a and even if you think you have getting to Merigar West from bol of ME. The sunfl owers are can only extrapolate from there whole week, possibly followed by learned, it is still nice that your Arcidosso. Walking through the now budding; will they bloom how great an experience it could a course on the Six Spaces dance. hosts can verify your intentions outskirts of the village can also while we are still here? On the be to work here for a longer time. Nice! Those interested in Yantra at the ME offi ce). The rooms cost be quite a lively experience for a east side, uphill from the Long- If you get interested, Greg Ladra Yoga are also served well, in the between 10 and 15 euros, and that city-dweller: I have upset many sal symbol, are the rented tents ([email protected]) will be mornings by Tiziana Gottardi usually includes the use of kitch- little dogs, been myself upset by where we have the teachings and happy to hear from you. and in the afternoons by Fabio. en. And in case you don’t like a snake; I’ve been hoping to pet courses, and the only permanent All this activity has also caught cooking, maybe your landlady a scared little kitten, been my- structure so far, the Meribarn. This year less people are attend- the interest of the local media: can cook for you? self slightly scared of walking That’s where the tentless karma- ing the fi rst retreat, and the tent many reporters from television through a cow herd and a bit more yogis sleep, and where the gekos is correspondingly smaller, so it and newspapers have been to the If you think staying in other peo- worried when passing a fl ock of will live throughout the year from is a very nice family atmosphere, Gar. Yeshi’s public talk in Con- ple’s home is too strange for you, geese with protective parents ag- now on. And for sure there will be everybody is close to Rinpoche, stanta on the 21st will be another you may opt for staying in a ho- gressively claiming their space; much more need for karma-yogis without squeezing. The teaching possibility for the local people to tel in one of the nearby holiday and the absolute highlight, I have after these retreats. All the pa- is now very practical, as we are re- fi nd a connection to the teach- resorts. However, this has the made friends with a donkey! per work required for construc- ceiving detailed instructions for ings. drawback that you are dependent tion is done, and the real work the Rushens, and then practicing on bus timetables or a car to get You have probably heard can begin (not to downplay the them together with Rinpoche. Plenty of space, strong winds, to the Gar. From 23 August it is Rinpoche’s description of ME, big work done by the people who For aspiring vajra dancers this re- Black Sea, hot sun, hard soil: in easy to hitchhike to the Gar in how it is like a mandala of earth stood tall against the bureocra- treat is an especially good occa- the words of the t-shirt, “Enjoy the morning when many prac- and space. And that the architec- zy). Maybe you have heard stories sion for learning the ME”! titioners come by car. And it is ture of the Gar will follow Yeshi’s about the beginnings of Merigar Dance, as there are two manda- also quite possible to walk. The vision. The main element of this West? How Rinpoche was work- las and not many people at all, THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Travels

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Nyingma monastery established A Spring Journey to Power Places by in 1501. It is in Bhutan said that the khandroma helped build the unusual temple. Inside Lidian King we beautiful ancient murals reputedly painted by the terton himself. The innermost sanc- n the early eighties, when I places that require dedicated ef- tuary contains a statue of Guru fi rst became a Buddhist prac- fort to reach. Colorful fl uttering Rinpoche (also said to be sculpt- I titioner, I read about a fa- prayer fl ags and chotens (offer- ed by the ), and behind it mous sacred site in Bhutan called ing receptacles) grace the sites. is a natural spring seeping holy Paro Taktshang (“Tiger’s Nest”). Chotens of varying sizes are also waters. On another altar are oth- Nestled in the forests and cling- found at any kind of juncture like er sacred objects connected with ing dramatically to the side of a the confl uence of rivers, near the lore of Pema Lingpa. In the cliff some 900 m above the fl oor bridges, on mountain passes etc., korwa Sonam invites us to don of the valley, it was here that Pad- where they are considered to chain mail armor (25 kg) forged masambhava reputedly fl ew on ward off negative energy. I would by Pema Lingpa, and to circum- the back of a tigress (a manifesta- like to describe some of the sites ambulate as quickly as possible, tion of his Tibetan consort Yeshe that impacted me. traditionally believed to burn off Tsogyal) to subdue a local demon Punakha Dzong (constructed bad karma! A few days later we go named Singey Samdrup. The fa- in 1637) is one of the most im- to Membartso, the “fl aming lake” mous Guru subsequently stayed portant and impressive dzongs where the famed terton retrieved at the hermitage three months in of Bhutan. Located at the confl u- several termas. Innumerable tsa meditation. A seed was planted ence of the Po and Chu (father tsas are tucked in nearby rock in my mind back then as a wish to and mother rivers), its architec- niches and prayer fl ags fl utter to go to such a “ney” (sacred place). tural splendor includes massive mark the gorge where he dove When our vajra brother Michele white washed walls, three central into the deep waters with a butter Salvatore recently organized a towers, and extensive wood dé- lamp in one hand and returned spiritual journey to Bhutan, I cor painted red, black, and yel- some time later with the butter knew this was my opportunity. low. Its towering height provides lamp still burning, and a The itinerary included many sa- a magnifi cent backdrop for the in the other hand! Eyewitnesses cred sites in Western and Central delicate lilac-colored jaracanda confi rmed the miracle. Bhutan as well as the intention to trees we see in full bloom. We The sacred site that touched do thun practice and ganapujas access the dzong by foot across me most deeply was also the when possible. a cantilever bridge, then up enor- most diffi cult to access. A stren- Our group arrived in Paro val- mous retractable stairs to a heavy Photo: M. Salvatore uous all-day hike following the ley by air from Delhi on a clear entry door designed to deter Tang Chu through the green bar- April day when the spring apple enemy invaders. We turn huge in their traditional colorfully em- beneath the lhakhang. Enter- ley and buckwheat fi elds, then up blossoms were in full bloom. We prayer wheels and view beautiful broidered cotton skirts and short ing the temple, I experience the a steep trail through the forests had several weeks of travel in this painted murals of the guardians silk jackets. One of the girls ex- powerful presence of the ancient and even further up ancient stone remarkable country of ancient of the four directions before en- plained that her friend suffered masters. The inner korwa (cir- steps led to Thowadrag, a gem cultural traditions and spiritual tering one of three large court- from a diffi cult stomach ailment cumambulation path) is dim so of a monastery perched high on mystique before our fi nal excur- yards. The busy daily life of the and had been granted permis- we use fl ashlights to view incom- the rocky ledges of the mountain. sion to Paro Taktshang. Onboard sizeable monk body is evident ev- sion to sit in the room with the parable murals under silk cover- More than two thousand years the tour bus, our Bhutanese erywhere, but the resident monks “machey” to receive their bless- ings. Behind the altar of the inner ago a leper nun from Paro made guide Sonam gave us a running are friendly and tolerant of visi- ings for healing. chamber of the oldest part of the a pilgrimage here to drink the account of Bhutanese history tors. I was moved by the beauty Of the many smaller temples oldest temple in Bhutan we see holy waters and was cured. Later while our driver Shatu skillful- of the artwork including many we visited, my favorite is the fabu- the luminous statues of Jampa, Mandarava came here to practice, ly navigated the endless zigzag outstanding murals and gilded lous Jampey Lhakhang located in Buddha of the future fl anked by as did Guru Rinpoche and his Ti- turns, driving us through narrow larger-than-life deity statues im- the Chokhor Valley of Bumthang Guru Rinpoche and Shakyamuni. betan consort . It is valleys with rushing glacial rivers portant to the Drukpa lin- in Central Bhutan, and built by Here, a monk holds a basket with said there is a concealed gateway and up and down steep mountain eages prevalent in Western Bhu- the fi rst Tibetan King Srongsten dice for us to shake. After mak- to a bey-yul, a hidden paradise in slopes of pine and other conifers. tan. (Central and Eastern Bhutan Gampo in 659. According to ing a small offering he will read the upper reaches of the valley. Now and then we saw pink, red The hermitage itself was built or yellow fl owering rhododen- by the great terton Dorji Lingpa dron trees. We stopped to take in the 14th century. After an ad- pictures of a herd of yak along venturous climb we fi nally arrive the road, watched a few mon- and are invited inside the Gonpa keys playing in the trees, spotted where the , young monks a wild pheasant. At the national and visiting nuns are reciting animal reserve outside Thimpu from a thick Tibetan text I recog- we gawked at the “takin”, Bhu- nize as the Prajnaparamita: “all tan’s national animal. The story form is Emptiness, all sound is of its origin goes that when the Emptiness….Everything is Emp- crazy yogin Drukpa Kunley ar- tiness.” rived from Tibet in the 15th cen- Later we hike above the her- tury, local devotees asked him mitage to see some sites and to perform a miracle. Instead he sit in silent mediation in a cave asked to be served a whole cow where Padmasambhava meditat- and goat for lunch. Feeling satis- ed. I separate from the group to fi ed, he let out a large burp, took eat my sandwich, but I fi nd my- the goat head and placed it on the self with some young nuns who cow bones, and commanded the pull me up another path to see strange beast to rise up and graze their friend meditating in a cave on the mountainside. Much to ev- about four feet above the ground eryone’s surprise the takin stood and barely big enough to contain up and loped into the woods. her form. Then they show me a The religious sites we visited Photo: M. Salvatore rock with knee prints of Padma- were many. They ranged from the sambhava, and up another steep massive and impressive fortress- favor the Nyingmapa tradition.) legend he ordered 108 temples our spiritual fortune based on the path are several stone steps of like dzongs with their grand In the southernmost court- to be constructed in one day to numerical outcome of the three the khandroma and some da- lhakhangs (temples) and state- yard of Punakha Dzong is a spe- subdue the various body parts die. Luckily my numbers are fa- kini script on a rock face. Next supported monastic institutions; cial temple (off limits to visitors) of a gigantic demoness whose vorable and he nods his head to we arrive at a more open space to the more intimate smaller and where the “machey” (sacred em- limbs stretched all the way from indicate auspiciousness! Later we where several large fl at stones poorer temples in out-of-the-way balmed bodies) of the famed ter- Tibet to Bhutan and other out- light dozens of butter lamps else- form a grand seat where they tell goembas (monasteries) that are ton Pema Lingpa and the fi rst lying regions! Guru Rinpoche, where in the complex. me Padmasambhava taught dis- equally steeped in legend and his- Zhapdrung (spiritual ruler) re- who visited Bhutan three times Another special smaller tem- ciples in the 8th century. A short tory; to entirely remote hermit- side. Near the temple I chanced in the 8th century, is said to have ple across the river is Tamshing distance beyond is a clear imprint ages and magical hidden power to meet several Bhutanese girls hidden several termas in a lake Lhendup Choling, an important >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Books

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and sentenced to years in prison. to the Western world is truly re- My Life My Culture: Dr. Lobsang Wangyal, His list of offi cial crimes includ- markable. His writings are like Personal Physician to His Holiness the ed being a traditional physician, gems for Western students of Ti- as well as being from a land- betan teachings. XIV owning family. Dr. Wangyal’s ac- count of the next many long years To conclude the autobiographic of prison and forced labor are section of the book, the reader Adam Adrocco heartrending indeed. Yet also he is treated to an intimate, heart- portrays many instances of great warming and surreal account of his brief autobiographical Lobsang Wangyal was born in heroism, and human endurance His Holiness’ last instructions to text presents the incred- 1920, in the Yarlung Valley. He through unthinkable suffering his trusted friend and dear physi- T ible life of Dr. Lobsang entered the Chongye Tashi Dech- of starvation, torture, and op- cian Dr. Lobsang Wangyal. Here Wangyal; a lifetime of steadfast en Gon Monastery at the age of pression. Dr. Wangyal applied we are invited to share the de- determination, moving forward 13. In 1944 he began his formal his medical skills throughout tailed heart advice on the Great through unthinkable hardships studies at the Lhasa Medical his years in prison, benefi ting Eight-fold Lower Instructions for to amazing accomplishments. School. Dr. Wangyal provides the misery of many who suffered the Transference of Conscious- The text is divided into two parts: touching and inspiring details under inhuman conditions. Even ness. This poetic and beautiful a personal account of Dr. Wang- of student life in the traditional during the time of the Cultural essay imparts the dreamlike se- yal’s life, and a series of remark- Tibetan Medical School. These Tibet produced many genera- Revolution, when prisoners were renity and bliss, the boundless able excerpts from his many brave students arose at four in the tions of some of the most quali- severely punished even for using compassion and love with which lectures on traditional Tibetan morning, recited many prayers fi ed physicians the world has a spoon instead of chopsticks, he His Holiness guided his close Medicine and related topics. In and also memorized lines of text ever known. Dr. Wangyal himself managed to continue to provide student through his last stage of his own words, Dr. Wangyal de- each day, which they had to recite excelled to become the personal medical care to save many lives. life. I was touched and amazed, scribes his traditional medical accurately before receiving any assistant of the famous physician as well as deeply inspired by this training, studying under some of breakfast. There was very little Kyenrab Norbu. Under his guid- In 1983, Lobsang Wangyal and story from one of the most ac- the highest regarded physicians leisure time, with a full schedule ance, Dr. Wangyal learned many his wife Saldon journeyed to In- complished and beloved Tibetan of his time in Tibet. He graphi- of rigorous activities year round. advanced therapies including the dia for the fi rst time. His Holiness Physicians of our time. His life cally depicts the traumatic years They memorized thousands of “eye opening” technique of sur- the Dalai Lama invited them to story, along with the fantastic ex- he spent in prisons and forced lines of text, and learned to iden- gically excising cataracts. stay and serve the community. In cerpts from his unique lectures, labor. With his eventual arrival to tify and apply hundreds of me- the following years, Dr. Wangyal makes “My Life My Culture” a India, Dr. Wangyal provides ac- dicinal herbs. At graduation, the Dr. Wangyal’s life changed dras- would become one of the person- wonderful contribution to the counts of his years of service to top students were highly lauded, tically with the onset of Tibet’s al physicians to His Holiness. He modern works of Tibetan Cultur- His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the while the lowest ranking stu- foreign occupation, beginning in traveled the world, giving many al literature. community of Dharamsala, and dents were compelled to act like 1949. Following the unsuccess- teachings on traditional Tibetan his many travels in the West. donkeys, paraded around carry- ful Tibetan uprising in 1959, Dr. Medicine in the West. Dr. Wang- ing heavy loads at the graduation Wangyal was removed from his yal’s extensive work to bring the ceremony. It is in this way that position at Lhasa Medical School, rich science and culture of Tibet

>> Bhutan continued from previous page has been carefully rebuilt as be- fore, each stone painstakingly carried up by devoted monks and each mural drawn and painted ex- actly as before. The murals of the life of Guru Rinpoche, his twen- ty-fi ve disciples and eight mani- festations are incredibly beauti- ful. We are fortunate to do a short tun in the upper lhakhang. Needless to say, I am very hap- py my wish came true and I was able to travel to the Land of the Thunder Dragon to directly expe- rience power places whose histo- ry and legends have inspired my Photo: P. Paolo own practice for over twenty-fi ve years. To have made this two- provides us with horses for the ethereal waterfall is visible cas- week pilgrimage was a practice fi rst leg up the mountain. The cading down from the top of the in itself. But to absorb the inner fi nal 45 minutes we climb up cliff into the deep gulley below. richness will take a much longer ancient stone steps, then drop I am not surprised when I later time! steeply down into a gully, cross learn it is the crystal light of one a bridge and climb back up more hundred thousand dakinis. Al- steps before reaching the hermit- though the original monastery age. At the bridge a shimmering was destroyed in a fi re in 1998 it

Photo: M. Salvatore of the Guru’s right foot in a large food and supplies to this remote rock. I am quite overwhelmed. place. We leave what monetary So many wonders! So much offerings we can and begin the powerful energy in this magical long descent to the valley. place! At the end they point out The next week we return to a building above the hermitage Paro valley and end our journey where monks are engaged in a with a visit to the famous Takt- three-year retreat program. But shang monastery, the “ney”/sa- back at the hermitage our group cred site that inspired my wish meets with the Khenpo, who ex- so many years ago. It is another plains how diffi cult it is to fund challenging hike, but only half as the monks’ trainings and to get far as Thowadrag. Sonam kindly THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Books

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Gyalpo commentary’, but he had Kunjed Gyalpo Series to perform his many monastery duties for years. Eventually the Ornament of the State necessary conditions appeared, of : like people to assume his admin- istrative jobs, free time, the her- Commentary on the All-Creating King mitage named ‘pleasure grove of of the Pure Perfect Presence immortal attainment’, and paper. Although he felt his intelligence of the Great Perfection and skill were insuffi cient to even Vol. One: Commentary on Chapters 1–10 of the pay lip service to the profound Kun.byed rgyal po by Khenpo Zhenphen Öser meaning of the Kunjed Gyalpo tan- tra, he invoked the , made Translated from the Tibetan by Jim Valby offerings and requested permis- sion from the guardians to write Jim Valby Publications, 2008, 315 pages the commentary. He asked that the guardians not punish him for Photo: G. Horner his arrogance. He completed the commentary, and made the wish ow to begin to “review” garden. Reading Khenpo Zhen- Mirror: Why has there been so Mirror: Who was Khenpo Zhen- that the defi nitive secret essence Jim Valby’s translation phen Öser’s commentary on this little attention paid to the root phen Öser and how did he come of the teaching spread every- Hand publication of Vol- most important of root tantras tantras among Tibetan scholars to write this commentary, which where in all times and directions, ume One in his Kunjed Gyalpo Se- will be familiar to those who have and western translators? seems very ambitious with 2400 and remain for a long time. ries – as though this is an area I studied the Precious Vase by Chög- Jim: Dzogchen root tantras and folios. am qualifi ed to speak about pub- yal Namkhai Norbu. lungs form the basis of Dzogchen Jim: The commentary named Mirror: When can we expect licly, let alone comprehend. As teachings, which were Ornament of the State of Samantab- Volume Two? always, I fi nd myself awed by the Jim has organized the material so re-transmitted on this planet by hadra was begun by the 19th Jim: Volume two is the commen- profound depth of the Dzogchen that we can read the original text, Guru Garab Dorje about 300BC. century Khenpo Thubten Pema tary on Chapters 11 to 29 that will tradition and the loving certitude and then commentary of each The concepts and language in Rabgye with his student Khen- be printed in August 2009 after many masters have expressed in word or syllable, followed by ex- these texts are very diffi cult to un- po Zhenphen Öser, who com- Catharine Ishii & I complete the their efforts to clarify for us the tensive quotes from other schol- derstand. Also their contents are pleted the text after his teacher’s editing. ‘literature’ of these ancient texts ars such as Longchenpa. His controversial and self-secret. For death. The seat of Khenpo Zhen- so that we – mere ordinary indi- English is clear, fresh and consis- example, many narrow-minded phen Öser was the mgo tsha dgon Mirror: Thank you, Jim. viduals, might attain greater un- tent with a vocabulary already fa- masters and practitioners do not Monastery founded derstanding and thus arrive at miliar to practitioners in the lin- recognize the immediacy and in 1182 in ser shul rdzong county, our own realization – sooner or eage of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. totality of primordial enlighten- dkar mdzes khul prefecture, Sich- later. Being of the later version Catherine Ishii, Jim’s partner, ment, so they create some fantasy uan province. At the end of the myself, I remain deeply indebted has done a marvelous job of ed- ‘enlightenment’ which depends massive 2400 page commentary, to all those past and present fa- iting the manuscript resulting in upon their struggle, practice, ac- Khenpo Zhenphen Öser explains cilitators and translators without remarkably lucid prose. ceptance, rejection and karma. how he came to write it. He says whom my own understanding Also, many modern masters and that he and his teacher com- would falter. Jim’s commitment Jim Valby has dedicated his life to practitioners focus exclusively on posed the basic outline together, to translate and publish both this translating the original root texts particular Terma teachings, like but they found it very diffi cult to diffi cult root text accompanied by – an extraordinary feat by a mea- the Longchen Nyingthig, which ‘implement the execution’ so the the Khenpo’s commentary serves sure. Heroically, he has plowed are only tiny pieces of the totality text remained incomplete for a a great need towards this end to ahead despite obstacles. At last, of Dzogchen transmission. Some long time. Just before he ‘went all practitioners and scholars in- the fruits of his labor can be seen modern masters have never seri- to the space state’, Thubten terested in the Dzogchen teach- here is this impressive fi st vol- ously studied the root Kama texts Pema Rabye’s last instruction ings. ume in the series. We look for- and have not applied the related to Khenpo Zhenphen Öser was ward to many more in the com- practices. But some masters and ‘you must complete the Kunjed In general, the Tibetan language ing months and years. practitioners seriously study the Gyalpo commentary’. Khenpo is rich in the nuances of the sci- magnifi cent texts of Longchen- Zhenphen Öser was also repeat- ence of mind. We are very fortu- pa written about 1600 years after edly encouraged by another spiri- nate that we live in an era where An Interview Garab Dorje. Longchenpa often tual friend to complete the Kunjed there is not only literacy but also with Jim Valby quotes page after page from the the circumstance where we can Kama teachings of Garab Dorje have access to rare bodies of by Jacqueline Gens to explain and support his im- knowledge such as the root tan- for the Mirror portant points. This means that tras, hitherto diffi cult to access. Longchenpa understands that But more importantly we have Mirror: Jim, can you talk a little Garab Dorje’s Kama teachings Dzogchen teachers in our era who about how you came to translate are the essential source of oral are living embodiments of the this particular Dzogchen text? transmission. transmission. As students of the Jim: In January 1983 Chogyal Dzogchen Master Chögyal Nam- Namkhai Norbu said, “In the Mirror: What is the style and pur- khai Norbu, who has himself, United States we will do big pose of the Tibetan tradition of perfected his own knowledge of translation projects” and he ‘as- commentaries? these texts through extraordinary signed’ 21 chapters of the Kunjed Jim: A traditional Tibetan com- efforts and unwavering dedica- Gyalpo, the principal Dzogchen mentary assumes that the reader tion, we are indebted to him for Tantra, to each of 4 in- is already a little familiar with delivering into the chaos of west- terested American disciple-Ti- the teaching in the root text. A ern life for the fi rst time a river of betologists. I translated my 21 small circle placed underneath a unbroken energy and knowledge chapters, and then also the other syllable in the commentary indi- of the primordial state elucidat- 63 chapters by about 1987. But I cates that this syllable occurs in ed in the root tantras. Without never published the translation the root text. In English transla- such a master or masters, read- because there were so many pas- tion, I indicate this syllable with ing these texts remains nothing sages I did not understand. In bold print. Each syllable of the more than mental exercises. 2005 some Ukrainian and Rus- root text occurs in the commen- sian sponsors of our Dzogchen tary. The commentator empha- In all honestly, my limited expe- Community translation projects sizes the meanings of all topics rience of the Kunjed Gyalpo is that purchased thousands of Adobe- by using the syllables of the root is diffi cult to read and often in- readable PDF digital Tibetan texts text in an expanded explanation. comprehensible. Translations from the Tibetan Buddhist Re- Then the commentator quotes fall fl at for what we are relating source Center founded by Gene one or more other tantras, lungs, to is an extreme abbreviation re- Smith. Volumes 4010 to 4012 of sutras, or great masters to sup- quiring the golden key of a mas- W25983 are the 2400 page com- port, defend and amplify his ter capable of unlocking the jew- mentary on the Kunjed Gyalpo. interpretation of the profound els within like one of those small Now there is the real possibility meaning. sponges which, when dropped I can complete my Master’s fi rst into water, unfurl their complex assignment. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Books

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From Dedication Jacqueline Gens has addressed * Ms. Levi has also published w. Shivastan, Av- ‘Gods Attained The Then the poems: Primo Pensiero, herself to this community, beyond enue A & Ninth Street, 2006 & forthcoming The Deep Diamond, a broadside, 2009. Human Realm’ for Gelek Rinpoche, Visitation hesitation, ‘beyond doubt’. for Allen, The Butterfl y Lover, ev- Poetry has been suspected (see Notes: ery ’s dream of liberation, above) of ‘spiritual anarchism’. Dzog-chen: Ati yoga, highest of the 9 vehicles of the . Primo Pensiero Wild Leeks,Visiting Tzintzunsan Jacqueline comforts with her light Bhumi: the 10 steps of liberation, in the Maha- Jacqueline Gens for (known for authority but as we peruse the el- yana school of Tibetan Buddhism. her ground breaking book Wom- egance of her work, this same au- Shivastan Publishing en Of Wisdom): ‘The place where thority transforms into blessing, Cooperative fi re ends, marked in bronze, said gods that is, into the message that will To order Primo Pensiero: 54E Tinker Street attained the human realm outside the liberate us from the tyranny of our write Jacque line Gens at Woodstock, NY 12498 village of Tzintzunsan’, with subtle minds, our judgment, our dualis- [email protected] for instructions. www.shivastan.org metaphors from the Western tic view. Price of $ 12.00 includes internation- canon ‘the slow arrow’, ‘guardians One cannot say that transmis- al postage and personal signing. Louise Landes-Levi at the gate’ (with a reference to a sion is lost, no, as the master ceremony 20 years after the death said, ‘the wings of the birds of of Chogyam Trungpa), subtler Mt. Meru were clothed in gold’. “There’s nothing stable in the We carry this transmission. Jac- world; uproar your only music” “First, sound; light; queline has carried her under- John Keats then rays riding waves standing into verse of shocking of endless becoming, richness. Dzogchen goes beyond I who dismiss or certainly resist, Your golden vowel bhumi, we do not apprehend the fi ercely at times, authority, am Calls us home. steps, (the 10 bhumill, as in the drawn, like a moth to light, by We want you to stay. Mahayana). Behold Jacqueline: Jacqueline Gens Primo Pensiero Always one foot in another realm nothing to tempt us with single bhumi – ‘fi rst thought, best almost for its authority – author- Exceptnothing the small to tempt map us of with our world thought’ – she has drawn her ar- ity, in the garb of constantly shift- CallingExcept the you small back map. of our world row & she has hit her mark. ing metaphor, smile, rhyme & even reason. Jacqueline’s’ poems From Uproar’s Music – For Chögyal still the lesser-known metaphors “Rely not on Nethartha (indi- are post modern, yet traditional & Namkhai Norbu on His Birthday (but no less familiar for scholar rect meaning/language) but on linguistically, in their depth, ex- To this pauper, to this traveler, Gens) from the oriental world. Nithartha (direct meaning/experi- tremely elegant: picking up phrases in a dozen The Final Poem for Allen is a tour ence).” The Buddha de force, evoking the great man, I beg you to pierce my pride with your katvanga. without mention of him, a fi nal Louise Landes Levi NYC In oldenkatvanga. times, I would burn, left out on a mountainside at birth, mockery for his & our obsession 31. 12. 2008–4. 1. 2009 Inwhipped, olden times, subdued, I would or crushed. burn, left But out I was rescued with fame & glory, at the same through knowledge of you. time, respecting the ultimate humility, even anonymity of the From Primo Pensiero countries ‘she (LLL) speaks Mer- poet & his work ‘this is as far as you Authoritative emptiness sustains igaresque’ said the master one are allowed to go. I don’t have the wa- the elocution – transforming tu- night at the Aiuole [Hotel]. I ter rights for your passage’ he says in mors into lost children, masters greatly admire the honest New dream to his loyal assistant. into loyal friends and the grime England diction & the erudition of the underground into the por- we encounter in the poetry of II stood quietly to your sideside waitingwaiting toto assist you tal of lapis. Emptiness masquer- Jacqueline Gens: assist yet not you disturb your concentration. ading as eloquence is very at- Finished, you handed me a sheaf of papers, tractive. Why, because poetry is The real miracle year after year Here, these are for you, for translation non-didactic instruction, a kind The leeks grow only in this one place. of spiritual anarchy. Canons of Each spring I try to remember instruction migrate from one Their irony taste drawn from deep soil humus, cultural milieu to the other, our decayedsoil humus, pine, juniper, crushed maple leaves, potential, in poetic or other en- Moss,decayed and pine, rotted juniper, wood crushed – maple deavor. It does not depend on the Oftenleaves, I forget the wild leeks of Keats Brock Road forms a culture produces. IMoss, can’t andremember rotted howwood we – ended up inOften this I Newforget England the wild Neighborhood leeks of Keats – Jacqueline is well known for her administrative skills, her kind- From Wild Leeks From Visitation ness, her years of devotion to such The mother (‘she’s here in the woods Behold Jacqueline, the scholar, luminaries as Allen Ginsberg, to now’) the greater Mother, the lab- the , the gardener such beloved lamas, as the doctor yrinth, the river of death, the sub- (Gens amazes with her knowl- Trogawa Rinpoche. A long time tle relation between master & dis- edge of the natural world, the student of Chögyal Namkhai ciple presented in its modern for- poems suffused with names of Norbu Rinpoche, she chose, hav- mat – Jacqueline & her publisher/ plants, minerals, geologic & eco- ing studied (for decades) Tantric book designer Shiv Mira bito have logic phenomena) the teacher, view & practice, the path of ATI. outdone themselves with this vol- the student, who yet has within She walked out, she integrated, ume that feels, to the touch, like a her heart a treasury of verse, a she became – a poet. She is cre- fl ower, like a heavily scented fl ow- veritable treasury. ating new forms, inspiring us w. er, Anthurium, or Cymbidium. Its her efforts, when most feel their parts fi t perfectly together. One In general, one whose work is work is done, to begin anew (as feels this even before opening its part of a series of books, at least founder & co-director of the MFA orange, red & black which bears a in the ‘law’ of the literary world, Program in poetry at New Eng- line drawing of Machig Labdron, cannot review another in the land College). She served on the (commissioned by Gens in 1994) same series.* So once again, I board for the Shang Shung Insti- from Glen Eddy to whom the break with tradition & salute my tute. She holds an MAT in Inno- book is dedicated. fellow poet & traveler, scholar & vative Technology from Marlboro muse. The wish-fulfi lling gem College – see her site ‘poetry- In memory of Glen Roger Eddy has created a bouquet of verses, Dzogchen Atiyoga Book Available mind’ tsetso.blogspot.com. (1946–2006) which in their brevity seem as Ornament of the In dreams, they come with out light as the heaviest tear shed on PRIMO PENSIERO is a must for In dreams,stretched they come with out stretched the site of pilgrimage. I say, with- State of Samantabhadra those who aspire to the Written hands, the color of malachite out hesitation, that of the 50 or Volume One: Commentary on Word, eloquent & dense with giving, magnetizing more books Shiv Mirabito has Chapters 1–10 of the Kunjed Gyalpo scholarship, a vocabulary that is palms formed by lead and wind, produced, this one is, for me, a pleasure: torrential waters – one of the most remarkable. He Written in Tibetan by Khenpo Zhenphen Öser is to be saluted for bringing Pri- Translated into English by Jim Valby As they pass to me the white lotus bud mo Pensiero to the attention of the bud Grown up from mud, international poetry community. [email protected] Grown up from mud, http://sites.google.com/site/jimvalbythings/ Its stainless bloom opens. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Books

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Available shortly from Shang Shung Editions The names of the previous incar- He was then born as Kunpang nations of the Lord of the Man- Avadhutipa Sherab Gyatso,84 the Togden Shakya Shri dala70 Shakya Shri, whose em- master of Pema Karpo, illumina- The Life and Liberation of a Tibetan Yogin bodiments as scholar and saint tor of the doctrine of the definitive greatly benefited beings, are as meaning and holder of the secret follows: treasury of profound instructions Kathog Situ Chökyi Gyatso At one time in this age of of the attainment lineage of the wrangling, he was born as the ar- glorious Drugpa Kagyü. Translated from Tibetan and compiled by Elio Guarisco rowsmith Brahmin ,71 who He was the yogin Amkar Lhen- Preface by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and foreward by Sey Rinpoche, Lineage was the forefather of an ocean of kye Dorje who, in a single lifetime Holder and great grandson of Shakya Shri. realized beings, an accomplished of practice on the secret path of 2009 Shang Shung Institute, Italy yogin whose fame still today is the dakinis, the swift and bliss- [email protected] widespread in Tibet. ful ultimate path, flew to celestial www.shangshunginstitute.org Another time, he was born in realms in his rainbow body with- India as Mitrayogin,72 insepa- out leaving physical remains. rable in his nature from Garland He also took birth as the min- of Skulls,73 and a magical ema- ister Denma Changtra or Denma This namthar, or traditional Tibetan biography, welcomes the reader to the extraordi- of which, in this lifetime, he as- nation of Avalokiteshvara,74 the Yulgyal Thogö who, fighting with nary dimension of a realized yogin. Its pages recount the inspiring milestones in the cended to the highest throne of supremely exalted embodiment bows and arrows, enacted the will life of the revered Togden of Drugu (1853–1919), a portrayal which is also precious realization. of the love and compassion of of King Lingje Gesar,85 subduing as the mirroring of a vanished world. The chronicle glows with inspiring facts and Here we shall briefly recount countless buddhas. the enemies of the doctrine and miraculous happenings, as well as insights provided by numerous letters between the story of his liberation, em- Again he was born in India, dark, demonic forces. According the Togden and some of the greatest masters of that era. bodied in the three cycles of the this time as the scholar ,75 to the needs of his disciples and life67 of this great sovereign of protector of the northern gate of beings to be trained, Shakya Shri, This book has been translated as part of the Ka-Ter project. ascetics, indivisible from the pri- the Vikramashila monastic univ- like a single moon reflecting in The following passage is excerpted from the book. mordial buddha. er-sity.76 many ponds, manifested incon- Later in Tibet he was born as ceivably infinite emanations both His Previous Lives Rigdzin77 Dorje Düdjom of the in sequence and simultaneously. n this age of disputes, Shakya scuring states of mind. In this Shakya Shri lived an extraordi- Nanam family, one of the nine Shakya Shri’s previous in- Shri stands out, the apex of a age, worse than the age of degen- nary life, and the recounting of heart-sons or predestined fa- carnations were revealed by in- victory banner rippling over eration, Shakya Shri unreservedly it not only has great meaning, vored disciples of the second destructible prophecies of the I 78 an ocean of realized beings, the displayed a magical charisma but brings significant benefits as buddha, Padmasambhava. great master of Oddiyana, Pad- crown ornament of millions of through the three secrets (body, well. Reading his life story will He was also born as Ngamd- masambhava. They were part- masters of the doctrine of the voice and mind) of his embodi- inspire faith in those who have zong Bodhiraja,79 the mind-son ly remembered by Shakya Shri essential defi nitive meaning.63 ment. With his deeds, like a white not had the fortune to meet him of who was like the himself, and partly indicated by In his lifetime he appeared as a parasol towering over the three directly, and will increase the de- source of a river for the lineage of the two ‘gentle saviors’, Khyen- powerful yogin who, following worlds,66 he planted the seed of votion of those who have actually attainments, and to whom Mila- tse Wangpo and Kongtrul Lodrö the exalted path, had gained the the liberating path in everyone been his disciples, so that their repa entrusted the lineage of the Thaye,86 by Drugpa Yongdzin,87 direct realization of reality.64 he met, in accordance with his or faith will not fade but remain un- Oral Transmission of the Dakinis.80 omniscient in the age of deca- In truth, he had already awak- her capabilities. swerving. Once he was born as Lingchen dence, and by other authentic ened in the primordial ultimate From an early age Shakya Shri Accordingly, Chandragomin68 Repa, called ‘the Saraha of Tibet’, masters, as stated in the long life realm countless aeons ago. How- was infused with a deep in- said: for his fame as a highly realized prayers that they composed for ever, moved by unlimited com- terest in dharma and manifested being reached the plains of the him. To recount the lives of all passion, he continued to care for a marked disengagement with These good deeds, the signs of great Ganges.81 his previous incarnations would infinite beings afflicted by suffer- the worldly. His outer behavior renown, He was the disciple of Drogön take too long; those who wish to ing whose minds, unhinged by was that of a king of wander- Unveil the path of those gone to bliss,69 Phagmo Trupa, also known as learn about them can read the in- the demons of both intellective ing yogins who sees all marvels and Desheg Khampa Dorgyal.82 dividual biographies. and innate clinging to a self,65 of the world like bubbles of wa- Those lacking in conviction will develop He was born as Nyagre Sewo, remained in the prison of sam- ter, devoid of intrinsic value. In- faith; crown of all realized Kagyü mas- sara, tightly bound by the ropes wardly, he lived in a state of undi- Thus, virtuous stories are a source of ters, whose real name was Rin- of negative karma and the ob- vided contemplation by the grace joy. chen Gyaltsen.83

Footnotes 67 Three cycles (’khor lo gsum): the cycle of damentals and History, Gyurme Dorje, translator, bo dhi ra dza). These are actually The Nine Teachings 83 Nyagre Sewo (nyag re se bo) or Rinchen words of learning and explanation (bshad pa tshig Wisdom Publications, p. 471. This work will be Gyaltsen (rin chen rgyal mtshan) was one of the 63 of the Formless Dakini that Rechungpa (ras chung Essential definitive meaning (nges don sny- gi ’khor lo); the cycle of meditation that removes henceforth cited as NSH). pa), another disciple of Milarepa, brought back four disciples of Phagmo Trupa who were known ing po): in a general sense, definitive meaning the obscurations of the mind (spong ba bsam gtan as the Four Sons of the Instructions (gdams pa’i 74 from India. Bodhiraja’s transmission of these (nges don) stands for the teachings which reveal gyi ’khor lo); and the cycle of deeds (bya ba las kyi Avalokiteshvara, the deity symbol of the teachings is known as the Oral Transmission of bu gzhi). After having gained spiritual realization the profound truth of emptiness, and that the ’khor lo). compassion that lies at the core of the mind of Samvara, that of Rechungpa as the Oral Transmis- under the guidance of Phagmo Trupa, he went to ineffable, inexpressible luminous clarity, beyond all living beings and of the buddhas. Here he is eastern Tibet where he founded the monastery of 68 sion of Rechungpa (B.A. 437–449). It is said that conception, is the nature of all phenomena. Es- (zla ba grags pa), born in called mig mi ‘dzum or ‘the one who does not close Rechungpa went to India against Milarepa’s Legön (gles dgon). See George N. Roerich, trans., sential (snying po) refers to the core of such southern India in the latter part of the sixth his eyes’ before the suffering of others. wishes. There he met a dakini who said to him, The , 2nd ed., Motilal Banarsidass, definitive meaning as taught in and century, became a lay master of exceptional 75 Naropa (956–1040) was one of the foremost ‘How sad! You have just one more day to live!’ 1976 pp. 563–565. Dzogchen. See also note 144. learning. He taught extensively at Nalanda uni- Rechungpa, desperate, asked if there was any versity. He and are known as ‘the two of the eighty-four tantric adepts of India. Follow- 84 Kunpang Avadhutipa Sherab Gyatso (kun 64 Buddhism teaches a way to awakening ing the advice of a dakini who appeared to him way he might avert this fate. The dakini then en- wonderful teachers.’ He experienced a visionary trusted him with the teachings that Rechungpa spang a va dhu ti pa she rab rgya mtsho). The San- structured into five paths: the paths of accu- meeting with Avalokiteshvara, who henceforth in the semblance of an aged woman, he left the skrit term avadh3tipa, translated into Tibetan as mulation (tshogs lam), preparation (sbyor lam), monastery where he had been an abbot in or- brought back to Tibet (personal communciation served as his source of mystic inspiration. from Umdze Sherab). kung ’dar, means total trembling, that is, a bliss seeing (mthong lam), meditation (bsgom lam) and der to search for his guru, destined to be which causes trembling. This term is used here 69 no-more-learning (mi slob lam). The exalted path Those gone to bliss (bde bar gshegs pa): an epi- (928–1009). After subjecting Naropa to years of 81 Lingchen Repa (gling chen ras pa) or Lingje to indicate that he was an adept of techniques (Skt. 0ryam0rga, Tib.’phags lam) starts with the thet of the buddhas. trials, Tilopa finally revealed the ultimate teach- Repa Pema Dorje (gling rje ras pa pad ma rdo rje, related to channels (rtsa), prana (rlung), and vital first direct perception of reality on the path of ings to him. See Herbert V. Guenther, The Life 70 Lord of the mandala (’khor lo’i mgon po), the 1128–88) in his youth was an ordained monk, essence (thig le), and that he engaged in this yo- seeing and continues until awakening. and Teachings of Naropa, Oxford University Press, but later renounced his vows and took a consort. gic practice with a secret consort. central deity in the mandala configuration from 1963, 1978. 65 They continued their lives as wandering cotton- Innate clinging to a self (bdag ’dzin lhan skyes): whom all surrounding deities emanate. Here it is 85 King Lingje Gesar (gling rje ge sar, 1038– 76 clad yogins until Lingrepa met Phagmo Trupa. the sense of self present in all beings, as opposed a laudatory form. Vikramashila (rnam gnon ngang tshul), a re- 1124): the legendary warrior king who controlled to a speculative grasping of a self (kun brtags) in- nowned university for in India Although Phagmo Trupa in general disapproved 71 a large area of eastern Tibet, the subject of many duced by philosophical views. Saraha, see note 53. during the eleventh century. It was probably lo- of married yogins, he was very pleased with Lin- grepa and granted him the essential teachings. oral epic cycles. 72 Mitrayogin (mi tra dzo gi, 1010–1089), an cated in present day Sultanganji at Bhagalpur in 66 Three worlds (srid pa gsum, same as khams He attained realization after three days and 86 Indian who received spiritual guidance eastern Bihar. Gentle Savior (’jam mgon), an epithet of gsum): the realms of desire, form and absence Phagmo Trupa called him the Saraha of Tibet Manjushri. Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (’jam in a mystical encounter with Avalokiteshvara. 77 of form. “The three worlds or existences are the Tib.: knowledge holder. (B.A. 659–664). dbyangs mkhyen brtse’i dbang po), Kongtrul Lodrö bases for the experience of suffering that beings The transmission of his ‘Six Vajra Yogas’ can be found in volume sixteen (Ma) of the gdams ngag 78 Rigdzin Dorje Düdjom of the Nanam family 82 Phagmo Trupa (phag mo gru pa, 1110–70), one Thaye (’jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha’ yas) and undergo because of the deception caused by the Jamgön Ju Mipham Gyatso (’jam mgon ju mi pham duality of an observed and an observer. In an mdzod of Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813–1900). (rig ‘dzin sna nam rdo rje bdud ‘joms), one of the of the four main disciples of (sgam po Tibetans dispatched by king (khri pa). Thought to be an emanation of the Indian rgya mtsho) are referred to by this title, with its inner (secret) sense they refer to body, speech 73 Lotus Garland of Skulls (pad ma thod phreng), suggestion that they were emanations of this de- and mind. The body is the apparent level of ex- srong lde btsan) to invite Padmasambhava to Ti- siddha Lavapa. He lived as a solitary meditator one of the eight manifestations of Padmasamb- bet. Later, he became a disciple of the master and and never entered the houses of his sponsors. ity, the embodiment of wisdom. istence composed of gross matter; speech is the hava, known as Guru Pema Thötrengtsel (pad ma semi-apparent level, a more subtle phenomena an adept who could pass through mountains of Whoever received teachings from him easily at- 87 Drugpa Yongdzin (’brug pa yongs ’dzin), a thod phreng rtsal) or the Lotus Guru Energy of a solid rock; he was one of the twenty-five great tained realization. (B.A. 522–563). He was also occasioned by the inner energies of the person; Garland of Skulls. When Padmasambhava, with renowned incarnation lineage in the Drugpa and the mind, a hidden phenomenon particularly accomplished masters of Chimphu (mchims phu). a disciple of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (sa chen kun Kagyü school. The seventh incarnation, Jampel the intention of converting the king of Oddiyana, dga’ snying po, 1092-1158), one of the five fore- when deprived of sense consciousness, is known travelled around begging in that land, the minis- 79 Ngamdzong Bodhiraja (ngam rdzong bo dhi Sheja Kunkhyen (’jam dpal shes bya kun mkhyen), as the invisible level of existence. Accordingly, fathers of the school. Phagmo Trupa was is referred to here. The eighth incarnation was ter whose son had been slain by him tried unsuc- ra dza), known as tönpa (teacher), was learned an exceptionally realized master endowed with the body is associated with the , cessfully to immolate him and his consort on a in the five Treatises of . He was from threefold, among whom was Apho Rinpoche (a speech with the subtler realm of form, and mind the capacity to perform amazing miracles. His pho rin po che), Shakya Shri’s grandson. pyre. Once the flames subsided, they appeared eastern Tibet and became a disciple of Milarepa, disciples were the origin of individual lineages with the formless realm.” Longchenpa, The Great enthroned on a lotus flower in the center of the receiving from him all instructions. He made a Chariot (shing rta chen po), f. 47a5–b1, Dodrupchen known as the eight lesser Kagyü schools. He lake. A garland of skulls manifested around his compendium of Milarepa’s teachings. founded the monastery of Densatil (gdan sa mthil) Publications, Gangtok, Sikkim. neck, which symbolized his work to liberate be- 80 in Lokha, southern Tibet. ings from cyclic existence. Thus he was called The Oral Transmission of the Dakini (mka’’gro’i Guru Garland of Skulls (see Dudjom Rinpoche, snyan brgyud) or Cycles of Teachings of the Formless The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, Its Fun- Dakini (lus med mkha’’gros’i chos skor) that Milarepa entrusted to Ngam Dzong Bodhiraja (ngam rdzong THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Russia

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Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Retreat in Moscow

Masha Stepanik

his year we were very for- tunate that Chogyal Nam- Tkhai Norbu could visit Russia to give Dzogchen teach- ing. For the Russian practitioners it was an exciting week to host and attend the retreat and see the Teacher in person – especially for those practitioners who could not travel to retreats arranged in other countries and continents.

Rinpoche’s arrival brought many new opportunities to our Russian dimension. Five days before the beginning of the retreat, two in- ternational Vajra Dance instruc- tors, Prima Mai and Adriana dal Borgo, held a long anticipated in- structional dance retreat in Mos- cow where they taught essential aspects and dance techniques of this precious practice. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu teaching in Moscow. Photo: A. Novgorodtsev

After the Rinpoche retreat, the After each session people lin- ers learned the irregular version en Verses of the Vajra”. He man- During his visit in Moscow, principal Yantra Yoga instruc- gered in order to share their im- of it. aged to present and explain the Rinpoche blessed the Gompa tor, Fabio Andrico, not only led pressions. Many practitioners teaching in a rather simple yet of the Moscow Dzogchen Com- the essential pranayama retreat, noted that whenever they had cer- This was followed by Yantra Yoga contemporary way. For instance, munity, even though he had to he also agreed to conduct su- tain questions before the session, for beginners as introduced to he compared our primary poten- go up the rather steep staircase pervisions of 4 candidates for they found their answers during them by Fabio Andrico. At the tiality as water versus the other to the top fl oor (penthouse), as Yantra Yoga instructors from the the sessions when the Teacher same time students who were relative staff by using an analogy the lift didn’t go to the top fl oor Ukraine and Russia. was explaining the teaching. familiar with Yantra Yoga could of a bottle with a label. Everyone at that building. After Ganapuja Upon the end of each session the correct their movements and was impressed by his immedi- Rinpoche went out on the roof This year the retreat took place Teacher showing limitless kind- advance their practice by using ate reaction to the students’ in- and looked at the view over Mos- in the “Izmailovo” sports com- ness and patience by speaking Fabio’s guidance which was pro- dividual and general situations cow going all directions. He plex within the vicinity of Mos- with all participants who wanted vided there. The day usually end- and needs. When he was asked knew that he liked that place and cow and it became our home for to talk to him individually. ed with an explanation of the col- for advice regarding interac- the atmosphere there and so he 5 days where we spent most of lected practices by Igor Berkhin tions between practitioners in presented the Moscow Dzogchen our time from early morning to When the Teacher left the sports who gathered not only beginners Dzogchen community he imme- Community with two thangka late night. Retreat organizers did complex, Adriana dal Borgo but also more experienced peo- diately asked to gather all mem- and a miniature statue of Bud- their best to provide great servic- started her training and explana- ple eager to deepen their under- bers of that community and he dha. es and necessary amenities for all tion of the Three Vajra Dance. On standing of these practices. gave them essential instructions participants, including: a big hall 9 Adriana, other dance on this topic. We eagerly look forward to more for practices, catering and a café, instructors and more advanced In addition, we were also very Rinpoche visits to Russia and to free coolers with water, lockers, students helped the newcomers delighted to have Yeshi Silvano We look forward to new visits and our great delight, he promised to a store with Dzogchen materials to make progress in that pre- Namkhai provide a teaching of retreats of Yeshi to Russia and return in the future. and books, and even day care for cious practice, whereas the oth- the “Seven Line Prayer or the Sev- Ukraine in the nearest future. children of the participants.

The retreat was a great opportu- nity to demonstrate collabora- Books by tion of the participants on all lev- els, showing both effi ciency and Chögyal great work from the organizers, guards of the sports complex, personnel of the information ser- Namkhai Norbu vice and many others. We also are very grateful to the Shang-Shung Institute for providing new DVDs with the Russian subtitles to the U Yantra Yoga store during the retreat. U Dream Yoga and the The retreat days were scheduled Practice of Natural Light as follows: U Dzogchen Teachings Each day started with Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance. This U The Supreme Source was followed by the teaching U Dzogchen: The Self- of the “Four Precious Malas of Perfected State Longchenpa”, which Rinpoche gave for fi ve days in Moscow. U The Crystal and the Way Rinpoche explained each of the of Light mala one by one: turning one’s mind to dharma; practice of dhar- ma as a path; overcoming delu- sions while following the path; and self-liberation of delusions into primordial wisdom. He also provided an explanation for each www.SnowLionPub.com of these from the Dzogchen per- Tibetan Buddhist news and spective. thousands of items online. FREE quarterly newsletter 800-950-0313 and catalog on request. [email protected] THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Germany

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Pointing to liberation The retreat in Cologne, Germany with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

Martha Heinen

he majestic cathedral of for us he is like the cathedral, a Cologne in Germany was fi nger pointing to liberation! Tbuilt in the 13th century. It This was certainly felt also by is meant as a symbol of the great- the more than 600 participants ness of the spirit within and be- at this three-day weekend re- yond this world; it is meant as a treat held in a hotel hall right in fi nger pointing to heaven, at least the center of town. Although the for Catholics. And this church German community has about lies just beside the Rhein River, 230 members and there were also which is more of a broad stream members from Holland, Switzer- and fl ows through this big city land, Austria, Italy and the US, dividing it into two parts. For me, etc. participating, most people this stream that passes through were new and had come for the the city is a strong symbol that fi rst time. represents ever- changing life it- The atmosphere during this re- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in Cologne. Photo: Elena Ihilcik self: fl oating, always moving, treat was very intense and strong, always changing, nothing to but at the same time smooth and artist drawing us a huge picture Changchub Dorje. Rinpoche Dzogchen, which lets everyone grasp, a glittering dancing ener- guided by joyfulness – a rare and of the Dzogchen realm and mak- opened the hearts of people in taste what that really is. Pure di- gy that never stops! delightful combination. Natu- ing us look from the perspective the hall by sharing with us all rect introduction! By being so Altogether a perfect setting to rally all this happened because of of a bird down onto this map and his own experiences of when near to all of us in these rare mo- meet a teaching like Dzogchen the incredibly beautiful teaching the path – with all the high peaks he fi rst met the true meaning of ments he makes it clear that the and one of its most dedicated Rinpoche offered to us all. It did and the abysses – which can lead Dzogchen. We laughed! The abil- goal of Dzogchen is reachable for living protagonists, Chögyal not have a special title, but was us to pure knowledge. Great! ity of our master to talk to the au- everyone who undertakes it. Namkhai Norbu. We are so lucky simply called a general introduc- In between he told a lot of per- dience as if talking to each per- There is nothing left to say. to have him as our teacher and tion to Dzogchen. On Saturday sonal stories about, for exam- son melts the ego. It is his ability, especially, Rinpoche was like an ple, how he met his Root Guru, his not-only-talking but being

world can still participate in the Dargyäling – The fi rst Ling of the Ling via video webcast. Finally Rinpoche invited Fa- Dzogchen Community in Germany bio to speak about Yantra Yoga Inauguration of Dargyäling in Cologne and the need of more responsible by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche people becoming Yantra Yoga in- structors. The Dzogchen Retreat with Larissa Rieve Rinpoche in Cologne had not even started, but we were already n June 5, the fi rst day of GYÁS XOG’. So you know the fi lled with happiness and grati- the Dzogchen Retreat meaning? ‘XOG’ means invok- tude – and maybe also a good O in Cologne, Rinpoche ing. And ‘DAˇR GYÁS’ – what does portion of relief after months of consecrated the fi rst Ling of the it mean? Spreading or develop- search and preparation and hard Dzogchen Community in Ger- ing greatly.” Smiling, Rinpoche work for many of us! many and named it “Dargyäling”, added that in the spelling “Dar- Rinpoche in Dargyäling. Photo: Elena Ihilcik the Ling or place from where the gyäling” the name looked a bit History – How the Ling was found, teachings spread or fl ourish. like a German name – with the renovated and reconstructed Although the date and time of two little dots on the ä. (translated/adapted from an insert the consecration were commu- Led by Rinpoche, we practiced in the German Magazine of the nicated only one day before and a short Guruyoga together fol- Community “Dzogchen Brief”) many of the practitioners coming lowed by Sang and Serkyem for to the retreat had not yet arrived purifi cation and as an offering Previous History – A Review in Cologne, around 100 people to the local Guardians, creating (by Saadet Arslan) came and welcomed Rinpoche hereby a good relationship with he wish within the Ger- to the new Ling. Even though all potentiality and with the place. man Dzogchen Commu- the reconstruction had not been In the name of the German T nity for a place owned by fi nished completely, the small practitioners, Saadet Arslan ex- the Community where we could courtyard decorated with lungta, pressed our happiness about come together and practice was with its rose tree and some fl ow- Rinpoche’s visit to Cologne and actually not a new one. Since ers looked beautiful as well as the the new Ling as well as our grati- the Community was founded main hall of the Ling with a Vajra tude to Rinpoche: “It’s like a mir- in Germany in 1986, this vision Dance mandala, an improvised al- acle! It’s fantastic! Thank you!” had been expressed and worked tar and armchair for our Master. Once again Rinpoche ex- Rinpoche in Dargyäling. Photo: Elena Ihilcik on actively by many commu- Rinpoche took his seat and ex- pressed his contentment with the nity members and Gakyils. Also pressed his satisfaction: “First of new Ling, a nice place prepared people have to teach. But even if with lists of our problems any funds had been raised for such a all I want to say congratulations. very well with dimensions that we are not becoming teachers, more, but, while still having prob- “retreat centre”. You have a very nice hall.” Then allow dancing on a mandala, but when we become good practitio- lems in samsara, we will be able Since the 1990s, the Com- he presented the name of the reminded us also of our respon- ners the teaching is developed to integrate and liberate them. munity has had the possibility new Ling, opening a yellow en- sibility: “You should practice, or- and can manifest its potentiality. “Sometimes”, Rinpoche said, to meet regularly in Höfen velope and showing a document ganise courses like Santi Maha Rinpoche gave the example of the “it is also important to do collec- (near Neustadt a. d. Aisch, Cen- in beautiful Tibetan characters: Sangha.” Not to forget Vajra famous yogi Milarepa, who lived tive practices to develop the ca- tral Franconia), where Hans “The name is ‘Dargyäling’. You Dance and Yantra Yoga, which in the mountains and did not trav- pacity of each practitioner.” This Vogel generously offered his know what ‘dargyä’ means? Are are very important and related to el around to teach like Rinpoche way we also learn any practice seminar house for courses and you sure you don’t know? Do you the teachings of Dzogchen. does, but whose teachings have easily, repeating it once, twice or retreats and for the yearly meet- remember, when we fi nish the Rinpoche reminded us that spread everywhere. Becoming a several times. ings of members. A comfort- Ganapuja or Thun we do the ded- the Dzogchen teaching is one of good practitioner does not mean Besides the possibility to prac- able solution which, on the other ication. In one of the dedications the most important teachings learning words or remaining in tice, the new Ling also has the hand, had reduced the pressure there is the word ‘dargyä’. At the and that it needs to be contin- intellectual understanding, but function to increase the possibil- to fi nd a place of our own. end, before we say ‘JAYA JAYA ued for future generations. “This integrating the teachings in our ity for people to receive teachings From 2006 on, with the reor- SIDDHI PHALA’ means we must learn, we must real condition. Then we do not as people who cannot travel to ganisation of the Dzogchen Com- there is the expression ‘DAˇR practice.” And some qualifi ed need to send Rinpoche e-mails Rinpoche’s retreats all over the >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Germany

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>> continued from previous page following discussions it turned munity initiated by Yeshi Nam- out that a broad majority, both khai, the idea of centres in the in the regional Sangha and in the cities became a topic. Everywhere Gakyil, supported this place. The in Italy such lings were founded, following voting showed a broad places with active groups of prac- agreement, a few abstentions titioners focussing their energy. and only one dissenting vote. An Also in Germany the Gakyil en- inquiry initiated by the Gakyil couraged groups of practitio- and Search Committee regarding ners in different regions to rent a fi rst call for donations resulted rooms. in an overwhelming reaction we During the yearly meeting of had not expected. Within only a members in April 2007 the idea of few days German members re- a “retreat centre” in the country- plied that they would support the side was going to be put forward, Ling with monthly donations of however a group of members re- over 1,000 euros. Now we still sisted and a working group start- had to fi nd out what Rinpoche ed to look for suitable locations thought of this place. His answer in different areas of Germany. was a joy and a relief: The story got a new dynamic in “Dear German Gakyil, I am very late summer 2007 when we came happy you fi nally found a place. It to know that Rinpoche intended to is always good to have a base for the come to Germany in 2008 or 2009 community and all the different ac- and that this would be a good op- Rinpoche arriving in Dargyäling. Photo: Elena Ihilcik tivities. With many Tashi Delegs!!!!! portunity to inaugurate a ling in N.N.” Germany! The news surprised place in the countryside if we had As places in Cologne often bly to failure. So the search was In the hard negotiations (con- us very joyfully but also brought the possibilities. turned out to be too expensive, also a process of sublimation. cerning mainly the structural up some questions: Could we re- So then in April 2008 the as- from time to time the question And fi nally, when we had al- alterations to be made) which ally fi nd a place in Germany be- sembly of members decided that came up about whether Bonn most given up hope to be able to took place between the search fore Rinpoche’s visit? What did the working group (now called would be a suitable location for present a place to Rinpoche, we committee and the owner of the Rinpoche mean by a “ling”, a the “ling search committee”) the ling. Bonn appeared to us found some premises that were place, in which also again and centre in a city or the retreat cen- should look for a place to be rent- however only acceptable for the not very promising at fi rst sight, again the Gakyil was involved, tre in the countryside we had been ed as the fi rst German ling in the Ling if the premises lay in prox- situated in the backyard of a cen- we succeeded in fi nally coming looking for for so long? And also, Cologne/Bonn region. imity to the central station, since tral and pristine area of Cologne, to a good solution for all sides. should we buy or rather rent it? “You can also fi nd a place in the transport connection would with two churches nearby. It was So fi nally the rental agreement When it turned out in Novem- the countryside later if you have have become otherwise a prob- a building used as an apartment and contract regarding the alter- ber 2007 that Rinpoche was com- the possibilities...” – maybe our lem. In the long run, however, we loft. With the experience of near- ations could be signed. We had ing only in 2009, this allowed us next Step. did not succeed in fi nding a suit- ly one year of searching, we soon actually reached our goal to fi nd more time to discuss and plan able place fulfi lling these criteria. discovered that these premises a place for the Ling four months further steps. Searching for the Ling This search process, which had some potential. They con- before Rinpoche’s visit! In January 2008, during a (by Joachim Raack and Larissa Rieve) also meant going through Inter- sisted of many individual rooms Of course this is not the end meeting of the German Gakyil in When the “Search Committee” net offers and newspaper adver- and did not seem to offer enough of the story: From the time the Cologne and Bonn, the regional started to look for suitable plac- tisements every day, was again space for a mandala, but it turned previous tenants moved out and group of practitioners in the Co- es, it soon turned out to be a chal- and again interrupted by breaks out that something could be cre- Rinpoche’s visit we had only two logne, Bonn and Düsseldorf area lenging task as the premises had characterised by disillusionment ated here, which corresponded months for the reconstruction. approached the Gakyil with the to have enough space for a man- and moderate resignation. But to our needs. After some visits, As our budget did not allow us to idea to rent a room or apartment dala and at the same time should these breaks also started up a new which the previous tenant tol- hire external workers, most of the and asked how this project could be affordable for our budget. Fur- refl ection process and led to the erated patiently, some advice work had to be done by Dzogchen be supported fi nancially and who thermore the future ling should reorientation of our concepts and from architects combined with Community members. So, thanks should rent the room, the Com- be accessible by public transpor- sharpened our view for what was the know-how existing in the to all those who offered so much munity or a private person? At tation, not be too far away from really important. It became ever Sangha, it became clear that this of their time and energy to make that time the group was meeting the city centre and also easy to clearer: searching for a ling is a could become the new Ling. Not this dream come true!! mainly in private rooms which reach from the neighbouring cit- spiritual practice which can only to forget an important plus: the were becoming too small for 20– ies of Bonn and Düsseldorf. lead to success if those taking part monthly rent appeared afford- Dargyäling 30 people. They could afford ap- One of the fi rst places consid- in this process completely submit able to us. Spielmannsgasse 14, prox. 400–600 euros. ered was a former dental labora- to the goal. Any egoism or person- However, we soon realised that 50678 Cologne The Gakyil encouraged the re- tory. The spacious premises had al preferences had to lead inevita- reconstruction work on a larger [email protected] gional group to think about the nice roof lights and plenty of scale would be necessary. In the www.dzogchen.de idea of founding the fi rst nation- space for a mandala. But it turned al ling, a centre available to the out, it would be diffi cult to heat German Dzogchen Community during winter, the area was not and fi nancially supported by it. A the best one, many buildings in In memory of group of four people was assigned the neighbourhood were unten- Michau in Cologne to start looking for places in the anted. After visiting the place, Cologne/Bonn area and present half of the local practitioners and Martha Heinen the results and concepts to the as- the Gakyil gave a favourable opin- sembly of members in April. ion, the other half an unfavour- any people may still re- In March 2008 some German able one. Later it turned out the member Michau Babai- practitioners had the opportunity owner demanded a much higher M kov, a painter from Po- to talk to Rinpoche in Margarita rent than initially mentioned – so land, who died quite young some about the situation in Germany we decided to keep on searching. years ago. He lived in Cologne and clarify some of our doubts, The next serious possible Germany for many years and explaining that private rooms place, a nice reconditioned in- earned his money by painting were getting too small and about dustrial building, was located in large pictures on the pavement in the ideas of a city ling and a re- one of the “hottest” quarters of front of the Dome (cathedral) of treat centre in the countryside. Cologne. A large advantage here: Cologne. Rinpoche replied that a city ling the place had been completely There is also a famous and very was a good idea as it concentrat- renovated and therefore it found good Indian restaurant nearby, ed the energy and could attract much approval by many people. where Michau had beautifully Michal Bajbakov (last row in the middle), in India, 1997. new people, especially to the In the long run, however, it re- painted all the walls in Indian webcasts. The rent should not mained by far not affordable. style for his friend the owner. He And now the fi rst Ling of Ger- the owner they had also come be too high for the Community. Other visited and much dis- also helped, together with some many is there in the center of Co- to see the pictures Michau had And regarding the question as to cussed premises were ruled out of us, to paint the inside of the logne! He would have liked that. painted and then the owner invit- whether we should rather rent or – among other reasons – because, Gonpa at Merigar many years Someone told me that during the ed them all for drinks. Also Lou- buy a place Rinpoche replied we although we had hoped so at the ago. When he stayed in Cologne, retreat a little group of Commu- ise Landes- Levi (I hope you don’t should fi rst rent a place and could beginning, the dance mandala he was always a little unhappy nity people went to eat at that res- mind me mentioning you here) later still think about buying one. did not fi t in or because possible that there were no other practi- taurant, to see his painting and to impressed the Indian owner with After having found a place in a pollution by former industrial use tioners in town and he had to go pay their respect to Michau post- her Hindi capacities! In the end city, we could also still look for a could not be completely excluded. to nearby Bonn to meet a group. humously. I heard that they told they toasted Michau with tea. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

17 West Merigar West Merigar Arcidosso 58031 phone: 39 0564 966837 merigaroffi [email protected] GR Italy fax: 39 0564 968110 www.dzogchen.it

August 10–16 October October 23–30 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu October 2–10 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Calendar Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Dzogchen Teaching Retreat of Events August 17–22 Dance of the Song of the Vajra course part 1 2009 With Margit Martinu with supervision Chögyal July August 24–31 Namkhai Norbu July 1–5 Teachers’ Training of Yantra Yoga Yantra Yoga and Pranayama With Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti Teachings at Merigar West For members August 28–30 August 10–16 July 8–12 Gomadevi explanation and Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Dance of the Song of the Vajra practice retreat Experiential Instructions on Advanced Course with With Enzo Terzano “Dzogchen Medjung”, The Marvelous, Jnana Dakini practice With Prima Mai September one of the most important Tantras of the September 3–18 Dzogchen Semde July 16–19 Yantra Yoga course on all Xitro explanation and practice retreat 108 movements October 2–10 With Nina Robinson With Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti Dzogchen Teaching Retreat For Yantra Yoga instructors Experiential Instructions on “Bepai Gumchung”, July 24–27 and on invitation Yantra Yoga First and Second series the Hidden Collection of Buddhagupta, an ancient Dzogchen text in-depth course September 15–20 found among the Tunhuang manuscripts With Laura Evangelisti Dance of the Song of the Vajra advanced course October 23–30 August With Adriana Dal Borgo Dzogchen Teaching Retreat August 1–8 First Level Teachers’ Training of September 25–October 1 Practice and Teachings dedicated to those that have died,

Dance of the Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra Shitro, terma of Rigzin Jyangchub Dorje “Khorde Rangdrol” Photo: E. Ihilcik With Adriana Dal Borgo and Prima Mai course part 2

Upcoming Yantra Yoga Course on all the movements of Yantra Yoga with Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti September 3rd–18th 2009 All 108 movements of Yanta Yoga will be covered and the Shang Shung Institute will record one or more videos. In the afternoon there will be three- hour teaching sessions. In the morning fi lming. Who can attend? Yantra Yoga Instructors and on invitation. The course starts on Thursday 3rd Sep- tember at 5 pm and fi nishes on Friday 18th September at 1 pm. The course is free. Please register before the course starts, Nina Robinson. Photo: L. Graf Umbrellas and rainbow. Photo: I. Wagner by e-mail or phone to the Merigar West Offi ce. va Ganapuja was held at the end dition to the scheduled retreats for both beginners and more ad- phone:+390564-96 68 37 Mandarava Tsalung of the retreat and, as you may see and practices. Throughout this vanced students on a daily ba- merigaroffi [email protected] and practice in the photo, apart from a light period, there have been regular sis. As well as this, there have shower, a full Merigar rainbow sessions of practice almost ev- been regular on-going meetings retreat also manifested above the heads ery day. There has been a pro- for in-depth study of the base of of the participants! gramme of practice combining Santi Maha Sangha to help pre- he most recent event to be This retreat was the most re- Vajra Dance with the practice of pare students for this summer’s held at Merigar West was cent in a long series of retreats, Gomadevi on many mornings exams. T the Mandarava Tsalung courses and practice sessions while in the afternoons sessions and practice retreat led by Nina held at the Gar throughout the of Vajra Dance have been fol- Robinson June 1–11. A Mandara- winter and spring months in ad- lowed by sessions of Yantra Yoga

Accommodations near Merigar West Christina von Geispitzheim Information for people who intend to come to Merigar for Email: [email protected] retreats or to follow courses Phone: 0039 0564 957542 If you are looking for accommodation, airport transfer, local car Mobile phone: 0039 339 1370739 hire or only logistic assistance, you can contact the following information and reservation service: We cooperate with local hotels, family pensions, residences, agriturismo, Community members who have rooms or houses to rent or sublet. Also we can advise on car rental (at airports Accommodation Service or locally), on the best itinerary and time tables of trains and (Information available in English, German, French and Italian) buses, and we have now a circuit of residents who offer various Information service and reservation of accommodation during useful services like transfer from the airports, local taxi service, retreats, local transport, & logistic solutions: translations, baby sitting, etc. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

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East Merigar East 23 August 907005 phone: 0040 746 26 08 61 Merigar Asociatia Culturala Comunitatea Dzog-Chen Constanta offi [email protected] Romania wwww.dzogchen.ro

Preparations for the summer retreat. Photo: A. Zolkowski

sentation of the Dzogchen Com- type of lifestyle rather than open- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu another Tibet Day in Bucharest, munity and the Shang Shung ing towards distant cultures like seed of that marvelous plant that Romania Institute given by Oliver, an in- the one we were presenting. But Rinpoche has been cultivating troduction to Tibetan Medicine we took heart when half an hour for years for the benefi t of all and Gino Vitiello presented by Gino Vitiello and a after the start, the hall quickly so that his people and the unique combined theory-practice dem- fi lled up with people of all ages. culture that he represents do not onstration of Ku-nye massage There were more than 150 peo- become simply a sterile piece of erigar East has been in last September. This one, too, given by Aldo Oneto. ple in the hall and they seemed history. existence for two years was entitled “Tibetan Culture, a The event opened with a mu- to follow the different presenta- We are not involved in Tibet- Min Romania but the unique treasure” and was orga- sical performance by three young tions with interest and defi nitely an culture only because this is Dzogchen Community there is nized by Oliver Leick, supported Tibetans who are recent refugees enjoyed the ‘momos’ and the Ti- the land that our Master comes still an entity that has to be cre- by the SSI of Arcidosso and with in Austria and who were surpris- betan tea offered during the in- from or because each culture ated. Over this period of time the collaboration of the highly ef- ingly good. They played some tra- terval. carries a particular value, even there have only been two people fi cient and very small local com- ditional musical pieces and some By the end of the day many of though these two reasons would living at the Gar and there are ac- munity. new ones with professionalism, those attending had communi- be enough to justify our commit- tually only a couple of Romanian Under the supervision of Oli- freshness and in a truly mov- cated with the speakers in Eng- ment. We are involved because members of the Community so it ver and in collaboration with Vio- ing way. They performed several lish and in Italian in order to get we are convinced that if we lose seems important to start to have leta Tanasa, a PR from Buchaest, times between the different pre- more information about the vari- this culture we will be losing closer contact between the cur- Gabriella, Mira, Juliana and Greg, sentations, wearing traditional ous topics discussed, asking for one of the peaks that has been rent situation in this country and the Merigar East Gekos found an costume and receiving a lot of bibliographies and exchanging reached by the potentiality of hu- various parts of the Dzogchen elegant hall at the Central Library applause. e-mail addresses. man knowledge. Community. of the University of Bucharest for While we were waiting to be- The general feeling among For this reason the Austrian the day dedicated to Tibetan cul- gin, we wondered how an event those who participated in the branch of the Shang Shung Insti- ture. like this would be received in a event was one of having taken tute organised a meeting in Bu- During the event there was an situation like the one in Roma- an important step, of having charest on May 9, similar to the exhibition of beautiful photos nia which seems to lean more to- brought to a new land already one they tried out in Huettenberg of Tibet supplied by ASIA, a pre- wards arriving at some Western authenticated by the presence of

you feel. The practice of Mandarava will Upcoming Europe be combined with the practice of Chu- Vajra Dance at Karma Ling 2009 len, (which is connected to the long life with Cindy Faulkner practice). Estonia Dance of the Three Vajras New Gakyil The long life practice of the dakini August 27–30 Blue: Pille Viires [email protected] Mandarava is for obtaining a prosper- Dance of the Six Spaces Red: Maaja Zelmin ous and long life, but also a strong tool October 26–31 [email protected] for discovering and recognising one’s Yellow: Katri Ojasoo provisional obstacles and limitations, Contact: [email protected] [email protected] and for overcoming them. This facili- * tates relaxing in our instant presence. Upcoming Finland It is also a supreme practice to do Dream Yoga Program New Gakyil every day because it helps to balance with Michael Katz Passages Blue: Tuula Saarikoski and harmonize one’s elements and Community Program Jerusalem August 8 Paris, France July 25–27 Died: On Saturday the 23rd of May at blue@dzogchen.fi energy. The practice of Chulen is a Contact: Orit Kenan at Contact: Regina at [email protected] 10 pm, François Calmès, member of the Red: Harri Jäälinoja breathing practice, connected to the [email protected] Dzogchen Community of France passed red@dzogchen.fi elements and one of its many benefi ts is Montpelier, France July 28–30 Tel Aviv Israel Public Program away. Yellow: Kaisa-Liisa Puonti that it increases and strengthens one’s Contact: Lorraine Gaultier at lorraine. August 14–15 yellow@dzogchen.fi health. [email protected] He was very active in the Dharma and Contact: Dani Moskowitz at It is possible for people who don’t was the French translator of Chögyal All three colors: gakyil@dzogchen.fi [email protected] know the Vajra Dance to participate, Namkhai Norbu at Merigar and in info@dzogchen.fi – This, too, goes to singing and being present in the Song France and was an active member of the whole gakyil, but some day maybe it of the Vajra, while the other practitio- the IPC for the translations of the texts will go to our secretary only, in case we ners dance. We’ll start on the 1st of July of Teachings. get very busy and active. at 5 pm (17 h), with explanation and Always ready to help, his kindness to practice of Mandarava. 2nd–6th of July practitioners, his great gift to translate France we’ll do 3 or 4 practices a day, including the Masters and his entire devotion to Upcoming a very early morning practice. The 7th the Teachings will always be remem- Mandarava retreat with Vajra Dance we’ll end with the Ganapuja of Manda- bered by all those who have known or with Annalen Gall rava at 12 o’clock. were in contact with him. July, 1st–7th To register, please contact at Dejamling With those who wish, we can practice Elisabeth Dong: Shitro for François our Vajra brother We are going to do the long life practice [email protected] every Saturday evening for seven weeks of Mandarava in its most essential form * or every day for 49 days. and the more elaborate forms, so that you will be able to do the practice ac- The French Community Vajra Dance Supervision for Cindy Faulkner by Adriana dal Borgo at Karma Ling from 17th–22nd cording to your circumstances, and how April 2009. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

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the Master to Venice and we hope in the to people who had not met the Master Europe >> continued future to have other opportunities to and the Teaching yet. develop other projects of Tibetan medi- The hall for the meeting was in Italy cine which already has a historical link St. Geremia, on the Grande Canal, and with this city. a festive array of boats, music and fl ags * with the lion of St. Mark (for a clean ASIA in Venice Venice…) greeted the group. Before On Saturday and Sunday, May 10–11, the course started all the participants thanks to the collaboration of Nisa and in the course heard the music and came Romina, two young students who are out on to the terrace – it seemed like an daughters of practitioners, ASIA partic- auspicious sign. ipated with the non-profi t associations There were a lot of “new” participants of Venice in Campo S. Margherita and and we were surprised to see that some Venice collected 300 euro. We hope to be able of them had arrived after just seeing the Dr. Namdol Lhamo in Venice to establish a rapport of collaboration poster for the course. The course was an by Giuliana Giromella with the Venice Municipality for other important moment for the ‘new’ people ay was a month that was full activities in the future. but also for the ‘old’ who followed the Brescia collective retreats for a limited number of meetings for the Venetian The Venice Gakyil simple and clear explanations of Fabio Kunsalling the Place of of people as well as for karma yoga. MCommunity. May 4–6 we * with attention. There was a question and Total Luminosity Please contact the Gakyil if you would hosted Dr. Namdol Lhamo and Tiziana, Contemplation in Venice answer session to clarify doubts. Many Kunsalling is a retreat place situated in like to come. who accompanied her to help with with Fabio Risolo thanks to Fabio for coming to Venice and Valvestino, in the province of Brescia, www.kunsalling.it translations for the doctor’s patients, aturday and Sunday, May 10–11, an infi nite thanks to the Master with the in the Alto Garda Nature Park, Italy at Marco Baseggio’s beautiful bed the Venetian Community invited wish that the precious Teachings spread For further information, between Garda Lake and Idro Lake. It is and breakfast. The doctor was in Italy Fabio Risolo to Venice for a course for the benefi t of all beings! you can contact: S a wonderful place at 1350 m. above sea on the invitation of the Shang Shung on Contemplation which was also open Paolo Fassoli, Red Gakyil: level, in an isolated valley, surrounded by Institute and the Venetian Community mobile +39 339 7409005 woods and protected by cliffs. It consists had the opportunity to welcome her to [email protected] of a large barn which is used as a Gonpa Venice and take her around to admire (and at night becomes a dormitory) and a Lorena Bartoli, Yellow Gakyil: the city. smaller house with a kitchen and a room mobile +39 328 9617089 The doctor received a number of that can be used even for dark retreats. [email protected] patients in a very professional way and The Ling would like to inform prac- with attention, showing that although Fulvio Ferrari, Blue Gakyil titioners that the Kunsalling website is she is young, she has considerable skill and in charge of retreats: now online complete with the calendar in diagnosis and wide experience in the tel. + 39 0365 825165 of retreats and other information about medical fi eld. [email protected] (for retreats) the place. Kunsalling is always open to Her gentleness and presence were [email protected] all practitioners for personal retreats or felt by us all and the group of Venetian * practitioners who accompanied her were able to rediscover parts of the city through her eyes. This opportunity also brought to mind the Congress on Tibetan Medicine in the early eighties which had brought Participants at the Ganapuja at the end of the contemplation course. Photo: G. Giromella

stands and the organisers who we know quite well by now. As far as Yantra Yoga was concerned, besides a free class that we presented, just like last year, which was well at- tended and received some very nice Gomadevi in Val Tidone proach. That is, he involved the partici- comments, this year we set up a paying by Clara Lovisetti pants in a kind of performance, in what seminar. This was led by Gino Vitiello, Enzo likes to call a “tableau vivant” (a Sergio Quaranta and Fabiana Esca and “Welcome stranger to this place, living picture), as an educational tool had a fair number of participants, where joy doth sit on every bough, to make us remember, through experi- around 20 people, who were interested. paleness fl ies from every face” ence, the iconographical items of the It was useful to share the project and (William Blake) visualization of the Dakini. the setting up of this little seminar with here are places that hold a special The same approach was used for in- our friends at Namdeling, Naples and, energy, one of these is the nice troducing the Vajra Song Dance, that is Rome tivities and take fl yers with programs of also, based on other experiences of T villa of Valter Bianchini in the Val the possibility of performing the melody Yoga Festival Zhenphenling’s and Merigar’s activities practice together, we feel it is impor- Tidone hills. You could say that it is due live, adding musicians to the dancers. by the Gakyil of Zhenphenling and sometimes to buy something. tant to increase collaboration between to the many practice retreats held here Thus, by means of a sundry array of mu- nce again this year the Zhen- A great many people have heard of the biggest Lings in Italy, Namdeling in the last years, from Mandarava to sical instruments, from drums to small phenling Community of Rome Rinpoche, sometimes only by name, and and Zhenphenling, more and more in Green , but it seems that this place and big damarus, from bells to maracas, Otook part in the Rome Yoga Fes- were happy to see a representative of the future. is under the benevolent protection of a small “improvised” orchestra played tival and even though it was tiring and the Dzogchen Community and discover We would like to thank all those who Dakinis who foster spiritual practice, and chanted the Vajra Song. Of course demanding, it was, however, fruitful that there is a Centre in Rome, too. The helped with the work as well as all those make nature joyful and paleness and one could not expect a fl awless perfor- and very satisfying. Our stand was one atmosphere was much more friendly who came to see us during the three sadness fl y from faces. An atmosphere mance, but the enthusiasm of the new of the most attractive and many people and relaxed that the fi rst festival and days of the Festival! further enhanced by the presence of the experience compensated for the lack of stopped to get information on our ac- we had more interaction with the other * green spot of an open-air swimming technical expertise of the players. pool. During the rest time between each Naples The weekend of June 13–14, this explanation session, we had a plunge SMS Base retreat at Namdeling very enjoyable environment managed into the swimming pool, for fresh relief by Fabiana Esca to attract some fi fteen practitioners from the hot summer, especially after two-day retreat on the Base of for a retreat of the short practice of having danced on the open-air Mandala Santi Maha Sangha with Fabio Gomadevi, led by Enzo Terzano. under a blazing sun. A Risolo was recently held on May The schedule included two expla- At the end of the retreat, we had a 16–17 at Namdeling in Naples, Italy. nation sessions a day, followed by the Ganapuja with dance, for thanking the Here at the Ling a group has formed for practice including the Dance of the Guardians who protected us and treated the study and practice of the Base and Song of the Vajra. Before starting the us to two sunny days of full harmony, a practitioners have really felt the neces- morning meetings, one could listen to “full immersion” experience from every sity to reach a level of knowledge based the teachings of our Precious Master point of view. on concrete experience of the state, of webcasted from Romania. I also wish to express, on behalf of our real nature. After having briefl y introduced its all the participants, our deep thanks to The retreat came about from the lineage, Enzo explained this practice, Enzo Terzano for his highly “creative” need to go more deeply and in a more which at once appeared quite deep in and interactive explanations and, of concentrated way into the essential spite of its essentiality, with a wealth course, to Valter Bianchini for his gen- points of “The Precious Vase”, from of details and using an interactive ap- erous and warm hospitality. >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

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For more information please contact: At the moment the Community is Serbia Europe >> continued Lithuania Valdas +37 061 21 38 39 collecting funds and gradually building Seminar with Oliver Leick in Belgrade Upcoming a dark retreat cabin. There is currently by the Belgrade Serbian Gakyil >> Naples continued from previous page SMS Base retreat a Dakini retreat house and a Longde fter many obstacles, we fi nally both an intellectual as well as an essen- The Lithuanian Dzogchen community is Poland cabin which are available for retreats. had the good fortune to meet tial approach, with the help of a skilful happy to announce the SMS base retreat News from Paldenling During the summer Paldenling also Awith Oliver Leick on Friday, guide. For this reason we asked Fabio with Jim Valby in Vilnius from 10th to by Jacek Machowski & Artur Zolkowski has a wonderful place for a Vajra Dance May 22nd. Our small Community and to come back and help the group clarify 19th of July. Mandala outside with splendid views of newcomers, approximately 25 people, he Polish Community has recent- these essential points and also do some the countryside and mountains. gathered at the “Kagyu Shenpen Thaye’’ Schedule: On weekdays there will be ly fi nished work at Paldenling of the practices together in order to The Polish Community invites prac- Buddhist centre. During the fi rst session one session 7–9.30 pm; to enlarge the existing house by have a brief but fundamental taste of T titioners to come and use the retreat Oliver gave an introduction to general At weekends: adding an upper fl oor and completely collective experience, with the knowl- facilities. aspects of the Teachings like the value of 9 am–12 noon + 4 pm–7 pm renovating the roof which was origi- edge that practice should have a con- You can read all about the Polish Dzogchen and of the words of Buddha, nally in asbestos. This work was made tinuity beyond the retreat and mostly Price: 90 euro for the whole course. Community and Paldenling on their the three statements of Garab Dorje, possible by a substantial loan that the that the main point is to integrate the website – www.dzogczen.pl. If you the meaning of being aware, the skill of Jim kindly proposed that we could have Polish gakyil took from one of their experience obtained during the practice would like to do a personal retreat relaxation and our daily life as our main also a few SMS 1 practice sessions on practitioners last year. However, funds in every moment of our lives until this there, before you come please contact practice. weekday mornings or afternoons if for other projects will not be available condition manifests in a stable way. the Gekos whose details can be found The next day the morning session there are a suffi cient number of SMS 1 for at least two years until the loan is The event took place in a very relaxed on the website. was held in the center at the House of practitioners. paid back. With the extra space in the summery atmosphere at the splendid dance and yoga, a modern space with main building, the Polish Community Ling that we have had the opportunity to Please send your registration to mirrors on the walls. Oliver gave an ex- plans to have more rooms for practitio- create in Naples. Moreover the fact that [email protected] informing us planation of the real meaning of Yantra ners to do personal retreats. there was the webcast of Rinpoche’s about the dates of your participation in Yoga, the general aspects of breathing Teachings in Moscow and those of Yeshi this retreat and also about your willing- as the means of being aware, with the Namkhai in the afternoon at the same ness to participate in SMS 1 practice basics such as 9 purifi cation breathings time, made the retreat rich yet intense, sessions. and 8 movements. just like during a retreat at Merigar. The third session was in the afternoon Please note that the retreat is only open We feel very close and thankful to on the treasure-house of Tibetan Culture to the members of the international Fabio and feel great affection towards and the work of the SSI. Oliver colored his Dzogchen Community and SMS 1 prac- him not only because he is a vajra brother talk with some memorable stories and tice sessions to those who have passed from our city but also because he has the his great sense of humor. The energy of the SMS base exam. precious gift of knowing how to present Rinpoche was present, in the sounds of things in a simple and clear way, with Accommodation: there is a possibility to practices, the words of the Teachings, patience and great presence. stay in students’ dormitory. A place in and Oliver’s inspiring personal stories double or three bed-room costs 8 euro concerning Rinpoche. The retreat ended per day. Bathrooms and kitchen are with a Ganapuja in the evening. It was available on the fl oor. a joyful and beautiful occasion. All of For booking a place please send the us went home with strong intention to relevant information to practice regularly so that it will become [email protected] Longde cabin at Paldenling. a part of our lives.

East DCA Tsegyalgar East Tsegyalgar PO Box 479 Phone: 413 369 4153 [email protected] Conway, MA 01341 USA Fax & Bookstore: 413 369 4473 www.www.tsegyalgareast.org

Upcoming Summer Vajra Dance Upcoming for information about accommodations use the farmhouse kitchen because there will Retreat of the Inner Practice of Tsegyalgar East is happy to announce the and camping, please contact the gekö be renovation work being done there. People July 18–19, 2009 Guru Wisdom Dakini annual at: [email protected] can bring lunches, there is a refrigerator Vajra Dance, Part of an ongoing course Practice And Explanation Santi Maha Sangha Summer Intensive in the bath house and people can make a led by authorized instructor Food and meals: there are a few options Led by Enzo Terzano with Jim Valby fi re and cook if they like. People could also Anastasia McGhee for food. One is that Yeshi Tsomo, our resi- July 7–12, 2009 August 1–23, 2009 carpool for going into town to eat and also Cost: $ 140 dent Tibetan cook, will be preparing lunches On Khandroling, the Sacred land of on Khandroling, the sacred land of the collaborate to shop and cook together. Location: Khandroling, Buckland MA for $ 8.50 per person. We will not be able to Dakinis, Buckland, Massachusetts Dakinis in Buckland Massachusetts July 24–27, 2009 Requirements: having received the There will be daily sessions of yantra The Dance of the Six Spaces initiation of Gomadevi or Jñanadhakini, yoga with Paula Barry and Naomi Zeitz of Samantabhadra or having received the transmission of led by authorized instructor 7:30–8:30 am Yantra Yoga the of the Essence (also via web- Bodhi Krause 9 am–noon, 4–7 pm Saturday Aug 1 to cast). The course is also open to those Friday Aug 7: SMS Base who don’t know the Vajra Dance. Daily Schedule: Friday: 7–9 pm 9 am–3 pm, Sat and Sun, Aug 8 & 9, Saturday and Sunday: 9:30–11:30 am, Note: The practices of each session will Karma Yoga 2–4 pm, 6–8 pm be combined with the Dance of the Song Monday: 7–9 pm 7:30–8:30 am Yantra Yoga of the Vajra, performed once, twice, or Location: TBA 9 am–noon, 4–7 pm Saturday Aug 8 to three times, depending on the number Friday Aug 14: SMS Level One of participants. People who don’t know For more information and or to sign up 9 am–3 pm, Sat and Sun, Aug 15 & 16, Vajra Dance can apply the Song of the for courses, please contact the secre- Karma Yoga Vajra. tary at (413) 369-4153 or [email protected] 7:30–8:30 am Yantra Yoga Cost: $ 200 US with membership dis- 9 am–noon, 4–7 pm Saturday Aug 15 counts. $ 40 US for sustaining mem- There will be delicious meals cooked by to Friday Aug 21: SMS Level Two bers. our in-house Tibetan cook available. 9 am–3 pm, Sat and Sun, Aug 22 & 23, Preregistration and contact: Please $ 8.50 for lunch with optional dinner Karma Yoga contact the secretary Asruh Warner at and breakfast if there is interest. For [email protected] with any accommodations and meals contact the Cost: $ 750 for the full retreat questions and register as soon as pos- Gekö at [email protected] $ 300 each 7-day session sible. Membership discounts apply For courses pre-registration is required Accommodations: Please contact our Please register early. A 15 % non-re- with a down payment. Tsegyalgar East Gekö, David Hayes, at fundable down payment is required reserves the right to cancel courses [email protected] for pre registration. Enrollment is limited based on low pre-registration. Camping on the land and places in to 24 People per Session. Tsegyalgar East the dormitory are available. * reserves the right to cancel the retreat 2 Lunches can be made available weeks before the program due to lack of and will be prepared by our wonderful suffi cient participation. Tibetan cook Yeshe for $ 8.50 a meal. To register or for more information Please contact our secretary beforehand Please contact the secretary at: if you are interested in lunch. [email protected] or 413 369 4153 * Weekend retreat with Elio Guarisco at Khandroling in June 2009. Photo: N. Zeitz THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

21 Tsegyalgar East

Make your check payable to The New USA York Dzogchen Community and mail New York to: Ed Goldberg 307 Prospect Place, 1c Brooklyn, NY 11238 Upcoming [email protected] The Dance of the Vajra A 2 part course taught by We look forward to seeing you on the Nelida Saporiti mandala at Kundrolling, 151 West 30th Street, Level 4, New York, NY 10001, Part 1: Fri, June 26–Sun, July 5 near 7th Ave and Penn Station Part 2: Fri, August 28–Mon, September 7 Space is limited to 12 women & 12 men Passages 2 sessions will be offered on weekends Canada New Toronto Gakyil Born: Julia Veronika Borkiewicz was & holidays and 1 each weekday evening Red: Yulia Jitkova born to the Borkiewicz Family on June The cost of the complete course is [email protected] 2nd, 2009 at 22:23 pm. US$ 500 Yellow: Deepak Ramachadran Please reserve your space on the [email protected] mandala with a deposit of $ 150 Blue: Andy Wai [email protected] Beginners’ Yantra Yoga in Toronto with Naomi Zeitz, June 12–15, 2009.

West Tsegyalgar West [email protected] Tsegyalgar Baja California Sur, Mexico http://tsegyalgarwest.org

Upcoming Please make checks to Dzogchen New Gakyil Two Weekends of Yantra Yoga Community West Coast Blue and President: Michael Hass from July 16–19 and July 23–26, 2009 And mail to 2728 Adeline St., Suite D, Huntington Beach, CA Led by Naomi Zeitz Berkeley CA 94707 Blue and Vice President: Joel Crisp July 16–19: Introduction to Yantra Yoga * from San Diego, CA Upcoming Blue: Miles Thomas from San Diego, CA July 23–26: Advanced Yantra Yoga Save the date: Yellow: Diane Sievers from Conway, MA Tsegyalgar West will host a Cost: $ 200 for both weekends with paid Yellow and Treasurer: Helen Thomas SMS Base Level Retreat early registration by Monday, June 29 from Portland, Oregon with Jim Valby $ 250 for both weekends (after June 30) Red: Carol Fields from Berkeley, CA November 18–24, 2009 $ 130 for a single weekend (8 sessions) Red: Scott Schroeder, Baja Sur, Mexico $ 20 for each session Contact Angelina at Please direct all inquires to our secretary, [email protected] To register, please contact Leticia Angelina Ibarquen at for information Recepter at 510 292-0960 or [email protected] * [email protected] Dream Yoga with Michael Katz, April 9–14 Tsegyalgar West – Baja Mexico.

Norte Tashigar North /Finca Tashigar Prolongación de la Calle Bolivar Tel: 0058 0295 2580332 Tashigar Valle de Pedro González [email protected] Isla de Margarita www.tashigarnorte.org

Upcoming First part November 23th–28th, 2009 To participate you must be a member of Vajra dance course of led by Bodhi Krause the Dzogchen Community the Song of the Vajra Second part December 14th–19th, 2009 Contact: with Bodhi Krause & Carmen Rivas led by Carmen Rivas [email protected] supervised by main instructor Adriana dal Borgo

Sur Tashigar South Tanti 5155 Phone & Fax: 0054 - 3541 - 498 356 Tashigar Comunidad Dzogchen Tashigar Pcia. de Córdoba [email protected] Calle pública S/N Argentina

New Gakyil Elementary, Watson! The election of a new Gakyil at Tashigar South 2009/2010 Blue: Daniel Barreto, Griselda Gálmez Ana García (director ) Griselda Gálmez Yellow: Griselda Olivera, ere you are reading the about the commitment to partici- Claudia Corchero, Adriana Battisti names and seeing the pate, the necessity to help each Red: Sergio Oliva, Paula De Raedemaeker, Hsmiling faces of the new other”, “Maybe we will do some- María Elena Gastaldi Gakyil of Tashigar South. The thing wrong and others practitio- member’s assembly according to ners are offended or upset with The email address to contact the Gakyil the previous Gakyil’s proposal in us or with the Community”. is: [email protected] April 2009 chose the Gakyil. I remained thinking about Gekö: Luis Olivera You can see ten people: the the last idea. Many times I had [email protected] gekö and nine Gakyil members. the opportunity to listen old or They look happy but it was a lit- new practitioners complaining tle diffi cult to fi nd nine people. about another one or against Why? the Sangha. Sometimes I do not our logic is just the ego logic and my opinion or your opinion, you During the meeting we heard share their reasons, sometimes does not represent at all the real and me. some ideas about: “The present I do. But a reason is not more condition. On the other hand, we So, if we have not the capacity world’s situation is very hard. than a reason. It appears in our are practitioners. It means that to remain in the instant presence People must work very much, ev- ordinary mind conditioned by we are applying methods for dis- (which is evident), we have re- eryone is very busy” Some prac- so many things: family, country, covering the condition beyond ceived again and again precious titioners have no consciousness friends, and ideology! Generally >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

22 Tashigar Sur

>> Gakyil continued from previous page At least, if the previous meth- case I am using the logic and its the noisy and talkative people of ogy and opinions. We hope to practices from our dear Master ods failed for us, there is the pos- limits. Tashigar South. be an operative and open mind- for working with our anger, re- sibility to renounce to the anger, After this digression, I return Fortunately, it was just for a ed Gakyil for the benefi t, in fi rst sentment, etc. Why, then, don’t the resentment etc. Sometimes to my fi rst topic: the election of moment. It was a moment of si- place, of ourselves because this we apply the Purifi cation of Six we have renounced to a beautiful a new Gakyil for Tashigar South. lence waiting to see what was task is also our practice, and for Lokas or Vajrasattva Practice? El- dress or a wished book because Really it was not so diffi cult be- happening with the others and the benefi t of all sentient beings emental, Watson! In this case it is we are saving money for travel- cause fi ve person of the old to decide. Then, six old practi- because the Gar is a Source of possible purifying our emotions ling, or we said no to an exquisite Gakyil renewed their commit- tioners offered themselves once Teachings for the present and fu- and maybe we do not need anoth- food for being healthy. I hope the ment to work for the Gar and for more. ture generations. er thing to understand and forgive comparisons are clear because if the new Gonpa that they prom- You see, with eleven persons And also we hope, elementary, the action that has hurt us. This we choose to participate in the ised to the Master during the past offering themselves to become Watson! that all of you help us action has lost importance for us. Sangha in spite of our possible summer. But then… What a situ- members, the previous gakyil with this great task! The doors Or maybe not, and we recognize past hurts, really we have cho- ation! When the meeting’s coor- with the help of the assembly had of Tashigar South are open for all that we even need to talk with the sen the boat of our Master once dinator asked: “Are there more the possibility to form the new those who wish to work for the person who offended us. But in more! persons that wish to be Gakyil Gakyil that you can see, widely Community!!! this case we could talk without Elementary, Watson! This fa- members?” It was evident that smiling, in the photo. the heavy weight of emotions and mous sentence maybe works for these words were magic: all of us We hope to form a really good also the conversation becomes a many Vajra brothers and sisters, discovered that they are the pre- work team, in spite of the differ- way to share, to participate. but not for all. Sure, also in this cise words to get silence within ences of age, experience, ideol-

The Project – Remodelling of the tremely useful in the rainfall sea- be used to improve the Camping “20 Years, time to roar like a lion! existing Gonpa son when our retretas are held. Site facilities in the near future. Join us to make it real!” Following the instructions giv- Two more gates will be added as en by Rinpoche during our last well as two rooms (a toilet, and a The Estimated Budget retreat, Tashigar South should storage room) in the back, behind The estimated budget for the ashigar South is about to istics have favoured the tireless give total priority to the project the throne of the Master. remodelling of the Gonpa is of be 20 years old. For this development of the Dzogchen of reconstructing our Gonpa. US$ 97 000. Thanks to the gen- T joyful occasion we are em- Teachings of Chögyal Namkhai The main work to be done is the This change implies the need of erosity of our Master and the col- barking on an ambitious project Norbu in . replacement of the roof that, replacing the structure as well, laboration of all the Sangha dur- that will be of great benefi t to both Since its foundation in 1989, as many of you know, is made because the old one is no strong ing our last retreat, we already the local and worldwide Commu- Rinpoche has led more than 60 of straw. Having passed twenty enough to support any other type have US$ 57 000, that means we nity. We need of your support to retreats of precious teachings years since it was constructed, of roof. count on the 58 % of the total help bring it into reality! and hundreds of courses, retreats the material needs to be changed, Our Master requested Engi- amount needed to complete the “20 Years, time to roar like a lion! and practices have been under- but nowadays, due to the global neer Giovanni Boni to design the works. Join us to make it real!” taken by instructors of SMS, Yan- climatic changes our province is project who counts with the tech- tra Yoga and Vajra Dance or coor- more and more subject to big fi res nical assistance of Architect Ale- The Goal The Celebration dinated by older practitioners. during winter, so this material jandro Fabiano. Tashigar South Tashigar South needs to count On 7th February 2010 Tashigar All this would have been im- has also become very risky. There- has appointed Sergio Oliva as the on the total amount by the end of South, the Gar of the Dzogchen possible without this sacred fore the new design contemplates manager for the project. July. We are sure that working to- Community for South America place. a sheetmetal roof. It will be larg- Certain items such as the win- gether and we the support of all will be 20 years old. Its location er than the existing one creating dows from the gonpa and part the Community we will be able to was especially chosen by our a perimeter gallery in the north of the structure supporting the raise the funds we need to make Master and its unique character- and east sides of the building, ex- roof can be recycled so they will this project come true.

There are many ways in which we will be able to collaborate: Buy ‘virtual bricks’! Pay your membership How can we Collaborate? Donate money for this project! Another way of collaborating is in advance! buying ‘virtual bricks’. They can Meritorious, supporters and Any amount will be really appreciated – The Gar will offer nice thank-you gifts to donors. be exchanged for Yantra Yoga and ordinary members can pay ei- Although donating is a supreme act of generosity that waits for no reward, the Gakyil of Tashigar South Vajra Dance courses led by local ther 2, 5 or 10 years in advance wants to offer nice thank-you gifts to thank all the brothers and sisters than join this Gonpa. instructors at Tashigar South; to help this project come true. for lodging at the Gar to make You should contact your Gakyil · For donors of US$ 3000 or · For donors of US$ 1000 or more: · For donors of US$ 300 or more, a personal retreats; or for days to or Ling if you prefer this kind more: a gold-plated vajra; a resin pendant with letter TAM, bag with Tashigar South logo with make a dark retreat in our dark of collaboration with the proj- 10 000 pesos. HRI or HUM; 2500 pesos. a surprise gift inside; 500 pesos. retreat cabin. ect. · Buying ‘500 virtual bricks’ (US$ Prices will be ‘frozen’ in. 300) you can attend a Vajra Dance US$ 1000 for or Yantra Yoga course held by lo- meritorious members per year cal instructors at Tashigar south. US$ 300 for You can take advantage of this supporters members per year benefi t in any course held at the US$ 100 for course until the end of 2011. ordinary members per year

· Buying ‘250 virtual bricks’ (US$ The following people have 150) you have the chance of lodg- already adhered to this cam- ing at the Gar for free for 1 (one) paign: Our Master Chögyal week to make personal retreats Namkhai Norbu, Rosa Nam- (subjected to availability of rooms khai, Fabio Andrico, Jorgelina · For donors of US$ 1500 or · For donors of US$ 500 or more: · For donors of up to US$ 300 an and not coinciding with retreats Cardini y Diego Pacheco, Ser- more: a silver and resin medal a silver Gau with an almandine envelope with 5 lhungta and a with our Master or with any other gio Oliva y Paula De Raede- with the symbol of the Universal stone; 1000 pesos. picture of our Master; retreat with international instruc- maeker, Adriana Batistti, Clau- Mandala or Green Tara (chosen 500 pesos. tors). dio Bruno, Ma. Elena Gastaldi, by the donor); 5000 pesos. Luis León Gacigalupo, Nor- · For each lot of ‘100 virtual buling (Peru), Estela Ugarte, bricks’ you buy (US$ 50) you have Ricardo Sued, Marisa Alonso, the chance of making 1 (one) day Sophie Marceux, Naomi Zeitz, dark retreat in our dark retreat Gakyil de Buenos Aires, Ana cabin. You can take advantage of García, Daniel Barreto. this benefi t until the end of 2011 We hope you can join us for (subjected to availability of our the benefi t of these precious dark retreat cabin and not coin- Teachings! ciding with retretas held with our For any donation, payment Master or any other retreat with or buy, please, contact to: internacional instructors). [email protected] THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

23 Tashigar Sur

Upcoming It’s a very important condition for the Tashigar South is pleased to announce participation to have received the Lung Bolivia Dorjei Kotrab Retreat from the Master. Bolivian Andes Stupa Project Led by the SMS instructor Ricardo Sued Program and Schedule Contact: Miguel Kavlin, July 3rd–6th July 3rd Mobile in India: (+91)9876598196 “In the kaliyuga there will be many problems 6 pm: Explanation of the Dorjei Kotrab Bolivia, Tel: 591-22-791742 … many kinds of new illnesses not known be- practice and the practice of Long Life of Mail: Stupa Project; P.O.Box 5521; fore, will arise and spread. Doctors will have Padmasambhava. La Paz, Bolivia great diffi culties to recognizing the nature of 7 pm: Beginning of the commitment E-Mail: [email protected] various illnesses and in treating them”. of silence and the recitation of mantra e are building a Stupa in the This explanation was given by Guru following the instructions. Bolivian Andes (it is already Padmasambhava. July 4th–5th under construction) at 3,600 “This mantra is very, very rare; we would W Recitation of Mantra of Healing mountains (12,000 ft), in front of Sa- not be able to fi nd it even if we were to cred Mountains Illimani and Mururata. search throughout the three existences, July 6th, 7 pm: Ganapuja Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche has throughout the three worlds. With this man- spoken of how Guru Padmasambhava (similar to the end of apartheid in South Lama have sent us relics to place within tra we can stop every type of illness, problem If you are interested in participating managed to enlist the service of the Africa), and an upsurge of Native Self it. and negativity.” please pre-register as soon as possible powerful Mountain Gods of Tibet who Esteem, potentially to great benefi t We want to extend an invitation to [email protected] We are pleased to announce a three-day fi rst opposed Buddhism, and through for all humanity, but potentially also a those who would wish to contribute retreat with the recitation of the healing his help became guardians and protec- source of confl ict and turmoil. something to place within the Stupa to mantra called Dorjei Kotrab. There will tors of the teachings instead. We feel We feel the blessings and the aware- help us with their blessings and have a be a vow of absolute silence because that the mountains in the Andes are ness of the Buddhist teachings in the connection with it’s function, to mail it it is required by this practice. For this also very powerful and have awesome Andes could be a great infl uence and at the address above, and let us know reason it’s very important to confi rm potential for service. bring benefi t for all sentient beings; so we await and track it’s arrival. Please the assistance in advance. Bolivia is going through powerful therefore we have undertaken to build do so before September 30, 2009. times of transition, with the fi rst native a Stupa in the Bolivian Andes. Namkhai indigenous government in 500 years Norbu Rinpoche and H. H. The Dalai

Namgyalgar PO Box 214 Central Tilba [email protected] Namgyalgar Dzogchen Community in NSW 2546 www.dzogchen.org.au and Pacifi c Rim Australia Phone/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668

Upcoming Vajra Dance Course with Upcoming Yantra Yoga in Australia 2009 Cosimo Di Maggio The New Zealand Dzogchen Community is Cairns Australia May 30–31, 2009 happy to announce Monday July 6 Dzogchen Teaching, Study and Yantra Yoga Introductory Evening he newly formed Gakyil of the Practice Retreat With Emily Coleing and Amare Pearl Dzogchen Community of Cairns With Santi Maha Sangha Teacher Byron Bay 6.00–8.00 pm was delighted to have such an T Angie Gilbert enthusiastic attendance at the Vajra Sunday July 12 July 16–19, 2009 Dance course of Om A Hum, hosted Introduction to The Eight Movements The retreat is non-residential and will by Alima and Dieter at their tropical With Emily Coleing and Amare Pearl be held in Auckland organic farm, an hour north of Cairns Byron Bay in the Daintree World Heritage Rainfor- Cost: 4 day retreat $ 130 [student and July 18–19 est Region. The mandala was place out low wages $ 100] Level 1 Yantra Yoga in the open area surrounded by dense Times: Day time: 9:30 to 4:00 With Emily Coleing and Amare Pearl tropical rainforest. As Cosimo Di Mag- 6 Lokas practice and general explana- Byron Bay gio, our dance teacher explained that tions of base teachings of Dzogchen the dance helps harmonize the energies July 25–26 Evening: 7:00 to 9:00 Practice of Chod of the three gates, body, speech and Practice Intensive 1st level mind, a myraid of torquoise Ulysses Address: 50 Hillsborough Road, With Emily Coleing and Amare Pearl butterfl ies and Bird-Wing Butterfl ies Mt Roskill, Byron Bay danced from one fl ower to another. It www.stfrancisretreatcentre.org.nz August weekly ongoing classes was really wonderful to develop the Transmission is essential for this With Emily Coleing and Amare Pearl practice of the dance in such an incred- retreat Byron Bay ible environment. Now the group meets regularly to practice the Vajra Dance in Inquiries are welcome August 8–9 Cairns. Gabrielle Kearney (For the New Zealand The Eight Movements Gakyil) [email protected] With Emily Coleing Next Vajra Dance course: Melbourne NZ Dzogchen Community The Six Spaces in Cairns on the Week- P.O Box 52089, Kingsland 1352 Contact: [email protected] end September 19–20, 2009 and wish to Auckland, New Zealand invite other practitioners to attend. * [email protected] Phone Maree 0414 690080. www.dzogchen.org.nz

Main Offi ce: PO Box 479, Conway, MA 01341, USA * Tel: 413 369 4208 * Fax: 413 369 44 73 * [email protected] * * European Offi ce: The Mirror, Istituto Shang Shung, Podere Nuovissimo, GR 58031 Arcidosso, Italy * Tel: 39 32 98 86 52 92 * [email protected] * * Editorial Staff: Naomi Zeitz, Tsegyalgar, Conway, MA, USA * Liz Granger, Istituto Shang Shung, Arcidosso, Italy * * Literary Editor: John Shane * * Advisors: Des Barry, Adriano Clemente, Anna Eid, Barbara Paparazzo, Jim Valby * * International Blue Gakyil Advisor: Fabio Andrico, International Publications Committee * * English Language Advisor: Liz Granger * * Layout & Design: Thomas Eifl er * * Web Site Managers: Thomas Eifl er, Malcolm Smith * * Printer: Turley Publications, Palmer, MA, USA * * Distribution: Tsegyalgar at Conway, MA, USA * * Subscription Rate/6 Issues: $35 US available through Tsegyalgar; 30 € through Merigar * * Visa and Master card welcome * * Online Mirror: www.melong.com * * All material © 2009 by The Mirror * * Reprint by permission only * * We reserve the right to edit all submissions. THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009

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Singapore Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu May 1–3, 2009

Shelley Han

ith great anticipation the injection of new blood was and happy grinning prevalent. When we practiced W faces, nearly 400 old Guruyoga, the strong chorus of and new students participated in the participants gave testimony the three-day retreat held by Chö- to the past experience of more gyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. than half of total practitioners in It was one of the biggest retreats attendance. the Singapore Gakyil held in years, not to mention that many Ngee Ann Cultural Center hall, had become a little rusty in their which usually holds 280 chairs, endeavor considering that the had to be rearranged a day prior last retreat given by Rinpoche to the event when online regis- Indonesia and some monastic es led by local Santi Maha Sangha day after the morning teaching, was in August 2000. tration surged to 302. The Gakyil lamas from Bhutan, Tibet and a teacher Cheh Goh on the fi rst saying that Rinpoche’s teaching brought in mats to create more Nagkpa/Chödpa from . and second evening and an expla- was very deep and high and they The decor was simple yet elegant space with chair arrangements nation on the rite of Ganapuja, understood Dharma far more in and the atmosphere in the retreat at the side and back row. In the Rinpoche gave two hours of which the Dzogchen Community one session than they had from hall was one of many old semi-re- end, when the numbers averaged teachings and explanation and worldwide always performs on the numerous teachings com- tired students, some of those who 350, many students sat on the practices of Yeshe Zangthal (the the last day of retreat. Over 200 bined elsewhere. found their true calling in other carpeted fl oor in the pathways. fi rst series on emptiness and in- practitioners in cordial coopera- We hope that Rinpoche does lineages, and new people, all at- We had many students com- stant presence) every morning, tion and mutual respect attended not stay away for so long a time tending the retreat with great joy ing from America stationed in followed by explanation on essen- the Ganapuja with our Guru and in the future and that he returns amidst the renewal of friendships China, Europe (Italian, French, tial practices by Dr. Cheh Goh and all the Vajra Family. to bring the precious Dzogchen forged years ago and new friend- Swiss, Spanish and Russian), The Eight Movements of Yantra Teachings to Singapore many ships made. The atmosphere of Thailand (both expatriates and Yoga by Fabio Andrico in the af- Many new faces expressed their times more! rekindled friendship as well as Thais), Hong Kong, Taiwan and ternoon. There were thun practic- joy during lunchtime on the fi rst

Double Rainbow in the Sky of Tokyo, Japan!

Takatomo Sasaki Red Gakyil Dzogchen Community of Japan

ur precious master, Chö- gyal Namkhai Norbu, Ogave a weekend teaching in Tokyo, Japan from May 8–10, 2009. There were about 160 peo- ple participating in the retreat, a larger audience than any previous retreat in Japan. About half of the group. The teachings were given attendees were new practitioners in a large Japanese style room and had never met Rinpoche be- with a tatami mat fl oor and shoji fore. screens enshrining a beautiful life size (almost) statue of Buddha The retreat was held in the Mi- Shakyamuni. nato business district at the To- kyo Grand Hotel, which is run very well by a Soto Buddhist Rinpoche gave teachings for three Many new practitioners were The last day of the teaching, he days in front of this statue, natu- strongly touched by Rinpoche’s gave lung transmissions and the rally reminding us that Rinpoche powerful presence and his pre- weekend retreat was fi nished. is none other than Buddha him- cious teaching. One of the new- self. comers said, “I felt information After the retreat, the Gakyil of beyond words came through his Japanese Dzogchen Commu- The opening teaching started on whole being and penetrated into nity expressed appreciation and Friday at 6pm. Rinpoche was very me.” wished his return to Japan by well and full of energy after all saying that there are many prac- his travels. He empowered us all On the second day of the teach- titioners who need his guidance. through his vigorous voice and ing, an article of the prestigious Rinpoche replied gently, “I am smiles. Japan Time News was posted on hoping to come back to Japan the door at the retreat. The arti- again.“ His reply was the greatest The teaching mainly stemmed cle said, “A double rainbow ap- gift for all of us! from his own Tibetan medi- peared in the sky over the Minato cal book, “On Birth, Life, and district in Tokyo around 6 pm on All practitioners of the Dzogchen Death”. The teaching was not May 8th”, with a large photo of Community of Japan hereby say www.jcrows.com only on the medical topics but the rainbow. This means when that we will collaborate and help also on the essence of Dzogchen. Rinpoche began to teach on the each other and expand our activi- ® Rinpoche patiently gave detailed fi rst day of the retreat, at exactly ties to do our best for the Japa- J. Crow’s explanations, about the impor- the same time, the double rain- nese Dzogchen Community to Mulling Spice Folk Medicine tance of Guruyoga, how to main- bow manifested in the space just fl ourish! Tibetan Medicine tain awareness in our daily life outside our retreat place! This and how to practice in the night, great new and auspicious sign Long long life to Rinpoche! SpicedCider.com etc. made us all joyful and happy. fax or phone: 1 800 878 1965 603 878 1965 Rinpoche gave a direct transmis- [email protected] sion using the yeshe zangthal on that day.

THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Special Practice Calendar

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It is an ideal day to do a Ganapuja with your Vajra brothers and sisters. If there Special Practice Calendar are none nearby, you can do a short or medium Tun on your own. for the Earth Ox Year 9th Month, 25th day Wed. 11th November 2009 2009–2010 The 25th is a Dakini day and also the anniversary of the great Dzogchen Master Adzam Drugpa (1842–1924), a previous reincarnation of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. He was a disciple of 5th Month, 10th day and will thus receive the transmission. 7th Month, 15th day 8th Month, 25th day Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and a mas- Thu. 2nd July 2009 (In Italy, this practice will be done at Fri. 4th September 2009 Tue. 13th October 2009 ter of great masters such as Changchub Today is a special day of Guru Padma- 5 am.) Full Moon. This is the anniversary of This is a Dakini day and also the anni- Dorje and Ayu Khandro. Therefore, sambhava. In general you can do the It is also the anniversary of Yeshe Tsog- Tsarchen Losal Gyatso and Padma versary of two great Dzogchen masters, when it is 7 pm in East Tibet on this Guruyoga of Padmasambhava prac- yal, the main consort and disciple of Karpo, a famous 17th century Drugpa Rigzin Kumaraja, who transmitted the day, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu will give the tice on this day. If you can, try to do a Padmasambhava so it will be benefi cial Kagyupa Master. Therefore it is an Dzogchen teachings to Longchenpa and transmission of Guruyoga with the specifi c Ganapuja collectively with your Vajra to do a Guruyoga of Padmasam with excellent day to do the longlife practice to the third , and of Rigzin practice linked to the anniversary of Adzam brothers and sisters, otherwise you can the longlife mantra and a Ganapuja as of the Dakini Mandarava, “Cycle of Life’s Tsewang Norbu (1698–1755), a great Drugpa. In this way the transmission will do the longlife practice “Union of Primor- we usually do, otherwise you can do Vajra”, with a Ganapuja if possible as Dzogchen master of the Nyingmapa be live because the transmission has no dial Essences”. the longlife practice “Union of Universal well as Akar Lamai Naljor, the Guruyoga of school. It is therefore an excellent day distance. Rinpoche will transmit and Wisdom”. the White A collectively with your Vajra to do Akar Lamai Naljor, the Guruyoga throughout the world people who do 5th Month, 14th day See the global timetable brothers and sisters or alone. with the White A. If you can do it in the the practice at the same moment will be Mon. 6th July 2009 morning, that is best. Then, if you have in the transmission and will thus receive This is an important day for the practice 6th Month, 14th day 7th Month 19th day the time, you can do a medium or long Tun the transmission. This practice should of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium Tue. 4th August 2009 Tue. 8th September 2008 later in the day, with an intense practice be done at the appointed time together Tun collectively or alone, reciting the This is the anniversary of the Third Kar- This is an important day for the practice of Simhamuka, or a Ganapuja, if you with your Vajra brothers and sisters or, heart mantra of Ekajati as many times mapa, Rangjung Dorje (1284–1339), a of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium have the possibility. if that is not possible, alone. (In Italy, as possible. disciple of Rigdzin Chenpo Kumaradza Tun in the usual way, reciting the heart this practice will be done at 1 pm.) and a famous master of Dzogchen mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos- 8th Month, 27th day See the global timetable 5th Month, 15th day Upadesa. On this day it is good to do sible. Thu. 15th October 2009 Tue. 7th July 2009 Akar Lamai Naljor, Guruyoga with the White This is an important day for the practice 9th Month, 30th day Full Moon. This is a special day for the A, collectively or alone. 7th Month, 25th day of Ekajati, so try to do a long Tun with Mon. 16th November 2009 longlife practice of Amitayus, so you Mon. 14th September 2009 your Vajra brothers and sisters, or if Dark Moon. This is a good day to do can do the Longlife practice “Union of 6th Month, 15th day This is a Dakini day and also the an- that is not possible, you can do a medium Namcho Shitroi Naljor, the Yoga of the Primordial Essences”. The best moment to Wed. 5th August 2009 niversary of Phagmo Drugpa (1110– Tun alone reciting the heart mantra of Peaceful and Wrathful Manifestations, do it is between 7 and 8 in the morning, Full Moon. This is the anniversary of 1170), the chief disciple of Gampopa. Ekajati as many times as possible. in the morning. It is also an important if possible, either collectively or alone. If Gampopa, the main disciple of Mila- Try to do a Ganapuja together with your day for the practice of Ekajati, so try you can, try to a Ganapuja as well. repa, founder of the Kagyupa school Vajra sisters and brothers. If there are 8th Month, 30th day to do a long or medium Tun, reciting the It is also the Dzam gling spyi bsang (Lit. and author or “The Precious Orna- no other practitioners nearby, you can Sun. 18th October 2009 heart mantra of Ekajati as many times ‘smoke puja of the world in general’) so ment of Liberation”. It is, therefore, do a medium Tun on your own. In either Dark Moon. This day is excellent for as possible. if you know how to do it, you can do the an excellent day to do Akar Lamai Naljor, case, when you transform yourself into practising the “Purifi cation of the Six Sanqod (Sangchod) in the morning. the Guru yoga with the White A. It is also the Dakini Simhamuka, recite her heart Lokas” if you know how to do it. Other- 10th Month, 10th day good to do the longlife practice “Union mantra as much as possible and then wise you can do the medium or long Tun Fri. 27th November 2009 5th Month, 25th day of Primordial Essences” of Guru Amitayus do an intensive practice of Ekajati. or a Ganapuja. Today is a special day of Guru Padma- Fri. 17th July 2009 and, if possible, a Ganapuja. sambhava, the day on which he arrived Today is Dakini day as well as an im- 7th Month, 30th day 9th Month, 3rd day in central Tibet. It is considered that on portant day for the practice of Ekajati, 6th Month, 25th day Fri. 18th September 2009 Wed. 21st October 2009 this day, at the end of the 8th century, so try to do a Ganapuja or a long Tun col- Sat. 15th August 2009 Dark Moon. This day is ideal for purifi - This is the anniversary of Rigdzin Jigmed King , the ancient king lectively with your Vajra brothers and This is a Dakini day, so it is a positive cation practices. Try to do either the Pu- Lingpa (1729–1798), a great Dzogchen of Dharma, vanished dissolving into a sisters, or a medium Tun alone. In either day for reinforcing the function of our rifi cation of the Six Lokas or the Namchos master who was the author of many statue of Avalokiteshvara. Therefore case recite the heart mantra of Ekajati energy and creating a vital contact with Shitroi Naljyor, the Yoga of the Peaceful books, among which is the Longchen it is good to do the Guruyoga of Padma- as many times as possible. the energy of the universe by doing and Wrathful Manifestations, either Nyingthig, which he wrote after having sambhava with the long-life mantra and a Ganapuja with our Vajra sisters and collectively or on your own. Try to do a contact with Longchenpa through vi- a Ganapuja. Otherwise you can do the 5th Month, 30th day brothers. If there are no other practi- Ganapuja as well, if possible. sions. Therefore, on this important day, long-life practice “Universal Wisdom Wed. 22nd July 2009 tioners nearby you can do a medium Tun you should try to do Akar Lamai Naljor, Union”. If it is possible, the best mo- New Moon. This is a day for purifi cation on your own. In either case, when you 8th Month, 10th day the Guruyoga with the White A. ment to do the Guruyoga is early in the practices. It is best to do the Purifi cation transform into the Dakini Simhamuka, Mon. 28th September 2009 morning between 7 and 8. You can do of the Six Lokas either collectively or recite her heart mantra as many times This is a special day of Guru Padma- 9th Month, 10th day the Ganapuja later in the afternoon. alone, preferably in the early morning. as possible. sambhava, therefore you can do the Wed. 28th October 2009 Otherwise you can do a medium or short Guruyoga of Padmasambhava. If you This is a special day of Guru Padma- 10th Month, 11th day Tun or a Ganapuja. 6th Month, 30th day have time and the possibility you can do sambhava. It is also the anniversary of Sat. 28th November 2009 Thu. 20th August 2009 a Ganapuja with the Guruyoga and the Tertön Sogyal, a previous reincarnation This is an important day for the practice 6th Month, 4th day New Moon. This is a very important day long-life practice of Guru Padmasam- of and discoverer of of Ekajati. Sat. 25th July 2009 to do purifi cation practices, especially bhava together with your Vajra broth- many terma. It is therefore a good day This is the anniversary of the Dharma- the “Purifi cation of the Six Lokas”. If you ers and sisters. Otherwise you can do to do the long-life practice of Guru Pad- 10th Month, 15th day chakra (the fi rst turning of the Wheel of have the chance, you can also do a short the long-life practice “Universal Wisdom masambhava “Universal Wisdom Union”, Wed. 2nd December 2009 the Dharma): the fi rst time that Buddha or medium Tun or a Ganapuja, collectively Union”. which is included in the medium or long Full Moon. This day is considered to be Shakyamuni gave the teaching of the or alone. Tun. You can do this in the usual way or, the day to honour the Lord Buddha in to his disciples at 8th Month, 15th day if you have the possibility, you can do it general, and it is one of the best days , after his illumination. To hon- 7th Month, 9th day Sun. 4th October 2009 with a Ganapuja. to do the long-life Practice with the Dakini our the Lord Buddha on this special day Sat. 29th August 2009 Full Moon. This is an important day to Mandarava in particular. Generally the you can do a Ganapuja with your Vajra This is an important day for the practice do the long-life practice of Amitayus, 9th Month, 15th day best moment to do this kind of practice brothers and sisters. of Ekajati. “Union of Primordial Essences”. It is best Mon. 2nd November 2009 is between 7 and 8 in the morning but if to do it early in the morning and a Gana- Full Moon. This is a day of the Buddha you don’t have this possibility, then do it 6th Month, 10th day 7th Month, 10th day puja in the evening. and a good day to do the long-life prac- in the afternoon or later in the evening Fri. 31st July 2009 Sun. 30th August 2009 tice of Amitayus, “Union of Primordial Es- when you are free. It is also a good day Today is the anniversary of the birth of It is a special day of Guru Padmasamb- 8th Month, 19th day sences”, either collectively or individually to do a Ganapuja. Padmasambhava. On this day when it is hava as well as the anniversary of Jomo Thu. 8th October 2009 according to your possibilities, in the 8 am in Oddiyana Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Menmo (1248–1283), a famous yogini, This is an important day for the practice morning and in the evening a Ganapuja. 10th Month, 25th day will give the transmission of Guruyoga with terton and reincarnation of Yeshe of Ekajati, so try to do a long Tun with Fri. 11th December 2009 the specifi c practice linked to the anniver- Tsogyal and consort of the terton Guru your Vajra brothers and sisters, or if 9th Month, 22nd day Today is a Dakini day and the anniver- sary of Padmasambhava. In this way the Chowang. Therefore it is an ideal day to that is not possible, you can do a medium Mon. 9th November 2009 sary of Tsongkhapa (1357–1491), who transmission will be live because the do Akar Lamai Naljor, the Guruyoga of the Tun alone reciting the heart mantra of This day is the important celebration made a synthesis of the previous schools transmission has no distance. Rinpoche White A, and a Ganapuja, if you have the Ekajati as many times as possible. of Buddha Shakyamuni’s descent to and founded the Gelugpa school. It is will transmit and throughout the world possibility. earth from the realm of the Divinities. very benefi cial for reinforcing the en- people who do the practice at the same It is called “Lhabab Tuchen”, the Great ergy of the universe so try to perform moment will be in the transmission Time of the Descent of the Divinities. >> continued on the following page THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Special Practice Calendar

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of the International Dzogchen Friday 31st July 2009 Worldwide Community. 00:00 Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Video-Webcast on demand Transmission days For new and interested per- , Bermuda sons, it is important to have seen 03:00 GMT, Reykjavic, About the Worldwide the explanation by Chögyal Nam- 04:00 London, Dublin, Lisbon Transmission khai Norbu Rinpoche that is also 05:00 Johannesburg, Rome, Berlin, on the videotape, in advance. Oslo, Paris, Newcomers who want to par- They should also have the possi- Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, ticipate in the worldwide trans- bility to clarify any doubts about Brussels, Geneva, mission must be truly interested the practice on the videotape Prague, Salzburg, Stockholm, in the Teachings transmitted by with some serious, dedicated Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw our Teacher, Chögyal Namkhai older students of Chögyal Nam- 06:00 Kuwait City, Riyadh, Tashkent, Norbu Rinpoche, and practiced khai Norbu Rinpoche before the Helsinki, Athens, in our world wide Dzogchen Empowerment. Ankara, Beirut, Jerusalem, Tallinn, Community. Participants in this Exactly at the given time (see Vilnius, Istanbul Transmission should try to re- timetable) at your place, you 07:00 Moscow, Murmansk, Baghdad ceive Teachings from Rinpoche start the Transmission Video at 08:00 Oddiyana, Islamabad in the future. After having re- the starting point of the part of 08:30 New Delhi, Bombay ceived the Transmission, they the Anniversary of Guru Padma- 08:45 should also try to train and col- sambhava. At that moment – 09:00 Dacca laborate with the Sangha of the worldwide – students and new- 09:30 Rangoon International Dzogchen Commu- comers start to practice this ses- 10:00 Bangkok, Jakarta, Saigon nity of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu sion of the Thun together, which 11:00 Singapore, Beijing, Lhasa, Rinpoche. Originally, Chögyal ends with the dedication of mer- Manila, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Namkhai Norbu had the idea of a its. Taipei, Perth ‘Transmission at a Distance’ be- We wish you all a successful practice. 12:00 Tokyo, Seoul, cause he wanted to help people Please contact your local Community 12:30 Darwin, Adelaide in different situations, who could for details. 13:00 Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney not travel at that time to meet 14:00 Vladivostok the Teacher. The Transmission Global Timetable 15:00 Fiji, Wellington, Auckland, will enable them to practice the Anniversary of Padmasambhava Kamchatka Dzogchen Teachings transmit- 6th Tibetan month – 10th day Dear Dzogchen Community Members and Friends, ted by Rinpoche without needing Celebration at 8 a.m. Oddiyana direct contact with the Teacher at time. I received many requests about my activities so I am organizing that time. a small video library on the internet. If you are interested you Thursday 30th July 2009 can already fi nd the last webcast from Moscow in the “on-de- Here is a summary of how the 17:00 Hawaii mand” section. Live-Video-Empowerment works: 20:00 San Francisco, Los Angeles, To receive the World Wide Trans- Vancouver http://www.livestream.com/ysn mission, new students need to 21:00 Denver, Salt Lake City, participate with an experienced Pagosa Springs, Edmonton Love, student who will host both the 22:00 Lima, Quito, Chicago, Yeshi S. Namkhai preliminary explanation as well Mexico City as the actual practice well in ad- 23:00 Caracas, San Juan, Santiago, vance of the event. New York, Conway, Hosts of Empowerments with Montreal, Atlanta, Detroit, Havana, the videotape should be members Kingston, Indianapolis, Ottawa Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Schedule 2010

>> continued from previous page 11th Month, 25th day practice of Guru Amitayus, “Union of >> continued from page 1 a Ganapuja with your Vajra brothers and Sat. 9th January 2010 Primordial Essences”. If possible try to sisters. If there are no other practitio- This is a day of the Dakinis in general, do a collective Ganapuja with your Vajra Canaries September 8–12 ners nearby you can do the medium Tun so if you have the opportunity practise brothers and sisters in the evening. May 21–23 purifi cation for all those on your own, transforming into the Da- a collective Ganapuja, with the trans- Canaries retreat who have died kini Simhamuka and reciting the heart formation of the Dakini Simhamuka, 12th Month, 18th day UK mantra as many times as possible. and recite her heart mantra as many Mon. 1st February 2010 May 28–30 France times as possible. Otherwise you can This is the anniversary of the great London Retreat September 24–26 10th Month, 30th day do a medium Tun either collectively or Dzogchen master Longchen Rabjam Teaching at Karmaling Wed. 16th December 2009 personally. (Longchenpa, 1306–1363). On this very Russia Spain Dark Moon. This is an excellent day to important day try to do the Guruyoga June 2–8 October 1–7 do purifi cation practice so try to do the 11th Month, 30th day Akar Lamai Naljor, Guruyoga with the White Clinic treatment Barcelona retreat. Purifi cation of the Six Lokas and a Ganapuja Fri. 15th January 2010 A, either collectively or personally. June 11–15 in the evening. Dark Moon. This is an excellent day to Moscow retreat do purifi cation practice so try to do the 12th Month, 25th day October 13–17 11th Month, 8th day Purifi cation of the Six Lokas and a Ganapuja Mon. 8th February 2010 June 18–20 Brazil retreat Thu. 24th December 2009 in the evening. Dakini Day. This is very positive day for Saint Petersburg retreat Venezuela This is a special day for doing the prac- reinforcing your energy and creating June 28–July 4 Tashigar Norte tice of Ekajati so try to do a long Tun, 12th Month, 10th day a stronger contact with the energy of Crimea retreat December 1–8 collectively or alone, reciting the heart Mon. 25th January 2010 the universe so try to do a collective Mandarava intensive practice mantra as many times as possible. Today is the anniversary of Guru Padma- Ganapuja with your Vajra brothers and Romania retreat with Chudlen sambhava’s coronation as Prince of Or- sisters. If that is not possible, try to do July 20–25 (in Webcast) 11th Month, 10th day gyen at the invitation of King Idrabhodi. a medium Tun alone. In either case recite Merigar East retreat Sat. 26th December 2009 We can perform a Ganapuja collectively the heart mantra of Ekajati as many July 26–29 Dec. 26–Jan. 2 This is a special day of Guru Padma- or do the long-life practice, “Universal times as possible. SMS Level I exam Christmas retreat sambhava called : it is the Wisdom Union” either collectively or July 30–August 10 day on which he arrived in the capital of personally, according to circumstances. 12th Month, 30th day SMS Level II Training Oddiyana and became prince to King Sat. 13th February 2010 Idrabhodi. Therefore it is an excellent 12th Month, 11th day Today is the last day of the Earth Ox Italy day to do the Guruyoga of Padmasam- Tue.26th January 2010 year. August 16–22 bhava with a Ganapuja. This is a good day to do a medium or long It is a special day for purifi cation prac- Merigar West retreat Tun with an intensive practice of the tices so try to do “Purifi cation of the Six August 25–Sep. 3 11th Month, 15th day mantra of Ekajati. Lokas” as much as possible. You should Grosseto personal retreat Thu. 31st December 2009 also try to do a Ganapuja with your Vajra of Mandarava empowering Full Moon. Today it is important to 12th Month, 15th day brothers and sisters. chudlen pills for use at the try to do the long-life practice of Guru Sat. 30th January 2010 retreat in Margarita plus Amitayus, Union of Primordial Essences , in Full Moon. This is in general a day for Fitness the usual way, and, if possible, a Gana- honouring the Lord Buddha, and in puja. particular an ideal day for the Longlife THE MIRROR · No. 98 · May, June 2009 Refl ections

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signs of death approaching and • give the person ‘empowered • Place the tagdrol on the chest of Being Helpful When signs of imminent death. Then medicinal ingredients’ such as the dead person, facing toward Someone Dies there are the signs of impending Nyongrol, substances that cre- the inside. death. Moreover there are signs ate a cause of liberation in those • chant the Song of the Vajra, or Death in the Western World that death is just around the cor- who taste them, or other special at least ‘A A Ha Sha Sa Ma, and ner: pills empowered by highly real- other we are familiar Elio Guarisco ized beings. For that purpose is with. The progression in which the ele- always useful to keep such pills • Place the substance from the ments lose their quality is related and powders in our house. transference of consciousness verything that gath- to specifi c clinical signs: • If the person is a practitioner, on the posterior fontanel at the ers at the end sepa- upon the absorption of the this is the moment to remind him crown of the head of the dead “Erates,” said Nagar- quality of the earth element into of the essence of the teaching, by person. juna. With the years, a newborn that of the water element; the speaking or reading to him pas- baby becomes an adult and the person ceases to grasp the gross sages that introduce the person After three days from the death of adult grows into an old man or and subtle forms. to the real nature of the mind. the person, considering the day woman. us, as we are anyhow bound to Upon the absorption of the the person has died as the fi rst continue to live ourselves. quality of the water element into For common people at the mo- day, one perform the practice We know that one of the suffer- that of the fi re element, the nine ment of death there is a kind of of the Shitro, the peaceful and ings that mark the beginning of Truly speaking, at any moment orifi ces dry up losing their wet struggle that may last half an wrathful deities, for the dead per- our exit from this world is illness. one of us is dying and being born and humid aspect. hour or ten minutes. This seems son. This can be done each day, Even if we are not suffering from as a new person. Only ignorance Upon the absorption of the to be caused by the force of at- throughout the 49 days of the in- any disease in particular, with age and the sense of permanence that quality of the fi re element into tachment to this life that is insep- termediate state before a person the human body slowly deterio- such ignorance instills in us pre- that of the air element, the bodily arably united with the life force of takes . Or it can be done at rates and loses its ability to func- vents us from seeing this. The heat disappears gradually from the person. In a native custom of least at the end of each week, and tion in a normal way. Eventually other person always appears to the extremities. the Himalayas, to overcome that especially on the third week and this condition leads to death. We be the same person in our eyes, or Upon the absorption of the struggle people who have had on the 49th day. always hear of the passing away at best becoming older and older quality of the air element into the recent problems with the dy- of other people, but we remain gradually, but still as the same space element, the breathing and ing person are brought in as the In areas of the Himalayas infl u- particularly affected when one of being in a withering shell. If we the other functions of the organ- last act of reconciliation. But I enced by the Buddhist culture, our loved ones dies. At that time a were like realized ones we would ism stop. am not sure this is a good idea. people used to light many butter feeling of helplessness engulfs us see the continuously changing At the end, the person lets go of lamps on the occasion of the per- and our mind becomes gloomy. atoms in the palm of our hands The progressive absorption of the life and breathes the last breath. formance of Shitro or other rites, Even though we know through leaving no space to conceive a potencies of the fi ve elements is Simultaneous with that, holding till the 49 days are over. reason and direct perception that permanent entity in them. accompanied by cessation of the the wrist of the dying person and all human life ends with death, functional capacity of the sense feeling the radial artery, at a cer- As the body of the deceased is when death comes close to us In any case, as illnesses and other organs: when the functions of tain point, one can feel that the carried off to be buried or cre- we are shocked. Emotions over- problems manifest in the life of sight stop, the visual forms be- pulse stops. This is convention- mated, one must pay close at- whelm us, and the feeble knowl- an adult person, we should real- come faint until they disappear ally considered to be the moment tention and show affection and edge of the spiritual teachings we ize that these could be obstacles into the sense-fi eld of sound; of death. understanding for the people may have seems insignifi cant. to the life of our loved ones. Nat- thus the person has the impres- that were very close to the dead Suffering seems like an arrow urally, the best help one can give sion of hearing loud noises. There is no need to hurry to do person. The death of that person through our raw fl esh, and no for a person in such a situation is When the function of hearing anything at this point, although strikes them very deeply, leaving rational thinking, explanations to make him enter the spiritual stops, the external sounds be- in the West and everywhere else, them in the midst of suffering. or reasons can mitigate it, until teaching so that his life can en- come faint until they disappear at this point one only thinks of The body of the person although with time the wounds eventually ter into another perspective. This into the sense-fi eld of smell. getting rid of the dead body. dead is still in the house and has heal themselves. is, however, not always possible, When the olfactory functions There are still ways to help the not left, and because of our great because the person may be old, stop, smells become faint until person. Sometimes the heat of identifi cation with the body and In our western world, death is and with a cultural and social they vanish into the sense-fi eld the person’s body remains a little the fact we impute the existence widely considered to be the very background that does not make of gustatory sensations. in the region of the heart. This of others mainly on the basis of opposite of life. Death poses a him receptive to that teaching. When the gustatory functions indicates that the consciousness the body, the relatives still think threat to society and ordinary In that case we should apply the stop, tastes become faint until of the person is still around. So if the person is with them. But people’s established values. For methods to avert death which are they disappear in the sense-fi eld we are practitioners we should: when the body is carried off in a that reason, society and individ- explained in the teaching. For ex- of tactile sensations. • Using a straw or a horn shaped pompous way with funeral music uals try to conceal it as much as ample: Lastly, when the tactile func- tube, we place that in the ear of as Himalayan Buddhists do, that possible. Also the tremendous • Saving the life of animals that tions stop, tactile sensations be- the dead person, in the right ear certainty shatters [this concept] ignorance that pervades our soci- are on the verge of being killed come indefi nite until they dis- if male and left ear if female, and and people very close to the dead ety as to the way to treat the dying for their meat or fur, etc. solve into the life-sustaining we recite, for example, the fol- can faint or have heart problems. person while he or she is dying • It may also be useful to commis- wind. The life-sustaining wind in lowing (as suggested by Chögyal For this reason we should be and what to do after the person sion a thangka of one of the deities turn dissolves into the conscious- Namkai Norbu in his ‘Birth, Liv- very understanding and comfort is dead, leave the people close of long life, such as White Tara, ness that by now moves toward a ing and Dying’): these people without pronounc- to the deceased in a state of be- Amitayus or Ushnishavijaya, and new existence. “Listen, son or daughter of a no- ing harsh words. Suffering is hu- wilderment. And for a while one dedicate that for and present that ble lineage! Now what is called man and to express it is also hu- asks him or herself the reasons to the person we want to help. When such signs manifest, it is death has come to you. This hap- man, and should be understood for life and the reasons for death. • Performing long life retreats in inopportune to hope in doctors, pens not only to you but to all be- and accepted. Reasons that, of course, by com- which one visualizes that the per- medicines and other remedies to ings without exception. Do not mon standards, one is unable son receives the empowerment save the life of the person. Real- be attached to the karmic visions If we do all these things, although to answer. The body of the dead of long life, and dedicating the izing the impermanent nature of of this life. Now your vision is the death of relative is always person, that is now a corpse, is of that practice so that the this life, we should accompany manifesting as ‘the intermediate painful, we can certainly create quickly taken away by the mor- person’s obstacles to a long life the dying person with awareness state of the real condition’, the benefi t for the future of the dead tuary agencies, embellished as maybe be removed, his health re- to the door of death. The per- natural energy of the wisdom of person. Also we ourselves, after to appear still alive in his or her stored and his life lengthened. son should be assisted but at the instant presence. Now your body the initial feeling of helplessness, nice coffi n. Religious people fol- • Putting up prayer fl ags in sa- same time left in peace and qui- and your mind have separat- feel we have done everything that low the tradition of funerary rites cred sites. et. At that point the vital energy ed, and thus all manifestations could possibly be done in a hu- in church, where the offi ciating of the person may have become – subtle, limpid, luminous and man condition for our dear one priest does his best to alleviate There are also other methods of so weak that the person has no clear – spheres of light and forms who has passed away. Our heart the suffering of the relatives with a ritual nature that, however, are longer the strength to complain (such as those of the peaceful remains peaceful and calm like a nice words. After that, the rela- diffi cult to perform in a western about the pain and discomfort he and wrathful deities), shimmer- great ocean, understanding the tives are alone in the house that country and by westerners. is feeling. No-one should be al- ing like a summer mirage on a nature of human life. once was also shared by the phys- lowed into the room of the dying plain, will appear: they are the ical and spiritual presence of the As the person enters the fi nal person calling him aloud, asking vision of the pure real condition. deceased. They are now left with stage of life, one should be able him about how he feels; such be- Do not be afraid of these visions! a sense of emptiness that is dif- to judge approximately how long havior, at that point, is only silly. Recognize them as the natural fi cult to fi ll. All has happened so that person will still live. Gen- energy of your real condition. suddenly that one has no time to erally speaking it is diffi cult by The dying person may not be able From within that light, the natu- realize that our beloved parent, normal standards to estimate the to swallow any medicines, and ral sound of the real condition of wife or husband has died and is length of a person’s life, but we instead of forcing the person to existence will resound like the no longer with us. Our habitual can check for some of the signs take medicines that are useless at roar of a thousand simultaneous life has some healing effects on that are explained, for example, that time, it may be useful to: thunderbolts.” in Tibetan Medicine. There are 28

MEETING At a gymnasium in Balashikha, a small How I met town in the Moscow region, I experienced my fi rst encounter with the Teacher. He had a Tibetan face and wore rather sim- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu ple clothes. I felt very happy, but I really didn’t understand anything that he said. Uliana Sokolova I tried to focus and listen attentively, but after several words, like: “dharmakaya”, “sutra”,”tantra”; I felt like my brain could could probably tell you a story. How- dhism” was familiar to me, but it was of no not comprehend anymore, and I felt myself ever, my story will be about friend- particular interest. The word “Dzogchen” falling asleep. I woke up again, listened I ship, sky-signs, inner soul pleadings meant nothing at all to me. So I told them and fell asleep again. Yet I understood in and outer circumstances. There will be I would be happy to meet them in Moscow order to be free you need to discover the several stories in one and you can prob- and I would think about going there, but I particular state that the Teacher introduc- ably draw some parallels between them would have exams in May and I didn’t re- es to the students. And the strings on the depending on your sense of humor or the ally have money to go to Moscow. neck wouldn’t help you either! twisted curve of your thoughts. A couple of days later my other nice and I saw that most of the practices in the book So, my calendar was turning its pages with more mature friends and partners from the Photo: A. Chlimper are called secondary, and they are very long incredible speed, and suddenly I was 27 St. Petersburg Institute of Personality told with many words were in Tibetan and most or 28 when I was taking my postgraduate me that a Dzogchen teacher named Chö- anyone else for help. Furthermore, they of the people knew them by heart (the cra- studies, taking psychology classes and at- gyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche was going couldn’t talk their way out their trap and zy freaks) and I thought, “If the secondary tending seminars, but I was far from being to Moscow in May and that they intended they needed me to out and “rescue” them. practices are so long, how long could the too very interested in mysticism. to go to his retreatÖ And then I thought, main practices be?” “Well, we’ll see…” When I went out to their car I was intro- 1st Story. Crisis. – Approximately 6 months duced to several pleasant looking guys, I watched people dancing on Mandala, and before MEETING with the TEACHER 4th Story. Two Weeks before the MEETING: who introduced themselves as salesmen I wanted to repeat their movements. I tried I was experiencing one of my crisis; it’s a (This part is some kind of friendly-crazy- of the glamorous Russian VAZ cars which to repeat these movements with my hands, common knowledge that crisis is an in- adventurous-criminal with a slight shade of were produced in a bordering town named standing behind Mandala. My friend told evitable part of life and personal growth. eroticism.) Togliatti. As it turned out, we had a very me that the book on the Dance was pub- At least psychologists should know that. One sunny morning I woke up and knew good time. We enjoyed some great food lished and everything was described there. Once again I had to experience a shock- that I was going to Moscow to meet the and wine. We listened to these guys shar- But no one actually taught the Dance dur- ingly horrifying realization that everything Dzogchen Teacher, Chögyal Namkhai ing with us about their business success. ing the retreat. in this life goes its own odd way and I can Nor bu Rinpoche. I still knew nothing They fl irted a bit with us. They chatted only acknowledge that I KNOW NOTHING! about Dzogchen except that it was a teach- about life and mysticism, and we felt very We came to the Teacher and introduced My experience was a mere nightmare and I ing associated with the mind, which in a easy though a bit strange. ourselves. There were four of us from Sa- pleaded: “Hey, You up there! Listen to me! strange way made me feel proud. How- . We could practice together. The typ- I want to meet a TEACHER, I want to un- ever, I required some explanations for my After someone mentioned that they are ical question of a beginner is what practic- derstand how this all works. I’m ready to odd actions to reschedule my exams, and good guys in all respects, I made a joke, es we should do fi rst? give up my pride and prejudices and follow I easily made myself believe that at least I “If you are so good why don’t you lend me And always the eternal response is: him unquestionably – if it could help me to would have a good time in Moscow with some money to buy a ticket to Moscow to GURUYOGA . understand something.” my friends. meet the Tibetan Teacher who might come to Russia for the last time?” One of them 6th Story. All stories are continued. Later the crisis passed as it happens with I had to fi gure out the practical matters of asked me how much I needed. I answered, My meetings with my Teacher continue, all crises, and I completely forgot about my where to fi nd money for the retreat, train “Just enough to cover the round trip.” I and are really meetings with myself. My speechless entreaty, addressed to whom it tickets and lodging in Moscow. heard in response, “It’s probably less than blurry refl ections of my features in the might concern; however, this episode fi rst we paid for the meals now.” mirror are getting more clarity, occasional surfaced in my mind from the depths of At fi rst my ex-boyfriend unexpectedly ones are erasing and the world becomes: subconscious. showed up telling me that his business Then we all said goodbye to each other for WONDERFUL…AWFUL…NEUTRAL… bit the dust, but he had left with only one that day and I forgot all about it. 2nd Story. Illness. Four months before the super electrical drill from the last batch, I ended up moving to St. Petersburg where MEETING. which he could give me free and if I could The next day a young man called me and I learned the Vajra Dance and met a big Unexpectedly, I got sick and spent almost sell it, I would have some money. In a day told me that he was in my neighborhood Dzogchen Community. Later I moved to one and a half months at home alone. another friend also showed up unexpect- and that he had brought money for me. I Moscow, because a Gar had been bought I lived by myself that time and due to edly and told me that he needed that par- was surprised and asked him what mon- nearby and participation in its establish- my sickness I could hardly walk. My ex- ticular drill, and thus I got money for the ey he was talking about. He replied, “The ment seemed very important that time. boyfriend stopped by regularly to bring retreat and lodging in Moscow. money is for your train tickets that you had medications from the pharmacy and my asked.” I promised to repay him from the Then I lost everything that I had gained mom came to my place to help me with A week before the trip there was a strange fi rst money that I would earn upon my re- previously in society: my occupation, my my housework. Meanwhile, my relatives phone call to my apartment. Though tech- turn from Moscow. But when I attempted status, and my ability to earn money. made various appointments with medical nically there was nothing unusual in that to repay the money, nobody ever returned personnel from the traditional healthcare rattling sound of an old phone installed in my calls. Later I started all over again. system, and my friends with adepts from the rented apartment of the old Stalin type alternative medicine. apartment building on embankment, where As it turned out I have never again seen any Now my life seems more joyful to me. One some strange chief engineer from a strate- of those young people. I hope they are do- story overlaps the other and together they Luckily, I earned some good money then, gic military plant had lived in before me. ing well; had good luck, survived the 90s, become interwoven. Every year I feel that which allowed me not to work for the du- did not turn into alcoholics or become ad- my life is just starting now. ration of my illness and rehabilitation, and The words I heard on the phone were al- dicted to drugs. I hope they were success- also to cover my downtime until the new most bizarre. It was my former student ful in continuing their businesses or were Uliana Sokolova has been living in Moscow for contracts were sealed. from the musical department of the local able to started new ones. In any case, I tru- 11 years, got married, and is an authorized Vajra I spent hours on the phone with my teachers’ training college, whom I vaguely ly wish them all the best. Dance instructor. friend from St. Petersburg, who called remembered when she was a student, and long distance to encourage me as well as for the reason she probably wasn’t very curse all our mutual friends who, in her keen on psychology that time. However, opinion, had abandoned me in that time. later on she happened to attend my courses and in a way we became friendly. She called 3rd Story. On Friends and Information. me that day to tell me hectically that she, Approximately 2 months before the her sister and some other guys were in the MEETING. car at the moment next to my house and Once two nice Jungian psychologists from they invited me to join them for a party. Moscow, who I believed were my friends as well as business partners, and I had in- Not only was I surprised and shocked, vited them several times to my home city but different thoughts and suspicions of a Samara to hold seminars, told me that criminal nature rushed through my head, their Teacher who taught Buddhism and because it was the 1990s in Russia. As a Dzogchen was coming to Moscow to give a result, I came to the conclusion that these retreat and it might be his last visit to Mos- silly girls muddled themselves into some cow as he had been sick. The word “Bud- sort of story and that they couldn’t call