PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851 607-273-8519 SUMMER 1997 NEWSLETTER & CATALOG SUPPLEMENT INTERVIEW WITH LAMA KUNGA RINPOCHE at Ewam Choden Meditation Center by Pamela Cantrell Q: Rinpoche, would you please tell the readers a little about Ewam Choden? A: This is a Tibetan Buddhist Medita- tion Center. Tibetan monasteries are strictly for Buddhist monks. Ewam Choden is not a monastery, it is a Buddhist learning center. All kinds of people can stay here. It is small and students have always lived here to study. It was started in 1971 and then established as a non-profit educa- tional organization to study and pre- serve Tibetan culture. In 1973, we Upcoming Enthronement were able to purchase this house for the center in Kensington. Q: Do you bestow empowerments of the Reincarnation of and teachings at Ewam Choden? A: Yes, I live here to teach basic Bud- if they were given food to share with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche dhism. I bestow empowerments and me. If they don't enjoy it that's OK, give teachings. We also hold Sunday but to enjoy it is a signal that it is ben- meditations from 10 to 11 AM. We eficial to the mind. If the teachings Excitement is building at Shechen disciples from all over the world. At emony for the young tulku was per- have a public meditation program bring joy to the student, I as a lama Tennyi Dargeyling Monastery in the time of the enthronement the formed by Trulshik Rinpoche in De- consisting of various on-going activi- am more happy! Nepal as preparations are underway Yangsi will be four and a half years cember, 1995, andthehaircutting cer- ties. If anyone is interested, they can Q: Is it true Rinpoche llial your gen- for the event that will herald the re- old. The enthronement ceremony emony by His Holiness the Dalai contact us for information. eration is the last generation that turn of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to marks his formal entry into the Mon- Lama in February, 1996. was born in Tibet and know the old his monastery. The enthronement astery where he will now live and The monastery in Nepal was built Q: / have heard that tlie Sakya la- Tibet? ceremony of Ugyen Tendzin Jigme study under the guidance of Shechen by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in the mas are more reluctant to give out Lhundrup, the Yangsi (reincarnation) Rabjam Rinpoche. early eighties in order to re-establish tlie secret teachings. Is this true? A: I am into my sixties now. People of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, will take Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910- the rich and unique traditions, rituals A: I'm not sure whether that is true my age were born in Tibet and raised place in Baudhanath, Nepal at 1991) was one of the most important and dances of the original Shechen or not; maybe Sakya lamas are more there. Our children have not been Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monas- Tibetan Buddhist masters of this cen- which was destroyed during the Chi- strict about giving teachings. If there born in Tibet. We have a good tery on December 5, 1997. tury. His reincarnation was found by nese occupation of Tibet. In addition are students, they give teachings. It memory of Tibetan culture and Ti- The enthronement ceremony itself his close friend and disciple Trulshik to being one of the best examples of is important that the proper students betan religious customs. We remem- will be performed by Trulshik Rinpoche in 1995, after a series of vi- traditional Tibetan architecture, it are given the proper teachings. If ber the systems. We are elderly Rinpoche in the presence of Penor sions in which the name of the par- hosts one of the largest Tibetan librar- there are some good quality students, people now. Rinpoche, Mindroling Trichen ents and the location of the child were ies in the East. Over 170 monks then maybe they will be given more Q: How does that affect you, Rinpoche and many other lamas and revealed to him. The naming cer- important teachings. Lam Dre teach- Rinpoche? (Continued on page 11) ings, for example, are not readily A: I am worried about carrying on my available to the public, but students responsibility, about carrying on a with good qualities, good knowledge small cultural preservation. We refu- Atisha's text thus became the source of Vajrayana Buddhism, and devotion gees outside are trying to do the best ATISHA'S of the lamrim tradition, or graduated to the lama, their karma ripens and that we can do individually. This is stages of the path to enlightenment, those students receive more teach- very important, I think. The Dalai LAMP FOR THE PATH an approach to spiritual practice in- ings. Lama is the head of our culture. He is corporated within all schools of Ti- Q: Wliat do you expect from your both a secular and a spiritual teacher. betan Buddhism. students? He is also in his sixties and he is ag- TO ENLIGHTENMENT Geshe Sonam Rinchen's lucid and A: I don't expect too much from the ing too. He is working very hard for engaging commentary draws out students, but that they feel comfort- the sake of all Tibetans. Atisha's Atisha, the eleventh-century In- Atisha's meaning for today's practitio- able with my spiritual gift. I would Q: Is there anything specifically that LAMP FOR THE PATH dian Buddhist scholar and saint, came ners with warmth and wit, bringing like them to receive the teachings as TO ENLIGHTENMENT to Tibet at the invitation of the king (Continued on page 14) (Continued on page 2) of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew Jangchub Wo. His coining initiated the period of the "second transmission" of Buddhism Snow Lion Publications PO Box 6483 PENDING PERIODICAL to Tibet, the revival which followed POSTAGE the persecution of Buddhism by the Ithaca, NY 14851 PAID Tibetan king Langdarma in the ninth AT ITHACA, NY century, formative for the Sakya, AND ADDITIONAL Kagyu and Gelug traditions of Tibetan MAILING OFFICES Buddhism. Atisha's most celebrated text, en- titled Lamp for the Path to Enlight- Tranship sod Edfc J H Rulb Sr.jtsisi enment, was written for the Tibetan people at the request of Jangchub Wo. It sets forth the entire Buddhist path by Geshe Sonam Rinchen within the framework of three levels translated and edited by Ruth of motivation on the part of the prac- Sonam titioner, represented by the Hinayana, 217 pp., includes Tibetan text, Mahayana and Vajrayana paths. #ATLA $12.95 August LAMA KUNCA RINPOCHE Continued from page 1 timate nature of that ego is ego-less; Tibet Makes the Big Time as there is nothingness. So when you try you still want to accomplish in this to grasp at ego, there is nothing to The Dalai Lama Tours America lifetime, Rinpoche? grasp. A: Yes, I would like to see my center Q: In your father's book concerning his imprisonment in China, In the (AT) Asia Times, June 11,1997 versial figure; a politicized icon who Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad as an ongoing entity whether I am liv- David DeVoss, Los Angeles Pitt—are Hollywood productions ing here in this world or not. Also, I Presence of My Enemies [see cata- serves as an uncomfortable reminder log], he just stated facts, he made no Amid spinning prayer wheels, bou- specifically edited for global distribu- still have my dream about establish- of Chinese aggression. But here in the judgement, he was just clear and quets of burning incense, fluttering tion. ing a Maitreya Buddha Temple—a US, the bespectacled 62-year-old precise about his experience. Was it . scarves called katas and a phalanx of "For the first time ever, Tibet is on place where Buddhists of all nation- spiritual leader is seen as a symbol surprising to you that he was able bodyguards lead by actor Richard the verge of entering Western popu- alities can gather and pray. It would of hope. to be this way? Gere, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the In Los Angeles, celebrities such as lar culture," said Orville Schell, a especially be a place where Tibetan 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, arrived in Gere, Steven Segal, Sharon Stone and China scholar now serving as dean of students can come. In Tibet a tradi- A: Equanimity is a main practice of San Francisco this week for three Shirley MacLaine will gladly pay thou- the Graduate School of Journalism at tional Maitreya Buddha temple is very Buddhism. Although he was a lay- days of teachings that included a sands of dollars for the honor of sit- UC Berkeley. "Hollywood arguably is famous and has been throughout the man, my dad was also a religious per- seminar on the power of nonviolence, ting in his presence. the most powerful force in the world." centuries. Maitreya Buddha is the fu- son. When the country was in turmoil an elaborate Peace Concert and a se- But the Dalai Lama also is revered While some celebrities in Holly- ture Buddha. As Buddhist we try to and his own situation was terrible, he ries of lectures focusing on how Bud- in more provincial places like Santa wood love the Dalai Lama because it evoke the future Buddha to come ended up in prison for twenty years. dhism could help contain the violence Barbara, where 500 citizens collected is the popular thing to do, the Dalai before everything gets worse. So He knew no one in the world could eating away the United States' inner donations ranging from US$10 to Lama has said he loves Hollywood there will be enlightenment sooner help and that he had to help himself.