THE MIRROR

Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community May/June 2000 • Issue No. 53

LIKE CLOUDS IN AN AUTUMN SKY Schedule of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Namgyalgar, 2000 2 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 2

by Joy Dahl

2000 ITALY, MERJGAR July 19th- July 23rd Summer Retreat - Merigar

August 9th World -wide practice - Anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava

August 11 th -13th Teaching Retreat - Singapore August 18th - 22nd Teaching Retreat - Japan August 30th - September 3rd Teaching Retreat - Vladivostok September 22nd -24th Nepal retreat September 29th - October 1 st Teaching retreat - Thailand October 6th - 8th Teaching retreat - Taipei -Taiwan October 11th -15th Kaohsiung Longde Retreat - Taiwan October 17th Leave for vacation at Taidung Island or elsewhere October 27th Leave for Thailand Open for vacation in Bhutan and Sri Lanka November 17th-19th. Conference on Tibetan Medicine in Rome November 21st Day of Azom Drukpa November 25th-29th Cape Town Teaching Retreat-South Africa December 3rd Meeting with people of Buenos Aires, Argentina Santi Maha Sangha Level 2 SOUTH AMERICA, TASHIGAR fter the festivities of Christmas and the excitement It was an intimate international event, with Rinpoche Aof the New Millennium celebrations with Rin- relaxing after the teachings and practice, hanging out December 26th - January 1 st New Year Retreat-Tashigar poche, we drifted into a beautiful Namgyalgar Autumn. with all of us (practitioners from at least twelve differ­ Easter, the traditional spring time awakening, takes ent countries) telling stories of his adventures around SOUTH AMERICA, PERU place in Autumn here in the Southern Hemisphere. In the world. the International Dzogchen Community, awakening CLAIRE'S REPORT Februarylst LeaveforPeru happens in every season. One highlight of the Santi Maha Sangha was the THE TILBETANS Kid's SMS Study Group and Exam. Claire, one of the USA, WESTCOAST On February 22nd, Rinpoche returned to Nam­ group members offers this report: The children met May 4th-8th West Coast Retreat gyalgar following his intensive schedule of public talks with Jan Cornali for four study sessions in the chil­ May 13th-16th H.H. the Dalai Lama's teaching, Portland and weekend Teachings around Australia. We were dren's tent. The group ranged in age from six year old May 18th-20th Portland Retreat RUSSIA, KUNSANGAR between retreats and preparing for the Santi Maha Sylvia to sixteen year old Claire. In between were: Santi Maha Sangha Sangha Exams and Trainings. Preparations for the Louie, Finn, Gabriel, Anand, Ezikiel, Erin, and Nina. May 27th-29th S MS Base Le vel Exam Yantra and Vajra Dance Advanced courses and Teacher There was a special Children's SMS book (including May 30th-June 5th SMS I Level Training ten exam questions) written by Rinpoche which they Trainings with Adriana, Fabio and Laura were also tak­ June 6th-8th SMS I Level Exam ing place. An historic event, Rinpoche's first public talk studied together, taking notes and practicing answers. June9th-13th SMS Level II Training in the local area, at the Tilba Hall was to take place early When the big day came, they all went up together to June 15th-21 st Kunsangar Retreat in March. ( see page 2) In addition, two showings of Rinpoche's house where they sat down around the films depicting life in Tibet were presented by Federica table. They took turns sitting on a chair next to Rin­ Santi Maha Sangha in Tilba to give more opportunity for the local people to poche. drawing the questions from a set of ten cards. June 22nd-23rd SMS II Level Exam connect with the Dzogchen Community. The films, and Rinpoche had prepared a special card with a smiling June 24th-28th SMS III Level Training especially Rinpoche's talk, drew large crowds and face, which if drawn meant that was a wild card - the resulted in more local people visiting Namgyalgar and question didn't need to be answered in order to be ITALY, MERIGAR attending the retreat in April. We heard recently that the accepted as correct. Everyone passed with flying col­ July 6th-10th Merigar Retreat local people now refer to the Dzogchen Community ors! Both group and individual photos were taken with July 17th-August 6th Personal retreat of Chògyal Namkhai Norbu August 10th-19th Merigar Retreat fondly as theTilbetans. Rinpoche and he handed out little Italian Chocolates - ANEW GONPA Ferrar Rocher. Before the exams everyone was ner­ Santi Maha Sangha vous, pacing around, even though they all knew the Extensive re-construction was still going on in the August 21 st-23rd SMS Base Level Exam questions. Now the same joy and relief experienced by Gonpa. The roof was being replaced, and all the huge August 24th-28th SMS I Level Training tree-trunk beams were being sanded. Instead of canvas the adult SMS practitioners was experienced by the curtains, we had solid mud brick walls. Instead of a children. By the time they get to the base exam they will September 7th-17lh Vacation in Sardegna bumpy dirt floor covered with old carpet, there was a be old hands. wooden floor with fresh carpet squares. A beautiful THE BEACH PRACTICES Santi Maha Sangha slow combustion fireplace was now in one corner. Soon Autumn in Tilba is famous for its warm ocean cur­ September23rd-25th SMS II level Exam the windows were to be installed, including a whole rents so there were many beach outings. One day 1 September 26th- 30th SMS 111 Level Training wall of glass doors framed in Jarrah, a deep red native arrived late to the party and Rinpoche was already October 7th Leave for Margarita Island Australian hardwood. Sometimes we had to hold prac­ swimming far out into the bay. 1 swam out to join him. tice sessions in nearby Tilba. It was the only way we He was sort of dog-paddling and with each stroke could meet the deadline of being ready for the seemed to be reciting a letter of theTibetan alphabet Easter/Autumn retreat. Instead of being annoyed by the under his breath. I couldn't quite catch exactly what it CONTINUED ON PAGE II conditions, the tradesmen said it was their good karma was. so I just paddled along wondering what he was to be working in such a spiritual environment. reciting and why he was swimming so slowly. Exactly THE SMS EXAMS and TRAININGS as we reached the shore the recitation ended. Rinpoche Rinpoche said that finishing the Gonpa was the pri­ laughed and said, "That was the Song of the Vajra, done CONTENTS 8 "Attin Tibet" mary goal so the SMS examinations should take place very slowly. Once on the way out and once on the way byG. Vitiello in his house, Gawaling. If the examinees are a little ner­ in". I was so inspired I had to swim back out and try it 2 Public Talk 9 11 or Id Sacred A/usit • Festival vous, the big walk up the hill will be good for them. It immediately. Practice anywhere, anytime, everywhere, by Chogyal Namkhai Not bit by S.Scott will balance their energy and they will become more all the time. This same teaching came again and again calm, he predicted. And he was right. during this magic time between retreats with Rinpoche. 10 ASIA 3 World Wide Transmission by (1.Minuzzo Small groups rested, waiting on blankets and sip­ THE KARMA YOGA WALKS

ping water under the coral tree, then took turns going up Everyday, before the SMS exams and trainings 4 Elders of Upper Tibet 14-18 Community News to be questioned by Rinpoche and Jim Valby.Tlie started. Rinpoche did what he called his Karma Yoga by John Bellezza atmosphere was rich and edged with a quiet excitement. Walks. Down the mountain from Gawaling. across the 19 Reflections saddle and up the hill through the campsites and up to Hugs and cheers greeted those returning from the giddy 5 Aya Khadro Part II heights of Gawaling and Rinpoche's own tiny study the bush kitchen, gazebo and Gonpa. He made sugges­ 20 International Guk\il News Book ami Film Reviews where the examinations were completed. tions about how the work could be done, he chose trees continued on page Si Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

ood evening everybody. I am happy that we can have this people following his teachings and he gave some teachings, Gmeeting, particularly for the local people. Many of my but he was not so very famous in that period like other teach­ students live here. nearTilba, so you already know many peo­ ers. So I met this teacher and finally I understood the ple. Sometimes I come into town when I have time, and we do Dzogchen teachings, and since that time I am interested in some courses and seminars here as well. Maybe you know Dzogchen teaching. I discovered the Dzogchen teaching is that our group of people here is called the Dzogchen Commu­ really very useful, whether we live in a modern or ancient nity. In general, communities are groups of people living society or in different circumstances. some place together, but our Community is not like that. Our For example, in China there was a very strong Cultural Community in Tilba is a group of people who are interested in Revolution and it destroyed most monasteries and a lot of the something similar, working with each other, and not only in Tibetan culture. They succeeded to destroy these things, but this place, or in Australia, but we have many Communities they never succeeded to destroy the knowledge of the with the same goals, ideas and principles all around the world. Dzogchen teachings. There are many people who already had So 1 travel around a little and give lectures, teaching some­ knowledge of Dzogchen, and during the Cultural Revolution, thing called Dzogchen. For that reason we have this name, the for example, people could not chant prayers, etc., even if they Dzogchen Community - for people who are interested in the were not chanting loudly and only moving their mouths, they Dzogchen teaching. So I want to introduce you a little to what were accused, 'Oh you are chanting or praying, you have the Dzogchen is. Maybe it is important that you understand that. faith of religion'. You couldn't even move the mouth. But in Many people have the idea that this Dzogchen group is the Dzogchen teaching the principle is not chanting or pray­ Buddhist. When people hear 'Buddhist', immediately they ing, the principle is knowledge or understanding of how our consider it a kind of religion. Or some consider Buddhism a real condition is, and that we are in that knowledge and deal kind of philosophy. There are many with this knowledge living in a nor­ ways of seeing it. Firstly, Dzogchen mal way. You can notice a little. In is not really a religion or a particular general, when we say a teacher of religious or philosophical structure. A Group of People Called the Dzogchen Community Buddhism, from different schools, Dzogchen is knowledge or under­ then we try to dress differently, have standing; a very ancient understand­ Public Talk in Central Tilba, Australia a different way of showing, seeing, ing. For thousands of years people March 11,2000 and we say yes, we can understand learned and applied and used that that this is a teacher. Even in Hin­ knowledge. But real Dzogchen is not by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu duism, the teacher has something only this kind of teaching or knowl­ different from ordinary people. But edge, real Dzogchen is our real con­ in Dzogchen we don't have this atti­ We particularly need to know how the real condition is and dition; the real condition of all people, everyone. So, learning tude and we learn from the beginning in the teaching how we then everything becomes acceptable, we can deal with that, Dzogchen means how to discover what our real condition is. are to be in that state. If you are a fisherman, you are a fisher­ we can be in that condition. If we are not being in that real In general, we consider that very useful for everybody, not man, if you are businessman you are a businessman, if you are condition then we are surprised and agitated. only for spiritual people but even people who don't consider monk you are a monk. We are not at all interested in modify­ The teaching which I teach called Dzogchen is not really themselves spiritual. It is very important, for example, if we ing people. something strange or an aspect of some religion or philoso­ have some problem, physical problem, that we go to a doctor So there is only knowledge and with knowledge there are phy. That is how people consider it in general. But it is a because we consider a doctor is more expert than we are for no limitations. For example, when some people have some knowledge, the transmission of a knowledge which we work discovering what the problem is or what illness we have. conflicts or strong feelings, then they think that this is a kind with and use to discover our real condition. Then later we can When we go to the doctor, the doctor asks which kind of atti­ of religion, a different way of thinking and doing, etc., and get in our real condition. Even if we are not becoming a partic­ tude we had in these days, in the daytime, the nighttime, then they create for themselves a kind of tension. But when ular practitioner like a yogi, it is easier then to be in our normal which kind of diet we used. These are relative. So the doctor people understand a little, there are no problems. For example, condition. It's more easy to deal with our condition and inte­ asks everything to discover what is the cause of the problem. when I am doing retreats in Italy, many Catholic monks come grate in society. We have less problems, less tensions, less There always exists a cause, otherwise effect cannot manifest, to my retreats. They don't change their dress, they come as fear, because we know how our real condition is. Of course, in and the problem is the effect. In general we don't understand they are. We have also many nuns in my retreats. The princi­ this teaching of Dzogchen, there are many ways of seeing. In things in that way. Most people, when they have some prob­ ple is not to change, but knowledge and learning. So it means the Buddhist tradition they consider this teaching is from the lems, immediately they think a solution exists for overcoming a more free way and this free way is not of my doing. I am fol­ Buddhist tradition. Why? Because when we observe the that problem and then try to find a solution. The solution is lowing the teaching, that knowledge, and that knowledge essence of the Buddhist teaching, what the Buddha taught, it is struggle - struggling with the problem - but that is not the solu­ teaches that. I am not trying to apply that. For example you the teaching of Dzogchen. That is called Buddhism. For that tion because the problem is the effect. Through the effect we can see, I am here in the Western world, not in Tibet. If I was in reason many people consider that Dzogchen is Buddhism. We can learn what is the cause; we can discover that. There is Tibet maybe I would use Tibetan dress, but when I am here I have an ancient pre Buddhist tradition called Bön which nothing to struggle with. If we discover that, then we can try to use normal Western dress, like you do, and that means integra­ developed in Tibet before Buddhism. It was a very ancient be aware and do our best. We can help ourselves, we can col­ tion. The principle is not dress or showing what we do. The religious tradition. In the Bön tradition they consider the final laborate with ourselves, so that means it is very important that principle is knowledge and understanding and that is useful goal of knowledge the same as the principle of Dzogchen, so we know what the cause and the real condition are. The teach­ for everybody. many Bön consider that Dzogchen is the teaching of the Bön ing helps everyone to understand what their real condition is. It's also very important in this teaching of Dzogchen that tradition. For example, in general, when there are problems we accumu­ we discover how we are limited. Which kinds of limitations So if you learn and really understand the Dzogchen teach­ late tensions. We are agitated and feel upset and have more we have. That is one of the roots of our problems. We are ing, it is not necessary that you identify as this or that. In our and more problems, but we never go searching for the cause. always limiting ourselves; we must be this way or that way. society sometimes we must accept having some kind of struc­ If we really discover what the cause is, and what our real con­ Also in general we have our attitude and our way of thinking, ture or something, even if it doesn't correspond to the real dition is, there is a possibility to relax. It is not necessary that "I know everything because I learned it all my life, so this is teaching. Our society is like that. Sometimes it is limited and we are agitated. We are agitated or feel afraid when we do not my way of seeing". Then we construct a kind of dimension of we must accept. If someone says, "Which school are you know what our real condition is. So the teaching is for that. ourselves; we must be this way, not that way. Many times it belonging to?", I say something. But in the real sense, the Then, of course, there are many considerations of different doesn't correspond to any kind of tradition. When we are fol­ Dzogchen teaching is not related to that principle. It's a very methods. Someone thinks we can overcome such problems lowing a tradition we are sometimes convinced that is the free way. Also this teaching is very rich with methods and provisionally, and when we have some problems we do our truth. It is mostly acceptable, but maybe there is something we knowledge because for centuries and thousands and thou­ best to overcome in that way. Some others know that prob­ don't accept or don't like. In that case, we construct for our­ sands of years this knowledge continued, teachers transmitted lems always exist, because we are living in time, and time is selves a kind of 'our dimension'. The conclusion is that we to students, students applied, and students became teachers related to circumstance; circumstances change everyday and construct a small castle of our limitations and then we live and continued in that condition. never remain the same. For example, today we are very happy, inside that castle and we feel very strong. In the real sense, we When I was very young in Tibet, even though I was recog­ but maybe tomorrow we don't know how we will feel because are protecting our ego. We have a very strong ego. Everybody. nized as belonging to the Kagyupa school, I went to college to we don't know what the circumstance will be. Two days ago For example, when we think of something, firstly we think of study Buddhist philosophy in the Sakyapa tradition. So, if we there was a strong rain, and at first when it rains we are happy ourselves and then for others. But also we don't think of oth­ check different traditions, I am more familiar with Sakyapa. I because all the trees and leaves need water, but when it rains ers in a normal way, we think of 'we'. 'We have', 'we do', 'we know that tradition much better than others because I spent too much then we feel a little worried. That is an example. are', then we open up more. But when we are opening, always many years and studied there for many years. In that period I Today we are very happy because there is sunshine and we are doing so as a friend or enemy or neutral. So we are felt like a Sakyapa, but then later I became very interested in tomorrow we don't know. So, our circumstances and condi­ always in this kind of conflict and the root is our limitations. understanding the essence of the teaching, because the teach­ tions always change; the circumstance and how our condition We never observe ourselves; how we build a castle of limita­ ing is not only for talking or demonstrating something, or is in that circumstance. We can always receive that influence. tions and live in it. If we discover that then of course we can dealing with the monasteries. The teaching is also for realiz­ Most people are dependent very much on circumstance. help ourselves, by going beyond that and being free of these ing ourselves; for having such benefit for ourselves and in that For example, there is a place where everyone is enjoying by kinds of limitations. And then we know that these kinds of way, if we want to help others, we can. dancing, drinking, singing, and even if you don't feel very limitations are the source of all problems. Then I became interested to follow different kinds of happy when you go there, after you spend some hours and So the teaching, particularly the Dzogchen teaching, teachers, and I met a teacher of Dzogchen. Before then I had drink something and talk with your friends, then you feel makes us understand how we are limited and how we are pro­ met many teachers of Dzogchen and received teachings, but more relaxed because there is that circumstance. Even if you tecting our ego. We say, for example, that we want to create most teachers belonged to different schools and were present­ don't have a problem and you feel very normal, but you go to benefit for others and increase our compassion. Many people ing mainly the point of view of that school, so I did not have a place where there are many people with many tensions, and are always speaking of compassion or love, etc. But love and an experience of the knowledge of Dzogchen. Then, at last, I they are struggling with each other, creating problems, etc., compassion are not sufficient only if we say the words, we met one of my special teachers of Dzogchen who was not like and you spend one or two hours there, also you become agitat­ must really feel it. To really feel it we must observe ourselves; the other teachers who lived in monasteries and dealt with ed, and at the end, that is your realization. That means that cir­ there is no way we can really feel it if we are not knowing monastic life, etc. He lived in a village and had children and a cumstances can really change many things. So we must be from our own experience. There is a saying of Buddha family, and sometimes he practiced medicine as a Tibetan aware how the circumstance is and we must work with that. Shakaymuni which says: "Afer you take an example of your- physician and doctor and helped people. There were some continued on page 3

2 doing on the mountain?". Also they didn't come very much to visit Teaching continued because they felt we were strange Worldwide Transmission Practice people, and sometimes we do have continued from page 2 strange people interested in the March 2000 Namgyalgar explanation by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Community. They go to India or transcribed and edited by Jim Valby self and your experience, then you I went to Italy many years ago, in somewhere and put something help, respect and collaborate with 1960. I was quite young and strange on a necklace and demon­ others". That is something very arrived in Italy with a small valise. know there are many people in different places who want to follow the strate in a little strange way, and concrete. If someone, for example, That's all. I went there because an teaching but are not able to attend my retreats. For example some people then ordinary people say, "Oh these I insults me, I don't like it. I don't oriental institute there invited me to in the Ukraine ask me, "Please come to the Ukraine to give transmission". are spiritual people". But feel well. Then I understand that if I translate and to work with a profes­ About thirty Ukrainians are able to attend my retreats in Kunsangar, but Dzogchen teachings are not teach­ insult someone, of course, they sor for two years. I went for that really there are hundreds of people in the Ukraine who are seriously inter­ ing that way. Dzogchen teachings don't like it. In that way when I am reason. I had no idea to teach ested in teaching. They read some books, and are very interested. But they are asking that we try to be normal being aware then I don't insult. I Dzogchen, but I was a practitioner say, "We cannot travel to Merigar; we cannot even travel to Kunsangar". people, [laughter] respect that person. If I need some of Dzogchen and had already that Why? Because they do not have enough money. Even if some people have a But even if we leam and func­ help from someone and I ask, and knowledge for myself. After pass­ little money, it is difficult to coordinate their families, etc. There are so tion in that way, the local people no one helps me, if I have this ing many years at the university, many problems of this kind. Also there are many people who travel from don't know that because most local experience myself, then when you while I was working there, some Vladivostok to Kunsangar for my retreats, but there are many other people people are not going to up to Nam­ see that someone needs help, you people asked me what Dzogchen who cannot make this long journey. This problem exists in many different gyalgar. They do not visit or have remember, "Oh this is not so good, was because someone had under­ places, not only in Russia. contact. Then they feel that we are not helping. It's necessary to help." stood a little about it in an intellec­ So there are many people interested in the teaching, but they are always some group and they don't know If I have some illness, suffering, tual way. Sometimes at the univer­ waiting. They ask me to come there. And until now I have tried to go to dif­ what we were doing. In Italy, in the pain, and problems, then I can sity I gave lectures on the principle ferent places forthat reason. Since I know there are many people who really beginning, they called our group on understand from my experience the of Buddhism. Then later, maybe are interested, somehow I go and try to do something for them. But this is the hill 'Tibetans'. In the real sense experience of others. In this case if six or seven years later, some peo­ also difficult for me. I cannot always do that. I am getting older and older I was the only real Tibetan. There we are working that way, then our ple came and asked me to teach every day, not younger and younger. The situation is becoming more and was not one other Tibetan person. feelings of love and compassion Dzogchen and I always said, "I am more heavy. 1 need to relax more often for some time in different places. But all my students became become something concrete. Oth­ not a teacher of this kind of teach­ But if I renounce all these people, it is not good. So I have been thinking, 'Tibetans' and they called them erwise everything is only nice ing. I am a university professor. If "What can I do for them?" Then I had an idea, "Now I want to prepare a Tibetans'. But the local people words. you want to learn about Tibetan video". So I am preparing some videos with my student Angelo Fontana. didn't come to see so for many culture, etc., you can come to the My idea is to prepare at least two very precise videos to inform interested For example, today many peo­ years and we remained that way. university. Even if you are not people about transmission. ple everywhere always speak about We tried to communicate and inte­ enrolled in the university, my lec­ peace. We need peace, world grate as much as possible, but the Currently we have two worldwide practices each year when we all do tures are always open and people peace, peace of nations, peace people felt a little strange with us. It practice together. The first occasion is the anniversary of Garab Dorje on can come. You are free". But then between people, and when we is also true that within our group, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. And the second occasion is the some people insisted and they speak we can speak nicely, but only now there are less, but in the begin­ anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava on the tenth day of the sixth lunar wanted to know Dzogchen more by speaking there will not be peace. ning we had many strange people, month. That means we communicate together, we are in the same state in concretely, so around 19761 started There will be peace if we really even if we asked them to act in a the same moment. So this is just like we are transmitting. I want to add a to teach Dzogchen. Then it became apply, but how can we apply by different way. Then slowly, slowly third worldwide practice day - the anniversary of Adzam Drugpa on the a little heavy for me because it was more than just speaking? We must the people discovered. Now in our twenty-fifth day of the ninth lunar month. not sufficient to teach just one time get in that sense from our experi­ center in Italy we are very integrat­ So on these three special days, we will do a kind of worldwide collective at one place. First I taught ten peo­ ence. And if we have that knowl­ ed with the local people, they come practice, but not only a collective practice. I want to give a kind of transmis­ ple, the next month other people edge of our experience, then there when we do retreats and many peo­ sion, particularly for new people. In the first video I will explain one thing discovered I was teaching and they are possibilities that our knowledge ple participate, they feel more at after another that we should do: how to sit, how to visualize, etc. The video came, and after some years there grows, and there is an evolution of home. They are no more thinking, will explain how to go ahead with everything. So people can listen and leam were hundreds of people. They the individual and then there really Tibetans'. That is already history. that. And in particular, old practitioners can help new people who don't were always asking me to come exists the possibility of peace. Oth­ That is not only in Italy, but every­ understand very well what I am explaining. So people listen and leam pre­ here and there and give this teach­ erwise it is only dry words. Some­ where. cisely sometime before the worldwide practice day. ing, etc. Then later it was not only times we say if you do this, I do And when the day arrives, there is another video. On this second video I in Italy, but also they asked me to When we start we have these that. Then we make an agreement am doing this practice. But I am not only doing what I do in general, but I come to other countries and slowly, kinds of problems, there is not very and this is considered peace, but it am also transmitting Guruyoga. So people will already know what to do slowly I tried to go, but in that peri­ much integration, so it's very, very is really not. because they learned from the first video. And old people are present with od I didn't have much time because important that we have collabora­ What does evolution of the new people. So old and new people use the video during their practice, and I needed to teach at the university. tion with the local people and the individual mean? We can learn in that moment when people are doing that practice with the video, I am But I tried to make people happy local community. In our Communi­ with numbers. When we say num­ doing the practice wherever I am - in Australia, South America, America, and go and communicate because I ty there are not only Australian bers we all know what numbers etc. On that day, in that precise moment, I am transmitting for people. So knew it was helping people from people. At our retreats people come are. Numbers are one, two, three, then transmission is alive because transmission has no distance. I am trans­ my own experience. I discovered from everywhere, many people. So four, and thousands, millions and mitting; people are working; people are being in the transmission. So peo­ by myself that Dzogchen teachings it doesn't matter. In the teaching billions, etc. We can have infinite ple can receive transmission this way. are very useful for living in society from the beginning people consid­ numbers. But even if we have This is not only for new people, but old practitioners who participate can and overcoming many daily life er, "Oh this is a Tibetan teaching", many numbers, all numbers start refresh transmission, be in the transmission, and increase capacity for trans­ problems. So, when people ask me but in the real sense it has no from one. If there is not one, then mission. So I think this is simple and very useful. Many people were happy why I am not giving ordinary nationality. The teaching is beyond two and three don't exist. Number with the New Year's celebration when we communicated with radio and Buddhist teachings and why I that. one is ourselves. If we want evolu­ telephone. But it is not always easy to organize that way everywhere. But think this is better, I communi­ When we look historically at tion we don't create evolution for videos are easy. Everywhere people can use a video on those three special cate the Dzogchen teachings a this teaching, and where the someone else. This is how they days, do practice in this way, and receive transmission. little, and then the people can teacher who taught this teaching make revolution, in general. Revo­ These videos will be translated into different languages, and we will ask have benefit in the same way I was, in this epoch, it was in a place lutionaries say, "We will change different Gakyils to work on this. After the videos have been prepared, we had myself. This is history, how called Oddiyana. Some people our country, our people", and then can give copies to all Gakyils. So the Gakyils in different places must be everything developed. consider that Oddiyana is some­ they force and do something, but responsible. Otherwise people think, "Oh, this is a video" and then they where in the North of Pakistan- nothing really changes in any real Even though I arrived alone in show it everywhere and some people view it like an ordinary video. That is Pakistan is an Islamic country- sense. But if we are working within Italy with a small valise, later hun­ not good. People must know that this is something related with transmis­ After it was converted by Islamic ourselves, with number one first, dreds of people became students sion. People who are seriously interested can have the possibility to use the people, all the Buddhist teachings then there is a possibility of helping and are learning and applying; videos by making a request to the Gakyil. So the Gakyils will control this. disappeared and nobody knew others. Before we help others, we many people who have problems, This is really important. Three times in one year people have the possi­ where Oddiyana was. But of must understand ourselves and tensions, fears, etc. They feel more bility to receive transmission. So this is something about my new idea. course, even if Oddiyana disap­ construct a little capacity in our­ normal and live in a more relaxed peared, before it disappeared all selves. Otherwise it doesn't work. way in our society. Also they feel these teachings were already trans­ that the Dzogchen teachings are If you are walking in the street lated and developed in Tibet. Tibet very much connected to our mod­ Further Information from the International Gakyil: and a person is falling down in the is a very isolated country, and that em epoch, because Dzogchen street, what do you do? You try to has its defects and benefits. The teachings are not asking you to do högyal Namkhai Norbu recently announced that on three occasions help them a little to get up, but if defects from being isolated are that something in a different way, there during the year there will be an anniversary that will be celebrated with that person can't get up, what do Tibet is underdeveloped, and the C is nothing to change, you can be a world-wide collective practice: the anniversaries of Garab Dorje. Pad­ you do? If you are a doctor maybe people are living more or less like how you are. masambhava and Adzam Drukpa respectively. For each of these occasions you do something immediately in ancient times. When I was young Chögyal Namkhai Norbu has prepared a video tape. In the first part of the with medicine or something. But if So these teachings I teach also studying in college, we had no tape precise instructions are given on how to do the practice. This part of the you are not doctor, or an expert, here at Namgyalgar, in Tilba, and matches, for example, and of tape should be used some time before the actual anniversary in order to you say, "Oh, I am sorry you are this is called the Dzogchen Com­ course we had no electricity; we familiarize oneself with the practice. The second part of the tape is meant to feeling that". But that doesn't help. munity. Many people don't have didn't know what electricity was. I be used only at the occasion of the collective practice at the specific They are only words. In this case, it any idea. They think, "What are never saw a car, or bus, or any of anniversary date. Practicing together with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at the is much better you go and find a they doing up there on the moun­ these things. We only had horses. same precise moment in time, we will receive the transmission since this doctor or call the hospital and then tain, that group of people living In the nighttime we studied with transmission is beyond distance. These videos are meant for all practition­ they come and help that person. there?". Many people say, "This butter lamps and we even had no ers but especially to enable new people, who cannot travel and go where That's an example. If we want to group of Buddhists, what are they candles. We would have to study Chögyal Namkhai Norbu is, to receive the transmission. help others first we need to have doing?". In Italy, in the beginning, until eleven at night, and then we such capacity. We are number one, we had our center of the Dzogchen could sleep. Sometimes after we The videos are still being edited and translated into different languages- and from number one develops Community on a hill and many went to sleep, there were no more Copies will be available for distribution through the Gakyils, who will be number two and three. That is local people were surprised and butter lamps and we if forgot some- responsible for the correct use of these tapes. These tapes are related to the something very concrete and real. were thinking, "What are they eontinued on page 7 transmission so they should be kept strictly for that specific purpose only. continued on page 7

THE MIRROR M AY / J U N E 2000 3 Shastri, a scholar with the Library the general cultural deterioration of Elders of Upper Tibet of Tibetan Works and Archives, the region which is the most pro­ who is a native of the region. The nounced in Tibet. This downward Vital Link with a Vast Unwritten Tradition repertoire of songs from Ru thog is spiral, at least in part, is due to the general poverty by John Bellezza of the region and harsh envi­ ronmental con­ ditions. s is so well known, in the last book). Although the epic is leg­ Elderly lay half century, Tibetan civi­ endary in nature, an analysis of its A and ordained lization has endured a period of content demonstrates that it has woman can also intense degradation. Ancient retained pre-Buddhist cultural and be excellent monuments, libraries and other historical elements. sources of infor­ components of the Tibetan infra­ Happily, as so much of the epic mation on local structure were destroyed, and the has been written down its future is traditions. very fabric of traditional society secure, however, this cannot be Woman in par­ rent leading to overwhelming said for other bardic traditions. It ticular seem to change. The dissolution of is believed that at one time each of be specialists in Tibetan culture continues unabat­ the clans of the Byang thang and lore connected ed prompting an effort both inside Stod possessed histories and lore to both wild and and outside Tibet to chronicle as which were passed down through domesticated much of this unique human the bards from one generation to animals, as well expression as possible before it is the next. For the most part, this as the folklore lost forever. As in any society, the transmission is no longer active connected to propagation of Tibetan culture is consequently, the local population artesian prod­ dependent on the older genera­ is often ignorant of their genealog­ ucts. Due to tion, a vast repository of tradition­ ical history. This deficit cannot be social differ­ al lore and knowledge. entirely attributed to Communist ences related to As a researcher specializing in mie because the attenuation of gender female pre-Buddhist civilization in north- clan traditions in upper Tibet pre­ researchers are em and western Tibet (Byang thang spirit-mediums who serve as dates the modem period. A factor in best suited to and Stod), I am especially indebted mouthpieces for the so called this loss is that for many centuries, work with the to the senior citizens of Tibet for worldly deities ('jig rten pa i lha) in the dominant central Tibet woman of Tibet. sharing what they know of archaic have been little studied. region, clan structures have held lit­ In the Byang traditions and customs, local histo­ What is not well appreciated is tle importance for the mass of the thang and Stod ry, and archaeology. Without their that the spirit-mediums frequently population. The bards of Tibet people of spe­ help and guidance much of my were also experts in local religious (along with itinerants called ma ni cial religious research would not be possible lore and history. For example, the pa) also preserved ancient hymns ability and status because a great deal of Tibetan cul­ well known Kha mer (of the to the environment-based pan­ diminishing rapidly and thus this (rin po che I sprul sku Ibla ma ) can ture was preserved orally and not gZhung pa Ma mtshan region of theon. effort to document them is espe­ be both fully ordained monks and through writing. While Buddhist western Tibet), who died a genera­ Recently, from an elderly Byang cially praiseworthy. During a field laymen. They are, however, no teachings, dynastic history and oth­ tion ago, was highly respected for thang bard, I was able to collect trip to Ru thog, I was only able to longer well distributed in the er important topics were the focus his knowledge of local pre-Bud- hymns for gNyan chen thang lha locate one elderly man who still region. These highly adept practi­ of a more than 1000 year old liter­ dhist archaeological sites and the and other local deities, which remembered a substantial portion tioners are best known for a mas­ ary tradition, many traditions per­ pantheon of indigenous deities, according to tradition, have been of the songs and thus this rich tery of their respective religious tra­ taining to specific locales were much of which was subsequently preserved from the time of the source of ancient cultural traditions ditions but it is not unusual for their passed down from generation to lost. The spirit-mediums, all in their Zhang zhung adept sTong rgyung survives in its native land in a most expertise to spill over into other generation in an unbroken chain of 70's and 80's, whom I have inter­ mThu chen. These hymns contain tenuous manner. areas as well. There can be no gen­ oral transmission (kha rgyun). viewed, have proven to be an wonderful archaic imagery which Another excellent source for eralizations made about their sup­ Now, with the last generation extremely valuable source of infor­ lend credence to the tradition orally-preserved traditions are lay plementary knowledge as it can reared in pre-Communist Tibet mation on the location and mythol­ regarding their origin. religious adherents (sngags pa) range from local history to craft passing away, a significant portion ogy of pre-Buddhist archaeological Each region of Tibet also pos­ belonging to both Bön and Bud­ skills. Some high status religious of the nation's oral tradition is dis­ sites, a subject seldom addressed in sessed its own cycle of songs per­ dhism. In the sparsely populated practitioners have devoted much appearing with them. Tibetan literature. They also have taining to marriage, local identity, areas of Northern and Western time and energy to salvaging both been an excel­ Time is of the essence if we are oral and literary traditions savaged lent source of to prevent a further loss of our during the Cultural Revolution. At information on human heritage as represented by their behest, texts memorized by lore surround­ Tibetan tradition. It is, therefore, heart were once again written ing mountain imperative that those interested in down. A number of invocational deities and oth­ Tibetan cultural preservation texts to the environment-based er archaic reli­ respond rapidly by collecting what deities were restored in this man­ gious tradi­ they can before it is too late. Like ner. These senior personnel were of tions. endangered animals which become course also responsible for the extinct, this loss of traditional cul­ Another rebuilding of the monasteries and ture is irrevocable and an immea­ great repository the restoration of the monastic surable long term loss for all of us. of the oral tradi­ communities. Resurrected monas­ In most cases older Tibetans are tion are the teries serve as centers for the col­ happy to share their knowledge but bards (sgrung lection and sharing of local tradi­ the tragedy is that there are few pa I sgrung tions by encouraging residents to people left willing to listen. mkhan) who assemble and exchange informa­ Nowhere is this more true than in preserve local­ tion. The monasteries are the seeds aspects of culture which fall out­ ized versions of from which both Tibetan secular side the scope of mainstream reli­ the Tibetan and religious culture will again gious doctrines. Glossed over as epic, as well as spring up. folk culture, or somehow of lesser clan histories value, a huge body of secular tradi­ and indigenous tion, including that which originat­ mythologies. In ed in remote antiquity, languishes the past virtual­ in obscurity. ly every region and encampment thanksgiving, festivals and other Tibet, where there were relatively Copyright 2000, (tsho ba) had its story tellers. The An important link with ancient areas of everyday life. These songs few monasteries, the role of the John Vincent Bellezza bards were most active during com­ cultural traditions are the spirit- are an important source of ancient sngags pa was especially notewor­ munal assemblies such as those mediums (lha ba I dpa bo) which culture as they often preserve lan­ thy. The sngags pa are best known which took place at the New Year, have largely disappeared in the guage and customs which have for officiating over religious rituals horse racing festivals and harvest Communist period. Throughout been superseded by more modem (births, funerals, protective rites observances. Unfortunately, like western and northern Tibet (as well traditions in other forms of cultural etc.) and practically speaking, they the spirit-mediums, most of the About the author: as in other regions) spirit-mediums, expression. Fortunately, some of often carry out the same spiritual bards have disappeared in the Com­ John Vincent Bellezza conducts which primarily channeled moun­ these cycles are now in the process functions as a fully ordained monk. munist period. Although many tales ethnographic, textual and archaeo­ tain deities, were an indispensable of being written down. For exam­ These householder practitioners found in the Gling Ge sar epic have logical research into pre-Buddhist part of the community. The acted as ple, the songs of the Rang cluing can also be experts in environment- been published there are others civilization. His forthcoming book, healers, psychological counselors, region of western Tibet have been based religious traditions like those which have not been put into book Antiquities of Northern Tibet: Pre- social regulators and diviners. The recorded in Karma mKhas grub pertaining to the gods of the locale fonn. For example, the famous Buddhist Archaeological Discover­ tradition of spirit-mediumship can Srib sky id's Glu garpliyogs bsgrigs (yul lha and gzhi bdag), pilgrimage bard from sTeng chéti Sam grub ies on the High Plateau, (Adroit be traced back to a very early stage and a collection of songs recently and the location of ancient sites. possesses many unique episodes Publishers, Delhi) documents the in the development Tibetan civi­ published in Lhasa called dMangs Sngags pa are much more numer­ that still have not been published. findings of his 1999 Changthang lization and includes diverse prac­ gZhas phyogs bsgrigs documents a ous than either the bards or spirit- In 1997. during nine hours of inter­ Circuit Expedition. tices, lineages and types of deities number of verses which can be mediums but their numbers are on views, Sam grub shared with me nearly all of which are threatened attributed to pre-Buddhist religious the decline in the Byang thang and unusual epic stories set in northern with imminent extinction. Despite traditions. The songs of Ru thog are Stod. This decline is indicative of their social and historical value. Tibet (these are found in my new the object of study by Lobsang

4 ing this news. When I was forty, in 1878, Togden Semnyi and I left for Lives of the Great Masters Central Tibet. We went through BOOK REVIEWS Ushang, where there is a famous shrine of the Blue Vajra Sadhu, pro­ tector of Dzog Chen. We traveled Guru Punk by Louise Landes Levi, (ISBN: 1 -887276-15-7), all over that area on pilgrimage 154 pp., Cool Grove Press, NY, 2000. practicing a bit everywhere. During & the fourth month we sighted Lhasa. Ainu Dreams by George Quasha in collaboration with Chia Hasegawa We visited all the holy places of (buun) (ISBN: 1-58177-053-7), 141 pp., Station Hill Press, Barrytown, Lhasa and met many famous peo­ LTD, 1999. ples. Then we visited the nearby t's inevitable practitioner poets will write and publish. Two new books monasteries of Sera, Drepung, and by Community members dedicated to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Trayepa, Gaden Katsal, Zvalakang. I recently came to my attention as gifts from the authors. Then we went on to Yangri, Dri- gung, and Tigrom. We always did a In Guru Punk, Louise Landes Levis' newest collection of poems, bit of practice everywhere we went. Guru Punk is like original oxymoron with Guru as principle of devo­ tion and Punk, total defiance, in this case, of conventional mind. "Then we returned to Lhasa, Together they form a powerful link to primordial mind recording in age­ where I became very seriously ill. less pursuit of Truth ordinary perceptions in noble lineage of poets writ­ For nearly two months I was ing their bliss found midst the bricolage of samasaric moments. severely sick with a very high fever Personally, I love Louise's quirky humor mingled with a touch of which became paralysis. The doc­ trieste and her signature self-deprecations (All my girlfriends are get­ tors succeeded in lowering the ting laid/& getting famous & I'm not getting/Enlightened. /I'm defi­ fever but the paralysis continued to nitely not getting Enlightened? There would be signs/Smoke Signals/so worsen. Togden Semnyi did special to speak). Given everyday economics, her capacity as the quintessential Chod practices to clear up the 'bohemian' always amazes me— this specially so in the era of poetry paralysis, and finally I started to get "biz" and the proliferation of MFA academic programs holding con­ better after two months. It took temporary poetics hostage to an ever growing elitism. These poems are another month to start moving and accessible to everyone from young street-wise punkers to old seasoned recuperate. In the eleventh month practitioners. we decided to go to Samye for the New Year celebration. We did I'm not surprised Guru Punk was featured in this month's many days of feast offering of the Publisher's Weekly (trade publications of new books) as a prime exam­ Ringdzin Drupa. ple of micro publishing. Once again, thanks to Cool Grove Press, after 30 years, her distinctive work is finally making its way to a broader "In the first month we left for audience and she is receiving the appreciation she deserves. Zurang and visited Gamalung, a Here's a poem poet Allen Ginsberg greatly enjoyed, and one he quoted Padma Sambhava spot, and back to me after hearing her first read it at the Naropa Institute. Wongyul, and then we sighted the Red House at the Copper Moun­ "13" tain, and stayed in the cemetery The Story ofAyu Khandro there. This was the former resi­ She dence of Machig Lapdron. We Dorje Paldwn must have been stayed there for three months prac­ Partii a ticing the Chöd. (Edited by Lidian King from part six of Women of Wisdom ) Dakini, "After this we went to Tsethang byTsultrim Allione She and Tradru, and from there we went could not to Yarlung Shedra, another place have This text was written and verbally through Purang we arrived at that Padma Sambhava empowered. been translated from Tibetan to Italian Kyung Lung, where there was a Then we went on to Tsering Jung, Real, by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, and cave in which Togden Trulzhi had where Jigme Lingpa had had his the simultaneously translated orally stayed before. We stayed there and residence. We went on up and blond -haired lady, into English by Barrie Simmons in in the first month of the first year down for more than eight months. hitchhiking with her Conway, Massachusetts, on the day we received the Kadro Nying Thig "When I was forty-two, in 1880, in 13 of the Dakini, January 8, 1983. It from Trulzhi Rinpoche. We the second month, we arrived at valises was taped in Conway, then tran­ received a very elaborate complete Mindroling. We visited Zurkar and to scribed, edited, and footnoted by version and stayed there for more Drayang Dzong, and the Nyingma Rome. Tsultrim Allione, finished in than three months. It was a beauti­ monastery Dorje Dra, as well as Rome, Italy on the day of the ful retreat. At Trulzhi Rinpoche's Ushang Do and Nyethang and At the center of each poem is devotion to Guru principle with char­ Dakini, February 7,1983. request we did our best to give the Tulang, and also Tsurpu, where the acteristic centrifugal impact of lost love memories, snippets of over­ transmission of the Khadro Sangdu Karmapa resided. We met many heard conversation, amusing commentary such as in "13," observations e stayed at Maratika doing we had received from Jamyang teachers and received many teach­ on the subway, at an ATM machine, from 'on the road' - a myriad lumi­ WWhite Tara practice for long Khentse Wongpo. ings during our travels. life and Pema Nying Thig of "At the beginning of the fifth nous details revealing themselves in the force of her energetic field. "In the fourth month of 1889 Jamyang Khentse Wongpo. Togden month we were guided to Mount "The L," (an overhead subway line in NYC) is a poem, which can be we arrived at Payul and Nalandara Trulzhi asked Pema Yangkyi and Kailash by Trulzhi Rinpoche. We read equally by the uninitiated and initiated on many levels - an inter­ and Lang Thang, one of the resi­ me to give him the transmission of stayed in many caves and sacred esting play of discursive mind noticing itself moving and the moment dences of the Khadampa school. this, and since we had it we did our places around and on the mountain of coming back to recognition. Then we arrived at Na Chu Ka and best to give it to him. for over three years, always prac­ headed towards Eastern Tibet. "Then we went on to Kathman- ticing everywhere. "In the seventh month we du and toured the Great Stupa and "Then Trulzhi Rinpoche and TheL arrived at Kungpo, where Togden other eat Stupa and other pilgrim­ Pema Yangkyi decided to stay on PERFECTION IS NOT BY ACCIDENT Semnyi had been in retreat in the age places in Kathmandu valley for there and I decided to return to region of Kari at Deyang. In those a month or so, practicing and mak­ Central Tibet with Togden Semnyi. & the air is better here/Queens borough caves there was another yogi, a ing offerings.Then we did another "In the second month of the Year of plaza / not far from "the Street monk and some nuns. When they month of Chöd, which fascinated the Fire Bull we said good-bye and where you live"/ not R. saw Togden Semnyi they were very the people, and we began to receive we left, making our way slowly to de Niro/ but YOU, happy. I stayed there more than a many invitations and became a bit Maryul doing Chöd at all the inter­ year practicing and deepened my better off. esting places along the way. We Gazing out understanding of the Zinba Rang- stopped at Jomo Nagpa, the former at the red, white & blue "Trulzhi Garwang Rinpoche drol Chöd. Togden Semnyi gave residence of Taranatha, and many (triangular) flags, flapping, in said that this fame was an obstacle me teachings in the Yang Sang Tug other places beneficial for practice. to the practice, a demonic interrup­ Thig, the most secret Dzog Chen the wind/symbol for me, of tion. So we left for Yanglesho and "In the fourth month we Gongter. the visited a Vajra Yogini temple in stopped at Tanag and Ngang Cho, "In the year of the Iron Serpent, nearby Parping. Next to this is the where there lived a great Dzog "state," 1881,1 decided to travel on to my temple of Dakshinkali, down by Chen master, Gyurme Pema Ten- home country. I met some traders the river. Here there is an important zin, who was giving teaching on Manhattan in the distance, on their way to China who were to Hindu temple, and we went to the Dzog Chen Semde his specialty. Suddenly/ the train, arrives. pass through my country, so I nearby cemetery, which was an We stayed there more than nine decided to travel with them. excellent one for Chöd. But after a months and received complete Her sense of poetics is always steeped, as it were, in a modernist "When we got to the place few days and nights we were dis­ teachings in the eighteenth series of brew of concrete imagist language which, when spoken from the van­ where I had lived when I was mar­ turbed by people, not spirits. Dzog Chen, including initiations tage of the Dzogchen view, integrates with the vivid world of sex. rock ried I said my farewells to the and explanations. and roll, and the urban experience much like ancient poet-practitioners "So we went back to Yanglesho traders and did some invocations to of old accomplished from the brothels and beer halls of a teeming and stayed there near the cave and "Then we met some pilgrims protect them on their ventures and metropolis. Traditionally, such environs are antithetical to the spiritual Togden Semnyi gave Togden who had come from Kham, and set out in the direction of Togden path but for practitioners who can maintain the proper view such stim­ Trulzhi the transmission of a partic­ they told us that, several years Rangrig's retreat center. When I uli serves to awaken one's sensibilities and compassion. One last poem ular Vajra Kilaya practice he had. before, Naia Pema Dundrub had approached the spot I made some in this tradition. We practiced it for several days and taken the Body of Light, and this inquiries as to what had happened then decided to leave Nepal. had made him very famous. We there, but most people had never "We headed for Dolpo, and were both joyful and sad on receiv­ Book Reviews continued on ne.xt page continued on page S

THE MIRROR M AY IJ V N E 2000 5 HUMAN PAINT ranks are many youths in their teens and early twenties who have other BOOK REVIEWS (continued from page 5) I was out and about when I found my way priorities besides reciting Buddhist into the state texts. They write graffiti on the of paint monastery walls and sneak glances MEDITATION at American body-building maga­ zines. At morning chants some are I dozing off, others are passing notes suppose I really like happening to cut the bounding line of to each other, and a few are playing should be out defending color itself, my mischievous pranks. But they have human rights somewhere/feeding self exposure to be careful to avoid the discipli­ the hungry (apart from my nary vigilance of the gekoes street offerings to the panoramic (played by tulku Urgyen Tobgyal, homeless people), space who has occasionally taught in the fills up— West under the auspices of Sogyal somehow improving the color abounds, Rinpoche's Rigpa International). condition of the world/ but in turn spills over— Some of the young monks are then, it's not such a bad thing, after- it looks enthusiastic soccer fans, and sneak all, to take a peaceful walk down just-painted, we out of the monastery at night to 14th Street, in NYC, listen­ and yet more watch the World Cup being broad­ ing to the way the people flesh than paint, my own cast on television in the nearby talk here & looking color breathing body painting un­ town. Their shenanigans create an around, limited landscape, uproar that eventually disrupts the just bom, bound whole monastery. Word of this "THIS YEAR I'M GONNA HIT to claim a tincture of the reaches the abbot (played by the ST. VALENTINES DAY moment itself real life abbot of Monastery). The WITH A PASSION" back around to me. abbot has to decide how to integrate this noisy ripple of pop culture into he said on WORD EXPANSE the broader current of monastic life. Avenue In a sense, this dilemma is real­ This place is filled with words. ly a parable about coming to terms In the air, everywhere, with the modem world and bridg­ and it's physical. ing the duality between modem and Just as Guru Punk reaches toward hinterlands of fresh perceptual The room is full. traditional. The film pulls its puch­ field on the streets of cosmopolitan capitols - NY, Paris, Amsterdam, The words themselves glow, es, resolving the tensions a bit too Ainu Dreams travels inwardly towards border of consciousness in diur­ expand— easily. This makes the ending seem nal states of dream imagery shared between Chia Hasegawa, known as The view pat and sentimental, like a Buddhist Bunn - the "dreamer" and George Quasha, as "scribe." is stunning— version of 'The Bells of St. Mary's' While the Ainu may refer to Buun's ancestral base, they are in and each word (1945) or 'Lilies of the Field themselves a symbol of wild unfettered mind - unoriginated and self- is trying to find itself, reaching out '(1963). However, the movie is ele­ existing - a feather in the wind. Anthropologically, no one knows where for its true place, and vated above mere sentimentalism they come from. The Ainu also refer to a tradition of interactive story­ at the same time all the words everywhere in the space are by the authentic presence of Godu telling in which teller and receiver are interdependent narrators in the moving toward realization, Lama, who as the abbot, bring a making of a collective mythos. patina of tangible bodhicitta to the These are immensely entertaining poems given the lightness of the then all of a sudden screen. collaboration between dreamer and transcriber and their allegiance to clicking into place— Dzongsar Khyentse's sympa­ riding the feather as it free falls through space without a grasping after thies are clearly along the lines of familiar reference points of logic, syntax and meaning. Here's three one by one applying the Dharma to the actual poems representative of variant approaches from nonsensical to lumi­ they settle conditions of the twenty-first cen­ nescent moments of clarity. on their spot tury. This is suggested by some of • where they belong the images he uses. For example in PHONE CALL an opening sequence, the young appearing to say monks are shown using a Coca It's for you Cola can as a makeshift soccer ball. Words enjoy their primordial state (Is it sacrilegious to wonder if from blink your eye Khyentse got a product placement kickback from Coca Cola?) Later, Do you believe it? When George first presented me with this book, I must confess, I the local yogi is shown using the had a resistance to reading it thinking it a symbiotic folie a deux but I empty Coca Cola can as a butter I will believe! However, couldn't be further from the truth. Bunn's purity of heart and finely lampón his shrine. tuned sensibilities combined with George's ease of experimental forms Another vignette contrasting If I do actually manage to talk with him (for which he is already well known among his peers) and visionary the traditional and the modem I'll have to become a bit less concrete propensities makes for an extraordinary play of brilliance, charm, and occurs when the electric power due to the fact he's so incredibly abstract wholesomeness which actually does record a narrative beyond the per­ fails in the middle of the televised sonal idiosyncrasies of the authors. Reading poem after poem I found soccer championship. To entertain -that is, not so bound to the human myself saying yes, yes, yes, I know what they mean. the disappointed assembly, one of as I. Mainly, what I so enjoyed in reading both books was the sense of the monks begins telling a story, humor radiating out from small epicenters of observation whether which happens to be one of So, before saying hello, inward turned or outward - this, no doubt, a result of many years mind Dzongsar Khyentse's favorite para­ I try my level best to deconcretize (not, training and deep devotion to the Master to whom the authors grateful­ bles. It is about a man having a mind you. dematerialize, ly acknowledge in their dedications. nightmare. He asks the monster which would be impressive but who is choking him, "What is beside the point) by Jacqueline Gens going to happen to me?" The mon­ ster replies, "Don't ask me. It's and I take my effort as a sign your dream." This interlude of tra­ that I'm getting close to ready ditional oral storytelling is inter­ rupted when the power suddenly directed by a Tibetan lama, Likewise, all the film stock had —I mean returns and the assembled monks Khyentse Norbu, better known as to be sent overseas to be developed. I can't exactly become a drop of water resume frantically cheering for tulku Dzongsar Khyentse, grand­ Aside from this, however, there just to be able to talk to him... their favorite soccer players. son of Dudjom Rinpoche and a pro­ were practically no other expenses tégé of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. since the cast consisted of monks in Dzongsar Khyentse has a good On the other hand, I can make believe. Dzongsar Khyentse's interest in the monastery, the screenwriter was visual aesthetic and an eye for film was heightened when he col­ himself, and the film crew were details. The opening shot in the film laborated with director Bernardo some of his Western students. is an extended sequence in which Bertolucci as a technical advisor When he was perplexed about tech­ we see some newly sheared wool for the filming of Little Buddha. nical matters, such as which type of being painstakingly cleaned and FILM REVIEW The directors he most admires film to use, he consulted a widely combed. The process is visually include such venerable icons of the venerated local yogi, who per­ arresting and a little mysterious. At first is a low-budget film from SAMSARA & NIRVANA: Asian cinema as India's Satyajit formed a divination. (A similar the end we see that the wool has Bhutan made by a Tibetan tulku, Ray and Japan's (Yasujiro) Ozu. In character in the movie is loosely been formed into a wick and placed Khyentse Norbu, and the second is Movie Reviews of Khyentse Nor- an interview of with Terry Gross on based on this yogi.) in a butter lamp, to light Buddha's a Hollywood production starring bu's 'The Cup' and Jonathan National Public Radio, Dzongsar shrine. Claire Danes, the talented young Unlike such glamorous epics as Kaplan's ' Brokedown Palace'. Khyentse said his biggest expense This opening sequence is a actress who starred opposite 'Kundun', 'Seven Years in Tibet' for "The Cup' was the filming symbolic summary of the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio in the modem and 'Little Buddha', Khyentse Rin­ he higher teachings point to equipment. There was no way to which is about the gradual transfor­ version of Romeo and Juliet. poche's modest, hand-crafted film Tsamsara and nirvana being of rent cameras in India or the sur­ mation of raw, unruly young boys 'The Cup' (www.the-cup.com) looks at the mundane side of one taste. Two recent films, coming rounding countries, so he had to into young monks alight with gen­ is currently being presented in monastic life. As depicted by from opposite directions, seem to have leased equipment flown in uine devotion. Plot is not the strong select theaters in limited distribu­ Khyentse the monastery is a multi- both be hinting at this one taste. The from Australia. point of this movie. It meanders It tion. It is the first film written and generational institution. Among its continued on page 19

6 WW Transmission continued from page 3 Teaching CHNN continued from page 3 they discover there is not only one main benefit is for coordinating our dimension but two. [laughter] Then mind and energy. If we do such People who are seriously interested can obtain the videos by making a thing, then we had to try to light a they have problems because they positions and breathing in that way, request to their Gakyil. Further information for the Gakyils on how to order butter lamp and it was very, very are not paying respect to the dimen­ then we can coordinate our energy. the tapes will follow as soon as it is available. difficult. I remember. That was our sion of the other individual because We have energy like vital energy, A more complete text of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's teaching on this life. That is a defect of an isolated they always have a very strong ego. and we have energy related to the topic will be printed in the coming issue of The Mirror. Attached you will country. Like matches, for exam­ If there are some problems, we five elements and all these things find the time schedules for the three anniversaries. ple. Matches are nothing negative, automatically think, "Who is which we need to coordinate. If we they make life more comfortable- responsible for this problem? I am don't coordinate this energy and it There are also other qualities of not!". That is our manifestation of is disordered, then we become pas­ Anniversary of Padmasambhava. isolated countries. Before the Chi­ ego. In the real sense, if two people sive and can receive all negativities 6th Tibetan month -1 Oth day nese arrived and started the Cultur­ have a problem, both have a rela­ in the circumstance. So everyone al Revolution in Tibet, for centuries Celebration at 8 a.m. Oddiyana time. tionship to this problem, not only has had this experience, everybody, and centuries Tibet had Buddhist one. So if people know this, they and sometimes we are doing our teachings, pre Buddhist teachings, Tuesday 8th August 2000 relax and pay respect, and no ten­ best and everything goes bad. And and everything. There are hundreds sions develop. They disappear. But then we say, "Why does everything and hundreds of volumes of teach­ 17:00 Hawaii we don't do in that way. We are go bad, I am doing my best? I am ings translated into Tibetan and we 20:00 San Francisco, Los Angeles (US Pacific Time) always thinking that he or she told very unfortunate". 21:00 Denver (US Mountain Time) have many libraries of all these me or said this way or that way, We are saying fortunate or 22:00 Chicago, Mexico City (US Central Time) teachings. There are not only why, because, then we find number unfortunate, but that is not the main 23:00 Caracas, Santiago, New York, Havana, Montreal (US Eastern books, but people have that knowl­ one, number two, today I find two point. The point is that our energy is Time) edge and there are many teachers reasons, maybe tomorrow I find disordered or some function of our 00:00 Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo who learned, studied and applied. four, and we develop tensions and energy is damaged, so in this case So this is also a quality of isolation. they develop more and more, and we need to coordinate and strength­ Wednesday 9th August 2000 When the Chinese started the more and more. So this is our ego en our energy, and there are many Cultural Revolution, and you and limitations. So, the Dzogchen practices we can do to achieve that 03:00 GMT remember before the Cultural Rev­ teachings very much help one to which deal with our physical body, 04:00 London, Dublin, Lisbon olution in 1959 that the Dalai Lama understand all these things. and in that way we can coordinate. escaped and many Tibetan lamas 05:00 Rome, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Johannesburg I hope now you have a little idea When we succeed to coordinate our and important teachers who had 06:00 Helsinki, Athens, Jerusalem of what the Dzogchen Community energy, then we can also coordinate more knowledge of Tibetan culture, 07:00 Moscow means. The Community means our mind. So, if we want to relax, almost all of these people escaped. 08:00 Oddiyana (Karachi-Pakistan) people who are interested in this there is a possibility to really relax, I arrived one year before. I didn't 08:30 Delhi, Bombay knowledge, who leam and apply also the mind. Otherwise how do escape. I came before, freely. My 09:00 Dacca and collaborate with each other. we relax when we are going to visit idea was to go to India to study 10:00 Bangkok, Jakarta This is what all the people of our a doctor, and the doctor asks you to Sanskrit for one year, and then later 11:00 Singapore, Hong Kong Community are doing; we are not lay down and asks you to relax, I would go back, but Tibet was 12:00 Tokyo only a group of people living what do you do? You try to relax closed and I couldn't go back. 13:00 Sydney, Melbourne together somewhere. Dzogchen is your physical body, but not your So, fortunately, most people that knowledge. Dzogchen means energy. Particularly your mind, it's who had knowledge and under­ 'total perfection" and that is our always charged. Anniversary of Adzam Drukpa standing arrived in India. Also with potentiality. In this teaching it says So if you are knowing how your 9th Tibetan month - 25th day them arrived many original and that everyone has infinite potential­ real condition is and you are being Celebration at 5 p.m. Oddiyana time. important books, and immediately ity. But we don't discover that; we in that, in your real nature and con­ the Tibetans were trying to make don't know that. When we don't dition, and you are in a relaxed state Tuesday 21 th November 2000 copies and distribute them to all the know this it doesn't have much beyond agitation and problems, important libraries in the world. So benefit. So the teaching makes us then you can get in that state. You even though the Cultural Revolu­ 02:00 Hawaii understand and discover that condi­ can discover what total relaxation tion destroyed a little in Tibet, the 04:00 San Francisco, Los Angeles (US Pacific Time) tion. Then you can have a little idea means. That is what we call medita­ Tibetan culture is still alive. So, 05:00 Den ver (US Mountain Time) what we do and what I teach. tion in the practice; meditation 06:00 Chicago, Mexico City (US Central Time) that's an example of how until the Of course there are many argu­ means we are trying to be in our 07:00 Montreal, New York, Havana (US Eastern Time) Cultural Revolution in Tibet there ments in a practical sense, because real condition. We are trying to 08:00 Caracas hadn't been these kinds of confu­ a teaching developed for thousands integrate our existence and circum­ 09:00 Buenos Aires, Santiago sions and problems. That is because and thousands of years and so there stance in that state. And then we are 10:00 Sao Paolo it was an isolated country. are many things to leam, but the being in a relaxed state. 12:00 GMT, Dublin, London, Lisbon Today Tibet is not isolated, essence is very simple; to discover So this is what we do for our 13:00 Rome, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam everyone can go there. There are our real condition and to be in that practice. Of course we have our 14:00 Johannesburg, Helsinki, Athens, Jerusalem roads for cars, many tourists can go condition in a relaxed way. Also, three existences of body, speech 15:00 Moscow to visit, and now the Chinese are we can only have relaxation if we and mind, so we do practice to 17:00 Oddiyana (Karachi-Pakistan) opening East Tibet, the Southern are being in that knowledge, other­ coordinate them and to get into our 17:30 Delhi, Bombay part, into Central Tibet, and they wise we don't really know what real nature. There are many things 17:45 Katmandu are making very big roads and from relaxation means. For relaxing we to do with voice, related with our 18:00 Dacca the North to Lhasa they are trying have three existences; everybody. energy level, and with breathing, 19:00 Bangkok to make a railway. The isolation of We have body, physical body, and and there are also many things to do 20:00 Hong Kong Tibet is now becoming history. But in the physical body we have ener­ with our physical body, particularly 21:00 Tokyo the knowledge and understanding gy and that is related to our mind, many things related to the mind. 21:30 Darwin of Tibet arrived in the Western so it is not sufficient only relaxing Our mind is generally thinking and 23:00 Sydney, Melbourne world and that is really interesting. our body, we must also relax our judging always and never stops. When I went to Italy for the first energy, and our mind. It is very dif­ The teaching gives an example that time I gave some lectures and ficult to relax the mind in general, our mind is like a monkey. If you Anniversary of Garab Dorje teachings about Buddhism in gen­ and we think, "Oh I want to relax, I observe a monkey a little, the mon­ 1 st Tibetan month -15th day eral, and different schools, and the don't want to charge myself; that key never stops. If the monkey is Celebration at 8 a.m. Oddiyana time. teaching of Dzogchen. I was giving is a more intellectual understanding sleeping, maybe it sleeps a little, information in an intellectual way, and it's easy to have this idea, but in otherwise it is always doing some­ Thursday 8th March, 2001 but nobody knew what Dzogchen the practical sense how do we do thing, similar to our mind. Our was and they asked, "What is that? Some people say, like for mind is always judging and think­ 17:00 Hawaii Dzogchen? Is it Zen, the Chinese example parents to their children, ing. If there are some problems you 19:00 San Francisco, Los Angeles (US Pacific Time) Chang tradition?". Today many "Oh you should relax, relax", when are always thinking and first you 20:00 Denver (US Mountain Time) people know what Dzogchen is, parents say "relax" to a child the ask 'why', then you look for the 21:00 Chicago, Mexico City (US Central Time) they not only know what it is, but children are more nervous, because reason. When you find something 22:00 New York, Conway, Montreal, Atlanta, Detroit, Havana they are doing practice and are inte­ they don't like it when they are anx­ like a 'because', a reason, then 23:00 Caracas grating, so that is an example of ious and agitated, nobody likes to maybe you are a little satisfied and 00:00 Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Santiago evolution. If there is the develop­ be that way. But there is a reason, maybe not. But if you discuss with ment of the knowledge of and if you're charged already it's someone, then many problems Friday 9th March 2001 Dzogchen, of course it helps for the not so easy. Particularly the mind is arise because there are two differ­ peace of the world; the peace of dependent on energy and many ent dimensions, two ways of see­ 03:00 GMT, London, Dublin, Lisbon nations, countries, because people times we don't know that and we ing. Then there is what you pro­ 04:00 Rome, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm become aware and know how they are trying to relax the mind and our pose, and you explain the way you 05:00 Helsinki, Athens, Ankara, Jerusalem should respect the others' dimen­ energy doesn't give us permission. see it, and that person doesn't 06:00 Moscow sion. Energy is always charged. Some­ agree, then there is an infinite dis­ 08:00 Oddiyana (Karachi-Pakistan) If there are ten people, there are times we want to relax out energy, cussion. You see, people are talking 08:30 Delhi, Bombay ten dimensions. Some people, but it's not so easy if we're not in general, even if it doesn't have 08:45 Katmandu when they are falling in love at the doing something with our physical much reason. Some people have 09:00 Dacca beginning, they feel they are body, because energy is dependent the attitude to discuss, for hours, 10:00 Bangkok, Jakarta becoming one dimension, they on our physical body. For that rea­ and that is a manifestation of our 11:00 Singapore, Hong Kong think, "Oh we agree, our way of son in our practice we have Yantra ego because if I say something then 12:00 Tokyo seeing, feeling, everything is the Yoga, movements and positions. I try to convince others of what I 14:00 Melbourne, Sydney same". They really feel that way. Many people think. "Oh we do say so they believe me, because I That means they are falling in love yoga, movement, etc., for having a am thinking I believe that way, but and can't see how their real condi­ more slim line of body, etc.", but others have a different way of see- tion is. But then after a few years, that is a secondary benefit. The continued on page IS

THE MIRROR M AY IJ UNE 2 000 7 Lives of the Great Masters that is bom must die and that his death could not be delayed. He told Ayu Khadro Part II me it would be best for me to return "Art in Tibet" Exhibition continuedfrom page 5 to my retreat hut and continue my heard of the place. A few remem­ and siblings with many nieces and practice in the dark. March 27-April 2 bered that a yogi had lived there nephews came to see me and I "With great sadness I left him St. Malta's Church, Rome, Italy years before, but, they said, he had helped them as much as possible by and returned to my hut. When I was died and the few who remained had teaching them. fifty-four, in the Year of the Water by Gino Vitiello either left or died. "When I was forty-four, in the Serpent, 1892,1 received the news "I decided to go there anyway. Year of the Water Horse, 1882, in of his death. At that moment I rom March 27th to April 2nd, a photo exhibition and seminar on "Art in The place was in ruins. The wood­ the third month my husband and decided to stay in retreat for the rest FTibet" was held at St. Marta's church in Rome. The events were part of en doors and window sills had been others began my hut. I decided to of my life. So I alternated the prac­ a weekly program on culture organized by the Ministry of Culture. The two pulled out by the local people to be go to see my master Khcntsc Rin­ tice in the dark with the practice in happenings were aimed at promoting knowledge of Tibetan art and culture used elsewhere and I couldn't even poche. I arrived on the tenth day of the light. When I was fifty-six, in in Italy and creat­ recognize the caves of my aunt and the fourth month and received the Year of the Wood Horse, 1894, ing a base for col­ Togden Rangrig. many teachings and he clarified all both my mother and the wife of the laboration to pre­ "I stayed the night there. I felt my doubts. nomad Palden who had been serv­ serve the immense very sad and did some practice. The "Then I left for Adzom Gar and ing me died. I did the practice of the cultural, historical next day I went down the mountain met Adzom Drukpa and Drodul Korwa Dongtru for them for sever­ and artistic her­ a bit to the cemetery to stay and do Pawo Dorje. I received his Gongter, al months. Then Palden came to itage of Tibet. Chöd. The following morning I had and all the 'Nying Thig' transmis­ serve me here. The exhibi­ a vision when I was between sleep­ sions. Adzom Drukpa asked me to "When I was sixty in the year tion, organized in ing and waking of an egg-shaped stay and do a retreat at Puntsom of the Earth Dog, 1897, my hus­ collaboration rock in Dzongtsa, which I could Gatsal near Adzom Gar where he band Apho Wangdo died, so I did with the Istituto enter through a cave. When I got had been in retreat, which I did. purification for him and his family Shang-Shung and inside there was a very intense "In the second month of the for an extended period of time. ASIA, was set up darkness which suddenly was illu­ Year of the Wood Monkey, 1884, "At the end of autumn in the by Alex Siedlecki minated by multi-colored light Adzom Drukpa and his disciples Year of the Iron Mouse, 1900, my and Iacobella Gae- streaming out of it. This illuminat­ went to see Jamyang Khentse old friend Pema Yangkyi appeared tani; Alex Siedlecki is also working on a CD-ROM which will illustrate the ed the cave and pierced the walls so Wongpo at Dzongsar and I went unexpectedly. She brought the contents of the exhibition. that I could see through the outside. with them. Because Adzom Drukpa news that in the third month of the The exhibition ran through more than sixty years of the history of Tibet, "Then I awoke, and seeing this had requested it he gave us the previous year, 1899, Trulzhi Rin­ from images preceding the invasion, through the ruins that followed up to as a good indication and since I'd Gongpa Zangthal. Both Adzom poche, at the age of eighty-three, the present day stage of reconstruction. The photographic material came heard there was in fact such a place, Drukpa and Khentse Wongpo told had passed away, taking the body from the archives of the Istituto Shang-Shung and ASIA, with an important I left for Dzongtsa. When I arrived I me to return to Tagzi, where I had of light and leaving no corpse. She contribution from ISIAO thanks to the kindness of Prof. Nioli who allowed found the place. It was near landed after crossing the river in told me the whole story of how this photos from the Fondo Tucci to be shown. Thanks also go to Lottomatica Dzongtsa, but was my dream. had happened in his cave on Mount who sponsored the event. on the opposite "So I left Kailash. The seminar, held on March 28th, was entitled: "Art in Tibet, Knowl­ side of the river immediately, "She stayed in my tiny hut with edge, Intervention and Conservation", and managed to unite both Tibetolo- from where I was. stopping only to me for a year and we did retreat gists and art restorers with experience of work on cooperative projects in I decided to camp see Kongtrul Rin­ together. This was a big boon for Tibet. on a nearby hill poche and receive me; it really helped the develop­ Andrea Dell'Angelo gave a very interesting talk on the work of ASIA in and wait for some teachings on the ment of my practices. bringing Tibetans back to the roots of their culture and the dignity of a more help or for the riv­ Six Yogas of "After a year she left for Kawa humane condition of life. er to go down so I Naropa and to Karpo, a mountain in Southern I had been asked to represent the Istituto Shang-Shung for the occasion could cross. But it learn from the oth­ Tibet which had been indicated by and was somewhat loathe to do so since I did not feel in any way to be an was autumn and ers who were Trulzhi Rinpoche as a place she expert on the topics under discussion. The only topic related to the theme on theriver was very there taking teach­ should go to. I later heard that she which I had some knowledge was the Blue Beryl thankas by Sangye Gyat- high. ings. On the lived there for many years and had so. At the moment, the Istituto is completing their collection of copies of "I practiced day and night, and eighth I returned to Tagzi, and many students. Then in the Year of these thankas based on the originals which are preserved at the during the third night after mid­ my former husband and other faith­ the Iron Boar, 1911, she took the Mentsikhang in Lhasa. night something inexplicable hap­ ful people had built me a hut pre­ body of light at the age of seventy- I did some research on the topic and found that knowledge of these pened to me. I had fallen asleep and cisely according to my instructions. four. works in the West is much more recent that I thought. In fact there is a story a long bridge appeared. It was "At this point I lacked nothing "After her departure her stu­ worth mentioning about them which has given me an added incentive to white and reached the other shore and decided to go into retreat. My dents came to me for teachings and bring to completion the Istituto's collection. near the rock I had dreamed of. I eldest sister's daughter had become told me stories from her life and I sincerely hope that my enthusiasm will be infectious and invite once thought, 'Good, finally I can cross a nun a few years before and she about her death. Then in the Year of more both the Italian and International Community to contribute towards the river.' So I crossed, and when I wished to act as my assistant. As the Wood Tiger at the end of the the completion of this collection which represents a truly precious heritage awoke I was actually on the other she was also very committed to summer some of the disciples of for all of us. It is also an opportunity to refocus attention on and interest in side of the river. practice, I accepted her offer. Togden Semnyi came and told me the Tibetan culture and cause. "I had arrived but I did not "So in the Year of the Wood he had sent them to me specifically. know how. Bird, 1885, in the first month on the They told me that he had not The Blue Beiyl Illustrations: "I put my tent on the spot day of the dakini I began a seven- remained in Chumbo but had trav­ A Meeting Point between Art and Medicine in 17th Century Tibet where I had landed and stayed there year retreat. From the beginning I eled toward Amdo on pilgrimage, At present the Istituto Shang-Shung is completing a collection of a doc­ practicing Chöd for more than a spent most of my time doing the practicing everywhere. umentary heritage of exceptional value: the reproduction of a series of month. I was assisted by a nomad, practice of the dark. At first this "At the end of his life they went thankas which make up the illustrations of Sangye Gyamtso's Blue Beryl, a Palden, who lived nearby. He sup­ was sometimes difficult so I alter­ towards China to Ribotse Na. He medical work of the 17th century. plied me with cheese and yogurt, nated the dark and light, but the stayed there teaching for three The thankas - done by artists in Lhasa, measuring 86 cm x 68 cm and set etc., and from time to time people majority of the time was spent in years and had many disciples, both in brocade frames - are a unique testimony to Tibetan art as well as having came by. But even if they had complete darkness. Chinese and Tibetan. At the age of both an artistic and scientific value. known me before they did not rec­ "When I was fifty-three, in the eighty-five he passed away and Painted in overlapping bands rather like cartoons or anatomic tables, ognize me. year of the Iron Rabbit, 1891, in the there were many auspicious signs they represent a visual documentation in the education of Tibetan doctors "In late autumn an epidemic fifth month on the day of Padma and many ringsel in his ashes. and illustrate the various aspects of traditional medicine: embryology, broke out among the nomad's ani­ Sambhava, when I was doing prac­ "Realizing that all of my anatomy, physiology and pathology, diagnostic methods, materia medica, mals. I was asked to intervene, tice in the dark I had a vision. I saw friends had left the world made me up to the interpretation of dreams as a prognosis of being healed or dying. which I did with the Chöd and fire a very clear sphere; inside it were very conscious of impermanence, The discovery of such an interesting and rich work of iconography did not practice. The epidemic stopped and many dakinis carrying another and I was inspired to practice as follow an easy course. everyone began to say I was a great sphere with the form of Jamyang much as possible with the time I The first signs of the existence of this work was in 1904 when Lieu­ practitioner. As they began to Khentse Wongpo inside. I was sure had left. I taught Togden Semnyi's tenant Colonel Wandell, a doctor in the Younghusband mission, visited the honor me I was worried remem­ this meant that he had been invited disciples for several months and Chagpori medical school which he named "the medicine temple". In his bering that Trulzhi Rinpoche had by the dakinis to leave this world of then sent them off to various places account he says that they taught a kind of rough anatomy not by means of said this was a demonic interrup­ suffering. to practice meditation." dissection but by using a strange map of the body made up of tiny squares in tion. So I entered a stricter retreat. "Although I still had seven "That is the end of what A-Yu which the position of the internal organs was shown. After a month or so my former hus­ months before the end of the seven Khadro told me herself. The rest is Wandell tried to buy the map but the head of the faculty didn't want to band arrived with his second wife years I had promised myself to the story of the passing away as I give it up and ordered some copies to be made. and daughter. He had heard of my complete, 1 decided it was more heard it. Of course, if we compare the anatomic table seen by Colonel Wandell arrival and brought me many sup­ important to see him before he left "She told me these stories, with that of the human body produced by Andrea Vesalio which preceded it plies. We had a good rapport; I gave his body. So I left my hut and a few gave me much wise counsel and by more than a century, the descriptive accuracy is greatly diverse. But what him teachings and he asked if he days later went directly to him in then I returned to my master at the the English doctor probably ignored was the fact that Tibetan medicine had might build me a house Dzongsar, accompanied by my Sakya College. That year I finished a far deeper knowledge of the energetic aspects of the human being rather "I told him I would like it to be niece. college. than an anatomic description, as is evident in other thankas. right on the same spot and "We reached him without "In the Year of the Water Drag­ In the same period Bertold Laufer brought several anatomic explained to him how I wanted it obstacles, and he was very kind and on, 1952, in the eighth month, I designs and a painting of Tibetan medical and surgical instruments to built. They invited me to their taught me a lot; most importantly, went to Sengchen Namdrag, where the Chicago Field Museum. The works came from the Yonghe Gong, house for the winter. As it was very he clarified my practice by answer­ my uncle had been in retreat. I did a a famous Tibetan Buddhist temple in Peking. cold that year and his parents had ing all of my questions. When I told Simhamukha retreat and various The only person who showed any interest in this material was the med­ died I went to their house and medi­ him of the vision I had had of him other practices there. ical historian Karl Sudhoff during his research on medieval anatomy in the tated for the benefit of the deceased being carried away, 1 requested that I had a dream while I was West. He observed that the particular crouching position of one of the for about three months. My father he remain longer. He said that all there of a brilliant crystal Stupa anatomical figures could also be seen in the iconography of certain Persian continued on page 12 continued on the next page

H Art, continuedfront previous page and European medical manuscripts Since 1988 the work has been dating from medieval times, a fact on permanent display in a room in that would give strength to the the­ the Medical Center in Lhasa while A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FESTIVAL ory of contact between the two a similar series which dates back to medical systems. the period of the 13th Dalai Lama by Stephanie Scott The surgical instruments illus­ and already preserved at Norbul- on't ask me how I found three days, not just the two. All financially break-even, I was able trated also showed an interesting ingka. the summer palace, is today myself organizing a World groups were willing to participate to detach and just do the task at similarity with those in use dur­ in possession of the Commission D Festival of Sacred Music when I for free, since we still had no mon­ hand. ing the Graeco-Roman period. for Culture of the Autonomous Region of Tibet. was asked last September to help ey. I had found out four days before The World Festival of Sacred In 1947 Ferdinand Lessing had find organizers for the East coast of I left for the Malibu retreat about a Music in Attleboro, Massachu­ a copy made of the twelve medical There is a third collection the U.S.A. Maybe it was because local grant, the application of setts was phenomenal! There were paintings preserved in the Yonghe which is in the Buryatian Historical of my deep gratitude to my teacher which was due before I got back. I groups from the New England Gong for the East Asiatic Library of Museum in Ulan-Ude. These paint­ Chógyal Namkhai -, area representing Berkeley University in California. ings are copies which were com­ Norbu who had I Native American. In 1960 these paintings were pub­ missioned from the Medical School promised his support I Christian, Hindu. lished by Ilza Veith, professor of in Lhasa by a Buryatian monk to Lama Doboom I Buddhist, Abo­ medical history, who concluded called Sonoyev who studied for Tulku, the person riginal, Christian that it was not possible to date this seven years at that University, whom His Holiness Gospel, Hawai­ iconography even though the probably at the time of the 13th the Dalai Lama had ian, Cambodian, inscription made reference to the Dalai Lama. The collection is com­ selected to coordi­ Quaker, Unitari­ 16th century Blue Beryl text. posed of seventy-six paintings and was published in London in 1992 in nate this interational an. This was no This link was made only in two volumes edited by Yuri Parfi- project. Maybe it was talent show! Each 1964 by Kristina Lange in an article novic, Gyurme Dorje and Fernand my connection with evening had its dedicated to an anatomic painting Meyer. There is also an Italian ver­ Lama Doboom Tulku own special photographed in Ulan Bator. The sion of this work edited by Antonel­ after having met him energy, yet any­ work was identical to one of the la Comba. in the summer of one who attend­ paintings from the Yonghe Gong 1998. Or maybe it ed the three days As I mentioned before, the Isti­ and on the basis of the inscriptions was my gratitude to could not pin­ tuto Shang-Shung is completing its found in the painting showed a link my friend Lauri point one day collection of a new series of copies to the fourth chapter of the second Marder, a member of being better than of the seventy-nine thankas of the volume of the Blue Beryl, Sangye the Dzogchen Community and des­ the rest. The church was full each Mentsikhang which is, at the did an amazing down and dirty, cut Gyamtso's commentary on the ignated U.S. East Coast Represen­ evening and Sunday was stand­ moment, the only collection of its and paste job of putting it together "Four Tantras" of medicine- tative for the WFSM (while living ing room only. The audience was kind in Europe. before I left with the hopes of get­ Ms. Lange was convinced that in Italy!), who had welcomed me taken on an audio-visual trip via Fifty-seven of these paintings ting some seed money. (We eventu­ the author had produced detailed with open arms when I reappeared Native American drumming and have already been acquired and the ally were awarded a small grant in designs to illustrate certain chapters in the Community after twelve flute to Zen Buddhist chanting, Istituto intends to set up an exhibi­ February.) of his book and that these paintings years of hibernation. traditional and not-so traditional tion at the Museo Etnologico Pig- We gathered volunteers for vari­ were used in the teaching programs choirs and ensembles with their orini in Rome with the collabora­ Or maybe it was all of the ous committees, the most necessary of the medical faculty. However own sacred music, the Hula Alo­ tion of ASIA. The exhibition will above. Nevertheless, after diplo­ of which were the Publicity Com­ she hadn't yet realized that the vari­ ha Dancers performing ancient also include an exposition of surgi­ matically trying to pass the project mittee and the Sponsor Committee ous medical thankas which had ritual dances with their melodic cal instruments from Norbulingka on to various organizations, I final­ (to get financial help from local been discovered up to that moment chanting and percussion, string of which ASIA has a copy currently ly found myself and Mary Whelan. businesses and individuals) which were not only linked to a particular instruments indigenous to Cam­ chapter of the Blue Beryl but in use as the hospital at Gantong. a member of Murray Unitarian each had chairpersons and people Universalist Church (where I also on them. All seemed tobe fine. bodia by a performer who used to belonged to a vast and systematic We believe these paintings to perform for his king, and, lest I am a member), as co-chairs. No On January 3rd I caught what collection covering the entire work. be of great importance for their forget, the musician who played problem, we thought. We'll tap my doctor later said was a "nasty" The existence of this collection originality of concepts as well as the didgeridoo. prominent people in the Attleboro virus which lasted more than six was finally documented by L. for their valuable content which community (where the WFSM weeks. In that time I found out that The press was most kind. The Koundanova in a treatise which make them a product of a unique would be held) and some people the Publicity Committee and the WFSM hit the front page twice appeared in 1979 in "Le Courrier moment in the history of both art from the church (the place it would Sponsor Committee went "belly- along with many other articles de rUnesco". In this work the and medicine. be held) and we would be on our up". This. I had to re-learn, is what and a major editorial on the honor author spoke about the existence of way. happens with an all volunteer orga­ bestowed upon Attleboro. a small seventy-six paintings in the Ethno­ Translatedfront Italian by Liz Granger In early October I was able to nization. So. in the midst of my ill­ blue-collar city, for being chosen graphic Museum of Ulan-Ude in speak to Lama Doboom Tulku. the ness, I had to take on those jobs as a WFSM site. We actually did Buryatia illustrating the Blue Beryl Clouds, conitmiedfrom page I to be cleared and he could even be Director of Tibet House and Global well as a multitude of others. I have make some money - enough to which, with the exception of a few found on the side of the mountain, Chairperson for the WFSM, via never worked so hard in my entire give a decent donation to Tibet details, were identical to those from in denims, pruning and clearing telephone since he was in Chicago life, including my career days. At House for the Global Festival. Lhasa. trees himself. for the WFSM there. I had no one point, as I was negatively talk­ But most importantly, those three With all of this, Rinpoche spent groups and no money - only a date, ing to myself while driving to the days fulfilled H.H. the Dalia The Creation of the Medical hours on the computer and com­ February 25th. I told him my plan church for business-at-hand, the Lama's vision and purpose of the Thankas pleted two books well before the for one-evening of music. No, that light bulb lit! First of all, here I was WFSM - to usher in the new mil­ How did this work come into SMS Exams began, as well as wouldn't do according to Lama finally able to do something for the lennium in a spirit of peace, har­ being? In 1670 the 5th Dalai Lama bringing the chronological record Doboom, because then it would good of many sentient beings, but mony, and universal responsibili­ asked his minister Sangye Gyamtso of his extensive world wide teach­ really just be a concert. O.K., I'll do once the going got a little tough I ty through the celebration of to revise the Four Tantras, the fun­ ings closer to completion. When two days, I reluctantly said. Then I was not so happy to do it. Some sacred music from diverse spiri­ damental text on Tibetan medicine, asked why he didn't use a secretary, asked the question which Tibet Buddhist. In the same split second, tual and cultural traditions. and to produce a new edition. he replied, "Then what work would House had refused to previously I realized that I was paying back I could go on and on about the This task took Sangye Gyamt­ Ido?". answer, since I had no concrete pro­ some huge karmic debt by organiz­ WFSM. But let me just say that so almost twenty-five years during G AN APUJA &THE AUCTION gram at that point, "When will ing the WFSM! The illness, the for those contemplating organiz­ which he took care of other duties The New Zealand contingent, Attleboro and Murray Church defunct volunteers, the huge ing one, do it! Who knows what as well as holding the office of which had taken up the task of be designated a World Festival of amount of work - all these were karmic debt you may repay! regent while waiting for the preparing the Ganapujas during the Music site?" Lama Doboom Tulku here purposely for my benefit as enthronement of the 6th Dalai retreat, as well as many other replied in effect, " Well, I know well. I knew this as sure as anything Lama. From this work the compil­ essential jobs, also arranged a Namkhai Norbu and I trust him. I've ever known in my life. The Second Edition of The ing of an important commentary - delightful children's concert one You are his student; therefore I trust Once I understood this, I began Cycle of Day and Night is the Blue Beryl, written in 1687/88 - evening, featuring wild rap dancing you. It's a designated site as of to handle things very differently. I Available at Amazon.com! also arose. and jokes told with aplomb by kids now." Gulp. Oh no, what have I won't say things went smoothly, Sangye Gyamtso believed it of all ages. gotten into, I thought. In those soft but I was able to deal with all that The Cycle of Day and Night : was important to enrich the text Led by Paura, the New Zealan- spoken kind words I heard the came. The day of the Festival open­ Where One Proceeds Along the with illustrations which could clari­ ders performed a traditional Maori unspoken "you're not going to let ing, amidst my fears of few people Path of the Primordial Yoga : fy the contents and simplify the Haka greeting (an energetic stamp­ your teacher down, are you"? attending or that this Festival An Essential Tibetan Text on the process of learning for the stu­ ing dance) followed by a Waitira By the end of November we had would be no more than a local tal­ Practice of Dzogchen by dents. In the colophon to his work (greeting song) giving an energetic enough groups and musicians for ent show or that we would not Namkhai Norbu, translated and he states that the paintings of the start to our traditional end of retreat edited by John Myrdhin illustrations began in 1687 and a year auction. When Paura explained the Reynolds is available at ama- later, at the rime the text was finished, meaning of the greetings, "We're zon.com and the uri is: the paintings numbered sixty-two. all the same canoe - we've got to Pashmina Shawls http://ww-w.amazon.com/exec/obid Work on the paintings was pull together, to work together", os/ASIN/0882680404/qid=95640033 completed at the latest in 1703 and Rinpoche, who had been obviously Large size pashmina shawls 5/sr=l-l/103-6774732-2474209 in fact in that year, in another of his enjoying the performance, nodded 40 colors available Cost:$12.95US works, the regent lists the inscrip­ vigorously in agreement. Sold by the nephew of Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche Taiman Company: ISBN: tions that can still be seen today at There was a special visit from $100 each 0882680404 the bottom of each of the seventy- Ann Thomas, a local Aboriginal Contact: This item will be published on nine pictures which make up the elder, who has developed a strong Monlom April 1,2000. You may order it Mentsikhang collection. This col­ connection with Rinpoche and the New York City, USA now and it will be shipped to lection was published for the first Community over the years. Tel: 718 204 0409 (leave message) you when it arrives. time in 1986 in a Tibetan-Chinese The auctioneering team led by 718 6934798 version and two years later in Rinpoche, combined with the gen- Tibetan-English. Clouds. continued on page 11

THE MIRROR MAY/JUNE 2000 9 ASIA Ongoing Projects and New Programs in East Tibet

by Giorgio Minuzzo

have been working in East Tibet total area of the hospital is 1500 services. They initiated the opera­ as an excuse to undertake unlawful room) for the students and the I since May 1st, 1996, as the Pro­ square meters. tion of the Gamthog hospital even activities. Obviously he circulated teachers not from the village and to ject Coordinator of ASIA in the Besides this building, ASIA has though it was still without electrici­ this document in government cir­ equip the new school with appro­ "COS V/ASI A/CHIN A 1796" pro­ constructed lodgings for 16 local ty and running water, services cles and the campaign of defama­ priate didactic material. gram for the development of social, doctors, bathrooms and a sewage which are now available thanks to a tion against ASIA which followed An older building belonging to economic, sanitary and educational system for the hospital and the diesel generator bought for the pro­ made the situation very delicate the school was completely restored conditions for the population of the entire village and an aqueduct to ject by Jomda county. and most of all dangerous, because to provide lodgings for the teach­ village of Gamthog in the county of carry potable water to the hospital, Once the hospital had been East Tibet is an area which is still ers, a kitchen and dining room for Jomda, Chamdo prefecture. The the school and the village. organized by the Italian doctors it closed to foreigners. The few who students, while a new building to project was financed by the Italian The project should have been began to register an increasing reside there are regarded with great accommodate 120 students is being Ministry of Foreign Affairs along completed in the summer of 1999, number of patients from different diffidence on the part of govern­ built and should be ready by the counties, often from ment officials who fear that they end of July this year. areas several days may be undertaking political activi­ Didactic material for the natur­ away. Many patients ties. al science laboratory, a TV and came from Lhasa and After sending all the relative video recorder, equipment for Amdo to be treated by documents and informing the sports, music, painting and other ASIA'S Italian doctors. authorities of the TAR and the Ital­ material have been bought for the Up to the present ian Embassy in Beijing about the Gamthog school. Furniture has about 3000 patients matter, ASIA stopped the project been made and the material for the have been treated by until an investigative commission offices of the director and teachers conventional doctors, could put some light on the situa­ has been provided. 4000 by traditional tion and remove the local director, The Gamthog school had 140 doctors, 300 patients who continued to obstruct in every students this year and expects more have been admitted, way possible the work of ASIA. than 300 next year. 180 major and minor Buying medicines for the hospital This year, with the creation of a operations have been was no longer guaranteed and nei­ cement canal, the land belonging to done and 240 cataract ther was the presence of the local the school and hospital has been operations have been staff who continually received per­ irrigated and two new toilets have done by Nepalese oph­ mission to be absent. The missing been built in the nearby village of thalmologists. Besides information was that there was no Jakardo, administrative seat of the all this, a six month guarantee about the shifts of hospi­ Gamthog municipality. training course for tal personnel or for the fuel for the As I mentioned previously, in young nurses has been generator which was necessary to August the project will be handed with several European Embassies but due to some postponements it set up, as well as a practical training make equipment work during oper­ over to the local government. These (French, Finnish and Dutch). will be finished by August 2000. course for local medical staff while ations. Obviously this situation cre­ final months will be used for finish­ Since then I have followed this On that occasion we expect to orga­ a study on the arterious pressure of ated a lot of hardship for the local ing the buildings for the school, project and all the other initiatives nize some important festivities the local population has been done. people who were in need of med­ making a football field and a bas­ that ASIA has started in East Tibet ( with the participation of the author­ In January, 1999, Chamdo pre­ ical assistance. ketball court, a space for table ten­ in the Autonomous Tibetan Region ities of the Tibetan Autonomous fecture assigned a medical director Finally, after several months, a nis and other sports, while for the - T.A.R. - as well as in Sichuan Region (T.A.R.) and the Italian to the Gamthog hospital who works commission was send by Chamdo hospital we are looking for about province). I have been assisted by Embassy during which the project in collaboration with the Italian prefecture to Gamthog. The com­ 40 million lire (about $35,0OOUS) the Tibetan lady doctor Phuntsog will be formally handed over to the staff to guarantee the working of mission discovered the truthfulness in funds to buy x-ray equipment. In Wangmo, some Tibetan translators, government of Jomda county and the national and regional health of the documents drawn up by this way we will arrive at the formal in particular Lharse gyal and the Chamdo prefecture. program, and to organize the activi­ ASIA and the groundless accusa- hand over in the best possible con- medical staff of ASIA who have Gamthog is a small farming ties of the hospital efficiently. taken turns over the last years village situated on the right bank of Unfortunately, the (Peter and Resi Taliente, Carlo the Yangtse river at an altitude of director was sent to Landini and Paola Cossino, Alberto 3000 meters. The village enjoys a Gamthog not so much for Porro and Maria Egia, Maurizio relatively mild climate even during the work of the hospital but Ruscelli and Paolo Bevilacqua). the winter and is situated at a cross­ rather to create obstacles for I would like to give a quick update roads which makes it easily acces­ ASIA. While the ASIA staff of the current situation of the ongo­ sible to several villages and was intent on developing the ing projects and the future pro­ encampments of the T.A.R., and hospital, the local director, a grams of ASIA in East Tibet. Sichuan, of which the Yangtse is dedicated gambler - with the the administrative border. These complicity of the local Chamdo Prefecture conditions, along with the avail­ administrator in order to Project COSVIAS1AICINA1796 ability of a large piece of land for cover his own gambling the construction of the buildings of debts, and without anyone The Gamthog village project is the program, determined ASIA'S being able to stop him and in the most important program that choice of Gamthog village as the spite of the repeated ASIA has in that region. It is the seat of the project. requests and reports of the first project involving international The Gamthog project was ASIA staff to the county and cooperation in this part of Tibet and based on requests made to ASIA by prefecture authorities - took up until today ASIA is still the only the administrations of Jomda coun­ the funds for the hospital international organization which is ty and Chamdo prefecture to sup­ and gambled with them. present here. port the development of education In Autumn 1999, a Prepared in 1993 and financed and health of the Tibetan popula­ report was prepared together by the Italian Ministry of Foreign tion aspects were greatly underde­ with an inspection by ASIA Affairs the project provides for: veloped in comparison to other Italia in which the corruption of the tions made by the director who was ditions with a complete and func­ - the construction of a primary areas in China and Tibet. The local director and some of the med­ removed from his position. tioning project. school for 300 Tibetan children, request was for technical and finan­ ical staff was reported and a request The outcome of the investiga­ In order to guarantee that the buying teaching material and cial help for the construction of the made for their immediate removal. tion and the removal of the director project can be supported more easi­ equipment and starting a regular school and hospital and for the The document was sent to the was reported in an official docu­ ly once ASIA has finished its man­ course of studies in Tibetan for the training of local people. county and prefecture authorities ment sent by the investigating com­ date, it is evaluating a series of minorities in this region; The local administration under­ and the Italian Embassy, and a mission to the department of health hypotheses. The first is to choose - the construction of a medical cen­ took to sustain the costs of manage­ request for a Commission to inves­ and the foreign office of Jomda an international team of doctors ter with 20 beds, buying medical ment, taking on local people and tigate the matter was made. The county in Chamdo prefecture, TAR (surgeons, pediatricians, opticians, material and equipment, activating furnishing water and electricity to document mentioned eighteen and to the Italian Embassy. lab assistants, experts in public the medical center and the training the two structures. points, the causes for the malfunc­ With the arrival of the new health)- make Gamthog hospital of local health personnel by Italian The main buildings were built tioning of the hospital and in partic­ director, the hospital was complete­ the central point for several doctors, surgeons and laboratory in 1997-98 and have been in regular ular the dishonest behavior of the ly reorganized and put into opera­ training courses which are pro­ workers. The hospital consists of: use since the summer of 1998. The local staff, as well as the continuous tion. ASIA's new surgeon is on the vided for in the new health pro­ an operating room, 5 recovery summer after, the doctors sent from thefts and shortages perpetrated by point of departure for Gamthog in ject discussed last winter rooms with 20 beds, a delivery Italy bought the medical equipment the director and his collaborators. these days and will remain there between ASIA and the Chamdo room, 4 consulting rooms, a and material necessary for organiz­ The director of the hospital until September, 2000. authorities. The project was pre­ library, a sterilizing room, rooms ing the principal services of the replied with a document which he Regarding education, this year sented to the Italian Ministry of for teaching, a pharmacy, labora­ hospital, emergency ward, pharma­ made come from the local authori­ the program was to furnish the Foreign Affairs and at the tory, offices and rooms for the cy, delivery room, laboratory, oper­ ties in which he accused the ASIA Gamthog school with a residential moment is under technical evalu­ generator and incinerator. The ating room and other diagnostic staff of using the Gamthog project complex (lodgings, kitchen, dining ation by the Italian government

10 in the hopes that it will begin in Gamthog above the left bank of summer to confer with the local Dzogchen Community can get in touch with the office of ASIA in Rome. the summer of2001. the Yangtse. construction office, and prepare the We would also like to remind you that each year it is very important to As for the Gamthog school, we This area of the Yangtse val­ definitive technical designs of the renew your membership with ASIA in order to concretely maintain these are trying to make it a training cen­ ley is characterized by a shortage buildings to get the project going if activities which are so close to the heart of our Master Chögyal Namkhai ter for Tibetan teachers in Chamdo of potable water springs, a fact we manage to find sponsors. This Norbu. prefecture, set up in the same way as which creates serious problems for project is very special for Chögyal ASIA set up the Dangche school. the local population for their water Namkhai Norbu because it is the Further information from: Starting this year, if funds supply. The problem is augmented place where his uncle, Kyentse ASIA allow, we C h o e k y i Via S.Erasmo 12,00184, Rome hope to start Wangchuk, Italy a two year lived and Tel: 06/77200880 training meditated. Fax: 06/77205944 course for Email: [email protected] teachers of Projects for English at the monas­ the middle teries schools of I n the prefec­ April 1999, ture. Other in the "Meri- SCHEDULE OF CHNN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 requests for gar Letter VENEZUELA, MARGARITA ISLAND projects in no.4", Chö- Chamdo g y a 1 December 26th-January 1 st Margarita Island Retreat including Namkhai support for Norbu sent 2002 Tibetan tradi­ out an appeal February 15th-24th Margarita Island Teacher's Training tional medi­ to help the March 29th-April 2nd Margarita Island Easter Retreat cine and for a monasteries April 9th-23rd Margarita Island Longsel Teaching professional of Galengon, USA, TSEGYALGAR school are being evaluated. in the winter months when a large Khamdogar, Wontod, Ralung, May 3rd-7th Dzogchen Retreat The conditions which are number of the few existing springs Dzamthokgon, Sengchen Nam- drak, Dzongtsagon, Khorugon, indispensable for further devel­ ice over and become impossible to Santi Maha Sangha opment of ASIA'S work in Cham­ use. . Gramagon and Sibdagon. These May 10th-14th SMS Base Level Exam projects were mainly for the build­ do prefecture have matured Positioned on a wide loop of May 15th-19th SMS I Level Training ings of colleges for the study of the greatly with new initiatives and the river, the village has a fair May 21 st-23rd SMS I Level Exam Buddhist tradition and colleges projects. To this end, ASIA has amount of cultivated land which, May24th-28th SMS II Level Training sent an expert on public health to when irrigated, can guarantee the where the Buddha's teaching could May30th-31st SMS II Level Exam the area for six months to con­ local population a harvest superior be practiced. At this time, the repre­ June 1 st-5th SMS III Level Training duct a health study in Chamdo to those which they have had up to sentatives of various world Gakyils prefecture and Dege county now. have asked me for information June 14th-28th Personal Retreat of Chògyal Namkhai Norbu (Sichuan) and an American For some time the department about this. July 5th- 14th Dzogchen Retreat expert for a month to conduct a for water resources in Dege county Unfortunately the political situ­ feasibility study for a new project had planned a project for an aque­ ation in Tibet in recent times has ITALY, MERIGAR in the field of education. duct and irrigation system to worsened and it has become very Even though the Gamthog pro­ improve the conditions at Scipa, difficult to visit these places to col­ July 18th Leave for Merigar ject was set up in an extremely but it has not started it due to lack of lect information necessary for peripheral area with organizational funds. drawing up the different projects. Santi Maha Sangha and communication difficulties, ASIA presented the project in Finally, after almost a year of work, July 23rd-25th SMS Base Level Exam ASIA has made an enormous effort the winter of 1998-99 and finally we have collected almost all the July 26th-3oth SMS I Level Training both technically and financially found financing from "Acheo information and with the collabora­ August 10th-18th Dzogchen Retreat and has created an awareness of the Cucine", a furniture company from tion of ASIA in Rome, we are August 22nd-23rd SMS III Level Exam situation among international agen­ Friuli, Italy, which among its pro­ preparing the various documents August 24th-28th SMS IV Level Training cies and organisms for cooperation. motional activities, was looking for on the projects. August 30th-31st SMS IV Level Exam Western Embassies in Beijing have a project of development in the In the meantime, the news that September 1 st-5th SMS V Level Training shown their interest and apprecia­ third world to support and was Rinpoche had launched this initia­ tion for ASIA'S work by supporting interested to realize a project in tive created a lot of enthusiasm in September 8th-22nd Vacation in Sardegna many of their projects. East Tibet through ASIA. the local Tibetan communities and AUSTRIA, KALACHAKRA In particular, the French The project was started last people started looking for loans October 10th Leave for Austria Embassy sent a delegation in year and is now drawing to an end. from private individuals and banks October 11th H.H. the Dalai Lama arrives March to visit the Gamthog and It began last Autumn with the cre­ in order to begin the work with the October 23rd H.H. the Dalai Lama departs Galenteng projects. The result of ation of a system for potable water hope of being able to show Rin­ the visit was extremely positive made up of a collection tank and a poche the results during his trip to ITALY. MERIGAR and the French Ambassador has 2000 meter aqueduct. This spring Tibet this year, which was can­ guaranteed French cooperation work began on building 800 meters celed. October 28th Return to Merigar in ASIA'S initiatives in Tibet. of irrigation canal in stone and In particular, the situation has cement, which will be the feeding become extremely critical for THAILAND Dege county - system of a complex network of Dzolung and Galenteng monaster­ November 4th Leave for Thailand The Scipa Aqueduct project 3000 meters of irrigation canals. ies because these monastic commu­ November 15th-17th Thailand Dzogchen Retreat Dege is one of the most histori­ The collaboration between nities have got so many debts with SINGAPORE the banks with very high interest cally famous towns of East Tibet ASIA and Dege county during the November 22nd-24th Singapore Retreat (nowadays in Sichuan province). It Scipa project has been excellent taxes, that they don't know what to is home to the Dege Barkan, the and thanks to this collaboration, the do. On top of which the situation has AUSTRALIA, NAMGYALGAR ancient printing works, famous relationship between ASIA and the been further aggravated because November 25th Leave for Brisbane throughout Tibet, where tens of Dege county authorities has been since it is forbidden to cut wood in December 26th-January 1 st Namg yalgar Retreat thousands of wood blocks are pre­ consolidated and has opened up the forest, the cost of wood has served, a great part of which are prospectives to begin an important increased greatly and hence the original blocks of texts from the health project in the county. The cost of the project, which included Clouds, continued from page 9 Tibetan cultural tradition.Up to project concerns the development using mainly local wood for con­ erosity of the International Com­ today, the Dege Barkan texts are of the health structures, furnishing struction. you really want us to try to light a munity present there, went on to fire without matches?". We must produced manually according to a equipment that is lacking and train­ Up to now, in spite of the vari­ raise a large amount of money for have looked comical, copying what tradition which takes one back to an ing part of the health personnel. ous appeals launched by ASIA, we the continued development of the we had seen the Aboriginal experts ambience belonging to a remote This will take place in the towns of have received: $1,000US for Gar. doing. We tried rubbing a stick hard era. Derge, Khorlondo and Galenteng. Galenting, $1,500US for Wontod, SOME SERIOUS FUN and fast between our palms so the Since ASIA'S arrival in East At the moment the project is being $1,500US for Dzongtsa. These On one of his daily walks up end to create friction. We only suc­ Tibet, it has developed a very good evaluated by the Italian Ministry of funds have already been taken to the and down the steep hills of the Gar, ceeded in heating up our palms, relationship with the government Foreign Affairs. different areas and ASIA has just as we reached the serkyem on much to Rinpoche's amusement. of Dege, however, in spite of that, Still in Dege county, ASIA advanced several thousand dollars. the saddle Rinpoche threw out a He chose two sticks from the small the conditions necessary to start a hopes to begin construction of a The average cost of each these pro­ challenge to three of us who were wood pile, laid one across his knee working collaboration never came school for the nomadic community jects is around $35,0O0US. These walking with him. What if we were and rubbed vigorously. Soon there about. Only last spring did Dege of Galenteng this year. The school months are the last during which in a desert and you had to light a was the strong smell of burning county manage to obtain all the will consist of six classrooms, lodg­ ASIA personnel will be there to fol­ fire, what would you do? Thinking wood. Who needs matches when authorizations necessary to work ings for 90 children and 5 teachers, low the work and provide technical we were very clever we said. "First you have Rinpoche? with international bodies and was as well as a kitchen and bathrooms. consultation, so we hope that the we would look for matches." We Then Rinpoche laid down on therefore able to start the first Unfortunately ASIA'S economic various world Gakyils will make an were hoping there were matches his back in the grass and sang the official project of ASIA in Dege resources are very limited and we effort to realize these important safely stored with the materials sang offering in the most relaxed county. The project is to build an are trying to find at least 50,000 US projects to sustain traditional waiting to be burned at the way. This was the reward for all our aqueduct and irrigation canals dollars before the beginning of Tibetan culture. serkyem, but there were none. We efforts, for working with condi­ for Scipa village, a farming vil­ July. For more detailed information, hoped that maybe he was only tions. Just relaxing and enjoying lage with a population of 400. One of ASIA'S architects will those in charge of the various teasing us. Angie kept asking, "Do with Rinpoche. Exactly what he Scipa is an hour's drive from be in Dege at the beginning of next Gakyils of the international Clouits. continued on page /5

THE MIRROR MAY/JUNE 2000 11 Message of the International the direct supervision of Adriano teaching transcriptions, has trans­ Ayu Khantlro continuedfrom page 8 funeral and in preparation for it. She lated 10 works by other authors, is had an important statue of Padma Gakyil and MerigarGakyil Clemente has been started under which appeared to be being pushed currently working on 8 translations Sambhava which she sent to Gyur The Dzogchen Community Project the name. "The Complete Works of toward the West. Slowly it disap­ of Rinpoche's works and is plan­ Rinpoche, son of Adzom Drukpa. "The Complete Works of Chögyal Chögyal Namkhai Norbu". peared in space and at that moment ning 6 more texts of teachings; in She left a little statue of Jamyang Namkhai Norbu" This initiative is part of a wider I heard a voice saying: 'This is the addition, he will take care of all Khentse for Namkhai Norbu and effort to make the Community tomb of Dorje Paldron.' r more and more self-sufficient, i.e. future levels of Santi Maha Sangha various other things for Khenpo I Ihe International Gakyil togeth- "The voice woke me up and I able to stand on its own feet without and of all books the Master is writ­ and her other disciples. X er with Merigar Gakyil hereby felt really very empty inside, and relying on funds collected by our ing or will write in the future. "At the end she opened herself announce the project "The Com­ even doing some breathing prac­ Master alone. From now on this completely to everyone who want­ plete Works of Chögyal Namkhai Apart from all that, Adriano tices did not make me feel better. I responsibility should be with all ed to see her. During the last twenty Norbu" that will be coordinated by has supervised (and continues to felt I had lost something very Gars and Gakyils, who should col­ days she stopped doing regular Adriano Clemente. supervise) all first editions of all important inside myself. lect funds every year on a regular books containing transcriptions of meditation periods and saw people, For many years Adriano "A few days later the son of basis to finance this Project. Rinpoche's teachings. From 1983, giving advice and counsel to any­ Clemente as an individual has been Adzom Drukpa came by on his way the year in which Shang -Shung one who wanted it. working full time on the translation Please find below an overview back from Central Tibet. I told him Edizioni was founded, to date, 90% "Near the twenty-fifth without of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 's of the work that has been done until about this dream, and he said that, of all books published by Shang- any sign of illness we found that works and the supervision of the now by Adriano Clemente. Within in fact, he had stopped to see her on Shung Edizioni have been con­ she had left her body one day at the work of other translators. He has short we will give further details on his way and she had indicated by ceived and edited by Adriano, time she would normally be finish­ been enabled to do this work main­ how all Gars, Gakyils and individu­ the way she spoke of time and along with many other books pub­ ing her meditation session. She ly because of personal efforts made als can contribute to this very so on that she would not live lished by Italian or foreign houses. remained in meditation posture for by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu him­ important Project. much longer. He thought that prob­ In the new IPC register, which to two weeks and when she had fin­ self. Now the time has come to ask The International Gakyil ably my dream indicated that she date lists 98 books published in var­ ished her Tugdam her body had the International Community to MerigarGakyil would die soon. So we did some ious languages under the control of become very small. We put some take responsibility for this work OVERVIEW OF THE WORK OF Khadro Sangdu practice for three the Committee, Adriano is the sole ornaments on it and many many which benefits the Community as a ADRIANO CLEMENTE days to try to extend her life. whole and which is essential for the Adriano Clemente has already supervisor of 95 titles and co- people came to witness it. "In the Year of the Water Ser­ preservation of the Teachings. For translated 29 of Rinpoche's books, supervisor of 2 other titles. "In the second month on the pent, 1953,1 was with my uncle on that reason a broader project under has edited 15 practice books and tenth day we cremated her. There the mountain and taking Nying were many interesting signs at the Thig teachings when I received The Spiritual Treasure of the Dzogchen Community and the Digital Archive Project time of her death. There was a sud­ word she had left her body. I said a At What Point are We? den thaw and everything burst into few prayers, as I did not know what by Felice Storgato bloom. It was the middle of winter. else to do. There was much ringsel and as she "In the sixth month I went to he archives at Merigar have been created, and continue to develop gratitude, to the commitment and sacrifice had instructed all this and her Dzongtsa, where she had died in Tof the Master and those people who have, over the last years, taken care of the recording, collection and cus­ clothes were put into the stupa that her hut, and discovered that the ser­ tody of different types of documentary material. The immense value of this patrimony of the Dzogchen Communi­ she had prepared at the Sakya vant Palden had died in the same ty which has grown through the years, lies in the fact that it allows us to preserve in their entirety the uncontaminat- monastery. year. They said there many auspi­ ed testimony of the transmission of the spiritual teaching in order to benefit ourselves and future generations. "I, Namkhai Norbu, was given cious signs at the time of his death. The aim of the CDSS - the department of the Istituto Shang-Shung in charge of the archives - is mainly to take the little statue of Jamyang Khentse "I met the Khenpo and the nun care of collecting the material, guaranteeing its preservation in the most secure conditions and making it available Wongpo and a volume of the Zangmo who had served her. and to all those who are seriously interested. This task was outlined systematically in the "Digital Archive" project. Sehmukha Gongter and he writings Zangmo told me the story of her In the last four years the department has been able to create the basis for and begin work on the project thanks to the and advice and spiritual songs. death: contributions of the Regione Toscana which has recognized the great documentary value and uniqueness of the Among her disciples there were "In the Year of the Water Ser­ archives. The Regione has donated almost 60 million lire (approx. 35.000 US dollars) which has been used to buy few rich and important people: her pent Khadro said to us: 'Now I feel a large part of the equipment and technical instruments necessary (above all hardware and software) allowing disciples were yogis and yoginis really old. I think in a little while I work to begin on the complex activity of digitalizing and cataloguing. At the moment the archives consist of: and practitioners from all over shall go!'She was 115 at the time. - an almost complete inventory of Western books and magazines: Tibet. There were many tales told "We begged her not to go. but - an inventory and genuine catalogue of more than 3000 Tibetan volumes; about her, but I have written only she said. 'Now bad times are coming - a database with 2198 entries of video and audio recordings: what she herself told me. This is and everything is going to change. - digital scanning of 4830 pages of rare manuscripts and books: just a little biography of A-Yu There will be terrible problems and -transfer onto CD of 338 audio cassettes (from 1976to 1980). Khadro written for her disciples it's better 1 go now. In about three and those who are interested." What is there to be clone? weeks I won't be here anymore. These results were achieved due to the commitment and collaboration of many people who, either as volun­ Start preparing for the funeral." teers or receiving a modest wage, gave their work, often operating in difficult conditions. However, at this point, in "She instructed us precisely on the face of the need to complete the work undertaken in a short time and to finally make this patrimony available to how to conduct ourselves during the the international community and those interested, it seems opportune to guarantee a more complete, continuous The Dzogchen Community at Tsegyalgar is thrilled to announce a and efficient involvement in the activities of the archives, assigning the duties to competent practitioners full time North American Yantra Yoga Teacher Training Course! ! ! ! and for a specific period in such a way as to be able to guarantee realization of the objectives of the department. With Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti Accordingly the department requires three professional assistants: A 10 Day Course in September, 2001 - an assistant in charge of the multimedia archive who will be responsible for the video archive and for planning (in Between September 9th-21 st (precise dates to follow) collaboration with those in charge of the Istituto), supervising and coordinating all activities related to digitalizing, This is course is for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of Yantra cataloguing, publishing and distributing information. Yoga, as well as for those who want to leam the movements and breath­ - one in charge of the library whose duty will be cataloguing and a variety of responsibilities linked to all the print­ ings with the precision required to teach others. The coming year would ed material (in Tibetan and other languages) as well as programming and supervising the digitalizing of rare manu­ be a good time to become familiar with Yantra Yoga through the first and scripts and books, in collaboration with the person in charge of the multimedia archive. second series as a preparation to attend the course and to sharpen your - a third assistant in charge of the audio cassettes and digitalizing rare manuscripts and books. This person will knowledge and experience. work in close collaboration with the other two assistants. Please make your interest known to: In this phase the financial commitment will be considerable although it should be noted that in relation to the Tsegyalgar development of distribution services of the material at the international level, the financial aspect should be con­ POBox 277 sidered as a real investment in production which will contribute to an economic autonomy of the Istituto Shang- Conway, MA 01341 USA Shung in the future. Tel.: 413 3694153 Another urgent problem is the space available for the archives. The space that is currently used in the "capan­ Fax: 413 369 4165 none" is by now insufficient to guarantee an adequate organization of the materials which are continually accumu­ Email: [email protected] lating. The space is not large enough to accommodate either the working activities of the various archives or visits by the public. Data's Buddhist Astrology Thanks to the collaboration of the architect, Claudio Galeota, we now have a project for enlarging and restruc­ turing the space available which will redefine the area in a functional and coherent way with a possibility to devel­ op the activities of the archives. Of course the financial commitment to this end is also considerable but absolutely necessary in order to allow the archives to function. We will shortly publish the technical details on the time, people and relative costs involved in each particular sector. However, even now we expect that we will have to collect more than 400 million lire over three years. In order to realize this project we are developing a program of fund raising aimed at: - the international Dzogchen Community which is the first and most direct recipient of the services of the archives; - individual private sponsors within and without the Community who will take on a precise commitment to a single contribution to different projects (similar to long distance adoption); www.buddhi8t-astrology.com - public bodies and large institutional sponsors (such as banks) due to the cultural and social value of the patrimony of the archives. 1-800-819-2288

The Voyage Has Begun! the preservation of the precious the audio material is already under the next three or four years. Much it may be preserved for the benefit by Elisa Copello teachings of Rinpoche, the saving way thanks to the work of Dan of the success of this work will of our generation and those of the and cataloguing of all the videos of Zegunis and soon the Istituto will depend on the funds that the Istituto future. The Istituto asks help from fter a first round of getting in different retreats that Rinpoche has look for a full time librarian to collects through its own activities the other Gars through the collabo­ Atouch with people, one of the held around the world in the last undertake the enormous task of cat­ and through the help of institutional ration of the International Gakyil, directors of the Istituto Shang- years. The project requires an aloguing the texts and organizing sponsors, companies, banks and but counts very much on the gen­ Shung announced that three spon­ archivist who will be responsible the library in general. universities as well as private spon­ erosity of individual practitioners sors from Milan have given a sub­ for our multimedia patrimony These projects go hand in hand sors. In particular the Istituto who will, without doubt, not be stantial contribution to the Istituto working full time for at least two with the enlarging of the library and appeals to all those to whom the insensitive to this appeal. to start the first in a series of pro­ years, as well as the acquisition of multimedia archive and will immense patrimony that the Istituto jects of vital importance to insure costly machinery. Preservation of require considerable expenditure in cares for is dear and who wish that

12 Teaching ChNN continued from page 7 BOOKS & PRACTICES NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE SHANG SHUNG EDIZIONI AVAILABLE FROM TSEGYALGAR ing and then many problems arise, and many discussions. So this is called the manifestation of ego. So this is a little information BOOKS NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM SHANG SHUNG EDIZIONI about the Dzogchen teachings, Blue Book of Transcripts, Talks in *TreStairw-tytDlJbaatk^ what we leam and how we apply, OZ, California, Ngondro The Garuda Practice and particularly information about 1982 by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Lire 10.000, US$6.50 this Community here. There are by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu $ 15.00US A concise but exhaustive explanation on the origin, the meaning and the many other Buddhist teachings and S30.00US way of applying the essential Garuda practice, according to a terma of the centers, also here in Australia, VIDEOS great Dzogchen master Adzam Drugpa, which is specially useful for over­ which are not doing the same thing. Dream Yoga and the Practice of Nat- *Demonstration of the Vajra coming negative provocations and diseases like cancer. Besides helping They are doing something different ural Light Dance Video/ Liberation of the practitioners to stabilize their integration with the transformation practice, and are not called the Dzogchen by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Six Spaces it also provides therapists with a means for protecting and strengthening Community. We are the Dzogchen $ 12.95US Chögyal Namkhai Norbu their energy when curing their patients. This booklet includes the draw­ Community, so we function and S20.00US ings of the mudras relating to the short opening invocation of the practice leam in that way. We also know that Drung, Deu and Bon, Narrations, and the Tibetan text of Garuda's mantras. this teaching of Dzogchen knowl­ Symbolic Languages and The Eight Movements of Yantra edge is the essence of all, like Bud­ the Bon tradition in Ancient Tibet Yoga Video An Oral Commentary to Longchenpa's "Precious Ship" dhism, like Sutra teaching. Sutra by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (edited by Gina Perini and Jim Valby) teaching means what Buddha $21.95US Instructor Fabio Andrico Lire 25.000, US$17 Shakyamuni taught physically. S29.95US A wonderful and extensive explanation, given in California in 1986, on There are teachings called Tantric Dzog Chen and Zen Longchenpa's "Precious Ship" dealing with all of the major subjects of teachings and those are the teach­ by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Artwork by Glen Eddy Dzogchen teachings according to the famous "Kunjed Gyalpo" root-tantra ings of Buddha Shakyamuni and $5.00US Proceeds from the sale of these of Semde. This book, containing also an appendix on Kunjed Gyalpo other enlightened beings. They items go to the Shang -Shung Guruyoga and a careful Tibetan editing of Tibetan terms made by Jim Val transmitted this knowledge through Dzogchen: The Self Perfected State Institute, the Golden Vajra Art by, is a fundamental text for every practitioner interested in deepening manifestations. The same in the by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Guild and Glen Eddy. All deity their understanding of contemplation. Dzogchen teaching, all the essence $ 13.00US drawings and the thankas were of teachings have the same final created during Glen's residence at All the prices are in Italian Lire and US dollars. Postage and packaging: in goal of getting in our real condition Green Book of Transcripts, Talks in Tsegyalgar. Europe add Lire 4.000 per order, outside Europe $3US for every three and discovering how are real condi­ Conway 1982 & 1983> books. To order please send the list of books you require by letter or fax. tion is. So this is what we do and by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Deity cards sets of Glen's exquis- Send an International Postal Money Order, Eurocheque in Italian Lire how we work. $30.00US ite line drawings in black and (from Europe) or a check (not less than $30US or equivalent) to Comunità I would like to invite the local white are suitable for framing. Dzogchen (Shang Shung Edizioni), 58031 Arcidosso, GR, Italy. people of this area to please come Meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama, They are available in two different Tel.:0564 966039, Email: [email protected] and visit. You can have some tea, Environment and sets of seven different drawings you can visit, you can spend a half Different Cultures with the Same including envelopes. continued from page 15 hour around there in the very good Objective of Peace All prices in US dollars. Khampa gambling temperament and enjoyed himself. Jean and I discussed air. We always we have good air $5.00US the exam questions; the last chance. It took me some time to overcome my here in Tilba. Then you can have Card Set A $14 concept, that only gambling junkies visit Casinos. But then I immediately some idea of what we are doing and Rigbai Kujyug/The Six Vajra Verses Contains: won fifteen dollars and was in a good mood. you can also discover that we are by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Ah The examination. I was very nervous. I was not at all relaxed. But it was not such strange people, [laughter] $15.00US Tikseofthe Buddha's Head O.K. Everybody made it and the kitchen staff organized a feast with wine. I OK? Thank you very much for Vajrasattva Yab-Yum was very happy. I had a dream before that Rinpoche asked me one question, your attention and it is good that we The Crystal and the Way of Light, Medicine Buddha "Who are you?" and I answered, "I'm your student". The whole decision to have this possibility to communi­ Sutra Tantra and Vajrapani do it, the practices, the study, the journey to Australia, and the examination cate with each other. Thank you. Dzogchen Odzer Chenma in the presence of Rinpoche, was like taking deeper refuge. The Teachings of Namkhai Norbu Snow Lion Holding a Butter Transcribed and edited h\ Naomi Zeitz Rinpoche Lamp S16.95US Card Set Endless Knot $14 Natural hand-produced products. The Golden Letters Contains: Montr Amiata-Arcidosso, Italy. The Three Statements of Garab Dor- Kun Kyed Gyalpo Weekend Retreat Ointments for daily use, tinctures, oils for Cape Town, South Africa je, Goma Devi massage. the 1st Teacher of Dzogchen Simhamukha Prepared from wild herbs grown in ecologicaly Translation, introduction and com- Samantabhadra with clean air, in accordance with planetary cycles using November 3rd-5th, 2000 mentaries Samantabhadri galenic methods. Introduction to Dzogchen by John Myrdhin Reynolds Garab Dorje Azzolini Salvatore e Rasa For information contact: $ 19.00US Machig Lapdron Giunco 68, 58031 Arcidosso. Darryl van Blerk: Eternal Knot Tel.: +39 0564 968172 or The Mirror Advice on the Presence of 82 New Church St., +39 03478819044 Awareness Posters of Thankas Tamboerskloof, by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Refuge Poster, Large $21 e-mail: [email protected] Cape Town, South Africa. $9.95US Refuge Poster, Small $6 Tel: 27-21-4470129/ Garab Dorje Poster $ 6 4220565 The Supreme Source Ekajati Poster $ 6 THE EIGHT Fax: 27-21-4221265 by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Email: MOVEMENTS $19.95US To Order [email protected] Checks or money orders payable OF YANTRA YOCA *TRANSMISSON REQUIRED to The Dzogchen Community of An Ancient Ilt-etan tradition America. Visa and Master card by Chogyal Nantkltai Norbu; instruc­ *Direct Introduction to the State ofAtiyo - welcome. Out of country orders tor labio Andrico; produced by bhang ga must be paid for by International bluing ifi>íífutr unit Angelo tontaim by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Money Order, Visa, Master card or video with 32 page booklet S29.9Î" $ 17.00US Postal Money Order in US dollars. Die Eight Macemenfs of ìanlra Yoga For Overseas Surface Mail deliv- fideo and booklet are a practical and *Namkha ery, please double he shipping and Simple gUldc to. fouitUtg und piuCtlung by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu handling charges. For Overseas tlilS pitxKiuj» discipline. I tur-*' etgttt inwciniriits me the picpa- ratory pan ot the more complex teacrung oi »antra voga. (i'AL $ 17 .OOUS Air Service, multiply by three. available from Menear). Shipping and Handling *Parting from the Four Attachments Orders: by His Holiness SakyaTrizin under$20 $5.00 THE SUPREME SOURCE $13.00US $20-$40 $6.00 The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde $40-$60 $7.00 by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu & Adriano C/iiwtitt'. 325 pp. S19.95 Songs from the Hospital and Other gjgj, gjg In this book, the Dzogchen teaching is pmented through one Anoiniuiited by utmboura. violin, sitar, sh.1kuh.1chi. Poems ol its most ancient lexis, the tantra Kunjed Gyalpo or "The King $100-up $11.00 zllher.i-iotKvhord, pakhawa| drums, labias, doumbek by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu who Creates Everything"—a personification oí the primoidial state of enlightenment. $ 17.00US Mail orders to: "...qualifies o» Met» AIi'aico» te/ World MUSK Album ol the Year " —Albuquerque loun.Jl Tsegyalgar Bookstore *The Precious Vase PO Box 82 lo oracr L V seno S km >i snipping to A. cantor, by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Conway, M A 01341 SNOW LION .15 Laughing Horse Lane Santa Fe, NM 87505 raso available: "An Kvcning of Sacrcu .ion» $29.0OUS USA PUBLICATIONS a concert lape. SII -SI Shipping. Tel: 413 369-4473, PO Box 6483 • Ithaca, NY 14851 *The Song of the Vajra Fax: 413 369-4165 80C-95O-0313 • 607-273-8519 ('(..Ml..!, f?U5IW.JS0,-. WJ.ioJW.. by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Email: tilxt8snowlionpub.com ,A ixttuon oi ine proceeas go io $ 15.00US [email protected] wwtvjinowlionpub.com unii Ihe '/.en Peacemaker orurr

THE MIRROR M AY IJ U N E 2 000 13 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS

Shang-Shung Institute

INTERNATIONAL

of Minorities in Beijing who, also ITALY led the course in past years followed USA by afternoon workshops held by Dr. Three Year Tibetan Medicine Course Nida Chenagtsang, coordinator of Shang -Shung Institute of America Announcement Istituto Shang-Shung the Istituto 's Department of Medi­ Projects and Fundraising Merigar cine, known throughout Italy for the by Jacqueline Gens various courses he has given particu­ he Medical Department of the larly on massage. he Shang -Shung Institute in America has now opened an Endowment Management Account with Merrill TIstituto Shang-Shung is pleased Further information and registration TLynch to accept stock donations for the Institute's projects as part of our overall Year 2000 fundraising. This to announce that the courses for the contact: was initiated to accommodate occasional requests for this form of giving, in particular, a recent donation to the third year of the three year course on Istituto Shang-Shung, 58031 Light of Kailash Translation fund. If anyone is interested in making a donation of this kind, please contact the trea­ Tibetan medicine will take place on Arcidosso (GR), Italy surer of the Institute the following dates: Tel.: 300564966941 The Shang Shung Institute of America has a number of long range projects which proceed year-round based on January 23rd - 28th 2001 and Email: [email protected] the generosity of donors and members of the Institute. All of these projects require further fundraising efforts to February 23rd - 28th 2001. The or continue to completion: courses will include morning lessons Elisa Copello on theory held by Dr. Thubten Tel.: 02 33607505/0564 968094 LIGHT OF KAILASH translation project under the direction of Dr. Donatella Rossi in Portland, Oregon who is Phuntsog, professor at the University Email: [email protected] currently employed full -time by the Institute to translate the three volume history of Tibet by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, the thirty year culmination of his research into the origins of Tibetan culture. The final publication of this history in English will add significantly to the understanding of Tibetan Civilization. The project was begun in The Shang- Shung Institute of Italy Organizes a Week of Health Care 1997 thanks to an initial anonymous donation of $37,OOOUS. This year the Institute raised an additional and Well Being According to the Principles of Tibetan Medicine $15,000US in its 2000 fundraising drive which has enabled Donatella to go forward with the next phase of the pro­ ject, which is finalizing and cross-checking the first Volume. We currently have funding through June 1. September 2nd-9th, 2000 Lucesorgente Hotel. Arcidosso, (Grosseto) VAIROCANA TRANSLATION PROJECT under the direction of Jim Valby who receives donations as they come in The Lucesorgente Hotel is a newly built, very comfortable hotel, sur­ to help support his long term commitment to translate the entire canon of Dzogchen Tantras. rounded by fantastic countryside at the foot of Monte Amiata, very close to Merigar. It has a fully equipped fitness and well being center and several TIBETAN MEDICAL PROGRAM and translation project in support of Dr. Thubten Phuntsog and Elio conference halls. Guarisco(expense budget for 1999 and 2000. $50,000US) for curriculum development and translation of the The course will be limited to 20-25 people, only to give the opportuni­ accompanying text for the Foundation Course in Tibetan Medical Theory, the first and ONLY in-depth course for ty for the doctor to see 3-4-participants every afternoon. Doctor Nida Westerners based on the Four Medical Tantras, studied in the traditional training of an Amchi (physician). The Chenagtsang, Tibetan doctor who has been collaborating with the Shang - Institute now has the first two years of this curriculum (25 tapes for each year) on audio cassette and is attempting Shung Institute for the last couple of years, since he was invited by the to market this as a distance learning on-line course using current available technologies. Dr. Thubten Phuntsog is Institute to come to Italy, is at present actively engaged in giving teachings negotiating with two Colleges of Tibetan Medicine in Tibet, one in Derge and the other in Lhasa, to create a clini­ on specific aspects of Tibetan medicine, particularly massage, in various cal training program (in English with translators) for graduates of the Three-Year Foundation Course in Tibetan towns of Italy and abroad. Medical Theory. This program is intellectually vigorous and not for the casually interested in alternative medicine. PURPOSE OF THE COURSE At present there is a core group of five participants who have completed the second year. Given the uniqueness of Purification of the gastro-enteric tract, strengthening of the body, this program, as well as our already considerable investment in the translation of the text (Dr. Phuntsog's commen­ improvement of blood circulation and of energy flow, teachings on diet, tary on the four Tannas), we will now seek funding from foundations. Embarking on such a thorough and refined behavior, massage and other very simple external therapies people can translation involves the efforts of a whole team of editors to work with the translator. Among those individuals easily learn and apply when back home. internationally, Dr. Mary Ryan from the University of Massachusetts, has been working closely with Elio on a uni­ DESCRIPTION OFTHE COURSE versity research grant. There is currently no publication on Tibetan Medicine in a Western language which covers Every day there will be Yantra Yoga sessions, steam bath and/or sauna the same material in depth. after oiling the body with a special ointment meant to eliminate impurities from the body, lectures on the more practical and meaningful aspects of GOLDEN VAJRA ART GUILD-vrìti hold a one week intensive program July 15-23 with visiting artists, Kelsang Tibetan medicine, teachings on massage techniques directed to relax ener­ Lodo Osho and Glen Eddy. gy and tonify muscles that practitioners will practice in the afternoon on one another, and private consultations with the doctor. Also, on the first NEW PROJECTS-2000 three days, people will be given special herbal preparations to cleanse the gastro-enteric tract and to improve digestive heath (metog in Tibetan), TIBETAN CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP - Faculty and curriculum development fund coordinated by Tom which is of vital importance to ensure good health. Then, after one day of Hirschi and Jane Smilie of Boston, Massachusetts - a program designed to present Tibetan cultural and literacy preparation and of nearly fasting, people will be asked to start taking a training for Tibetan children being educated in the American school system in order to strengthen their knowledge chilien pill on the following mornings: chiilen is particularly famous in and connection to Tibetan culture and to give them an opportunity to interact with other Tibetan speaking children. Tibet, because it tonifies tissues and improves the functions of organs. Par­ This program is scheduled to begin as a pilot program July 15th-23rd at Tsegyalgar to accommodate the needs ticular attention will be given to diet which will be personalized according of the local Tibetan community who, as part of the resettlement project, are now residents of the US or students to the various typologies and personalities of participants. A fully-detailed within the five-colleges of Western Massachusetts. The idea for this program emanates from within the Tibetan program of the week will be sent to the people who would like to receive community itself, which has for several summers now tried to do a cultural summer program in assorted living further information. rooms of their homes around Amherst. This year it will be combined with the faculty of Tibetan artist Kelsang Fees: 1.750.000 lire for accommodation in double rooms, fully equipped Lodo Osho, who will be in residence for the Summer adult program in Tibetan art, as well as Yonten and Chimme with bathroom, television and frigobar.($850US ) 2.000.000 lire for Choephal, husband and wife team, from the famed repertoire company, Chaksampa. We are still looking for the accommodation in single rooms ($ 1,000US ) right Tibetan language teacher. For registration and information: Please contact the secretary of the Shang-Shung Institute of Italy: PILOT PROGRAM IN TIBETAN ART AND ART RESTORATION - under the direction of Glen Eddy and Con­ Tel: 0564966941, Email: [email protected] stance Silver, to promote the study of Tibetan art and its traditional materials and techniques and to introduce train­ Registration should come by July 31st, 2000, with a down payment of ing in conservation methods and cultural stewardship to select Tibetan artists from Tibet for placement within 500.000 lire ($250US ) to send according to the instructions supplied by internships for hands on experience. Lama Gyurme, an artist from Mindroling Monastery in Tibet, has been invit­ our secretary. ed to participate as an intern in a project in Madison, Wisconsin funded through Preservar, Inc.

TIBETAN MEDICINE ON LINE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TIBETAN STUDIES coordinated by managing editor, Diane Sievers, who is From: www.tibetanmedicine.com now preparing the premier issue to include articles of scholarship by leading scholars and associates of the Shang Living on Earth is the weekly environmental news and information pro­ Shung Institutes of Italy and America in order to establish an International presence for the Institutes among their gram distributed by National Public Radio. Every week over 230 National peers. Public Radio stations broadcast Living on Earth's news, features, inter­ views and commentary on a broad range of ecological issues. GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS Tibetan medicine Part 1-Introduction Program income, memberships and donations not designated as restricted funds are used to run the administrative Audio**: http://www.aad.harvard.edu/ath/video/04213of8.ram functions of the Institute. The Institute simply can not function with out a base of operating funds to conduct daily Transcript: http://www.loe.org/archives/000421 .htm administrative activities such as maintaining the databases and bookkeeping systems, publicity and fundraising Tibetan medicine Part 2- Tibetan medicine-use in the West Audio**: mailings. http://www.haa.harvard.edu:82/ath/video/04288ofl0.ram The Institute also hosts a variety of regional programs, concerts, lectures, and courses. Transcript: http://www.loe.org/thisweek/featurel .htm **For AUDIO (free) RealPlayer software is required: Shang -Shung Institute of America POBox277 http://scopes.real.com/real/player/player.html?src--404,000420choice&dc Conway, MA 01341 =5251430 Tel: 413-369-4928 The lapes can he ordered via the www.loe.org website. Otherwise one can listen viaEmail: [email protected] realaudio from the site download, andlor read the transcript on the site.

14 Coming Home at the Other last week I had a room Shang-Shung Side of the World at Liz's house in Cen­ Institute Australia tral Ti Iba and I saw a by Birgit Gewehr big spider every night As a child I dreamed of traveling to sitting over the the upper side of my globe. Finally entrance of her outdoor AUSTRIA USA I made it. It was quite easy. Just toilet. In the light of my NEW HOMEPAGE Foundation Course in Tibetan take the airplane Hamburg-Singa­ torch its eyes were The Shang-Shung Institute of Aus­ Medical Theory Now Available on pore-Sydney and then the bus, Syd­ blinking red watching tria, Association for the Develop­ Audio Cassette Through Shang ney-Melbourne, and half way you me. ment of Tibetan Culture, invites Shung Institute in America! ! ! end up at the south west coast of To go for a pee you to read our new homepage of Australia in Central Ttlba, the near­ in the night at the tent the Shang-Shung Institute Austria: Taught by Dr. Thubten Phuntsog, est little village to Namgyalgar. site was a training in utmost awareness. In www.cadmasters.at/ssi.at Traditional Physician (Amchi) and Central Tilba, a hundred year the light of my little which you can read in English and Professor ofTibetology at the Cen­ old pioneer settlement made up of torch I opened the sack linen cur­ German. We have tried to put tral University of Nationalities, twenty houses in Western style like very smoothly. Lee Ann, the provi­ tain in the toilet hut quickly and together all the information about Beijing. in a picture book. Jean Macintosh sional gekoes, was full of patience tried to get the situation with one seminars, courses and projects of has a house there. Liz Mac Donald, even with nervous exam candi­ look - as police do in criminal all the international Shang-Shung Years 1 and 2 of a three-year a Dutch women, has lived there for dates. The bush kitchen was the movies. One night the shock, a Institutes. If you have any sugges­ training course, based on the foun­ years and rents cheap rooms. Two center of Community life; we black dog was lying there. Then tions of how we may improve it, dational Four Medical Tantras of more Bed and Breakfasts. Very nice cooked and ate together in the front you have to knock on the toilet seat please let us know. Tibetan Medicine (rGyud Zhi), are handicraft shops, a bakery, cafes or under the gazebo, an open fire - even Australians do this - to give now available on audio cassette. and the Dromedary Hotel, where place under a rain shelter. The New Zealand man cooked Indian, the spiders the possibility to disappear The Shang-Shung Institute Each Year contains 72 hours of tex­ you can eat T-bone steaks and Polish women cooked an Italian from one of their favorite places. If of Austria, tual teaching and explanation in the chips. People meet there in the dish, the Italians discussed the pas­ there are poisonous ones, they Gschmaierl39,A-8265 original Tibetan, translated into night; regularly there are little con­ ta. The hot water was heated in a might jump at you; if not poisonous Grossteinbach, Austria English, and accompanied by text. certs, Western guitar, rock'n'roll, stone oven outside, and then taken but really huge ones, well... they Tel.:+43-3386-8571 or [This course is a prerequisite for and mambo. Sometimes our Com­ with buckets to the bush shower don't attack, but if you don't want +43-676-3221365, Year Three of Dr. Phuntsog's munity nearly takes over the place. between the trees. them to crawl over you. you lift the Fax:+43-3386-23371 course which is scheduled for May One evening we were twelve peo­ seat very carefully and look. Then Email: [email protected], 2001 at Tsegyalgar. Dr. Phuntsog is ple from the Community and nine The kitchen is visited every you can relax. Homepage:www.cadmasters.at/ssi.'at currently negotiating to establish a nations: America, Australia, Ger­ night by possums; sweet rat like clinical training program at an many, Japan, Italy, Spain, New animals as big as cats. Every night You always hear stories about institution in Tibet for participants Zealand, Tibet, and Canada. I met the kitchen has to be 'possum safe'. wild animals in Australia. They like You have to put everything in cup­ Twenty Five Years of the Dzogchen who complete all three years of the very nice and open local people to frighten you. The first day in Til- boards or iron drawers. They even Community Foundation Course at the Shang - there. They like to drink a lot of ba I was told that early in the morn­ learned to open the basket for A Photo CD Shung Institutes of America or beer, smoke marijuana, listen to ing the shopkeeper found a huge garbage. I heard the possums in the Dear Members and Friends of the Italy. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and python on the shelves. And recently night spitting around the tent, but I World-wide Dzogchen-Communi- This distance learning audio look like them. You see people who somebody put a snake skin into the look like we did in the 70's get out did not dare to go out. Now I regret bed of a young girl and Tuba ty. course is a unique opportunity to of nearly ruined cars and have a it. One night they tried to enter my enjoyed this story for a week. Our Master Chögyal Namkhai study Tibetan Medical theory in beer, but they are normal here, not tent because I had a banana; they The more near we approached Norbu started to turn the wheel of depth. An on-line discussion is outsiders. scratched the tent walls and I the date of the exam, the more Dharma in the west in 1976 - so being organized to function as a clapped hands and shouted around. strange and withdrawn some of use this means twenty-five years ago. study -aid for those who purchase People are wondering about the I liked the birds very much. There behaved. Two days before the exam For the twenty-five years our the course under the guidance of Teacher and the Community. Rin­ are laughing ones, aching ones, there were some construction Master traveled to all the conti­ two practitioners of traditional poche gave a public talk in a full sighing ones, giggling ones and working on the Gonpa and the sun nents, he continuously tried to Asian medicine — Verena Smith hall of Central Tilba to introduce quick ones who nearly touch you. generator was roaring whole day. make us understand the teachings (Chinese Medicine) and Eliot himself and the Community, (see One early morning I sat still tired in No silence under the gazebo, no and practice; in these twenty-five Tokar (Tibetan Medicine), the page 2)He explained that a session under a tree, completely silence in the tent. But sun was out years Rinpoche has visited many, directors of the Shang Shung Insti­ Dzogchen is not a religion, but a distracted in a blank state and a and I decided to go alone to the many different places and given tute in America Tibetan Medical means to discover one's condition small bird rushed toward me and creek to sit on the rocks to study. many, many retreats. Program. and real nature. He spoke about just before the tip of my nose turned Andrea told me, "Make some As a little thank you to Rin­ suffering and tensions and how dif­ off. Hedawa - I awoke. Nature noise, today snakes are around". I poche, and as a record of the devel­ Cost of the Audio Cassettes for ficult but how important it is to comes very near. ended up learning in the cafe in Tu­ opment of the Dzogchen Commu­ Years 1 and 2: relax. People listened with atten­ ba. The last day before the exam I nities, the Shang-Shung Institute $800 each or $1200 for both years tion and in silence. Rinpoche said There are all kinds of huge wanted to go over it again. But the Austria - in collaboration with the Credit card installment or full pay­ that maybe people wonder what is insects, you need cold blood in day turned out quite differently. We Shang-Shung Institutes of Italy and ments accepted (Master Card & going on on the mountain up there, Australia. I used to examine my went with Rinpoche to the ocean. USA - is going to start a new pro­ Visa) what this strange group is doing place under the tree: no blood suck­ Clear water, blue light and power­ ject: For further information and a com­ there. Also in other parts of the ers, no huge insects, no huge ful waves. We enjoyed swimming plete prospectus on the curriculum world people had kept distance aunts...ok. But later I was told that in the Mystery Bay. Then we had Twenty-five Years of the interna­ for each year, please contact: when the Dzogchen community in the hole of a tree lives a poiso­ mango ice cream. Then we went to tional Dzogchen-Commiinity, Shang -Shung Institute at: was beginning, but after some time nous snake. They call it Monica. the Casino - a big hall with a bar A Photo CD [email protected] or the Community was welcomed and I was happy in a way that we and blinking and beeping We want to collect the many leave a message at 413-369-4928 accepted. He invited the local peo­ had the rainy season: the snakes machines. Rinpoche was in his wonderful photos which were tak­ or visit our web site at: ple to come to the land for a tea. and spiders don't come out. The continued on pese IS en through all these years and want www.shangshung.org It was so nice to arrive at the to make a very nice CD. land of Namgyalgar. Tibetan flags. Clouds, continued from page II We would like to ask every­ Huge Ah. I felt like I was coming New body to collaborate in this project. home. Family. Namgyalgar is at the >'WlSDOM had taught us in the Christmas Please send us your best photos of feet of Gulaga Mountain, a sacred retreat, relaxation with awareness MIPHAM'S Rinpoche and his family, of the place for the Aboriginals. Rinpoche is the most important thing. At that BEACON OF CERTMNTY Community, and of beautiful and a leader of a local tribe, became moment it was the only thing. Illuminating the I 'ieif of places or pilgrimages you have friends and they respect our Master THE FORMAL TEACHINGS Dzogchen, the Oreat Perfection done with Rinpoche. and the Community. Rinpoche's As wonderful as the pre-retreat Studies in Indian Please add your name, the house is on the hill overlooking the and Tibetan Buddhism Series time with Rinpoche was. the retreat name of the place and the date (or land with view to the ocean. There itself was even more amazing, with John W. Pettit the year) when the photo was tak­ is a strong energy on the land. Rinpoche's newly published book. 608 pp. 0-86171-157-2. 6 » 9. Pacer S2SSS en. Being there is Kriya Tantra: you get Direct Introduction to the State of Please send the photos either the stream of empowering energy. "John Perm s masterful introduction Atiyoga as the core of the teach­ and translation bring*. [Mphfliri by mail or via computer as .jpg or Kriya. Ubaya. Yoga Tantra. Maha. ings. As it says in the preface, 'it is öcj,vn of Certainty] lo VVesterr. re-Jcr> .gif format. Anu. Ati Yoga -1 was repeating my an extraordinary Upadesha or for the tirsr unie. This is a riwone. -aid We will try to do our best to get studies every day. wonderful work... Both readable and essential teaching concerning how- inrbrmatisr. Perm's "Moris gives the this fine quality CD ready by 2001, to find oneself in the authentic state A camping site under big euca­ reader a real education in some oí* the and we are sure that with your col­ of Atiyoga or Dzogpa Chenpo'. We lyptus trees. The Gonpa still under most compcfliag* issues ot Buddhism, laboration we will get a nice result espcciaity du :r r: on D-rc-ecfietv* were very fortunate to receive these construction, but protected from which we can present to our Mas­ —Amte Kiein, Xkr I nmrstft precious teachings from our pre­ the wind by plastic covers. Entering ter. cious Master. And in spite of the the Mandala was coming home "It is my earnest hope that John Pettit s translation wiH bnnç. it* rot c*ene!ìt tt> We thank you for your collabo­ again. The famous Namgyalgar forcig« s cu dent* and schahn. in the study oí" both r*iik--«.o-r^ and ji^ediuno« fact that Rinpoche had blessed us practice. Th» » J valuable woric indeed.* — /Vwor ¡tfwpocbt ration and send you many tashi with his presence over such a long office; I imagined it as big and with delegs, period of time, it seemed to pass so high standard electronic equipment To order, call 800-272-4050 quickly, like clouds in the autumn and several workers because every Read excerpts at www.wisdompubs.org Oliver F. Leick sky. time I phoned from Gemiany Shang-Shung Institute, Austria For a tree 1999-2ÜO0 catalog, write to somebody else was at the phone. In Wisdom PuML-ain-it» Gschmaier 139 fact, it is a notebook and a phone PW Elm Street, «MIRI "T9 A-8265 Gr.Stcinbach, Austria SomerviUe. M.\ 021-14 Tel. : +43-3386-8571 or Mobile: under a provisional wooden roof +43-676-3221365 beside the kitchen hut and when the Fax:+43-3386-23371 phone rings someone of the kitchen WISDOM PUBLICATIONS Email: [email protected] crew answers. But everything goes PUBLISHER. OF BUDDHIST BOCKS

Trlf MIRKOS Wo J i SB 2000 15 INTERNATIONAL gry fish and madly tried to swim mountains and sea. The retreat was The Swiss Community News COMMUNITY NEWS away. I must say it was a pretty held not far from there in a small Geneva entertaining spectacle. Rinpoche yurtlike structure in the forest. A Three Vajra Dance Course with Retreat in New Caledonia There were Margit Martinu with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu about fifty people at the 22nd - 24th September, 2000 Merci beaucoup! teachings. Most were Vajra Dance Practice French New Caledo­ by Naomi Zeitz 17th-18th of June, 2000 nians, or of European Information and registration here is New Caledonia," you might ask? descent. There was one contact: So did three of us from the band of four Kanak woman there as W Monique Leguen deemed the "Four Australians" by the people a representative. Her Email: leguen@ infomaniak.cn attending the retreat, not one of us a native Aus­ name is Marie Rose and Tel: 41 22797 37 21 tralian, and only one by naturalization from in the days to come we France, who embarked on a twelve day journey had good contact with to a South Pacific island paradise where we were her. All the people at the New G aky i l s pleasantly surprised by what we found. retreat enjoyed getting What we found was a small French island ter­ to know each other, and Dzogchen Community in Vien­ ritory in the South Pacific about two hours from Sydney by plane, hot and also liked to talk and sing to the fish since it was such an intimate group na, Austria: moist and full of luscious Polynesian (Kanak)people slowly sauntering underwater and said, "Look, they it made it simpler to do. The people Blue: Irmgard Gelter through the heat and greeting us with great gentleness and warmth. We are listening to me", in the muffled hosting the retreat were open and Red: Petra Seibert found blue sea and green lush vegetation. We also found the L'Auberge de voice of his snorkel equipment, so I gracious and many people attend­ Yellow: Peter Sochor la Jeunesse, or Youth Hotel, which was also a bit of an irony, since not one looked and it seemed as if they ing the retreat seemed very interest­ The e-mail address is of us was under 35 and three of us a good deal more. were. Tsewang had a frightening ed to seriously pursue the teach­ [email protected] We had come to New Caledonia to participate in 3 day teaching retreat experience as he called us all over ings. They are already forming a which Chögyal Namkhai Norbu was giving, along with some introductory to a new snorkeling territory with Gakyil! Margarita Island watch Dzogchen Community of Santa courses in Yantra Yoga given by Fabio Andrico and The Dance of the Three new fish and sea life and then dis­ out! Fe, New Mexico, USA Vajras by Adriana dal'Borgo that extended it to 5 days. We arrived in covered there was large poisonous Rinpoche gave very clear and Blue: Noumea, the capital city of New Caledonia, by AOM airlines, which we felt snake down there and he had heard concise introductory teachings of Lidian King, President was an auspicious beginning to our trip from Sydney. By the time we left about these poisonous water snakes Dzogchen. The retreatants were Josefa Candelaria, Secretary Sydney, late autumn was beginning and tem­ so he started very intent on learning and also Red: peratures dropping a bit (still very mild for some muffled understanding the practices and Denise Coady someone for the Northeast of the States), so yelling from mudras. We had a final Ganapuja Ellen Halbert we were happy to land in a much warmer cli­ his snorkeled on Saturday night; the teaching Yellow: mate and looked forward to some time to mouth and retreat ended Sunday. For three Susie Marlow, Treasurer heat up the bones. told us all to more days in another location Susan Harris, Vice President The "four Australians" consisted of: turn around courses of Yantra Yoga and the Om Marcel, the French now Australian who was and go back, Ah Hum Dance continued. These Namgyalgar Gakyil, returning to New Caledonia after thirty-six danger!, then courses were well attended. he panicked Australia years. He had served in the French military The New Caledonians took and just at the Blue: there as a young man and had also taught for good care of us and showed us moment he Jan Cornali ( President) some time there, so the trip for him was one many wonderful sites, from the thought was Soraya Kassim filled with memories and nostalgia. There Mountain of Gold for an abundant his last, he put Ellee Loudon was also Griselda from Argentina and picnic, to a late night in a remote down his feet Red: Marzia, Italian, and myself, American. We Kanak sacred site drinking Kava and realized Malcolm Smith arrived a few days early to acclimate to our which is a sacred root beverage MSPiNELu he could Tony Laurent new surroundings and make some contact drink originally from Fiji drunk in touch the bottom. He was a bit trau­ Leanne Williams with the people interested in the teachings. one gulp that makes your lips numb matized and valiantly returned to Yellow: Our accommodations at the youth hotel were very comfortable and we and relaxes you and then you sit the sea, but never again with the Tony Mugg ( Treasurer) were atop the city with a postcard view of Noumea and the port. We had around the fire and have quiet inte­ same carefree pleasure. Mark Fulton easy access to transportation and the center of the town. gration with the fire and your com­ Vito Arena ( Vice-President) On our second day in Noumea I was hunting for a internet access and The fish were truly spectacular; panions, to the Kanak Center which we discovered the public library had it for free, so we got on the local bus rainbow colors, red, electric blue is a very unique architectural Secretary: Vicki Forscutt and went over. Everything is pretty simple and easy going on this island and yellow, tiger stripes, with won­ design and houses a museum with Gekos: Jonathon Schaeffer paradise, small and easy to maneuver and all the people pretty easy going derful formations and tails and fins elegant artwork and information Public Officer: Jenny O'Donnell and helpful. Luckily we had two French translators, as English is not a pop­ gliding around in this very protect­ about the Kanak culture, including ular language on the island (where in any French speaking place is it?). ed dimension. Also, they had the examples of their original homes Kunsangar, Russia After checking in on-line, we meandered (mostly one meanders in such a added good fortune of contact with and boats, etc., and the last night Yellow: warm place) over to the postcard stand, and while there out of the comer of Rinpoche, so obviously these after the full moon Ganapuja we Ann Rudneva - my eye I spotted Fabio. At first I thought maybe it was a mirage, but a sec­ beings had created some good kar­ were swept off to a local piano bar [email protected] ond look proved me wrong. ma for themselves. where our new found friend Galina Oranskaya - [email protected] We happily walked over to the car where we were enthusiastically After swimming we had a bar­ Michele played saxophone in a jazz Red: greeted by Rinpoche who was sitting with Marie, the hostess cum chauf­ becue. Then while waiting for the quartet. Sergey Rounov - feur, Tsewang, and Adriana. Rinpoche was very happy about an excursion taxi boat, Rinpoche pulled out his The morning we left, Marie [email protected] - President to Duck Island (Isle de Canard), a protected fish reserve, where he had been flute and he and Tsewang played Rose and another new friend Ferdi­ Ludmila Kislichenko - snorkeling and feeding bread to the fish. He said he had never seen such and sang some Tibetan tunes. I nand, the chief of the chiefs of the [email protected] beautiful fish or such variety and he had fed them bread and they were very think at that moment we all felt we Kanak people, beseeched us to stop Blue: friendly and relaxed fish and that they would eat out of your hand. He invit­ could spend our lives there on this by a shop on our way to the airport Gregory Mokhin - ed us to meet them the next day to join them on the island, and to "bring simple warm island with our great to select a traditional Kanak dress [email protected] bread!". Master playing his flute. But there and have flowers put in our hair Alan Nosenkis - The next day we awoke early and prepared with our plastic bag full of was a retreat to attend to and trans­ (except for Marcel) - this was a gift [email protected] bread and swimming togs to take the number 6 bus, accompanied by a rain­ mission to be given to the fifty or so from them and would guarantee our Vladimir Maikov - [email protected] bow, to the taxi ferry to Duck Island. After a little while on the island by our­ New Caledonians awaiting his return. I don't think there is any selves, Rinpoche and group arrived. We settled into his spot under the trees teaching, so we returned from the worry about our desire to return, Secretary: Malvina Pokachalova and put on our gear and went in the water. Snorkeling with Rinpoche is a Island. only it is matter of time and circum­ pretty magical experience. We fed the fish and they did eat from hands and The teachings were held away stance. Our journey to the once Venezuela sometimes bit fingers and even Rinpoche's ears. On a subsequent outing from the coast very high up in the unknown-to-us New Caledonia Blue: Hugo Groening, Ariane Fabio enjoyed throwing bread from the shore into the water near to the per­ mountains. It was a very moist and proved to be a most rewarding and Groening, John Nott son of his choice to encourage large quantities of fish in one area to have a verdant surrounding. We stayed at a special journey !!! Red: Delma Miralies, Manuel feeding frenzy and then watch the person in the middle of the frenzy scream small hotel for those few days high Barreto and shout with dismay as they felt they would also be consumed by the hun- up with a stunning view of the Yellow: Maribel Críales (Secre­ PASSAGES tary), Ingrid Beriet, Hector Veloso President: Iris Hoogesteijn BIRTHS Bom to Damien and Andrea Schwartz of Massachusetts, USA, Ayana Sofia on tax day, April 15th, at 6:22 am. Her Germany name means eternally blossoming (Ayana) and wisdom (Sofia). Yellow : Gerd Bramkamp-Mantey Bom to Catharine Simmonds and Bruno limici in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, May 21st, at 10 am, was Luca Helmut Smrcek (new director) Norbu, a little boy. Samya Röder-Debus Red: Bom to Lindy Pulsford and Tenzin Yeshe, Kunzang Yeshe, a little girl, on April 4th, 2000, in Adelaide, Australia. Heike Engerer Ilka Müller-Mennrich DEATHS SaadetArslan Died: Maria Amelia Torralba, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, died at the age of 52 years old on Easter Sunday, May 7th, Blue: . 2000, at 5:45 pm. She was a journalist and painter, and met Rinpoche four years ago at the Christmas retreat at Alexia Meyer-Kahlen Tashigar. She followed the teachings until she passed away. She worked hard as a blue Gakyil member doing the bul­ Karin Heinemann (vice director) letin and making the posters for the 1998 retreat. She was a lovely, friendly and very warm woman. In her last days she Pascal Schedler was in contact with Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and was doing the practice which he suggested for her. Her loss is very sad for our Community and especially for the people who were close to her. We will never forget her smile. Mariquita Garcia Ruvira

¡6 Jim Valby Leads Santi Maha I I I [ II u i i i i i Kalachakra in Austria NEWS COMMUNITY Sangha Base Programs October llth-23rd, 2002 2000 Plans for Accomodations for the Dzogchen Community The Garland of Lotus Flowers - Kumar K umari - Tsegyalgar Dear friends, Yantra Yoga for Children July 29th-August 6th by Constance Soehnlen As you already know, H.H. XIV Dalai Lama will confer the Ukraine Kalachakra Initiation in 2002 in Graz, Austria, and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu is planning to take part. Some time ago, Fabio Andrico suggested ome years ago (can it be four to five years ago?), a summer course was September 17th - September 28th that I could look for a house or for a common accommodation for the Sheld in Merigar introducing Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's Kumar Translatation into Russian by Igor members of the worldwide Dzogchen Community. Kumari Yantra - Yantra Yoga for boys and girls. Cristiana De Falco demon­ Berkhin Today I inquired about the possibilities and the situation is as follows: strated all the movements and explained the individual benefits of each of it is possible that we rent a house with about fifty beds (double-bed with the fifteen exercises. I attended the weekend sessions along with a group of Poland shower), and we could also rent more houses. In order to make a reserva­ fifteen to twenty adults and parents from Italy, Europe and the USA. I October 2nd - October 13th tion we would need to know the planned arriving day or the planned dura remember a few children there as well that joined in and tried out many of Translation into Polish by Adam tion of the staying and of course the number of people who are interested the movements. Was to stay in such a house for the Community. The minimum price per person With Rinpoche's advice that it would be a good thing to do, notes from Latvia and per day will be about Austrian Shilling 300.- (US$ 22.-). We are still the session, and the booklet Kumar Kumari Yantra, I began to teach chil­ October 18th - October 29th working on the possibility for staying in a kind of dormitory, which might dren three years ago. Offered as an after school activity once a week at an Translation into Russian by Igor be cheaper. There are also still a few beds in the youth hostel available - international school in Rome, children can follow from September to Janu­ Berkhin that is also not too expensive. If one wishes to stay in a better place (3,4 or ary, and then can continue with other children who start out new from Feb­ 5 star hotels) there are still many possibilities, just the cheaper places are ruary to June. rare. In 2002 it will be quite tough with the accommodation, the earlier we I can only say that the experience has been fun and beneficial for the Dear Vajra Family, make a reservation the better it might be. children and me as well. Teaching children of different ages - the group is The Gakyil of Dzogchen Commu Please let me know about your ideas, I will try to help to arrange always of mixed ages - has been enjoyable, interesting and challenging. nity of Latvia is very happy to things here in Graz. Sometimes though it's hard for them to link the breathing/sounds with the announce that for the first time in Best wishes for the moment, movements. Latvia the SMS Base Level Prac­ Oliver F. Leick In adult Yantra Yoga, one breathes in and out through the nose. In tice Retreat with Jim Valby will Dzogchen Community of Styria, Austria Kumar Kumari, the children link breathing to sounds/ mantra that include take place. The retreat is restricted E-Mail: [email protected] the 6 syllables 'A, A, HA, XA, SA, MA, the three syllables, OM, A (A with to those practitioners who have Homepage: www.cadmasters.at/dzogchen long sound), HUM and the syllable HAM. Linking the breathing in and out, received transmission from Chö gyal Namkhai Norbu and are seri with these particular sounds produce a certain inhalation and exhalation. An KunsangarNews ously interested in Santi Maha example is the HA used in the tsijong movements that produces a quick, Russia Sangha training. It is not neces deep, and a bit ferocious exhalation; the sound A, instead, is calm, slow and 2000-2001 long and so the inhalation would be the same. It is a very good way for chil­ sary, though, that a practitioner has taken SMS level one training. Our dren to become aware of how they breath in and out as they move through Chogyal Namkhai Norbu will give a retreat at Kunsangar from June 15th retreat will take place from the the series of movements in each exercise. As indicated by Rinpoche in the to June 21st, 2001. He will also give three levels of Santi Maha Sangha October 18th to 29th, 2000. We'll introduction of the book Kumar Kumari Yantra, "...to combine the body's exams and trainings, from the Base to the Third Level Training. See the have four Tuns a day. movements with sound helps balance the five elements.This in turn, schedule on page I. strengthens the child's physical condition and guarantees good health." For all needed information you can contact us at: A number of the boys and girls that were seven and eight years old, New Gekoes Natasha Eddy remained for the two years in the group and were often asked to teach the The Kunsangar Gekoes is now Dmitri Miusski from the St. Petersburg D. DudaevaSt. 6-13 younger children for tsijong movements, or lead the purification breath or a Community. He will be a Gekoes till October when a new Gekoes should Riga, Latvia, LV-1084 lungsang, a movement. It's not surprising to find some children extremely be appointed (Gekoes's term in Kunsangar is from October to October). Tel.:(371)767-3486 limber and agile, while others may be less so. Some children spend a lot of Email: [email protected] time in front of television, video games and computers; now add the sitting Medical Course with Dr. Nida Chenagtsang that is done all day in school at desks or tables - it shows on their posture We welcome everybody to participate in Dr. Nida Chenagtsang's courses and energy, sometimes even in their altitude towards physical activity. on Tibetan Medicine ( see below ) to be held from June 14th - 28th, 2000 at Kumar Kumari Yantra becomes all the more beneficial as an activity that Welcome Kunsangar. The courses are: helps a child become aware of his/her growing body and what is a natural Dreams and Medicine - June 14th-18th way to breath and move. to Vladivostok!!! Mantra Healing - June 19th-20th In the half hour to forty minute lesson, there is time to do warm ups, the Massage (KU NYE) first level course - June 23rd-28th. purification breathing, choosing several or all the tsijong movements and The prices are: $50, $50, $200 for Dzogchen Community members and lungsang. It's helpful to show one or two new movements each time, and go $60, $60, $230 for non-members correspondingly. The prices include ever what was learned earlier. This depends, of course, on the differences in lodging, food and the course fee. the group of children. Sometimes the smallest children might want to watch A Dzogchen Upadesha Retreat in Vladivostok (Russia) with while the older children continue with Yantra movements. Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche at Kunsangar Chögyal Namkhai Norbu I've enjoyed the insights and comments that the younger children have From July 1st - 5th, 2000, we expect Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche to give added about yoga. They like using the Tibetan names for each of the move­ teachings at Kunsangar on Mahamudra and Dzogchen. There will be two August 30th - September 3rd, 2000 ments, but also invent their own as a way to remember the movement - So, sessions a day, a morning meditation and evening explanations given by a you might be asked to do the 'one that is like a machine or arrow, or a monk from Chökyi Nyima's monastery on the practice of Trinley Ningpo. The Dzogchen Community Gakyil clock',, or the movement of the snake (cobra), the somersault (plow) or the The teaching prices are $50 for Dzogchen Community members and $60 of Kunsan Ling is delighted to big bird wings (zadul - bungor). Many of the warm ups are remembered as for non-members. In the case of payment prior to June 1 st, the price is the announce to you details of the retreat animal or toy names - the butterfly, stretching like a cat, rolling like a rock­ same for all - $50. Boarding prices are $5 and $8 for six and two persons with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in ing horse, or egg. rooms correspondingly (including food). Vladivostok, Russia: In one of the first lessons with five year old children, a little boy told me Place of retreat: Health camp "Yun he would come only if I would show him tractor yoga. A small girl told me, Yantra Yoga at Kunsangar, 2001 ga" situated at the seashore in the "I know what yoga is here I'll show you"; she sat cross legged on the floor, holiday area of Vladivostok. Dear brothers and sisters! put her hands, palms up on her knees, touched her thumb to the ring finger, It is expected that Rinpoche will stay in Kunsangar from May 24th - June closed her eyes and began making the sound MmmmmmmmmMmmmm- 30th, 2001. Three levels of Santi Maha Sangha exams and trainings and a Cost of retreat: $50 mm. "How do you know what yoga is? ", I asked her. "Oh", she replied, "I general retreat are planned. Accommodation: saw it on TV spots - commercials- there was this guy in a car doing it, and Also, Yantra Yoga teachers training is planned in a 2001 in Kunsangar for Double room in another time a man sitting on a mountain doing that, and then he ate some the people who wish to become the instructors of Yantra and also do more cottage:2x$15=$30 good yogurt." advanced training of Yantra. Four place room in cottage: I enjoyed another comment made by a six year old girl. When working Yantra Yoga teachers training schedule: 4x$8=$32 on the first tsijong - drinpa, we did the movements, sitting up, of opening June 29th-July 5th, 2001 Quantity of place in cottage are the legs and arms, relaxing and then bending the knees and arms close to the The retreat will be led by Laura Evangelisti and Fabio Andrico. limited. body tightly, closing the eyes. I used the words, open and relax, and then There will probably be three two-hour sessions each day. Cheaper accommodation is possi­ close and tense to describe the sequence; "Finally, I know what tense It will be very helpful for the Kunsangar Gakyil to have an estimate of the ble, but it is necessary to have means!", shouted the girl, "That's what I hear adults say each other all the number of participants. To participate in the retreat it is necessary to be sleeping bag. time - you're so tense. Now I know what it means". familiar with the basic course of Yantra Yoga including the Nine Breath­ Cost of meals: about $3 in day Children may have already seen parents and friends do yoga at home. ings, Tsigjong. Eight Movements, Tsandul. two groups of Yantras and One child asked if I knew the 'salute to the sun' and could I show her the related methods of breathings. Application for the retreat should movements. Another insisted on doing the candle, an inverted position, The number of the participants will be limited, and are kindly requested to be sent before August 1st. because her mother does it al home. It was helpful for the child to know that send their applications to my email. Information is subject to change. there arc differences between adult and children's yoga, simply because Best wishes. Email for application and infor­ bodies are different. I explained to her that for a child to hold a position Grisha Mokhin mation: upside down for a long time wasn't good for a child's body that has organs [email protected] that are still growing. So. she would have to wait to do the candle for a [email protected] while, and instead could do a yantra like the plow, that was somewhat New Kunsangar Gonpa needed by 2001 familiar. There are ver)' nice sketches of the Minor Gonpa of Kunsangar prepared I am curious to know if there is anyone else teaching Kumar Kumari REGISTRATION by architects Michael Tcherepanov and PetrGoriashko. which can now be Yoga in Italy, Europe, throughout the world. If you arc a parent doing Yantra Name: viewed on web page http://niir.ru/~dp/gompa/ at home with your child, or like me. have a small group of children for weekly Address: The Gonpa needs to be built by the time of next Rinpoche's visit to Kun­ lessons, perhaps we can write to each oilier and/or plan to go over the move­ Accommdation: sangar in May 2001, when Rinpoche will give three levels of Santi Maha ments together at one of the retreats in Merigar. I can be contacted by post at Email: Sangha. the following address: Via Agostino Magliani 13, Scala C. Int.7,00148 Roma Sponsors are most-most-most welcome! Italia or by fax at Ambril Rome International School. 06 55 95 309. Contact: Grisha Mokhin Many Thanks to Rinpoche for Ibis Garland of Lotus Flower. Kumar [email protected] Kumari Yantra!'

THE MIRROR M AY IJ U N E 2 00 0 17 ItTtlHiTIOtiL Urgent Appeal COMMUNITY NEWS Tsegyalgar's Appeal for the Preservation of the Sacred Buckland Retreat Land A Dzogchen Practice Community in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA by Jacqueline Gens by Lidian King

ver the past few months, Tsegyalgar has undertaken fundraising to he idea of a small community of practitioners living together in mutual cooperation with the intention of raise donations to repair the pond drainage and deterioration of its strengthening their commitment to the Dzogchen Teachings and integrating their practice into daily life took O T dam on the Buckland retreat land maintained by Tsegyalgar. Although this form last fall near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The three+ acre property is owned and maintained by Lidian King. It is primarily the responsibility of the North American Community, it is, to includes a large old and rambling main house "Santa Fe style" with four bedrooms/bathrooms, a separate studio some extent, the international responsibility of all Dzogchen community apartment. Mandala, and also a swimming pool. On the North side we are adjacent to thousands of acres of national practitioners since this is the site where Chogyal Namkhai Norbu first forest. On the East and West we have ordinary neighbors, and on the South the orchard separates the structures from received the terma of the Vajra Dance while conducting a personal retreat the dirt access road, which dead -ends a few hundred yards beyond our driveway. At the end of the road one finds on the land in 1990 and therefore, a sacred site. hiking and horse trails into the near-by mountains. It is definitely a country setting although the city of Santa Fe is Tsegyalgar has to date raised approximately $ 20,000US of the funds just ten minutes away. needed to begin this project. The current estimate for work conducted by The main house living room has been a meeting place for practices of the Dzogchen Community ever since the engineering survey firm hired by the Community is that the repairs Rinpoche gave a large retreat in Santa Fe in 1989. The yurt was added in 1995 especially for the Vajra Dances, will cost closer to $30,OO0US, more than the initial $ 15.000US first antici­ although it is occasionally used for other gatherings. We had a Yantra Yoga retreat in the yurt with Fabio the first pated. summer. Rinpoche himself stayed in the house when he returned to Santa Fe in 1993 to look at some land that had Since the work needs to commence immediately, we are asking for been offered to the New Mexico community. The land offer never materialized. financial support at this time. Repair of this situation is extremely crucial Rinpoche returned to Santa Fe for a short seminar this past August. He responded positively to the idea of such immediately to protect the land itself from damage caused by the flooding a practice community when he came by for a visit. Since our vision for this practice community is connected with and improper drainage of the pond, and the wash out of the already limited the transmission of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, we collaborate with other members of the Dzogchen Community of access road which would result in the halt of all further development on New Mexico in scheduling a monthly calendar for group practices. We are an active local community and meet in the land. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Dzogchen several other members' homes as well. We usually schedule a Ganapuja for the four special days each month, do the Community of America has struggled for years to obtain the proper zoning Vajra Dance at least once a week, as well as an occasional Chöd. Guruyoga of the White A, Liberation of the Six n order to build retreat cabins and put in a leach field for sanitary facilities. Lokas, Shitro, and so forth. Recently a new Base level Santi Maha Sangha study/practice group was formed and we Without the road, any further development would be impossible since a may resume a beginning Tibetan language class later this summer. road is needed for the heavy equipment to dig the leach field for building. During February and March of this year Prima Mai was invited to participate in the new practice community as The permit for this leach field is due to expire this July. a "Vajra Dance teacher in residence". We scheduled the first "extended" dance course (five weeks) yet to be offered Beyond the additional funds of $ 10,0O0US needed to support this pro­ anywhere. We had a large and enthusiastic response, mostly from other communities. We had dance instruction with ject, Tsegyalgar is also requesting the assistance of anyone who is avail­ Prima up to three times a week in the yurt to learn all three dances. Practice and review sessions were held in able to come for a period of time for karma yoga on the land, since the between teaching sessions. Due to the success of the courses, the Santa Fe Community hopes to invite Prima back process of reconstruction of the drainage system requires a lot of manual for an advanced Vajra Dance course in the near future. labor. We are particularly looking for individuals to come for the month of Now that the summer months are here, there is plenty of work to be done outdoors to manage the flower and August when many local Community members will also be dedicating vegetable gardens, mow the lawn, irrigate the orchard, and manage the swimming pool. Since we are in the Sangre their energy to working on the Buckland retreat land. de Cristo mountain range, summers are pleasant and not too hot. Everyone has regular karma yoga jobs inside and outside, based on interests and needs. This summer several teenagers will join us and offer their help in an exchange for use of the retreat hut. During the winters it can be cold and snowy, but rarely do we have days with no sun in Santi Maha Sangha Practice Retreat at Tsegyalgar with Jim Valby northern New Mexico. July 29th-August 6th Although we do not currently have any long-term living space available in the practice community, we have This Santi Maha Sangha intensive practice retreat will practice four tuns one private bedroom/bathroom in the main house that will be available off and on from June until December for per­ daily with explanations on the Mahayana, Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and sonal retreats. The cost is $25 per day or $ 150 per week and includes use of the yurt and Mandala. In the fall we may Atiyoga practices of the Santi Maha Sangha Base according to The Pre­ have another room available for long term living. The rents will be from $525 to $600 per month, and include pri­ cious Vase* vate living space, private bathroom, and shared use of kitchen/dining areas/laundry-utility room. The one -bedroom separate studio apartment is being remodeled and will be available for $1000 per month in November. It is suitable transmission by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche required. for a single person or couple. Since maintenance costs and taxes for this older well-established area are extremely This retreat is by donation and offers dormitory lodging for $10/night with high, we would welcome more participants with general fix-it skills and/or love of outdoor work in the next year. full kitchen facility. Child care and a catered lunch, separate fee. The property is not being run as a "business", but is simply a way to bring in necessary income to meet expenses and Please contact the Gekoes if you want to reserve a space in the dorm at: to offer living possibilities for other practitioners connected with the same transmission. Members of our communi­ 413-369-8073. ty are expected to li ve in peace and harmony with one another and must have serious intent to develop their spiritual Contact: practice. Jobs and mundane necessities are simply integrated as part of everyday living. Tsegyalgar PO Box 277 If you would like to be on a mailing list or would like more information about personal retreats or long-term liv­ Conway, MA01341, USA ing possibilities, please contact: Tel:4133694153 Lidian King Fax: 413 2694165 25 BigTesuque Canyon Email:[email protected] Santa Fe, NM 87501 Simple personal retreat facilities are also available on the Buckland land USA in Rinpoche's cabin as well as in the converted portion of the dark retreat Tel: 505-988-5995 cabin during the summer. Email: [email protected] Shang -Shung Institute A SUMMER GAR July 15th-23rd Summer Institute in Tibetan Art and Language involved, especially for Prima, who AT MARGARITA ISLAND Glen Eddy and Tibetan artists Kelsang Lodo Oshoe will be in residence Vajra Dance in Santa Fe, held the energy and intention of the to offer a program in Tibetan thanka painting and sculpture. Beginning New Mexico, USA group for the entire five weeks, not At the Heart of the Caribbean Sea, and advanced students welcome. Fee: $ 175 for the week by Ellen Haibert just on class days. Venezuela Jim Valby will conduct his Tibetan Reading and Translation course for For some participants, this which over the years he has developed a unique entree into learning how nPwice a week for five weeks, course was a first experience of the new Gar is to be bom in Mar­ to read original Tibetan texts for practitioners interested in connecting X twenty-three dancers con­ dances, so learning the entire Agarita island, in the Caribbean with these primary sources. Utilizing recent computer dictionaries, begin­ vened in Lidian King's yurt outside Dance of the Vajra seemed a daunt­ sea in Venezuela. A beautiful land ners will be introduced to working with the Wylie transliteration format. Santa Fe, NM for an extraordinary ing and at times frustrating task. has been chosen after almost a year Jim will also work with more advanced individuals in the evenings. Vajra Dance course with Prima The more experienced practitioners of searching, finding, discarding, Fee: $ 175 for the week Mai. Prima said she has never were quite helpful, pointing out searching and finding again,, until before taught a course with such an errors and refreshing our memories finally, during a retreat held in the July 22nd-23rd Tibetan and Family Weekend. extended schedule or with so many when overtaxed brains suddenly island last February, and with the Shang-Shung Institute open house and Tibetan fair with music by Chak- participants, and initially had some gave out. As the weeks passed, our energy of many practitioners from sampa workshops in music and art for children. concerns about how well it would confidence and commitment grew, different countries that went to Free work. But at the final practice and and we became aware of the power Margarita, the land was found and of the practice and of Rinpoche's Ganapuja on March 10th, everyone approved by Rinpoche and Rosa; Contact: transmission. Several participants agreed it was a great success. also with the great help of Anna Shang-Shung Institute reported having dreams of the While most participants came Eid, who acted as their messenger PO Box 277 Dance and of Rinpoche, and all felt, from surrounding areas in New during that trip. Conway, MA01341, USA to some degree, the transformative Mexico, a few came from Califor­ Now each and all of us have the Tel: 413 369 4928 effects of the dance mandala. nia and the East coast, and some opportunity to participate in this Fax: 413 3694165 New Mexicans drove as much as Since the end of the course, beautiful project of building the Email: ssi/[email protected] three hours each way to attend the attendance at the usual Sunday first Summer Gar. There are many classes. The evening and weekend dance practice in Lidian's yurt has ways to participate and to give your the Gar, with its Gompa and other garita Island, please contact us at: class times accommodated partici­ swelled, and at times it has been contribution, such as : facilities. [email protected]. ve pants' work schedules and allowed necessary to do two Tuns in order 1 - Being able to afford to buy a 3- To contribute with any offer­ more people to attend than other­ to accommodate everyone. Luckily lot, will give you the right to live ing to build Rinpoche and Rosa's All our love, wise could. As originally planned, there are now two Mándalas in and have a house right where Rin­ house, making quite clear that they Gilberto Parrel la and the five weeks was devoted to the Santa Fe and another planned in poche and Rosa will build are not at all asking for it. It is just a Monika Klietmann entire Dance of the Vajra, but upon nearby Albuquerque. So, we hope theirs.You can have a place to grow chance for us to participate in such request, Prima added an optional to have many opportunities to older, retire and above all, share a way, directly "offering" to our To download photos of the land and course on alternate days to teach deepen our practice as we eagerly those months that Rinpoche will beloved Maestro. What else we as Margarita Island go to: the Dance of the Six Lokas and the prepare for Prima's return next year spend enjoying in the Pearl of the disciples can have!!! http://people.a2000.nl/ajehee/ Dance of the Three Vajras. This for an advanced course. Caribbean, Margarita Island. Please if any of you want to was quite intense for everyone 2- To contribute with any know more about Tashigar Del amount you can afford to develop Nord, The Summer Gar Of Mar­

18 REFLECTIONS • field of the tambura. Notwithstand­ Film Review, continuedfrom page 6 merit. The captive birds are an out" of the prison anytime, because ing the great support the tambura meanders along at the leisurely image for the two young American freedom is located inside her heart provides to a musician, it is possi­ tourists who are shut up in Thai and mind. The Tamburi.: pace of an Ozu movie or a French ble for Indian musicians to sing or women's prison on trumped-up The prison is shown to be a The Melodic Mirror art house film, so don't expect 'The play tunefully without the support Cup' to appeal to mass audiences. drug charges. To liberate them harsh place, but at times it also by Steve Landsberg of the tambura. By tuning into the But those with a karmic soft spot would be to gain merit. But what is seems like a monastery. The he tambura is more than just a anahata (unstruck) quality of the for Tibet will find the movie inter­ liberation? The freedom of being novices (awaiting trial) wear brown Tfour-stringed instrument pro­ tonic, the musician becomes his esting. To compensate for the thin outside of the prison walls, or the robes, the convicts wear red. Very viding the sonorous drone and the own silent drone; and as he begins plot, Khyentse Rinpoche provides a freedom of being within them. subtly the filmmaker introduces basic environment in which the to vibrate with the tonic, his tuneful number of comical sketches in images of cleansing through the music enfolds. The tambura is the At first glance, 'Brokedown precision arises. This is obviously which he pokes fun at Indian mer­ daily routines - the communal acoustic potential for the whole Palace' looks like one more in a more difficult as there is no exter­ chants and taxicab drivers, Tibetans washing of the dishes, a prisoner harmonic series; and, as such, rep­ genre of films such as 'Midnight nal support for the tuning. who only bathe once a year, and hosing down the pavement, prison­ resents the cosmic potential for all Express' (1978) and 'Not Without Americans who beef up their bod­ ers raking the sand symmetrically apparent phenomena. Although the The tambura. as a plucked My Daughter' (1991) - cautionary ies with silicone, but lack muscle in the style of a Zen monastery gar­ tambura is tuned with three strings instrument, is the acoustical tales about innocent Americans when it comes international affairs. den. These external images of tuned to the tonic (in Indian music metaphor for all unstuck sound. It ensnared in corrupt third-world hell Only the French are spared from purification mirror Alice's internal we call this tonic Sa or shadja) and represents the empty side of clarity holes. That genre is disdainful of being skewered by Khyentse's process. Like someone on a pro­ one string to the fourth or fifth, we and the potential for all apparent foreign countries with their pre­ satire. longed retreat, Alice's avenues of can find all twelve notes in the har­ phenomena. It is the feminine sumed "inferior" way of life. Ini­ escape begin to collapse bringing mony that is created by the four space to be filled by the masculine Despite its minor weaknesses, tially the characters in 'Brokedown her to a spiritual crisis. She must strings vibrating simultaneously. skillfulness of melodic form. 'The Cup' is quite a respectable Palace' exemplify this attitude. The pass through the eye of the needle This acoustical phenomena occurs When a musician plays or sings first movie, especially considering father of one of the captive girls and face what she most fears. As a because the harmonic series is acti­ along with the balanced stroking of it was produced on a shoestring tells a government official, "I don't result of this Alice is empowered to vated through a process called the tambura, it is not the case that budget by a director with no formal give a damn if this country drowns do the right thing: "more right than jawari or cyclical wave formation he hears two different sounds the film school training. But, as one in heroin," he just wants his "little anything I've ever done before," as in which the bridge upon which the droned tonic of the tambura and the critic mentioned, a documentary girl" released. she puts it. strings are resting is filed into a par­ sound of his voice or instrument. about the making of 'The Cup' Alice (Claire Danes) rages as ticular curve. When this process is He plays and at the same moment could be an even more intriguing she is led to prison, calling Thai­ More than this, I won't tell. completed properly, the notes are releases the melodic configuration follow-up. land a "shit-hole country" and her You'll have to see the movie your­ no longer just blunt tones but rather into the field of the tambura. The 'Brokedown Palace', recently trial "a third-world joke." But her self. rich tonal landscapes with a precise artist blends with the space filled by released on video and DVD, is lawyer (Bill Pulman) tells her by Paul Bail sharp center and expanding periph­ the cyclical expansion and contrac­ about the spiritual resources it takes "Thailand is your country now" ery. tion of the tambura and allows the to survive. How does an innocent and things are not going to go any tonal centers of his melody to person survive in prison? I once better for her if she keeps" pissing Like a mirror, the tambura has spread into that edgeless expanse. heard a talk by a respected tulku on it." In the Thai justice system all the capacity to reflect whatever is When he does this without con­ who had been imprisoned for thirty of her is on trial. Even seemingly sung or played over it. For example ceptualizing either the sound of his years in a labor camp. He was such trivial character flaws contribute to if you sing a note along with the creation or that of the tambura, a loving, smiling, playful person, at her imprisonment, but conversely a tambura other than the notes that there is a moment when the divi­ peace with himself; it was difficult display of strong character can are part of the tambura, you can sion between singer, song, and the to imagine that he had been through help reverse the situation. hear the tambura mirror that sound act of singing dissolves. The artist, such a protracted trauma. and sing it back to you. The tonic in Alice eventually learns the lan­ THE MIRROR fabricator of forms, suddenly Someone asked the tulku about guage of the country - not only the this instrument has the capacity to NEWSPAPER OF THE jumps the hoop of time and space his prison experience. He said it spoken language, but a deeper "lan­ appear in the form of whatever you INTERNATIONAL DZOGCHEN and enters the dimension where place before it. It is as if you took a was hard, and sometimes one could guage," which turns out not to be a pure sound becomes a vehicle to COMMUNITY piece of clear glass and put it on top feel like committing suicide. But foreign language after all, but the super sensory cognition and aware­ of a blue cloth. The glass does not there were other high lamas in the language of her own heart. The founded by ness. Although conventionally we become blue, but it appears blue. In camp with him, and he received deepest truths of the existence-a Chögyal Namkhai Norbu say that the singer is singing a song, this way the tambura is an acousti­ many teachings from them about sense of karmic responsibility, the in this case it is as if the song is cal symbol of total integration. karma. This is what helped him, he value of a loving heart, insight into Main Office: singing the singer. When tuned properly, the tambura said. the illusion of self-centeredness- PO Box 277 is a clear support for the vocalist or 'Brokedown Palace' is about these are not exclusively Buddhist Conway, Massachusetts 01341 instrumentalist. He listens to the Steve Landsberg, from Santa Fe, surviving in prison. On the surface concepts. But for some people U.S.A. Tel 413-369-4208 and tonic note of the tambura, inte­ New Mexico, is a long time student the film has nothing to do with there is a quickening in their under­ FAX 413-369-4165 grates with it, and adjusts his swara of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and a Dharma. It is about two young standing of these truths through the Email: NaomiMirror@ performer of Indian classical American women with a strong presence of Buddha's compassion­ (a sanskrit word for tonality or compuserve.com pitch means "self-shining", and lit­ music. He has spent many years in pre-existing karmic bond; they ate gaze. erally suggests the idea that a pure India researching and playing both crawled out of their backyards in Though it is never stated European Office: note can stand alone without any sitar and surbahar. His webpage early childhood to meet each other. explicitly, Alice seems to be such a The Mirror Merigar. 58031 support), so that each note finds a address is www.ragascape.com Through their own naivete and a person. In the beginning of the Arcidosso GR Italy perfect resonance in the vibrational series of secondary causes, they are movie Alice states she is looking Tel and Fax 0564-966608 unjustly framed for drug smuggling for freedom. A seemingly chance Email: LizMirror@ compuserve.com and jailed in Thailand. encounter sends her and her friend 21 st Century Bodhisattva Activity ble display of bodhisattva expres­ Email: [email protected] The centerpiece of 'Broke­ Darlene to Thailand, and a karmic by Elad Ophir sion/activity in the living example down Palace' is a compelling per­ chain reaction sends them to prison. EDITORIAL STAFF of the 19th century master who rec­ formance by Claire Danes. But the Beginning to see through the sur­ Naomi Zeitz, Tsegyalgar "Mama Kolin Samantha..." Fol­ ognized Paltrul Rinpoche as the story is given added depth by very face of things, Alice muses bitterly Liz Granger, UK lowing the dedication of merit there Tulku of Paige Lama of Dzogchen subtle and skillful allusions to on how everything is "rigged," Tiziana Gottardi, Merigar was a long silence in the hall at the Monastery: Dola Jigme Kalzang, Dharma. As in 'Beyond Rangoon' even the birds in the market place end of the second day's teaching of whose root gum was Jigme Ling- LITERARY EDITOR (1995), the film's setting is steeped whose freedom you purchase, are the August '99 New Mexico, USA pa's magnificent disciple, the first John Shane in a Buddhist presence. Orange trained to fly right back to their Dzogchen retreat given by our pre­ Dodrupchen Rinpoche. cages. Freedom is an illusion, she clad monks walk through the ADVISORS cious Lama Chögyal Namkhai A quotation from Tulku Thon- streets, Buddha images are encoun­ concludes, meaning that the sam- Anna Eid Norbu Rinpoche. drup's book, Masters of Lineage: tered everywhere, and in the mar­ saric notion of self-centered free­ Des Barry Rinpoche allowed the silence "At the end of his life, when he was ketplace devotees buy captive birds dom is illusory. A Jamaican fellow Barbara Paparazzo to continue, visually surveying us walking alone on a street n a town and liberate them in order to gain prisoner tells Alice she can "check Jim Valby all with a faint smile. After a long in China, he saw a thief about to be Adriano Clemente pause he asked in a laughing chuck­ executed by being burned upon a TIBETAN TUKPA Add the onions, garlic, ginger and le: "What to do now?" Few people copper horse that was heated by fire in a style favored by spices. Simmer for about an hour. DESIGN AND PRODUCTION N. Zeitz laughed with him. This amusing from within. The thief was scream­ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Meanwhile make the dumplings Ingredients by making a stiff dough with the flour question, a symbolic teaching/trans­ ing for help. Feeling great compas­ 3-4 marrow bones water and a little oil and kneading it ILLUSTRATION mission was/is pregnant with mean­ sion, Dola Jigme Kalzang told the 11/2 lbs of meat (beef lamb or a for several minutes until smooth. Glen Eddy ing. In a state of contemplation like authorities that the prisoner was not mixture) Break off a hunk and form a long thin the end of a dedication, what IS one guilty and that he himself was the 1 onion chopped "snake". Then break of small pieces PRINTERS of the snake and press the piece into to do afterwards what with an actual thief. When his disciples 3-4 cloves of garlic chopped Turley Publishers your palm with your thumb while 1 bunch of fresh cilantro Palmer. MA awareness of infinite potentiality? found him, it was too late. He 1 inch of ginger chopped drawing your thumb across your Well, ha ha, don't expect an answer underwent the execution in the palm a little, thus forming a little spices (can include: coriander, DISTRIBUTION cumin, a couple of cloves, car shell-shaped dumpling. from me... since it implies no less thief's place. Thus he ended his life Tsegyalgar at than the freedom of the Great Self- displaying the real practice of a damom, black pepper corns) When the broth is done remove daikon radish quartered and sliced the meat and cut it up into very small Conway, Massachusetts Liberation. bodhisattva by giving his life to leafy greens (could be: broccoli rabe, pieces. Discard the bunch of cilantro. However we do know from all ransom the life of an unknown suf­ dandelion, bok choy, mustard Add the greens, daikon and the SUBSCRIPTION RATE/6 ISSUES $35 available through Tsegyalgar of Rinpoche's teachings and scrip­ fering person in an unknown- greens) chopped small dumplings (if you use the noodles add them at the end). If you use bar­ 55.000 It. lire through Merigar tures regarding Ati Yoga and street." dumplings (or can use thin rice or bean curd noodles or barley) ley you need to cook it for about an Mahayana, what our commitment Naturally, nobody expects such whole wheat flour hour). Simmer for another hour. Add All material ©1998 by The Mirror. is to: Bodhisattvahood and Bod­ a supreme sacrifice slightest aware­ a little olive oil the cut up meat. Reprint by permission only. We reserve the right to edit hisattva Activity. ness/consideration of others, even water Ladle into bowls and season to all submissions. We students of the Tataghata common civility is lacking... tamari your taste with tamari and chili sauce. hot chili sauce Enjoy the marrow and bits of meat Buddha Shakyamuni can look up to In a big pot place the bones and clinging to the bones. our own illustrious lineage for a the meat in cold water. Bring to a boil Tashi Deleg!!! magnificent, yet immensely hum- and skim off the froth when it forms. by Paula Bany

THE MIRROR MAY/JUNE 2000 19 INTERNATIONAL GAKYIL NEWS

To the Blue Gakyils of the ments considering the tax The International Gakyil Meeting Dzogchen Community (deductible) status, in general: Merigar, July 24th - 25th, 2000 whatever contract has been closed), he International Gakyil recent­ 10:15 -10:25: by Loek Jehee (Yel­ Purpose Statement of the Registration of Activities as soon as possible. ly discussed ways to improve low IG member) International Gakyil: The YIG wishes to obtain a T the participation and active 10:25 - 10:35:by Karin Eisenegger The International Gakyil asks the complete and detailed overview of involvement of all practitioners in (Blue IG member) t is important that The Dzogchen Blue Gakyils kindly to keep an the legal form that the various its work and - at the same time - to 10:35 - 10:45: by Fabio Andrico Community become aware that updated registry of all Chögyal groups in our Community have I make clear to everybody which are (Red IG member) it is no longer possible to leave all Namkhai Norbu's teachings, public chosen to structure their activities. our intentions with the IG. The out­ 10:45 - 11:15: Questions and responsibility for the continuation talks, seminars, etc., that took place It is crucial for the YIG to obtain come of this discussion was an idea answers of the Community's work to Chö­ at your location: date, place, topic, this documentation on the legal (and to organize a two-day IG meeting at gyal Namkhai Norbu alone. As etc. The same counts also for the tax) status of all individual parts of 11:15 - 11:30: Formation of the end of the coming Merigar Chögyal Namkhai Norbu himself Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance semi­ our Community now, in view of: small discussion groups Summer Retreat. stated several times, as practition­ nars. Of these events also the flyers, its work to try to create a global 11:30 -12:15: Discussion in small ers of Dzogchen we all are person­ posters, advertisements etc., should fundraising structure for the benefit This IG meeting will have the groups on the proposed themes ally responsible for the preserva­ be archived and kept for future of the teachings and the Dzogchen style of a work conference for 12:15 -12:45: Report of results of tion of the teachings, whether we review. It is important to start col­ Community; its work to try to pre­ Gakyil members and persons who discussion groups in general meet­ are older or newer practitioners, lecting this information and materi­ serve the material (and intellectual) have an active (responsible) func­ ing whether we are rich or poor, mak­ al now, but also to try to collect this properties of the Dzogchen Com­ tion within the international 12:45 - 13:00: Summary by chair­ ing ourselves responsible in every for all events that happened in the munity in the future; and in general Dzogchen Community. But every­ person of results, afternoon break, possible way. We need to learn to past as precisely as possible. the creation of a fundamental basis body who is interested in concrete­ dedication of merit. ly working and thinking together take responsibility ourselves and The reason for this request is for all its future work. with the IG to find ideas how best 16:00 -16:10: Song of the Vajra. not leave all this only in the hands the fact that sometimes the pub­ In case your specific group has to preserve the life work of our 16:10 - 16:30: Suggestions and of our Teacher. lished information (Mirror, Nor- not organized itself legally yet, or is Master is welcome. The working ideas that emerged during break; bunet etc.) about events seems to be still in the process of working on a At this moment all Gars are group sessions are intended mainly 16:30 - 17:30: "Brain storming" incorrect (because of mistakes or legal structure, such information is financially almost fully dependent for Gakyil members and represen­ session in small groups: "TheFu- changes in the schedule, etc.). This equally important for the YIG to for their income on the activities of tatives, the general meetings will be ture of the Dzogchen Community" makes it very difficult to trace obtain. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu alone. If open to everybody. It is not the idea 17:30 - 18:00: Report of results of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu would backwards exactly where and when Although we understand that of the IG that Gakyils should feel discussion groups in general meet­ decide not to teach at the Gars any­ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu gave this request means some extra work obliged to send a representative on ing. more, most Gars would very soon teachings. This information is also for some of you, we hope that you Community expenses, rather they get into financial problems, trying important in order to complete the will understand its importance and 18:00 - 18:15: Conclusion of the should send a representative who is to continue their present activities audio and video archives of Chö­ send us your material without any day in summary by chairperson, intending to visit the retreat any­ and corresponding financial obliga­ gyal Namkhai Norbu's work as delay. dedication of merit. 1' how. tions. Many (but not all) Gars and well as for research purposes. It goes without saying that all Tuesday, July 25th Gakyils have incorporated into a information will be treated as strict­ The main topic of the meeting 10:00 -10:10: Song of the Vajra. legal organizational structure. Yet ly confidential for IG purposes only will be the preservation of ("blue- The IG wants to bring the follow­ 10:10 -10:30: Introduction of dis­ many of these structures do not and will not be disclosed to third red-yellow", respectively): ing 3 points to your attention: cussion points by chairperson: : offer much protection against the parties without prior explicit per­ - the teachings, lineage, trans­ 1) Due to some recent events it 10:30 - 11:30: Discussion groups possibility of abuse and capture of mission of the senders of this infor­ mission and all related material that seems necessary to remind the vari­ meeting land and properties by people with mation. are its supports (texts, library, tapes, ous Gakyils of the Dzogchen Com­ books etc.); 11:30 -12:00: Report of results of no interests in the teachings. If we Please send your photocopies munity again that you, before invit­ discussion groups in general meet­ don't make a real effort now, even and information to: - the Dzogchen Community as ing any teacher, always communi­ an active group of practitioners ing the audio and video collection of cate your intention beforehand to (organizing events, retreats, com­ 12:00 - 12:45: Further concretiza- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's teach­ Loekjehee Chögyal Namkhai Norbu directly munication etc.); tion of points in working group ings are in danger of getting C/oDBBW and ask for his confirmation, even 12:45 - 13:00: Report in general destroyed by erosion. We should P.O. Box 75084 - the property and land of the in those cases that you might think lay the foundations for the preser­ 1070AB Amsterdam Community, projects and activities meeting; points for reflection dur­ are a routine. vation and protection of Chögyal The Netherlands to increase the prosperity the Com­ ing break, dedication of merit. 2) The Gars which still do not munity and of its members. Namkhai Norbu's work for the have Dzogchen Community Mem­ 16:00 -16:10: Song of the Vajra. future right now, while Chögyal Thankyou. Please find below a (prelimi­ bership cards should get them as 16:10 -17:00: Conclusions of this Namkhai Norbu is still present in For the ¡G, nary) program of this IG meeting as soon as possible. Their cards work conference into practical sug­ our midst to guide and advice us. LoekJehee well as a short introduction. At this should be made to conform to the moment it is not yet decided who gestions and concrete points (gen­ The International Gakyil has Yellow International Gakyil ones that already exist in Merigar, will be the chairperson for this eral meeting open to everybody): been founded to form a bridge so that they all are coordinated. meeting. We will keep you - summarizing the findings and between all Gars and Gakyils in the This is an express wish of Chögyal Message from the International informed of any developments. suggestions, world, to improve coordination and Namkhai Norbu and should be Gakyil and the International - building of new work groups communication. Its task is to assist done quickly. Publications Committee Program and/or committees, the world-wide Dzogchen Commu­ 3) There is a project to realize a "Turning the Wheel of Gakyil" - formulating final state­ nity in this process, a good founda­ video history of all the Gars, there­ Publications on Internet web sites: Monday, July 24th ments for publication tion of this hopefully will be laid fore every Gar is naturally in The International Gakyil and the 10:00 -10:15: Song of the Vajra (Norbunet-Mirror), during the meetings of this work charge of realizing their own video. International Publications Commit­ Opening of the meeting - making concrete appoint­ conference. It is not very urgent but should not tee ("IPC")want to inform every­ 10:15 - 10:45: "The work of the ments for the future, etc. be left there for years to come. In body in the Dzogchen Community International Gakyil", a short 17:00 - 18:15: Ganapuja (every­ Merigar people are already work­ that the content of some web-sites overview about what has been done body invited to participate) and ing on it. that you can find under the title of until now. dedication of merit. We would like to have an "Dzogchen Community". "Shang- answer as soon as possible from all Shung Institute" or "Namkhai Nor­ Apart from the above men­ electronic means of publication, ing the Dzogchen Community, the the Gars about this matter, no one bu Rinpoche" are not approved and tioned monitoring and advisory such as CD's, DV, etc. Institute, Asia or Edizioni. Personal excluded. Our work as IG can be some of them contain incorrect function to 'webmasters', addition­ The IPC has already worked or private sites shall put very clear effective only if we really commu­ information, incorrect quotes of al functions of this Internet Com­ out some guidelines for 'webmas­ links to official Community sites. nicate and collaborate, otherwise it original texts, etc. mittee could be (i) to coordinate, ters' who want to publish contents 4. Unofficial sites shall avoid to cannot work. So please be present The following ideas and sug­ stimulate and give guidance to the related to Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ implicitly present themselves as and active. gestions will also be a topic during Dzogchen Community on Internet bu, Dzogchen, the Community, the representatives of Chögyal Thank \ou. the International Gakyil meeting related topics in general; (ii) to sig­ Institute, etc. and the following Namkhai Norbu or the Dzogchen The IG that will take place in Merigar at nal fields of (potential) problems guidelines are now being published Community. Readers must be invit­ July 24-25,2000. and report these to the IPC and the in order that everybody interested ed to contact the closest Gar/Gakyil The IG and IPC agree that web IG; (iii) to keep in close contact in it could think about it and offer for more infonnation and full con­ Yellow International Gakyil sites are to be considered as just with current developments within their advice before and during the tact lists must be provided. Update another form of publication yet the Internet community and trans­ IG meeting: 5. Due to the very public nature of with even more restrictions due to late these developments towards 1. All sites/pages have to be sub­ the Internet, no restricted/internal Inventory of Legal Documentation the public nature of the Internet. It the IPC and the IG; (iv) to stimulate mitted to the Internet Committee contents can be published in pages is the idea to install a Committee as new Internet related projects and to for approval. Only sites which have not protected by passwords. These The Yellow International Gakyil part of the IPC that will monitor the coordinate the various existing been approved will be linked to the include practice calendars, SMS requests the responsible representa­ Internet and advise the authors of (web) projects so that they form a official Community sites. exams, teachings requiring trans­ tives of all Gars, all Gakyils, all web pages and web sites about cor­ coherent whole; (v) to coordinate 2. Copyright has to be respected. mission, and internal communica­ Institutes and organizations within rect practices and rules, providing (together with the IG) the legal Before quoting from any book, tions in general which interest only the Dzogchen Community, to pro­ them with guidelines. All 'webmas­ activities of the Dzogchen Commu­ authorization must be asked for to the members. vide it with photocopies of all legal ters' will be requested to submit nity with reference to the Internet, the Copyright holders (generally documents: (contracts, deeds of their sites to this Committee for such as the registration of domain Edizioni). When quoting, full refer­ Forfurther information about this incorporation, articles of associa­ approval before uploading. The names, copyright issues, and in ences have to be specified for each issue before July, please contact: tion, sale or lease contracts, mort­ Blue Gakyils are requested to assist specific cases legal action towards quotation (title/author/editions). Maurizio Mingotti, Blue Gaykil at gages (on buildings or land etc.), the Committee by alerting them on third parties. Suggestions have also 3. Apart from official or authorized Merigar, trust funds, building funds, insur­ the various web sites that exist and been made to expand the functions sites, no other site can use the Email: [email protected] ance certificates, loans, any docu­ on new web sites that appear. of this Committee to include other names, logos and symbols identify­

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