THE MIRROR Newspaper of the International Community Nov./Dec 2004 • Issue No. 71

Schedule Chögyal 2005 - 2006

2005 ARGENTINA Feb.9 Tibetan , practice, Argentina

PERU Feb.18 - 20 Peru retreat

MARGARITA ISLAND, VENEZUELA Margarita Gonpa N ZEITZ March 4 - 6 Retreat March 9 - 10 Santi Maha Base Level Exam The Anuyoga and Atiyoga Kalachakra Retreat March 11 - 15 Santi Maha Sangha 1st Level Training Tashigar North, Margarita Island, Venezuela MEXICO CITY October 18 - 29, 2004 March 25 - 28 Mexico City Easter retreat by Maurizio Piazza Light’. belonging to the Anuyoga vehicle Cilupa and Kalachakrapada of the Nyingmapa School. n Tibetan , the the Elder then spread these texts According to this method, it is not BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Kalachakra is a very important in . The short is divid- necessary to know every detail of Tantric cycle. It belongs to the ed into five chapters: the first the and its per- April 1 - 4 Baja California, Mexico Retreat IAnuttarayoga series, and more deals with the cycles of external fectly, but it is suf ficient to have exactly, the non-dual that (cosmological, astrological, an idea of it. Therefore we work are considered to be the most eso- astronomical and historical) and more with sensation, and instan- USA teric Tantras among Tantric teach- the deals with the cycles taneously transform ourselves ings. According to tradition, Bud- of internal time (physiological). with the use of the principle of April 13 -17 Los Angeles Retreat dha taught the Kalachakratantra The first refers to the universe; instantaneous s elf-perfection a s April 27 - May 1 Retreat more than 2800 ago in the the second refers to the physical the method of both the stages of May 6 - 8 Tsegyalgar, Conway, Massachusetts kingdom of Shambala, a kingdom body. The subsequent three chap- generation and completion Retreat situated in the south of India. The ters deal with the alternative instead of gradual transformation. May 11 - 12 Santi Maha Sangha II Level Exam, kings of Shambala were consid- cycles: initiation, phase of gener- According to the gterma of Tsegyalgar ered the principal guardians of ation (skye rim) and phase of Changchub Dorje given at this May 13 - 17 Santi Maha Sangha III Level Training, this teaching. From the tenth cen- completion (dzog rim). This is retreat, the first part of the Tsegyalgar tury AD, the Kalachakratantra the meaning of the word Kalachakra practice was trans- spread through India, and now it Kalachakra (in the lan- mitted in the Anuyoga style and represents one of the last Tantric guage, ‘’); through the second part according to the RUSSIA systems in . This teaching the knowledge of the various Atiyoga system. When we con- originally came from the cycles of existence (external and sider Atiyoga and Dzogchen, we June 3 - 5 Kunsangar , a course of Moxabustion and Kagyupa traditions; the internal) it is possible to obtain note the fruit of the Anuyoga (Limited to persons who know Medicine) Nyingmapa tradition also realization. transformation practice, but a June 8 -12 Moscow retreat received the teaching and dissem- In 1 970, H is H oliness t he method apart is that of the method inated it with the Rime move- Dalai spread this teaching of self-liberation. The practice of ment. The masters of all traditions for the first time outside Tibet and self- liberation is to simply ITALY were able confer this initiation, in the Western world. The first remain in the knowledge of one’s and despite the variety of lin- Kalachakra initiation for the own real condition and the pri- July 1 - 5 Merigar , Italy Retreat 1 eages, the transmission was left Western world took place in mordial state. This method, like July15 -Aug. 5 My personal retreat, Merigar pure and uninterrupted. 1971, in the state of Wisconsin, Anuyoga, belongs to the July 22 -24 Moxabustion course for people who are According to the of USA. From that time onward, the Nyingmapa and Bön traditions familiar with medicine (Shang-Shung Institute) the , Sucandra, the King Kalachakra teaching has spread only. In the Dzogchen teaching, Aug. 10 -16 Merigar Retreat 2 of Shambala, wrote the throughout the world. So, last all beings have the same poten- Kalachakratantra root and October 2004, in the Dzogchen tiality of sound, light and rays, annexed commentary. This Community of Tashigar Norte, on like the mirror that is able to monarch was considered the first the island of Mar garita, reflect, so that when the sec- important pupil from the first ini- Venezuela, Chögyal Namkhai ondary causes are , this Oct. 5 - 9 Spain Retreat tiation of the Kalachakra. Norbu gave teachings about the capacity manifests. The Manjusri-yashas was the first of Kalachakra. Kalachakra is merely our primor- twenty-five kings The Sarmapa and the dial state with all its capacities, BRAZIL (‘guardians of the caste’). Nyingmapa traditions have the thus without any dualistic consid- Manjusri-yashas wrote the brief way of gradual Transformation in eration, we try to remain in this Oct. 14 - 18 Brazilian Retreat Tantra of Kalachakra and his son, common, but in the condition and integrate. and heir, Pundarika wrote a com - system there is also the instanta- mentary on it entitled: ‘Spotless neous transformation method MARGARITA ISLAND, VENEZUELA Letter on Reorganization of Nov. 4 - 8 Longsal Teaching Retreat the Dzogchen Community Nov. 25 - 29 Santi Maha Sangha Base and 1st Level Teachers Trainings, Dance and 1st and from Yeshi Namkhai & Luigi 2nd Teachers’ Trainings Ottaviani Dec. 2 - 8 Tshedrup (Long life) teaching An Essential of Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 Tashigar Norte retreat thw History of the Vajra Teaching by Dance by Prima Mai, Part I Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Page 5 & 6 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

here are words written by a what is bad. If there is a good Vajrayana path is called “transfor- famous Dzogchen master thing, we try to apply and mation”. Transformation is not called that increase it. If something is nega- like you are throwing away your Tsay, “If we have good intention, tive, we reject and eliminate it. old dress. The nature of emotion then our path and our realization, How we apply that is very easy in and nature of wisdom are the everything is good. If we have a our daily life; there is no need for same. That’ s why in T antrism bad intention, then everything is a particular rule. they say, “If there is more wood, bad.” So most important is our For example, in Tibetan you can have more fire.” Wood intention. In general in Buddhism, we have the Vajrayana represents a samsaric thing, the , it is most important to teaching. W ithin the V ajrayana flame of fire represents wisdom. always try to cultivate good inten- system we have lower and higher If you have a small piece of gold tion in any circumstance. This is a Tantras. There are many teachers and you make a statue, then it much more important practice of of Vajrayana and they teach in becomes a golden statue. You put Mahayana than going to a different ways. In any case, if we it somewhere, you of fer flowers, Mahayana temple every and follow the Vajrayana teaching, it incense, you pay respect. Now making offerings, etc. In our life - is very important that we also you change this aspect of the stat- time we can’ t always find a know what the dif ference ue and make an ashtray. No more Mahayana temple in front of us.A between Vajrayana and golden statue, but now a golden Mahayana practitioner is not teaching is. “V ajra” means our ashtray. It is an elegant ashtray , dependent on a Mahayana temple. real nature. In Sutra, for example, but you use it like an ashtray , not Of course, if there is a temple, we say , “” or in Margarita N ZEITZ like a statue, and you are not there are all possibilities. We nev- “Great Mother”, which represents praying and paying respect to it. er negate or limit and we do our our state of emptiness. There is no Chögyal Namkhai Norbu So the aspect has changed, but best. explanation of our energy level. not the nature. It is always the The most important practice In Tantrism, the explanation Web Cast Teaching in Margarita same gold. in Mahayana is that you try to is related mainly to the ener gy gave the exam- remember the kind of intention level. Our real nature is called ple of what “transformation” you have in any circumstance, at “Vajra”. In general, people can April 18, 2004 means regarding our emotions. It that moment. The moment when understand Vajra, what Vajra is, is very important that we know you are walking, working, talking and the symbol of the Vajra. The what transformation is and that it with people, etc. You remember Vajra Symbol has a kind of ball at Part II is the characteristic of Vajrayana. that if you have some bad inten- its center; on the top and bottom Many people think that tion then you discover it immedi- there are five points. That symbol Dzogchen is V ajrayana. state. To transform these three to Guruyoga. Guruyoga means ately, that it is not good. If you is characteristic of the teaching of Dzogchen is Vajrayana, but not a emotions into wisdoms, we need you are in the state of your follow that you can produce neg- Vajrayana. This symbol is not a path of transformation. Many these three characteristic manifes- teacher. Maybe the teacher trans- ative . Therefore you rec - real Vajra, but the real Vajra is our people believe that the Dzogchen tations. First of all, in Vajrayana, formed like Kalachakra and gave ognize that the intention is nega- real condition. We have that teaching is a path of transforma- we receive an initiation. In both you that initiation. You then apply tive and you turn it into good potentiality, just like a Vajra. The tion. There is a transformation lower and higher Tantra, we need that method of Kalachakra prac- intention. In the place of bad center ball is similar to the visual- path within Dzogchen called the to receive an initiation to apply tice, but you know that the real intention, you create a something ization of the thigle we use when Anuyoga tradition. “Anu” also the practice. The Vajrayana sys- Kalachakra is your teacher . So if new, a good intention. If you we do Guruyoga in the Dzogchen means “superior”. Guru tem is dif ferent from the Sutra you work that way , you can work in this way , this is the teaching. Guru Padmasambhava Padmasabhava taught “Superior system. I n t he S utra t eaching, obtain of realization. supreme practice of Mahayana. said, THIGLE CHENPO Yoga” originally . Later Guru even you don’ t receive anything, You see, the teacher is impor- You become really good practi- DRAZUR MED, meaning “total Padmasambhava gave advice to a vow or something, if you read a tant and initiation indispensable tioner of Mahayana and then you thigle beyond any corner”. his students that in the that book and understand, for exam- in Vajrayana. Initiation is indis - can understand what and Corners represent limitations. If they should go to a country called ple, then you can apply the teach- pensable because in the Sutra mean. there are three corners, we say “Trusha”. In Trusha, the teaching ing and go ahead. teaching, for example, the When you follow the teach- “triangle”, four corners we say of Anuyoga is very dif fused and When you speak of a teacher, Nirmanakaya Buddha physically ing, like the Mahayana “square”. We are always entering the original books have been the teacher of Sutra and explains and teaches. You listen, ’s path, a there are into limitations. The thigle has no translated into Tibetan. Later, two Vajrayana are completely dif fer- learn and apply the path. In the explanations of the Six Prajna limitation. Similarly, the thigle is very famous teachers called Nup ent. The teacher of Sutra is some- Vajrayana teaching, the Buddha is Paramitas, etc. You can apply our potentiality; our potentiality Sangye Yeshe and Chetsen Kye thing like an ordinary friend or not physically explaining and them. You try to do your best. It is is beyond any kind of limitation. went to Trusha and translated all someone who can help you. For teaching. Buddha transforms like not so dif ficult in your daily life. Also in the center of the Vajra the series of that teaching. So in example, when you receive a Kalachakra or , etc., and There are many of these kinds of symbol, there is this thigle-like the Vajrayana tradition of Tibet, vow, you should receive a vow the people who have contact practices to apply , also related ball. we have the complete series of with monks and nuns from the receive that transmission. with our attitude, even if we do We have our real condition that Anuyoga teaching. Sangha. You can’t receive a vow Ordinary people can’ t have con- not take a vow and follow a par- beyond limitation, but with sec- Particularly we have this series of only from one teacher , you must tact with a manifestation of ticular rule. Buddha said, “Y ou ondary causes our real condition teaching in the Nyingmapa receive it from a group of monks Buddha like the Kalachakra, follow the example of others and can manifest as an aspect of the School because the Nyingmapa and nuns. In order to purify a because ordinary people do not do your best.” This is something pure and impure dimension. In a School has primarily maintained wrong-doing, you can’ t confess have that capacity. very important for everybody . If pure dimension, we have the five the teachings of Guru and purify with one teacher only; So there are different ways of someone insults me, I don’ t like Dhyana Buddhas, and Yab/Yum Padmasambhava. you always need the Sangha. So working and obtaining realiza- it. That means if I insult someone, manifestations. In impure vision, The consideration of our pri- the teacher in Sutra is something tion. When you say, for example, they don’t like it either. Instead of everybody has the five aggrega- mordial state is the same thing in like a collaborator. In Vajrayana it you renounce something, that insulting, I pay respect and talk in tions, like form, sensation, etc. Dzogchen and Anuyoga. In is not that way; with the means you consider that it has no a gentle way . If someone gives This is impure vision in the sam- Anuyoga, we get into that state Vajrayana teacher , you must value. For example, if you have a me a punch, I don’ t like it. saric condition. We can then through transformation. In understand the root of the path very old dress you think, “My Likewise, if I do that kind of ges- transform into a pure dimension Dzogchen Atiyoga, we use the and how you follow, because you dress is consumed, now it has no ture, no one likes it. So it is very because the same nature is con- method of self-liberation. In should receive initiations from value,” and you throw it away . important to take example from nected with this center ball. Then Dzogchen we can use the the teacher. You can’t receive an What you need is a new dress. So yourself. we transform, directlyor indirect- Anuyoga method of transforma- initiation from a manifestation of that means change. In the path of This is the teaching of ly. In Tantrism, one of the most tion to get into that knowledge Sambhogakaya. renunciation, there is a very Buddha. I explain this to small important aspects we work with because of the consideration of For example, consider the ini- strong feeling of changing some- children and they understand very is vision, pure and impure, like the base, how our real nature is tiation of Avalokiteshvara related thing. That method is used very well. For example, some children, the symbol of Vajra, which has since the beginning. Anuyoga and with lower Tantra. You receive often. For example, someone small children, kill ants and small five points up and five points other Vajrayana teachings are not that initiation from your teacher , receives a refuge vow and says, insects under their feet. When down. the same. All Vajrayana teachings not from A valokiteshvara. You “Now I have changed. I am a they do that I say, “Don’t do that.” We transform impure vision say that our real nature is Vajra. don’t have the capacity to have Buddhist. my name You don’ t do that because that into pure vision through the two Vajra represents something inde- contact with Avalokiteshvara, but was Geor ge and today it is animal suf fers. If a you are, for stages in the method of Vajrayana structible and infinite potentiality. you do have the capacity to meet Dorje.” You feel you have example, a small boy or girl, and called the “development stage” In Anuyoga, it is explained, that your teacher and the teacher can changed something. Also George a very big, gigantic being comes and “accomplishing stage”. The our real nature is sound, light and teach you and transmit that initia- tries to change the attitude and and puts you under their feet and “development stage” is when we rays, the three primordial poten- tion. Later you go with the visual- dress a little. In the real sense you are killed, how do you feel? mainly work with three kinds of tialities. ization in that pure dimension. nothing has changed, you are still You feel very sad and you suf fer. manifestations. For example, we We can manifest everything For that reason the teacher is George. If you have some knowl- It’s the same thing; you must not have peaceful, wrathful and joy- in the Sambhogakaya aspect if important. Particularly in the edge or understanding, maybe it kill other animals. When I ful manifestations. We have these there is a secondary cause. There higher Tantras like Kalachakra, helps you. In Sutra, they really explain, they understand very three aspects because we have is no need to construct or develop Hevajra, C hakrasamvara, t here consider change as something well. That is an example of how mainly three emotions, the roots something. In Anuyoga, we do are so many higher Tantric teach- important. Buddha taught - that way every- of all emotions, ignorance, attach- not use the development and ings, all these important initia- In Vajrayana and Dzogchen, body learns and it is not necessary ment and anger . You remember accomplishing stage methods, as tions you receive from teacher . that is not the main point. For that to follow rules. We more or less that “ignorance” means we are is done in the general Vajrayana Your root practice is then related reason, the characteristic of the have an idea what is good and missing clarity , like a sleeping continued on next page

2 Teaching ChNN continued from previous page system. There is some aspect of need any method for transform- with your intention. Another way that, but only through information ing. If you have vision, pure is called “Monlam”. “Monlam” is on how we can integrate into that vision or impure vision, there is that we pray with this cause that state which says, “There is noth- no dif ference. Vision is always all sentient beings quickly have ing to construct.” In Anuyoga it is vision. the manifestation of realization, explained that we all have poten- So when we learn self-libera- etc. tiality since the beginning. If I tion with the example of the mir- When we do a Ganapuja at want to transform or manifest like ror that is very useful and under- the end we have three verses. Kalachakra or the Mandala of standable. For example, if you First we say “GEV A DIYIS Kalachakra, then I only need the look in a mirror you can see NURDU DAG” That is dedicat - secondary cause. If there is no reflections. You understand that ing, “W ith this accumulation of secondary cause, then nothing reflections are unreal. You still merits then all sentient beings can manifest. For example, if you think there is something real in having total re alization.” Then put a statue of Kalachakra or a front of the mirror and there is a there are two other two verses. thanka of Kalachakra in front of reflection, because that object and One is: “BALDAN LAMAI XA Yeshi Namkhai speaks with Tashigar Norte Gakyil N ZEITZ the mirror, it immediately mani - reflection are interdependent. For BBAD DANBA DAN”. That fests in the mirror: how it looks, that reason your knowledge of means we pray that all our teach- the color, form, everything. There reflection is unreal, it has no func- ers live a long life. It is very is no need for it to develop one by tion or value. You should under- important when we take refuge TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE one. In Vajrayana, the develop - stand that you are not looking in a and dedicate this kind of prayer , DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY ment stage means we read and mirror and seeing reflections, but we consider all our teachers. We Since 2003 the Dzogchen Community has started a lar ge project of construct one by one. In the that you are the mirror . The mir- are praying for the long life of all reorganization. Anuyoga system we manifest ror is an example of your dimen- good teachers who teach and instantly. If you put a thanka of sion. Now you are looking in a make benefit for sentient beings. AmbientiWeb Consulting has been chosen to develop this project by Kalachakra in front of a mirror, it mirror and you can see some That is something important. If Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Merigar ’s Gakyil (first Gar to run). instantly appears in the mirror . It reflections. What are the reflec - there is no teacher , there is no does not develop slowly , slowly, tions for the mirror? Reflections teaching. Then “KANAM This project, born from the need to ensure the growth and prosperity from the feet or arms, etc. For that are not a problem for mirror , YONLA”, that means: “All sen- of the Dzogchen Teaching (and Community), has come to its opera - reason it is not necessary to because your real nature is the tient beings in our samsaric tional start these days. develop and create gradually . So mirror. Reflections are a quality, a dimension have relative happi- we can understand the difference. qualification, of how the mirror ness and enjoy”. Also we pray for The “vision”, plan and new resources (information technology , eco- For example, when we are doing manifests. If there is no manifes- that benefit for all sentient beings. nomic and financial model, or ganizational chart, operating control), our practice like Guru Tragphur tation, no reflection, that means We say “all sentient beings”, not have been presented to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu this November in or Simhamukha in the Dzogchen there is no quality . So you see, only our group of people. “DAG Margarita and have received his full approval. Community, all these manifesta- when you know that, good, bad, XAN”, means ourselves and all tions are the Anuyoga system. pure vision, impure vision, can all others accumulate two accumula- The first Gar to run will be Merigar , but the scope of the project is The final goal of Anuyoga is manifest in the mirror and noth- tions and complete all causes of world-wide. Starting from the second half of 2005 the reorganization called the state of Dzogchen. The ing changes for the mirror . realization, particularly purifying process will be extended to other Gars. transformation method in Manifestation is the only quality all negativity , obstacles, etc. for Dzogchen is called the Anuyoga of the mirror. If you are being just following the teaching for realiza- We would like to clarify that the reorganization will not deal with the system. When we say like the state of mirror , then tion, etc. “NURDU SANGYAS”, principles of the Teachings but only with the activities of Gars and “Dzogchen”, that means Atiyoga. everything is self-liberated that immediately all obtain total real- Lings, the way they manage resources, the way they work, the way Atiyoga is characteristic of the way. All your existence, all your ization. people who work within the Community are managed, and so on. path of self-liberation. Self-liber- emotions, all your dualistic We have more words of Guru ation means that we don’ t need vision, everything is just like a Padmasambhava for spreading This project introduces new systems for work and collaboration, new any antidotes for liberating. In the reflection in a mirror . Then you and continuing the pure, essential services for members and a number of exciting innovations! Sutra teaching there is an antidote can understand what self-libera- teaching in the universe. “GYAL- for overcoming any kind of prob- tion means; you need to be in VA GUNGI”, that means that the We are working hard to set up a modern or ganization based on col - lem. In Tantrism there is a con - instant presence and then every- treasure of all enlightened beings laboration and communication. For these reasons we suggest to start cept of pure and impure vision thing, all visions, self-liberate. is the essence of teachings. working in a correct way from now on. and you transform impure vision For that reason, in the “LAMA ZOGQEN”, represents into pure vision. When you suc- Dzogchen teaching we say , the Dzogchen teaching. The This means transmitting only information that is real, with a concrete ceed and are in this clarity , then NANGWA RIGPAI GYEN Dzogchen teaching is introduced foundation. you can get in a state of the final “Nangwa” means “visions”. directly from mind to nature of goal. So you see, these are char- Visions are not only what we see mind. For that reason we say it is Requests for funds should be made only following approval by the acteristic of Sutra and Vajrayana. with our eyes, but also what we the supreme teaching for having Gakyil, providing detailed information about the idea, the budget, In the Dzogchen teaching self- hear with our ears, and smell with quick realization. “JIDAR and a business plan. liberation means we don’ t need our noses, etc., everything. All KALA”, just like sun is shining in these things. I will give you a these are like an ornament of the sky. “GYALKAM YONLA…”, If you want to propose/do something related to the President’s image very simple example: if you are instant presence, the state of means spreading in all dimen- (on any media) consider talking also to the Shang Shung Institute at sitting somewhere with closed Rigpa. That means you should be sions, not only the human dimen- Merigar for approval, because they manage that field. eyes and you open your eyes, in instant presence. When you are sion, but also other dimensions. when you open your eyes you can being in instant presence, every- So this is also an invocation. Do not provide information about the Dzogchen Community that is see a tree, it has many nice flow- thing is just like an ornament. After that invocation we ded- not first revised by qualified people. Always ask your Gakyil first. ers, etc., so that means your sense When we say ornament, orna- icate empowering with the is having contact with object. ment means to make beauty , not : “OM DHARE”. This We are sure you understand why this is so important. Too many What you are seeing is samsaric to make problems. Then you can mantra i s n ot i tself d edicating resources and energies have been wasted in the by carrying out vision. In a Tantrism, that is have more of an idea what “self- merits but for empowers the ded- activities without adequate planning and vision. impure vision. In Dzogchen, you liberation” means. When you ication. are not working with concepts of going into a teaching like the So this is how I want to Best regards, pure and impure vision. You do Dzogchen teaching and inform you today and then you do not have any problem of pure or , etc., you should go your best to be aware. It is very Luigi Ottaviani impure vision; you are not dis- in more into the essence. You important that we do practice, but Yeshi Silvano Namkhai tracted and you are in instant must also understand that being in still more important is that we try http://www.ambientiweb.com presence. If you do not have that a state of Mahamudra or to be aware. You learn to be capacity, you at least try to be pre- Dzogchen means being beyond aware and that way you can relax sent. In that moment you are not time and beyond a dualistic con- in your real condition. So this is conditioned by that vision; even if dition. Then you have that knowl- my teaching of today . Now we that vision is samsaric vision, you edge as something alive. want to send greetings to all peo- are not conditioned by it. You remember, at the end of ple who are living in winter, sum- For that reason, also our Thuns, that we dedicate mer- mer, autumn and all the dif ferent Mahamudra teachers like its. When we dedicate merits, we . We are here in Margarita and like Padampa, gave advice to have two dif ferent aspects. One enjoying very nice weather . We their students saying, “Visions are is, in Tibetan we say “Ngowa”, are also sending our enjoyment to not the problem, the problem is another is called “Monlam” you. And everybody is saying attachment.“ In general, in “Ngowa” means we dedicate “Hello!” to you. I Vajrayana, when you transform what we accumulate merits, to impure into pure vision, it seems become the cause of liberation or impure vision has no value and bring benefit or happiness to all Transcribed by Jakob Winkler then you are transforming. We sentient beings. There are many Edited by Naomi Zeitz discover that when we get in the verses for dedicating, but if you state of Mahamudra. In the don’t know any verses then you Dzogchen teaching, we introduce don’t worry . The main point is that state since the beginning. So your intention. We accumulate then we can understand what it merits, and dedicate them to all means, “self-liberation”. W e sentient beings. Even if you don’t don’t need any antidote; we don’t use any verses you can do that

T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 3 A Talk on the Vajra Dance By Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

August 2004 Tashigar North, Isla Margarita

During one of the spectacular r ed-violet sunsets in Tashigar North, Margarita Island, called by some local people “the island of fanta - sy” because of the unusual way time passes, on August 2nd, 2004, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche qualified two new V ajra Dance instructors: Karin Heinemann fr om Germany and Algis Lukosevicius from Lithuania. Rinpoche asked them to show some steps of the Dance of Liberation of Six Lokas and the Dance of the Thr ee and, with a brief commentary about the meaning of being an instructor, gave a diplo- ma confirming them each as local instructor for the 1st level of the Dance of Vajra. After, Rinpoche gave the following talk about the Vajra Dance.

Patricia and Alex model new Vajra Dance Costumes Rinpoche teaching in Margarita N ZEITZ hen you are learning the Vajra Dance, you should always try to remember that timing is very, very important. When people first learn the Vajra Dance, they think about how realized disciples, who hid this teaching in East Wthey should move and how the arms and feet must be. Timing is also Another Day in Paradise Tibet. In the early1950’ s, Rinpoche’ s uncle, related with our mind and energy. So it is very important to remem- The Vajrapani retreat at Mar garita Khyentse Chokyi Wangchug, through dreams, ber timing. If you remember the Dance very precisely, then the tim- Island, November 9-23, 2004 received indications that enabled him to discover the ing will automatically come and the Dance becomes very harmo- ‘’ statue of Vajrapani near a place called Galen. nious. This is something important that you should always remem - by Liz Granger Later, his uncle gave the transmission to Rinpoche ber, not only for theVajra Dance, but also for life. who was sixteen at the time. The manifestation of There is the famous “working with circumstances” in the Dzogchen e were fortunate to be among the more than this terma is related to a special episode of Chögyal Teaching, and when we understand “timing”, we really know how three hundred students seated in the new Namkhai Norbu. The episode was that while he was to work with circumstances. Timing is related to the harmony of the Gonpa on Margarita Island this November receiving the Nyingthig YabzhI teachings in the cave body, speech and mind. If everything goes together harmoniously , Was the warm tropical rain provided a dull soothing where his uncle lived in retreat, Chögyal Namkhai everything is fine. First you learn how to do the Dance and when background to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s teachings Norbu had a dream in which he received particular you become more familiar with it, you try and be in the state of on Lhalung Sangag, a terma teaching of Heka Ling- signs that enabled his uncle to discover the whole instant presence. The Vajra Dance is the supreme practice because it pa. The piercing songs of exotic birds while highfly- teaching. Whereupon, his uncle entrusted the statue is related to body, speech and mind – altogether. When you are in the ing hawks wheeled circles high overhead punctuated to his care and asked him to spread this teaching. state of instant presence, there are always possibilities to integrate. the teachings from time to time. After the essential empowerment, we received You remember, in the teaching, it is most important that first we try Built in Caribbean style, the Gonpa was a sheltering instructions on the main practice and ten related to have knowledge and understanding and after we make sure that roof, large enough to provide shade from a relentless ‘tsalung’ practices for developing inner heat. On we have it. Finally we integrate. When we succeed to integrate, we sun and occasional storm clouds for three Vajra more than one occasion, Rinpoche emphasized the also have realization. We do not go on a mountain or live in a cave Dance . Walled only on one side behind the importance of keeping pure ‘’. He told us that like , but we live a normal life in society . Living this way, place where Rinpoche sits to teach with his back to the Vajra relationship between teacher and student how can we have realization? We have realization by knowing how the mountain, it is open on three sides giving exten- and between students continues beyond this lifetime to deal with our three gates and integrate in a state of contemplation. sive views over the ‘comedor’ eating area, the sever- until total realization. It is more important and endur- There is no dif ference being in a cave alone for years and years or al community houses in various phases of construc- ing than any other type of relationship and while it integrating your body, speech and mind in instant presence in daily tion and the aloe fields that slope gently down may sometimes be dif ficult for us to go beyond our life. towards the sea. limitations, it is vital to keep our commitments. In the Dzogchen teaching there are always possibilities to integrate It was our first visit to the much talked about Island On another occasion he spoke at length about how everything in practice. So, using this method, one of the most impor- Gar and we were overwhelmed by the profusion of we provoke local guardians inadvertently and the tant practices is the Vajra Dance, something very concrete. On one warmth, humidity, colors, sounds and sensations that effect this may have. He cited the class of Mamo and side you learn contemplation, how to be in instant presence and the struck us after leaving a crisp grey Europe behind for explained that the continuous destruction and pollu- other side, until you have that capacity , you try and learn the Vajra the Garden of Mar garita. We were profoundly tion of the environment in dif ferent places around Dance movements related with the body and ener gy, harmonious moved to see Rinpoche in person, deeply tanned and the globe has had the effect of provoking the Mamo, movement, and then you integrate in the real state. This is the real vibrant, as a tropical bird in his brightly flowered which has given rise to many wars around the world. essence of the practice of the Vajra Dance. shirt, seated before his students to teach after what, He went on to talk about the dangerous influence of We still have not finished learning the Vajra Dance. There is the for us, has been a very long pause. We were thrilled the Gyalpo in Tibet and how they were linked to the Vajra Dance with the Song of the Vajra, the Dance of the Six when we were able to accompany him at Zaragosa Cultural Revolution and the destruction of Tibetan Liberations and the Three Vajras. We know and work with these beach for a long lazy swim in the swelling green culture. He warned us about the dangers of Gyalpo Dances. We still don’ t know how to use the medium and lar ge waters, out beyond the boat of still grey pelicans, to practice and the followers of this particular practice. Mandalas. We are going to construct a lar ge mandala, maybe in where we could float on our backs within the man- As the thirteen day retreat drew to a close Rinpoche Merigar and Tsegyalgar*, and maybe also in Tashigar North. When dala of our Vajra brothers and sisters clustered like told us how this retreat ‘will become history’, and there are medium and large Mandalas, we should learn how to dance satellites around Rinpoche as we sky gazed and sang while we place a lot of importance on things, noth- on them. That means that there is still something to learn and do. the Song of the Vajra. We were excited as we joined ing is really important. It is all relative. However , There are also different aspects of dance. In Tantric practice, there is the intensely competitive activity of the ‘bagchen’ that does not mean that we should remain indifferent a style for transforming the three kinds of emotions: wrathful, peace- players as they concentrated on their tiles at the but govern ourselves with awareness. He went on to ful and joyful forms. The wrathful form is movement and the peace- ‘comedor’ on Sunday afternoons. say that the essence of the teaching is Guruyoga, ful form is more on the mental level. These three forms are related It was our first retreat on Mar garita Island and we which means getting into our real nature. We can with the Dance of the Vajra on the big Mandala. For example, on the gave ourselves over wholeheartedly to the heat, light keep our commitment through Guruyoga and at the big Mandala there are three levels. We have learned to dance on the and totally relaxed pace of life there. The precious end of our lives die with Guruyoga. Everything can small Mandala, so we already know how to dance in the heart of the teachings we and many others had come so far to be integrated if one understands the principle of the Mandala, but we don’ t know the second and third levels. We can receive from Rinpoche were entitled ‘Lhalung teaching. learn and develop them. That means we will do practice of wrathful Sangag’, a terma teaching of Lhalung Palgyi Dorje Thirteen days of intensive teaching had passed, manifestations on the border of the large Mandala - more movement discovered by Rinpoche’ s uncle, Khyentse Chokyi swept along by the fierce bright sun, the sudden and more quickly. In the center, where we now do the Vajra Dance Wangchug, and were the penultimate in a long series squalls of torrential rain, red mud, waving palms, on the small Mandala, that represents more the mental and peaceful of teachings he has given this . Rinpoche spoke jade green sea. Rinpoche’ s final words as the swel - levels. about the fact that while people make some sacrifice tering sun broke through the grey clouds invited his I have always had a very great wish that people learn slowly and to arrive there, that kind of sacrifice is very useful. students far and wide to come to the island for teach- develop how the inner Mandala of the individual corresponds to the He said that although he has a program for the next ings in the future. I outer Mandala, and how that relates geographically to our dimen- two years, there was ‘no guarantee’ and for that rea- sion and how the geographical locations relate to the movements. son he had decided to give this teaching at this time. When we think of the outer Mandala it also represents dif ferent Rinpoche outlined the detailed history of the origin places of this world. We don’t know other dimensions, but we know of this teaching from Lhalung Palgyi Yeshe, a stu - our dimension and how that relates to this inner Mandala. For exam- dent of Sogpo, one of Padmasambhava’s twenty-five ple, in the inner Mandala we have 4, 5 or 6 . That is the rea- continued on the last page 4 AN ESSENTIAL when visiting Merigar , lived respective steps. Losar, gers in the dough, placed in a jar CHRONICLE OF upstairs. At that time, Rinpoche Rinpoche himself in Khandroling with the clothes, fallen hair, etc., worked as the Professor of painted the first mandala on this Tibetan to the nearest cross road. The THE HISTORY OF Tibetan and Mongolian planet, right next to the pond, main ingredients used to prepare THE VAJRA DANCE Languages at the Oriental where Rinpoche found a wooden New Year the soup are meat, tiny sweet Institute of the University of platform that was suitable in potatoes, rice, wheat, various Naples, a post from which he those circumstances. This man - by Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo greens, and cheese. Small pellets Part I of a three part series retired in 1992. While I was slow- dala does not exist anymore. The of dough are prepared and cooked ly recovering and beginning to winters are long and snowy in ibetan New Year is called in the soup. Some of the pellets by Prima Mai, June 2004 get out of bed (thanks in part to Massachusetts, the summers hot ‘Losar’ and is celebrated to are slightly bigger than others; if the kind care of Jean Macintosh), and humid, and in time the wood- welcome one of more of the ne association with the I remember sitting in the old, en platform and the paint van - Tin the New Year. bigger pellets of word “memory” might ished with the elements. New Year is a dough falls into the be, for example, a nice The rest of this sacred festival common bowl of someone, Oroomy box. A box is something platform was finally taken to the whole what the pellet in which one hopes to have put down and distributed in world and cele- contains serves as something orderly together, as a small squares between us brated at dif fer- an indication of the point of reference or , perhaps, practitioners to keep. This ent , character, behavior for later use. It seems my mem- year, 2004, the first according to the of the person and a ory box is made of cardboard Mandala of the Universe way the begin- sign of what will and that a mouse has taken a lik- on this planet has been ning of a new happen to the per- ing to it, creating a lar ge hole completed in year is calculat- son in the future, and carrying away some of the Khandroling. ed. There are, i.e., chili (harsh contents to make its nest in a In September 1990, however, great differences within and scolding speech), coal (black hidden place somewhere else. Rinpoche returned to Italy. Tibet regarding the preparations heart), paper (unstable), wool When I was asked to write This was also the time for the auspicious ceremonies of (patient), wood (inflexible), salt something about the history of when we prepared the first the New Year determined by the (lazy), sugar (empty ,sweet talk), the Vajra Dance, I could at least issue of the International customs of certain regions. bone (good and strong character), remember where I had put my Dzogchen Community Tibetan people who live in high, stone (stable and kind) are placed. cardboard box. This was, Newspaper, “The snowy regions have many tradi- Also placed in the soup are the maybe, promising and so I tried Mirror”, under the care of tional festivals, the New Year sun (famous for showing the way to write this article. Assam, meeting and being the most elaborate. for other beings) and moon (good If any of you who were also working together in the In Tibet there are several different and helpful for other beings), present at the time remember offices in the Capannone, ways of calculating the beginning shoes (traveling), a polar star things dif ferently or in more or Z ikhang, w hich w as of a New Year and various ways (intelligence) and a religious detail, please accept my apolo- still in a pretty rough state of doing the preparations for the scripture (teachings and scholar- gies. It is, also, at the present compared to today . The auspicious ceremonies. For ship) all modeled in dough. time, not possible to write a Rinpoche dancing in Australia in the early 90’s UNKNOWN library, which today is instance, there is a New Year The substances put in the pellets book, even though I might feel suspended as if floating called ‘New Year of the small vary a little according to the vari- like doing so after all the research small Gonpa (now Merigar ’s above the floor , was not built sheep or new sheep’ (gsar ‘am ous regions, for instance in the spent looking for the hidden office) reading a book, when until 1993. The ceiling was high be’u lug lo gsar) that begins on nomadic regions a piece of the mouse nests. A book would be Rinpoche entered, followed by and a new sky-blue carpet was the first day of the twelfth lunar leather from the collar of animals nice one day and maybe it would many Merigar children. Rinpoche laid out in the big, almost empty ; there is the ‘Kongpo new is placed in the bigger pellets to be a good idea if we could all started to teach the children some hall, which had originally been year’ (kong po’i lo gsar) that predict whether the cattle will be check our memory boxes - for as Tibetan songs and dances, mak- designed to house a library on begins on the first day of the tenth good or not in the next year long as the fast-growing mice ing them walk in a circle. He Tibetan and western texts for lunar month; and the ‘Nyarong Before eating the soup, the arti- population can be kept at bay - so called me to join in and so I tried, Buddhist and Tibetan studies. Losar’ (nyag r ong gyi lo gsar) cles to be thrown away are pre- that we can write down what we still feeling pretty weak in my The first time Rinpoche gave that begins on the thirteenth day pared, a little soup is poured in a remember about how the Vajra legs. Soon, other adult practition- teachings on the Vajra Dance was of the twelfth lunar month. These broken bowl and all this is carried Dance practice manifested ers crept curiously around the during the time of the retreat that different ways of determining the away to the cross road. That night (somewhat miraculously) in our curtain and joined the happy included teachings on the beginning of a new year have rea- these articles are taken away by dimension and in our lives. group. Rinpoche came many of Khandro Nyingthig, “The sons that can be traced to a very four or more young men, one of My own memory of the Vajra the following afternoons, playing Innermost Essence of the ancient past. In any case, the var- who carries a stick with a bundle Dance begins in Merigar in 1990, his flute, teaching Tibetan tunes, ”, by Padmasambhava, ious ‘New Years’ celebrated in of dry hay, which is then ignited. as a new student of Rinpoche, singing and dancing, and playing which took place in Merigar from specific regions of Tibet are Heading t he g roup, t he y oung having met the Dzogchen teach- games of “Samsara and ” 21 – 29 September 1990. On one called ‘small year ’ (lo chung), men turn around three times in ings just one year before. It was a for several at a time. In the of those days, Rinpoche came to while the new year calculated as the house saying: “Come out! time spent living as if in a con- end, the little Gonpa was more the Capannone, or Zikhang, to the first day of the first lunar Come out”. The group leaves the stant magical cloud, in constant full of adults than children. look at and measure the library month is called ‘great year ’ (lo house and the last of them lights discovery and much study, trying In the spring of 1990, a few hall. I do not remember every- chen) and is celebrated in all the firecrackers as a symbol of chas- to understand the many unfamil- later, I made my second thing very well in detail, but, at a three regions of Tibet (dbu ing away the bad influences. iar terms used in Buddhism, as visit to Merigar , where I went to certain moment, Rinpoche gtsang, mdo stod, mdo smad) by Once they arrive at the crossroad well as memorizing as well as I help with the many things needed explained how to work out some all the Tibetans who live in or (in Eastern Tibet it is the young could the main tunes and thuns to do before the visit of H.H. the kind of diagram of precise mea- outside Tibet. men who arrive) they imitate the used in the Dzogchen , who had been invit- surements to Renata Nani, who at Although the dif ferent ways to sound of barking dog and most of Community. I remember , during ed to the inauguration of the that time taught art in school. celebrate the New Year in Tibet the firecrackers are lit. After the my first retreat with Rinpoche in Shang-Shung Institute and the Soon, under the guidance of vary slightly according to dif fer- young men have thrown away the May 1989 at a place in the French newly built Gonpa. That summer, Rinpoche, Renata and many col- ent provinces, for the most part ‘ransom’, they return to the house Pyrenees called Marcevol learn- I also decided to move from laborators painted the second they are similar. The preparations, without looking back. During the ing the mantra of the purification Spain, to live near Merigar , in mandala on this planet – the first which start on the beginning of time of giving away the ransom, of the elements and the Song of Italy. Merigar mandala - on the sky- the twelfth month, and culminate it is considered that if a member the Vajra, hiding in a little forest blue carpet. The measurements of on the twenty-ninth day of the of the family (except those who behind the retreat centre, hoping Vajra Dance 1990 the Vajra Dance mandala are very twelfth month, begin with the went to give away the ransom) timidly that no one could hear me precise and are part of what house being cleaned well, inside does not return to the house but repeating the mantra aloud. In the summer of 1990, Rinpoche Rinpoche receives in his dreams. and out, smoke coats are removed lingers around for business or That same year I went to visited Tsegyalgar in the United from the fire wood kitchen and other purposes, in the following Merigar for the first time, for the States, where in August he did a round marks are made on the pil- years they will encounter misfor- Christmas retreat 1989/90. one-month personal retreat on the THE MANDALA OF THE lars and beams of the kitchen with tune. When the young men return Rinpoche gave Longde teachings practice of Mandarava, on the VAJRA DANCE white flour. to the house, everyone eats soup, in the newly built Capanone, now land, which is now called There is the tradition of preparing drinks ale (chang) and converses called the Zikhang. It was very Khandroling. The first time We practice the three Vajra a soup called ‘soup of (the twen- in a relaxed and playful way . As cold and damp, and the floor was Rinpoche had a dream about the Dances related to our existence ty) ninth day (dgu thug), for din- the bigger pellets are found in the still raw cement. After the teach- Vajra Dance had been at a retreat on the so-called “small” mandala, ner. That same evening, together bowls of various people, the sig- ings, Yantra Yoga and other prac- at Khandroling the previous year, which contains twelve thigles. with the of fering of a sacrificial nificance is explained and is tices were over, many of us rolled in summer 1989. During his per- The small mandala of the Vajra cake (gtor ma) to the gods, done cause for merry laughter. out our insulation mats and sleep- sonal retreat in 1990, Rinpoche Dance represents our earth, the by monks in the monastery , for On the thirtieth day , the house is ing bags, and the teaching hall received, in many dreams of clar- outer dimension we live in. On the sake of casting of f the bad prepared for the festivity arranged was transformed into a big dormi- ity, his terma “The Tantra of the this m andala, w e p ractice t he influences of the previous year , with new tables chair , carpets, tory. A bad flu, accompanied by Liberation of the Six Classes of Vajra Dance of the Song of Vajra, each household carries some old etc. Different foods are prepared: lots of coughing, soon joined us. Beings into the Six Pure the Liberation of the Six Lokas clothes, broken kitchen utensils, food for the family and guests and Even being fortunate to share a Dimensions” and “The Symbolic and the Three Vajra Dance. There some dirt from cleaning the food that is of fered to the gods. house with a group of practition- Manifestation of the Vajra Dance also exist the “medium” mandala, house, a little of the ‘soup of the The house is cleaned again in the ers, I fell very ill immediately which Liberates the Six Classes representing our solar system, twenty ninth day’ in a broken late afternoon of that day and the after the retreat and stayed in bed of Beings into the Six Pure and what we call the “large” man- bowl, and some pieces of dough special sweet New Year biscuits for nearly a month in the old dor- Dimensions”, which is a step-by- dala, representing our universe. mixed with some dirt from a body called (kha zas) are arranged mitory, which today is the indoor step explanation. Rinpoche wrote The colors represent the five ele- (symbolizing the removal of beautifully in an intertwined pat- dining hall in the yellow house, or everything down in one enor- ments. If anyone is interested in impurities and with specific dis- tern on the altar of the house Zerkhang. mous volume, which included learning more about the meaning eases the place of the disease is together with dry and fresh fruits, Rinpoche and his family , drawings of the mandala and the of the Vajra Dance mandala, one touched) modeled with five fin- cheese, and butter . In Eastern continued on next page continued on next page

T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 5 continued from previous page can see Rinpoche giving more ing on the school of Buddhism detailed explanations in Moscow, and even the specific purpose of in 1992, in the video “T eachings the mandala. The most common by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu on mandala of this type is that of the ISTITUTO SHANG SHUNG the Vajra Dance from 1991 - five jinas or conquerors, the 2005 of Events 1999”, published by the Shang Buddhas , Aksobhya, K U N Y E T I B E T A N M A S S A G E Shung Institute. , Amitabha, and 25-27 FEBRUARY: NAPLES, ITALY I looked up a more general . Second part of Ku Nye First Level. Cost: 720 euro for the entire course that began in explanation of “mandala” in an In the West, the is also November 2004. online encyclopedia: used to refer to the ‘personal 1-10 APRIL: MERIGAR “The term mandala may be world’ in which one lives, the var- Intensive course of Ku Nye Second Level. Cost: 600 euro including all teaching materials. applied to various tangible ious elements of the mandala objects, depending upon the par- being the activities and interests 15-17 APRIL: NAPLES, ITALY ticular religious practice that uses in which one is engaged, the most Third part of Ku Nye First Level. Cost: 720 euro for the entire course that began in the term. The term has Hindu ori- important being at the centre of November 2004. gins and is also used in the con- the mandala, and the least impor- 14-15 MAY: MERIGAR text of Buddhism. Mandala is the tant at the periphery . Depicting Exam for the final diploma of Ku Nye. Cost: 50 euro. generic name for any plan/ chart/ one’s personal mandala in pictor- 20-22 MAY: NAPLES, ITALY geometric pattern, which repre- ial form can give one a good indi- Fourth and final part of the Ku Nye First Level course. Cost: 720 euro for the entire sents the metaphysically/ cation of the state of one’s spiritu- course that began in November 2004. symbolically, a microcosm of the al life.” 10-25 JUNE: GERMANY universe from the standpoint of Continuation of the Ku Nye courses held the previous year. man. Vajra Dance 1990 15-21 JULY: MERIGAR The mandala is usually a Second part of the Ku Nye First Level Instructors' course which started in 2004. symbolic representation, which If my memory is correct, some of Cost: 500 euro. depicts the qualities of the us then discovered by chance that Enlightened Mind in harmonious Rinpoche was coming to the 22-24 JULY: MERIGAR relationship with one another . A Capanone every day , where he Course on moxa given by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. The course is intended for those mandala may also be used to rep- had asked to be given a table and who have followed the courses of medicine and Ku Nye organised by the Institute as well resent the path of spiritual devel- chair in order to study something as those who already know the fundamental principles of Tibetan medicine. opment. On another level a man- mysterious related to the man- Cost: 150 euro. dala can be a symbolic represen- dala. We would come and sit qui- 17-22 SEPTEMBER: MERIGAR tation of the universe, as in one of etly around, observing what was Ku Nye revision course open to all students who have attended at least the first two lev- the four foundation practices of going on. From time to time, els. The aim of the course is to clarify doubts, discuss cases, practise together under the the Vajrayana, in which a man - Rinpoche would get up and move supervision of the teacher and deepen one's knowledge. All students of courses organised dala representing the universe is around on the circles, lines and by the Institute outside Italy are invited to partecipate in order to share their experiences. offered to the Buddha. One colors, humming to himself and Cost: 350 euro. important type is the mandala of mainly ignoring us observers. 1- 28 OCTOBER: KUNSANGAR, RUSSIA the “five Buddhas”, archetypal Continuation of the Ku Nye courses held the previous year. Buddha forms embodying vari- Part II 1-15 NOVEMBER: ENGLAND ous aspects of Enlightenment, the Next Issue, Mirror 71 Continuation of the Ku Nye courses held the previous year. actual Buddhas depicted depend- 17-26 NOVEMBER: KARMALING, FRANCE Losar, continued from previous page Intensive course of Ku Nye Second Level. Tibet there is the tradition of the members of the family wash 18-20 NOVEMBER: NAPLES, ITALY preparing what is called ‘pow- the five limbs: the face, mouth, First part of the Ku Nye Second Level course. Cost: 750 euro including a large amount of dered butter ’ that consists of hands and feet, with the water . In teaching material. roasted barley flour to which but- the very cold regions of Tibet, the 2-11 DECEMBER: POMAIA, ITALY ter, sugar , honey , and milk are water is not left overnight as it Intensive course of Ku Nye First Level. added. In Central Tibet this is may turn to ice, but is only 16 DEC.-31 JANUARY: AUSTRALIA substituted by an of fering placed exposed to the stars for a while in Continuation of the Ku Nye courses held the previous year. in a nicely painted box with two the early morning before dawn. It compartments; one compartment is believed that the power of the F OUR Y EAR C O U R S E OF T R A D I T I O N A L T I B E T A N M E D I C I N E filled with roasted barley flour stars reflected in the water can 1-10 MAY: MERIGAR and the other with roasted wheat. contribute to elimination of dis- First part of the second year course of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. These offerings are place on the eases and other impediments that Cost: 1500 euro for the entire course including teaching materials (textbook and MP3). altar in the following way: at the the person may have. 3-12 SEPTEMBER: MERIGAR center plates with nicely arranged When the family members meet, Second part of the second year course of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. sweet biscuits, next to it, a head of as soon as they have woken up, a sheep made with butter (in they greet each other with the M A N T R A H E A L I N G ancient time it was probably a phrase (bkra shis bde legs), which 23-26 APRIL: MERIGAR real sheep head that was placed) means “Good luck and happiness Intensive residential course of Mantra Healing Cost: 200 euro plus lodging and meals at a and the head of the sheep is to you!” Then the members of local country house. adorned with jewels and scarves the family wear their best dress 27-30 NOVEMBER: KARMALING, FRANCE and the mouth smeared with but- and ornaments and sit on their Mantra Healing course. ter. The sheep symbolizes an respective seats in order of for the cattle herding of seniority. Two youths, a female D R E A M S A N D T I B E T A N M E D I C I N E the past year and an auspicious and male or two of the same sex, 5-6 MARCH: ROME, ITALY factor for the success in cattle distribute ‘chang’ or ale from a Course of First Level Dreams and Medicine. Cost: 120 euro. herding in the New Year. Next to new stock, to members of the 28-29 MAY: ROME, ITALY the sheep’s head, is a nice jar con- family in order of seniority recit- Second course of Dreams and Medicine. Cost: 120 euro. taining fresh sprouts of barley or ing auspicious verses for their 3-6 JUNE: MERIGAR wheat planted a couple of fortune, long life and religious Intensive residential course of Dreams and Medicine. Cost: 200 euro plus lodging and before, as an offering for the past activities. In turn, the older mem- meals at a at a local country house. year’s crops and an auspicious bers recite auspicious verses for growing for the New Year. the younger members. The ‘pow- T I B E T A N L A N G U A G E Early on the first day of Losar, the dered butter’ is presented to each 18-31 AUGUST: MERIGAR main person responsible for the member of the family who in turn Course of spoken and written Tibetan with Elio Guarisco. The first will be for house, usually the mother, gets up takes the powder three times, beginners and the second will be for those who are more advanced. Cost: 500 euro. early in the morning to prepare scattering it in the air reciting, for the ‘chang skol’, a T ibetan ale example in the Eastern regions: I NFORMATION AND R EGISTRATION: made with barley to which tiny “A mouthful of powdered butter , For general information on the courses please contact the Istituto Shang Shung at: sweet potatoes, molasses, butter the glory of , and everlasting [email protected] or contact ELISA COPELLO: [email protected] are added and then boiled. This happiness and joy . Oh what a FOR COURSES ORGANISED IN VARIOUS PLACES, PLEASE CONTACT: ale and some sweet New Year bis- joy!” (phye mar gyi kha gang/ • ROME: Anna Marie Clos: tel. 06-5885142, email: [email protected] cuits are distributed to the mem- bsod nam gyi dpal gang/skyid • GERMANY: Svetlana Riecke, email: [email protected] bers of the family while they are dga’la yun ring/ a la la ho).In the • MERIGAR: Istituto Shang Shung office : tel.0564-966941, still bed. Then a little later , from Central Tibet the auspicious email: [email protected] 5:30 to 6AM, the members of the words are: “Good luck, happiness • KARMA LING, FRANCE: tel. 0033-0479257800; email: [email protected] , [email protected] family wake up. Another tradition and abundance; may the beautiful is to leave a bucket of water out- mother be healthy and gain ever- • ENGLAND: Peter White, [email protected] side the house exposed to the lasting happiness; may this day of • NAPLES: Fabio Risolo: [email protected] stars. This water is called water of the New Year bring us together • POMAIA: [email protected] the stars, ‘dkar chu’. In the morn- again in happiness.” After this, • KUNSANGAR, RUSSIA: [email protected] ing, before the stars have disap- tea is distributed in porcelain cups peared from the sky, this water is adorned with the eight auspicious • AUSTRALIA: [email protected] brought into the house and hot symbols or in wooden cups water is added or the ‘dkar chu’is adorned and covered with silver . heated, and when it is lukewarm, Then the members of the family continued on next page 6 s h a n g - s h u n g i n s t i t u t e

Shang- Shung Institute Italy presents THE VIDEO JOURNAL NO. 4, the fourth and last issue for 2004, is currently being mailed to all our subscribers. In this issue: A Course of Written • Teachings from the Teachers' Training 2004, A video history of Tashigar del Norte & Spoken Tibetan • Choegyal Namkhai Norbu speaking on Italian television in 1968! • Update on the reorganization project: Interview with Yeshi Namkhai taught by Elio Guarisco • Recent from Margarita August 18-13, 2005 he first year of the Video Journal is now over. It has been a success. We warmly Tthank all those who have subscribed; your support allows us to enter the second year with renewed energy and confidence. Subscriptions for the four issues of 2005 The Shang-Shung Institute, within the sphere of its activities of dif- are now open to all members of the Dzogchen Community at the same price of 2004, fusing knowledge and preserving various aspects of the Tibetan cul- 100 euros inclusive of air mailing anywhere in the world. Current subscribers can ture, is organizing a course of spoken and literary Tibetan. The course renew online with credit card at the SSI secure site https://ssi.dzogchen.ru. is open to all those who wish to learn theTibetan language, both schol- Please note that since for security reasons we do NOT store your credit card num- ars and non-scholars. The course will provide the basis for being able bers but erase them immediately after processing, even if you have already supplied to express oneself in Tibetan or read ancient and modern texts in the language. your card number for 2004, you'll need to do it again for 2005. For any other infor- Tibet possesses a treasury of knowledge, which is traditionally articu- mation regarding subscriptions please write to: [email protected]. lated in five main disciplines and five lesser , among which are: art, *New: IN 2005, THE VIDEO JOURNAL WILL BE medicine, spirituality, astrology, crafts, music, poetry , etc. Many of AVAILABLE ALSO AS NTSC-DVD! these disciplines are known in the West but others, such as medicine, This answers many requests coming from spirituality and art have features that are unique to Tibetan culture and members living in NTSC countries like the are able, without doubt, to enrich our knowledge and our way of life. Each aspect of Tibetan culture is founded on the principles that gov - USA, JAPAN or Venezuela. Note: the ern the forces of nature and on a profound knowledge of the real con- NTSC format will be available only as dition of the individual, beyond culture and time. These aspects were DVD disc, not as VHS cassette. The four discovered and transmitted in the isolation and peace of the “roof of issues of the Video Journal of 2004 will the world” by ancient sages. remain available on request (only as Due to centuries of isolation, the greater part of this treasure has DVD), in PAL or NTSC format. remained unexplored and hidden within a language which is complex For any other information regarding but at the same time fascinating. It is language that we can learn in subscriptions please write to: order to rediscover the treasures that it holds. [email protected] The course will take place in the new reading room of the library at For technical questions about for- Merigar and will be given by Elio Guarisco who will be flanked by mats etc. write to: other Tibetan assistants. [email protected] FIRST WEEK: SPOKEN TIBETAN For contributing your videos Studying the alphabet/Practicing reading/Practicing on Community events please writing/Conjugating verbs/Syntax/Elementary write to: vocabulary?Formulating simple phrases/Practicing conversation [email protected] Timetable: 10am-1pm. 3pm-6pm With Tashi Delegs to All, SECOND WEEK: SPOKEN AND LITERARY TIBETAN the Video Journal Studying the rules of grammar/Reading and interpretation of short Editorial Staff originall Tibetan texts /Elementary vocabulary of the classical lan - guage Timetable: 10am-1pm. 3pm-6pm

Dr. Nida in Australia Melbourne Sydney Level 3 Level 2 Jan 2 - 11 Feb 4 – 13

Level 1 Local Coordinator Jan 15 – 24 Helen Trehy TIBETAN KUNYE MASSAGE [email protected] with Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo Dream Analysis Jan 27 – 31 March 4-6, April 1-3, April 15-17, and June 3-5, 2005 National Coordinator JuliaTilleyJulia1@optusnet. Kunye first appeared in the 8th century classic Tibetan medical text. Kunye is a unique form of mas - com.au sage, involving the application of herbally treated oils with various “cold” and “hot” properties, which, when applied, successfully treat problems of anxiety, tics, insomnia, fatigue and hearing loss, Losar, continued from previous page among others. Students will learn special massage techniques and the application of the medicinal take breakfast of roasted wheat inhabitants of the area, they go to herbal oils. The oils help the subtle life force in the meridians flow more smoothly , invigorating the and rice with sweet potatoes, but- a sacred place nearby and authen- body and mind. ter and resin called ‘ bras bsil’ . ticate prayer flags and perform Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo received her advanced degree from the Lhasa University School of Traditional Then of ferings are made and to the ritual of the ‘bsang’ offering Medicine in 1988 where she also served a two-year residency after completing her five-year training the front altar in the home and of the smoke of the juniper and program (1983-1990) with two of Tibet’s foremost doctors, who are credited with the revival of then in the temples. Another other fragrant substances to the Tibetan Medicine. important activity of that morning gods. From the fourth day onward is to go to meet one’s teacher and the people visit the houses of the Join us for 4 Intensive Weekends (Friday eves, full days Sat. & Sun.) in a rare opportunity to study offer the traditional white silk neighbors and invite guests for with one of the few Tibetan Doctors in teaching in the West. scarf and other of ferings and meals. They start to enjoy the fes- express one’ s wishes for his or tivity, merrily engaging in various March 4-6, April 1-3, April 15-17, and June 3-5. her long life and happiness. play and sports: playing dice, $175.00 per weekend. On the second day of the New bagchen, singing, dancing, riding Continuing Education Credit Pending. Year, people visit the houses of horses, pulling rope to measure close relatives and receive visits strength, archery competition, All programs will be held at: of close relatives. On the third and running competitions. The The SHANG SHUNG INSTITUTE day, all the members of the fami- festivity usually lasts for fifteen 18 Schoolhouse Road ly go to the top of the house to days, but for another fifteen days Conway, MA 01341 change the prayer flags on the the people are still infected with (413) 369-4928 prayer flag pole on the roof of the atmosphere of the New Year Email: [email protected] one’s house and remain for a and unofficially continue to cele - while on the roof offering to each brate. other the powdered butter and drinking tea. Then, after the breakfast, together with the other

T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 7 shang shung editions book review new books

they have to purify them. That is why they teach practices like Ngöndro. The Dzogchen methods are a little different. In Dzogchen we don’ t do purifica- Traleg Kyabgon. “Mind at Ease: Self Liberation tion only. In general purification means that we puri- Through Mahamudra Meditation.” fy what we accumulated, we purify and diminish our accumulation of karma and maybe also develop more clarity. But the Dzogchen method doesn’t only Boston: purify the karma we accumulated but also we main- 2004 (266 pages, $16.95) ly purify our accumulation of causes. This teaching is called Gyüdrug Rangdrol. All sen- his book tient beings have their consciousness, and that con- focuses on sciousness, related to their karma, produces particu- Mahamu- lar accumulations. Liberating all of that is called Tdra, a system of Gyüdrug Rangdrol. This method for practicing the meditation most purification of the Six Lokas is dif ferent and is an closely associated important teaching for me.” with the This book contains the root-text of the terma, a short tradition. The commentary to the root-text written by Chögyal author states that Namkhai Norbu and the transcription of the oral sometimes teachings given at Merigar on August 2003. Useful Mahamudra is drawings of the positions for the practice are includ- identified with a ed. fourth vehicle, beyond the Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Vajrayana (or Chögyal Namkhai Norbu THE PRACTICE IN DAILY LIFE Tantrayana), THE BASIC OF THIRD, FOURTH Transcription from Oral Teachings called the Saha- AND FIFTH SERIES AND THE SEVEN Euro 9.00 jayana. Classify- LOTUSES “Think about what you do from the early morning ing in this way Euro 6.00 until the evening, what is your possibility? emphasizes that Edited by Laura Evangelisti and Fabio Andrico Everybody works, in the daytime we go to our job in “the Mahamudra Translated from Tibetan by Adriano Clemente the office or in a shop, and what do we do? teachings are a Any person approaching the practice of Yoga in gen- We repeat what we did yesterday . The day after unique and sepa- eral and in particular the true sense of Dzogchen, the tomorrow what do we do? We repeat. This is called rate vehicle in teaching of self-perfection, should first of all be able samsara, we are always repeating. Repeating their own right” to relax body, voice and mind in their natural condi - because we eat repeatedly , we consume repeatedly , (p.11) and not tion. The Yantra exercises, which engage all three and we go ahead that way. This is our concrete life. merely the fruition of Tantra. The author translates “sahaj” as “coemer- aspects of body, voice and mind, comprise an excep- So when do you do your practice? In this case you gence,” though I think it has also been translated as “natural,” “sponta- tional means to enable relaxation and consequently have to deal with your practice in relation to time. neous,” or “effortless” by other authors. they should be deemed as a preliminary to any kind We must integrate the teaching in our daytime. But Although there are dif ferences of and practice between of practice. integrating doesn’ t mean becoming like Milarepa, Mahamudra and Dzogchen, which I am not competent to comment on, This manual, which is complementary to the manual renouncing everything and going on a mountain. there appear to be much in common in terms of view. Great such containing all the preliminary sections of Yantra Maybe some people have that possibility , but it is as the Third and Tenth were reputedly accomplished in both Yoga and the first and second series of basic yantras, very rare in the modern society, we have our family, systems. illustrate the basic movements of the last three series our children, our children’ s children, so we have to The book is or ganized into four main sections, Fundamentals, of yantras and the seven lotuses. The medical bene- help them, we have to work to make money . We Ground Mahamudra, Path Mahamudra, and Fruition. The first section, fits of the fifteen yantras herein described are includ- must understand that we can’ t renounce all these which takes up half the book, provides an introduction to key concepts, ed. things, but if we don’ t renounce then how do we and discusses the preliminary practices. The next section discusses This book is an extract from the Chögyal Namkhai practice? We must go to the essence of the teaching. Buddha Nature. or tatagathagarba, as the ground. The path is explained Norbu’s commentary to the original text of There is not much time, there is not much possibili- as tranquility and insight meditation (shamatha and vipassana). ty, and so we must not live in a fantasy .” Vipassana here means experientially identifying the three interdepen - dent aspects of mind: its empty essence, its luminous nature, and its Only practitioners who have already received the characteristic of unceasing play. transmission directly from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu “Whether deluded or undeluded, both mental states [that is, “pure” can order the books of this section. perception and “impure” perception] are referred to as the play of the mind. The word “play” is used to emphasize that we ought not to take Email: [email protected] these mental expressions too seriously , because they are not real or Tel: 0039 0564 966039 solid” (p. 176). “Mahamudra provides us with a more permissive Web page: www.dzogchen.it method of meditation that allows us to see our distorted thoughts and conflicting emotions without a more amiable and accepting attitude” (p. 177) Twenty pages are devoted to explaining various exercises for medi- tatively investigating the nature of mind. These include observing the mind in motion, comparing it to the mind at rest, and seeing that there is no essential difference. These exercises can lead to the meditational experiences of bliss, emptiness, and mental spaciousness (more often referred to as “no-thought” by other authors). These experiences are signs that the meditation is working, but they are not realizations and are not to be given undue importance. Self-liberation is the main principle. “Some meditators become frightened and anxious when afflicted with disturbing thoughts and con- flicting emotions. Often they will employ meditation on emptiness as an antidote [hoping] to make them disappear . [But} as emptiness and the Vairochana. thoughts and emotions are not separate, you should allow whatever experiences you have to arise in the mind. This is how these thoughts Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and emotions become self-liberated. Trying to suppress or eliminate THE PRACTICE OF SELF-LIBERATION OF them through t he use of antidotes will only subtly reinforce [them]” (p. THE CAUSES OF SIX LOKAS 204). FROM THE LONGSAL CYCLE This process ripens into the Four of Mahamudra, which are Transcription from Oral Teachings the fruition. These are the yoga of one-pointedness, the yoga of non - Euro 13.00 conceptuality, the yoga of one flavor , and the yoga of non-meditation. “In the Dzogchen teachings a practice that is used On the surface, at least, these seem to closely parallel the four stages of very much is the Purification of the Six Lokas. What Dzogchen . Therefore, this book may be of interest to students does Purification of the Six Lokas mean? We all of Dzogchen have dif ferent kinds of emotions; particularly we have five or six emotions. We have all these emo - tions when we are in dualistic vision. We are always by Paul Bail falling into dualistic vision, and then we are condi- tioned by emotions. We are always slaves of those kinds of emotions and so we are distracted and we accumulate many, many negative , which are the causes of the Six Lokas. The Six Lokas are recognized even in the Sutra teachings. They know them very well and call them samsara. In the same way in Tantrism they know

8 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONTACTS

AFRICA Email: [email protected] ISRAEL Res.Tel# 00977-1-4270106 Buryatian Community Christiane & Salvatore Fiorito Noa Blass (after 8.00 p.m.) “Kundrolling” Rua Padre Américo 353 ESTONIA Biltmore Street 15 [email protected] Olga Ochirova Beira Estonia: 62194 Tel Aviv Email: [email protected] Mozambique Svetlana Kollyakova Tel/Fax: 972 3 605 75 43 NEW CALEDONIA Email: [email protected] Marie Lascombes Buryatian Community ARGENTINA ITALY Noumea “Namselling” Tashigar* FINLAND Merigar* Comunita Dzogchen Email: [email protected] Alexander Vyaznikovtzev Rosa Altamirano– Secretary Mika Sillanpaa Anna De Sole -Secretary Email: [email protected] Comunidad Dzogchen Kuhankeittajankatu 22 Arcidosso, 58031 GR, Italy NEW ZEALAND Tashigar 50190 Mikkeli Tel: 39 0 564 966837 Email: [email protected] Kalmikian Community Calle pública S/N Finland Fax: 39 0 564 968110 “Namgyalling” Tanti 5155 Email: [email protected] Email: NORWAY Denisova, Tatyana Pcia. de Córdoba [email protected] Gordon Cranmer 2-Y Microraion-14 apt.3 Tel & Fax: 0054- 3541-498 356 FRANCE 4157 Utstein Kloster Mosteroy Elista, Kalmikiya 358000 Email: [email protected] Association Dzogchen Azamling Tel: 47 4 514705 Email: [email protected] Dejam Ling, Le Deves Moreno Marcato AUSTRALIA F30570 St Andre de Via Culasso 2 Community Web site: Raisa Nemgirova Namgyalgar Dzogchen Majencoules 14053 Canelli http://go.to/dzogchen.no ul.A-Sanana, 64, Community in Australia* Tel: 33-(0)467824490 AT 0141 Elista, Kalmikiya 358004 Vicki Forscutt - Secretary Web site: www.association- PERU PO Box 14 Central Tilba, dzogchen.org JAPAN Comunidad Dzogchen del Peru Vladivostok Dzogchen NSW 2546 Tsugiko Kiyohashi Dzogchen Community of Peru Community “Kunsanling” Tel/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668 GERMANY 5-11-23 Shimomeguro Juan Bustamante (Hota) Tel: 007 4232 266000 Email: [email protected] Dzogchen Gemeinscaft Meguro-Ku Enrique Palacios 1125-C, Email: [email protected] Web site: www.dzogchen.org.au c/o Helga Betz Tokyo Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru morye.ru Helga Betz Tel: (office) 81 3 3712 7507 Tel: 445 5003, Fax 447 2984, cel Gar Lindemannstr. 12 Fax: 81 3 3716 7248 946 7542 Bair Ochirov Geköes of Namgyalgar D-40237 Düsseldorf Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: 61(0)2 4473 7770 fon+fax 49 (0)211 682657 Junichi Chigira Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] [email protected] POLAND Igor Drabyazg Wspolnota Dzogczen Email: [email protected] AUSTRIA The office: [email protected] Edgar Cooke Skr.pocztowa 331 Peter Sochor [email protected] 30-950 Krakow Irkutsk Dzogchen Community: Dzogchen Community of Red gakyil: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tamara Dvoretzkaya Vienna, Austria Yellow gakyil: LATVIA Email: [email protected] Götzgasse 2/10, A-1100 [email protected] Padmaling Cezary Wozniak Wien, Austria Blue gakyil: [email protected] Beljutins Elena 31-510 Krakow Kazan (Tatarstan): Tel: 0043 1 602 91 16 Lepju 5-55 Ul. 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Analipseos 32 Domicilio Conocido Email: [email protected] Darryl van Blerk U Bozich Bojovniku 3 54643 Thessaloniki Real de Catorce 104 Park Road, Walmer Estate 130 00 Praha 3 - Zizkov San Luis Potosi 78550 Gregory Mokhin, (SMS contact) Cape Town Tel: 00420-724 086 224 HOLLAND Email: Email: [email protected] 7925, South Africa Email: [email protected] Web site: www.dzogchen.nl [email protected] Tel: 27-21-4470129 St. Petersburg Community Fax: 27-21-4221265 Web site: HUNGARY NEPAL “Sangyeling” Email: http://www.dzogchen.cz Zsolt Somogyvari Vikki Floyd Email: [email protected] [email protected] Szalmarozsa ter 8. G.P.O. Box 8974 St. Petersburg Shang-Shung DENMARK Budapest, H-1161 CPC 069 Editions SPAIN Anne-Grethe Nyeng Email: [email protected] Thamel Email: [email protected] Dzogchen Community, Spain Fax:45 33 11 32 43 Kathmandu Apt. Postal 46220 continued on next page

T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 9 International Community Contacts con’t. from previous page WORLD WIDE TRANSMISSION 28028 Madrid Chicago, IL 60659 ANNIVERSARY OF GARAB DORJE Tel: 773 784 4168 1ST TIBETAN MONTH – 14TH & 15TH DAY SWEDEN Email: [email protected] Alexander & Pernilla FEBRUARY 22 & 23 Dobronravoff Dzogchen Community West Ulrikedalsvagen 6i #201 Coast ABOUT THE WORLDWIDE TRANSMSSION 224 58 Lund, Sweden Dondrup Ling Tel: 046 13 70 34 2748 Adeline St. Suite D Newcomers who want to participate in the worldwide transmission Mobile: 073 655 1968 Berkeley, CA 94703 must be truly interested in the Teachings transmitted by our Teacher, Email: pernilla_liedgren_dobron- Tel: 510 644 2260 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, and practiced in our worldwide [email protected] Email: aha@dzogchencommuni- Dzogchen Community. Participants in this Transmission should try to receive Teachings from Rinpoche in the future. After having tywest.org The Mirror received the Transmission, they should also try to train and collabo - SWITZERLAND Web site: www.dzogchencom- Newspaper of the rate with the Sangha of the International Dzogchen Community of Monique Leguen munitywest.org International Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. 12 D ch.Maisonneuve Dzogchen Community of Originally, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu had the idea of a “Transmission CH-1219 Chatelaine Dzogchen Community of New Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Tel/Fax : 0041-22-7973721 Mexico at a Distance” because he wanted to help people in dif ferent situa- Email: [email protected] Alma Socorro tions, who could not travel at that time to meet the Teacher. The Transmission will enable them to practice the Dzogchen Teachings 27 Vereda Mesita Main Office: transmitted by Rinpoche without needing direct contact with the TAIWAN Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 PO Box 277 Teacher at that time. Armim Lee Tel: 505 466 4280 Conway, MA01341 Tel: 886-2-23250697 Email: [email protected] USA Here is a summary of how the Live-Video-Empowerment works: Fax: 886-2-23258857 Tel: 413 369 4208 Lidian King Fax: 413 369 4473 1. To receive the World Wide Transmission, new students need to Sophia Wu PO Box 1014 Email: participate with an experience student who will host both the prelim- Email: Crestone, CO 81131 [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 719 256 5263 inary explanation as well as the actual practice. A long-time student of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, well in advance of the , Email: [email protected] European Office: should give the explanations. THAILAND The Mirror 2. Hosts of Empowerments with the videotape should be members Geoffrey Blake & Lynne New York Dzogchen Merigar of the International Dzogchen Community. Klapecki Community Arcidosso 3. For new and interested persons, it is important to have seen the 33 Soi Lang Suan - Ploenchit Rd Email:kathymcgrane@ 58031 GR explanation by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche that is also on the Bangkok 10330 hotmail.com Italy videotape, in advance. They should also have the possibility to clar - Tel. 66 -2-2543555 or Email: [email protected] ify any doubts about the practice on the videotape with some serious, Tel. 66-2-2545532 or Susan Indich Tel: 39 3298865292 dedicated older students of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche Tel. 66-2-2549061 (direct line) 129 Kaelepulu Dr. Kailua Fax: 39 0564- 968 110 Email: [email protected] Hawaii, 96734 before the Empowerment. 4. Exactly at the given time (see timetable) at your place, you start Tel: 808 261 3469 Editorial Staff: the Transmission Video at the starting point of the part of the UKRAINE Fax: 808 524 4342 Naomi Zeitz, Anniversary of Garab Dorje. At that moment - worldwide - students Kiev: Email: [email protected] Tsegyalgar and newcomers start to practice this session of the Thun together, Alexander Kirkevitch Conway, MAUSA Email: [email protected] Jerene which ends with the dedication of merits. P.O. Box 2181 Liz Granger We wish you all a successful practice. Kharkov Community Kealakekua, Hi. 96750 Merigar Please contact your local Community for details. “Karmaling” Tel: 808 323-9714 Arcidosso, Italy Igor Mironenko Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Schedule Literary Editor: Tuesday Feb 22 2005 VENEZUELA John Shane Donetzk: North Tashigar Gakyil: 17:00 Hawaii 18:00 Fairbanks Alaska Igor Berkhin [email protected] Advisors: 19:00 San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver Email: [email protected]; dhar- Adriano Clemente 20:00 Denver, Salt Lake City, Pagosa Springs, Edmonton [email protected] Tashigar Norte Anna Eid 21:00 Chicago, Mexico City Secretary - Gloriana Gonzalez Barbara Paparazzo 22:00 New York City, Conway, Montreal, Atlanta, Detroit, Havana, Chernigov: Calle Bolivar Nro 32 Des Barry Kingston, Indianapolis, Ottawa, Lima, Quito Alexander Belskiy Valle de Pedro Gonzalez Jim Valby Email: [email protected] Municipio Gomez, Isla de 23:00 Caracas, San Juan, Bermuda 24:00 Buenos Aires, San Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago Margarita Layout & Design: Odessa: Tel: 00 58 295 415 5800 N. Zeitz Taras Kravtchenko Email: Wednesday Feb 23 2005 03:00 GMT, London, Dublin, Lisbon Email: [email protected] [email protected] Web Site Managers: 04:00 Rome, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Web site: www.dzogchen- Malcolm Smith Brussels, Geneva, Prague, Salzbur g, Stockholm, Budapest, Vienna, Crimean Community venezuela.org John Herr “Dedrolling”: Warsaw 05:00 Helsinki, Athens, Ankara, Beirut, Jerusalem, Vilnius, Valeriy Fesun Carmen Rivas Printer: Johannesburg Email: malmayak@a- PO Box Apartado Postal 123 Turley Publications 06:00 Moscow , Murmansk, Baghdad, Kuwait City , Riyadh, teleport.com Juan Griego Palmer, MA Tashkent Margarita, Venezuela USA Simferopol/Yalta Community: Email: 07:00 ODDIYANA, Islamabad 08:30 Delhi, Bombay Roman Suhostavskiy [email protected] Distribution: 08:45 Kathmandu Email: [email protected] Tsegyalgar at 09:00 Dthaka Pablo Lau Rivera Conway, 09:30 Rangoon USA Lhundrubgar Pba. Res. MA, USA Tsegyalgar* Pedermales Av. 10:00 Bangkok, Jakarta, Saigon Ed Hayes -Secretary Paez Montalban II 11:00 Singpaore, Bejing, Lhasa, Manila, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Perth P.O. Box 277 1021 Caracas Subscription Rate/6 Issues: 12:00 Tokyo, Seoul Conway, MA 01341 Tel: 58 2 4421434 $35US available 13:00 Brisbane, Vladivostok Tel: 413 369 4153 Fax: 58 2 340643 through 13:30 Adelaide Fax: 413 369 4165 Email: [email protected] Tsegyalgar 14:00 Kamchatka, Melbourne, Sydney Email: DzogchenUSA@com- 35 Euro 15:00 Fiji puserve.com Elias Capriles through Merigar 16:00 Wellington, Auckland Apartado Postal 483 Visa and Master card Dzogchen Community of Alaska Merida 5101 welcome Martha Quinn Tel & Fax: 58 74 440026 Is your contact 9210 Long Run Dr. Email: [email protected] information up to date? If not please contact Juneau, AK 99801 ON LINE MIRROR Tel: 907 790-1908 Merida Dzogchen Community [email protected] www.melong.com.melong.com Email: Apartado Postal 483 Thank you! [email protected] Merida 5101 ?? The Mirror ?? Fax: 58 74 440026 Pat Martin All material ©2004 by Yellow Gakyil by The Mirror Dzogchen Community of Alaska Reprint by permission only PO Box 35805 norbunet We reserve the right to edit Juneau, AK 99803 all subsmissions Tel: 907-780-6643 To subscribe to the Dzogchen Community: [email protected] Lynn Sutherland 5717 N. Washtenaw Ave.

10 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS

Merigar VAJRA DANCE Dzogchen Community in Italy COURSE m e r i g a r with KARIN Arcidosso 58031 HEINEMANN in Merigar Winter Program 2005 GR Italy Munich, Germany: Tel:39 0564 968 837 th Sat. 22nd – Sun. 23rd January Email:[email protected] February 4th - 6 , 2005 f Course with Barrie Simmons “Managing conflicts” Web site: web.tiscalinet.it/merigar Dance of the Liberation The course starts on Saturday at 10.00 of the Six Lokas Cost: 100 euro with discounts for members n Tuesday, November 30th, Sil- Everyone interested is welcome vana Pisani died in Naples, Italy . Sat. 29th – Sun. 30th January to participate. Silvana had met the Master and Xitro practice retreat Othe Teachings in the 1970s. She married The retreat starts on Saturday at 10.00 Begins Friday 17.00 at the Antonio Festa and they had a child, Studio Freitänzer, Euckenstr.15 Francesco. For many years she assisted in Tue. 8th February ending Sunday afternoon at the development of Merigar and collabo- Last day of the Wood Monkey year. 16.00. rated as a member of the Yellow Gakyil 16.00 Purification of the 6 Lokas practice dedicating herself with ener gy and seri - 19.00 Ganapuja Fees: ousness to her duties. She suf fered for a Euro 130. -, Advance-booking long time with the illness that led to her Wed. 9th February until 1/3/05 death and passed her last days with dif fi- LOSAR, the first day of the Wood Bird year. Euro 120. - Without advanced culty and in pain. We wish her all the best 9.00 Amitayus long-life practice booking from the depths of our hearts in whichever dimension of existence she 19.00 Ganapuja and authentication of the Lungta Euro 100. - is in and will be in, in the future. For members, advance-booking Fri. 11th February Euro 90. - Without advanced 9.00 Sang ritual The New Merigar Letter booking Wed. 23rd February Reduction for people with low As you may know, the Merigar Letter is in a state of transformation. Anniversary of Garab Dorje income on inquiry Starting in February, there will not only be the old newsletter but also Worldwide transmission day a magazine with a cover in color . Since the monthly newsletter will 4.00 Garab Dorje guru yoga Please remit to the account of: become exclusively a news sheet, we considered just to have an online Dzogchengemeinschaf version in the future instead of printing it, bearing in mind that as soon Sat. 26th – Sun. 27th February Deutschland e.V ., as the Community website is ready, the newsletter will become part of Chöd practice retreat Stadtsparkasse it and all Community members will be able to consult it. The people, The retreat starts on Saturday at 10.00 Düsseldorf, Knt.-Nr.: 11047891 who are in char ge of organizing in the cities and towns, should print ,BLZ: 30050110, IBAN DE 40 out some copies of the newssheet for those who have dif ficulty con- Fri. 4th – Sun. 6th March 3005 0110 0011 047891, sulting it online. If you wish to receive an online copy , please send Dance of the Song of the Vajra course for the first two groups SWIFT/BIC DUSSDEDDXXX your email address to the office at Merigar. The first issue of the new (up to Bhetasana…) version of the Merigar Letter will come out in February , in printed with Prima Mai For registration & more infor- form and in color. Since this new version is intended for all of Europe, The course starts on Friday at 16.00 mation please contact:: it will be in both Italian and English. The first issue will be dedicated Cost: 105 euro with discounts for members Regine Zettler, to a presentation of the Dzogchen Community in general. We under- Email: [email protected] stand that it may not be easy to adapt to all these changes and ask for Sat. 12th – Sun. 13th March Tel: 0049-(0) 89-74298244 patience and collaboration on the part of everyone. Course on “Emotions and the capacity to listen” With Sicilia d’Arista Lucia Antonelli The course starts on Saturday at 9.30 Yantra Yoga Cost: 50 euro with discounts for members in St Petersburg, Russia Fri. 25th – Mon. 28th March e u r o p e January&February Explanation and practice retreat 2005 With Costantino Albini The retreat starts on Friday at 10.00 The St. Petersbur g Dzogchen Cost. 100 euro with discounts for members Community, Russia is happy to announce Courses on Yantra MERIGAR, 58031 ARCIDOSSO 58031 GR, ITALY Yoga with Vitya Krachkovsky , Tel. ++39 0564 966837 certified Yantra-Yoga Instructor. Fax: ++ 39 0564 968110 The schedule is the following: [email protected] www.dzogchen.it The office is open from Monday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 1 pm. The course for beginners: Saturday also open from 2.30 pm – 5.30 pm. Wednesday closed. January 25-30 The course on : ENROLLMENT February 2-6 If you wish to enroll for a course, seminar or retreat, please contact the office to book a place. It is important to contact the of fice sufficiently On weekdays all the sessions ahead of time since courses that do not reach the minimum number of Seventh Lojong Retreat in Slovakia with Oliver LeickOctober 29-30, 2004 will be in the evenings, on week- participants will be cancelled. To take part in the activities of the ends there will be 2 sessions in Associazione Culturale Comunità Dzogchen you need to be a member . passages the afternoons each day. A first installment of 15 euro for the Ordinary Member ’s card will be required before taking part. Afirst installment alone does not entitle you Wedding announcement: Please send us your requests for to the discounts for members. Married in Vienna/Austria on December 9th, 2004 participation as soon as possible Discounts for paid up members are: 20% for Ordinary Members, 40% Elisha Koppensteiner from Austria on email [email protected], for Sustaining Members and 50% for students and retired people on a Honza Dolensky from the Czech Republic since we urgently need the infor- low income. mation on the number of partic- A further discount of 10% will be given to those who enroll for cours- We wish them a long and happy life together! ipants. es at least 3 weeks in advance with a deposit of 30% of the price of the course, sent by postal order to the “Associazione Culturale Comunità Dzogchen” Merigar – 58031 Arcidosso GR, Italy, specifying the name of the course which is being paid for. Renew your subscription passages on line Happy Anniversary!!!!! Dec.16 2004 - at www. Heartfelt congratulations to Barrie and Nancy Simmons on the 50th anniversary of your wedding from your many friends in the melong.com Dzogchen Community.

T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 11 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS t s e g y a l g a r e a s t & w e s t

Tsegyalgar Schedule 2005 PRESENTED BY TSEGYALGAR, THE DZOGCHEN COMMUNITIES OF NORTH AMERICA JANUARY Yantra Yoga | Vajra Dance A S T A U G H T B Y T I B E T A N D Z O G C H E N M A S T E R C H O E G Y A L N A M K H A I N O R B U Jan. 14th-16th: www.dzogchencommunitywest.org www.tsegyalgar.org Bagchen Learning and Lungta Flag Making Weekend The meaning of the Tibetan term Dzogchen, "Great Perfection," refers to the true primordial state of every individual. Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance present us with practical methods for coming into a direct understanding of our nature through our actual embodiment. As we apply these methods with our body, speech (or energy), and mind, we can begin to discover Jan. 28th-30th: true relaxation, which in turn allows us to expand our minds and become more flexible in all dimensions of our experience. Practice Weekend for Guru Yoga of the White A and World Wide INTRODUCTION TO YANTRA YOGA INTRODUCTION TO THE VAJRA DANCE Transmission of Guru Yoga Explanation according to the system of Vairocana transmitted by Choegyal as taught by Choegyal Namkhai Norbu Namkhai Norbu The main aim of the Vajra Dance is the integration In Yantra Yoga there are 108 movements and positions of movement and contemplation. This practice is a arranged in 5 groups which synchronize our body, meditation in movement, leading to deep relaxation FEBRUARY breath and mind in order to harmonize and introduce and the harmonizing of one's physical and mental us to our natural state. Yantra Yoga is one of the oldest energies. The Vajra Dance is practiced on a Mandala, surviving complete systems of Yoga and has been representing both the inner existence of the individual Feb 6th: practiced and taught continuously since the 8th century. and the outer dimension of the universe. Explanation for World Wide Transmission of Guru Yog January 7-9 Berkeley, California January 21-23 Berkeley, California Instructor: Jey Clark Contact: [email protected] Feb. 8th: Contact: [email protected] Telephone: 510-644-2260 Telephone: 510-644-2260 Purification of the 6 Lokas with Practice 7:30am February 18-20 Tsegyalgar, Conway, Massachussets Ganapuja with Authentication of Lungta Flags and Namkhas 7:30pm February 4-6 Santa Fe, New Mexico Contact: [email protected] Instructor: Lynn Sutherland Telephone: 413-369-4153 Contact: [email protected] March 4-6 Santa Fe, New Mexico Feb 9th: February 25-27 Tsegyalgar, Conway, Massachussets Contact: [email protected] Instructor: Paula Barry Contact: [email protected] All three Vajra Dance courses will be taught by LOSAR Telephone: 413-369-4153 Anastasia McGhee. Practice of Mandarava 7:00am Jey Clark, Lynn Sutherland and Paula Barry have been authorized Anastasia McGhee has been authorized to teach the Vajra Dance to teach Yantra Yoga by Choegyal Namkhai Norbu. by Choegyal Namkhai Norbu. Tibetan Losar Party 7:00pm is limited; pre-registration is required.

Feb 12th: Practice of Sang Followed by hang- BAJA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE ing of Lungta Flags 9:30am Tsegyalgar, Dzogchen Community Dear Sangha, Bagchen Game Night 7:00pm in America, We have been privileged to establish a new Gar of the Dzogchen 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA 01341 Community in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Additionally, Rinpoche Feb 13th: Tel: 413-369-4153 | Fax: 413-369-4473 has approved an expanded set of membership opportunities in the Explanation for W orld Wide Email: [email protected] new Gar as described below. Transmission of Guru Yoga We strongly urge you to join us! Membership is reciprocal with the other Gars worldwide and at higher membership levels you can des- February 18-20 | VAJRA DANCE – ignate part of your membership for your local Gakyil or Gar . We look forward to having you join us! Tsegyalgar, Conway, Massachusetts The Baja Gakyil The Dance of the Liberation of the Six Lokas with Anastasia Mc Ghee BAJA GAR (TSEGYALGAR WEST) ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES Feb 22nd: Anniversary of Garab Dorje World Wide Transmission of the State of NEW MEMBERS Guru Yoga Explanation 9pm followed by Practice 10pm E.S.T For the first three years of participation in the Community , members will be considered “new.” . February 25-27 | YANTRA YOGA Year 1, 350 pesos, or $35.00 Tsegyalgar, Conway, Massachusetts Year 2, 750 pesos, or $75.00 Introduction to Yantra Yoga with Paula Barry Year 3, 100 pesos, or $100.00

Membership Discounts: MAY 2005 50% discount if you are a student, or under 25 years old, or over 60 years old

Privileges: Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 5% discount on Dzogchen Community events and retreats (in Mexico only); and notification by email about all Dzogchen Community public retreats and events, including Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche’ s teaching sched- Tsegyalgar ule.

May 6-8 REGULAR MEMBERS (Year 4 and Onwards, or Earlier if You Choose) Teaching Retreat with Rinpoche Individual, 1,750 pesos, or $175 May 10 Family, 2,225 pesos, or $225 Inauguration of Universal Mandala Membership Discounts: Santi Maha Sangha 50% for students, and for those under 25 and over 60. May 11-12 – SMS II exam Privileges: Annual subscription to “The Mirror;” participation in the SMS (Santi Maha Sangha) training; par- May 13-17 – SMS III training ticipation in the Gakyil; members’ newsletter; 20% discount on all retreats and events; and email notification as described above. 2005 KHANDROLING VAJRA DANCE COURSES with Prima Mai & Adriana Dal Borgo SPONSOR MEMBERS May 11-13 Dance of Liberation of 6 Lokas with Bodhi Krause Individual, 3,500 pesos, or $350 (3 days) Family, 4,500 pesos, or $450 May 16-21 Vajra Dance Teacher Training level I (6 days) May - Khandroling Vajra Dance daily practice session (if Membership Discounts: Same as above for students, youth and seniors. weather permits) Privileges: MAY 2005 TSEGYALGAR – 40% discount on all retreats and events; plus one free retreat per year Santi Maha Sangha with Costantino Albini – (in Mexico only); otherwise same as for regular members. to be confirmed (date and participation and exact program) SUSTAINING MEMBERS Introduction to Contemplation with Costantino Albini –To be confirmed (date and participation) Individual, 5,000 pesos, or $500 Family, 7,500 pesos or $750 2005 YANTRAYOGA Advanced Course with Fabio Andrico / Laura Evangelisti – to Membership Discounts: Same as above for students, youth and seniors. be confirmed (date and participation) Privileges: One free retreat and one free workshop per year (in Mexico only) and otherwise the same as for sponsor mem- continued on next page 12 Norbu Rinpoche. The possibility of earning free retreats and events is a feature only of retreats and events in INTERNATIONAL Mexico plus being a member at least at the sponsor level in the Baja Gar or Tsegyalgar West. COMMUNITY NEWS If you have questions, please email the following: [email protected] continued from previous page bers (40% discount on all retreats and events). TSEGYALGAR WEST (BAJA GAR) MEMBERSHIP FORM FOUNDATION MEMBERS 1. Date______Individual, 25,000 pesos or $2,500 Family, 50,000 pesos, or $5,000 2. Name: ______

All Community retreats and events free on a yearly basis (in Mexico 3. Address: ______only), plus all privileges listed for sustaining members.

WORKING MEMBERS 4. Email address ______Fax ______1. 160 hours (20 days) in one year of verified work for the Community (the candidate must document his or her hours and have them vouched 5. Phone number(s) ______for by the Gakyil of the site they are assisting) is equivalent to New Membership for Years 1 to 3. 6. Senior? (60 or older) Yes_____ No ______

2. 360 hours (45 days in one year) of verified work for the Community 7. Student or youth? (under 25 or in school fulltime?) Yes__ No ___ is equivalent to Regular membership. 8. Date of introduction to Dzogchen Community? ______3. 720 hours (90 days) of verified work for the Community is equiva- lent to Sponsor Membership 9. Previous Dzogchen Community member? Yes ______No ______Where? ______Notes: There is no mixing and matching, part financial, part work con- How Long? ______tribution toward membership. Additional hours of work can be carried over to the following year’s membership. The Community will supply 10. Level of membership you are selecting for 2004/ 2005? letters of recommendation and documentation to verify the work con- ______tributed by working members. 11. Payment enclosed? Yes ____No ___ Other ______MEMBERSHIP LEVELS 12. Passport photos (2) enclosed? Yes ______No ______The establishment of levels of membership is meant to make member- ship in the Dzogchen Community as accessible and meaningful as pos- 13. Interested in doing volunteer work for the Gar? Describe: sible for the members, while assisting the Community in its work. ______These varying levels are not meant to imply that any level of member- ______ship is better or worse than any other level. All constructive participa- ______tion is deeply appreciated. ______

ACCOUNTABILITY 14. Questions? ______The amount of income obtained through memberships, and the progress ______achieved by the Gar will be documented and communicated to the ______members each year. ______

LOCAL GAKYILS 15.Prefer Mirror subscription by email: ___ by snail mail: __

There has been a policy of returning up to 50% of the membership value Tsegyalgar West Website: http://bajasangha.org to the local Gakyil with which the member is af filiated, if requested. We will continue that policy at the Sponsor, Sustaining, and Foundation Tsegyalgar West Email list: Send “subscribe” to [email protected] g membership levels. Send your full membership to the Baja Gar, and up to half (you decide) will be sent to the primary Community site you designate (please include address of site). You will receive a confirmation that your money has been sent as designated. s o u t h a m e r i c a

WHERE TO SEND YOUR MEMBERSHIP: The membership period for the Baja Gar (T segyalgar West) will run Tashigar North from January 1 to December 31st in a calendar year , though it is possi- Calle Bolivar Nro 32 Tashigar South ble to join at any time. All except new memberships will be pro-rated, Valle de Pedro Gonzalez Rosa Altamirano – Secretary depending on the number of months left in the year, if the member joins Municipio Gomez, Isla de Margarita Comunidad Dzogchen after January. (If you join from November – December of 2004, the Venezuela Tashigar membership will cover all of 2005). Tel: 0058 4165800 Calle pública S/N Email: Tanti 5155 Please mail your membership check (dollars or pesos) along with 2 [email protected] Pcia. de Córdoba passport photos and the form below to the following: Tashigar North Gakyil: Argentina Baja Gar (T segyalgar West), c/o 755 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley , CA [email protected] Tel & Fax: 0054- 3541-498 356 94708, USA. Make your check out to: Dzogchen Community West Email: [email protected] Coast Winter Gar Fund

Or wire your membership fee as follows: Wells Far go Bank, 1800 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94707, USA; Account name: Dzogchen Aloe Experts Needed Community West Winter Gar 4. Expertise in high quality organic product develop- ment and production. Account; Account number: 0178831467; Routing number: 511400393 The Dzogchen Community project of Aloe Vera cul- SWIFT CODE: WFBIUS6S. tivation and production in Margarita has reached a 5. Expertise in product distribution and marketing. stage where expertise and personnel are required, in Please send us an email to let us know that you have wired your mem- order to continue its development. The Board of 6. Experience in personnel training and management. bership fees to our account. You will still need to send in two passport Directors would like to know if these exist within the photos and your contact information. Dzogchen Community, before we look for them else- 7. Technical / scientific expertise, to develop, install where. You will receive an email confirmation of your membership number , and operate an appropriate processing plant. which you can use to register for retreats worldwide until you receive We would like to hear from anyone who can collabo- your new official membership card. We are hoping to find Community members who rate with specific advice, and there are opportunities have appropriate skills, and Spanish language fluency for temporary or permanent employment. or ability to learn quickly, to add to our current When we have received by mail: A. your two passport photos; B. the resources and/or take over the enterprise in a more completed form below; and C. your membership fee - you will be sent professional way. your new membership card and number from Tsegyalgar West. You These are the skills we need: will also receive a letter confirming the level of membership to which If you think you may have these abilities, and are you have subscribed, and the privileges, which accrue to it. 1. General knowledge of commercial and or ganic farming, ideally also experience with Aloe Vera culti- interested in the chance to visit, or live and work in vation. Margarita, please contact the Board of Directors of Reminder: at the Sponsor, Sustaining and Foundation membership lev- Proyecto Comunitario Tashigar del Norte, at pctn- els, you may assign up to 50% of your membership to a local Gakyil or [email protected] Gar other than Tsegyalgar West. 2. Expertise in financial management and planning. The customary 20% and 40% discount rates for the dif fering member- Dick Drury, Board Chairman ship levels are honored throughout the world at retreats with Namkhai 3. Expertise in company management.

T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 13 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS n a m g y a l g a r & p a c i f i c r i m New Melbourne Gakyil Namgyalgar DzogchenCommunity in Australia PO Box 14 Central Tilba, NSW 2546 RED: Tel/Fax: 61 02 4473 7668 Kelly Tracey Email: [email protected] Melbourne Contact person, Schedule and Web site: www.dzogchen.org.au Newsletter Email: [email protected]

(Barbara Di Castro - Red support) New Gakyil 2) Red Dzogchen Community of Wong Hee Kun YELLOW HP: (65) 93672288 Louise Davies – Treasurer Singapore Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

1) Blue Sandra Lee (Michael Pulsford – Yellow support) Edmund Tai HP (65) 97928853 HP: (65) 96373010 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] BLUE Michael Di Tullio – Teachings Email: [email protected] Michael Foo 3) Yellow HP: (65) 96155886 Fan Chin (Catherine Horner – Blue Support) Email: [email protected] HP: (65) 96711138 Email: [email protected] Sam Chan Teng Jiang HP: (65) 81136131 Lee Chee Teong Email: [email protected] HP (65) 91397862 Email: [email protected] travelogue An excerpt from Roman’ s diary kept me as soon as they see me, “TASHI DELEGS!!!” they are a map, nothing!! My new friends and I decided to try to during his trip to Tibet in saying, shouting! They treat you as a friend coming to visit find it anyway and we start to walk, walk, walk, the path July, August, & September, 2004 them, not as a stranger. They make you feel very, very good was pretty steep, the sun so hot, (at about 4200m high it is and happy. Tomorrow I’ll try to go to Geoug, Rinpoche’ s really burning your skin and eyes), but we still have to walk by Roman Piro birth village. after 4 hours, still no village, we had to “This road is so dangerous!” I told my friend whom I just Geoug must be very choose many times met 5 hours before, at the last bus stop. We were arriving close to Der ge, but between 2 paths so slowly to the pass, the Cho La, the highest road of the nobody knew exact- maybe sometimes we region, the , at 5050 meters high; here there is no real ly where it is! We took the wrong one, road, just a path without any security protections. Many finally found a and there is no one to people are smoking in the bus, many are sick, I’m just too woman who told us show us the way . tall to fit in ... I’m in a hurry to arrive, a bus ride in this part that we had to follow Sadly, we have to turn of the world doesn’ t mean the same as in the western the road in the direc- back, downhill, to the world: here it is very long, tiring, stressful, but also very tion of the border , bridge. We are very exciting. I’ve never been so far from everything known... about 10 Km, then tired and disappointed Then, 1000 meters down, we arrive to Der ge, the last big turn right, and on the not to find the place. city before the imaginary border of new Tibet. The town other side of the That is something hard looks small, on the left side of the road and the river , with river, there is Geoug! in Tibet, because we huge mountains standing So we took a taxi and didn’t speak T ibetan everywhere, it is not open at all, and lack of time, I and you don’ t even see much never found Geoug.” sky. There are many Tibetans, drogpas (nomads), with horses, I s pent 2 m onths i n arriving from every direction, Kham, visiting lots of many taxis (we are on the only places: Ganzi, Tagong, road), many monks, but also Lithang, Y achen, many Chinese, more than in Manigango, Dzogchen. Many times I told people that I Lithang, where I’ve just spent knew Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, they all knew him, and one week, for the annual horse were very impressed and happy . Tibetans are such a kind, festival. Here I am, in the holy welcoming and beautiful people. The land is amazing, so town where my master came to high, in the middle of the sky, clouds are flying few meters study his first Buddhist teach- above your head, light is special, atmosphere so pure, it is ings, about 60 years ago, I feel a real desert of mountains, we can drive 100 km without impressed and honored to come seeing any houses, only few nomad camps with yaks on here. grasslands, near lakes, glaciers, hot springs. When you leave the main road, you enter into typical Tibetan villages: We’ve already spent 2 days in wood and earth made houses, no Chinese style building Derge. Sadly , this town is anymore, tsampa fields, people are living in a very simple becoming more and more way without electricity , no running water , like hundreds Chinese every day: old Tibetan years ago, full family under the same roof, women work- houses are destroyed and big ing hard at the field, even more than men, elders walking unwelcoming buildings grow around or gonpas all the day long, chanting in each street. Only the upper part of town is still tradition- and turning prayer wheels. Everybody and everything is al, many houses around the Parkhang, the actual biggest explained with difficulty to the driver where we wanted to very religious, it is good to see it! printing monastery of Tibet, and the religious school where go, luckily an Italian girl I just met in Der ge could speak Kham, because it is not part of the “new Tibet”, is certain- many young monks are still studying. There we met some Chinese perfectly and after 1/2 driving we got to the ly the last place where you really can see how Tibet was of them who took us up the hill, following the river, to their bridge and the driver said, “Here you are!” We went out of before it lost is freedom; strangely they are more free there pool actually just somewhere where the small river is big the cab, took our very heavy big bags and looked around than in the “autonomous region”, people have Dalai Lama enough for a young child to jump and swim a little bit ...but us: there were no houses, nothing, just forest and steep photos around the neck and have special practice rooms at even during summer it is freezing!! All young monks got mountain everywhere!!?? We ask the driver, “But where is home with lots of pictures of His Holiness. 150 km further, naked and proudly jump in the water . I’m taking pictures, the village?” he said, “Somewhere in that direction (show- beyond the new border , you can go to jail for 3 years for they really enjoy it. There were many yaks and marmots. It ing the top of one mountain), few hours walking.” this. is a beautiful place, looks like the idea I had of ancient “WHAT!!!!!!” I shout. Nobody told us we had to climb to Tibet is a world of paradox, maybe it is normal for a coun- Tibet: a quiet place where people are working the ground, get Geoug, we are not ready for it, it is now 10:00am, the try place just in between earth and sky; it is a great feeling, guiding yaks to grasslands, chanting mantras all the day sun starts to be very strong, we have all our heavy luggage, one should go there at least once to feel it, then I think long. The Tibetans we see there, as everywhere, smile to and you say that we have to get the top of these mountains, many things are easier to understand... maybe 4 hours walk, without any clear indications, without

14 Job Opportunity

Dear Members of the Dzogchen Community,

My name is Daniel Maldonado Fonken (Vajra Traveler), I met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche in 1996, and I am member of the Swiss Dzogchen Community . I would like to announce to the Dzogchen Community that new job positions will be available dur - ing 2005, 2006 and 2007. If you are interested in the following profile, please contact us.

Profile Whether traveling or living abroad or working from a home base or on line, members of interdisci - plinary teams will collaborate on projects in the areas of development cooperation, education, trav - el, and investment with the purpose of innovation in solutions for global development and travel.

We need the participation of new team members in Europe, America, South America, Asia and Australia. We have openings in many professional fields for the development of projects in the fol - lowing areas: education, arts, health, development cooperation, quality, management, self-manage- ment, travel and tourism, languages, environment, finances, farming, cultural anthropology , social communication, social cooperation, marketing, IT, commerce and web publishing. Students, volun - teers and travelers are also welcome to collaborate.

Visit our web site: www.vajrahaus.ch Our organization is dedicated to providing solutions for global development by of fering quality ser- vices with projects in the fields of travel, development cooperation, education and investment.

May all this activities be a cause of liberation for all beings!

Warm greetings!

Vajra Traveler (Daniel Maldonado Fonken) Vajra Haus Owner

My web pages for communication to the Dzogchen Community:

orm & Emptiness: The Dalai Lama teaches the Heart Sutra • Meredith Monk on F dharma and creativity • Attending to the Deathless, by Amaro • Forum: Bodhi, Jeffrey Hopkins and Jan Chozen Bays debate the law of karma • Community Profile: Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition • Five teishos by Maezumi Roshi on breathing, energy and the practice of qi gong • Dharma Dictionary: Thanissaro Bhikkhu defines satipatthanna • Thich Nhat Hanh explains why sangha is a deep spiritual practice • Norman Fischer on the controversy over “Nanchuan Cuts the Cat” • Roger Jackson reviews The Third ’s Mahamudra Prayer • Readers’ Exchange: Being a Buddhist parent • Forum: Robert Thurman, Joseph Goldstein and Judith Lief on the need for more full-time practitioners • Mahamudra teachings by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso • Ajahn Chah on awakening “the One Who Knows” • Diversity Practice at Spirit Rock • Pure Attention: A conversation with S.N. Goenka • Eido Roshi on the “True Man Without Rank” • Ask the Teachers: What do I do when my practice isn’t working? • Dharma Dictionary: Charles Muller defines yogacara • Unpublished teachings by Rinpoche • The centenary of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi • Sharon Salzberg on the meaning of • Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche on the three kayas • The inspiring story of Dipa Ma • Gehlek Rinpoche on the practice of taking and sending • B. Alan Wallace on purity of the dharma • Forum: Understanding Master Dogen • Vipassana teachings by U Pandita • From Servants to Practitioners: Jan Willis on why things are getting better for the nuns of

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T HE M IRROR N OV/DEC 2004 15 HOW I MET CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU

by Artur Skura ble way. Later I learned that when he said, “There always many book, showed us how to do the them, but when I tried to practice, he was studying he met Kalu Kagyu lamas coming to Poland, and so on. Until then we maintaining them for any longer was brought up in a Christian Rinpoche and some other Kagyu don’t worry, you can always meet - a group of people aspiring to be period seemed extremely dif fi- family. I spent most of my lamas, received some teachings one and receive your initiations. Dzogchen practitioners one day - cult. Also I wasn’t sure about the childhood with my great - and used to do practice. I was But there is a Rinpoche in Italy were doing only the Guruyoga of fundamental point. And one day I Igrandmother who was a very very, very impressed by all I who is teaching the highest teach- Padmasambhava, based on the read in transcript of Santi Maha pious person. She started the day heard. I thought that Mahayana, ing of Dzogchen, you should get description found in the Sangha Base retreat once held in with her rosary , completing a Buddhism and Christianity have to know that” and he gave me Collective Practices book. And Merigar, that Rinpoche was series of prayers for many people so much in com- then we learned that Olek invited 100% sure at the 2nd or 3rd level she knew , living and dead. She mon that there is Rinpoche to P oland a nd t hat the practitioner will have this said she had taken this commit- no conflict at all, Rinpoche finally agreed. knowledge in a very, very precise ment to pray for certain people and I must do You can’ t imagine my joy way. I immediately thought I every day until she dies. She something about when I heard this. Also I got the must do this training. Not to asked me to read the Bible and it. answer to my letter from become a teacher - I thought in told me many religious stories, At that time Rinpoche - he said he would be my case it would be ridiculous - about saints, helping the dead and Poland was still coming to Poland in May 1992 but to really have the base of con- so on. Communist and and hoped to see me there. I felt templation, without any doubts I was very inspired by all this we didn’ t have now my life will really start. My and with the capacity to continue and I sincerely hoped I could hardly any books parents were appalled at the idea in it. become a priest or a monk, or on Buddhism. I of me receiving some non- I remember coming to choose some other way of life I went to a local Christian teachings. They said Rinpoche during his second visit could consider meaningful. I library and bor- they would never agree to let me in Poland in 1994 (I was 18 tried, above all, to apply in prac- rowed the only go and listen to Buddhist or any already and I finally got my pass- tice the teaching of Christ on book I could find other teachings. But I made it port) and asking if I could pass most dif ficult points, like show - - it was some aca- very clear that I will go anyway . the SMS Base exam. I wasn’ t ing the other cheek. This wasn’t demic disserta- I was almost 17, and according to very sure - I was only following always very helpful - when you tion about the law I was under their care the Teachings for 2 years, and I are 6 and don’ t strike back when sects. Even if it was some books with Rinpoche’ s until 18. But I knew that knew many old practitioners hit, your colleagues think there is boring, it was the only thing I teachings. I read it all and I was Rinpoche t ransmits s omething failed the exam. He said all something wrong with you, could get, so I tried to read it all. afraid it was too dif ficult for me. extremely important, and meet- depends on how I prepare. I said maybe you are afraid or weak. But at the some time I felt a bit of This famous state of Dzogchen - ing him is the only thing that mat- I am learning the questions and But I was proud I could succeed a conflict, because the Catholic what is it? Tantric teachings ters in my life. answers. He laughed a little and in controlling my anger many Church has very strong opinions seemed so simple - you take initi- So I kept the precise date of said that learning questions and times. regarding other religions, and I ations, and start doing visualiza- the teaching secret and went a answers is fine, but I should real- Then, when I was 13, I dis- was really convinced that if I tion and mantra recitation as week earlier. I spent this time in a ly know the sense. On the next covered the book “The Cloud of became Buddhist, after death I much as possible. But Dzogchen center, preparing for receiv - day, after the teachings, while I Ignorance”. It’ s a medieval text would have to go to hell. So I was seemed something subtle, dif fi- ing the transmission, trying to do was standing nearby he asked me describing the practice of con- both interested and afraid. When cult to know. But I immediately Vajra Recitation, some shine, etc. to come to him. He asked, “Y ou templation in the Christian tradi- I was reading the book I caught a felt it was a serious path which I remember how totally distracted said you want to come for Santi tion. I remember I didn’ t under- cold, and I thought, “Oh, this could give me something I was I was, how char ged my ener gy Maha Sangha Training?” I said, stand it at all. I could read every- must be God telling me which is looking for until then. So I was. For example when I wanted “Yes, I want”. He said, “Then thing many times, and I could the real religion, I must give up thought to myself - I will try to to concentrate on a blue ball in come to Merigar”. I was extreme- understand words and sentences, reading this book on Buddhism” follow this Dzogchen teaching, my heart, this blue ball was jump- ly happy. but not the meaning. The text was and I gave the book back to the and if I really don’ t succeed, I ing around my whole chest. My Then, with time, I slowly , a bit vague; it didn’ t spell out library. will do my best following attention span was also very slowly started to learn the real things clearly . There were frag - But my interest was strong. I Tantrism. I remember in one of short. When we got to the airport meaning of Rinpoche’s teaching. ments like “When you’re looking asked the photographer I men- the books published by Jacek, I and welcomed Rinpoche, I felt as The Semde series of Dzogchen for God, open yourself totally , tioned and he lent me some found the sentence “If you have if a fairy tale became true. I lis- especially seemed the most effec- but always keep something back, books, like “The Way of the any questions or doubts, you can tened to the teachings attentively, tive with a rather dumb individ- because when you’re completely White Clouds” and others about write to me”. So I found the always trying to figure out what ual such as me. I also started to open, you become vulnerable to the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, address of Merigar and sent a let- Dzogchen is. But I couldn’ t. At understand how special provocations of the evil one”. But etc. Later, I managed to contact ter to Rinpoche. It was 1991 and the end of the retreat Rinpoche Rinpoche’s teachings are. I really I couldn’ t find any method, any Jacek Sieradzan, who was trans- I was 16. I couldn’ t go to said, “I hope very much you consider him to be a Tonpa - a guide for starting the practice of lating and publishing many Merigar, because I had an old understood something. If you manifestation that introduces the contemplation. books and compilations about passport, valid in ex-Communist haven’t understood, you have to Teachings in a given dimension, A year later, I was traveling Buddhism - not academic work, countries only, and I couldn’t get develop your clarity with such as Buddha Shakyamuni or on the train with the father of my but normal Dharma teachings. a new one, as I needed the signa- Guruyoga, and also do purifica- Garab Dorje. If it weren’ t for his friend. He was a photographer , When I first visited him, I told tures of both parents, and they tion practices, and then one day work, the Dzogchen Teaching and a very nice person. I was him I had read “The Way of the already started to think I am up to you will understand”. would still be something very lit- coming back home from a week- White Clouds” and books on something and refused to help me I went home and started prac- tle known on the West, something end retreat with Christian monks, mantras and I was very interested with it. ticing. I very quickly realized it transmitted only as a part of ritu- so we naturally started talking in Tantrism, I would like to In the meantime Olek Skwara wouldn’t be very easy. Ideas like al, without knowledge being about religion. He was the first to receive initiations and start prac- went to Merigar and when he “not being distracted” or “being alive. We are the most fortunate tell me things about Buddhism ticing. But Jacek seemed interest- came b ack, h e t old u s m any present in all that appears” seem to have a direct connection with and presented it to me in accessi- ed in something else. “Y ou see”, things, he also brought the Thun very easy when I thought about him. Vajra Dance by ChNN continued from page 4 son there are circles, dif ferent circles. I am preparing a kind of intro - duction for people so they can learn, but it is not such and easy job. It mirror on line takes a long time. My hope for the future is that we know the corresponding places on www.melong. Earth because we have many important places related with the Mandala. For example, when you begin the dance you are on the red com line - and that line geographically corresponds to America, Tsegyalgar and Italy, Merigar. That is why I received this Teaching when I was in Tsegyalgar, in Khandroling, and continued when I was in Italy . So the Dance started from this place and that means that these places are sacred places. A sacred place means a place with a central channel of ener gy. There are still many places we don’ t know about and can discover . When we discover them they become important places for practitioners. Sometimes, if you do specific practices like the Dance of the Vajra, the practice of contemplation, or the different kinds of methods of contem- plation, and apply them in these places, there is more ef fect. This is more important for practitioners since we are trying to have more effect quickly in order to have realization. There will also be the possibility that we will know these interesting places and do practices there in the L DENYER correct way. We can organize and develop. Our lives are short, but we can do our best and leave this knowledge, this teaching, for the next ERRATA generation to somehow continue. Many people can have realization and In issue 70 of The Mirror, please benefit. You learn and remember these things and when you dance you note that the poem in the eulogy can feel more benefit. for Sheldon Rocklin was written by Ira Cohen in June 2002. Transcribed by Adriana dal Borgo Apologies for the omission. Edited by Naomi Zeitz

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