No. 92 May, June 2008

Upcoming Retreats with Chögyal

Photo: D. Littlejohn 2008 Romania Merigar East July 14–20 Khordas Rushan from Upadesha root “Dra Thalgyur” Arrival of and Yeshi Namkhai and family to Tsegyalgar East. Photo: N. Zeitz Open Webcast July 21–24 Santi Maha Base Level Exam July 25–31 Being Present in the Land Santi Maha Sangha Level I Training Italy Merigar West of the August 11–18 The Method of Integration from Dzogchen The 2008 Retreat at Tsegyalgar East Upadesha root tantra “Dra Thalgyur” Open Webcast Gerald Reilly Russia Moscow handroling, the remarkable two nization, and remarkable transmissions, Dzogchen Naslug Chethong and, second, two September 2–9 hundred and twenty acres whose teachings, and lectures from Chögyal additional days of teachings. “So The real nature of Ati Dzogchen K name means “land of the dakinis,” Namkhai Norbu, his son Yeshi Silvano everyone will be satisfi ed,” said Rinpoche from Dzogchen Upadesha root tantra has long been especially dear to Chögyal Namkhai, Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo as well with cheerful understatement. “Dra Thalgyur” Namkhai Norbu. At the beginning of the as instruction on Dance, Yantra , From the start, the retreat possessed retreat at Tsegyalgar East earlier this year, and Santi Maha Sangha from the Commu- a timeless quality. A comment a few days Kalmykia Rinpoche talked about this sacred land to nity teachers. later from Rinpoche’s son, Yeshi, clarifi ed September 12 the audience minutes before the fi rst we- At the start of the webcast, Rinpoche re- precisely what was going on. “The classic Teaching of Aryatare bcast began. He related an early dream lated how the program had gone through example is he doesn’t like the past,” re- September 13 involving Princess Gomadevi that he’d a series of evolutions. Initially it was an- plied Yeshi to a question about his father’s A Tsewang of White received in Singapore which only proved nounced that the retreat would be on the character. “Why? Because in Dzogchen Italy fully understandable years later in retreat famous Dzogchen by practice when we deal with the past, we Merigar West at Khandroling where he received the known as Yeshe , but it was decided deal with karmic vision. It is useless to September 26–October 3 Vajra Dance transmission. “I always con- too long for a week retreat. Later, there waste time on this. What is about present Dzogchen Teaching Retreat: sidered this place is something important were plans to study Vimalimatra’s com- and future, this is more connected with Training with the sounds of elements from for Vajra Dance and for the teaching of mentary on the important Dzogchen root knowledge.” Dzogchen Upadesha root tantra the Longsal.” he said. “When the weather tantra, Dra Thalgyur, but this time, the Unsurprisingly, with Chögyal Namkhai “Dra Thalgyur” is good, we will all go there and do some project wasn’t suffi ciently corrected for the Norbu sitting in front of us, teaching us by practice.” Massachusetts’ retreat. In the end, the top- word and example, the retreat kept all of October 6–9 So began a retreat blessed with beau- ics of the retreat were, fi rst, an important us focused on this present and this future. Santi Maha Sangha III Level Exam tiful weather, relaxed and seamless orga- essence teaching by Jigme Lingpa called On Saturday, the second day of the retreat, October 10–17 >> continued on page 3 Santi Maha Sangha IV Level Training October 31–November 3 Teaching Teaching Tsegyalgar East Practice and Teaching dedicated to those who have died Spain Chögyal Namkhai Yeshi Silvano Tibetan November 14–20 Norbu Namkhai Medicine in Barcelona Retreat “Realization is in Transmission, America Brazil your Hands” Experience, November 26–30 and the Dream Brazil Retreat Practice

» Page 2 » Page 3 » Pages 12, 13 THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

2 “Realization is in your hands” Terma Teaching of Dorje Lingpa An excerpt of a teaching given from May 9–14, 2008 Tashigar North, Isla Margarita, Venezuela Open webcast

This is a terma teaching of the famous terton, Dorje Lingpa. A terton is someone who discovers teachings. Dorje Lingpa’s teachings were taught by Guru and then put in a terma by the famous disciple . From Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s Introduction, Day 1, May 9 Photo: A. Chudinova Shulen* of Vairocana Sunday, May 11 So this is how our real condition is. When we don’t have samboghakaya. The knowledge that everything manifests ood day everybody. So for continuing our teach- that knowledge, we go after explanations in an intellec- different aspects and all are related with different kinds ing fi rst we do Guruyoga for transmission. Today tual way. When we understand and know the real sense of of emotions and that different emotions and experiences Gwe have the requests of Vairocana. Dzogchen, this is for total realization. Being like this, our of sensation, clarity and emptiness related with the three condition as the self-perfected state from the beginning, gates arise. Just this is nirmanakaya in the way that the Question by Vairocana to Guru Padmasambhava: all sentient beings who transmigrate the three worlds and consideration of the dimension of hell is the dimension of How did our illusion start? And how was it when we were the six lokas, also their condition is non-dual and from heat. So everything in a real sense is manifesting the real not falling into illusion? the beginning the self-perfected state. nature of the three kayas.

Guru Padmasambhava replied to Vairocana: Vairocana asked again to Guru Padmasambhava: With that knowledge arises and there is no need to think Listen Vairocana; in general, there are many systems that How can we have that illusion without knowing our real ‘we have such knowledge’ or ‘we have realization’ or ‘we establish what the base is. Some call it emptiness, some condition? are transmigrating and missing that knowledge’. Just be in call it clarity, some diverse kinds, some kadag since the that real condition and discover that being in that kind of beginning pure, or lhundrub, and since the beginning Guru Padmasmbhava responded to Vairocana: presence everything is part of our . That medi- self perfected state. Despite these many considerations, Our real condition is emptiness and clarity, without inter- tation is the dimension of dharmakaya and we know this is if we fall into a single , it is not perfect. In Dzogchen ruption, and in Dzogchen we call this zhönnu pumku (gzhon our real condition. With this knowledge alive in you, there Upadesha, how the concrete situation is, how sentient be- nu bum sku), zhönnu means youth, fresh; pum or pumpa is no need to meditate on something else. Just that is the ings’ condition is and how the real state of enlightened means vase, ku means dimension. So our potentiality di- state of Dzogchen self liberation. beings is, are explained with three characteristics. mension is like a light in a vase; that light is already there. When that light is manifest outside, this is the sambogha- Sentient beings are training in samsara and fall in dualism The essence is emptiness, so there is no object and no kaya manifestation. Generally we don’t have that capacity. by having a concept of subject and object. Even with just a birth and it never changes its condition. So our consider- Then our light and wisdom, everything, remains like in a little teaching and method and no real knowledge of self- ation of good and bad as something from the beginning vase. When that light manifests as fi ve colors represent- liberated state, they go up and down, negating, purifying, pure is the base of all manifestation. Even though there is ing fi ve wisdoms, we do not recognize that as the wisdom. meditating, and creating all these problems because they nothing to confi rm concretely, it is pervasive and can open How is it that we do not understand? Not knowing our don’t have knowledge or understanding. everything for manifesting form, name and color, etc., real condition is just like eyes that see everything, but not and beyond all these limitations. So it is ‘unborn’ and be- our own eyes. If you look in a mirror you can see them, but Another time, Guru Padmasambhava said: yond any aggregation. So this is the explanation of empti- that is another thing. When we have that kind of problem If we want to apply the essence of the teaching very precise- ness in the real sense. it is because we are ignorant from the beginning and that ly, we should understand our real nature of mind is since is called lhenkye marigpa. the beginning unborn. This means it has its qualifi cation Its nature is clarity. Even though we have contact with ob- and clarity. That condition we have in ourselves since the jects, there is no interruption of the potentiality of the fi ve It has its movement of wisdom. But when we do not have beginning. Now we don’t need to search and fi nd it. So colors. With no obstacles that means there are no limita- that knowledge, understanding or recognition of our real this is our real nature that is manifesting different aspects. tions. It is empty like a refl ection in the mirror, not existing nature, immediately we have dualism vision. Maybe we We are being concretely in the state where there is no du- precisely like an object. Even if we enjoy, we go between think, “Oh I am here and I am seeing lights.” That is why alistic difference, like with the mind, and with our senses our qualifi cations and can have everything we desire. Not it is important if we have visions in our practice not to fall we are discovering this. We are not negating or changing having any problems outside and inside is the potentiality into dualism vision. You become attached and happy when anything. We relax in that state without attachment. of the fi ve colors. So its characteristic since the beginning, you have visions. Then there can be no progress; this vi- thought, everything, its real nature has never been moved sions will be blocked and never repeat again. Our dualistic At the beginning there is no origin. Nothing is coming or modifi ed. vision blocks. So all of our concepts, ego, me, I, others, from somewhere so this is the essence of emptiness. There race, color, name, everything manifests and with our three is no place where it is remaining. This is the nature of clar- We are not just considering emptiness or considering emotions we produce and with this potentiality of ity. There is no place where it fi nishes or goes to. This is clarity. It is not that we add something for explaining. It is karma, we produce our impure, samsaric vision. When the nature of no interruption, self liberated. Nothing ex- beyond any kind of judgment. Even though we try to add we see thigles with colors we get attached. If sounds and ists concretely. We want to explain with different words a name or quality we cannot. With this experience we can letters manifest we are immediately attached; we are at- but it is diffi cult to do because its real nature is empty and discover emptiness and even with this discovery, its clarity tached to all enjoyments of senses. Then we produce the it has its qualifi cation self-perfection without the need is never missing, just like a crystal rock. It was not creat- three worlds and the six lokas. to produce or develop anything. Our nature of mind has ed by Buddha nor modifi ed by sentient beings. It was not nothing concrete. When we are in a state of meditation, changed nor anything modifi ed. When we have knowl- So that means that if we know the wrong point in our con- there is nothing to meditate. There is nothing to meditate. edge and wisdom, we discover that. dition, in absolute truth the condition samsara never ex- There is no one meditating. isted. Also the relative condition as something concrete Also any kind of defect of sleeping or agitation states are There are two qualities of knowledge. One is for the ben- never existed. We are in the non-dual knowledge of the all related with thoughts, so don’t keep or hold any con- efi t of self-realization and the other for sentient beings. two truths. When did our illusion start and when will it sideration. Knowing everything is non-dual with your real We do not separate the aspects samsara and . It is fi nish so we can have total realization? We go beyond all nature, your potentiality, then any kind of idea you have, not that there is something entering and returning. Also these concepts. it is better not to keep it as something concrete as it is all we cannot separate vision and emptiness. We cannot limit related with mind. You don’t need to confi rm that some- with colors. Also with name, we cannot limit with judg- When our six senses are in contact with objects in an or- thing exists or that something else doesn’t or that one way ments of good and bad. So the essence is empty, its nature dinary way we have attachment in an ordinary way with is the correct way and the other way is not. In that way all is clarity and its potentiality is without interruption. all its concepts. But with this knowledge, that its essence defects liberate. >> continued on next page is emptiness, just that knowledge is dharmakaya. The knowledge that its nature is clarity, that knowledge is THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Teaching

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Transmission, Experience, and the Dream Practice From a teaching by Yeshi Silvano Namkhai, at Tsegyalgar East, on June 7, 2008

have experiences when we hear real condition, then you wouldn’t the teaching. This is correct, need to do Yeshe Sangthal, or even and we should attend teachings. think about the letter A. Imme- It doesn’t matter whether your diately, as Rinpoche talks about teacher is speaking Italian, Eng- , you would lish, or reading some text in Ti- have this experience. It is like betan. If he is talking about a cer- when we say that there are some tain experience, then it is normal people that can open a book writ- to have that experience in that ten in another language, and im- moment. This is what usually mediately have visions and ex- happens. First you have a gen- perience of the contents therein. eral introduction of information. This is very related to your state Then you have a sort of explana- of presence, and whether or not tion of how this experience could you have this kind of vision. be. This is the symbolic explana- tion, like the explanation of the Sometimes we create a kind of mirror or the crystal, which is fantasy about the transmission, given in order to help you under- and how it works. It is better to stand the essence of the experi- be a little clear about this. You Photo: M. Schmookler ence. This experience in itself has can only have an experience of the power to give you wisdom, how the transmission works in a i lam (dream practice) If we dream, whatever is on our you learned that you could visual- like clarity or emptiness, for ex- dream. You can immediately rec- is an Upadesha prac- mind will probably also be in our ize a red ball at the throat in order ample. You need to have this kind ognize this when you have an ex- Mtice. This means that dreams. You should not be sur- to develop your dream practice. of experience. perience of clarity in your dream. it is about experience. Rinpoche prised that you dream about cer- Or, maybe you learned that you When you become aware of the has explained Mi lam many times, tain things. For example, some could visualize a ball that moves You can’t talk about the teaching dream, you can recall anything so you have already received this people tell me, “I had this dream, up from the center of your body, without having had experience of you have been doing during the practice. Therefore I will not ex- and there was some seed sylla- similar to the visualization in the it. You can talk, but it is very con- day, such as Guruyoga, for ex- plain the terms, or give transmis- ble or color.” Many times we re- practice. Then maybe you nected to the transmission. This ample. If you train yourself to sion of Mi lam. Instead I will go ceive teachings - we listen to the forgot, or you tried to apply this means that it is very connected do a lot of Guruyoga during the a bit deeper and explain how to teaching, and then we forget. It’s but never succeeded. One day, it with your own experience. At a day, then the fi rst time you have create or provoke experiences. normal. We always forget. Then, may happen that you have some certain point, there can be a for- a dream in which you are aware When we go to sleep and start to what happens? Maybe we have a clarity during a dream and this mal act. For instance, you can you are dreaming, and Guruyoga dream, of course it is very good if dream, and in the dream we are a experience immediately appears. practice different methods based will manifest in your dream. we have positive experiences like little aware. Obviously, if we are a We are much more powerful in on the experiences of emptiness, awareness. But before we talk little aware, what is most impor- our dreams. When you have this sensation, or clarity. You have If you keep the commitment to do about a teaching like the dream tant? For us, it is the teaching. experience, you can recall it when already received direct introduc- Guruyoga most of the time, then it practice, it is important to under- you are awake. tion many times, through meth- will also come out in your dreams, stand that whatever we receive as Even if we forget a teaching, it ods like Yeshe Sangthal. There are but differently. Normally you have an image or vision, as our experi- is somewhere very deep in our We are not doing these things also many methods that use the idea of the A and thigle, which ence, comes from our mind. mind and it can immediately in order to perform magic and Hum. These are more connected is a sort of symbol. The thigle is a come back. If it comes back, spend our life sleeping. We are with the experience or feeling of ball that represents your primor- First of all, you should be aware then “poof!” You immediately not interested in this. We do bliss. Sometimes you have this dial state and your potentiality to that our mind has a lot of capac- have a vision about it. It’s like you these things in order to obtain experience during this moment, manifest wisdom. In dreams, it ity. It has a lot of potentiality, have the whole experience of the experience and knowledge. At and sometimes you don’t. But will be completely different. You and can manifest many things. teaching in that moment. Maybe a certain point, we immediately if you were totally aware of your will not have this idea. Instead you will feel like you are inside this thigle. You will start to feel and un- >> continued from left page derstand that a thigle is not only a Even in thought there is nothing concrete, so it self liber- ject is refl ected in the mirror. The refl ection can appear symbol or a colored ball, but also ates. So any concept that arises in your mind, don’t con- because the mirror has that potentiality. But the refl ec- something that goes far beyond sider it concrete, rather relate it to movement. If we are tion is not the nature of the mirror; refl ections are just like your human condition. not giving too much importance and we are in that state thoughts, emotions and any relative condition. of knowledge and understanding, then everything liber- You have experience of life. In ates and you are in your real nature. All these are differ- Our real nature is not that we become like a stone. It may dreams, you have a mental body ent words but in essence don’t be distracted and be in manifest the sensation of bliss but this is not concrete ei- and can actually feel pain. But your real presence. When you are in your real nature and ther and is not created by secondary causes. Also there is a this pain is not real. You may feel not distracted, then you do not need to create, modify or kind of all-pervasive clarity manifesting and even if we can pain, fear, or different emotions. change. feel it, we can’t explain this experience. In the same way, you can have ex- periences of clarity, understand- This is a kind of introduction in a real sense by explaining This is shine and lhagtong, the non-dual state. That is non- ing, or emptiness – all the basic how your real nature is. But of course no one can really dual, nyamzhag and jethob; nyamzhag means when you are experiences that are the base of explain in words. So there are many words with a lot of in a state of meditation and jethob means you are fi nished knowledge in Dzogchen. It is very detail. and are in an ordinary condition. important to have experience. If That concept we have of samsara and nirvana is in the state you don’t have experience, it is So it says: of self -liberation. All phenomena are unreal, like birth like you are only reciting man- Fresh, when did it start and when did it fi nish? It is beyond and death, etc. When we have this experience, this is then tras. You can stay there for hours this. something like a sword for cutting through samsara. and hours with a mala reciting, “ Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani The real relaxed state, like tregchöd, is beyond modifying, This is like a military general subduing all emotions. Padme Hum,” but it takes a long changing or creating something. time to have knowledge practic- This is the essence of all Tantric teaching. ing this way. Only reciting man- The real nature is clear, but not made clear by secondary tras is a very long road. Doing causes or effort, but manifests itself, its real nature It is like the heart of all dakinis. Guruyoga correctly is a lot faster. It has more meaning, makes you Any thought, big, small, medium, good, bad, or neutral, It is like a drop of the blood of my heart. feel better, and somehow, you our real nature is beyond all these thoughts. Thoughts are will start to have experiences of a function of mind, and mind is in time. Our real nature, Only with this knowledge can you have total realization.  joy or bliss. dharmata, is beyond time. * Shulen is what a student asks a teacher to clarify knowledge Transcribed by Anastasia McGhee Just like a mirror, refl ections are relative because if in front and edited by Anna Bartenstein of the mirror there is an interdependent object, that ob- Transcribed and edited by Rosemary Friend and Naomi Zeitz THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 News

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by all and the Auction Committee The Essential Dzogchen Teaching of had a good deal of money. Sangyas Lingpa according to the The weather Sunday morning was yet another day of perfec- Longsal Teaching tion, which only slightly off set New York Retreat the sadness of the ending of our May 23–25, 2008 Retreat. It is very hard to fi nd oneself in the presence of Chö- gyal Namkhai Norbu and not Kevin Heaney wish that experience to just keep going. Rinpoche spent his time ew York City prides it- accompanied him. Needless to with us concluding the Teaching self as being the gate- say, the New York Community and providing lungs for a number Nway to America and a was thrilled with the prospect of of practices. destination for tens of millions the Teacher visiting. As you may The rest of Sunday’s schedule of visitors every year. Yet Chögyal expect, there was a whole lot of approval for the entire affair. The on the Ganapuja. The wonder- included a demonstration of the Namkhai Norbu had not visited cleaning and polishing in addi- Retreat was held in the Armenian ful Volunteer Workers of Retreat Dance of the Vajra and a detailed New York City since 2005. This tion to the excitement over the Church, the site of the 2005 Re- then fl ew into action and pre- explanation of Tibetan Medicine situation was corrected over the offi cial visit. Rinpoche led the treat. The room fi lled quickly, pared mixed banquet plates for by Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, the weekend of May 23, 24, and 25 Community in a Short Thun and and soon it was necessary to add three hundred guests and a rapid co-director of the Shang Shung when Rinpoche returned to give the Community regaled him with four more rows of chairs as peo- serve wine bar in less than two Institute in Conway, Massachu- a three-day retreat on The Essential song and poetry, tea and treats. ple kept coming in. In the end, hours. The ‘behind the scenes’ setts. The weekend also included Dzogchen Teaching of Sangyas Lingpa After Rinpoche and Rosa left, over 250 individuals attended the was a bit frantic and wild but a talk and slide show by Ed Hayes according to the Longsal Teaching. Yeshi remained and gave an in- Friday evening session. Rinpoche no one on the other side of the on Khandroling, The Sacred Land Before the weekend of the spiring talk on the blending of taught for over two hours and a kitchen wall would have known. in Buckland, Massachusetts, and Teaching began, Rinpoche visited our principles and organization long procession of students met Rinpoche led a Ganapuja, which an explanation of the range of the New York City Community for the greater good of all. This with him individually until after was a powerful experience for activities at Kundrolling of New Center, Kundrolling, at its loca- was unexpected and incredibly il- ten o’clock. students both old and new. York City, so that anyone in the tion on Thirtieth Street and Sev- luminating. The whole Commu- Saturday morning began with The evening became more New York can continue the work. enth Avenue. The idea for the ling nity was electrifi ed and empow- an hour explanation of Yantra spirited as the Annual New York Our only hope is that New York had been birthed at the good- ered to keep moving forward. Yoga by Fabio Andrico. Rinpoche Auction provided a heavy fl ow of City will not have to wait so long bye party for Rinpoche in 2005. The weather in New York for continued the Teaching of Sang- wine and cash. The greatest in- for the return of Our Teacher! This was his fi rst visit to the cen- the next four days was just per- yas Lingpa up to lunch. Jim Valby terest was in the calligraphy by ter. His wife Rosa and son Yeshi fect; nature was expressing her provided an extended teaching our Master. A good time was had

>> Being present continued from page 1 direct transmission was given by then remain in the state of medi- me Lingpa’s teaching. Dzogchen continued for a few minutes after titioners, even when not showing the method of Yeshes Zangthal us- tation.” means going beyond limits, and the webcast. He distributed tag- it on the outside, but having that ing the experience of clarity. “Our “If you do that, then just like to communicate that principle, drol, (liberation by wearing) and knowledge, they know how to be life if full of experience,” said the waves of the ocean, even if Rinpoche related a delightful explained the important rituals in the state of dharmakaya, in in- Rinpoche in explanation. “We there are big waves, fi nally all story about attending a confer- and relics connected to Tibetan stant presence, and they repeat learn everything from experience. waves disappear by itself. There ence of Buddhist teachers where Buddhist rites of the dead. that, growing more familiar with So we can learn for discovering is no need for antidote. In the he could not easily be placed In the afternoon, Yeshi Sil- it. And later, when they have no our real nature from experience. same way, thoughts also disap- in a by the organizers vano Namkhai gave a talk about obstacles of physical body, which That is the unique way. Even in pear by themselves. This is the since he had been trained in a collaboration in the Dzogchen is death, transferred into the state teaching, ex- principle of self liberation.” monastery, recognized as Community. Yeshi emphasized of dharmakaya, and that is contin- planation, they say it is beyond Later that same afternoon, a reincarnation, and given the need for experience to put ued in the state of dharmata.” words, beyond explanation. In a the Community gathered a sec- many Dzogchen teachings by his our teachings into context and That afternoon, the retreat real sense, the method is we are ond time to receive the Medicine uncles and his root teacher. The how working with the Dzogchen gathered for a second Gana puja working with our experiences.” Buddha empowerment at the re- organizers fi nally gave him a Ny- Community offered that op- with Rinpoche. Afterwards, On the third day, our attention quest of Shang Shung Institute. ingma identifi cation badge, but portunity for practitioners. “If there was a wonderful slide show remained almost exclusively on A few days later in the retreat, an old Kagyu friend begged to we get experience and we use in about the history of Khandro- Jigme Lingpa’s Upadesha text. As Rinpoche distributed a sadhana differ. “We should always work practice it becomes knowledge,” ling that kicked off a fundraising background, Rinpoche presented and gave precise instructions on with circumstance,” Rinpoche he observed, sharing his own auction to benefi t the plans to a remarkably concise overview of how to perform the practice. concluded. “Then there is no rich personal history growing up refurbish and expand the retreat the three paths of Dzogchen , Monday morning brought the problem.” at the center of the Community. center and universal . Longde, and Upadesha. He shared entire teaching to Khandroling. Later, tregchöd was discussed. Additionally, on Saturday right And the following morning, a signifi cant dream years earlier Everyone witnessed the orga- Rinpoche noted that “break- after the retreat, he presented a Rinpoche concluded with teach- from Naples wherein his root nizers’ and volunteers’ remark- through” is an imprecise trans- teaching on the Dzogchen base, ings on everyday living and trid- guru Changchub Dorje urged able feat of transporting an en- lation, suggesting “total relax- focusing on the theme of experi- lungs of the collective practices him to begin thögal practice and tire retreat to the land with great ation” is a more helpful ren- ence, in particular what is gained of the Dzogchen Community. At later he sat before a very youthful ease and comfort. The weather dering. “We don’t know how through dream practice. the end, at Rinpoche’s request, Jigme Lingpa who gave teachings was clear and breezy. Seated on to relax,” he continued. “With On Thursday, a second day of great cheers of greeting rose up related to the practice. a throne alongside the Univer- tregchöd, our body, speech, and bardo teachings was given with from the schoolhouse fl oor to the One of the retreat’s central sal Mandala at the start of the mind become free, not bound or emphasis on the Chosnyid Bardo more than twelve hundred web- topics was integrating presence teaching, Rinpoche performed limited. Our consciousness or (Bardo of Dharmata) and Sridpa cast connections, to all the Vajra and contemplation in daily life. Sang and Serkyem transmissions presence is not conditioned by Bardo (Bardo of Existence). Here brothers and sisters listening and Jigme Lingpa offered a series of and rituals. Later, the assembly tensions or attention.” the explanations focused on the watching, joined together beyond short instructions on develop- sang the Song of Vajra as danc- He summarized the path of practice of the night. “The most the usual limitations of space. ing the capacity to observe one’s ers performed the Vajra Dance. practice further: “First we learn important thing for learning and The retreat had come to mental state. “When thought More teaching on Jigme Lingpa’s presence. Then presence be- applying knowledge of the bardo an end. Undoubtedly, we had fi rst arises, you are observing Upadesha text followed. After- comes familiar. No need for any is the practice of the night,” said grown more present alongside the face, not judging thought, wards, a picnic lunch was served, effort. Then later it becomes per- Rinpoche. “When we are sleep- Rinpoche’s spacious presence. whether good or bad,” Rinpoche and we were all graced with im- fected, and life becomes part of ing until we have dreams and un- The efforts of teachers, organiz- explained from the text. “This is promptu performances while presence. Now then, we integrate til waking up, this is very similar ers, and so many volunteers had called self liberation. In Sutra, newcomers were given tours of with instant presence and we be- to the process of dying and re- come to fruition, creating a won- we need antidotes; in , the land and retreat cabins. But come perfect Dzogchen yogi or birth.” derful retreat for the entire Com- we need transformations: in the highlight of the day had to Dzogchen practitioner.” He offered a suggestive exam- munity. “The essence, of course, Dzogchen, we are not doing this be Rinpoche’s two joyful swims, On June 4th, the retreat moved ple. “The Dzogchen practitioner is Guruyoga,” Rinpoche had because Dzogchen teaches self surrounded by students tread- on to the second topic. Rinpoche is just like an eagle’s egg,” he said. said earlier in the teaching, and liberation.” ing water in the frigid lake. “It is focused on the Kyechi Bardo (Bardo “I know how this is explained in so we fi nished as we had begun He expanded. “How are we warm!” Rinpoche yelled out, en- of the Lifetime) and Chikha’i Bar- Dzogchen tantra, even though I seven days before: practitioners, self liberating? We are observ- couraging onlookers to enter the dos (Bardo of Moment of Death). have never seen an actual eagle both present and by webcast, ing only thoughts’ face. When water. At the end of the morning teach- egg. But this egg is different than performed a fi nal Guruyoga, fol- we observe, it is self liberated. Tuesday marked the return ings, transmission and instruc- other eggs, because when it is lowed by the Song of the Vajra Nothing remains. Even if there to the announced schedule and tion was given for the shitro prac- open, that small eagle is perfect and a closing dedication. are thoughts, we don’t follow the familiar schoolhouse Gonpa tice from the terma of Mingyur for fl ying. No need for perfect- thoughts, only we observe and with further explanations of Jig- Dorje. This morning, Rinpoche ing. That means Dzogchen prac- THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Interview

5

“When you discover one, you discover all.” Interview with Yeshi Namkhai

June 3, 2008

The Mirror: At a recent talk at to Dzogchen than to the Sakyapa Tsegyalgar East you mentioned tradition, of which the monastery that while you were visiting Tibet is a part. I expect more Dzogchen for your enthronement ceremony experience, since I’ve passed my at your monastery, you had some whole life as a Dzogchen prac- kind of awakening experience. titioner. I am more interested in Would you like to tell us some- knowledge and awareness than in thing about that? rituals or ‘sacred’ things. When Yeshi Namkhai: Yes. An awak- an event of awakening happens ening experience isn’t like what you start to have thoughts that you might see in a movie. Its not are not from your mind or from like you go some place, a mon- within you. It is not that you start Yeshi Namkhai meets with the Tsegyalgar East Gakyil and Community, June 5, 2008. Photo: M. Schmookler astery for example, and you are to have memories, but you have supposed to be the head of this experiences that are completely this was psychologically terrible. and visions about them where I the asked me to go to the monastery. In the movies they in- from outside of your own mind, It was always very diffi cult for saw them young. During my four college up in the hills. While I was vite you when you are very young, based on things you don’t know. me to accept. In the same year I days in Tibet I gave these bless- there, I found the only place that present you with objects and spe- It is very strange because you rec- achieved everything I had wanted, ings and attended the dances of I recognized from my dreams. cial things that should belong to ognize, for example, an environ- including a nice job, a good posi- the summer festival, which is the I had many dreams in my child- you, and you magically recog- ment that you really don’t know. tion in society, children, my wife; most important festival in the hood about Tibet, but they were nize these objects. You recognize Like for those of us from the everything was more or less what area. Usually all the Tibetans have very different from what I saw in these objects because you played Dzogchen Community, we relate I expected from life. Also I dedi- this sort of festival. It is sort of re- the pictures of Rinpoche’s trav- that bell all your life. Or if you did to Tibet through the words of our cated myself to the Community, ligious and mixed, and maybe it is els or the pictures from ASIA. I something more Tantric, maybe Teacher, not from our own expe- which I knew would be very hard. the only time of year when young never saw anything that looked you used a purba. Or if you did a rience. Even if we go there, we go I started and committed to this boys and girls can meet, so there like that in my dreams. For years lot of Tantric I suppose because we are interested in the big project [the Dzogchen Com- is a lot of movement. I dressed in I was convinced that this reincar- you recognize your hat, all these teaching and to see Tibet. What munity Reorganization Project]. I Tibetan style and they asked me nation story could be real, but I ritual things. Probably though, if we recognize from Tibet and Ti- decided that one of the most im- to dress like a monk. I refused, so never saw anything I could recog- you are a Dzogchen practitioner, betan culture is the land, the envi- portant things was to end up with I dressed in the usual colors be- nize. I had this idea that I should you would take the fi rst bell that ronment, etc. However, what we a journey to Tibet. I planned to tween yellow and orange, like a recognize something. I thought you found, and you would not relate to are Rinpoche’s words, go in December. Then I had three . We did a very long mandala it should be like in a movie. use a hat or all this equipment. It because this is the main source of dreams that were a little similar. in the Sakyapa style. The Everyone has this kind of idea. would be very hard to recognize our understanding of Tibet. In two of the dreams there was people were very moved and hap- When I was young I had this these objects and in reality it is I was expecting something a lot of violence with blood and py because they had been waiting dream of something that looked kind of strange. more like this. Instead I had real fi ghting. The third one was full for me for thirty-seven years. like a very tall, white egg. It was It is also very hard to recognize and familiar thoughts and feel- of obstacles and problems, main- The people from Galenting in a strange place with refl ecting things in Tibet because the Chi- ings that were from another en- ly related to ASIA, which would asked me to do Shitro, but it was colors like metals inside a very old nese Revolution has destroyed ev- vironment completely. It was a block me. I would be stuck and the one practice text I had forgot- monastery in a very green valley. I erything. You fi nd very little that little confusing at fi rst. Slowly I have to stay in the airport, a lot ten to bring, and I hadn’t memo- always had these images. When is original, and what you fi nd has passed from having these kinds of very complicated things. At rized it totally. Rinpoche did this I went up in this valley I realized been rebuilt. For example, the of thoughts and memories to that point I called Luigi and Mig- Chang-Chog of the Namchö Shitro that this was that place. The sang- ASIA organization has done a lot to having clear images, mental im- mar and I said that we would go for John Shane’s father at Merigar kang was built wrong. It was not make everything alive, as it was in ages, from the moment of death to Tibet the next month. Migmar with the fi nal part of burning the really correct and it looked more the past or similar to the past, but to the moment of . Like prepared and somehow in about name – like he did in November in like an egg than a sangkang. I said, actually a lot of things have been from today you go back and back two weeks we were ready to leave. Merigar. We didn’t have a booklet “Look, how strange!” Usually rebuilt in a more modern style. So and back, and then slowly you We went without saying much. I of this practice then, but we had sangkangs are quite small, but this if you recognize something new, start to remember everything. wrote an email to Rinpoche and notes. I didn’t remember how to one was higher than normal, a bit that would be strange. There are You remember all that happened told him I was going. That’s all. do the burning, so I just left that like an egg and quite tall. Then I other changes in the small towns, before your birth, and you start to When I arrived there, the fi rst part out and did the whole prac- looked on the other side and I saw services like water, electricity, - remember everything backwards night I had very strong dreams. tice as usual. I didn’t have any im- the valley of Galenting. At that bile phones, satellite TV. A lot of until the moment you died. They were not like normal ages of these people. I only had moment the sun was refl ecting things have changed completely. This is more or less the main dreams, but more like visions. their names written on the paper. very strongly on the water and it From this point of view it would memory I have. I don’t have any They were so strong that I could Rinpoche explained once in looked like metal. I started to re- also be strange to recognize the clear memories before the mo- not integrate with anything. I had France what to do if you don’t call this dream and I recognized same place. ment of death and rebirth. I have a lot of strange experiences that have the picture or any support that this was the same place as in Actually, there wasn’t any elec- thoughts, more or less like you were quite realistic, and some- to burn, but I didn’t remember. I my dream. Slowly I went into the tricity when I was at the monas- have a consciousness. It’s like you times I wasn’t even sure if I was fi nished the practice around mid- college and I recognized every- tery. The lights went out for sev- have another consciousness, and dreaming or not. The whole night night, and it was very long and in- thing. Of course, inside the main eral days and we only had candles this consciousness is suggest- passed like this, and I had very in- tensive. I tried to sleep and relax building of the college it was or small lamps to light our way. ing memories, ideas, or experi- teresting visions, mostly related to see if it would come by itself totally different. In my dreams The monastery was completely ences to you. In the end you have to . I also had several during the night. At about two or there was a precise logic. On one rebuilt with the help of our peo- to guess whether these ideas are experiences that are usually ex- three in the morning I had a very side there were certain kinds of ple of ASIA, people who also be- real or not. At the beginning I had plained during the direct trans- clear dream. In the dream I did guardians and in the center was long to the Dzogchen Communi- a lot of confusion and I could not mission, like clarity, one after the this practice and completed every- our Dzogchen lineage. But in the ty, but it was rebuilt in a different sleep for many days because all other. Also some things I experi- thing. I asked how to complete college it was all Sakyapa style in- style because it was not possible this was manifesting. It was like enced in my childhood came back the practice and it came out by stead and not really correct. The to recreate it in the same style. something opened and its fl ow by themselves. As soon as some- itself: this image with the central place was not really cared for and Also a lot of the older people liv- could not be stopped. The fi rst thing disappeared, something HUM, the papers, the hundred there were some broken ing near the monastery were no night I slept in Khyentse’s room, else appeared. The second night I syllable mantra going around, around. It was not very nice to longer available, and the young in this house that was completely started to have a more logical and and it started to burn by itself. see. But it was the right place, and people didn’t have the knowl- rebuilt, more or less in the same complete understanding. It was It lasted for half an hour, some- there was the right object on the edge of how things were. There style. At the beginning it did not as if there was a scene and you thing like this. I felt happy that I altar. I could recognize and guide were a few very old people still stop for fi ve days. I had so many could see the different aspects. fi nished it because at least in the every step. I knew this place ex- there, but some were blind and dreams and visions. I also had a lot of things to do, morning I wouldn’t have this job. actly. I asked when this place was some very old, so they could only I decided to go to this monas- and we only had four days in Ti- It’s not nice if you say you will do rebuilt. They said that this place kind of understand what we said. tery in Tibet because I had received bet. I had a lot of meetings and I something and then you can’t was not rebuilt, but was built When you are eighty years old it an invitation every year saying, had to give blessings. About one complete it. completely from scratch by ASIA, can be hard to remember and re- “We are very old now and we have thousand people came to ask for I completed the other things in 2004 or 2005. It was some- count your memories. not seen you since you left us. blessings, and I felt I could not that were on the schedule, all the thing very new. Then I under- When I was at the monastery We want to see you again before ignore this. There were some old meetings, and then on the last stood that since I was three years I had more experiences related we die.” When I was very young, people, and I had experiences day I gave a talk. Before leaving, old I had been dreaming about THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Interview

6 the future. Thus it was not real- looked, so for me he was a gen- up, read this part. If you don’t I took the book down to break- it has a very nice smell.” So she ly a matter of recognizing a past eral Buddha. He told me what he read this part you will forget fast. My children saw the book smelled this smell and the chil- life. This was interesting because was, I was not really sure. this dream because you are still and they wanted to see everything. dren were laughing and everyone I understood that it was probably not like your Teacher. You will At a certain point, Diego opened was very happy. So something was correct to go to Tibet now and not The Mirror: You received terma not be able to write down every- the book to the Medicine Buddha working. Then I thought, well, before. Otherwise there wouldn’t teachings? thing perfectly. It takes time, and and said, “Who is this?! I want this something was working with this have been any meaning for me to Yeshi: It’s not really terma. I don’t you need to train this capacity. It one. I like this one. Can we take mantra. The statue was empow- dream this for years. know if we have to fi x on this doesn’t come from one day to the this book home?” and Rinpoche ered somehow. Then I closed the idea of terma teachings. I can say I next. You have to be trained to do said, “Yes, sure, take it, take it.” statue and put it on the altar. This The Mirror: Where is Galenting have very precise dreams where I this.” Then he showed me these Diego was very fascinated by this was my fi rst dealing with Medi- located? receive teachings, and this was a pages again so I could remember image of Medicine Buddha. I had cine Buddha. Yeshi: My monastery is in Galen- very simple dream. It was a teach- perfectly, and he said, “Now I will the webcast and a lot of things to ting, in Central Tibet. It is very ing like the one I just received show you certain things about do because there was a teaching The Mirror: And now here we had beautiful there, and looks like where we don’t sing. It was the your life and your capacity. Don’t that morning. I went to the Insti- the Medicine Buddha Empower- the Alps. It is very green, with second practice, not the fi rst one. fi x on the idea of being someone. tute to work with Luigi, and Egle ment with Rinpoche. [see page 13] very high mountains, and a lot of The Mingjyur Dorje one, where This is your life and what counts and the children decided to go to Yeshi: Yes, I didn’t even know we water. It is full of these very rare there are only two .1 The is your actual condition. You are the Gonpa a half-hour before the would have this empowerment. fl owers that you fi nd in the Alps, explanation was exactly this one a Dzogchen practitioner and you teaching so she could show them I only discovered this a few days stella alpina, which can be white and it was very simple. should go on with this. But don’t the Gonpa. Normally you can’t go before leaving because Fabio said or blue. We were there in the These Buddhas were very hu- forget that you have to get your inside the Gonpa because there to me, “Listen, when you go to summertime and it was very nice man, not like in a thanka. You past knowledge and this will are so many people. When Diego Tsegyalgar you will have anoth- and warm. I washed in the river. don’t recognize them easily be- happen very fast. But you need arrived at the Gonpa he found Fa- er problem to manage. “ I said, What was interesting was cause they are moving and talk- some instruction. Keep in mind bio and Maurizio preparing for “What? I already have the web- that the day before I left, not the ing. In the dream I remembered that you have to study Ju Mipham the webcast. I was in the other cast.” He said, “No, you know day of the college but the eve- that Rinpoche always asks, “Who now.” He repeated these things building of the Institute and we there is an .” I said, ning before, I asked to go to the are you?” So I asked and he said, about Ju Mipham and I said ok, were testing. Diego went to the “There is an initiation of what?” old monastery. There is a room “Medicine Buddha.” Then I rec- and I promised this. center of the Gonpa and started He said, “Oh I don’t know, but that they don’t usually show be- ognized him immediately. He had Then he said, “Now it is very to shout, “Show me where the something to do with medicine. cause it is dirty and they are still already arrived in other dreams, late. It is about 3:40 am. We have Medicine Buddha is!” very loudly. But you have to deal with this.” I working on it. They were repair- but it was always a kind of test and been talking for more than an Fabio was a little shocked and he said, “Fabio, send me something ing the paintings on the wall. I was not ready yet, more like this. hour and a half, and remember said, “Listen, we don’t have the that explains this because I know Those days they were not work- He would tell me to try to remem- in dreams time and space are very Medicine Buddha in the Gonpa. I will do something stupid. I don’t ing there, however, because the ber, and to study like this or that. relative.” Then he said, “Your It’s not part of the lineage, and we know how to do this stuff. You electricity had gone out. I asked He told me, “You have this won- Teacher has already been up since don’t have it in the Gonpa.” And like this stuff, I am not the one to to go there, and while I was there derful Teacher,” and he showed 3 am. He is preparing a lottery be- he shouts at Fabio, “No you have do this.” Remember in Argentina I started to recognize some of me the Teacher’s capacity. He cause he is really worried about to show me, I know it’s here!” when we did this initiation? We these images. There was a big also often gave explanations like the Dzogchen Community.” Then Then at the end Fabio said, “I immediately made some mistake painting of Sambogakaya orna- this one of Minjyur Dorje. He he said, “Now you will wake up. will show you, I will show you.” and Fabio said, “But it is differ- ments, with a black background said, “Ah, but you received this Notice what time it is, and it will Fabio found an image on the In- ent from the other time.” And I and all gold things on it. I started from your Teacher so it isn’t im- be precisely this time. Don’t for- ternet, and then Diego was fi nally said, “Ok, well.” Basically this al- to remember something. I said, portant I talk about this. There get this so when you wake up you calm. For months Diego talked ways happens. So Fabio said that “There should be another room are other teachings from your lin- are sure this is not fantasy.” Then about the Medicine Buddha, so there is this initiation and I said, here with all these guardians and eage that you won’t receive easi- he said, “When you wake up, I bought a statue and authenti- “Oh, interesting.” Then I discov- things.” I asked them to come ly.” Then he said, “It is important immediately read this book and cated it. It was at our house for a ered the day before that it was the and open the room and tell me you read your Teacher’s book of write down this dream because year, and he was always looking at Medicine Buddha initiation. about it. Actually, I recognized Dorje Kotrab, Vajra Armor. This otherwise you will forget. Then this statue. I prepared this statue, most of these paintings. This was is important. You will fi nd it in go up and help your Teacher be- and I knew how to fi ll it because The Mirror: Yeshi, why have you the place where Rinpoche’s uncle the second part of this book, The cause he cannot do this all this I saw Rinpoche do it many times. decided to teach now, at this was practicing, the only real place Introduction to the Encyclopedia of work by himself.” So I woke up I thought I wouldn’t disturb him point in time? from that time. Nothing else was Ju Mipham. This is very important at 3:45 am and it was the precise and I would just do the minimum Yeshi: I decided to teach now sim- left. We took pictures of every- and you have to study it.” Then time that he said it would be. I authentication. So I just put the ply because I have no other pos- thing in that small room. he asked me to promise to study read this book, I read these lines correct mantra inside. I remem- sibility. “When you discover one, When I got back from Tibet, this and I said, “Listen, already in the encyclopedia, I checked bered the mantra from the dream, you discover all.” This happened I started to have real signs, im- the word ‘encyclopedia’ sounds all the things he said, and then I but I didn’t know how to write to me, and when you discover that portant signs. There were some like something very big. I am not wrote down this dream. it correctly. We didn’t have this you have capacity and develop- things I didn’t give really much good at studying.” If you have to Then I went upstairs and fantastic booklet from Rinpoche ment, it would be wrong to keep value to, but the important signs promise something and you can- Rinpoche had been up since 3 am. then, so I just found the mantra this only for yourself. Even here were that I started to have dreams, not do it, it is not good, no? “I The Medicine Buddha had shown on the Internet. It is everywhere. in these days at Tsegyalgar East, during the night. Not the kind of have to be honest, I am not able me the image of Rinpoche doing So I authenticated this statue. I I can’t sleep and I always have dreams we might expect – usual- to study this stuff,” I said. “How things and Rinpoche was dressed prepared everything and put some dreams about Longsal and the ly we dream about our life or our many pages is it? How many vol- exactly that way, in exactly that crystals inside, some jewels from Vajra Dance. My life has changed past life, more karmic dreams. umes?” He said, “At least twenty, condition. I prepared tea and our family, and some small things so much and I have to dedicate it Practically we invent something, between fi fteen and twenty vol- something for him to drink, and I have, like relics. Then I prepared to the Dzogchen Community and even if we say we had clarity umes.” I said, “No, listen.” then we prepared the whole lot- all the mantras, and put everything the Teaching, but most of all to dreams, we are always transform- tery together and joked a little bit. inside. Then I started to read the Rinpoche. Now I am having very ing something and at the end it The Mirror: What did he say? We fi nished at 6 am, so it was a mantra to do the empowerment. interesting dreams about the three becomes something ridiculous. [At this point there is a lot of joyful very long preparation. He is al- Usually we do the visualization levels of Vajra Dance: the move- In the past I used to have lot laughter] ways doing like this. It was very I received in the dream. The fi rst ment of how we do it now, the in- of dreams, also with Rinpoche, Yeshi: He said, “Don’t worry, you strange that morning. I didn’t re- time, I started to read the long and tegration of how it should be with but I never gave them any im- don’t have to study in the nor- ally know how this Medicine Bud- short mantra. I am allergic to cam- contemplation and instant pres- portance because he always said mal way. You will get the knowl- dha was, and I defi nitely never phor, an ingredient that is inside ence, the mandala, and the full that dreams are very relative and edge without reading all these think about the Medicine Bud- most incense, so I can burn only domain of form and the universe. shouldn’t be given any impor- things,” and then he showed me dha. I didn’t really have a clear a certain kind of incense. Other- I will practice and explain this to tance. The dreams I started to how to do it. “And now take this idea how he is usually presented. wise I start to have an asthma at- the Vajra Dance teachers as soon have after the trip to Tibet were book that you have,” he said. I In Rinpoche’s studio there was a tack. I don’t usually have incense as I realize it and also because completely different, however. I had just gone to the Shang Shung book called the Celestial Gallery. at home. I asked Egle if she had Rinpoche has asked me to. felt very awake with very stable Institute store near the Gonpa at It is a beautiful book full of im- some incense and she said, “No, awareness during the dreams. I Merigar and taken some books ages of Buddha. I asked Rinpoche no, we don’t have it. You don’t like The Mirror: Thank you so much always had a clear idea of what without looking at the front cov- about it and he said, “Yes, they it, so normally we don’t buy it. But for your time and for all you do time it was, and where I was. er. I just placed my hand to see are perfect and very nice.” He ex- you should look around because for us. Many people talk about near if I felt any sign. He showed me plained some of them to me. As maybe there are some old pieces death experiences. Most of the one of these books and he said, soon as I opened the book there in my box.” But it didn’t matter, Transcribed by Naomi Zeitz dreams were like this, where I “You took this book and that was was this image of the Medicine and I did it without incense. Then Edited by Anna Bartenstein and would see myself sleeping in my correct.” By correct he meant Buddha; it’s a very nice painting. I started to sing this melody that I Naomi Zeitz room. The fi rst dream like this that it was correct to take it from I didn’t tell Rinpoche about the heard on the Internet. It was sung was with the Medicine Buddha. a sign and not from mind, to use dream because I didn’t want to. in a very nice way, not like recit- 1 See The Practice of the Guru Medicine Buddha, For me, Buddha is general. I did my capacity. Then he showed me Then we went down for break- ing. I tried to sing it that way and taught by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Tsegyalgar East on June 5th, 2008. The section that Yeshi is not have a great knowledge of something, over and over, and fast and it was about 7 am. Diego, then after a while Egle came and talking about begins on page 5 of this practice. how the Five Dhyani Buddhas he said, “As soon as you wake Egle, and Mathilde woke up. said, “Oh you found the incense, THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Stories of the Masters

7

its to Bhutan on two occasions. The author again writes verses in Dorje Lingpa There is an interesting story that six syllables on much the same tells how Dorje Lingpa was re- theme as the previous poem, but ceived by a conventional estab- this time he was suffering from n extensive biography lishment after his roving about in an illness that inspired him to of Dorje Lingpa exists in such a country as Msnyul in the write a long poem. Here are fi ve AEnglish and has been pub- fourteenth century. lines from it: lished by scholar Samten Karmay in his article, Dorje Lingpa and His When Dorje Lingpa arrived at You, Rediscovery of the “Gold Needle” in the Shang valley in Tibet, Barawa small minded naive one, Bhutan: (Bhutan Studies Journal came to meet him bringing a pot from beginninglessness Volume 2 No. 2, 2000). of chang, a carcass of mutton and a until now Karmay writes, roll of white nambu cloth as gifts. however much you suffer He said to Dorje Lingpa, “Our it never seems to be enough!... Dorje Lingpa [1346–1405] was country Shang is a place where born in the district of Dra, south Buddhism fl ourishes. You have The texts of the songs are found of the Tsangpo river in Lhokha, been for too long in Lhomon, in the collected works, Vols. 18 Central Tibet. He lost his mother, ‘the unlit land’. Your clothes are and 19 in ume scripts, each in a Karmogyen, at the age of 3 and worn out. Tomorrow morning different hand. They are repro- father, Sonam Gyaltshen, at 7. when you come up, the monks ductions of a manuscript set pre- An aunt brought him up. His and nuns will pay you their re- served at Ogyen Choling. These childhood name was Ogyen cealed manuscripts’ by Vairo- wards the end of 1376, in which spects. You must dress yourself are beautifully executed manu- Zangpo. At the age of 8 he was cana. In a dream a monk gave year he returned to Tibet, he went properly. Otherwise our people scripts in the ancient style, com- symbolically ordained as a novice him a fl at bell (shang) and a thun- into retreat at Yangdzong Shelgyi will be shocked. I request you and mon among the Dunhuang docu- at Lharikha. At 13 he rediscov- derbolt (dorje) pointing with his Dragphug (probably today She- your entourage all to come well ments. The words, for instance, ered hidden manuscripts from fi nger toward the south and said, brag in Tang, Bumthang) for dressed.” Barawa went home. ending in a vowel have often the the ancient temple of Tradrug for “O! Your wealth portion (norkal) seven days in the second month The next morning a procession ’a as suffi x, (e. g. bsngo’a). Another the fi rst time. Among the manu- and your would-be converts are of the year. In the fi fth month, came along with the chief ladies characteristic is the shad in the scripts he found there were the down there, that way!” he gave teachings on Dzogchen wearing tiger and leopard masks form of two dots one on the top khachang ‘guides’ that indicated based on the Tawa Longyang. led by and learned monks. of the other often found in Dun- the existence of manuscripts Vairocana was an eighth century One night he had a dream of a Thereupon, Dorje Lingpa said, huang manuscripts. They are concealed in other places. Tibetan Buddhist monk believed woman who appeared to be in “All the Samsaric and Nirvanic called tershe and this is invariably to have practiced Buddhism and Lhasa. She gave him long reli- elements are much alike, but maintained throughout the two At 15, he disclosed a large num- Bon, the fl at bell being a symbol gious instructions and the next men of religion here have taken volumes although the texts of the ber of manuscripts at Namcha- of the Bon religion and vajra that morning he wrote them down. the notion of acceptance and re- songs are not, properly speaking, gdrag amongst which he found of tantric Buddhism. Dorje Lingpa During the seventh month of the jection as their main religion. To- of the terma revelation. the text Tawa Longyang. It became believed himself to be an embodi- same year he again gave teach- day I shall sing a song. Each man the basis of his Dzogchen teach- ment of the monk and took the ings on Dzogchen and this seems must hold the hands of a wom- These poetic writings certainly ings in later life. In this work he dream as an indication for fi nding to have been the last teaching he an in chain fashion!” He led the raise the status of Dorje Lingpa held some radical views on the hidden manuscripts in Tagtshang delivered in Bumthang. In the Lamas by holding the hands of as a literary fi gure, a fact that so main Dzogchen theories that Sengge Samdrub in Paro. He eighth month he returned to Tibet Lama Tongdenpa with his right far has not been recognized. The aroused a good deal of interest therefore set out on a pilgrimage taking the ancient route of Monla hand and the hands of the chief dominant theme in his songs is among his followers, as well as with the hope of divulging hidden karchung from Bumthang to Lho- lady wearing a mask with his left of course melancholic Buddhist eliciting severe criticisms from manuscripts. When he saw Paro drag. On the way he stopped in a hand. The lap parts of their dress- detachment from worldly life, the Gelugpa dialecticians (Kar- Chagkhar from a distance he was place called Kampotshol where es were trussed up on their right but within this they often echo may 1988: 186). In his book, The moved by its sight. He composed again he wrote down a dream he and left hand sides and they be- the socio-economic problems of Great Perfection, Karmay writes, a song expressing that although had there. He arrived in Lhodrag gan to dance. He started to sing real life in society. “...while ’s scho- he now found himself in a coun- in 1376. a song called ‘Brewing the year’s lastic approach was aiming at try that he did not know he felt crop of chang ale’: How He Passed From This World re-structuring and organizing very happy about everything that The Songs of Dorje Lingpa According to Dudjom Rinpoche’s the Dzogchen philosophy, Dorje he could see. There are no real detailed ac- Say that Dorje Lingpa, the chief of History of the School, Lingpa was still producing new counts of Dorje Lingpa’s life. No impostors, has come to this land. Dorje Lingpa completed his ser- materials which gave a further In 1370, Dorje Lingpa stopped at ‘biography’ of the namthar genre Say that all the (barley), the provision vice to beings in his sixtieth year. dimension to the doctrine. The Paro Tagtshang and revealed for exists except a sketch account to last all the year round is now being He then delivered his testament Tawa Longyang is perhaps the the fi rst time a certain number called namthar included in the used for brewing the chang. called The Great Prophetic Declara- best example among [his terma of hidden manuscripts that con- collected works. Say that those who have faith in him tion, and accompanied by won- texts]. (p. 217)”. From the same tained religious texts of Buddhist are performing the sacrifi cial cake rite. drous omens, he passed away at place he also revealed the Lama and Bonpo Dzogchen Apart from the bulk of the rit- Say that those who gather here are Traklong. Kadu amongst other ritual cycles. meditation. ual texts of terma origin, which singing and dancing joyously. The Lama Kadu is the ritual com- make up the whole of the col- Say that those who regard him as “His corpse remained [uncor- ponent of the annual festivals in In 1371, Dorje Lingpa performed lected works, Dorje Lingpa wrote heretical are vexed (by his presence). rupted] for three years, during several places in Bhutan today. what is known as the ‘public rev- a number of songs in verse. In which time it sometimes contin- elation’ (tromter) in at least two this enterprise he seemed to have This song suggests that Dorje ued to benefi t beings by speaking In 1362 he became known as places: at Ugyen Yiblung Dekyil- formed a habit of writing down as Lingpa’s behavior must have and reciting four-line dedications Dorje Lingpa at the age of 17, ing, accompanied by three hun- soon as the daybreak began what looked scandalous especially of . When Dorje Lingpa’s and is said to have revealed more dred people, and at Pungthang he could remember of religious since his friend Barawa warned remains were fi nally offered on manuscripts in four volumes that Dewa Dhenpo (Punakha). He instructions and prophecies that him to be decent, but there is no the funeral pyre many divine im- contained texts on such subjects seems to be the fi rst among the he believed to have received from record of what happened after the ages and relics appeared. With a as medicine, the Bon religion, Nyingmapa terton to initiate this the sages in his dreams during public meeting between the two. roar of the fl ames, his right foot astrology and the do rituals, [but tradition. It consisted in disclos- the night. There are other types of fl ew from the crematorium to his these have subsequently been ing manuscripts and other sacred songs containing didactic verses. Dorje Lingpa tried different po- spiritual son Tashi Jungne, and lost over time]. He continued to objects from a hidden place with A certain number of these songs etic styles which witnesses to his his left foot to Thokme Gyagarwa engage in similar ventures in var- the public witnessing the action are dated. I call them simply being a fi ne writer. In a short po- as their share of the remains. The ious places before he made his of disclosure. song, but in fact they are mostly etic verse he gives instructions relics from these multiplied many fi rst visit to Bhutan. His rediscov- what is known as gur, ‘mystical to himself in a self-deprecating times, and it appears that they ery of hidden manuscripts of texts In 1374 he set out to go to Bum- utterance’, a connotation of the tone, lasted until later times.” (p. 792) were so numerous that Sogdogpa thang and tried to cross over two term that developed later in the Lodro Gyaltshen describes them high passes covered with snow, Tibetan religious tradition. They You say you are a hermit, but you are Used with the kind permission of as ‘the mad treasures’(ternyon) but he suffered from snow-blind- are improvisations and often busier than anybody else; Jon Oda who compiled this informa- and most of these Dorje Lingpa ness and was obliged to retreat. given on the spur of the moment You say you don’t need much, but you tion from the biography by Samten claims to have already achieved He fi nally arrived at Bumthang. when one of the faithful asked use more things than anybody else; Karmay and Dudjom Rinpoche’s before the age of twenty – incred- In the same year he revealed more for them. You say you don’t want to take root ‘ History’, quoted at the end. ible as it may sound. hidden manuscripts from the anywhere, but you have more hermit- cave Nganlung situated near the Not long after his return to Tibet, ages than anybody else; Renditions of Dorje Lingpa’s poems by In 1369 aged 24, Dorje Lingpa lake Durtsho nagmo located in he is said to have paid a visit to You say you have no enemies, but you Jon Oda was staying in the hermitage of the Upper Chokhor, Bumthang. Choje Barawa, a friend of his, in are despised by more than anybody Chuwori in Yarto, Central Tibet. Shang. This is probably Barawa else.... http://www.tealchemy.org/ In this place he claimed to have Dorje Lingpa spent less than Gyaltshen Pelzang (1310–1391) where/rinpoche/dorjelingpa/ obtained a ‘guide’ to the ‘con- three years in Bumthang. To- who is known to have made vis- index.html THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 ASIA

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families fi nd themselves is seri- and local people more and more. to continue to accompany the Ti- ous economic diffi culties. The restrictive measures increase betan people towards a sustain- The Olympic torch arrived in day by day as the Olympics draw able development and to partici- Lhasa under heavy guard and the nearer. The question that many pate in the preservation of this ceremony took place quickly and people are asking is what will thousand year old culture is still under the control of hundreds of happen after the Olympics? Will very strong for all of us. But the policemen. The Chinese govern- China once again set off to be- time has come to direct our atten- ment has placed great store in the come a more open and demo- tion to all those countries in the arly in the morning of the and plastic tents to the popula- Olympics to improve its image as cratic country or will it close itself Himalayan area where Tibetan 14th of March, we were tion of Namba xiang in Pingwu a great economic power and even and take the country back to the Culture can survive for a longer Ewoken up by a telephone county, Mianyiang prefecture. the choice of the date August 8, time of the cold war and the cul- time and in peace. call from our project manager in ASIA’s collaboration with the 2008 was not chosen by chance. tural revolution? Lhasa who told us that the entire population and with the repre- Number 8 is considered lucky in Of course the areas inhabited ASIA-Onlus city was in fl ames and that there sentatives of the local govern- China. However 2008 is turning by the Tibetan minority will still Via S. Martino della Battaglia 31 was fi ghting, shooting and at- ment was immediate. And it was out to be a very critical year with have to pay a very high price and 0o185 Rome, Italy tacks all over the city. From that warmly received. The people the heavy snowfalls that struck access to these areas will be con- Tel. 39-06-44 34 00 34 moment the newspapers, televi- were surprised that the Tibetans the south-east regions of China, trolled and activities extremely www.asia-onlus.org sion stations and the radio have were there to help them. Once the Tibetan revolt, the Shanghai limited for a long time. been speaking almost daily about ASIA had fi nished the initial dis- stock market crash and the pro- For ASIA, which this year is

the Tibetan situation and about tribution, the organization start- Tibet for months. The world ed to gather information neces- press has spotlighted this forgot- sary to prepare initial and post ten part of the world which had emergency projects and to sign desperately made its cry of pain collaboration agreements with felt. the local institutions. Then all The demonstrations in Ti- of a sudden without any expla- bet were quickly repressed and nations, the whole region was an iron curtain fell over all the closed to foreign workers and a regions in China inhabited by large number of road blocks were Tibetans, blocking all forms of set up to prevent unauthorized communication, news or infor- people going to these areas. mation. Many international or- We heard the same kind of ganizations were sent away and news from Derge where our the handful of overseas staff who healthcare staff were unable to tests of family members of chil- remained there, including those organize training courses for dren killed in the schools in Si- of ASIA who are still in Derge, doctors because the local author- chuan. celebrating its fi rst twenty years Chengdu, Xining and Lhasa, have ities have not respected the pro- The Chinese government is working to protect Tibetan Cul- seen their possibilities to move, tocol agreement signed between reacting to these events in a very ture and promote the economic to interact with local people and the Italian and Chinese govern- rigid way by issuing laws that and social development of the Ti- to work on projects drastically re- ments which established the way limit freedom of movement and betan people, it is a very critical duced. in which this project is managed. relations between Westerners moment. Our hope and our wish On the 12th of May, a couple They said that activities were sus- of months later, a terrible earth- pended and that the ASIA staff quake struck Sichuan province, had to leave. After the great success of this fi rst one of the most populated and In Lhasa the emergency proj- A.S.I.A Benefi t Concert in Paris presentation for A.S.I.A with the poorest regions in China, de- ect for Tsogchen county in Ngari June 2008 musical magic of the pianist Zhe- stroying hundreds of towns and prefecture is going ahead with the ni, there was great interest from villages, killing 70,000 people coordination of the overseas staff the members of the Dzogchen and leaving millions of people but only local workers are autho- Elisabeth Crouzet Community in France to arrange homeless. Thousands of chil- rized to visit the area to carry out more events for introducing the dren were crushed to death when the distribution of food, clothes n June 14, 2008 at the tivities to a selected cultural pub- remarkable projects of A.S.I.A. their schools collapsed due to and didactic equipment for the 5 Cambodge Auditorium lic, on the occasion of the 20th and its members – upon the fi nal construction with substandard schools in Tsogchen county. Even Oat University of Paris, anniversary of A.S.I.A. approval of the A.S.I.A. admin- materials. here in Lhasa the restrictions are Zheni Meria presented a concert Zheni Meria is a highly talented istration – in order to open the At precisely the same time the severe and while last year boast- of piano of Leos Janacek Sonata pianist and works as professor door to new members and dona- healthcare staff of ASIA along ed an affl uent record of almost 3 I. X. 1905, Bela Bartok’s Fifteen of music; she has great devotion tors. with some of the Tibetan staff million tourists, today the city is Chants, Paysans Hongrois, and and admiration for human activi- Thanks to Zheni, our sister of from Derge were in Chengdu. almost deserted, many commer- Franz Schubert’s Drei Klavier- ties as a member of the Dzogchen Vajra, and our new musical am- They decided to intervene imme- cial activities have gone out of stücke D. 946. Community. This concert was bassador. diately and in a few days they had business and a large number of This special event in Paris target- highly appreciated and admired. started to distribute rice, food oil ed an introduction of A.S.I.A. ac- THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 SeitenüberschriftShang Shung Institute

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You are also very welcome to Upcoming titles in Spanish The Tashi Pedeb Project please contact us for precise in- The following new titles are currently Publications by Shang Shung Edizioni formation about the titles, costs ready to be printed: in Spanish involved and related issues. · Longsal Teachings Volume 3 The names of all donors will be · Longsal Teachings Volume 4 printed in the corresponding · Teachings on Lojongs, Rushens, Background skilled collaborators who offer publication. and Semdzins hang Shung Edizioni was their efforts as Karma Yoga. · The Book of the Tun and Gana puja1 founded in 1983 to publish If you wish to make a donation, Sthe precious teachings of The Tashi Pedeb Project please contact us for precise in- The following titles are being prepared: our Master, Chögyal Namkhai In 2005, the Gakyil of Tashigar formation about the titles, costs · The practices of the Tsalung of Norbu. Since then, SSE has played South in Argentina started the involved and related issues. The Mandarava a key role in the publication and Tashi Pedeb project whose aim is practitioners is important in or- names of all donors will be print- · On Birth, Life and Death distribution of Rinpoche’s teach- to insure that the books and me- der to keep acceptable prices and ed in the corresponding publica- · Teachings On Semde by Sodogpa ings. SSE’s books help Dzogchen dia from the Shang Shung Insti- high quality for the publications. tion. · Dzogchen Teachings at Tashigar practitioners all over the world tute catalogue are translated into South (26/12/2000–01/01/2001) understand and practice the the Spanish language. So far, 54 By supporting these publications 2. Karma Yoga · Longsal Teachings Volume 5 teachings correctly. titles have been translated and one helps sustain the Teachings, Skilled translators and editors · Longsal Teachings Volume 6 published and approximately facilitates their diffusion, and who can work on a Karma Yoga · Longsal Teachings Volume 7 In 2006, SSE became part of the 10,000 copies have been distrib- gives all practitioners the chance basis are welcome. This work · Teachings on Shitro and Yangti Shang Shung Institute. Working uted, mainly in Spain, Venezuela, to deepen their knowledge and can be registered as Karma Yoga · The Practice in Daily Life together, SSE/SSI ensure that all Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uru- preserve the Teachings for the hours for SMS examinations. · The Foundation of the Path of Rinpoche’s published materi- guay, Costa Rica, Mexico, and future. · The Great History of , als meet strict standards for ac- Peru. Spanish language publications Manjusrimitra, Shri Singha, Jñana- curacy and authenticity, and are There are two main forms of will soon be available through sutra & protected under copyright laws. The Tashi Pedeb project has re- concrete collaboration currently the SSI-Italy web shop. They oversee and coordinate the cently become part of the Shang available for this project: The following titles are currently out publication of Rinpoche’s teach- Shung Institute, integrating Contacts: of stock and ready to be reprinted: ings in all languages. these Spanish publications into 1. Donations Tiziana Gottardi: · Chöd SSE’s publishing structure, and High quality books like the Long- [email protected] · Cantos desde el Hospital y Otros The publication of Chögyal Nam- developing the production and sal series and The Book of the Tun Daniel Simonelli: d.simonelli@ Poemas khai Norbu’s teachings involves distribution of media in Latin and Ganapuja are expensive to istitutoshangshung.org · Concisas Instruc. Basadas en la a great deal of skill, hard work, America and Spain. produce. Donations are really im- Experiencia sobre el Tun Corto and responsibility. Related tasks portant to produce these books. Thank you for your attention, · Enseñanzas sobre Yantra Yoga include the translation of Tibetan SSE/SSI’s current catalog is most- Become active part of our initia- Best wishes, · Manual de Yantra Yoga para Cursos texts, transcribing, revising, edit- ly made up of restricted material tives and help us to make the pre- Luigi Ottaviani Iniciales (todo público) ing, annotating, illustrations, for Dzogchen practitioners. The cious Teachings of our Master Oliver Leick · Manual de Yantra Yoga. Primer Nivel and artwork. This work is neces- cost of developing and produc- available for all interested people Paola Zamperini sary to fully and reliably convey ing these materials is high, since in their own languages. Please Directors of International 1 This is the new edition of the Tun Book, which the teachings to students and their special content requires use our web-safe credit card pay- Shang Shung Insitute contains the Tibetan and English text of the dif- ferent Tuns (Short, Medium, Long), Ganapujas practitioners. extraordinary care and attention ment site (Simple, Short, Medium, Long), the Invocation of and must be as faithful and error- http://www.shangshunginstitute the Lamp, and the and Lungta practices. Based in Merigar West, SSE/SSI free as possible. While the num- .org/index.php?section=15 in It contains color illustrations of the different visualizations, , deities, and guardians work with a core team of profes- ber of printed copies remains rel- order to donate online. related to these practices. It also contains the sionals, assisted by a network of atively small, collaboration from instructions for playing the bell and drum.

years ago. The DVD contains the Elio Guarisco: Archives explanation of the meaning of the Afternoon explanation given at the New Edition of different phases of the ritual along retreat Chang-Chog of the Namchö The Precious Vase Merigar West is collecting news- with the practice and related prep- Shitro (MP3) papers, magazines or just press arations, based on a retreat held n this MP3 you fi nd the Now Available cuttings that talk about our Mas- by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in afternoon explanations ter or the Dzogchen Community. November 2007 in Merigar, Italy. Ogiven by Elio Guarisco The new edition of The Pre- We would like to ask your co- In order to be able to receive this during the retreat Chang-Chog cious Vase is available on the operation. If you know of articles DVD one must have received the of the Namchö Shitro at 2nd and following website http://shop- that speak about these topics, transmission from the Master. 3rd November 2007. In order to it.shangshunginstitute.org could you please send to me by Shang Shung Institute, 2008 be able to receive this MP3 you email ([email protected]) the Euro 22.00 should have participated in that Chögyal Namkhai Norbu following information? retreat, or have receive these spe- The Precious Vase – Instructions on Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: cifi c transmissions or the per- the Base of Santi Maha Sangha · name of the newspaper/maga- Chang-chog of the Namchö Shitro mission from the Master. zine, issue and/or date of Short Purifi cation Ritual MP3, duration: 146 min his book is the new Base publication for the Dead as a Supple- Shang Shung Institute, 2007 text of the Santi Maha · whether you physically possess our existence will end after death Ament to the Shitro of the Price: Euro 5.00 T Sangha. Expanded on the newspaper/magazine or the or will last eternally in some other Space Teachings. In order to notes and quotations, it is the article cutting world, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu be able to receive this book one Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: essential text for the study and · whether you would be willing presents, for the fi rst time in the must have received the transmis- Dzogchen Teachings: The fl ight of practice of the Base Level of Santi to send us the original copy or Western world, a ritual whose sion of the Master. the Garuda (MP3) Maha Sangha training. It also a photocopy/scan of the article. aim is to purify the negative kar- Shang Shung Edizioni, 2007 Open webcast from Tashigar contains the updated list of prac- ma and obstacles of the deceased, Price: Euro 4.00 North: 21.–26. March 2008 tices required for the Base Level Thank you all for any contribution giving them a chance of accessing Duration: 714 minutes examination. you will be able to provide! a higher knowledge. This ritual Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: Shang Shung Institute, 2008 embodies a new and authentic ap- Chang-Chog of the Namchö Shitro Price: Euro 20.00 proach to death which allows us (MP3) New Publications to help the deceased thanks to the Merigar West: 1.–4. November You can order these items on our special relation we had with them 2007 websites Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: in our life, while providing us with ecording from the restrict- www.shangshunginstitute.org Chang Chog from Shitro Teachings the strength to overcome the suf- ed webcast. Only people of Namchö Mingyur Dorje (DVD) fering of our loss. Connected to Rwho participated in the Oliver Leick n our modern western world, the Shitro Teachings of Namchö webcast of this retreat or who Shang Shung Institute when our father, mother, Mingyur Dorje, this short form of received these specifi c transmis- International Institute for Ifriends or relatives die, we re- the Chang Chog ritual can be per- sions or the permission from the Tibetan Studies main helpless and disheartened formed by all those who have re- Master can receive this Teaching. witnesses of the transient nature of ceived the transmission and wish MP3 Audio; duration: 6 hours life without the possibility to help to help their dear ones who have and 32 minutes those who have departed and are passed away. It is equally valid Shang Shung Institute, 2007 moving on to another life. Here, and benefi cial for those who died Euro 20.00 going beyond the delusion that recently and those who departed THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

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

August 11–18 September 2–9 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Open Webcast Audio & Video October November Calendar Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Chögyal Namkhai Norbu October 4–8 November 4–9 “Method of Integration” from Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Explanation and practice of the 1st SMS Vajra Dance Course, 2nd part of Events Dzogchen Upadesha root tantra “The real nature of Ati Dzogchen” level with Jim Valby Supervised by a main teacher “Dra Thalgyur” from the Dzogchen Upadesha root 150 € – discounts for members Local teacher (Open webcast) tantra “Dra Thalgyur” 4th–5th: 9.00–12.00 & 16.00–19.00 240 € discounts for members 2008 Starts the 11th, at 16.00 Moscow, Russia 6th–8th: to be defi ned Starts 4th at 17.00 Cost: 400 € – discounts for members Finishes 9th at 13.00 September 10 October 6–9 August August 20–24 Open Webcast Audio & Video 3rd Level SMS Exam November 14–20 August 1–3 Yantra Yoga Teachers’ Training for au- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Closed Webcast Audio & Video Dance Course of the 6 Spaces of thorized instructors of 1st and 2nd levels A Transmission and practice of October 10–17 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Samanta bhadra with Maurizio Mingotti with Laura Evangelisti and Guruyoga with Padmasambhava Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Dzogchen Teaching Retreat 90 € discounts for members Fabio Andrico Moscow, Russia Training of the 4th SMS level “Terma teaching Kunsang Jaku by Starts the 1st at 17.00 200 € – discounts for members 400 € no discounts the great terton Duddul Dorje” Finishes 3rd at 13.00 Starts the 20th at 17.00 September 19–21 Barcelona, Spain Finishes the 24th at 13.00 Yantra Yoga beginners course October 19–26 August 5–9 Open to everyone Vajra Dance Teachers’ Training August 25–29 December Advanced Vajra Dance course combined with Laura Evangelisti Reserved for authorized instructors only Advanced Course of Yantra Yoga December 6–8 with the practice of Gomadevi 120 € – discounts for members Prima Mai, Adriana Dal Borgo 5th series of Yantra and Pranayama Long life retreat practice of Mandarava with Adriana Dal Borgo Starts the 19th at 17.00 320 € no discounts Laura Evangelisti, Fabio Andrico Starts the 6th at 17.00 200 € discounts for members Finishes 21st at 13.00 Starts the 19th at 17.00 200 € – discounts for members Finishes the 8th at 13.00 Starts the 5th at 17.00 Finishes the 26th at 13.00 Starts the 25th at 17.00 Finishes the 9th at 13.00 Sep. 26–Oct. 3 Finishes the 29th at 13.00 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 ’09 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Oct. 31–Nov. 3 Closed Webcast Audio & Video: August 11 Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Training with the sound of the Teaching and Practice dedicated September Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Worldwide Guruyoga Transmission September 1–7 elements from the Dzogchen to those who have died “Dzogchen Tregchö Teaching of – Anniversary of Padmasambhava Teachers Training 1st level Upadesha root tantra “Dra Thalgyur” Cost: 200 € – discounts for members Jigmed Lingpa from the Instruction 5.00 am local time Dance of the Vajra Cost: 350 € discounts for members Yeshe Lama” (Open Webcast) with Adriana Dal Borgo and Prima Mai Tashigar Sud – Argentina 280 € – no discounts Starts 1st at 17.00 Finishes the 7th at 13.00

For any further information you can Sustaining membership, 500 euros, Or renew Membership: A Letter from Merigar West write to us by email: gives 80 % discount on all Retreats and By bank transfer: Banca Etruria, Castel to the Dzogchen Community [email protected] courses* in Europe, a free subscription del Piano GR branch, Italy to the monthly Merigar Letter online, Account no. 1718 ABI 05390 CAB 72190 Thank you for your attention to these to the four-monthly Merigar Letter IBAN code: IT68 Y053 9072 1900 0000 matters. magazine and to The Mirror and a 50 % 0001 718 Best Wishes to Everyone Dear Members of the Dzogchen Community, Merigar West is a gift that Rinpoche discount on the Video Journal. It also SWIFT/BIC code: ARBAIT33126 The Gakyil of Merigar West wished to give us and as practitioners it gives free use of the retreat cabins at By postal account: With a deposit Summer is coming and the activities of is our duty to take care of it. Merigar for personal retreats. or money order to postal account Merigar continue to be numerous. Many people have attended the courses We would like to use this opportunity to of preparation for the Base of Santi remind you to renew your membership, Membership Fees Discounts Personal Four monthly Books Webcast ISS base Video Journal Gift The Mirror Maha Sangha as well as those orga- thus actively participating in the activi- Retreats Retreats Merigar Letter membership- Courses * card nized by the Shang Shung Institute on ties and the life and teaching of the Gar. Meritorious € 1500 100 % 100 % *** 100 % Yes Yes free Special Both*** Tibetan medicine and Astrology with Your membership fees allow the Gar to Sustaining € 500 80 % 100 % *** Yes Yes 50 % Folder** Paper Dr. Gendun Darghay and Moxabustione continue its activities and projects and Ordinary € 129 20% 20 % *** Yes Yes with Elio Guarisco. it is above all a sign of our gratitude Reduced € 50 50% 50 % Online Yes Yes and great respect for what Rinpoche The retreat held by Lama Denys of the has created and for the Precious Teach- (*) With the exception of courses organised by the Shang Shung Institute, Santi Maha Sangha Exams and Trainings, Yantra Yoga and Dance of the Vajra Rimé Sangha on the teachings and Teacher Trainings. ing we have the good fortune to receive. practice of the has just ended. (**) For registrations before March 31st. It also represents our commitment to (***) Online and paper version. We would like to draw your attention the continuation of the existence of the also to some up-coming courses in Teaching for future generations. our program: that of Pranayama and The 2008 membership fees are Ordinary membership, 129 euros, 10445583, in the name of: Comunita When you renew your membership this Kumbhaka with Laura Evangelisti, the the same as those for 2007 gives 20 % discount on Retreats and Dzogchen – loc. Merigar – GR 58031 year you will receive the new card that Tsalung of Mandarava with Elio Guaris- We would like to remind you that all courses,* a subscription to the monthly Arcidosso will substitute the previous one issued co and the course of the Dance of the paid-up members are entitled to ask for Merigar Letter online and to the four- by the different Gars and the numera- By paypal or credit card: Song of the Vajra combined with the the password for closed webcasts. monthly Merigar Letter magazine. tion will be unifi ed for the whole World. [email protected] practice of Gomadevi with Adriana del Meritorious Membership, 1500 euros, Reduced membership, 50 euros, is for We advise the Gakyils of the Lings Credit card details can be sent by fax Borgo. These will all precede the fi rst gives 100 % discount on all Retreats and members of the Community who have and of the cities to contact the Merigar to 39-(0)564-96 81 10 or by phone to retreat with Rinpoche in August. courses,* a free copy of new publica- economic diffi culties. This type of West offi ce: (0)564-96 68 37. tions by Shang Shung Editions for the member ship gives 50 % discount on This year Merigar West has decided Anna De Sole/Merigar West Secretary current year, a free subscription to The Retreats and courses.* For further information contact: to promote and sustain the activities + 39 05 64 96 68 37 Mirror and the Video Journal, free use The offi ce (Anna De Sole): of the Lings in the whole of Europe by merigaroffi [email protected] In 2008 new ordinary and ‘reduced’ of the retreats cabins and a special gift. 39 05 64 96 68 37 supporting all projects that can help members will be able to deduct the As members you will have the right to The video webcast is also offered for merigaroffi [email protected] the Dzogchen Community to grow and cost of their membership at the time of receive a password for restricted web- free to all the meritorious members, Administration (Pia Bramezza): spread the Precious Teachings that our registering for their fi rst Retreat of the casts. with the suggestion of sharing this ser- 39 0564 96 63 22 Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu has year. If you have not received your mem- vice with other practitioners. [email protected] transmitted to us. Sustaining members for 2008 will have bership number you are invited to con- their fi rst Retreat of the year free. Moreover, Merigar West is commit- tact the Merigar secretary. The Merigar ted to sustaining a great part of the West program is attached and for infor- To apply for Membership: expenses of improving the webcast sys- mation on any up-dates you can consult At Merigar: tem, so that an ever-increasing number the site: www.dzogchen.it contact the offi ce (Anna De Sole) of members can follow retreats all over At the Lings and in the cities: contact the the World. Yellow Gakyil or the person in charge THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

11 MerigarWest

Lojong The Awakening of the Mind Heart

The retreat with Lama Denys Tendrup Merigar West May 9–11

Lella Guidotti Translation & editing by L. Granger

Lama Denys Tendrup and the Photo: O. Soldati Photo: O. Soldati Damdrog orn in Paris in 1949, at a the two communities, a new form of all seated in a circle or rather as pa. Then with the invocation to sattva is a knight, a person who young age Lama Denys met collaboration or cooperative alliance Lama Denys said jokingly, “in a , the fi rst day of dedicates their life to searching BKyabdje Kalu Rinpoche and was created called “Damdrog”, which half moon … a circle of sun and retreat closed with the sadhana for awakening in an altruistic and became his disciple, interpreter and means “ Fellowship”. This moon!” of Chenrezi. universal way. Taking this com- personal assistant. He spent many term expresses the sacred dimension of And with evocative language mitment to be a is years in retreat under the guidance the heart link and friendship between Lama Denys started to transmit The second day of the retreat was the commitment to being a Bod- of his Root Master and also received the two . this teaching that permits one to dedicated to relative , hisattva in training. One is aware teaching from some of the greatest Ka- transform a mind full of confu- the awakening of the mind-heart that the path is very long but has gyu, Nyingma and Sakya masters of “I am happy to be here for this sion and passions into an awak- in relationships and in everyday the determination to walk in this the 20th century. retreat in this place which is so ened mind. The text on the Lo- life situations. An essential part direction, in the direction of re- In 1979 he contributed to the cre- special and sacred, the mother jong is a commentary by Jamgön of training in relative Bodhicitta awakening. ation of the fi rst centre in the West for centre of the Dzogchen Commu- Kongtrul, which contemplates is the practice of , offer- the traditional three-year retreat. After nity of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. 59 maxims by Tchekawa Yeshe ing and receiving, receiving ob- Lama Denys concluded by taking completing his own three-year period We are fortunate to be here to- Dorje, subdivided into 7 points. scurity and offering light along leave of us with these words. of retreat, Kalu Rinpoche entrusted day”. With these words Lama with our breathing. At the begin- “I am happy to have done this him with the responsibility of found- Denys Tendrup from the Karma We began with the practice of ning of the session we practiced retreat at Merigar in the temple of ing a centre in Savoia, France, Ling Dachang Rimé Community Chenrezi, then the preliminar- with people who were close to the Great Liberation in the pres- in an old abandoned monastery that in France welcomed participants ies for the practice session on the us and then continued by train- ence of many Buddhas and Bod- was to become the Karma Ling Insti- to the short but intense retreat on fi rst of the 7 points – a cycle of ing with enemies and those with hisattvas and to express my heart- tute. Kalu Rinpoche recognized him “the Mind-Heart Training in sev- breathing and refl ecting on the 4 whom we experience diffi culties. felt thanks to Chögyal Namkhai as his most senior Western disciple and en points”. Lama Denys said he mindfulnesses: our precious hu- In the afternoon we once again Norbu who is here with us even in 1984 invested him with the title of had known Rinpoche for many man life, , karma worked in our groups to discuss though you do not see him. It is , “Vajrayana master”. years and had invited him to give and suffering. Lama Denys dedi- the practice and then continued he who is the inspiration for the In 1994 H. E. Tai Situpa nomi- teachings at Avalon many times. cated the fi rst teaching session with the instructions on the 7 Damdrog, this link of samaya, nated him “Lama Rinpoche” of the “The last time that Chögyal Nam- to explaining the difference be- points. this fellowship of the heart which Karma Ling Dashang Rimé Commu- khai Norbu came to Karma Ling tween absolute and relative Bod- is developing between our two nity that had been legally recognized he was asked to give the Nyam- hicitta while dwelling more on The third point consisted in Sanghas and which has brought by the French Government. trid Dzogchen Nyingthig and the absolute. In the afternoon, transforming adverse circum- us together. And for the other we established a heart connec- before meeting with Lama Denys stances in a path for reawakening contacts which already exist, the Inspired by what he saw in Russia, tion which gave inspiration for we divided into groups so that we while the fourth was training as seeds which have already been Lama Denys approached Chögyal the [creation of the] Damdrog. could prepare questions to ask practice for one’s whole life. The placed, my good wishes that they Namkhai Norbu in the late nineties We had the idea to create a sa- him in order to clarify some of fi fth was assessment, the test of develop well”. and requested the transmission of the fellowship. It is important the more diffi cult points of the the practice. Points 6 and 7 were Vajra Dances in order to bring their that the Sangha motivated by the teaching. The groups sat sepa- the commitment to continue After the retreat there was a practice into the Sangha Rimé. Also same inspiration, by the same rately on the grass around the training. meeting between Lama Denys with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s bless- spirit can cooperate. Cooperation Gonpa in the luxurious spring- and Yeshi Silvano Namkhai, a ing, the Sangha Rimé built the Rimé is stronger than competition, it time surroundings of Merigar. On the fi nal day of the retreat warm-hearted exchange of gifts Temple or House of Wisdom, inspired is understanding of interdepen- I listening to my companions in Lama Denys gave an initiation and good wishes for the future by the Temple of the Great Liberation dence and in the transmission it our group and looked at the sea of Chenrezi and transmitted the and the links between the two at Merigar. During the same period, is a very important point.” of violets that seemed to be every- Bodhicitta commitment with Sanghas. Then the ‘knight of re- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu was invited where. It was all so beautiful that the vow of the Bodhisattva. This awakening’ left for France and to teach the Nyingthig Mapu in order Those present included Lama it could only be a dream! commitment is to live the Bodhi- the gathering of the ‘courageous’ to enhance the connection between the Tcheudroup, Lama Rangdrol and training. A Bodhisattva is a broke up with embraces and two Sanghas. Therefore, because of all Lama Tarchin, Anna the trans- After practicing Namkha Arted person of courage: courage to ac- promises to meet in the future. these reasons and the personal affi ni- lator, the Italian Sangha (the and refl ecting on the experience, cept his/her responsibility, cour- ties between Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Sangha Loka) and participants Lama Denys read us the verses by age to give, to offer, to come out and Lama Denys Tendrup and between from the Dzogchen Community, Rangjung Dorje, the 3rd Karma- of the shell of the ego. A Bodhi-

Accommodation Service at Merigar Christina von Geispitzheim Information for people who intend to come to Merigar for Email: [email protected] retreats or to follow courses Phone: 0039 0564 957542 If you are looking for accommodation, airport transfer, local car Mobile phone: 0039 339 1370739 hire or only logistic assistance, you can contact the following information and reservation service: We cooperate with local hotels, family pensions, residences, agriturismo, Community members who have rooms or houses to rent or sublet. Also we can advise on car rental (at airports Accommodation Service or locally), on the best itinerary and time tables of trains and (Information available in English, German, French and Italian) buses, and we have now a circuit of residents who offer various Information service and reservation of accommodation during useful services like transfer from the airports, local taxi service, retreats, local transport, & logistic solutions: translations, baby sitting, etc. THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Tibetan Medicine in America

12

Doctors and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at the ATMA symposium at Amherst College. Photo: M. Schmookler

sity to protect Tibetan knowledge Dr. Tenzin Dakpa, a current “Tibetan Medicine and culture today. He encouraged instructor at the Shang Shung An Open Letter in America” the participants to utilize the op- School of Traditional Tibetan portunity to learn from tradition- Medicine, provided a thorough The 2008 Symposium of al Tibetan physicians, who carry account of the present situation from Tsegyalgar East Tibetan Medicine the valuable ancient knowledge of Tibetan medicine in India, and of the Tibetan Healing Science. described in detail the curricu- Adam Okerblom In the following two days the lum for contemporary students o all professors, doctors, ladies and gentlemen, interested or keynote speakers delivered pre- at Men Tsi Khang University in having sympathy for the people of Tibet, their culture, history his June 13th through sentations on topics of traditional Dharamsala, the largest school T and so on, I humbly ask you. 15th, the American Tibetan Medicine, and its current of Tibetan medicine and astrol- I am a Tibetan who grew up and received all my Tibetan education T Tibetan Medical Associa- situation throughout the world. ogy outside of Tibet. Dr. Yang- in Tibet, but due to circumstances, I have passed almost all of my life tion (ATMA) presented its fi rst The guest speakers consisted of bum Gyal described the current in the Western world. Even so, I feel a great responsibility to protect major public event, “Tibetan Medi- Tibetan physicians trained in the condition of Tibetan Medicine Tibetan culture and history and keep it alive in this world. cine in America”: 2008 Symposium of traditional Tibetan Healing Sci- inside Tibet, presenting the suc- Tibet is a very valuable and precious culture and the knowledge, ba- Tibetan Medicine. The symposium ence both in Tibet and India. All cesses and the challenges facing sically called ’I Nenga (Tib. Rig pa’I gnas lnga), or “Five Knowl- was co-sponsored by the Shang of the presenters had extensive modern practitioners. Dr. Tashi edges”, is about the Arts, Healing, Language, Logic and the Inner Shung International Institute experience with their special- Rabten lectured on the opportu- Knowledge. But you know and can easily see how weak the condition for Tibetan Studies and the lo- ized practice of medicine, as well nities and challenges of practic- of Tibet and its cultural heritage is. For that reason, we founded the cal university of Amherst Col- as with teaching and practicing ing Tibetan medicine in the Unit- Shang Shung Institute, fi rst in Italy, near the Oriental University where lege. This unique event was held abroad in countries beyond their ed States, insightfully recounting I worked for nearly thirty years, and then we developed it in the USA, as in two of the stately lecture halls homeland. his experience in the context of well as some other places. of Amherst College, in Amherst Dr. Yang ga, professor at the modern urban communities in The Shang Shung Institute of the USA is primarily concentrated on Massachusetts. The symposium Tibetan Medicine Institute of Lha- America. the study and development of Healing Knowledge. We have a Tibetan was made possible largely due to sa and board member of ATMA, The keynote presentations of Doctor, Dr. Phuntsok Wangmo, who is stably living at the Institute the inspiration of Dr. Phuntsog presented from his current PHD the symposium provided clear and has already been teaching Tibetan medical courses there for three Wangmo, president of the board research on the historical prece- insight into the worldwide Di- years. The fi rst group of students has arrived at their fourth year. of ATMA and director of the dent of the traditional texts of the aspora of the Tibetan Healing Also related to the Tibetan Medicine course at Shang Shung Insti- Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Healing Science lineage. Science, its burgeoning seeds tute, USA, Dr. Phuntshok Wangmo, together with four other Tibetan Traditional Tibetan Medicine; Dr. Kunchok Gyaltsen, doctoral across the modern world, and Doctors living in the USA, and with the collaboration of Shang Shung also by the invaluable efforts of student at the UCLA School of its role in modern society. Ti- Institute, the Dzogchen Community of Tsegyalgar East, and the De- Paola Zamperini, President of Public Health and current board betan medicine has endured for partment of Asian Languages and Civilizations at Amherst College, the board of the Shang Shung In- member of ATMA, demonstrated so many centuries as a highly organized an open Conference of an association called “ATMA”, As- ternational Institute for Tibetan the fundamental theory of the Ti- regarded science of healing. sociation of Tibetan Medicine in America. Studies, USA, and professor of betan Medicine system. He also However today Tibetan medi- On the 13th of June 2008, there was an open conference of the As- Asian Languages and Civiliza- shared his broad experience in cine faces modern challenges. It sociation “ATMA” at Amherst College, Amherst Massachusetts, and tions at Amherst College. After teaching and applying Tibetan must maintain the integrity of its it was understood that Tibetan Medicine is something very important much hard work, the circum- Medicine among diverse groups ancient tradition, while adapting for the future, and that the knowledge of Tibetan Healing remains and stances for the symposium arose of patients and medical profes- to share its rich benefi ts around develops purely. favorably; the auspiciousness of sionals, from the far East to the the world of today. Through the We know very well that in the Western world, many superfi cial the event greatly increased when far West. works of the American Tibetan things are developing under the name of Tibetan knowledge. These our precious master Chögyal The presentations continued Medical Association (ATMA), and kinds of activities destroy so much of the real precious knowledge we Namkhai Norbu graciously ac- with Dr. Yangdron Kalsang, other groups, Tibetan physicians have, so therefore it is very important that for the survival and continu- cepted to personally inaugurate graduate of the Tibetan Medi- world-wide are beginning to col- ation of the precious and living, authentic healing knowledge of Tibet, the event. cine Institute of Lhasa, the Five laborate to continue the authen- this knowledge is protected in the best way. For that reason, I wish very The symposium participants Branches Acupuncture Institute tic lineage of the Tibetan Heal- much that all of you help and protect this knowledge as much as pos- consisted of numerous Tibetan in Santa Cruz California, and ing Science, and secure its legal sible. We hope the authentic culture and its knowledge will not be only physicians, including the guest current board member of ATMA. protection and precedence in the for Tibetans, but all sentient beings, and particularly all human beings keynote presenters as well as Dr. Kalsang offered health tips United States. will enjoy its benefi t. physicians residing in the local and lifestyle guidelines for mod- For the fortunate medical stu- region, Tibetan medical students ern living, from the Tibetan med- dents of the Shang Shung Insti- With many Tashi Delegs of the Shang Shung Institute, ical perspective. tute, the symposium was an un- NN. members of the academic com- Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, grad- precedented privilege to learn (Chögyal Namkhai Norbu) munity from across the country, uate of the Tibetan Medicine from these eminent physicians and interested people of the local Institute of Lhasa, further ex- of renowned lineage. The physi- community. pounded these topics. Citing the cians shared with the students Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in- classic Tibetan Healing Science moving accounts of their per- augurated the symposium with Text, “Remaining Free from Dis- sonal experience. They described an opening keynote address. He ease”, Dr. Wangmo lectured on their reverence for their teach- described the ancient roots of vital themes such as seasonal and ers above them, their exhaus- Tibetan culture in the kingdom dietary considerations for main- tive studies and rigorous train- of Shang Shung, and the neces- taining health and wellness. ing. They shared their individual THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Tibetan Medicine in America

13 practice, innovative research, as hands the golden saffron scented well as their experience within Rinpoche Bestows Water of Samaya, which greatly the United States. These laud- the Initiation of refreshed our body, speech and able senior physicians reiterated minds. the pivotal role of the students the Guru Medicine Rinpoche guided us through in perpetuating the authentic Ti- Buddha the practice, and then, with his betan Healing Science, and their assistants, began to bestow the continuing support in that work. Tsegyalgar East four empowerments. Rinpoche Thus the Shang Shung Institute June 1, 2008 continuously recited the empow- Tibetan medical students, rep- erment mantra. Clouds of sweet resentative of many different Adam Okerblom incense swirled about as the ener- nations, developed their global gy of Rinpoche’s recitation fi lled perspective on the contemporary he week of May 30th until the Gonpa. Rinpoche poured situation of the Tibetan Heal- June 6th, 2008, our quiet water on each recipient’s head ing Science, and were greatly in- T Community at Tsegyalgar as they stood before his throne. spired in their pursuit of this dy- East transformed as hundreds The vase from which he poured namic medical lineage. of dedicated practitioners and was quite small; it seemed to me Thanks to the dedicated work interested newcomers arrived to no larger than a coffee cup. Yet I and generous contributions of the birthplace of the mandala of watched as Rinpoche empowered the sponsors, organizers, sympo- the Vajra Dance, where our pre- scores upon scores of people, sium volunteers, and of course the cious master Chögyal Namkhai over and over again, before the continual support and blessings Norbu has returned to continue vase was emptied. I thought per- of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, “Ti- bestowing the Dzogchen teach- haps only a tiny drop was allotted betan Medicine in America” was ings with boundless compassion for each person, however when it a complete success. The Tibetan and wisdom. It was, of course, was my turn, the water ran down Healing Science lineage is rooted an exciting time for the Commu- Yeshi Namkhai and Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo at the Medicine Buddha Initiation. Photo: D. Littlejohn my face, and drops fell from my in thousands of years of history. nity here, and very much so for hair for some time. Rinpoche Compared to this root, its seeds the students of the Shang Shung wards the door like excited chil- rainbow colors shining. Golden continued the ceremony with here in the West are tiny young Institute School of Traditional dren. Rinpoche had arrived and , sacred syllables and lu- unwavering benevolence, as sev- sprouts. But as one keynote guest Tibetan Medicine. Our wonder- was inside making the necessary minous thigles fl ashed across eral hundred people received the observed, America is the Land ful teacher and director of the preparations to bestow the initia- the azure blue ceiling. From the powerful initiation of the Guru of Opportunity. In this fertile Tibetan Medicine program, Dr. tion. magnifi cent thankas that swayed Medicine Buddha. soil, Tibetan medicine is free to Phuntsog Wangmo, requested I was up to my elbows in tsam- upon the walls, the fi erce guard- At the Shang Shung School of develop, to continue its ancient of Rinpoche to bestow an em- pa and onions, when I jumped ians glared from their fi ery di- Traditional Tibetan Medicine, we lineage for the benefi t of people powerment of the Medicine Bud- in line to enter the Gonpa. We mensions. have students from diverse coun- today, and for all beings. dha. We were thrilled to learn approached the door and were Rinpoche introduced this pro- tries and backgrounds. Some are that Rinpoche had agreed, and greeted by Yeshi Namkhai, who found mind treasure of the Nir- established practitioners in our the empowerment would com- beckoned us all inside. Rinpoche manakaya master Mingyur Dorje, Dzogchen Community, whereas mence during the upcoming re- sat at his multicolored throne who received this terma at the many are not. At this retreat I treat. Thus there was much to leading the repetition of the 100 age of 12 years old. In this prac- observed some of my classmates celebrate on the day of the initia- Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva; tice, the Lotus-Born Guru Pad- discover their own connection to tion, as the shuttle vans delivered we joined in the low hum of the masambhava manifests in the the teachings, and meet Rinpoche dozens of old friends to join the chant, which swelled through the form of Urgyan Menla, the Guru for the fi rst time. I feel that this buzzing throng of beaming faces crowd and fi lled the Gonpa. Medicine Buddha. We followed initiation has greatly empowered in the bright sunny yard of Tseg- The Gonpa was packed full Rinpoche through the prelimi- our collaboration as students to- yalgar East. of devoted students. The air was naries of the initiation. Then a gether, as we strive to honor our I came out to the yard from sweltering hot, swirling with hu- chorus of soft, high voices rose teacher, and the precious lineage the kitchen of the Tsegyal-Bar to mid vapor and thick fragrant in- from the middle of the Gonpa as of the Tibetan Healing Science. fi nd the usual uproar of merri- cense; sweat rolled down from Jim Valby led a song of mandala The traditional Tibetan Heal- ment subsided. The Vajra broth- the many faces gazing up at offering to the Guru. Yeshi Nam- ing Science texts describe the ers and sisters respectfully stood Rinpoche. The richly painted khai and Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, self-perfected abode of the Medi- back from the Gonpa, chatting walls bathed in the streaming bearing large vases of glowing cine Buddha, from which he fi rst in quiet tones and looking up to- sunlight, their thick ribbons of nectar, poured into each of our transmitted the knowledge of the Healing Science. This is the glorious city of medicine known as “Beautiful to Behold”. Inside, the Master abides in a palace of rainbow colored healing jewels. All around are mountains and forests fi lled with the plants and minerals, which facilitate long life and freedom from disease. I appreciate this image each time I come to here to study the Tibetan Healing Science from our amazing teacher Dr. Phunt- sog Wangmo. And also I give thanks to Rinpoche for creating this unprecedented Shang Shung Institute program to bring these teachings to the United States. On this perfect day, when our Master is present and our Vajra Family is gathered to receive the empowerment of Urgyan Menla, we celebrate as our quiet school- house on the hill transforms into the glorious city of the Medicine Buddha, beautiful for all to be- hold. THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

14 MerigarWest

· Name of the newspaper/magazine, Merigar West issue and/or date of publication · Whether you physically possess the collects information newspaper/magazine or the article and publications clipping · Whether you would be willing to send Dear Vajra sisters & brothers, us the original copy or a photocopy/ scan of the article. Merigar West is collecting newspapers, magazines or just press clippings that Thank you all for any contribution you are talk about our Master or the Dzogchen able to provide! Community. We would like to ask your cooperation. If you know of articles that speak about these topics, could you please send by email to [email protected] the fol- Dancers in the Mandala Room at Meri- lowing information? gar West during a beginners course of the Dance of the Song of the Vajra. The course was led by Maurizio Mingotti supervised by Prima Mai, June 21–26 at Merigar West.

Photo: Elena Ihilcik

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

Candidates for the Gakyil · Red Gakyil: to supervise the main- Upcoming Errata Gakyil members are requested: tanance of the the Gar, in this coming Beginners course of the Dance of the · to be members of the Dzogchen Com- period, the building of the Gonpa, Six Spaces of the Samantabhadra International contacts Merigar East for Merigar East munity for at least 3 years and have organising karma yoga. led by Iwana Zagroba with the super- In the last Mirror on page 22, in Inter- paid their membership fee vision of Adriana Dal Borgo national Contacts, there is an outdated wanted! Please direct all inquiries to · to be ready to offer their free time for July 21–24, 2008 email address for Romania/Merigar offi [email protected] Dear members of Merigar East, the Community for a limited period of East Gar and Gakyil. It is now: Who can attend? In July 2008 a new Gakyil for ME has to one up to three years, working mainly We are looking forward for your answers! Merigar East secretary email: Course open to all: Members of Dzog- be elected. The current Gakyil consists from their private homes Warm greetings to all, offi [email protected] chen Community who have received of 6 members, but 9 are needed. As you · to be able to bear hardship Merigar East Gakyil and web site: www.dzogchen.ro transmission from Chögyal Namkhai know at Merigar East there is still no · to be present in Merigar East at least offi [email protected] Norbu and also to people who have not Gonpa, few practitioners live there, and once a month received Transmission. our base is still Rinpocheis house in the · capable of teamwork Upcoming Merigar East town of the 23 August. · to have internet access and an The course will start on But soon there should be: many practi- email-address Yeshi Namkhai Monday July 21st at 17.00 needs help! tioners, a Gonpa, an offi ce, Vajra Dance · to speak English, and possibly The cost is 80 € with discounts for Dear Dzogchen Practitioners! , etc. It is a big work, and Romanian to teach at members. Merigar East (Romania) needs help consequently, good skills, willingness to Merigar East For ordinary members the participation for preparation of the summer retreat work paired with great devotion to the The work of the different colors July 23, 2008 fee is 64 €, for sustaining members with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche Teaching are asked. The conditions are are as follows: 16 €, for reduced members 40 €. (14.–20. 07.) and SMS exam and training special, but the opportunites too. · Blue Gakyil: to organize all activities We are happy to inform you that Yeshi (21.–30. 07.). Whoever is able to come All members are kindly invited to think regarding Teaching and Retreats and Namkhai will give a talk on the evening Important! If possible, we ask you to from now on and do some Karmayoga about the possibility to work in the the collective practices in Merigar of July 23rd, 2008 in Merigar East called please register in advance by email or activity is very welcome, since there Community and if their circumstances East. “Beyond Intellectual Understanding”. phone. Email: offi [email protected], is a lot of work for everybody. For this permit, to use this occasion for help in · Yellow Gakyil: to supervise the eco- Tel: +4-02 41 73 32 27 We invite you warmly to participate, reason we send a new warmest appeal a concrete way. nomical and fi nancial administration Blue Gakyil of Merigar East to you: please participate and help! of Merigar East. *

from 12th to 19th July 2008 Breathing Course for Kumbaka Dance of the Six Spaces of Accommodation: Europe (and audio webcast Teaching with Fabio Andrico Samantabhadra Dormitory: 8 €/night € Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 14 to 20 July) from 5 to 8 August with Stoffelina Verdonk Camping near the house: 5 /night from 8 (6 pm) to 10 August For meals plan 7 or 10 €/day (or little Austria Who can attend: This retreat introduces The Breathing course with the aim of upcoming more): often we buy food and make SMS Base level and is suitable for any- kumbaka will include a review of the Who can attend: Open to all members Advanced Vajra Dance Course of the meals together. one interested in Dzogchen teachings “complete breathing” and will also in- of the Dzogchen Community who have Song of the Vajra and also to students of SMS. clude explanations and practices on the received transmission from Chögyal Early registration is welcome with Adriana dal Borgo To attend retreat and course, one should breathing of kumbaka connected to the Namkhai Norbu and also to people who Important: for organizational purposes Vienna, Austria be Members of Dzogchen Community Dzogchen practices. have not. we ask you to please register very soon September 18–22, 2008 and have already received transmis- by email: Who can attend: This course is open to Place: South France, Southern For information and registration please sion of the Dzogchen teachings from [email protected] Members of the Dzogchen Community Cevennes, one hour by car from contact Elisha Koppensteiner at Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. For additional information Phone: who have received the Transmission of Montpellier, or Millau or Nîmes. [email protected] * +33(0) 4 92 61 18 21 Guruyoga of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Déjamling, Le Devès The Dance of the Song of the Vajra for http://association.dzogchen.free.fr and who want to have a concrete ex- Valbonne 30570 Saint André de Majen- advanced students (click on “English page here” to see all perience of the “complete breathing” coules FRANCE France with Prima Mai summer program) Dejamling: Ling of Infi nite Beatitude generally and kumbaka particularly and Phone number for the Ling: from 28 July to August 1 Upcoming also to those who intend to concentrate +33(0) 467 82 50 67 * Yantra yoga course – 1st and 2nd series Calendar of summer events Who can attend: Those who have a on the breathing to practice Dzogchen (See access map and information with Laura Evangelisti good knowledge of the steps and the and in particular to get ready for the Retreat of Santi Maha Sangha Base on the web site http://association. October 9–12 arm movements of the Dance of the training of Santi Maha Sangha. Level study and practices & course dzogchen.free.fr in Paris Song of the Vajra. and practice of Dance 3 Vajras * Venue: Forum104, 104 rue de Vaugirard with Jim Valby & Stoffelina Verdonk * – 75006 Paris THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

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Location: Retreatcentre Höfen, Europe >> continued Germany Germany, Hans J. Vogel, Höfen 12, Upcoming 91460 Baudenbach (between Würzburg Timetable: Beginners course The Dance of the and Nürnberg), +49 (0) 916 65 64, October 9th evening: 18.30–22 Song of the Vajra, fi rst part [email protected] (hall: crypte) with Karin Heinemann * October 10th evening: 18.30–22 July 15–20 (hall: bibliothèque) Höfen-Seminarhaus October 11th afternoon and evening: Who can attend? 14–22 (hall: crypte) Those who have received transmission October 12th morning and afternoon: of Dzogchen and the of the Song Passages 9–18 (hall: crypte) of the Vajra from Chögyal Namkhai Died: Barbara Krystek Prices: Norbu. Dear friends 120 € (ordinary membership of The course will start on Tuesday July Monday, May 11th 2008 in the morning Dzogchen Community) 15th at 15.00 between 5 and 6 Barbara Krystek, age 70 € (low budget membership of Important! 55, died from cancer in the hospice in Dzogchen Community) If possible please register in advance Düsseldorf, Germany. She was very Free (supporting membership of by email or phone: Alexander Geier, dedicated to the teachings particular to Dzogchen Community) [email protected] the Dance of Vajra. Please include her in Contact: Arianna De Toni, Tel: 06 78 82 Tel:+49 (0) 911-597 10 55 your practice. 59 51, Email: [email protected] Best regards, her Vajra sisters and brothers

of the Vajra of the Six Spaces of Italy Samanthabhadra May 31 to June Adzamling Dzogchen Community 1 of this year. This was the fi rst (Southeast Italy) has elected a new course given by a local instructor, Gakyil: Enzo Terzano, a practitioner for about 20 years, born and resident Blue: Luca Mastrogiuseppe in the little local town of Guglio- [email protected] nesi where the event was held. Red: Attilio Russi [email protected] Yellow: Antonella Pasqualone A Mandala of about 8.60 m in [email protected] diameter created by local practi- * tioners two years ago hosted 16 Dancing on the Mandala in Molise people including a good turnout he activities of the Dzog- of newcomers from Molise and chen Community in Puglia. The new instructor, Enzo T Molise, south Italy, are go- Terzano, worked hard and atten- ing ahead enthusiastically. Today tively to make participants un- the Molise group has the name derstand the value and the move- Photo: Carmen Taurino “Adzamling” which was given ments of this Dance. The course Zhenphenling had its own stand where by our venerated Master Chög- was held in a joyful and friendly Yantra Yoga and other activities of the yal Namkhai Norbu. The num- atmosphere, created interest in Dzogchen Community were presented. ber of practitioners in the group all the participants and defi nitely A free class was also offered and about has grown as well as the interest left a positive impression in their 40 people took part in it. of people who are approaching hearts. The festival was a good occasion to the Teaching for the fi rst time. The Molise Community approach new people and contacts, and This has been due to the courses moreover to get an idea of the world of – some of which have been open * yoga outside the Dzogchen Community. to the public – organized by the Zhenphenling, Rome Everybody was very pleased and, if it local Community over the last Yoga Workshop takes place again next year, Zhenphen- two years. June 7th and 8th, 2008 ling plans to partecipate and possibly Following two supervised cours- On June 7th and 8th the fi rst Yoga fes- propose a more exhaustive workshop es of the Dance of the Vajra in tival ever organized in the capital was on Yantra Yoga. September 2006 and May 2007 held in Rome, Italy. About 50 different With our best greetings and gratitude to the as well as one of Yantra Yoga in schools of Yoga participated in the event Master! December 2007 held by interna- and people could join in workshops and The Gakyil of Zhenphenling tional teachers, the Community also free classes in the beautiful park of organized a course of the Dance Villa Pamphili.

Romania First Course in Bucharest Yantra Yoga Course with Tiziana Gottardi May 16–18 We are happy to inform you that in May there was the fi rst course organized in Bucharest in Romania. Tiziana Gottardi kindly accepted the invitation from Mer- igar East Gakyil and she came from Italy to hold a public course of Yantra Yoga for beginners. The course was organized in very nice hall in local kindergarten and was attended by 15 interested partici- pants (mostly from Bucharest and other www.jcrows.com Romanian towns, but also attendants from Mauritius and Czech Republic). J. Crow’s ® The course proceeded in a smooth and relaxed atmosphere and it seemed it has Mulling Spice Folk Medicine strengthened and inspired the new small Tibetan Medicine group of practitioners in Bucharest. Photo: V. Pulda With many Tashi Deleg! SpicedCider.com Tereza Starkova fax or phone: 1 800 878 1965 603 878 1965 Yellow Gakyil & Secretary [email protected] Merigar East THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

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We also collaborate with Hamburg, In the fall we will have a Santi Maha Europe >> continued Germany Community. They bring their Sangha course. We need contact info mandala to our facilities and we prac- for this. Please write to us. People out- Russia tice together. Everybody is welcome. To side Scandinavia are also very welcome Yeshi Silvano Namkhai teaches give you the dates we need your contact to write us, of course. in Russia and Crimea information. Last year we had a Yantra Best Wishes, Yoga course. This past fall we had a by Andrei Besedin Copenhagen Dzogchen Community Vajra Dance course. Email: [email protected] his past spring, the Gakyil of Russian speaking countries in- T vited Yeshi Silvano Namkhai to give teachings in Russia and Ukraine. Slovakia The fi rst three-day retreat took place in New Gakyil Kunphenling near Moscow (in the place Blue: Jan Kompis, Red: Ivana Jurisova, Yellow: Martin Mrva formerly owned by the Dzogchen Com- munity and called Kunsangar). Up to * two hundred people gathered to listen to Yeshi’s explanation of the basic prin- ciples of the Dzogchen Teaching. In the evenings of the same days we had a chance to follow Rinpoche’s ex- planations of Namcho Mingyur Dorje’s the 2nd level SMS teacher, explained “Sangye Lakchang”, which we watched the chapters of the “Precious Vase”, Scandinavia on a big screen via webcast. which describe the attitude, and Victor Vajra Family in Scandinavia On the following days, the Gakyil Krachkovsky, the 2nd level Yantra Dear Vajra Brothers in Scandinavia used a wonderful occasion to get some teacher, helped getting some practical We in the Copenhagen Dzogchen Com- clarifi cations and advice from Yeshi experience with Yantra Yoga, which munity ask all practitioners in Scandi- about the organizational aspects of is also related to behavior. So on such navia to write to us with contact infor- Rinpoche’s visit to Russia in September a nice background, Yeshi’s four-day mation. We would like to start building 2008. explanations of the night practice and connections between Scandinavian A week later, Yeshi Silvano went to the application of the Teaching proved practitioners and create an email list Crimea, Ukraine. In a nice village by to be most useful for the hundred some with the purpose of sending out infor- the Black Sea we had a great weeklong people who gathered in Crimea to fol- From June 20–22 2008 there was a short retreat for the explanation of Red Garuda mation about courses and activities in retreat, where we could follow the dif- low his teaching. practice and basic principles of Tibetan Medicine with Elio Guarisco in Trencianske Copenhagen. ferent aspects of practice. Igor Berkhin, Teplice, Slovakia.

Upcoming to cure internal imbalances and dis- · A review of cases in which massage is Cost: £ 128 ordinary members; Spain Shang Shung Institute, the International In- ease. The Conclusive Tantra, the last of appropriate or contraindicated £ 32 sustaining; £ 80 reduced. New Gakyils stitute for Tibetan Studies, and the Dzogchen the four medical tantras, states that the · Finding massage points Food and accommodation £ 20 per day. Kundusling Community in Spain organizes for fi rst time · Measurement for fi nding massage mild therapies consist of compresses, To secure your place contact Rowan Blue Gakyil: in Barcelona, Spain a course of: points medicinal baths and massage.” Kunye Wylie [email protected] Sachiko Fullita, 663 73 29 78 massage is considered a mild therapy. · How to perform the actual kunye Tibetan Kunye Massage Level I tel: 00 44 (0) 1223 473 528 [email protected] The practice of massage is very benefi - massage with Aldo Oneto Peter Guest, 607 98 81 21 cial and does not have negative effects; · Benefi ts of kunye massage and send a non-refundable deposit of [email protected] July 21st to 30th moreover, it can be done by anyone, £ 30 (made out to Dzogchen Commu- To register, or for more information, From 10:30 to 13:30 h and 16 h to 19 h regardless of whether they are doc- nity UK) to: Rowan Wylie, 29 Almoners Yellow Gakyil: please contact: tors, yogis, or not. For this reason, this Avenue, Cambridge CB1 8 NZ, UK Montse Gombau, 932 17 11 58 Fee: 300 € [email protected] therapeutic modality has always been [email protected] Location: Kundusling Tel: +34 651 40 47 20, Also please come to the practiced throughout the centuries by Olaya Martínez, 651 40 47 20 Address: Passatge de la Pau 10, bis 3º [email protected] Dance practice week the Tibetan people and continues to be [email protected] 1ª 08018 barcelona metro Drassanes L3 Tel: +34 663 73 29 78 August 4th–10th. practiced today. Red Gakyil: Kunye, a massage that is taught in the Open to all who love the Dance! The study of Tibetan massage is struc- Carlos Jañez, 653 22 96 88 Tibetan Medical tradition, is unique to UK At only £ 5 per night no booking fee is tured on three levels. Each of the three [email protected] that tradition. Mentioned in some of the Dance at Kunselling, Wales, UK 2008 required but please register with Rowan levels comprises a total of 36 hours. Pablo Flores-Guerra, 663 08 77 29 ancient texts of the Bon and Buddhist or Nick Segust: There are still some spaces on the man- [email protected] religions, Kunye has been practiced for The fi rst level consists of: [email protected] dala in Wales for centuries in the Himalayan regions by · A brief history of Tibetan medicine Advanced Dance of the Song of the * * Madrid Tibetan peoples. The term kunye is the · The principle of the fi ve elements as Vajra (Emakirirkiri) Blue Gakyil: María Arévalo, combination of two words: “ku” and taught in the Tibetan medical texts led by Stoffelina Verdonk [email protected] “nye.” “Ku” means to anoint the body · The principle of the three humors July 19th–24th of a sick or healthy person with oils that · The humoral characteristics of differ- Yellow Gakyil: Sonia Chica are appropriate to that person’s specifi c ent types of people Open to those who have already learnt [email protected] illness or constitution. “Nye” means · The diagnostic procedure of pulse the Dance of the Vajra. A wonderful Red Gakyil: Déborah Murillo to externally rub or massage crucial taking opportunity to perfect the timing, steps [email protected] points such as nerves and tendons. The · The diagnostic procedure of urine and arm movements, and integrate * combination of ku and nye is a method observation deeper into the practice.

Subscribe to The Mirror The New Year is upon us and if you have made You can subscribe through your local a New Years resolution to stay in closer contact Community or by contacting us directly at: with the Dzogchen Community, what better way than with a subscription to The Mirror. In USA many Gars and Lings and even some smaller Naomi Zeitz: [email protected] Communities, The Mirror is included in mem- 413 369 4208 bership in some form. Membership is the best Tsegyalgar offi ce and bookstore: overall way to maintain contact with Chögyal 413 369 41 53, 413 369 44 73 Namkhai Norbu and the Vajra Family, and of- ten you will receive access to the Mirror in Italy that way. Liz Granger: [email protected] The Mirror The Mirror c/o Merigar PO Box 479 Arcidosso 58031 If you would like to subscribe to The Mirror: You can purchase subscriptions on line at Conway, MA 01341 GR Italy www.melong.com USA $ 35 US or 35 Euro in Europe for paper only. $ 25 US or 25 Euro in Europe for on line only. For South America and Mexico we have Happy Holidays! $ 50 US or 50 Euro in Europe for both paper reduced rates, so please contact The Mirror Staff and on line subscriptions. [email protected] for more information. Liz Granger, Naomi Zeitz and Thomas Eifl er THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

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

New Gakyil Schedule August 23–26 For more information contact and Gekö August SMS Level 1 Tsegyalgar East: August 8–26 Instructors: Tel: 413 369 41 53, Fax: 413 369 44 73 Blue: Conway Santi Maha Sangha Retreat Santi Maha Sangha with Jim Valby Email: [email protected] Ed Hayes, Leela Whitcomb-Hewitt, on Khandroling Yantra Yoga with Paula Barry Jeff Wood Four sessions: & Naomi Zeitz 2008 Red: August 8–11 Vajra Dance with Bodhi Krause Cindy Thibeau, Paula Barry, SMS Base, Emphasis on Semdzin Jill St. Clair Riley July August 13–16 October July 21–28 SMS Base, Emphasis on Rushen October 20–24 Yellow: Jnanadakkini Practice Retreat August 18–21 Long Life Practice of the Vern Harrington, Deepak Ramachadran, on Khandroling SMS Base, Emphasis on 7th Mind Mandarava with Tsalung Terre Satterthwaite Led by Naomi Zeitz Training with Kumbhaka Instructor: Elio Guarisco Gekö: David Hayes

Upcoming · Kunye massage for neurological Tibetan Kunye Massage Level II disorders with Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo · Kunye massage for muscular prob- lems July 17th–20th · Kunye massage for people with Fee: $ 380 mental disorders Starts Thursday evening and meets all · How to massage points related to day Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Mon- internal organs day 36 PDA credits from the NCCAOM · The medical properties of the applica- are available for this course. tion of hot and cold compresses and stones, their use and benefi ts. Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, Director of the Shang Shung Institute, who received Pre-requisite: Kunye Massage Level I her advanced degree from the Lhasa For more information please call University School of Traditional Medi- (413) 369-49 28 or email cine in 1988, teaches this course. [email protected] Kunye Level second consists of: To learn more about the Shang Shung · How to massage the points Institute of America and register online, · How to apply the oils visit http://www.shangshung.org · Kunye massage indicated for healthy people To learn more about the Shang Shung · Kunye massage indicated for sick Institute – International Institute for people Tibetan Studies, visit http://www.shangshunginstitute.org Workshop on Mental Illness and Tibetan Medicine with Kunchog Gyaltsen, June 17 thru 19. Photo: M Shannon

ing dreams re-occur. To do this Teaching of Yeshi Silvano Namkhai have a dream, remember the at Tsegyalgar East dream and call it back. Rinpoche and Yeshi this way have received Diane Campbell many teachings in this way.

n the 7th of June 2008, “Experience has the power to give “Relax … means don’t give im- Yeshi Silvano Namkhai you wisdom.” Experiences come portance to a lot of aspects of Ogave teachings in the from the mind and the mind has your life.” Gonpa at Tsegyalgar in Con- a lot of capacity. Yeshi said that in Don’t be fi xated on the results of way, Massachusetts. The title a teaching we listen and maybe your practice and especially don’t of the teaching was “The Base we have an experience. The ex- do magic. Magic is a very strong of Dzogchen.” Yeshi’s teaching perience is beyond language and fi xation of results. Work to un- throne was placed at the right words, and the experience is our derstand that things are unreal. hand of Rinpoche’s, and draped own wisdom. Sometimes we have with colorful silks. About 150 this experience and then nod our “We are all beginners…” Don’t people attended on a lovely sum- heads, saying inside “yes, that is stop at the fi rst understanding of mer day. so”. When we do this we have en- something. Offered below are some quotes tered into dualism. We are judg- Always go deeper. We will all fail from Yeshi’s teaching, along with ing even in the face of a pure because this is our human condi- a little of the general sense of the experience. There is no need to tion. Learn from discovering our commentaries that followed. The evaluate or judge an experience. limits. Always be respectful of words are important, but the es- The wisdom is naturally there in others. sence of the experience remains the experience itself. far beyond words. When the teaching concluded, “When we do not recognize what Some ways to prepare for Night and control events in the dream; little children rushed the throne “Understand means – general in- we see or if it’s real we panic.” Practice are to do Purifi cation of recognize karmic traces. and climbed on Yeshi’s lap. The formation, symbolic information This comment was in the context the Six Lokas or a Vajrasatva prac- relaxed joy and fantastic youthful and experience.” of dreams and the way we can tice. The fi nal goal is to purify If you do a lot of Guruyoga in energy was a reminder to all of use the experiences of dreams on three levels – body, voice and the daytime and have a dream us that the Community is a living “If it’s in your mind you already to expand our understanding. In mind. This purifi cation helps of clarity, Guruyoga will mani- thing, not just serious but also know it … (there are) not so many dreams our mental body feels the avoid the many karmic dreams fest immediately in the dream loving and playful and really a miracles we have to look for”, “If same things our physical body that can come in the early part far beyond the human condition. family. We are forever blessed by you hear the Song of the Vajra or does, like pain, fear, etc. If we of sleep. We were reminded that If Rinpoche appears in a dream the natural capacity, the wisdom the Hundred Syllables for the fi rst know we are dreaming (what it dreams of clarity come in the last and answers a question, this is and the profound generosity of time and it is familiar to you”, is – a dream / how it is – unreal) one or two hours of sleep, and your mind. Know that this is your Yeshi Silvano Namkhai. and “It’s no big deal – it HAS to we can work with that knowl- that any practice done during the mind and if you are really aware be this way.” We recognize the edge and can use the experiences dreamtime is seven times more then the answer will come from teachings because we have a re- for growth and understanding in powerful than a practice done your clarity. If an image from a lationship with them from a past general. whilst awake. Three important practice comes to you in a dream, life. This is totally natural and things to do when dreaming: ex- immediately do that practice in- nothing unusual. amine the dream; discriminate side the dream. Work with mak- THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

18 Tsegyalgar East

Chicago New York City upcoming Summer Programs at Kundrolling The Vajra Dance of the Six Spaces of On Tuesdays starting from June 10 we Samantabhadra will start series of meetings called: Taught by Bodhi Krause Basic Dzogchen Community practices: July 25–27 7–8 pm explanation, 8–9 pm group Registration practice $ 140 USD Practices which will be covered: Short Membership discounts apply. Thun, Medium Thun, Ganapuja, Long Space in the course is limited to 20 par- life practice, Green Tara, Odzer Chen- ticipants. Please register soon in order ma, Purifi cation of 6 Lokas, Rushens, to reserve a space. Semdzins, etc. To register or for more information, Also we have our regular meeting as please contact: usual: Tanya Andghuladze, 847 877-38 32 Mondays – Green Tara [email protected] Wednesdays – Vajra Dance Location Thursdays – Yantra Yoga The Gurdjieff Society of Illinois Also there will be one weekend: 3252 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue Vajra Dance – Om A Hum Chicago, Illinois learning with Kyu Schedule July 18–19 Friday 6–8:30 pm Saturday and Sunday 9–11:30 am, 2–4 pm and 6–8:30 pm

Advanced Vajra Dance with Adriana dal Borgo, May 27–30, 2008.

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

ated the ling called Pelzomling. The fi rst 7:30 p.m. Short thun and contempla- Yangdron and it will take place at Don- trology, external therapies, advanced News from Gakyil was made up of Monica Patiño tion practices. Shine. drubling, the Dzogchen Community medical theory, and related topics. (blue), Carolyn Bass (yellow) and An- center in Berkeley, CA. Thursdays To register or learn more about our var- Tsegyalgar West, gela Mijares (red). We have just elected 7:30 p.m. Purifi cation of 6 lokas September 2: Four Year Complete ious intensives and programs, please a new red Gakyil in March (Esmeralda Baja Tibetan Medicine Training – New Fall contact us at Brinn), the yellow and blue remain the Ganapujas and other special practices Semester Begins [email protected] or visit: Rinpoche recently approved fi ve new same, since we are not many practitio- to be announced Classes are held at the Shang-Shung USA Branch: www.ShangShung.org Gakyil members for Tsegyalgar West. ners and they are mostly beginners. Pelzomling Institute in Conway, MA. Main International Webpage: When the Gakyil met with Rinpoche Pelzomling has organized one Vajra Tabasco # 67 entre Mérida y Frontera Weekly schedule includes classroom www.ShangShungInstitute.org in Conway, MA, during the Tsegyalgar Dance course and Yantra Yoga course Colonia Roma study of the four Tibetan Healing Science East Retreat time, he mentioned again with certifi ed teachers and one Santi Gankil en México D.F Tantras, Tibetan language instruction, the importance of Tsegyalgar West as Maha Sangha Base course with Jim instructional and applied Kunye Ther- a place for Community members to do Valby. Mónica Patiño, tel 5511 0550, apy, and the history of Tibetan medi- individual retreats and to make the Gar We do practice retreats in groups cel. 044 55 38 99 09 60 cine and culture. Regularly scheduled a more active and alive place through outside of Mexico City, in Valle de Bravo, Carolina Bass , 044 55 26 99 54 14 guest instructors offer supplementary activates, practice retreats, programs where the second retreat in Mexico with [email protected] intensives in traditional herbology, as- and courses in Santi Maha Sangha, Yan- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu took place. Esmeralda Brinn, 044 55 17 55 13 62 tra Yoga, and Vajra Dance. For personal The Master came for the fi rst time to [email protected] Taxco, but Pelzomling did not organize this retreat please contact our secretary, * Elisa Gonzalez at [email protected] retreat and the second time, when Pelzom- Upcoming ling was inaugurated, was in March 2005. All New Kunye Therapy 250 & 500 The Gakyil would like to have six mem- We organize collective practices; Hour Certifi cation Courses bers and is interested in fi nding some- we practice Yantra Yoga for beginners in Berkeley, CA. one to serve as a red Gakyil member. and transmit every open and closed Basic Level: It would be helpful to be bilingual in web cast. There are one hundred fi fty July 30th–September 10th – 250 hrs Spanish and English, be able to travel people on our practitioner’s contact list Advanced Level: to Baja, and have knowledge of con- and we transmit every anniversary of Jan. 5th–Feb. 16th 2009 – 250 hrs struction. If interested, please contact worldwide transmission. The Shang Shung Institute commences Michael Hass at [email protected] General Activities Program 2008 250 & 500-hour certifi cation courses of Michael Hass from Huntington Beach, August 11–18 traditional Kunye Therapy in Berkeley, Southern California, Blue and Director, Open Webcast Transmission California. The courses are divided [email protected] Merigar, Italy into a 250-hour basic level and a 250- Joel Crisp from San Diego, Southern hour advanced level. The basic level California, Blue and Vice Director, August 22–24 course provides training in the theory [email protected] Weekend Retreat, practice of Chöd and techniques of Kunye Therapy, as Doug Lingard from B. C., Canada “Cutting the ego” well as a broad foundation of instruc- Red, [email protected] Valle de Bravo, Estado de México tion on traditional Tibetan medicine Luke Karamol from North- September 2–9 theory from the Tibetan Healing Science ern California, Yellow, Open Webcast Tantras. The course includes history, [email protected] Moscow, Russia anatomy & physiology, diagnostics, Stephanie Kim from Northern etiology, preventative medicine, and California, Yellow and treasurer, October 7–12 treatment of disease. Those who wish [email protected] Yantra Yoga Course to fulfi ll the 500 hour certifi cation can With certifi cated instructor * move on to the advanced level which Pelzomling Valle de Bravo, Estado de México includes advanced Kunye theory and (Place of victory and prosperity) *Confi rm to Pelzomling if interested methodology, medicinal oils theory and Mexico City, Mexico Permanent practices in Pelzomling practicum, advanced practice and fi nal Three years ago, in Mexico City, practi- Mondays and Wednesdays examination. The course instructors are tioners interested in the teachings cre- 6:30 p.m. Yantra Yoga (group practice) Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo and Dr. Kalsang THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

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

Words of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Selecting a new Gakyil and the aim of the Gakyil Tashigar North Gakyil Renewal Meeting, May 18th, 2008

We start with Guruyoga.

e are the Dzogchen Community and Dzogchen practitioners. The Dzogchen Community Wmeans practitioners, what they do and how they apply the teachings. In the Dzogchen Community we have the Gakyil. The people on the Gakyil serve the Dzogchen Community, not for a position. Some people become a member of the Gakyil and think, “Oh now I have a po- sition, now I have a kind of power”. That is completely New Gakyil wrong, there is no such thing. We do service. I am a Teach- Yellow: Steven Landsberg, er but I am serving, I do not have a position – this is a prin- Natasha Gerasimova ciple of our teaching. So it is very important for new and old people on the Gakyil to understand that. Sometimes Blue: Marina Kashkurova, Paola Civile people do not have this knowledge and they can destroy Red: Michel Dubordieu, Carlos García things. Gekö: Rolando Carrasco Everything we do in the Dzogchen Community is part of New Gakyil of Tashigar North, Margarita. Photo: N. Zeitz practice. In the Teaching, we say tawa, and chödpa. Chödpa means attitude, how we live and apply the teachings In general, we are not only one color of Gakyil, but all we discover the best way to work for taking care of many and its principles. When we have a meeting, the meeting is colors communicate with each other, and very often they things, between the six [or however many] people of the for the Community, for the people, for the Teaching, etc. also have meetings. They inform each other of everything, Gakyil, because not all people are the same, some are You must not think this is an organization. We need some without withholding any knowledge from each other. We more expert in some things, others in other things, etc., organization because we live in society. For that reason have had much of this defect in general, not only here so you try to learn and do your best in everything. It is very there are three colors in the Gakyil, and people take care of [Tashigar North] but also in different places. Human be- important that later, after one or two months, I don’t re- different actions. So it is very important that we have this ings have a lot of ego – always thinking, “Oh, I am Gakyil, ceive many emails that there are problems. When I travel I precise idea, and go ahead. You remember that people can I am yellow or red, I should do this, and I don’t care about have many things to do, many things to think about, so if only renew and serve for three years. After three years we the other people of the Community or the Gakyil”. That this kind of problem is added it becomes very heavy. change and that person cannot renew and remain on the is not good. I often receive communications between Gakyil. We renew every year because we are not an ordi- Gakyils, saying “I am Blue Gakyil, I am organizing this”, So you do your best and now we dedicate merits.  nary organization; we are people serving the Community. and it seems there is not any communication between the Some people think that after one, two, or three years that Gakyil and the Community. It must not be like this, ev- they are a kind of boss. To eliminate that idea, we change eryone should always collaborate and inform each other. Transcribed by Dick Drury every year. Even though we need to change, sometimes we Today, for example, everybody has a telephone and they Edited by Dick Drury and Naomi Zeitz renew up to three years, because of people’s experience; it are always talking, even when they go to the toilet. Then is not so easy with only new people always working. The why don’t you communicate with each other when there is Dzogchen Community has had suffi cient experience; this something to do? It is very important that you should think is not something new. After we started Dzogchen Com- a little among yourselves when you choose this Gakyil. munity we also started the Gakyil system, and now every- body is more or less experienced. If you are on the Gakyil, you should take care of what you should be doing in a perfect way. This is your commitment A Morning Song For My When we choose a new Gakyil, the old Gakyil should re- for one year. Some people, when we form the Gakyil, they Near-by Heart Friends main for one year to collaborate with the new people. They say, “Oh I want to be in the Gakyil”, and after two months shouldn’t think, “Now I am the old Gakyil, I don’t care”. they say, “Oh I want to travel and I want to be somewhere, Terre Satterthwaite Even if you are not on the Gakyil, not a member of the old I can ask someone to take my place” – you cannot do that. Gakyil, you can always collaborate. The Gakyil and in the If you have that responsibility, you should take it. This is Listen my dear friends there is a voice upon the wind! Dzogchen Community are always in contact; it is not that something very important, you remember, not only at this It is a story composed in a melody by a thousand dakinis. we cannot collaborate. But the old Gakyil should help the time, but forever. The voice is a virtual song with an orchestra of beings. new Gakyil at least for one year. To have this collaboration They are singing of something beyond the realm of gods. does not mean they must always attend meetings and fol- Some people are already worried, “Oh but there are not Their hearts are fi lled with joy for the birth of the sun. low everything. In different places many Gakyils are ex- nine people for the Gakyil, what should we do?” It is not Are you listening as you awaken into this joyous song? perienced and manage things in that way. I do not always necessary that there are nine people, because even if there It is the song of creation beyond the concept of a creator. need to explain and give advice. are six or only three, more important is that everyone is Every moment is sung into the next by an ocean of beings. active. We don’t really need quantity, but quality. So you Held together they are a rainbow celestial choir of pure I think we should choose people who more or less remain choose and present that way, and each person refl ects by presence. here in the Gar [Tashigar North], and then there is more him or herself. I am not choosing anyone; you must refl ect There is no other place of listening from which to hear, possibility for a longer time. The Gakyil is a year-long re- and present yourselves. This is an ancient song which never dies, nor is never sponsibility and for that period you should remain and do born. something. Maybe this way it becomes more active. If you [A 6 person Gakyil was selected, see photo this page ] Eternally hear now singing the moment of creation into want to travel or something, it is not so easy. People should your ear. also think, for example if you say, “I want to be in the Yel- We don’t need more people now, because this year I am Listen and when you lend your ear surely your mind will low Gakyil” – that means you should have a little experi- going away for a little longer time. So then you must be a follow. ence of how to work with money. It is not suffi cient you little aware here, not like two years ago when I went away, This Pan of the pipers, is a tune leading home to your heart. are Yellow and somebody asks and you send all the money we formed a Gakyil and when I arrived in Italy all the news A thought casting melody for the snake like entwines of to them. I told you already, money is very important for of problems came. I don’t want that again; that is not mind. the Community; it is like the blood of all faithful people. good for the Dzogchen Community. So you try to remem- May your listening become clear and sparkle like dew on We really must not lose money. So that is one thing, you ber, you really take care of the Dzogchen Community until grass. must think a little before you choose. Then Red, you know I arrive back here. May your heart open wide and allow dancing joy to enter. Red Gakyil means organizing, so you should know how May your body feel safe and present in it‘s masters temple. to organize things; we have many things to do here. And So this is the Gakyil. Now the new and old Gakyil need And may your mind become like the wind, keeper of the Blue Gakyil, you know what that means, that Blue is also to meet a few times, talk about how to collaborate, and song. for organizing different kinds of retreats, courses, etc. the new Gakyil should go ahead. This is very useful. Then E MA HO - LA LA LA HO - HA HI HA HI - LA LI LA LI THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

20 Tashigar Norte

lived a short but very interesting lama, Tsultrim Dorje (tshul khrims ing this, our realization is in our who identifi ed himself as Namchö Enlightenment in and prolifi c life in the 17th cen- rdo rje), an accomplished prac- hands. Mingyur Dorje. Negyab Chogtrul the Palm of One’s tury, in East Tibet. What a won- titioner who had done personal Rinpoche’s gonpa previously was derful opportunity to receive an- retreat all his life, near Kathog On the 2nd day, Rinpoche care- the residence of Namchö Min- Hand other teaching from his terma cy- (Kah thog) gonpa in East Tibet. fully explained some relevant gyur Dorje and also housed one Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai cle and to learn more about this So when Namchö Mingyur Dorje Tibetan cultural background in- of the chortens containing the cre- Norbu April 25th–30th 2008, extraordinary practitioner from was still a young boy he went to formation, such as how age is mated remains of this remarkable Tashigar Norte Rinpoche! live with Karma Chagmed, who generally calculated differently, terton, although Chögyal Nam- gave him many initiations, ripen- increasing every o r New khai Norbu did not know this Namchö Mingyur Dorje’s Here I present only a very brief ing empowerments and practices Year, rather than using birthdays at the time. After hearing about Sangye Lagchang summary of what our Master for purifi cation to awaken him, to mark off years as we generally this dream from Rinpoche, Neg- gNam chos mi ‘gyur rdo rje taught over these precious six as well as teaching him to read do in the West. So for example yab Chogtrul Rinpoche agreed to sangs rgyas lag bchang days, with emphasis on the back- and write. Shortly after, when when it is mentioned in the Ti- give the complete Namchö cycle, ground biographical informa- the young Mingyur Dorje was 10 betan biography that Namchö which involved many more days Elise Stutchbury tion, and real meaning of the years old his visions began. He Mingyur Dorje was 12, by west- of teachings. Our Master knew title of the text, and an indica- received teachings from Padma- ern calculations he was 11 years that these terma teachings con- he newly decorated Gonpa tion of the content, rather than sambhava, Guru Amita yus, Vajra- old. This particular teaching was tained instructions on Dzogchen, at Tashigar Norte com- on the details of the practice and sattva and also Avolokitésvara, received when he was 13, or 12 although it is only recently that he Tfortably seated the 150 or Dzogchen teachings. which he recounted to Asya years old, through pure visions has studied and practiced accord- so participants from all over the Karma Chagmed, who wrote of Avolokitésvara, in which he ing to this particular text, pre- world, at this wonderful retreat, Namchö Mingyur Dorje was born them down. The Shitro was re- received direct instructions over cious teachings we his fortunate which was also heard by many in 1645 and died in 1667 when ceived when he was 12 years old many days. students have now received. How more of Chögyal Namkhai Nor- only 23 years of age, after discov- in a tagnang from Vajrasattva. His wonderful! bu’s disciples through closed ering many important teachings, pure visions continued until he Over the following days Rinpoche webcast. How fortunate we are which comprise 15 volumes, 13 was 13 years old, and all were re- read from the text the words re- Those present were able to learn to have such a Master, and to be forming the Namchö cycle and corded by Karma Chagmed. ceived directly from Avolokités- and practice Vajra Dance, and able to access his teachings from the others written himself when vara by the young Mingyur Dorje Yantra Yoga, with the dedicated all around the world via webcast! he was a little older. Namchö After providing us with this bio- in pure vision and his commen- instruction of various interna- And how wonderful to be pres- Mingyur Dorje is differentiated graphical information, Rinpoche tary on them, as well as expan- tional teachers who were pres- ent, sitting at my Master’s feet, in by the name of his cycle of teach- continued explaining how all sively presenting further context ent, and the days passed quickly. the Gonpa at Tashigar Norte! ings, the Namchö, from another these teachings of Namchö are and explanation of these pre- The Shang Shung bookshop of- less famous master, also a terton, characteristically very concen- cious words, compassionately fered precious publications and It had been fi ve long years since or discoverer or revealed teach- trated and direct, whether relat- exposing the deep and essential recordings for sale, as well as I had last been physically in our ings, of the 17th century who ing to Sutra or the different lev- meaning of this terma: the Hom- other Dharma items, ASIA sold Master’s presence, then at Nam- lived in , East Tibet, called els of Tantra, or action mantra to age, the Four Mindfulnesses, jewelry and dance shoes, and gyalgar. The opportunity for me Yongde Mingyur Dorje (Yongs dge eliminate negativities, or meth- transmigration through the Six the Mirror displayed photos of to travel does not arise frequently Mi ’gyur sdo rje). ods for examining unusual signs Lokas, and how to bring pres- our Master. Many people eagerly these days, but last year I had won and divination. ence of this to daily life; the es- browsed and purchased the items a raffl e that provided my inter- “Nam” means “sky” as in “Nam- sence of how to apply and available. A Ganapuja to end the national airfare to a retreat with kha” and “chö” means teachings. The teaching that our Master had Bodhicitta for our total realiza- retreat was held on the Tuesday Rinpoche, and at last I had again This appellation, “Teachings of chosen for this retreat, Sangye tion for the benefi t of all sentient night, followed by an auction to made the pilgrimage to Tashigar the Sky” was given to Mingyur Lagchang, is about how we can beings; how to purify with Vajra- raise funds for Tashigar Norte’s Norte, and Rinpoche. I was de- Dorje because the entire series of have the realization and illumi- sattva and offer the essence of continuation and development lighted by the Gonpa, the houses teachings were received when he nation of the Buddha directly, our mandala; the Guru Yoga with over the next year or two. Bid- in the Gar enclave, and the lush was between 10 and 13 years old. and how it is not to be found any- Guru Padmasambhava, our root ding was often brisk and several gardens… the colors and smells. Unlike some terma which are hid- where else, but right in our own teacher, which brings us to the exquisite thankas and other items So much had changed since my den in the earth element, for in- hands. This is the real meaning state of our Three Vajra, the main found happy owners. fi rst visits in 2002! stance, Namchö Mingyur Dorje of the title, “Enlightenment in the point of Guru Yoga; relaxing and received these terma in tagnang Palm of One’s Hand”. This text continuing with Shine – Lhag- During this retreat, I began each My heart was full of gratitude as (dag snang), pure visions, while explains this directly, through tong, Shine with visualization, day with a Mandarava practice, I took my seat in the Gonpa on a looking into space. He was too the words of Avolokitésvara, who how to apply and be in our state together with a few Vajra broth- typically hot Friday afternoon, for young to write at the time, and appeared in tagnang and directly of Dzogchen, with real knowl- ers and sisters who lived next the beginning of the retreat. Grat- so he explained his visions to his taught Mingyur Dorje. edge of our nature of mind, the door. Such practice is a joy and itude not only to our Master, his teacher Araga Karma Chagmed There are many teachings in essence of Dharmakaya; how to one of the great benefi ts I discov- precious transmission and teach- (A raa ga kar ma chags med) also the Namchö cycle related with develop ordinary presence and ered staying in such a vibrant Gar ings, but to all those Vajra broth- known as Raga Asya Karma Chag- Avolikitésvara, and practices of integrate this with instant pres- for a few weeks. The long hours ers and sisters who have contrib- med (1613–1678), a Karma Kar- Avolokitésvara. In general prac- ence in order to become a good of travel were well rewarded. My uted so much over the years to gyüd and Dzogchen master who tices of Avolokitésvara, or Chen- practitioner; the practice of the gratitude to our Master, and to all the growth of this seemingly par- soon became Namchö Mingyur rezig (sPyan ras gzigs) are very Purifi cation of the Six Lokas; an Vajra brothers and sisters of our adisiacal tropical oasis, and who Dorje’s principle student and one widely practiced throughout Ti- essential explanation of the Four remarkable international Com- had worked hard to insure that of the main holders of this terma bet, and great Masters, such as Visions perfected in our prac- munity is deep and sustains me the 2nd of the Master’s teaching lineage. Raga Asya Karma Chag- the Dalai Lamas and Gyalwa Kar- tice enabling the practitioner to as we here at Namgyalgar pre- retreats at Tashigar Norte in 2008 med wrote down the pure visions mapas are recognized as ema- manifest the famous Rainbow pare for our Master’s return next was now about to begin, with all received by his young charge, and nations of Avolokitésvara. So Body at the time of death… the year. May we welcome all mem- auspicious circumstances. later codifi ed them. Avolokitésvara is Gyalwa Gyatso First Vision, indispensable and bers of our Community with as (rGyal ba rgya mtsho), which very important for any Dzogchen much love and care as was shown After welcoming everyone from Raga Asya Karma Chagmed was means “Oceans of Victorious practitioner to understand… to me! all over the world, and in all himself an important master Ones, Enlightened Buddhas”. places, Rinpoche introduced the closely involved in founding of Gyalwa Gyatso has one thou- Explaining the lineage which he 1 A short biography of Namchö Mingyur Dorje, retreat with some information Payul (dPal yul) Gonpa. The fi rst sand arms and eyes, in order to was transmitting, Rinpoche told in English, appears in A Garland of Immortal Wish- fulfi lling Trees: the Palyul Tradition of the Nyingma about Namchö Mingyur Dorje, head of Payul Gonpa, Kunzang benefi t all sentient beings. The the story of how he came to re- (Ven Tsering Lama Jampal Zangpo, translated and then explained the Three Sherab (Kun bzang Shes rab, 1636– essence of Gyalwa Gyatso is the ceive the complete Namchö cycle by Sangye Khandro, 1988, pp 45-52, Snow Lion Paths of Liberation, an explana- 1699), was a disciple of Karma four armed Avolokitésvara. Great from the master Negyab Chogtrul ISBN0-937938-64-5). This short biography was written by Khenpo Namdrol and is taken from tion providing context and re- Chagmed, and he also received really use this prac- Rinpoche, Jamyang Lodrö Gyatso a much more extensive biography written by lated to the Dzogchen teachings teachings from Namchö Mingyur tice of Gyalwa Gyatso, and this (gNas rgyab mchog sprul rin po che, Karma Chagmed. that would be presented over the Dorje. Subsequently Payul be- practice is very important in the ’Jam dbyangs blo gros rgya mtsho, subsequent days. came the major center for trans- Namchö cycle. In Tantrism we 1902–52) when he was 13 years mitting the Namchö cycle and practice with the inner, outer and old. He had traveled to this master In the Dzogchen Community one of 4 main Nyingma centers secret mandalas, and here Nam- in order to receive the Nyingma we practice the Shitro (Zhi khro), in East Tibet.1 chö Mingyur Dorje focuses on (bka’ ma) or oral transmis- the practice of the peaceful and the inner mandala explaining the sion of Dzogchen Semde, Longde wrathful deities, from the Nam- Namchö Mingyur Dorje was rec- practice of Dzogchen, our real and Upadesha. One night during chö cycle, so we are already fa- ognized by Raga Asya Karma state, our real nature. Discover- these teachings Rinpoche had a miliar with this great terton who Chagmed as a reincarnation of a strange dream of a young man THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

21 Tashigar Norte

Yantra Yoga, 3rd series and Variations with Laura Evangelisti, May 1–4, 2008.

Advanced Vajra Dance and Teacher Training with Prima Mai, May 5–8, 2008.

ations over that time together. Our Master’s chuckle when he powering transmission as he of water, it is not easy to mani- Shulen of Vairocana Certainly it was warm enough for pronounced that he could not be delivered and added to Guru fest fi re – so we need the base of Retreat with many to head to Playa Zaragosa held responsible for some of the Rinpoche’s replies. Selections Dharmata. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu for a cooling plunge. answers made by Guru Padma- from the original text included sambhava was repeated several questions such as: “How did our And now here in Isla Margari- May 9–14, 2008 Life here in el Valle de Pedro Gon- times over the days of the retreat; illusion begin? For having total ta, we are thirty fi ve at Ganapu- Tashigar North, Margarita Island zalez was ‘moseying’ (australian- and the content of which he was realization in this life, how many jas and still we have two man- ism) on with at least one hundred referring to was indeed chal- kinds of dharma practice do we dalas for the Vajra Dance thun Rosemary Friend and fi fty of us living here, enjoy- lenging for some and of course need? How can all emotions and some workers are building ing each other, the beach, train- perfect food for liberation of manifest as wisdom? How can we the wall at the eastern end of ing and practice sessions and thought and feelings, presence liberate from suffering? Which is the solar mandala churuata for n the early part of May, we the arrival of another fi fty or so and integration. the method for receiving the bliss wind protection and other work- were blessed with the fi nal Vajra kin for the retreat referred of the Teacher?” ers have resumed in the Gonpa Iretreat for 2008 with Chögyal to as Shulen of Vairocana. There In fact, not only did we hear and we were blessed at 1am this Namkhai Norbu here in Tashigar was a mild anticipation in the questions to Guru Padmasamb- One moment that has stayed with morning with heavy rain. The air North. Five weeks have passed minds of some who remembered hava from Vairocana, but also me was Rinpoche’s comment at is cool and fresh, there is spirited and I don’t remember now Rinpoche’s words at the end of , Queen Ponchi, a the end of Guru Padmasambha- energy and collaboration in those whether it was very hot, or very the previous retreat: there will be great meditator and and we va’s reply to Vairocana regarding living here, and already this sa- windy, or very fresh and probably something interesting for older were once again fl oating in the manifesting all emotions as wis- cred land of Dakini sings we experienced all of these vari- practitioners in our next retreat. profound sea of Rinpoche’s em- dom. When there is a quantity for the return of our Master.

supply of water by 15,000 liters ticed a village girl at the gate. The a story in the Mahabharata, about who had been chosen the village The Village Water per delivery. guards, instructed to let no one Yudhishthira, the Pandava brother, queen the previous year, now Project Again, thanks to all who par- enter (other than those participat- who refuses to enter ‘SWARGA must crown the new queen. The ticipated, to those specifi cally ing), were blocking her entrance. loka’ (heaven) unless his dog is also Master, and of course his wife Margarita Island, Venezuela who responded to the last an- I knew this girl had particular admitted (the dog later revealed Rosa, were giving her money for nouncement, to Yasmil and Ali- devotion to the master – since as a form of the God Dharma, in the dress she needed, no simple Louise Landes Levi cia, who work at Tashigar and childhood she had addressed the the Hindu mythology and in this dress but a beautiful one in which who ordered and distributed the Master as Master and attended tale, his father, testing him). she would appear before the en- This article is to happily an- tanks, once funds were provided; to him on the beach (where she I turned around, went back tire village of Pedro Gonzales to nounce the completion of the also thanks again to those who worked selling shells). She came to the gate and explained to the crown the incoming queen. Tashigar North Tank Project with donated money for the village li- from one of the poorest, indeed guards that the young girl was I felt relieved that if our Mas- the purchase of the fi fteenth tank brary and to those who donated scandal-ridden families, in the a friend of the Master and also ter conferred such a gift to the vil- and its installation the 2nd week their bicycles or money for the village. She looked like a yogini, my friend. They let her in. She lage girl, so surely we also could of June. Altogether, Tashigar distribution of bicycles to village even as a child. She grew into a sat in the Gonpa, as the Master share his capacity. North donated fi fteen tanks to children. beautiful, young woman. talked, her back straight, her legs the village with each containing, In closing, I relate the follow- I fi rst walked past the gate crossed, in meditation position. Om Bam Ho Shuddhe Shuddhe when full, 1000 liters of water. ing: On one of the last days of where her entrance was being I later asked why she had come The village thus increases their the last retreat at Tashigar, I no- obstructed. Then I remembered that day, and she replied that she, *

Main Offi ce: PO Box 479, Conway, MA 01341, USA * Tel: 413 369 4208 * Fax: 413 369 44 73 * [email protected] * * European Offi ce: The Mirror, Merigar, Arcidosso, 58031 GR, Italy * Tel: 39 32 98 86 52 92 * Fax: 39 05 64-96 81 10 * [email protected] * * Editorial Staff: Naomi Zeitz, Tsegyalgar, Conway, MA, USA * Liz Granger, Merigar, Arcidosso, Italy * * Literary Editor: John Shane * * Advisors: Des Barry, Adriano Clemente, Anna Eid, Barbara Paparazzo, Jim Valby * * International Blue Gakyil Advisor: Fabio Andrico, International Publications Committee * * English Language Advisor: Liz Granger * * Layout & Design: Thomas Eifl er * * Web Site Managers: Thomas Eifl er, Malcolm Smith * * Printer: Turley Publications, Palmer, MA, USA * * Distribution: Tsegyalgar at Conway, MA, USA * * Subscription Rate/6 Issues: $35 US available through Tsegyalgar; 35 € through Merigar * * Visa and Master card welcome * * Online Mirror: www.melong.com * * All material © 2007 by The Mirror * * Reprint by permission only * * We reserve the right to edit all submissions. THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008

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

Yellow Gakyil Carlos Giglio people are interested in creating a Delia Dos Santos (delia_dos_santos New Gakyil & Gekö Noemí Riner, [email protected] [email protected] design and construction project, so we @yahoo.com.ar), Red Gakyil, will be Everyone can also contact the gakyil Griselda Olivera invite all members of the Community Luis Olivera (Gekö) in charged of receiving the projects through the mail of the secretary of the [email protected] to contact the Gakyil to let it know your [email protected] and the one who will send the general Gar : [email protected] Claudia Corchero intention. Please, the deadline for con- outlines to the ones interested in par- [email protected] * tacting the Gakyil is June 20th, 2008. Blue Gakyil Auspicious Project ticipating. Tashi Deleg, Gakyil de Tashigar Sur Elena Gastaldi Red Gakyil New Gonpa This deadline does not imply the pre- [email protected] Delia Dos Santos sentation of the project as such, but Daniel Barreto [email protected] in Tashigar South only to let the Gakyil of Tashigar South [email protected] Marta Trillo know your intention to prepare one. The Hello everybody: Ana García (President) [email protected] deadlines for the fi nal presentation of As a new Gonpa has to be built in Tashi- [email protected] the projects will be set soon. gar South, we need to know how many

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

containing the Dance mandala, a com- Work Exchange munal kitchen, fully self-contained THE DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY OF NAMGYALGAR INVITES YOU TO THE TEACHINGS OF DZOGCHEN MASTER retreat cabin, a dark retreat cabin and in Namgyalgar, plenty of peace and quite for retreats. Australia. Ongoing work includes cleaning, gar- Namgyalgar needs you! CHÖGYAL dening, landscaping, weed control and If you have ever thought, “I wish I had general maintenance. NAMKHAI more time for practice,” come and stay Specialized skills we welcome at Namgyalgar! include carpentry, mechanical knowl- edge, plumbing, and electrics. Some NORBU In preparation for Rinpoche’s visit to fl uency in English is essential, as is an AUSTRALIA & ASIA PACIFIC TOUR Australia in 2009, and for the general easygoing nature, tolerance, and love JANUARY TO MAY 2009 upkeep of Namgyalgar, we are asking for the teachings. people to come and help us with our many projects on the land. As one of Rinpoche’s fi ve main Gars, CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU AUSTRALIA & ASIA PACIFIC SCHEDULE Namgyalgar is very important for the We offer free accommodation in a dorm continuation of the Transmission and AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND CALOUNDRA, QUEENSLAND style environment, or possibly a private Passages Friday night, Public Talk / Weekend Seminar Dzogchen Retreat: Teachings, so if you have the possibility Parnell District School Hall, Parnell Ewan Maddock Conference Centre, Scarborough caravan, time for personal retreat, a 23 – 25 January 16 – 21 March please support this precious gem and Born: Kittikhun arrived on May 8, 2008 AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE, VICTORIA beautiful, peaceful setting, location SYDNEY, NSW Friday night Public Talk, come and help us for a while. to Chee Wong and Sutthida Laoyeepa of Friday night Public Talk Masonic Centre, 7pm, 3 April near to beaches and spectacular scen- Goulburn St 7pm, 30 January Weekend Seminar Brunswick Town Hall Singapore. 4, 5 April ery. We have regular group practice, Interested people should contact Nicki Weekend Seminar Sydney University Village, Carillion Ave, Newtown NAMGYALGAR, TILBA TILBA, NSW warm, friendly atmosphere and vast Elliott, [email protected] * 31 January – 1 February Dzogchen Retreat: 10 – 15 April EASTER amount of space. We may also be able NAMGYALGAR, TILBA TILBA, NSW Namgyalgar SMS Teacher Travel Dzogchen Retreat: Dzogchen Retreat: to provide food. 9 – 15 February 17 – 22 April Fund Raffl e SANTI MAHA SANGHA Exams and Trainings SINGAPORE SMS Base Level Exam : 17 – 19 February Weekend teachings: Namgyalgar is near Tilba on the south- SMS Level 1 Training: 20 – 26 February 2 – 3 May The lucky winner of the prize was: east coast of Australia, 4 hours drive First Prize : Madeleine Fogarty from Sydney and is accessible by public “THE DZOGCHEN TEACHINGS ARE A DIRECT PATH OF SELF LIBERATION, FOR DISCOVERING ONE’S OWN CONDITION AND TRUE NATURE.” transport. Surrounded by forest with views to the sea, the Gar has a Gonpa

Karma Yoga Weekend at Namgyalgar

he 3-day weekend in June each year is traditionally Ta Karma Yoga Retreat at Namgyalgar, which is a time for Vajra brothers and sisters to meet and help with the care and main- tenance of the Gar.

During the recent Karma Yoga weekend around 30 practitio- ners gathered at Namgyalgar and participated in various ac- Also some people did admin- participation in some of the 12 It was a wonderful weekend with Australia in the coming months tivities, some of which involved istrative tasks while the Gakyil hours practice of the Long Thun Vajra kin from Melbourne, Syd- leading up to Rinpoche’s 2009 the physical preparation the Gar and others held meetings to dis- with intensive practice of Rahu- ney, Canberra, the Gar and other retreats please contact the Geko: for Rinpoche’s much anticipated cuss plans and preparations for la on Sunday night and Monday places, coming together shar- Nicki Elliott visit in 2009. Rinpoche’s 2009 retreats. morning. ing and offering their energies [email protected] to support the Gar, the Commu- Tasks undertaken included clear- Apart from Karma Yoga there At meal times and in the evenings nity and the Teachings in the true ing the camping ground of sticks was time to do some collective people huddled together around spirit of commitment and col- and debris and burning them off, practice, including Vajra Dance the wood fi red heaters and the laboration. as well as small tree felling, nox- and Yantra Yoga. There was also open fi re in the gazebo, warding ious weed removal, and clearance the opportunity to attend the off the winter chill and dampness Regarding the ongoing mainte- of a space for expansion and the Video webcast that included the from the rain, while sharing sto- nance and preparation of the Gar renovation of the shower block. transmission from Rinpoche of ries, talking, laughing, and sing- if anyone is interested in doing Rahula’s invocation, and later ing. Work Exchange at Namgyalgar in THE MIRROR · No. 92 · May, June 2008 Refl ections

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ma, and suddenly realized that leaving bequests to each of the Life, Death and I could transform my attitude Gars, Shang Shung Institute, Other Matters by visualizing the chemothera- ASIA, and to Rinpoche. I disclose py drugs being dripped into my this very personal information Erica Rayner-Horn veins as the life-giving nectars of only because I want to encourage Mandarava! After that, I had no you to do the same, no matter have just returned home from problem, and could relax into the how much or how little you may the wonderful retreat with treatment with confi dence! have. I know how hard it is to get IRinpoche at Tsegyalgar East, Throughout this time, I felt around to doing this, but as prac- and am keeping my promise to deeply sustained by the many kind titioners, we know none of us are write a few lines. I was encour- messages; visits and the practice here for very long. When I fi nally aged to write by the many people people known and unknown completed this onerous task, I I encountered at the retreat who were doing for me. Frankly, I discovered to my surprise there is have not seen me since my ill- was amazed by the very palpable a side benefi t! Contemplating be- ness, and were so amazed by my sense of support that upheld me, ing of tangible assistance to the obvious health and well-being, and that I felt I could depend on. Dzogchen Community some day that they thought I should let you I am certain it had a profound af- in the future, helps me face that all know how well I have recov- fect on my recovery, and from the day with more equanimity, and ered. I realized that somehow it bottom of my heart I thank you so live this day more fully! is easier to write about sickness Photo: A. Baharmast all, and remind you how power- In deep thankfulness, I bow to and death, and overlook how im- fully we can be of help to each my precious teacher, to the price- portant it is to share our news of weekly chemotherapy treatment. chemotherapy from a positive other. It has taken me a few years less teachings and to you my recovery and return to health. So, Practice was a central aspect of perspective, as I had great resis- to regain my strength and health, worldwide Community of Vajra I share my story with you, hoping managing this diffi cult time, and tance to it, and would have much but since then I have completed brothers and sisters, with pro- it may be encouraging to those since I often felt too ill to do for- preferred an alternative, less ag- graduate school with a Masters found gratitude. who are suffering from illness mal practice, I was so grateful gressive, less toxic form of treat- degree, and fi nished a two-year now, and knowing how impor- that Rinpoche has always taught ment. I had done a lot of research internship in psychotherapy. To- Long life and health to our tant it is for us to hear each oth- us how to do essential practice. and concluded that, as distaste- day, I have completely regained beloved Master! er’s stories. I discovered that no matter how ful as it may be, it was likely to be my health, and am celebrating In 2002 I had a dream, which weak and groggy I was feeling, it the most effective treatment for being a 5 and 1/2-year cancer sur- (Please note – I changed my name led to my diagnosis with breast was usually possible to visualize me, so I had to work to change vivor, giving thanks every day for from Erica Moseley) cancer. I was fortunate to receive a white Ah in a thigle, although I the way that I received it in or- my one precious life. medical treatment immediate- could remember nothing else. der for it to be effective. On the One more thing I would like ly, and had two surgeries right One of my greatest challeng- way to my fi rst chemotherapy, I to share with you is that I recently away, followed by six months of es, however, was how to embrace was struggling with this dilem- completed my estate planning;

khai Norbu Rinpoche that is also Global Timetable ‘so no’ awareness Worldwide on the videotape, in advance. Anniversary of Padmasambhava means Transmission days They should also have the possi- 6th Tibetan month – 10th day unborn nothing bility to clarify any doubts about Celebration at 8 a.m. About the Worldwide the practice on the videotape time. awareness there’s no ‘ism’ Transmission with some serious, dedicated in Buddha older students of Chögyal Nam- Sunday 10th August 2008 means Newcomers who want to par- khai Norbu Rinpoche before the 17:00 Hawaii no there‘s no view ticipate in the worldwide trans- Empowerment. 20:00 San Francisco, Los Angeles, in the sky mission must be truly interested Exactly at the given time (see Vancouver thing in the Teachings transmitted by timetable) at your place, you start 21:00 Denver, Salt Lake City, no samsara our Teacher, Chögyal Namkhai the Transmission Video at the Pagosa Springs, Edmonton fi rst Norbu Rinpoche, and practiced starting point of the part of the 22:00 Lima, Quito, Chicago, no nirvana in our world wide Dzogchen Anniversary of Garab Dorje. At Mexico City Buddha Community. Participants in this that moment – worldwide – stu- 23:00 Caracas, San Juan, Santiago, no wisdom Transmission should try to re- dents and newcomers start to New York, Conway, means ceive Teachings from Rinpoche practice this session of the Thun Montreal, Atlanta, Detroit, Havana, no in the future. After having re- together, which ends with the Kingston, Indianapolis, Ottawa Stephan Hill ceived the Transmission, they dedication of merits. thing should also try to train and col- We wish you all a successful practice. Monday 11th August 2008 laborate with the Sangha of the Please contact your local Community 00:00 Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, real International Dzogchen Commu- for details. Rio de Janeiro, Bermuda nity of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 03:00 GMT, Reykjavic, view Rinpoche. Originally, Chögyal 04:00 London, Dublin, Lisbon Namkhai Norbu had the idea of a 05:00 Johannesburg, Rome, Berlin, means ‘Transmission at a Distance’ be- Oslo, Paris, no cause he wanted to help people Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, in different situations, who could Brussels, Geneva, thing not travel at that time to meet Prague, Salzburg, Stockholm, the Teacher. The Transmission Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw no will enable them to practice the 06:00 Kuwait City, Riyadh, Tashkent, thing Dzogchen Teachings transmit- Helsinki, Athens, means ted by Rinpoche without needing Ankara, Beirut, Jerusalem, Tallinn, no direct contact with the Teacher at Vilnius, Istanbul that time. 07:00 Moscow, Murmansk, Baghdad thing: 08:00 Oddiyana, Islamabad Here is a summary of how the 08:30 New Delhi, Bombay but Live-Video-Empowerment works: 08:45 no thing To receive the World Wide Trans- 09:00 Dacca is beyond mission, new students need to 09:30 Rangoon no participate with an experienced 10:00 Bangkok, Jakarta, Saigon so student who will host both the 11:00 Singapore, Beijing, Lhasa, no preliminary explanation as well Manila, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, is beyond as the actual practice well in ad- Taipei, Perth words vance of the event. 12:00 Tokyo, Seoul, and mind Hosts of Empowerments with 12:30 Darwin, Adelaide is just the videotape should be members 13:00 Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney a word of the International Dzogchen 14:00 Vladivostok so Community. 15:00 Fiji, Wellington, Auckland, no For new and interested per- Kamchatka is just sons, it is important to have seen mind. the explanation by Chögyal Nam- 24

grounds of the Gothic manor surrounded the , or to sound a simple A, Those English tors, like nails at the center Retreat with Chögyal by yew trees. (Did I make that up those yew to do a complete Chöd. He still says that of a Catherine wheel, like central power Namkhai Norbu trees for effect? Maybe I did. Memory is a more than twenty years later. points for constellations that orbit around funny thing.) them: this one blossoms with youthful yo- Horrobridge in Devon, 1980 We were all thin and young back then, and gis and yoginis. It wasn’t that long ago, Practitioners clutch crutch-shaped sticks from that gathering, I went off to Norfolk was it? Des Barry to tuck under their arms; or to provide a with Mario Maglietti for epic rambling place to rest the chin: a lot of those sticks conversations that lasted until dawn as orrobridge in Devon, 1980, decorated with four symbolic letters. he advised me where to go in India to do a * Tor: a rocky pinnacle; a peak of a bare or rocky mountain wrapped in dark capes, hair fl ow- Longde retreat. or hill. Hing in the gothic wind on some I remember nettle soup cooked by Martin Dartmoor tor,* we are an image from Boord and his wife, which was surprisingly some ancient, dark and smoky thanka that good to eat. No wonder lived on has come to life, the photograph focused it. And the Italian practitioners appalled on the central , and an entourage of at the idea of wholemeal pasta. Can’t say ferocious young dakas and dakinis, long I blame them. House For Sale since grown longer in the tooth. near Merigar West I remember the Maestro in the dining room Case Brezza be- Like an image remembered from a dream, demonstrating points on the body for con- tween Pescina and this black and white manifestation draws trolling energy; and in the teaching room, Seggiano other images out of memory: Longde giving the lung for an entire fat volume of teachings that we heard for the fi rst Chöd practices, which I’d just bought, and 100 sq.m., 3 large time, and tried to practice in the spacious then him saying that it’s enough to recite bedrooms, 2 bath- rooms, Kitchen/ dining room, sitting room with fi replace, store- room, pizza oven outside, gas heating, completely renovated, new roof. 270,000 euro/negotiable

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