THE MIRROR

Newspaper of the International Community May/June 1995 Issue No. 31 H. H. Penor A.S.LA. Current Developments Head of the Tradition by Andrea Dell'Angelo and Andrea Sertoli On his first visit to Italy, will give, at the request of Chögyal , The Teaching and Initiation of the Konchok Jidus July 25th- July 31st, 1995 at Merigar, Arcidosso (GR), Italy H. H. Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche, widely known as H. H. Penor Rinpoche, was chosen head of the Nyingma tradition in January, 1992, by the principal Nyingma masters gathered at . Because he was about to visit , announcement of his appointment was postponed for a year, and made in January, 1993 before an assembly of over 3,000 Nyingma , abbots and disciples. This position is a recognition of his remarkable qualities as an enlightened teacher and scholar, and of his tireless contribution to preserving the . H. H. Penor Rinpoche was born in 1932, in the twelfth month of the Water Monkey Year, and recognized when two years old as the third Drubwang Pema Norbu. At the age of four, he entered Palyul, one of the six major Nyingma monasteries, each of which has its own unique . He studied with, and received transmissions from revered masters of the time and became the twelfth throne-holder of the Palyul lineage. He left Tibet in 1959 with twelve of his disciples, and resettled in Mysore in south . In 1963, he founded Nandroling monastery, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu being welcomed in Galenteng in 1993. (photo A. Sertoli) where he reinstated many of the Palyul ritual traditions. Today, Nandroling is a community of more than a thousand monks, the largest Several events have this A.S.I.A. program has with the C.I.S.P., an Italian NGO Nyingma center in the world. significantly marked the current presently reached 150 that will be put in charge by the FromtheKonchok Jiduscomes a practice for long life, the "Union development of A.S.I.A. sponsorships (150 children Ministry of Foreign Affairs of of Universal Wisdom", linked to the Guru Yoga of activities. A short description of sponsored for their education). In carrying out an important health and originally taught by him to his disciples, which he then hid as a the most relevant of them may the future, a similar scheme will project in the district; the for the benefit of future generations. It was discovered by the help to consider the actual growth be extended to the Dangche collaboration with A.S.I.A. great master Rigzin Jatsun Nyingpo (1585-1656), who practiced it for potential of the Association and school, to the Nalendra college, concerns thepublicationofa maj or many years and transmitted it in turn. This transmission continued the responsibility and work load to the Shandrob Shang school, to monographic volume on Tibetan without interruption to Choskyi Khentse Wangchuk Rinpoche (1910- involved in its functioning; the the Khamdogar school and to the medicine. 1963), master and uncle of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, from whom our reader may also evaluate the Tenzin Namdak • A.S.IA. participation at the Master first received it. It is included among the collective practices of effects that such growth will have monastery in . "Country Fair ' of Rome from April the Dzogchen Community. on the life and on the image of the • Five new requests for 21 to May 1.The "Country Fair"was Rigzin Jatsun Nyingpo, a monk, repeatedly met Guru Rinpoche, in Dzogchen Community. technical and financial assistance visited, in the 1994 edition, by more reality, visions and dreams. In February of 1620, he found a treasure • Approval of the have been received from Tibet: than 50,000 people. inventory written by , inside a chick-sized iron garuda. "Development of health and a) Riwoché Environmental continued on page 12 Following these instructions, he drew from the iron gate at Homtrang education conditions of the villageProject. A project proposal for the Utterly Profound Gathering of All Precious Jewels (yang-zab of Dzam-thog in the Tibetan the preservation of forests, flora CONTENTS dkon-mchog spyi-'dyusor Konchok Jidus, the first of many termas he Autonomous Region"pro]ect byan d fauna of the region; discovered. He spread the Teaching widely, gathered many disciples the Italian Ministry of Foreign b) Sala Rinpoche Semgye On Contemplation and the including the and Shamarpa, displayed extraordinary powers, Affairs; the request for financing Namdrak Project : A project Dedication of 2 and died amid signs and miracles. was presented in 1992 in proposal to provide financial Chögyal Namkhai Norbu cooperation with the COSV support to the scholar's college (another Italian NGO) and will built by Sala Rinpoche, disciple Editorial 3 be executed by both organisations of the famous Master Togden Rejuvenation Therapy Book Reviews 5 ( and COSV). Urgy en Tenzin.uncle of Chögyal The Naked State of Presented by Dr. Puntzo Wangmo • The actual start of the Namkhai Norbu. Intrinsic Awareness 6 "Construction of the Tibetan c) Lopon Tenzin Namdak The passage of days and months, seasons and years, consuming language school project in the Project in Nepal A request to Dugu Choegya! Rinpoche diseases extending over long periods of time, and excessive mental, Dangche district, Amdo region contribute to the purchase of land International Community verbal or physical exertion cause the signs of decay to appear in any ". Theschool building is currently of approximately 10 Nepalese News 7-10 sentient being. These signs include the gradual loss of strength of the body under construction; an A.S.I.A. bigas in Kathmandu (lbiga costs constituents (blood and so forth) and of the strength of the five internal technical mission is scheduledfor about $6,330) to dedicate to crop Opening the Eye of 11 elements (water, fire etc.). The body becomes crooked, wrinkles spread the month of April. The cost of cultivation for the nutrition of the An Interview with Gelek Namgyal Sey Rinpoche all over the body, the skin becomes rough, the hair on the head and the the school will be about students at the college. body whitens, the perceptive clarity of the sense organs (eyes and so US$100,000 of which $30,000 d) Bir (India) School project Shang Shung Institute in forth) fades away and the will power and other mental functions weaken have already been deposited in The project consists in the Italy 13 Old age thus begins, together with the approaching exhaustion of one's Tibet and $60,000 more has been enlargement of the present Enrico delTAngelo life span (caused by the actions of previous lives). transferred to Tibet during the primary school building to host Reflections 14 The therapy of bcud len is undertaken to extend one's life, to maintain mission in May. the secondary school classes. one's health and avert the signs of old age before these signs actually • The success of the e) Mongyal Lhase Rinpoche The History of the manifest The benefits of this therapy include: extending one's life span; "Sponsorship Program for the Project in Eastern Tibet The Dzogchen Community retarding the manifestation of the signs of old age; acquiring, for a children ofTibet", where A.S J. A. project aims at the construction Depends on You 15 determined period of time, a youthful body; increasing the radiance and has, as a counterpart, the of a traditional medical hospital John Shane strength of the body; the perceptive power of the sensesis augmented; Dharamsala based "Tibetan in the Nyarong region. Liberating the Fish 16 continued on page 4 Children Village" organisation: • The start of a new collaboration

1 This is the second part of a remain in the state of In contemplation we find prosperous life with as many po­ lifetime. But we must not only teaching on the Three Sacred contemplation all the time, ourselves beyond the distracted sitive factors influencing it as think of ourselves; we must Principles given by Chögyal remaining in the natural condition state of our habitually confused possible. But if that were to be remember the suffering of all Namkhai Norbu at Tsegyalgar in of instant presence without minds, completely relaxed in the our only intention, it wouldn't be sentient beings, and thus cultivate October 1994. Part I: and correcting it when it is there, aid naked awareness that is our natural enough. We need to ask ourselves ''; the aspiration to Bodhicitta was published in-the applying practices as necessary condition. In this natural condition why we want a long life. We arrive atrealization for the benefit last issue of the Mirror (no. 30). according to circumstances to re­ thoughts or emotions can arise, but should not just want to prolong of all those other beings, applying enter the state when she or he has they do not disturb us: we remain our lives in order to have more this Bodhicitta in a way that is The Three Sacred principles become distracted from iL in the non-dual state integrated time for our business or for our alive and concrete, with a real are Refuge, Contemplation, and Thus when we practise Guru with whatever arises, without political interests. We should compassion that is not just a the Dedication of Merit, so Yoga what we are try ing to do is to accepting or rejecting anything. practise Long Life practices matter of words. contemplation is rightatthecentre find ourselves, through our Practising in this way we are able because we wish to live for a long Sometimes people speak a of them, and in fact it is really the practice, in the state which the to remain in contemplation time in order to attain realisation. great deal about Bodhicitta and main point of them all. teacher has transmitted, the state in working with whatever situation If we live longer we will have love for others but they never Whenever we begin a session which the teacher remains all the or circumstance we find ourselves more time to practise, and if we actually observe their own of teaching in the Dzogchen time. When we are in the state of in. are prosperous we will have less thoughts or intentions at all. Then Community we always sing the everything they do can become a Song of the Vajra. We do this in little like the games politicians order to bring ourselves into the play. Politicians promise all sorts state of contemplation. This is of things, but often don't keep particularly important for those their promises once elected. For who already have knowledge of The Three Sacred Principles example, a certain party might the state but do not yet remain in continually make promises that that state all the time. Entering Partii if they are elected they will into the state of contemplation provide everything the people together through the Song of the On Contemplation and the Dedication of Merit need free of charge. But once they win the election they Vajra at the beginning of a session by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu of teachings reawakens us to the conveniently forget whatever fact that the process involved in they promised to get people to receiving teachings from a Master contemplation there is no obstacles to interferewith vote for them. Unfortunately, we is one of working together in separation between the our realization. And the sometimes do just the same: we collaboration through teacher and ourselves. purpose of realization is grandly claim to be practising transmission, and not one in which Through Guru Yoga we can to benefit all sentient compassion for the benefit of all the student is either merely passi- enter the state of beings; this is why we are beings, but if we were to really ve or only engaged at an contemplation, but the on the path. observe ourselves and the way intellectual level. teacher is indispensable in We must be aware that we actually behave in our lives, we would notice that in fact we Following the teachings of Dzogchen because without the infinite sentient never even relax our tensions or Dzogchen always receiving direct beings to whom we dedi­ enough to get along with our own involves the principle of transmission from the cate any merits arising friends or with our sisters and transmission, and this teacher there can be no from our good actions and brothers of the Vajra. We don't transmission is not something one realization. practice have no even have compassion for those can receive through reading books Parallel to the Direct knowledge of the close to us, let alone all sentient or through the words of an oral Introduction I have just teachings or of the Path; beings. This kind of falsehood explanation alone. That kind of explained there are in fact This means that they clearly does not correspond to approach is more characteristic two other kinds of experience infinite real Bodhicitta, to the real of how one might follow the transmission spoken of in suffering. So we are expression of a pure intention to teachings at the level of the . the Dzogchen teachings. When we In the state of non-dual seeking our own realization not benefit others. In Dzogchen, transmission is listen to general explanations of contemplation there is really just for our own benefit but with the life of the teaching; one cannot the teachings or to particular nothing to do, nothing to apply. the awareness of the infinite We accumulate merits through attain realisation w ithout it. There instructions relating to various There is no need to struggle with suffering of all the infinite practice, particularly through the are three kinds of transmission: methods such as, for example, anything; everything can be left numbers of beings in Samsara. If practice of contemplation. In fact, direct, oral and symbolic. instructions for visualizations, just 'as it is'; with nothing to we really develop this awareness when we practise something as was the first special examples etc., that is purify or transform. Then we there arises a real, rather than an profound as the Song of the Vajra human teacher of Dzogchen on called 'Oral Transmission'. discover for ourselves what is artificial compassion. and we find ourselves in the state this planet in this time cycle. And then there is what is meant by "The Great Perfection', The Buddha taught that we of contemplation, we can accu­ Before he concluded his life in known as 'Symbolic or 'Total Perfection", which are should observe ourselves, and that mulate infinite merits. And then the realisation of the 'Body of transmission', which refers to the both ways that the Tibetan word through observing our own again, when I give an explanation Light' he summarized his use by the Master of objects such 'Dzogchen' can be translated. condition there would arise the of the teachings and you try to teaching in what became known as a crystal, a mirror, or a peacock When we discover the self- wish to benefit others. If, for understand this knowledge as the ' Three Statements of Garab feather as symbols to help the perfected nature of our own state example, we imagine ourselves through your intention and Dorje'. The first of these student discover the nature of the we understand that Dzogchen is a in the place of those who are not through collaborating with me in statements is 'Direct inherent potentiality of their own word that, rather than referring to on the Path we can understand the field of transmission, you can Introduction'. In this Direct state, and how that potentiality a tradition or school, really refers how infinite their suffering is. accumulate infinite merits. Introduction the teacher manifests as energy in various to our own inherent condition, Such beings have no guarantee of We should then dedicate these introduces the student to the state way. (See: 'The Crystal and the the 'self-perfected state* that is liberation, and that is very heavy. merits to all sentient beings. Once of contemplation through Way of Light', by Namkhai always there in each of us, but Those of us who are on the the merits have been dedicated, experiences of Body, Voice and Norbu. Published by Penguin which is only experienced in Path have made a connection they always develop: they can Mind. The second statement is Books, in their Arkana imprint) contemplation. through which we are not only never be destroyed. But if you 'Not Remaining in Doubt'. The The reason we sing the Song So contemplation is the most able to receive and practise the have not dedicated your merits student experiences the state of of the Vajra so often in the Dzog­ important of the Three Sacred teachings, but what is more andyou becomedistracted, losing contemplation through the chen Community is to enable us Principles. through the power of this your awareness perhaps in the transmission he or she has to find ourselves in the state of The third Sacred Principle is connection we have a real experience of a strong emotion received in the contemplation. When we are in the Dedication of Merit, which is guarantee that we will one day such as anger, you can destroy in and no longer remains in any that state, we are in union with a practice that is inseparably attain realization. We have the that one moment of anger the doubt as to what contemplation our Master, united in the linked to our intention. When, for goodfortunetohave learned many accumulation of thousand of is. The third statement is experience of the knowledge that example, we do Long Life methods, some of which, if we kalpas of merits. That is what the 'Continuing in the State'. This he or she transmits, united in practice, we do it because we use them correctly, can even bring great Master , author means that the student seeks to contemplation. want to have a long and us to realization in this very continued on page 3

2 continued from page 2 light, while Nirmanakaya is the self-perfected from the very of 'The Bodhisattvacharya- realized energy of the Dharma­ beginning. All that is necessary is The Health of vatara', the guide to the kaya as it manifests in the impure that we find ourselves in our real 's Way of Life, said. manifestation of form. So the condition that has always been 1 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu But if you have already physical manifestation of the tlx efromthebeginning.butfrom dedicated your merits, they can Buddha as Buddha Shakyamuni wiiichwehavebecome distracted. As of noon, Friday, May 12th, the situation is as follows: never be destroyed, they can only is, for example, a Nirmanakaya So the v/ordsiddhi is used here in Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche is at his temporary home in New York accumulate, for this reason we manifestation. The attainment of recognition of the fact that it is by City, active, relaxed and in good spirits. The leukemia from which he dedicate our merits to all sentient the Two Kayas, Dharmakaya and means of the practice, the Path, had been suffering is in remission, as stated in prior bulletins. beings using the following verses Rupakaya, mentioned here, is that we do actually find ourselves Seeking to ascertain the exact cause of his recurrent attacks of high in Tibetan: really the same as the attainment in our real condition, a condition fever, his doctor have examined and tested Rinpoche repeatedly, both Geva diyis gyevo gun of the Three Kayas. which in Dzogchen is called the during his latest hospital stay and since release. Sodnam yexes cog zog xin So in this invocation, using the state of Ihundrup, the self- On Tuesday, May 9th, Rinpoche met, at the Sloane-Kettering Sodnam yexes las jyunvai words of we are perfected state. Memorial Institute, with a specialist in infectious diseases who had evaluated those test results and further examined him. It emerged that Damba gums tobbar xog expressing the wish that all beings Then we repeat the wordphala the high fevers, which arose at moments of immunodeficiency due These words of invocation may accumulate the two twice; means knowledge earlier to leukemia or more recently to the effects of chemotherapy, do were composed by Nagarjuna, accumulations of merit and non- of the Fruit. We generally have no result from tuberculosis, as had been thought That malady is and it is good to use them at the dual awareness wisdom through the idea that it is at some day in present, but only in a dormant state. Instead, Rinpoche is suffering end of a session of teaching. our accumulation of virtuous the future that we will become from what is called a non-TB mycobacterial disease, caused by the Geva means 'virtuous actions' action in the teaching activity or realized. Realization is seen as microbe known asmycobacterium avium, which, on becoming active, or 'merit', which we have practice that we have just something that will come later in his case has provoked an asymptomatic infection spread widely accumulated through practice, participated in, and we wish that for us. But in the deepest sense, through the body. Happily, the impact of this infectious agent is much listening, sitting in a meditation through the merits and wisdom our real nature is self-perfected less serious than tuberculosis. posture, and so on. Al 1 these things that come from our practice all from the beginning. And actually Chögyal Namkhai Norbu returned to hospital at the Sloane-Kettering require effort and therefore accu­ beings may attain the realization finding ourselves in this state of Memorial Institute on Saturday, May 20th and underwent the second mulate merits.Di'yj'j means 'with of the two bodies. knowledge is what is meant by cycleof chemotherapy without negative sideeffects and with apparently positive results. He was released on Tuesday, May 23rd. these'; so the firsttw o words mean Then we always add the man­ phala, real experiential May the lotus feet of the glorious gurus remain firm upon the earth! 'with these merits', which we tra: dhare dhare bhandhare knowledge of our own condition have accumulated. The next two svahajayajayasiddhi siddi phala as the Fruit, understanding the words, Gyevo gun, mean 'all phala a ah ha sha sa ma actualization of our practice to be sentient beings'. mamakolin samanta This is a realization itself. Working with circumstances Sodnam yexesreSecs to the two very powerful used to Thus using these words jaya accumulations: the accumulation empower and to make our practice jaya, siddi, phala phala of merit which derives from good real or concrete. It is not just an we empower our practice with actions (sodnam) and the invocation. Since we are not yet knowledge of the Base, the Path accumulation of widom (yexes: realized beings and lack sufficient and the Fruit non-dual awareness wisdom) power, we need to use the Then we continue, which derives from the practice of potentiality of this mantra to empowering our practice further contemplation and meditation Cog empower our practice. by reciting the syllables a ah ha zog xin means 'accumulating'. So Jaya jaya siddhi siddi phala sha sa ma which represent the six we express the wish that all beings phala a ah ha sha sa ma mamakolin spaces of . accumu late the two accumulations samanta is a mantra with which Samantabhadra is not only the of merit and non-dual awareness we empower our capacity of name of the Ati Buddha, the Being active in a mundane world while following a spiritual path is, wisdom through the merits wehave knowledge and understanding of primordial Buddha; it also refers in itself, a teaching. Even though one feels that worldly difficulties and accumulated with our practice. the Base, the Path and the Fruit, the to our inherent potentiality, our obstacles will be resolvedthroug h one's spiritual practice, they conti­ nue to arise unceasingly. Our practice can be considered to be working Sodnam yexeslas means 'from three fundamental aspects of the real condition. This real condition with the changing circumstances of which we are part. Meeting and these two accumulations of merit teaching. has six aspects or manifestations, working with them are an intrinsic part of community. and wisdom'; and jyunvai means because it is arrived at through Jaya means victory and This newspaper, The Mirror, which we try to bring to you as a 'that come*, or 'that develop'. reversing the causes of the six represents the understanding of source of news and a forum of communication throughout our world Damba gunis tobbar xog means the Base. From the very beginning realms of Samsara, which process wide community, is also subject to changing circumstances. Last 'may they attain the two sacred our real nature, our real Base is the use of these six mantric November the main office of The Mirror was officially transferred realizations or dimensions'. The the 'victorious' condition of the syllables activates. from Merigar in Tuscany, Italy to Tsegyalgar in Massachussetts, realizations referred to are the self-perfected state, a state that Finally we recite the words: U.S.A., the result of a long standing plan of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's Dharmakaya and Rupakaya. The has overcome all obstacles. With mama kolin samanta Reciting to expand various Community linked activities and went hand in hand Dharmakaya is the aspect of this mantra, we empower our this mantra, we continue in the with the inauguration of the American seat of the Shang-Shung realization beyond all limits of practice through knowledge and state of instant presence Institute. Since November the Mirror offices at the two Gars have continued to work together to publish the newspaper with production fcrrn,thedimension of 'emptiness' understanding. We repeat jaya empowering everything in our and mailing taking place in the United States. that is the inherent condition of all twice: the first time we use it, it lives with contemplation. We Circumstances arose in which the managing editor at the Tsegyalgar phenomena and the state of represents our real condition, or continue in the state of office felt unable to continue and after the mailing of the last issue realization of all enlightened Base; and the second time it contemplation so that every (no.30) it was decided that this issue of the newspaper would be beings. And Rupakaya means the represents the recognition that we circumstance in our daily lives produced at the Merigar office. dimension of the myriad forms are actually now in that real becomes practice. For these reasons you will have noticed a different "Mirror" with the that manifest as the spontaneous condition, in the state of presence, We can see from this last two "American" issues and again with this "Italian" one. This is play of the formless energy of the in contemplation. We have discussion that whenever we mainly due to technical circumstances - the two American issues were Dharmakaya. actually entered into the practise or apply the teachings it printed on better quality paper. We found this to be too costly. The Sambhogakaya and Nirma- understanding of our real nature, is essential that all our intentions issue you are reading now is printed on cheaper recycled paper and nakaya, are two dimensions of which is what is meant by the and activities should be connected while the printing is not up to the quality of the last two issues, a fact realization not referred to in these word 'Base'. to the Three Sacred Principles. It which has also affected technical aspects such as font sizes and general layout, we've brought the costs down. The financial circumstances verses but which are commonly Siddhi means 'attainments'. is important that we understand have not permitted us a wide choice. spoken of together with the Here the word siddhi stands for these principles and ensure that Then we owe a sincere apology to our European readers who have Dharmakaya as the 'Three the Path, or meditation. On the no aspect of them is missing from waited patiently to receive their last issue which was, unfortunately, Kayas'. Sambhogakaya and Nir- our practice. We must be aware path we generally meditate. Why sent surface mail from the US. The American editors did not realise manakaya are both aspects of the do we meditate? To attain of them atall times: in the practice just how long international surface mail takes. dimension of form. Sambhogaka­ realization. But we must of Dzogchen everything in our And so circumstances are changing for the Mirror. The small group ya is the dimension of form in the remember that the attainments lives is totally integrated, nothing of people who are involved in producing The Mirror are doing their pure manifestation, in which the referred to here are not something is left out. best to work w ith them in order to continue to bring you our Community formless Dharmakaya manifests we acquire newly. They are Edited by Barbara Paparazzo newspaper. We ask you to be patient with us and support us with your as the essence of the elements as aspects of our real nature which is and John Shane. articles, your subscriptions and your collaboration.

3 continued from page 1 components are powdered, sugar put into a container which is placed grinding capsicum and adding female counterpart of the yak, the mind and memory are cane molasses ('solid' molasses in (if possible) old barley (or other) honey. This preparation is taken adds to the nutritional power of clarified; there is a sharpening which is a clear brown/orange grains and left for 21 days. alternating it with food and a diet the above five essences and is the the intellect, the voice acquires a colour) (bu ram) is added and pills The paste should be taken in the that are appropriate to one's essence of liquids. good tone, and one's virility and are prepared. Tibetans also add early morning on an empty stomach physical condition (phlegm, bile The four herbs as essences are: fertility remain undiminished. the urine of a cow of reddish for the number of days equal to the or wind). In this way, one's life is - Himalayan cypress seeds (shug This therapy should be colour. These pills, which purify days it was left to sit (21,10 or 7 extended, the body constituents bzu); undertaken in an ideal place which the body internally, are taken two days). By using this bcud len a increase and the body heat - white webbiana flowers Ça lu is an unpolluted environment, free or three times. person with a preponderance of the augments. In particular thisbcud dkar po); of distracting crowds (and - lug mtsheg; involvements), isolated and - Himalayan artemisia (mkhanpa pleasant, where the air is clear dkar po); and small limpid rivers flow here Rejuvenation Therapy - aconitum napellus (bdud rtsi zil and there, pervaded by fragrant pa can). aromas and populated by birds These herbs are characterised singing among the varied in Tibetan Medicine by the fact that they remain green vegetation. The environment in winter. When they are correctly should not produce fear of the Dr. Puntzo Wangmo's presentation of the Rejuvenation Therapy ( bcud len) prepared and taken in appropriate danger of wild animals or based on the Oral Instructions tantra (man ngag rgyud) doses they restore life. ThisbcW malicious creatures nor should len can free one from the nine fatal there be danger of bacteria or illnesses. In particular, it increases organisms that cause illnesses. the strength and the radiance of the For the therapy to be effective, body and the signs of old age it should be applied before the vanish, the person becomes like a signs of old age are evident, before 16 year old boy or girl with the the body shape becomes crooked. dexterity of a lion, the strength of It should not be undertaken by an elephant, the radiance of a someone who is effected by a peacock, and the speed and strength serious consuming disease such as of a stallion. The life span and life cancer. energy become equal to the sun During the therapy the person and moon. should not expose him or herself The process of preparing this to excessive doses of sun or other la stfecwï/encan beeither complex sources of heat. One should or simple. restrain his or her involvement in sexual activity, avoid physical or COMPLEX PREPARATION mental work mat is too hard or In the complex preparation one exhausting and avoid situations takes calcite (cong zhi) and that may result in mental sorrow. There areseveral kinds ofbeud wind humour will remain young len increases the life of a person crushes it to the size of barley The dietary requirements during len pills: and healthy. predisposed to phlegm illnesses grains, enough to makea measure. the therapy are that one should 1. garlic based bcud len for of a cold nature. This is mixed with six measures avoid old (rotten) or acid foods, people with a strong wind 2. THE BITUMEN (BRAG ZHVM) If the urine of a reddish of water and boiled. When the rough (uncooked) foods and old disposition; BASED BCUD LEN coloured cow is added to the above water has evaporated to a greens. On an astrologically 2. bitumen based bcud len for This is made with iron bitumen ingredients, one can also cure measure, filterth e calcite and keep appropriate day one starts the persons with a strong disposition (among the five types of leprosy. the liquid. Then take half a therapy after having performed to heat related illnesses; bituminous). This bitumen is measure of each of the remaining rites to one's protective deity and 3. capsicum basedbcud len for black in colour, unmixed with 4. THE THREE MYROBALAN (THREE five essences and four herbs, grind taken purifying baths. persons with a strong disposition sand and tastes like the urine of a FRUITS) BCUD LEN them coarsely and boil and strain The therapy may be followed for phlegm disorders; cow. It has lustre, is bitter and This bcud len refers to pills as with the calcite. This is added strictly, abstaining during the time 4. bcud len based on the three astringent and has a heavy prepared from: terminalia chebula to the calcite liquid and mixed and of therapy from working Myrobalan fruits (arura - potential which results from an (a ru), terminalia belerica(ba ru) boiled again together until they activities, or while leading a terminalia belerica, kyurura - alchemical transformation of iron. and emblica officinalis (skyu ru). become one measure. Then add normal working life. terminalia chebula, and barura - The powder of burnt gold, silver, This preparation clarifies the one and a half litres of milk and emblica officinalis) for persons copper and iron is added to the senses, strengthens the physical butter (in lesser quantity) and boil THE STRICT THERAPY with a strong disposition for bitumen. This preparation should constituents and, in particular, again so that the liquids are The strict therapy includes the combined humoural disorders; be taken with milk in the early dispels the illnesses of a combined absorbed into the milk and the preparation and the actual method 5. bcud len based on the four morning on an empty stomach. imbalance of the three humours milk into the butter. The final itself. herbs and five essences which To prepare this bcud len in a and maintains youth and virility essence which has no water is To purify body channels from can heal any ailment different way an equal quantity of for a long time. mixed with the same amount of the residue of imbalances of the the medicines appropriate to one's su gar cane lass es, ground finely humours the person undertaking 1. GARLIC BASED BCUD LEN physical constitution (according to 5. FOUR HERBS AND THE FIVE and mixed with the same amount this therapy should take the Garlic is the so called "blood the predominance of the wind, bile ESSENCES BCUD LEN of honey. With this preparation following food andmedicine: rice of the demigods" since legend or phlegm humour)is added to the The bcud len of the four herbs pills of 5 grams each are made. soup to which is added good has it that it originated from the bitumen. This preparation is ground and the five essences of the Starting from the first day of quality melted butter or fat or nectar falling from the slain body and placed in an iron container and external elements is a preparation the waxing moon, take one pill in bone marrow three times a day. of Rahu. left for seven weeks. In the first based on the interdependent the morning on an empty stomach. This is eaten for three days in a Fust of all the garlic is peeled week of the seven week therapy connection between outer and The pills should be started a row. Compresses of heated salt and then soaked in a good alcoholic one takes 5 grams a day, in the inner elements which aims to cure considerable time before the should be applied on the weak brew (best if made of barley) for a following two weeks 7.5 grams a the internal imbalances of the seasonal heat begins (i.e. before spots of the body such as the day and a night The garlic is then day and in the remaining four weeks elements. The five essences are the summer) when the body tends stomach, bowels and back. The strained and thrown away and the 10 grams a day. While taking this the following: to sweat from the external heat. final purgative before starting the liquid, mixed with sesame oil and bcud len one should avoid red - bitumen from rocks containing therapy should be made of the the water from the top of the yo­ 'Mon' beans (vicia faba), soya deposits of iron, the essence of SIMPLE PREPARATION following substances: the short ghurt, is taken in the early morning beans and pigeon meat. earth, which cures diseases of the Crush the calcite to the size of beaked Myrobalan terminalia on an empty stomach. Immediately There is no illness that cannot flesh; dice, take two handful s of it and belerica) (this is the Myrobalan after, one should take some milk be treated with Üúsbcud len and - orange striped calcite, the bum it in the fire.Whe n itbecomes that does not have a longish and a little melted butter or a meat in particular it is very effective in essence of minerals, cures the red. place it in pure clear water protuberance like a pear)¿mW/ca broth from animals that live in a the case of those predisposed to diseases of the bones; and it will dissolve with a officinalis (skyu ru), ammoniac dry place, such as chicken, yak, heat illnesses caused by - pure sugar cane molasses, the rumbling sound. Later grind the salt (rgyam tsha), long pepper sheep or wild ungulates. imbalances in the blood or bile. essence of wood, restores one's calcite, add a measure of water (piper longum, pipi ling), acorus Garlic bcud len can also be This bcud len is the best method strength; and 500 grams of butter and boil calamus (shu dag dkar po), fennel prepared in the following way: the to increase one's life. - honey, the essence of flowers, until the preparation becomes (bea') ginger (sga), curcuma garlic is cooked in a little water and cures diseases related to the dense like sheep's yoghurt. To longa (yung ba) and embelia then made into a paste after which 3. THE CAPSICUM BASED BCUD LEN depletion of one's radiance; this preparation add a handful of pul che II a (byi tang ka). These a little butter is added. The paste is This bcud len is prepared by - the butter of the dri (bri), the continued on page 16

4 Lives of the Great Masters Book Reviews

1808 -1887 Living the Mindful Life way he consistently thwarts, A deep and resonant drum - a handbook for living warns against, and advises on how announces the piece with slow, writings "Old dog". in the present moment to avoid, succumbing to the compelling rhythm, one is drawn After his predecessor's Charles Tart thinking mind's attempts to take immediately into a kind of quiet nephew died he started to live as 1994 possession of the presence. An invocation to Pad- a wandering mendicant without exercises in order to reassert its masambhava sets the respectful home or possessions. Fust he dominion over us by rationalising tone, and the one hundred-syllable went to the area of Dzogchen "... while reading about and thus undermining these mantra prepares the way through Monastery where he received mindfulness is helpful, ideas endeavours to establish purification. many teachings from Gyelse about mindfulness are not awareness. Shenpen Thaye and the Siddha mindfulness. Thinking about The first bamboo flute This is an admirable book to Mingyur Dorje while living in being present is not being presents improvisationfollows. The music be recommended both to those the caves around the area. In one The ultimate value of this book is quietly relaxing but not of the interested in the theory and of them, the lies in the degree to which you try numbing "new-age" mode. There practical application of the Meditation cave he wrote his out me mindfulness practices and is a subtle structure in which the spirituality/psychology interface famous text, "The words of my apply them in your life." short phrases float out in and to those keen to develop succession from a calm center. In perfect teacher" When he was This book by Charles Tart, mindfulness practices in daily 1 ife. this track, "Dig it in, cockroach," teaching he emphasised love and Professor of Psychology at the Andy Lukianowicz the melody unfolds in short compassion as the root of all University of California and an ascending phrases, fluttering spiritual practice. authority on the interface between lightly like a bird in flight. Brief The force of his presence was psychology, spirituality and explorations over peaceful so strong that many hunters gave mindfulness practice, is the lightly The Cuckoo's Presence Patrul Rinpoche painted by mountainous terrain, then coming upkil ling and bandits their robbing edited report of a series of Tibetan songs and Ts ering Wangchuk in the Merigar to rest in a moment of reflection. after hearing him teach He taught workshops on the psychological improvisations for the flute Gonpa The title track is next: in a direct language using few approach to mindfulness Tenzing Tsewang simple words, but this apparent conducted on 's Tsewang's lyrical poem praising Patrul Rinpoche, though he simplicity had a background of a invitation at Rigpa Fellowship in the Cuckoo's herald of spring. lived as a vagabond, was one of the deep realisation and a vast Autumn 1991. Sung simply, the melody is natura 1 and evocative but well-founded most renowned spiritual teachers knowledge of the Buddhist Using insights and practices in the folk tradition. More flute of the last century. Bom in 1808 in teachings. derived from Gurdjieff, improvisations follow. At times, Dzachuka, a nomad area of , During his youth he had studied Buddhism and contemporary the brief phrases, which seem to he was recognised as the of with the greatest teachers of his psychology (there is an intriguing spread like circles in quiet water, Paige Samten Phuntshok, a master time and due to his amazing reference to the Fisher-Hoffman begin to call to one another until previously living in that area. Later, memory, committed most of the Therapy workshop, which the a whole community of voices join several great Lamas recognised teachings to heart, so that he could author of this review too had in the echoes. him as being an emanation of teach the most complex subjects of occasion to go through in a group Shantideva and also the speech for months at led by Dr. Claudio Naranjo) Tart A playful folk song: "Don't incarnation of Jigme Lingpa. a time without a single page as offers the workshop participants wear collarless shirt' ', changes the The young Paige Tulku met his reference point. He practically (and hence his readers) some mood a bit in what I can only principal teacher, Jigme Gyalwai knew by heart the famed "Seven simple exercises as viable ways imagine to be the Tibetan Nyugu who was one of the main Treasures" and other works of the of mamtaining awareness of the equivalent of a "cowboy" diddy students of Jigme Lingpa, soon fourteen-century master present moment in everyday life: —complete with yodel-like after being established as the head , whom he considered by developing mindfulness of the laughter. The final improvisation: of Pal ge Samtens monastery. From the ultimate authority on the various body (through consciously Tenzing Tsewang, bom to a "Be modest, after all its a tuneless him he .received the Longchen levels of the Buddhist path. sensing the arms and legs), nomadic family in western Tibet, tune" is a longer musing. Here the flute spins out melody and Nyingthig which is a summary of Patrul Rinpoche instructed mindfulness of sensory now lives near Sydney Australia draws one deeper and deeper into Longchenpa's teaching written by followers of all schools without perception, apperception and and has been an active member of quiet relaxation. Finally, one Jigme Lingpa. He also met and bias and together with Jamyang proprioception (through the the Dzogchen Community there returns to drumand chant Tsewang studied with most of the great lamas Khyentse Wangpo and others process of consciously listening, for several years. He received beseeching the Masters: "Stay! of the time, including the first played a major role in the sensing andfeeling) and recalling extensive education in the Tibetan Please Stay ."Tsewang has devoted Dodrupchen, Jigme Trini e Oeser, development of the Rimé presence to the present moment monastic tradition at Namgyal this album to Namkhai Norbu Rin­ JigmeNgotsar, and the great Siddha movement But for all his brilliance, (through the bell-ringing 'stop Tantric College from 1969-76. poche and prays for speedy Do Khyentse Y es he Dorje. there was nothing in his outward exercise', cleverly embedded in Under the tutelage of the recovery of his health. On one occasion Patrul Rinpo­ appearance or his behaviour the text of the book so that it can renowned Tibetan flautist, che met Do Khyentse in the towards people who didn't know also be applied by the reader). Ngawang Khechok, Tsewang has Tapes are for sale for $ 8.00 marketplace. Do Khyentse him that made him different from Ithink most readers will readily developed his improvisational plus $ 3.00 handling U.S. or $ shouted, "Hey Paige! Come over an ordinary person. identify with the kind of problems skills over the past five years. In 5.00 elsewhere. CD recordings this privately produced album, he may be available at a later date. here if you dare!" When Patrul He was completely detached related to maintaining presents a pleasant mix of Checks should be payable to approached. Do Khyentse grabbed from the affairs of this world. When mindfulness voiced by the enchanting improvisations, Essential Sounds. Orders can be him by the hair, knocked him to the he stayed somewhere, he had no participants andfindusefulTart's Tibetan folk songs and placed with: Woody Paparazzo, ground and dragged him around particular plans, and when he left, responses, which alongside inspirational chants. Parsons Road, Conway, MA themarketplace. As Do Khy entse's he had no particular destination. affording precious glimpses of 01341, U.S.A. breath smelt heavily of beer Patrul He would just leave with his the distilled wisdom of the The album begins with a chant. thought to himself, "Even a great walking stick, the clothes on his mindfulness methods elaborated master like him can get tipsy and back, a small bag containing his by Gurdj ieff also offer advice (and rave in such a way!" Just at that teapot and a copy of the heart-felt encouragement) on Tibetan Astrological Calendar moment. Do Khyentse suddenly Bodhicharyavatara. He rarely practical ways of overcoming the let go of him and staring into his spoke and if so only to teach the psychological and social Wood Boar Year 1995-1996 eyes said, "What one-sided, Dharma. conditioning to remain pretentious ideas you have, you In 1885, Patrul Rinpoche, then pathologically asleep insamsara Contains all the astrological data of the Tibetan calendar old dog!" And he spat in Patrul's 77 returned to his birthplace where (Tart makes the interesting and the individual aspects for those bom in 1915-1995. The face and left. Realising that he had he remained till his death two years observation that "Samsara, living calendar is indispensable for fmding out the days that are been mistaken Patrul sat in later. He died sitting in the posture in illusion, is an Eastern concept, favourable and unfavourable for both mundane activities meditation and spontaneously of Vairochana gazing into space. but curiously, I now think that and those linked to practice. There is a short explanatory experienced natural awareness Among Patrul Rinpoche's many Western psychology knows more introduction. Dates until 17 April 1996. clear as an empty sky. Later Patrul disciples were the third about the details of living in Available from Shang Shung Edizioni, 58031 Arcidosso G R, Rinpoche would joke about it Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Adzom illusion ...") we all undergo and Italy for Lit.l0.000 (or equivalent) including postage or, saying, "Old dog is the secret Drukpa Mipham Rinpoche and of instead awakening.and staying from end of June, Shang Shung Editions, PO Box 82, Conway initiation name Do Khyentse gave Katok Situ Rinpoche to name but a awake, to the present moment. MA 01341, USA, for $5 plus $ 2.50 for postage. me". He even signed some of his few. Tart also deserves praise for the

5 The State of Primordial Perfection

Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche

ofhaving an ego. Through practice matter what people do towards us, Perhaps it is not necessary for we finally come to realise that there we absolutely should not have a me to explain as you already know really doesn't exist an ego but this feeling of hatred towards them. but when we speak of Dzogpa knowledge comes after a long What others perceive is not Chenpo, the Great Perfection, we process of meditation. important How w e perceiv e others are speaking of a great perfection At the same time we are very is. We are followers of the Buddha which is the state of the perfection attached to things and we think we will live forever. But we all know very well that one day we will all be corpses. There is no escape from that even though we run away and hide. If we keep that fear away and hide from that reality then we become so attached to things that everything that happens in life - people, situations, pleasure, etc. - seems very important to us. But this doesn't mean that we have to In October 1 994, Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche resigned from his positionfee l disgust about life; wecan enjoy as president of the Tashi Jong Tibetan Community where he hadth e beauty of this life. The thing worked to serve his root guru HE. for six years.whic h we must tame and uproot is Since then he has been working for his retreat centre, BhirDuguthe source of all pain in our mind, RetreatCentre inNepal where selected students coming from Tibet areour strong attachment to ego. trained in meditation and art. Besides his commitment to the retreat In our life as practitioners, centre, Rinpoche is starting up the S arana Institute for seminars andcompassio n and meditation should translation of Dharma texts and has established a carpet companygo hand in hand. Compassion is outside Kathmandu in order to raise funds for reconstruction of theth e path of method and meditation monastery in Tho-Dugu, Chamdo, Tibet. is the wisdom path. Therefore the Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche is head of the Tho-Dugu region which first thing when we practise is to consists of Tho-Dugu monastery, established in 1676 and Lhadrakmak e sure that we are doing it for Yang\en Retreat Centre. The region is also home to the Yangram,th e benefit of all sentient beings Y argon Teng and Drilkyi Retreat Centres which have produced manywhic h means forthe enlightenment great masters including Dugu Tokden Shri (1854-1919), theof all sentient beings. Compassion great Drukpa KargyudXoYàm of the last century. There are also twoan d love are like the ground, the yogini and nunnery centres, Khakyo Thongmonling and Tsogyalbas e and since we are followers of Choeling there. The centres and lay communities all work togetherth fore Buddha we should practise the preservation of religion, traditional education and handicrafts asaccordin g to his teachings as much well as for the preservation of the environment. as possible. All the great teachers

I would like to express what I whether we are studying or feel about all the teachings I practising, the first thing is The Magnificent Ghajudhari painted by Dugu Choegyal Rinpche received from my teachers and to find the answer for which and his teaching and if we develop of all beings, of all religions, of all especially from Khamtrul Rinpo­ we are searching. a feeling of hatred towards others minds, of all qualities, even the che who to me was a real Buddha We are all practitioners due to precise reasons, this is a perfection of the five poisons. just as my other and we all share the same double mistake. If someonedislikes Therefore when we deal with things teachers were, too. There are experience. Sometimes we us this is not very important What such as differentreligions, different masters who have recently passed think we have found the is important is that we don't dislike schools, different lineages, away but we are very fortunate to answer but when we conti­ others. different w or ds, different concepts, have some great masters who are nue to practise, that answer And then there is another very if we, in our daily life, lose ourselves still among us today. Having the changes and there is another important aspect that we call pure in dualistic concepts, then we don't opportunity to be in contact with because the real answer to conceptwhichisfrequently spoken recognise that the state of every­ them makes our lives extremely what is the mind doesn't of in the practice of . thing is self-perfected. We will be precious. come from studying or The term 'pure concept' has many fooling ourselves. We will be losing It is obvious and we all know learning. It only comes different levels. At the highest level time because struggling with very well that our precious lives through practising. And it refers to how Buddha (or totally duality is only an illusion of ego. will not last very long. Therefore it practice requires time and realised beings) sees sentient Whatever practice we do, the is very important for all of us to use effort. And then with beings. This is the final state first thing is to have an easy, relaxed every hour, every day, every month experience the practice towards which we are working. mind. With that, then we can look of our lives in the most useful way. develops, like peeling away For example if Buddha considers at the natural state of the mind. If Life is impermanent and very short the layersofskin of an onion. Nangwa Tampa one of the twelve on the one hand another Buddha our mind is completely attached to and the years pass in the blink of an To find the real answer, Primordial Dzogchen Masters painted and then on the other hand a very worldly things, it is like being on eye. Therefore, the most important you need effort and to by Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche in the cruel being, Buddha's way of the waves of the ocean in a big thing in our precious yet brief lives, stimulate effort it is Gonpa of M er i gar considering the two is the same: wind. However, when one's is to find confidence in our minds, important to have a there is absolutely no difference. meditation becomes a little more and to discover what mind is all consideration of the preciousness have given great importance to This doesn't mean that Buddha stable then one becomes aware of about If we think and look for ofhuman life and imperrnanence. love and compassion. Even to gain hasn'tgota discriminating capacity how the waves are and then one other things first in this life and Knowledge of in the upper realms of the to distinguish between what is bad realises that the waves are the ocean always put off searching for what doesn't increase suffering within six spheres of existence we must and good. It means that he has itself. And finally we find that is really important we will arrive one's mind On the contrary it is practise compassion. reached total equanamity beyond everything is in the state of at the end of our lives completely the source of reducing one's Method and meditation can be duality and he sees the essence of primordial perfection. empty handed. suffering and pain because it considered to be like the two wings these things. The reason is that Excerpts from a transcription of The reason we have these great finally helps to find the solution of a bird. In and Dzog­ actual reality doesn't exist as pure a teaching given at Merigar on teachers, first and foremost, is to to one's fear. chen, particularly, these two wings or impure. Pure and impure are January 21, 1995 .The complete help us find the answers for which We can be fooled by illusion must be used together for dualism, dualism is samsara and teachings given by Dugu we are looking. However we thinking that the things around us enlightenment. For compassion, the differentiation of and Choegyal Rinpoche at Merigar ourselves must work hard, too. are long-lasting and real: and in the first most important thing is not samsara doesn't exist in Buddha's during two week ends this winter, Therefore without wasting any the same way we are all to ha ve hatred in one's mind and to wisdom. This is the wisdom of will shortly be published by S hang time, whether it is day or night. completely fooled by thedelusion have respect for all others. No equanimity. S hung Edizioni.

6 N E R N A T O N COMMUNITY NEWS The Flower is Opening ... Report from Merigar

by Anna Eid

Now after many months of finished on his next visit to Meri­ begins with the figures being patient work the figures of the gar. drawn freehand by Tsering lineages of the masters have The basis for the many months Wangchuk on a prepared white manifested at the Great Rower, of detailed work are the extensive base. Then the background details the Gonpa at Merigar. We're notes and drawings for the Gonpa such as the mountains, clouds firiishingthelastpanel: in the centre by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, and sky are filled in with colour is the figure of Garab Dorje created long before the actual and the shading begins, by surrounded by the Indian master of painting began. Rinpoche's notes making myriads of tiny dots. At the lineage, with Kumadevi, describe, in the minutest detail, a certain point, the original line Buddhagupta, Kukuraja, just how the decoration of the drawing which involved so much Nagarjuna, Shri Singha, Gonpa should be carried out, fine detail disappears, and all the and other important including the colours and positions lines must be drawn once again The ornamented dome of the 'Great Flower' (photo M. M aglietti) Dzogchen masters. of the masters, the and on top of the colours. At the end, In April the sixth panel was many other important aspects. Tsering Wangchuk draws the completed: the Dzogchen Masters Although the work is not actually beautiful ornamentation in fine of the Bon tradition with finished, we estimate that by lines, using pure gold. Each figu­ MERIGAR SUMMER Tapihritsa as the central figure summer the work should come to re is like a . It is interesting surrounded by masters of other an end. to observe how all this is PROGRAMME 1995 traditions including Trenpa The Tibetan artists, Tsering gradually growing. Moment by , Chang Chub Dorje, Wangchuk and his wife Sonam moment, day by day, the figures June 23-25 Padma Dundul and Ayu Khandro Palmo, who have almost come alive and everything Yantra Yoga Course as well as the figure of the completed the seven panels have together becomes harmonious. for both beginners and advanced practitioners Guardian Dorje Legpa riding a been here for eight months, And thus the great with Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti goat. painting every day, from morning manifestation of the Masters Participation fee Lit.150.000 - no discounts Here in the Gonpa one will see to evening, even on weekends. slowly takes form.. 148 figures of important masters One cannot easily imagine how June 16-18 and protectors, ornamented by much work has been involved in The Mirror Dance of the Vajra Course flowers, mountains, symbols of the decoration of the Gonpa, how for both beginners and advanced practitioners office at Merigar can offerings, clouds and so on. The much patience and presence has with Adriana dal Borgo central panel depicting the been necessary to carry the work now be contacted by Participation fee Lit.150.000 - no discounts Primordial Buddhas of Dzogchen, almost to its end. E-Mail the precious work of Dugu The work on the panels has l(X)530.527(akx)mpuservecom July 25-31 Choegyal Rinpoche, will be followed a precise process, which WITH H. H. PENOR RINPOCHE Teaching and Initiation of the Konchok Jidus Participation fee Lit. 350.000 with discounts for members

You Can Still Help Complete August 2-12 Retreat of Dance of the Vajra for both beginners and advanced practitioners the Temple of the Great Liberation with Prima Mai and Adriana dal Borgo Participation fee Lit.350.000with usual discounts for members by the Gakyil of Merigar August Teaching Retreat The Temple of the Great will return a fourth time to comple­ words are invited to participate with a Tibetan master (to be announced) Liberation, conceived by Chögyal te the central panel. He has written: in the effort to complete the Participation fee Lit.320.000 with usual discounts for members Namkhai Norbu and planned in "I feel very blessed for having the Temple by making a generous detail by him, constructed with opportunity to make a direct work contribution. Members and August 23 - September 5 the collaboration of architects and link with Chögyal Namkhai friends of the Community from Yantra Yoga Course builders of the Community, is in Norbu's Temple of Great many countries have given time, with Fabio Andrico the last phases of painting and Liberation according to his vision effort and money. Now we are From the evening of August 21 st to the morning of September 3rd decoration, nearing its for the seat of the Dzogchen asking againEveryon« who offers a course of Yantra Yoga will beheld at Merigar for those who want completion. On May 29th 1990, Community ... Having this link a sum equivalent to $100 US. or to have the possibility to teach it or who simply wish to deepen it was inaugurated with the through my paintingtothis Temple more will receive a poster of the their practice. In order to participate in this couse it is nessary to presence and teachings of H.H. of Great Liberation will bless me Temple, currently in preparation, already have a good knowledge of the practice. the Dalai . for many lifetimes wiïhSamaya." in recognition of their help. Those who are new to Yantra Yoga will not be able to participate The work in progress involves Money is lacking for the final Thank you for your good will, because a good knowledge of Yantra is a prerequisite for this many details of this luminous stage. Expenditures have exceeded your prayers and your material help. course which is intended for perfectioning the practice. At the end octagonal structure, which is irexmetotheTemplebuildingfund of the course Chögyal Namkhai Norbu intended to give a diploma painted with sacred Dzogchen texts by about eight million Italian lire Please send your gift to:Mon- of participation so that those who are interested in teaching could and symbols. Numerous hands are (approx. $5,000 U.S.), and we te dei Paschi di Siena, Arcidosso ask Rinpoche for his authorisation to do so. This course is also finishing the frescoes, which estimate that another twenty branch, Account number 312029, important for those who are already teaching Yantra Yoga, and in proceed from Kuntu Zampo, the million lire (approx. $18,500 U.S.) Bank code 013072160 or by fact Rinpoche expressed his wish that all the teachers of Yantra Ati Buddha, to celebration of the will be needed to complete the postal money order to Comunità would coordinate their practice in order to ha ve a homogenous and rigdzins, the masters of Dzogchen project We are hoping for the Dzogchen, Merigar, 58Ö31 correct practice. and of all the currents of Tibetan empowerment of the Temple of Arcidosso (GR), Italy The contribution to expenses for each participant is Lit. 350.000 Buddhism and Bon. The Tibetan theGreatLiberationsoon, possibly In both cases, please indicate with the usual discounts for members. artists who have done much of this this summer when the Master, his clearly your name and address work will be at Merigar another healthrestored, is expected to return and purpose of your contribution: Merigar, 58031 arcidosso, Q% Itaiy. month. Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche, to Italy to convalesce. "For the Temple of the Great TeC. 0564 966837 sublime lama and master painter. You who are reading these Liberation".

7 News from Yugoslavia Kundro Ling at a Crossroads from the Dzogchen Community of Yugoslavia by Dick Drury After a couple of years of difficult circumstances, the Community in Yugoslavia has made some progress, which is very encouraging. We have some new members who are interested in the Dzogchen make it known immediately if teaching some of whom wereable to attendNamkhai Norbu Rinpoche's they are willing to help, in case teachings in Greece and Italy last summer. the opportunity arises whereby Since we have been back we have organised small retreats every we could secure the property if weekend. The new members have made a difference to our group and we had the funds on hand at short created a positive influence with their freshness. Our Gakyil is notice. publishing a small newsletter three times a year. In the meantime we shall con­ The news about Rinpoche's health struck us like it did everyone in tinue with our short-term the Community and we are doing our best to help in every way. We do programme of activity, tidying twelve hour practices of naggon as often as we can and we also include up the place and making use of it thepractice of Guru Dragpur andMandarava in our daily practices. We as far as possible; the next major hope mat Rinpoche will overcome his illness and be able to be with us occasion being a long weekend very soon and for a long time. We also support our Vajra brothers and of work and practice May 29-31, sisters in their struggle with problems about Rinpoche's hospitalisation. with a "Vision Weekend" in July We have finished painting the and we are very happy with it. when community members come We are discussing news ideas for organising retreats of Vajra Dance and and the situation and offer Yantra Yoga as soon as possible. Circumstances in our country are their ideas of how the property should be developed to best suit changing and possibly moving in a positive direction and we hope that we Practitioners meeting at Kundro Ling can invite our Vajra sisters and brothers from other countries to be our our purposes. Dzogchen guests. Our Gakyil is considering buying a piece of land because at the During the Easter long out that nothing is certain until practitioners through Europe and moment the prices are good. At the moment it is just an idea, but an weekend of April 14-17 several contracts have been exchanged, the rest of the world are invited to encouraging one. practitioners were present at and if this didn't happen within a visit Kundro Ling at these times Kundro Ling, the UK community few weeks the land could well be and/or whenever they have the property in West Wales, to do back on the market again. opportunity. practice on and for the land. The As for the possibility of our Facilities are still at a bare Tibetan studies in Finland property consists of a derelict purchasing some of the land from minimum at the moment but

by Sasha Poubants & Kaisa-Liisa Puonti farming compound, with a stone t this buyer if and when the sale should increase gradually. We are L-shaped building for which we goes through, it seems unlikely at present unable to use the water Here in Finland we have had a good opportunity to study Tibetan have outline planning permission that someone who has paid so pipeline which crosses Capt. one weekend a month since February 1995. Ourcoach in this endeavour to renovate, in the form of two much for it would be prepared to Carlisle's land; water containers is Sasha Poubants from St Petersburg. separate dwellings, as the central part with any, this also being the may be filled in St Nicholas. This translation course is the idea of Ilkka Tanner, who spent some structure of our projected retreat opinion of Mr Thomas. If this Visitors may pitch tents or sleep days at Sasha's apartment that summer. Because of his organising centre. Practices performed over turns out to be the case, and the in the main building or the barn. efforts, we now have the possibility to enjoy our collaboration on the the weekend, mostly led by Dima buyer has the intention of ripping A latrine area is in the trees behind inspiring and beautiful Tibetan verses of Rig pa ngo sprod gceer Ermakov, included a Puja for up the overgrown sections, the bam, plenty of corrugated mthoong rang groU "The Direct Introduction into Primordial AwarenesNagas s on Saturday 15th by the draining and actively farming it sheeting around for screening. - Self-Liberation through Naked Seeing", the famous text from the stream below, and a Fire Puja to its best potential, or has some We have the intention of cycle of Shitro written by Padmasambhava and rediscovered by with Sangqod and Lungta other plan that would not be purchasing a used static caravan Karma Lingpa. ceremony and the raising of the conducive to our presence there, (trailer) to place on-site with the A small group of some 10 enthusiastic learners gather every month prayer flags on Sunday. Weather we may have to consider mains electricity supply for a weekend in Tampere, in southern Finland. We began with the was cold and windy until Tuesday to sell him our property for a connected to it This will beuseful rules of how to read Tibetan, and then it has been a kind of analytical when the last of us departed in decent price and finding for visiting practitioners and for a reading, based on practitioners' intermediate needs. We leam the warm sunshine, with the feeling somewhere else. Without the person or couple who should be language itself, studying the rules and structures of written Tibetan, that we had done our best and addition of this surrounding land residing there to take care of the simply by going through the text, translating and understanding it made a positive influence in our Kundro Ling will be incomplete place and receive visitors. verse by verse. When we study we work together analysing the ways ongoing attempt to acquire some and of very limited use to us. My own view of the current of expression. It is very helpful for understanding the Teaching and of the large area of surrounding On the other hand, it may well situation is that the future of also for finding the best method of translating the Teaching into our land that is on the market, in order be that this offer of such a high Kundro Ling hinges on whether own two languages - Finnish and Russian. One of the results is that if to make Kundro Ling more com­ price for the land, nearly double we can acquire the additional land, we want to read and understand a Tibetan Dharma text, we need plete and viable as a retreat centre. its estimated value, is purely a with its fields, springs and relatively little material for training in this manner - and then we are We rambled over some of this ploy on the vendor's part to extract streams, marsh, rock, bushes and ready to use original Dharma texts for own education and practice. land; it is indeed looking very some higher bids from other trees, and its possibilities for per­ Our last session this spring was on 20-21 May. There are thoughts lovely and suitable for our parties, such as ourselves, by sonal practice and retreat in of continuing the course in autumn. And we might find other ways of purposes in its spring awakening, getting one of his cronies to make seclusion. with the streams flowing among collaborating: we are looking into a possibility of having a joint retreat a bogus offer which will of course Rinpoche visited our present the rocks and grassy banks, place in Sortavala on the Russian side near the Finnish border. never materialise. property last September, giving peacefully green and lush with This possibility, which is not his approval and blessing, and its sprouting bulbs and flowering so unlikely in the circumstances, name meaning "Place of Eternal bushes. Synchronising our watches and the uncertainty of whether a (Continuing) Liberation", and he Some unwelcome news was sale will go through to this other said then that we should try to Fellow practitioner Vladimir Karpinsky, an experienced practising received after leaving Kundro party even if their offer is genui­ acquire additional land, which astrologer, has kindly pointed out that the universal timetable for starting Ling when I stopped in the nearby ne, coupled with the intended almost immediately became special practices done worldwide is incorrect for Russia. Since 1930 Russia town of Fishguard to see Mr effects of our practice, is enough available.albeitatan extortionate has used "Decree Hour" adding an extra hour on to each time zone hour, and Thomas, the agent for the sale of basis for our continuing to hope price. It has taken us years to find "Summer Time", from March to September, adding another hour onto the the land. He informed me that the that the surrounding land will and purchase such a property for "Decree Hour". Decree Hour was cancelled in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Byelorussia after these countries separated from the Soviet land is no longer on the market as eventually become ours to make the use of our community, which Union, but Summer Time is used with the same formula. Capt. use of and care for. would also of course be useful for Therefore the Universal Timetable for the ex U.S.S.R. is the following: Carlisle, the landowner, has There seems to be not much practitioners throughout Europe Anniversary of Padmasambhava Sat. 8th July 1995 accepted an offer equivalent to we can do about the situation at and elsewhere. The notion of Kiev, Minsk, Riga, Tallin Vilnjus 05.30 his asking price for the entire 82 present except continue our having to give it up now is hard to Moscow, St. Petersburg 06.30 acres surrounding Kundro Ling. practice and see what happens entertain. Kirov, Samara 07.30 Mr Thomas had phoned me one next. The situation may well have Sverdlovsk, Tjumen', Ufa, Tashkent 08.30 evening the week before to ask The impulse to immediately offer changed or become clearer by the Omsk, Novosibirsk, Alma-Ata 09.30 Barnaul, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk 10.30 me if I would like to raise the price a higher price is probably too late time you read this. Please do not Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude 11.30 we would be prepared to pay for if the potential buyer is genuine hesitate to contact me with Chita, Yakutsk 12.30 the 28 acres we are interested in, and mistaken if he is not. enquiries, offers and suggestions Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Verkhoyansk 13.30 as other offers had been made, but However, if there are any rich - Tel.378^70777 or write to me Magadan, Yozno-Sakhalinsk 14.30 I had decided not to do so. practitioners/benefactors/lottery at Yew Tree House. Bladbean, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Anadyr' 15.30 Mr Thomas was careful to point winners out there they should Kent CT4 6LU GB.

8 A Time of Change Yantra Yoga Retreat with Fabio Andrico Report from Tsegyalgar Santa Fe July 1 to 5 by Lauri Marder The Santa Fe Gakyil is sponsoring a Yantra Yoga Retreat from July 1 to5,1995 at the new yurt at Lidian King'sin Santa loving-kindness of those caring Fe. $15 per session or $125 for entire retreat. Call Lidian at for others, or inspiration of 505/988-5995 for irtforrnation. someone attending a class, or diligence of those working on a text somewhere else, all have Yantra Yoga Retreat some effect on community life - with Fabio Andrico and the result is a beneficial and bracing mixture. Tsegyalgar It is so comfortable and July 15 to 23 pleasant in the room that was What is Yantra Yoga? In the ancient tradition of the Union intended for the Institute's offices, of Sun and Moon tantra, Yantra Yoga consists of simple and that the practices are held there, profourd,yetd^allengmgmovementsthatcoOTCumtedwinels but once the Institute is real, that and prana. Yantra begins with bodily exercise to acknowledge room will become a room for the the importance and strengthening the facilities of the body. It public to enter, and the practices then proceeds to breathing which is the vehicle of the vital will be elsewhere. As it is with force called prana; and finally reaches the level of mind. other aspects, the roles of the This retreat includes methods for: loosening the joints, rooms, too, are still in flux. purification of prana, control of the channels and effortless At the retreat cabin in Buckland Circumstances continue to dictate control of prana. The teachings are open to anyone who is what is done. interested. This is spring, and the peepers more than the old, casual method The artist has been studying Why Do Yantra Yoga? Develop healthy and harmonious in the swamp are singing in the is probably needed. one of the best programs for condition of the elements, so negative conditions are pacified night, the birds are carrying on all The experience of having The graphic design. He works at it and positive ones enhanced. Discover and integrate the day, and the trees are about to Mirror here makes it clear that a hours at a time, and though his knowledge of the natural state in body speech and mind. explode into green leaves. The better level of organization could paintings are done with all the Applied in practices in the Base of Santi Mana . winter is over, and the Dzogchen be useful. The Tsegyalgar traditional materials, it seems his Absolutely necessary for Stage 5 of Santi Maha Sangha. Community has shaken off the community also has the mind is able to accept the world cold chill and stepped into the responsibility to host the Shang- of the computer as well. Now Schedule: Retreat starts 10:00 am on July 15th and ends the sunlight Shung Institute, distribute books when he isn't drawing a deity or afternoon of July 23rd Tsegyalgar is being strongly and information, develop a library hammering on somethings or Weekends: Morning Session 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon challenged in some ways. This and preserve its tape archive and painting a mandala to send across Afternoon Session 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm community, which has been able maintain a schedule of practice the world, he's in the office, Weekdays: Afternoon Session 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm to meet almostany occasion fairly and classes, as well as retreats. learning Quark Express. No one Evening Session 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Schedule may change if easily is now facing a completely And there is a responsibility to knows yet if he'll be a good group agrees more than the immediate Dzog­ designer, but it's nice to see him new experience. Registration: Contact the Secretary at Tsegyalgar to reserve chen family. It almost seems trying. The Conway community has a space. Deposits are useful and appreciated. overwhelming at times. always known how to get things The guiding principles of the Retreat Fee: $200 for the whole retreat $25 per day with $50 done. Any time a structure needed Gakyil meetings are long. changes which will occur or not minimum. Basic ($300) members 30% discount, Sustaining to be built or repaired or some Sitting in the library, which is occur here are the ones that were ($600) members 100% discount Dormitory: Limited spaces are shelves put up, or a retreat to be still half a library and half a storage studied in the text of the Precious available in the dormitory at the school. Leave a message for planned and hosted, it's been room, with the tables laid for tea, Vase: in this there is a way to the Geko at413-3694153. It's $5/day. Other Stuff: Wear loose accomplished without wasting the gakyil laughs and groans as relax and be sure that, with such a comfortable clothes. Bring exercise pad or blanket. There are time or motion, no matter how the agenda is planned, and then teaching and such a master, things no meals provided with this retreat. huge the job, or how difficult. settles in to work. Firstthesinging are possible. They will never be Collaboration has been a strong of Song of the Vajra, then the linked to the principles laid out in point here. meeting begins, and sometimes, a book on how to run a Vajra Dance Retreat When Rinpoche taught here as when the resident artist says "It successfulsmall business, though with Prima Mai last fall, dressed in a beautiful doesn't take a brain surgeon to there might be some good ideas yellow silk gown from Buryatia, run a computer," a certain in such a book. Tsegyalgar the leaves were golden, the light giddiness takes hold, as the roles When on a bright spring day June 8 to 14 was golden, and the teachings of brain surgeon, artist and layout the birds are singing outside, This is one of two Dance Retreats that Prima Mai is were golden. All through the dark person for The Mirror begin to inside one might also find the teaching in the USA in 1995. Participants must have winter his words echoed in the mingle in the minds of all present. secretary singing, singing a song transmission of Vajra Song from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. building, and the new practices The artist offers to learn to opera­ which sounds Tibetan, and then The retreat will include the Dance of the Song of Vajra for on the first level of Santi Mana te a computer, something he has later, one would surely hear him beginning and advanced dance practitioners. Beginners Sangha were sung, and the golden never wanted to do. and all are say, " Oh, it is so fortunate for us should attend from the beginning of the retreat. color remained, because of the amazed, then half expect a to have this school, this copy reality of the teachings in the volunteer brain surgeon to speak machine, these teachings! Iam so Schedule: The retreat starts 10:00 am on June 8th and ends hearts and minds of the students. up too. The different colors of the happy. Isn't it wonderful! " and the evening of June 14th What else could be needed other gakyil may have prepared well, one has to agree with that It is not Beginners Class: 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon than the opportunity to practise yet it is seven hours later before so serious, how it goes, when the Beginners Class/Practice: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm these teachings, and learn well all the decisions are made and the way is interesting and challenging Advanced Class: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm The schedule may enough to receive more? gakyil members can go home. and one has a supremely change if group agrees. Well, it's been said more than Everyone who is part of this wonderful teacher and good Registration: Because of limited space, preference will be once that this community needs community has a distinct effect companions on the path. given to those who register in advance. Contact the Secretary to become more "professional," on it, and offers their own unique We pray for the long life and at Tsegyalgar to reserve a space. Deposits are useful to confirm or more efficient It is often more gift - from the ongoing labors of health of Chögyal Namkhai your space and commitment; and are appreciated. like a family business with the one who balances the books Norbu. everyone deciding everything, and the one who schedules all the Retreat Fee: $140 for the whole retreat $25 per day with $50 than a well-run, well-planned practices, the care of those who Tsegyalgar minimum. Basic ($300) members 30% discount, Sustaining venture. But now there is so much do the physical maintenance, and P.O. Box 277, Conway, Mass. ($600) members 100% discount to do - the diversity of activities the efforts of the Mirror team - to 01341 USA Dormitory: Limited spaces are available in the dormitory at means everyone cannot be the dedication of those who are Tel. 413 369 4153 the school. Leave a message for the Geko at 413-369-4153. It's informed enough about coming to a practice when they Fax. 413 369 4165 $5/day. Other Stuff: Bring some dance/movement shoes or everything to have a meaningful can, or the generosity of those E-Mail address: 74404.1141 @ an extra pair of socks. There are no meals provided with this opinion to offer. But something sending some money, or the compuserve.com retreat.

9 A year, a shed and a practice retreat Report from Namgyalgar

a pastiche of writings from Patty Chandler, Jean Mackintosh and Pamela Oldmeadow

After many years of searching walls, a tin roof and a view through future the water will come from for a piece of land to be our Gar, we the forest Others constructed a the rain water off the roof of the have chosen our land and within a bathroom with bush showers and a shed. less than a year we have built a bath in amongst the trees. A tent On January 21, after a much splendid building. The Shed. was used for the kitchen with two delayed flight from Argentina, For those people involved in sinks setup outside. The camp fire Fabio Andrico flew into Sydney the purchase and setting up of the was me main gathering point in the and headed down toTilba. Because landpurchase, and the loan scheme, evening when people ate together, of delays caused by the rain, the 34 and land planning, it has been a played music, sang, talked and Yantra Yoga participants settled busy year. Without people's rested after the day's work. Small into the hall at the little town of dedication and the inspiration of camps nestled amongst the trees in Tilba Tilba for teachings. They our teacher, none of this could the forest and people would visit came from all places, including a have happened. Whilst Rinpoche each other and practice at night A pass ing tourist-achiroprartcr from on the project Thanks to all the were feeling inspired and very for­ was so seriously ill in hospital, we twenty four hour practice was held New York. Fabio's excellent wonderful people whose hard work tunate that he had come to continued with determination to in a small grove in the forest with teaching and entertaining talents contributed to save us thousands Namgyalgar and led our timely plan for the future. a statue of the Buddha under a tree made the course very enjoyable of dollars. retreat. We thank him for his The Shed is large enough to keeping the practitioners company and successful. SowehaveTheShedandreally, kindness and skilled teaching. And hold200people or two Vajra mats, through the night Meanwhile the building it is beautiful. It is very solid and for his hilarious health stories from and will provide shelter from rain Large foundation holes, some continued on the shed. Finally we substantial. Under its roof there is round the world! and hot sun for many retreats to ofwhichrequiredajackhammerto put the sisalation and the hessian a sense of achievement, and The Yantra courses, retreat and come, as we develop Namgyalgar, dig through the rock, had been dug underneath and the iron on top of satisfaction from the magnificent auction helped raise much needed as envisioned by Namkhai Norbu for the poles. However, it wasn't the roof. We levelled the earthen wooden beams, held high by the funds for the shed. Regular Rinpoche, to be an important place until we saw the poles arriving that floor, covering it with the Vajra strong rough hewn posts, which gatherings are being held to conti­ for the preservation and we really appreciated the mats and carpets. Colourful Tibetan echo the surrounding landscape. nue to buil d on what we have learnt continuance of the precious Dzog­ dimensions of the shed - it is 10 hangings were hung and all was Inside itis likeanorganicsculpture. from Fabio. We met again at chen teachings. metres wide by 20 meters long. Splendid The shed was finished at So, we had a practice retreat for Namgyalgar at Easter and elected In late December, members of The huge logs were dragged by 5 pm on Saturday afternoon justas seven days. We did Mandarava our new office bearers: Luciano the Australian Dzogchen tractor and then lifted by crane into our practice retreat was about to'- practice at 8.00 am and then Limonta is our new president, Barry Community gathered on position. All hands were at the site start Mandarava Ganapuja with the Gazzard, vice president, Tim Namgy al gar, to practice, to prepare the day the concrete truck came to Not one disagreement had been Ganapuja of Jigme Lingpa at 10 McEntee, secretary, and Alathea campsites and facilities for Fabio pour the cement into the holes, heardfor the entire timeofbuilding. am, dedicated to the health pf Vavasour, treasurer; Helen Andrico's visit and to build the with people helping direct the From the beginning to the end Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. In the Williams continues as public shed. Having disrupted the forest cement and gather stones and rocks Starting with the deep foundation afternoon we practised Semzin. officer. May their energies guide beings by clearing the site, digging to reinforce the foundations. As holes, filled with rain water and Firstly we discussed the Semzin of us well and unite us throughout the the foundation holes and cutting the beams went up the majestic mud, they were emptied by the day and then each person found coming year. trees from the forest, we did nature of thebuilding became more buckets, jackhammereddeeper and a place in the valley to practice. Thanks to all the people who Sangchod using eucalyptus leaves obvious. People referred to it as a yet we only encountered Practitioners could be seen and have supported Namgyalgar and on the fire for the practice. The temple. When the huge centre pole enthusiastic support from the heard as they scattered over the worked to achieve its ends. Thanks sweet smelling smoke drifted over was put in place we did another people who volunteered their fields, practising, laughing and especially to the out-going office the prepared site as we chanted and Sangchod and Ganapuja and placed labour and help. One reason for shouting and gazing into the sky. bearers and other gakyil members, the atmosphere lightened and a small copy of the Song of the the smooth progress was that all In the evenings we did Yantra Yoga for a mammoth job over the last cleared as we finished with a Ga- Vajra in the beam. had been so well planned by Jean, and the Guardian practice. twelve months when responsibili­ napuja. Concurrently with the who had quietly negotiated with The atmosphere was light with ties have grown so much. Thank Everyone worked hard tomak e construction of the shed, a 5,000 the local builders and suppliers. a real sweetness in the air. By the you to Rinpoche for his teachings Namgyalgar a more comfortable gallon cement water tank was Patty gave tireless support and did time Fabio left for Melbourne and and sending Fabio to Australia. place to be. Some people built a constructed on site and filled with all the financialmanagement, while Byron Bay the members of the We had very good teachings, and a toilet with bush poles, hessian the water from Couria Creek. In Alex and Laurence laboured daily Australian Dzogchen community retreat. A lot has been learned! ! !

che that we enjoyed hearing R inpoche. The house has 24 beds, Changing perspectives during the breaks. We like him a some people stayed in tents and Report from Tashigar lot here in Argentina. the meals were organised at our Then in March, at the request new kitchen. For five days we of the Drukpa Center and had four sessions of two hours The scene was in Cordoba, were reminded of impermanence "fundamentalism" as Fabio the Dzogchen Community, Sey each, and amazingly in such a about one hour's drive from and its inexorability: Namkhai Andrico called it, and have been Rinpoche came to lead an intensi­ short time, with such little effort, Tashigar, the Dzogchen Gar in Norbu Rinpoche was not going to practising fervently since then. It ve practice course on shine and and - we must say - a lot of Argentina. It was winter, July be able to come to Tashigar now took a while to develop a mainly to teach us the phowa determination on the part of Sey 1994. The group was intensively for the scheduled Christmas perspective and to really practice. For four days in Cordoba Rinpoche, everybody showed the involved in the Santi Maha San- retreat and Santi Maha Sangha understand we are not anyone's city, from seven to nine in the signs. "Now you can rest in peace" gha training. While studying, we, exams and First Level Training children, but practitioners in the morning and from 8.30 to 10.30 was a typical joke during the as a group, started to feel more in January. making. Weareresponsible. Then in the evening we sat. He would retreat. committed, we began to The news struck us in typical and there the words of Rinpoche walk around checking our On his resurrection, Jesus said understandmany things that were Latin American style - we took it saying, "The Buddha shows the posture. His explanations were to his incredulous disciples, "Put scattered through our education, dramatically. To think that Rin­ path. It depends on yourself alo­ direct and simple, "I'm not a your fingers on my wounds". We everything was falling into place poche was suffering, if only ne to arrive," made true sense. So scholar," he said, "but I have did. That collective experience and it was a relief. Devotion was physically, and the unexpected the whole thing woke us up pretty practised a little bit and I know reinforced our faith in the path. growing and filling us. How realisation of the urgency to much, shaking our foundations about shine". He looked bored at A deep feeling of gratitude marvellous it was to have a practice, quickly before falling in and putting everything in a more our complicated questions and arose in our hearts towards Teacher! the darkness of samsara gave way mature perspective. stories of experiences and at the Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche for In the meantime, the house at to different modalities of So Fabio Andrico came to end we understood what he meant offering us his constant guidance "El Durazno" was facing some responses in the group. Some teach Yantra Yoga, and he did so by that. Now we want to practise and for the opportunity to have a changes, too. The bathroom was people sank into depression, we in his own amusing way. he also shine more often since we have place and an environment for remodelled, the kitchen was made suppose, because for a while they led the practice retreat scheduled remembered how important it is. realisation. anew, and when almost didn't show up at all, surprisingly, for Christmas. He is fun to be Then we moved to Tashigar. May the lotus feet of the everything was ready to receive for they were there the day before. with, he is energetic, and had a lot More than forty people attended precious Masters remain firmly theMaster in December 1994, we Other people went into of stories of his life with Rinpo­ the phowa retreat given by Sey upon the earth!

10 The Mirror You are the third shoes they wore out and he had to to do the Six Yogas of . It lineage holder of Tokden Dugu to bind his feet with rags so that was very hard - we used to do a Shakya Shree Rinpoche and the Opening the eye he could continue walking. And thousand bep every day. I was of his disciple. when he couldn't find any rags he seventeen or ei ghteen when I went Tripón Pema Choegyal in the walked barefoot. there and I stayed until I was Drukpa Kagyu lineage. Could you I first met Sonam Zangpo at about twenty. So even if I had tell us a little about this lineage in ofrigpa Ciag ri monastery in never met Shakya Shree I knew particular? where I did my first ngondro. I what a great master he had been Sey Rinpoche Our particular An interview with Gelek Namgyal Sey Rinpoche stayed there about six months. because of his disciples. When I lineage comes down from Shakya Then someone offered a met Sonam Zangpo Rinpoche he Shree's teachers Tsog nyid and monastery and land toRinpoch e was about 80 or 81 years old and Tenpa Nyima Khamtrulto Shakya - I thought it would be a very he passed away when he was 92. Shree and then to his disciple, wonderful place with plenty of I was with him for about 5 years Tripón Pema Choegyal, who I am looms. When we got there it was in Bhutan. He used to tell us stories supposed to be the reincarnation completely the opposite, it was about Shakya Shree. of, and from him my father the type of place nobody would received teachings of the Drukpa want There was a small broken The Mirror Can you tell us a Kagyu lineage which he down temple in a forest and people little about your training and your transmitted to me. told us that it had once been a experiences while you were in Tripón Pema Choegyal had a village but that everyone had died Bhutan? lot of disciples such as my father from an infectious disease. The Sey Rinpoche No, I don't think and Thuksey Rinpoche and I house were all broken. Rinpoche that it is necessary. Lopon Sonam received many teachings, had a tent but we disciples had Zangpo told us not to speak about transmissions and empowerments none so we had to make some all our experiences because at from them. However I practised kind of shelter there. When it some point this can stop the more with Lopon Sonam Zangpo rained we had to move our beds experiences from arising since Rinpoche, another of Shakya from one place to another to keep they are linked to tantric practices Shree's disciples, so I feel a lot them dry. I did my second and and depend very much on one's closer to him. third ngondro there - in fact I've damsig (). So if you tell a done five ngondros all together. lot of people, it is very difficult to The Mirror. Could you giveus a Then Sonam Zangpo started to keep damsig with many people little biographical information teach shine and lhagton. and you can have a lot of obstacles. about Shakya Shree. We stayed there about a year So from that point of v iew I think... Sey Rinpoche Shakya Shree was then many people started to come I think that you should practice bom into a very poor family who because Sonam Zangpo was very and you will experience for were almost beggars and was not famous. Eventheking came there yourself. recognised as a reincarnation, a Ngawang Gelek Namgyal, better known as Sey Rinpoche, is the thirdto se e him. Everyone admired the tulku, by anyone. However, when lineage holder of Tokden Dugu Shakya Shree Rinpoche and the way he and his disciples lived. The Mirror You have been he was bom he already had his reincarnation of Tripón Pema Choegyal, a great tantric practitioner.Th e king ordered the army to teaching on shine this week at hair in locks, a bit likeBobMarley His father, Apho Rinpoche, was a great tantric master and grandsonbuildahousefo r Rinpoche. When Merigar from agonter of Tokden and during his childhood, he of Shakya Shree. Born in 1963 in Sikkim, India, Sey Rinpoche wasRinpoch e introduced me to the Shakya Shree Rinpoche entitled always played at being a meditator recognised byDudjom Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Tripón Pemakin g as the great-grandson of his Thorpe Gojeed, that which opens or a master who was teaching and Choegyal at the age of two. Five years later he moved with his familygur u the king decided to build a the door of liberation. How does these kind of activities. to Manali in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh where hishous e for me as well. Then the the state of mind one experiences Then at some point he became father established his monastery. During these early years, he receivedothe r disciples started to build throughí/ji'né practice differ from an ordained monk in Dugu teaching and empowerment from Khamtrul Rinpoche and Dilgosmal l hermitages for themselves. the ordinary everyday mind? Choegyal Rinpoche's monastery Khyentse Rinpoche and then studied for four years inDarjeeling withBu t when everything was ready, Sey Rinpoche: Thcrigpa mind called .Dugu Gonpa in Kham but Thuksey Rinpoche. Later in Bhutan Sey Rinpoche received teachingswe only stayed in the houses for which we can experience through since he belonged to a very poor on and practised the Six Yogas of Naropa with his teacher Loponthre e months. Rinpoche said that practice is the aware mind, calm, family he became a worker, a Sonam Zangpo. Following this he studied at the Institute of Buddhistit wasn' t good to stay there any not disturbed or influenced or sweeper, at the monastery, Dialectics in Dharamsala for three years. In 1986 he married. Helonge r because there were too carried away by thoughts. Very cleaning the floor and passing currently lives in Manali. During his stay at Merigar, Sey Rinpoche many activities going on. profound, clear awareness is very most of the time in the kitchen, kindly gave this interview to The Mirror. So we left and again someone difficult to achieve but awareness cooking and washing the dishes. offered him land. By this time I is the most important base for any When important lamas came to kitchen. But Tsog nyid Rinpoche piece of glass. He attained this knew how it would be. It was a kind of practice from Sutrayana give teachings and initiations, he told the monks as a prediction that much realisation. Gradually he place called rDo ran thag near to profound teachings such as the was unable to attend because he while at this moment they were became very famous throughout Phunakan in Bhutan. It was about highesttantras. Without awareness was expected to work. But treating him like an animal, in the Tibet and had a lot of disciples seven hours walk from the road you cannot, for example, visualise whenever he had the possibility future they would not even be from all through the Himalaya to receive teaching or an worthy to receive his piss as a region empowerment he used to put it blessing. Anyway, Tsog nyid Rin­ He received a lot of his into practice, not keep it as poche became Shakya Shree'sfirst teachings through pure vision and DHARMA BOOKS something theoretical. lama. during his lifetime the teachings Sey Rinpoche has opened a library at the monastery in Since he had to work in the Another of his most important on Mahamudra and the Six Yogas Manali and is asking for donations of Dharma (or religious) monastery he didn't have much teachers was Tenpa Nyima of Naropa which wereon thepoint books in English since they are expensive and difficult to get time to practise during the Khamtrul, one of the Khamtrul of vanishing underwent a in India. Anyone able to contribute should send the books daytime, so he used to meditate at . Under the guidance of renaissance because of him. He to: Sey Rinpoche, Monastery of Apho Rinpoche, P.O. Vashist night. But because he was so tired these masters he practised almost discovered many teachings Monali, Distt. Kulu, (H.P.) India. after working all day he used to as hard as MU arepa and gradually through his visions even though fall asleep while practising, so he he became realised. some of the lineages had been would attach his hair with a cord Later he got married and had broken. He is a very important into the forest. I don't think yourself as a deity such as Tara or to the ceiling so that whenever he eleven children and he used to person in the Drukpa Kagyu anyone had ever lived in this or Chakrasamvara. fell asleep, he would be practise in a hermitage in the lineage and even in the place: it was almost jungle. We Whatever practice y ou do you have immediately woken up by the mountain. But there were many Nyingmapa lineage. Almost all stayed in bamboo houses which to have a very sharp visualisation tugging on his hair. This is an people who were very negative the lineages use the name of were built above the ground and for that undisturbed awareness example of how much effort he abouthim and called him a breaker Shakya Shree. because there are many snakes is very important. put into his meditation. of vows and wouldn't even drink Even the disciples of Shakya there. The roofs were made of Once Tsog nyid Rinpoche the water that ran down from the Shree were extraordinary people wild banana leaves. Actually it The Mirror You mentioned came to the monastery to give an mountain close to his hermitage. such as my teacher Sonam Zangpo was a very dangerous place - there during your teaching the dangers empowerment. Shakya Shree also He remained in meditation on the Rinpoche. He once told us how were wild elephants and boa of falling into a state of fixation in tried to enter into the sangha for mountain and obtained something he had walked from Bhutan to constrictors large enough to which there is no awareness of the the empowerment but the monks similar to the rainbow body - when Kham for six months to receive swallow a deer, according to the surroundings instead of a calm sta­ told him that it wasn't important a candle was placed in front ofhim, teaching from Shakya Shree, local people, althoughl never saw te in which there is an awareness of for him and that it would be better it could be seen from the back walking day and night. He told us one as big as that. the senses and sense perception. for him to go and work in the almost like looking through a dirty that he walked so much that his It was in this place that I started continued on page 12

11 A.S.I A.: Current project). On the contrary, all For the "Development of the TOTAL PROJECT COST $1,135.818 initiatives have been mainly emergency health care in Tibet" Developments TIBETAN GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION $373,465 executed with the generous project , to be executed in continued from page 1 M.A.E. CONTRIBUTION $778,552 support of the sponsors/members cooperation with CISP , the • A.S.I.A. contribution in the Summary of costs: and with the promotional following profiles are vacant organisation of a charity soccer Italian staff training $7,941 initiatives organised by A.S.I.A. a) Chief Technical Advisor match: the funds generated by the Italian staff employment $193,804 so far. Without this type of support (CTA), with experience in health event will be distributed among Local staff $90,917 the survival of the organisation projects management and in the three organisations dealing Consultants $83,823 cannot be ensured and theongoing public health care. with sponsorship of children (CIS, Training of local staff $35,705 projects may run the risk of being b) Expert, with experience in MAIS, A.S.I.A.). Technical follow-up onsite missions $ 18,088 interrupted or suspended. health projects management and The above list is only a partial Civil works (school, hospital) $300,588 On the other hand, it is certain in public health care, with representation of the many Technical equipment (school, hospital) $179,183 that the increase of the A.S.I.A. administrative and logistic/ activities that underline the current Rotative fund and microprojects onsite $76,470 work load and responsibility organizational capacities; dynamism of the organisatioa It Onsite Logistics $56,942 should result in a balanced growth supportive role to the CTA. gives, however, the reader the Feasibility study $28.823 of the Association's c) Expert with experience in possibility to understand that Infrastructural organisation and management in Italy $63,529 infrastructure. This development social communications A.S J. A is facing today a growth must allow the organisation to techniques that, while being extremely preparation costs have reached has been exclusively and totally respond to the new requirements d) Expert with experience in challenging, also assumes approximately $30,000, it is carried out on a non-remunerated with appropriate professional and emergency surgery constancy in commitment and possible to understand from the voluntary basis. The philosophy economic solutions. e) Expert with experience in strong sense of responsibility. above table that A.S.I A. will not behind this choice has always It is with these considerations health equipment Various interpretations on the suddenly receive a rich been tuned on saving as much as in mind that A.S.I.A. is now For the project "Development approval by the Ministry ofForeign patrimony, but will rather assu­ possible, remaining loyal to the requesting all those interested in of health and education Affairs of the Dzam-thog project me the task to ensure, together principle that "every and each participating in the conditions in the village of Dzam- and on its future management have with COSV, the management of resource saved in the west will be implementation of projects as thog , Chamdo Prefecture, recently been discussed within the the allocated resources so that more productively used, and will onsite volunteers or experts, to Tibetan Autonomous Region, Community, and some of them they reach the legitimate generate an higher impact, when send us their updatedCMrncK/wm People's Republic of China" were not fully correct beneficiaries in the scheduled invested in Tibet". Vitœ. A.S.I.A. is an equal (COSV/ASIA project), the In this respect, it is perhaps times and modes. To draw the reader's attention opportunity organisation but, following profiles are vacant useful to remember that public In particular, the table shows to such fundamental aspects given the sameprofessional value, a) Volunteer, Chief Technical financing of projects undergoes a that only $63,529 (108 million seems particularly useful not only it is willing to give preference to Advisor very strict procedure and actual lira) are included in the budget, to respond to specific comments Community members to cover b) Volunteer, Obstetrician disbursement occurs on the base of over a period of three years, for raised recently in the Community, the project profile vacancies. As c) Volunteer, Medical doctor a detailed work plan and of the the infrastructural organisation but mostly to point out the poor general information, A.S.I.A. can d) Expert, Civil engineer analytical description of expenses costs of the two organisations in results of the 1995 fund raising select candidates without e) Expert, responsible for as an essential part of the project Italy (corresponding to 18 million campaign (carried out with the restriction in its own directly laboratory analysis document that quantifies the type, lira/year for each NGO = approx. Xmas "Message of Hope" financed projects. On the f) Consultant, expert in Tibetology the amount and the time frame of $ll,000/year). It is, therefore, mailing), so far still significantly contrary, for the projects financed g) Consultant, Health sector the expected costs. easy to understand that A.S.I.A. below expectations. through the Italian Ministry of specialist Any variation from the original will not have any availability of A.S.I.A. is certainly aware of Foreign Affairs, it is important to h) Consultant training and plan in project implementation is additional funds when the unexpected pressure pointoutthatsomeof the positions extension specialist enough to stop disbursement In implementing the Dzam-thog generated by recent events on (e.g.: "volunteer") can only be i) Specific consultants other woitis,Unapproved financial project. people's capacity of contribution. filled by Italian nationals. For more information on support to the project can only be Coming down to theprinciples However, this does not affect the Onceagain.all interested people academic qualifications and terms used for the activities mentioned followed by A.S.I.A. in the fact that A.S.I.A. survives mainly are welcome and urged to send of assignment please contact the in the approved project document implementation of activities and thanks to the financial support of their updated C.V. for registration following address: In order to avoid any possible in the definition of targets, it is its members and sponsors. in the A.S J. A data bank. Selected misunderstanding, a summary of well known that A.S.I.A. was All ongoing A.S.I.A. projects, candidates will be contacted by A.S.I.A. the estimated project costs are created to provide a contribution and those in the pipeline for the A.S J.A for follow up. c/o Genesi, via S. Erasmo 12 reported in the below table (figures to the preservation of the Tibetan future, are only partly financed With regard to the present 00184 Rome -Italy in US dollars are approximate since cultural identity and to offer through public funds (in fact this ongoing projects, the following Tel/fax: 06/77200880 funding is in Italian lire; exchange support to the social and economic type of resource is actually being specific professional profiles are Fax: 06/063052537 rate used 1600 Lira = 1US$). development of the Tibetan used for the first time with the requested and need to be covered E-Mail: Mclink: Bearing in mind that the project people. So far, A.S.I.A.'s work beginning of the Dzam-thog without delay. [email protected]

Opening the eye... If y ou remain in this state it is like much in my mind, "When you continued from page 11 being knocked out. If you think understand one, you understand The Lady Chöd Could you comment on this? this isshiné and if y ou practise that all". Master, Doljin Sey Rinpoche: We call this it is very dangerous and becomes Sey Rinpoche Ah yes, gag shes Khandro, passed away dullness shine ting powa. It can be an obstacle. kun grol. This is an explanation of on March 6th, 1995 in compared, for example, to a In other words,shine should be Mahamudra though I don't know Mongolia in her 85th situation in which your mind is very clear, in the Six Yogas we call if everyone accepts it Gag shes year. Her presence, her very much concentrated on your it clear light 'ödseL 'Odsel does kun grol means that if you realise knowledge and teach­ eye-sight If you see something not mean light from some object one, you realise everything. If you ing, her openness and interés ting then your mind becomes such as a flashlighto r the sun, but realise your mind as emptiness, compassion will be completely occupied by the sight the clarity of awareness which that there is no mind, then sorely missed by her so whatever you hear or smell should be present, while at the same everything can be understood in many students in Mongolia and Buryatia. Glimpses of her life may cannot be absorbed - you will not time all the senses should be open. the same way because it is mind be seen in Constanzo Allione's video "We will meet again in the know whether you are hearing the Iikefeeling.forexample.you don't which absorbs everything as a Land of the " filmed last year in Mongolia. sound of a human or a dog or the have to follow the feelings you reality, as something permanent It sound of fire or wind. You hear have in order to understand that is the dualistic mind which emptiness, shunyata, of the mind, bird" starts to fly in the sky. Maybe sound but you cannot distinguish this is a cold w ind or a hot wind, but considers eveiything to be good or you understand the emptiness of it is the time. Much depends on our it. So in the same way, if you stay you should justabsorb and be aware bad, ugly or beautiful, friendly or everything. effort - as you said before most like this when you are meditating of these feelings. This is valid not unfriendly etc. If you clarify mind Westerners don't have much time shine, your mind w ill be completely only for the mind but also for one's then you can clarify everything. The Mirror. Do y ou feel that there to practise Dharma, they have to occupied by the mind and will not vision. In that way you can have Automatically. You don't have to is some danger for the continuation work. About a century ago, Dharma be able to absorb any kind of clear awareness which is the consider that this cup is emptiness oftheteaching in fhefuture because was practised in a different way. To external senses suchas sight smell, important thing. because of this and that reason, of the currentsituation in Tibet and become teachers like the great lamas touch, taste. It is very similar to that this table is emptiness, etc. thepassing away of a generation of of the past we should know how they nepa, calm mind, because the "eye The Mirror While you were You don't have to turn to external great Tibetan spiritual masters? practised, how much time they of rigpd' is completely blind, it speaking about Mahamudra one phenomena when you understand Sey Rinpoche Yes. Even Guru dedicated to practice, how much they cannot feel anything, not even afternoon, you gave a short that mind is emptiness, shunyata. Rinpoche considered that the Dhar­ sacrificed to Ulis whether or not thoughts are arising. quotation which remained very When you understand the ma would vanish when the "iron continued on page 16

12 The Shang Shung Institute in Italy

by Enrico dell'Angelo

At the Italian branch of the digitalisedcataloguingofthe collaboration with most important Dzog-chen texts Shang Shung Institute the follow­ photographic material. centres, institutes, has already been started at the ing activities are going ahead Thanks to the collaboration universities of Tibetan American branch of the Institute of photographer Gianni medicine in India and in by Jim Valby. In Italy the only ARCHIVES Baggi who has Tibet and Italian and continual work of translation of A convention between the As­ photographed a third of the European universities, the Tibetan texts has been carried sociazione Culturale Comunità paintings in the Merigar project plans to create a forward thanks to the work of Dr. Dzog-chen and the Shang Shung Gonpa, we have been able school of medicine which Adriano Clemente. Institute has been drawn up to insert these images into will be able to give In order to carry out important ratifying the assignment of the the digital catalogue. (Those qualified training in the projects of translation in acceptable management of the archives to the who have personal photo field of Tibetan medici­ periods of time it is fundamentally Institute. Besides the library which archives regarding Tibetan ne. To this end a project important to involve as many is already run by the Institute, the culture or the history of the of translation of texts used translators as possible organising Institute will manage the tape Dzog-chen Community and in the course of study of work groups under the supervision library and the video library so that who are interested in traditional medicine in and with the consultation of the administration of the archives including them in the digital Lhasa has been started. Tibetans who are experts in the will be unified, while they remain archive can contact Alex The first text has been material being dealt with. At the the property of the Associazione. Siedlecki at the Institute.) recently completed by moment the Institute is trying to Projects for the archives are aimed available to members of the translator Elio Guarisco and Dr. create an international network of on one hand at preservation of the All these projects require a Institute who have access to Phuntsog Wangmo. By the end of translators who would be available material they contain and on the notable commitment both Internet 1995 we hope tosig n an agreement to participate in this type of project. other at making them accessible to financially and workwise. Up to with the University of Lhasa to For years the projects of the establish the conditions of those interested. the present the archives have been CD-ROM THANGKA PROJECT Shang Shung Institute have been collaboration. There are several factors which run thanks to the voluntary work of With the collaboration of a carried ahead by voluntary work, emphasise the importance of the several people but the dimension group of experts, the Shang Shung Projects regarding Tibetan me­ thanksto the inspiration of Namkhai archives and projects related to that the archives havereached now Institute has started a project to dicine are co-ordinated by "The Norbu Rinpoche and to the them; requires continual organisational create the first digital archives of Study Centre on Traditional collaboration of many people. - the tape library contains more work by qualified people. photographic reproductions of Tibetan Medicine" of the Shang Some of the Institute's initiatives than eight thousand cassettes of The Institute intends to reach Tibetan thangka. The creation of Shung Institute. With the scope of have been of notable importance the teachings of Chögyal Namkhai the following objectives regarding this archive should make the deepening study of this medical for safe-guarding Tibetan culture Norbu from 1976 to today. A large the archives: Tibetan artistic patrimony spread system, some qualified Italian and have had great impact both at part of them are the only copies throughout the world more doctors from the Study Centre are thenational and international levels and many of them, because of their 1) TAPE LIBRARY accessibletoTibetam.Thelnstitute developing their clinical activities especially among the Tibetans in age, run the risk of being - completing the organisation of intends to contribute to the work of making use of consultation with andoutsideTibet UNESCO, UNI­ demagnetised. If this material the premises and setting up the guaranteeing vitality and continuity Tibetan doctors. CEF, the European Parliament, the deteriorates, we will lose the only audio material by the end of May to this artistic tradition by making Those who would like to make Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs existing recordings of many 1995. its preservation and study easier. use of this type of medical have given their patronage to some precious teachings. - completing the inventory of the The project plans to create a series consultation should register with of the Shang-Shung Institute's Another aspect worth eight thousand cassettes by of CD ROM that put together the Study Centre on Traditional initiatives. considering is that up to now there September 1995. images of thangka from the Tibetan Medicine at the Shang Butapartfromtheamountwhich has been no inventory or even a - publishing the inventory by collections of the most important Shung Institute and pay an annual comes from the membership quotas catalogue of the audio material January 1996. museums with texts which quota of sixty thousand lire. and occasional donations, the kept in the tape library. This means - beginning the cataloguing by comment on and describe each Institute has no other type of that even though we have a great June/July 1995. work, edited by Tibetan experts. GRANTS income. If you are interested and treasure we are only able to use a - beginning the work of copying Copies of the series will be -Two grants of three million lire consider the initiatives of the small part of it the400 oldest cassettes which risk distributed to the museums and each have been given by the Institute to be usefu 1, please support - the library is in a similar condition. deteriorating by June 1995. collectors who have participated Institute to two scholars who will it with a financial contribution or Itcontains hundreds of manuscripts in the project to a limited number collaborate with the inventory and offer your collaboration, ideas and whichhavenotyet been duplicated, 2) VIDEO LIBRARY of centres for research on Tibetan cataloguing of the library and the suggestions. many of which are the only copies - completing setting up the material art and culture and to schools, tape library. in the world. The inventory for the on their shelves by May 1995. universities, and Tibetan institutes - Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, scientific JOIN SHANG SHUNG INSTITUTE! section of texts in Western - publishing the inventory by of culture both inTibet and outside. consultant to the Institute and one You can become a member of languages has almost been December 1995. TheAveryBrundage collection, of the people in charge of the the Institute by paying the annual completed but the part for texts in Asian Art Museum of San Tibetan medicine project, is quota of Lit. 100.000 to account Tibetan has still to be done. 3) LIBRARY Francisco is concluding the work continuing her stay in Europe. no .412296 atthe Arcidosso branch Cataloguing has not yet started - completing the inventory by of archiving. The pictures in the - The Institute is trying to find of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena in and requires the contribution of autumn 1995. collection have been digitalised. funds for a grant to another Tibetan the name of the Instituto Shang specialised personnel who know - starting to catalogue the Tibetan With the help of painters Tsering doctor. Dr. Tenzin Dargye, Shung (please specify what not only how to catalogue but who texts by September 1995. Wanchuk and Sonam Palmo, who professor at the University of Me­ payment is for). also have a good knowledge of are at the moment guests at Meri­ dicine in Lhasa, who will collabo­ You can become a sustaining Tibetan. TIBETAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE gar, the work of describing the rate with the Institute on the medi­ member of the Institute, paying an - the video library contains more In order to make the archives images is at a good point cine project annual quota of Lit.1.000.000 or than a thousand films, many of more accessible and easier to In spring 1994 Chögyal more for at least two years. them documentaries, on Tibet and consult it is necessary that the Namkhai Norbu was in contact COURSES Another way of supporting the Tibetan culture as well as many respective catalogues are unified with Doboom Tulku, director of - The four year course on Tibetan activities of the Institute is by films of the teachings of Namkhai and made uniform. In this way, Tibet House in New Delhi who Medicine held by Dr. Pasang becoming a "Friend of the Shang Norbu Rinpoche and other Tibetan using thesame terminal, one should expressed interest in collaborating Yon ten is continuing. Shung Institute", paying an annual masters. The video cassettes need be able to consult the library with this project This collaboration contribution of Lit30.000 or more. to be classified and an inventory catalogue, screen brief extracts of with Tibet House in Delhi, cultural TRANSLATION PROJECT To send suggestions or receive and a catalogue published. the video material or photos related centreofHJH. the , has The importance of translation information you can contact us at: - the photos library contains to the subject of interest To this particular interest for the Shang for the continuation of the Instituto Shang Shung several thousand photos which end the Institute has recently Shung Institute transmission of the teachings and c/o Podere Nuovissimo have not yet been catalogued or acquired the basic equipment for safeguarding Tibetan culture 58031 Arcidosso GR, Italy classified. The generosity of the which is necessary to realise digital TIBETAN MEDICINE PROJECT has been emphasised innumerable tel. 0564-966941. American branch of the Institute cataloguing. By the end of 1996 The aim of the project is the times and in different ways by fax 0564-966846 has allowed us to buy a colour we should be able to make the diffusion and preservation of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. An E-mail: 100043.1433@ scanner and we have started inventories of the archives traditional Tibetan medicine. In important project of translating the compuserve.com

13 REFLECTIONS A Gekod Goes To School Back then

by Ernie Renner by Gairta Renner

Halloween evening in Conway Standing on the edge of the but because my perceptions are Massachusetts, Namkhai Norbu blacktop I looked up at the bright different than they were in my Rinpoche and the new Tsegyalgar yellow building. Il seemed so calm childhood Life no longer consists Gakyil are presenting themselves and so much different than I of playing, happiness, and good for a photo masked and armed remember it. I looked down and times. There is no longer a snack with smiles and twinkling eyes. saw the old hopscotch that had and nap time. There is so much Sitting on the floor with a red been painted on the sidewalk. It more tolif e than any of us would eyed plastic Ginkgo lizard lookeda little fadedbut still visible. have expected hanging from my neck, I am I walked towards the building and My parents' community owns enjoying this scene and reflecting to the right I could see the field thebuUdingnowandfheapartment on my new role as Gekod in the where I spent numerous recesses belongs to my dad. The day I community. Moments earlier playing kick ball and capture the graduated from grammar school I Rinpoche had written two names flag. I started up the steps and thought that my life would go on on scraps of paper, Naomi Zeitz opened the door. I pushed the door and I would neversee the sign that and myself, scrunched them into open and leaned against it with my read Conway Elementary School little balls and laughing, tossed Rebuilding at the Conway School (photo L. Marder) body, holding it opea I imagined again. On the day my father both on the floor of the . guilty or somehow responsible be living here come to mind. all of the grades lined up in single movedin I saw the sign again and I Naomi was instructed to choose while Mr. Dacey sat behind his Before the inauguration of the file waiting quietly to be called thought to myself, "If we only one. After a few seconds of desk, right where my bed is now, Shang Shung Institute in October inside. Everyone was looking up knew then what we know now we wondering whether she would be and called me Mr. Renner. In all 1994, I worked on the at me in admiration, for I held the would have never wished so hard moving from Sante Fe, Naomi the years my kids attended this remodelling of the school with highest honor. I was the door to grow up." picked. Opening the wadded piece school, with all the requested and other community members. This holder. Everyone wanted to be the of paper she smiled, Ernie Renner chance meetings I had with the was a place where there was a door holder, but only a select few was the name she spoke. principal, he always addressed me plan, where walls were torn down got the privilege. I remember holding our hands up to the sky, When I entered my name on as Mr. Renner. Now I'm living in and new ones erected, old systems thinking the higher we held them the list of volunteers for Gakyil or his office and sleeping on his desk. were razed and p iled in the brown and the harder we shook them, the Gekod, I did not know the Gekod The underestimate of the time steel dumpster by my son and more likely we would be picked to would be required to live in the and energy needed to build the other Conway Grammar alumni. hold the door. building. Two weeks previous apartments came to me slowly like Now, this is where I live. with great emotional andphysical waking from a dream, and When I first moved into the I hopped up the stairs and saw THE MIRROR baggage stuffed into my car developed into a reality of which I school there were so many things the long lines of coat hangers that repeatedly, I had moved from my was very much a part Although at going on that I didn't notice too used to cause such a disturbance in NEWSPAPER OF THE apartment of five years into a new times it seemed that the spaces muchaboutthe space. Everything the early morning. The numbers INTERNATIONAL apartment in Conway. Now as I would never be finished, the time was new and I was still seeing that used to distinguish Pete's coat DZOGCHEN sat rather happily on the floor in arrived when Tim and I were doing things from a builder's point of from Sara's coat had been pulled front of Rinpoche, I'm wondering final sanding of the sheetrock in view. I hadn't noticed how the off and all that was left was the COMMUNITY how to break the news to my his apartment. Standing mirror ceilings soar overhead and the faded wood. I wandered in and out founded by landlord. With the energy of the image on scaffolding, sanding giant doors make you feel small. of the rooms that used tohav e little Chögyal Namkhai Norbu newly elected Gakyil invisibly blocks in one hand and floorlamp s People were still around after the desks in perfectly straight rows. I filling the room, it comes to me; in the other, we presented a retreats and I was busy working could remember where I sat each MS. Office there is no place to live in the laughable sight. The lamps shone on the apartments, and trying to year. I crept downstairs to the The Mirror building. Save for the former great moving ellipses across the get a feeling for the Gekod's bathrooms and all of the toilets and PO Box 277 principal's office and an equally walls to highlight any bumps or responsibilities. Inevitably the sinks were like miniatures, Conway Mass 01341 U.S.A. Tel. 413-369-4208 small room next to the kitchen, roughness in the joint compound. everything was so much smaller time came when everyone had Fax 413-369^165 there is no private space. As we moved our sanding blocks left to go back to their homes or but it never seemed that way thea E-mail address: With optimism, confidence, and on the walls great avalanches of the next destination, and for the I pulled open the door where the 74404.1141 compuservc.com casual under estimate, I announce dry white dust crashed silently to first time since I'd moved in I monsters used to li ve but there was to the new Gakyil it will be easy to the floor. We looked as if we had was here alone. Now I start to nothing there, nothing at all, just a European Office construct a space for Jim Valby, been the joint recipients of a flour notice things. It's bigger at night small dark room. As I walked up The Mirror Merigar 58031 Arcidosso GR the secretary, and myself to live. bomb. By the next afternoon paint and coming in with everything in the stairs I remember the race to Italy was rolling onto the smooth white darkness childhood images of get in line firstfo r lunch, only to be It's almost always the case with Tcl.& fax 564-966608 me: I'm surprised by the walls and w ith absence of malice, bogey men flash like dark reprimanded every time and sent E-mail address: complexity of even the simplest Tom Sawyer style, Jim and I had lighting. The expanding and to the back of the line. Itdidn't seen 100530.527compuserve.com building project, this one will be vanished while the painting popping of the heating system worth it now, but it was like a no exception. After a littleplaiming continued; happy souls enjoying rebound from the plaster walls tradition to see if we could make it EDITOR anddrawing.aplanwas developed their work. The next day Jim like some great thrashing. There just once without being caught Liz Granger (Merigar ) moved into his space and in a are times I can feel a presence, and submitted to the Gakyil. The Everything was so easy back CONSULTANT EDITOR couple more weeks I was lying plan was simple, straight forward, something in the air that fills the then. This place is where my John Shane and approved. The materials were on my couch with the smell of rooms. In the darkness I come innocence was left behind and the ordered and scheduled for delivery. fresh paint adrift in my nostrils, down the stairs and the hallway adult experiences began. There COMMUNITY ADVISORS Now all that was left was to build happy to be done at last and seems heavy with invisible were so many good times in that Anna Eid, Giovanni Area, Bar­ bara Paparazzo, Jim Valby this simple plan and Tun and I feeling good. movement, I almost feel afraidat yellow building, but it's all times, like when I was a kid. I think could move right in. "Move right My experiences and memories changed The rooms that used to LAYOUT in" does not characterize the way it of this school cover more than a this is just my imagination, but it is holdclasses, little desks, and crayon Tiziana Gottardi turned out, but eventually that's decade. This is where my children not and I know it I felt this same drawings are no longer. They are what happened. presence on the land in Bickland received their grammar school now offices with computers, file DRAWING S On December 1st I moved into education. I attended two after dancing alone one summer cabinets, big desks, and big chairs. evening. There is nothing to fear, Tsering Wanchuk, p. 4 the little room that had been the graduations here seated on The cafeteria and principal 's office Paola Minelli, p. 16 everything is perfect. principal's office. There was an folding chairs in the map of the are now apartments. The kitchen PRINTER electric baseboard heater, the only United States parking lot, while I wonder as I look at the black that I got lunch from every day is Centro 2A heat on the second floor, a bed, and my current housemate Jim, and coat rack numbers on the wall, now a kitchen for someone's home. Arcidosso, GR Italy a door, everything was perfect At my brother provided the musical which was Gairta's, which All of my forever friends are now various times during my children's interlude. Not once did the Tilman's? I wonder what history just memories. Everything is All material ©1995 by The Mirror. grammar school careers, I had sat thought that our community will recall about the beginning of completely different, not just Reprint by permisión only in this small room feeling mildly would own this building and I'd the Shang Shung Institute? because of the physical differences

14 Ultimately our commumty is Over the years, as one of the words that Rinpoche had actually welcome interruption by barking with great concentration he gripped not to be found in the land, in the editors of this paper, I have tried to said, but of course the words on the at me. I got up to let her out onto the the lino with one hand and the buildings, in the books, encourage others to write in these page were being written in my balcony. knife with the other. He pressed newspapers, and properties that pages, often interviewing those English, and this made me I stepped out through the big the knife carefully down into the seem to define it. In and of who could not or did not themselves uncomfortable. Who was I to pre­ sliding glass window onto the hardsurfaceofthernaterial.digging themselves these are only material wish to write an account of their sume to interpret the words Rinpo­ balcony and sat on a rickety wicker out lines and shapes, scooping out things. experience. It is my genuine belief che had said? The Dzogchen chair looking out over the rooftops little curlicues of lino that wrinkled Nor even is our community to that, situated as we are in so many teachings are very profound, and it at the blue blaze of the ocean in the up from the end of his blade and be found in the stories of Rinpoche distant places around the world, is not at all easy to say you have distance where the sky met the sea. which he then blew lov ingly away that I so love to tell and to hear sharing our stories in these pages understood them. I was very aware I tried to meditate, but was too onto the floor as he worked. from others. They are no more has helped us to build a sense of of my limitations as a student I r^eoccupied.Ihadbeenawayfrom His sharp blade cut deep into than theproverbial fingerspointin g community. If, as a result of his was a poet and not a Tibetologist home a long time, and I missed my the fabric of time and there welled at the moon Our community only illness, we can no longer expect But I had been asked to do a job, and family and friends. up under his hands an image of truly arises when we enter the state Rinpoche to travel around the won d I meant to do it as well as I could When I walked back into the Tibet in just the same way that of contemplation individually and now, as I press down on the keys of relate to each other through the my computer keyboard an image transmission. Our community is ofRinpocheatworkallthoseyears born from the state of The History of the Dzogchen Community ago arises for you to read in these contemplation, as the fruit of the words that will reach you union of our receptivity and the somewhere across the world in a transmission from the master. Depends on You place where I can't see you, The receptivity that we need to although your presence reaches me cultivate in order to open to the now as intuition and guides my by John Shane transmission is not passive. It is an hands and mind. active attention brought to the We are linked in this story as it moment by moment relationship as he has done so generously in the I returned again and again to dining room, I found that Rinpo­ passes from my mind to yours, part with the master, with each other, past, I am convinced that we must Rinpoche for advice and che had sensed my loneliness. He of my story becoming part of you. and ultimately with ourselves. It is try tokee p up the contacts between explanations andhe was more than had put away his work, and made Our lives as individuals are defined a quality of attention lovingly us that were in large measure generous with his help. But the a pot of tea. I was a guest in his by so many stories. And cherished and maintained, created by the connections Rinpo­ publishers kept insisting that I edit house and he was cooking for me, communities are individuals writ developed in every circumstance: che made as he moved from one the text more and more heavily to which made me a little large: our stories shape our identity, a quality of attention I try to bring retreat to the next And The Mirror make it both shorter and to seem uncomfortable, since as I link us together. Whether those to this writing. can help us do this. more as if it had originated in understood it a student should stories free or enslave us is a matter Creativity is a subtle balance of The Mirror now seems such an Englishratherthan as words spoken prepare food for the master. But he of what level of awareness we can relaxed receptivity and action important part of our community in Italian by a Tibetan So I was was cooking dinner for me. I felt bring to the process. Receiving transmission from a that it is hard to imagine the often forced to rewrite what Rin­ confused, full of gratitude and Just as I will not know the shape master is a creative act. commumty without it. But I can poche had said. devotion, and at the same time full of this story until I have finished Out of the same receptivity that remember when we didn't even On the day I thought of of a need to be doing something writing it I couldn't make out the opens to the transmission these have a single newsletter. producing the Community's first other than working on that book. form of the image that Rinpoche words have arisen in me, in deep I was sitting on the balcony of newsletter I sat at the table in The responsibility of it was cut into the lino until we rolled ink and humble gratitude to Rinpoche Rinpoche's apartment at Formia, Rinpoche'sapartaentandtoldhim weighing heavily on me. onto it and pressed it onto the clean for the many blessings with which two hours drive south of Rome, my problem Rinpoche poured me a cup of white of a blank page of paper. he has showered us throughout looking out over the sea when the "I don't want to change a word tea, and said: "What are you Then, as we peeled the lino away, these long years, and in gratitude idea for the very first newsletter that you said," I complained. "But thinking?" the form of a and a yak and to you too, for the companionship came to me. the publisher wants me to rewrite "I need to do something the Tibetan letters 'Bod', meaning you have offered me on our journey It was the spring of 1980 and the this paragraph And this one. And different," I replied. "I need some Tibet, emerged in a mysterious together through the light and the international Community was not this whole page here. And this space from writing this book. Why primordial landscape of black ink. shadows of so many days and yet very big. But Rinpoche was whole section They say it doesn't don't we make a newsletter? A I had a brief wild flash of nights. beginning to travel more and more make sense. I would like you to newsletter for the community. We understanding of what it must have The history of the Dzogchen to teach Dzogchen in the vacations explain this again." can send it out to all the people in meant for Rinpoche to leave Tibet Community depends on you. he enjoyed from his job as a Rinpoche sighed He had heard all the countries you have visited. when he was so young and to arrive It begins for each of us when we professor at the Oriental Institute Ulis lament from me before. He You have a lotof addresses in your in Italy without speaking a word of first encounter the teachings and it of the University of Naples, and I was working on another project at address book, but no one knows Italian. I felt sure that my own is renewed each time we enter the felt that it was important that there the same time, writing a book in each other's address. Why don't loneliness that afternoon in Italy state of contemplation. In should be more communication Tibetan, as well as teaching at the we write a letter to everyone with could not compare to what he must contemplation there is no between students in the many parts University at Naples, and I was all the addresses so that they can have experienced when he first separation between us. In of the world Rinpoche had visited fitting my sessions of work with get in touch with each other?" came to Europe, a practitioner of contemplation our own story or to which students returned after him around his schedule. "Good idea!" said Rinpoche. Dzogchen alone in a strange merges with thatof the community. meeting him. He put his pen down carefully And we didn't work on our country with the whole future of In that sense there is no community I had been collaborating with on the circular dining room table books again that day or the next his lineage and culture resting on other than you, and it is up to you Rinpoche for some months on the and looked at me with his usual When we weren't working we his young shoulders. whether the community continues project that would eventually penetrating gaze. Though I thought often played games of various But what I sensed from or ceases tobe . become his first book to be I could detect a certain fondness in kinds. Rinpoche'ssonYeshehada Rinpoche's lino-cut was not a I never cease to marvel at the published with a major publisher, his eyes I was alert for signs of toy printing set that among other loneliness, not a hankering after a way that the meaning of our and the work had been intense. thunder in his brows. I knew I was things contained a lino-cut outfit Tibet somehow lost to him. What individual lives is somehow The project seemed to involve as bothering him. Rinpoche took the big flat red I saw in his work was a deep inner illuminated, lit up - in fact much work on myself as on the "Do you understand the cardboardbox containing this game certainty about himself, a certainty enlightened - by the resonance of book. I had already published some meaning of these paragraphs, these down from a shelf above the little that must have sustained him in our own story with the stones of poetry and stories of my own and I pages that the publishers want you tv on which Yeshe and Yuchen moments of difficulty such as the others that share our frame of had been hired by the Arts Council to change?" he asked used to watch cartoons and on one I was going through reference. of Great Britain as a teacher of I replied that I did which he used to watch the news, He had dug deep down into I love to tell stories about my creative writing. I had also studied "Well then, don'tplay the child and he began carving a piece of himself to reveal in his carving an travels and my relationship with Buddhism for manyyears with withme,"he snapped "Ify ou know lino to make illustrations for the image of the essenceof his identity Rinpoche, and this newspaper has many different teachers. what it means, you can write what newsletter, which we had decided as a Tibetan, the carrier of the provided mewimawonderfulway But despite the fact that I was it means. Just do it" to call 'Open Letter'. living tradition of the culture of his of reflecting on those stories as apparently quite well prepared by And he returned to his work, We sat once againat the circular native country. And I recognized well as a means of sharing them my background and experience to leaving me to mine. dining room table, and while I that my work on his book was an with others. I am very grateful for collaborate with Rinpoche in the We both sat at the dining table, wrote the pages of the newsletter attempt to define myself in some that opportunity, and have tried to production of a book of his he writing away in Tibetan, me by hand in my best calligraphy, similar way, though I did not yet keep that same opportunity open teachings, it seemed much more shuffling through my papers, Rinpoche carved away at a brown know what that way was. to others, valuing and honouring difficult than I had expected to marking this page and that with a rectangle of lino. I was still struggling to as I do other people's stories as capture the essence of his teachings pencil, editing a linehere.rewriting The whole composition was in understand what identity could be much as my own Our stories are a. in words. a sentence there. his mind. He didn't make any forged out of the interaction of the resource that will nourish a hunger When I first began the project I Just then the Namkhai family sketches or draw anything on the disparate elements of my own that no food will satisfy. wanted the book to include only Tibetan terrier, Mune, provided a lino first. Completely relaxed but continued on page 16

15 The Liberation of the Fish Opening the eye Rejuvenation continued from page 12 continued from page 4 by Michel Bricaire purpose. If we perhaps do it in the the powder of each of the other same way then I don't think that essences and herbs, a third of a The practice of liberating to save a colt and more there will bea lack of good teachers. handful of honey and 150 grams animals destined to be thiui six hundred trout from of sugar cane molasses. Boil for a slaughtered is widely slaughtering. The trout The Mirror What do you consider long time then place the practised in Tibet and is were freed in a river on to be the best way in which we preparation in a clean container. considered to be an important three occasions. disciples of Namkhai Norbu Rin­ Take the amount sufficient to method for accumulating Here is the report of the poche can behave and practice for coat the tip of a spoon each morning merit which derives from first expedition to free the the long life and health of our on an empty stomach. The therapy virtuous actions. It is useful fish: Master? should be undertaken for at least for overcoming particularly wish that from that moment on the "... The laborious preparation Sey Rinpoche His physical health three months, six monthsor at the difficult moments during which animals may be liberated from the involved finding a trailer with a very much depends on the best one year to obtain the benefits one is threatened by serious illness fear of being killed, that, thanks to tank and oxygen bottles (necessary physicians. But in regard to his mentioned above. or the danger of death. It is believed the power of the truth of this act, all for the survival of the trout during mindl think Rinpoche's wish might If the therapy is carried out, but that the great benefit which one circumstances dangerous for the transport), finding a suitable place be to keep the profound teaching in normal daily life without the renders to other beings by saving life of their owner may dissolve to free them and preparing the alive. It is for this purpose that he conditions of tranquillity and so their lives is reflected in the person and that both the owner and the necessary documents to transport has really sacrificed his life. And forth, one can still acqu ire the same carrying out the action or on those animals may obtain rebirth in the them p lu s permission from the pro­ since he has given profound benefits as with a strict therapy. to whom it is dedicated. higher states of existenceuntil com­ vince (which in the end was not teachings such as Dzogchen, then If one is affected by a particular This practice is described in plete realisation of . asked for). it is very important to maintain the illness while doing the therapy, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's book After the lama has recited many The rescue operation finally damsig (samaya) between Dhar­ one should temporarily stop taking Viaggio nella cultura dei nomadi invocations and words of good went into action, with great ma brothers and sisters. This the bcudlen pills and cure the tibetani (A Journey into the Cultu­ omen he gives the owner some difficulty, when the fish were damsigcan be a very good cause or disease first Once one has regained re of the Tibetan Nomads): earrings made of coloured material loaded in their tanks onto the trailer. a very bad one for the link between his or her health, he or she may "Many yak, dri and sheep or red wool to hang from the ears of Their destination was the Fiora lama and disciple. I'm sure you all start the rejuvenation therapy again. belonging to the nomads wear a each animal. From that moment on River, not overly polluted and have a very good damsig but it's wool ring in their ears. These that animal cannot be killed for suitable for trout The river, about important to improve this even Translator's note:I would like animals are c&\\çâtshe thar&nd are any reason whatsoever; not even if 20 km away had to be reached in more. to make clear that readers should ritually liberated from the butcher. its owner should find himself in less that half an hour before the And the teachings that you have not attempt to make the bcud len This custom arose from the fact such poverty that his survival is oxygen bottles ran out and the fish received from Namkhai Norbu preparations themselves, that by doing this the nomads threatened. The yak of burden asphyxiated Everything seemed Rinpoche should not just be keep especially the complex believe that they will prolong their which are saved in this way, are not to be going well when we were as intellectual knowledge but put preparation and those which own lives. When a member of the made to work any more when they interrupted by the law!... into practice. So it is said that when involve the use of minerals without family becomes seriously ill, many reach old age and are cared for and A Frenchman and a Neapolitan the mind of a high lama is more having experience or without the animals are freed fromslaughtering fed until their death. This is called in the woods with a tank full of fish satisfied, even his physical aspect assistance of a competent person with the aim of guaranteeing the ill tshe yok, help for a long life." had made the moustachioed will recover. Orhe will understand who knows the ingredients and person's survival. The animals Many people of the Italian defender of the law suspicious. He the importance of remaining alive. how to prepare them. Once one which are chosen are led before a Dzogchen Community have was afraid of becoming a So maybe if it is possible, his life has seen the ingredients and has lama from whom their freedom is expressed their wish to free animals fainthearted spectator to the can be prolonged. I think so. assisted actively in the requested. Then in the ear of each in order to favour the long life of possibility of serious pollution and The Mirror Thank you Rin­ preparation, then it is not difficult animal the lama pronounces the the Master. Altogether more than the creation of havoc. poche. to do it oneself. mantra of Amitayus, the Buddha three million lire (approx. $2,000) But in the end, even this final Merigar, March 8th, 1995 Translated by Elio Guarisco of Long Life, and expresses the has been collected which was used obstacle was overcome."

The History of the.... story, the level which Carlos determine the nature of our friends by hand after so many days it would be when the book I was Castañeda 's Don Juan called the obstacle. When our complexes so working at Rinpoche's ancient working on would be finished. And continued from page 15 'personal inventory'. Work on completely have us in their grip electric typewriter, wrestling with the thought that it might help others history and culture as they one's personal history is more the that Samsara seems to be our one sentence after another until who had never heard of the Dzog­ resonated within the space province of certain kinds of we­ middle name, the practice of an art there seemed to be no meaning left chen teachings to understand those completely beyond culture that is stern therapy, where a dialogue or working on oneself in therapy in the words. Making thenewsletter teachings re-focused my energy. at the heart of the teachings I was involving the individuals 'case can help enormously to get to grips my relationship with Rinpoche The next day I was ready to receiving. That the teachings history' is engaged between the with discovering the nature of our returned to being fun again, as we continue with my work Making came to me through the vehicle of analyst and the person in analysis. problem. played rather than worked, and a the newsletter had been a small the culture of Tibet was both a But the practice of an art also helps Many westerners are troubled senseofdelightreplacedthefeeling task and finishing it renewed my source of fascination and of in this respect it enables one to by a poor sense of self and a lack of of heavy responsibility that had so sense of commitment and difficulty. There are issues reflectto oneself the various aspects identity. They cannot free burdened me. connection to the greater tasks I involved in integrating influences of one's life and nature. themselves from their personal As Rinpoche and I took my had undertaken, as has finishing from a foreign culture that it takes The teachings, on the other hand story until they are at leastaware of handwritten pages together with this story now. time to work through for oneself. require of us a leap: a leap into the having one. Whether a story his drawings to the local Xerox Each of us has a particular story If Rinpoche had built one half of state of pure presence. They do not imprisons or frees us depends more shop to make copies of them, I felt to tell. Our collective history is the bridge the other half was up to seek toanalyz e or interpret mental on our awareness than on the natu­ both closer tohi m and to the people woven from the strands of our me. content, searching for the meaning re of the story, but if we have no we were going to send the individual stories. In this sense too, In so many ways I was just of this or that event Rather they consistent sense of self, no identity, newsletter to. Watching him work the history of the Dzogchen another child of my time, educated point us towards recognizing the we have no sense of who we are or patiently and joyously athis carving Community, and its future, depend in every sense except in the continuity of the unborn and what we may mean in the world. I had also learned something about on you. essential one of really knowing undying awareness as partof which To be free from ego is to be free myself and my work. If stories bind us together as a myself, lookingforknowledgeand the endless stream of mental events from attachment and aversion. It As we walked through the warm community, as individuals they can seeking a sense of community, a arise and disappear like the waves does not mean having no sense of evening streets to the post office to also set us free. senseofbelongingthatwaslacking in an endless ocean that are not identity. On the contrary one's post the newsletter, completing one Through sharing our stories we in the fragmented craziness of our separate from the ocean itself. sense of identity as an individual act among the many that have can di scover things aboutourselves modem society. And I found that But when we do not succeed in and one's ability to operate in the defined and shaped the evolution that we might never stumble on identity in my work, and in my making the leap into the state of world are strengthened by freedom of our spiritual community as it alone. Sometimes we can only association with Rinpoche and the presence, when we are so troubled from clinging to anything at all. has grown over the years, I felt discover our own meaning as it is Community. But it still remained that mental events do not self-libe­ By the time I had finished again the sense of wonder and reflected in the eyes of others; for me to resolve deep conflicts rate of their own accord, stifling us writing out our greetings and all excitement that I always feel when separation is an illusion after all. within myself connected with the instead in the suffocating embrace the names and addresses of something I have written is finished Stories are meant to be shared relationship between my own of endlessly repeating loops of one Community members for our first and is ready to go out into the And The Mirror is a good place to background and personal history layer after another of internal newsletter I felt more relaxed than world where it may touch others, share them and the teachings I was receiving. commentuntilrealiry is completely Ihadfordays.Therewas something both those I know and those I don ' t The teachings do not seek to obscured, then we need to practice soothing about writing all those know. (This article has been shortened work at the level of the personal self-observation to help us names and addresses of so many I thought about how wonderful for reasons of space.)

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