A NEWSLETTER OF SIDDHARTHA’S INTENT March 2008

INTHISISSUE INSIGHTMEDITATION INTERVIEWWITHGYANAVAJRARINPOCHE REACHINGOUTINCAMBODIA PHOTODIARY–SANCHI TEXT RECOVERER - E. Gene Smith THEGONPASURVIVESTHEFLOOD Gentle Voice : March 2008 In This Issue

Editorial Contents

Congratulations to our friends at Vajradhara Gonpa who Insight Meditation 3 have completed the three year retreat. We are all Interview with Gyana 5 inspired by your dedication and commitment and hope Reaching Out in Cambodia 6 that you will be able to share your insights and blessings Photo Diary - Sanchi 8 with everyone you meet. Congratulations to all those Book Review 9 who made it possible, whether it was the teachers, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Retreats 9 administrators, cooks or sponsors. Making it possible for Text Recoverer - E. Gene Smith 10 both ourselves and others to practice the is a Announcements 11 great challenge and contingent on an enormous amount of work. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche One of the most interesting observations in the Dharma will teach the conclusion of the is the law of interdependent origination, or in , Madhyamakavatara - the philosophy pratityasamutpada. Nothing exists except in dependence This is one of the key philosophical expositions of upon causes and conditions. The causes and conditions emptiness and its study has been an essential part of for such a retreat are numberless and impossible to Buddhist training in Tibet for many centuries. While not summarise, but without our teacher inspiring practice, very long, the text contains complex and subtle arguments without the gonpa – the place of retreat, without the in a condensed form. This is the final program. inspiration to make it happen, it couldn’t take place. Dates: Thursday 10 April 7.00 p.m. At this early stage of the development of the Dharma in – free evening talk. Australia we are all working hard to create the Friday 11 to Sunday 13 April, from 9.30 a.m. conditions for practice opportunities for both ourselves Fee: $180 and future generations. Translation, study, retreat, Address: A&I Hall, Bangalow, New South Wales. generosity, and all kinds of support are bringing the Located at the end of Station Street, off Dharma to the West. Everybody’s participation and Byron Street - the main street in contribution is a jewel in ’s net. Indra’s net is a Bangalow. Bangalow is a 15 minute metaphor used in the Avatamsaka , of a large net drive from Byron Bay. Telephone: 02 66 851 646 hung with jewels. Each jewel reflects all the other jewels Enquiries: [email protected] in the net, to infinity. In addition, every jewel that is Accommodation assistance: [email protected] reflected in one jewel bears within itself the reflection of all other jewels. About Siddhartha’s Intent May all beings benefit. Founded in 1989 by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Siddhartha's Intent is an international Buddhist Sunyata association of non-profit centres, most of which are Editor nationally registered societies and charities, with the principal intention of preserving the Buddhist teachings, as well as increasing an awareness and understanding of the many aspects of the Buddhist teaching, beyond the limits of cultures and traditions. Web: http://www.siddharthasintent.org Contact: 61 2 66 882 055 Email: [email protected]

Gentle Voice : page 2 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Insight Meditation – Vipassana

By Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

We'll begin straight away with meditation. Those who have information on meditation know what to do. For those who are beginners, sitting with your spine straight is good. Placing something under your bottom so it's higher than your legs is a good idea.

You'r e allowed to breathe. You can blink your eyes only if it's necessary. You can swallow saliva when it's necessary. Other than that during this period until I say stop, whatever happens don't move. Don't scratch even if you're feeling itchy! Instead watch that feeling. If nothing extraordinary happens, just watch whatever thoughts come at that time. There's no need to think about the past, no need to plan for the future. If there are no thoughts, that's also fine. If your ankle hurts or you feel like coughing, don't. Don't clear your throat. If you forget to switch off your mobile and it rings, don't switch it off. Just watch that guilt. Basically, do nothing. All you have to do is Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in Bir, October 2006. just be aware. So we will begin.

You may know that some leading international newspapers time. So you can't see Buddha nature. The way we meditated have reported that meditation is good for health. Scientists just now, we just watched whatever happened. Even the have now realised that meditation is good for stress, for watching is already a little bit of a mating, but it's okay for relaxation and so on and so forth. If you're a Buddhist, and if now. That's the only way you can progress. What does this you're a genuine one, we're not here for good health. We're do? You really are beginning to learn how to ignore thoughts. not here for relaxation. Who cares whether you're tense or not, Actually, do you know what ignoring is? Let's say, if you're because when people talk about relaxation, that means they ignoring a person at a party, what does that mean? That means relax for a little bit and then they go wild again, doesn't it? you know he is there, but you are not looking at him, doesn't That's why they're looking for relaxation – so they can do it? That's what we call ignoring. If you don't see him, that's more harm to themselves and others after a little bit of not counted as ignoring him, is it? That's simply that you hibernation. If you're a genuine follower of , didn't see him. During meditation you're watching the being relaxed or tension-free is not your goal. Or at least the thoughts; you know they're there, but you're ignoring them. definition of relaxation and tension should be different. What You're not entertaining positive thoughts, you're not is tension? According to the Buddha, anything that is dualistic discouraging negative thoughts. Just watching. So you're not is tension. Gazing at the sunrise or the sunset could be tension. mating. No mating, no breeding, no population of rabbits; It's more likely to be tension than relaxation, according to the you're less busy because you don't have to chase or breastfeed Buddha. What is relaxation? Freedom from this dualistic mind these babies. You are very free. That's why we meditate. is relaxation. In that sense, yes, we're looking for the ultimate relaxation. We're really looking to get rid of the mother of all I think it's kind of obvious that meditation is a good thing, but tension, which is dualism. to do it consistently is difficult. Lack of discipline, lack of enthusiasm and lack of environment make it difficult. Mainly You see, meditation is a technique. You may wonder, "How lack of discipline. Consistency is the key. If you do hours and does this help us to discover Buddha nature?" It does it very hours of meditation and then don't do any for months, you're well. In fact, I would say meditation such as what we just did back to square one. If you can do five to ten minutes is probably the safest, most economical, handy, user-friendly consistently every day, at least in about a year's time you will method. At present, every time a thought arises, we mate with have some kind of joy and enthusiasm to do the meditation. it. There could be different kinds of mating – very positive That joy is difficult to develop, you know, because meditation mating such as enjoying the sunset, making love, being is very boring. It's not entertaining at all. Not doing anything philanthropic or hugging! Or it could be a very vicious raping is tough. This is the art of not doing anything and it's really kind of mating, like when anger comes, "Oh, not good." Then difficult, especially as we modern human beings like quick there's depression, guilt and anger towards yourself because results. Actually, the results come very quickly. But you're angry. That's what I call raping. You're raping your meditative results are very subtle. We like tangible, vivid, thoughts. Whatever happens, you've forgotten the condom and obvious results. We like Panadols or pain-killers. This is the you're like a rabbit. You can reach orgasm nine times every modern culture. time. Each drop of those orgasms creates lots of babies. That's why you have endless rabbits going round in your head all the Continued next page

Gentle Voice : page 3 Gentle Voice : March 2008

So especially in the beginning it's difficult to establish this joy Then even during the post-meditation time when you're heated because the effect of meditation is so subtle; even though it's with jealousy, you will have this regret or guilt, this already there, it's not visible. disappointment or frustration. "Why am I not concentrating?" It's easy to just watch ordinary, more obvious thoughts. Let's On the one hand you know that you're not supposed to get say you're meditating and you hear a child screaming and it entangled or mate with this issue, but you will just keep doing irritates you and you just watch that irritation. That's good. it right in front of your own nose. Now when that happens, it's That's how it should be. But then there are so many other time to receive a medal. You're doing well then. If you can thoughts. They've come and they've gone and they've returned count, let's say, ten times a day when you're frustrated, several times and you still don't realise it. Very, very subtle disappointed or guilty, that's good. Then at last you're thoughts. And then by the time you realise it, fifteen out of becoming a bit of a meditator. When you're frustrated because twenty minutes is basically gone, day-dreaming, completely you're distracted, what does that mean? Think! When you distracted but by very subtle thoughts, not like recognising the know you are distracted, automatically it means that you know irritation when a child screams. And then what happens? You what is being not distracted. You're close to the wisdom. So regret. Well, when you regret, again you're mating. Regret is may you always feel frustrated! another mating. "Oh, I shouldn't have. I'm supposed to meditate." You're just supposed to watch that regret also. Vipassana basically means extraordinary understanding or Actually, this mating is much less harmful because it doesn't penetrating insight, hence insight meditation. Basically, this is have much intimacy. There's a worse one, which is when you meditation on wisdom. See, wisdom and Buddha nature are feel that you are actually not basically one thing with different distracted this time. "Wow! names. They're all the same thing. I'm completely aware of So now you know, when we talk everything. I'm not about Buddha nature or wisdom, distracted." Now you're really let's say, Vipassana kind of mating! Very deep intimacy! “See, wisdom and Buddha wisdom, we're not talking about It's so difficult to release that. anything supernatural, superhuman, You really want to dwell in Nature are basically one divine or something that you have that. Anyway, as I was to cultivate. So what are we talking saying, consistency is really thing with different names.” about? Wisdom is already there, important. Short, clear, but right? Like a spring. But why are often. According to we not experiencing it? Because , "Short, many we're stirring all the time through times." Long, but only once mating. So how do we experience doesn't have much effect. And I would say consistently every wisdom? By not doing anything, by not stirring, by letting it day, not limiting yourself to only meditating in the morning or be. And then, when you're not mating or getting worked up at night. Do it any time, wherever you can sit. Actually, after a with a thought, the wisdom of non-judgment is there. What is while you can meditate even standing or dancing. But I guess wisdom? Non-dualism, isn't it? And what does non-dual for beginners it's better to at least lay the foundation and for mean? In a very, very raw form, non-duality is basically non- that I think sitting is important. judgment. And here all you're doing is just watching, not getting entangled, not getting worked up, just watching, If you're meditating and you recognise ordinary thoughts, ignoring. You see the thoughts, but you ignore them. There's is there. But sometimes strong emotions can be no judgment involved. It may be only for a very short difficult. If you find out your boyfriend is cheating on you and moment, but during that moment of just watching and doing you're trying to apply Vipassana, it's going to be tough nothing, you're already experiencing non-duality. You're because we have this habit of settling the score or seeking already experiencing wisdom. That's all we have to cultivate. revenge. We have so much pride. Or if you have a family That's all you have to do. What a wonderful path! There's issue and you both know that separation is the only solution, really nothing to lose, everything to gain. Gain what? We are but both of you are waiting to see who will say, "Let's all control freaks, right? We all want to be in command. We separate." In the beginning it's difficult to concentrate because all want to be the controller. How do you control? With this. your mind just goes to that problem. But then, let's say, you're If you are worked up, you're not under control, right? Here, a more mature meditator and when this jealousy, gradually you become the controller. Perfect for people like us possessiveness, pride or insecurity comes during meditation, who are control freaks. You will all be in the driver's seat. you just watch. That's good. But as soon as the alarm clock Forget about enlightenment. Just be a good controller. This goes off, then you're back to, "Let's see. Now where were works! we?" (Rinpoche punches one fist into the palm of his other hand.) Back to that! (Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche gave this teaching on 24 May 2006 for Byron Bay Buddhists. It is available as a DVD from But if you can just watch, not engage or mate, slowly you Siddhartha's Intent Australia. For details please visit the become even more mature and the wall between meditation website at: siddharthasintent.org and click on Teachings. and post-meditation will gradually crumble. See, right now This extract was transcribed and edited by Lynne Macready.) there's a big wall between meditation and post-meditation. That's fine. I think you almost need it, otherwise beginners can't begin. After a while this wall will start to crumble.

Gentle Voice : page 4 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Interview with Gyana Vajra Rinpoche

by Sunyata, Melbourne

Q. Are they going through a structured program that will lead to a or Khenmo degree? A. Yes, we are also planning a nuns college and pretty soon we should see some results. Q. Have you got any resident teachers? A. Yes, we have a Khenpo in the nunnery who is teaching philosophy at the moment. Q. What about your future plans? You are getting married in February? A. Yes, I am getting married. I was a monk before but I have decided to disrobe and I have given up my vows to my and with his blessing, and with all my ’ blessings, I am going to be getting married in February. I believe that not everybody in this world is destined to be a monk or a nun. I never felt really comfortable as a monk and I am very happy now that I have found somebody that I can spend the rest of my life with. I hope to be a good husband. Q. Congratulations. That’s fantastic. A. She is the love of my life. Gyana Vajra Rinpoche in Melbourne, December 2007. Q. Do you have any particular advice for those of us who are also not monks and nuns and who are not H.E. Gyana Vajra Rinpoche is the second son of H.H. practising the Dharma full time? Trizin. A. It does not matter how long the practice is that you Q. What work are you doing at the monastery in India? do it is the quality of practice when you do it and A. I live in the monastery and do management work as how you put your practice into your daily life. Find the Vice President of the Sakya Society, of course the the right teacher, find the right place where you feel President is His Holiness (Sakya Trizin). We have comfortable and where you feel open, where you about 300 monks and around 200 nuns. There are don’t have hesitation towards your teacher. If you also about 100 monks in the Sakya Institute. I am find that right teacher then I think you should follow building a school for the Sakya Centre students his or her advice and then just practice without any which will have all the modern facilities. It will be hesitation. It doesn’t mean that you have to give up called Sakya Academy. will be trained in both your work or you have to do retreats for years and Dharmic rituals and philosophy – mainly rituals – years. But you can do short sessions, 15 minutes, half plus they will be taught all the basic school education an hour, one hour, according to your capacity. like science and history. Q. So they will get a Western education as well as a An Aspiration to the Great Perfection traditional Buddhist education – excellent. How are the nuns going? How is their education? May we gain conviction in the view A. I must say we are very impressed with how the nuns wherein samsara and are the same. are going. We started with seven nuns a few years May have a consummate skill in meditation, ago and now we have somewhere between 150 and a natural flow unaltered, uncontrived. 200 nuns. We just finished building dormitories for May we bring our action to perfection, them. Previously we didn’t have funds to build a a natural, unintended, spontaneity. temple and nuns stayed outside. Now we have just May we find the , finished the main structure of the nunnery – about 80 beyond all gaining and rejection. nuns can stay in the dormitory. We still think we might have a shortage of space because in the whole Dudjom Rinpoche, Paris 1976 of India and Nepal we only have one Sakya nunnery. (Taken from Counsels From My Heart, Shechen I am very happy with their progress in education. Publications, New Delhi.)

Gentle Voice : page 5 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Reaching Out in Cambodia

Text by Sunyata, Photos by Glenn Fawcett

Young Cambodian women working in garment factories Said Glenn Fawcett, the program co-ordinator, “In are the focus of a Lotus Outreach program concerned Cambodia there is really no such thing as free medical with improving sexual health. Lotus Outreach has treatment. Most people can’t afford it so even if have developed a van, the Women’s Sexual Health Mobile they have terrible pain and problems such as pustules or Outreach Clinic, that visits garment factories and invites discharges, they can’t afford to see a doctor and they just women to meet and have a confidential discussion with a put up with it.” qualified gynaecologist. The van is equipped as a consulting space and can offer a basic medical service. Lack of employment, low wages and poverty underlie many of Cambodia’s most persistent social problems, in particular prostitution and human trafficking. Said Glenn, “Traffickers come to villages with promises of work for young girls as hairdressers, shop assistants or domestic servants, but these women are often trafficked to brothels. Then they are told they must pay back a huge sum of money to the traffickers. Once they are trafficked they feel soiled in their own mind, they won’t tell their families what has happened, they will just bear it. These are very sweet and unsophisticated country girls who are easy to dupe.”

Cambodian child stacking bricks.

Free condoms and other birth control treatment is provided, as well as advice. Those women diagnosed as suffering acute medical problems are referred to a hospital while husbands and partners are also treated. The clinic records data and prescribes treatment in accordance with the protocols developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). One of the main aims of the program is to raise Glenn Fawcett with an ox cart and other aid workers from awareness around sexual health, particularly in the age Cambodia, Burma and Sweden. group of 18 to 25. In response to this problem, Lotus Outreach is training 300 girls to work as peer educators in those communities and to spread the word of what is actually going on and take them out of harm’s way. Lotus Outreach also offers a life-skills training program where women and girls engaged in sex work learn numeracy, literacy and small- business skills to prepare them for employment options. Out of 60 girls some two thirds have now secured jobs in various areas such as garment factories, hair dressing and running their own small business. One graduate, a former sex worker, is now employed by Oxfam as a non-formal education teacher, teaching others like her what she has learned.

Girls attend the Lotus Outreach Clinic.

Gentle Voice : page 6 Gentle Voice : March 2008

Low wages and poverty are largely the result of a lack of work and seeks to raise the awareness and sensitivity of education. Children are required to pay their teachers for key groups such as police and local authorities. their classes as the government salary - $30 a month – is too low for teachers to live on. As a result poor children get very little education and grow up without the ability to read or count. This makes them extremely vulnerable to exploitation. While there are no official figures on human trafficking or prostitution in Cambodia, it is estimated by those working in the field that there are about 50,000 to 60,000 persons working as prostitutes, with one third under 16.

Getting to school in Cambodia can be very difficult. Lotus Outreach works with A local partner, the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Centre, to run a scholarship program for at-risk girls that funds their education. Various things are provided such as bicycles so they can Girls who receive scholarships come from the attend school, and school books and stationery. If a very poorest families. child’s family lives a long way from a school then a residential school is funded. Children are given a Poverty in Cambodia has many consequences. Up to a monthly stipend and in the worst cases, rice for their million mostly male workers are internal migrants, families to take the pressure off the need for a child’s having moved from villages to cities in search of paid wage. At present 596 girls are receiving scholarships. work. They are separated from their wives and form In addition the program provides community advocacy about 96% of users of prostitutes. Local massage shops that charge only $1.25 per ‘massage’ cater to this clientele. Child workers also scavenge garbage dumps for recyclable materials. Said Glenn: “They don’t wear gloves or any protective clothing which is very dangerous for these kids as the rubbish contains highly infectious materials from operating theatres, condoms and syringes. This rubbish is swarming with flies and is putrid and stinks. Children also work stacking bricks. They get paid 50 cents a day and their only clothing is underpants. It’s very heavy work.” Lotus Outreach works to keep children like these in school while the older ones are given skills so they can earn from a decent job.

There is a famous story of a man walking down a beach throwing washed up starfish back into the sea. The sand is crowded with starfish and he is told by someone that what he is doing isn’t going to make any difference. The man throws another starfish back into the sea and says, “Well, it made a difference to that one.”

Bicycles help girls get to school. Gentle Voice : page 7 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Photo Diary – Sanchi

Text by Dr Peter Friedlander, Photos by Di Cousens

The logo for Siddhartha’s Intent is of the great gateways at the of Sanchi. The gateways are also replicated at the new Chokyi Lodro College at Chauntra, Himachal Pradesh.

The Buddhist remains at Sanchi date from the 3rd Century BCE to the 11th century CE. Perhaps some of the earliest monuments on the site were a column erected by the Mauryan Emperor and a small brick stupa. The present main stupa seems to have been originally a much smaller brick stupa from the 3rd century BCE Ashokan period which was then enlarged several times. During the Satavahana dynasty in the 1st century BCE the great gateways were added along with the railings which are covered in relief sculptures illustrating stories from the Buddhist tradition, including Jataka Tales. The site continued to flourish in the 5th century CE during the reign of the Gupta dynasty when monolithic Buddha images were added at the four gateways and more temples were built. The presence of remains from as late as the 11th century CE shows that it continued to be an active Buddhist site up to the period when declined in India. The main stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh.

The entrance gate at the Chokyi Lodro College, Chauntra. A Purna kumbha, or ‘pot of plenty’ medallion at Sanchi.

Budddha image from the Gupta period. Brahmi inscription recording the name of a donor.

Gentle Voice : page 8 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Book Review

by David Templeman

Care and Handling of Thankas: A Guide for Caretakers In Tibetan and the Himalayan conditions where thankas by Victoria Blyth Hill, translated into Tibetan by are regularly kept in and removed from storage conditions, usually in wooden boxes, sometimes leather Sonam Phuntso. covered and attractive to insects, the method depicted of Published by the Khyentse Foundation rolling and protecting scrolls is of importance. However For free distribution in the Buddhist Himalaya and the Indian subcontinent I would point out that the method outlined on page 8 of keeping the covering veil down when rolling is This book offers the reader a brief guide to the storage dangerous as the material used in most veils has tiny and safe-keeping of thankas. In this basic area it fulfils ‘hooks’ in the fibre which act as ‘levers’ to raise flakes its aims admirably. The book is handsome and shows of paint from the surface. I would suggest that the veils good production values. be removed upon purchase and pinned temporarily over the scroll when displayed. When the thanka is rolled for The work is primarily intended as an instructional guide storage, a layer of acid-free paper may be substituted for for monks and monasteries within the Himalayan and the veil with no subsequent damage. Tibetan worlds and this accounts for the punctilious Tibetan translation. It addresses conservation issues such Although the author is correct to state that “When the as damage arising from fire and roof leakage which are surface of a thanka becomes darkened or stained with not usually the greatest source of damage to those in smoke or oil, it is almost impossible to clean it,” this is Western collections, but nevertheless problems we might far from the case in for example in Australia, where occasionally face. The discussion is not limited to those there are experts who are capable of employing the very with ‘valuable’ thankas alone. The common sense rules latest conservatorial solvents and who do a fine job of in the book relate equally well to the handling and restoring and cleaning even extremely damaged thankas. display of all water pigment based paintings, from the (For example, see the website of Sabine Cotte at personal ‘practice-item’ to the ‘valuable treasure’. There www.sabinecotte.com/) is also for example, timely advice especially for those of This is a valuable and timely book and, despite its us in Australia, on the rotation of thankas from the same modest contents, is of use both among the Tibetan light source to avoid ‘sunning’ of certain areas. monastic communities and for Westerners with their own private collections.

Births, Deaths, Marriages & Retreats

His Holiness the Mindroling Trichen, ce remonial head of HH Mindroling Trichen was born to the 10th Mindroling the school, passed away in Dehra Dun, India, Trichen and Yum Dawa Drolma on 7 March 1931 in on 9 February 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Lumo-ra in Kham (Eastern Tibet). At 18 he went into retreat and did solitary meditation in a cave. He was in In a statement the monastery retreat for a total of 14 years. He excelled in his studies office said he passed away: and discovered the (hidden treasure) of the ‘Without even the slightest Compassionate One, Jigten Wangchuk Pema Garwang. discomfort, with a face even He escaped from Tibet in 1959 and arrived in India more radiant than before, and where he was installed as the 11th Mindroling Trichen in with a smiling countenance, 1962. In 1976 he and his family moved to Dehra Dun in Kyabje Rinpoche gazed lovingly order to oversee the building of the Mindroling at all those surrounding him. monastery. Then, with the aspect of resting, [he] displayed the final activity of transferring his Revered within the Tibetan community as an emanation enlightened intention to another realm, in order to turn of , His Holiness the 11th Mindroling the minds of those to be tamed towards the Dharma’. Trichen was revered throughout the Buddhist world as a Elaborate ceremonies were performed at his monastery great and one of the greatest Tibetan immediately after his passing and HH Sakya Trizin Buddhist masters of the past century. presided over the 3rd day ritual on 12 February and led the sadhana.

Gentle Voice : page 9 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Text Recoverer E. Gene Smith

Instead, Gene and his colleagues used the funds to make copies of rare and important Tibetan texts that had been smuggled out of Tibet by exiles of all five lineages of --texts that he had identified as valuable in his travels in Asia. These texts-- wood-block prints and manuscripts--were faded and crumbling. The copies were sent back to North America, to the United States and Canada, and installed in the libraries of over 20 universities, including Harvard and the University of Washington. These and other texts were also made available to Tibetan monks. All told, the PL 480 program acquired around 8,000 volumes. When more began appearing in China after the revolution, Gene used his contacts to buy those as well. Today he is known for having amassed the largest library of Tibetan books in the world.

For the Tibetans who had smuggled the manuscripts out of Tibet, the fact that Gene paid Western prices for the texts that he bought for the Library of Congress made a big difference in their lives. For the Tibetan publishers, the revenue of the sales went a long way toward covering the price of publishing more texts. In this The Khyentse Foundation is working in partnership with Professor way, Gene's purchases were crucial for the publication of hundreds E. Gene Smith of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Centre to scan of works, thus making them available for Tibetan scholars, and digitally publish his collection of 12,000 volumes of Tibetan practitioners, and libraries at an affordable price. literature. But it wasn't just the priceless Tibetan canon that Gene sent back When E. Gene Smith was asked how he managed to single- to the United States for copying and preserving (in many cases, handedly gather together a tremendous amount of the Tibetan only one copy of a text had survived)--he also sent his notes. His literature that had been dispersed during and after the events of commentaries put each manuscript in historical, religious, and 1959, he replied simply, ", I guess." It's not that Gene is at a cultural context for Western scholars struggling to understand the loss for words--he often tells amazing tales--but Gene Smith is Dharma. For many years, Gene's house in New Delhi was a hub of primarily focused on one subject only: preserving Tibetan spiritual scholarly activity. His walls were lined with thousands of Tibetan literature in its entirety. In Gene's view, this literature can and must books. Hundreds of lamas, scholars, and practitioners visited him be preserved and made available, at no charge, to anyone, there and marvelled at his ability to find an obscure book, hidden anywhere in the world. amid stacks of texts, without hesitation.

Karma may be the short answer to how Gene became the steward Gene retired from the Library of Congress in 1997, and in of this gargantuan effort, but the colourful details of his journey December of 1999 he and a group of friends founded the Tibetan make for quite a story. Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the goal of digitizing every text in his collection, now over In part because students of lesser-known languages could avoid 12,000 volumes. In an interview in 2002, he said about TBRC, being drafted into the U.S. Army, Gene began studying Tibetan at "What we're trying to do is make things as easy as possible for the the University of Washington in Seattle in 1960. There he met his scholars, the holders of the traditions, and the translators to gain teacher, the Venerable Deshung Rinpoche, who at the time lived in access to the texts. Right now, Tibetan studies is basically a matter Seattle with eight other lamas on a grant from the Rockefeller of serendipity." Foundation. Gene became interested in understanding Buddhism from a scholar's perspective, but his teacher steered him toward Since 2002, TBRC has moved into the offices of the Rubin practice. In 1964, at the age of 28, he finished the course work for Museum of Art in New York City, and is now working to expand his Ph.D. On the advice Deshung Rinpoche, he travelled to India to its digital library of Tibetan texts, putting them on portable hard see what he could do to help the Tibetans pick up the pieces of drives and exporting them to monasteries in India, Tibet, Nepal, their shattered culture. and Bhutan. They're also building an encyclopaedic database that will provide a way to navigate TBRC's immense body of Tibetan In India, he studied with Geshe Lobsang Lungtok, Drukpa literature. And the TBRC serves as a research centre for Tibetan Thuksay Rinpoche, Khenpo Noryang, and Dilgo Khyentse studies. Rinpoche. He travelled extensively in Asia, and in 1968 the U.S. Library of Congress hired him to work in its New Delhi office. When Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche introduced Gene at an early The U.S. government had started a food aid effort, called the Khyentse Foundation meeting, he emphatically stated that Gene is Public Law 480 Initiative, which encouraged developing countries one of the most important of our time. "He is such a to buy surplus U.S. wheat and other agricultural products with great man," said Rinpoche. "With Gene's digital library, no future local currencies. The government took the money it made on the disaster, whether natural, political or economic, will destroy these wheat and put it back into cultural and scientific programs to precious Buddhist texts again." At the Buddha Nature teachings in benefit those same countries. Talking about the haphazard nature Vancouver in the summer of 2007, the audience gave Gene a of these allocations at a recent benefit in his honour at the Rubin spontaneous and lengthy standing ovation that filled the auditorium Museum of Art, Gene remarked, "We could have used that money with thunderous appreciation for all of his work. Gene, as ever, for anything--we could have bought lawnmowers if we wanted to." smiled and humbly accepted the thanks. Gentle Voice : page 10 Gentle Voice : March 2008 Announcements

Extensive Drubchen shopping trip to the regional centre Lismore to bring the At Vajradhara Gonpa truckload of food supplies for the retreatants. The current three-year retreat at Vajradhara Gonpa will It was already bucketing down and the mountain road culminate during the week from 2 to 9 April 2008 with an was very slippery but Kate was determined that we extensive practice intensive or Drubchen based on the wouldn’t run out of food if there was a flood and on the Heart of Deathless Arya (Chime Phagme return journey had to detour from the main route already Nyingthig), a treasure of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. under water, crossing flooded tracks, bridges and This will be the first time such a Drubchen has been causeways. Although cut off from town for the next few performed entirely in English. Everyone is invited to days, we were high and dry with plenty of food at the attend the opening ceremony on 9 April. Please register Gonpa mountain retreat. by email to [email protected] This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the opening of the Future Form of Gentle Voice boundary at this very blessed retreat centre. In recent years Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has been demonstrating concern about ensuring the activities of the H.H. to visit Sydney various aspects of the Khyentse are run in an H.H. Dalai Lama will teach on Kamalashila’s text, the economically and environmentally sustainable way. Stages of Meditation, from 11 to 15 June in Sydney. See: http://www.dalailama.org.au You would have noticed that the Khyentse Foundation news is now solely available electronically. Efforts are Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo being made to make our centres in India and Australia H.H. Drugchen enthroned the English nun and bhikshuni, run more efficiently in terms of their consumption of Tenzin Palmo, as a Jetsunma in the Drugpa natural resources. As part of this thrust to lessen our tradition on 16 February 2008. She was given a large red footprint and lower our costs, this edition of the Gentle hat and received numerous offerings. She said that she Voice will be the last one distributed in a paper format. thought H.H. Drugchen was, ‘Indeed very skilful and Future editions will be available as a PDF down load kind to inaugurate such a ceremony as a way to promote from the SI website. When new editions are ‘posted’ you all women practitioners and show his admiration for will receive email notification. Please ensure that we have females in the Dharma’. your current email address. See: www.tenzinpalmoaustralia.net The committee appreciates that many people will feel the The Drought Breaks loss of the GV arriving in their letterbox. We do however at Vajradhara Gonpa hope that we will have your support in our efforts to After six years of drought Australia-wide the small manage our precious resources. To ensure that any country town of Kyogle hit the national and overseas readers who are unable to access the internet are not news on 5th January with the second biggest flood in disadvantaged, printed copies will be available on request history. In the first two weeks of January 2008 north of from Lynne Macready: Kyogle in the Border Ranges there was a rain of blessings T 02 6685 4869. at the Gonpa of 714.4 mm that surpassed the highest rainfall in the district for any full month in history. News from Southern Cross University The Centre for Peace and Social Justice together with the Although the Northern Rivers district of NSW has been Office of Regional Engagement convened the Wisdom spared the severe and heartbreaking drought conditions of Series on 15 February 2008 at the SCU Room, Byron other parts of Australia, dams and creeks were dry and Bay Community Centre, Byron Bay, with Khyentse the Gonpa spring just a trickle. The recent rain has Jigme Rinpoche's public lecture on 'Mind Training' to a brought its difficulties with washouts and landslides on packed audience. the Gonpa’s access road, but it is so wonderful to see the dams full, the springs and waterfalls flowing abundantly The School of Law and Justice held a Buddhism and Law and the countryside returned to its lush vibrant green hue. Seminar which featured Jakob Leschly and Tom Round on ' and Western Jurisprudence: A Kate, our courageous retreat administrator, set out alone Dialogue' on 27 February 2008 at the Law Boardroom, the day before the flood peaked for the fortnightly Southern Cross University Lismore campus.

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Practice Sessions for Students Blue Mountains 28 Fletcher Street, Wentworth Falls Byron Bay Contact: Hugo Croci 1/22 Fawcett Street [email protected] Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 02 4757 2339 Contact: Paula Raymond-Yacoub Regular Practice Sessions [email protected] Monday evenings, Shamatha meditation & 02 66 851 646 Madhyamakavatara study group Regular Practice Sessions Wednesday evenings Shamatha meditation Adelaide Monthly Tsa Sum Dril Drup tsog practice on Guru Contact: Tineke Adolphus Rinpoche Day 08 8362 7553 Monthly Longchen Nyingthik Ngöndro practice, third Sunday of each month Auckland, New Zealand Contact: Buddha Aotearoa Sydney 09 424 3334 Contact : Chantal Gebbie or Tanya Gebbie [email protected] [email protected] Chantal 0412 763 037/ Tanya 0402 258 230 Regular Practice Sessions Fortnightly Wednesday evenings, Shamatha meditation and Madhyamakavatara Revision Guru Rinpoche Day, Tsa Sum Dril Drup tsog practice Dakini Day, Chime Phagma Nyingthik tsog offering practice 2nd Monthly half-day Longchen Nyingthik Ngöndro practice

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