NEWSLETTER - FALL 2011

Translator Training Program Graduates in Action As the Translator Training Program enters even inspired the Rigpa Sangha to launch a its fourth year, it’s time to look back and see similar program at , what our graduates have been up to since and one of our graduates, Mélanie Slomka, is completing the program. The Translator leading that program. Adam Kane translated Training program is designed to turn somebody for our summer Buddhist Studies Program, with a basic understanding of Tibetan into a which included a retreat at Asura Cave, and competent translator within one year, so it’s several of our graduates, including Adam, fair to ask, “How successful have we been?” are continuing their studies at RYI, studying Our graduates have indeed been busy! Two for their Master’s degrees. Miguel Sawaya is of them, Adam Kane and Timothy Hinkle, teaching Tibetan classes at RYI, and Joost have run the Kumara Internship Program at Palenstijn is teaching Tibetan in Spain. A few Rangjung Yeshe Gomde USA, where they graduates now help out with the Translator translated teachings by Ka-Nying Shedrub Training Program, and Anna Zilman, from the Ling Monastery’s Lama Tsultrim. Having first year of the TTP, now runs the program. As returned to Mexico and America, respectively, you can see, the graduates of the Translator Daniela Labra and Sarah Schneider have Training Program have been at work all over translated for high lamas such as Mingyur the world. Keep an eye out for them at a Rinpoche and Tulku Sang Ngag. Our program dharma center near you!

In this Issue: Check out Online Learning’s New Course Offering: Foundations of Buddhism 4 Translator Training Program Benefits of our library 5 Graduates in Action 1 Passing of a good friend 6 Summer Intensive Programs 2012: Admission is Now Open! 2 Other News and Forthcoming Events 7 Meditation Class: Now For Credit! 3 From Our Translators 8

1 Summer Intensive Programs 2012: Meditation Class: Now For Credit! Admission is Now Open!

“Fantastic program, the best of its kind!” completed language requirements for their For the first time in RYI history, we’ll offer 3. gaining intimate familiarity with different Summer 2011 Tibetan Language student degrees. a 3-credit meditation class at RYI during practices by actively participating in RYI’s summer intensives are a great way Our Buddhist Studies course was a particularly the Spring semester 2012. The course will meditation exercises. to get a head start on learning Tibetan or great success this past summer, thanks combine the critical tools of the academic Sanskrit, or to deepen your knowledge of to our talented teaching and translating study of religion with practice of the The course should be helpful to students who Buddhist Studies from an academic and faculty, which included William Waldron, techniques being explored, using three main are already involved in meditation practice and practice perspective. An exciting community PhD (Middlebury College, USA), and our approaches: want to enhance their reflections on that topic is created each summer at RYI when the sum- learned lopons from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling 1. becoming familiar with the basic medi- as well as to those who simply want to know mer students arrive on campus. Students join Monastery. This course offers a great way to tation practices of Himalayan Buddhism and understand more about this important us from MA and PhD programs from around expand your knowledge of Buddhist Studies through theoretical study; aspect of Buddhism. the world, creating an environment fruitful for and explore the workings of your mind. 2. reflecting critically on how those practices study and for making connections with others Registration opened on October 1, 2011, have been presented and understood; and in the field. This summer, students from the so you have plenty of time to make plans to University of Michigan, Virginia Common- visit us in Nepal for two months this coming wealth University, the University of Colorado, summer. For more information, please visit Harvard University and McGill University, as www.summer.shedra.org. We hope to see well as many other distinguished institutions, you in June 2012!

2 3 Check out Online Learning’s New Course Benefits of our library Offering: Foundations of Buddhism

RYI’s Online Learning team is now creating Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery’s lending the library also includes books in German, courses to meet the needs of academic library had its beginnings in 1985 when French, Spanish, Russian, Danish, Japanese, students and practitioners alike. Our short 108 new Dharma books, in English, were Chinese, Nepalese, Sanskrit and Tibetan. courses - Buddhist Ethics and Cultivating kindly donated to the monastery’s abbot, Also, books published by Rangjung Yeshe Patience - are designed to make study Tulku Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. Prior to this, Publications, Dharma Publishing, and other accessible for students who don’t have much Rinpoche had kept a handful of Buddhist Dharma publishers - as well as a large as- time in their busy lives to devote to study. books on his personal bookshelves which sortment of sadhana practice materials and Cultivating Patience explores our relationship he would loan, in an informal way, to his Dharma photos - are available for purchase to anger in today’s fast-paced world. This students or to inquisitive Western visitors. in the library during its opening hours. month-long course makes it easy and As the decades passed, the library’s treasury While the library was initially designed to enjoyable to study anywhere, at anytime. of books grew to more than 3,000 titles; serve both the large international community Our new semester-long course, Foundations enough to completely fill 12 floor-to-ceiling residing in Nepal as well as the steady stream of Buddhism, is a great way to explore bookcases. Today, the library’s collection of travelers interested in , more deeply the philosophical and societal includes the latest Dharma books available since 1997 it has become an invaluable contexts of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings. in the Western marketplace, as well as a reference library for the faculty and students This course features an interactive discussion number of rare, valuable and out-of-print of the Kathmandu University Centre for forum facilitated by a moderator, video and editions. Topics range from all schools of Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, audio lectures, and course readings, all scholarly Buddhist philosophy and esoteric and it has served our students well. The designed to support your understanding of practice to Asian art, history and culture, library operates on a “lifetime” membership the material. We are also currently offering Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine, yoga and basis, requiring a modest membership fee a course on the classic Buddhist text The the healing arts, language study manuals, and refundable deposit, and is open to the Way of the Bodhisattva for self study. We and travel guidebooks. general public three hours per day Monday invite you to join one of our courses this year; deepening of your practice through study. While Dharma books in English predominate, through Friday. registration is now open. RYI Online Learning Please visit www.patience.shedra.org or is a great way to explore your interest in www.foundations.shedra.org for more infor- Buddhism academically, or to support the mation.

RYI’s Social Media Presence

Here at RYI we recognize that social media is important for connecting our community. Currently you can engage with us by watching videos on our YouTube channel, following our Twitter profile, liking our Facebook page and reading a wonderful archive of campus life on our student blog. Our community is growing all the time, and this is a great way to keep in touch. Why not join us?

We are here: YouTube - RYIonline . Twitter - @RYI_Online 2 . Facebook - Rangjung Yeshe Institute Blog - http://ryi-student-blog.blogspot.com

4 5 Passing of a good friend Other News and Forthcoming Events

On September 7, 2011 we lost one of our puter games with him. friends and co-workers, Horst Koch, who Horst was a mountain lover from an early died in a beautiful high-mountain area at age, and was particularly inspired by the Hi- the monastery site of Dolpo Tulku in Dolpo, malayas. Even before he moved to Nepal, he Nepal. The official cause of death was cardiac travelled to the Everest region in Nepal and arrest from altitude-related cerebral edema. climbed to 6000 meters. He died in a place Horst died in the presence of Dolpo Tulku, of both spiritual and emotional importance to who, together with his father, immediately him. On September 26, 2011 his cremation performed the phowa ritual of transference ceremony was held in Kathmandu, near the for Horst. Horst began working for RYI in Swayambhunath stupa. Eleven monks per- Denmark (gomde.dk) Germany-Austria (gomde.de) 2008, and in 2009 became our Technical formed puja and Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche Bodhicitta & Tonglen - Tara Practice Advisor for the new Online Learning Program. was also present. Many friends and staff Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche Seminar - December 30 - January 1, 2012 He was a key figure in getting the program members of RYI came to say a final goodbye Discovering the Buddha Within Gradual Training Program - Tara Terma started, helping to make it possible for people to him. December 27 - January 1, 2012 Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche - January 1 - 5, 2012 to study Buddhism with us from their home On October 15, 2011 at 3:00 pm Horst’s Seminar - Chökyi Nyima Rinpo- countries. Horst studied geology in Munich urn was buried at the cemetery in Nieder- che January 5 - 8, 2012 and received his Diploma in Forest Science stotzingen, his home town. Dolpo Tulku had at the Freising Institute, but he was first and by chance just arrived in Munich and he met foremost a computer and network specialist. with Horst’s parents. He was present with At a time when hardly anyone knew what the Horst at his last moments and felt he could “Internet” was, Horst was teaching about it to perhaps help Horst’s parents deal with their Dharma centers in Germany. loss. At RYI, we’ve established an online On a trip to Kathmandu in the early 90’s he scholarship in Horst’s name, to give a study met Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, who later be- opportunity to someone who might otherwi- came his main teacher. Horst then went to se not have the chance. Horst always belie- study at the Karmapa International Buddhist ved people should have access to dharma Institute in Delhi. During his studies there he teachings regardless of their finances, so we Russia (rangjungyeshe.ru) UK (gomde.org.uk) took care of their computer and networking have chosen this way to honor him and thank Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche has approved the Woodland Work retreat systems. He also taught the 17th Karmapa him for his contributions to RYI. final design of Thubten Ling Gompa in - October 25 – 30, 2011 how to use the computer, and played com- Farewell, dear Horst-we’ll miss you. scow. Construction will now begin on the Winter Seminar based on recorded teachings foundations and basement. from Chökyi Nyima’s winter seminar in Nepal. December 28 - January 2, 2012

USA (gomdeusa.org) Nepal (shedrub.org) Personal Practice Retreats If you would like to get involved with the new October 10, 2011 - May 31, 2012 1,000 Buddha Temple in Lumbini, contributing your time, skills, energy or financial support, connect with us at www.shedrub.org

6 7 From Our Translators

A paperback version of Douglas Duckworth’s translation of Distinguishing the Views and Philosophies is coming out in January from SUNY Press. This text is a “meaning com- mentary” on Mipham Rinpoche’s Beacon of Certainty. Also, Douglas’s book entitled Jamgön Mipam: His Life and Teachings is being released by Shambhala Publications in December of this year.

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P.O. Box 21277 - Kathmandu - Nepal Tel: +977 1 491 5975 Fax: +977 1 491 5865 www.ryi.org - [email protected]

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