Drikung Abbot Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche Enthroned As Khenchen
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H.H. the Sakya Trizin's Drikung Abbot U.S. Seat Established Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche In Upstate New York Enthroned as Khenchen Students of His Holiness the Sakya China. The establishment of His Holi- Trizin throughout North America are ness' new temple here in the U.S. rejoicing in the establishment of a will surely be of similar benefit to BY VICTORIA HUCKENPAHLER Center in Frederick, Maryland, which marks the culmination of his nearly new temple in Upstate New York as the spreading of the Sakya teachings Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen, Rinpoche had founded (originally in two decades of service in this coun- a seat for His Holiness the Sakya in this hemisphere and throughout teacher and author, whose glowing Washington, DC) in 1982. The festiv- try and abroad. He then recounted Trizin in the United States. The new the Western world. smile and down-to-earth presence ities included a Lama Chopa (Guru the Dharma activities he has per- temple, Tsechen Kunchab Ling, is In an open letter to his students have endeared him to students world- Puja and Tsok Offering), remarks by formed since the turn of the year, located in Orange County in the Vil- and friends of the Buddhist Dharma, wide, was elevated earlier this year Khenchen Rinpoche, and a saluta- beginning in India where, besides lage of Walden. It will be a focal H.H. the Sakya Trizin wrote: "These to the status of Khenchen (Great tion by the Center's President. being enthroned Khenchen, he taught point for His Holiness the Sakya Tri- days, interest in Lord Buddha's Scholar) by HH Chetsang Rinpoche, While the traditional dresil the seminal Drikung work, Gong zin's and other Sakya teachers' activ- Dharma is increasing among people head of the Drikung Kagyu. He is the (sweetened rice) and Tibetan tea Chik. This historic teaching cycle ities in the U.S., as well as a major in both the Eastern and Western only member of that lineage to bear were served, Rinpoche thanked the formed part of the great Snake teaching center for ordained and lay Hemispheres, and in North America the title. audience, some of whom had come Year teachings, held only once every students of Tibetan Buddhism. in particular. As a result, Dharma On 14 May, the event was cel- from as far as Seattle, for joining him twelve years. This was followed by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin is centers in the Sakya tradition have ebrated at the Tibetan Meditation in celebrating the occasion which appearances in Taiwan, Los Angeles, the supreme head and forty-second been established in a number of Big Sur,' and Tucson, among others. throne holder of the Sakya tradition cities. In addition to these, Lama Kal- "The time was well spent," Rinpoche of Tibetan Buddhism, which is one sang Gyaltsen has recently accepted remarked. "I felt privileged, despite of Tibetan Buddhism's four major the great responsibility to establish a traditions. His Holiness is the direct Change fatigue, the time changes, and the Ithaca, PO Snow temple in the eastern United States descendant of Khon Konchog fact of having to change beds every as my seat in the U.S. I wholeheart- Box week." And some, he noted with typi- Gyalpo, the great master who edly rejoice in this." Lion NY Service 6483 calhumor, "were harder than others!" founded the Sakya Monastery in "As an auspicious beginning, I 14851 Publications He then cautioned that though we Tibet in 1073. From there, the teach- have chosen to name this temple sometimes approach the Dharma as ings of the Sakya tradition spread Tsechen Kunchab Ling, Temple of Requested throughout Tibet, Mongolia, and (Continued on page 10) (Continued on page 18) ANSWERS Discussions with Western Buddhists by the Dalai Lama others, the power of holy places, and ed. by Jose Ignacio Cabezon retreats. 102 pp., September. #AN $12.95 Jose Ignacio Cabezon holds the Dalai Lama XIV Chair in Tibetan Bud- In India, at the place where the dhism and Cultural Studies in the Buddha attained enlightenment, it Religious Studies Department at the became a well-established tradition University of California, Santa Bar- for the Dalai Lama to spend several bara and is the author of A Dose of days each year giving teachings to Emptiness. Buddhists from all over the world. The following is an excerpt Following his teachings, he held from the "Editor's Introduction" to informal group discussions with Answers. Western students of Buddhism. In these lively exchanges, the Dalai Of all the sites sacred to Bud- Lama exhibits clear and penetrating dhists, Bodhgaya is perhaps the most ITHACA, important. Little more than a village PERMIT insight into issues that are most U.S. PRSRT important to Western students. Some on the outskirts of Gaya, one of the "THIS IS A GREAT BOOK! of the topics discussed are: psy- larger cities in the state of Bihar PAID POSTAGE (North India), it has nonetheless The richness of this book chology, Christianity, being a prac- NY NO. STD ticing Buddhist in the West, spiritual attracted Buddhist pilgrims for cen- lies in its simple 14851 turies. Over the past several years, it 746 teachers, reincarnation, emptiness, spontaneity and breadth has become a well established tradi- tantra, protector deities, liberation, of subject matter." meditation, compassion, disciplining (Continued on page 12) —The Tibet Journal worldwide, teaching and leading meditation retreats. She is the author of Open Heart, Clear Mind and Bud- dhism for Beginners. The following is an excerpt from the chapter of Working with Anger entitled "Mind, Emotions and Anger." One summer His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to a Los Angeles audience that included a group of inner city youth in fatigues—their camp uniforms—together with their counselors. After his talk, one of the youths asked His Holiness, "People get right in my face and provoke me. How can I not fight back?" She was challenging him, but quite sincere in her request. His Holiness looked her in the by Thubten Chodron eye and said, "Violence is old-fash- 128 pp., October. #WOAN $12.95 ioned. Anger doesn't get you any- where. If you can calm your mind on his face. "Phew," he said, "You although they have faced circum- There is nothing particularly "Bud- Anger plagues all of us on a and be patient, you will be a wonder- must be able to hear my heart beat- stances much worse than a great dhist" about these methods. In fact, personal, national, and international ful example to those around you." ing from where you're sitting! I've many of us have faced—including many of the Buddha's teachings are seen the Dalai Lama on TV and in level. Yet, we see people, such as the The audience clapped, but the girl exile, imprisonment, torture, and the common sense, not religious doc- Dalai Lama, who have faced circum- remained standing, looking back at the magazines and thought he was loss of many loved ones—they do trine, and common sense is not stances far worse than many of us him. She wasn't yet satisfied. pretty cool, but I just can't describe not burn with rage or seek revenge. the property of any religion. Rather, have faced—including exile, perse- The Dalai Lama went on to what it feels like to have met him!" This book is largely a collection of these methods show us reasonable cution, and the loss of many loved describe how so many great peo- and he touched his heart. Buddhist methods for subduing and and beneficial ways to live. No matter ones—but who do not burn with rage ple—Martin Luther King, Mahatma A Tibetan monk who had escaped preventing anger that have worked what our religion, looking at our or seek revenge. How do they do it? from Communist-occupied Tibet just for the Dalai Lama, the monk above, minds and learning to work with our a few years earlier told me his story. Working with Anger presents a and many others. anger are helpful. ■ * His Holiness looked His family was a wealthy, prominent variety of Buddhist methods for sub- one in the area of Tibet where he duing and preventing anger, not by *. her in the eye and said, grew up. After the Communist occu- changing what is happening, but by * "Violence is old-fash- pation of Tibet in 1950 and the sub- framing it differently. No matter what WORKING WITH ANGER * ioned. Anger doesn't sequent abortive uprising in 1959, his our religion, learning to work with Table of Contents * get you anywhere. If family's house was confiscated and our anger is effective for everyone made into a jail. Because his family Preface 7 seeking personal happiness as well * you can calm your were landowners and because he 1. Mind, Emotion, and Anger 13 as world peace. * mind and be patient, was a monk, he was arrested by the 2. The Disadvantages of Anger 21 "Working with Anger is a won- * you will be a wonderful Chinese Communists. Then, he was 3. Patience: The Alternative 27 derful, wise, and life-changing book. I example to those imprisoned in a jail that had once 4. Is Anger Ever Useful? 33 Written in Ven. Thubten Chodron's been his home. He and the other 5. Recognizing Our Anger and Its Causes 43 characteristic accessible style, gen- * around you." inmates were allowed to go to the 6. Training in Patience 53 erously laced with examples drawn toilet outdoors twice a day, but oth- 7. Coping with Criticism 63 from daily life, the book is filled with Gandhi, and Jesus, for example— erwise they had to stay in the house, 8.