THE MIRROR

Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community March 2001/AprH 2001 • Issue No. 56

FEBRUARY 2001 DECEMBER-JANUARY,2000-2001

THE MANY FRUITS OF ONE TASTE, CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU MEETING THE ELEMENTS : makes an TASHIGAR CHRISTMAS RETREAT

Historic Visit to Chile by Jacqueline Gens

rgentina seems a com­ The land itself is a spectacular bio- pelling country filled region of wild life; exotic plants Awith magical beauty and and startlingly vivid elements gigantic contradictions. Its natural where wind is wind, hail and light­ treasures have been extolled as ening can flash in a heartbeat. Hand among the world's finest - places carved into a rock is the word like Terra del Fuego, Patagonia. Zergna made by Rinpoche. A story Then there are the haunting cultural was told one day, as we passed the images - Evita, the legacy of the los rock on our way up the hill, that n historie visit was made to our country dur­ On the 3rd, 4th and 5th of February, the retreat took Disaparades, from the all too recent Rinpoche while carving it sat on an ing the first week of February by our place in the Center of Exercises of the Jesuit Order of military juntas of 1977-1983, tango, anthill. When people pointed this beloved Master, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. the Catholic Church on the edge of Santiago. Eighty the world monetary market in the out to him, he said that was all right A because they would someday be his It was the first time that a large and lucky group of people - including some visitors from New Zealand, international news. Once last year, I students. This is a place, no doubt, Chileans could benefit from the extraordinary North America, Austria, Argentina, Italy and Germany - read in the New York Times that empowered for realization and one Dzogchen teachings given by the most outstanding attended the teachings in a large hall in the mfddle-of the Argentina has the world's highest concentration of psychologists per in which the elements seem to man­ teacher of Dzogchen of modem times. nature and in an atmosphere of respect and admiration. capita. But walking down the ifest so dramatically. It is also a The point of contact for the Teacher and the The retreat was complemented with the practice of street, it seems most everyone slightly dangerous environment Yantra Yoga taught by Fabio Andrico where we focused Chileans, who had waited for years for his presence in looks like a movie star. With such with spiders, poisonous snakes, our country, was the capital, Santiago. Luckily, Santiago on the Nine Purification Breathings and The Eight beauty what need is there for thera­ iguanas and abundant insect life. was less congested than normal due to vacation time. Movements. py. For me, one of the great cultural Terrified of snakes, I must say, I The first public activity was on January 31st; Rin- Recently we received an invitation from Tashigar to revelations in visiting Argentina for had unusually greater presence of poche gave a talk entitled "Introduction to the celebrate Losar. This brought much joy to the Chilean the first time, was the experience of mind than usual in regard to where I put my feet and hands - just as the Dzogchen", and spoke to a very respectful group of two group managing the birth of the Dzogchen Community summer in winter, not just weather- Tashigar retreat guidelines recom­ hundred people- in Chile! wise but seasonally. For until then, it never occurred to me that half the mended. During the actual retreat, I world lives in a different seasonal shared a house with an Argentine reality south of the equator. One man and his Spanish wife, Anita, thinks of the seasons as indelible down the road from Tashigar. A CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU - INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM 2001-2002 and fixed but apparently that is not native from Cordoba, this man, the case. Ruben, was particularly concerned that Tashigar did not have an anti- SMS I Level Exam All of these somewhat superficial 2001 observations melted quickly away June 9th-13th once in the tangible embrace of our continued on page 3 SMS Level II Training MARGARITA ISLAND Tashigar Community with their June 15th-21st Easter Retreat genuine hospitality and endless Kunsangar Retreat March 30th-April 3rd overtures of friendliness with much CONTENTS Santi Maha Sangha kissing at every opportunity - this I June 22nd-23rd USA, WEST COAST noticed, a universal custom in TEACHING: Awarenessas SMS O Level Exam April 27th Argentina. So ubiquitous is this I Practice in Daily Life June 24th-28th Leave for San Francisco custom, it amused me, when even I Chögyal Namkhai Norbu SMS III Level Training May 1st at airline counters, all business stopped as girls returning from a Public Talk: Introduction to Dzogchen »fl Santi Maha Sangha ITALY, MERIGAR lunch break went around to every­ May 2nd-6th I and Karma Yoga one down the line behind the West Coast Retreat July 6th-10th Merigar Retreat counter for kisses and more kisses. I Chögyal Namkhai Norbu May 8th July 17th-August6th Argentina seems the ultimate Padma Leave for Seattle Personal retreat of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu energy in terms of national styles. RH Respecting Others May 9th August 10th-19th Merigar Retreat Tashigar is nestled in the hills out­ I Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Public talk: Introduction to Dzogchen, Seattle side Tanti, a small town which Santi Maha Sangha May 10th some of us jokingly referred to as August 21 st-23rd im,-m Milarepa, Leave for Portland the town time forgot. Everything SMS Base Level Exam I The Great Magician May 13th-16th about this place reminded me of my August 24th-28th I Julia Lawless and Judy Allen H.H. the Dalai Lama's teaching, Portland rural California childhood in the May 18th-20th SMS I Level Training 1950's with its dusty roads and Book Reviews Portland Retreat September 7th-17th small rancheros surrounding its Briga Vacation in Sardegna outskirts, early model Big Ameri­ RUSSIA, KUNSANGAR Santi Maha Sangha can made cars, with scattered Hpgj Tormas at Tashigar SANTI MAHA SANCHA September 23rd-25th horse, cattle and crowing roosters I RitaBizzotto May 27th-29th SMS II level Exam wandering about without bound­ SMS Base Level Exam September 26th- 30th aries or from the vantage of BrJV Practice Calendar May 30th-June 5th SMS lu Level Training Tashigar itself higher up - the American South West region of the SMS I Level Training October 7th I International Contacts June6th-8th Leave for Margarita Island Four Comers with vast unpopulat­ ed vistas. Artistically, this area too seemed rich in stories, as yet feti] International unwritten, magnificent paintings of I Community News continued on page 6 sky - for here on the higher ground SEE CONTACTS IN COMMUNITY NEWS page I3 of Tashigar, all is space. HMB Reflections Chögyal Namkhai Norbu CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU NEW YEAR'S DAY TEACHING n a lifetime, most important is how we do daily practice, so the most important thing I can do more function. If you do not keep the mantra secret, Iis to inform you how to do daily practices. then the mantra has no function for YOU, it doesn't Even if we have learned different methods of practice, mean the mantra loses function in general. So it's we can't apply everything daily. Since this is the case, very important to keep secret. Of course, it is not it's very important that we integrate practice into our necessary to keep secret among practitioners. lives. Integrating practice into daily life doesn't mean Sometimes when we use mantra of prayer or some­ we dedicate one hour or a few hours of practice into a thing publicly in fronto f people who are not practi­ day. That is good, but still we have many hours. We tioners, then it becomes a kind of exhibition. The know that in one day we have twenty-four hours, so to first thing is that it is not good for our samaya, and the integrate means we integrate in the practice for twen­ second thing is that the mantra can lose its function. ty-four hours. If we don't understand that principle The third reasoni s that people will consider that you then we can't have realization. are a strange person. If you say something, for exam­ Because we are living with dualistic vision and we are ple, in a restaurant, and you think, "I am eating. I always distracted, we make many kinds of actions should do a Ganapuja", and you say "Ram Yam and produce negative karma. Even if we do four or Kam, Om Ah Hum", etc., at your table and people five hours of practice a day, it can't compare to how look at you and think you are abnormal. If you are a distracted we are and how many negative actions we practitioner you must not show anything outside. make. Already we have so much negative karma; to Showing too much outside means there is nothing purify is not so easy. Therefore it's most important inside. It is not necessary that we show anything, but that we know how to integrate practice into daily life. we keep it in ourselves and do practice. We integrate. First of all, when you are thinking of what practice Also it is very important in daily life to try and be means, you need to have a precise idea. Many people aware and not distracted. I already told you that that consider practice chanting mantras or sitting; doing is not instant presence; being in presence means we some rituals, etc. This is practice, but not the main have a kind of attention. Instant presence has no practice. The main practice is that, firsto f all, we dis­ attention, it is beyond attention; but if you are pre­ cover our instant presence and then we integrate in sent with attention in general then it is very easy to that state in any moment. It is not so easy for us to integrate in instant presence. You should learn this in always be in instant presence, but when we have the daily life. Sometimes, for example, you are living possibility we try. We try to be aware and not dis­ alone in your a house and there is no one and there tracted and try to be aware of our life and circum­ is nothing very much to do and you observe what stance. you are thinking, for example you think, "Oh, I want So these are the most important practices; if we are to go in the kitchen and take a bottle of beer or wine, aware and we know how the circumstance is, we have and sit in the sunshine and I drink". That is a way to less problems. Our practices become more concrete. relax. But then you are not doing this in a distracted To be aware means we also know what our possibili­ AWARENESS way; you notice you are thinking to go in the ties are. Some people have a very nice idea and they kitchen, then you take a kind of commitment, "I say, "Oh I want to dedicate all my life to practice". don't want to be distracted until I arrive in the sun­ This is a good idea, but not so easy, particularly for AS PRACTICE IN DAILY LIFE shine with a beer". Then you notice, now I am going people who have the idea to escape from our society in the kitchen and then you get up and you notice, I or ordinary condition. That means they are not learn­ am walking and now I am looking where the beer is ing or training how to integrate life into practice. TASHIGAR, ARGENTINA, JANUARY 1ST 2001 and where the glass is, now I am taking the beer, They are always thinking, "This situation is samsara, now I'm returning, and you arrive there in the sun­ very heavy, I want to escape." But that is not the solu­ shine, now I am sitting, now I drink, now I'm enjoy­ tion, you can escape from this situation but when you ing, so you always have presence. You can learn this, arrive somewhere else you create the same situation. it is not so difficult at all. Of course if people haven't Maybe you have the idea, " I don't want to create this very important in the Dzogchen teaching. Our life is work and feel tired, so what do we do? We go to learned this it can be difficult, but everything, once situation anymore. I want only to be a practitioner on movement, not peaceful, but we know that move­ bed. And tomorrow what do we do? The same. We you have learned, becomes very easy. a mountain, living in a cave, etc." First of all, that is ment is part of our energy. We do not think, "I am do the same as we did today, and the day after For example, when you started to drive a car, was it not so easy in our modem society because you have a here and there is movement, and movement creates tomorrow, the same, and in that way we go ahead easy or not? It was not easy at all! But once we leam physical body and you are dependent on food and problems for me"; we do not fall into a dualistic and that is called samsara. Then we go ahead and how, we develop presence for driving a car and in your situation, and even if there are some possibilities view and movement does not create problems. think, "Oh, here comes the weekend!", and we wait the end, we can leam to be present while driving. We and you think, "Now I have peace", it's not true. If for the weekend. When the weekend arrives we are For example, when we fly in an airplane, sometimes drive the car, we talk with friends, we look to the you do not find peace inside, you can't find peace out­ happy, but in the real sense it means we have we feel the airplane is making a lot of noise. If you right and left side, but we are always present and we side. Maybe you have no problems where you are, but already spent seven days in our life, seven days are have that idea, "There is noise and I am disturbed", drive the car on the road. If we are distracted, then you arrive in a cave on a mountain, and maybe you already finished; seven days less in our life. This is you always feel more disturbed. But if you integrate we have an accident. But this presence is only for have a problem there. not really a happy circumstance, but we are happy you don't feel disturbed at all. You see, for example, because we think we have more free time and we driving a car; there are many things in our life to the airplane sounds like Ah. Sometimes the airplane I remember once when I was thirteen years old, I should do something, we think, "Oh now I do prac­ learn, so we can leam. This is a very important prac­ is singing Hum. When you are inside you are in the received a very important teaching from one of my tice, I have the idea to do some practice or training, tice. To do this practice you don't need a specific sound of Hum and Ah; you don't always need to say Dzogchen teachers. When I finished this teaching I etc.", and we think the weekend is free, but next place, time or condition. If you go in a shop, you Ah and Hum, the airplane helps you. So you are in went to do a retreat of Nzöndzog Gyalpo of Dzogchen weekend is also not free, for example, there is the think, " I am going in a shop, now I open the door, I that state in an integrated way instead of creating Longde, and I was in a very isolated retreat place; a birthday of parents, of friends, someone is getting have arrived inside, someone is coming, I am talking problems; you really have benefit. That is an example very nice place in the forest under a rock. It was real­ married, or there are important things to do, people with that person"; you don't need to be distracted and of how we can integrate everything into our lives. For ly a very nice house that belonged to one of my rela­ to meet or we must go somewhere. Most of the there is always the possibility of having presence. tions, and it is a very sacred place. They wanted me to that reason we don't need to change anything, we time, the weekend is also occupied, so our idea of In a lifetime if you are not distracted and have live there and do service for me. 'Doing service' did­ don't need to change our dress, our attitude, our way doing practice is very difficult. When we finish the presence, you won't have any problems. You see, n't mean someone lived there and always cooked and of being; how it is, we remain that way and we accept weekend what do we do? The same. We repeat when we do many things in daily life we make many did service everyday; someone came and brought how life is. another weekend, we are waiting for the weekend. mistakes. We have so many problems, particularly food every three days or so. So I lived there, and on Some people, for example, have a business or a Then we wait for another weekend and have passed when we are charged, and we create more problems. the first day I felt fantastic and it was really very silent shop, they spend many years working to earn fourteen days of our life, and in that way we are That means we are totally distracted or charged; and very nice, but when night time started I felt afraid. money and then they feel more interested in practice going on for months, years and then we finish our otherwise if we are present there is no This house was under rock and on top of the rock ten and teaching. They don't feel to do that work any­ life. It is not sufficient to only have a good idea, but reason why we would be charged that way. When we or fifteen wolves gathered and howled and made more. The work becomes negative or an obstacle it is important that we deal concretely with practice are cutting meat or vegetables to prepare food, noise. When I was small I already felt afraid of this for their practice. That is not true. You must live in in a life time. instead of cutting food we cut our finger. That is an sound; and this time I also felt a little afraid and did­ society. You have done this work until now and are aspect of distraction and that is created by our n't feel really peaceful. The next day when I did prac­ So, how do we start to do practice? When we wake earning money; you are living. Of course if you tensions. So, that is why it is very important we leam tice there was not as much noise as at night, but then up we immediately remember Guruyoga. We find a better way to earn money, you can change. presence and in our lifetime we deal with this. hundreds of monkeys arrived. When I did practice remember the white A and thigle. It is also possible Otherwise, that IS your condition and that, is not silently the monkeys came in the window and tried to if we sleep alone we can also sound Ah. If we sound negative at all. So you can integrate your job and This is presence and practice. We can't say, open the window. The whole time I couldn't find Ah we can have more of that presence of visualiza­ work in the practice. You think, "How can I inte­ "I can't do practice". When we finish the retreat, peace. In the day and night time, there were always tion. If we sleep with our friend, husband, wife, etc., grate working in a shop?', but it can be any kind of some people write letters and email to me and say, some problems and, of course, then I didn't know then we can't make sound, because when you wake work which we can integrate. Even if we have no "I was very happy with this retreat, I learned some very much about integrating. I always felt distracted up your friend might still be asleep and you must possibility to chant or work with mantras, we can practice, etc., but now I can't do any practice. There is with this practice.Later I met my teacher Changchub respect your friend. You can't sing, but it's also always work with awareness. We can always be pre­ no possibility, no time, etc." So, I am not saying you Dorje and the Dzogchen teaching, and then I under­ enough when you exhale and are in the presence of sent instead of distracted; that is the practice of inte­ should always do practice by sitting and chanting and stood the solution is not escape but integration. Ah. In this presence you relax and try to be in gration. If we have a business or work in a shop, if doing visualizations. How can you say, "I instant presence, even if you are only in that state for can't do practice of being aware" ? You can be aware When we are disturbed it is mainly related to our we use awareness and are not distracted, then our a few seconds. This is Guruyoga. After that you go in any moment, it is better for you. If you don't want tensions. For example, if I am sitting here trying to do work goes better. When you have tensions you to the toilet, the bathroom, you wash and have con­ to do this practice, or you don't consider that it is a practice and someone comes from outside and makes notice them and don't give too much impor­ tact with the water element, and then you can use practice, that is another question. But if you consider noise, then I feel, "Oh, there is someone here making tance to them; then also your work doesn't the mantra of purification: "Eho Shudde Shudde" this is practice, then you can do it in any moment, any noise and I am here peacefully doing practice and that become very heavy. That's an and if you do purification of the water element in a circumstance. When you are walking, sitting or work­ person is not paying respect to me and my practice example; there is always the possibility to inte­ very short way you do "Om Bamho Shudde ing; in any moment when you try to be aware, this is and now I feel disturbed". If I feel that, that is my ten­ grate. Shodanaye Svaha". If you chant this mantra and use practice. Being aware is something like a key, also to sion. If I have this tension today, tomorrow I feel So we must know how our condition in life is, first water or have contact with water, then it becomes discovering your tensions, your attachments and all more than yesterday and I think, "Still this person is of all. For example, we live in society and in society purification. So you don't need preparation with a these problems. Of course, if you have tensions and there making noise". Day after day tensions develop. everyone does something. If we don't, we can't earn ceremony or ritual. Naturally, when you have con­ all these kinds of problems, then you know what the Then, in the end, I decide to escape from this place. money and live. We know we can integrate any kind tact with elements you always use which element root of the problem is and you liberate. So you see, where the root of the problem is and to of practice in that job. For example, what do we do corresponds with that mantra. When you go outside what the tensions are related.I f we are integrating and early in the morning? We wake up and immediately and there is wind, air element, you go "Om Yamho we are really in instant presence and integrated; if we think of breakfast, we go in the shop, in the school, Shudde Shodanaye Svaha". With the heat of sun­ are on a mountain in a cave in silence or we are in a or work in the office, etc. Look at what we do, we shine or with fire, etc., you use Om Ramho Shudde railway station, for example, there is not much differ­ work continuously, at mid day we eat, maybe there Shodanaye Svaha. When you chant this mantra, of ence because noise and movement, everything, is part is a little space of time and we work again, then we course, you must also be aware that if you are with of our energy. We do not remain in a dualistic way return home and feel tired, we look at a little TV to many people, particularly if they are not practition­ and we integrate and integration means in a non dual know what the news is, even if we don't have very ers and you chant mantras, or you do something way. Our tensions disappear, this is the method of much energy to look at television, etc., everyday we among people you don't know, it is not good. You how we integrate in daily life. It is something very, must keep mantra secret. If you keep it secret it has 2 MEETING THE ELEMENTS continuedfrom page i venom kit on hand in the event of presence - my mind distracted in a A MESSAGE TO ALL GARS, GAKYILS AND snakebite. So was I. This was all the junkyard of petty resentments just more unsettling since a few weeks at that moment - an all too PRACTITIONERS OF DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY OF THE WORLD previous to the retreat, I had heard depressing recognition that after from Melissa, in great detail about twenty years of following the a viper, which had found its way teachings this is what it comes down into the main dorm space and her to - meeting one's teacher while in a capture of it. I hesitated to say any­ highly distracted state. Santi Maha Sangha thing lest people think I was being For five days, Rinpoche taught on a problematical and 'typically' an terma received from his master, American but given the amount of Changchub Dorje, in a dream children around, it seemed prudent called "Opening the Gate of Ati and not to wait until someone one day is Yoga." As always his teaching actually bitten. But Ruben carefully proved to be clear, essential and instructed me to keep the doors to powerful. We also did collective Karma Yoga the little casa closed, which I did practice of the Purification of Six diligently, lest one of these snakes Lokas during the retreat which (by now looming large in my Rinpoche gave an extended com­ from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu imagination) make its way into our mentary on. As with every retreat, house. On the other hand, not being there were many opportunities to particularly afraid of spiders, they learn and refresh the different ccording to the Santi Maha Sangha Base examination and for Santi Maha Sangha the Gakyil can were ever-present and interesting to collected practices, the Vajra Dance Sangha Base examination, the second level and so on. present his or her situation of con­ watch. Little baby scorpions scut­ and Yantra Yoga. As everyone for people who are Registering how many hours people duct with the list of all the good tled briskly across our kitchen floor already knows, one can not hear A interested and participate in Santi dedicate for Karma Yoga is not to things they have contributed to the each morning with their little enough of Rinpoche teaching over Maha Sangha, first of all they must realize limited hours in order to take Dzogchen Community. When we pinchers held open as in an and over again these essential be interested in the Dzogchen Com­ the examination of Santi Maha have this kind of presentation from embrace as they rushed toward one. teachings on the meaning of Guru Sangha Base; the registr-ation of Thinking of the association Yoga. Hearing with new ears and a munity. The training of Santi Maha the local Gakyils, we can finally between Padmasambhava and fresh mind, one can only try and Sangha is not only something how many times and how many understand how the conduct of that scorpions, I was slightly more keep alive the heightened retreat learned in an intellectual way, but hours someone dedicated to Karma person is, and his or her first of the accommodating to their presence experience upon returning to one's this knowledge should be totally Yoga is relative, it is not the main Three Main Subjects for the than say the hairy tarantulas and everyday patterns and hectic sched­ integrated into one's condition. If point. The registration of the examination can be seriously brown recluse creeping along the ule. Meeting one's teacher again is someone is not interested in the number of hours dedicated to applied. roof rafters outside and simply always like drawing from the deep Dzogchen Community, there is no Karma Yoga is in order to know who We also know there are many swept them gently out the door well of refreshment. As they say, way they can be totally integrated. and how they have dedicated Karma people living in isolated places and each morning. with a great master, the well never The Dzogchen Community is like a Yoga to the Dzogchen Community in those places there is no Gakyil. runs dry and all may take what they Summer being at its height, each boat; we are traveling by boat in and if we didn't register the Karma For whoever has this kind of night there were flashes of what we need. So it is, with our dear order to arrive beyond a very big Yoga we couldn't know that. The situation, if they have some call here, 'June Bugs', whose phos­ Rinpoche, who continuously gives river and until we arrive beyond the registration of Karma Yoga is very possibility, they should try to con­ phorescent lights danced to sounds over and over to us whether he is very big river we should be useful in general for the Dzogchen nect to a Gakyil which is close to of night creatures and sometimes a feeling well or not. interested in that boat. Therefore, Community to know who is background of lightening flashes. One of the highlights associated their place. Otherwise, they try to seriously involved, and particularly it The night sky, too, was incandes­ with this retreat was the first ever we can understand how important make contact with a Gar to receive cent with marvelous constellations live Internet audio broadcast by the Dzogchen Community is for the is very important to know how it is more information about the Santi I had never before observed first Rinpoche. Because this live audio trainee. related to those people who partici­ Maha Sangha examination, training broadcast was conducted via tele­ pate in the Santi Maha Sangha Exam­ hand from south of the Equator. If people are interested in any kind and so on. For people who are in this Fruit trees heaved with abundant phone, some people thought it was inations. of Karma Yoga activity related to kind of situation, we will try to help fruits -plums, peaches, figs from another teleconference such as the the Dzogchen Community it means Some people feel that it is enough somehow and directly check their which every morning for breakfast one last year from Namgyalgar, that we ask people to do their best possibilities. there were a variety of homemade unaware that it was broadcasted those people are interested in the jams - to go with toasted bread. around the world on the Internet. Dzogchen Community. For for dedicating Karma Yoga, that it is Please do not come to the examina­ Several species of birds sounded Behind the scenes for several example, if someone is a member of not necessary to do a registration of tion of Santi Maha Sangha without continuously - especially one bird months, a number of people a family then that person is it. I think it is only enough for a few having the preparations of Three who over and over sounded three labored to coordinate this effort interested in everything related to honest people, but not for most Main Subjects for the Santi Malia internationally— Loek Jehee, Fabio distinct syllables - a real Vajra that family. In the same way, if there people. If you ask people during the Sanglia examinations. Santi Maha Andrico, Ed Goldberg, Diane Siev- cuckoo. A grape arbor loaded with is something to do for the Dzogchen examination no one will say, "I am Sangha training is a very important ers, Sergio Olivia, and myself. And clusters of still unripened grapes Community, one who is interested not interested in the Dzogchen thing in our Dzogchen Community lent a charming rustic quality to the everything went smoothly! Initial­ in the Dzogchen Community is Community" or "I didn't dedicate and therefore it is very important little casitas, which I was told, was ly, it seemed Rinpoche was going always ready to participate. Karma Yoga". They will say, that we participate seriously, not built by an elderly couple - each to give a public talk but then he The main subject of the examina­ "I am interested in the Dzogchen only running to get to the higher married to others, as their romantic launched energetically into the hideaway. I was intrigued one day teachings on the three statements of tion for the Santi Maha Sangha Base Community", and "I did my best for levels. If you don't participate by Glen Eddy's story (my neighbor Garab Dorje with the pointing out is not only the ten questions; they dedicating Karma Yoga". These are seriously, even if you arrive at a in this compound), of rescuing an transmission. He seemed so very are only one of the Three Main Sub­ the common replies we could higher level you won't have any old iguana of about four feet long happy to give this teaching - the jects. As we know very well, we receive. In general, these words benefit. If you are going calmly first ever cyberspace transmission. whom we affectionately called have Three Gates and these Gates become a kind of ritual thing, not ahead and seriously, even if you At the conclusion, as Ricky moved "Pepe" from the intent Tashigar are body, voice and mind; so we something serious. We don't really arrive at the first level, you can to disconnect the phone, Rinpoche dogs and the heart-breaking story need any ritualized words; we need really get great benefit and at the brushed him aside to continue with also have Three Main Subjects of of Pepe's cries - so human sounding the examination related with these something concrete. Therefore we same time you are getting qualified - as the dogs were tormenting him. a few words of well wishes for all Three Gates. need a registration book of Karma to be a Dzogchenpa. After telling me that iguana feed on of us around the world in the New Yoga in order to see who has With many greetings to all our fallen fruit at twilight, I waited and Year. Thus bringing us back to the Relative to the body, we should con­ seriously dedicated to Karma Yoga. Dzogchen practitioners, watched but never got a glimpse of cybercast itself and the amazing tribute physically to any kind of opportunity to connect altogether old "Pepe" at dusk among the fruit Karma Yoga activities for the Of course, the intention is not that in the moment. orchard or any other iguana. Dzogchen Community. One who Karma Yoga is only work like Chögyal Namkhai Norbu cleaning the bush, etc. There are After a dream on the night before Several days later, after the Internet participates in Karma Yoga for the my departure for Tashigar, I was broadcast and during my three day Dzogchen Community indicates or many forms of Karma Yoga. For not surprised when my trip began delirium with grippe, I tried to prac­ shows clearly one's interest in the example, when guests of Dzogchen with a series of major mishaps and tice continuous presence with OM Dzogchen Community in a concrete Community arrive and someone minor annoyances - lost luggage AH HUM using this opportunity way. According to the voice, one voluntarily goes to take these guests for five days, a flu with a delirium for purification practice. Being able and accompany them when and lasting three days, endless bought should learn the book of Santi Maha Santi Maha Sangha Supervisors to recognize just how difficult it is where it is necessary at the request and borrowed flashlights which did Sangha Base, and during the Adriano Clemente to maintain one's presence in the of Dzogchen Community not work long enough down the examination one should reply cor­ [email protected] midst of sickness was extremely responsibles, that is collaboration long treacherous dirt path to "my " rectly to the ten questions. Jim Valby valuable. And it was VERY with the Dzogchen Community and house - no matter how many difficult. As a dress rehearsal for According to the mind, one should Jim Valby@ compuserve.com is valid Karma Yoga. batteries I fed it, a canceled depar­ perhaps more serious situations, apply all practices which are I am using the example of the first ture flight and a missed flight this inspired to me to make some indicated in the book of Santi Maha between Cordoba and Buenos Gar of Dzogchen Community Santi Maha Sangha Coordinators long awaited changes in my daily Sangha Base. Merigar: Igor Legati Aires when cab driver got lost in priorities because, for the moment, [Merigar ], but we know very well Regarding the first Main Subject of [email protected] Cordoba, an airport robbery initiat­ I failed miserably and instead that the situation of the Gars is not Santi Maha Sangha Base training, Tsegyalgar: Jim Valby ed by a moment's lapse in my atten­ found myself locked in the same the same - we can find many differ­ tion and, last but not least - infected since the beginning of Merigar we weird nightmare over and over, in ent situations in the Gars and Jim Valby@ compuserve.com spider bites whose scabs I could started developing Karma Yoga an airless room keeping everything Gakyils of different countries - but Tashigar.RicardoSued only weeks later remove. And yet, there. Merigar is the number one or closed from the intrusion of even though, in any part of the [email protected] my "enforced vacation" as Fabio imagined snakes and bats. I was primordial Gar of the Dzogchen Namgyalgar: Elisabeth Stutchbury called it, resulted in a rich experi­ world, if someone contributes especially thankful for the kindness Community, and recently we also eUse@ dynamite .com. au ence of inner connections, mean­ voluntarily some good and useful of my neighbor and old friend. started to register the names of Kunsangar:Grisha Mokhin ingful insights and perhaps some things for the Dzogchen Communi­ Glen Eddy, who checked up on me people, how they contribute Karma [email protected] ripening of karma. It was also a ty, the Gakyil of that place shouldn't during this time and kept me sup­ Yoga activities in the Dzogchen wake up experience to meet view that participation with plied with drinking water and other Community, how many hours they Rinpoche one day in the lower necessities for the few days I was indifference. The Gakyil should have contributed, and so on. orchard near the vegetable garden sick. register all the good things con­ Many people ask me how many of Tashigar, walking alone from the tributed by that person and when dance mandala to the Gonpa, as I A true focus or distraction (depend­ hours of Karma Yoga they should ing on your view) for many people they go to do the examination of walked up the path unaware of his contribute for the Santi Maha during the retreat was Tashi Bar. It continued on page 6

THE MIRROR MARCH 200 1 ATRIL 2 001 3 Rome, November 21,2000 2001 WEST COAST RETREATS CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU RESPECTING OTHERS May 2-6,2001 DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY

nowing how to respect the talked and also given a transmission IN NORTH AMERICA value and character of each First of all, today to connect us with the prac­ 2001 CALIFORNIA RETREAT Kthing is part of our aware­ tice of Dzogchen. Those who have ness. First of all, a practitioner a practitioner received this transmission and are WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU interested in the Dzogchen teaching should know how to respect the MAY 2-6,2001 individual and, above all, other should know should read something and get practitioners, because each how to respect some notions about how to practice SCOTTISH RITE TEMPLE individual has his or her dimension. it, how to apply it. But those people 1547 LAKESIDE DRIVE,OAKLAND CA We have a great many problems who are interested can't just think the individual AFIVE DAY,NON RESIDENTIALRETREATWILLBE HELD ATTHESCOTTISH RITE with this. We are constantly forget­ that they alway have to have a TEMPLE IN OAKLANDCALIFORNIA IN MAY.CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU ting to respect the dimension of master beside them. They have to and,above all, RlNPOCHE WILL INTRODUCE THE DZOCCHENTEACHINCS AND GIVE others, particularly people who are become their own teachers, their TRANSMISSION FOR VARIOUS PRACTICES.THERE WILLALSO BE INSTRUC­ couples. other practi­ own masters. So you read a few TION FORTHE PRACTICE OF YANTRA YOGA BY FABIO ANDRICOANDTHE books, you begin to understand When both people in the couple are VAJRA DANCE WITH ANASTASIA MCGHEE.THERE WILL BE PRACTICE SES­ tioners, something about how this is young and lovely then everything SIONS LED BYOLDER STUDENTS DURINGTHE RETREAT.THE SCOTTISH RITE applied, and if you don't under­ goes wonderfully. They are blinded TEMPLE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED BY LAKE MERRITT NEAR DOWNTOWN because each stand, yes, there are other by their passion and think they are OAKLAND. IT IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE LAKE MERRITT practitioners, you can collaborate like one individual and see all STATION BAY AREA RAPIDTRANSIT THERE ARE SEVERAL PARKING individual has with them. BART ( ). aspects of things in the same way. A GARAGES AND LOTS IN THE AREA.THE OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT year later it's a little less like that, his or her IS 15 MINUTES BY CAR. and after a few more years they are COMPLETELY FREE 510/559-9753 a little disillusioned and discover dimension. CONTACT FOR RETREAT& PUBLICTALK that they don't exactly see eye to You can participate in the collective Email:[email protected] eye. At the beginning [of their will continue this civilization. If I practices with other practitioners. Website: www.dzogchencommunitywest.org relationship] they want to be seated have an evolution, a development, Many people have a limitation and I have understood something, I on the same chair when they are thinking that if they go and practice REGISTRATION FEES FOR CALIFORNIA RETREAT: can help others who come after to eating even if they break the chair! with a group, people will judge how PREPAID BY APRIL 3: understand. Thus, even if it doesn't After two or three years they spiritual they are. In modem society FULL RETREAT:$245.00 multiply instantly, after centuries a definitely want two different chairs, you may not want to be identified as PARTIAL: $60.00 PER DAY real development can come about. and after a few more years they somebody who follows religion or AFTER APRIL 3: So evolution is truly possible. want two different beds. After a is involved with a spiritual teaching. FULL RETREAT $275.00 while one house isn't big enough This means that in practice you are PARTIAL $65.00 PER DAY SOCIETY and they want two. limiting yourself. Why should we 18 YEARS OLD AND UNDER-FREE After all this time, all they have limit ourselves? Better we should 19TO 24 YEARS OLD-HALF PRICE When I arrived in Italy for the first really discovered is that they are always be completely free. If we DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP time I had a little suitcase. I had no want to practice with a group of two individuals, each with their BASIC 20% OFF RETREAT PRICE notion of teaching Dzogchen here people, if we want to follow own dimension. If, from the begin­ SUSTAINING 40% OFF RETREAT PRICE or anything of the kind. But after­ religion, why not? Why should we ning, they had acknowledged that REGISTRATION FORM:SEE WEB SITE OR SEND US YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS TO wards, having contact with people, be slaves of the ideology of modem they were two individuals with their RECEIVE THE UPCOMING BROCHURE. talking to them, communicating society? But if you like it, you can own dimensions, their own ways of OTHER RETREATS AND PUBLICTALKS with them, gradually something apply the whole modem outlook. seeing and being but wanted to ON TH E WEST COAST:-CALI FOR NIA developed and grew. collaborate and be together, then PUBLICTALK WITH Today we have something called they would have respected each WORKING WITH CIRCUMSTANCES CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE the Dzogchen Community in all other - especially if they are people MAY 1,2001 Tu ESDAY 7:30PM parts of the world and great num­ who are following a spiritual path I'm not a person who was bom in AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DZOGCHEN TEACHINGS WITH bers of people who have actually and have some sense of these this modem society. When I was CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE values. In this way if they live long understood something. Moreover, I bom in my country, there was no NORTHBRAE COMMUNITY CHURCH,941 THE ALAMEDA, enough to become old people, then am one part, one person in society. such thing as an automobile. When BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA they will be two old people who I'm not something special. All I studied at college when I was SEATTLE, WASHINGTON will be sweet to each other and people are the same in this regard. young, we didn't even have a SEATTLE PUBLIC TALK MAY 9, 2001 respect each other. But today that's So if each of us understands, match! So I am, so to speak, like a CONTACT:TEL:425/822-5080 // Email:[email protected] very hard to do. develops, has an evolution, then primitive. But it's not true. I like a PORTLAND, OREGON that has an impact and we can grad­ Even if it's not in that way, it's very lot of modem things, above all com­ PORTLAND RETREAT ( SEE DETAILS PAGE 7} ually have an effect on society in important that we understand that puters. For example, computers MAY18-20,2001 general. This is part of our aware­ each person is an individual with his have only been around for a little CONTACT: TEL:503/240-8707 // Email:[email protected] ness. or her own dimension and way of while -1 remember very well when This is important because each seeing and being. they started. What emerges in individual counts, it's like a number. circumstances must be accepted When we say society it's like saying and made use of without limits. INDIVIDUAL EVOLUTION numbers and numbers can be When one becomes the slave of THE CRYSTAL AND infinite. But if you go to the con­ limitations then whatever limits is Today when people want to show THE WAY OF LIQHT crete level, numbers must always negative. But neither do you themselves to be a bit spiritual they start with number one. If number struggle against and fight with these talk about peace; peace in the Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen one doesn't exist then there's no limits. You are free to choose what world. But peace does not come if hundred, there's no thousand, you like and you enjoy it. by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, compiled and ed. by John Shane there is no evolution of the there's nothing. 176 pp., 23 line drawings, 30 b&w photos, #CRWALI $16.95 individual. Evolution of the individual means understanding For me the first number in society is ENJOYYOURSELF Chogyal Namkhai Norbu exam­ that other people have their me. Every individual is number one ines the spiritual path from the dimensions and needs just like I do. for society so if we want to do One of my teachings is, 'enjoy your­ viewpoint of Dzogchen. He inter­ weaves his life story with Dzogchen As the Buddha said, "Take your something significant and real, we self. We know that samsara is full teachings, making them accessible own example and don't create prob­ have to start with ourselves. If we of suffering, that is its nature and we through his living example. He dis­ lems for other people." Certainly if have difficulty in observing our­ are immersed in it, but at the same cusses his education and how he one works radically in this way selves then we have to resolve that time there are many things to enjoy met his principal master who then, yes, peace can come about. difficulty. But our habitual system and we should enjoy them. We have is not that, it's just the opposite. showed him the real meaning of Every day you see appeals for no idea how many more years we "direct introduction to Dzogchen." When some problem arises we peace; a General or President will live. For these years that we Also available: The Supreme always say, "Who's guilty? Who did invites another President in order to will live why not do our best enjoy­ Source, Yantra Yoga, Dream Yoga it?". In some sense we're always try to make contact. But peace ing ourselves, not only suffering. and the Practice of Natural Light, doesn't come about from these part of the problem, we're always This is how you live and integrate Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State. meetings. If we really want and guilty but instead we are always yourself into society. And that way need peace, we need to work indi­ looking for someone else who is the you have fewer problems. See our website for a complete listing of books on Dzogchen. vidual by individual. One may guilty one. And this is how tensions My hope is that you will all try to do think, "Well, how is that possible? develop and problems arise. So we a bit like this. When will we ever have peace?" have to observe ourselves, we have SNOW LION But we live in time. Even if we live to try to understand and become Immediately spoken translation by PUBLICATIONS aware of ourselves and what we do. a long time, a hundred years, we are Barrie Simmons PO Box 6483 • Ithaca, NY 14851 going to die. But our whole genera­ Transcription by Liz Granger 800-950-0313 • 607-273-8519 tion will not die together. There are MASTER OF ONESELF [email protected] www.snowlionpub.com younger people, there are children, there are people who, in the future, So the Dzogchen teaching has to be Contact us for your FREE subscription to our Newsletter ana Catalog. more or less learned like this. I have

4 FEBRUARY 9TH-11TH, 2001 MlLAREPA THREE DAYS The Great Magician OF PEACE, MUSIC AN D LOVE WITH by Julia Lawless and Judy Allen CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU

nothing I can do to help you," he said. IN PERU "You should go to the great master by Juan Bustamante Marpa, with whom you have a natural connection through past lives." As soon as I heard the name "Marpa", Peace, for sure. Rinpoche is a good provider; of course you should take it a shiver went through my spine and with your bare hands or an open heart. The music for our ears was many my hair stood on end. I was filled with people chanting the Song of the Vajra and many for the first time. Love was a sudden longing to meet him face-to- an interactive flow, circulating freely. All this happened in "El Remanso" face. Unable to think of anything else, I (smooth water), west of Lima, Peru, from February 9th to the 11th, 2001, immediately set off for the southern among mountains, in the middle of a beautiful park which was an ideal Wheat Valley where he lived, taking environment for retreat. Some one hundred sixty of us gathered with the only a few provisions and my book of idea of learning how to integrate contemplation with daily life. Rinpoche spells. gave us transmission and how to get the experience. After all, the way of knowing the true nature of the mirror is through its own reflections. As I entered the valley, I asked every­ one I passed whether they knew where I could find Marpa the translator. Nobody seemed to have heard of him until I met an attractive young boy who said, "You must mean my father. Usually he doesn't work on the farm but today he is out plowing the field by the roadside." This struck me as strange for I could not believe that such a renowned master would need to be out plowing his fields. Just then I caught sight of a tall, well-built man in a nearby field. As I approached, I could see that he come from the village of Tsa in five guests at my cousin's wedding had penetrating eyes and a fearsome southern Tibet. My father was a feast. During the meal, strange things expression. Hesitantly I asked him Igreat landowner from a rich and had happened. The courtyard of our where Marpa lived. noble family. As an only son, I was house was filled with a writhing mass For what seemed like a long time he spoiled and my early childhood was of snakes, lizards, spiders and frogs. just glared at me. Then he asked, "And happy and carefree. Sadly though, The horses tethered in the stables went who are you?" I replied, "I am a deeply when I was only seven years old, my wild with panic. Rearing up they troubled man who has come to beg I realized now my master was very on my back. Persuaded by his compas­ father died. kicked down the stable walls, causing Marpa for help." "Very well", he said, short-tempered but I was not put off. sionate wife Dagmema who felt sorry From that point on, everything the whole building to collapse. All the "I will arrange an introduction. In the Picking up the empty cooking pot, I for me, Marpa finally consented to changed. In his will, my father had guests inside were killed ... but unfor­ meantime, plow this field." offered it to him again. For a moment give me the most basic instructions. He entrusted the care of his estate to my tunately my unclcand aunt escaped. After a while the young boy whom I Marpa just looked at me, then tears then told me about his own ordeals uncle and aunt until I reached the age My mother was overjoyed when she had met on the road, came to show me welled up in his eyes and he took the under his teacher Naropa and how, he of fifteen. Yet in spite of his best inten­ heard of the disaster. Tying a rag to the the way to Mama's home. I had not yet pot, saying, "Your gift is auspicious. I too, had to show unceasing persever­ tions, my relations seized our property end of a long stick, she paraded it finished plowing, however, and in turn, offer it to my teacher Naropa." ance. As he spoke of his struggles, I for themselves. While they enjoyed a through the village shouting, "How resolved to complete my work before I He lifted the pot above his head and inwardly vowed to do anything in life of luxury, we were forced to live happy I am to see this day! Through went with him. shook it so that its handles rang out order to understand the real nature of like servants in our own home! my son's power we have at last taken When we finally reached the master's across the valley. Then he carried it existence. When I reached the age of fifteen, my our revenge." The villagers were house, I was shocked to see the same into his shrine room where he filled it The next morning Marpa told me to mother reminded my uncle and aunt of furious at her display of heartlessness man I had met earlier in the fields. with melted butter from the lamps. I start building a square tower. I was her late husband's will. But over the and plotted to murder our whole Although he was seated high on a pile was so overcome with emotion that I beyond knowing what to believe. years they had become accustomed to family. Knowing this, my mother of cushions like a teacher, he still had begged him to give me teachings. Despite my resolution to endure any­ their position of power and my craftily sent me a message with a traces of soil in his hair and dust in his "Passing on meditation instruction is thing, I was close to suicide. I was still mother's pleas were hopeless. The pilgrim, warning me of the danger. beard. I quickly glanced around the very slow work." Marpa explained. " working on the tower when he sent for villagers felt sorry for us but were Even death threats had not restrained room to make sure there was no other First I want you to build a round tower me. "Do you hate me for refusing to afraid to help. And we, of course, had my mother's wish for revenge for in master present. Then the man spoke, on the eastern ridge of the nearby teach you?" he asked. "No. I have no means to challenge our relatives. her letter she now asked me to destroy "Don't you recognize me? I am the mountain. Once you've finished it, complete faith in you," 1 replied. "I When my mother realized that her the entire village! translator Marpa. You may present then IU give you teachings." alone am responsible formy misery." Immediately, with raised spirits, I set family was now destitute, she was poi­ Once again, I had no choice but to yourself!" Waves of sadness suddenly welled up about building the round tower. When soned with bitterness. "Now our only return to my previous teacher, Yungton I bowed down at once and, placing his inside me and I broke down in tears. the structure was only half-complete hope of avenging our enemies" she of Ngak. I begged him to teach me how feet upon my head in respect, I cried, "I Mama's reaction was to rebuke me Marpa suddenly changed his mind! wailed, "is through magic. I want you, to gain power over hailstorms for in offer you my body, speech and mind in harshly yet again. Something inside "Hold on!" he said. "Since I instructed my beloved son, to learn the art of sor­ this way I could ruin the villagers' exchange for food, clothing and me broke and I could not take it any you to build this round tower, I have cery. Apprentice yourself to the magi­ crops. When the harvest was almost instructions by which I can gain more. Without telling anyone, I left. had second thoughts. Now I want you cian Yungton. If you are not successful, ripe I set off for my village. Once in the redemption for my evil deeds." "I can­ When Dagmema discovered that I was to pull it down! Instead I would like I will kill myself." hills above the valley, I began to per­ not offer you both teachings and provi­ missing, she chastised Marpa, "The you to build a tower shaped like a cres­ Great Magician has gone. Now are you I therefore had no choice but to leave form the magical rite. At first a cloud sions" Marpa replied, "and I warn you cent moon on the mountain's western satisfied? " At this news, Marpa's eyes our village and study magic with no bigger than a sparrow drifted by. that if you should choose the teach­ ridge." filled with tears. "Oh please bring me Yungton of Ngak, the 'Great and Nothing seemed to be working. Sud­ ings, your success will depend entirely back my destined spiritual son," he Terrifying Magician of Evil Spells'. denly a huge, menacing black cloud on your own effort." Once again, just before the work was prayed. Unfortunately although I spent a whole began to overshadow the valley. Giant Having agreed to find my own provi­ completed, he came to see me. "I must year with him, I learnt nothing. Know­ hailstones smothered the houses and sions, I was accepted into Marpa's have been completely drunk when I I, meanwhile, had realized that I had no ing I could not return home without completely destroyed the crops, the household where I began sorting out gave you the instructions for building option but to return to Marpa. When I having mastered the art of black very livelihood of the village. my meager possessions. I was about to this tower!" he said. "Demolish it at arrived home, he was furious with me magic, in desperation I sought the help On my return to Nyak, my teacher place my treasured book of magical once." Next he took me to the northern for having left "If you are so impatient of another sorcerer. This time, as an Yungton congratulated me on my spells in his shrine room when he bel­ ridge of the mountain where he for the truth," he admonished" then apprentice to Khulungpa, the 'Ocean of success, but I felt no joy. Instead I was lowed at me, "Take your filthy book ordered me to build a triangular house. you must be ready to give your very Virtue', my perseverance was filled with a deep sense of remorse. away fromm y sacred altar. I don't want This time I asked him if he was sure life for it." I was in total despair. rewarded and I made rapid progress in My mind was tormented with guilt and it defiled with such rubbish!" I that this was what he wanted. I was Just as I had given up all hope, Marpa mastery over the spell of death. I longed for a way in which I could find removed it at once and now utterly dejected and exhausted. summoned me to be the principal guest Once I was truly confident of my relief from my suffering. Seeing my quietly withdrew to my own room. When I had scarcely completed one at a ceremony. Fearfully, I took my seat capacity, I set out to avenge my family. distress, Yungton also felt deep regret Since I had undertaken to feed myself, third of the building, Marpa paid me a among the other disciples. "Although I My magic was indeed powerful! After for his life of black magic. As I was I took to begging. In the course of a visit. He shouted at me, "Great Magi­ may have appeared unreasonable," only fourteen days of practice, my still young, he offered to help me in my few days I had collected enough to buy cian, who told you to build this Marpa began, "I am not to blame for teacher told me that I would see signs search for redemption. a large copper cooking pot with four house?" He always called me by this the Great Magician's suffering. I actu­ of success. Sure enough, that night the He sent me to a famous Dzogchen handles, as well as beer, meat and name to remind me of my terrible past. ally used my rage as a skillful tool to guardian spirits that I had invoked, master, whose teachings could give barley to offer as gifts to Marpa I was Totally bewildered now, I replied, test him thoroughly and purify him of appeared before me, bringing with instant liberation. But I was too so exhausted when I arrived home that I "You ordered it and swore that it his past ill-deeds." arrogant and lazy to realize what a them the bleeding heads and hearts of dropped my heavy load on the doorstep. would not be torn down." "Are you Turning to me he continued, "Now I valuable opportunity this was and thirty five corpses which they piled Marpa was startled by the noise and challenging me?" Marpa growled. will give you the essential teachings spent most of my time sleeping! In a upon my altar. shouted angrily, "You're already getting 'Tear the walls down at once." I felt that are as dear to me as my own heart. matter of days, the Dzogchen master on my nerves! Get out!" With that he completely disheartened and had no I later found out that my magical ritual I will also provide you with everything was fed up with me, "I see that there is strode over and shoved me outside. choice except to do as he bid. had coincided with the death of thirty that you need. Let us be happy!" As he By now I had developed running sores spoke, I couldn't help wondering, "Am continued on page 6 THE MIRROR MARCH 2001 /APRIL 2001 E MEETING THE ELEMENTS SUMMER AT MERIGAR continued from page s

is hard to imagine such a place at, be nice to have a practice retreat 2 0 0 1 say Tsegyalgar, or any ordinary cabin rather than a large house - RETREATS WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU Buddhist retreat, but in Tashigar something which can be used by where dinner was routinely served practitioners, although there is as late as 10:30 PM, Tashi Bar already a portion of the land set JULY 6-10 appeared so perfectly natural where aside for retreat cabins on the East SHORT DZOCCHENTEACHINC RETREAT it offered an earlier hour serving the slope of Tashigar's land. At Glen's WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU traditional Argentine sandwich. I behest, I spent a couple of days The retreat starts on July 6 at 4 pm. myself was partial to a vodka tonic, sketching out different The cost of the retreat will be Lit.400.000 with discounts for paid-up members. a rare treat I indulge in during the possibilities. Although the Tashigar Payment can be made by installments (see below). summer, but there was also wine, Mandala seems a bit disorganized It is advisable to book early since many people are expected. beer, and soda and cafe con leche. without any over all plans, For us clandestine smokers, it was fundamentally the idea to make a also a place to relax somewhat guilt community of international practi­ AUCUSTIO-19 free with our addiction. Young and tioners has great appeal. It was also LONG DZOGCHEN TEACHING RETREAT not so young danced away. And a pleasure to see Naomi's house rise WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU naturally our own Michael Katz like Georgia O'Keefe's looming The retreat starts on August 10 at 4 pm. unabashedly sang his repertoire of church in Taos, hugging the land, as The cost of the retreat will be Lit.900.000 with discounts for paid-up members. folk and popular tunes while it were, and also Anne Dankoffs Payment can be made by installments (see below). others presented their own cultural little cottage down below nestled It is advisable to book early since many people are expected. talents. Meeting many people from among a lush meadow at the river's around the world is really a very edge. Glen gave us a walking tour special part of attending retreats of his house, brick walls now raised SANTI MAHASANGHA and Tashi Bar was host to many which he designed and built him­

AUGUST 21-23 stimulating conversations. I can't self. As usually the case in say much about the New Year's fes­ Community projects, its jump in BASE EXAM tivities except that the dinner must feet first with out much fore­ Booking required at Merigar have been wonderful, but by 11:00 thought. But the result of seeing so PM, I found myself falling asleep at many houses and their distinct AUGUST 24-28 the table so I returned home leaving character was delightful. Each one FIRST LEVELTRAINING the festivities to the younger and reflecting something of the energy with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu more awake to ring in the New of its inhabitant. Now, it seems starts August 24 at 4 pm. Year. things are developing further in a more organized fashion as Tashigar Cost Lit.400.000 without discounts During the course of my stay at Mandala begins to implement Tashigar, I was very happy at last to issues around electricity, water, and SEPTEMBER 23-25 visit the remaining lots of Tashigar roads. SECOND LEVEL EXAM Mandala, including the New York Booking required at Merigar lot purchased a couple of years ago In the Principles of the Dzogchen which I participated in. One after­ Community, Rinpoche writes about noon, Kathy O'Connor, Adolpho agricultural cooperatives. This SEPTEMBER 26-30 from Cordoba, Glen, Michael Katz place, Tashigar, is so rich and THIRD LEVELTRAINING and I set out for a tour of the land abundant - an island of sanity and with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and to visit Glen's house. It seemed protection for all beings to enjoy starts September 26 at 4 pm. to me after we have worked out the for many generations. I sincerely Cost Lit.400.000 without discounts roughly designated boundaries of wish all our Vajra brothers and sis­ the New York land that this piece is ters can visit and restore their Milarepa indeed quite beautiful with energy while they relax in this continued from pages spectacular views to the North and lovely paradise and, if even West. At the highest point near a temporarily, live off the fruits of the I awake or am I dreaming? If it's just a you through a series of grueling his teachings far and wide. makeshift sputa of piled rocks, it land which fall upon one with such dream, I hope I never wake up." ordeals yet you never lost faith or had His gaze and flight towards heaven seemed to be a place which might bounty. That very evening Marna cut off a lock ill thoughts about me. This means that shows he will leave the world of birth • your own disciples will be able to and death and arrive in the realm of of my hair as a sign of my commit­ CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU SCHEDULE continued from page i ment. He offered me a cup of conse­ endure terrible hardships. Through perfect freedom. If the words of this crated wine, which I drained in one you, the precious teachings will grow old man are prophetic it is a most VENEZUELA, MARGARITA August 22nd-23rd draught. Finally, dressing me in robes, and flourish like the waxing moon. Let favorable dream for us all." It was all as ISLAND SMS ffl Level Exam he gave me my new name "Milarepa" us all rejoice!" my dream had predicted. Meditating December 26th-January 1st August 24th-28th meaning the Cotton-Clad One. The This was the beginning of my on the fire of 'Inner Heat' in solitary Margarita Island Retreat SMS IV Level Training next day, Marna explained the theory happiness. Now that I had been places became my main practice, the August 30th-31st and practice of meditation. Placing his accepted by Marpa, he was very kind one best suited to my nature. Marpa 2002 SMS IV Level Exam September lst-5th hand on my head, he said, "My spiritu­ and provided me with everything I also conferred on me the hat of Feb.l5th-24th SMS V Level Training al son, I knew from the very beginning needed. He asked me to remain near Maitripa and the garments of Naropa. MARGARITA ISLAND September 8th-22nd that you would be a most worthy him and sent me to practice meditation My life as a yogi was very tough and Teacher's Training Vacation in Sardegna disciple. Both Dagmema and I had in an isolated cave, known as the Tiger my path not without obstacles for I was March 30th-April 3rd Margarita Island Easter Retreat prophetic dreams the night before your Cave. Later that year Mama's son, challenged both by non-human and April 9th-23rd AUSTRIA, KALACHAKRA arrival." Dharma Dhoday, unexpectedly died. human adversaries. Through my Margarita Island October 10th "I dreamt that my teacher Naropa Marpa was devastated. Looking for master's blessings, however, I eventu­ Longsel Teaching Leave for Austria signs to indicate the future of his ally gained full realization. Later I had gave me a five-pronged Vajra of lapis October 11th lazuli, symbolizing diamond-like lineage, he instructed his followers to many disciples. My first, the wayward USAJSEGYALGAR H.H. the Dalai Lama arrives watch their dreams closely. That night Rechungpa always remained close to indestructibility. He told me to May 3rd-7th October 23rd all Marpa's foremost disciples had out­ my heart, while my female disciple, cleanse it with nectar from a golden Dzogchen Retreat H.H. the Dalai Lama departs standing dreams but none of them the beautiful young girl Paldarbom, vase and mount it on top of a Santi Malia Sangha related to the lineage. I, however, had a embodied all the qualities of a living magnificent Banner of Victory. Its radi­ May 10th-14th ITALY. MERIGAR Dakini and became enlightened. ance blazed forth and lit up the whole dream of a huge mountain like Mount SMS Base Level Exam October 28th Towards the end of my life, I had universe, subduing all negative forces." Meni. It was at the center of the world May 15th-19th Return to Merigar "Dagmema also had an auspicious and was encircled by four great another dream about the future of the SMS I Level Training lineage: I dreamt that an eagle flew to dream, in which two beautiful women pillars...."Upon the Eastern pillar May21st-23rd THAILAND appeared before her holding a crystal crouched a great snow lion with a Central Tibet landing upon a precious SMS I Level Exam November 4th container, which I cleansed with nectar flowing mane of turquoise; From the jewel. Many geese flocked around it. May24th-28th Leave for Thailand before placing it on a mountain top. It southern pillar a tigress roared spread­ After a while they dispersed and then SMS II Level Training November 15th-17th shone with a brilliant light, more daz­ ing her claws through the dense returned, each bringing five hundred May30th-31st Thailand Dzogchen Retreat zling than the sun and moon." forests; Above the western pillar a more companions. Soon all the sur­ SMS n Level Exam "This was why I set out to meet you giant eagle soared gazing upward rounding plains and valleys were filled June lst-5th SINGAPORE disguised as a farm laborer. When you toward heaven; While in the north a with geese. This dream indicated that SMS III Level Training November 22nd-24th drank all the beer I offered and finished vulture spread its wings above a nest although I was a lay yogi, many of my June 14th-28th Singapore Retreat plowing the field, I knew for certain and fledgling, while the sky became followers would become monks. Fore­ Personal Retreat of that you would be able to take in and full of little birds." When I had finished most amongst these would be my spiri­ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu AUSTRALIA, understand the full meaning of the relating the dream in full, Marpa was tual successor, the physician-monk July 5th-14th NAMGYALGAR teaching and transmission." He contin­ overjoyed. He sang a song which Gampopa. Dzogchen Retreat November 25th ued, "The copper pot with its four han­ interpreted my dream and revealed the Leave for Brisbane I was happy beyond words for the con­ December 26th-January 1st dles which you offered me foretold the future of the lineage. ITALY, MERIGAR tinuation of the tradition was now Namgyalgar Retreat coming of my four greatest disciples. "Mila is like the vulture whose out­ July 18th ensured. My own service to the Dhar­ Leave for Merigar Its smooth surface meant that your spread wings signify his realization of ma was completed. Santi Mana Sangha mind will become completely pure but the secret instruction. July23rd-25th its emptiness signified that you will be Its eyrie in the steep cliff means'that his SMS Base Level Exam close to starvation while you are in life will be as hard as a rock.The July 26th-3oth retreat For this reason I filled it with vulture's fledgling shows that he will SMS I Level Training melted butter to provide for you in later have a peerless spiritual son, and the August 10th-18th years and made its handles ring out to small birds scattered in spacerepresent Dzogchen Retreat announce your future acclaim. I put his many disciples and the spread of

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6 BOOK REVIEWS CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE IN PORTLAND,OREGON, USA THE DALAI LAMA'S SECRET PUBLIC Lecture Chögyal Namkhai Norbu will lecture on: TEMPLE: "What is Spirituality in the Tibetan Great Perfection" Tradition" Tantric Wall Paintings from Tibet, Wednesday, May i6th, 2001 BY IAN BAKER & THOMAS LAIRD, THAMES & HUDSON, LONDON 2000. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Registration fees: PUBLIC LECTURE $148 by March 15th 7-9 pm- MARYLHURST UNIVERSITY, $165 by April 15th St. Anne's Chapel $180 after April 15th Portland, Oregon Pre-registration:$10 DZOCCHENTEACHINGS Onsite Registration: $15 Friday May 18th, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Please send and make checks payable to: Saturday May 19th, Marylhurst University 8:30-10:00 am Yantra Yoga Religious Studies and Philosophy 10:30- 12:30 am Dzogchen Teachings Department 2:00- 3:30 pm Yantra Yoga P.O. Box 261 Marylhurst, 4:00- 6:00 pm OR 97036-0261

DZOCCHENTEACHINGS DZOGCHEN TEACHINGS WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU Sunday - May 20th, May 18th, 19th & 20th - Portland, Oregon 8:30 -10:00 am Yantra Yoga WORLD FORESTRYCENTER.MILLERHALI 10:30-1:00 pm 4033 SW Canyon Road - Portland, Ore­ Dzogchen Teachings and Ganapuja gon Retreat phone number: 503-240-8707 This beautiful facility is near downtown, on a MAX light Email: [email protected] rail stop, and there is plenty of easy parking.

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Street Address: BOOK REVIEW BY JAKOB WINKLER City:. State:. The Lukhang is a three-storied caused by "renovation". This be able to consult His Holiness Zip:. temple or on a romantic island in ongoing damage threatens this the Dalai Lama about these the lake behind the Potala; this is unique artistic and spiritual topics. In connection with the Have you ever attended a teaching by Rinpoche? Yes No_ indicated by its longer name heritage. depictions, background Child care is requested for_ .children of the following Dzong Gyab Lukhang (rDzong Since I saw the magnificent information to the paintings are ages : rgyab klu khang) literally the murals of the Lukhang in The presented - for example the "Water-Spirit House Behind The Crystal And The Way Of Light Buddhist vision of art, the path of Fortress". Following the con­ (plate 12 - 17 and 27) in 1986, Tantra, the world of the Make check payable to: "Namkhai Norbu Portland Retreat" struction of the Potala in the sec­ the wish to see them in real Mahasiddhas and the Dzogchen ond half of the 17th century, a haunted me. Ten years later I teachings. In the introduction the Mail with copy of registration to: lake was left behind due to the made it to Lhasa and while author investigates the history of DIANE HYDE,2725 NE17TH.97212 extraction of building material. initiating an ad hoc roof repair the building and it's context, but PORTLAND, OR. 97212, USA For pacifying the disturbed nagas job of the Lukhang with an without getting real historical the Fifth Dalai Lama promised to active NGO under consultation evidence on the origination of the satisfy them by building a temple of an ASIA architect, we had the Lukhang an its murals (a difficult Please use this link to print a map to the World Forestry Center: as a place for regularpujas . It is chance of taking some pictures as research topic not solved yet http://maps.yahc-o.com/py/maps.py?BFCat^ said that the small artificial island a by-product. This was the start­ which I am actually working on). 33+SW+Canyon+Road&city=Portland&state--OR&slt--45.510400 in the lake was frequented as a &sln=l 22.717800&zip=972212760&country=us&mag=9&cs=9& ing point for my research on the The author followed in preparing retreat by the Great Fifth Dalai BFClient=&poi=&poititle=&map.x=46&map.y=6 Lukhang and its Dzogchen paint­ the book the advice of the Dalai Lama. Later a temple dedicated ings. A year later I returned, this Lama. The murals disclose very to the nagas was built on this time I was not even allowed to openly the innermost Dzogchen island. The Lukhang was a per­ write down the words of the instructions by illustrating all the sonal retreat place of the various Accommodation List: 1818NWGlisan inscriptions, not to mention the practices like Rushen, Tregchöd Dalai Lamas. Lodging near the World Forestry Center Tel: (503)241-2783. making of photos. So I spelled and Thögal. Baker's commentary MALLORY HOTEL Rates: $20 - $48/ member vs. non-member Not many of the murals of the the captions into my walkman describe the principles of the 729 SW 15thAve., Portland, OR 97205 AYH Hosteling International/Portland ground floor are preserved. The recorder and wrote them down at illustrated practices without Tel: (503)223-6311 or (800) 228-8657 INTERNATIONAL HOSTEL first floor contains beautiful nar­ night in the hotel. The next day I giving practical instruction in a Large, traditional downtown hotel with3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR rative paintings, mainly of the life compared my notes with the way that an "uninitiated" light rail passing in front, about 3 stopsTel: (505)236-3380. of the bodhisattva Pema Öbar words on the wall. Since I am practitioner could use it as "how from the Washington Park Forestry Cen­Located on Portland's East side. and of the Indian King Gyalpo working on these murals myself, to do it book". For somebody ter. Rates $20 - $46/member vs. non-member Legkye. In the top floor one finds I might be more critical than familiar with these teachings There is a restaurant at the entry plaza for in a small room of six by six many other readers about this there is a lot to discover between Restaurant on premises the Oregon Zoo, which lies across the park­ meters extraordinary murals of beautiful book. the lines and especially in the Rates: $85 -$140. ing lot from the World Forestry Center. Tantric and Dzogchen related pictures. When I asked Namkhai THE MARK SPENCER HOTEL Chögyal Namkhai Norbu was the There is no zoo entry costs for the restau­ topics. The Eastern wall shows Norbu Rinpoche for advice for 409 SW 11th Ave., Portland, first to publish pictures of the rant. Menu prices are reasonable. Cafeteria forty-two Mahasiddha and my plans on carrying out an OR 97205-2633 murals in 1986. Now a copiously style, children's menu, appetizers, and bev­ Padmasambhava and his twenty- academic study and/or writing a Tel: (503) 224-3293 or (800)548-3934. illustrated book is published. The erages. It is the only eating establishment five close students. The Western book about the Dzogchen paint­ Complementary breakfast. work gave birth to a book of within walking distance. wall is decorated with Dzogchen ings of the Lukhang he said, "It Rates $89-$109. inspiration and beauty rather than practices and the northern wall would be O.K. to make a coffee THE IMPERIAL HOTEL of academic research. The won­ shows various Tantric and table book with more general 400 SW Broadway, Portland, Directions to the zoo: derful pictures were taken by Dzogchen themes: the contents explanations. Even a translation OR 97205-3579 From Washington: Take 1-5 south to 1-405 Thomas Laird and the text was of Dzogchen tantras, the com­ of the inscription would be Tel: (503)228-7221 or (800)452-2323. south. Take 1-405 south to Hwy 26 west. written by Ian Baker. The quality plete one hundred Shitro deities, acceptable, but a precise Restaurant on premises, close to light rail. Take Hwy 26 west to the zoo exit #72. of the pictures are incredible and Yantra yoga and Tsalung prac­ explanation of the contents of the Rates $75-$90. From the South (Salem. Eugene, Corval- of outstanding quality, whoever tices, and scenes of Gum pictures relating the Dzogchen AMERICAN HOSPITALITY INNS lis): Take 1-5 north to 1-405 north. Take I- tried to take pictures in the Rinpoche subduing hostile practice should not be undertak­ 2221 SW Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97201 405 north to Hwy 26 west. Take Hwy 26 Lukhang knows how difficult it forces. Besides these three big en." This Rinpoche stressed Tel: (503)226-2979. west to the zoo exit #72. is. The book contains 136 color wall paintings in the comers we especially because the Western Rates $50-$70. From the East (The Dalles, Hood River, images in large format and 80 can find biographical episodes of wall shows the complete CARAVAN MOTOR HOTEL Pendelton): Take 1-84 west to 1-5 south. pages of text and beautiful draw­ masters (SE), protective deities Dzogchen path with its Thögal 2401 SW4thAve., Portland, OR 97201 Take 1-5 south to 1-405 north. Take 1-405 ings. It starts with an introduction (NE) and scenes showing various practices and the resulting Tel: (503)226-1121 or (800)992-2401. north to Hwy 26 west. Take Hwy 26 west by the Dalai Lama. Ian Baker ways of introducing the student visions. Restaurant, airport shuttle, pool. to the zoo exit #72. presents the history of the to the natural state (NW). Rates $60-$70. From the South coast: Take Hwy 101 north Lukhang, the connection of it to I would like to see a book show­ Days Inn City Center to Hwy 6 east. Take Hwy 6 east to Hwy 26 the Dalai Lamas and the Unfortunately, not all the murals ing pictures of the complete 1414 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97201- east. Take Hwy 26 east to the zoo exit #72. interesting section on the rela­ are in such a good shape as paintings, even if it would be in 3497 From the North coast: Take Hwy 101 tionship of the Dalai Lamas and appear in the book, mainly due to small scale only. Probably the Tel: (503)221-1611 or (800)899-0248. south to Hwy 26 east. Take Hwy 26 east to the Dzogchen teachings. Ian continual leaking water through authors decided to reproduce Restaurant on premises. the zoo exit #72. made use of his good fortune to the roof since the mid eighties, only pictures of excellent quality. Rates $99-$125. continued on page 8 NW PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL HOSTEL

THE MIRROR MARCH 2001 /APRIL 2001 7 The Dalai Lama's Secret Temple BOOK REVIEWS continued from page 7

I would also prefer more pictures showing larger pieces of the wall paintings, instead of too many enlarged details of scenes already shown and too many repetition of the same paintings (e.g. 6/142 or 138/139), but that doesn't do any harm to the quality of CAVE IN THE SNOW this beautiful pictures. The commentaries of the photos draw a lot from writings of the previous Dalai Lamas and in addition from explanations of the present one. In this way, Ian Baker under­ BLOOMSBURY PRESS, 1998 lines the connection of the Dalai Lamas with the depicted material. Besides quoting from these sources he uses other translated works. One would prefer to have these by Vkki Mackenzie unique pictures be commented more in their own right, since 80 percent of the murals have inscriptions explaining the scenes. In the inscriptions one finds hints to the various texts on which the pictures are based. Unfortunately, Ian Baker didn't follow handbag to be transformed into a "living man whenever the up this track. divine occasion demanded". By contrast with the author, Tenzin Palmo's language is very direct, ordinary, unadorned When I informed Ian Baker, that the illustrated teachings are based on Pema Lingpas and down to earth. (1445/50-1521) Dzogchen cycle "Dzogchen Kunzang Gongdü" (rDzogs chen kun bzang dgongs 'dus) the book was already on the way to the printer. Would he have Although Tenzin Palmo has spoken out vividly against the consulted the texts, the translations of the inscriptions and conclusions would be more lack of support for nuns in the Tibetan tradition, and while precise and much more enlightening. He used a manuscript of the inscriptions made she may have become an icon for feminists and women prac­ a couple years ago by a caretaker of the Lukhang. Firstly, this text varies often to the titioners, Vicki Mackenzie exaggerates the emphasis on the inscriptions on the wall, and secondly - by comparing the actual inscription with the feminine and sometimes makes distorted statements. For root texts - they gave the impression, that the inscriber wrote what another read out example when Tenzin Palmo gets permission from her guru aloud, because there are often mistakes and differences in spelling. In a way that the Khamtrul Rinpoche to do retreat in the cave in Lahoul, the words on the wall sounds alike or close to the words in the text, but they are different claim that "Tenzin Palmo overturned centuries of tradition, in spelling and meaning, eg.: the inscription reads nyenpo (antidote or friend gnyen which decreed that women were not capable of doing exten­ po: p.60 line 19) while the text reads in exactly the same sentence nyingpo (essence, sive retreats in totally isolated places in order to advance snying po; p. 151/1 rDzogs chen kun bzang dgongs 'dus). themselves to higher spiritual levels" is patently untrue. It is disconcerting to read that there were "no living examples of Also in some places the translations of the inscription manuscript are a little awkward. female spiritual excellence for her to emulate, no woman On page 62 it states: gum who had trodden the path before her" only to have that "The Wisdom of Dharmadhatu (the Realm of Ultimate Reality) abides as dark blue argument overthrown in subsequent pages with examples (space). The white mirror like wisdom (appears as) yellow. The wisdom of such as Yeshe Tsogyal, Ayu Khandro and the very recently equanimity is red. The discriminating wisdom is green. The all-accomplishing wis­ deceased Sufi sage, Irina Tweedie (albeit a woman from dom abides in the center like the (white light of the) sun." another tradition). My translation reads: Nonetheless there are countless jewels coming from Tenzin "The wisdom of dharmadhatu, abides as dark-blue, the mirror-like wisdom as white, Palmo herself. On the key questions of the guru and mind­ the wisdom of equanimity as yellow, the discriminating wisdom as red and the all- fulness, she is succinct and clear. Vicki Mackenzie mistak­ accomplishing wisdom as green. All five appear as the friend (essence) of the sun in enly suggests that a meeting with a true guru is rare which the center." denies the authenticity of most lama/practitioner relation­ ships. For Tenzin Palmo, Khamtrul Rinpoche's name I point these shortcomings out to make the reader a little cautious about the contents. reverberated immediately with her. In a period when the The subject matter is not an easy one. The murals show in a narrative and symbolic first met Tenzin Palmo in 1980 on a dusty roadside at Tashi notion of guru is in disrepute, particularly in America, it is way the Dzogchen teachings. Since these pictures are quite unique the author had no Jong, India where she made a deep impression on me. She refreshing to read how down to earth and understated is the real references for comparison the depictions. was already a legend in the Himalayas and acknowledged I account of their meeting: "The feeling was two things at the Even so, we now have the first book on the Dzogchen murals of the Lukhang, but as a woman who had gone more deeply into her spiritual prac­ same time. One was seeing somebody you knew extremely there is a lot more work and research to be done. This is the first step. Another will tice than any other Westerner. It was not until 1989, however, well whom you haven't seen for a very long time. A feeling of be the web page of Prof. David Germano with his pictures of the Lukhang murals. So that I was able to spend many long and memorable hours with "Oh, how nice to see you again!". and at the same time it was far, one can look at a few pictures, more should come at: her when she stayed with me as my guest in London. as though an innermost part of my being had taken form in httpy/làculty.v.iginiaed^ / lhasajour/ lukhang/ images.hlml. An outstanding Englishwoman in the tradition of hardy and front of me." And for her a genuine guru is "there to help peo­ intrepid early explorers, she had lived in retreat for over ple to grow up as well as wake up. The real function of a guru The book was simultaneously printed in various languages. I compared the German twelve years in a cave in the mountains in Lahoul, northern is to introduce you to the unborn nature of your mind and the translation to the original English and I came to the conclusion to recommend every India. Years of living in a cold cave and enduring snowy win­ relationship is one of mutual commitment." Her classical German speaking person who is capable of reading English well enough, to get the ters at 13,200 feet had taken their toll: she suffered seriously views are refreshing and clear in the context of endless original text version, since the German translator is obviously not familiar enough from arthritis, to the point where it was extremely painful for western debate on this key issue. On the question of lama/dis­ with the topic. I hope the other translations are done better. her to walk even a few hundred yards. Her English name was ciple sexual relationships, equally it is a relief to read her CONCLUSION Diane Perry; her adopted Tibetan name on becoming a men­ healthy comment "I sometimes feel we women have to get dicant nun was Tenzin Palmo. Despite her pain, she never away from this victim mentality". The Dalai Lama's Secret Temple: Tantric Wall Paintings from Tibet is a beautiful and complained. a very inspiring book. It is done with much love and contains unique pictures of high On mindfulness: "At the moment we've got the habit of being quality. The author Ian Baker is familiar with the Dzogchen teachings. His explana­ Cave in the Snow is the account of her spiritual journey start­ unaware. We have to develop the habit of being present. tions and commentaries are useful and very interesting. It is a book one likes to look ing from her early beginnings in the East End of London. Her Once we start to be present in the moment everything opens through again and again, discovering over and over again the beauty and uniqueness father was a Cockney fishmonger, a Pearly King who liked to up. When we are mindful there is no commentary - it's a very of the magnificent illustrations of the Dzogchen teachings. gamble on horses and dogs and her mother Lee was a lively naked experience, wakeful, vivid Meditation is not just young woman who liked dancing as well as being interested abut sitting in a cave for twelve year's...It's everyday life. in spiritual matters. Weekly spiritualist seances were conduct­ Where else do you practice generosity, patience, NOTE: If anybody who reads this article has access to pictures of the murals I would ed at their home. This colorful beginning was marked by a ethics? The fact is that a genuine practice should be able to be very, very grateful to receive copies of their pictures for my research. I look espe­ very early wish to be a nun and being drawn inextricably to all be carried out in all circumstances." cially for pictures which have been taken in the eighties, before a lot of the present things Eastern coupled with a sense of being out of place in day water damages appeared. It was a pity that not more was written about the three Bonpo England. Common to many healers or highly developed lamas in England, one of whom was Tenzin Namdak. On a Jakob Winkler, Alpenstr.l2a, 82269 Geitendorf, Germany, spiritual beings, she suffered mysterious illnesses as a child transcendental level, it would have been interesting to read [email protected] which left her physically frail but did give her out-of-the-body more about Tenzin Palmo's experiences in the cave. I know experiences. that there were other stories not documented in this book. Tenzin Palmo's story, from childhood to her first realization of In conclusion, this a book that is well worth reading about a being Buddhist, her early grasp of the self-perfected nature of remarkable, single minded and courageous contemporary beings and her wish to go beyond notions of duality; her time female practitioner who has already served as a beacon of with Chögyam Trungpa as his first disciple, subsequent light to many western practitioners. Her ordinariness, sense of travel to India, meetings with Freda Bedi (Sister Palmo), John humor and her integration with the Western spiritual and artis­ Blofeld and the crucial meeting with her 'root' guru Khamtrul tic tradition make her even more accessible. DAKA'S BUDDHIST ASTROLOGY Rinpoche when she took robes, followed by her years in J ham pa, a Buddhist Monk solitary retreat, is a most inspiring tale. Tenzin Palmo is Tenzin Palmo is currently traveling the world and raising 14 years in India, uses closest to being a female practitioner in the mold of the great funds for her nunnery of 21 nuns at Tashi Jong, Dongyu 26 years of experience to tradition of yogis such as Milarepa and will surely serve as a Gatsal Ling Nunnery. This nunnery will reintroduce and train help you understand model for many female and male practitioners. a lineage of togdenmas (yoginis). yourself, relationships, If you would like to know more about her work, she can be While the book is written by Vicki Mackenzie in an children & start new events. contacted on [email protected]. accessible journalistic style that doubtless has a wide appeal, Prom the Buddhist pert pectine in many ways I felt it lacked a lyrical poetry that could have Website: www.tenzinpalmo.com we are interdependent with the universe. done more justice to its subject. At times the journalistic prose by Judith Allan positively jars and the language is exaggerated and over- London, January 2001 www.buddhist-astrology.com 1-800-819-2288 dramatized. Mixed metaphors such as the mind first being compared to a wild horse then to a laser beam "digging" into the mind are irritating while Enlightenment defined as a "mind blown wide open to encompass universal reality" is more akin to drug-induced experiences! Deities are described graphical­ ly in an unnecessary attempt to shock and in some cases are misrepresented: Vajrayogini is NOT depicted without a con­ sort (her secret consort is depicted in the form of a khatvanga) nor is her consort depicted as a ritual implement, worn like a

8 IANUARY 2001 TORMAS AT TASHIGAR

by Rita Bizzotto

G. Horner

Rigpa and the fundamental to the concreteness of the teachings. Reef-Bellied Black Snake Jim alternated between Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen By Madeleine Fogarty and Andrew Palmer style practices, emphasizing that the purpose of all of the practices is to develop the capacity to experience Everything that manifests in the state of Rigpa may and remain in the state of Rigpa. He also reminded us well be a manifestation of primordial wisdom, but what that it is important not to become addicted to the experi­ do you do when the manifestation turns out to be a ences we may have as a result of those practices. Jim's highly venomous Australian snake? One of the features generosity in sharing tales of his own distractions and of the recent retreat with Jim Valby at Namgyalgar was the limits of his concentration (2 or 3 seconds in an a daily session of Semde study, based on the King of undistracted state) encouraged us all to relax into a Space Tantra (Namkhai Gyalpo), chosen perhaps shared community of humble practitioners rather than a because a translation of Namgyalgar is Place of the competitive arena of Dharma egos. King of Space. Jim recounted how he had been translat­ The essence of this teaching was reflected in the organi­ ing this Tantra in a house near Namgyalgar in 1996, zation of the retreat, which was superb. Meal after fabu­ when he had a "strong experience of clarity followed by lous meal emerged form the co-operative kitchen offer­ big pride". While in this state he turned to the side to ing opportunities for Sangha members to get to know find himself face to face with a red-bellied black snake. one another whilst preparing a meal for the community. ne morning, after having big quantity of glue mixing water Not surprisingly, he became distracted! Over the next Excellent child care, provided by Claire and Nina, gave finished his work on the and flour on the fire. "He is certain­ few days, Jim saw the snake in various places around parents a precious chance to practice and receive the computer that had kept him ly thinking about the transportation O the house: in the hall, on the kitchen floor, and even felt teachings. Karma yoga tasks were also assigned to all busy since days from early morning of the tormas to the various Gar!", I it brush past him as he slept. But when he called the participants and this gave another wonderful opportuni­ till late evening, Rinpoche thought. I stayed there to observe Parks Department to remove the snake, no trace of the ty to contribute to the gar and apply practices at the announced that he would make how patiently Rinpoche was bend­ snake could be found. Was the snake illusory or real? same time. The practice schedule was divided into four tormas. In the presence of Fabio, ing, cutting and gluing until he (The distinction might be meaningless in theory but it daily sessions of 90 minutes each, starting at 8.30 in the who was filming everything with obtained a box of a size in which a probably makes a difference to how one deals with such morning and finishing at 7.30 at night. This allowed for his video-camera and some of us torma could fit properly. Then, cut­ manifestations.) Thankfully, fourteen year old Karuna a long break in the afternoon, time to enjoy the natural who, taken by curiosity to not loose ting several sheets of white paper, arrived both to confirm the phenomenological reality of beauty of the forests and beaches around Namgyalgar any of Rinpoche's skill, watched as he was folding the box and gluing the snake, and, with broom, to sweep it from the house and time also to oil the feathers of the fears and obsta­ Rinpoche began to cut the clay. them with a lot of glue in order to and thus ensure that Jim would live to come to Nam­ cles that arise on group retreat, with lots of people and After some energetic strokes on the make the cartoon harder. "This is gyalgar again. lots of practice- clay slammed with strength on a how you make a box arrive to its Other highlights of the retreat were Jim sharing with us wooden tile the tormas were taking destination without breaking on the Summer of the metal dragon year brought Jim back to three of Rinpoche's dreams (to be published in the next their forms. Skillful carvings with a way!", Rinpoche explained. I was Namgyalgar. We were among seventy Sangha mem­ edition of Dream Yoga); reading us the first chapter of knife completed the opera. Then looking in admiration but at the bers fortunate to participate in a week of base level his translation of Rinpoche's unpublished autobiogra­ Rinpoche put the five tormas -one same time feeling sorry for the teaching offered. Jim's teachings focused on the princi­ phy, "Story of the Tibetan Master Who Wandered the for each Gar- on a tile in front of amount of work he had to do; five ples of the Santi Maha Sangha Base as described in World"; giving us the three statements of Jim Valby on Rahula's statue in his small sitting hand-made boxes! It was his last Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's text, The Pre­ how to be a bad Dzogchen practitioner ("1. Introduce room and let them dry for several day at Tashigar and I was wishing cious Vase. Jim shared stories of his own struggles and oneself to any distraction; 2. Increase doubts and confu­ days. that he would spend it swimming in experiences, bringing the teachings into the human sion as much as possible; 3. Continue in that state by realm and assisting us to feel compassion for our hum­ One morning a rumor: "Today he is the swimming pool or resting a pretending enlightenment or by giving up"); and the ble human condition. Humor and practical application going to paint! " And we were again little. usual fun and exuberance of a retreat at Namgyalgar, were the flavor of the teachings. With patience and joy- there, observing Rinpoche at work; Sad at the idea of not having orga­ which on this occasion included a birthday party on the fulness we were reminded that the key obstacle to our how carefully he was putting the nized it before, I ran to the Gekoes, saddle for Vito and Wayne. Outstanding though was the practice and our experience of the state of Rigpa is ego: color, as if painting had always who was always ready to find some marvelous clarity, patience, humility and generosity of "We have egos and our egos will never be enlightened. been his only occupation! All this, solution. I came back carrying Jim's teaching. Our precious teacher Chögyal Namkhai We are human, we will always have egos but we can even though he had not an adequate empty boxes of tea and ice-cream. Norbu has blessed Namgyalgar in recent years with work to make our egos smaller and more flexible." Jim brush and had to work on such a "Certainly these have nothing to do long visits. Now as other Gars call Rinpoche, we are guided us through some of the Sutra and Tantric prac­ low table that made me think "Poor with his boxes!", I thought fully incredibly fortunate at this time to receive the inspira­ tices explained by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in The Pre­ Rinpoche, his back!" Once finished aware, but it seemed to me that the tion of a teacher from Western culture, familiar with our cious Vase. Throughout the week various Sutra prac­ with a color, he let it dry and began good intention of sparing Rinpoche particular pitfalls and egoistic delusions, to cut through tices were explained with great clarity. Each explana­ to work again the day after. So he a lot of work would compensate the the little traps of samsara in the West. We are truly tion was followed by practice enabling us to immedi­ did for several days till all the inadequacy of the boxes. I immedi­ thankful that the snake did not bite! ately apply the concepts imparted. This technique of colors had been completed: red, ately had to change my mind; Rin­ exposition of method, then practice of method, was dark brown, violet, yellow, orange poche's gaze made me understand and brown were the colors mainly clearly that he would never put the used. The tormas were gorgeous; tormas in such boxes! Therefore, they stand up in their triangular feeling ashamed, slowly, slowly I forms like flames and we could made them disappear though I kept almost touch the energy that sprung thinking that whoever will open from them: Dorje Legpa, Ekajati Rinpoche's boxes, perhaps break­ and Rahula were effectively there ing them distractedly or brutally, ready to help. Dorje Judenma, will never realize neither the smaller and more round in shape, amount of work and time it took to was shining instead with turquoise make them, nor the care he used in light. following something precious till the end. At the end Rinpoche put inside each torma a small paper roll with Now one torma has already found mantras written in red color with its place in the warm little Gonpa at his elegant and perfectly linear cal­ Tashigar; may it protect the Gar and ligraphy. At that very moment, a favor its development with the strong wind blew all of a sudden for same love with which it has been just a few minutes and the door molded! And the others, closed slammed. Calmly Rinpoche com­ inside beautiful hand-made boxes mented, "See, the guardians .are and protected with cotton will soon making themselves present!" reach, for sure unbroken, their des­ I thought that the work was finished tinations. when one morning I showed up to Thank you Rinpoche for this gift of say hello to Rinpoche I found him the 3rd millennium! busy cutting a big carton. Rosa, inside the kitchen, was preparing a

THE MIRROR MARCH 20011 APRIL 2001 9 i.

PRACTICE CALENDAR

FOR THE METAL SNAKE YEAR 2001-2002 2001

1" MONTH, 30™ DAY-SAT. 24™ MARCH evening. 5™ MONTH, 14TH DAY-WED. 4TH JULY "Union of Primordial Essences". ter of some of Chögyal Namkhai mantra of Ekajati. DARK MOON. This day is suitable for Norbu's Masters, including Changchub This is an important day for the practice 6™ MONTH, 25™ DAY - TU E. 14™ AUGUST purification practice so try to do purifi­ y MONTH, 25™ DAY -THU. 17™MAY Dorje and Ayu Khandro. Therefore, IT" MONTH, 10™ DAY - TUE. 25™ DEC. of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium cation with the Namcho Shitroi Naljor, This is a Dakini day as well as the This is a Dakini day, so it is a positive when it is 7 pm in East Tibet on this day, This is a special day of Guru Thun in the usual way, reciting the heart the practice of the peaceful and wrathful anniversary of the fifth Dalai Lama, a day for reinforcing the function of our Chögyal Namkhai Norbu will give the Padmasambhava manifesting in the GLOBAL mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos­ manifestations, either collectively or great Tertön and practitioner of energy and creating a vital contact with transmission of Guruyoga with the spe­ form called Padma Gyalpo and is the sible. alone. Dzogchen, so it is a good day to practice the energy of the universe by doing a cific practice linked to the anniversary day on which he arrived in the capital of of Adzam Drugpa. In this way the trans­ nd Agar Lamai Naljor, Guru Yoga with 5™ MONTH, 15™ DAY - THU. 5™ JULY Ganapuja with our Vajra sisters and Oddiyana and became the prince of TIMETABLE 2 MONTH, 6™ DAY - FRI. 30™ MARCH White A in the morning and Ganapuja brothers. If there are no other practition­ mission will be live because the trans­ King Indrabhuti. If you have the time This is an important day for the practice FULL MOON. This is a special day for with an intensive practice of Ekajati in ers nearby you can do a medium Thun mission has no distance. Rinpoche will and possibility it is good to do a of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium the Long-life practice of Amitayus, so the evening. on your own. In either case, when you transmit and throughout the world peo­ Ganapuja collectively with your Vajra Thun in the usual way, reciting the heart you can do the Long-life practice transform into the Dakini Simhamukha, ple who do the practice at the same brothers and sisters, otherwise you can mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos­ 3,D MONTH, 30,h DAY-WED. 23,0MAY "Union of Primordial Essences" early in recite her heart mantra as many times as moment will be in the transmission and do the Long-life practice of " Union of World Time Table v2.0 sible. the morning. If you cannot do it at that DARK MOON. This is a particularly possible. will thus receive the transmission. This Primordial Essences". 1. ODDIYANA time set to equal Islamabad standard time (+5 UTC offset) time, it is still good to do it later in the d practice should be done at the appointed 2. All times are calculated according to UTC offsets. Daylight savings 2"° MONTH, 10™ DAY -TUE. 3" APRIL good day for practicing the Purification day. It is also the Dzamling Chisang 11™ MONTH, 15™ DAY - SUN. 30™ DEC. of the Six Lokas. As it is also the 6™ MONTH, 30™ DAY-SUN. 19™ AUGUST time together with your Vajra brothers times (DLS) are considered in the calculation. This is a special day of Guru (Lit. smoke puja of the world in general) and sisters or, if that is not possible, anniversary of the great Tertön and DARK MOON. This is a very impor­ FULL MOON. Today it is important to For example: Sydney Australia has an offset of+10 in the summer (March Padmasambhava, the day on which the so if you know how to do it, you can do alone. (In Italy, this practice will be done Dzogchen Master Sangye Lingpa, try to tant day to do purification practices, try to do the long-life practice of Guru 13) and an offset of +9 in the winter (July 4). King Sahora tried to bum him alive and the Sanqod (bsang-mchod) in the morn­ at 1 pm.) do the Agar Lamai Naljor. especially the "Purification of the Six Amitayus "Union of Primordial The summer offset of+10 represents DLS. Locations that implement DLS when he transformed the fire into a lake, ing. Lokas". If you have the chance, you can Essences" in the usual way, and if you have +1 hour added to their UTC offsets during the summer months. th 9™ MONTH, 30™ DAY - THU. 15™ Nov. so try to perform a Ganapuja 4™ MONTH, 6 AND 8™ DAYS, -28™ also do a short, medium or long Thun. have the possibility, a Ganapuja. Northern hemisphere locations in red Italics use DLS. Southern hemi­ collectively, but if that is not possible do 5™ MONTH, 25™ DAY - MON. 16™ JULY DARK MOON. This is a good day to AND 30™ MAY, sphere locations in green Italics use DLS. the Long-life practice Universal This is Dakini day as well as an impor­ 7™ MONTH, 9™ DAY - MON. 27™ AUGUST do "Namchos Shitroi Naljyor", the Yoga These are important days for the prac­ Wisdom Union. tant day for the practice of Ekajati, so try of the Peaceful and Wrathful tice of Ekajati, so try to do a long or This is an important day for the practice to do a long or medium Thun in the Manifestations, in the morning. It is also 2002 2KD MONTH, 12™ DAY - THU. 5™ APRIL medium Thun in the usual way, reciting of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium It is iesfKa doliese practices collectively \vitlj/Dakinis in general, sible. practitioners linked with the same transmission. In this way you develop the potentiali­ great Masters of the Sakyapa tradition, 4™ MONTH, 7™ DAY - TUE. 29™ MAY add the Ganapuja. mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos­ so if you have the opportunity practice a so try to do the Guruyoga Agar Lama'i 7™ MONTH, 10™ DAY -TUE. 28™ AUGUST ty of your transmission and your understanding and capacity to integrate your daily sible. The best time for this practice is collective Ganapuja, with the transfor­ This is the anniversary of the birth of ANNIVERSARY OF PADMASAMBHAVA Naljyor, the Guruyoga of the White A. 5™ MONTH, 30™ DAY - FRI. 20™ JULY life into practice..." around eight o'clock in the evening. mation of the Dakini Simhamukha, and Buddha Shakyamuni, an important day This is the anniversary of Jomo Menmo DARK MOON. This is a day for purifi­ CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU recite her heart mantra as many times as Mon. July 30th, 2001 D for all Buddhists, so try to a Ganapuja (1248-1283), a very famous woman 10™ MONTH, 10™ DAY - SUN. 25™Nov. 2* MONTH,15™ DAY - SUN. 8™ APRIL possible. Otherwise you can do a 16:00(-11) cation practices. It is best to do the Terton, reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal. with your Vajra brothers and sisters. This is a special day of Guru FULL MOON. This is one of the best Purification of the Six Lokas either col­ THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO HELP MAINTAIN THE GOOD HEALTH OF OUR medium Thun either collectively or per­ 17:00 (-10) Hawaii She was the consort of the great Tertön Padmasambhava, the day on which he days for for doing the long-life practice 4™ MONTH, 10™ DAY - FRI. 1" JUNE lectively or alone, preferably in the early PRECIOUS MASTER, CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU, sonally. 18:00 (-9) Guru Chöwang. It is also a very special arrived in Central Tibet. It is considered of Guru Amitayus, with a Ganapuja if morning. Otherwise you can do a medi­ IS TO KEEP OUR SAMAYA AS PURE AS POSSIBLE AND TO CORRECT ALL ERRORS BY PERFORMING 19:00 (-8) Fairbanks This is a special day of Guru day of Gum Padmasambhava. that on this day, at the end of the 8th cen­ 11™ MONTH, 30™ DAY - SUN. 13™ JAN. possible. Try to do it collectively or, if um or short Tun. GANAPUJA WITH OUR VAJRA BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 20:00 (-7) San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver Padmasambhava. If you can, try to do a Therefore it is an ideal day to do Agar tury, that King Songtsen Gampo dis­ DARK MOON. This is a special day that is not possible, alone. 21:00 (-6) Denver, Salt Lake City, Pagosa Springs, Ganapuja, otherwise you can do the 6™ MONTH, 4™ DAY - TUE. 24™ JULY Lamai Naljor in the morning and a solved himself into the statue of for purification practices so try to do nd Edmonton 2 MONTH, 20™ DAY -THU. 12™ APRIL Long-life practice "Universal Wisdom Ganapuja and Long-life practice associ­ Avalokiteshvara. Therefore it is good to "Purification of the Six Lokas" and a This is the anniversary of the 22:00 (-5) Lima, Quito, Chicago, Mexico City Union". ated with Padmasambhava, "Universal do a Ganapuja with the Guruyoga and This is the anniversary of the great Dharmachakra (the first turning of the Ganapuja if possible. Union" collectively. Otherwise you can 23:00 (-4) Caracas, San Juan, Santiago, New York, Dzogchen Master Do Gyaltsen Yeshe 4™MONTH, 15™DAY-WED. 6™JUNE Wisdom Union" later in the day. Dzogchen master who was the author of the Long-life practice of Gum Wheel of the Dharma): the first time that Conway, Montreal, Atlanta, Detroit, Havana, do a medium Thun on your own. many books, among which is the Padmasambhava "Universal Wisdom ,d Dorje (bom 1800), a disciple of the first FULL MOON. This is the anniversary Buddha Shakyamuni gave the teaching 7™ MONTH, 15™ DAY - SUN. 2"° SEPT. 12™ MONTH, 10™ DAY-WED. 23 JAN. Longchen Nyingthig, which he wrote Union" collectively. Otherwise you can Kingston, Indianapolis, Ottawa Dodrubchen Rinpoche and a master of of the Paranirvana of Buddha of the Four Noble Truths to his disciples 8™ MONTH, 15™ DA - TUE. 2"" OCT. This day is the anniversary of Gum FULL MOON. This is the anniversary after having contact with Longchenpa do a medium Thun on your own. 00:00 (-3) Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Nyagla Padma Dundul. It is therefore a Shakyamuni, as well as an important at Samath, after his illumination. To FU LL MOON. This is an important day Padmasambhava's coronation as Prince of Tsarchen Losal Gyatso and Padma through visions. Therefore, on this Bermuda good day to do Agar Lamai Naljor, the day for the Long-life practice "Cycle of honor the Lord Buddha on this special to do the Long-life practice of 10™ MONTH 11™ DAY MON. 26™ of Orgyen at the invitation of King Karpo, a famous 17th century Drugpa important day, you should try to do Agar Thu. 3rd May 2001 Guruyoga with the White A. Life's Vajra". Therefore try to do this day you can do a Ganapuja with your Idrabhodi. We can perform a Ganapuja Kargyupa Master. Therefore it is an Amitayus, "Union of Primordial Nov. 00:30 (-2.5) Newfoundland practice early in the morning, and in the Lamai Naljor, the Guruyoga with the N0 collectively or do the Long-life practice, 2 MONTH, 25™ DAY - WED. 18™ APRIL Vajra brothers and sisters. excellent day to practice Agar Lamai Essences". It is best to do it early in the 01:00 (-2) afternoon or evening do a Ganapuja. White A. This is an important day for the practice "Universal Wisdom Union" either col­ Naljor, the Guruyoga with the White A morning and a Ganapuja in the evening. 02:00 (-1) This is a Dakini day so try to do a 6™ MONTH, 11™ DAY - MON. 30™ JULY of Ekajati so try to do a long or medium lectively or personally, according to cir­ 4™ MONTH, 25™ DAY-SAT. 16™JUNE early in the morning if possible, or later 9™ MONTH, 10™ DAY-FRI. 26™ OCT. 03:00(0) GMT, Reykjavic, Ganapuja with your Vajra Brothers and This year the 6th month has no 10th day 8™ MONTH, 19™ DAY - SAT. 6™ OCT. Tun in the usual way, reciting the heart cumstances. in the evening when you are free. It is This is a special day of Guru 04:00 (+1) London, Dublin, Lisbon Sisters or if that is not possible, a Dakini day. This is the anniversary of hence today is the anniversary of the This is an important day for the practice mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos­ also an excellent day for the Long-life Padmasambhava. It is also the anniver­ 05:00 (+2) Johannesburg, Rome, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Medium Tun, either collectively or Ngor Chen (a great Master of the birth of Padmasambhava. On this day of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium sible. 12™ MONTH, 11™ DAY - THU. 24™ JAN. alone. Shakyapa tradition and initiator of the practice of the Dakini Mandarava, with sary of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa and Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Brussels, when it is 8 am in Oddiyana Chògyal Thun in the usual way, reciting the heart Today it is good to do a medium or long Ngor lineage), therefore it is a good day a Ganapuja if you have the possibility. of Tertön Tsogyal, a previous reincarna­ 10™ MONTH, 15th DAY - FRI. 30™ Nov. Geneva, Prague, Salzburg, Stockholm, 2ndMONTH,30™ DAY-MON. 23,dAPRIL Namkhai Norbu will give the transmis­ mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos­ Thun with intensive practice of the to do the Guruyoga Agar Lamai Naljor, tion of Sogyal Rinpoche and discoverer Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw sion of Guruyoga with the specific prac­ 7™ MONTH 19™ DAY -THU. 6™ SEPT. sible. FULL MOON. This day is considered mantra of Ekajati. DARK MOON. On this day, which is of many Termas. It is therefore a good 06:00 (+3) Kuwait City, Riyadh, Tashkent, Helsinki, collectively if possible or otherwise tice linked to the anniversary of to be the day to honor the Lord Buddha the birthday of the great Tertön Loter This is an important day for the practice 8™ MONTH, 25™ DAY - FRI. 12™ OCT. day to do the Long-life practice of Guru alone. Padmasambhava. In this way the trans­ in general, and it is one of the best days 12™ MONTH, 15™ DAY-MON. 28™ JAN. Athens, Ankara, Beirut, Jerusalem, Tallinn, Wangpo, try to do the Agar Lamai of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium Padmasambhava "Universal Wisdom Vilnius, Istanbul st mission will be live because the trans­ This is a Dakini day, and also the to do the Long-life Practice with the FULL MOON. This is in general a day Naljor, Guruyoga of the White A either 4™ MONTH, 30™ DAY THU. 21 JUNE Thun in the usual way, reciting the heart Union", which is included in the medi­ mission has no distance. Rinpoche will anniversary of two great Dzogchen mas­ Dakini Mandarava particularly. for honoring the Lord Buddha, and in 06:30 (+3.5)Tehran collectively or alone, with a Ganapuja if DARK MOON. This day is the mantra of Ekajati as many times as pos­ um or long Thun. You can do this in the transmit and throughout the world peo­ ters, Rigdzin Kumaraja, who transmit­ Therefore try to do the Long-life particular an ideal day for the Long-life 07:00 (+4) Moscow, Murmansk, Baghdad possible. anniversary of Nyagla Padma Dundul sible. usual way or, if you have the possibility, ple who do the practice at the same ted the Dzogchen teachings to Practice, "Cycle of Life's Vajra". practice of Guru Amitayus, "Union of 07:30 (44.5) Kabul ( 1816-1872). He was one of the Masters 7™ MONTH, 25™ DAY - WED. 12™ SEPT. you can do a Ganapuja. 3"° MONTH, 4™ DAY - FRI. 27" APRIL moment will be in the transmission and Longchenpa and to the third Karmapa, Generally the best moment to do this Primordial Essences". If possible try to 08:00 (+5) ODDIYANA, Islamabad of Changchub Dorje, the main Master of This is a Dakini day and also the and of Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu (1698- kind of practice is at 7-8 o'clock in the 08:30 (+5.5) New Delhi, Bombay This is an important day for the practice of will thus receive the transmission. (In 9™ MONTH, 15th DAY - THU. T NOV. do a Ganapuja in the evening. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. He discov­ anniversary of Phagmo Drupa (11 lu­ 1755), a great Dzogchen master of the 08:45 (+5.45) Kathmandu Ekajati, so try to do a long or medium Italy, this practice will be done at 5 am.) morning. But if you don't have this pos­ ered the Terma "Tsedrub Gongdus" ll 70), the chief disciple of Gampopa. Nyingmapa school. It is therefore an FU LL MOON. This is a good day to do 12™ MONTH, 18™ DAY-THU. 31st JAN. 09:00 (+6) Dhaka Thun in the usual way, reciting the heart sibility, then do it in the afternoon or which two of his disciples, Ayu Khandro It is also the anniversary of Yeshe the Long-life practice of Amitayus, Try to do a Ganapuja together with your excellent day to do Agar Lamai Naljor, later in the evening when you are free. It This is the anniversary of the great 09:30 (+6.5) Rangoon mantra of Ekajati as many times as possi­ and Changchub Dorje, transmitted to Tsogyal, the main consort and disciple Vajra sisters and brothers. If there are no the Guruyoga with the White A. If you "Union of Primordial Essences", either is also a good day to do a Ganapuja. Dzogchen master Longchen Rabjam 10:00 (+7) Bangkok, Jakarta, Saigon ble. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. Therefore of Padmasambhava so it will be benefi­ other practitioners nearby, you can do a can do it in the morning, that is best. collectively or personally according to (1386-1363). On this very important 11:00 (+8) Singapore, Beijing, Lhasa, Manila, Hong Kong, ,D you should try to do this Long-life prac­ cial to do a Guruyoga of 3 MONTH, 11™ DAY THU. 3"" MAY medium Thun on your own. In either Then, if you have the time, you can do a your possibilities, early in the morning 10™ MONTH, 26™ DAY - MON. 10™ DEC. day try to do the Guruyoga Agar Lamai Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Perth tice, "Tsedrub Gongdus", "Union of Padmasambhava with the long life This month there is no 10th day so the case, when you transform yourself into medium or long Thun later in the day, and in the evening a Ganapuja. There is no 25th day in this month so Naljor, Guruyoga with the White A, 12:00 (+9) Tokyo, Soul, Primordial Essences". The time to do it mantra and a Ganapuja as we usually 11th is Guru Padmasambhava day. This the Dakini Simhamukha, recite her heart with an intense practice of today is a Dakini day, and the anniver­ either collectively or personally. 12:30(+9.5) Darwin, Adelaide is the early morning. Later in the day or do, otherwise you can do the long life 9TH MONTH, 22ND DAY-WED. 7TH NOV. is a special day of Guru mantra as much as possible and then do Simhamukha, or a Ganapuja, if you sary of Tsongkhapa (1357-1491), who 13:00 (+10) Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney in the evening you can do the Guruyoga practice "Union of Universal Wisdom". 12TH MONTH,25TH DAY-THU. 7TH FEB. Padmasambhava so try to do the Long- an intensive practice of Ekajati. have the possibility. This day is the important celebration of made a synthesis of the previous schools 14:00 (+ll)Valdivostok of the White A, Agar Lamai Naljor". ( SEE THE GLOBAL TIMETABLE ) life practice "Universal Wisdom Union" Buddha Shakyamuni's descent to earth and founded the Gelugpa school. Try to This is a Dakini day, so try to perform a 15:00 (+12) Fiji, Wellington, Auckland, Kamchatka 7™ MONTH, 30™ DAY - MON. 17" SEPT. 8™ MONTH, 27" DAY - SUN. 14™ OCT. st from the realms of the Divinities. It is Ganapuja with the transformation of the early in the morning or at sunset. If you 5™ MONTH, 1 DAY - FRI. 22"" JUNE 6™MONTH,14™DAY-FRI. 3'"AUGUST perform a Ganapuja with your Vajra have the possibility it is beneficial to DARK MOON. This day is ideal for This is an important day for the practice called "Lhabab Tuchen", the Great Time brothers and sisters or the medium Thun Dakini Simhamukha together with your This is the anniversary of Choggyur This is the anniversary of the third combine this with a practice of purification practices. Try to do either of Ekajati, so try to do a long or medi­ of the Descent of the Divinities. It is an personally. In either case recite the heart Vajra brothers and sisters. Otherwise Lingpa (1829-1870) a Nyingmapa Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339), *The time in Vilnius, Lithuania is considered to be the same as Tallinn, Ganapuja collectively. the "Purification of the Six Lokas" or um Thun in the usual way, reciting the ideal day to do a Ganapuja with your mantra of the Dakini Simhamukha as you can do a medium or short Thun in a famous master of Dzogchen Upadesa. Estonia Master of Dzogchen, one of the most the "Namcho Shitroi Naljor", the Yoga heart mantra of Ekajati as many times Vajra brothers and sisters. If there are many times as possible. the usual way. *It is considered that Kathmandu does not use DLS. 3"° MONTH, 15™ DAY - MON. 7" MAY important Rimed masters of the On this day it is good to do Agar Lamai of the Peaceful and Wrathful as possible. none nearby, you can do a short or *If a location implimenLs DLS but it does not fall on either of the anniver­ XlXCentury. Try to do a practice of Naljor, Guruyoga with the White A. 10™ MONTH, 30™ DAY - FRI. 14™ DEC. 12™ MONTH, 30™ DAY - TUE. 12™ FEB. FULL MOON. This is one of the best Manifestations, either collectively or on 8™ MONTH, 30™ DAY -TUE. 16T OCT. medium Thun on your own. sary days, the DLS designation will not show on the time table. days for Long-life practices, and in par­ Agar Lamai Naljor. 6™ MONTH, 15™ DAY - SAT. 4™ AUGUST your own. DARK MOON. This is an excellent DARK MOON. This is a good day for DARK MOON. This day is excellent This chart was composed with the help of various members of the world ticular for the practice of the "Union of 9™ MONTH, 25™ DAY - SAT. 10™ Nov. day to practise Purification of the Six purification practices. Therefore try to wide Dzogchen Community and with information from the web 5™ MONTH, 10™ DAY - SAT. 30™ JUNE FULL MOON. This is the anniversary 8™ MONTH, 10™ DAY -THU. 27" SEP. for practicing the "Purification of the Primordial Essences". It is best to do it The 25th is a Dakini day and also the Lokas and a Ganapuja in the evening. do "Purification of the Six Lokas". If sitehttpV/www.stud.unit.no/USERBIN/steffentA-erdensur.pl This is a special day of Guru of Gampopa, the main disciple of This is a very special day of Guru Six Lokas". Otherwise you can do the early in the morning if you can. This is anniversary of the great Dzogchen possible try to do a Ganapuja with your Padmasambhava. If you can, try to do a Milarepa. Therefore it is an excellent medium or long Thun or a Ganapuja. Padmasambhava, therefore do a Master Adzam Drugpa (1842-1924), a 11™MONTH, 8TH DAY - SUN. 23RD DEC. Vajra brothers and sisters. also the anniversary of the day when day to do Agar Lamai Naljor, Guruyoga Ganapuja, otherwise you can do the Ganapuja with the Guruyoga and the d Buddha Shakyamuni first gave the 9™ MONTH, 3" DAY - FRI. 19™ OCT. previous incarnation of Chögyal This is a particular day for the practice Long-life practice "Universal Wisdom with the White A. It is also a good day to Long-life practice of Guru LOSAR WATER HORSE YEAR teaching of Kalachakra so it is good to This is the anniversary of Rigdzin Namkhai Norbu. He was a disciple of of Ekajati so try to do a long or medium Union". do the Long-life practice of Amitayus, Padmasambhava "Universal Wisdom Wednesday, February 13"' 2002 do a Ganapuja or long Thun in the Jigmed Lingpa (1729-1798), a great Jamyang Khyenlsei Wangpo and a mas­ Thun with intensive practice of the

10 THE MIRROR MARCH 2 00 1 1 APRIL 200 1 lì international COMMUNITY contact S

DENMARK LATVIA 2560 Torres Vedras Fax: 386 62 29874 129 KaelepuluDr.Kailua VISIT THE MIRROR Anne-Grethe Nyeng Padmaling Portugal Hawaii, 96734 WEBSITE AT Fax:4533 11 3243 Beljutins Elena Tel:351-61-911235 SOUTH AFRICA Tel: 808 261 3469 [email protected] Lepju 5-55 Jerry Smith Fax: 808 524 4342 www.melong.com RigaLV1016 RUSSIAN FEDERATION 10 Dan Pienaar Ave. [email protected] ESTONIA Tel: 371-2-437343 Kunsangar address is: Florida North, Gauteng, The new ASÍA, site Maret Kark Fax:371-7-187233 "Sosnovi Bor", Bolshed- South Africa Jerene is now accessible at: Sade T 9 [email protected] vorskoe Lesnichestvo, Tel: Oil 672 7250 P.O. Box 2181 http://wwvv.melong.com/ EE2400 Tartu Poselok Bolshie Dvori, Kealakekua, Hi. 96750 Tel: 372 7 380 038 LITHUANIA Pavlovo-Posadski raion, SPAIN Tel: 808 323-9714 asia [email protected] Antanas Danielius Moscow reg., Dzogchen Community, Spain [email protected] Str. Baltupiyo, 47-69 Russian Federation Apt. 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12 international COMMUNITY news

MERIGAR 2000 NEW CD OF PRACTICE RETREAT April 12-16 Liberation of the Six Lokas and the OmA Hum Dance. SONG OF THE VAJRA WITH Easter Retreat with Adriano Clemente Participants must be paid-up members of the Association FINALLY AVAILABLE! Some of the retreat sessions will be dedicated to the and send a written application to the secretary at Merigar ADRIANO CLEMENTE explanation and practice of Tantra of the Santi Maha before August 15,2001. It took some time, but now you Sangha First Level based on Samten Migdron's text. can order the newly released The retreat will also include sessions on other topics SANTI MAHA SANGHA VAJRASATTVA Audio CD of the Song of the which will be open to all participants. AND Vajra used as well for the Dance August 21 - 23 The retreat starts on April 12 at 4 pm. SHINE PRACTICE of the Vajra. The CD contains the The cost is Lit.200.000 with discounts for members. Base Exam music of all three Dances begin­ Booking required at Merigar ning and ending with A. There is May 19-20 by Claudio Maccarini also a beautiful little booklet Yantra Yoga Course for Advanced Students August 24-28 enclosed with some useful infor­ with Laura Evangelisti First LevelTraining The retreat with Adriano Clemente mation and inspiring photos of Starts on May 19 at 10am. with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu started punctually on December Cost Lit. 140.000 with 30% discount for members. starts August 24 at 4 pm. Rinpoche and other images. 28th with the practice of Please reserve a place before May 10 with a down pay­ Cost Lit.400.000 without discounts The music was composed by Mat­ Vajrasattva and Shine, the latter ment of Lit.50.000. teo Silva on the basis of a previous according to the instructions from September 23 -25 composition by Yeshi Namkhai the text 'Direct Introduction to the If there are less than 10 participants the course will be canceled. Second Level Exam State of Atiyoga' which was trans­ and the advice of Chögyal Booking required at Merigar Namkhai Norbu. It has been quite July 6-10 mitted by the Master during last summer's retreat. a collaboration; many times a Short Dzogchen Teaching Retreat September 26 - 30 little group has met trying to sing with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Third Level Training Adriano, with the help of his untir­ the Song of the Vajra together, try­ The retreat starts on July 6 at 4 pm. with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu ing translator Maurizio Mingotti, ing to inhale and exhale in unison. The cost of the retreat will be Lit.400.000 with dis­ starts September 26 at 4 pm. began by explaining with great It was a challenge to us, since counts for paid-up members. Payment can be made by Cost Lit.400.000 without discounts clarity and enthusiasm the impor­ Rinpoche wanted practitioners to installments (see below). It is advisable to book early tance of the practice of since many people are expected. sing the Song of the Vajra and not PAYING BY INSTALLMENTS Vajrasattva. Besides purifying professional singers. We were July 12-16 This summer Dzogchen Community members will obstacles and impediments that have the possibility of paying for the retreats of lucky to have some professional Yantra Yoga Course for Beginners may be met on one's path toward with Laura Evangelisti and Fabio Andrico Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Merigar in three install­ musicians and singers in our cho­ clarity the practice is important for Starts on July 12 at 4 pm and finishes at 1 pm on July 16. ments. This offer is reserved for members who have rus. Still we were a challenge to setting right our samaya that we Cost Lit.280.0000 with 30% discount for members. renewed their membership for 2001. the professional ears of Matteo, may have broken. Adriano went on Please book a place before June 30 with a down pay­ The first installment which will be one third of the total to explain in great detail the various which probably partly also made ment of Lit.50.000. amount should be paid by the end of April 2001. him have a dream. We were close The second part at the beginning of the retreat. phases of the practice so that all to print it all, when Matteo sud­ If there are less than 10 participants the course will be canceled. The third by the end of October. those present would be able to denly stopped it all because right More information can be had by contacting the office at understand it easily. before the final decision he had a July 18-22 Merigar. In the following days we did the dream which I cannot recall now Yantra Yoga Course for Advanced Students complete practice together several very well, but it indicated to him with Laura Evangelisti and Fabio Andrico BABYSITTING times along with fixation on the that something important is Starts on July 18 at 4 pm and finishes at 1 pm on July 22. We are trying to organize a baby sitting service for chil­ white A. On December 29th we missing and he discovered that it Cost Lit.280.0000 with 30% discount for members. dren from 3 to 9 years of age. Since there are no facili­ were able to feel a little closer to Please book a place before July 10 with a was Rinpoche singing the Song of ties for caring for older children we advise parents and our Master who was at Tashigar on down payment of Lit.50.000. careers not to bring children over this age to Merigar the Vajra. So we happily started the other side of the world - by during the retreats. means of Internet techology we lis­ all over, because it was so true, If there are less than 10 participants the course will be canceled. and Rinpoche agreed to record his tened directly for two hours to the MERIGAR, 58031ARCIDOSSO (GR), ITALY voice. This truly gave life to this explanation that Rinpoche was giv­ July 28-30 Tel. 39 0564 966837 ing to our Vajra brothers and sisters project and also brought some Dance of the Liberation of the Six Lokas Course Email: [email protected] new technical challenges, but in for Advanced Students - with a local teacher in Argentina. the end, I trust we have finally Starts on July 28 at 5 pm with two sessions each day The second part of the retreat was materialized this CD. on July 29 and 30. April 12th-16th, 2001 dedicated to the explanation and Please excuse some little mistakes Cost Lit.210.000 with 30% discount for members. practice of Shine. Adriano remind­ you might find, mainly the Man­ Please book a place before July 18 with a down pay­ MERIGAR ed us that in Dzogchen teaching the dala has been modified slightly by ment of Lit.50.000. calm state is certainly not the point the graphic's studio by some acci­ EASTER RETREAT If there are less than 10 participants the course will be canceled. of arrival but is a simple yet impor­ dent and both Mandala on the CD with Adriano demente tant practice for each one of us, old and cover should not be used in August 1 - 8 or new, on the path to arrive at the any reproduction therefore. Dance of Song of the Vajra Course SHITRO EXPLANATION state of contemplation. Second Part for Beginners AND PRACTICE At the end of each day participants Here is a little game: with Adriana Dal Borgo could choose to follow sessions of Check the Mandala on the CD A few sessions Starts on August 1 at 5 pm. the Dance of the Three Vajras with and whoever can tell me exactly will be dedicated to the Cost Lit.490.000 with 30% discount for members. Rita Renzi or sessions of Yantra which three imperfections are to August 1 - 8 Yoga with Laura Evangelisti. The be found on the cover Mandala Dance of Song of the Vajra Course seven days of the retreat flew by and as well the one imperfection for those who know the steps TANTRIC PRACTICES OF quickly. of the Mandala on the CD itself, in with Prima Mai THE FIRST LEVEL OF Starts on August 1 at 5 pm. Cost Lit.490.000 I hope that everyone who partici­ total four imperfections, wins one SANTI MAHA SANGHA. with 30% discount for members. pated was able to reap the maxi­ CD. The deadline is May 21st and For both the Dance Courses participants should book mum benefits and will be ready, the Merigar Gekoes will choose before July 20 with a down payment of Lit.50.000. These sessions will be restricted to practition­ mature and aware at Rinpoche's the winner. No email! If there are less than 10 participants the course will be canceled. ers who already passed the Base Level exami­ next retreat. Please write to: Maximum 20 participants, 10 for the male part and 10 for the female. nation. Sincere thanks to Adriano. Prima Mai/ August 10-19 Long Dzogchen Teaching Retreat Every evening: CODE: with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu all is perfect / Merigar / 58031 The retreat starts on August 10 at 4 pm. Arci dosso/GR/ Italy The cost of the retreat will be Lit.900.000 with dis­ COLLECTIVE counts for paid-up members. CHÖD PRACTICE The next issue will publish the winner! Payment can be made by installments (see below). Enjoy! It is advisable to book early since many people are expected. The retreat To order the CD: will start at 4.00 p.m. August 30 - September 5 The CD is available on April 12th. Training Course for instructors for29.000lire from of the Vajra Dance 1st level Shang-Shung Institute in Merigar The cost is 200.000 lire with discounts for Given by Prima Mai and Adriana Dal Borgo Cost Lit.600.000 without discounts. members who are up-to-date with their mem­ The course is reserved for those who know the whole bership payment. of both the male and female parts of the Dance of the

THE MIRROR MARCH 2001/APRIL 2001 13 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY- NEWS-SHANC SHUNG INSTITUTE

SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE

THE SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE, AUSTRIA

SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE, ITALY THE SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE OF AUSTRIA is happy to announce a new series of seminars on INTENSIVE KU NYE COURSE IN MERIGAR Ku NYEJIBETAN MASSAGE, WÍÜIDR.NIDACHENAGTSANG APRIL 24TH TO MAY 1ST, 2001 June 16th -17th and June 23rd - 24th, 2001 In order to meet several requests, the Shang-Shung Institute Ku Nye School has decided to hold an intensive course of Dr. Nida Chenagtsang will hold two weekend seminars in Graz, Austria. These first level Ku NYE (Tibetan massage) weekend seminars are the first part of a study program offered by the Interna­ from APRIL24Í1J to/Way 1st, 2001 with DoctorNiDACHENACTSANG tional School for Tibetan Massage "Kailash" (Arcidosso, Italy) in order to The course will deal with the theory and practical aspects normally covered in four weekends. achieve the title of a " Ku NYE KHYEN", A PROFESSIONAL KU NYE MASSAGETHERAPIST. Location: MERIGAR The training is divided into three levels and each level is organized into four Fees: 600.000Lire plus 30.000 lire of membership fee: weekend seminars. in fact only Institute members can join our courses by law TIMES: The course will be held every day REGISTRATION : Please contact the Secretary of the Institute by April 10th. from 10.00 to 13.00 and 15.30 to 18.00 As we expect quite a few people to come we suggest you should try to book as soon as possible, PLACE: NaturErlebnisHaus, Statteggerstra 38 8045 Graz, Austria because we can't accept more than 18/20 students. COSTS: F6S 2100 (DM 300) for each weekend. The course will be held in English with Italian translation.

Tel: 00390564966941, Ordinary members of SSI Austria get a 10% discount. Email: [email protected], REGISTRATION: until June 1 st, 2001 by sending a deposit of F6S 1000. Fax: 00390564968810 As only 24 persons can participate we suggest to register very soon. THE SHANG -SHUNG INSTITUTE WEB PAGE: Dr.Chenagtsang will speak in English and there will be a German translation. http://www.istitutoshangshung.org For more information about this course see our homepage: www.dzogchen.at/ssi.at or write to: [email protected] SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE, USA TIBETAN MEDICINE PROGRAM 2001 The Shang -Shung Institute will host two Each day's seminar with a designated familial needs of Westerners who can not Program Director, Jacqueline Gens at Public Radio and America Online. The different programs-this year. To accom­ topic will include morning and afternoon study abroad for long periods of time nor [email protected] Buddhist Guide to New Yoik'(Pub: St modate the needs of Health Professionals lectures, as well as discussion groups. learn Tibetan as a prerequisite for training Martins) states that Mr. Tokar is "one of seriously interested in becoming more Participants may chose to attend one or at a oversees college of Tibetan Faculty Bios the most knowledgeable resources in acquainted with Tibetan Medicine, the all seminars. The program is designed to Medicine. The Three Year Foundation DR. THUBTEN PHUNTSOG was per­ America on Tibetan medicine." Institute is hosting two six day seminars balance a theoretical overview with pre­ Course is the first sonally selected by Chögyal Namkhai in New York City and in California. As a sentations by Dr. Phuntsog with attention phase of a comprehensive training pro­ Norbu, the founder of Shang -Shung ELIO GUARISCO is a prominent continuation of its Three Year Founda­ to practical applications in a clinical set­ gram Institute to present the Three Year Foun­ Tibetan translator who has participated in tion Course in Tibetan Medicine, the ting presented by Mr. Tokar. dation Course in Tibetan Medicine. Dr. numerous translation projects including Institute will offer Year Three from May Year Three Curriculum May 30-June 8, Phuntsog was bom in 1955 in the area of "Myriad Worlds", "Buddhist Ethics", 30th -June 8th, 2001. It would be The Program will be held at the follow­ 2001 in Conway, Massachusetts Pelpung 0~->ege County) in East Tibet in a and the monumental "Encyclopedia of possible to attend the Year Three with ing locations: family linked to the second Kongtrul, Tibetan Buddhism" by Kongtrul. He is study of the audio cassette course of Diagnostic Techniques: Pelden Khyentze Ozer. From the age of currently working on several Tibetan years One and Two. MAY7-12.20O1 Urine Analysis and Pulse Diagnosis, six until he was twenty, he privately stud­ Medicine texts for the Shang -Shung SHAMBHALA CENTER, NEW YORK CITY Diagnosis through the ears in children, ied various subjects such as medicine, Institutes in Italy and America among AN INTRODUCTION 118WEST22ST.6THFL, and a detailed explanation of illnesses as poetry, astrology, history, Buddhist logic, other projects. TOTIBETAN MEDICINE NY, NY classified in the Tibetan medical system and philosophy with some of the masters FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (non-residential) $450, with their symptoms. affiliated with Pelpung Monastery. He catered lunch optional The prerequisite to enter the Year Three studied medicine with Yonten Phuntsog, May 7-12,2001 inNewYorkCity program is either previous attendance of who was the personal physician to the May 22-27,2001 at Land of the May 22-27,2001 the first two year's curriculum or study of second Kongtrul and Tibetan grammar Medicine Buddha in Soquel.California Land of thé Medicine Buddha, the audio cassette course. A limited num­ and different systems of astrology and SHANG-SHUNG Sequel, California ber of individuals with background in astronomy with Kyabshe Pende. SIXDAYINTENSIVEON KEYTOPICS Residential: includes tuition, double Tibetan Medicine or other Asian thera­ Currently, Dr. Phuntsog is Professor of INSTITUTE, USA INTIBETAN MEDICINE occupancy room and three meals daily pies may be accepted into the Year Three Tibetan Studies at the central University DAY 1: The Theory of the Four $900(single occupancy add $25 per day) program upon application. This course is of Nationalities where he teaches courses SEEKS VOLUNTEERS Elements, the Three Principles, the Sev­ or (non-residential) $450, intellectually demanding with up to in literature, philosophy, medicine, en Physical Constituents and the Three catered lunch optional seven hours of teaching per day. poetry and astrology. He is also a Profes­ The Shang Shung Institute in Eliminative Functions 10-00 am-l:00PM sor in the Tibetan medical department at America is seeking a DAY 2: Causes of Illness Daüyfee:$108/perday Lecture with Dr. Thubten Phuntsog the Institute of Tibetan Studies in volunteers) to set up a booth at DAY 3: Mental Illness: ATibetan Medical for both programs 1:00-2:00PM Lunch Sichuan Province. He is the author of Perspective Teaching materials fee: $25 2:00-3:30PM numerous scholariy publications includ­ the California, Portland, and DAY 4: Therapeutic Principles: Diet, for all participants Practicum with Eliot Tokar ing, the Grammar ofTibetan Language Seattle teachings Medcation and External Therapies 3:30PMTeaBreak (Sichuan People's Press, Chengdu, of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, the 4:00-5:30PM 1987); Calculations for the System of the DAY 5: Morning lecture: Diagnostic For application or information: founder of the Institute. Techniques: Pulse Diagnosis and Urine Please contact Lecture with Dr. Phuntsog Tibetan Lunar Calendar (Minzu Press, Analysis Afternoon Colloquium on Con­ THESHANG-SHUNGINSTITUTE Fees: Tuition $800with catered lunch. Bejing, 1991) a two volume, History of temporary Issues in the study of Tibetan PO Box 277 Dormitory facilities on site available for Tibet (Sichuan People's Press) as well as The individual(s) will be respon­ Medicine CONWAY.MA 01341 $15/hight numerous articles on Tibetan history, lan­ sible for receiving all shipments Teaching text $25. guage, and medicine. DAY 6 : Morning demonstration: Clinical Tel:413-369-4928 stating the program and Consultation with a patient you wish to attend. Housing options off-site at nearby motels returning items to the Institute as This six day program is designed to intro­ Or call Program Director, and B&B's. Write for list. ELIOT TOKAR is a New York City duce key topics in the traditional study of Jacqueline Gens at 802-254-9114 based practitioner of traditional Asian well as keeping a record of all Tibetan Medicine to health practitioners Email: [email protected]. üxation: medicine (Tibetan Japanese, Chinese). funds and seriously interested individuals. Dr. THE SHANG -SHUNG INSTITUTE He has studied Tibetan medicine since raised as well as speaking on Thubten Phuntsog, a Tibetan physician Credit card payments accepted. 18SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD 1983, and is one of the only people in behalf of the Institute's projects. and scholar from the University of CONWAY.MA 01341 USA North America to have received exten­ Nationalities in Beijing and Eliot Tokar, Three Year Foundation Course in Conway is a small town located in prox­ sive textual and clinical training in this Practitioner ofTradrtional Asian Tibetan Medical Theory imity to Northampton, Greenfield, and field. Mr. Tokar studied with and The dates are: medicine who has studied Tibetioi Medi­ May3O-June8,2001 Amherst, Massachusetts. received private instruction primarily May 1 Berkeley, California, Pub­ cine personally with Dr. Yeshe Donden in Conway, Massachusetts Directions: Take Interstate91 to the Con­ from Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, and thé lic Talk and Dr. Trogawa, Rinpoche and current­ way or South Deertieid exits, then 116 lama/physician Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche. May 2-6 Oakland, California ly has a practice in New York City, will with Dr. Thubten Phuntsog, Eliot Tokar North to Conway. Take the 2nd left after Mr. Tokar has lectured extensively at present the material in a concise and and translator, Elio Guarisco the country store, ''Baker's'' onto Maple institutions such as the Washington Retreat lively manner for individuals interested Ave, then an immediate left onto School- University School of Medicine, Univer­ May 9 Seattle, Washington, Pub­ in pursuing further study in the evolving The Three Year Foundation Course house Road. sity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, lic Talk field ofTibetan Medicine for Westerners. is an extensive survey of the Four Tibetan Audio cassette Course of Years One & and Princeton University, and he has May 18-20 Portland, Oregon Elio Guarisco, a noted Tibetan translator, Medical Tantras, the cornerstone of train­ Two from the Three Year Foundation served as an advisor to the American will act as the translator nom Tibetan to ing for Tibetan Physicians and the theo­ Course in Tibetan Medical Theory Medical Student Association His writ­ Retreat English during Dr. Phuntsog's presenta­ retical basis for advanced clinical train­ $1200 both years. After July, 2001, the ings have appeared in journals such as tions. ing. Now in its third year, Shang- Shung course will be available with Year Three Alternative Therapies In Health And To apply please contact, Jacque­ Medicine, Alternative And Complemen­ Institute is dedicated to presenting this curriculum included in CD or audio cas­ line Gens [email protected] or Tibetan medicine is a 3800 year old tradi­ Foundation Course in preparation for sette format for $1800. Included with the tary Therapies and Tricycle Magazine. tional medical system which draws its advanced training and clinical intern­ recorded course, there is a three volume Mr. Tokar has been featured in publica­ call influences directly from Tibetan, Indian, ships within a study curriculum designed teaching text of Dr. Phuntsog's commen­ tions such as the New York Times, San 802-254-9114. Persian, Greek, and Chinese medical to parallel traditional training in the field tary on the Three Medical Tantras. Francisco Chronicle, News India-Times, systems. while accommodating the working and For further information, contact the and the China Daily, and on National

14 NTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS-SHANG SHUNG INSTITUTE

SHANG-SHUNG The mention of VHS copy needs maybe some clarification. If VHS is the Swiss PROGRAM INSTITUTE SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE AUDIO ANDVIDEO only option, of course it is OK, espe­ cially in the case of old recordings WEEKEND VAJRA DANCE DIGITALARCHIVE IN AMERICA where ONLY the VHS copy exists - in PRACTICE Dear Friends of such a case - and we know there are ARCHIVAL PROJECT IN GENEVA the International Dzogchen many among us who have very unique Community, Update from Jacqueline Gens and old video material in VHS - then it March 17th-l 8th As many among you probably know, is very welcome! May 19th-20th here in Merigar the Shang-Shung The Shang Shung Institute in America is currently involved in a program One should also consider that such old­ Institute has started a project to build a of remastering and digigitizing all of its master tapes from the Three Year er VHS analog tape recordings (as all Change in the Swiss Gakyil : centralized audio and video digital Foundation Course in Tibetan Medicine. With already over fifty ninety old tapes) are surely and slowly rotting Blue: Irina Bleuler (new) archive as part of the wider project for minute tapes in the course for the first two years curriculum and another away with time, so IT IS EVEN MORE Yellow: Sabine Attenhofer creating the Merigar Digital Library, twenty-five after the upcoming Year Three program scheduled for May URGENT to save them in a digital opti­ with the aim of preserving Tibetan cul­ 30th through June 8th, this project involves a time consuming effort of cal form. ture in general and the precious manually listening and coding each tape individually in order to make Dzogchen teachings as transmitted by Let me renew here the invitation to all Master CD's from the original audiocassette masters. The project was Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in particular. those among us who own this kind of conceived and implemented by the Institute's three month intern, Dan Why in Merigar? Because the Merigar video tapes, to bring or send them in a Pederson, a graduate student in Anthropology at the University of RETREAT Library already contains the most sig­ secure way to the SSI Archives in Massachusetts, who is working at the Institute for credit during his ATKUNSANGAR nificant collection of books, images, Merigar, to my attention, to have a digi­ spring semester. Dan was introduced to the Shang-Shung Institute in audio and video cassettes on these sub­ tal copy made. America through Dr. Mary Ryan, a Professor in Medical Anthropology RETREAT WITH jects, starting from the '70s. The plan is WE WILL RETURN who is also the English language editor for the Institute's translation pro­ PAEDEN SHERAB RINPOCHE to make this collection as complete as THEORIGINALTAPE TO YOU ALONG ject in Tibetan Medicine under the direction of Dr. Thubten Phuntsog AND possible, maintain it, make digital WITH A COMPLIMENTARY DIGITAL and Elio Guarisco. TSEWANG DONGYAE RINPOCHE copies of all the material and finally COPY FOR YOUR PERSONAL ARCHIVE In recent months, the audio cassette course has become an important ATKUNSANGAR make everything available, through a as a thank for your collaboration. source of revenue in support of the development of the Shang-Shung searchable database, to the whole inter­ Last but not least, do NOT worry about Institute in America Tibetan Medical program with participants learning April 29th to May 6th, 2001 national Dzogchen Community. In this PAL or NTSC (or even SECAM) for­ from a distance; studying from every continent and throughout the US. context we have repeatedly asked all mats. You don't have to convert NTSC Funding for the project and equipment came from proceeds from the sale The subject is PHOWA PRACTICE Gars and Gakyils to send all the audio to PAL to send your copies here. We of the course. With the newly made CD Masters, the Institute will be able and the retreat is entitled: and video material recorded during can read any format and digitally con to make its own CD sets of the course, as well as preserve the material "The State of Buddha without teachings and confe-rences by our vert from one to the other without archivally in a more durable form than the original audiocassette mas­ Meditation". Master all over the world, to keep the losing quality, so that is not a problem. ters. Digitizing of the tapes also allows for their fiirther use in an on-line There are expected collection as complete as possible. The IMPORTANT NOTES: teaching format as a teaching aid in the future. tobe two wangs: response in general has been good, but 1) If you do NOT have the equipment or Many thanks to Dan Pederson and the University of Massachusetts! Vajrasattva and Amitabha. maybe it has not been clear enough IN the time to make such copies, SEND Everyone is invited to participate. WHAT FORMAT the material should US THE ORIGINALS. We will make The retreat fee is S50US be sent here. While we thank every­ the copies here in the best format and Living costs are $ 15 US body for sending copies of video and WILL RETURN THE ORIGINALS per person audio footage, we have to clarify the TO YOU. We will also include a com DEAR GAKYILS, VAJRA SISTERS AND BROTHERS, (a room for two persons) following: plimentary digital copy on CD's for and S7US per person you, as a thank for your collaboration - As the responsible of the FOR AUDIO: (a room for six persons) so you will have your original material SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE.AUSTRIA, PLEASE SEND UNCOMPRESSED at Kunsangar. back PLUS a digital copy of it for your I am working on MATERIALONLY. There may be less expensive archive! completing our archive. That is, please do NOT send Mp3 or rooms at the nearest tourist com­ 2) If you DO have the equipment and In order to finish the work other highly compressed formats. plexes. the know -how to make impeccable I need the dates of the different Either send the original cassettes or Please send messages for regis­ digital copies of the material you have Yantra Yoga courses regular 74 minutes Audio CD's or tration to Kunsangar: (such as the ability to create DVD's or given between 1980 and 1992. uncompressed 16-bit .WAV files [email protected] high-quality MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 files Here is an approximate list from memory: recorded on CD's. This is because, or equivalent) then you may send us stating your name besides preserving the full quality, 1 ) Hawaii (maybe 1986 or 1984, after the retreat with Rinpoche) such copies, but PLEASE CONTACT and expected dates of stay. uncompressed formats can be easily 2) 2 or 3 times in Poland (once was in 1989) US before creating and sending such Looking forward to see you at used for future post-processing (inte­ 3) 1989 in Athens copies so that we can check that the Kunsangar. With best wishes, grating in videos, compressing with 4) Several times in Copenhagen quality parameters remain consistent Sergey Rounov future and better codecs, etc.). 5) Once in Amsterdam and compatible with the work we are Kunsangar Red Gakyil FOR VIDEO: Please send me the dates of these seminars and doing here (codec used, frame size, any copies of publicity made for those courses. SENDTHE BEST POSSIBLE COPY bitrate, audio compression etc.J.Please It could help very much if precise information was sent about these courses Please do not send MPEG-1 files or contact me at to; [email protected] Video CD's or ordinary VHS copies. [email protected] The quality of these formats is too Thank you very much for your collaboration and best wishes, for any clarification on the above. LOW for any future use in preparing Oliver F. Leick Thank you for your attention, compilations, for example. The useful Maurizio Mingotti, formats are: Merigar Library - Digital Archives - - Mini-DV or Digital8 cassettes - (if the original has been recorded in DV) PASSAGES IMPORTANT CHANGE REGARDING - - SuperVHS or Hi8 cassettes (if the KALACHAKRA 2002 original is a good analog source) Died: Maksimova Gilyan Ole- In Graz, Austria govna, 23 years old, suddenly died of pulmonary tuberculosis at To everyone interested to come to the NEW WEB SITE RUSSIAN THANKA PAINTER 11 pm, January 26th, 2001. The Nick Dudka Kalachakra Initiation in Graz, Austria, in 2002: Kalmuk Dzogchen Community Oliver Leick is no longer able to help in finding an accommodation dur­ asks Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche http://www.baikal.eastsib.ru/aroijndbaikal/du^ ing the Kalachakra Initiation in Graz in October, 2002. For everyone and all Vajra brothers and sisters .html who has already written and asked for accommodation in a house for the to pray for her. Dzogchen Community, kindly please make new reservations in this way: If you want to stay in a 3,4 or 5 star hotel please write to: Graz-Tourism: [email protected] For more modest accommodations please write directly to the Kalachakra office: NEWS FROM AUSTRIA Kalachakra for World Peace Graz 2002, New Web sites c/o She Drup Ling Graz Styria, Austria Buddhistisches Zentrum, Griesgasse 2 The Gakyil of Styria, Austria wants to inform you of their new web site at: A - 8020 Graz, Austria www.dzogchen.at Tel:++43 316 717 297 It is in English and German and there are many nice photos. Fax:++433167172974, Web site: http://www.kalachakra-graz.at Please change your web sites to link to our homepage. Shang-Shung Institute, Austria has a new address: www.dzogchen.at/ssi.at This site is in English and German. Please change your web sites to link to our homepage.

THE MIRROR MARCH 2001 1 APRIL 2001 15 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS -NORTH AMERICA

CALIFORNIA NEWS AND SCHEDULE OF PRACTICES

DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY IN NORTH AMERICA he Dzogchen Community West has a slightly new schedule in an YANTRA YOGA ATTSEGYALGAR attempt to make practices more accessible. Sunday will start having April 13th -20th, 2001 THE DZOGCHEN WEST COAST Tan afternoon practice session (Vajra dance or another Dzogchen ritual YANTRA YOGA RETREAT FOR BEGINNERS GAKYIL practice), followed by a evening Santi Maha study/practice group in Oak­ An introductory course In Great Need of a land or Marin. We will send the schedule of practices out as early as possible with Paula Barry and Ann Dankoff Good Secretary! to make planning ahead easier.As always for Ganapuja practices, please call Supervised by Fabio Andrico the host to confirm the day before.The DZC Committee is busy planning for There will be two two-hour sessions of practice per day for one week. The secretary's main responsi­ the big May Retreat. There are many areas needing volunteer help at this bility is communication via cor­ October 12th-21st, 2001 time. See description below for more information. respondence; with people in the ADVANCED YANTRA YOGA AT TSEGYALGAR If you have some expertise to offer please contact local community and in other with Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti Patrick Tribble.Retreat Coordinator communities, as well as with [email protected] Rinpoche. We have divided up Please contact Tsegyalgar to register/for more information: or phone: 415/4921275. the responsibilities of the Secre­ Phone:413-369-4153 tary so it is not too Email: [email protected] burdensome. Minutes for Gakyil March 11, Sunday, We request that you make a reservation for the April retreat by April 1 st. meetings are taken by a different Santi Maha Sangha person each time and produced SMS Base Level Study Group YANTRAYOGA and distributed on email, but it is Steven Goodman's home IN CALIFORNIA the Secretary's job to file them in Oakland CA 6:30-8:45 p.m the binder of meeting notes. The Contact: Ann Clarkson (707)745- TSEGYALGAR UPDATE Secretary can help to locate sites 6325 THE EIGHT MOVEMENTS for practices. When important communications are received, March 15, Thursday APRIL 25-29,2001 the Secretary distributes them Vajra Dances practice with Jey Clark via email to the people con­ 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and Lynn Sutherland cerned. The Secretary is a cen­ Glenview Studio, Oakland Supervised by Fabio And rico tral hub for communication and 1318 Glenfield Ave, Oakland, CA information distribution. San Francisco Bay Area If you are interested in this March 16, Friday California (Location TBA) important and responsible posi­ Gakyil Meeting, 7 p.m. tion, please contact: Patrick's office # 510-525-4825 For information and 912 The Alameda, Berkeley Carol Fields at registration contact: [email protected] or Mar­ (dinner at Solano Thai restaurant, 6 Jey Clark 415/459-0359 garet Bradford at pm) [email protected] [email protected] March 18, Sunday or check the California community's Dakini Day Ganapuja, 4 p.m. web site: Ayu Khandro anniversary www.dzogchencomniunitywest.org Laurie's house 415.458.2880 THESTUPA access road to the land and the road March 18, Sunday Retreat Committee News: At the end of this years work on the over the dike have been greatly Santi Maha Sangha Stupa we were excited to see the improved with new grading and natural stone paving. Secondly, the Base Level Practice The Retreat Committee is looking creation of the first series of steps leach field project has also been DZOGCHEN 6:30 p.m.-8:45 p.m. for some responsible volunteers to above the throne and the phumba completed. (A leach field is an Jey and Marcia's house be: which will contain the many COMMUNITY offerings. We now need to dedicate engineered system of special sand Fairfax, Ca Raffle Coordinator, IN many hours to making tsa tsas and aqueducts that allow for the Work Study coordinator, enough to fill the Pumpa, as well as natural dispersion of waste water NORTH AMERICA March 22, Thursday T-Shirt/gifts coordinator, accumulate the various other offer­ and human waste. These systems Vajra Dances Practice Auction helpers, ings (such as grain and scented are required by law in rural areas 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Data Base entry, woods) needed to fill the steps and that don't have municipal sewage Dear Sangha, Glenview Studio, Oakland also Registration crew, vase. Piero Bonacina, from Italy, systems.) This infrastructure was 1318 Glenfield Ave, Oakland, CA Set Up, Drivers has come to help us carve the required before sanitary facilities Volunteers are needed and Errand Runners mantras on the Sogshing, or central can be built for the retreat cabins to help with the May Retreat March 24, Saturday needed! pole, and was here working during that Rinpoche has designated to be Registration and the Audio/Visual New Moon Ganapuja, 2 p.m. If you have some time the month of February. built on the sacred Buckland land. Live Cast: Gisella's house 510.530.1383 and expertise to offer The Stupa awaits the offerings nec­ Authorization for further construc­ Registration Data Base Entering: Oakland please contact essary to continue. The central pole tion is still in litigation, but we hope We are in need of Please call to confirm [email protected] or (Shro-shing), will be installed dur­ that this will be resolve soon. One two or three people who can enter phone: 415/492.1275 ing a ceremony on Memorial Day of the planned cabins on which we the completed retreat registration March 25, Sunday Thanks! Weekend, May 26th -28th, along have been allowed to proceed is forms on to a data base that can be Vajra Dances practice 1-4 p.m. LocalSpace News: with other offerings, including about half completed. This cabin is accessed in their own computer. Glenview Studio, Oakland The Committee for finding local those given by Rinpoche, as well as devoted to the Guardians of the As we get closer to the retreat, 1318 Glenfield Ave, Oakland, CA space for a Dzogchen Community texts of our Dzogchen lineage and Teachings. Before one begins a retreatants are sending in Center has reformed and is actively items connected with the retreat in one of the yet to be built their completed forms March 27, Tuesday looking again. We would like transmission of Chögyal Namkhai special cabins, a visit to the and payment and Retreat Committee Meeting 1,200+sq ft minimum with a 30' x Norbu. During this time it would be Guardian Cabin is imperative. we need extra help! Patrick Tribble's office 510-525- 30' minimum 'open' space for Vajra wonderful if people from all cor­ Also we have nearly completed the *Please contact Ann Clarkson at: 4825 Dance/Yantra ners of the Dzogchen Community long awaited gekoes and visiting aclarkson@mindspring or Berkeley Yoga/Teachings/Practices, with can attend this event, either in per­ scholar bathrooms in the school Tel: 707 745 6325 bathroom/office/storage areas. son or by way of making an and this now means that the both March 29, Thursday We are looking from Berkeley, offering to this Stupa which is dedi­ current and future gekoes will have Audio/Video/Live Cast: Vajra Dances practice Albany to San Rafael North. A safe cated to the continued Long Life of basic, complete amenities. Jey Clark, the main coordinator" 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. neighborhood with cheap rent of our precious Master. Many thanks to all who have con­ or the audio/video/live cast, Glenview Studio, Oakland course! If you have contacts or tributed to the projects. Your cur­ is in need 1318 Glenfield Ave, Oakland, CA RED GAKYIL REPORT know of a possible place, please rent and continuing support allows of five additional people As 2000 draws to a close, it's time contact [email protected] us to fulfill this important aspect of beyond the five people to recall what the Red Gakyil has NEW CALIFORNIA Thank you. Rinpoche's vision. who are running the equipment. been up to. First of all, the Buck- WEBSITE NOTES Another project related to the These five people are needed land land pond repair project is The new web site for the Dzogchen Please confirm each practice by Sacred Buckland land was the complete. The pond, over an acre in to help 'set up' this complex Community West is up. It has the lat­ phone. cleaning and storing (they are now size, has been overflowing the communication network. est information on the California The Community phone line is: being stored in the school ) of the retaining dike/road due to the fail­ *Please contact Jey Clark at: Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ 510.559.9753 original Vajra Dance Mandala ure of the 50-year-old plus drainage [email protected] or bu, May 1.-6,2001. New Email: aha@dzogchencommu- which was drawn and painted by system. To correct this, problem a 415.459.0359 nitywest.org Rinpoche. Even though the NEWWEBSITE: new drainage system has been NewWebSite: Mandala, after years of weather, is www.dzogchencomm unity- engineered which includes two Thank you! Thank you! www.dzogchencommunitywest.org no longer usable, it is still a mani­ west.org large culverts beneath the road, as Dzogchen Community West Contact [email protected] festation of the dance from the NEW EMAIL: well as a newly created stream. for information on dance practices- terma of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. ahafa dzogchencomm unity- This will maintain the pond level, Please mark We await his decidion of how to west, org preventing future erosion damage your calendars or print schedule for continue to preserve it. The Community phone line is: from overflow. In addition, the 510.559.9753 reference.

16 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS -NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA

ABOUT THE GEKOES

by Michel Bricaire, Gekoes of Tashigar

he word Gekoes means should come from one of general Yoga. Together with the secretary, FIRST BI-ANNUAL/BI-COASTAL MEETING "The Virtuous One". The interest, and this task requires a the Gekoes is also the main person OFTSEGYALGAR EAST ANDWEST TGekoes lives in the Gar and positive and benevolent attitude as to contact in case of irregular his function is to look after the dai­ well as an acceptance by others of eventualities and while the office January200i ly activities and tasks of the Gar his position. The Gekoes should is closed he answers the phone. and to serve as a host to the new­ take care that the scheduled prac­ Regarding the daily expenses, he comers and visitors; therefore tices or courses are taking place should be financially autonomous people should trust and have con­ regularly in an appropriate manner taking care of the incoming money fidence in his virtue by and time. He or she should be like accommodation fees and the collaborating with respect and informed regularly about the like. This budget should be used helping him to fulfill his duties. planned activities and tasks for the for occurring costs. The Gekoes should take care of Gar and whenever necessary share Of course, each Gar is different, the proper application of the his abilities and experiences or and all the issues mentioned are Gakyil's decisions as well as give suggestions or advice. subject to adaptation according to applying them on his own. The The Gar and practitioners staying the circumstances of the place. For Gekoes is expected to represent in the Gar are like a family; so the example, in Merigar, the Gekoes is the Gakyil. He should be the single Gekoes is supposed to coordinate The first annual bi-annual, bi-coastal meeting ofTsegyalgar East and West very busy all during the year, authority regarding proper con­ and oversee the functioning of the was hosted by the California Community on January, 2001. while in places less active like duct and behavior; for example, he kitchen and the serving of meals. The purpose of the meeting was to promote collaboration among the various Tashigar in winter, there are a lots or she should be aware of behavior In order to realize all of this, Dzogchen Community sites in North America. of opportunities for collaboration which could create serious prob­ people should collaborate by with through Karma Yoga. lems for the transmission of the informing the Gekoes about their Practitioners should therefore feel teachings, such as the use of drugs, presence at the time of their arrival free to use. but not abuse ,the full stealing or misuse of the at the Gar. This should be done to time responsibility and attention Community property, as well as insure a correct registration of new of the Gekoes. visitors and the effectuation of the disagreements and discord among Above all .the most valuable qual­ payment. practitioners. The Gekoes should ity of the "Virtuous One " is also be a mediator - interpreting Having an overview of the people patience and kindness. and translating between different present, as well as the current or opposing positions. This should activities of the Gar, the Gekoes is be done in a manner free of per­ better able to help individual prac­ sonal preferences or egoism, and titioners accomplish their Karma

NEWBLUE IN NEW ZEALAND NEW FRENCH GAKYIL Slavica Voglar is taking over as a BLUE: Françoise Casablanca, (Sec­ TASHIGAR SEEKS new BLU E Gakyil member in New retary )[email protected] NEW GEKOS AND SECRETARY Zealand. Claude Perriguey [email protected] 2001 RED:Etmano Lagana April, NEW GAKYIL OF NORTHERN GREECE Tashigar, Jean-François Daireaux B LU E: Politis Stamatis and in Argentina. South America, [email protected] is looking for both Harris Pantelidis YELLOW: Anne Zucker,(Treasurer) RED a Gekos and Secretary. : Dina Svoronou and anne.max@ free.fr Maria Giakoumakou It would be ideal to have a Span­ Richard Lejade YELLOW: Katerina Loukopoulou ish/English speaking couple Hélène Lafage,(Président) andThanos Svoronos to function as a team [email protected] and perform both the duties Contact information: Harris Pantelidis of Secretar)' and Gekos. MERIGAR GAKYIL - Change We would also prefer pensioners Maria Giakoumakou Sicilia D'Arista moved who do not need a salary, V. Olgas 84B over to BLUE but if not, the Community 54643 Thessaloniki can pay aminimal salary. [email protected] and Rosamaria Lo Schiavo The Community provides a Thanos and Dina Svoronou became a new RED member. charming two bedroom cottage Analipseos 32 54643 with all facilities. Thessaloniki The position begins in 8300583106 PASSAGES DEAR VAJRA FAMILY: APRIL.2001. HAWAII GAKYIL "NA ALO NUI" GAKYIL COMMERCE BANK ABA:COM- Please send your questions and YELLOW: Jim Raschick (Treasurer) Marriage MERCEBANK information by email to: RED: Jerene (Secretary) Paula Lugientes 067-010-509 finally we have the Bank account [email protected] BLUE: Barbara D'Franco (President) and where the monies to reserve the lots ADDRESS: Daniel Simonelli COMMERCEBANK CENTER, 220 for TASHIGAR NORTH, MARGARITA were married on December 9th, ISLAND, should be deposited. The ALHAMBRA CIRCLE, CORAL GABLES, Cordoba City, Argentina. Bank account was opened in the FLORIDA 33134, U.S.A.I name of Asociación Civil Lhundrub PHONE:(305) 460-8750 Gar. This is a non profit organization I remind you that the amount to ,300, which is to be in charge of buying reserve each lot is $5 to be dis­ ,000 the land, developing it as stated in tributed thus: $5 for the lot the last update, and selling the lots and $300 for paperwork and with the Agricultural Project includ­ permits.We highly appreciate that if THE MIRROR REPRINT BOOK ed to the Communities and Practi­ it is a Bank transference or deposit, tioners interested. The President in you let us know via email: The Mirror is pleased to offer the opportunity to have teachings Lhundrub Gar for the Margarita [email protected]. ve Summer Gar Project as a whole is mail to : jortoll@worldwidetrav- of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu compiled into one beautfiul soft el.com.ve the number of such bank Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, bound edition, Teachings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, Reprints and nothing can be bought, sold, and transference or deposit, the date it from The Mirror, illustrated by master thanka painter Glen no money can be disposed of by any was made, and all other information member of the Margarita regarding this transaction. This is in Eddy.This book contains twenty teachings from The Difference Committee without the written order to send each one of you the Between Sutra and Tantra; Dzocgchen, the Path of Self Libera­ receipt for the operation. If there are approval of Rinpoche. Also any tion; Helping the Dead and Dying to The Base in Dzogchen; check from this account has to be any questions regarding this memo, Yantra Yoga and How to Follow a Master. signed by any two members of the please don't hesitate to post them .P. Committee in order to be collected. and we'll answer them A.S.A Cost: S20US Thanking you in advance for your Order from immediate response and we remain the Tsegyalgar Bookstore: These are the necessary data to always at your disposition, PO Box 82, Conway, MA, 01341,US A deposit the money or to make bank Tel: 413/369-4473 transferences. Checks or bank trans­ Cimo for the Margarita Committee. Fax: 413/369-4165 ferences should be made in the name [email protected] of: (for shipping costs see next page) ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL LHUNDRUB GAR ACCOUNTNUMBER:

THE MIRROR MARCH 2001 /APRIL 2001 17 REFLECTIONS

SHANG-SHUNG DECEMBER 29,2000 EDIZIONI THE DZOGCHEN OF UFE A REPORT Calendar-agenda for ONTHE by Mark Farrington the Meta I Snake Year FIRST WEB CAST One of the most challenging aspects the many days of being away from a religious philosophy tends to be (2001-2002) of being a Dzogchen practitioner, or a work, most people around me have similar. They are extremely analytical US $10. Lire 15.000 Buddhist in the Western world, is that come to appreciate the strength of my and intellectual in their questioning byLoekJehee you are eventually approached by commitment to this spiritual path. As and want proof of benefit, physical Pocket agenda containing concise a result, it has become the topic of proof. One could dismiss this others who want to ask that all impor­ indications of the practices rec­ tant question - WHY! The infamous conversation when I am not present approach from the beginning and try The Web Cast on Friday, December ommended by Chögyal Namkhai 'WHY' can be from the stand point of, and a bit of a reputation has conse­ to get them to focus more on the meta­ 29th, has been a success. Many Norbu for special days, positive "why are you doing it," or "what is the quently developed, both within my physical, preventing them from messages have arrived from people accessing the Dharma from any other and negative days for the Naga difference," or "does it work," or office and more broadly in the global saying that they received the Web Cast "what is the final goal," etc. The financial markets in which I interact. way. But Rinpoche doesn't teach this Practice, astrological data of the very well. motivation for the question can be You might be surprised to learn that it way and Dzogchen in particular Tibetan Calendar and the It seems that with approximately one positive (I'm interested too), negative is a relatively small world in my area makes no preconditions of this kind. individual aspects for those born hundred thirty connections listened to (what's wrong with you) or just of specialty, with only around one So if that is their starting point, I between 1912 and 2001. Indis­ the Web Cast from all over the world; curiosity, but in all cases for me, when hundred or so involved world wide. should be able to deal with that as a pensable for finding out favorable starting point. And frankly, many this means that more people have lis­ the question is asked I feel it is almost In any case, to make a long back­ and unfavorable days for daily always an important moment to ground introduction come to an end, Westerners who turn to Buddhism do tened, since at various places there activities and to remember remember on my spiritual path. The when someone approaches me so for this very reason. They don't were groups of people listening special practice days. reason is that if I can't answer that seemingly casually at a party or dur­ want faith to be the necessary starting together. A few people experienced very fundamental question simply ing a quiet moment in the office to ask point, they don't want to follow a path some short disruptions (which can to talk a bit about Buddhism it is not that postpones all benefits until the CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU and easily then there is something always happen while using the inter­ wrong. I also usually feel a strong some random coincidence. They have after life. Most humans are fairly Key for Consulting the net) but it seems that many were able sense of responsibility that this could heard that there is this guy who knows cautious and pragmatic. They would Tibetan Calendar to enjoy listening to the beautiful and very well be this person's long await­ a bit about it and their motivation is much prefer a path that allowed them Edited by M.R. Leti clear teachings of our Master and even ed secondary cause manifesting and obviously strong and the secondary to reap some benefits in the short run L. 15.000 US$ 10 while postponing the final receive direct introduction while prac­ how I deliver the response may play cause is in play. Much information on some role in whether his or her karma commitment until later when they ticing together. So, faced with this new and intriguing Tibetan astrology ripens favorably. have had time to let their faith grow dilemma I have come to observe in and on its application to daily life. With this Web Cast we didn't use any myself that these moments tend to over the natural course of a spiritual This level of importance may not A practical and complete manual, equipment at all, except for an seem logical to many of you because crystallize my own beliefs in many life. indispensable for the consultation ordinary telephone. The Web Cast ser­ your lives may entail a lot of interac­ ways. In order to simply respond to So what do I tell them and how do I of the annual astrological calendar. vice was provided by Reallmpact, a tion with others interested in the the question "WHY," and attempting answer the question of WHY? Well, it division of RealNetwork which gives Dharma, or academics accustomed to to adapt the message correctly to each has been different in every case, but I special assistance to non-profit inquiring about various branches of one of these individual's base of always keep it personal and explain All the prices are in Italian Lire organizations for a lower price. We study and beliefs. However, in my understanding is very difficult. I never exactly what it has done for me. The and US dollars. could also buy the RealServer pro­ world, it is rare for me to interact with want to be evangelistic and I never rest I tend to trust to their powers of Postage and packaging: gram to run on a server and then we people like that. My world is the want to imply to them that I am a applicability - they will either see in Europe add Lire 4.000 per teacher, but at the same time I would don't need (to pay) any external orga­ world of global finance. Hyper moti­ how it would affect their life or not. order; outside Europe 3 US $ vated, extremely competitive.suc- like to explain to them WHY it was But what they always insist on is me nization anymore. We could do as every three books. cess-driven individuals who often obvious to me and that the benefits are giving them some kind of concrete many Web Casts as we would like (of To order please send the list of have limited interests outside the real. Then, if they have respect for me example in my life and an example of course always after consultation with books you require by letter or office. Safe areas of non-work related or if they have seen evidence of these a quality in Rinpoche that I consider Rinpoche) for nearly no cost at all email. conversation can flow as far as inter­ benefits in me, then that should be the to confirm that he is enlightened. This (maybe only some telephone motivation for them to begin their ests in family and hobbies but it rarely is where some learning has come Send an International Postal expenses). goes to the level of religious or study of the path. through to me in these experiences. Money Order, Since most Dzogchen Community philosophical beliefs. For conversa­ This type of interaction with others Because, through these experiences, I or Eurocheque in Italian Lire Gonpa's are in remote areas (like tion to go that far two basic premises has been going on for about two years have confirmed in my own mind what (from Europe) or a check Tashigar) from these places "audio must be in place, either the one now and the individuals who have I believe to be one of the amazing (not less than 30 $ or equivalent) initiating the subject is searching and truths about Rinpoche and why he is a only" Web Casting would be possible approached me have come from every to: the motivation is so strong that he or religious and social economic back­ master worthy to follow. It has also (using ordinary telephone lines). In COMUNITÀ DZOGCHEN she can't help themselves, or the per­ ground. The sum total of all of these become my blueprint for interaction some other places where Rinpoche (Shang Shung Edizioni), son initiating has learned through the experiences has led me to draw some with the Community and the organi­ teaches (like e.g. the coming Portland 58031 Arcidosso, GR, Italy. grape vine that you are some kind of conclusions, and as I mentioned earli­ zation of my life. retreat) there are better internet access spiritual person who is open to these Tel. 0564 966039, er, to crystallize my own beliefs. I felt The Dzogchen of Life is founded on possibilities and we could even add kinds of topics. them to be interesting enough to share e-mail: [email protected] getting the right structure in place and video from these places, provided we I have tried to live my life as the with everyone because I see so much then using the best methods available have the necessary computer and Dzogchen Tantras teach, and that is to struggle with some of these concepts to you in order to rise to your capacity. NOTE: Italian bank charges are video equipment. wear my beliefs on the inside. I don't in our Sangha, particularly when we One of the most amazing things about high on dollar checks. When The choice of RealAudio for the pre­ chant mantras in public or do Yantra try to work together in building our Rinpoche is that he does so many ordering by check, please try to do Community. sent Web Cast was made because their Yoga in the office during lunch time. things well. It would be enough if he so with other people so that the were a fantastic Buddhist scholar and program is freely available also for the There is nothing openly obvious Because of the sample of people that I check totals more than 30 dollars. about my behavior. Nevertheless, am naturally going to have interaction a gifted orator. It would be enough if Mac and Unix platforms. Within our after many years of going to retreats with, the types of questions and 'tests' he showed tremendous compassion in Community we have also our own and public teachings, merely through they use to confirm the authenticity of the Gonpa as he taught for hours and computer experts, especially in Rus­ sia, who develop their own system of continued on page ig internet conference. Unfortunately, at present this system is not yet available for the Mac platform and it is a THE 'SECOND ROUND' FORTHE necessity to use a program that can be Ku NYE SCHOOL used on all platforms. Personally, I would prefer to use BY ELISA COPELLO Quicktime (developed by Apple also for the Windows and Unix platforms) In Milan twenty-three students suc­ lineage of the oral tradition which ferent parts of the body according to year Dr. Nida will be starting new above RealAudio. Then we are not cessfully passed the exam for passes from master to a single disci­ the lunar calendar. The La can be courses in Austria and Australia. forced to use RealPlayer if we want to entrance into the second level of Ku ple. Dr. Nida received the transmis­ reinforced through visualization tech­ The objectives of the school are, buy our own equipment in future. If Nye and, apart from a very few who sion and then condensed the fruit of niques, the sound and special mas­ among others, the training of future you are interested in concretely work­ were unable to attend, almost all of his research on the topic in a long arti­ sages explained by Dr. Nida. The instructors who, after completing all ing together with me to organize them participated in the first course of cle recently published in Lhasa. The course will continue with other exter­ the necessary courses and deepening future Web Casting - as a sponsor, as a the second level. The group was students were, therefore, honored to nal therapies considered by Tibetan their studies, would be able to teach technician, etc. - setting up e.g. a highly motivated and deeply interest­ be the first to receive and apply this medicine such as moxabustion, new students. In order to achieve Quicktime server with Sorenson ed in continuing their studies to therapeutic practice in the West. The applying hormay (hot compresses of these objectives, a lot of energy, col­ broadcasting, please contact me at acquire sufficient knowledge of this doctor went on to talk about the La, spices and herbs), applying stones, laboration, seriousness and enthusi­ . ancient therapeutic art in order to the protective energy which assures using water, using cupping glasses asm is required but the foundation has I want to thank very much all people obtain the necessary qualification physical vigor, mental stability and and the golden needle technique. been created and gradually working who cooperated in making this event which will enable them to practice it clarity, a radiant complexion, love of In Rome a group of students will with circumstances, as Rinpoche possible. Especially thank you to as a profession in the future. Dr. Nida life and sense of satisfaction. This shortly be doing the exam in order to always suggests, we feel confident Tsegyalgar Gakyil for taking financial Chenagtsang explained about the energy may be diminished due to attend the second level at Merigar. that the project will become concrete. responsibility and to Tashigar Gakyil therapeutic use of two different mas­ traumatic causes or to provocations Due to the numerous requests, an for setting up the telephone in such sage sticks; one for drumming on the (Rinpoche on several occasions has intensive massage course of the first Department of Medicine, way that we had this excellent sound acu-points and bony places, the other spoken about this) but also due to level will be organized from April Istituto Shang Shung, Italy quality. for use on the muscles and fleshy surgery or overly violent pressure on 24th to May 1 st. The Ku Nye school Tel: 39 564 966941 A happy 2001 to everybody ! parts of the body. This is a practice the points where the La is found on organized by the Department of Med­ Email: [email protected] which has always been kept secret that particular day. For this reason a icine of the Istituto Shang-Shung is and dates back to a terma of the eighth good Ku Nye practitioner should starting to operate at the international century which was rediscovered in know perfectly the path of the La level. Massage courses were the thirteenth century starting a which moves from day to day in dif- organized last year in Russia and this

IH REFLECTIONS Hurricane Keith

by Diane Campbell THE DZOGCHEN OF UFE continued from page 18 tried to help us understand. If he was eventually he or she will fall right I live on an island and I drive my worse, not better. I wanted more patient to the very end of every long back below the steady life time 70% little boat instead of a car. The than anything to be distracted from day, answering questions, greeting performer. A spiritual path is an island has a front side and a back my situation. I wanted to read a THE MIRROR people and making everyone feel a endurance race, not a sprint. Assess­ side. The front side faces the sea book or eat a meal, but all of my NEWSPAPER OF THE part of him, this would be enough to ing your capacity and working within catches the trade winds. The back senses were focused on the storm. be a great teacher. But what has been that capacity for a life time is a chal­ side has a lagoon that is generally At one point my hands began to INTERNATIONAL DZOGCHEN so inspiring to hie and what has had lenge worthy of adoration. We need quite calm. I live on the front side. I shake and my heart beat very fast. COMMUNITY an equally significant affect on my not aspire to absolute greatness. often travel waters on the back side. Did I shake with fear? Perhaps. Did life is the way he lives his life as a Rinpoche has been such an On Thursday morning, September I shake because some wild energy founded by human being. Rinpoche strives for inspiration to me when I see how 28th, I brought my boat into the from the storm was moving Chögyal Namkhai Norbu perfection in all aspects of his life, not much he has achieved outside of just lagoon waters. Something was through my body? Perhaps. I just his so called 'spiritual life.' There teaching the Dzogchen Community at wrong. I could feel it. The water felt decided to lay down, to breathe and are no separations, as Rinpoche has retreats. All the books he has written, angry and there were no waves, but to rest. I went to the dry comer of a taught so many times. Integration of the organizations he has founded, the there was an energy strong and sin­ bedroom, lay down on the bed and the Teaching in our daily lives; how family he has raised, his career as a ister. I could feel power, current and closed my eyes. I breathed 'Om- simple it sounds. professor, as a historian, his constant force. All of it was manifesting in a Ah-Hum' and told myself to relax. What I see with my own eyes when I assistance to the Tibetan people, the different way than I had ever After a while I felt better and in fact see Rinpoche live his life is the courtesy and respect that he pays to experienced. I thought perhaps I had even had a EFFORT of trying to achieve perfec­ every country he visits and to the local On Friday morning I checked my little sleep. I got up and returned to tion in daily life. I highlight the word people which surround him. The way computer for weather satellite pic­ the room where my husband sat, he takes time to write things "How long did I sleep", I asked him effort, because I think this causes peo­ tures. A storm was building nearby. Main Office: ple a lot of trouble. The human condi­ beautifully when he gives you a letter (I was sure I had been in bed for an Taking this and the angry waters PO Box 277 tion makes it impossible to be perfect or an empowerment, the way he hour or two). "You were in that into account, I began to implement Conway, Massachusetts 01341 at all times throughout ones entire remembers to give gifts to little room for about three minutes", he an emergency storm plan. The U.S.A. life. The whole premise of 'life is suf­ children and the way he shares his replied. weather forecasters said it would be Tel 413-369-4208 fering' is about the reality that you are dinner table with so many different a small storm, and it would not hit Eventually the stoim weakened and Fax:413-369-4165 swimming against the tide the entire people, no matter how tired he is. His us. Still, I wanted to be prepared. moved on. When the wind had Email: NaomiMirror@ length of your life. Some degree of ability to relax an be comfortable in so On Saturday morning the waters on reduced to about 100 MPH we compuserve.com failure is implicit. The measurement many different accommodations and the front of the island were rough were able to go outside and with of the Dzogchen of Life is how close climates. The ease with which he and wild. As the day progressed, it difficulty we could walk to other European Office: you are coming to perfection on a switched from hand writing to writing became apparent that perhaps the homes and see what had happened. The Mirror Merigar, 58031 on the computer, his ability to grasp daily basis, not whether or not you storm would come somewhere The beach was littered with small Arcidosso GR Italy the power and significance of technol­ achieve it in absolute terms. So how nearby. Still it was predicted to be dead birds, roofs were off houses, Tel and Fax: 0564-966039 ogy and incorporate it into his meth­ do you get as close to the goal as you very small and not very strong. The trees were tipped over and Email: [email protected] ods and daily life. The way he are capable of? Rinpoche has taught it town announced that just to be safe, everywhere people were in shock. Email: LizMirror@ switched from teaching in Italian to many times in relation to our practice the electrical current would be We learned that four of our friends compuserve.com - first understand your capacity and English because he knew he could turned off at 6pm in case winds had been killed. Two days later we then choose the appropriate methods reach a broader audience, and the knocked down lines in the night. It managed to get to town, and saw to fit your capacity. What I believe, years it took him to achieve that goal. was a sensible plan to avoid fires. piles of boats in streets, debris EDITORIAL STAFF and what I believe Rinpoche is teach­ His skills as an architect, as a design­ We all thought that we would be everywhere and again, small dead Naomi Zeitz, Tsegyalgar ing all the time with his life as an er, as a cook, as a musician, a poet. just fine. The fishermen brought animals in the mess. Martial law Liz Granger, UK example, is that the same solution Also, I respect his ability to say no, or some of their boats into safer har­ was declared. Gasoline, flour and Tiziana Gottardi, Merigar exists in all aspects of our life. to not get involved when he sees no bors, and I tied mine with about 10 other basic foodstuffs were First we must understand our benefit. His judgment about when to lines and three anchors. About 5 pm rationed. There was a ban on the LITERARY EDITOR capacities in all areas and then struc­ do something, when to wait and when the news came that the storm had sale of alcohol. We did not have John Shane ture our lives to fit that. Then, through to press forward. There are so many become a hurricane and it might hit phones or any other communica­ appropriate methods we strive to mundane decisions and circumstance us. Still it seemed a very minimal tion. Of course there was no elec­ ADVISORS reach the height of our capacity in in which Rinpoche makes a decision hurricane (80 MPH) and we were tricity. Several-thousand people Adriano Clemente each of the structured areas. In where I can see so clearly the relative not particularly worried. We filled were homeless, and a huge task of Anna Eid absolute terms we can understand it perfection. None of them represent an containers with fresh water, clean up and restoration lay ahead. Barbara Paparazzo more easily; devote 100% of your absolute perfect outcome in and of checked that our flashlights had It has been four and a half months Des Barry time to practice, live in a cave and you themselves, but the state of the good batteries, and went to bed since the storm. The community Jim Valby may achieve complete perfection in individual and the wisdom of the early that night. pulled together and we are func­ DESIGN your spiritual state. Devote 100% of decision and the kindness of the tioning pretty well now. Compared About midnight I awoke to howling DnK your time to your career and you will action hold an underlying relative per­ winds. I could not sleep. I listened with the enormous tragedies of the perhaps achieve ultimate success in fection compared to the circum­ earthquakes in India and El to the battery radio and learned that ILLUSTRATION your career path. Devote 100% of stances and limits in place. This to me while we slept the hurricane had Salvador, we should perhaps not your time to caring for and sharing is The Dzogchen of Life. Cartoons built to 130 MPH and was still complain too much. We survived, with your family and you will achieve So how do we achieve something Patrizia Moscatelli (pg.20) strengthening. What was even continue to rebuild and are back at a blissful life full of happy memories. resembling this in our daily lives? I worse was that it was headed work. Devote 100% of your time to the strongly believe that it starts with the PRINTERS directly at our island and our town. What did I leam? More than any­ Dzogchen Community as Gakyil self assessment, the understanding of Turley Publishers I woke my husband. In the dark, thing, I have learned that by writing member or a Gekos and you will your capacity. Not just your spiritual Palmer, MA with driving wind and rain we man­ this long story I have not begun to probably see positive affects all capacity, but your capacity in every aged to haul plywood up to some of explain what happened. This is all DISTRIBUTION around. However, in reality, most of aspect of life. If you determine this, our windows and nail it on for pro­ intellectual, and even exciting, but Tsegyalgar at us are trying to get a mix of these then you will always know when to tection. The storm became too it is not the main point. What absolutes correct and often end up say no, when not to get involved, Conway, Massachusetts intense for us to finish the job, and happened is beyond words. What discouraged because of mediocre where to draw your limits on every we had to accept the limits of our happens beyond words is stronger SUBSCRIPTION RATE/6 ISSUES results in all categories. What is the activity in life. If you set the measure­ protection. We did not sleep again and more 'real' than anything we S35US available through Tsegyalgar right mix; 50% spiritual, 25% family, ment of perfection at 100% of that for at least 48 hours. can explain. That storm changed 60.000 It. lire through Merigar 25% career? Is perfect integration to defined limit of your capacity, and Hurricane Keith was only 20 miles me. I cannot explain how. That Visa and Master card welcome marry another practitioner, become a then you strive to perform at 70-80% in diameter but it was blowing at storm taught me something. I can­ Yoga teacher and do Gum Yoga all of that capacity at all times with con­ All material ©1998 by The Mirror. 160 MPH when the wind-meter in not explain what. How did three day with your breath? What if you sistency, all those around you will Reprint by permission only. our town broke. We assumed that minutes of 'Om-Ah-Hum' seem were already married before you dis­ begin to notice your level of perfec­ We reserve the right to edit wind gusts were about 180 MPH. like two hours? How did it feel to covered Dzogchen and your body is tion, your Dzogchen of Life. all submissions. The eye is the calm center around sit in the dark for 36 hours knowing too inflexible to do Yoga? If we were to all determine that our which all the energy revolves. The that we could die at any moment? I think it is very hard for people to see capacity to give to the Dzogchen 'eye wall' is the strongest part of the How did it feel to wonder if any­ perfection in a life that is split 50-25- Community in some form was only storm. The eye wall sat on our body else was alive and to not 25 across anything. We tend to think 10%, either as a Gakyil member, an house for 36 hours. Debris pelted know anything about what lay of perfection in absolute terms. All or artist, a construction worker or a Yoga our home like cannons, water blew ahead? How does it feel to mourn a nothing. The perfect painter is some­ teacher, but we were going to give through solid wood. The noise was life that will never be the same? I one who paints their whole life, the that 10% at 80% of our full potential, almost deafening. We could see a cannot explain. I have tried. I have perfect musician is the one playing then the outcome would be the sum of little bit outside, but not much. I cried. I have felt stunned, angry, piano by age 3 and composing music thousands of 10% perfect contribu­ watched the waves tear my boat- sad, grateful, tired, astonished, up until their death. Perhaps it is a tions from the Sangha. This would house down, flip my boat over and have felt all of those things very function of my world, a world of duly be a reflection of our Master. He then tear the pier apart. Our guest powerfully but they are not the probabilities, that makes me see tries his best at everything he does and house collapsed and the sweet little main point. The main point, as with things differently. In my professional aspires to perfection. We owe it to cabin where I did Ganapuja it is the teachings of our Master, is world if someone is perfect 60% of him, as ultimately the Dzogchen now a pile of lumber in our back beyond words. the time they are successful, 70-80% Community is a reflection of him, to yard. of the time extremely successful and give our best - our 10% perfection - 90% of the time unheard of. If one whenever we give to the Community. While the storm raged, we were OmA Hum. lives their life at a 70% success rate, unable to do anything about out sit­ over the course of time you will see uation except mop up the water that yourself rise steadily to the top of dis­ came into the house through the tinction. A rising star can shoot to the walls, roof and windows. We lis­ top with a few 100% outcomes, but tened to the radio and every time the news came, the news seemed

THE MIRROR MARCH 2001/APRIL 2001 19 THE MIRROR Other articles of interest: FROM THE ARCHIVES His Holiness the Dala Lama talks about Shugden practice; The Vajra Dear friends, Dance, Interview with Chögyal At this web site:http://members.ams.chello.nl/a.jehee/NNRevents.itf Back Issues Available! Namkhai Norbu; Interview with there is a first provisional list of all the retreats, teachings and lectures held until now by our Master all over the world. 10issuesfor$10US! His Holiness Sakya Trizin; Inter­ We have sent it to all Gars of our Community for an official checking, but we are publishing it on Norbunet also in Includes shipping view with H.E Dorzong Rinpoche; order that every single practitioner can read it and inform us about any mistakes they find regarding dates, places, etc. Teaching on the Three Points by Please send your responses to: Felice Storgato: [email protected] rates! Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche; Interview Thank you for your precious collaboration, Felice Storgato and Igor Legati A packet of 10 back issues of The with Lopon Tenzin Namdak; The Mirror from its first year in 1990, as Nature and Meaning of Santi Maha BOOKS AND PRACTICES AVAILABLE by Barry Simmons Shang Shung Edizioni, 2000 well as issues from 1997,1998, and Sangha; Environmental Projects in FROM TSEGYALGAR First Edition, First Printing, 1998 $10 1999 is now available. The informa­ Riwoche, Tibet; Logging Bans in $30 (hard cover) tion and articles contained in the Tibet; Archaeological Survey of the *Namkha *Zemga past issues includes: Lost City of Zhang Zhung, 3 parts; Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Green Book of Transcripts, Talks in Chögyal Namkhai Norbu A Pilgrimage to the Middle Land - Translated from Italian by Nina Conway, 1982 & Shang Shung Edizioni, 2000 The Dzogchen Community Wel­ an Account of a Pilgrimage to India Robinson 1983, Vol. I $6 comes His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu; arti­ Published by Shang Shung Edi­ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (Merigar, 1990) cles on Tibetan Medicine, Astrolo­ zioni, 1999 Translated from Italian into English *For Those Who Have Received gy and Art; Book Reviews; Articles $17 by Barry Simmons Transmission Of These on the Formation of an International Teachings Second Edition, First Printing, Practices From the Master Gakyil and the International Publi­ by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: The Crystal & the Way of Light, 1984 cations "Relaxation and Collaboration, Sutra, Tantra & $30 (hard cover) All prices in US dollars. 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