THE MIRROR Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community November/December 2000 • Issue No. 55 Between Thailand and South Africa by Elisa Copello etween Thailand and South Rome that there were only 600 BAfrica, Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ places and that the tickets would bu made a brief, yet intense and start being given out at 9:30, about important, stopover in Rome. It was two and a half hours before Rin­ an extra exertion in a climate not poche was due to arrive. However particularly suitable for Rinpoche's in the end everyone found a place, health with a full program of even those who arrived at the last engagements, from the inaugura­ minute by car or train from far off tion of the exhibition and talks at places to receive the transmission. the conference on Tibetan medicine The organization of the event to the public talk held on November was really commendable: the place 20th at the great hall of a prestigious chosen for the event was excellent, religious institute where he present­ queuing was orderly and fast and ed the Dzogchen teaching. Howev­ there was a discreet but efficient er, for us practitioners, it was an control of the situation. The stage immense joy to be able to have him was decorated in a simple and ele­ with us once again and to share the gant way with an enormous black First Time, Best Time experience of the direct transmis­ and white photograph of Adzam sion which he gave on the occasion Drugpa behind Rinpoche's chair of Adzam Drugpa's anniversary on with two very large thankas hang­ Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in Kathmandu November 21st. This was held at ing from the wings. the Ghioni theater which had been Punctually, at midday, Rin­ hired for the occasion by the Gakyil poche mounted the stage and September, 2000 of Rome. immediately began to explain the Smiling, witty and at times practice. Then after a short break, at even cutting, Rinpoche once again the exact stroke of one o'clock, he by Mark Farrington introduced the crowds gathered in led the practice perfectly synchro­ the enormous hall at the San Leone nized with the video being shown Magno Institute to knowledge of on a television behind him. urrounded by the most inspiring mountain range in As many Community members can appreciate, Ati Yoga. He spoke at length on the I was very moved at the idea Sthe world and lying at the heart of one of the most particularly those that travel a lot, it is not only within difference between the mind and that for about half an hour the entire beautiful valleys in Asia, the city of Kathmandu can eas­ the room where Rinpoche is Teaching that many the nature of the mind, on the vari­ Community in every part of the ily be an experience of the "glass half empty, glass half lessons are learned. The whole effort of preparing, trav­ ous types of transmission through world was reunited in perfect syn- full". It is a noisy and dusty city like many Asia capitals, eling to and sitting for the Teachings, becomes part of which a practitioner may enter chronicity with us practitioners in with a race between infrastructure development and the lesson, and for many it fits perfectly for where they authentic knowledge of his original Rome who had the great fortune to population growth clearly being won by the latter. How­ are on the Path. The obstacles we encounter to get there, condition, on various types of expe­ be able to follow the practice with ever, as you look around to the mountain framed edges the condition of our body and mind when we arrive, and rience which permit one to discover the Master live and receive the of the sky and into the smiling eyes of the Nepali people, every experience we have during the trip, can often be a the state of Dzogchen. Besides this, transmission from him. Even it is with very little difficulty that one can walk around in symbolic teaching that registers deeply. This defines in a gesture which was quite unusu­ though the event had been a blissful state of wonder. the historical pilgrimage experience. It is nice to know al for us, Rinpoche invited the par­ announced for several months and It was my first trip to the Himalayas and the attrac­ that in the days of modem travel and material wealth ticipation of the public. At first peo­ the videos and practice books for tion was very powerful. Wandering around the congest­ that these experiences are still possible, if you remain ple were timid with their questions the transmission had been prepared ed city with the expansive space of the mountains right open and aware to their existence. some of which were exacting and and sent around the world some interesting, others simply strange. there on the horizon was generating a sense of restless­ The room full of students and interested new par­ time ago, to find ourselves with the This question/answer session con­ ness. I wanted to head off deep into the hills! However, ties that came to hear Chögyal Namkhai Norbu speak Master on the occasion of the firmed how sometimes questions when the Teachings began on Friday afternoon in a over this September weekend in Kathmandu were all in anniversary of Adzam Drugpa in arise more from the wish to be beautiful, yet simple hall at the Yak & Yeti Hotel, all the middle of one kind of journey or another. There the unusual context of a theater and heard and seen rather than a real seemed well. If you are going to be in the busy center of were some permanent residents and some Nepalese, but with the awareness of this link desire to satisfy one's curiosity or Kathmandu with ail the tranquillity of the Himalayas it was mostly a room full of global citizens intersecting between those present and all the clarify a doubt. around you, then being at the Yak & Yeti is a very pleas­ at this one beautiful hotel in the middle of the practitioners in the world united by ant concession. Vikki Floyd was a very warm and help­ Himalayas. I did not speak to many people so I do not To the question about how to the strength of the transmission was ful host for all of the travelers attending the brief week­ know their exact stories, but it seemed to me that all recognize a real Master in a world for me and, I believe, many others a end Teachings. A special thank you to her and all those were on a journey either spiritual or actual and the pres­ where so many lamas come to the that helped to host this very enjoyable event. ence of this incredible Teacher was an important (and West to teach Rinpoche jokingly- continued on page 3 replied, "There are even lamas in continued on page 3 Peru!". Then he added that it is important to use one's own aware­ CONTENTS NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE'S SCHEDULE 2000-2002 ness and observe well the attitude, behavior and teaching of a Master 2 TEACHINGS 2 0 0 0 MARGARITA ISLAND March 30th - April 3rd before deciding to follow him. Chögyal Samkhai S'orbu SOUTH AMERICA, TASHIGAR Easter Retreat The talk concluded with an 5 INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS December 26th - January 1st invitation to those with a real inter­ New Year Retreat, Tashigar USA, WEST COAST May 1st est to know the Dzogchen teaching 6 TIBETAN MEDICINE 2 0 0 1 Public Talk: Introduction to Dzogchen to come the following day to the 7 BOOK REVIEW May 2nd -6th Ghioni theater to receive the trans­ SOUTH AMERICA, CHILE, PERU& MARGARITA 9 SHANG-SHUNG INSITRTE West Coast Retreat mission. Several "new" people ISLAND May 8th Leave for Seattle took up this invitation while a great 10-17 COMMUNITY NEWS CHILE number of us "old" practitioners May 9th 21 INTERNATIONAL February 1st Public talk: Introduction to Dzogchen, Seattle from all over Italy and even abroad Public Conference, Santiago de Chile COMMUNITY CONTACTS May 10th participated in the event which was February 2nd. 3rd and 4th Leave for Portland 24 INTERNATIONAL GAKYIL NEWS Retreat of Dzogchen Teachings May 13th-16th one more opportunity to see Rin­ Santiago de Chile H.H. the Dalai Lama's teaching, Portland poche and refresh the energy of the SPECIAL February 5th May 18th-20th transmission. Portland Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu PAGES 18-19 Public Conference, Vina del Mar Early in the morning we met 2 PAGE BOOKLIST RUSSIA, KUNSANGAR in front of the closed gates of the PERU FROM Santi Maha Sangha theater under the pouring rain to get February 9th, 10th & 11th May 27th-29th our tickets. We were worried about SHANG-SHUNG Chod Retreat, Peru SMS Base Level Exam May 30th-June 5th not being able to get in because we EDIZIONI SMS I Level Training had been told by the Gakyil of continued on page 3 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu to decide what his capacity is, not very important point. Because it teaching which is regarded as not the teacher. Let's say I lack clarity. I happens that many people wait acceptable, or something to be The True Function of can ask the advice of the Master around passively to get the capacity feared. Because in this teaching about this, and what kind of prac­ that they want. And many people what one searches for is a state tice I can do to get rid of this lack of say, "Oh, this teaching is much too beyond acceptance and rejection.