THE MIRROR

Newspaper of the International Community Jan/Feb 2002 • Issue No. 59 CHÖGYAL Tashigar, Place of Omens Revised Schedule 2002-2003

by Cristian Cabrai 2002 MARGARITA ISLAND February 15th - 24th Margarita Island Teachers Training March 28th - April 2nd Margarita Island Easter Retreat April 9th - 23rd Margarita Island Longsal teaching (For the Longsal teaching students must be serious. For that reason we need to receive their request before coming to the teaching.) USA (See page 4)

Boston, Massachusetts May 1 st-7th Dzogchen Retreat, Harvard Un i versify

Nortltampton May 9th Public Talk, Northampton, Massachusetts

Santi Malta Sangiia at Tsegyalgar, Conway, Massachusetts May 10th -14th SMS Base Exam May 15th -19th SMS I Level Training.

May 21st-23rd SMS I Level Exam May 24th-28th SMS FI Level Training

PAULA LUCIENTES leaving the Tashigar Gonpa after the Longde Teachings May 30th -31st SMS II Level Exam he heat was starting to make None of us had any idea that our Nonetheless they will know June 1st-5th SMS ffl Level Training Tstones shiver in the mountains Teacher was to come here for that destiny is non existent; it is part of Cordoba and the sun was reflect­ Christmas. Three months before of the great illusion which the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ing itself shyly on the brooks quiet­ December a request came from teacher helps us recognize by paint­ June 8th Public Talk. Philadelphia ly breaking their way through the him, "Do whatever you can to orga­ ing it with his simplicity and his University of Pennsylvania fields. nize the end of the year retreat." eyes; this reality of what we are. New York City Tashigar; the place of omens. Days passed, one by one, until, at The sky is clearing and June 10th -16th New York City Dzogchen Retreat Lucky are we who have had some last, on the twenty-first of Decem­ becomes ready to allow the sun to time to tread on this precious earth. ber, 2001, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu reign again with its splendor from ITALY & EUROPE Some have gone, others came for arrived and was able to see a differ­ heavenly heights. I listen to the first Merigar the first moment to stay, walking ent Tashigar; a Tashigar with birds singing and I think that the June 20th Leave for Merigar their way through the beloved strength and the will to go forward tears are not only mine, but every­ July 5th-9th Merigar shorter retreat mountains, then there are those beyond all problems, beyond our one's. whose lives were turned off by the own selves, our own egos. Tashigar: the place of omens. Santi Malia at Merigar, Italy passing of time to make us even Today, slowly, silence begins To you who are reading let me tell July 23rd - 25th SMS I Level Exam more aware that everything is descending on us with every depart­ you something. If. by chance, you July 26th-30th SMS II Level Training impermanent. ing sibling. Rain falls on us. The wander around Argentina, do not Those who know say that tears few who still remain here are sleep­ exclude a visit here. I can reassure August 9th- 18th Merigar longer retreat are the symbol of detachment from ing and probably dreaming of what that if you come you will not miss ignorance; and while I am writing I they left behind or will find ahead. the feeling that the Buddha has Europe think on how much I have personal­ When they wake up they will not be tread on this place. France ly cried myself out and on how the same because one day less is left August 28th Leave for Karmaling. France much still there is to be cried. in the calendar of their lives. Translated by Marita Fa\ó Germany September 3rd Leave for Germany September 6th-8th German retreat CONTENTS Hungary September 10th Leave for Hungary September 13th-15th Hungarian retreat Crimea PAGES 2 & 3 TEACHINGS BY CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU September 17th Leave for Crimea September 25 th-29th Crimea - Kunsansar Retreat. PAGE 4 INTERVIEW WITH BARRIE SIMMONS Czech Republic October 1st Leave for Czech Republic PAGE 5 INTERVIEW WITH ANDY LUKIANOWICZ October 4th-6th Czech Retreat October 5th There will be a public talk in the Prague PAGE 6 BOOK REVIEWS Castle - the residence of the Czech monarchs Austria PAGE 7 INTERVIEW WITH CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU â LIVES October9th Leave for Au stria (On the way to Austria a stop in Bratislava for a public talk to the Slovak OF THE GREAT MASTERS, Buddhists.) October 11 th His Holiness the Dalai arrives PAGE 8 NEWS FROM SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE October 23rd H is Holiness the departs October 25th -27th Dzogchen Retreat (see page ) PAGE 9 NEWS FROM ASIA October 28th Return to Merigar

PAGES 10 & Il ARCHEOLOGI AL SURVEY IN EAST ASIA & AUSTRALIA Thailand PAGE 12 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONTACTS November 4th Leave for Thailand November 15th- 17th Thailand Dzogchen Retreat PAGE 14 FEATURED LING, AZAMLING Singapore November 22nd-24th Singapore Teaching retreat PAGE 15-21 COMMUNITY NEWS Australia November 25th Leave for Brisbane PAGE 22 & 23 REFLECTIONS December 26th - January 1 st Namgyalgar Retreat. Australia

PAGE 24 INTERNATIONAL GAKYIL NEWS Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

ood morning and happy new spiritual knowledge. We have our Gyear to everybody in different condition: body, speech and mind. places around the world. We are Mind is more secret and more com­ here in Tashigar. in Argentina. It is plicated. So, if we need and want to summer and we have had many have peace, we must get mental very nice days. We know that many peace. You can't get peace by eat­ of you are in cold, snowy countries, ing or drinking something. How so we send our warm wishes to can you have peace? First of all, by you. balancing your energy. But also Our retreat, in general, is based that is not the whole solution. Even on the principle of knowledge and if you overcome some problems understanding of ourselves. That is working with your energy level, something important, if we do a that is relative and good for only retreat or not, or if we follow the one or two days. To definitively teachings or not. In any case, we overcome all these problems you are human beings, one kind of must get in your real nature, you being among different kinds of must live in your real nature, and beings. A human being has a little until you have this knowledge or

PA0LA more knowledge and understand­ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in the Gonpa at Tashigar LUCIENTE understanding you can't have men­ ing. Also the teachings exist, so in tal peace. So you see, to have men­ this case it is very important that we tal peace you must explore spiritual have awareness of our condition. New Year's Greeting & Teaching from Tashigar, Argentina knowledge. We know that no sentient being Some people don't like the likes suffering, and of course Live Web Cast, December 30,2001 aspect of religion. All religions and human beings have more aware­ spiritual figures are not spiritual ness of that. What we apply always paths. Religion is applied by produces suffering, even if we fering first? Suffering is universal because we have a problem and doctor, understanding and applying human beings and human beings don't want to have suffering. Why for all sentient beings, not only that is the effect of a cause. The the medicine] then we are follow­ have their limitations. There is no do we produce suffering that way? more developed beings like a doctor is not cause of this effect, ing the teachings with the correct one who has no limitations. So who Even if we are not interested in the human beings - even cats, dogs and but the doctor can discover the intention. is the enlightened being, Buddha teaching, we live our human life birds recognize suffering. For cause. We cannot discover this, we Incorrect intention also exists; Shakyamuni? Buddha never taught and know how many problems example, if you throw a stone at a are ignorant. Even if we understand intention like a hunter. That is when any teaching to limit human beings. there are between human beings, dog it escapes. Why? Because the and discover a little of the cause, we see the teacher and teaching like Buddha always explained, "You try nations and nations, groups and dog doesn't like that; it is a suffer­ we have no solution nor do we a deer or a wild animal. Our interest and understand the state of the praj- groups, etc. Why do we have all ing. understand how to overcome it. to follow the teaching is like hunt­ na paramita and that is the under­ these problems? We have these So it is not so difficult to under­ When we arrive at the doctor, he ing. Why do we hunt? We hunt standing of the state of your real problems because we are condi­ stand suffering, particularly for asks us which kind of problem we because we need meat and skins, nature". That is not just the nature tioned by dualistic vision: because human beings. We have suffering have? For example, I say I have a etc., and we don't even care if that of Indian or ; it is of we are egocentric and not thinking related to our body, speech, mind; very strong pain in my stomach. animal dies. If we follow the teach­ all sentient beings. So there is no of the general condition but only many kinds of sufferings. When The doctor does not say immedi­ ing in that way it is the wrong direc­ limitation, but when Buddha mani­ ourselves. Buddha explained suffering every­ ately, "Take this medicine". There tion. So, if we know the value of the fested paranirvana eighteen differ­ are many kinds of pain in the stom­ There is a saying in a teaching one understood. Also when Buddha teaching, the teacher, and realiza­ ent schools of manifest­ ach. The doctor asks what you ate of the in said we don't need or like suffering, tion, then we follow the teaching in ed. They argued between them­ and drank the day before yesterday, the Yogacharaya which says, "All everyone understood and agreed. If the correct way. For this under­ selves and said, "My way of seeing studies your diet and attitude, asks the happiness in the world comes Buddha explains nature of mind or standing the first thing we need is is perfect because Buddha taught if you traveled in the night, or asks from one wish for others to be hap­ condition of mind, many intellectu­ awareness; awareness of knowl­ these words", and the other school if you didn't use sufficient clothes py. All suffering comes from one al people don't agree with Buddha. edge and understanding of our con­ is said, "No, you are wrong". That and the weather was wet, for exam­ who only wants to be happy one­ There are many kinds of religions, dition. Many people think these is why there are so many schools ple. There are many things related self. That means that we educate philosophies, and different points things are only for people who fol­ and traditions of Buddhism and lat­ to our attitude. Also the doctor ourselves; we try to be open and not of which have different ways low the teachings and practice. Our er more and more developed. This looks and checks the pulse, urine, egocentric. This is something very of seeing the nature of mind. That is condition, problems and confu­ is always the root; the root is limita­ eyes, tongue, etc. Why is the doctor important in the world - for all why so many kinds of religions, sions are not only for practitioners. tion and these are human limita­ doing that? To discover the cause. nations and everyone. For example, philosophies, and different points Particularly people who are not tions, not limitations created by The doctor knows very well that when we speak about peace in the of view exist, but suffering is the practitioners, have the same and Buddha Shakyamuni. Today when you have that effect; the doctor world, it is not unusual for us to say same; suffering of one kind of sometimes more problems. People we follow the teachings we have works with the effect and can then things like, "We need peace". But nation, one group of people, some­ who follow the teaching, even if these same limitations. If you meet discover the cause and then gives we can never have peace if we do one belongs to a different kind of they do not do much practice, they a teacher belonging to a specific advice. The doctor advises on how not apply something related to its school, but suffering is always suf­ try to learn and discover slowly, school then you say, "My teacher your diet should be, your attitude, principle. Peace is not a word but a fering. There is no discussion of slowly. But many people are very belongs to this school, his teaching how you use medicine, etc. Then practice, and this is related to a kind suffering and everyone agrees we intellectual and feel they don't need belongs to this school, his tradition when you follow the advice of the of evolution. To evolve we must don't want suffering. Everyone has any kind of teaching. That is an is that, now I am his student and I doctor precisely, you have benefit understand how our condition is; had experiences of suffering and obstacle and still more difficult to belong to that tradition", and you and overcome the illness. our way of seeing and being, etc. we know it well. Buddha points out overcome. limit yourself by being in this tradi­ that we don't like suffering and we tion. If there is someone following So if we observe ourselves just a That is an example of how we For example, when I was in agree; everyone says yes and fol­ another tradition and even if he or little more, we see just how egocen­ should follow the teachings in a in 1953, in that period the lows Buddha. Then Buddha says if she is your friend, you feel a little tric we are. When we discover that, correct way. We need three inten­ revolution started. I was in school we don't like suffering then we uncomfortable because you think, then there is something we can do. tions to follow the teachings in a and teaching Tibetan language and must discover the cause of suffer­ "He is in this school and I am in It does not work to change the correct way. Firstly, we must think grammar to many students. I ing. In general, people struggling another". Do you think this is really countryside or population or what­ the teacher is just like a doctor, a remember very well that in that with suffering always say that if a path!? This is not a path. This is ever. This is how we act when we physician. We know we have some period there was a slogan which there is a problem there is always a called limitation. But unfortunate­ have a revolution and people do problems but cannot discover them said:"We revolutionaries don't solution by making a revolution ly, all human beings live in this this because they believe it is a precisely. So we go to the teacher to need any spiritual path because if against suffering. This is the wrong kind of limitation. solution. Of course, sometimes the leam and the teacher gives advice we have an illness or some prob­ fruit of this manifests something direction. Buddha explained this of how we can overcome those lem, we take medicine". That was If you follow a path in this way positive. If we balance in the con­ very well. Even if you are strug­ problems. The teaching the teacher the slogan. The only problem con­ it seems more comfortable, even if trary way, maybe the contrary way gling with suffering all your life, gives us is something like medi­ sidered was illness and there was it doesn't correspond in the real is heavier. Today, even if we suc­ you will never win. Suffering is an cine; we have the medicine and medicine to take. It doesn't corre­ sense. All figures of religions and ceed to have a revolution, after ten effect of a cause and we already advice of the teacher and when we spond in the real sense, you also different schools function in that or twenty years it changes again have that effect. There is nothing to apply it all we can overcome the ill­ have illnesses related to mind, way. Of course, if someone wants and the price of that revolution kills do, only through this effect can we ness. We know our condition is energy and the physical level. If to follow in a more concrete way, hundreds and hundreds of beings. learn what the cause is. When we something like a person who has you have an illness on the physical they may feel a little uncomfort­ Revolution is very expensive and is know what the cause is, then the illness. Even if we have no physical level, sometimes you can over­ able. That is why many people no solution. second time we don't produce that illness we have so many emotions. come it with some medicine. But if don't like religion. If you don't like suffering. We are totally conditioned by emo­ you have some illness related with Why doesn't revolution corre­ religion you must distinguish what tions which is why we have such energy, for example the energy is spond to the real condition? In That is why Buddha presented is valuable from religion, and if that strong emotions like anger, attach­ unbalanced and disturbed, it is not ancient times Buddha Shakyamuni the knowledge of cause through the religion or spiritual path is good for ment, acceptance and rejection, etc. so easy to overcome with medicine. taught this. Many of the people effect of suffering. We must learn you. But also it doesn't matter, if For that reason we need a teacher, Still more difficult is if we have interested in the teachings of the this well and apply it in the correct you don't like religion you don't not only for pleasure. We go to the some mental problem, then the Buddha don't apply what Buddha way. If we observe well in our ordi­ have to follow. It is not necessary teacher to discover our problems problem is not only on the physical taught. When Buddha started to nary condition, there are many really we follow. If there is some and overcome them; just like we go level. teach the at things we can understand. For circumstance and you are living to a doctor. If we have these three Saranath, the number one truth of example, if we go to a doctor, we Also the spiritual level does not somewhere and are a practitioner principle ideas of following the the Four Noble Truths is suffering. do not go to a doctor because we only mean some aspect of religion; and in your place there is only one teachings [seeing the teacher as the Why did Buddha teach about suf­ like the doctor. We go to the doctor but our real condition is related to kind of religion or center or group continued on next page

2 Teaching ChNN continued from previous page knowledge. If we have no knowl­ for only my interest, but to help all Bodanath in Nepal, and you in a limited way, of course it is like it, therefore I don't insult oth­ edge in the correct way, even if we sentient beings who are suffering". see how many people are going some kind of spiritual path and ers. I pay respect and know another think we are doing something in a These are the words and that is around this Stupa in a big hurry, even if you don't like the structure, dimension exists, not only my good way it does not always corre­ what we are always reciting. And some are chanting and you can follow and apply. You dimension. All these dimensions spond. It is not so easy to think this why are we reciting that? Because some go around not chanting, but don't need to make a revolution and and beings have their own way of is "good" or "bad". Many things, while we recite, we think and culti­ very quickly. What if you ask them you don't even need to have this seeing and feeling. So it is very for example, that they consider vate that knowledge. So you can what they are doing? That is not idea. You don't need to think, "This important that we pay respect. good in the East, we consider bad in understand why it is important to business or work to earn money. group is going in the wrong way Why do we have many prob­ the West. That is an example. Noth­ cultivate our idea and not only to They say they are "doing " and I want to do some kind of revo­ lems between people and people, ing universal exists, but depends chant. Many people are accus­ and you say, "How can you do lution". This is the wrong idea. It group and group, and nations and very much on the circumstance and tomed to only chanting mantras and dharma going around a stupa?" doesn't work if you discuss and try nations? We are not respecting each how the situation is. To know the prayers. Maybe in the beginning They don't know, they believe in and convince others that you have other. Why? Because we don't circumstance and situation we need they think of the real sense, but then what they are doing and say, "This good ideas. If there is this school understand that other kinds of awareness, and then we can't apply it becomes a kind of habit or cus­ is our way of applying dharma". so and the people are convinced, that beings have another kind of dimen­ good and bad. tom and they don't think about the even if they don't know what they is how it is. If you have that knowl­ sion. Our recognition is only of our There is a very interesting meaning very much because there are really doing, with this good edge, you do your best. Of course, own dimension and we don't care example of this in a story told by a is no time to think. So they only intention they accumulate some if someone asks you, "I want to for others. This is the wrong point very important scholar called chant very quickly. You see, many merits. Of course, it is not a big have the correct path to apply, what of view. So it's very important we Sakaypandita of the . people, like Tibetans, live with a . So you see how related that do you think, what can I do?" If realize that even if we are only two In South , near , there is mala and chant " Mani Padme is with good intention. someone asks your advice, then in people there are two different a forest where there is a kind of Hum". If you really chant a In the real sense, how is this this case you can explain. dimensions; two people have two bird. In this forest there is a kind of in the correct way to cultivate bod- system of going around the chartert In general people don't ask in different ways of seeing and being, bird whose baby birds like their hicitta, it is not necessary that you or the temple or monastery consid­ this way. Human beings always etc., even if the way of seeing is mother very much. The mother bird count. If it is necessary that one day ered a practice? What is its source? believe they know everything correct or not. Even if it is not, we is very kind to the children; every you know how many mantras you In the ancient times, when Buddha because when they received educa­ must respect it. If that person asks day she collects and gives food and have chanted, maybe there will be was in India giving teachings, and tion, day after day, year after year, you, then you can correct, but if that does service for the babies. The someone who knows very well. If all the students received teachings they learned many things and now person is convinced it is better that baby birds grow up day after day. you are in the burdo, for example. and were satisfied, they said. they think they know everything. "Thank you very much Buddha. From what they understood they We have received fantastic teach­ produced their own kinds of ideas We must cultivate the wot of compassion. ings and are very happy. " They and knowledge and live in this kind paid respect to Buddha and the of knowledge. We say we are con­ teachings. Then they would do structing a big castle with all our Application is important, prostrations and go around Buddha limitations. We leant a little from seven times, for example, and then here and there and put it altogether go away. This is a system of paying and say this is the real condition. In but more important is our intention. respect. It seems a little strange, but the real sense, we are not being in we can understand doing prostra­ the real knowledge. It is only our tions. Since ancient times prostra­ you respect their way of seeing. For Then the time almost arrives to fly and someone says, "How may intellectual idea which we put tions have been a sign of respect. In example, in friendships between away, but they think, "Our mother times did you chant the mantra of together and we construct a big cas­ all different countries and cultures people, husband and wife or has been so very kind, so before we Avalokiteshvara?" At that moment tle which becomes the protector of they have a kind of . In engaged people, when they start to leave we should do something to somehow the number manifests. So our ego. Then our ego is living in a Tibet and India they did this kind of fall in love, they feel they are in one repay her". They don't think to do it is not necessary you use always gigantic way in this castle, and prostration: in China it is a little dif­ dimension. Even if they don't say it something bad, but something mala. This is a kind of custom and even if there is a spiritual teaching ferent. I have seen in the West that they feel it. They agree about good to repay the kindness of the many people who use a mala and and path it is not so easy for us to they don't have this kind of prostra­ everything. That is because they are mother. But their way of thinking chant "", are accept. When some people go to tion, but there is some kind. If you conditioned by emotions and in that of "good" doesn't correspond, and in reality thinking, "How I can do listen to a teacher, even if that go to the theater or see old films, moment they have very strong they slowly pick all feathers off of business, how can I take money teacher has no castle and only you can see some kind of prostra­ attachment and are blind. They the mother bird, one by one, with from other people". "Om Mani makes understood how the situa­ tion, men are taking off their hats; can't see the other dimension. It strong feelings of love. The mother Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme tion is, it is not so easy for this kind men bow and women curtsy. These seems everything is perfect. Then cannot feel the big love of the chil­ Hum". So that doesn't correspond of person to understand what is are kinds of prostrations. Because slowly, slowly, after being together dren. In the end, when they have and the principle is really the sense; being communicated. They have the principle is to pay respect, it is for one year, how they see is a little finished picking off all the feathers, it is very important that we apply in the idea. "I want to check how the easy to understand this system. different. After two years there is the baby birds are happy and go that way. idea of this teacher is and then list Originally this was not a spiritual really a different point of view. away. Then the mother can't fly and So it is very important on the and compare my position and the system, but the spiritual systems Then it is not so very comfortable dies. This is an example. Bodhisattva Path that the principle teacher's". If that teacher says even sitting or sleeping together. used this method for paying Sometimes we don't know is our intention. There is a verse of something which corresponds a lit­ But in the beginning even if it is respect. In ancient times when there which is good or which is bad. the great Dzogchen practitioner tle to their position they say, "That very warm weather, they feel very were very important kings, etc.. one Most things we can understand, but and teacher. Jigmed Lingpa. which teacher is interesting". But if it comfortable being together. Then, would always have to do prostra­ when we have this kind of problem makes us understand how impor­ doesn't correspond, they don't after many years, it is not so com­ tions. Still, for example, in , what should we do? We should tant our intention according to the care. fortable. So it is better from the they do prostrations. They are not develop our clarity. It is not suffi­ tradition is. If we have beginning that you know that there prostrating to the king thinking he This is characteristic of our cient only to think and judge to good intention, then our realization, are two dimensions and then when is an emanation of Buddha, but to ego. how we live and how we pro­ develop clarity, but to do practice. path and everything is perfect. If you have feelings of love, you can show that they are subjects. So that tect it. To have knowledge of a spir­ When we have more and more clar­ we have bad intention, then our love each other very well by is the origin of prostrations: then itual path means, in the real sense, ity we can understand which is the path, realization and everything respecting each other. Then you can later in the teachings many perfec­ to have knowledge of ourselves and good way and which is bad. In this goes badly. For that reason, it is continue for a long time and have tions were added. When we do our condition. We must open and case, we increase good and try to most important to have correct no problems. It is the same way prostrations, the body, speech and not remain in this castle. Most eliminate bad. intention. So cultivate good inten­ with group and group and nation mind concentrate altogether. These important is that we discover that It is very important to have this tion: that is the cultivation of bod­ and nation. We know we have dif­ are all concentrated movements castle. We discover our ego and knowledge, not only for spiritual hicitta. How can you be a good ferent dimensions. Different and when you learn all these move­ how we limit everything by think­ practitioners, but also for politi­ practitioner of the Mahayana sys­ dimensions have different condi­ ments, you want to leam them in a ing that the way we see is the cor­ cians. If they would work in this tem? Many practitioners in places tions, different ways of seeing and perfect way and do them w ith atten­ rect way and it must be that way. way, a country would really bene­ where Mahayana is very diffused doing. They are not the same. We tion. When done in this way we Then what we look for is always to fit. Then, like a Bodhisattva, this say, "We are applying Mahayana. are not becoming the same; that is accumulate more merit. justify our view. It doesn't corre­ compassion, this real compassion Every morning, every day. we go in spond in the real sense and means not so easy. But we must pay the temple and pray and offer to would manifest. We must cultivate Prostrations are easier to under­ we are not open. If we are open, we respect. If we respect each other Buddha and ". and the root of compassion. Applica­ stand, but going around , for don't look at other people but then there is a possibility of peace. they consider this the principle of tion is important, but more impor­ example, is more difficult. In observe ourselves. When Buddha Mahayana practice. That can be a This is all related to our aware­ tant is our intention. If we really ancient India, guests and important taught the teaching saying kind of a secondary' Mahayana ness. Our awareness is the root of have correct intention, somehow people are put on the right side. For don't create problems for others, practice, but it never becomes the all. Even if we are not practitioners application always manifests. If we that reason, in the Tantric teaching Buddha is not saying don't do this principle practice. For example, if it is indispensable. If we want to don't sufficiently have this knowl­ when we speak of and how or that. Firstly Buddha says, "If you you are going to a temple and you live a comfortable life, have less edge, it doesn't always correspond we should pay respect to teachers, have this kind of problem how do are paying respect to Buddha and problems, tensions and confusions, and sometimes also changes. For they say that when you walk with you feel?", and the person says, "I Bodhisattvas. they are not waiting then we need to have awareness. that reason, in the teaching, we the teacher you don't walk on their don't feel well and I don't like it." for you to pay your respect. They Particularly practitioners need always explain cultivating bod- right side. If you are on the OK, so if you don't like it, it means don't have any ego. Also if you awareness. It is very, very impor­ hicitta and because it is very teacher's right side, the teacher is that when you do that to others also offer flowers and incense, they tant. The root of practice and the important. Cultivating paying respect to you and it auto­ they don't like it. For that reason don't want your nice looking flow­ spiritual path is how we apply that does not always mean to learn matically becomes disrespectful. It Buddha says to take the example of ers with a good smell. You are knowledge. In Mahayana Bud­ some kind of vow, prayers or vers­ is not important, but that is the sys­ your own experience and then you doing these things because you dhism we speak very much about es. Some people learn that and con­ tem. For example, in China when don't create problems for others have this attachment and feeling of compassion and we are always say­ sider that the main point. Prayers, you pay respect, you put guests and with your body, speech and mind. emotion, you like that and you ing that we must increase compas­ for example, are words. These important people on the left side. In Also you make others happy. This think they do also, so you think you sion and apply it. Everyone under­ words are only to remember the India, you put them on the right side, is something very concrete and are doing well. In this way you can stands that is something wonderful. sense. That is not the main point, and for that reason putting the practical. For example, if someone accumulate a little merit, but that is To apply compassion does not because in an invocation or prayer, object of respect on the right side insults me. I don't like it, and then I not the main point. For example, mean we apply something in a con­ particularly with bodhicitta, we say. and walking around seven times is a know if I insult others they don't many of vou have visited the hie crete way, but the principle is that "1 want to have total realization, not sign of respect. So this is the origin continued on page 5

] Tut: MIRROR JAN FEB 2 00 2 Lama Wangdor Visits nearby kennel for a few days to Conway make things easier for everyone. ART REVIEW by Barbara Paparrazzo Rinpoche asked whether Hoover liked it there and we admit­ ama ted, no, not really. "Oh, then Wangdor you must not send him poche 's own deep sensibility to his source. Green , though, was L visited away," he said. "Next time I own loss of a country and home­ rendered according to the tradition­ Visionary Paintings Tsegyalgar in visit you, please keep him land. In his paintings from his al thigtsed or iconographie outline. November and here." memory of Tibet: My Dream-like Rinpoche writes of Mandarava, the Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche gave teachings So, for this visit, we Tibet. The Girl Pema Tso from "Indian consort of Padmasambha- Tibet House. NYC on the Three braved it and Hoover joined va as manifesting as a in 2001 Statements of us as co-host. When Rin­ space. She holds a drigu (a ritual to poche arrived with Lena, his knife) in her right hand cutting ugu Choegyal Rin­ a large gather­ translator, we kept Hoover through duality, in her left hand Dpoche is well ing of students. on a leash. Although she holds a vase of longevity known to many of us at Hoover was nearly twelve and with the nectar of immortality. He spoke particularly of the Merigar. We are deeply showed signs of changing in some Her nakedness symbolizes the importance of not becoming grateful to him for the ways, he could still transform into true nature of everything." attached to any experiences that panels in the Gonpa a 6 month old pup when things got Other paintings arise uniquely may arise through meditation - depicting the Twelve exciting. He vibrated, panted, and from Rinpoche's inner experi­ non-thought, bliss, clarity - but to Primordial Buddhas strained to be free of the leash. ence. Luminous Flowers, Dream break through these so that our pri­ done in a style which is After the initial greetings and gen­ Flowers, Apple of Love. He mordial awareness can shine unique to his creative eral excitement, he did settle says, "From early, early on in my through. He intermingled his expression. We are also down. Within half an hour, he was life I felt connected with my own teachings with practice in such a deeply grateful to him off the leash and making his inces­ life energy which manifests in way that we could gain experience for the teachings he has given to us, Tashod and Holy Couple from sant rounds to each person for visions and experiences. During the of this teaching. the first in the place now called Nagchu. Rinpoche also demon­ some attention. Lama Wangdor was a student Serkhang in 1998, when he refused strated his ability to present intact a daytime, especially in the early of Chang Chub Dorje as well as From across the room, I to teach while our Master was in his visual argument beyond conceptual afternoon around nap time when many other masters. He left Tibet looked at Hoover's face and saw presence, and the second in the form, and even beyond tradition, the weather is warm and I feel in 1959 and eventually found his an image frozen in time - so alive, summer of 2000 when he shared the state of mind of Ati, the Primor­ healthy. I often feel like a world of way to the Holy Caves of Pad- his face glowed and seemed to with us the essence of his mastery dial State. In paintings such as Pri­ flowers, one after another, and one masambhava at Tso Pema in India. send arcs of electrons beaming out of the three Schools, , mordial Spontaneous Perfection. after another. When real flowers He practiced there alone for many like a living Andy Warhol portrait. Mahayana and . He also Bliss, More than the Sky Can Not appear on the earth they are like years and later, as people began to An hour later, Hoover was hit by a gave a unique but authoritative pre­ Contain. Total Harmony, Dancing light patterns that manifest in the gather about him, built a car in front of our house and lay sentation of Ati Yoga, Dzogchen, Flower of the Mind, this Master material world. I have never taken monastery. He is responsible for dead by the side of the road. the Primordial Great Perfection, and painter vividly presents to us any drugs, so these flower visions and supports many refugees from through a series of illustrations his understanding of the state. I felt aren't the result of intoxication. I carried his still warm body Tibet, monks from the monastery uniquely conceived and painted on my mind irradiated with warmth When I tried to paint these visions it into our house. Barbara went to in Tso Pema, and yogis who live in rice paper illustrating the nature of and sun, my consciousness still was impossible at first. I procrasti­ get Rinpoche. He shook his head the Holy Caves. For many years mind. I was deeply touched this shaken by what I had witnessed of nated for a long time. Then finally I sadly. "," Rinpoche he has encouraged sponsorship of year returning to New York City, in September 11th. painted the experience". said as he sat down on the floor these people by students in the with us around Hoover's body and its time of loss and pain, to see Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche also Other paintings such as Har­ West and many new relationships began softly to mutter prayers. some of these illustrations in his paints the tradition ; Devas mony, Heart Songs and Music in have developed Many minutes passed. The shock show, "Visionary Paintings" at and . The paintings of the Color while entirely 'modern' in of the moment settled and gradual­ Tibet House in New York City. Dakini , Guru Rin­ theme and presentation, manifest ly I recognized the familiar sounds poche, Rainbow Body Pad- There were many works -fifty- states, which at the same that they of Phowa. A thigle launched into masambhava in Light. Rainbow. Lama Wangdor & Hoover two paintings and a carpet design - belong to and emerge from trans­ Dharmakaya and the five of us Flowers and Mandarava are drawn by Woody Paparrazzo Unique Tiger Carpet. mission and lineage, cannot be lim­ dissolved together. in the Master's singular style ren­ ited to any precise conception of The devastation at what is now The next day, with his head dering both the human and divine form or to any particular culture. he last time Lama Wangdor known as 'Ground Zero" was, in and fur sprinkled with precious aspects of these figures without Tstayed with my wife Barbara some unconscious way, healed for and I, he discovered we had a dog herbs, relics and paper mantras this writer by Dugu Choegyal Rin- compromising their iconographie by Louise Landes Levi and asked where he was. We covering his body, Hoover was explained that Hoover got so buried in the back garden. A noble excited when visitors came that and worthy dog who will be great­ Life, Aging and Death of finding oneself on the thresh­ we thought it best to keep him in a ly missed. old of death, may sometimes An interview with Barrie Simmons serve to awaken the person from vision. Given, however, the vast- ever present task: to be aware of by Tatiana Minghettifor the the distraction and avoidance ness of karma, the prospect of what is happening, of what we are MerigarLetter. which have lasted a lifetime, the reincarnation is not particularly experiencing, of what we are. near-hypnotic trance in which comforting. Barrie Simmons is a long time stu­ most of us exist. I have been asked, if I understood M.L.: From your experience as a dent of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu correctly, to conduct a seminar not psychotherapist and practitioner, and Vice-President of the Istituto M.L.: To judge from the vast on Dharma, not aimed at those could you give some advice to Shang-Shung. He introduced range of literature today on this who follow the Teaching, but at those who are unable to find har­ Gestalt psychotherapy in Italy in topic, a great number of readers most a brief, pre-Dharmic, intro­ mony even as age advances, and the ¡960's and has been active as a seem particularly interested in duction. So I will pursue these who feel threatened by the passage therapist for thirty-five years. He the answer to the precise ques­ themes very personally, suggest­ of time. will be leading a course, "Life. tion: What is there beyond this imprints of traumatic experiences, ing that one can learn to accept his Aging and Death" at Merigar on life? blind, merely emotional, agreement or her own life, to acknowledge Barrie: It can be useful for the February 16th - 17th, which will be or disagreement, repetitions of the the responsibility for his or her frightened person to contact that open to the public. Barrie: I don 't see why a desire to prevalent social lie, half-crazy fan­ own choices and hence for how part of him or herself which is have a belief (a false certainty) tasies, all mixed with occasional one's existence has gone. When weak and tired, and in "normal" regarding what comes after death flashes of clarity. Given this situa­ this awareness arises, we may be life is considered ill because it should become pressing or be con­ Merigar Letter: Barrie, you've tion, I can't see what sense "coher­ able to forgive many of our mis­ wants to die. Where there is so sidered important. Nor do I under­ chosen two topics for your course ence" could have. Even among takes, even the biggest and most much dread there is likely great stand why it would be really useful on aging and death, which are people who think, or believe they disastrous, and even thank our­ attraction, too, though without to calm the fear of what awaits us important for both practitioners of a do, or who have an admirable char­ selves for having sometimes made awareness. Perhaps that part is beyond life. Of course, a person spiritual discipline and for those acter (like your grandfather) many right decisions and taken valid only discouraged or overwhelmed who has lived attached to inflexible who are not practitioners or believ­ are unwitting supporters of the mis­ actions. At this point, we might by transmigration, or perhaps it "truths" and superstitions, blindly ers. When my grandfather, a free­ taken views described in the first even find that the life which we thirsts for transcendence; this is believing in them, has an addiction thinker, atheist and socialist, was chapter of the Base Level text of are leaving has been, in some way the moment to embrace it. What which continues to demand gratifi­ on his death-bed, a nun asked him if Santi Maha Sangha. What possible and degree, worthwhile. From the conscious mind considers cation. A life dominated by fear he wanted to make his confession. value could there be in remaining in here we can begin to suspect that "pathological" can have value in will certainly lead to a death in the He replied, "Sister, do you really such confusion? In short, a Dharma death and what will follow it can the appropriate circumstances same style. In a very relative sense, think that a few moments of peni­ practitioner following a path that also be acceptable. That is, we can because, seen in the right light, the it is an act of compassion to calm a tence can mend the ways of a life­ leads to illumination does well to develop a trace of confidence that entire person is perfect. person who is terrorized, much like time?" There are few people who remain coherent, while in other cas­ the sequence of living and dying, Another possibly interesting giving first-aid. However, this has manage to be so consistent, so es, a supposed "virtue" like this - if the process in which we are insight is the notion that facing nothing to do with deeper issues. coherent in their point of view at it has any effect at all, which I involved, may be a little benevo­ death we are facing our greatest It is true that the Teaching does pro­ the moment of death. Do you con­ doubt - probably only aggravates lent. In other words, I am speaking unrealized potential, that is, the vide answers to the question: What sider this to be fruitful? bewilderment. about the possibility of a certain moment of being ourselves, with­ comes after? I cannot verify these trust in life and death, an attitude out the presence of others or the Two aspects, at any rate, emerge for answers or judge them through Barrie: It seems to me that most rather than a "belief," which per­ possibility of their help, finally in me: first, that we must continue to direct knowledge, but I tend to people do not have their own view mits us to go on without dogmatic contact with the reality which we evolve right up to the moment of accept them because they have of life to which they can or should certainties. Thus we can die, have always tried to avoid: who death and therefore we need to be been transmitted to me by teachers cohere. In its place is a formless whenever it happens, with suffi­ and how we are. flexible and open to learning; and whom I know by experience to be mass of inculcated thoughts, of cient tranquillity to carry out our second that the "shock" of dying, or wise and possessed of profound prejudices, family slogans, the

4 CliNN's leaching continued from page 3 Tuning Into the Teacher The Mirror: Which other have you translated? Andy: Mostly I have translated for lamas at Merigar What you feel is that you are a An Interview with human being and are better than and elsewhere in Italy. Over the years I have translated of why we go around a stupa. cats and dogs and have a certain Andy Lukianowicz for H.H. Dalai Lama, Tenzin Namdak, Tenzin In Tibet there is both Buddhism capacity. You feel that you want to Wangyal Rinpoche. (but not at and Bönpo. In Tibet we say that be in your real knowledge. It does­ by Liz Granger Merigar), Sey Rinpoche. Sakya Trinzin. Drubwang Bönpos do everything in the con­ n't matter if you say if you are Bud­ for The Mirror Tsok Nyi Rinpoche, , Tai Situpa Rin­ trary way to Buddhists. It is a little dhist or not, if you receive a refuge poche, Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, Norbu Rinpoche's son true. For example, if we go around vow or not. This is the Hinayana Andy Lukianow­ Yeshi Namkhai. Dugu Chogyal Rinpoche. Dzogchen the stupa in one direction, the Bön­ style because Hinayana is a path of icz is one of the Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche. Namdrol. Dor- pos go in a contrary way. But there renunciation. The Hinayanists main translators zong Rinpoche. and maybe others I don't remember is also a reason. The origin of Bön­ think they must refuse their worldly for Chögyal right now. po is not India. Buddhism is very condition and in that way become Namkhai Norbu related to the attitudes of India, but more spiritual. So they take refuge and a familiar The Mirror: What is it like translating for Rinpoche? Bönpo originally comes from and feel different. The idea of figure to those Andy: Well, it is wonderful because for a while 1 leave Shang Shung, in West Tibet, and changing is that first of all the name participating in my own thoughts behind and tune directly in to his that tradition of Shang Shung is is changed, then the dress and then retreats at Meri­ thought processes. Usually I feel really connected, and more related to China. In China, they think. "Now I am a Buddhist gar. Born and know exactly what he means (which is not always clear they put the object of respect on the monk or nun and have a shaved raised in London. from his choice of words and sentence structure) and left side, therefore the Bönpos go head and different dress, and I feel Andy first can almost intuit what he is about to say. That is great, around the contrary way. Also, different from the others". This is received teach­ because it is like getting into a completely different when you see the prayer wheels characteristic of renunciation, but ings from His mind-set, and also it shows how relative and unique (in that the Tibetans are always turn­ in the real sense nothing has Holiness the Dalai Lama in India, then Chögyam the sense of idiosyncratic) our individual thought pat­ ing, and the Buddhists turn them to changed. So we don't need that. If Trungpa at Institute in Boulder, USA, andKalu terns are. I think something is one way, but here I am in the right side and sometimes put the you have received some refuge Rinpoche. He met Sogyal Rinpoche in London in 1974 the mind of somebody who sees it completely different­ mantras flat so they are in the center vow that is fine, but you must and followed his heart opening teachings for many ly. Not only because he comes from a different culture, so when you are turning them. This understand if you have received the years. Through him Andy received teachings and childhood, and upbringing, but by training he has way, it is like chanting mantras. Dzogchen teaching you have empowerments from Rangjung Dorje, Jam- developed a mind and view that is more spacious and The Bönpos do it the contrary way already received refuge. You are gon Kongtrul and Sakya Trinzin, and empowerments less limited, and free to roam throughout the universe of and put mantras the contrary way; not becoming a Buddhist or a and teachings, especially on Dzogchen, from the con­ mind. like how we do the visualization of Dzogchenpa or someone. You are summate master, Dudjom Rinpoche, especially on Tsig- the Simhamukha mantra. It does What is funny is that usually afterwards I don't remem­ you. But you are on the path. With Sum NeDeg ofGarab Dorje. In 1980 he moved to Italy not face outside but inside and then ber what I said, because when you translate you use this path you can have realization after meeting Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and has since you turn it in the contrary way. If your short-term memory. You can't stop to think about and that doesn't mean you are translated for him at most of his teaching retreats in you put the mantra flat, then the what you're translating, "Oh. how interesting!". You becoming someone else. It means Italy. Andy is currently Professor of English at the Soci­ beginning of the mantra is outside, translate a chunk, then let it go as the next chunk comes that you are really being in your ology Faculty of the University of Rome. it is not the same. If you see Bönpo in, and translate that, and so on. So sometimes people real condition, not ignorant of your prayer wheels and you think. "I am ask me. "What did he say about...?" or "What did he real nature, and through knowledge Buddhist so I must turn them like The Mirror: How did you first meet Rinpoche? mean by...?", and I answer, "I don't know. I don't of your real nature you govern your this", and you turn them in the Bud­ Andy: I first met Rinpoche in London in 1979. He remember," and people think I'm joking. "But you just dimension in that way and for that dhist way then you are wrong. You came [to the UK] twice that year, first at Easter, and translated it!" So I have to explain why I don't remem­ purpose we need refuge. The teach­ are wrong because the mantra posi­ taught one day at Sogyal Rinpoche's center, Orgyen ber what I have just translated. ing, teacher, and transmission are tion is the other way. So if you go Cho Ling, where I was living at the time, and then at the One of the best features is the training in attention. You indispensable for having realiza­ around the Stupa like the Bönpos. ex-Cambodian Embassy. Actually, one of the reasons I have to be concentrated all the time. You can't be dis­ tion. That recognition is the sense then you must have a Bönpo atti­ went was I had never heard a Lama teach in Italian! I tracted even for a second, you could lose the thread of of refuge. Bodhicitta means you tude or you wouldn't feel it in the was only able to go a couple of days. the whole thought that Rinpoche is elaborating. I've know what you are going to do. For correct way. Westerners don't Then he returned at Christmas, and my old friend Judy noticed sometimes when I'm not translating I may stop example, you go to do a practice know much about these kinds of Allan, one of the organizers, asked me if I wanted to to ponder something he says, or even just let my mind with the intention that you are customs or ideas. The ones who do cook Italian food for him, so I said yes. But then it tran­ wander off into daydreams. going to do a practice and why? have been to India and Tibet, and spired that his main translators, Barrie Simmons and You do the practice for having real­ can understand a little and can Mario Maglietti, couldn't attend the retreat, and as I The Mirror: What happens when you do get distracted ization and for the benefit of all apply if they like. speak Italian, Judy asked me if I wanted to translate. I and lose the thread? sentient beings. So. you in this said I would try, but I wasn't so sure I could do it prop­ Andy: I'd like to say it's never happened, but... Well, Of course, this is not the main presence and knowledge and that is erly. Judy brought me to speak to Rinpoche, and we once I had been drinking at lunch and translating in the point, so you must understand the the real sense of bodhicitta. For that were kind of formal - he called me "Lei"* and so on. afternoon I got distracted, and tried to make up what I attitude of people and the real sense reason, it is very important that you Anyway, after introducing myself as his translator, (he thought Rinpoche was saying, but he caught me out of the teaching. What you need to observe your thoughts and notice didn't seem too worried, which I found reassuring), I right away! What I was saying was OK. but I was sim­ learn is the real sense of teaching, when you are not having good asked if he had any advice to give me, and he just said, plifying his thoughts. Usually I just ask him to repeat not only attitudes. When you apply intention and you turn it into good "Just translate what I say, do not interpret." And that is what he said, even though I know he doesn't like to the attitudes and the conditionings intention. what I try to do. have his flow interrupted. Otherwise, if he catches any of your country, you can do so with hesitation in my voice, he looks at me and then resumes a good practice of the Mahayana For example, you think of kar­ The Mirror: What happened then? his train of thought. Most Lamas are patient, although system. Even if you don't pray ma and know you have the possi­ Andy: The following year I went to a retreat in Italy, in some, once they see they can talk faster and faster, hard­ every day, the most important thing bility to create good or bad karma. Volpago near Venice, and then in September I moved to ly give me time to get the words out. Lopon Tenzin is that you check your intention For creating both good and bad kar­ Naples. Actually I got a job at the same university Namdak is very painstaking about being sure that what very often. You live with your ma, you must first go with your where Rinpoche taught. In those years retreats were he is saying is understood, so I have the chance to body, speech and mind. Mind is intention. For any action, really, not held in several sites, in Italy and abroad, and I translated retranslate parts that sometimes are not so clear first related to time, in the passing time only karma. For example. 1 am Rinpoche, from Italian into English, at many of them. A time around. And I love translating for Khandro Rin­ your mind has so many thoughts opening my tea cup. then I am tak­ couple of years later Merigar was founded, and then as poche. because as her mind soars higher and deeper she and confusions. In general, we have ing my cup in my hand, and then I we also invited other Lamas to teach there, I started to takes me with her. ideas or thoughts arising immedi­ drink a little tea. What did I do? An action. But it is not karma. There­ translate from English into Italian as well. I have also The main thing when you're translating is you have to ately and we are totally conditioned fore any kind of action is not kar­ translated several of Rinpoche's books from Adriano be right there all the time. That, and the mind and heart by these thoughts. When we are so ma. Karma means an action pro­ Clemente's Italian translation, including the Santi connection, are the best parts. conditioned, we do not notice Maha Sangha books as well as 'Drung Deu Bon' and which kind of intention we have. duced with potentiality which later becomes a cause which can then 'Supreme Source", some practice booklets and other * Formal use of second person in Italian With awareness, we observe which teachings. kind of intention we have in that cause an effect when there are sec­ moment. For example, at the begin­ ondary causes. So. for this kind of ning of each practice there is karma we first need only intention. always refuge and bodhicitta. After the intention we enter into the Why? Because we are working action directly or indirectly. For [The Mirror Reprint Book with our awareness. We don't do example, if I want to accumulate practice without awareness; with good action and I see a very poor A collection of twenty teachings given by our awareness we try to understand man on the road with an illness and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu compiled from past issues of The Mirror. the practice and that what we are I feel some compassion. I want to doing is the path for having realiza­ help that person and this is my good Including: tion. This recognition is really the intention. I am not thinking that I The Difference Between Sutra and sense of refuge, but many people want that help that person because Dzogchen. the Path of Self Liberation don't know this. They think the if he overcomes his illness he can work in my house. I am not think­ Helping the Dead and Dying sense of refuge is. "I should take ing this. I only want to help: this is The Base in Dzogchen refuge from some teacher", and then think. "I took refuge from this all and that is my good intention. Yantra Yoga and that teacher and received a But then I have no time and have so How to Follow a Master Dharma name". Someone receives many things to do. So I ask my refuge and then feels they have friend to help him and bring him Cost: S20US + shipping rates available from Tsegyalgar bookstore become a Buddhist. This is our atti­ some food, drink and help him. I Order from: Tsegyalgar Bookstore tude. give some money. Then my friend POBox 82, Conway, MA 01341 USA goes to the shop and buys the food Buddha never taught that and Tel: 413 3694473 and drink and brings them to the never said that when you follow his man and it helps. I am not applying Email: [email protected] teachings you must feel Buddhist. continued on page 24

THE MIRROR JANIFER 2002 5 Urgyen the way the material is organized. Vajra Speech: Instead of being organized into chapters in which a theme is devel­ BOOK REVIEWS Pith Instructions for the oped, the book is a series of brief Dzogchen Yogi quotations, one to ten sentences would be best to engage in Buddhist practice". Howev­ The Dalai Lama, Answers and Discussions Ranjung Yeshe long, arranged alphabetically by er, the scriptures of other religions also describe notions with Western Buddhists topic from A-Z (well, not really to of liberation from their own viewpoint. Publications, 2001 Edited by Jose Ignacio Cabezón Z, just to Y). The first topic is A similar flexibility of mind is demonstrated in his 'Accomplishment' and the last is New York: Snow Lion, 2001 discussions of physics (pp. 'Yogi'. 18-25) and guru devotion (pp. or several years, His Holiness 73-74 and 87-89). He states A sample entry for 'Yogi: A Fthe Dalai Lama has made it his there is a great benefit to see­ swan can separate water and milk custom to spend several days each ing whatever the guru does as when drinking. The yogi should be year at Bodhgaya. This slender good, provided the guru is in like the swan in separating the milk book is a record of question and fact highly qualified. On the of original wakefulness from the answer sessions between His Holi­ other hand, "it may be possi­ water of ignorance'(p. 186). ness and groups of Western stu­ ble to separate, or make dis­ The entry for 'Meaningful: In this dents in Bodhgaya from 1981 to tinct, the source of ones faith life only the pursuance of Buddha- 1985. The questions range over a in the guru, and yet recognize hood, the state of complete enlight­ variety of topics, including such the fact that he or she may still enment, is meaningful.' (p.89). diverse subjects as ecumenism, have certain faults"(p. 74). If you are not acquainted with the nuclear disarmament, guru devo­ teachings of Tulku Urgyen, it Please be aware that tion, the use of violence, precepts, would be best to start with the two Answers is a revised edition of number of post-humous book retreats, Dharma protectors, volumes of 'As It Is'. But for those an earlier book, The Bod­ Aof Tulku Urgyen's have been physics and Native Americans. already familiar with his works, hgaya Interviews, published produced lately, based on edited this small book might be useful for His Holiness has a remarkable in 1988. At first I thought it versions of his talks. Tulku Urgyen its pithy quotations to meditate ability to answer spontaneously, was a new set of interviews, was a great Dzogchen teacher and upon. demonstrating both a sense of because of the different title has four sons who continue to humor and a keen analytical mind. and the copyright date of uphold his lineage, including His answers have the flavor of sin­ 2001. But if you look at the Chokyi Nyima and Tsoknyi Rin­ by Paul Bail cerity, as if he is taking the listener bottom of the copyright page poche, both of whom have taught at into his personal confidence. It is it says: 'Rev. Ed. of: The Bod­ Dzogchen Community gars. particularly interesting to see His hgaya Interviews, 1988.' Vajra Speech differs from Holiness's flexibility of mind in dealing with persistent Comparing Answers with my copy of The Bodhgaya Tulku Urgyen's previous books in questioners, who ask several follow up questions. For Interviews, I didn't see any significant differences example, after explaining that a multiplicity of religions except for an omission of two 'political' questions dis­ is good because they fit the different predispositions of cussed in the earlier edition: one concerning controver­ SHANG SHUNG a variety of people, a questioner suggests that these reli­ sy over succession within the Kagyus, and another con­ EDIZIONI gions are not all of equal value, because non-Buddhists cerning the situation of Tibet. cannot 'attain liberation'. His Holiness replies that the I am not criticizing the reissuing of the book under Chögyal Namkhai Norbu majority of Buddhists also will not achieve liberation in Chögyal Namkhai Norbu a new title. Thorson's and Wisdom Books have also The Precious Vase - Instructions on this lifetime, so there is no problem. "It is enough that Longsal Teachings - Vol. 2 repackaged earlier editions of the Dalai Lama's under the Base of Santi Maha Sangha they are trying to become better human beings", he L.25.000 US$17 new titles. Since most bookstores no longer carry back New edition 2001 says. Translated from Tibetan by Adri­ list titles, reissuing a classic work with a new title may Translated from Tibetan and edited ano Clemente. The Longsal Cycle When the questioner persists, asking again whether be the only way to get it into the hands of a new genera­ by Adriano Clemente. Translated is the collection of Chögyal 'ultimate liberation' is not unique to Buddhism. His tion of readers. But those of us who already have a from Italian into English by Andy Namkhai Norbu's rediscovered Holiness adopts a different approach, saying, "It is nec­ number of His Holiness's books need to be aware that Lukianowicz. teachings. This Volume 2 contains essary to examine what is meant by liberation or salva­ we may already own some of the "new" books. L. 35.000 US$25 three Upadeshas received through tion (p. 28). If one seeks the type of liberation that is This book is the new Base text of dreams, including the histories of described in the Buddhist scriptures then, he explains, it by Paul Bail the Santi Maha Sangha. Expanded their discovery over a period of on notes and quotations, it is the time ranging from 1957 to 1989. essential text for the study and These termas are entitled: The New Items & Books from Tsegyalgar Bookstore practice of the Base Level of Santi Opening of the Gate to the State of Maha Sangha training. It also con­ Ati, The Upadesha of Introduction LUNGTA (Prayer Flags) tains the updated list of practices to the State of Ati (this text was Beautiful Lungta of "Song of Vajra " handwritten by Chögyal Namkhai required for the Base Level exami­ published before separately) and Norbu in Tibetan and English. nation. The Upadesha for the Self-Libera­ Lungta means "Wind horse" and refers to the protective force of the tion of the Six Lokas. individual. Authenticating with mantra and putting up the flags can strengthen our fundamental vital force. Each set contains five 13x13 flags in the 5 primary colors. The Dzogchen Communi!) I set sells for $9 and 3 sets for S25,5 sets for S40, plus shipping L. 25.000 US$17 Instructions on Lungta will be included. Principles and Guidelines for Prac­ titioners and Gakyil Members Also available: In a meeting of the International The Practice of Lungta by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Gakyil a decision was made to put Shang Shung Edizioni together a basic guide on the Teaching about Lungta from Merigar in 1991 Dzogchen Community and ils S4.00 plus shipping activities using Rinpoche's own comments as the main source of information, together with some NEW BOOKS by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu other individual observations and Important- these books are for practitioners who have transmission from helpful suggestions. The guidelines which are outlined in this book are Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: therefore intended to be a useful PRECIOUS VASE general aid, particularly to new Instructions on the Base of Santi Maha Sangha Gakyil members. Edited and annotated by Adriano Clemente - Shang Shung Edizioni Newly revised, a must-have book for practitioners who would like to participate in Santi Maha Sangha. S26.25 plus shipping. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Longsal Teachings - Vol. 1 Commentary to Narag Tongtrug LONGSALTEACHINGS- Volume One L. 25.000 US$17 Practice Translated from the Tibetan and edited by Adriano Clemente - Shang Shung Edizioni Translated from Tibetan by Adri­ L. 15.000 US$10 This publication of teachings from the Longsal Cycle contains three Upadeshas received through dreams, includ­ ano Clemente "This practice pertains to the ing the history of their discoveries over a period of time ranging from 1959 to 1983. The Longsal Cycle is the collection Anuyoga tradition and its related Extraordinary dreams - highly recommended ! of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's method to achieve the final goal S21 plus shipping. rediscovered teachings. This Vol­ that is the state of contemplation ume 1 contains three Upadeshas tied to the Dzogchen teaching. It is 12 PRIMORDIAL MASTERS POSTER by Glen Eddy received through dreams, including considered very important, above A beautiful reproduction of the original painting by Glen Eddy of the 12 Primordial Masters. This unique represen­ the histories of their discovery over all, in order to purify negative kar­ tation includes the image of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and is exquisite in its detail. a period of time ranging from 1959 ma and obstacles connected with Cost: $ 15 plus shipping and handling to 1983. These termas are entitled: breaking samaya with the teach­ The Yoga of Prana for Clarity and ing." To order: Emptiness, The Upadesha of the These oral instructions, given by Tsegyalgar Bookstore Oral Transmission of Thangtong Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Meri­ Tel: 413-369-4473 Gyalpo, The Root Upadesha on the gar in July 1996, are based on a Fax:413-369-4165 Vajra Bridge of Longde. short text of the master Lochen Email: [email protected] Dharmashri. continued on the next page

6 Inte r v i e w Lives of the Great Masters with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Longchenpa(1308-1363) (Partii) Vladivostok, Russia by Judith Allan 1999 November 22nd. 2001 by Anna Rudneva and Luda sing, or have parties and to arrange Kislichenko birthdays. What do you think? Rinpoche: A Gar does not need to Divorce organize someone's birthday party Anna and Luda: We heard that but if someone belonging to the Gar Tibetan people usually do not wants to have a party, to offer wine, divorce and Western people sepa­ tea. Ganapuja, food and wants to rate quite often. Why do you think dance and enjoy - that is part of "Io it happens like this? godo"*. There is not any problem. Rinpoche: It is not that Tibetans do In general, it is very important that not divorce. It depends. Many peo­ we enjoy together. It can also be at a ple have their way of thinking Gar, or in private houses of people about life. They know what life is. of the Community. But performing They already have an idea when and doing these things is very posi­ they marry that they won't need to tive, not negative at all. separate: otherwise they wouldn't Singing and dancing is not a prob­ marry. We have a short life, we lem. What is negative is if after don't know how we will live it, and singing and dancing people use if we marry we want to respect each drugs. Drinking a little wine is not a other and really collaborate in this problem. But if someone drinks short life. People decide this and try more, then we must remember to go ahead. Even if there are prob­ what is said in Tantra and how it lems, they remember how the real corresponds to this the Teaching or ongchenpa was one of the greatest scholars and a robe and to sleep in! During this period, however, he condition is and can overcome. not. We know we must be aware at most highly realized masters in Tibet and was received teachings on all three categories of Dzogchen. L For Westerners today the situation all times and can perform every­ known as the second conqueror. When he was con­ including Vimalamitra's Nyingthig transmission and is much more confused. There are thing. That is part of "We enjoy". ceived his mother dreamed of a huge lion whose fore­ was declared to be Kumaradza's successor. so many different kinds of illu­ head completely lit up by the rays of the sun, illuminat­ For about seven years Longchenpa was in retreat in sions. They think. "Oh, I want to do ed the three worlds of existence. He was considered an mountainous caves, mainly at Chimphu and had visions Organizing Retreats this. I want to enjoy this or that". incarnation of a daughter of King and at of , . Guru Dragpo and A & L: Different groups of Bud­ They easily renege on what they an early age, showed all the qualities of a bodhisattva: countless other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Vimalami- dhists often ask if it is possible to promised and thought before. That rich in learning and wisdom, he was full of compassion tra appeared in a vision, empowering him to teach from organize retreats with their lamas in is. I think, amain point. and faith. By the time he was nineteen, he was known his own transmission, the Vima Nyingthig. Longchen Kunsangar. Can you tell us in gen­ When I told Professor Tucci that I as a brilliant scholar and became known as Longchen also wrote commentaries on the Khandro Nyingthing eral about organizing the retreats want to get married he said, "Oh, if Rabjampa ("The Extensively Learned One who is Like and Bima Nyingthig. He restored the temple at , with other masters? you want to get married you better Vast Space"). finding a chest of gold under the shrine to fund the Rinpoche: If someone asks to go to an embassy". Some foreign work. The Dzogchen protector, Dorje Legpa. appearing invite some lama and organize a Devoted to meditation practice, he had pure visions embassy, not in Italy, because in as a boy with a turquoise earring, helped with the recon­ retreat in a Gar. we do not have to of a number of deities including Manjusri, Sarasvati, Italy there is no divorce. He said struction, working every day with the builders. accept this because maybe we don't Vajravarahi and Tara. It is said that Sarasvati, the God­ that it is better, because otherwise know who the lama is. etc. dess of Learning and Music, carried him in the palm of Longchenpa always lived in the utmost simplicity. later you can't divorce. I said. If we are interested and know these her hand for seven days and prophesied his enlighten­ Never taking money for himself, he was always gener­ "Really. I have no idea of divorce. I people, then we say that we can ment. Disillusioned with worldly suffering and the ous and kind to the poor and gave away any offerings to want to get married. I am not think­ organize. If they would like to orga­ behavior of fellow Khampa scholars, Longchenpa further the teachings. He left behind more than two ing about divorce". That is my nize the teaching together, we can chose the life of a wandering practitioner. At 28, as pre­ hundred-fifty bodies of work including the Seven Great point of view since the beginning. do that and then invite. We can dicted by Tara, he met his root teacher, the Rigdzin Treasures. Most of his works on Dzogchen and Tantra Of course, life can manifest differ­ work in this way. not that we are Kumaradza. Kumaradza had dreamed of his arrival, are considered to be mind treasures. At the end of his ent kinds of situations. As for me. renting out our space. This is not "Last night I dreamt that a wonderful bird, which life, his body was left undisturbed for twenty-five days, the principle is respect and love for good. This is not the way of the announced itself to be a divine bird, came with a large protected by a tent of rainbow light. Although it was the each other: collaborating. All the Dzogchen Community. flock in attendance, and carried away my books in all middle of winter, ice melted and flowers bloomed. At rest is relative. Tibetans are more directions. Therefore, someone will come to hold my his cremation, the earth trembled and in the sky loud like this. Some Westerners can also lineage." Longchenpa stayed with Kumaradza for two thunder was heard seven times. Five large relics be that way, but in the West there is Working in the Gar years, wandering constantly amidst great hardship and (dungsel ) were left showing his realization of the five more confusion and fighting. A & L: Many people, good and discomfort, sometimes in freezing conditions and for bodies of . and numerous small relics devoted, but with no stable life situ­ periods living only on the tiniest amount of flour and (ringsel ). ation, come to Kunsangar to work. some long life pills. Such were his austere conditions Pilgrimage Rinpoche: That means that they that Longchenpa lived in a sack which he used both as A & L: Will you please explain to also want to get some money? us a little about your pilgrimages to A& L: Yes. Shang Sluing Edizioni continued from previous page holy places? Also which places are Rinpoche: If people think that the better to go to and which practices Dzogchen Community is like a Chögyal Namkhai Norbu to do there? company which pays money, Longde Teachings Based on the Original Texts by and Dzin Dhamia- Rinpoche: Oh. this is not yet spends a lot of money, etc.. they bodhi matured! Because ordinarily, when have wrong vision. If someone is L. 20.000 US$13 I go in Tibet for example, people really interested to offer the:- work These teachings, given at Namgyalgar in 1997. contain the instructions for the like to join in and come along. to the Community, but at the same Longde practice of the Four Das according to the original texts written by Vairo­ Sometimes I go to India and people time they do not have base of liveli­ cana and Dzin Dhannabodhi. Several drawings illustrate precisely the positions like to come. That is not really so hood and some difficulties, of for the practice. very interesting. course when there is some possibil­ What is interesting may happen lat­ ity, the Community gives money or Chögyal Namkhai Norbu er on. For example, now I'm work­ as much as possible. It is not correct The Yoga of Arya Tara ing with the of the Dance: to think that the Community must L. 10.000 US$6.50 the South and North of this globe. pay when we work for the Commu­ This booklet contains a new short text on the Green Tara Practice, recently writ­ When 1 am more precise I would nity. ten by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. which includes the 21 action mantras of Tara. like to go to such places, these very We have this problem in Merigar. The original text is followed by an explanation on the meaning of the text and important places, while doing a for example. Many people come the way of doing the practice. kind of visit, retreat and travel. This and want to work in Merigar. They can be interesting. In this case, peo­ discuss money. I always say that if These books can be ordered only by practitioners who have already received the transmission directly from ple who want to join can join, travel someone is discussing money it is Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. a limited time and do practice. In better they go to work somewhere this case it can also be special prac­ else. But if they work in a modest All the prices are in Italian Lire and US Dollars. Postage and packaging: in Europe add Lire 4.000 per order: outside tices, not always the same ones. way and at the same time they offer Europe US$3 every three books. To order please send the list of books you require by letter or email (specifying This has not yet started. It will to the Community, of course, they where and when you have received the transmission directly from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu). begin one day. need something. Maybe they have a wife, children, or have no job at Activities at the Gar all. In this case, if the Community A & L: From the very beginning of has a little money, we try to give Send an International Postal Money Order, Eurocheque in Italian Lire (from Europe) or a check (not less than Kunsangar we started to arrange something. This is normal. US$30 or equivalent) to Comunità Dzogchen (Shang Sluing Edizioni) birthday parties, dancing parties, That is what 1 have said from the 58031 Arcidosso. GR. Italy. etc.. to celebrate holidays together beginning: we must w ork just like a Tel: 0564 966039 because it brings joy. relaxes peo­ family, with a feeling like thai. Email: [email protected] ple and gives a more informal com­ Then everything becomes verv munication and we can become friends. Some people feel that the Gar is not a proper place to dance. * "I enjoy" in the Italian kuignagt.

THE MIRROR .1 A v F FS 2 00 2 Funerary Procedures SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE Allowed by the Current Laws in Italy Information: Tibetan Medicine From an article by Leopoldo How can this period of Elisa Copello, ITALY Schedule for Dr. Phuntsog Sentinellipublished in the respect be fitted into the mosaic of Tel: 02- Wangmo Merigar Letter in January, 2002 the Italian law? First of all, the dec­ Courses held by 33607505 laration of death must be made Doctor Nida Chenagtsang: Email: April 6th and 7th, 2002 uring a series of discussions within twenty-four hours of death [email protected] West Coast Community connected to the "document of to the registry office in the area by ROME: February 8th- 10th, 2002 D Advanced Seminar in Neurological mutual agreement (intesa)" either the husband, wife, partner or Second level examination and first COURSES WITH THE and Nervous Disorders between the Italian Buddhist Union a person delegated by them (this seminar of third level of Ku Nye AMERICAN Open to the Public and the Italian government, I met includes funeral directors). The Registration fee: 142 Euro SHANG-SHUNG INSTITUTE Venue TB A the representative for the Ministry doctor who performs the post­ Registration and information: IN JUNE ARE CANCELED of Health on the subject of the treat­ mortem examination for the local Annamarie Clos, Tel: 065885142 May 24th - 26th ment the corpse after death (article health service must declare the Email: [email protected] ROME, MILAN & New England School of Acupunc­ 8). In March, 2001, the Italian gov­ cause of death within twenty-four PERUGIA: ture ernment passed legislation regard­ hours of verifying death. The law MILAN: February 23rd-24th, June, 2002 There will probably be Boston, Massachusetts ing cremation. For practitioners of states that the doctor's visit must be 2002 two courses of third level Ku nye in A weekend seminar on the Five the Vajrayana tradition, however, made not before fifteen hours after Second seminar of third level of Ku Milan and Rome and a course of Elements and the relationship the period imediately after death is death and not after thirty hours. The Nye Mantra Healing in Perugia. between Astrology and Tibetan important. At the time of the meet­ law regarding observation of the Registration fee: 114 Euro Dates and venues to be confirmed. Medicine. ing I asked Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ body states that the body cannot be Registration and information: bu and other Tibetan masters about closed in a coffin before twenty- Elisa Copello, Tel: O2-33607505 MERIGAR: July 6th-9th, 2002 Special Event with the dictates and customs linked to four hours after death. A circular Email: [email protected] Mantra Healing (First and Second Chögyal Namkhai Norbu this time period with respect to the from the Ministry of Health says levels) May 11th body of the deceased, while at the that bodies cannot be preserved in ROME: March 2nd-3rd, 2002 Registration fee: 166 Euro Tsegyalgar same time I studied in detail the refrigerated chambers during the Second seminar of third level of Ku Information and registration: Chögyal Namkhai Norbu will give current Italian laws on the subject. period of observation except in Nye Shang-Shung Institute Secretary a live broadcast over the internet It is important to point out that Ital­ three specific cases: establishing Registration fee: 114 Euro and talk on Tibetan culture. More ian law always requires clarifica­ death through electrocardiagram, Registration and information: MERIGAR: July 20th-23rd, 2002 details available soon. tion and interpretation and this death by decapitation or crushing Annamarie Clos, Tel: 065885142 Dreams and medicine (First and flexibility leads to a consideration for special reasons of hygiene. The Email: [email protected] Second Levels) Fundraising that there is a "" local authorities should have a spe­ Registration fee for both courses: There will also be a fundraising between the views of the Vajrayana cial place for this observation of the MERIGAR: March 8th-16th, 166 Euro dinner with Rinpoche and our local tradition and the laws concerning body during which time it must be 2002 Registration and information: Tibetan Community at Tsegyalgar. the subject. assured that there are no signs of Intensive course of second level of Shang-Shung Institute Secretary life. The circular states that since If anyone would like to help orga­ Fundamentally, the Tibetans Ku Nye there is no maximum time fixed up nize this event during Rinpoche's consider death to be one of the most Registration fee: 372 Euro, all MERIGAR: September 1 st-8th. 2002 to the burial or closing of the coffin, visit, please contact the Institute. important moments in life and for didactic materials included Dreams and medicine first and second there may be hygienic reasons this reason prepare for that passage (sticks, hand-book, stones and related to the local environment levels New CD Recordings with specific practices. They have shells, moxarolls) and weather conditions for which Information and registration: The Shang Shung Institute has been no concept of the modern situation Registration and information: the local health service may decide Shang-Shung Institute Secretary developing a number of new CD's of prolonging life therapeutically Shang-Shung Institute Secretary autonomously. Any type of drawn from it's archive. but use "skilful means" to keep Rita Renzi embalming can be done only after people alive in the best possible Tel:30 0564 966941 the period of observation has con­ VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED: Tibetan Medicine talk by Chögyal conditions by means of rituals, Fax: 39 0564 968110 cluded. September 21 st-22nd, 2002 Namkhai Norbu medicine and astrological consulta­ Email: [email protected] Pregnancy, birth and infant mas­ Bangkok, September 29th, 2000 tions. Then when the moment of There are other articles related sage 2 CD set/S30 plus $5 shipping death arrives, they have the greatest to burial, interment and transport MILAN: March 23rd-24th, 2002 Webcast restricted to Dzogchen respect for the event and its conse­ but they are other questions beyond Third seminar of third level of Ku FOURTH YEAR OF THE Community members ONLY quences. After the heart has this analysis. Obviously these con­ Nye TIBETAN MEDICINE Merigar August 15th, 2001 stopped beating, the body is not ditions are valid in case of natural Registration fee: 114 Euro COURSE 2 CD set/ $30 plus $5 shipping manipulated or moved from its death, not accidental death or death Registration and information: with Prof. Wangdu, professor at the position at the moment of death. by transmitted disease, epidemic or Elisa Copello, Tel: O2-33607505 University of Forthcoming This is because the spirit does not violent death. Email: [email protected] Web cast restricted to Dzogchen leave the body all of a sudden; the These, then, are the principle Community members ONLY process takes place slowly like a articles relative to "respecting the ROME: April 6th-7th2002 Dates: Tashigar, December 30th, 2001 thread which slowly frays until it body of the deceased" and, as you Third seminar of third level of Ku May 10th-15th 2002 2 CD set/$30 plus $5 shipping finally breaks. Usually it is consid­ can see, the question hinges on the Nye May31st-June5th2002 ered that this process takes three times according to the law. In order Registration fee: 114 Euro Foundation Course in Tibetan days, but Tibetan masters empha­ to have a day to respect the body, Registration and information: Subjects dealt with during the Medicine with Dr. Thubten sise that the length of time depends one can inform the registry office Annamarie Clos, Tel: 065885142 course: Symptoms, diagnosis and Phuntsog, on MP3 format. 80 hours on the spiritual level reached by within twenty-four hours. One can Email: [email protected] treatment of solid and hollow of instruction. $500 per set/ship­ that being during their lifetime. If go up to thirty hours for the exami­ organs, main pathologies, study of ping included. three days is the right period of time nation to ascertain death which, in MERIGAR: April 20th-21 st, 2002 herbal medicines: posology and (payment with credit card, check or for a Master, this period could be a case of natural death, can be very Seminar of second level of Sa Che simple preparations. money order) day for a highly active practitioner. simple and not too violent. The (geomancy) Registration fee: 672 Euro for both Once this time has passed the body doctor doing the post-mortem Registration fee: 83 Euro seminars Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo has kindly is moved and prepared for the exam has another twenty-four Registration and information: The two seminars are directed to all offered to give astrological read­ funeral rituals which, in Tibet, hours after the exam to declare the Shang-Shung Institute Secretary the students of the previous three ings for donors to the Shang-Shung involve dismembering the body death and this period can be further (see above) year course and to all Ku Nye stu­ Institute. She has designated the and then exposing it to the elements used by the family. In this way one dents who have at least attended following categories. and birds of prey. This type of can prolong the time to fifty hours MILAN: April 27th-28th, 2002 and passed the first two levels. $100 General Reading on one's funeral practice cannot be under­ (more than two days) within the Fourth seminar of third level of Ku Doctors, therapists and nurses animal and elements at the time of taken here in Italy and the practice confines of the law. These are indi­ Nye interested in joining the course, can birth. of cremation is becoming more cations and may change if one is in Registration fee: 114 Euro common, even though it is difficult attend it, provided they buy and $200 Forecast for the upcoming a cold area in winter or a very hot Registration and information: to find the appropriate structures study the cassettes of the three year year for an individual one in summer for obvious health Elisa Copello, Tel: O2-33607505 to get approval by local govern­ foundation course. $500 Reading for one's entire life reasons. What is important is that Email: [email protected] ment, carry out the formalities, Information and registration: (this takes several days) there are rules and temporal spaces etc. Shang-Shung Institute Secretaty $500-$ 1000 Family Reading to use in the best one of us. ROME: May 4th-5th, 2002 Rita Renzi For further information, please Fourth seminar of third level of Ku contact the Institute Nye The Shang-Shung Institute of Italy Shang -Shung Institute in America Registration fee: 114 Euro PO Box 277 New Audio and Video Cassettes Available Registration and information: Conway,MA01341 Annamarie Clos, Tel: 065885142 USA * Set of 2 audio cassettes The Practice of the Six Lokas 13 Euro Tel: 413 369 4928 Email: [email protected] •Video of the Six Lokas Teachings given by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu The Shang-Shung Institute in Email: [email protected] during the August retreat in Merigar last year 16 Euro America gratefully thanks all its Web site: www.shangshung- *Set of 4 cassettes of SMS First Level practice (to be booked only by COMO: May 25th-26th, 2002 donors and volunteers who have usa.org practitioners who are doing the training) 15 Euro Second level of Sa Che. The course supported the Institute during or * Set of 2 CD's including most of the practices transmitted by Chögyal will be residential and will be orga­ 2001. Without your participation, Jacqueline Gens, Namkhai Norbu in all these years and recorded personally by him. nized in a beautiful spot suitable to the Institute would not be able to Program Director 22 Euro the observation and analysis of nat­ manifest the projects and programs Tel: 802 254 9114 Contact: ural environment. The fees will established by its founder, Chögyal Email: [email protected] Shang-Shung Institute Secretary, Rita Renzi include food and lodging as well. Namkhai Norbu. Best wishes for Tel: 300564966941 Information will be provided as Fax: 390564968110 the New Year. soon as all the details are worked Email: [email protected] out.

8 a s i a 2 0 0 2

MARGARITA ISLAND

Venezuela

with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

February 15th - 24th Margarita Island Teachers Training

March 28th - April 2nd Margarita Island Easter Retreat

April 9th - 23rd Margarita Island Longsal teaching

For the Longsal teaching students must be serious. For that reason we need to receive their request before coming to the teaching. Please contact your regional Gar for details.

See the Margarita Web site at: www.dzogchenvenezucla.org

Light Rain, Good Harvest. published at least one poem or story in a Tibetan literary magazine. What's This? The mission also visited Qiabuqia, the capital city Teachings by Des Barry of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and the rep­ with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu resentatives of the Department of Education took Des Barry and Helen Williams around to the Tibetan Teach­ he village of Dangche in Hainan Tibetan in ers Training College and the new retraining center for TAutonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, teachers. The new center will serve six prefectures, North America PRC, is the site of the Khrika Tibetan Language School including a Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. ASIA that was built by ASIA an opened in July, 1997 by Chö­ has become a major participant in the retraining of gyal Namkhai Norbu. In summer, its imposing tradi­ 2002 Tibetan teachers in Hainan Prefecture and has also been tional architecture stands out over the lush green wheat asked this summer to develop a role in education at the fields and the backdrop of highly eroded sand moun­ Provincial level. Naturally, such an expansion depends tains, an oasis in the desert terrain of Gui De's high on the availability of resources, but ASIA is committed mountains. Massachusetts to retraining teachers and improving the standards of From July to September, 2001, ASIA ran its fourth May 1 st - 7th their English and Computer teaching skills so that they English and Computer Teacher Training Program. This Cambridge Dzogchen Retreat can in turn pass these on to children in Tibetan primary year, funds had to be raised privately for this venture Harvard University and middle schools. Such a request from the Provincial since we had completed our original agreement with Cambridge, Massachusetts Department of Education is a sure sign of appreciation IFAD, a branch of the United Nations, which had even of ASIA'S contribution to minorities' education in The Gutman Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education extended our two-year venture into a third year. The Qinghai Province. 6 Appi an Way Dzogchen Community of Southern California provided Cambridge over S6000US for this year's project. The rest of the Finally, on the day before the mission ended, Dan­ gche Tibetan Language School welcomed its first mid­ money needed to send the mission was provided from May 9th dle school boarding students. In a ceremony at the ASIA Italy's general funds. Northampton school, the Middle School was officially authorized by This year, our counterparts in the Hainan Prefecture Public Talk Department of Education were unsure as to how many the County's Department of Education and the children students to expect. ASIA had offered to provide teach­ turned out in Tibetan national costume and gave a dis­ (contact Tsegyalgar for details) ers and all teaching materials but required the students play of traditional music and dance to the official themselves to pay for board and lodging at Dangche guests, teachers and people of the village. This is a May 11th School. The Depart­ Public Talk for Shang Shung Institute ment of Education Tsegyalgar thought that because Conway the students had to pay (contact Tsegyalgar for details) for their food and Santi Maha Sangha lodging, this would May 10th - 14th Base Level Exam seriously impact atten­ May 15th- 19th First :Level Training dance. ASIA sent two teachers, Des Barry to May 21st-23rd First Level Exam teach English and May 24th-28th Second Level Traning Helen Williams to do Computer Training, May 30th-31st Second Level Exam both of whom expect­ June 1st-5th Third Level Training ed classes of no more than twenty-five stu­ dents each. Upon Philadelphia arriving at Dangche, June 8th they encountered a far The International House of Philadelphia higher number of stu­ 37th & Chestnut St. dents than any previ­ University City ous year, about 90% of Philadelphia whom were Tibetans. major development for middle school Tibetan educa­ The students were split up according to levels and tion in Khrika County. Dangche School will continue to New York City expand over the next three years until the number of the two teachers ran an intermediate English class, a June 10th- 16th middle school students reach a maximum of one hun­ pre-intermediate English class, two children's classes New York City Dzogchen Retreat dred-eighty. This will bring the school's student num­ and a computer class during the first three weeks of the Synod Hall bers up to its maximum of five hundred. In Khrika courses. Farouq and Giorgio Minuzzo, working on an On the grounds of the The Catherdral of St. John the Divine County, and throughout Qinghai Province, thanks to the emergency project down in Yushul Prefecture, man­ 11 Oth St. & Amsterdam Ave. generous donations of IFAD and private donors. aged to find a third English teacher, Joan Barton, for the New York City last three weeks. This meant that Helen was freed up to Tibetan education has a chance to improve. The effort, of course, needs to be sustained. There is still a great run an advanced computer course for computer teach­ For more information: deal of work to do. and resources to build if Tibetan ers. In all, ASIA taught classes to over two hundred- Dzogchen Community of North America at Tsegyalgar children are to compete on a level of parity with other fifty students. PO Box 277 more well-off provinces. In addition to this, ASIA staff began negotiating Conway, MA 01341 with the editors of Drang Shar (Light Rain) a very pres­ USA tigious Tibetan Literary Magazine, to organize a Cre­ For information: Email : [email protected] A.S.I.A. ative Writing Course for young Tibetan writers at Dan­ Tel: 413 3694153 Via San Martino della Battaglia. 31 gche in the summer of 2002. Modem literary forms in Fax: 413 3694165 00185, Rome. Italy poetry and short-story writing are developing quickly Web site: www.tsegyalgar.org in the PRC and it is hoped that established writers can Tel: 06 44340034, Fax: 06 44702620 pass on their experience to young writers who have Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

T H E MIRROR J A S F E R 2 0 0 2 9 Archeological Survey in Ngari, East Tibet - 2001

by Mauro Nascari

helped us buying supplies and tents eat in a small Chinese restaurant. passing through Saga; or take the for our stay in Khyung , and By this time we were all very tired. north road passing through Lhatse after a visit to the Great Stupa of After lunch we took the road lead­ which is much longer. Unfortunate­ , the delegation ing to the interior of the region. On ly, the south road was impassable finally started off for the Tibetan the way we admired the breath-tak­ because it crosses the Brahmaputra border on August 12th. It took ing scenery with its luxurious vege­ River which at that time was in almost seven hours to reach Kodari tation, overhanging rocks and high flood (the same thing occurred dur­ (120 km from Kathmandu) - the waterfalls with their pure white ing Rinpoche's expedition in last Nepalese village at the foot of waters like in some Japanese paint­ 1988). So we had to spend four the Himalayas before the ings. As we gradually gained in days traveling across Shigatse Pre- Autonomous Region of Tibet - because the last section of the road was blocked by three landslides. This is quite usual at this time of the year during the final pelting rain of the monsoon with the result that groups of young Sherpas were already there ready to carry the baggage for tourists and travelers who had to cross the border. Because of the enormous amount of baggage (including four wooden crates with food and equipment) we had to hire seven or eight porters to help us cover a good section of the road on foot. Once we got past the landslides we had to find trans­ portation to continue the trip - often trucks and eventually other Sherpas when there were other landslides.

After crossing the Nepalese border we came to the "Friendship T"\uring August and September Until the present there has been no Bridge" which delineates the JLrof 2001, the Archeology significant archeological evidence boundary between the two coun­ Department of the Istituto Shang - to confirm the chronological indi­ tries. Here as in Khodari, we were Shung in collaboration with the cations suggested by ancient deafened by the continual noise of Cooperativa Archeologia of Flo­ sources since, for various reasons, the waterfalls and torrents rushing rence, organized the first archeo­ there have never been any excava­ down towards the bottom of the logical mission to tions or stratigraphie surveys in the valleys. The Sherpas were not in East Tibet. The aim of the survey area. Some reconnaissance mis­ allowed to continue beyond this was to begin a series of study and sions undertaken in the past, how­ point and left the baggage at a sort research activities to exploit the ever, attest to the existence of of truck stop just a few meters archeological patrimony of the area numerous sites of remarkable his­ away. On the Chinese side of the through organizing excavations torical and archeological interest border a young soldier controlled and taking appropriate action to belonging to successive periods our passports. Even though we consolidate and restore local arche­ with a structural superimposition were already in Tibet, the real bor­ ological monuments. By virtue of which has been used up to our time. altitude the scenery slowly fecture to reach Ngari where we der is higher up at Drangmu, at the useful connection between One of these is the ancient site of changed, with the trees disappear­ had to meet the local authorities 2200 meters. The road there was Ngari Prefecture and the Istituto Khyung Lung which was identified ing and the vegetation becoming and spend another three days very steep and full of hairpin curves Shang-Shung which has hosted as the last capital of Shang Shung more and more sparse until it was before leaving for Khyung Lung. and although frequently blocked by several cultural delegations from by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and just simple shrubs revealing the But at least we were in Tibet and landslides, this time we were fortu­ the People's Republic of China in some members of his team during a naked rocks. that was enough to give us the nec­ nate to find it open. We went up to recent years, a series of cultural field trip in 1988 (see the video We got to Nyalam (3600 m) in essary strength to confront a long Drangmu with a Chinese truck. It exchanges was begun. As a result, "Kailash"). Thus the object of this the late afternoon and spent the first and tiring journey towards the was midday. We had an appoint­ this first archeological research was first mission was to gather docu­ night there to acclimatize. Here we mythical capital of Shang Shung. ment there with Kalsang, the driver made possible. The project that was mentary evidence about Khyung experienced the first symptoms of The villages we visited during for Ngari Prefecture. He was wait- presented to the Chinese govern­ Lung. altitude: headaches, breathlessness our voyage from Nyalam to Ngari - ment this year was carried out in particular Lhatse, Sangsang, thanks to the work on the origins of Tsochen and Gyegye - all gave us Bon in Tibet undertaken in the past the same impression. The streets by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and were neglected and lined with bar­ also to the subsequent documenta­ ren buildings almost like the sets of tion work of the Istituto 's Depart­ some films set in the far west. ment of Archeology, in particular Islands of 'civilization' lost in the on the part of Angelo Andrea di vastness of the Tibetan plateau Castro, archeologist, and John Vin­ reminding us of the rich and ancient cent Bellezza, Tibetologist. culture of the 'people of the snow'. The disturbing sadness of this The historical importance of scene, however, was compensated the area to be surveyed - made evi­ for in the extraordinary beauty of dent for the first time by Chögyal the countryside we crossed at an Namkhai Norbu after thirty years altitude of 4000 to 4500 meters, of study on the subject - has been with mountain passes at 5500 widely documented by Tibetan meters. The panorama was fantas­ sources as well as by surveys and tic with immense never-ending val­ research done more recently by leys, mountains of the most bizarre other scholars. Research activities forms and colors, and turquoise carried out so far testify to the exis­ lakes. The condition of the roads, tence of an ancient civilization however, was terrible (there are no know as the "Kingdom of Shang asphalt roads). Shung" whose origins most proba­ bly can be attributed to the second We arrived in , the millennium B.C. The existence of Chinese name for the recently built this civilization, which precedes by town which lies in the Indus Valley ing for us very punctually just after and dizziness. Because of this we and is the capital of Ngari Prefec­ far the beginning of Tibetan history The first delegation of the Isti­ the border with his Toyota Land decided to stay there an extra day in ture. There we were warmly traditionally dating back to the 7th tuto Shang-Shung in the Ngari Cruiser 4500, the best vehicles for order to avoid useless risks, received by the local authorities century A.D., is a very important region included John Bellezza, these types of road. After taking although our driver was disappoint­ who put us up in a brand new luxu­ testimony for the study of the ori­ Tibetologist, Gigi Campolmi, car­ care of all the bureaucratic duties at ed because he wanted to get to ry hotel. In fact it seemed that we gins of Tibetan culture and is there­ tographer, Roberta Bianchini, the Chinese customs, we had to Ngari as soon as possible. To get to may have been the first guests in fore of fundamental importance for architect and an expert in restoring • chase after our truck which in the Shiquanhe (capital of Ngari Prefec­ this new hotel, built on the occasion understanding the most ancient monuments, and myself, archeolo­ meantime had gone to take care of ture) from Nyalam there are two of the fifty year 'peaceful liberation phases in the history of the Land of gist and director of the delegation. some other business. Once we got possibilities: take the fastest road of West Tibet', which took place the Snow and of the early history of After three days of frenetic prepa­ hold of our baggage, we all went to south in the direction of Kailash around that time. central Asia in general. rations in Kathmandu where John

10 As soon as we arrived we were (mounds, ruins, etc.) which have able to follow because it had been in some of which the walls have that will be presented to the Chi­ asked to meet the authorities at the been detected and located, in order seriously damaged. been washed away or collapsed. nese authorities in order to obtain Prefecture offices. At the meeting, to create new thematic features We stayed in a miserable hotel The remains of ancient structures permission for the Institute to carry besides the Vice-Govemor of through digital elevation models for three days waiting to find anoth­ covered in scarlet plaster rise from out research in the area in the com­ Ngari, there were the directors of (DEM). er vehicle which was practically the earth to mark the presence of ing years. impossible since areas connected to the caves which The return trip to the Nepalese almost all the vehi­ by now have fallen. Everywhere border was a series of obstacles. cles were involved the earth is covered in a myriad of First of all. the steering of the car in the festivities in stones, pebbles and pieces of earth­ broke near Paryang, a village on the Ngari. During these enware in a thousand colors. High road that leads to . three days we were up, on an isolated rocky spur lie the John and the driver walked thirty able to visit what remains of what Rinpoche identi­ kilometers to get to the village remained of the fied as the 'royal palace'. On anoth­ while we waited with the car in the famous monastery er promontory the remains of an old beautiful surroundings of the of and its Gelugpa monastery can be seen, Steppes, without knowing if we stupas, situated destroyed during the Cultural Rev­ would be able to get back to Kath- very close to a olution. The ruins of stupas mark mandu on time to get our flight. It small garbage the stopping places for thousands was at this point that we really got dump. When I saw of devoted pilgrims who have visit­ discouraged. On top of everything this I felt terrible ed this place in the past. In these else we didn't know whether we and very sad. Dur­ caves followers of both Bön and would be able to cross the Brahma­ ing the wait at Thol­ Buddhism lived and celebrated putra at Saga. Fortunately, the next ing I also had time their rituals for centuries, perhaps day we managed to phone, and the to sample 'chang' - millennia. car part arrived in Ngari two days Tibetan beer It had taken us fifteen day to get later. We were there when we heard which, unfortunate­ here from the Nepalese border and the news about the terrible terrorist ly gave me a serious though temporary stomach upset. The village was no different the Department of Culture for 7. Publish the results of the expedi­ from the others we had already vis­ Ngari, the head of Zanda County tion with all the necessary graphic ited - the central avenue was made where Khyung Lung is situated, and photographic documentation. of packed earth with 'modem' and the local TV. As the director of On the request of the local authori­ shops and offices on both sides, our delegation, I explained the aim ties, the publication will be put rubbish all over the place and. most and objectives of the project of the together in English, Chinese and of all, poverty. On August 24th, Shang-Shung Institute's Depart­ Tibetan. somewhat discouraged, we finally ment of Archeology, pointing out The Vice-Govemor and those pre­ left for Khyung Lung with a new that it was the outcome of years of sent at the meeting expressed a sin­ truck which, however, also broke research by Prof. Namkhai Norbu cere and lively interest in the Insti­ down after a few kilometers. and the fruitful relationship that the tute's project and a desire to collab­ Institute has continued to maintain orate as much as possible in the We were stuck for a day in a with the authorities of Ngari. The Institute's future activities in the small village called Mangnan on objectives of this first mission to region. Finally the Vice-Govemor the road to Khyung Lung. Here we Khyung Lung were the following: emphasized that this was the first found the ruins of a great Stupa and 1. Locate and pick out archaeologi­ official Western delegation in Ngari the sacred area around it within a cal sites in the region to be explored involved in particular with archeo- garden with grass and trees. The with the aim to identify future areas logical research on the Shang- houses of the simple hospitable of archaeological excavations and Shung civilization and, obviously, country folk were dotted all around. verify the consistency of the he made us feel a little proud. This was different from the town archaeological deposits. We spent three days in Ngari to buy because everything had remained almost like it was originally. For the first time I felt that I was in Tibet, or what my imagination felt must have been Tibet a long time ago. We found a third truck and left the day after for Khyung Lung although we had to spend a night on the road camping with the Tibetan tent. In the meantime several other 'guests' had joined us and traveled only twelve working days out of the attack in the USA. Before we with us on the truck. They did their planned twenty remained so that reached Kathmandu we had three best to put up the tents in a hurry for we had to re-dimension our objec­ flat tires and almost got blocked at the night. Too much of a hurry. tives. It was no longer possible to the Chinese border crossing at During the night one of the wooden try to identify other sites so we con­ Zhangmu. At Kodari two land­ poles supporting the tent was centrated our energy mainly on the slides forced us to use Sherpas, but moved by a strong wind and fell on documentation of Khyung Lung. all this is normal when you go to the driver's head wounding him. The first days there were hard, Tibet. In spite of all of this we man­ Our first aid supplies turned out to camping in tents at 4222 m, with a aged to catch our flight at the last be providential in such a difficult sun hot enough to crack rocks in the moment. situation, and in spite of every­ daytime while at night the tempera­ Despite the many difficulties thing, in the morning the driver was ture fell below zero. We had no and lack of means, I think that the able to drive, although in pain. modem conveniences and no way Institute's first mission to Tibet was Along the road we stopped at the to communicate with the world. very positive. It was definitely an ruins of an ancient Buddhist settle­ The minimum movement required important step for all of us in that it ment. We could see the reliquaries an incredible effort and at the has opened up concrete possibili­ inside some of the clay stupas, beginning we had difficulty in get­ ties to carry out more in-depth mostly tsa-tsa and ancient sacred ting into a normal working rhythm. research on the ancient civilization texts. Piles of stones showed the In spite of all this we managed to of Shang Shung. But most of all it remains of secular religious build­ draw up a plan and some sketches gives credit to the work that ings which at one time towered of the prominent main structures Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche has car­ majestically over the valley. and take photographs and video ried out for many years, making a In the early afternoon of shots of the caves and various concrete contribution to the study August 26th we arrive at Khyung structures present in the area. We of the origins of Tibetan culture. 2. Identify archeological sites and the rest of our food supplies, provi­ Lung. The sacredness of the site is collected samples of pieces of pot­ For these reasons it is important to monuments that could become sions and the generator: and to rent shown by the many strings of tery on the surface, fragments of organize and find the necessary more valuable in the future through a Tibetan tent for cooking and iungta' (prayer flags) adorning the bone and charcoal taken from a nat­ resources to carry out the next mis­ activities of preservation and working in as well as a truck to valley in various places and by the ural cross-section, fragments of sion to survey the area more fully restoration. transport the provisions. After we numerous 'mani walls' covered by wood from the 'Royal Palace' and and. if it is possible, begin excava­ from the Gonpa so that we could 3. Make a preliminary collection of had been guests of honor at the hundreds of stones sculpted with tions at the ancient site of Khyung carry out examinations with radio­ findings on the surface of the sites inauguration of the new Shiquanhe mantra - almost always 'Om mani Lung. carbon to get a precise dating. selected. Hotel, we left for Zanda (originally padme hum'. In two or three places Finally our cartographer, Gigi, 4. Document selected sites graphi­ Tholing) where we had to spend the hot thermal waters gush out and Funker information from: plotted several points with a GPS cally and with photos. night in order to reach Khyung form small pools white as snow Mauro Nascali, antenna in order to link the site with 5. Archive the data according to a Lung the next day. At Tholing we with their residue. Beyond the river Email': [email protected] a satellite map and work out the­ geographical information system were handed over to the County (the which rises from the matic maps according to the GIS (GIS). authorities who supplied us with a Indus) the enormous rocky walls of (Geographical Information Sys­ 6. Elaborate thematic maps corre­ new car, a driver and a guide. Once Khyung Lung appear in all their tem). All of this documentation will sponding to environmental aspects we got to Zanda, however, the dri­ majesty, jagged and colorful. The be used to draft a general project and archaeological elevations ver said that the truck wouldn't be rocks open into hundreds of caves,

THE MIRROR JANIFEB 2002 II INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONTACTS

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THE MIRROR J A \ •' F E R 2002 13 Azamling Mountain Retreat Place

by Liz Granger

t's a crisp but misty autumn morning as we wait outside the In the main building Paolo is already at work in the time, more people can stay here since the weather is warm and Irailway station at Cuneo for Aldo Oneto and Paolo Simona kitchen stoking up the wood stove while Aldo brings a tank of the rooms don't need to be heated. We are continually working to to pick us up. We are at the foot of the Alps in the extreme crystal clear water from the fountain in front of the house. Fire towards creating more space for people to do retreats here." In Northwest corner of Italy, close to the French border on our and water - the pure abundant gifts of the mountain. We tour another of the rustic stone houses we see the spaces that could way to Azamling, the first retreat 'ling' ('place') of the the main building - ground floor kitchen with its large square become a library, a meditation hall, an office, even a space for Dzogchen Community in Italy. metal stove for heating and cooking; first floor with a simple yangtig retreat. "We have the space," Aldo points out, 'but we During the car stone pavement, small still need to create the circumstances to develop it." ride there Aldo tells us library, big double bed Back in the kitchen Paolo feeds the fire and serves up a how one of Chögyal and its own stove; sec­ tasty soup for lunch. As we eat, he joins Aldo is recounting the Namkhai Norbu's ear­ ond floor with two sin­ unwritten history of Azamling. "When we first arrived here in ly retreats was held in gle beds and ancient 1983 we were surprised to find two caves. The Master stayed the nearby Alpine vil­ wooden balcony with in the smaller one, 'the cave of the triangle of light'; he would lage of Campomolino breathtaking view sleep there and even wrote a 'gonter', a spontaneous teaching, in the Val Grana in when the gentle mists while he was staying there. The place is closely linked not August, 1978. After shift. Solar panels on only to Adzam Drugpa but also Nyala Pema Dundul, because the retreat, the group the balcony provide a during his first visit here the Master gave us copies of the wanted to find a place steady source of light teachings of Nyala Pema Dundul in poetic form. While he was to practice in the val­ for all the rooms. in the cave, the Master also wrote invocations to two mundane ley and following Pronto! The polenta female protectors, one linked to Monte Bianco, the other to Rinpoche's advice, is ready; Paolo offers Mount Monviso on which Azamling is situated. When we do started to look for a us glasses of fragrant the Tun we include the invocation to this local guardian. In the place that would ful­ red wine and slabs of bigger cave we do collective practices and Yantra Yoga in the fill the necessary local Castelmagno warmer weather." requirements. Eventu­ cheese (a staple at "What is it like in the winter", I ask. "Since the place is ally they discovered Charlemagne's table high at 1600 m., "Aldo tells me, "pre-Alpine it's called, there the cluster of aban­ centuries ago!). Our are 3 or 4 months of snow. The rest of the year it is quite easy doned stone and slate short stay enriched not to get here and live here but people even like to come up in roofed peasant houses only by the abundance winter, trekking through the snow to get here. There is snow that was to become of natural beauty of the here up to Easter and the most difficult months are December Azamling, perched on the rocky slopes high above the valley. area but also by the local gastronomic delights! Enjoy! We to March. People do come here in the winter but they should They gradually collected enough money from people in the light the stoves in all the rooms - wood is plentiful - and settle be prepared and have a strong motivation because they could Community throughout Italy to buy the first main building in ourselves upstairs on the first floor to do an evening tun be many weeks, even months, on their own. A lot of non-Ital­ 1983, and the same year Rinpoche and his family spent ians like this place, particularly peo­ a month there during which he named the place "Aza- ple from the Northern European nigar' because of the similarities between this rugged countries. It is an excellent place for spot in the Alps with Adzam Drugpa's Gar in East chiidlen practice due to the purity of Tibet where he and his disciples had founded a com­ the air and water and the solitude. It is munity of practitioners. Later on. with the develop­ also excellent for shine practice ment of the five international Gars, it was renamed because of the clear views. Occasion­ 'Azamling'. and has remained a place for retreat. ally we organize weekends of prac­ From Cuneo, we head west into the Val Grana, a tice and karma yoga in Azamling - we lush green valley thick with chestnut, beech and pine have quite a lot of new people who trees. Caraglio. Valgrana. Monterosso. Pradleves. We come." start to climb the valley through the small villages of The four of us go outside to stone and wood dotted along the road so typical of the take turns taking photographs in front Alps. The still sharp mountain air is cut by the sound of of the house, pausing for the sun to rushing streams plunging down to the valley floor. The break through the fine mist of fresh scenery becomes more austere, the road twists and autumn rain. "There is still a lot of turns between the steep mountain slopes and a mist work to do", continues Aldo, "and we veils parts of the scene in an almost oriental landscape. need people to help as well as finan­ Pradleves village. The road ascends steeply through a cial assistance. We are already a sea of trees finally arriving in Campomolino, a handful group of practitioners who regularly of severe stone houses, last call for supplies. End of the line. together. Night falls. Each of us to his bed, blankets piled high, contribute to Azamling and the other year we put in solar pan­ Beginning of the pilgrimage. at more than 1600 meters altitude the nights are chilly even in els for the lighting. Our immediate projects are to change the In the past. Aldo recounts, visitors to the 'ling' had at least September. beds and mattresses, put in a greatly needed bathroom and an hour's steep climb on winding footpaths, carrying all their A new day dawns. The damp mist curls itself around and plumbing and make improvements so that more people can own supplies in order to reach Azamling. Everything except through the forests of the valley while high peaks thrust them­ stay here. We are preparing for a visit by the Master and want water had to be carried there, even building supplies. Last selves boldly and clearly out of this white sea. Morning ablu­ to finish his house and are also considering looking for a per­ year, however, the situation was revolutionized when a dirt tions. Squat over a hole in a stone with a view over the entire son who would live here all year round as a kind of gekö or road was bulldozed out of the side of the mountain and it is valley then chill mountain spring water wash. We carry more guardian. In the future we would like to be able to receive now possible, with a robust car and the 'right' weather condi­ water to the kitchen for breakfast. groups of Santi Maha Sangha practitioners and be able to offer tions (no snow or heavy rain) to reach the 'ling' by car. The Aldo takes us to visit the entire complex of buildings. In accommodation." road is still 'settling' this year and so we opt to leave the sup­ the adjoining house a cozy single room has been prepared for It's already time to leave. We pack up our backpacks and plies in the car, people who wish to load the car. I glimpse a shiny black and yellow salamander two of us walk and do longer retreats slipping and sliding up a wet slope. More photos. Giorgio and two drive in order with its own simple I head back down the path trying to beat the car back to Collet­ not to overload the kitchen facilities, a to, back to the asphalt, back to the world. car on the new wood stove and As Aldo drives us back to Cuneo for our train, I silently country road. wooden balcony. salute the little Alpine villages with not a little reluctance. Our Giorgio and I Below is the store of visit to Azamling has been a short but powerful experience. choose to walk the wood stacked neatly "Let people in the Community know about us," says Aldo. steep climb, stop­ long the walls. Next "Come and enjoy all the qualities of this remote and rugged ping to catch our door a small cold spot which is a perfect place for practice." breath from time room against the to time, keeping to rock which serves as For solitary!group retreats, and periods of work and practice the black earth a refrigerator. contact : road then taking a Searching through Moreno Marcato at 39-0141-831002 or Aldo Oneto at 39- winding footpath his bundle of keys 0338-9593865. as a shortcut on the Aldo opens up final few hundred another building to Email: [email protected]. yards. From the Azamling in the snow show us two more thick forest of trees, we emerge into a clearing on the fast rooms with separate kitchens - simple, basic accommodation Azamling is: climbing slope. Our first glimpse of Azamling. A close knit for those who wish to experience a place ideal for solitary 150 km from Nice, France huddle of tall rustic stone houses with slabs of overlapping retreat or for the karma yogis and yoginis who come to the 110 km from Turin and Ventimiglia, Italy black slate for roofs; Alpine houses typical of the Val Grana Ling to work and practice together. area. Weathered wooden balconies hang and lean the width of "In 1988", Aldo says, "we bought more houses next to the the buildings. Still silence of the mountain. Patter of fine rain main house and have managed to create space for 13 or 14 on the leaves. people to do retreats even in the winter. During the summer­

14 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS merigar

Merigar Calendar of Events & Courses The Merigar Christmas Retreat Winter 2002 with Adriano Clemente February 8-10 Course of the Dance of by Elisa Copello Buddha families, the elements, and of this, we can let ourselves be the Liberation of the Six passions or poisons which make up totally conditioned by mental poi­ Lokas bout forty people met in the the karmic cause for in that sons which arise each time a sec­ with a local instructor AMandala room to follow Adri­ particular dimension and the skan- ondary circumstance manifests. The course starts at 4pm ano Clemente's explanation of the das and wisdoms which manifest During the retreat, we alternat­ on Friday practice of the Purification of the after the characteristic emotion of ed between sessions of practice and Final session at 4pm on Six Lokas, a purification retreat each loka has been purified. explanations during which Adriano Sunday that was punctual and opportune at With great patience. Adriano clearly outlined how to follow the Cost: 109 Euro with the end of a particularly difficult tried to dispel our doubts and clari­ practice correctly, coordinating 30% discount for mem­ year, full of obstacles in which the fy the reason why there are differ­ breathing, singing and recitation of bers effects of a heavy karma have man­ ent versions of this practice linked the powerful mantra of purifica­ Registration (26 Euro) ifested throughout the whole world. to traditions, lineages and instruc­ tion. before January 28th The practice was based on the tions which differ among different On the evening of December teaching given by Chögyal February 13 masters. The particularity of the 31st we began the year with the Namkhai Norbu during the August. Losar Celebrations practice transmitted to us by Rin­ Medium Tun followed by the Chöd Water Horse Year Final session at 4pm on Sunday 2001 retreat. Day after day we went poche, a personal belonging practice, a champagne toast, hugs Cost: 109 Euro with 30% discount deeply into the details as. loka after to the Longsal cycle, lies in revers­ and wann wishes for the new year February 16-17 for members loka, the characteristic sufferings of ing the karmic cause of each loka and thoughts for our Teacher who. Life, Aging and Death Registration (26 Euro) before the beings who live in each dimen­ into the corresponding wisdom. though distant in space, is ever-pre­ with Barrie Simmons March 5th sion were explained. We dwelt at Our human dimension is charac­ sent in our hearts. Cost: 73 Euro with 30% discount length on each loka analyzing the terised by all the passions and by for members March 23-24 relationships between the Dhyana dualistic vision. If we are not aware Registration (26 Euro) before Feb­ Karma Yoga Festa ruary 16th From Saturday morning to Sunday Latest News from Merigar afternoon February 23-24 Saturday evening dinner and party The day of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's birthday, December 8th. the meeting of the Sangha took place at Merigar. Practice retreat of Dance of the Since the Gonpa is closed at this time for work to enlarge it, the meeting was held in the Mandala Room. Around Liberation of the Six Lokas March 28-April 1 seventy people participated. Merigar's director, Cicci D'Arista, presented the nine members of the Gakyil who each coordinated by a local teacher Easter Retreat Explanation and Practice of the spoke about the responsibilities and tasks they are dealing with this year. March 2-3 Long Life of the Dakini Mandarava Course on the First Level of Santi with Nina Robinson Administrative reorganization Maha Sangha Cicci outlined the work being done in the main office to create a data base for members of the Dzogchen Communi­ with Igor Legati Date not yet confirmed ty. This year, there are about 900 members, according to Davide Gregorini of the Yellow Gakyil. The office will also [only for those who have passed the Course - Lucid Dreams be restructured on different levels this year: Patrizia Moscatelli's project will redesign the actual office itself, the Base Level exam] with Michael Katz general organization will be improved by Marinella Atzeni while the administration and reordering of the archives The course starts at 10am on Satur­ will be done by Pia Bramezza and the current secretary, Monika Sailer. day Registration To register for courses of Yantra Final session at 10am on Sunday Red Gakyil projects Yoga and Dance of the Vajra it is Contributions requested for the The Red Gakyil members made some interesting proposals for Karma Yoga for single participants and for groups necessary to telephone the office costs coming from the towns. Luc Clarebots has prepared a form to collect necessary information from all those wishing and send a deposit before the regis­ to be involved. Some of the most urgent works include the sauna, the restructuring of one of the retreat cabins, a March 9-10 tration date, specifying the course large Mandala for the Vajra Dance to be built outside and work on all the "green" areas that have already been creat­ Yantra Yoga Intermediate Course you are registering for and giving ed throughout Merigar under the supervision of Merigar's "gardener", Alix de Fermor. (preliminary and first series of your name clearly. Yantra) To participate in the activities of Work on the water system at Merigar 2 has already been completed so that there should be no more water shortages with Laura Evangelisti Merigar, you must be a member of during the summer. A water purifier has been installed to guarantee potable water. G. Paolo Imola who is charge of The course starts at 10am on Satur­ the Cultural Association of the this work said that the two small lakes (just below the Yellow House) would be waterproofed in order to store the day Dzogchen Community. water that fills them in the springtime. Final session at 4pm on Sunday Cost: 73 Euro with a 30% discount Associazione Culturale Comunità Blue Gakyil for members Dzogchen Flavia Tomassini from the Blue Gakyil suggested reviving the Santi Maha Sangha and Yantra Yoga for children Registration (26 Euro) before Merigar, 58031 Arcidosso, GR, which need new stimulus and parents who are willing to take on the responsibility of becoming instructors. February 28th Italy The proposal was supported by the Yantra Yoga instructor, Laura Evangelisti, who offered to teach Kumar Kumari March 15-17 Tel: 39-0564-966837 (Yantra Yoga for children). Fax: 39-0564-9681JO Course of the Dance of the Three Anna Pucci also for the Blue expressed her wishes that more people participate in preparations for the Ganapuja and Email: [email protected] Vajras that this knowledge be transmitted to the city centers. Web page: (with particular focus on the irregu­ A data base is being prepared with all the information on the duties of the Gakyil members so that this information lar method) http:llweb.tiscalinet.it/merigar will not be lost but can be passed on to new Gakyil members when they are elected. with a local instructor The importance of the city centers as a liaison between local groups and Merigar was mentioned, an example being The course starts at 4pm on Friday the new center recently inaugurated in Rome. Paola Ciampetti talked about the efforts of about fifty practitioners in Foligno who have finally created a situation in which they can meet and practice. A Heartfelt Thanks He communicates his vast and pro­ found learning with simplicity and Gekö by Flavia Tomassini intensity, he offers his courage for Merigar's Gekö, Luciano Limonta asked for some of the Italian city groups to be involved in preparing lungta living and interpreting the teaching (prayer flags) for Losar. Plans are to string them along all the roads within Merigar for a total of about one kilometer. rom November 2nd - 4th, 2001, and the practice as he has under­ stood it. In a few words and with a FJim Valby held a course of the The meeting closed with a Ganapuja and the Invocation of the Lamps (Manne Monlam). First Level of Santi Maha Sangha at light-hearted expression, Jim is a "bomb" full of vital energy, enthu­ Merigar. I will not enter into the From an article by Tatiana Minghetti in the Merigar Letter. January issue. details of the course (because it is siasm, seriousness, with a capacity First Level), however, I would like to lead a retreat so that at the end to mention Jim himself, trying to you feel as if part of you has been Merigar Office Reorganization relate, at least in part, the experi­ regenerated. ence of being with him for those And so first all I thank our Dear Vajra brothers and sisters, The Merigar Office is open: few unforgettable days. Master who has given us his pre­ We want to send you the new office hours of Merigar Everyday from 9.30 to 13.00 cious teaching and then a heartfelt Just the sight of this man makes and inform you that Clara, whom we warmly thank, has Thursday and Saturday also from 14.30 to 7.00 thanks to Jim for the fantastic you feel joyful and optimistic; finished her mandate as the secretary of Merigar, and Closed on Tuesday retreat and the final Ganapuja, open when you listen to him, then you that Monika Sailer is the new secretary. to all, during which he made us feel feel amazement, admiration and We also are in the process of reorganizing the whole The Gekö takes calls at 0564-966322. duties permit­ united in the Gonpa illuminated by finally affection. A great affection office and therefore we are very busy and ask to apolo­ ting, from 8.00 to 9.00 every day except Tuesday so many small candles lit for the for someone who "knows", some­ gize for any possible delays in our communication. Manne Monlam invocation. one who has lived and communi­ Warm greetings, Web page: cates what he knows: his experi­ The Gakyil of Merigar http://web.tiscalinet.it/merigar ence of life and his practice of the teaching.

THE MIRROR JAN/FEB 2002 15 INTERS A TIOS* I. COMMUNITY NEWS EASTER RETREAT, MERIGAR

LONG LIFE PRACTICE AND CHÜDLEN OF THE IMMORTAL DAKINI MANDARAVA A WONDERFUL WEEKEND The Long Life Practice of the Immortal Dakini Mandarava is a renna teaching received by Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ WITH COSTANTINO ALBINI bu in 1984 during his pilgrimage to Maratika in Nepal. Rinpoche went there with a group of disciples todo the Long Life Practice of Amitayus according to the terma of Nyagla Padma Dündul (Nyag bla pad ma bdud 'dui, one of the by Flavia Tomassini main masters of Changchub Dorje, Rinpoche's root Master). In 1985 while teaching in Tsegyalgar, USA. Rinpoche received the tevma of the chiidlen related to the Long Life n October 20th at 10am, the course on the preliminaries for contem­ practice of Mandarava. plation practice with Costantino Albini began. It was the first of three O The marvelous story of the revelation of these teachings and the teachings themselves have been translated by Jaco­ courses open to the public. In February. 2002, Barrie Simmons will present bella Gaetani who was one of the fortunate disciples on the pilgrimage to Maratika. (Published by Shang Shung a course on "Living with aging and death" while in August, Michael Katz, Edizioni-1999) will present "Lucid dreams". After Merigar the courses will be repeated in During the Easter retreat we will try to learn a bit about all of the aspects of this practice: the symbolism of the man­ different cities so that a greater number of people will be able to attend this dala, the and the use of the ritual objects and instruments and the chiidlen medicine. Those who do not feel series of meetings dedicated to reflections on some of the most important like doing chiidlen can eat and drink normally and practice contemplation while the others do the breathing practice. questions of human existence. There will be Yantra Yoga sessions for those who wish to be more sure of how to do kumbhaka. If possible, we shall At this first talk, the audience was made up of young and old. Commu­ combine the Long Life Practice with the Dance of the Vajra for those who know how to do it. nity members and others, who all appeared to be very interested. Introduc­ The retreat begins at 16.00 on Thursday March 28th, with explanations according to requirements followed by a ing himself as a simple student of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Costantino short Mandarava practice, the one in the Collective Practices book. As it is a full moon day, we will do the Ganapuja outlined the weekend course in a calm and gentle voice. He referred to the of Mandarava at 19.00. The Mind Treasure of this Long Life Practice was opened and revealed to Rinpoche by Eka- "Four Noble Truths" and "Illuminate your Mind" by His Holiness the Dalai jati, so during the Ganapuja we'll recite the invocation to Ekajati (the one in the Long Tun) which arose in Rin­ Lama. Shantideva's "Bodhisattvacharyavatara". "Introduction to the Prac­ poche's mind on the first morning after his arrival at Maratika. tice of Contemplation by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. "Breathe! You're On Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will concentrate mainly on practice, combined with chiidlen, with a special diet Alive" and "The Miracle of Mental Presence" by Thich Nhat Hahn and provided by Merigar. On Monday morning there will be further clarification about the Ganapuja and at midday the finally various practices from the tradition. final Ganapuja. He began with a breathing practice of purification in the position of the lotus or at least with the back straight in order to be aware of one's body. Extract from Teachings given by This was followed by meditation exercises on the first two 'seals', "All Chogyal Namkhai Norbu in Merigar 26th-2 7th July 1991 compounded things are impermanent" and "All phenomena are unsatisfy­ ing" (according to the terminology used in the previously mentioned texts), "Our mind, practically speaking, has been ill since the beginning of samsara. and reading the Sutra on awareness and observation of the breathing. Both If we were only a physical body we could, of course, reinforce ourselves with just medicine, but as we are always this and all the successive sessions concluded with a reading from a selec­ saying, our existence consists of body, voice and mind. So to reinforce our existence three elements are needed. tion from the splendid verses of the dedication of merits for all sentient That's why the teaching is necessary. The teaching is a great medicine. In the Buddha is called the Great Doc­ beings from the Bodhisattvacharyavatara. tor. That doesn't mean that Buddha practices therapy or prepares medicine for people. The most important of our The afternoon was dedicated to a talk on interdependence with refer­ three existences is the mind. ence both to the philosophical idea of "twelve rings" and to the more gener­ Our mind, practically speaking, has been ill since the beginning of samsara. If we do not know how to cure the sick­ al idea of His Holiness in which he emphasizes that all phenomena, all ness of our mind, it's useless just to cure physical illnesses. Physical illnesses can be cured temporarily. If you take beings and people without exception are dependent on each other. The third an aspirin you can get rid of a headache today but there is no guarantee that you will not get another headache 'seal' from the Text of His Holiness was read, "All phenomena are devoid tomorrow. If you take aspirin habitually it only makes things worse, it can even cause an ulcer. of independent existence". Chiidlen is for reinforcing and coordinating all three fundamental aspects of our existence. If people who want to Sunday morning was dedicated to meditation on the fourth 'seal', "Nir­ prepare chiidlen only want to know what all the ingredients are, that means that they consider it only as a physical vana is true peace" and on a phrase of His Holiness, "The essential nature of medicine and completely forget that it's a teaching which has its transmission. If you do it in that way it won't even the mind is pure and luminous". The warm reassuring voice of Costantino have thirty per cent of its function. spoke clearly about the meditation practiced according to Sutrayana meth­ If we do something, we do it to have some advantage.The advantage we are seeking is to lengthen and improve our ods with sessions of . In the afternoon there was practice existence. So it is much better to do it in the right way. To do anything in the right way the first thing necessary is to and readings from the texts including one of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's in understand what you are doing and what is your aim and how to realize it and how to reach the goal. If you do it this which he speaks of the four defects of meditation: fogginess, agitation, way you can obtain anything. Maybe some secondary cause can be lacking temporarily, but in the end, if one has a being scattered and drowsiness. bit of patience, through one's effort and will, one can succeed. If you lack will and effort you will not attain any­ At the end of this wonderful weekend all of us, old and new practitioners, thing. were content and satisfied, starting with Costantino himself who told us that In the Dzogchen teachings it is considered important to at least do the most simple form of chiidlen because it is a he was still learning. "When you have to explain", he said, "you have to get great help in the development of clarity." into it more deeply". People's questions help you to learn and interact and give answers that can be really useful to resolve or at least to alleviate the pressure of internal problems. Costantino went on to say that the course had context where the demand for these accept in full the challenge under­ MILAN been a lesson in humility and collaboration with others for him. For us, stu­ types of initiatives and activities taken by our Master to bring the dents of a student, a stimulus to be grateful to him. linked to them, such as Yantra Dzogchen teaching to the West. Bakchen We hope that this type of experience will be repeated more frequently Yoga, Vajra Dance, courses on This challenge brings with it a wide and involve an every increasing group of people interested in overcoming Tibetan medicine, ku nye etc.) are range of implications which we The Istituto Shang-Shung is orga­ suffering. very immediate and pressing. cannot start to imagine since there nizing a series of meetings in dif­ ITALY For these reasons a new type of is no historical precedent to refer to. ferent cities so that all those who approach is required in managing In this phase it is crucial to have the are interested can learn to play these spaces which, because of presence of a realized Master and NEWS FROM THE CITIES Bakchen, a Tibetan game which their 'metropolitan' location, are the Dzogchen Community has the Rinpoche enjoys very much. In fact ROME phere, our karma yoga made the obviously destined to become in a great fortune to have Choegyal Rinpoche promoted a Bakchen space ready for the inauguration of short time important reference Namkhai Norbu firmly at the helm tournament at Merigar last summer by Massimo Facchini November 10th on the occasion of points for those who are interested of the boat: we have the unique for all those who had learned to the Transmission of Adzom Drug- in Buddhism and Tibetan culture in opportunity to start off this "new play during a two day course. On the day of the full moon, pa. general. course" under his precious guid­ November 1 st, the Dzogchen Com­ The creation of Community city In perspective, the Community city ance. "Being aware and knowing The courses will be given by munity in Rome opened their own centers, strongly supported by our centers should not only make them­ how to work with circumstances," Michel Bricaire. center at Via Miani 5, near the Master, marks an important point selves economically independent are words that we have heard many Information: Piramide Cestia. Choegyal in the history of the Dzogchen from Merigar but gradually times. They are directed to each one Elise Copello, Namkhai Norbu gave the name Community for different reasons. become the principle source of eco­ of us, here and now. There is no Tel: 02-33607505 or 3387027207 'Zhenphenling' to the new center First and foremost is the metropoli­ nomic funds for Merigar itself. The other better place or time. Email: [email protected] which in Tibetan means 'benefit to tan social fabric with which the Dzogchen Community must of others'. The coincidence of the 'city' Community has to interact, so necessity find a phase of economic For information on activities at opening with the phase of the moon different from the tranquil scene of maturity in which the survival of Zhenphenling please contact: showed that after years of search­ Mount Amiata, far away from the the Gars no longer depends on the Giovanna Natalini ing the situation had finally noise, the stress and routine of retreats given by Namkhai Norbu Tel: 0639737503. ripened. And, as always happens in everyday life. The challenge of Rinpoche. It is time to grow and Email: [email protected] cases like this, there was a manifes­ integrating practice into daily life is tation of a sort of ... yes, a coinci­ now brought to the 'heart of the dence that brought the news to the problem', to the 'center' in a ears of Massimo Pelliccioni of the metropolis of five million people Beautiful Mandala Cards Painted by Ans Swart possibility of renting this large where now there is a Mandala for and available through recently renovated space (220 the Dance and a place where our Shang Shung Edizioni at Merigar sq.m) in a central area of the city. Master will give teaching (possibly Straight away the secondary causes next July). A place where it will be appeared to be favorable and in a possible for everyone (practitioners Shang Shung Edizioni short time we had signed the con­ and non-practitioners) to meet the 58031 Arcidosso, GR, Italy. tract and started working to create a Dzogchen teaching and the Com­ small space for an office, a audio munity. Tel: 0564 966039 video and book library, an area for The other really innovative aspect Email: [email protected] small meetings, courses, etc. In a is in the economic implications of joyful and collaborative atmos­ this project which operates in a

16 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEWS Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Retreat in Austria PURIFICATION MEDICINE AND OINTMENT October, 2002 AVAILABLE AT THE MERIGAR SHOP r I ""he Dzogchen Community of Styria, Austria, is Booking and costs of the retreat: The prescription is based on the instructions of Gum Padmasambava and M. happy to announce that Chögyal Namkhai Norbu has been adapted for contemporary use with the addition of ingredients in will hold a Dzogchen retreat in Austria in October, We kindly ask everyone to register in advance since accordance with the practical knowledge of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. It 2002. many things in our organization-work depend on the has proven to be of great benefit. The retreat will be from Friday, October 25th, until number of people who want to participate (ie.: shuttle Sunday, October 27th, 2002, in Sinabelkirchen, Aus­ bus service to the restaurants, how many restaurants do Dugsel Man Sang (Purification Medicine) tria. Sinabelkirchen is a small village about 40 km to the we have to book, how much parking space is needed, Ingredients: consists of 11 herbs including calendula (gurgum), saffron east of Graz which can be very easily reached from all etc.) and therefore we need to know the number of peo­ (cugang ), bamboo (sergod), nutmeg (dza-ti). directions. ple who will come. Benefits: it is famous for purifying the body and removing toxins such as The cost of the retreat is S160US with the usual dis­ alcohol, tobacco and other forms of drugs. It is especially beneficial for counts for members. There are three different ways of booking a place breaking habits associated with these substances. It also improves the func­ Rinpoche will not only stay for three days in Sin­ for the retreat with three different fees, depending on tions of the organs and the circulation of the body by purifying and harmo­ abelkirchen, but he and his family will be in Austria for the time when one books and pays the money in nizing the elements. about two weeks participating in the Inita- advance: Use: take one teaspoonful of medicine with a glass of warnt water one hour tion from the 11 th until the 23rd of October, 2002, in before breakfast and one hour before dinner (excellent with practices like Graz with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Booking and pre paying in the period from Chiidlen). Rinpoche will also give a public talk in Gleisdorf 1/1/2002 until 4/30/.2002: 155 euro.* Counter indications: avoid garlic, onions, meat, heavy and raw food, before the retreat starts. strong tea and coffee. Regarding accommodation, the Dzogchen Com­ Booking and pre paying in the period from Dug Seide Gu (Purification ointment) munity of Styria offers help to find places to stay. 5/1/2002 until 9/30/2002:170 euro.* Everyone who would like to stay outside of Graz but SMS Base Level Retreat detail on his own translation of the near the retreat place, should contact us as soon as pos­ Booking in the period from with Jim Valby seventh of these texts, the Namkhai sible and we will try and help find accommodations. 10/1/2002until 10/25/2002:185 euro.* Gyalpo. Please send us your detailed information (family Clyro Court UK, So, now we say A and we try to name, first name, address, country, telephone number, Dayticket:72,50 euro * October 24-31,2001 be in that knowledge. In addition, arrival day, departure day, if you come with your own Jim read us translations of a num­ car or not, which kind of accommodation you would * with the usual discount for members of the by Alex Studholme ber of Rinpoche's dreams, stories like to have, like single room, etc.) and we will make Dzogchen-community (20% discount for ordinar)' which seemed particularly power­ some suggestions. members. 40% for sustaining members). o, now we say A and we just try ful and arresting within the retreat There is also a list of possible accommodations on Sand totally relax in what's going environment. Rinpoche, we dis­ our web site. For your registration, we need your name and address, on. Jim Valby returned again and covered, first heard the Song of the Please see: www.dzogchen.at for that reason we ask you to send us an email or a fax again to an explanation of the A in Vajra in a dream he had as an eight- number. the course of his teachings on the year-old boy. Then, whilst living in Contact address: Santi Maha Sangha base level Italy, Rinpoche dreamed of visiting Oliver F.Leick The money should be sent to the account of the retreat. This auspicious event, the relics of his tutor Khyenrab Dzogchen Community of Styria, Austria Dzogchen Community Styria: attended by about twenty five stu­ Odser, who had died at precisely Gschmaier 139, dents, took place during the last that time in far off Tibet. All these A-8265 Gr.Steinbach Name of the bank: RAIFFEISENBANKILZ, week in October in the elegant set­ dreams are to appear in full in a Tel: 03386-8571 or 0676-3221365 Bank code: 38151, account-number: 37051 ting of the music room of the Clyro new and much expanded edition of Fax:03386-23371 Court Hotel, just outside Hay on Dream Yoga and the Practice of Email: dzogchen(autanet.at We welcome Master card and Visa. Wye, the site of the retreat led by Natural Light, edited by Michael Homepage: www. dzogchen. at Chögyal Namkhai Norbu almost Katz, soon to be published by Snow exactly three years ago. Very many Lion. thanks to Jim for leaving his native KALACHAKRA So, now we do our practice. New England to be with us. GRAZ, AUSTRIA One evening, we were given a pre­ 2002 europe So, now we say A and that is view of part of Chögyal Namkhai how we inform everything we do Norbu's autobiography, still some with the Dzogchen transmission. years away from publication, Dear Dharma Friends! Santi Maha Sangha is not necessary which is also deeply informed by for realization, Jim said, but it can Rinpoche's dreaming. Jim sang us The preparations for Kalachakra be useful. It can, too, produce a a beautiful two line melody in for World Peace Graz 2002 phenomenon still quite new to the praise of Rinpoche that had come (Europe / Austria) are well under Community: Santi Maha Sangha into his mind as he was translating way, up to now more than 4000 par­ ego. There are plenty of people, Jim the first section of this work. In ticipants from over 35 countries remarked, who are not doing Santi 1955, whilst still in Tibet, Rinpoche have registered. We are very happy Maha Sangha, but who nonetheless had, apparently, anticipated his about the worldwide interest in this know a great deal more about the career in the West. He dreamed that event for peace and tolerance with state of than do many so- a foreign-looking soldier threw him His Holiness the Dalai Lama. called advanced Santi Maha Sang­ a book written in Roman letters, It is only 10 more months to go ha practitioners. which he could not understand. The until the event starts on October So, now we say A, the sound is title of the book, however, was 11th, 2002. Due to our extensive the Dharmakaya dimension, the written in Tibetan letters. It read: public relation activities the world­ white A the Sambhogakaya and The Story of a Tibetan Lama that wide interest is rising from week to rays the Nirmanakaya. Jim began Wandered the World. week. by talking about the familiar prac­ Very many thanks, once again, In order to make our participants' tices of the Short Tun and gradually to Jim for his superb teaching. stay, the location logistics and secu­ introduced other practices from the Many thanks, too, to Des Barry for rity as well as the infrastructure as base level. He was also kind efficient as possible, we need an his excellent Yantra Yoga classes. Four Days with Jim Valby at Kunseling enough to share with us a little of Many thanks, also, to Amely. Anne, estimate of the number of expected Santi Maha Sangha 1 st Level Practice Retreat his own prodigious scholarship of Felix, Diana and all those who guests. This is why we would like Wales, UK, October 19-23,2001 the Dzogchen tradition. He present­ worked behind the scenes, for their to ask for your support: Please by Richard Dixey ed an overview of the twenty-one various organizational efforts. inforni us approximately how principal Semde texts as set out by many people from your sangha or Longchenpa and, over the course of your circle will participate in the ix of us sat and studied four Tuns a day for four days. It was wonderful. several sessions, commented in Kalachakra Graz 2002, according SSitting with Jim Valby, we had all taken the first level exam, and were to the following structure: moving as one in our Guru's blessing. Jim was direct, persistent, encyclope­ dic. We started at the beginning, with the meaning of what we were invok­ 1. Sangha ing, and worked our way through carefully. 2. Regular participants NEW GAK YILS 3. Participants who are in There was the root text, and then the sharing of many materials he had need of financial support gathered and collated in his generous way. Always humorous, but always VIENNA, AUSTRIA FRANCE focused, precise in timing, precise in the intention of why we were there. It would be great if you could send Peter Sochor (yellow) Yellow: Jim lead us by example and broadened our appreciation of what is possible. us this infonnation until the end of Alexander Sochor (blue) Loie Leretaille (President) Wonderful ! January/beginning of February. Walter Camerloher (red) Bernard Bodineau (Treasurer) Please don't hesitate to contact us if Every evening we sat down at dinner, with mouthwatering food cooked Blue: you have any questions, please also by Judy, and talked and laughed together. Then we sat by the fire with the SPAIN Laurent Stemmler (Secretary) check our new website at wind and rain roaring outside. When morning came, we sat, and studied in Blue:Carlos Oses (Barcelona) François Calmes www.kalachakra-graz.at. four Tuns, carefully. Again direct, humorous, and clear. [email protected] Red: Thank you very much for your The last day came, and we shared together in a final Ganapuja: it felt Yellow: Nuria Moro (Sevilla) Laurent Poureau cooperation and support! proper, and complete. Potential had been realized, and we all came away [email protected] Vincent Mardelet Best wishes and tashi delek! with renewed focus for our practice, with our lineage moving ever more Red: Yolanda Ferrandiz (Madrid) powerfully, transmitted on in us. yolandafg@ wanadoo.es Thank you Vajra brother. Christian Bauer

THE MIRROR JANIFEB 2002 17 to fulfill Rinpoche's vision of COMMUNITY NEWS building more retreat cabins on the Tsegyalgar Winter Schedule Buckland land requires us to painting the exterior. We finished expand our perspective. Tsegyalgar the interior walls and got most of Dear Sangha Members. March 2 (Sat) Financial Support for Tsegyalgar Tsegyalgar would like to thank Newcomers Day Year End Summary the interior painted. A set of stairs were installed to the loft and a The primary forms of supporting everyone who participated and sup­ wood stove was installed. The floor Tsegyalgar financially are member­ ported our events and activities this March 9-10 (Sat-Sun) BlueGakyil was insulated and a good amount of ship and the recently mailed Annu­ past year. 2001. The Course for the Dance of The brush and branches got cleared al Campaign. We strongly encour­ The Gar is becoming more alive: We will all remember the year from the surrounding area. In the age all of those who have received activities, visitors and membership by Anastasia McGhee 2001. In times like these, when spring, we'll install a small kitchen the gift of Rinpoche's teachings to have been increasing. We will con­ (Tentative) samsara forces itself into our con­ area that will include a gas stove participate in both of these forms of tinue to expand throughout the win­ sciousness, we can more clearly see and refrigerator and we'll put in a support. Membership forms for the ter to prepare for Rinpoche's visit March 22-24 (Fri-Sun) just how precious our Master and working bathroom. We will also Year of the Water Horse will be in May, 2002. Lama Thubten Phuntsog the teachings he transmits are. finish the interior and exterior mailed at around the time of Losar There are many tasks and projects Chöd Teaching Despite the situation in the world, we painting and hook up the wood (February 13). In addition to pro­ that need to be done at the Gar. continue our work at Tsegyalgar. stove. There remains a good deal of viding support to Tsegyalgar and Your help during your visits will be April 6-7 (Sat-Sun) Our new web site is up and running. work yet to be done. your local Gakyil affiliation, mem­ great. SMS Study Weekend Teams have been organized to The Buckland retreat land: There bership will entitle one to discounts We welcome you ! facilitate Karma Yoga. We've con­ was a good amount of dead brush (20% for basic members, 40% for Tsegyalgar Gakyil April 27-28 (Sat-Sun) ducted Yantra Yoga Classes in clearing done and preparation was sustaining members) for the 2002 Preparation for CNN Retreats Northampton as part of our out­ made for landscaping the area retreats with Rinpoche in Boston Karma Yoga Weekend reach to the local community. around the Stupa. Some bulbs were and New York. 2002 We've run regular advertisements already planted, so that we'll have Although the Community occa­ Weekly practices, Ganapuja and in various national and local maga­ blossoms in the early spring and sionally conducts fund-raisers for February 2-3 (Sat-Sun) other special day practices are zines. more flowering plants are to be put specific projects, we rely primarily Vajra Dance Practice Weekend scheduled. Tsegyalgarnet has been serving in next year. on the year end Annual Campaign February 13 (Wed) as a tool for communications At the Gar: Two new bathrooms for contributions. Your donations Losar Long Life Practice / If you would like to be on our email within North America. were added on the 2nd floor, one are tremendously appreciated. If Ganapuja list please contact us at: Participation in the events and for the Gekò's apartment and one you have not mailed in your contri­ Losar Party ! [email protected] practices at the Gar has increased for visiting scholars. A good deal of bution yet, please do so today! greatly. maintenance was done with a lot February 16-18 (Sat-Mon) For more information: One of the highlights of the year accomplished in the basement area. Thank you! SMS Contemplation Practice Dzogchen Community in America was the Santi Maha Sangha Prac­ Many people commented on the Weekend at Tsegyalgar tice Retreat with Jim Valby in July, improved condition of the school- Tel:413-369-4153 an event which also included the house, upon their return visits. February 26 (Tue) Fax:413-369-4165 second North American Dzogchen Some very nice landscaping was The Day of Garab Dorje Transmis­ Email:DzogchenUSA@ Community-to-Community Meet­ done around the front of the build­ sion at 10pm compuserve.com ing. The First Level Yantra Yoga ing and more is planned for next Website: Teachers Training Course, with year. Work will begin this winter to http://www.tsegyalgar.org! Laura Evangelisti and Fabio Andri- refurbish the kitchen area to make it co. was also very successful. more user friendly and useful as a Teachings by Chökyi Nyima and dining area. Lama Wangdor Rinpoche were tsegyalgar well attended, and both Lamas expressed their interest in returning Yellow Gakyil to teach again next year. Our local The Year of the Metal Snake has &west coast dance teacher. Anastasia McGhee, taught the Dance of the Three been relatively successful from the Vajras during the SMS Practice point of view of Tsegyalgar's Tsegyalgar welcomes Anastasia McGhee as the new manager of the retreats as well as the Dance of the finances. Donations of S25.000 Liberation of Six Lokas in October. each from the West Coast Tsegyalgar bookstore. The Dream Yoga Workshop led by Dzogchen Community and Savan­ Michael Katz was received very nah Haske (via her fundraising per­ positively. We've scheduled anoth­ formance on 'The Weakest Link" er workshop following the May. television game show), as well as 2002 release of the revised edition other generous contributions, have of Dream Yoga. certainly been a tremendous boon to the community. In addition, Ongoing projects include comple­ memberships, bookstore sales, and tion of the Tsegyalgar web book­ retreat income are all significantly store, production of the new up, as the Gar has taken on a more Tsegyalgar brochures and a New­ active program. comers Package, as well as a New­ comers liaison project. There are After a rough financial year in plans to make professional recordings 2000, during which DCA incurred of Rinpoche doing some practices $15.000 of legal expenses related next year and these recordings will be to the Buckland land court case, released on CD and cassette. which contributed to an overall We would like extend a special thanks operating loss of approximately to ourGekö. Damien Schwartz, for his S26,000!" the 2001 statement of participation and support ! operations through mid December showed a gain of over S30.000. The balance sheet posted a cash balance Red Gakyil of $82,000, and total equity of $510,000. In addition to funding The following are some highlights the normal operations of the Gar, of the activities of the Red Gakyil we have been able to provide sup­ in 2001: port to projects of the international Work on the Guardian cabin: After Dzogchen Community. $10,000 of clarification from Rinpoche as to An Introduction to Yantra Yoga Savannah's donation was forward­ the actual layout of the cabin, we ed to A.S.I. A. and the Shang-Shung Oakland, California, USA were able to finish the siding, add a Institute. We also contributed door and window, insulate the walls Sundays 10:30am in the East Bay another $5,000 to A.S.I.A.'s Kham- and begin the interior wall surfaces dogar project, and $2,000 to the in preparation for painting and the Yantra Yoga teaches Methods for: translation fund in Merigar. Local­ building of the altar. We cleared a Developing more flexibility of our Body and Mind ly, we have been able to fund reno­ lot of the area around the cabin of Clearing our system of blockages vations to Rinpoche's retreat cabin dead brush and branches. Coordinating and developing our Breathing and Presence in Buckland and to the school- Rinpoche's cabin: Due to manpow­ Harmonizing and strengthening our vital energies house. er and resource shortages, we had to stop work on the Guardian cabin Nevertheless, Tsegyalgar's finan­ In Yantra Yoga there are 108 movements and positions arranged in 5 groups. It is best to begin a session of Yantra and concentrate on finishing and cial stability remains quite tenta­ Yoga on an empty stomach so we encourage people to not eat at least an hour before each session. This workshop refurbishing Rinpoche's cabin in tive. Without the support of mem­ will be taught by Jey Clark a certified Yantra Yoga instructor. preparation for his personal retreat bers and donors, the maintenance of normal operations, as well as there in 2002. Although his plans For information contact: improvement and expansion of have since changed, we were glad [email protected] or call415-377-7297 retreat facilities, would be extreme­ to get a lot done on the cabin. We Web Site: www.dzogchencommunitywest.org finished siding and almost finished ly difficult. In particular, our desire

18 INTERNATIO \ A L COMMUNITY NEWS

MUSIC FOR THE DANCE OF THE VAJRA From AMIATA RECORDS Written in the language of the Dakinis, this deeply contemplative music, inspired by the dreams and visions of the Dzogchen Master Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, was transmitted specifically for the accom­ paniment of the sacred Vajra Dance. The CD starts with A, the Son» of Vajra, the Song of the Six Pure Dimensions of , the Song of the Three Vajra and ends with A.

$17 plus shipping

To Order: Tsegyalgar Bookstore 413-369-4473 Phone 413-369-4165 Fax Email: [email protected] Vajra Dance Course in California Liberation of Six Lokas February 7th- 10th, 2002 with Anastasia McGhee

At the new Dzogchen Community Center 2748 Adeline Street #D Yantra Yoga in Topanga Canyon Berkeley, California October, 2001 Course fee is $121 by John Bidleman Enrollment limited to 20 To register please contact: abio Andrico led a small but tenacious group of Dzogchenpa's through a grueling eight day Yantra retreat that CarisaO'Kelly: Fended with a dinner in Pasadena at a Tibetan restaurant. Dani and Chiara Colajacomo donated their ample office [email protected] space for the event and hosted Fabio at their home in Topanga Canyon. Los Angeles community members showed Please check our web site at www.dzogchencommunitywest.org their "Southern" California hospitality by providing for the out of towners generously during the extended Yantra course. The course covered the Nine Breathings. Tsijong. the Eight Movements and the first and second group of Advanced Course Yantra Yoga at Tsegyalgar Yantras. Fabio ended with the Vajra Wave and rhythmic breathing. The personalized attention by Fabio and the June 18th-24th, 2002 comfort of the space made for a very pleasant experience. with Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti Fabio extended himself punctuating the rigorous course with his humor and insights on Yantra and existence in general. Naomi Zeitz offered herself in mind, speech but mostly body for Fabio to instruct the group. The entire retreat was filmed for the purpose of providing a study aid. Please contact: Tsegyalgar The Northern California attendees would like to thank Stephanie Denyer for her gracious hospitality and the PO Box 277 entire group thank Dani and Chiara Colajacomo for the opportunity to access a Yantra Master such as Fabio. With­ Conway, MA 01341 out their cooperation and planning the event would have been impossible. Many thanks to Fabio for making himself USA available in such a direct and amiable manner. Tel: 413 3694153 Fax: 413 3694165 Email: [email protected] Dzogchen Community West Coast - Good News 3rd N. American Community • Community Meeting/Retreat January 18th - 20th, 2002 Santa Fe, New Mexico fter looking about by Carisa O'Kelly. Julia M. Deisler The format of the weekend was Athe San Francisco & Naomi Zeitz set around the already initiated con­ Bay Area for the past few- cept of teams which was developed years, the Dzogchen fter many months of planning further at this meeting. (A future Community West has Aand logistical calesthenics, the article in The Mirror will go into leased a centrally located Dzogchen Community of New more depth regarding the structure city space! It is in a Mexico hosted the third North and content of the teams.) What 1900's renovated build­ American Dzogchen Community came out of earlier meetings was, ing with character, pleas­ to Community Meeting/Retreat at that if people work well together in ant feeling and nice the Center in Santa Fe. The smaller groups with focus in partic­ architectural details. The New Mexico Community did a ular areas, they will be more pro­ downstairs, a European very fine job of hosting thirty prac­ ductive. The basic structure of the style bakery sends the titioners. There were representa­ team concept is as follows: most heavenly scents tives from all comers of North 1. Steering Committee - 5 mem­ wafting through the air America including Alaska, Hawaii, bers: one from Tsegyalgar, one up to second floor! Massachusetts, Northern and from the Dzogchen Community Upstairs we have a large Southern California. Colorado, West Coast, and all must have room for teachings, prac­ Seattle. Whidbey Island and New Gakyil experience. tice. Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance. There are sloping high ceilings with sky lights reflecting soft light and aged brick York, for the weekend of January 2. Team Coordinator on the side walls to help ground and a kitchen lounge area to prepare Ganapujas. It's only about 1.000 square feet, 18th - 21 st, 2002; the Martin Luther 3. Project Leader but it is big enough for the Mandala and we think a good place to start. King, Jr., weekend. 4. Team Members With this space we're now able to sponsor more gatherings, practice explanation sessions. Santi Maha Sangha The main purpose of the ASIA and Shang-Shung Institute groups, and Weekend Workshops. Already we were able to host Lama Wangdor for a weekend of potent Dzogchen meeting/retreat was to practice and were also discussed in terms of Mind Perception Teachings, December 15 and 16th. Over eighty people attended each session! By hanging banners work together to develop and actu­ their unique status and relationship and thankas over the unfinished sheet rock and laying odd carpets on the plywood floor, so it became quite cozy. alize our collaboration in the trans­ to the Community. There is still a great need for people who can lend skills now to help paint and do finish work this month. We mission of Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ We had two and half days of meet­ already demolished the old partition walls to make the larger multi-use area and constructed a back office area for bu. ings, sessions of Vajra Dance, a equipment, library and archives, etc. Other areas of need are cabinetny, book shelf building, and painting the Man­ On Friday evening people met at sprinkling of Yantra Yoga, and a dala. Sincere gratitude is felt for all the great people in the community who have given valuable time, skill and Susan Harris's home in Santa Fe for fine Ganapuja where local mem­ financial support to make the new Dharma Center come into being. We are hoping to have a Losar celebration in plenty of good food, momos, catch­ bers of the Community joined with mid February with practices, honoring of our construction Bodhisattvas, and having some fun! ing up. and general milling around. the C to C participants. Given the The new center seems like such a timely project right now and will help expand opportunities for spiritual After the evening gathering, people amount of work accomplished, growth. This is good not only for Buddhism's future in general, but for the continued blossoming of precious moved on to the Upaya Center, a people also found time to enjoy the Dzogchen teachings in the Bay Area's fertile ground. May it be of great benefit, for all sentient beings. center in Santa Fe founded in local attractions of the region like 1990 by Roshi , where hot tubs. Southwestern food, a little Best Wishes for the coming New Year, they settled in for the weekend. snow, crisp air and Indian dancing. (The Upaya Center is on the same Those who stayed on later had die May blessings float down like snowflakes on all Vajra kin! grounds as the Ngagpa Yeshe Dorje opportunity to attend talks given by Stupa which is under the care of Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo on Tibetan The West Coast Dzogchen Community Gakyil the Maha Bodhi Society. The Medicine and Astrology. construction of this Stupa began We decided to hold the next meet­ Dzogchen Community West Center in the early 1970s under the ing on the weekend of September 2748 Adeline. Berkeley, CA guidance of Dudjom Rinpoche 13th - 15th, 2002, with the location Phone: 510.644.2260 and was consecrated in 1973 by TBA. Watch Norbunet, Tsegyalgar- Website: www.dzogchencommunitywest.org Drodrup Chen Rinpoche.) net, and The Mirror for details. Email: [email protected]

THE MIRROR JANIFEB 2002 19 IHTilHATIO S A L COMMUNITY NEWS From the Gekö of Tashigar

I want to say thanks. In the first place to our beloved Teacher for all he has given me, for awak­ ening me and for filling my life. Secondly, my appreciation goes to all who trusted me in the 2001 Commu­ nity meeting with their support. In the third place to the now resigning Gakyil, without whose uncondi­ tional support I would not have been able to grow and work. I .astly, to all the Vajra brothers and sisters who have worked through these three months giving their time, capacity and money. A great effort soaked with love. Once more you are trusting me and I will live with my children in this wonderful place for one more year. I am already waiting for you all with the same joy and love in this Tashigar, which will go on growing every day. Thanks to you all.

The Gekö Delia Tashigar, January, 2002

brazil tashigar & south america

The Dzogchen Community of Tashigar South invites you to visit the web site: http://www.tashigarsur.com.ar

means of slide projection and an From the explanation. The course was so Dzogchen Community successful that our Community has of Brazil been invited to present it in other cities in Brazil. The Dzogchen Community of This workshop was organized Brazil has just held their first by Muriella Colajacomo, a student course of Tibetan painting during a of Glen Eddy and a long-standing meditation retreat organized by the disciple of Chögyal Namkhai Nor­ Sangha of Lama Padma Samten, a bu, along with the help of our small disciple of Chagdud Rinpoche and but steadfast Brazilian Dzogchen a great admirer of our precious Community. We would like to Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. thank all those who participated in The fourteen hour course pre­ the course here in Brazil. sented the fundamentals of the tra­ ditional technique used in thanka Muriella Colajacomo painting, as well as covering an overall picture of Tibetan art by New Tashigar Gakyil with Rinpoche in the Tashigar Gonpa paola LUCIENTE New Gakyil of Tashigar January. 2002 kunsangar The last day of the Christmas Retreat at Tashigar. with the auspicious presence of Rinpoche. the new Gakyil of Tashigar was selected. All the people of the new Gakyil of Tashigar will work together with the old Gakyil until March. 2002. At the yearly general meeting, the candidates will be voted on by the membership of Tashigar. Red: Maria del Carmen Garcia Ruvira. Horacio Toledo, Adolfo Portillo MARCH APRIL Yellow: Griselda Olivera. Noe Riner. Susanna Sobre 3/1 -3/3 4/5 -4/26 Blue: Claudia Harkan. Daniel Simoneli. Ramiro Fernandez, Raul Baratini Retreat on making with Guru Dragpur Retreat with Olga Our congratulations and best wishes to them ! Svetlana Rounova Solovjova Sara Hanono Starts at 20.30 Starts at 20.30 Secretary 3/8 (25th day) Ganapuja 4/7 (25th day) Ganapuja 3/8-3/10 Complete Vajra Dance Retreat 4/12 (30th day) SCHEDULE OF PRACTICES AND RETREATS IN KUNS ANGAR (Mornings - with Mandarava prac­ Ganapuja at 20.30 February-April, 2002 tice, Evenings - with Medium or Long Tun) 4/13-4/14 FEBRUARY 2/12 (30th day) SMS Base Retreat 1/31 -2/7 Ganapuja with Naggon 3/13 (30th day) SMS 1 st Level Retreat with Olga Solovjova Ganapuja at 20.30 4/19-4/26 Starts at 20.30 2/13 LOSAR Vajrasattva Retreat Sang, Mandarava. Guruyoga of White A, Ganapuja; 3/15-3/24 2/12- 2/5 Evening celebration of Tibetan New Year Retreat on Semdzins 4/26-4/28 Purification of Six Lokas Retreat Starts at 20.30 Retreat: Amitayus, Guru-Yoga of Starts 2/5 at 20.30 2/14-2/26 White A, Vajra Dance, Medium RETREAT: 3/24 (10th day) Tun 2/7 (25th day) 7.30 Mandarava practice Ganapuja at 16.00 Ganapuja 20.30 11.00 16.00Guru-YogaofWhiteA Best regards on behalf of the Blue 20.30 Vajrasattva practice 3/28 (15th day) Gakyil of Kunsangar, 2/8 - 3/1 Ganapuja at 20.30 Guru-Yoga of Padmasambhava Retreat (reciting of 2/27 ( 15th day, Anniversary of Garab Dorje) Lena Herz, Secretary Guru Rinpoche mantra) with Olga Solovjova 6.00 INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE, Guruyoga of 3/29-4/7 Email: [email protected] Starts at 20.30 White A Retreat on Four Immeasurable and 14.00 Ganapuja Chöd Practice with Larisa Rozhnova

20 IHTitHATIO X A L COMMUNITY NEWS

Santi Maha Sangha Practice Retreats with Jim Valby Kunsangar, Russia August, 2002

The following practice retreats will be led by Jim Valby who has been a stu­ dent of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu since 1982. J uly 27-Aug. 3,2002 Kunsangar SMS Base Level Practice Retreat The four daily sessions are: 8:30-10am, 10:30-12, 4:30-6 (Yantra Yoga), 6:30-8pm. Anybody who has attended a retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu or participated in one of the three universal transmission practice days may participate in our SMS Base Level Practice Retreat where we will focus on the essential theory and practice of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen as transmitted by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in his book named "The Precious Vase - Instructions on the Base of Santi Maha Sangha". Aug. 5-11,2002 Kunsangar SMS First Level Practice Retreat The four daily sessions are: 8:30-10am, 10:30-12, 4:30-6 (Yantra Yoga), 6:30-8pm. Anybody who has taken the SMS First Level training with Chö­ gyal Namkhai Norbu may participate in the 8:30am, 10:30am and 4:30pm thuns of our SMS First Level Practice Retreat where we will focus on the essential theory and practice of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen as transmitted by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in the SMS First Level training. Aug. 13-18,2002 Kunsangar SMS Second Level Practice Retreat The four daily sessions are: 8:30-10am, 10:30-12,4:30-6,6:30-8pm. Anybody who has taken SMS Second Level training with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu may participate in the 8:30am, 10:30am, and 4:30pm ses­ namgyalgar sions where we will focus on the essential theory and practice of Dzogchen Semde as transmitted by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in the SMS Second Lev­ el training. Ku Nye At Namgyalgar by Lyn Ogilvy Geppert

Tibetan Massage Course or an intense eight days from September 29th to October 6th, the Gar DR. NIDA CHENAGTSANG IN THE LAND OF OZ Fwas busy - awash with bodies, towels and oils, meditation, laughter, food, camaraderie and study. by Jan Cornali & Joy Dahl Within the first ten minutes is over and Dr. Nida has gone, there It was a Ku Nye Chi Tibetan massage class, run by Dr. Nida Chenagt­ of the first Introductory Lecture, is much work to be done. The tour sang from the Shang-Shung Institute of Tibetan Cultural Studies in Italy. t all started when Chögyal any remaining doubts about this ooordinators. as part of the Gakyil's Dr. Nida has only recently set up the first International School of Tibetan INamkhai Norbu said, "I'll send unknown quantity, the unassuming commitment to improving our level Massage in the Medical Department of the Institute, under the direction of someone to you". That was back in scholar and practitioner of Tibetan of organizational skills and capaci­ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, and this was his first visit to Australia. April, 2000. Rinpoche and the Medicine, were blown away. All ties, making our fundraising and It was a pretty hard eight days. In the mornings we had lectures and Gakyil were exploring objectives over Australia, from the Southern other functions more efficient and demonstrations, and in the afternoon, practice. I don't think any of us real­ for the next three years before Rin­ cold winter in Melbourne to the professional and passing on that ized how thorough a Tibetan massage is. Done properly, it takes at least poche's return to Namgyalgar. tropical north in Cairns. Dr. Nida knowledge to future Gakyils, has three hours. Done by the students, it took a good deal longer, and without us To raise the profile of the Chenagtsang astounded Aus­ adopted a learning process. even completing a full massage. Dzogchen Community, to collabo­ tralians with his level of intelli­ It's a method of soliciting feed­ The Gar was looking pretty good since Malcolm Smith stepped into a rate with the Shang-Shung Institute gence, teaching skills, depth of back from all involved in the orga­ gap caused by the illness of our previous Gekö, and arrived seven weeks in preserving and spreading knowledge, humility, accessibility, nization of the tour, as well as par­ before the rest of us to do some hard manual labor. He moved earth (if not Tibetan Culture, to increase our compassion, commitment to his ticipants and non-members, to dis­ heaven): digging steps to the car parks, building an entire cooking and din­ mailing lists and attendance at profession, and most important to cover what worked positively and ing area, shoveling sand, constructing hot and cold running water systems Dzogchen Community sponsored Aussies. his delightful sense of what improvements we want to for that and the showers, building a dressing room, fitting glass, rebuilding events, to create a source of income humor and ability to get down and make for the next event. In all and fixing myriad things without which it wouldn't have been the absolute independent from Chögyal party! departments, from Staffing to joy that it was for the rest of us. Thanks a million, Malcolm! Namkhai Norbu's teaching retreats, No, it wasn't all work. In spite Teacher Care, from Finance and As I type this I'm listening to "The Cuckoo's Presence", music by Ten- to improve our organization skills of a daunting, jam packed tour of Attendance to Coordination and zing Tsewang. We had the pleasure of his company during our eight days as and capacities - these were some of six regional centers, covering thou­ Communication, from Publicity he had come with Dr. Nida to help out with his English translations and led the objectives Rinpoche discussed sands of kilometers in six weeks, and Venues to Bookshop Sales and us in the Medicine Buddha mantra chanting. Tsewang seemed to enjoy his with the new NamgyalgarGakyil. with five different programs plus Catering, this feedback will be ana­ massage classes as much as the rest of us and has determined to write some When Rinpoche offered to ask private consultations, there was lyzed and reflected upon before Ku Nye music with different themes for the stages of massage and the three Dr. Nida Chenagtsang if he would still a little space, time and energy creative solutions are developed for humors. come to Australia, the new Gakyil, for the necessary partying. Snor- the problems encountered and suc­ This was the first thing we had to leam - the three humors. They are with its committee structure keling in the Great Barrier Reef cessful methods are recorded for derived from the five elements - space, wind, fire, water and earth. Space involving the wider Namgyalgar after Brisbane , crocodile sightings future reference. and wind make wind, or in Tibetan lung; fire stays fire or tripa; and water Dzogchen Community, grabbed the near Cairns, disco dancing in Syd­ Although much feedback from and earth turn into mud, or phlegm or bedken. These are discovered using opportunity and began organizing ney, koalas and hundreds of kanga­ non-Dzogchen Community partici­ pulse, questions, observation, touch, etc. I was pretty lucky having studied almost immediately. Tony Mugg roos at Tidbinbilla, a Canberra pants indicated that people appreci­ Traditional Chinese Medicine, because although they are not the same they laid the initial groundwork, then a nature park, feasting at the "Hungry ated the level of organization and do start from the same model and energy channels, the five elements, etc.; Tour Committee coordinated by Yak" Tibetan Restaurant in Mel­ the atmosphere of collaboration so I had a bit of a head start, which was a good thing! Jan. the President and Ely the Trea­ bourne, and exploring the magnifi­ permeating the tour and its events, After we had decided what humor we all were, or were put right by Dr. surer of the Gakyil, began liasoning cent beaches around Tilba with the we have much to leam and develop Nida, we were paired off, given towels and sheets and mats and oils that with Elisa Coppello of Shang- "Tilbetans". allowed Dr. Nida to before we can feel we have truly matched the humors, and set to work practicing on each other. It was hard Shung Institute in Italy, in the set­ relax a little and gave the locals a improved our capacity. work and we were all regularly in need of huge amounts of sustenance pro­ ting up of planning and publicity chance to share the wonders of Oz One encouraging note was vided superbly by Danuta. There was always a huge choice of delectable and involving the regions across with their new found friend and received from Dr. Nida himself, goodies and the candlelight dinners were a triumph. There were flowers on Australia. teacher. who relishing the feedback process, the tables and hot towels and table service and good conversation amid, for It's a little embarrassing to con­ Yes, firm friendships were gave us some invaluable hints, say­ me at least, total exhaustion. It gave me just enough energy to drive back fess that in spite of Rinpoche's formed, not only with Dzogchen ing he could see the potential here. home to Narooma every night where I fell into bed and only awoke with the enthusiastic recommendation. Community members, but also Even more encouraging was the alarm. "He's fantastic", a few of us secret­ local Tibetans in every region and fact he began telling everyone, "I We had the excitement of visits by goannas called by Dr. Nida land ly wondered how a Doctor of other newcomers drawn by their will return", almost as soon as he dragons'. Lucky for him he didn't manage to catch one of the little ones by Tibetan Medicine would go down interest in the broad range of sub­ arrived! the tail! "down under". But when the first jects Dr. Nida taught, including "Sa So it is with immense gratitude Now that we're all back home, I hear that the Melbourne group has publicity photos arrived in Mel­ Che" - Tibetan Geomancy. Mantra to our insightful master. Chögyal been getting together to study and practice, and here in Narooma we are bourne and were shown by the Pub­ Healing. Dream Diagnosis. Intro­ Namkhai Norbu. for starting us off gearing up for a small study and practice group of our own. We'll need it licity Coordinator. Joanna, to duction to Tibetan Medicine, and on this amazing journey of evolv­ because in one year's lime we'll be sitting our exams, after which (if we explore ideas for brochures, excla­ the very popular Ku Nye Massage ing greater knowledge, awareness pass) we'll get our First Year Certificates, and start on a Year Two of the mations of. "What a spunk! That Course Retreat which was sold out and skill that we look forward to the three stage course. To help us on our way, Lisa Stutchbury has organized a photo will make a great poster, almost as soon as it was advertised. return visits of Dr. Nida Chenagt­ four day retreat during the Christmas retreat at the Gar where we can sur­ everyone will want one! The pro­ sang and other inspiring teachers of prise retreatants with our brilliant expertise by them massages and Did we accomplish our objec­ grams will be sold out!", made Tibetan Culture to our land of Oz. ourselves practice. tives? It seems we have gotten off us suspect we were on to a win­ Thanks to Vito and everyone else who organized the Course and to all the to a great start. But even though the ner. helpful Dzogchenpas at Namgyalgar. tour is finished, the farewell dinner

THE MIRROR JANIFEB 2002 21 REFLECTIONS

Attention Deficit I remember one of the first plified and essential practices that parties; the same as the Gakyil. It is Proposals are accepted without desirable that he/she is aware of questioning, or given the case, Disorder and occasions when I went to a Tibetan appeal to people like myself. Buddhist retreat. I had been simply Years later, when I encountered this representation. rejected through a negative vote. Enlightenment doing shamatha-vipassana for the Dzogchen Community, I knew I C. His/her main function is to * Discipline and authority that awhile - a very "bare bones" prac­ could feel at home thanks to a com­ coordinate, harmonize and com­ reflects itself in insufficient dedica­ by Paul Bail tice devoid of complex ritual, ment a Community member made municate. Therefore, he/she has to tion. recitations, or visualizations. The about my vehicle. As I brushed be informed of everything and * A real awareness of the compro­ ecently one of my children retreat setting was very rustic. aside books, papers, magazines, keep a relation with every mem­ mise that being a Gakyil implies Rwas diagnosed as possibly Everyone was sleeping at a camp­ empty soda bottles, and children's ber of the Community. He/she is (time availability, capacity, eco­ having Attention Deficit Disorder site, and the lama's teachings took toys, in order to clear the back seat, the one who knows what every nomic possibilities, etc.) as well as (ADD). ADD is the inattention syn­ place in a large tent. It had been this Community member said, Gakyil member does, and holds a being a member (not to care, leav­ drome that contributes to children quite an ordeal just hauling in all "The inside of your car looks just positive control (neither bossy nor ing all the work to the Gakyil and being easily distracted in school the necessities one needs in these like "S's". (S. was a long time hampering) on every task. expecting everything from it.) and not getting good grades. The primitive living situations. When I Community member.) D. As for a specific task, the Self-criticism: pediatrician said most children But, in the Dzogchen Commu­ coordination of Gakyil meetings * A fluid communication among nity too, there are challenges. Santi is his/her responsibility. Gakyil members and between the Maha Sangha training could be par­ Gakyil and the members. ticularly hard for those with ADD, About the Secretary * Openness to the proposals com­ because you have to keep a precise A. His/her essential function is ing from the others. Sometimes record of how many times you have communication, both internal and they cannot see eye to eye and there done various practices and not lose external. Therefore, he/she should is difficulty in working as a team. these records - and you also have to be acquainted with the Community not lose the instructions for each of in general and its functioning. Planning for the future. the practices. Fortunately, I found a B. He/she also has an administra­ The tendency solution. I have a spare room that I tive and accounting function. * Towards a regional functioning, keep ONLY as my meditation C. His/her relation with the Gakyil : instead of realizing that the Gar is room. I cannot lose the texts and 1. The Gakyil should control for all of South America and for the records if I stick unswervingly to his/her function and make a list of world. This way of functioning is the rule of NEVER taking my prac­ the tasks according to the Gar's manifested, for example, in auto­ tice materials out of that room. Of needs, as well as what he/she cratic leadership. with ADD have a parent with ADD. went to the main tent for the teach­ course, I can still misplace them in should be offered as compensation. * There are people who think they That got me wondering. Could I ing, the organizers had set up rows the meditation room. But at least 2. He/she attends to Gakyil are the owners of the Gar, and go have ADD? The books said disor­ of cardboard boxes in front of the this is a more delimited space in meetings and keeps the minutes. outside the Gakyil. ganization, lots of unfinished pro­ cushions, to serve as makeshift puja which to search, so that I usually 3. He/she needs a margin of * The projection of our own defi­ jects, and constantly losing things tables. The woman seated at the can find my lost materials without creativity and initiative to solve ciencies onto others. were possible signs of ADD. That cardboard box next to mine had a spending more than an hour or two certain situations on his/her own. * Excessive criticism. Instead of describes me! I had always thought duffel bag with her. Out of it she screaming and swearing in frustra­ helping those who have the Gakyil of myself as a packrat, a noncon­ pulled a foam ground cloth to put tion. About the Gekö function, there is mortification and formist, or as someone with a cre­ her cushion on, a colorful piece of I have discovered that comput­ A. He/she is responsible for the Gar exhaustion. This is lack of compas­ ative temperament. But maybe I fabric which she draped over her ers are much harder to lose than and represents it in the surrounding sion. was deceiving myself. Maybe my cardboard box. a framed photo of ordinary scraps of paper. The com­ community. // would be better if the Gakyil: eccentric behavior could be her teacher, a bell and dorje, a mala, puter is bigger and heavier than lit­ B. He/she controls and coordinates * motivated others to participate. reduced to a mundane "medical a bottle of spring water, and a ring tle slips of paper, and it is attached works performed towards its main­ * reflected outside how its mem­ condition". But if ADD is genetic, binder in which she had neatly filed to the wall by an electric cord, so it tenance. bers respect each other. and if I had ADD, then which one her practice texts, images and other is very hard to misplace. By enter­ C. He/she coordinates and distrib­ * was aware that its function con­ of my parents had it? Maybe my materials. ing all my important information utes the tasks to be performed as sists in GIVING SERVICE, going mother? She used to save paper and Wow! I was dumbfounded by into the computer, it keeps me from Karma Yoga. beyond positions and personal string. I had thought it was because this woman's world-class level of losing it. Of course, one time the D. He/she welcomes and assists interests. she lived through the Great Depres­ efficiency! Not only had she hard drive of my computer crashed, people coming to the Gar. Besides, * the person who lacks interest or sion that she never wanted to throw brought all her camping gear, but and I lost several years worth of he/she has to do a follow up of peo­ time to collaborate would abandon anything away. But. maybe it was she had been mindful of every little information. It was a bit like having ple's attitudes to prevent any dam­ the Gakyil. ADD? And if she didn't have time detail related to her practice needs. my house bum down, or waking up age in the facilities or harm of any * that open reflection and evalua­ to read the newspaper, my mother Obviously Tantric Buddhism was with my memory gone. So, even kind to the Community. In a certain tion meetings were periodically would save it to read later; some­ light years beyond the capacity of a the computer is not an infallible way, he/she has the role of an edu­ held. times several days later. Most of the disorganized person like myself. cure. Everything is impermanent. cator for coexistence. It would be better if those who vote time she would reading last week's That was my initial reaction. Of And every solution eventually E. His/her relation to the Gakyil. in the Assembly: news (which was no longer course, the essence of Vajrayana breeds a new problem. My friends 1. He/she is a collaborator for * Would choose according to their "news")! My father thought that has nothing to do with this. There call me a pessimist for saying this, the Gakyil. He/she executes what conscience and not to their inter­ was very funny. But, was it ADD? are highly complex and detailed but I call myself a realist. the Gakyil approves and he/she ests. And if it was, and if I had it too, practices that are attractive to peo­ needs to have a decision capacity * Would liberate themselves from what were the implications? Would ple who have highly complex and and fast communication in front of the idea that nine people have to enlightenment be harder to reach, detailed minds, and there are sim­ unforeseen events. make the Gakyil. Sometimes six with ADD? 2. It would be advisable that the can work better and this would SPEAKING CLEARLY In this mood, we settled and calmed down in order to Gakyil evaluate and determine: avoid the tension of working with a) the working time implied by people who do not want to. Written by Griselda Gálmez, President of the Tashigar watch a video which re acquainted us with the meeting the Gar maintenance. // would be better if everyone: Gakyil, translated by Maria Inés Fayó. that the former Gakyil had held with our Master during b) A spare time to be assigned * Instead of competing would This meeting took place before the last election of the the 2000-2001 Christmas Retreat. For around an hour as resting time or to personal mat­ know to hold back Tashigar Gakyil in 2001. and a half we listened to Chögyal Namkhai Norbu answering questions about different situations we have ters. * Would set into motion, once and lived in Tashigar. He oriented us, making us remember for all, the model Rinpoche has cre­ An alternative space for communication what he so many times told us, clearing up every visible About the attitude and responsibili­ ated, going from words to action. In spite of the number of times that a Gakyil has been confusion and perplexity on the questioning faces. ties of the Gakyil and what hinders * Would be able to emerge from our chosen in Tashigar, or maybe due to this fact, this year Then we went on to the second stage of the meeting: a its movement? own personal problems, and enter the necessity of calling an assembly previous to the group work. We already knew the questions and the Not overcoming the ego: into this action. If there is no partic­ final selection for the year surged as a need. We wanted core quest. The proposals arose on the spot, everybody * The game between power and ipation, there are no achievements, to have the chance of interchanging ideas on what are sought a proper space, and they got it, but had to fight jealousy, which always create prob­ and if nobody takes responsibility, the appropriate attitudes and the responsibilities of a the tyrant of time that had been set for "in-group" dis­ lems. only a few have to take everything Gakyil. as well as to specify what corresponds to the cussion. The Latin self implies a sort of vocation for * When things are done just to over, demanding too much from Director, Gekö and Secretary. Even if we know that the speech, but in this case a previous maturation on the make Rinpoche know and thus themselves. International Gakyil is working on that topic, a sort of topic was manifest in every participant. become the "spoiled child". urgency determined this call for a meeting. It took place * Desisted from creating problems Once the first conclusions were achieved, a second Friday, April 13th, with a significant attendance. * When we do things only for our­ that, in tum, create more and more round of the groups' representatives was asked to share selves, practitioners aspiring to lib­ suffering, and would increase the them. Then we entered the final stage: a common pro­ eration, but not for others. When happiness of being together and Dynamics of the reunion posal of the second elaboration of conclusions. This we act to be looked upon by others; working together in Tashigar. The meeting started with the coordinators' statement on was the moment for us to encounter coincidences. for the fame we get from this which the points to be analyzed, answering a question that had leads to incompetence and hampers Wine and Pizza fueled the motor of reflection at the I.G. meeting in participation. Something nobody dared to criti­ Merigar. The Conclusions About the Director * When we believe we do things in cize or reject. The night was pleas­ the best way and insist on things to ant and we were satisfied on having What is it that hampers the GakyiTs turning? A. Before, his/her function used to be mainly legal and be done our way. been able to communicate with an Once the question had been posed, we all felt a dark administrative, but now it had to be more executive, * A desire to dominate situations open attitude and good disposition. anxiety proper of any enigma. One of the kind that avoiding the confusion with a parental figure on which and the inability to accept we were would ask for more and more clarifying words, but one the others deposit the function of complaints, a listener wrong. Marisa and Adriana, the cooks, got that at the same time, with the shimmering light that and justice maker, avoiding also authoritarianism and A lack of : a good applause. comes from lighthouses in the middle of the fog, marks bossy attitudes. * An appropriate election of the the way. B. He/she is the Community representative for third Gakyil members in the Assembly.

22 REFLECTIONS

There is trust in the transmission of the Master beyond death and in the primordial state beyond Change change. There is also hope concerning the passage, hope for wisdom liberating in the moment by Birgit Gewehr when the habits stop and the ego collapses. In a short moment I experienced for the first time a bewildering new feeling; a sudden curiosity for this wild passage in a completely unknown just spent one week with Felicitas in her house. Felicitas, a member of the Sangha, has lung country which needs pure courage. Like giving birth. OK, let's wait till it is my turn... cancer. I am doing a retreat at her house, combining my sessions with helping her and being I And Sangha is beyond death. I feel that Felicitas and I know each other already for very, with her. Felicitas is very exhausted, she cannot go out any more, she can only move very slow­ very long time and we will continue. So in the moment we help each other. I give her my com­ ly in the Hat with a wheel chair. The pain is more or less removed by morphine; she is sleeping a pany. She gives me hers. She inspires me - her state is like a mirror permanent reflecting what is lot. In the moments when she is present we drink tea, talk or are silent, do the necessary things important and what is not. All little sorrows cool down. Silence and space develop around me. I and the bureaucratic formalities. even gave up looking at TV in her flat at night so as not to waste time. On the other hand, mak­ In the evenings we listen to tapes of Jim Valby's explanations from the recent SMS Base ing jokes and laughing is always very important. Retreat in Germany and enjoy this inspiration. We do practice together; I sing and perform and I wish that Felicitas has all the lifetime she still needs, and that her passage will be peaceful she is just present. Doing practice is very intense in her presence! and she can relax in A. May the clear light she will open herself to and integrate in also shine on I began to visit Felicitas and became more close to her when she was already ill with cancer. me and the Sangha. At first I was a bit afraid and obsessed by the idea, "Somebody is dying and that is heavy". But I chose the experience. She is weak and suffering, but she is still alive! Alive with a clear percep­ Felicitas Reitzug: "A big change is taking place. I know exactly how is the condition of my body. tion, many ideas and in a rich process full of intense experiences. Maybe I die before she dies, I don't have illusions about that. But I am moving out of all my former connections and contexts you never know. and the new context is concentrated on the Sangha and the path of Dzogchen. Commitment is Anyhow, death is always present and that is a big difference in my normal busy daily life. the word for that. Sometimes "the new" just appears in the form of a square out of four crystal This simple truth creates a fresh mind and an intense atmosphere. I am less sleepy and distract­ balls. I don V know why. ed. My depressions are gone. I enjoy helping. Life is precious. We cannot wait. What is impor­ First I thought there must be a new beginning. Now I know, we are in the middle of it. Also tant has to be done and expressed now. We both enjoy peace and calmness and because Birgit is there. Everything else seems to be completely solved. Except the connection together. with my parents. But priorities are changing. It is important to watch oneself, so that one does Visiting Felicitas in the hospital for the first time two months ago was a challenge. On my not think something new is beginning, there is survival. Yes, if the body would be more strong, it way in the metro it seemed to me that I had to overcome a huge distance between "my normal could happen. But what we actually live in the Sangha is very intense. That is my life. There is life" and "suffering in a hospital". That I had to change somehow... getting more serious or not much longing for life anymore. It is too much effort. Also I cannot go deep into this, it is too deep... But finally I was getting more normal and simple. I learned a bit more just being there tiring. Everything is getting more intense. and let things happen without too many words - especially without the words I planned already To be reborn now would mean to enter in the Dzogchen Community in a new way with more to say in the metro on the way. Slowly my concepts dissolved a bit and I relaxed. intensity. But it does not have to mean rebirth. It would be possible to live it now. But the body is Felicitas's room in the hospital was like a Gonpa. There was a special energy of peace and too weak. But in fact I am living it! The change is actually happening. A feeling: Everything is holiness, which reminds me constantly of being present, of being in the practice. Felicitas was still possible and open. Although it seems to be obvious, concerning the body there are not many very open and when she was too tired for talking I sang the Song of the Vajra. Dying is not the possibilities any more, at the same time I am arriving more in my body. I am integrating my opposite of life. I found that out. There is not such an unsurpassable borderline any more. Of body for the first time really into this life. Because ofthat reason body, voice and mind become a course I am not ill and definitely don't know how I would feel and whether I could be so relaxed and unity and are the cause for the great openness. And that's why life takes place now more in the keep the soft openness and strength at the same time in the process as Felicitas is doing. But the idea very moment." of passing the line causes a bit less panic in me as it did some time before. And that meansalot.

DIAMOND What is of Value Anew edition of

Sipping coffee Leaping from rock to rock I get to the one with the inscription: 'All condi­ Tsegyalgar.org is now at a small table by tioned actions result in torment and exhaustion.' a window, we are It's true that I am tired of looking for rocks in this wide stream. What is a on-line! idle in the way of the conditioned action? The teacher holds up a small blank piece of paper. Please visit www.tsegyalgar.org long married when our "We make this into a solid object, and then," he says, after which he crum­ waitress walks by ples it in his palm, "we grasp it." I look for the next rock. I want it to be a and smiles like good one. Talk about torment, talk about queasy. sunrise on the dark waters of my heart and All praise to earth, to rocks that dwell in mountain streams. Woody says Antichi Rimedi she reminds me of by Joan Marie Wood Nina and all Natural hand-produced products the possible meanings Passages Monte Amiata, Arcidosso, Italy of immortality Ointments for daily use. flash through my mind and Died: I want to call out We want to say good-bye to our Vajra sister Inge Bauer who died on to the sky Tinctures, November 8th, 2001, after long suffering. Nina, you left an Oils for Massage We thank everybody who includes her in their practice, especially our dear ornament Azzolini Salvatore Master Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. behind and it's still Giunco 68 Dzogchen Community of Vienna shining. 58031 Arcidosso

Died: by Barbara Paparrazzo Tel: (0039) 0564 968176, (0039) 0347 8819044 Dear Vajra brothers and Sister of the Dzogchen Community, Published in the "Wisconsin Email:[email protected] David Sharp, our Vajra Brother from New Zealand, passed away at 11:15 Review" am on Sunday, January.20th, 2002 ( New Zealand time; 23:15pm Green­ wich mean time on the 19th January; DST summer time Australia, 9:15 am WHILE READING CHINESE on 20th) while doing practice. POETRY Several people of the NZ community have been regularly at his house over the past few months to do practice and are now gathering there to practice. INTRODUCTION Laying on the sofa, Please join them with Shitro practice. my book still open, Thank you on behalf of David and his family. I watch frost thickening Elise Stutchbury TO DZOGCHEN on the windows and think of the red dust of Han Shan, by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu how it clouds my eyes and Passages stains the vision of this dream In this two-hour video, Namkhai Married: I call my life. After Norbu answers the question: What is Andrea De Castro and Barbara Dombrowski were married in Melbourne, you died the whole Dzogchen? Australia on December 29th, 2001. world drained of color, Dzogchen is a path of self- red fell into green and liberation. It is not a path of renuncia­ Marit Cranmer and Efrem Marder were married on December 21 st, 2001, tion or transformation, but rather one blue into orange, and I in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. of seeing directly the nature of mind- fell into white and as pointed to by a teacher who has landed like Alice in an Born to Anna Garcia and David Pedrira, a beautiful baby girl, Luz, on Sep­ realized this freedom for him or her­ upside down world where self. This video gives the student the tember 27,2001, in Cordoba, Argentina. mothers outlive their opportunity to receive these teach­ daughters and time collapses ings directly from an accomplished like flimsy scaffolding to Margarita Island House Share guide. reveal all of eternity Chogyal Namkhai Norbu is one of the primary living masters of in this moment as Looking for people to share a house on Margarita Island for 5 or 6 people Dzogchen. He is author of The Su­ the frost shines back the gold for the Easter Retreat. dust light of the setting sun preme Source, Dzogchen: The Approximately $40 per day/cost to be confirmed. Self-Perfected State, and The Crys­ 120 min. video, $29.95 and I turn the page of tal and the Way of Light. my book. Contact: Lucilla Curini by Barbara Paparrazzo Email: [email protected] Published in the "Atlanta Tel: 06 2180 2130 ( Rome, Italy) Review"

THE MIRROR JANIFEB 2002 23 and does not have contact with sec­ bad, then it is very difficult that INTERNATIONAL GAKYIL NEWS ondary causes. When you take that they can receive my wisdoms. For seed outside and put in the earth me, when I am realized totally, and give it a little water and the there will be no difference between weather is wann and there is light, those who are or are not my stu­ Blue: that means that now that potentiali­ dents, I will have infinite compas­ Ktrin Eisenneier ty of the seed has contact with sec­ sion for all beings in the universe, hi: ondary causes. Now this flower is but they cannot receive it. That is an Fabio Anirko growing. example. Then we can understand Mm So, you see, it depends very that even if beings totally realize, lì siili could bt you! much on secondary causes. If you their wisdoms work in a different are a practitioner and are aware; way and does not mean that the Only after the approval of the Blue Gakyil and a mem­ Regarding Personal Web Sites you know that the potentiality of condition of the individual disap­ ber of the IPC are you allowed to publish the above negative karma is manifesting, then pears. mentioned images or texts. If you have the approval of All practitioners who have created their own personal you know it is because there are There is a very famous saying the Gakyil or IPC for your personal web site, you will web sites and want to put some images, texts or photos secondary causes and if you are of Guru Padmasambhava: "In the be requested to put also a link to an official web site of of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu or the Dzogchen Commu­ aware you can eliminate some of wisdom of all Tathagatas and all the Dzogchen Community, for example to the site of nity in it, please note: these secondary causes. When this enlightened beings, there is no dif­ your own Gar. Before publishing any image or text concerning our plant is growing you take away ference". Guru Padmasambhava All members of the Gakyils in the world are asked to Master, his Teaching or the International Dzogchen water, for example, then the plant says there is no difference and he forward this message to everybody in their community Community in the Web. please present your web site to cannot grow. Also you can lose and does not say they become one; it is and publish it also in their web sites or newsletters. your local Blue Gakyil, if there is any. or to the Interna­ eliminate the potentiality of the very important to distinguish that. tional Gakyil (IG), which will check it together with a seed. That is an example of how we For that reason in the Dzogchen representative of the IPC (International Publishing Many greetings do purification practice; modify­ teaching, it is very important to be Committee) of your language. Maurizio Mingotti (¡PC - Internet) ing, changing and eliminating the aware and continually in the state Karin Eisenegger (Blue IG) potentiality entirely. You must of presence. The presence referred ChNN leaching continued understand karma in that way. to in the Dzogchen teaching is not from page 5 So it's very important in rela­ ordinary presence; it is a little dif­ The ASIA site is available at: tionship to kanna that we are aware ferent because ordinary presence is and that the root of all action is related to time, our mind, our judg­ the action directly: by asking my related to our intention. For that ment, etc. It is related, and is very http: I I www.melong.comlasia friend indirectly I am. Then later purpose, in Dzogchen teaching, important, because when we have my friend returns and says he gave practitioners can learn so many the capacity to be present in daily Errata the man the food and drink and the kinds of methods. There are many life then it is very easy to integrate In the last issue of The Mirror the date of the interview with man is very happy and feels less kinds of practices, but when we go into instant presence. Then we Chokyi Nyima's was incorrect. It was September 1 Oth, 2001. pain, so I am happy and satisfied. more into the essence and conclu­ become Dzogchen practitioners When I feel happy and satisfied, sion of the practice of Dzogchen, and integrate into our real condi­ In the last issue of The Mirror the article entitled "The First Tsegyalgar then I produce this potentiality of then we should do practice of Guru tion. Open" referred to several photos which were not there. karma. That potentiality of karma yoga. Guru means teacher, in San­ How can you learn to increase remains always with my potentiali­ skrit; teacher in the real sense. your capacity of presence in gener­ Apologies. The Mirror ty. In there are There can be many kinds of teach­ al? You can learn in daily life. many different explanations of how ers, if someone teaches you how to Sometimes if you have nothing to Here is a handy web page that tells the time around the potentiality of karma remains and read and write this is also teacher. do, you have one free hour, then world: where it remains: not losing it, etc. But in the teaching the Guru is not you have an idea to learn how to be http://swissinfo.net/cgi/worldtime/ But it is not necessary that we have that kind of teacher. In Dzogchen more present. In that moment you a place where that potentiality we say Vajra Guru; Vajra means our think, "I want to go in my office remains. We all already have infi­ NEW BOOK AVAILABLE FROM real nature and a teacher teaches and see a program in my comput­ nite potentiality forever and not SHANG-SHUNG EDITIONS. ITALY you how to discover your real er". When you have this idea necessarily in a place, but always in The Dzogchen Community. Principles and Guidelines for nature. This is called the Vajra Guru immediately you try not to be dis­ our condition. It only manifests Practitioners and after you discovered your real tracted with this idea. In general we when there are secondary causes. nature, after you have discovered are distracted. We think we should that that is the state of your Guru, The idea for this booklet arose during an For example, in the Madayami- always be on the go and thinking then there is no difference between International Gakyil Meeting at Merigar ka Sutra teaching, our potentiality what we should do next and many your real nature and the teacher's in the Summer of 201X1 In a group con­ of accumulation of merits remains other things. When you are learning real nature. Also there is no differ­ cerning Gakyil relations it became clear something like a shadow. We can't about being more present, before ence between the condition of all that there were problems common to all see that we have this shadow, but you move to go into your office you human beings and enlightened Gakyil members due to the lack of knowl­ we have a physical body and when make a kind of commitment. You beings. But the same condition edge of the fundamental principles of the there are secondary causes like commit to keep presence until you doesn't mean you and the Guru Dzogchen Community, uncertainty about light, etc.. then the shadow mani­ arrive at your computer and then become one, that is not the case. If the basic requirements of being a Gakyil fests. So if there are no secondary until you return. Then you get up. you understand in this way your member, and other problems related to causes, karma never manifests. When you get up you notice you understanding is different. The misunderstandings in communication This, in general, is how all karma are getting up, now you are walk­ same condition means like water. and group dynamics. manifests. For example, everyone ing, you notice you are walking. You see water falls and moves, but In order to help overcome this problem has infinite karma: good and bad. You arrive and open your comput­ Particularly, we have so much water is made up of many atoms er. You are not distracted. Then you we decided to publish a Gakyil Manual. The guidelines outlined in this potentiality of bad karma. Even if and if you observe the different see the program. Now you see the manual are intended to be useful as a general aid, but the particular way we have that potentiality, it has not atoms in the water there is no dif­ program and are aware you are see­ each Dzogchen Community functions in their own country is unique and manifested. Everything manifests ference. It is the same way with ing the program. Now you finish they will have to adapt the manual accordingly. with the circumstances related to individuals; we are not saying and return, and also you know you This manual will require periodic updates. Please send all information to: secondary causes. When there are when we are realized or illuminated are returning. This is a very, very [email protected] secondary causes then karma can that our individuality disappears. important practice and if you do it Hopefully this manual will functions as a helpful resource for all manifest, also purifying and modi­ But we have no ego. We have no one time today, again tomorrow Dzogchen Community members. fying kanna. There are many possi­ idea I am Namkhai Norbu and you one time, and after a few days of Available from: bilities. Some people believe that if are another person. We have the doing it, it becomes more easy. Shang Shung Editions we have some karma we must pay; idea that you and I, all our condi­ Everything we are not familiar with 58031 Arcidosso GR Italy that good and bad karma is regis­ tion, is the same, the same condi­ in life is a little difficult. But if you Tel: 0564 966039 tered somewhere and we should tion. But when our wisdoms mani­ are learning and reeducate yourself Email: [email protected] pay. This is the wrong understand­ fests, they manifest in different day after day, then it becomes very ing and it is not that way. We have ways. When we do the practice of easy. Afterwards you don't really infinite karma related to circum­ Long Life, we don't do the practice need any effort and can continue in Posters from Tsegyalgar Bookstore stance and for that reason in the with Buddha Shakaymuni, but use that presence. So this is a very, very by Glen Eddy, a renown traditional thanka painter since 1970 and student teaching there exist so many prac­ Buddha Amitayus. If we want to important practice. Many people of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu since 1983. tices for purifying karma; even increase our compassion we don't who are interested in the teachings modifying and changing it, because use Vajrassatva, we use Aval- say they are very interested to do New reproductions of Primordial Masters Thanka if we are aware and know how the okiteshvara. If we want to increase practice; they are too busy and have commissioned by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. secondary causes are, there are our intelligence we use , no time. In this case, you remember Includes Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and three protectors at the bottom. always possibilities. Karma that not Buddha Shakyamuni. In the that even if you are busy you can be Size: 18 inches x 26 inches matures and manifests is dependent real sense, there is no difference in the state of presence and that is Price: $15US plus shipping on secondary causes. Secondary between Buddha Shakaymuni, better for you. When you are pre­ causes are present with our aware­ Avalokiteshvara or Buddha Ami­ sent and not distracted you notice Reproductions of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Thanka ness. For that reason there is the tayus. They have the same wisdom immediately when you have ten­ by Glen Eddy possibility to purify. If, for exam­ and qualities, they are all totally sions and you know that tensions Size: 18 inches x 26 inches ple, we have the seed of a flower, realized, but their way of function­ are the root of problems. You relax, Price reduced NOW $15 plus shipping! this seed has the potentiality to pro­ ing and wisdoms are different. have less problems and your life duce a flower. If you keep that seed When I have total realization, I becomes easier. To Order: in a box for many years and you always have a good relationship Tsegralgar Bookstore keep it well, that potentiality does with you. You can receive all my Tel: 413-369-4473 not disappear. It does not manifest wisdoms. But if someone has no Transcribed & edited by Fax:413-369-4165 at all because the seed is in a box relationship with me, either good or Naomi Zeitz Email: [email protected]

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