No. 120 THE MIRROR January, February 2013 Upcoming Retreats with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 2013 Argentina Tashigar Sur March 22–28 Simhamukha of Ayu Khandro retreat April 1–8 The retreat was held in the spacious 'Gonpa' at the Grand Hotel Callao. Photo: M. Farmer Santi Maha Sangha Training Peru Lima April 19–21 The Real Condition of Time – Enjoying the State of The Dzogchen Experience Mexico April 26–28 Definitive Happiness Mexico Retreat Elisa Copello May 8–12 Tsegyalgar West Retreat very time I come back from Tenerife, ners coming from Russia and the East Eu- who wanted to take part in a “performance” I feel the desire to return as soon as ropean countries. There were many familiar under the watchful and amused eye of USA possible. I feel nostalgia for this spe- faces but also an extraordinary participa- Rinpoche after the ganapujas and also on May 17–19 E cial place dominated by the volcano and the tion of people, who were totally new, in the other occasions before and after the retreat. Los Angeles Retreat power of the elements that manifest with packed calendar of activities: the magnifi- Rinpoche has repeatedly stressed the May 24–26 all their energy. But this time the feeling cent teachings of Rinpoche in the morning importance of learning Tibetan dances and Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, CO was stronger, different and accompanied by accompanied by valuable advice and useful songs as a tribute and a commitment to a sense of belonging in the knowledge that reminders aimed at new and old students, keep alive a culture in danger of extinction. May 31–June 2 in a few months we will have the first re- practices led alternately by Nina Robinson The songs in particular are often poignant New York City Retreat treat on the island on our land. The Man- and Analen Gall, and in the afternoon in- testimonies of Tibetans’ love for their land, June 7–12 darava retreat was, therefore, the last to structions on the mudras, visualisations their religious spirit, their devotion to His Tsegyalgar East Retreat be organized elsewhere, more specifically, and melodies with the two of them as well Holiness the Dalai Lama and their pride of at the Grand Hotel Callao, with its pleasant as a wonderful lesson on clarifying kum- being a people rich in tradition and ancient USA and colourful swimming pools and lush baka given by Fabio Andrico. Then yantra culture. Rinpoche has now transcribed 108 Tsegyalgar East natural setting. yoga in the morning and the Dance of the songs and Adriana has studied the steps of June 13–15 The organization of the retreat was re- Three Vajras on some of the afternoons. twenty dances that have been approved by Santi Maha Sangha ally perfect and a large team of students Other afternoons were devoted to Tibetan the Master, although certainly others will Level I Exam collaborated in various ways to make the dances under the guidance of Tsering Dolk- be added. The songs and dances took place June 16–23 conditions pleasant and relaxed. There were er, Topgyal Gontse and Adriana Dal Borgo in a particularly joyous and festive atmo- Santi Maha Sangha over 600 people from all over the world, whose abundant patience and skill guided sphere in which many people, young and Level II Training >> continued on page 5 with a very high percentage of practitio- the most numerous group of practitioners >> continued on page 5 Content Focus on Tibetan Astrology . » Pages 6–9 Mandarava Retreat . » Page 2 Artists: Bepe Goia . » Page 10 Editorial . .» Page 3 Borobudur Adventure . » Page 11 ASIA Onlus . » Page 4 International Dzogchen Community News . » Pages 15–22 Shang Shung Institute . » Page 5 How I met . » Page 28 THE MIRROR · No. 120 · January, February 2013 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu 2 Mandarava Retreat Tenerife February 15–25, 2013 Excerpt from Day 3 February 17, 2013 Meeting Ayu Khandro and the Drombu ood day to everybody everywhere. Today we are learning how we do the practice of Mandarava. This Gpractice of Mandarava is mainly a long life practice. The base of the practice is called Jnanadhakini, so Manda- rava is part of the Jnanadhakini teaching. This is the spe- cific way this practice manifested for obtaining long life. So this root text is related to Guru Padmasambhava and his consort Mandarava. I will give you a little information about its origin. In Nepal there is a famous place called Maratika. There are many sacred places, but Maratika is a very special place of Guru Padmasambhava. In the biography of Guru Padma- sambhava and his consort Mandarava, they were in Marati- ka and did the practice of Buddha Amitayus - Buddha Ami- tayus in different manifestation aspects of the Five Dhyana Buddhas. That is a particular long life practice. Then we thought that this place is very important and we should go to Nepal to visit this place. One reason was at that time a monastery in Nepal had invited me and I thought it would Photo: M. Noreger be a good occasion to combine the visit to this monastery and also go to Maratika. Then of course we thought that this night.” When she met Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo she was very famous for the practice of yangtig. She received when we would go to Maratika, we should do long life prac- was young and could not meet him for many days because that instruction and later she was interested to do this prac- tice. Historically it says that Guru Padmasambhava and he was doing a personal retreat. She and her friend were tice. And after the death of her teacher Jamyang Khyentse Mandarava obtained immortality and they realized that in waiting some days there. One day Khyentse Wangpo asked Wangpo, she remained all the rest of her life in retreat and Maratika, but I wondered which kind of long life practice we them to come and he gave them a teaching called Khan- she started to do this dark retreat. should do when we got there. dro Sangdu. That is his terma teaching, Khandro means all Also she said when she was quite young she went from I was remembering when I was in Tibet and received dakinis, sangdu means the union of all secret teachings of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s place to Nyagla Padma Dün- teachings from my woman teacher Ayu Khandro. Ayu the dakinis. Mainly there is the practice of Dorje Palmo. So dul’s place, and she received all the transmissions of the Khandro was a student of the first Jamyang Khyentse there is a series of three or four initiations and one is the teachings called Kachag Rangdrol, a series of the teachings Wangpo and Nyagla Padma Dündul, and many of these main initiation and the others are related more to action of Nyagla Padma Dündul. So I asked to receive this teaching important teachers. When I received teachings from Ayu mantras. This teaching has fantastic instructions, tsalungs, and I received all of Kachag Rangdrol from Ayu Khandro. In Khandro, I went particularly because when I was in college kumbhaka, breathings; I remember very, very nice instruc- this Kachag Rangdrol there is a series of Guru Amitayus. my teacher told me I should receive the Vajrayogini empow- tions. Anyway Ayu Khandro had this dream of Khyentse This is Guru Amitayus in the form of Guru Padmasambhava erment from her. So I went to receive the Vajrayogini em- Wangpo and he gave her advice to give this Khandro Sangdu and Guru Padmasambhava performed the practice that is powerment because I did not know Ayu Khandro and what teaching to me. This was not Vajrayogini, but I was very Guru Amitayus. Guru Padmasambhava obtained this prac- teachings she was related to. In our region Ayu Khandro happy. I said of course I am very happy, and asked her how tice in Maratika. For that reason he put this teaching in was famous, but not famous like a teacher that many people should we do. Ayu Khandro said we should do two or three terma for the future. Later Nyagla Padma Dündul discovered would go to to receive teachings. She was considered some- days of preparations. There was a khenpo in this monastery, that terma. So I received that teaching from Ayu Khandro. one who was doing a dark retreat her whole life and she who was a student of Ayu Khandro, and she said we should Also I received transmission of this from the son of my prepared protection cords, black ones, and the Tibetans like ask this khenpo to prepare everything, as she could not teacher Changchub Dorje, because at the place of my teach- these cords very much. I had never met her but I already prepare anything. er Changchub Dorje, there was a yearly seven-day practice had the protection cord. Ayu Khandro lived at a small mon- You see, Ayu Khandro was not a young lady, but she was of the long life practice of Guru Amitayus and they did the astery that belonged to the Sakyapa tradition so I thought also not only an old lady. When she gave me teachings she practice of Nyagla Padma Dündul. When I was there doing she was a Sakyapa practitioner. Also Vajrayogini belongs to was 113 years old. But she was not a very old lady who could this practice, Gyurge Rinpoche gave many transmissions for the Sakyapa tradition. not understand, not like that. She was very active and also people who did not have the transmissions and I received When I arrived to Ayu Khandro I gave my letter from the everything was very clear.