MAY 2003 A NEWSLETTER OF SIDDHARTHA’S INTENT IN THIS ISSUE • THE VAST ATTITUDE OF • OF CHAGDUD • KHANDRO LHAMO • INTERVIEW WITH CHANGLING RINPOCHE THE VAST ATTITUDE OF BODHICITTA DZONGSAR KHYENTSE RINPOCHE Photo Jerry Epps Puja at Gonpa, March 2003

As I must have told you a hundred million times if you To use the analogy of bushland, many of us are not good are practising ngöndro, The Words of My Perfect Teacher at having a really long walk in the bush. Then again, I is the best accompanying text. Though I have read this think there are some who, even without being familiar book so many times, I still find there are many things in with a particular bushland, know how to sort of get it to read. And it’s very easy to understand. That’s how around. It is like being an alchemist and having a certain taught. He actually tried to write things method that can turn iron into gold. It could be a very in a very simple language. He used common examples simple method, like that of a practised mechanic, for relating to Tibetan culture such as nomads. And though, instance. Let’s say you have a problem with your car and at times, some of the examples can be quite obscure for you try to fix it in all kinds of ways. But then along comes some of us, still, I haven’t seen a book that’s as far- this really experienced mechanic who has this certain sighted as this one. It really deals with everything, and something that acts as a catalyst; perhaps with just one remains really up to date. And the part where he is sort wire they can fix your car and everything is alright. of ruthlessly sarcastic about teachers is something very, very timely. Anyway, Patrul Rinpoche talks about two attitudes. It is just incredible the way he presents things. It’s so simple This book alone should be like a guardian of and so kind of ordinary that it almost gets lost in the . It exemplifies how to read a master, how to midst of these pages. But he has written about this judge a master and how to judge a practitioner. Of course, catalyst, the vast attitude of bodhicitta and the vast skilful every page is very important and, although you can’t means, the attitude of the secret Mantrayana. really leave anything out, in our minds we tend to divide like that. We think, ‘This or that is more important.’ So The vast attitude of bodhicitta is something he some of the more important and crucial instructions I will emphasises right from the beginning. Generally, when extract. we look at the situation, we think that uprooting ignorance - getting rid of this attachment to the self, of

2 - Gentle Voice these seemingly infinite emotions, habitual patterns, Not only actions such as prostrations or chanting inhibitions, and achieving so-called enlightenment, , but even a mundane but probably good deed becoming an omniscient being, becoming an omnipotent such as sweeping the floor of a temple, cleaning the toilet being - these things seem beyond our reach. It’s almost of a monastery, centre, hospital or lunatic asylum, unachievable. Let’s forget about all the emotions, just one or saving the environment - all the things that modern emotion, one single habitual pattern or a single hang-up - people are kind of inspired to do these days - begin that alone takes years to get rid of! everything with bodhicitta. (Like with saving the environment, some of us even try to refuse this Here we are talking about getting rid of thousands and polystyrene container, which they serve in McDonalds.) millions of infinite emotions and habitual patterns. Just having one enlightened quality, how difficult is that? Or You perhaps feel alone, trying to save the environment. simply having one good quality, just being a loving and Millions and millions of people are not doing it. In this kind person, this really takes a long time to achieve. So sense, it is almost painful. But why are you in pain? You enlightenment within this life or enlightenment within are doing it without the bodhicitta attitude. You actually the next life, all this is like wishful thinking. There is the believe in it in a very rigid way. Lacking this idea of whole common vehicle where the path invokes us to sentient beings, you are doing this in a very rigid way. renounce home, belongings and possessions and directs You believe in a certain philosophy, some kind of us to try to get rid of attachment to all kinds of things, ideology - that’s why you are doing it. but this is difficult to achieve. I’m not denigrating saving the environment. What I am It’s like you are a traveller, a bush-walker in this case, one saying is, as we begin this action, whether it be refusing with no map and no experience. The only thing you have to use polystyrene or whatever, this should be is this urge to go from here to there and the only thing accompanied by bodhicitta, ‘I will not go to McDonalds that you want is to get out of this lost situation. That’s all for the sake of all sentient beings.’ And while you do this you have. But actually, even that is something that most - again this is so important - that action should be deluded beings don’t have. They almost give up. They accompanied by bodhicitta mind. What does that do? For think, ‘I might as well make my home in the bush.’ But so many of the so-called environmentalists, vegetarians for some of us, we sense that perhaps there is a path, and so forth, since they don’t do it with bodhicitta, they maybe there is a way out. But then we go around and have this pride. It becomes an idea for them. They are around and around. And when we go around too much, fixated towards this. They look down on people who are we begin to lose our courage and our inspiration because not doing it, and it actually becomes a painful process for the path is too long; the path is too long-winded. There’s them. so much hardship, and there are so many good, desirable things to give up. For us enlightenment is only an idea at Whereas when this action is accompanied by bodhicitta the moment. At times, when we do intensive , while you are doing it, then not only does it bring relative as a post-meditation reaction we have some kind of bodhicitta, but eventually it also leads to ultimate blissful situation, but that doesn’t last long. bodhicitta. You realise that, after all, this is just your own mind. This is only your idea. This is your mind. This is So because of all this, what we need is a kind of catalyst, your fixation. This is a certain path that you are inspired something that these alchemists have. We need something by now. You can see this by judging your own life. From very simple that will make the path right, something that when you were young until now, how many times have will make the path easy, achievable, and something that you changed your ideology? These days, in your mind, will bypass all these difficulties. And that is the vast macrobiotic food may be the latest fashion, but how long attitude of bodhicitta and the vast skilful means, the will that last? All it takes is someone whom you trust, on attitude of the secret Mantrayana. a certain day and at a certain time. Should this person tell you, ‘Actually you should eat egg because if you only eat And this is something we usually lack. If you have this a macrobiotic diet, you might have hair growing from vast attitude of bodhicitta, for example, then before doing your eyes or something.’ Overnight you will change that a so-called virtuous act like prostrations it is a matter of attachment. This again shows a lack of bodhicitta. having this attitude, ‘I will do this, not for myself, but for the sake of all sentient beings.’ See, it takes care of it. Why At the end of the action, be it prostrations or cleaning the are you so frustrated on the path? It is because you are toilet, whatever, if you have that bodhicitta again, that’s doing it for yourself. In a strange way you are already the dedication. So what does this do? A person who has frustrated right from the beginning, but if you are doing bodhicitta is like an alchemist - every action is sprinkled it for the sake of all sentient beings, there is no with this bodhicitta powder and everything becomes the frustration. You are doing it for all sentient beings, not for path. That is what Patrul Rinpoche is saying yourself. and that is something really important not to miss.

Loss of inspiration or loss of diligence has no room to Cover photo: Sonam Kinga as the monk in Travellers and enter if you really, really do it for the sake of sentient Magicians, in front of an image of Rinpoche painted on a beings. In fact, if you really manage to have that within rock face (photo by Rasa; copyright PFP 2003) you, diligence and inspiration grow and you will almost feel quite responsible.

Gentle Voice - 3 P ARINIRVANA OF CHAGDUD RINPOCHE

physical effort, but they remained opaque to us. We dared not interpret the obvious.

Rinpoche himself was a consummate actor - a psychic once commented to him, “You are having a fine time acting like you are in that body” - and in the last week of his life he brilliantly and spontaneously staged the final scenes of his last act. On Tuesday he ended a retreat. About the same time that his retreat ended, he experienced acute difficulty in breathing and heart pain. His attendant, Sherab, who is a trained nurse, pleaded with him to cancel a p’howa retreat scheduled for the next weekend and to visit his cardiologist in São Paulo instead. Rinpoche adamantly refused and so the p’howa retreat, with its three hundred participants, remained scheduled.

The students need to do what the teacher has asked. It won’t work to simply pray repeatedly, “Please come back.” The teacher couldn’t stop from coming back if each student’s commitment was directly fulfilling his wishes. The fulfillment After Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s parinirvana in 1987, of his intention and purpose would naturally cause the sun of Chagdud Rinpoche spoke to his in Boulder, his existence to reflect on that body of water. Colorado. The following is a weaving together of Chagdud Rinpoche’s teaching at that time (the italicised On Wednesday Rinpoche finished a statue of Amitabha paragraphs) and my own experience of his parinirvana Buddha that he and one of his students had sculpted in in the early morning hours of Sunday, 17 November the room next door to his retreat quarters. Rinpoche 2002. There are many ways to write this story, with enjoyed sculpting tremendously, not the tedious various kinds of emphasis. My main wish here is to smoothing of clay or wax, but working in cement where a encourage you as practitioners to treasure the details of certain degree of roughness gives power to the image. your lama’s living manifestation even as you aspire to When Dzongsar Khyentse visited Khadro Ling in 2001, realise the essence of their wisdom. Rinpoche had shoved all the furniture in the living-room Chagdud Khadro, Três Coroas, Brazil, April 2003 aside and was working with a group of artists on a fifteen-foot nimbus for a statue of Buddha. As When the teacher passes away, it’s rather like the sun setting. It I started to apologise to Khyentse Rinpoche for the seems that the sun has disappeared, but we’ve simply lost sight hubbub and dust just outside his room, he turned to me of it from the perspective of where we stand on the earth. Just as and smiled. “Rinpoche has always liked this kind of the sun passes from our when the earth turns, when the thing.” karma between a teacher and a student changes, we can no longer see the teacher, even though he’s not really gone. Chagdud Rinpoche was delighted to finish the Amitabha statue, which will now be placed in the dharmakaya We - Chagdud Rinpoche’s old students who had of a Palace - a replica of Guru weathered so many health crises with him - expected to Rinpoche’s celestial mansion on the Glorious Copper- have the classic dreams that forewarn of the death of a Coloured Mountain. Constructing the Palace was high lama, like the sudden setting of the sun or the moon. Rinpoche’s last major project, one that we feared would Such dreams had occurred before and we had rallied with be impossible to carry through if he died, one that seems intense longevity practices to avert their portents. This impossible not to carry through now. Just as Trungpa time dreams and signs surfaced, as well as symptoms that Rinpoche’s sangha inherited the noble aspiration to build his huge, compassionate old heart was faltering in its the Great , our sangha has inherited the Palace as

4 - Gentle Voice Rinpoche’s chosen field of and wisdom. The On Saturday Rinpoche’s symptoms were so pronounced Chagdud Gonpa have been extremely supportive, that he agreed to fly to São Paulo in the afternoon. But several of them re-prioritising their personal dharma again he postponed the trip, saying he would leave early activities so that the Palace will happen well. It will house Sunday morning. People in distant places began to have sacred images of the , sambhoghakaya and extraordinary experiences. His son, Jigme Tromge dharmakaya deities, and a stupa that will contain Rinpoche, received a cell phone call while standing in a Rinpoche’s relics. huge discount store in California. The message he first heard was, “Rinpoche says he is going to go.” Initially he When our teachers are here with us, they give us practices. was shocked, but then he understood what actually had They mean for us to use them. That’s the teacher’s blessing, the been said, that Rinpoche would go to São Paulo the next teacher’s gift. When we approach that gift with faith, that faith day. Other people had dreams and unusual meditation and the teacher’s blessings unite and realisation is experiences involving Rinpoche. accomplished. Our faith always has the capacity to unite inseparably with the lama’s blessings, which don’t disappear Up in the cupola, I could hear his voice, distant but when the teacher passes. Like a hook and ring, the hook of the amplified. I was amazed at its power and resonance and lama’s compassion is always there if one is able to make a ring that he continued to teach until nine p.m. Later I would of themselves through receptivity, effort and faith. hear that he was in wonderful spirits after the teaching, watching BBC news in his bedroom while people packed On Thursday afternoon Rinpoche slowly made his way and prepared for the São Paulo trip, which required up the stairs to my retreat quarters in the cupola of the leaving the house at five a.m. temple. I was one year and five months into a three-year retreat. In the last year of his life, Rinpoche was quiet and Instead, shortly after four a.m, Rinpoche sat up in bed very spacious. He didn’t enjoy situations that involved and his physical heart failed him. But not his great heart- lots of concepts and talk. In the cupola he would look out mind, the seat of his meditation. For five days afterwards, the window toward the south, a view of fifty kilometres he remained in t’hug dam, a state of meditation in which on a clear day. Sometimes I would relax and simply abide vital signs have ceased but the mind rests in the body. in his presence, but more often I would try to engage his There was no deterioration whatsoever, only a very attention with inconsequential chatter, probably being visible radiance. To witness this, to meditate with rather tiresome. That day he talked more than usual, Rinpoche during this time - whether in his direct physical about things at Khadro Ling and about the war looming presence or in the presence of his pervasive blessings - between the U.S. and Iraq. He also mentioned that this was truly to know the power and brilliance of a master’s time no signs of longevity accomplishment had arisen mind once it finds release from the shell of the body. during his retreat while previously they had always come quickly. The meaning of this did not fully register with On the morning of the fifth day, because of pressure from me because he passed it on in a casual, bemused tone of the Brazilian authorities, Jigme Rinpoche and the other voice. But, when he left, descending the stairs so very Tibetan lamas who had joined us at Khadro Ling slowly, I noticed how fragile, how almost transparent his prepared to perform a ceremony asking Rinpoche to end appearance was. I closed the door and wept. his meditation. Just before they entered his room, he spontaneously left his body, which allowed us to deal On Friday the p’howa retreat began. By now Lama Sherab, with authorities and to take his kudun (the honorific thoroughly alarmed at Rinpoche’s symptoms, had Tibetan word for the corporeal remains of a master) to his ordered a medical evacuation plane to stand by, ready to retreat centre in Parping, , where ceremonies were fly him to São Paulo at a moment’s notice. But teaching performed for forty-nine days, as well as at Khadro Ling energised Rinpoche and he taught with even greater vigour than usual, his condition hidden to all but his and at Rigdzin Ling in northern California. closest disciples. Many people who attended those last teachings were new to dharma and many found their The ceremonies were not exactly for Rinpoche. They were lives transformed. As always, he placed strong emphasis for us, to heal our sorrow and to create the auspicious on pure motivation. Often the main part of his teaching interdependence for his future and the would be about bodhicitta, no matter what the title of the continuance of his activities. He once reminded us that he teaching had promised, but this time he shortened his had been a very naughty boy early in this life, and he presentation, saying “We only two days time have.” warned us that being a was a lot of suffering, for Whispering followed. He was informed that three days the tulku, for the parents and for everyone invested in the were scheduled. But indeed there were only two. tulku’s strict training. After such a fruitful life and such a magnificent end-of-life transition, we offer our prayers There are two aspects to the teacher. The symbolic teacher is the that he returns to this world just as he would choose, one that lives with us, helps and teaches us. The absolute finds all possible conditions that accord with his teacher is our own absolute nature. The symbolic teacher’s enlightened intent and rejoins us with his physical wisdom nature and our own absolute nature are inseparable. presence. But we also know he never left. Now it appears to us that there’s a separation between us and the teacher. Through faith and practice that fictitious boundary When a great master dies, there follows a period during which dissolves and the truth of our nature, which is none other than blessings descend upon whoever prays with devotion. This is the lama, dawns in our own experience. the moment to pray for your highest aspirations to be realised.

Gentle Voice - 5 Khandro Lhamo

Her grandson Rabjam Rinpoche, other teachers, and her daughter Chime Wangmo were with her when she died. She clearly indicated her wishes and prepared herself fully for death. The of her late husband, Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, was attending teachings with in southern , but had called his own parents and had insisted that his mother, Mayum Dechen- la, go to the hospital to assist. Khandro-la had no apprehension of death during her illness, and prior to her passing Rabjam Rinpoche told her that now was the time to apply her practice and merge with the guru’s wisdom. She smiled, and turned to him, “I’m dying now, aren’t I?” she said. One of the very close disciples of Khyentse Rinpoche, Senge Trakpa Rinpoche, gave her the instructions on how to die, and immediately after that she passed on.

Photo Béatrice Reuillard Fulfilling his teachers’ predictions, Rinpoche married Khandro-la when she was a young girl. She stayed in retreat with him for many years and travelled with him throughout , receiving empowerments and teachings. In the late fifties, April, 2003 accompanied by their two daughters and a small group of disciples, they escaped from Tibet to . Khandro Lhamo, the wife of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, passed away on Sunday, 30 March at 7.20 p.m. in Nepal Khandro Lhamo was a devout and highly attained after a brief illness. She was 90 years old. After passing practitioner, a powerful presence, yet humble. She was an away, according the instructions of Kyabje Trülshik accomplished doctor of Tibetan medicine, and helped Rinpoche, she was immediately brought back to her build and maintain Shechen Monastery in Nepal. residence at Shechen Monastery, where she remained in Khandro-la was a wonderful raconteur, witty and what is regarded as continued meditation for some 64 straightforward, and would tell fascinating stories about hours, until noon Wednesday, 2 April. During this time her life with Rinpoche. her heart remained warm and her body supple, with no signs of decay. After the completion of this period, her After Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's passing in 1991, she body was transferred to a wooden container where it will lived at the Shechen Orgyen Chözong Nunnery in remain until the , scheduled for late June. Bhutan, and worked with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche on expanding those facilities for women. Prior to passing away she had asked the monastery to conduct the sadhana of Khandro Sangdü, originally a Her main practice during her lifetime was Kechari, an visionary teaching cycle established by the thirteenth aspect of , and she prayed to be reborn in the century Jomo Menmo and later revived in the of . Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche would nineteenth century by . On extol the benefits of in the buddha field of Guru the morning of the sixth day of the practice, Sunday, there Padmasambhava, and Rabjam Rinpoche recalls the mock were indications that she would pass away: within the disputes between his grandparents about which of the mandala of a group of five vases holding green sprigs on two buddha fields was preferable. the shrine, the sprigs in the vase in the west, symbolising life, withered, and Khandro-la passed away that very According to instructions from Trülshik Rinpoche, her evening. After her passing, the monks of the monastery body will be preserved until the cremation in July. For the continued the practice, and will continue for some days next seven weeks, the monks of Shechen Monastery will yet. The monks of the monastery will be conducting the perform the sadhana of . The cremation sadhana of Vajrasattva for the following seven weeks. ceremony will be presided over by Trülshik Rinpoche.

6 - Gentle Voice NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT SEA TO SKY RETREAT CENTRE Photo Doug Rickson New retreat house at Sea to Sky Retreat Centre

From Sea to Sky Retreat Centre outside Vancouver, the Of course, with all these buildings being added, new Building Committee reports on astonishing changes water, gas and electricity lines, sewage systems, and an made over recent months. upgraded hydro system had to be put into place. This work was done with the objective of centralising the The planning and focus of the SSRC Master Development propane system and bringing all services for the entire Plan continued throughout 2001 and into the early property up to code, while providing the new buildings months of 2002. The tremendous amount of time and with the necessary utilities. The upgraded hydro system effort that was put into this planning paid off, with the has provided a substantial increase in power availability, Master Plan being accepted by the municipal planning while utilising less water. This is quite an authorities in early March 2002. accomplishment!

Then the building quickly got under way, with the first Obtaining site approval for the new construction of the major project being the construction of the barn, which two isolated retreat cabins required the blasting of a large was completed by mid-summer. This large structure now overhanging rock that threatened the location from houses the centre’s new pick-up truck, various vehicles uphill. This was an exciting event that was accomplished and other equipment. It also provides a safe, dry storage without mishap in the fall of 2002. A new access road was place for building materials and supplies. There is a large constructed to the site, and the cabins will be built this upstairs loft, running almost the full length of the coming summer. building, which can be used for overflow sleeping accommodation, and was used for that purpose during Considering the magnitude of this ongoing project, things one programme last summer. have run very smoothly, and our heartfelt thanks go to a very dedicated, hard-working group of people: the on-site Upon completion of the barn, work commenced on the SSRC staff, the building committee and the many construction of the four-bedroom retreat house. The volunteers. building was completely closed in before the arrival of winter weather and the centre’s winter shutdown period. We hope that many of you will accept our invitation to The final interior finishing (flooring, painting, light come to SSRC in the near future to visit, attend teachings fixtures), kitchen cabinets, appliances, bathroom fixtures and perhaps do retreat. and room furnishings will be completed this spring. It will be open to retreatants hopefully by July 2003.

Gentle Voice - 7 INTERVIEW CHANGLING RINPOCHE

Rinpoche, firstly welcome to Australia. Could you tell us When I finished my studies at the , I started to give a little bit about yourself because many of our readers more teachings to monks. Now I’m twenty-five and Ani don’t know you yet. Tenzin Wangmo has asked me to come here.

I come from a Tibetan family from central Tibet. My Could you tell us what your role is at Shechen Monastery family belongs to the . I was born in now? Kalimpong in India, near the . Until I was ten years old I studied in an English school in India, called Dr I take care of a section of the monastery called dratsang, Graham’s Home. (Dr Graham was Scottish.) Then at the which literally means ‘the collection of monks’. There I age of ten, suddenly my parents got a letter from His give teachings on rituals and I take care of the ritual Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche tradition of Shechen. I also give teachings to the shedra, together, saying that their son had been recognised as the especially on the of the tradition. tulku of Changchub Ling Monastery. My grandmother was quite shocked. She looked into who was saying such Rinpoche, you mentioned that you’re recognised as a things and found out that it was a yogi called Lama reincarnation of Changchub Lingpa. Does he have a monastery Takden, a student of the previous Changchub Lingpa and in Tibet? even of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. He had gone to see Khyentse Rinpoche who was at Mysore, at Penor Yes, it’s in the Tsang region, near Shigatse. These days it’s Rinpoche’s monastery, at that time. Khyentse Rinpoche only a two-hour drive from Shigatse. The name of the was giving some teachings there and he requested monastery is Changchub Ling. Khyentse Rinpoche to recognise the tulku of Changchub Lingpa. Khyentse Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche did this Have you visited the monastery, Rinpoche? together. So when I was eleven I joined His Holiness’s monastery, Shechen Monastery. No, not yet.

For one year I studied how to read and write. Then, when While teaching on combining tantra and practices, you I was twelve years old, His Holiness Khyentse Rinpoche spoke of the five stages of experience in shamatha meditation. started the shedra or philosophical school. There were Could you please describe these five stages? many monks who wanted to join the shedra, so Khyentse Rinpoche selected ten monks by doing or divination. The five stages of experiences are a way, according to the But when he saw my name, he said there was no need to Nyingma or old translation school, of categorising the do a mo, just let him join! gradual development of meditative experience. The first of these is the experience of movement, which is Actually, most people join the shedra when they are compared to a mountain cascade. When one begins to sixteen or seventeen; first they have to undertake train in the practice of shamatha, a lot of agitated thoughts preliminary studies. But I didn’t do that; I went straight will arise. That’s why this is categorised as the experience into the shedra. Then, when I was fifteen, His Holiness of movement. The second experience is referred to as the passed away. At sixteen I started giving teachings to other experience of attainment. The simile here is that of the monks. And at the age of eighteen Rabjam Rinpoche sent water flowing in a gorge. Here there’s still the movement me down to Penor Rinpoche’s shedra for one year to of thought; however, these thoughts have been imbued complete studies on the or perfection of with the experience of shamatha. The third experience is wisdom. After that I returned to Shechen Monastery. We that of familiarisation and this is likened to a smoothly have to study for nine years altogether, but we had to flowing river. Here the coarse thoughts have almost stay an extra year because when His Holiness passed subsided. They’re not entirely gone, but they’re generally away there was no study. So I finished the shedra when I pacified. was twenty-one years old. At the age of twenty I took the full monk’s ordination from Trülshik Rinpoche. By this The fourth experience is known as the experience of time I had received many transmissions and teachings stability and is likened to the waves on an ocean. The from His Holiness Khyentse Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, coarse thoughts have subsided at this point. There are still , Trülshik Rinpoche and Rabjam thought movements, which are then like the waves of an Rinpoche. ocean. And if you look at an ocean from afar, it looks as if there’s nothing moving; but if you come close of course

8 - Gentle Voice Photo Chime Leschly

you see the waves on the ocean. The fifth experience is Zang Zang Lhadrak. The Northern Treasures was one of the the experience of perfection, which is like a mountain. main practices of King . And here all the coarse and subtle thoughts have subsided, that is, all those thoughts inherent to the realm Later the Northern Treasures was revealed by the great of desire. Here nothing whatsoever can disturb the mind ridzin Gödemchen who established this teaching, which and it’s like an ocean, where there’s movement of later became the main practice of the great Fifth Dalai thought, but the bottom of the ocean is completely still. Lama. The main seat of the Northern Treasures teaching And likewise, the mountain is completely undisturbed. was the great monastery of Thubten , one of Having completed these five stages of experiences, then the six great Nyingma monasteries. There’s a quote from one will remain in what is known as the one-pointed Guru Rinpoche that says, ‘When this excellent teaching abiding in the realm of desire. According to His Holiness degenerates, then Tibet in general will degenerate.’ All the Khyentse Rinpoche, there are many ways of explaining different teachers have said that the Northern Treasures the gradual progression of shamatha practice, but the five was particularly created as a means to preserve the experiences encompass all possible meditative happiness and well-being of the people of Tibet. Since the experiences. Northern Treasures has been established and practised in Tibet, almost all Nyingma teachers have practised this Could we talk briefly about the Northern Treasures, tradition. For example, The Prayer in Seven Chapters, as Rinpoche? Rinpoche has visited Australia well as The Prayer of , belong to the Northern and told us something of these treasures. You’re also interested Treasures. in the Northern Treasures? Thank you, Rinpoche. Is there anything you’d like to say in Actually, Changchub Ling lineage belongs to the tradition conclusion? of the Northern Treasures. So, at Changchub Ling Monastery, the main practice is the Northern Treasures, I hope that for all the people in this country who are which is one of the main treasures of Guru Rinpoche. His studying the Buddha’s teaching, whatever practices they Holiness Dilgo Khyentse used to say that the Northern undertake may benefit and increase more and more. And Treasures is like a minister. A minister is someone who has I pray that this will occur. I believe that the source of all to relate to people at all levels; he has to be able to relate happiness and joy is the two-fold transmission of the to people at the highest level, such as a king, and he also Buddha’s teaching, that of scripture and that of has to be able to relate to ordinary people. So the Northern realisation. Therefore, I think it’s very good when people Treasures comprises teachings from the very highest, from undertake the hearing of this teaching and reflecting on it the peak of all the teachings, the Great Perfection, down and also engaging in the practice. And even those who through all the lower philosophical vehicles or yanas. don’t follow strictly the disciplines of hearing and And not only that, even down to ordinary activities such studying and reflecting on the teaching – even just as how to tend to farming, how to sow and how to tend abiding by the general ethics of Buddhism – they will also to the crops. As Guru Padmasambhava was about to have great happiness, I believe. Even though such beings depart for the Copper-Coloured Mountain and was may not practise, if they develop good ethics and have a residing at the Gungtang in Mangyaul, he miraculously good heart, they will pacify unwanted circumstances and manifested and concealed a treasure near a place called bring joy to themselves and others.

Gentle Voice - 9 Travellers and Magicians Photo by Rasa; copyright PFP 2003 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche directs actress Sonam Lhamo during filming In late 2002 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and a crew of Dzongkar, Bhutan’s official national language. Only 108 Bhutanese and westerners came together in Bhutan sixteen westerners worked on the film, as Rinpoche for ten marvellous, arduous, sometimes monotonous wanted to use this chance to promote Bhutan’s own film and sometimes wondrous weeks to make Travellers and industry by training local film-makers. Magicians. Though Rinpoche wore robes during the entire shoot This Pictures’ film weaves a magical tale into (except for the occasional outing in disguise), he made a road movie with intersecting themes and two parallel every attempt to underplay his position, roughing it like characters - Dendup and Tashi. Both of these boys are on the rest of the crew, living in leaky cabins, riding on top of journeys, one sends himself, the other is sent unwillingly. trucks, getting soaked in the rain. However, it didn’t stop One is arrogant and selfish, the other is lazy and greedy. yak herders and tractor drivers, government officials, One chases a dream at the risk of neglecting love. The trucks of monks, buses of Swiss tourists and other passing other chases love and gets caught in a dream. traffic from recognising him and stopping cold in their tracks! Remote locations chosen by Rinpoche and rarely seen by the public will be revealed on screen through these Travellers and Magicians was edited in Australia in early characters’ lives. The sets provide exceptional 2003 and is expected to premiere in Bhutan in August opportunities to showcase Bhutan’s stunning natural 2003. It is the first feature-length 16mm film to be shot in beauty. The cast is all Bhutanese and the dialogue is in Bhutan.

ATTENTION ALL OVERSEAS READERS! GESAR PUJA

Siddhartha's Intent now provides access to the Gentle Voice when someone said newsletter via our website at www.siddharthasintent.org. they saw a ghost Readers can access each issue in its entirety and download i was getting dressed their own colour copy as soon as the issue is released. There to go into battle will be an update on the home page of our website to advise with the enemy, you as each new issue is available. you know, the one that always tells others It has been decided to move towards distributing the Gentle what to do. Voice electronically. In the first stage of this change, from September 2003 onwards, all overseas readers are requested to access the newsletter via our website. Siddhartha's Intent it occurs deeply appreciates the donations that have allowed us in that if i were having a better time the past to print and mail copies all over the world. We i would be dead. would like to thank you for your generosity and we hope that you will enjoy this new swift and easy way of accessing Pamela Croci the newsletter. Australian readers will receive the newsletter by post until advised.

10 - Gentle Voice DHARMA DATES

MANJUSHRI EMPOWERMENT AND TEACHING VAJRADHARA GONPA

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche will be giving an Beru Khyentse Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment empowerment and teaching on during his visit of Konchok Chidu and give a commentary on this to Vancouver, Canada, from 12 to 16 June 2003. The profound treasure teaching from 1 to 14 October 2003 at practice of Jamyang Marser or Orange Manjushri was Vajradhara Gonpa. Please contact the gonpa on 61 2 6633 written by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, the first Khyentse 1382 or [email protected] for details. (Rinpoche will (1821-1894), based on classical texts which invoke this also give teachings in Sydney the following week. aspect of Manjushri. According to Vajrayana Buddhism, Contact Jill Robinson of Siddhartha’s Intent at Manjushri is the wisdom aspect of our mind’s inherent [email protected] for further information.) clarity. For further enquiries phone 604-875-8552 or email [email protected] Vajradhara Gonpa is also very pleased to announce the visit this year of Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche to give Madhyamika teachings from 8 to 13 November 2003. Those MADHYAMIKAVATARA interested should contact the gonpa and check the Siddhartha’s Intent website www.siddharthasintent.org Siddhartha’s Intent Western Door is pleased to announce for more details. that Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche will give the first instalment of the Madhyamikavatara, ’s ATsasum Drildrup puja with tsog offerings is held at Entering the , from 21 to 29 June 2003 in San Vajradhara Gonpa on the tenth and twenty-fifth days of Francisco, USA. This work is one of the key the lunar calendar. The regular Siddhartha’s School philosophical expositions of emptiness, and its study has children’s programme will commence on 16 June 2003 been an essential part of Buddhist training in Tibet for and will continue to take place on the second Saturday of many centuries. Though not very long, the text contains every month. Phone 61 2 6633 1382 or email complex and subtle arguments in a condensed form. Due [email protected] for details. to the complexity of these teachings, there are certain formalities to be followed. Please email Kathryn Meeske at [email protected] for an application SUPPORTING DHARMA IN AUSTRALIA or phone/fax (213) 739-0246. Siddhartha’s Intent Southern Door wishes to thank all ON THE PATH - TIBET those students who have attended courses over the years for their generosity, which has benefited so many beings. On the Path – Tibet is a fund-raising project to benefit the Not only have students attending teachings hosted by Khyentse Foundation and International White Lotus – Siddhartha’s Intent gained benefit for their own practice two of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s initiatives to and understanding, but they have contributed towards support the Buddha’s vision of wisdom and compassion other dharma activities. While the cost of courses is in the world. The Khyentse Foundation aims to support designed to meet expenses for facility hire and travel by the international community of dharma practitioners and our teachers, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has directed students, through sustaining Rinpoche’s monastic that any surplus funds be spent to support dharma in colleges, publishing material to help students, providing Australia. For example, Siddhartha’s Intent has made scholarships and eventually building a college for substantial contributions towards developing facilities at in the West. International White Lotus Vajradhara Gonpa, supporting the construction of a helps provide the fundamental rights of education, health dormitory for up to 72 students, building individual services, shelter and security to children from retreat huts at the gonpa, supporting students to attend underprivileged families and communities. On the Path – teachings when needed, and sponsoring retreatants as Tibet photobooks, with photos taken by renowned directed by Rinpoche. So when you’re next attending a cinematographer Alan Kozlowski, are available for a teaching, remember you may also be benefiting other donation of $Aus55 plus postage. To order one of these students by doing so. Rinpoche often teaches the books please contact Jill Robinson on 61 2 9489 0196 or importance of the Three Wholesomenesses – wishing to [email protected]. benefit all sentient beings, remembering that ultimately all things are illusory and dedicating the merit.

Gentle Voice - 11

12 - Gentle Voice Gentle - 12

away.

dispose of it, please burn it, rather than throwing it throwing than rather it, burn please it, of dispose

treat this newsletter with respect. Should you need to need you Should respect. with newsletter this treat

Because of its sacred content, please content, sacred its of Because PLEASE NOTE: NOTE: PLEASE

please phone Tineke Adolphus on 08 8362 7553. 7553. 8362 08 on Adolphus Tineke phone please

about these and about the Tsasum Drildrup practice, Drildrup Tsasum the about and these about

practices are held regularly in Adelaide. For information For Adelaide. in regularly held are practices

Shamatha meditation and Longchen Nyingthik ngöndro Nyingthik Longchen and meditation Shamatha

PRACTICE IN ADELAIDE IN PRACTICE

314 for details. for 314

lunar calendar. Please contact Shanti Steiner on 0416 103 0416 on Steiner Shanti contact Please calendar. lunar

sasum Drildrup tsog is held on the tenth day of the of day tenth the on held is tsog Drildrup sasum AT

7.30 p.m. Phone Chris Conlon on 02 9360 1304 for details. for 1304 9360 02 on Conlon Chris Phone p.m. 7.30

Shamatha meditation is held every Tuesday evening at evening Tuesday every held is meditation Shamatha

PRACTICE FOR SYDNEY-SIDERS FOR PRACTICE

Kyogan O’Nihil on 02 6622 0091. 6622 02 on O’Nihil Kyogan

further information about practices in Lismore ring Lismore in practices about information further or fax Carol Weaver on 61 2 9810 4591. 9810 2 61 on Weaver Carol fax or

contact Paula Raymond-Yacoub on 02 6685 1690. And for And 1690. 6685 02 on Raymond-Yacoub Paula contact Australia) and $Aus5 postage. For enquiries please phone please enquiries For postage. $Aus5 and Australia)

ednesday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. in Brunswick Heads, Brunswick in p.m. 7 to 6 from evening ednesday W consists of one tape at $Aus12 plus (plus GST within GST (plus plus $Aus12 at tape one of consists

of the weekly shamatha meditation practice on practice meditation shamatha weekly the of Interdependent Links of Origination. Each of these talks these of Each Origination. of Links Interdependent

Christina Peebles on 02 6688 2055 about this. For details For this. about 2055 6688 02 on Peebles Christina Meditation, Action; The Wheel of Life; and The Twelve The and Life; of Wheel The Action; Meditation,

Park on the third Sunday of the month. Please contact Please month. the of Sunday third the on Park Rinpoche’s recent public talks in Sydney - View, - Sydney in talks public recent Rinpoche’s

Longchen Nyingthik ngöndro practice is held at Suffolk at held is practice ngöndro Nyingthik Longchen apes are now available for three of Dzongsar Khyentse Dzongsar of three for available now are apes T

AND IN NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES SOUTH NEW NORTHERN IN AND NEW TAPES AVAILABLE TAPES NEW

ngöndro practice in the Blue Mountains. Mountains. Blue the in practice ngöndro [email protected]

02 4787 8766 for details of the Longchen Nyingthik Longchen the of details for 8766 4787 02 Ling in 2001. For further details please email please details further For 2001. in Ling

2339 for further information. And contact Kate Miller on Miller Kate contact And information. further for 2339 2 to 6 July 2003. Rinpoche started this teaching at Khadro at teaching this started Rinpoche 2003. July 6 to 2

evening at 7.30 p.m. Please ring Pamela Croci on 02 4757 02 on Croci Pamela ring Please p.m. 7.30 at evening from from Bodhisattva the of ay W ’s on teaching his

Rinpoche day. Shamatha meditation is held on Monday on held is meditation Shamatha day. Rinpoche announce that Dzongar Khyentse Rinpoche will continue will Rinpoche Khyentse Dzongar that announce

sasum Drildrup tsog is held each month on Guru on month each held is tsog Drildrup sasum AT Khandro Ling at Três Coroas in Brazil is delighted to delighted is Brazil in Coroas Três at Ling Khandro

IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS BLUE THE IN THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA THE OF WAY THE

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