The Mirror 37 September-October 1996
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THE MIRROR Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community September/October 1996 Issue No. 37 ASIA'S MISSION TO Summer Retreat in Tuscany DZAMTHOG by Des Barry Return to Amdo Impressions of the land returning to Amdo from Kham where the ASIA project will build a new school and hospital. by Tony Laurent When the English poets Byron more etheric and elemental presences. gardeners of Merigar. and Shelley set off on their grand As if orchestrated, the wind rose and The first practice of the day was a tours of Europe searching for the clouds surrounded the Gonpa as Yantra Yoga class for advanced inspiration that would flower into Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche began his students. The idea of the course was great works of Romantic poetry, opening discourse and right on cue to impart the latest developments doubtless they absorbed the thunder and lightning exploded just that had been clarified by close study paradisiacal qualities of the Tuscan as he began the Rite of the Guardians. and translation of the original text of The first faint streaks of light could be seen penetrating an inky black sky landscape in summer: soaring It seemed to be a very auspicious Vairocana. This led to a number of high over the narrow valley surrounding the Tibetan settlement of Jomda. cypresses, gnarled olives, the lines of start by any standards whether lively discussions among participants Sunshine would not enter for several hours to brighten die secluded pine abundant vines below the medieval Tibetan or Western. which hopefully clarified any doubts forests and the torrents of white water gushing through every available cranny walls of hill top villages that once Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche about the various Yantra movements in the granite heights. Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo ( Rinpoche's niece) was awake protected inhabitants from siege and announced that he would be teaching and positions; or at least inspired and had prepared some Tsampa and tea for us as Giorgio Minuzzo and I rapine. Looking as natural in its hill from an Anuyoga text called Na.ra each person to study further the pre discussed last details for the organization of the ASIA project. top setting as any medieval borgo, Tong.tuk which closes off rebirth in cise points of each posture. The effect We had spent the last seven days together and needed to make some rapid the eight sided gonpa of Merigar, the three lower realms of Buddhist of diet on flexibility and early decisions about the site and local materials for building in Dzamthog village. with its sweeping lines and copper iconography: the animal realm, the morning prana could be observed This is where Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche was bom and these were the valleys spire, hosted another summer prêta realm and the hell realm. Over very clearly and seemed to depend where he spent his childhood. The project for a hospital and school is gathering of the Dzogchen the next nine days Rinpoche on which restaurant the participants Rinpoche's work to help his people. The site lay three hours away by jeep Community under the guidance of explained the essence of the text had dined in the previous evening. climbing high into the valley towards Dzamthog and passing the house and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. including the preliminary practices, During the retreat participants sparse settlement where Rinpoche played as a child. Today this house nurtures The days of the Romance have practices of purification, and gathered at 3:30 a.m. to celebrate the a rather splendid tree which seems to recognize the heritage that once played passed. Retreat participants came to visualizations of the radiation and birthday of Guru Padmasambhava within its walls. this place of refuge from sieges and absorption of light (tron.du). He with a practice of Guru yoga To reach the village we have to make our way across a long winding road troubles of a different origin. Even if related the teaching to other aspects synchronized with practitioners all and steady incline carved into a sparse landscape of stone shelters and black the country is not involved in war. of the practice of Anuyoga over the world. An offering of Gana- goat herds where poorer Tibetans etch out an existence from the short periods Italy has entered the machine age and instantaneous transformation that are puja was celebrated at 7:00 p.m. that between winter snows. The road passes through a narrow wind-swept gap the age of cyberspace which has found in many of the secondary evening and another on the last day to adorned with prayer flags and a tern at four thousand five hundred meters brought with it stresses that are more practices used within the Dzogchen close the retreat. before descending into another valley where settlements of earth and timber based in the emotional and the Community. Those participants who houses again appear. There villagers reap a sparse agriculture from the nervous reactions to family and social have been following Santi Maha San- terraced slopes dotted with stone compounds and the herds supplying basic concerns. gha training would have recognized CONTENTS necessities to Tibetan life. Crossing through the pass I could look up into still As the hour for the opening many of the terms and concepts which higher ground where granite peaks and thin vegetation disappear. I imagine the practice of the retreat approached, Rinpoche used in his explanations. Explanation of the Meaning small stone hut, "no bigger than a dog's house" that Rinpoche had visited with fresh breezes lightened the heat of In his discourses, Norbu Rinpoche of the Vajra 2 his uncle Wangchuk describing this rather eccentric master who had lived at Chögyal Namkliai Norbu the day. A stream of people of made the practices of Na. ra Tong. tuk these heights for years without any apparent food or contact with human different races and countries made easy to understand, to access, and to Community Activities 3 beings. I was supposed to leave by plane from Chamdo, a town two hundred Chögyal Namkhai Norbu their way toward the Gonpa just as apply in everyday life. He gave the and sixty kilometers and nine hours by jeep south of Jomda. My arrival to thunderheads made their appearance lung or permission to practice for the Schedule of Chögyal Namkhai Jomda had been delayed three days due to rain and clouds, waiting for clear Norbu 3 over the volcanic mass of Monte majority of the practices used in the weather to land in the mountain strip serving Chamdo. Andrea dell'Angelo Amiata - suggesting the arrival of Community and indicated that he Interview with Dobooni and Tullio Caselli had also been delayed after a month's work laying the - was preparing a book to explain the Tulku Rinpoche 4 ground for making the agreements and terms for the project. Little time was images of the masters of all the Book Reviews 5 left to complete the work for the Dangche school and it seemed pointless to lose Qualifications of the lineages that are represented on the Lives of the Great Masters 5 another three days due to incessant poor weather, so I decided to leave for Instructors of Yantra wall panels of the Gonpa. Karin Eisenegger Amdo and the far north area of Tibet by jeep. Besides, an overland trip from Yoga and Vajra Dance Light of Merigar 9 Each day. clouds of cypress smoke Kham to Amdo would take me through the most isolated areas of the Tibetan by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Interview by Occidente Buddhista from the pot-bellied, white-painted nomadic tribes and an untouched landscape where I could witness an existence International Community structures called sang kang rolled that remains as enchanting today as ever, even to the imagination of Tibetans. For all those interested in News 10-12 becoming instructors of Yantra into the morning air before the Magic Sound 17 By six in the morning the car and driver had arrived and I was ready to leave Yoga or Vajra Dance, as well as teachings began. The plants in the Constantino Albini accompanied by the Chinese contractor who had arrived from Qinghai to bid those interested in organizing gardens around the Gonpa were in Hear My Voice Come Ringing ...20 for the construction work. courses and retreats. full flower, evidence of the care and see page 6 John Shane continued on page 7 commitment of the green fingered 1 Excerpts from the Teaching of how we view thevajra, if we rotate it dualistic vision then secondary causes having their point of view, their Everything is Experience, View, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche at Meri we can no longer say up and down, manifest how everything is, for feelings, their sensations. If we want Meditation and Behavior go r, July Retreat 1996. we can say left and right. In general, example, the mirror can manifest to develop society so there is more When we ask 'why' there is no we view things in this way. When we everything as it is—its form, shape peace and happiness we must work end to it and we can't find a reason or I want to explain clearly what vajra say up and down we also can mean and color. The mirror has no idea of one by one with our condition. For a 'because' that is limited. Therefore means; this is something important good and bad, important and less subject and object. It al way s manifests example, our society is like numbers. it's better we don't use 'why' and for the Teachings. You know already important. Often in the West it is said with the qualifications of the mirror, When we count we must always begin 'because' too much.