THE MIRROR Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community February/March 1999 • Issue No. 48 Not Just a Kind of CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM Fantasy 1999-2000 ARGENTINA Tashigar r here is Tashigar? In Christmas Retreat at Tashigar Phowa, Green Tara and Teachings: April 2 - 6 the South. In the everything that was request­ WE PERU center and West of ed. Teachings: April 16-18 Argentina and among the With Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Each morning for two hills. The nearest town is a hours we listened to the firm VENEZUELA small village called Tanti. December 1998 - Januaiy 1999 voice of Namkhai Norbu Teachings: April 28 - May 2 From there we start climb­ Rinpoche giving the pre­ ITALY ing up a winding limestone cious teachings. After the Merigar Vesak: May 28 - 30 road and suddenly, in one lunch break, nobody wanted By Griselda Gàlmez Retreat of Dzogchen Upadesha: July 7-11 of the tight comers on the to miss the Three Vajras left, arises a verdant spot. Dance course given by RUSSIA It is the 'El Durazno' valley. From the road Nelida Saporiti and the beginner's Yantra Kunsangar we can see here and there some houses dot­ "The condition of a Yoga course taught by Marisa Alonso. Then Retreat of Dzogchen Longde: July 12-25 ting an area of greenery. Some time ago practitioner should be like the more experienced practitioners USA only one of them belonged to Tashigar, 'the milk poured in milk, or explained the practices and finally there New York City Teaching: July 30 - August 1 Buddhists', as the locals call us. Now the water in water." This we was a collective practice. Tsegyalgar buildings have multiplied. Near the heard Chögyal Namkhai The schedule was really tight, but if Retreat, Dzogchen Principles: August 4 - 8 entrance to the Gar, in a dip among the aro­ Norbu say on the first day someone had spare time he could go to Chicago: August 13 -15 mos, pines and eucalyptus, stands the of the Christmas retreat at Tashibar - intimate under lamplight, as if Houston: August 20 - 22 Master's house. It is not difficult to see him Tashigar. for the tango - to have an ice cream or beer Santa Fe: August 27 - 29 from the road, talking to people who con­ and talk to the other night owls. We should Teaching for Tibetans: August 30 sult with him or enjoying the swimming admit that there are many night owls in this in a retreat it means you haven't succeeded Colorado, Tara Mandala: September 9-12 pool. Some other practitioners have already part of the world, when the weather is yet and therefore it is very important to MEXICO built their houses in some other places on warm and the moon is bright. We have also understand how we should basically work Teaching: September 17-19 the land. There are still some lots left. heard, from trustworthy sources, that in the because knowledge has to be something USA (again) Two years ago Rinpoche expressed his vast amphitheater of the campsite there was concrete, not just a kind of fantasy." Later San Francisco: September 24 - 28 decision to hold the a great deal of noctur­ Portland: October8-10 Christmas retreat of nal activity. Los Angeles: October 15 -17 98/99 in Tashigar. At The weather was also sweet during the days Hawaii: October 27 - 31 the same time he told, PACIFIC RIM m of the retreat, except us he would stay with New Zealand: December 3 - 5 us for four months for December 31 st, the AUSTRALIA and shared his idea of day of the big party. Sydney: December 10-12 subdividing the land You must understand Namgyalgar so that all the that Tashigar is a pow­ erful place and maybe Retreat: December 26 - January 2.2000 Dzogchen SMS Australia 2000: Community members you have heard from Base Level Exam: March 3 - 5 who wanted to, could those who have been Level 1 training: Marchó - 10 have a retreat house here, that many per­ Level 1 Exam: March 17-19 Level 2 training: March 20-24 here as well. He also sonal melodramas Level 2 Exam: March 31 - April blindly gain energy talked about his own Level 3 trainine: April 3 - 7 house. and emphasis and then It was too much suddenly evaporate. SEE CONTACT ADDRESSES for us. Too much joy, For us to learn, IN COMMUNITY NEWS PAGE V. too much responsibil­ Tashigar seems to ity and, let's admit it, teach us from her near­ fear. During these last ly ideal beauty. The two years we have been working with ups weather of the place is he added, " At the" beginning when we fol­ CONTENTS and downs, disagreements and agreements a part of the great lesson of illusion and low the teachings they seem something impermanence, from intense heat to cold, - but everyone shared a heartfelt conviction 2 TEACHING very powerful, and when something mani­ from glorious blues to threatening greys of fulfilling Rinpoche's wishes. It was Chögyal Namkhai Norbu fests we think, if I go on like this I'll prob­ with all the hues of the quiet clouds loaded important that Tashigar was ready to ably realize in a year or two'. After two or receive our Master for the first time for with hail, enveloping fog and thunder. One 5 PRINCIPLE OF THE DZOGCHEN three years we become like wood. Like the COMMUNITY such a long period of time. never knows how to dress to avoid over­ wood from a tree that gets harder and hard­ heating or catching a cold at the same time. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Now he is here at last. The yellow flow­ er year after year. Ten years later we are 4 ASIA ers of the aromos blossomed as a good like ceramic, and in fifteen or twenty years It rained on the 31 st. We celebrated alto­ Des Barry omen to calm the anxiety of the Yellow like crystal, not because we are clear and gether at the same time with Rinpoche. gakyil. Now the white campinellas have limpid, but because we are hard. The teach­ Rosa and Fabio Andrico. There were toasts, 5 TIBETAN GONPAS IN NEED OF SIPPORT welcomed those interested in the Teaching ings should help us to become freer and kisses and good wishes, but the rain and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu who have come to Tashigar from all over freer and softer day after day. If everything sudden cold weather watered down the 7 TIBETAN KIM NYE MASSAGE the world; people new to the Teaching and punch that the people of Tashibar had pre­ isn't getting softer how can we be integrat­ Dr. Nido Chtnalsang more experienced practitioners. ing? The Tibetans say: 'This looks like a pared for those who stayed to dance. This is precisely what Rinpoche started bunch of horns put together in a bag; the Finally, it was all for the best, because the 8 WORLD FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC talking about on the first day of the retreat egos get harder and hold their positions following day there were teachings and we (December 26th). After a warm welcome to more and more strongly". And here he pro­ had to be alert to follow the powerful 9 SACRED ART everyone, mainly to those coming from nounced the quotation that begins this arti­ stream of the Master's words. Interview with Gyerme Rabjas afar, he asked the new people to raise their cle. The retreat ended on January 3rd, but hands. Then he stated, knowing beforehand The following eight days Rinpoche the activities of Tashigar haven't finished 10 SPECIAL PRACTICE CALENDAR that his explanations would sound familiar explained the contents of the base of the yet. There has also been a Yantra Yoga to some: "You may say, 'Oh, I've already course taught by Fabio Andrico, and the Santi Maha Sangha. He clarified how to get 13 COMMUNITY NEWS heard this before!'. But you can listen to into the state of contemplation, how to first part of the Vajra Dance course taught these explanations again and again all your by Adriana dal'Borgo. Meanwhile practi­ experience emptiness and instant presence, 17 REFLECTIONS life. The important thing is not just listen­ and how to integrate when practicing. Then tioners from different parts of the world ing, but applying and integrating. If you he gave the transmissions and explanations (Italy, Australia, Germany. Japan, the USA. had the capacity to integrate successfully of Guru Yoga, Short and Medium Tuns, France, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and 20 1 WAST TO TELL You ABOUT MARIO you wouldn't need to do retreats. If you are John Shane Guru Dragpur, practice of the night, Argentina) took refuge under a tree, in the continued on page 6 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu ome practitioners go ahead for years have this kind of manifestation. That is Sand years and it seems that there is why many teachers say that they have not much development and they don't Our Real Nature had contact with the rainbow body [of feel as sensitive as they did at the begin­ masters] like Guru Padmasambhava and ning. That is not good; when a practi­ have also received teachings. This is a tioner has this kind of problem then he is Beyond Explanation kind of realization called jalüs. or she must notice and refresh it. There are two kinds of jalüs in There are many methods for refresh­ Dzogchen: one is called the 'great trans­ ing [one's practice], but one very impor­ ference' and the other is ordinary jalüs.