HMT is affiliated with the Foundation HOSPICE of for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition founded in 1975 by two Tibetan Lamas, Lama MOTHER TARA Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Buddhist Meditation and Healing Centre Rinpoche. 18 Clifton Street Bunbury WA 6230 t: 9791 9798 w: www.hmt.org.au e: [email protected] July - September 2015 Update From the Nepal Earthquake By Venerable Roger Kunsang, May 2015, Edited by Fran Steele. Firstly, I would like to extend a very big THANK this is the short- and long- YOU to everyone for moving on this emergency term strategy of how we relief effort so quickly by offering to the Nepal can help. Earthquake Support Fund, (http://my.fpmt.org/ donate/socialservicesfund) which we set up Short-Term and Immediate through the FPMT International Office. It has Needs already meant a lot to so many villages. This We have the short-term and has made a HUGE difference. When you are immediate urgent needs freezing cold, have no home, are out in the of the people in mind. This open, in the mountains with hardly any food is food, water, medicine and water left – even for these very hearty and shelter. We are trying people – it is too much. to support the efforts of There are dead people around you: people you the local people to look once knew, some close relatives, your mother, after themselves as the aid etc. Then having to deal with the ground still coming in from overseas shaking from time to time and not knowing if it isn’t reaching them in the will get stronger or just pass. There was always short-term. areas that we have been able to immediately help: the rumour that another big earthquake was They have to depend on their own efforts. So we coming, which freaked people out even more. are supporting Kopan monks and nuns going • Thame: Providing shelter and food as They couldn’t be convinced that this can’t out every day with basic necessities for the emergency relief, US$30,595. be predicted. And then, no one knows what’s worst hit areas. We are also supporting Losang • Helping the Tamang people across the happening about anything. Namgyal Rinpoche (one of the Kopan monks) affected regions with Losang Namgyal Even as we were leaving from the Kathmandu who is the head lama of the Tamang people. Rinpoche, US$10,000 Airport, Rinpoche met a friend who worked (Tamang is the largest ethnic group in Nepal, • Kopan Monastery Emergency Relief Team: there. The man explained to Rinpoche that farmers scattered across the hills throughout his whole village had been destroyed. His Nepal.) Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is organizing assisting the monastery provide relief (tents, family and home – gone. He said his family has and improvising in many ways to get the food, clothing) to local and rural areas nothing; no food, no shelter, and it is very cold. essentials to these villages that have been affected by the earthquake, US$5,000 The look on his face, the tone of his voice… it is damaged badly. All the above aid has come from the Nepal difficult not to cry at yet again another heavy It is really hard getting this done, so we are Earthquake Support Fund. Rinpoche has story and desperate plea for help coming supporting his efforts by giving some funds to received many requests for help, but we have Rinpoche’s way. Rinpoche said immediately he buy essentials. Then, there is the area where not accepted long-term requests outside of the would help! No hesitation. Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born, Thame, and above. We are trying to fulfil all requests for the Today, the Kopan Relief Team is in this man’s some very small communities in the same area. short-term needs as they are a matter of life or village, doing what they can. This time there are The budget for this is estimated at US$46,000. This death. also Kopan nuns helping. They say it will take could change depending on helicopter costs Thank you again, EVERYONE! another 10 to 20 years to earn enough money to associated with getting the food up there. rebuild as none have any hope the government Use problems as ornaments, seeing them will help them. And of course, there is no such Long-Term Needs and Rebuilding as“ extremely precious, because they make you thing as insurance, so all is lost. One stone in the And then there are the long-term needs of achieve enlightenment quickly, by getting you to mountains averages 2,000 Nepalese rupees rebuilding homes and nunneries/monasteries. achieve bodhicitta. Experience these problems on (about US$19) or could go as high as 3,000 to This will be where most of the funds will go as the behalf of all sentient beings, giving all happiness 4,000 rupees. Very expensive! All the houses are damage is extensive, but we can only commit built with local stone that is hand-chipped into to those who we are immediately responsible to sentient beings. This is the ornament. shape. for: Kopan Nunnery and Monastery, Tsum Lama Zopa Rinpoche” Talking to some of these people really breaks Nunnery and Monastery, Himalayan Buddhist A very big thank you also to those at Hospice your heart. They had very little before, and now, Meditation Centre, Thubten Shedrup Ling of Mother Tara who contributed to the Nepal they have a lot less. So on a mundane level, you Monastery in Jalsa, and Lawudo Retreat Centre. earthquake support fund by donating at our are really helping immensely. Thank you! This is the plan so far as best as we can know. It Curry Night, or by dropping in donations. So far Regarding the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund could change as we hear more. These are the we have raised more than $1400 for the fund. JULY AUGUST Teachings Teachings AUGUST NOVEMBER & Talks with & Talks with Teachings Visit by Venerable Venerable & Talks with Venerable EVENTS COMING Chönyi Taylor Robina Courtin Ian Coghlan Namgyel PAGE ONE 18 Clifton Street Bunbury WA 6230 t: 9791 9798 w: www.hmt.org.au e: [email protected] July - September 2015 TEACHINGS AND PUBLIC TALKS Teachings with Venerable Robina Courtin Venerable Robina Courtin brings her THE 37 PRACTICES OF own inimitable style to the teaching of BODHISATTVAS Buddhism. Famed for her no nonsense with Geshe Sonam approach, she is at her best telling us about the coal face of working with those Monday 27 July and 7 September, most aware of their suffering in this life. 7.00 - 9.00 pm Facility Fee: $20 per teaching A nun since the early years of Lama Yeshe’s move to the west, Venerable Geshe Sonam will continue his teachings Robina has many years of study teaching on “The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas.” and experience to draw from. She has recently finished editing a book of Lama Zopa’s wisdom on death and dying, and was a contributor to a TEACHINGS AND PUBLIC TALKS Vajrayana Institute e-book on relating to the spiritual teacher. with Venerable Chönyi Taylor Venerable Chönyi Taylor (Dr Diana FREEING YOURSELF FROM NEGATIVE Taylor) was ordained as a Buddhist nun EMOTIONS: REFLECTIONS FROM DEATH ROW by the Dalai Lama in 1995. Venerable Tenzin Chönyi’s book Enough!: A Buddhist Public Talk with Venerable Robina Courtin Approach to Finding Release from Thursday 13 August, 7.00 - 8.30 pm Addictive Patterns is a hands on guide Facility Fee: $18/15 members & concessions to help put an end to the patterns that In this public talk, Venerable Robina will talk about her time working sabotage our potential for a true and with prisoners on death row, and what wisdom she has taken to, and satisfying happiness. It is a practical from, this experience. path that releases us from the grip of negative habits. Presenting the essence of Buddhism and combining it with Western psychology, Venerable RELATING TO THE SPIRITUAL TEACHER Chönyi uses practical exercises throughout her workshops and Dharma Teaching with Venerable Robina Courtin presents invaluable insights about how the mind works. Friday 14 August, 7.00 - 8.30 pm Facility Fee: $18/15 members & concessions CREATING A HAPPIER MIND: A BUDDHIST In this teaching, Venerable Robina will investigate the role of the PSYCHOLOGIST’S VIEW spiritual teacher and how to relate to the spiritual teacher for the greatest benefits. with Venerable Chönyi Taylor Monday 13 July, 7.00 - 8.30 pm Facility Fee: $18/15 members & concessions BUDDHIST APPROACHES TO DEATH AND Join Venerable Chönyi Taylor for this insightful public talk. DYING IN THE MODERN WORLD Weekend Workshop with Venerable Robina Courtin BUDDHISM IN A NUTSHELL Saturday 15 August, 10.00 am - 4.00 pm, and Sunday 16 August, 10.00 am - 1.00 pm with Venerable Chönyi Taylor Facility Fee: $100/85 members & concessions Thursdays 9, 16, 23 July, 7.00 pm Facility Fee: $18/15 members & concessions per session As Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, “Helping our loved ones at the time of death is the best service we can offer them, our greatest gift. Why? Venerable Chönyi will present the FPMT introductory course that Because death is the most important time of life: it’s at death that outlines the Buddhist path. the next rebirth is determined”. In this handbook, Rinpoche gives a huge amount of advice about how to help our loved ones before, DEALING WITH GRIEF AND LOSS during, and after death. And every word of it is to serve one purpose, perfectly expressed in the title: to help our loved ones enjoy death, with Venerable Chönyi Taylor as Rinpoche often puts it, and go happily to their next rebirth.