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Kagyu
Samye Dzong London News
April 2004
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Contents
- Preparing to
move
- Fundraising
- Other news and
announcements
- Forthcoming
events
- About the newsletter
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First of all, apologies if there is
anything missing from this newsletter. The contents rather depend on the editor
not mislaying his notes. Well, enough said about that - except that if you
notice something not here that should be, please get in touch!
Secondly, there is a lot of news at the
beginning of this newsletter. So make sure you don't miss details of the very
special events going on at Samye Dzong during April and early May which can be
found under Forthcoming Events
We have courses by Gelong Thubten on Transforming Stress, Bella Green on Seeing
Naturally, Drawing Clearly, and in early May an extended visit from Choje Akong
Tulku Rinpoche offering a precious opportunity to receive teachings,
empowerments and refuge.
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1 - Preparing to move
Since the last meeting a building has
come to our attention in Westminster, in the area identified by the Karmapa for
us to search in. Investigations are at a very preliminary stage, and we will
keep everybody informed if there are any significant developments. This is just
to indicate that we are continuing to look for a suitable property, and if you
come across anything that could be the next Kagyu Samye Dzong London, we are
still interested in hearing about it.
Of course nowhere in London is cheap and
the decision of the Hospital Trustees to grant us an additional 6-9 months in
Carlisle Lane, taking us up to 2005, makes a big difference in our ability to
raise the money we need for the move.
The coming weeks are going to be very
busy with a range of events going on at the Centre, and as it is things like
this that generate much of the money the Centre needs in order to move this is
where our focus will be in the short term.
As a consequence there will be no
public meeting about the future of the Centre in April.
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2 - Fundraising
Last June we had
£110,000 in the bank and this month our fundraising has reached the
£250,000 mark. It's good, but to buy a site in central London we still
need a lot more. Carry on fundraising!
Running the Paris Marathon for Samye Dzong -
Many thanks to mad Greg Plumbly, who has chosen to do not just one marathon
(which most of us would baulk at anyway), but two marathons in two weeks
raising money for charity on both. His employers, Barclays Bank, will match
what he raises from other donors pound for pound.
Greg ran the Paris Marathon in under four
hours last Sunday (4th April) to raise money for Kagyu Samye Dzong London to
build London's first Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Although Greg has run the
marathon donations can still be made at:
http://www.justgiving.com/samyedzong
Remember, Barclays will match whatever you give. If you give £10, Barclays
will give another £10.
Wanted urgently
- venue organiser for musical performance
An accomplished amateur flute group based in Hertfordshire plays for charity
2-3 time each year. They are willing to perform in aid of Samye Dzong as long
as we can arrange a venue.
The sort of venue we are looking for is a shopping centre (eg Brent Cross)
where they could play one Saturday. Their previous performance at Watford's
Harlequinn Centre raised over £600 from passing shoppers.
We urgently need somebody who is willing to take on the task of liaising with
the group and arranging a venue, date and time.
If you can help, please email David Bates , or phone
020-8440 4925. Thank you.
Also wanted
urgently - good quality items for the auction taking place on Saturday 15th May
at 2.00 pm.
During Rinpoche's time at the Centre in May there will be an auction. We
already have some wonderful items to go under the hammer so as to speak, but
more would be better. As well as good quality items that you may no longer need
or want at home, items for auction can include donations of services, eg
massage, teaching, baking (eg, novelty birthday cakes), whatever it is you have
to offer that others may want.
Contact the office on 020-7928 5447 with your offers.
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3 - Other news and announcements
Press
Officer
Unfortunately our previous press officer had to stand down due to work
committments. This is not a massively onerous task, but it is a very important
one. To find out more about what is involved contact
David de Sousa.
Kum Nye Tibetan
exercise
There has been a strong response to the mention in last month's newsletter of a
Kum Nye workshop. If you are still interested but have not responded yet, you
have a second chance. Please email Lucy as soon as possible to express
your interest.
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4 - Forthcoming events
Chen Style Tai
Chi
with John Henry
Sunday 18th April, 10.30 am - 4.00 pm. £20
The sixth monthly class focusing on the Chen style of Tai Chi as taught by Chen
Xiuo Wang (the acclaimed master and 19th generation head of the Chen Style).
Transforming
stress
with Gelong Thubten
Wed 21st, Thurs 22nd and Fri 23rd April, 7.00 - 8.30 pm
£25
Meditation is an effective tool for dealing with the roots of stress. We will
also look at how to transform our attitudes. Techniques which can be applied at
work and at home will be provided
Gelong Thubten has presented such courses for several UK companies and
businesses. He is a fully ordained monk who has studied widely and teaches
internationally. He frequently assists Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche on teaching
tours around the world.
Seeing
naturally, drawing clearly
with Bella Green
Sat 24th - Sun 25th April, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm.
£45
Using a variety of methods to focus the awareness, we can begin to see things
more naturally, unencumbered by judging and fixed ideas. This fresh view allows
our creativity and clear vision to emerge and be expressed through drawing. For
those new to drawing or the more experienced. Please bring an A3 pad of
cartridge paper, a 2B pencil and two objects you are interested in drawing.
Bella Green has been teaching art and design for over 20 years and is a
visiting tutor of drawing and colour at the Royal College of Art in London. She
is a student of Buddhism and her courses all reflect her interest in
integrating meditation with art.
Teachings,
empowerments and refuge ceremony
with Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Sat 8th - Sun 9th May, 10.00 am - 4.00 pm. £45
Wed 12th - Fri 14th May, 7.00 pm. £10 per evening
Sat 15th - Sun 16th May, 10.00 am - 4.00 pm. £45
or £108 for whole course.
This is a precious opportunity to receive teachings, empowerments and refuge
from Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, the Co-Founder of Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland
and the President of Rokpa Trust.
Rinpoche will be giving teachings and advice on how to integrate the Dharma in
the hectic, stressful 21st century. He will also talk about hidden teachings
(termas) of Guru Rinpoche and the blessing of termas.
During his stay, he will also give empowerments for
Guru Rinpoche on Sunday 9th May
Green Tara on Wednesday 12th May
and Medicine Buddha Practice on Saturday 15th May
as well as the lungs (scriptural authorisations) for those practices. Rinpoche
will also be available for personal interviews and advice. Please book interviews in advance.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche was recognised by the 16th Karmapa at the age of
three, as the reincarnation of the first Akong, the Abbot of Dolma Lhakang
monastery in Kham, East Tibet. At the age of six, he entered the monastery
where he began the intensive training given to tulkus. Among his many teachers,
were His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Kilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and his root
teacher, Sechen Kongtrul Rinpoche. He has received numerous dharma
transmissions, commentaries and empowerments from all the main Kagyu lineage
holders and his vast and unceasing activity to benefit beings has helped make
the dharma accessible to his students all over the world.
Please book accommodation well in advance. Limited space
is available.
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5 - About the Newsletter
This newsletter goes out to those who
have expressed an interest in Kagyu Samye Dzong London. It covers news of the
efforts and progress towards finding and funding a new site for the centre, and
other events taking place in the coming weeks
Being on this mailing list is not
compulsory. If you do not want to receive this newsletter, or would like it to
be sent to a different email address, please use the links at the bottom of the
newsletter.
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Kagyu Samye Dzong London Tibetan Buddhist Centre
Carlisle Lane, Lambeth, London, SE1 7LG
Tel: 020 7928 5447
Fax: 020 7633 9339
Web-site: www.samye.org/london
Newsletter editor: David Bates
david@treeoflifecoaching.co.uk
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