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Kagyu Samye Dzong London NewsOctober 2004 |
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Contents |
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News in Brief
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1 - Interview with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche This interview took place when Rinpoche was visiting KSDL on 28th June, 2004. Rinpoche, in the West there is a lot of stress and pressure in the workplace. Competition and aggressive behaviour is often encouraged. Sometimes people feel they are expected to act contrary to the Dharma. Could you please give some advice to those people who have to deal with a difficult work environment? When you’re working and you feel like you’re having to be competitive then what you should do is look straight at that thought of competition, look straight at its essential reality and within its essence let go and relax, then the problem will naturally dissolve. You need to know the essence of your thought. That’s the most important thing. Even Milarepa and another mahasidda whose name was Padampa Sangye had a competition, but they didn’t have any thought of it being competition; they knew the thought of competition had no inherent nature, so the thought of being competitive didn’t bind them. Or like with the very strong competition between Milarepa and Naro Punchung the Bonpo adept, which benefitted both of them: Milarepa gained fame and also Naro Punchung benefitted from it. So if you know the true nature of the thoughts of competition there’s no danger. In the teachings of Dharma, it is said that the negative emotions of anger, jealousy, craving etc. are turned into wisdom on the path - a bit like weeds and leaves in the garden becoming rich compost, beneficial for the soil. Sometimes our “inner compost” seems slow in turning and the weeds tend to take over. Could you please say something about this process of transformation? Transformation is not important, what’s important is to know the true nature of the disturbing emotions, like Milarepa saying to Rechungpa “The klesas are the waves of an ocean of poison, but like a fire burning a rope tying up some wood, you need confidence these klesas do not really bind you. Rechungpa do you have this certainty?” You have to know that the disturbing emotions don’t come or go, you have to know that the disturbing emotions don’t actually arise or cease. Rinpoche, in your teachings you use a lot of spiritual songs with English chanting and Western tunes. Some people have commented that it reminds them of church, and that they prefer the Tibetan style. Could you please comment on this, and explain why it is done in this way? Mainly because every culture has their own melodies and their own ways that they like singing so Tibetan people like the Tibetan way, Western people like the Western way, and every Western country has its own way too, so that’s fine. Of course if particular Western people like the Tibetan way better then they should do the Tibetan way - that’s no problem. It just happens that in every country people have their own way of singing and their own melodies that sound good to the people from that country, but people from another country like their melodies better, so it’s good to sing in all the different melodies. We are in the process of fundraising and looking for a new building for Kagyu Samye Dzong London, since we will eventually need to move from here. Could you please say something about the importance of establishing Dharma Centres in the West where people can come into contact with the teachings? This is a time when the Dharma and the Vajrayana within the Dharma is starting to spread further for the first time in the West, so this time the Dharma Centres are very important. If there’s no Dharma Centre people have no place where they can come and listen to the Dharma and practice it. So if the Dharma’s going to spread there have to be Dharma Centres, so Dharma Centres are important. For example, Samye Dzong has a very big hall where a hundred or two hundred people can come and listen to the teachings at once, and that’s great. It’s a wonderful accumulation of merit that there can be a place like this. Rinpoche, we are taught to see all things as a dream and an illusion. How can we best apply this teaching on an everyday basis when we are busy with work and ordinary activities? When you’re working you have to remember the view that all phenomena are appearance and emptiness again and again. Just remember it again and again, bring it to mind, remember that everything is just like what appears in a dream. That’s a method to prevent clinging to things as being truly existent from arising. Milarepa sang “I see this life to be like a dream and an illusion, and I cultivate compassion for everyone who does not realise this. So I, Milarepa, know that this life is like a dream and an illusion, therefore I don’t have any suffering because I don’t take anything to be truly existent. But because of that I feel great compassion for everyone who does cling to things as being truly existent and suffers as a result”. That’s how to practice - just like that. It is said that work involved with caring for beings in a practical way will have as beneficial a result on mind as any direct training through intensive meditation and retreat. Can working practically for beings really bring the same results as intensive meditation and retreat, especially with regard to equipoise and insight? And if so, how? If one performs this type of activity benefitting others, motivated by compassion and remembering the view of the true nature of reality, then it has benefits both in the present and in the future. For example, Milarepa sang songs to the frightened deer to pacify the deer’s fear, to the angry dog to pacify the dog’s anger, and to the hunter. This inspired faith in the hunter and he became Milarepa’s student. Those songs benefitted them at the time, but since then the legacy of those songs has been of even more benefit to others since then than it was directly at that time. |
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2 - Lyndhurst Hall / property search As many of you have already heard, we have not been successful in our bid for Lyndhurst Hall. Brian Jeffries from Camden Council said he received over 100 letters of support, and we can only presume the MPs received a similar number. In the end, however, the Council’s decision was to sell to developers who will build affordable housing in the area. It is a disappointing outcome, but at the same time, most of us feel we have gained invaluable experience, which will stand us in good stead in approaching councils in the future. We would like to thank all of you who supported the Appeal, especially Sky Leonard and the Camden residents who put a lot of effort into the campaign. It has also been a good reminder that we have a lot to do! We still need to locate a suitable building, so if you can commit to searching on a regular basis, please contact us at london@samye.org. Also, property developers are usually able to offer more than ourselves for properties (one source indicated that Lyndhurst Hall may fetch £5m) so we have a fair way to go! If you can help Samye Dzong raise funds in any way, please let us know. Ani Paltso. |
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3 - Tibetan Concert with Soname Yangchen, Friday 29th October, 7.00 pm - £10 Tibetan singer Soname escaped from Tibet when she was 15 years old. Her songs reflect different styles, including both powerful mountain songs and songs with a spiritual influence. Soname's voice is awesomely powerful with a haunting passion that reflects the joy and beauty of the Tibetan landscape. She has performed at the Royal Opera House in London, in Iceland and throughout Europe. Her band includes tabla, guitar and didgeridoo. All proceeds from this concert will go towards the Kagyu Samye Dzong London New Building Fund. |
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4 - Holistic Treatment Fundraising Weekend The Holistic Weekend was a great success following in the footsteps of the last one. The doors opened at 10:00 and everyone was geared up ready for the deluge of peoples wanting to soothe away their ailments and release them of the stress of living in London. Both days followed the same pattern which was light trade early on but by midday it had built to a stiff breeze and at the end of the day it was howling a gale. The atmospheric weather on the other hand was very kind to us and it was clear on both days, not quite what the weather forecast predicted which was good as it was the general UK forecast of cloudy with some sun and a possibility of rain, which just about covers everything. All the clients were looking radiant after their various treatments and were very positive about the whole experience. When anyone needed a break from either receiving or giving a treatment there were many other things on offer from the absolutely delicious food, chatting with new friends over a cup of tea and a slice of cake, watching the children having their faces painted or decorating their biscuits or just simply taking in the relaxing ambiance of the centre. Roll on the next one! Also £2500 was raised for the new building. Love and happiness from Joelle and Pete. |
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Guru Rinpoche weekend Restoring the balance Tibetan Concert with Soname Yangchen Four ways of changing the mind Chen style Tai Chi |
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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 davidjbates@mac.com |
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