Kagyu Samye Dzong London
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News in Brief
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1 - The Karmic Cycle - a sponsored ride in aid of Samye Dzong, A chance to enjoy a late summer day out in the countryside raising money for the new Samye Dzong Centre. This ride starts at Ruislip Metropolitan Line underground station and heads into the Chiltern Hills with a choice of a 25 or a 45 mile route. Details and sponsorship forms are available from the office at Samye Dzong. After the 20th August they are also available from the organiser, Rowan Langley who can be contacted on 0784 1160 593. |
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2 - On the practice of tonglen - by David Bates Not everybody has heard of Tonglen, the practice of taking and sending, however it is an absolutely key part of the Tibetan teachings on training the mind, forming an important part of the training in Bodhicitta. At the beginning of her book "Tonglen - the path of transformation" Pema Chodron writes: "All sentient beings without exception have bodhicitta, which is the inherent tenderness of the heart, its natural tendency to love and care for others. But over time, on order to shield ourselves from feeling pain and discomfort, we have erected solid barriers that cover up our tenderness and vulnerability. As a result, we often experience alienation, anger, aggression, and a loss of meaning in our lives - both individually and on a global scale. Somehow, in the pursuit of happiness, we have unwittingly created greater suffering for ourselves. Tonglen, or the practice of sending and taking, reverses this process of hardening and shutting down by cultivating love and compassion. In tonglen practice, instead of running from pain and discomfort, we acknowledge them and own them fully. Instead of dwelling on our own problems, we put ourselves in other people's shoes and appreciate our shared humanity. Then the barriers start to dissolve, our hearts and minds begin to open." I had the opportunity to experience this at a very personal level last year when I had my first (and so far only) serious asthma attack. I was fortunate enough to be familiar with tonglen, which enabled me to stay with the discomfort of increasing difficulty in drawing breath, and to offer to all other beings that have difficulty breathing the relief that I desperately wanted for myself. To try and escape from that pain and discomfort could easily have led to a rising tide of panic, increased need for oxygen and made a difficult and dangerous situation that much worse - instead of the calmness and presence that I found using Tonglen. We all have problems and difficulties that arise in our lives, and when they do, the practice of tonglen offers the opportunity for us to become less self-centred and for "the transformation of adverse conditions into the path of awakening". David Bates A tonglen retreat, led by Lama Zangmo, will be taking place at the Centre on the weekend of 27th-28th August. It will include teaching sessions on tonglen and mind training, as well as time for meditation. See "Forthcoming Events" at the end of this newsletter for more details. |
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3 - Latest news regarding the move We are in continuing negotiations with the Council concerning the lease for Manor Baths. We have also submitted an application for change of use for the building and hope to receive approval for this shortly. We are currently costing the various works that will need to be carried out on the building in order to comply with building regulations. We hope to reach a conclusion soon about the viability of taking on Manor Baths under the terms that the Council is offering us. |
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4 - The visit of the Rokpa children It was inspiring to have the ten Rokpa children staying at Samye Dzong and experience their natural exuberence and energy. They also seemed to enjoy their visit to London, which included a double-decker bus tour around the city, a magician's show at the centre, fish and chips in the park, and watching Billy Elliot at the theatre - all thanks to the generosity of kind sponsors. Thanks go to Sheena King and Sally Barrett for all their hard work in finding venues for the dancers, and to all those who contributed financially or helped with cooking and looking after the Centre during their stay. As a result of their visit a new Rokpa London group has formed which will be having its first meeting shortly. The object of the group is to raise awareness and funds for Rokpa's humanitarian work both in the UK and internationally. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Shirley Bond at shirleyabond@yahoo.co.uk |
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August We're all going on a - summer holiday! Chen style Tai Chi Tonglen Retreat
This exchange is the practice of tonglen which, in the words of Ringu Tulku "..is essential for releasing us from suffering and generating compassion". The weekend will consist of teaching sessions on tonglen and mind training with time for meditation. Bring food to share on both days. September The Karmic Cycle - a sponsored bicycle ride in aid of Samye Dzong Chen style Tai Chi Tibetan Language classes Transforming stress Volunteer Weekend Amitabha Practice and the Bardo
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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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