Kagyu Samye Dzong London
News

October 2005

Contents

1. Meditation - dealing with thoughts
2. The Karmic Cycle, or "What some people will do to raise money for the Centre!"
3. Tibetan language course
4. A 17th century nun's prayer
5. Forthcoming events

News in Brief

• We are starting a second hand music stall at the Centre. If you would like to unburden yourself of tapes or CDs that you no longer listen to, let us provide you with both a place to send them and the excuse to sort out your collection now. All donations gratefully received. Many thanks to Gem for the idea and the first donation towards the stall.
• Volunteer weekend on the 22nd-23rd October. It's the autumn, and those beautiful trees in the park that overhang the Centre are about to drop all their leaves.. at once! On the other hand, if we have access to Manor Baths by then, this weekend will be used to start clearing out and cleaning up the building inside. Please come and help. Just let the office know if you're coming so that suitable quantities of food and drink can be prepared.

1 - Meditation - dealing with thoughts

"Beginning to meditate, we are often like a blind person facing a highway. The blind person is unable to see whether cars are passing or not. Similarly, a beginner, while feeling a vague sense of discomfort and uneasiness, is not conscious of the flow of thoughts, which nevertheless continues without interruption.

Gradually one discovers that one can see, but one would like there to be no cars passing. If just one car passes, our expectations are destroyed. A second is a further dissappointment. With a third one, we become irritated. The naive hope of an empty highway is forever dashed. One is at the same
time conscious and unhappy about the succession of vehicles. Each car that passes is seen as a new difficulty. One revolts against an inevitable state of things. In the same way, when one sees meditation as a space devoid of thoughts, each thought that comes obviously contradicts the preconceived scenario; one is in a situation of almost permanent failure. When one has better understood what meditation really is, one observes cars passing without rejecting or revolting against them, and without having decided that the highway should be empty. One should not expect the absence of cars, neither should one fear their presence. The cars pass and one lets them pass. If thoughts arise in meditation, one lets them naturally pass, with being attached to them or condemning them. A sane approach to thoughts is the condition for good meditation. The fruit of meditation is not the absence of thoughts, but that thoughts cease to harm us."
Bokar Rinpoche

An introduction to meditation course is being led by Lama Zangmo on Thursday evenings, 7.00 - 8.30 pm between the 13th October and 11th November. See Forthcoming Events for further details.

Back to contents

On Sunday 4th September a group of foolhardy.. sorry, a group of intrepid cyclists dedicated to raising money for a worthy cause (ie, the Centre) set off from Ruislip Station on a sponsored bike ride. There were two routes: the short one (35 miles!!!); and the short one for the ride organiser Rowan which was just 50 miles!!!!!! Joelle Peeters, survivour of this epic journey recounts the ordeal.. sorry, describes a day of gentle cycling.

"The sponsored bike ride that we had been looking forward to for so long sneaked up on us, and now had arrived! A hive of activity occurred as brakes were checked, punctures fixed and saddles adjusted. Spirits were high and off we set. The pace was good and as the group was small (there were seven of us) we decided to stay in one group, cycling at the speed of the slowest member – so no racing. Sometimes we got a bit left behind at the back but then Rowan would come back and make sure everything was O-Kay.

The scenery was beautiful, not too much traffic, so one could have a quick chat, and enjoy the ride. One of the greatest things about any physical activity is that one has to eat a lot of food, so cafés are of a high priority. Rowan, has extensively researched this subject, and first took us to a garden centre with a friendly café, about 17 miles into the ride. Orson (11) took to heart that one should keep their sugar levels up and tried to eat his way through the whole menu, luckily Sophie (his elder sister) was more restrained, so we did have some change left. As this was the half way point for the 35 mile ride, Orson and I decided to slowly make our way back to Ruislip and let the others cycle to the next cake place (a rather excellent rustic garden centre cum shop cum tea place selling home made cakes - we thought we would re-visit it the following week end it was that good).

We now took an extremely leisurely pace, walking up hills, sitting under inviting trees and having a bite to eat and generally enjoying ourselves in the Chiltern Hill air. A couple of miles outside Ruislip, we stopped again at a road side pub, with a garden and whilst sipping our drinks feeling rather happy with ourselves, the rest of the group arrived and we all had a refreshing cold drink together, ready for the final lap.

The Karmic Cycle Ride was a great way to spend a day, a mini break with a purpose. Look forward to the next one and hopefully see a huge crowd ready to sample the local fare with some cycling thrown in too!"

3 - Tibetan language for beginners with Lama Zangmo

Friday 14 October – 2 December 7-8.30pm £45

Have you ever looked at all that squiggly writing on the texts and wondered how to read it? Now is your chance to start learning. This course will focus on learning the alphabet and developing basic reading and writing skills. Bring pen and paper.

The course will run only if there is sufficient interest, so please book your place now either by email, or by phoning the office on 020-7928 5447.

4 - 17th Century Nun's prayer

Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody;
helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of other's pains, but help me to endure
them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them
so.

AMEN

The title of this prayer is traditional, the source is unknown.

5 - Forthcoming events

October

Chen style Tai Chi
with John Henry
Sunday 9th October, 10.00 - 4.00 pm.
£25
A monthly class of Chen style Tai Chi.  Beginners welcome.

Tibetan Language: improving skills
with Lama Zangmo
Wednesdays 12th October - 30th November - 7.00-8.30 pm
£45
This course is for those who can already read Tibetan. The focus of the course will be on learning vocabulary and advancing in reading texts.

Introduction to meditation
with Lama Zangmo
Thursdays 13th October - 10th November, 7.00 - 8.30 pm
£45
This course will give a good foundation for meditation practice, with instructions on posture and breathing and some simple visualisation techniques.

Tibetan language for beginners
with Lama Zangmo
Fridays 14th October - 2nd December, 7.00 - 8.30 pm
£45
This course will focus on learning the alphabet and basic reading and writing skills. Bring pen and paper.

Volunteer Weekend
Saturday 22nd - Sunday 23rd October - 10.00 - 4.00 pm
Please bring lots of energy and enthusiasm and we will provide good food and lots of tea (although if you really must have coffee we can probably dig some out).
Please let us know in advance if you would like to come.

Green Tara weekend
with Lama Zangmo
Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th October, 10.00 - 4.00 pm
£45
A weekend of instruction and practice in the Green Tara sadhana which is generally done to overcome both inner and outer obstacles. Bring text, also bell and dorje if you have them.

November

Silent Shinay retreat
with Lama Zangmo
Saturday 5th November, 10.00 - 4.00 pm
£25
A day devoted to the practice of the shinay meditation of calm abiding. There will be brief instructions in the morning with the main part of the day spent in silent retreat.

Dorje Sempa retreat
with Lama Zangmo
Sunday 6th November, 10.00 - 4.00 pm
£25
Instruction in the practice of Dorje Sempa which is the second of the Four Special Foundation practices of the ngondro. Participants need the Dorje Sempa empowerment to attend this day.

Chen style Tai Chi
with John Henry
Sunday 6th November, 10.00 - 4.00 pm.
£25
A monthly class of Chen style Tai Chi.  Beginners welcome.

Better health through meditation
with Clive Holmes
Friday 11th November, 7.00 pm and Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th November, 10.00 - 4.00 pm.
£55
Clive Holmes will teach on how meditation can help us improve both our physical and mental health and stay well even when adverse conditions challenge us.

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.

Back to contents