Kagyu Samye Dzong London
News

February 2006

Contents

1. "Right Speech" by Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche
2. The Big 2006 Raffle
3. De-tox and de-stress - weekly ear acupuncture clinic
4. Shiatsu sessions with Joelle Peters on Sunday mornings
5. Forthcoming events

News in Brief

• A new program is out covering February - April. Print copies have gone out this week and details have been put up on the website. One special date for your calendar might be the visit of the Venerable Lama Yeshe Rinpoche on the 29th - 30th April
• A Publicity Group has been formed to help raise awareness of the Centre, particularly during and following our move to Manor Baths. If you feel that you have both relevant skills and the time and energy to contribute we will be meeting once a month at the Centre. The next meeting is on Monday 20th February, 7.00-9.00 pm.
• How 10 minutes of your time can help the Centre - In order to make our communication with the outside world more effective, the Publicity Group would like to gather some information from people who are already in contact with the Centre. To this end we have created an online questionnaire which will take you no more than 10 minutes to complete. At no point do you have to give your name or contact details (so no hassle from us or anybody else). If you are willing to spare the time to complete this just click here.
• Dramatic news about Manor Baths - no, only joking! The Manor Baths saga, while progressing slowly, has given everybody involved the most wonderful opportunity to practice the perfection of patience. This is of course Buddhist-speak for "a long, drawn-out and frustrating process", but we don't talk in those terms here do we? The latest twist is that we have got what is probably the final-ish lease, but now have a delay in sorting out the insurance. Personally I'm looking foward to when I can quote that well known football commentator who, at the end of the 1966 World Cup Final said "They think it's all over.. well it is now!"
• Adopt a plant scheme - move or no move (yet) there are still plants that have been taken out of the garden at the Centre and are looking for good homes to go to. Please don't let these plants remain unadopted, but if you do come and buy one, remember, a plant isn't just for Christmas.

“We definitely need to meditate in order to tame and to train the mind. But that meditation, that work of training the mind, needs the support of right conduct. The importance of right conduct applies itself not only to meditation but to the rest of life, our interaction with the rest of the world. This area has to do with our actions of body and speech, our interrelation with other beings and the world around us, which is very important. It would be an error to think that the mind is the only thing and what we do with our body and speech doesn’t matter. We explain it through Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.

We start with speech. Why? Because speech is very important to us. For instance, we can’t see another person’s mind. In our lives we judge and are judged by what we see and what we hear. We can’t look into another person’s heart. We just know what they have said to us, and what they have said in general and what they do physically. What is more, speech is very powerful. If we are addressing one person, 100 or 1000 people, if the speech is positive and beneficial then one or 100 or 1000 people will benefit, but if the speech is harmful it will harm one or 100 or 1000 or whatever the audience is. Speech has the power to hurt many people, which is much more than the body can do. Speech is an extraordinarily powerful thing. So we need to have not just good speech but the very best speech and to train in the very best speech so that we know, when we speak, what our speech is doing. Is it hurting? Is it harming? Is it benefiting?

What will give rise to this most excellent speech? In fact, this is the reason why we do prayers, why we say prayers like “ I pay homage. I bow down to Chenrezig. “ this is the reason why we recite mantras. These show us how to express – through our speech – thoughts which are the most noble, which are nothing but beneficial, which are pure and good. So we can think of texts, we can study them, we can write them out. All of these sow the seeds in our mind and become the basis for the expressions for that which will only bring benefit to ourselves and others. This is why a part of our Dharma practice is the study, the learning, the reciting of texts, prayers and mantras – it brings the right training of what is the best of speech.

Now these days this is perhaps even more important than it was in the past, because we have such powerful means of communication. With the telephone we can contact people all over the world. With internet the power of speech is really in a zenith at the moment, so there is even more reason to be so mindful, aware and careful of how we use this tremendous power of communication and speech, and to always be aware of its potential either to benefit or harm others, and for us to train in the very best speech.”

From a teaching given in Kagyu Samye Dzong London in 2001 by Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche.

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• Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche's Labrang and
• establishing Samye Dzong London in our future home at Manor Baths

But wait, there's more. The first prize lis this beautiful tiger rug, currently a wall hanging in the Samye Dzong London office/shop and valued at £500.

This beautiful rug, measuring 1m x 1.8m, was Rinpoche's own personal rug. Made with 100% pure, thick wool, this unique rug was commissioned by Rinpoche and shows the intimacy of a family of tigers.

Tickets for the Big Raffle are only £1 each, and there is no limit to the numbers you are allowed to buy (but don't you think that 108 might be a really auspicious number?).

Raffle tickets can be bought

• in the office at the Centre
• over the phone (020-7928 5447) with a debit or credit card or
• by post - just send a cheque along with your details (name and address) and we will post you the tickets

P.S. - As a winner of the Euromillions Lottery I'll be contributing my bit. Unfortunately my total winnings (minus the cost of the tickets) came to a grand total of £2.90 - just a tad short of the £105,000,000 I was hoping to collect!!!!!! However, every bit counts and I'll not hesitate to put in another 10p to buy three tickets for the Big Raffle.

3 - Detox and de-stress - weekly ear acupuncture clinic with Mette Heinz, in Samye Dzong Sunday mornings 9.30-10.30 am

Ear acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine. Like reflexology, working with pressure points on the feet, there are points on the ears that correspond to organs and bodlly functions.

A general detox can be applied using five needles in each ear, or the treatment can be tailored individually. As well as reducing stress and cleansing the body of toxins, ear acupuncture can be a support when giving up smoking. It has been shown to be effective for digestive and respiratory diseases, to regulate cravings and appetite, improve sleep, benefit concentration and memory and reduce anxiety. Ear acupuncture can also be helpful in treating muscular tension.

Treatments can be enhanced by placing small magnets on the acupuncture points. This can also be used as a treatment for people who prefer not to use needles.

Treaments are done fully dressed, with 10-12 people in the same room. It is recommended to sit with the needles for a minimum of 20 minutes in order to get the full benefit of the treatment. There is a minimum donation of £2 per treatment.

Mette Heinz is a fully qualified and insured member of the Ear Acupuncture Register.

4 -Shiatsu Sessions with Joelle Peters from 9.30 am on Sunday Mornings

From Sunday 12th February it will be possible to have a Shiatsu massage at the Centre on Sunday mornings with Joelle Peters for a suggested donation of £7.00. These will take place from 9.30 am, after the Green Tara Puja.

The philosophy underlying Shiatsu is that vital energy (Qi in Chinese, Ki in Japanese) flows throughout the body in a series of channels called meridians.

For many different reasons, Ki can stop flowing freely and this then produces a symptom. Shiatsu can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, from specific injuries to more general symptoms of poor health, and helps you deal with stress.

Shiatsu uses touch to affect the flow of Ki in the meridians. These may include gentle holding, pressing with palms, thumbs, fingers, elbows, knees and feet on the meridians, and when appropriate, rotations and stretches. As the quality of the Ki changes, the symptoms associated with an imbalance in the movement of Ki will gradually improve. Shiatsu is a therapy that works on the individual as a complete being – the physical body and also on an emotional and/or mental level.

You should not have shiatsu if you are suffering from cancer of the blood or lymphatic system, or if you are in the early stages of pregnancy.

Joelle Peters is in her final year of becoming a Shiatsu Practitioner and is offering 20 minute shiatsu sessions on Sunday mornings for a donation to the Building fund. Suggested donation £7.00

5 - Forthcoming events

February

Tibetan Language and Grammar
with Lama Zangmo
10am-5pm Sunday 12 Feb
£25
A day focusing on Tibetan Language for those who can already read and write. The emphasis will be on learning more vocabulary and grammar and the day will be broken up with short sessions of meditation. The course will only run if there is enough interest.

Reflecting on our Lives – The Four Foundations
with Lama Zangmo
7pm-8.30pm Thurs 16 Feb – Thurs 9 March
£40
The four ordinary foundations are a series of reflections on our human condition, which need to be integrated into our daily life. Often called ‘The Four Thoughts that turn the mind towards the Dharma’, they form the basis for further understanding of the teachings, and help us to develop our potential. These weekly sessions will be a combination of teachings and meditation practice suitable for all.

Green Tara Practice
With Gelongma Ani Kunzang
Sat 18 – Sun 19 Feb. 10am-4pm
£45
The Green Tara practice is done to overcome both outer and inner obstacles. In this course, Ani Kunzang will go through the sadhana giving instructions in the meditation and recitation and focusing especially on the praises to the twenty one Taras.
Ani Kunzang is a fully ordained Buddhist nun and has completed a four-year closed retreat. She teaches at Samye Ling and associated centres.

The Long Road to Kailash - a slideshow
with Alex Hagen and James Perry
7pm Sat 18 Feb
£6
Alex and James present a slide show illustrating their epic journey during 2005 around temples and landscapes in Japan, Nepal and Tibet, culminating in the circumambulation of Kang Rinpoche.
James Perry and Alex Hagen are residents at Kagyu Samye Dzong London.

Tai Chi
with John Henry
10.30am – 4pm Sunday 19 Feb.
£25
A monthly class of tai chi with John Henry who has been studying martial arts for the last 11 years. The classes will include a variety of chi kung exercises and is excellent for health, calmness, balance and relaxation. These monthly classes are suitable for both beginners and people with some experience of tai chi.
John Henry has been studying martial arts for 11 years and currently practises Tai Chi and Chi Kung with a student of Chen Xiao Wang.

Meditation Retreat
with Lama Zangmo
10am-4pm Sunday 26 Feb.
£25
This is a day devoted to the practice of shinay meditation of calm abiding in a supportive environment. The day will start with instructions and the emphasis will be on the meditation itself but with guidance throughout.
This retreat is suitable for those who have already been on the introduction to meditation course. Not for total beginners. Bring lunch to share.
Please note: the Centre will only be open to the public after 4pm.

March

Introduction to Meditation
with Lama Zangmo
10am-4pm Sat 4 – Sun 5 March
£45
A weekend of meditation instructions relevant to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, covering posture and the various methods used in tranquillity meditation such as observing the breath, an external object and developing awareness. Ideal for beginners who want to get it right from the start.

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

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