Kagyu Samye Dzong London News

May 2007

Contents

1. Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche's visit in June
2. Manor Place - what next?
3. A report on the visit of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
4. Tonglen (health warning - this is really bad for your ego)
5. Forthcoming events for Carlisle Lane and Manor Place

Welcome

News in Brief

• Address / contact details for Manor Place Samye Dzong: just in case you're still wondering where Manor Place is, or how to contact us:
  33 Manor Place,
  London,
  SE17 3BD
  Tel: 020-7708 8969
  Email: manorplace@samye.org
  In future this information will appear at the bottom of every newsletter along with our Carlisle Lane details. Bookings for, or questions about courses / events at Manor Place should be addressed there rather than the office in Carlisle Lane.
• Pilgrimage to Tibet July 2008: Samye Ling will be organizing a pilgrimage to attend the inauguration of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche's monastery in Tibet in July 2008. If you are interested in taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime event, please email Vin Harris, who will be organizing the travels, for more information. We will be carrying news and updates about it from time to time in this newsletter, so keep a look-out.

1 - Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche returns

For the second time in less than three months we will be welcoming the Venerable Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, this time to present a weekend on Joyful Living. Those who know him will appreciate the title given that it's difficult to think of him without a smile on his face (or one being about to break out!). For those who are not so familiar, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche is the Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery, Director of the Holy Island Project and the Retreat and Meditation Master for a host of students from around the world. He is also a much-loved and respected teacher whose wisdom, compassion, warmth and humour reveal him as a living example of the Buddha's teaching. Lama Yeshe's visit will include meditation instructions with time for questions and actual meditation practice, suitable for all. There will also be a Refuge ceremony for those people who wish to formally become Buddhists and Samye Ling Sangha will be leading Green Tara, Mahakala Puja and Milarepa Tsok Puja.

Lama Yeshe will be teaching at Carlisle Lane on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June, 10.00-4.00 pm, then at Manor Place on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th June. To book your place for the weekend email or phone the office on 020-7928 5447. For the evening events at Manor place email or phone 020-7708 8969.

2 - Manor Place - what next?

Getting our foot in the door at Manor Place isn't the end of the story. Over the next 4 years we need to put ourselves in a position to be able to stay there - a topic on which Rinpoche has given us two specific pieces of advice:

1. To focus on fun raising. Lama Zangmo was sure he said fundraising, but we figured that if we have lots of fun events then the funds will follow. To this end we'd like to set up an Events Group which will complement, and in some areas overlap with the work of our existing Publicity Group. We are looking for people who are willing to come up with ideas, take part in brainstorming about activities to be held , and also get involved with organizing them - such as Open Days, market stalls, sponsored walks, etc. If this is something you could help with and would like to be involved in, please send an email with your contact details to manorplace@samye.org
2. Hold an annual seven day Guru Rinpoche Drupchod at Manor Place. The first one is planned for next Easter, which will also mark the 10th anniversary of Samye Dzong in London.

Volunteering

In the meantime, we still need volunteers at both Manor Place and Carlisle Lane just as much as we ever did to help out with cleaning, cooking and gardening. However some of our builders who did so much to get Manor Place ready do now need to make a living and so we now have a slight gap in person power. Whether you can volunteer on a regular, or irregular basis, please get in touch with the office (on either site) to offer what help you can.

Bernie's WISH LIST - equipping Samye Dzong for the future

Dear Friends,

I have been asked by Lama Zangmo to compile a list for the Centre's Computer needs for the future. Like so many organisations developing in these current conditions, the Centre relies on computers to fulfil its function and aims. From daily email communications to accounting, to website, poster design and newsletters, our computers are put to work everyday. And now we have two Centres.

At present we have two functioning machines, one in each Centre. It is not really enough to operate effectively which is the reason for this appeal. Below is a list of the equipment we are wanting along with costs. We are more than happy to accept donations of equipment (any Apple computer running OSX 10.3.9 or higher), or contributions which will help us buy the following - and every bit helps:

HARDWARE

3 Flat screen monitors - £130 each
2 Mac mini computers - £399 each
1 Lacie 160GB firewire external hard drive - £103
1 iBook for Lama Zangmo - £500

SOFTWARE

Microsoft Office for Mac - £300
Adobe Creative Suite (Mac download) - £52

And the grand total for all this is approximately £1,900.

If you would like to make a donation (of any size) of either money or equipment, please contact us at Carlisle Lane on 020-7928 5447, or by email.

Thanks for your help.
Bernard Mordan

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3 - Report on the visit of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche

The ninth anniversary of Samye Dzong London and the 40th anniversary of Samye Ling were marked in April with a visit from Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche. Starting with a Blessing Ceremony and prayers at Manor Place, along with a talk about 40 years of development of Samye Ling and the Samye Dzongs - Rinpoche also presented a handwoven silk banner of the auspicious symbols to Lama Zangmo.

At Carlisle Lane Rinpoche gave a Q&A session, and over the weekend gave refuge and empowerments for the practices of the Medicine Buddha and Dorje Sempa. There were also some fascinating videos, not least of Rinpoche's most recent trip to Dolma Lhakang, his monastery in Tibet. Look out in next month's newsletter for more details of a pilgrimage there next year

To listen to Rinpoche's Q&A session just click here for the mp3 file.

4 - Tonglen (health warning - this is really bad for your ego!)

How much of the discomfort and suffering in our lives is caused by our own self-centred attitudes and inability to see the pain, distress and insecurity of others? From words that are harsher than they need be (or than we intended), to full blown outbursts of irritation or self-righteous anger.

"Our life is shaped by our mind, we become what we think"

These opening words of the Dhammapada tell us all we need to know. From our thoughts spring the words and actions that have the power to make our lives, and those of others better.. or worse. Now, if many of our current difficulties / pain have been caused by our patterns of thoughts, what would happen if we were to change those patterns for something healthier, more positive? Possibly using something like Tonglen?

Tonglen offers a simple method for dealing with day to day life situations. It can be used throughout the day and in any situation. Roughly translated it means "Taking and sending" - in this case, being willing to take on the suffering of others and send out to them the relief you might wish for yourself. Here are some examples of Tonglen in action:

• Stuck in a traffic jam? How does it feel? Frustrating? Are you angry at being delayed - possibly for something important to you? Impatient? Fed up? In Tonglen you can use this situation positively. Look at all the other drivers around you - think of all the other drivers in the world experiencing the same thing and be willing to take on their suffering, while extending to them all that you'd wish for yourself - clear roads, courteous drivers, the traffic lights always green for you and send that out to them.
• Maybe something wonderful has happened for you - the perfect job has come up and you've got it - you feel great, joyful, ecstatic! Think of all the beings who could really do with some of those wonderful feelings and send them out, share them, be willing to give that joy away to those who really need a lift.
• You're ill, feeling lousy, it's horrible. Option 1 - sit / lie there and wallow in it. Option 2 - think of all the other beings suffering in similar fashion. When feeling like this you can truly empathise with others! Be willing to take on the suffering of all other beings who are experiencing what you are and be willing to offer them the relief and the health you desire so much for yourself.

My personal experience of Tonglen is that it has a wide range of effects. I'm calmer, less judgmental, more relaxed, more considerate, more peaceful and at ease with both myself and others - I probably have lower blood pressure too but couldn't verify that for you. Tonglen is practical, simple, easy to apply throughout the day and, with application, it works! But don't take my word for it - try it yourself and see what happens.

Lama Zangmo is leading a weekend of Tonglen practice at Carlisle Lane Samye Dzong on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May, 10.00 - 4.00 pm. £50. Book your place now by email, or phone 020-7928 5447.

5 - Forthcoming events

To see the full programme of activities at the Centre, please click here to visit the website

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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