Gentle Voice April 2013
Subject: Gentle Voice April 2013 Date: 28/03/13 17:20
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April 2013 In This Issue
Editor's welcome
Lama Zopa - Thank You and Rejoice! This month at Jamyang Geshe Tashi's column The Director's Column Community Day Jamyang Spring Walk Peace in the City Can we meditate now, Daddy? Book Review "Tibet Past and Present" Poetry Corner The Courthouse Community Centre More Information from FPMT Mongolia The Dalai Lama in South India Kalachakra Initiation 2014 Work Opportunities with FPMT About FPMT Your Thoughts for Gentle Voice
Quick Links Jamyang Website Current Programme Talking Buddhism The Foundation Study Course The Lamrim Chenmo Study Course FPMT
Hello, As the Easter gargoyle of love romps across the frozen, wind-swept, snowy hills of spring, we wish you all a happy Easter and hope that you will enjoy this edition of Gentle Voice. This month I have felt a lot of compassion for the people of Cyprus who suddenly find themselves with such an uncertain future. The chill icy blasts that we have been subject to stand as a warning of what may happen to us all. So I thought it appropriate to include the following links in case you wish to help Jamyang ensure a stable financial future. If you wish to make a regular contribution to Jamyang's running costs you can do so by joining our Friends scheme or you can make a one off donation via Just Giving Peace and Love, John
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Thank You and Rejoice! Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche All my dear brothers and sisters, I just want to explain simply how meaningful it is that we have Dharma centers so that we can help so many sentient beings while they have this most precious human body by awakening them to the unmistaken causes of happiness and suffering through explaining the Buddha's teachings on karma, which is our experience, not merely belief. By offering this education we open their lives to all happiness - not just that of this life, but that of future lives and the ultimate happiness of liberation from samsara and the peerless happiness of full enlightenment. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! We awaken sentient beings by explaining what compassion is, the need for Lama Zopa in Singapore March 2013 compassion and how to develop it. This causes them to achieve the peerless happiness of full enlightenment and enlighten numberless other sentient beings by ceasing all their defilements and completing all qualities. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! We awaken sentient beings by teaching them the basis of Buddhism - the two truths, conventional and ultimate - and educating them as to the very nature of the I, aggregates and all other phenomena, which are empty. By understanding emptiness, sentient beings can understand the conventional truth of how things exist, not according to the hallucinating mind but according to wisdom, which accords with reality. This offers sentient beings liberation and gives them the confidence that they can definitely achieve ultimate freedom through studying the teachings and meditating on them, thus developing and actualizing the wisdom that directly ceases all gross and subtle defilements. Developing the ultimate wisdom realizing emptiness - the only wisdom that directly separates gross and subtle defilements from the mental continuum - gives sentient beings the inconceivable freedom of achieving full enlightenment and cessation from all suffering. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! In this way we open sentient beings' ultimate wisdom eye by awakening them to how samsara and its pleasures are only in the nature of suffering. We inspire
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them to free themselves from the oceans of sufferings of the hell, hungry ghost, animal, human, sura and asura realms and achieve the ultimate, everlasting happiness of total liberation. Thus we liberate them from the prison of samsara; we release them from samsara's cage, bound by delusion and karma from time without beginning. We also liberate them from the pleasures of samsara by awakening them to how these pleasure are only in the nature of suffering; how samsara - the desire, form and formless realm aggregates - is only in the nature of suffering, being caused by karma and delusion, the impure mind, contaminated by the seed of disturbing thoughts. All realms of samsara are in the nature of pervasive compounded suffering. We awaken sentient beings by giving them the opportunity to listen to the teachings of the Omniscient One, our kind, compassionate Guru Shakyamuni Buddha; to reflect and meditate on the teachings they have heard; and actualize the path. Giving them the opportunity to listen to and reflect and meditate on the teachings on the four noble truths gives them a clear understanding of what liberation really is and shows them the path to achieve it. We educate them to avoid the experience of not just the suffering of pain and the suffering of change (samsaric pleasure) but also to free themselves forever from the fundamental suffering, the basis of the other two, pervasive compounding suffering, thus giving them a complete definition of liberation and how to actualize it. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! We educate the most kind, precious sentient beings in the tantric path - secret mantra; Vajrayana - liberating them from all suffering and its cause and bringing them to full enlightenment not only quickly, but in the very quickest way. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! We cause sentient beings to meet a spiritual guide - a qualified guru who shows them the whole path, lives in the practice of the higher training of morality, elucidates the complete path to enlightenment without mistake, and guides them to liberation and full enlightenment. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! We not only give sentient beings an extensive, clear understanding of sutra and tantra but also educate them in the lam-rim - the arrangement and gradual practice for one person to achieve enlightenment that integrates the entire 84,000 teachings of the Buddha and makes it very easy for sentient beings to go about gaining enlightenment without any confusion. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are! Thus the Dharma center plays a most important role by taking responsibility for the peace and happiness of all sentient beings, particularly those in this world. How fortunate and happy I am! How fortunate and happy we are!
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Thank you very much to the director, teachers, all precious members and organizers, all pure students, daily meditation practitioners, those who serve with great devotion the teachings of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha and all sentient beings. With much love and prayers, Lama Zopa Rinpoche Colophon: Dictated to Ven Holly Ansett in Maitreya Institute, The Netherlands on 30 August 2004 as the foreword for the magazine celebrating the new building for Amitabha Buddhist Center, Singapore. Edited by Nick Ribush and lightly by Claire Isitt.
THIS MONTH AND NEXT AT JAMYANG CLASSES AND EVENTS IN APRIL AND MAY AT JAMYANG CLASSES and RETREATS with GESHE TASHI Easter Compassion Retreat Friday 29 - Sunday 31 March Friday, Saturday 8am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 1pm FBT Module 3: Buddhist Psychology Weekend 25 & 26 May Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 1pm Registered Students Only Buddhist Practice Wednesday 10 April 7:30pm Nagarjuna's Wisdom Tuesdays 21, 28 May 7.30pm Enlightening Ways Wednesdays 22, 29 May 7.30pm RETREATS and WEEKEND TEACHINGS and PRACTICE Buddhism in a Nutshell Saturday 6 April with Mike Murray 10am - 5pm
WEEK DAY EVENINGS Three Turnings Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 April with Roger Wright 7.30pm Moany Mondays Substance Abuse in Tibetan Buddhism? 8 April Restoring What? 15 April Sexy Teachers? 22 April Perfect Privileged Ones? 29 April 7.30 - 9pm with Mike Murray (moaning is not mandatory) Meditation for Beginners Thursday 4 April 7:30 with David Ford Buddhist Meditation in Practice Thursdays 18 April, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May with David Ford Medicine Buddha Puja Tuesdays weekly from 9th April 6:15pm Silent Meditation Thursdays weekly from 11th April 6.15 - 7.15pm Lama Choepa Puja 5, 20 April, 4, 20 May 6 - 7pm The Heart Sutra Tuesdays 16, 23, 30 April and 7, 8, 14, 15 May with John Bonell
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Meditation 101 Sunday 7 April with Mike Murray 10am - 5pm
Divine Dharmas Wednesdays 17, 24 April, 1 May with Esther Garibay and Natascha Bolonkin
Preparation for Refuge Saturday 20 April with Steff Hill 10am - 5pm
Introduction to Meditation Monday 13 May 7:30pm
Impermanence Weekend 18 &19 May with Geshe Graham Woodhouse Buddhist Concept of Suffering Weekend 27 & 28 April with Geshe Graham Woodhouse PRACTICE GROUPS Insight Meditation Practice Group 6 and 20 April, 4 and 18 May 10.30-12.30pm open to all Kalachakra Group meets 27 April, 18 May 2 -5:30pm for initiates only Guhyasamaja Group meets 28 April, 19 May 10am for initiates only Vajrayogini group meets 28 April, 19 May 2:30pm for initiates only Please book for all weekend classes other than practice groups by calling the office on 02078208787 or email admin@jamyang.co.uk
Buddhist Meditation: Wisdom Mondays weekly 20 May onwards 7:30pm WEEK DAY DAYTIME Tara Puja Tuesdays weekly from 9th April 4pm set up for puja at 4.30pm COMMUNITY MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Thursday 10:30am and evenings 6:30pm 23rd of May for 9 weeks. You must book for these courses. Contact jane@jamyang.co.uk or vinod@jamyang.co,uk Chi Kung and Tai Chi Monday evenings taught by William Walker. For more information and to book call William (follow the link above) Yoga Tuesday evenings taught by Judy Watchman For more information and to book call Judy (follow the link above) Hridaya (Heart Centre) Yoga Wednesday evenings taught by Naz For more information and to book call Naz (follow the link above) Self Love Yoga Class Friday evenings Taught by Nicolette For more information and to book call Naz (follow the link above) SPECIAL EVENTS
You can drop in to all evening classes unless we state otherwise.
Jamyang Community Day 11 May Come and share your thoughts about Jamyang and all of its activities Jamyang Walk To the Happy Valley 20 April meet at East Croydon main line station ticket office around 10.45 am for an 11 o'clock start. Contact Robin
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on 0207 736 2771 Peace in the City 21 April 12 noon - 4pm Free entrance. Various complematary therapy tasters at reduced rates (and fantastic cafe treats) Buddha Day 25 May 8 -9:45am Shakyamuni Puja Community Dharma 26 May and 2nd June with Geshe Tashi
Geshe Tashi's column Hello everyone, By the time you read this I will probably be in the Easter Compassion retreat with friends and students. Preparing for the retreat has made me think about the huge role basic compassion and love and empathy and sympathy play in our lives. When I was ill with flu it was touching how many students sent in get well messages and expressed their concern. The kindness, care and concern given to me by my parents, my family, my friends, my students all this has nourished me over the years. I think His Holiness the Dalai Lama has really found one of our fundamental shared experiences - the fact that we all have a basic capacity for empathy and loving kindness and how important those minds are in all of our lives. And like the rest of you, I suspect, I am waiting for winter to end. Now that we have had the Spring equinox it is about time Spring sprang. Recently it has either been too muddy or too icy to exercise in the local park so I am really looking forward to the sights and sounds of Spring (and warmer weather). So for those of you who can join me in the compassion retreat I look forward to seeing you here in Jamyang, and for those of you who can't make it I wish you a very happy Easter with friends and family doing Easter egg hunts with the kids and sharing loving kindness with each other. And get some rest too.
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Director's Column The Vernal Equinox has passed and the days are now longer than the nights. The least said about the continuing mid-winter weather the better. We will all no doubt be relieved when we begin to feel the warmth of the spring sun on our faces! Linda has returned to Canada and Jane to Australia - although we expect to see her back in the UK sooner rather than later. If you are sad enough to be reading this column Jane and Linda, many, many thanks for all you did for us while you were here and I hope that all goes well for you both in the future. It would be lovely to see both of you again sooner rather than later - we miss you! Eniko from Hungary, Jirka from the Czech Republic and Jauzmma are doing a really grand job of keeping us smoothly going forward. Jauzmma is returning to Germany soon. Sarah is soon due to join us from Belgium and Erika is busy interviewing new recruits. The wheel of the Jamyang international hospitality team seamlessly turns and rolls on. We are currently busy with servicing room hires, local school visits and preparing for the Easter Compassion Retreat with Geshe-la. Retreat is such a good way to get a different perspective on life and on one's chosen path yet often seems so difficult to take on or appreciate the value of. Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher remarked that: "All the unhappiness of men comes from one thing: not knowing how to stay quietly in a room." Stephen Batchelor picked up on and reflected on this in his Living with the Devil: "Sitting on your own confronts you with the intolerable contingency of your own existence. You feel the breath come and go, the heart thud, a jab of pain in the lower back, a ringing in your ear, another anxious cascade of thoughts." He also reminds us of the experience of another famous French thinker, Michel de Montaigne who retired to his country estate in 1751, hoping to leave his mind "..in complete idleness to commune with itself, to come to rest and grow settled.." only to find that, to his surprise, it turned out to be "like a runaway horse", confronting him with "chimeras and imaginary monsters, one after another without order or plan." This act of retiring or withdrawing one's self from the world and one's attention from the constant almost magnetic pull towards things outside of ourselves through our senses is a stepping back from our habitual way of living and being to experience ourselves and our lives in a new way . In retreat, one steps back or steps away from the apparently 'ordinary' in order to see oneself and the path anew. You have to be willing to let go, to give up time, surrender yourself and relax into the quiet discipline and routine of the retreat. There is a need to become aware of and relinquish your attachment to unrealistic expectations. Surrounded and bombarded by incessant layers of noise and chatter, we are unaccustomed to
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the sound of relative silence. Focused on tasks of obtaining, acquiring, enjoying ourselves and avoiding pain, constantly reacting to the seemingly myriad demands of life, we are initially ill at ease with the apparently simple task of sitting still. Yet, if we can just simply, honestly and openly give ourselves up and enter into the beneficial boundaries of retreat we can reconnect with that within us that gives freshness to both life and direction on a path that is often hard to discern in our usual, barely conscious and almost mechanical everyday lives. Retreat can also be an occasion for awakening moments. We can find that important decisions either effortlessly come to us or are finalised in retreat. A period of retreat can be a road to discovery and offer moments of valuable insight into how we actually are. It can be a time in which the conscious, creative and compassionate can emerge from the suffocating grip of our selfish, repetitive, reactive, complex and fear based states of mind We are indeed very fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and experienced spiritual friend and mentor in someone like Geshe-la to guide our retreat. Should our time in retreat descend into egoism or unhealthy thought patterns, the presence of a such a trusted spiritual guide assures you that when your thinking becomes distorted, unrealistic or chaotic, he can challenge, pose questions or offer insights that will lead you away from the self-cherishing mind, back to the discipline of the retreat, the mind- training and the path. Good retreat should empower each of us to live daily in the real world - it should not be a way of escape from the realities and challenges of life, but a time away to seek a path of discernment; to find meaning and inner guidance to live our every- day lives more fully, with greater wisdom and more compassion, moment by moment. Whether you are retreating here at Jamyang, elsewhere or alone, or perhaps just taking a Spring break with friends or family at the end of what seems like an interminable winter, make the most of it, enjoy the opportunity relax, reflect, renew and recharge. Roy
Community Day 11th May 2013 JAMYANG COMMUNITY DAY Arrive 10.30am for refreshments and an 11 am start. Activities include a second chance to see "Being Your True Nature" a film by Osel Hita and Matteo Passigatto. You will also be able to share your ideas for the future of Jamyang, learn more about present teaching and community plans and enjoy a great Cafe lunch with old and new friends. A separate mailing with more details will be emailed soon. Looking forward to seeing you there!
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Jamyang Spring Walk Saturday 20th April 2013 DESTINATION HAPPY VALLEY (OK,
we did include this last month, but you may have forgotten all about it). Now, who could resist a saunter to somewhere with such an evocative name! Celebrate spring with us on our Jamyang Walk in this pleasant part of the North Downs. It's a good time to spot some rare orchids, banks of cowslips, bluebells and blossom amidst the gentle hills and Free me from this city of bricks! woodlands coming into leaf. We meet at East Croydon main line station ticket office around 10.45 am for an 11 o'clock start. There's a short walk to the 403 bus to Hamsey Green Pond where we begin the 6 mile, easy going walk. There will be a lunch stop at a convenient pub half way, or of course bring your own picnic. The walk has been described as a "something for everyone walk", not only for its views, but it also takes in Iron Age field systems, Saxon burial mounds and an almost intact Battle of Britain airfield as well as the flora and fauna. A one day zones 1-6 ticket covers all the travel. Return from Coulsdon South mainline station where we should finish around 4.45 pm. If you need any more information or want confirmation of the walk in case of bad weather, please call Robin on 0207 736 2771
PEACE IN THE CITY - Sunday, 21st April (12-4 pm) Treat yourself to an afternoon of pampering with a wide selection of complementary therapies from massage to reflexology, along with Gong meditation, laughter therapy and ku nye. FREE entry and sliding scale of prices. All monies raised will go towards providing a leaflet rack in the foyer and a beautiful new roof for the Buddha statue in the courtyard garden. Children's activities - FREE! So bring all the family to shake off the winter blues
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and greet the Spring with, hopefully, some sunshine. Cakes, coffee, tea and delicious cafe fare will help to keep energy levels high. At 5pm there will be a concert of Iranian music and dance. Jane Sill
Can we meditate now, Daddy? Hi everyone, Requested by Jane I will explain how I meditate with Nadia my 3 and a half year old. We sit, take 3 deep breaths and close our eyes. I then hit the medicine bowl and when the sound stops we open our eyes and start laughing hysterically! I remembered watching a documentary where this man would gather the villagers in the morning to do laughing therapy. It made everyone cheerful and happy. I think it has something to do with the brain not being able to tell the difference between spontaneous laughter and self generated laughter. Nadia finds the whole experience so much fun and before the bell stops she is sits meditating for 20 seconds which relaxes her. I do this when she is too hyperactive or upset about something. It calms her down and brings up her spirits. She also likes to lead the meditation, when she takes the bowl she says 'OK Daddy, now your turn.' So she is leading the meditation for me, my turn. So smart! Dino Nadia also really enjoys the Family Afternoons which started up recently. While Geshe la gives a talk to the parents, the children enjoy various activities under the watchful and creative care of Kate & Cynthia and helpers. See the programme for details.
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Book Review: 'Tibet Past & Present' by Sir Charles Bell, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. This book is a fascinating account of the long relationship between China and Tibet, starting with Herodotus' identification of the Tibetans with a race of ferocious ants intent on mining and protecting their gold. It moves into more modern times very quickly, ending with what was to prove a temporary settlement of relations in the early 1920s (this, of course, is where the title of the book is misleading, since Charles Bell's 'present' is, for us, about 90 years ago; the book was first published by Clarendon Press in 1924!) Incredible though it may seem today, Tibet and China strove for supremacy in the region on fairly equal terms in medieval times. The Tibetans even captured the Chinese capital on one campaign, though they had to suffer a Chinese capture of Lhasa when the pendulum swung the other way. On the whole, as the centuries passed, the Chinese reckoned to exercise a shadowy suzerainty over Tibet, retaining 'Ambans' (rather like the British 'Resident' in Indian princely states) at Lhasa, who interfered in Tibetan affairs sporadically and with varying success. This notwithstanding, it is a fair generalisation to say that Tibet managed its own affairs without much Chinese control, exercising the power of sovereign state in most respects. Things certainly improved for Tibet when the Chinese imperial dynasty fell in 1911 and a republic took its place. That, and the continued presence of the British in India, meant that the balance of power had definitely shifted in favour of an independent Tibet, even though Britain still paid some lip service to the notion of Chinese 'suzerainty'. What of course has totally changed the situation since then has been the withdrawal of Britain from India, and the victory of the communists in the Chinese civil war with their total rejection of Tibetan independence or even any meaningful home rule. But this does not alter the fact that Charles Bell wrote a valuable account of the old days and how things might have turned out differently. It is a book that will appeal to any student of central Asian history, even throwing some light on Kipling's 'Great Game'! Reviewed by W H Alexander
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Poetry Corner Do not stand at my grave and weep Mary Elizabeth Frye Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am in a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow. I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the fields of ripening grain. I am in the morning hush, I am in the graceful rush Of beautiful birds in circling flight, I am the starshine of the night. I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in a quiet room. I am in the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there. I do not die.
The Courthouse Community Centre at Jamyang Many of you have been coming to Jamyang for a long time and are probably very familiar with the temple. Jamyang is obviously predominantly a Buddhist organisation, with its beautiful temple halls, statues, carvings and pictures that adorn the entrance, rooms and walls. Whether Buddhism is a religion or a philosophy, a core teaching as you know is to do with serving those around us who are in need. It was to this end that the Courtyard Community Centre (CCC) was born within Jamyang. Also a registered charity CCC, unlike Jamyang, wears a secular hat enabling it to reach the wider community outside of the Buddhist circle. CCC has a number of issues it focuses on including facilitating visits from schools, colleges and other educational institutions, engaging in local community support activities and engaging in interfaith activities and dialogue. Among the core programmes that CCC has are the "Repaying the Kindness" programme that has been going on for over 10 years; and promoting secular forms of meditation, one being the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course which is now entering its 3rd year. Let us tell you a little bit about these two core projects. 1. Repaying the Kindness (RTK)
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RTK developed from a desire to repay the kindness of those who care without financial reward, or formerly cared (following the passing) for a sick or disabled family member, partner or friend. Recognising the isolation that many of them experience, RTK was formed to improve their emotional & physical well by providing them with breaks, offering stress reduction techniques (meditation/ mindfulness and yoga classes), support and fun/inspiring activities in our building including our lovely food. Many Carers attending have proceeded to form their own independently sustained support groups and friendships. Some Carers have found the motivation to return to work following long periods away from work. Free therapies are also often provided through experienced and qualified volunteers. We have a lovely mix of Carers of all ages, faith, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Please visit our website www.repayingthekindness.org to meet some of our Carers and volunteers, and for a glimpse into some of our activities, including our recent Christmas party. This programme has been going on through the generosity of a donation from a Sangha member, as well as the kindness of a regular group of volunteers. Thank you to all of you for keeping this programme going for so long. 2. Promoting secular meditation Many of us who come to Jamyang have sampled some of its meditation courses and know the benefits of the practice. To bring meditation to more people outside of Jamyang including non-Buddhists, CCC teaches secular, non-religious meditation through The London Centre for Mindfulness. One of the courses it teaches to this end is the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. The course is run through a pool of experienced and qualified volunteer teachers. Here is a little bit more about this course: The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course (MBSR) The MBSR course is based on some secular meditation methods made popular by Jon Kabat Zinn. Jon Kabat Zin is a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Kabat-Zinn was a student of Zen Master Seung Sahn and a founding member of Cambridge Zen Centre. His practice of yoga and studies with Buddhist teachers led him to integrate their teachings with those of Western science, but using a non-Religious approach. The course has been scientifically tested and approved by numerous Academic institutions, and has produced positive results in helping people cope with stress and mild depression using mindfulness practices. Courses are 8 weeks long. Monthly meditation drop-in classes are also run exclusively for course graduates (an alumni which now number over 100 just from Our Centre) to provide on-going support.
If you are at all interested in giving the course a try, the next course begins on
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the 23rd May. You can find an application form and further details at www.londoncentreformindfulness.com The course is well structured and spread over 8 weeks (9 if you include the introduction) and provides students with invaluable learning tools that act as an aid in the journey within, into the stillness and peace we often lose sight of in our chaotic lives. Coursework that are given to students includes a number of CDs with different types of guided meditations, a Coursebook, poems to contemplate on and most importantly, a quiet place to practice with the support of experienced teachers and like minded peers. Please contact either Vinod or Jane for more information of either of these programs at vinod@jamyang.co.uk and jane@jamyang.co.uk Thank you. Vinod
100 Million Mani Retreat summer 2013 - More information from FPMT Mongolia Dear Friends, We are currently preparing the online registration form and hope to have this completed in the next few days. We will advise you as soon as it is ready. In the meantime, here is our 2nd instalment of information for the 100 Million Mani Retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche to be held in Mongolia 1 - 30 August, 2013. ACCOMMODATION options/prices in USD, per person - includes all meals and retreat costs 1.Ger - 2/4 Beds (Chinggisiin Khuree) One week (7 nights) $550 Two weeks (14 nights) $960 Three weeks (21 nights) $1400 Four weeks (Full Retreat) $1600 2.Ger - 4/5/6 Beds with private
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bathroom One week (7 nights) $700 Two weeks (14 nights) $1100 Three weeks (21 nights) $1500 Four weeks (Aug. 1-30) $1800 3.Health Spa - room, 2 Beds with private bathroom One week (7 nights) $800 Two weeks (14 nights) $1200 Three weeks (21 nights) $1650 Four weeks (Aug. 1-30) $2100 Please note: Early bird 10% discount on all above prices if paid in full by or, on 31st March, 2013. To be hosted by FPMT MONGOLIA at CHINGGISIIN KHUREE, Ger Camp 23 kms from Ulaanbaatar FPMT Mongolia: http://www.fpmtmongolia.org/ Chinggiisin Khuree: http://www.tsagaanshonkhor.com/
His Holiness the Dalai Lama December Lamrim Teachings in South India You will recall how well received the Lam rim teachings were that His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave in South India late in 2012. We are please to announce the dates for the second part of these teachings as follows.
Second Part of the Jangchub Lam rim teachings in India 2013-14 The dates for the second part of the Lam Rim transmissions being given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama have been provisionally announced. The teachings are currently scheduled to take place from 25 December 2013 to 3 January 2014. Remember the dates might change and plan accordingly. For the most up to date information and advice on permits etc please visit the website and please get your PAP applications in in good time http://www.jangchuplamrim.org/
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HH Dalai Lama to Confer Kalachakra in Ladakh - 2014 We are hearing unconfirmed reports that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will confer the 33rd Kalachakra empowerment in Ladakh in North India........ Kalachakra date announced July 1 to 14, 2014. Kalachakra Initiation and teaching will take place in Ladakh in North India. Everyone most welcome !!!
Work Opportunities with the FPMT Resident Teacher Needed for Tong-Nyi Nying-Je Ling (Center for Wisdom and Compassion), Copenhagen, Denmark Starting as soon as possible for a 2 year contract. Tong-Nyi Nying-Je Ling is an active city-center in the middle of Copenhagen. The center's current resident teacher is stepping down and it is hoped that the new resident teacher will be able to take over in teaching the Discovering Buddhism program, teach occasional weekend classes on Buddhist philosophy and meditation as well as leading traditional practices. We are envisioning developing the program in cooperation with the new resident teacher. The center has many different activities and projects and is characterized by having a big group of many active volunteers taking part in the daily running of the center. See more about the center and our current program at www.fpmt.dk The ideal resident teacher candidate will 路 be a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche be an FPMT Foundational Buddhism registered teacher 路
have experience in leading meditations and teaching have an experiential understanding of the Dharma through longer retreats have a basic understanding and appreciation of Western psychology, the Western mind and culture and ability to convey traditional Buddhist teachings to a modern Western audience
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enjoy interacting with students and in inspiring critical thinking and discussions be able to connect with a young audience be confident in teaching and conversing in English (it is not a requirement to learn Danish as almost all Danes understand English well) Tong-Nyi Nying-Je Ling will provide their resident teacher with: · Airfare and travel to Copenhagen, and home again after 2 years · Cost of visa expenses · Small, private room in the center · A regular monthly stipend · Food · Medical expenses · At least 2 months holiday per year To apply: Please write, describing why you would like to offer service to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, sentient beings and the Dharma at Tong-Nyi Nying-Je Ling, and a brief list of your study and retreat experience to: Claire Isitt, Center Services Director, FPMT International Office claire@fpmt.org Deadline for applications: by 18th April 2013
FPMT Jamyang is affiliated with FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) and is one of more than 150 centers and projects worldwide. FPMT is based on the Gelugpa tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. If you would like to receive FPMT's monthly newsletters please subscribe here.
Your Thoughts What do you want to see in Gentle Voice? We would love to hear your ideas and comments about Gentle Voice, please contact John at: admin@jamyang.co.uk
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