May 2015 In This Issue
Editor's welcome
Nepal Earthquake Friends Scheme How Things Exist This Month at Jamyang Geshe Tashi's column The Director's Column His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK Andy Weber Art Weekend Dagri Rinpoche at Jamyang Buddha Enlightenment Day Highlights from the Programme Peace in the City MBSR Summer Course Dying Well Day Death Cafe Open Garden Squares Dharma Bites Poetry Corner Become an Interpreter Opportunities for Service around the FPMT About FPMT Your Thoughts for Gentle Voice
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The stupa at swayambhunath, Nepal (photo JB 2005)
Dear friends, The last week has been filled with news from Nepal detailing the tragic aftermath of the earthquake there. We include an article with news from Kopan and various links that you may find useful. Many of us have strong links with Nepal and Kopan in particular, so the news has been even more poignant for all of us. We hope you will all join us in prayers for Nepal as well as offering material help. This edition is peppered with photos taken in Nepal in happier times. May those times return soon. Geshe Tashi starts to teach on Buddha Nature in mid May, so we have included an extract of the core text he will be using - just to whet your appetite. There is a lot happening on the community front so
Quick Links Jamyang Website Current Programme
do read below all about the various activities that are coming up . We hope you enjoy this edition of Gentle Voice.
Talking Buddhism The Foundation Study Course The Lamrim Chenmo Study Course FPMT
Nepal Earthquake
An injured woman is taken to her home after treatment in Bhaktapur Photograph: Niranjan Shrestha/AP
The great earthquake in Nepal has caused widespread destruction and loss of human life and I am sure that you were all as shocked as we were to hear about it. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is in Nepal at the moment but we are pleased to report that he is fine. He recommends some prayers for us to help the victims of the earthquake and you can find details of these here: Practices Rinpoche is advising to do at this time There has been some damage to Kopan monastery but not too much. Lawudo Gompa has also suffered some slight damage but Ani Ngawang Samten (Lama Zopa's sister) and those in Lawudo are also fine. Kopan monastery is posting
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daily updates on the situation which you can read about here: Get the latest details from FPMT The FPMT have set up a new fund to help fund the repairs required at Kopan monastery and nunnery and other FPMT centres in nepal. Yoy can find details of how to donate here Nepal Earthquake Support Fund We shall be dedicating our Tuesday Tara and Medicine Buddha pujas at Jamyang to the victims of the earthquake. Do come along. All proceeds from Peace in the City on Monday, 4th May, will be donated to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund through FPMT. If you can't come on the day, donations will be added to the total. We will also host a special yoga class in aid of the disaster relief on Sunday 3rd May 5:30pm - 6:30pm. All proceeds to Nepal disaster relief. This is Gentle Hatha Flow and is open to all levels. Contact Sasha@MariposeYoga.com to book your place minimum donation ÂŁ10. For information about Sasha: http://mariposeyoga.com/ You can also donate to relief efforts through the following charities (or any others that you may know of). Disasters Emergency Committee dec.org.uk Save The Children savethechildren.org.uk British Red Cross redcross.org.uk Oxfam oxfam.org.uk Medecins Sans Frontieres msf.org.uk Alison Murdoch, ex-director of Jamyang, will be taking part in a discussion about the earthquake on Radio 4's Sunday programme at 7.10 this weekend. Return to Contents Become a Friend of Jamyang
Help Jamyang stay afloat with a regular donation to the Jamyang Friends scheme. A regular donation is the best way to help keep Jamyang going. It's amazing how even modest contributions from a few hundred individuals can make all the difference. As well as the vast merit you will receive by helping to spread the Dharma, there are also some more worldly perks on offer, a free quarterly Mandala magazine, discounts, etc. So if you can spare around ÂŁ15 a month to help us stay afloat we would be very appreciative. You can find all the information about the Friends Scheme and how to become a member by following this link. Jamyang Friends Sceme
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Alternatively you can make a one-off donation by following this link. Donate to Jamyang Many thanks! Return to Contents
Buddha statue Khatmandu (photo JB 2005)
How Things Exist - Teachings on Emptiness by Lama Zopa Rinpoche Chapter 5 Merely Labelled Recognising the Object to be Refuted To us, this "I" always appears inherently existent, or real. Everything always appears inherently existent. Everything always appears as the object to be refuted. Even saying "this I" is enough to make the object to be refuted appear. We don't need to describe true existence or anything else. For most of us, when we simply say "I," what appears to us, and what we believe it to be, is the truly existent "I". The aggregate of form is not this I, the aggregate of feeling is not this I, the aggregate of recognition is not this I, the compounding aggregates are not this I and the aggregate of consciousness is not this I. The term compounding aggregates, or compositional mental factors, refers to all fifty one mental factors apart from feeling and recognition. What they compound is their own result, their own continuation. For example, since today's consciousness produces tomorrow's consciousness, it compounds the result, tomorrow's consciousness. Even the whole group of the five aggregates is not the I because it is the base to be labelled "I". This makes it clear that it is not the I. The I exists nowhere on these aggregates, neither on the body nor on the mind nor even on the whole
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group of the aggregates. This is a clear way to meditate on emptiness, enabling us to understand the base and the label. However that doesn't mean there is no I. There is I. The reason there's I is that there are the aggregates, the association of body and mind. Simply because of that, we believe that there's I. Another way to meditate on emptiness is to ask yourself, "what am I doing now?" You reply, "I'm sitting." Then ask yourself, "Why do I say I'm sitting?" "There's no other reason at all to believe that I'm sitting except that my body is doing the action of sitting." And when you say, "I'm thinking" or "I'm listening to teaching," why do you believe you're thinking or listening to teaching? There's no other reason at all except that your mind is thinking or listening to teachings. This way of meditating helps us to recognise the object to be refuted. It is only because the aggregates are sitting, standing, eating, drinking or sleeping that we believe "I'm sitting", "I'm standing", "I'm eating", "I'm drinking" or "I'm sleeping". The I is merely imputed in dependence upon the aggregates and the actions of the aggregates. With this reasoning, there's suddenly a big change in your view of the I. The concrete I, the real I, suddenly becomes empty right there. The real I from its own side that appeared before is not there. When you don't think of this reasoning, everything comes back, and the I, which is merely imputed, appears as real. Analysing the nature of the I by using the reason of the existence of the aggregates and its actions helps us to see more and more clearly what the emotional I is. The I that appears to be real from its own side is completely empty; it doesn't exist. When your mind becomes distracted, look again at how the I appears and apply the reasoning. When you analyse, again you won't find that real I, that emotional I. Not being able to find the emotional I is a sign that it doesn't exist. You are unable to find the I on those aggregates. None of these aggregates is the I and on these aggregates there's no I. But that doesn't mean that the I doesn't exist. The I exists. There is I in this temple. During this time that the aggregates are in this temple, we believe "I am here in this temple." Just by that, we believe "I am in this temple." And we believe "I'm listening" or " I'm talking" or "I'm feeling tired or "I'm sleeping" as this never-ending talk goes on and on! Recognising the Hallucination The different meditations I have mentioned can be used to meditate on emptiness, to see the nature of the I. Look at how things appear to you. They appear as real, as existing from their own side. The most important point is to then think that this is a hallucination, a projection. A camera records various activities, such as fighting, and if you have power and a projector you can then project the film onto a screen. But what you see there on the screen is not real. You might see thousands of people fighting on a TV screen but there's nobody really there on the screen, What appears is not real; it's not true. Exactly like a
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camera recording images on a film, ignorance leaves imprints on our mental continuum and we then project true existence onto the things we experience. The main point to meditate on is that the projection of true existence is a hallucination. When you think of hallucination, the understanding should come in your heart that these things are empty; they don't exist. It's not that the building doesn't exist, but the truly existent building, the building that appears to exist from its own side, doesn't exist. That's completely empty. That is the emptiness, or ultimate nature, of the building. Everything else - self, action, object, all the department stores, the whole city - is also like this. Everything that exists is covered by the hallucination of true existence. When you recognise that it is a hallucination, the understanding should come in your heart that everything is empty. You should then practice awareness of that emptiness. In your everyday life, not only during meditation but when you are at work, remember again and again to practice this awareness. Look at how things appear to you: they all appear as unlabelled, which means that they are projections, hallucinations. They are empty. You don't have to actually say the word"empty" because when you say that these unlabelled things are hallucinations, the understanding that they are empty naturally arises in your heart. With this awareness you can then go shopping. You stand up, put on your shoes and with this awareness go out in your car. When you are walking in the street, you also do it with the recognition that the truly existent things appearing to you are hallucinations. After recognising that the I that appears to be real is a hallucination, you understand that it is empty. This empty I then walks along the empty street to the empty shops. In reality, everything is like this. Extract from Chapter 5 of "How Things Exist - Teachings on Emptiness" by Lama Zopa Rinpoche which is a transcript of a series of talks given by Lama Zopa in New York in 1990 Return to Contents
CLASSES AND EVENTS IN MAY AND JUNE AT JAMYANG Full information about these and all our events can be found here on the Jamyang Website
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CLASSES and RETREATS with GESHE TASHI
WEEK DAY EVENINGS AND AFTERNOONS
Enlightenment Potential Tuesdays 12 May to 7 July at 7:30
Introduction to Meditation 11 May 7:30
Buddhist Practice - Step by Step
Buddhist Meditation: Wisdom
Wednesdays 13 May to 8 July at 7:30 Special Insight Weekend 16 and 17 May
Buddhist Meditation in Practice with David Ford Thursdays 7 May to 18 June 7.30pm
Community Dharma 17 May (PM)
Silent Meditation Thursdays weekly 6.15 - 7.15pm
Buddha Enlightenment Day Tuesday 2nd June
Tara Puja Tuesdays at 4.30pm except 5 May
VISITING TEACHERS AND WEEKEND TEACHINGS
Medicine Buddha Puja Tuesdays at 6pm except 5 May
Sublime Continuum 2nd weekend with Andy Wishreich 13, 14 June (can be taken as part of the Basic Programme)
Lama Choepa 13, 28 May,12, 26 June
Don't just do something, sit there! with Nat B and Anne S Saturdays 2 and 9 May
Community Dharma Sunday 17 May 2 - 4pm
Andy Weber Art Weekend 29 - 31 May Lamrim teachings and Green Tara Empowerment with Dagri Rinpoche Evenings 26 - 28 June PRACTICE GROUPS Insight Meditation Practice Group 9 and 23 May, 6 and 20 June 10.30- 12.30pm Open to all Guhyasamaja Practice Group Saturdays 9 May, 13 June 2 - 5pm for initiates only Vajrayogini Practice Group Sundays 10, 24, 31 May, 7, 14, 21 June For initiates only Kalachakra Practice Group 23 May, 20 June 2 - 5pm For initiates only SPECIAL EVENTS Peace in the City 4 May 1-4pm Please book for all weekend classes or retreats other than
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Mondays 18 May onwards 7.30.
COMMUNITY
Dying Well 24 May Chi Kung and Tai Chi Monday evenings taught by William Walker. For more information and to book call William (follow the link above) Satyananda Yoga Tuesday evenings taught by Judy Watchman For more information and to book call Judy (follow the link above) Gentle Vinyassa Flow Wednesday 6:00pm to 7:15pm Hridaya (Heart Centre) Yoga Taught by Naz Wednesday evenings 7.30pm For more information please call Naz (follow the link above) Chair Yoga Taught by Cathy Brebion Tuesdays 10.30am - 11.30am Meditation and Yoga for Mind and Body Fridays 6.45-7.45PM For more information please call Nicolette (follow the link above)
practice groups on-line if you can. If you can't call the office on 02078208787 or email admin@jamyang.co.uk
You can drop in to all evening classes unless we state otherwise
COMING SOON Death Cafe 27 June with Jon Underwood Summer retreat with Geshe Tashi 18 - 26 July Return to Contents
Geshe Tashi's column Hello Everybody, The terrible earthquake in Nepal has filled my thoughts for the last few days. It is so sad that so many people have been killed and injured, and of course the survivors face a very difficult time with the destruction of so much of Nepal's infrastructure. It demonstrates just how fragile our life really is. We think we can protect ourselves from the future but this earthquake just shows that we do not have the power to do this. Normally we think it is just man-made disasters that are a threat; the wars in the Middle East and the turmoil in so much of the world. Yet even the earth that we stand on, the earth that we rely upon to support us and sustain us, even the earth is not predictable. Even the earth can suddenly become a source of great suffering. It all points to the unpredictable nature of our lives. Life is very fragile and we should remember that and make good use of the time that we have available. Of course at the moment, with this situation in Nepal, we should offer our prayers and also practice generosity. We should offer whatever help we can to alleviate the suffering of the people in this region. The practice of generosity is one of the six paramitas, the far reaching attitudes, that describe the practices on the Mahayana path. We should take this opportunity to practice generosity without expecting anything back, without expecting a vote of thanks, without expecting any reward of any kind. If we practice generosity in that spirit then we are truly practicing in the Mahayana spirit. Return to Contents
Director's Column
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The terrible disaster in Nepal is still uppermost in our minds at the moment. We have such a close connection with it. Very good news to hear that Zopa Rinpoche, Tenzin Osel Hita and all at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery are fine after the earthquake. There has been some minor damage in Kopan but it is not bad. Rinpoche's sister, Ani Ngawang Samten, and those in Lawudo are also fine although the buildings have sustained some small damage. We have been asked to please hold all those who have been affected by the earthquake in our prayers. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given advice onpractices to do after earthquakes and also always recommends Medicine Buddha practice. You will find links to all the advice Lama Zopa offers as well as to sites to donate to earthquake relief elsewhere in this newsletter. We are doing Medicine Buddha Puja's and the recitation of the King of Prayers for members of the Nepali community here in London who have lost close relatives as a result of the earthquake and the money raised from our Peace in the City event this Bank Holiday Monday will be donated to the FPMT's Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. Please do share this information with anyone else that has concerns, is seeking advice for practice, or wishing to make donations to help Kopan and its wider dependent communities. As we enter what otherwise should be the merry month of May in our sceptred Isle, this disaster is a huge wake up call to the moment by moment reality of the impermanence of all things and the unbearable suffering of others. The garden is beginning to come into bloom, we are well on our way with the spring clean of Jamyang's visual identity and online presence so watch out for a new look and hopefully much improved functionality as we move towards the summer. Krista is returning to Latvia after her three months volunteering here on the hospitality team - she has been a real jewel and will be sorely missed. Gabriella from Hungary is replacing her. Ilaria has also recently joined the team - many of you will know her from her previous volunteering work on the Community side and looking after the flower offerings in the main Gompa. Marina from Canada will be continuing here for most of the rest of this month with Ilaria and Gabriella before returning. Maria, our most excellent CafĂŠ yogini from Spain for the last three months, will be leaving very shortly for a new volunteer position with the FPMT in Tushita. Tushita Meditation Centre is a centre located on a forested mountain slope at an
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altitude of 1888m (6190ft) in the Dhauladhar range, above the town of McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh, Northern India. We wish her every happiness and success there following her dedicated and selfless devotion to the Cafe here. Like Krista, she really has quietly and mindfully given of her best and it has been much appreciated. Maria is being replaced by Oliver Sanders. Oliver is from New Zealand and is coming to us following a period helping to restore stupas in Nepal . The cafe is looking for a part-time cook and part-time daily help with the washing up if you live close, have time and are interested in joining the cafe team; contact Ilaria the Cafe Manager by mailing cafe@jamyang.co.uk. Alison Wertheimer is still very kindly doing a splendid job in helping us keep the Friend's Scheme running but we are still looking for someone to take this on fully and run, promote and develop the scheme for the future. The May programme is already out. Geshe-la is teaching on our Enlightenment Potential, our Buddha Nature on Tuesday evenings and beginning a course for beginners on Wednesday evenings entitled Buddhist Practice - Step by Step. This is a great way to find out more about some of the key practices in Buddhism. We are still much looking forward to the possibility of a visit from Dagri Rinpoche at the end of June. Much look forward to seeing many of you here at Jamyang making the most of what we have on offer over the coming month. Roy Return to Contents His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK and LZR in Denmark
A reminder that the Dalai Lama is on a flying visit to the UK in June. Book now for the Dalai Lama's public talk at Aldershot Football Club Monday 29 June 2015 from 12.45 - 14.45 organised by BCCUK Yes please register for a place at this Website or call 01252 338765 From our brothers and sisters in Denmark: Lama Zopa Rinpoche is Visiting Denmark July 24 @ 19:00 - July 25 @ 00:00 We are very happy to announce that Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, will be visiting Denmark and giving the Great Medicine Buddha initiation on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th of July 2015. We are looking
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very much forward to seeing you for this wonderful event! Details Here Return to Contents
Andy Weber Tibetan Art Weekend 29th - 31 May We are delighted that Andy Weber will once again lead an art workshop here at Jamyang and that he will also lecture on his extensive knowledge of symbolism in Tibetan art. Andy will be teaching on the subject of the Eight Auspicious symbols (for indoors and outdoors) A unique opportunity to study the art techniques and guild secrets for the creation of the Eight Auspicious Symbols in the painting lineage of this Rock painting of Indian Mahasiddhi, Everest region, revered master. The Eight Nepal (photo JB 2007) Auspicious symbols are a very practical method for attracting positive energy into your life and have a long history of rich symbolism in Tibetan Buddhism. Having matured over forty years of practice Andy is at the peak of his creative potency and is now actively transmitting his encyclopedic knowledge and creative lineage to his disciples. Be part of a rare and unique creative flow. Andy Weber's chief disciple Dolma Beresford, the highly successful CEO of the world famous Meridian Trust, will be in attendance. Do connect with her as she runs regular group practice days in London, designed to embed, support and reinforce what Andy has taught over the weekend Illustrated Lecture 7.30 - 9.30pm Friday 29 May Weekend art course 30 and 31 May 9am - 6pm each day Places are limited and this course is very popular so you will need to book via our website or office to secure a place. Return to Contents Dagri Rinpoche at Jamyang
Dagri Rinpoche will visit Jamyang London Friday 26 - Sunday 28 June. Please save
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the dates We are very pleased that the Dagri Rinpoche has agreed to visit Jamyang London. The visit will take place from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June inclusive. Rinpoche's programme at Jamyang will be in the evenings from 7 - 10pm. The programme is provisionally as follows Friday 26 June, 7 - 10pm, teachings on the graded path to enlightenment Saturday 27 June, 7 - 10pm, Green Tara Initiation (for liberating energy) Sunday 28 June, 7 - 10pm, White Mahakala (Gonkar) Initiation (for wealth and experiential richness) As we get further details we will post them on pages on the website but for now please save the dates and book yourself accommodation locally or with friends. Please note that no pages are likely to go up on the website in the next two or three weeks. Please note that we cannot provide dormitory accommodation during the visit. Return to Contents Buddha Enlightenment Day, 2nd June
Join Geshe Tashi and the Jamyang Community to celebrate the Birth, enlightenment and Parinirvana of the Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder of our tradition. Geshe Tashi will give the eight Mahayana precepts (these last for 24 hours). He also gives refuge vows and the lay precepts. He may also give an Aspiring Bodhicitta ceremony. Day schedule 8.00 Motivation and Eight Mahayana Precepts 9.15 Shakyamuni Buddha chanted meditation Sunset at Lawudo Gompa, Nepal (photo JB 2007) 10.15 Tea break 10.30 Vajrasattva purification chanted meditation 11.30 Precept lunch made in line with Kriya Tantra dietary restrictions
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13.00 14.00 15.00 15.30 16.00 17.00
Possible Refuge, lay vow, Aspiring Bodhicitta ceremonies Chenrezig Compassion Buddha chanted meditation Silent Meditation Tea break Green Tara energising meditation and dedications The end
Return to Contents Coming up Soon
Corrections..... The Insight Meditation Practice Group (IMPG) will be meeting on the 9th May at 10:30. Apologies that this is not in the printed programme. Come and practice the meditation techniques from across a range of Buddhist traditions that lead you to understanding your underlying nature. And now for the news.......
Renjo Pass, Nepal (photo JB 2007)
The Enlightenment Potential With Geshe Tashi: Tuesdays from the 12th May 7.30 - 9pm. In these classes Geshe Tashi will be explaining the teachings of the Uttara Tantra text on Buddha Nature. An extract of the text is reproduced in the 'Dharma Bites' section. This class is intended for students with a broad familiarity with Tibetan Buddhism Buddhist Practice Step by Step with Geshe Tashi Wednesdays from the 13th May 7.30 - 9pm. A guide to the essentials of Buddhist practice from someone with a life-time of experience. Special Insight with Geshe Tashi 16 & 17 May Geshe Tashi will be continuing his teaching on Special Insight from the middle length Lamrim. In these classes, Geshe Tashi is very carefully explaining how to approach the understanding of emptiness. That is very special indeed. The classes will take place over the weekend of the 16 and 17 May. Buddha Enlightenment Day with Geshe Tashi 2nd June
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See article above for details Dagri Rinpoche 26 - 28 June See article above for details Don't Just do something, sit there! Natascha Bolonkin and Anne Swindell Saturdays 2 and 9 May 10am - 5pm each day A facilitated course over two days introducing students to the basics of meditation through the FPMT Introductory course Meditation 101. In American English '101' means introductory/ for beginners.Nat and Anne promise it will be fun, exploratory, creative and sharing journey. Nat is a school teacher and street performer and Anne is a fully qualified psychotherapist and landscape gardener. Return to Contents Peace in the City - Bank Holiday Monday 4th May 1-4pm
Why not enjoy a relaxing afternoon with all the family? On offer this time will be shiatsu massage, reiki, reflexology, Indian head massage and meditation sessions, not to mention the ever popular cake therapy! Arrive in good time to book your therapies. All proceeds to the Nepal Disaster Fund. Help on reception welcome!
Dog Sleeping on top of Gokyo Ri 5400 metres (photo JB 2007)
This is a great community occasion and we hope that you will all be able to attend and participate! Return to Contents MBSR Summer Course - Starts 14th May
A few places are left on the morning Mindfulness Stress Reduction Course which begins on Thursday, 14th May with an introductory session. This course can really make a difference to your lives and help offer a useful toolbag of
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techniques designed to keep stress under control. Concessions available. Details from the London Centre for Mindfulness website, or e-mail: jane or vinod@jamyang.co.uk. Return to Contents
A yak casts a wary eye on the photographer (JB 2007) Dying Well 24 May - and the lost DVD
The next Dying Well Day will be on the 24th May starting at 10am. Join with Sue and Robin for an informal but informative day, The subjects discussed range from issues around death and dying such as caring for the terminally ill, how to face our own death, making practical preparations, coping with bereavement etc. The Lost DVD Sue Aldam is also trying to trace a dvd about a french hospice which she lent to someone last year. If you know its whereabouts please get in touch with Sue on 020 8348 3524 or at susanaldam@tiscali.co.uk Return to Contents
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Death Cafe with Jon Underwood 27 June
At a Death Cafe people come together to discuss death over tea and cake. Death Cafes have taken place in 22 countries and this one will be here at Jamyang. The Death Cafe movement was the brainchild of ex-Jamyang Centre Manager Jon Underwood. Over tea and cake purchased from the Courthouse Garden Cafe we will discuss death without agenda or objective. The Death Cafe is open to all.
Stupa at Boudhanath, Nepal. Photo by eneemann@gmail.com copyright reserved
To find out more about Jon's work listen to the following radio 4 programme in which Jon talks a little about the Death cafe Start the Week A Good Death Return to Contents Open Garden Squares Weekend Saturday 13th June
Every year as part of the London-wide Open Gardens Weekend, we throw open the doors to Jamyang and invite people in to take a look around. Many are fascinated by the building and the temples so we show them around. Would you like to help welcome visitors to Jamyang courtyard garden on Saturday, 13th June? Tea and cake as a 'thank you'! Contact jane@jamyang.co.uk. Return to Contents
Dharma Bites: The Uttara Tantra Sastra
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View from the garden of Lama Yeshe's retreat hut, Lawudo (JB 2007)
In May Geshe Tashi continues his teachings based on the Uttara Tantra text by Maitreya. We thought you might like a preview of the text that he will be explaining, so here are a few verses from the section on Buddha Nature. 27. The Buddha-essence is ever-present in everyone because the dharmakaya of perfect buddhahood pervades all, the suchness is undifferentiated and they have the potential. 28. It is said that all beings possess buddhahood's essence since the buddha-j単ana has ever been in them present, also since the immaculate nature is non-dual and the buddha-potential is named after its fruit. 29. The meaning intended by 'the ultimate space' should be known through its nature, cause, result, function, endowments, approach, phases, all-pervasiveness, inalterability and the qualities' inseperability. 30. Like the purity of a jewel, space or water It is always undefiled in essence. It emerges through aspiration for dharma, highest praj単a, meditation and compassion. 31. Its qualities resemble those of a valued gem because it is powerful, of space because it is inalterable and of water because it moistens. 32. Hostility towards the dharma, the view that there is a self-entity, fear of samsara's sufferings and disregard for benefitting beings are the four sorts of obscuration 33. Of the desire bound, the mistaken, Sravakas and pratyekabuddhas respectively. The causes of purification are four quailities:
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strong aspiration for dharma and so on. 34. Those whose seed is aspiration for the supreme ya単a, whose mother is praj単a, originator of the buddha's qualities, for whom meditative stability is a comfortable womb and compassion a nanny - these are sons of buddhas born. 35. Its result has transcendental qualities of purity, identity, happiness and permanence. Its function is revulsion for suffering accompanied by an aspiration, a longing, for peace. 36. In brief the result of these represents the remedy to both the four ways of straying from dharmakaya and to their four antidotes. 37. This is purity because its nature is pure and all karmic impurities have been removed. It is true identity because all complications of 'self' or 'no-self ' have been absolutely quelled. 38. It is happiness through the five aggregates', which are of a mental nature, and also their causes' demise. It is permanence since the sameness, of samsara and nirvana, has been realised. 39. Those of compassionate love have, with praj単a, completely cut through all self-cherishing. They will nt want to enter personal nirvana because they dearly care for every being. Hence by reliance upon these means to enlightenment - wisdom and compassion the deeply-realised are neither in samsara nor personal nirvana's quiescence. Extract from 'The Changeless Nature' Mahayana Uttara Tantra Sastra, by Arya Maitreya & Acarya Asanga translated by Ken and Katia Holmes. (available from Wisdom-Books) Return to Contents
Poetry Corner Endless Ages Through endless ages, the mind has never changed
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It has not lived or died, come or gone, gained or lost. It isn't pure or tainted, good or bad, past or future. true or false, male or female. It isn't reserved for monks or lay people, elders to youths, masters or idiots, the enlightened or unenlightened. It isn't bound by cause and effect and doesn't struggle for liberation. Like space, it has no form. You can't own it and you can't lose it. Mountains, rivers or walls can't impede it. But this mind is ineffable and difficult to experience. It is not the Statue of Bodhidharma, Hoi An, Vietnam photo by JB 2014 mind of the senses. So many are looking for this mind, yet it already animates their bodies. It is theirs, yet they don't realize it. - Bodhidharma From: The Wisdom of the Zen Masters Edited: Timothy Freke Return to Contents Would You Like to Become an Interpreter?
We received the following communication from the FPMT interpreter training programme. You may be interested, have time and a love of language.... If so please contact Yaron via his email below. Dear Directors and SPCs, Nice to virtually meet you all, my name is Yaron and I am the new director of the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator program in Dharmsala, India. Our sixth course finished few months ago and now we are about to open the registration for the next one which is scheduled to start at 4th of October 2015. As you know, we train the future interpreters for FPMT centers around the world
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in order to bring the wisdom of the Buddhadharma wherever it is needed by qualified Geshes. So if you are considering hosting a resident Geshe in the future, or need to add to your current interpreter team, we offer to train your center's interpreter. So we encourage you to consider whether there is a suitable student/students you would like to perhaps sponsor to train as an interpreter for your center. The course will take place in Rato Labrang in Dharmasla (the same place of LRZTP 5 and 6). It will two years program in India and for students affiliated with FPMT, another two years in an FPMT center. We are fortunate to have as the main Gokyo Lake, Nepal (JB 2007) teacher of the course Franziska Oertle, who brings to the course years of experience in teaching Tibetan to westerners. Also we will have Mr Gavin Kilty and Tica teaching in the second year. The registration for the program will open soon, and there will be more information about the program on the website. If you have any questions about the next LRZTP please contact me - lrztp108@gmail.com On behalf of LRZTP team: Yaron Bahir Return to Contents Opportunities Around the FPMT
There are work and volunteer opportunities in many of the FPMT Centres around the world. You can find details of these on the FPMT website. There are also volunteer opportunities in France, India, Australia, New Zealand............................ And especially here at Jamyang, London! Return to Contents
FPMT
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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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