Gentle Voice July/August 2015

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July and August 2015 In This Issue

Editor's welcome

Friends Scheme Getting the Best from Your Life by Lama Zopa Rinpoche This Month at Jamyang Geshe Tashi's column The Director's Column His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK Celebration for the Dalai Lama's birthday Summer Lamrim Retreat Summer Vajrayogini Retreat The Heart Sutra with Mike Murray Community Corner Jamyang Walk Nepal Earthquake Update Dagri Rinpoche at Jamyang Book Launch: Extract from Thupten Jinpa's A Fearless Heart Summer Holiday Quiz Poetry Corner Opportunities for Service around the FPMT Quiz - Answers About FPMT Your Thoughts for Gentle Voice

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Photo: Giuardian.co.uk (striking resemblance to the GV editor trying to find out if you are reading this)

Dear friends, Welcome to the summer soaraway edition of Gentle Voice covering July and August. As ever, it has been a busy time at Jamyang with visits from Dagri Rinpoche, Open Gardens, a book launch by Thubten Jinpa and a full programme of teaching and practice - and of course the Dalai Lama has been in the UK! We include a range of photos from some of these wonderful activities, as well as a very thought provoking piece from Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Please do ask yourself, as Lama Zopa says, are you interested in the plate or the food? Over the summer consider what your fundamental motivation is for practicing the Dharma.

I hope you have been able to connect with our programme either through attending in person or through our frequent web streaming. Soon we will be winding down for the summer, so make the most of the rest of the programme or attend one of our summer retreats (details below). Other than that we include an extract from Thupten Jinpa's book and

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Jamyang Website Current Programme

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even a summer quiz to puzzle over while you (perhaps) sunbathe.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Gentle Voice.

Talking Buddhism The Foundation Study Course The Lamrim Chenmo Study Course FPMT

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 Mandala magazine twice a year, 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 Alternatively you can make a one-off donation by following this link.

Donate to Jamyang Many thanks!

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Getting the Best from Your Life by Lama Zopa Rinpoche Teachings given By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha in 1999 Getting the Best from your Life What makes your life most beautiful, most satisfying, most fulfilling, most worthwhile, most beneficial and most happy? I mean inner happiness, not just ordinary, excited, hallucinated happiness. What brings Dharma happiness, the happiness that has completion, the happiness that can continue, increase and develop fully? The happiness that is not suffering, that is worth trying for because it never turns into suffering? The happiness that is not suffering in nature and does not become the suffering of pain? Dharma happiness, the happiness that is worth devoting your life to attaining because it does not interfere with the happiness of others or limit your capacity to benefit others? The happiness that makes your actions only of benefit to others without discrimination?

Well so far I've been doing a lot of advertising but I haven't mentioned the product! So, what is it? It's living in the bush - going into the redwoods and living in the bush! No, I'm joking! So, what is it that brings all that happiness? It's cherishing sentient beings; living your life cherishing sentient beings. Not that I actually do this myself, but intellectually, it's what I think. Cherish sentient beings first; put enlightenment second.

Sentient beings come first Why do I put enlightenment second? For example, when you go into the kitchen, you're looking for food not crockery; your motivation is not to get a plate but delicious food. You go into the kitchen with food on your mind. But although your main motivation is to get food, you do need something to put it on - unless you can carry soup in your hands! Anyway, I'm joking again.

Of course, enlightenment is extremely important because without it you cannot work perfectly for sentient beings. You cannot be a perfect guide, knowing, seeing directly, every sentient being's mind, level of karma, intelligence, wishes and characteristics, as well as the various methods that suit their individual dispositions. But what should be in your heart is sentient beings as the reason for your attaining enlightenment. The first priority in your heart should be the happiness of sentient beings; sentient beings in your heart. What should be the first thing in your heart, in your life, the goal of your life? Sentient beings.

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At present, who is the most precious person in your life, in your heart? It's yourself or, if not yourself, then your greatest object of attachment. I don't think you hold your object of anger most precious. It's your object of attachment; that particular person. So that's how you should hold sentient beings, feel them to be most precious.

No matter how much you help the person to whom you are most attached, no matter how kind you are to that person, all you want is for that person to be happy. If that person receives help, achieves happiness, you're satisfied. That's your goal; you don't want anything in return. You don't need that person to respect you, to praise you or to do something good for you in return; you don't have any such expectation. Your attitude is such that you are simply satisfied by that person's receiving happiness or help. What do you call it - unconditional love? Anyway, that kind of attitude, whether it's all sentient beings or one sentient being.

First in your heart, your first priority, at least intellectually, should be all sentient beings. Then enlightenment is the method. As in the example above, to enjoy food you need a plate on which to put it. When you're looking for lunch, you're not looking for the plate; your main aim is the food. So here, what we're really looking for is the happiness of sentient beings.

Extract from chapter 2 of 'The Joy of Compassion' by Lama Zopa Rinpoche Return to Contents

CLASSES AND EVENTS IN JUNE AND JULY AT JAMYANG Full information about these and all our events can be found here on the Jamyang Website CLASSES and RETREATS with GESHE TASHI

WEEK DAY EVENINGS AND AFTERNOONS

Enlightenment Potential Tuesday 7 July at 7:30

Learn to read and write Tibetan (For beginners - level 1) Tibetan language classes with Tenzin Samten Mondays 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 June, 6, 13 July 7 - 8.30pm

Buddhist Practice - Step by Step Wednesday 8 July at 7:30 Summer Retreat Gradual Path to Enlightenment Retreat. Saturday 18 - Sunday 26 July 9.30am - 5.30pm each day Vajrayogini Retreat with Geshe Tashi 10 - 16 August (for initiates only)

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Buddhist Meditation in Practice with David Ford Thursdays 2, 9, 16 July 7.30pm Silent Meditation Thursdays weekly until 16 July 6.15 - 7.15pm

VISITING TEACHERS AND WEEKEND TEACHINGS

Tara Puja Tuesdays at 4:30pm 7, 14, 28 July, 4 August

Sublime Continuum 3rd weekend with Andy Wishreich 11, 12 July (can be taken as part of the Basic

Medicine Buddha Puja Tuesdays at 6pm 7, 14, 28 July, 4 August

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Programme) Heart Sutra with Mike Murray 29 August to 3rd September (can be taken as part of the Basic Programme) PRACTICE GROUPS Insight Meditation Practice Group 4, 11 July 10.30- 12.30pm Open to all Guhyasamaja Practice Group Saturdays 11 July 2 - 5pm for initiates only Vajrayogini Practice Group Sundays 5, 12 July, 2 August For initiates only Kalachakra Practice Group 4 July 2 - 5pm For initiates only

Please book for all weekend classes or retreats other than 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

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Lama Choepa 11, 26 July, 9, 25 August COMMUNITY Jamyang Walk

4 July

Mindfulness based stress reducation (MBSR) drop-in 31st July, 28th August 6:30pm8:00pm prior attendance at 8 week MBSR course required Book Fair 22 August Peace in the City 23 August Chi Kung and Tai Chi Monday evenings to 13 July taught

by William Walker.

For more information and to book call William (follow the link above) Satyananda Yoga Tuesday evenings to 14 July taught

by Judy Watchman For more information and to book call Judy (follow the link above) Gentle Vinyassa Flow Wednesday to 15 July 6:00pm to 7:15pm Hridaya (Heart Centre) Yoga Taught by Naz to 15 July Wednesday evenings 7.30pm For more information please call Naz (follow the link above) Chair Yoga Taught by Cathy Brebion to 14 July Tuesdays 10.30am - 11.30am Meditation and Yoga for Mind and Body Fridays 6.45-7.45PM to 17 July For more information please call Nicolette (follow the link above) Return to Contents

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Geshe Tashi's column Hello Everybody, My Tuesday classes this term on the 4th Vajra Point of the Uttaratantra are rapidly coming to an end.

This section of this important text, that explains Buddha-nature, is very well known and it is studied in all the great monasteries. In the last few classes I have been explaining the background to this text and also the texts that are studied together with it. I hope those of you who have managed to come to the classes have found this useful. I plan to continue with the text in my classes this September and I hope we will be able to continue from where we have left off.

Now the summer break is nearly upon us and I am looking forward to our summer retreat this July at Jamyang. I usually try to spend the mornings of the retreat cultivating the single pointed mind - the practice of shamata, and in the afternoon we have talks and discussions on the important points in the Lamrim.

It is very important to make time in our busy lives for this sort of retreat. I am not saying that you should all come to this retreat in particular, just that you should all make time for this sort of reflection and meditation time in your lives. Retreat can really refresh you at a very deep level of your being, and in our busy lives we often do not realise that we lack this sort of deep inner refreshment. Just as we need to sleep properly every night in order to have physical and mental well being, so we also need to rest our minds in the way you can do during a retreat recharging our emotional and inner selves. So enjoy your summer and if you get the opportunity to attend a retreat, it does not have to be the one at Jamyang, then do so and really enjoy the experience.

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Director's Column Summer at last! It is thirty degrees here late in the afternoon here on the last day of June. Been a long time coming but very good both to see and feel it. June, the month of the Solstice, marking mid-summer and mid-year has been a great month for the Dharma in the UK and Jamyang in particular.

His Holiness visited Glastonbury Festival.

Geshe-la accompanied him and could be seen as His Holiness spoke on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury alongside Patti Smith - His Holiness got a huge cheer from the crowd, who later sang him a joyous Happy Birthday!

The Meridian Trust hosted and organised a very special event at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Arts to mark the occasion, one of many

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events globally celebrating His Holinesses Eightieth year - His Birthday coming soon on Monday, 6 July.

Meridian's Tibet Film Festival, celebrated not only the Dalai Lama's positive impact in the world but also shining a light on Tibetan culture through the body of contemporary and established films created by talented film-makers from across the Tibetan diaspora and beyond. This event was very much in line with the wish of His Holiness to bring the message of peace and compassion to a younger generation across the globe.

The FPMT'S Discovering Buddhism series was shown there over the weekend and Jamyang offered some wonderful free postcards to festival goers, each with a quote from his His Holiness on Tibetan Prayer Flag style coloured typographics.

Glastonbury is the largest arts festival in Europe. This year more than 153,000 attended and a BBC estimated global audience of more than 6.2 million. Over the course of 5 days, from Wed 24th June to Sun 28th June more than 2,200 events and performance took place at more than 100 stages at Worthy Farm in Somerset.

Following Glastonbury at the weekend, His Holiness visited the Buddhist Community Centre UK in Aldershot and blessed the site that will include a monastery and a community centre, founded by the Nepalese community in the UK. Their aspiration is that this will be a centre for all Buddhists and will be open to members of the public with an interest in Buddhism, not just the local Nepali community. The area has the largest population of Buddhists in the UK, with strong links to the Gurkhas and wider UK Nepalese community.

The monastery and temple will have a community hall adjacent to it where individuals can gather after ritual practices to celebrate the occasion. They are on the look-out for a hall that will accommodate over 500 people whenever pujas or functions are held.

Dagri Rinpoche's visit and stay here has indeed been a shower of blessings indeed, the start of the really good weather coincided with Rinpoche's arrival here! Rinpoche particularly blessed us with teachings on the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, Green Tara empowerment and a White Tara Long Life empowerment.

Look out for other features and great pictures elsewhere in this bumper July & August edition of Gentle Voice.

Toward the end of the month here we hosted the successful launch of Thupten Jinpa's new book: A Fearless Heart: Why Compassion is the Key to Greater Wellbeing. All proceeds from the evening went to support the work of the charity Help Tibet.

Enjoy the summer months and any holiday or period of retreat you may be getting off to. If you have not booked yet remember that Geshe-la is starting his summer Lam rim retreat at Jamyang on 19 July and the Vajrayogini retreat on 10 August. Also, check out the Land of Joy programme of retreats here: http://www.landofjoy.co.uk/programme/ Our usual programme continues in earnest up to Geshe-la's retreat and resumes in earnest in September. The latest edition of Mandala and the Jamyang autumn to winter programme is published. Tashi-Lhunpo monks will be here making a mandala in September! Make the most of what we hope will be a most pleasant summer period for you, stay well, go safe and, as always, much

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look forward to seeing many of you here, both over the summer and in the autumn.

Roy Return to Contents His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the UK

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been visiting the UK over the last few days. It is always so exciting to know that he is in the country. As you will have heard he has been at Glastonbury and also at Aldershot.

Naturally, it was raining at Glastonbury but reports on his visit have been very positive.

Social media sites are awash with photos from the event and you can see a recording of part of his talk on the BBC website here The full text was in the youtube recording we sent out earlier this week.

His Holiness speaking at Glastonbury (photo by Jeremy Russell/OHHDL)

A fuller report on his talk can be found on the Guardian website here His Holiness was also at Aldershot on Monday (Monday 29th June 2015). Jane was fotunate enough to attend the visit and the following is her report.

The sun shone warmly on a colourful crowd of devotees filling the stadium stands of Aldershot FC which was blessed by His Holiness on a previous visit. There were Photo from ITV.com many Nepalese from the local Gurkha community, along with large numbers from the Tibetan community who came dressed in their finest traditional costumes. It was a very joyous occasion, celebrating His Holiness' forthcoming 80th birthday according to the Western calendar. A group of monks from Tashi Lhunpo monastery offered a lama dance and this was followed by a sequence of traditional dances from the Nepalese and Tibetan communities, including a newly written birthday song from the Tibetan Community of Britain.

The event was also tinged with sadness and a minute's silence was offered for all the victims of the recent Nepalese earthquakes. Large donations were pledged at the end from the profits accrued by the event.

His Holiness was in good form and in good spirits following his visit to Glastonbury the day before and said how happy he had been to attend and be in the company of so many young people, including families with children, in an

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atmosphere so full of joy free from any formality.

His Holiness addressed the gathering with a secular talk on the importance of recognising that we are all sentient beings sharing the same mental, emotional and physical form whose main desire is to have a happy life to which we are all entitled - including the 'brothers and sisters' who had set up camp opposite the ground and who continued a loud cacaphony of protest, not dissimilar from the chants of rival football fans but with less imagination and tune. His Holiness encouraged us to spend more time and energy developing inner values and quoted recent scientific findings which showed how negative emotions such as extreme fear and hatred impact the immune system and hence our health.

Peace of mind is not a commodity which can be bought in any supermarket but needs to be developed by personal effort. Prayer and simple faith are not sufficient. We should investigate which emotion disturbs our minds the most and find the counter, eg love, compassion, tolerance and forbearance. This needs to be done by everyone, believer and non believer alike.

His Holiness went on to describe how all the major religious traditions share these core values and that by seriously and sincerely practising them, we can help create a more peaceful and compassionate family, community and world.

His Holiness said that recent acts of violence in the name of religion actually excluded that person from their religion and that 'Jihad' really means non harming others while dealing with destructive emotions. We all have the same potential to create a better world and there should be unity amongst the various faiths. His Holiness gave the example of India which, through millennia, had managed to create a democracy in which people of all faiths and backgrounds could live together. Obviously there had been some conflicts which was understandable, but His Holiness praised India as an example for the rest of the world.

His Holiness then went on to talk about the different religious traditions - those which believed in a soul or 'atma' and creator God, and those which, like Buddhism, Jainism and Sankya did not. For some the concept of having the seed or spark of love from God was a very powerful aid. For others, the non theistic approach which made everyone their own master was more effective.

His Holiness spoke of the cultural impact on the various religions. At the time of Mahavira, there was a lot of animal sacrifice. Jainism's main emphasis was therefore on vegetarianism and ahimsa or non violence. Mohammed strongly emphasised rules at a time of widespread lawlessness. Many of the world's religions began in societies in which the feudal system predominated. His Holiness said he thought there were a number of cultural aspects, e.g. with Buddhism, which were outdated in today's world and which needed to change.

His Holiness then spoke of the basics of Buddhism and how the concept of anatman or shunyata which negated the presence of any independent existence was finding its echo in modern science with the advent of quantum physics. The concept of interdependency and the advice of the Buddha to investigate, experiment and test the teachings before taking them on, is unique to Buddhism. This matches the 21st century scepticism and passion for

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investigation. Einstein was said to have declared that 'Buddhism and science would go side by side.' His Holiness then emphasised the need for serious study and debate rather than blind faith. We must use our intelligence to the maximum.

There followed a short question and answer period. What would His Holiness like to see for his 90th birthday? - The 20th century had been marked by tremendous violence and a succession of wars in which millions of people had been killed. The 21st century should be a century of peace. This does not mean that there would be no more problems but that these problems should be solved by means of dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect, leading to reconciliation and compromise. 10 years would not be sufficient time. With education and awareness, the new generation could help to realise this ideal.

The subject of the Joint Climate of Change Programme in relation to the ecology of Tibet was raised. His Holiness expressed the seriousness of the situation in which so much damage had already been done to the delicate eco system. This would take even longer to recover due to the high altitude. Since many of the continent's major rivers began in the Tibetan plateau, this had grave consequences for neighbouring countries such as India and China. This had been recognised and there were some hopeful signs of a change in attitude.

For most of the event, there was a loud presence of demonstrators outside the stadium whom His Holiness included in his address to 'all brothers and sisters'.

The way that the speech was delivered strongly and clearly was testament to his great skill and ability regardless of the external circumstances and which gave the words an even greater ring of truth. The crowd showed their deep appreciation with many rounds of applause and wishes for His Holiness' long life.

Jane The Dalai Lama will also be in the UK in September. We'll publish more details as they become available but you can also register for updates here http://www.dalailama2015.uk/ Return to Contents Celebrate the Birthday of the Dalai Lama this Monday 6th July

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Aldershot. Photo BBC

There will be a special Lama Choepa with Tsog this coming Monday, the 6th July at 6pm in the small temple at Jamyang in honour of His Holiness The Dalai Lama's 80th birthday. Do come along!

Summer Gradual Path to Enlightenment Retreat

What a rare opportunity it is to be able to attend a retreat right here in the heart of London.

Geshe Tashi will be leading the retreat and covering the topics on the gradual path to enlightenment with his usual gentleness, depth, insight and humour. Do join us for the retreat which runs from Saturday 18 Sunday 26 July 9.30am - 5.30pm each day.

Suggested donation ÂŁ260 for the whole retreat (not including accommodation or breakfast). It does include refreshments each day, lunch and a light 'soup and bread' supper at 6pm.

If you can't attend the whole retreat then do come for as many days as you can manage. Please register via the Jamyang website.

Return to Contents Vajrayogini Summer Retreat

Well this is an even rarer opportunity to get to practice the Vajrayogini sadhana with Geshe Tashi. In the past, Geshe-La has been an inspirational retreat leader, explaining the practice carefully and very fully so that all the participants have left deeply inspired to continue the practice.

This practice requires an empowerment, so if you

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are not sure if you are eligible to attend do contact Mike in the office and discuss this with him. He doesn't bite (except into his macaroons).

You can contact Mike via spc@jamyang.co.uk but you will need to book for the retreat in the usual way.

Return to Contents Heart Sutra with Mike Murray

The Heart Sutra has inspired countless generations of practitioners with its beautiful and pithy exposition of the perfection of wisdom. It is so short that it can easily be memorised yet it contains the key to many levels of understanding. Mike Murray is well known to everyone at Jamyang. He tirelessly organises the teaching programme for the benefit of all of us and yet we seldom get the chance to share in his extensive understanding of the Dharma which, and I will get into trouble with Mike for saying this, and also please excuse the split infinitive, is vast. He is a font of neverending knowledge and great fun. So take some time to share this module of the Basic Programme with him and enrich the wisdom aspect of your developing inner egg.

Mike will be teaching from the 29th August to the 3rd of September. Book now while stocks last!

Back to Contents Community Corner

JAMYANG BOOK FAIR - a book fair will take place on Saturday, 22nd August from 2-4 pm with music and refreshments in the Garden, weather permitting. All proceeds to Jamyang. If you would like to offer books, CDs or DVDs for sale, please bring them in the week beginning 17th August.

FILM SHOW - Little Tibet 2 will be shown after the book fair, at 6 pm on Saturday, 22nd August. Please bring snacks to share.

The film director will be present if he is in the country.

PEACE IN THE CITY - Another relaxing day of therapies and classes, with lots of tea and cake therapy, will take place on Sunday 23rd August from 1-4 pm. Why not

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take time out and be pampered?! If you would like to help out either offering a therapy or helping on reception, please e-mail: jane@jamyang.co.uk.

MBSR - The Autumn morning and evening courses will start on Thursday, 17th September. If you would like to join this very helpful course, visit www. londoncentreformindfulness.com, or e-mail: jane@jamyang.co.uk or vinod@jamyang.co.uk.

SCHOOL VISITS - If you would like to join the team welcoming school visits to Jamyang, please e-mail: jane@jamyang.co.uk.

Jane Sill Return to Contents Jamyang Walk 4th July

BEVERLY BROOK MEANDER Saturday July 4th for a 10.40 am start Meet in the central span of Putney Bridge overlooking the Thames on the west side.

Putney Bridge District Line tube is very close or Putney Main Line station with a short walk down the High Street to the right.

It has been some years since we did this delightful walk following the charming Beverly Brook from its confluence with the Thames at Putney. After passing the boating clubs along the waterfront we trace the brook's course through leafy Barnes and soon enter in to the expanse of Richmond Park where we can have a lunch stop and look out for the herds of deer.

Crossing to the woodlands of Wimbledon Common a gentle climb brings us close to the amazing Thai Buddhist Temple that we'll visit if time permits before dropping down once more to Putney.

This is a circular walk of about six and a half miles of easy walking and should get us back to our start around 4-5 pm at the latest with options to shorten the walk if need be on the way.

Lunch can be bought at the cafe in the park, or bring your own pack lunch.

For further details at rather short notice please call Robin on: 0207 7362771 / mob. 07442179739

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Nepal Earthquake: Long-term Reconstruction

One of the tragic results of the Nepalese earthquake has been that very poor communities have suddenly found themselves, not just homeless as their houses have collapsed, but also short of food and all the essentials of life that were buried and destroyed along with their houses.

The FPMT Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has now moved from the immediate rescue and support of the local communities to trying to help with long term needs. Nepal itself is such a poor country that it is unrealistic to expect the government to be able to do very much at all. It is up to voluntary organisations to provide a large part of the aid effort.

Please continue to donate through your chosen charities to the rebuilding effort.

The FPMT fund is very grateful for all donations and you can find the donation page here: fpmt.org/donate/socialservicesfund Return to Contents Dagri Rinpoche at Jamyang

We were very pleased to host Dagri Rinpoche's visit to London Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June. Those attending his talks and initiations spoke about what an inspiring presence he has been.

Over his time at Jamyang he gave a range of teachings on the Three Principle Aspects of the Path and also an initiation into Green Tara and the Long Life White Tara. A good time was had by all and we really, really hope that he will be able to return soon.

A big thanks to everyone who helped in the organisation and smooth running of Rinpoche's stay at Jamyang.

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Extract from Thupten Jinpa Book 'A Fearless Heart' Launched 19th June at Jamyang 14 of 19

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In the middle of a busy month we were very pleased to host the book launch of 'A Fearless heart' by Thubten Jinpa. Jinpa gave an interesting talk and spoke about his work at Stanford university and the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. He spoke eloquently of the value of altruism and the need to promote compassion and altruism throughout society. A lively question and answer session ranged over a whole set of issues in trying to make human society more open to the need for compassion.

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Thupten Jinpa speaking at Jamyang

On a different note a full interview with Jinpa is available on the Irish Examiner website.

In celebration of Jinpa's visit we reproduce the following extract from the first chapter of his book.

Chapter One The Best kept Secret of Happiness: Compassion What is the one thing, which when you possess, you have all other virtues? It's compassion.

Attributed to the Buddha What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 78) My mother died when I was nine. I was then at a Tibetan refugee boarding school in Shimla. My parents were part of a large number of refugees - more than eighty thousand - who fled Tibet in the wake of the Dalai Lama's escape to India in 1959. Many of the Tibetans, including my parents, ended up in road construction camps in Northern India. With Tibet now annexed by the People's Republic of China, India suddenly needed to defend an international border more that two thousand miles long. Hence the urgent need for new roads. The refugees newly arrived from Tibet were the perfect labour force to take on this challenge of high-altitude road building. My parents worked on the road from the picturesque hill station of Shimla, a town that sits at an altitude above 6,500 feet, to the mountainous Tibetan border. Despite the physical hardships, moving camp every few months as the road progressed, and being separated from their children much of the time, my parents succeeded in creating fond memories of early childhood for me. I still feel warm and grateful recalling those years.

I later found out that my mother had died from a totally preventable cause. While giving birth to my sister at a construction camp, she had suffered from bleeding complicated by the road dust and lack of medical care. Then she hazarded the

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six-hour bus ride from Shimla to Dharamsala to visit my father, who had been gravely ill and was at the Tibetan medical clinic there. A few days after her arrival in Dharamsala, my mother passed away. By then my younger brother was already boarding at the Tibetan Children's village in Dharamsala. With no one to look after my infant sister, she too was left in the care of the Children's Village. I remember visiting the "baby room," the bungalow with a green tin roof and neat rows of cribs, where my sister lived among other small children, many of them orphans. I waited at the edge of the veranda with some sweets I would give her, and one of the house mothers brought her to me.

Soon after, when my father recovered, he became a monk and joined a monastery.

Thank goodness for my uncle Penpa. My mother's brother was a tall, thin man with high cheekbones and a hint of a limp from a weak knee. Unlike my father, who had worn his hair in the traditional style of two long, red-tasseled braids wrapped around his head, Uncle Penpa kept his hair short and "modern," complemented by a thin moustache. Being an ex-monk, he was literate and had also taught himself enough English to read the signs on the buses and trains. At a time when I felt like an orphan, my Uncle Penpa treated me as if I was his own child. Two of his daughters attended my boarding school, and every time Uncle Penpa came to see them, or took them for a holiday to the road construction camp, he included me as well. At the end of these week long sojourns, he would give each of us exactly the same amount of pocket money: two Indian rupees.

As I grew up and understood more fully the hardships my uncle and my parents experienced in those early days of refugee life in India, I came to appreciate his compassion and kindness even more. They were strangers in a new country, living in makeshift roadside tents, in the relentless rain of the Indian monsoon.

Money was scarce, but my uncle shared with me what little he had. Uncle Penpa became one of the most important people in my life and I remained close to him until his death, despite all the changes that took me so far away from his familiar world.

Continued in 'A Fearless Heart' by Thupten Jinpa, published by Piatkus and available from Wisdom Books at www.wisdom-books.com Return to Contents Grand Jamyang Summer Holiday Quiz

Our amazingly hard brain teaser. If you are holidaying by the river Styx, answer these questions to reach the other shore....

1 A favourite term for non-dualism from the tirtikas and some of the earlier schools of tenets.

2 When I look for something real it appears dreamlike and then, if I look harder, it just isn't there.

3 Objects of great reverence.

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4 They were the first and still lead the way.

5 Universal Construction Inc. has a few of these.

6 Elephants, marakas, garuda, and the rest.

7 The Thervada canon calls these the bojjhangas.

8 The long and winding road.

9 The Brahma viharas conjoined with the five precepts. A new one?

10 If you enter the first, the Buddhas rejoice, completing the last you are 'there.'

11 You've now got the gist and we are approaching what sounds like heaven.

12 Ignorance, grasping, arrows - I'm in a spin.

Answers at the end of the newsletter Return to Contents

Poetry Corner You may have heard that it is the 150th anniversary of the birth of W. B. Yeats, one of Ireland's greatest poets. In celebration we reproduce one of his poems.

The Song Of Wandering Aengus - by William Butler Yeats I WENT out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing, And moth-like stars were flickering out, I dropped the berry in a stream And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor I went to blow the fire aflame, But something rustled on the floor, And some one called me by my name: It had become a glimmering girl With apple blossom in her hair Who called me by my name and ran And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering Through hollow lands and hilly lands.

I will find out where she has gone, And kiss her lips and take her hands; And walk among long dappled grass, 17 of 19

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And pluck till time and times are done The silver apples of the moon, The golden apples of the sun.

William Butler Yeats Born: June 13, 1865, Dublin, Ireland Died: January 28, 1939 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!

We highlight: Now Hiring at Vajrapani Institute In the California Bay Area, USA Spiritual Program Coordinator: We are looking for a creative, detail-oriented, well-organized and seasoned dharma practitioner who is familiar with the FPMT and it's teaching programs to fill an essential full-time position at Vajrapani Institute. This is an important role working with courses and retreats, guests and teachers, and advertising and promotion, all within the spiritual program. This rewarding commitment allows one to work closely with the Center Director in fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche's advice and vision for FPMT. Full information on this website Closer to home, the Land Of Joy is recruiting full time volunteers. Check out their website for details landofjoy.co.uk

Return to Contents Grand Jamyang Summer Holiday Quiz - The Answers

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1 Oneness 2 The Two Truths 3 The three jewels 4 The four noble truths 5 The five aggregates 6 The six perfections 7 The seven factors of Enlightenment 8 The eightfold Noble Path 9 A random list of nine, the four immeasurables and the five precepts 10 The ten Bodhisattva Bhumis 11 Eleven 12 The twelve links of dependent origination Return to Contents

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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