Gentle Voice

September 2015 In This Issue

Editor's welcome

Friends Scheme

Dear friends,

Dalai Lama: Balancing Calm

John, the Grand Editor, is away at the turn of this month surveying his ever growing worldwide family.

This Month at Jamyang Geshe Tashi's column The Director's Column

We hope that is a little to interest most of our readers in this issue.

Dalai Lama at O2 Dalai Lama Two Tickets Dalai Lama Four volunteers needed FPMT European Regional Coordinator

But a big plea.

Now that we have a new more interactive website we would like to perk up our databases by encouraging everyone who receives Gentle Voice to re-register their interest in receiving it.

Sign up for Gentle Voice Geshe Tashi Graded Path Community Corner Jamyang Autmn Walk

This will give us the opportunity to do some much needed data cleansing and ensure that only those people who really want to receive Gentle Voice and its update emails get it.

Ven Barbara Buddhism Ven Barbara Meditation

So please pretty please make our website administrators happy and sign up again.

Prayers against Ebola

Please see below

Kalachakra 2016 IMPG Cancelled Poetry Corner Nepal Fundraiser Opportunities for Service around the FPMT Jangchub Lamrim teachings Tibetan language class

Best wishes Mike

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

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!

Balancing Calm and Insight by His Holiness the Dalai Lama "Cultivation of Meditative Stability alone Will not destroy the discrimination of inherent existence.

Afflictive emotions can return, Making all sorts of disturbances" - Buddha Calm abiding can suppress counterproductive emotions, but it cannot totally remove them. Insight is needed because, as explained earlier, it can totally remove troublesome emotions and their consequent embroilments. Stabilizing meditation and analytical meditation must now work together. When they function this way, they can uproot problematic emotions and remove limits on intelligence so that you can fulfill the ultimate goal of helping others more effectively.

The great clarity and stability of calm abiding open the way for analysis to provide truly powerful insight into the emptiness of inherent existence. With direct perception of the emptiness of those phenomena - yourself, other people, and things - that lead you into destructive emotions, problems can be overcome at their root.

To combine calm abiding with special insight, you need to alternate focusing meditation with analytical meditation and bring them into harmony. Too much analysis will promote excitement, making the mind slightly unstable, but too much stability will make you not want to analyze. As the Tibetan sage Tsongkhapa says: "If you solely perform analytical meditation, the calm abiding generated earlier will degenerate. Therefore, upon having mounted the horse of cal abiding, you should remain within analysis and then periodically alternate this with stabilizing meditation."

Union of Calm Abiding and Special Insight Previously, calm abiding and analysis were like the two ends of a scale,the one becoming slightly lighter when the other became manifest. But now, as you skillfully alternate between stabilizing and analytical meditation, the power of analysis itself induces even greater mental and physical flexibility than before, when calm abiding was achieved by stabilizing meditation. When calm abiding and insight operate in this way, simultaneously with equal power, it is called the

"union of calm abiding and special insight". It is also called "wisdom arisen from meditation", as contrasted to the wisdom arisen from hearing, reading, study or thinking.

Earlier, while reading and thinking about emptiness, your consciousness was aimed at emptiness as an intellectual object of enquiry, so your mind and emptiness were separate and distinct. But now you have the experience of penetrating emptiness without the sense that subject and object are distant from each other. You are approaching a state in which insight and emptiness are like water put into water.

Gradually, the remaining subtle sense of subject and object entirely merging in total nonconceptuality. As Buddha says "When the fire of knowing reality just as it is arises from correct analysis itself, the the wood of conceptuality is burned, like the fire of sticks rubbed together".

Extract from How to See Yourself as You Really Are (pages 167 - 169) by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, translated and edited by Jeffery Hopkins Return to Contents

CLASSES AND EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 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 Tuesdays from 29 September at 7:30

Introduction to Meditation (For beginners) Mondays 7 September - 7.30pm Followed by:

The Stages of the Path Wednesdays from 30 September at 7:30 Shamata Practice Mornings Sunday 27 September and 25 October 10 - 1pm Compassion and Wisdom Saturday 24 October 10 -5pm Community Dharma Sunday 27th September 2 - 4pm VISITING TEACHERS AND WEEKEND TEACHINGS Heart Sutra with Mike Murray

Buddhist Meditation: Calm Abiding Mondays 14 September onwards Buddhism in a Nutshell Tuesdays 8, 15, 22 September at 7:30 Meditation 101 Wednesdays, 9, 16, 23 September Intermediate Tibetan Language for Beginners Mondays 21, 28 September; 5, 12, 19, 26 October 7 - 8.30pm Meditation for beginners 1st October 7:30pm

29 August to 3rd September (can be taken as part of the Basic Programme)

Silent Meditation Thursdays weekly from 3rd September 6.15 - 7.15pm

Introduction to the Ornament of Clear Realisations with Geshe Graham weekends, 12,13 September, 10, 11 October and 7,8 November (can be taken as part of the Basic Programme)

Tara Puja Every Tuesday at 4:30pm

White Tara Practice with Venerable Sean Price Saturday 17 October 2 - 6pm Sunday 18 October 10am - 6pm

COMMUNITY

PRACTICE GROUPS Insight Meditation Practice Group 19 September, 3, 17, 31 October 10.30- 12.30pm Open to all (note 5th September is cancelled)

Medicine Buddha Puja Every Tuesdays at 6pm Lama Choepa 7, 23 September, 7, 22 October

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course starts Thursdays, 17 Sept - 12 Nov, 10am - 4pm and also 6:30 to 8:30pm Practice day, Saturday 31 October (10am - 4pm) Details from: jane@jamyang.co.uk or vinod@jamyang.co.uk

Guhyasamaja Practice Group Saturdays 12 September, 10 October 2 - 5pm for initiates only

Jamyang Walk 10 October

Vajrayogini Practice Group Sundays 6, 13, 27 September and 4, 18, 25th October For initiates only

Chi Kung and Tai Chi Monday evenings starting 7th September taught by William Walker.

For more information and to book call William (follow the link above)

Kalachakra Practice Group 19 September, 17 October 2 - 5pm For initiates only SPECIAL EVENTS Tashilhunpo monks: Creating Compassion Mandala Monday 14 - Friday 18 Sept 11am to 6pm each day

Community Dharma Sunday 27th September 2 - 4pm

Satyananda Yoga Tuesday evenings starting 8th September taught by Judy Watchman For more information and to book call Judy (follow the link above)

Jamyang Board Community Day 26th September 11:30am till 4pm

Gentle Vinyassa Flow Wednesday starting 9th September 6:00pm to 7:15pm

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

Hridaya (Heart Centre) Yoga Taught by Naz Wednesday evenings 7.30pm starting 9th September.

For more information please call Naz (follow the link above)

You can drop in to all evening classes unless we state otherwise

Chair Yoga Taught by Cathy Brebion starting 1st September Tuesdays 10.30am - 11.30am

Return to Contents

Geshe Tashi's column Geshe Tashi is in India visiting his teacher, Mey Tsang Geshe Thubten Rinchen, and his Dad Jamyang. He sends his best wishes to all.

His classes resume on Tuesday 29 September (The Enlightenment Potential) and Wednesday 30 September (The Graded Path to Enlightenment Meditations of the Middle Length Lam Rim by Je Rinpoche Tsongkhapa).

He will re-start giving dharma practice interviews on Wednesday 30 September in 30 minute slots between 4 and 6pm. If you want to book an interview on a Wednesday in Autumn please email the centre to see what slots are available.

Return to Contents

Director's Column "Lo! A ripe sheaf of many golden days Gleaned by the year in autumn's harvest ways, With here and there, blood-tinted as an ember, Some crimson poppy of a late delight Atoning in its splendour for the flight Of summer blooms and joys This is September."

Hilaire Belloc

Autumn is on the way. Hope everyone has enjoyed a good summer break. It never really seemed to realise its potential and blossom into the full glory of long

periods of sunshine but had its moments and was pleasant enough for these parts.

Have just returned from retreat up at the Land of Joy. It was a real delight.

Greenhaugh Hall is such a beautiful place, located in the Northumberland National Park, with perfect conditions for retreat. It is remote, silent, in an area of outstanding natural beauty with inspiring views and many opportunities for walking and has a broad sky, truly dark at night, free of surface light pollution and full of stars. In fact, the area is the third largest protected Dark Sky reserve in the world and has some of the darkest skies in Europe.

It was a wonderful group of people to have been on retreat with and many, many thanks to Marga, Michelle, Kerry and Mark for their great support for all of us, before during and after the retreat. Marga came over from Spain especially to take care of the catering for the retreat and her culinary skills were superb.

Annabel and Paul, who both live locally in Hexham, also gave unstintingly of themselves in great spirit in support of their fellow retreatants, the staff and Marga. Everyone approached the retreat in such a good spirit and enthusiastically gave sterling service in the karma yoga sessions.

Please think about getting up to Land of Joy for a retreat sometime in the coming year, if you have useful building or garden skills to offer or can do some useful manual work to help develop the huge potential of Land of Joy, contact Mark the Director on: mark@landofjoy.co.uk Land of Joy also needs your financial support so, if you can manage it, see if you can make a regular or oneoff Gift Aided donation to help develop and sustain it for everyone.

Hope you have all seen the new website that we launched at the beginning of August - if not, check it out. Can I remind all our Gentle Voice subscribers to sign up on our new website with their details? This is to ensure you will continue to receive regular Jamyang news & updates if you want to. Watch this space further web based developments are afoot and you may be able to play a very important role in helping to make this possible!

We have our very busy September to December programme out now and up on the website.

Geshe-la will be teaching on Enlightenment Potential, Middle Length Lam Rim, Compassion &Wisdom and the Altruistic Heart this term, as well as doing two Shamata Sunday mornings and leading our reflective celebration of Holy Buddha Day, the Return from Tushita on Thursday, 3 November. Geshe Graham will be offering an Introduction to the Ornament for Clear Realisations and Andy Weber will be back in December with a lecture and one of his Tibetan drawing and painting workshop weekends.

The Tashi Lhunpo monks will again be honouring us here from the 14th to 18th September and while at Jamyang they will create a sand mandala of the Buddha of Compassion, Chenresig.

Don't forget to save the date for Saturday, 26 September to join Geshe-la, board of Trustees, staff and volunteers for the Jamyang Board Community Day - go online now and register, we are offering lunch to all who attend. This is a great opportunity to meet, remember, rejoice, celebrate, review where we have come from and consider how we might best serve our Buddhist Community and the local and wider Community in the future.

There is a double Nyung Nay with Steff Hill at the end of December and a full programme of meditation and introductory courses, group practice and community events between now and the end of the year - including the Jamyang & FPMT Party to rejoice and celebrate Jamyang's 37th year of existence and our 20th year in the Old Courthouse here in Renfrew Road on Saturday, 28 November. Much look forward to seeing many of you here again this month.

Return to Contents His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the O2 Arena on Saturday 19 September

Tickets are still available to see His Holiness at the O2 Arena on Saturday 19 September but many of the good ones have now sold out, but see below ...

To check what tickets are still available please visit the site Return to Contents Two tickets for His Holiness on 19 September

Two of our students bought tickets and now can't go.

They write ....

After we bought our tickets for His Holiness' talk at the O2, we had something come up out of the country that we have to do that week. So, we have two extra tickets.

I wonder if you could ask around whether anyone would want to buy them off us? Or part-buy?

They're in Block 421, Row L, seats 963 and 964.

We paid ÂŁ85 for the pair, and would of course like to get that back, if someone were interested in buying them.

So if that someone is you please contact Mike Murray the SPC at the Centre and he will send on your email to the potential sellers Four volunteer ushers needed for HHDL 19 Sept O2 Arena event

We have been asked to provide some volunteers (max 6) who can help out with the ushering etc at the O2 Arena on Saturday 19 September. It will mean turning up at the venue early, most probably spend most of the event standing facing the audience for the event, and staying an hour or so after the afternoon event.

Volunteers will need to have already bought their ticket (if you have not already got one then we suggest you get a ticket in the gods, the cheapest, as you won't get to sit in it and HHDL will be just a dot on the horizon if you do).

This really an offering of service to His Holiness to help Tibet House UK to run the event smoothly.

If this is you then please contact Mike Murray the SPC at Jamyang to register your interest. He may ask you to come in and chat to him if he doesn't remember you or know you. Please forgive him this inconvenience. Mike Murray is very very decrepit and ancient now.

Return to Contents Opportunity to Offer Service as European Regional Coordinator

Opportunity to Offer Service as European Regional Coordinator Offer service in this key role, supporting the FPMT centers, projects and services in Europe and the FPMT organization worldwide.

Aim The Regional Coordinator supports local FPMT entities in their work to fulfil the FPMT Mission: preserving and spreading the Dharma. Recognizing that to fulfil the FPMT mission successfully in the short, medium and long term relies on alignment with FPMT, good governance, and karma.

Stronger regional and national offices are already demonstrating their ability to help local centers, projects and services share their experience and navigate their unique legal, cultural, and financial situations and requirements in a way which one international office cannot hope to do without being very 'top heavy'.

As we develop integrated international, regional and national management this is building a stronger, more sustainable foundation, so we are better able to fulfil Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Vast Vision.

Specifically the Regional Coordinator Aims To: Help all local centers, projects and services to understand and implement FPMT education programs, policies and guidelines, and to develop sustainably and well as part of the FPMT mandala; Give locally and culturally-relevant advice and support in the relevant language if possible, based on familiarity with FPMT policy and guidelines and local governance best practice; Work together with local FPMT entities to be able to identify and help resolve potential problems before they become serious.

Some examples of how the regional coordinator helps local centers, projects and services: Shares relevant information locally, and from and to International Office Organizes regular, well-structured meetings and follow up from meetings Coordinates tours of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and other FPMT registered teachers Coordinates a regional mediation committee able to respond to complaints/grievances where necessary Mentors new study groups.

Ideal Qualities Of A New Regional Coordinator: o Enthusiasm for developing the support offered by the European Regional Office to the over 50 centers, projects, services and study groups; while working collaboratively with the national coordinators in the region o At least some years of experience as director, SPC or board member of an FPMT center, project or service and of national coordinator. o Good communication skills and fluency in English and at least one other European language. o Well organized. o Able to work part-time for 20-25 hours/month. o Not a current director or SPC. The position is a part-time position (supported financially by dues from the local FPMT entities as stipend and with an option of living within a residential centre premises).

Apply to Claire by September 21st.

Among the candidates a new coordinator would then be appointed by and train with Claire; to ideally start around end of October or beginning of November with a full handover expected to happen from Rafa during few months, to specially help with already planned teachers' tours and other needed areas.

Also the new RC will have support from people already working closely with the Regional Office at the level of education/tours, at the level of funding, mediation, accounting and other relevant areas as agreed in last Regional Meeting

Sign up for Gentle Voice on the new website

As you may noticed since 1 August Jamyang has been working with a new more responsive website.

We have a request to all our Gentle Voice subscribers: We are regularly reminded that 'All compounded phenomena are dynamic / impermanent'.

The mailing list will change in the near future - Can we ask all our Gentle Voice subscribers to sign up on our new website with their details? This is to ensure you will receiver regular Jamyang news & updates.

You can do so by going to the main page, scroll down to the 'sign up' button, click on it (this will get you to the sign-up page), enter your details there, done!

Many thanks!

Your old contact email addresses will not be automatically transferred so please do be pro-active and sign up otherwise you may suddenly find you are not getting Gentle Voice and its Updates any more.

Best wishes Return to Contents Geshe Tashi teaches the Graded Path to Enlightenment Meditations Wednesdays starting 30 September

The title says it all.

Geshe Tashi continues his teaching of the Graded Path to Enlightenment Meditations and starts on those suitable for a personal of broad spiritual scope, someone capable of training to become a Fully Enlightened Buddha so that they can best help sentient beings be free of mental suffering, contaminated karma and delusion.

It all starts with love, care, kindness, compassion and whopping great big altruism......

Come along and listen.

Back to Contents Community Corner

MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) A few places are left for both morning and evening Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses which begin on Thursday, 17th September. The 8 week course has proved to have very beneficial long term effects for most participants. To secure your place, sign up quickly! Contact jane@jamyang.co.uk or vinod@jamyang.co.uk or complete the on line form at: londoncentreformindfulness.com. Concessions available.

FOLDABLE WHEELCHAIR Do you have a folding wheelchair in good condition which you or a family member could offer for the Courthouse Community Centre projects working from Jamyang? If so, please contact: jane@jamyang.co.uk.

VOLUNTEER HELP Would you like to help on one (or more!) of the many projects running out of Jamyang, eg school visits, Repaying the Kindness carers' programme, gardening? If so, please contact: jane@jamyang.co.uk. Many thanks!

BOOK FAIR/PEACE IN THE CITY/FILM SHOW Many, many thanks to all who helped with the book fair/Peace in the City event and film showing of Little Tibet 2 last weekend. Big thanks also to all those who contributed literally thousands of books/CDs/ DVDs etc, especially Dave Benn (former bookshop manager) who very generously offered the lion's share. In spite of holiday time and poor weather, we managed to raise ÂŁ614.47 and 30 centimes, over the weekend which is very nearly the cost of a new thangkha (circa ÂŁ700). So massive thanks once again to all who gave up so much of their time and energies. We had a number of new visitors to Jamyang, including two volunteer helpers. This is a major aim of such events, to open the doors of Jamyang to people who may not have visited before. The cafe also did well, breaking even on both days. The Director of Little Tibet 2 attended the film showing on Saturday evening and gave an interesting insight into the making of his films, with time for question and answer afterwards. We have another Peace in the City therapy day on Sunday, 15th November, so I hope more of you can join us then.

Jane Sill Return to Contents

Jamyang Autumn Walk 10 October with Robin Bath

Save the date for your diaries.

Stroll out with Robin Bath in early October and discover hidden the bye ways and wonders of London and its environs on one of his wonderful Jamyang Walks. These are relaxed easy going social events giving people connected with Jamyang, whether Buddhist or not, a chance to get to know each other a bit better.

Robin is a born raconteur with fine sense of humour, who had he been born earlier would have been a firm favourite on 'Workers Play Time'. A splendid fellow indeed, what ho !

As always, about a week before the event Robin will reveal his latest mystery tour to website administrators and the poster creators who will then let folk know.

The anticipation starts building ....

Buddhism in a Nutshell with Venerable Barbara Shannon.

Tuesdays 8, 15 and 22 September

Buddhism in a Nutshell is one of the FPMT Introductory courses. It gives an high level overview of the essential practices on the path to Enlightenment and is based around the text "The Foundation of all Good Qualities" by Je Rinpoche Lama Tsongkhapa.

Venerable Barbara Shannon will present the course over 3 evenings in September. Connected with Jamyang London for well over 25 years now, she has a lot of experience in Buddhism and lots of experience answering questions about what it is and how to practice it.

Ideal for those wanting to get an overview of the path to enlightenment, whether new students or more established students, it is also a great way to refresh familiarity with the key meditations to to turn us from self centred to other centred and to ignite the wish to free not just ourselves but all beings from the difficulties of being unenlightened.

Return to Contents Meditation 101 with Venerable Barbara Shannon.

Wednesdays 9, 16, 23 September

Meditation 101 is the FPMT Introductory course that introduces students to

meditation through instruction on the essential and then trying out various different kinds of meditation to get a taste of them.

Come along on Wednesdays 9, 16, 22 in Septemberand experience them under the capable guidance of Venerable Barbara Shannon.

A long time student at Jamyang London, Venerable Barbara knows just how difficult it is to keep a daily meditation practice going in this wired world and has plenty of practical advice to help you keep it daily and bright and fresh.

An ideal introduction to meditation, and also ideal as a refresher. Come along, taste, enjoy!

Return to Contents Prayers against Ebola restart on Wednesday 7 October 5.45 - 7pm

Ilana, Viv and Rose will be re-starting their weekly session of prayers and practices against Ebola in West Africa.

The sessions re-start on Wednesday 7 October, will take place in the Smaller Temple and run from 5.45 - 7pm.

All are welcome to join in.

Kalachakra Initiation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya January 2016 A wonderful opportunity to start or strengthen the connection with this extraordinary Buddhist Tantra practice.

Please visit the website for further details.

Return to Contents IMPG Cancelled Saturday 5 September

Yes unfortunately we have had to cancel the Insight Meditation Practice Group session scheduled for Saturday 5 September.

All phenomena are impermanent. All contaminated phenomena are suffering.

All phenomena are empty and selfless. Nirvana alone is bliss.

Return to Contents

Poetry Corner This month a Milligan-esque poem found under a child's pillow after the tooth

fairy had been and left some money (in return for the child's tooth that had fallen out - for those of you not familiar with English traditions).

"I am a little fairy My name is Fairy Nuff."

Return to Contents RAISING FUNDS FOR NEPAL - SPECIAL SHOWING OF LITTLE TIBET 2, Saturday, 26th September at 6 pm We are holding a special viewing of Little Tibet 2, a moving account by Sonam, of his return to his father's place of birth, on the borders of Tibet and Nepal, on Saturday, 26th September at 6 pm, following the Jamyang Board Community Day. All proceeds (including 50% of DVDs sold on the evening) will be given to Shambhu who, as many of you know, helps out at Jamyang in so many different capacities. He will add this to monies he has already raised from his osteopathy clinic, to take to his home village in Nepal which he will be visiting in October.

These will be used to assist essential infrastructure repairs, so vital for the whole community.

The film director has promised to attend if he is in the UK and will field a Q&A session after the film showing.

Bring snacks to share. ÂŁ6 entry with donations welcome.

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 Jangchub Lamrim at Bylakuppe India in late December

There is still time to register for His Holiness' teachings and then apply for the necessary protected area permit to attend the teachings this December at Bylakuppe.

For more information please visit the Jangchub LamRim website

Return to Contents Intermediate Tibetan for Beginners with Tenzin Samten starts 21 September

Native Tibetan language speaker Tenzin Samten is continuing to offer Tibetan for Beginners from Monday 21 September onwards. The classes will take place in the Library from 7 to 8.30pm.

Intermediate for beginners (or level 2) assumes that participants can read aloud and spell out syllables in Tibetan and know (generally) how the letter combinations are pronounced. At this level you start learning some vocabulary and grammar, enough to help you to read and understand some short prayers and some short texts.

Take advantage of the fact that Samten la is over in London for a while and start to enhance the beauty of your practice.

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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