Gentle Voice June 2012
Subject: Gentle Voice June 2012 Date: 12/06/12 16:35
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Gentle Voice June 2012
December 2011 and January 2012 In This Issue Training the Mind, His Holiness the Dalai Lama His Holiness The Dalai Lama in the UK 2012 This month at Jamyang Geshe Tashi's column The Director's Column Saga Dawa World-wide Golden Light Sutra recitation Book Review Poetry Corner Repaying The Kindness Says Thank You Open Garden Squares Summer Work Camp Director Vacancy at Jamyang London Peace Pagoda Work Opportunity Vajrapani Work Opportunity Portland About FPMT Your thoughts for Gentle Voice
Editor's welcome
Hello, I was standing on a cliff top near the very appropriately named coastal village of Inner Hope in South Devon, contemplating not just the sea and the sun but also the amazing fact that I am alive; and not just alive but here in the UK when His Holiness the Dalai Lama very kindly pays us a visit. I hope you will all get the chance to hear him, if not in Manchester then at least at his talk in London. As his teachings in Manchester are on the subject of the eight verses of mind training then we include another transcript of a talk he gave on this subject some time ago. In case you missed our mid month update we have included the advert for Jamyang and CCC Director in this edition as well. Mike Murray, our esteemed and glorious leader (please excuse the North Korean speak and the split infinitive), is not leaving. He has been doing the job of Director and SPC for over six months and the time has come to split these two roles out again. It is just that doing two jobs is too much. You will probably have noticed that whenever you come to Jamyang, morning, afternoon, evening, weekends - Mike is always there. So a more balanced approach is needed and Mike wants to return to his previous work as
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Spiritual Programme Coordinator. Finding a suitable Director is very important for the future of Jamyang and the Courthouse Community Centre, so if you feel that you have the aptitude and desire for the post please consider applying. In this edition you will find all the usual features together with a full preview of the Jamyang programme over the next couple of months. I hope you enjoy reading this issue and do let us know if you wish to contribute to forthcoming editions. Peace and Love, John
Training the Mind: Verse 2, Commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama The following extract is from a talk His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave in Washington D.C. in 1998. Whenever I interact with someone, May I view myself as the lowest amongst all, And, from the very depths of my heart, Respectfully hold others as superior. The first verse pointed to the need to cultivate the thought of regarding all other sentient beings as precious. In the second verse, the point being made is that the recognition of the preciousness of other sentient beings, and the sense of caring that you develop on that basis, should not be grounded on a feeling of pity toward other sentient beings, that is, on the thought that they are inferior. Rather, what is being emphasized is a sense of caring for other sentient beings and a recognition of their preciousness based on reverence and respect, as superior beings. I would like to emphasize here how we should understand compassion in the Buddhist context. Generally speaking, in the Buddhist tradition, compassion and loving kindness are seen as two sides of same thing. Compassion is said to be the empathetic wish that aspires to see the object of compassion, the sentient being, free from suffering. Loving kindness is the aspiration that wishes happiness upon others. In this context, love and compassion should not be confused with love and compassion in the conventional sense. For example, we experience a sense of closeness toward people who are dear to us. We feel a sense of compassion and empathy for them. We also have strong love for these people, but often this love or
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compassion is grounded in self-referential considerations: "So-and-so is my friend," "my spouse," "my child," and so on. What happens with this kind of love or compassion, which may be strong, is that it is tinged with attachment because it involves self-referential considerations. Once there is attachment there is also the potential for anger and hatred to arise. Attachment goes hand in hand with anger and hatred. For example, if one's compassion toward someone is tinged with attachment, it can easily turn into its emotional opposite due to the slightest incident. Then instead of wishing that person to be happy, you might wish that person to be miserable. True compassion and love in the context of training of the mind is based on the simple recognition that others, just like myself, naturally aspire to be happy and to overcome suffering, and that others, just like myself, have the natural right to fulfill that basic aspiration. The empathy you develop toward a person based on recognition of this basic fact is universal compassion. There is no element of prejudice, no element of discrimination. This compassion is able to be extended to all sentient beings, so long as they are capable of experiencing pain and happiness. Thus, the essential feature of true compassion is that it is universal and not discriminatory. As such, training the mind in cultivating compassion in the Buddhist tradition first involves cultivating a thought of even-mindedness, or equanimity, toward all sentient beings. For example, you may reflect upon the fact that such-and-such a person may be your friend, your relative, and so forth in this life, but that this person may have been, from a Buddhist point of view, your worst enemy in a past life. Similarly, you apply the same sort of reasoning to someone you consider an enemy: although this person may be negative toward you and is your enemy in this life, he or she could have been your best friend in a past life, or could have been related to you, and so on. By reflecting upon the fluctuating nature of one's relationships with others and also on the potential that exists in all sentient beings to be friends and enemies, you develop this even-mindedness or equanimity. The practice of developing or cultivating equanimity involves a form of detachment, but it is important to understand what detachment means. Sometimes when people hear about the Buddhist practice of detachment, they think that Buddhism is advocating indifference toward all things, but that is not the case. First, cultivating detachment, one could say, takes the sting out of discriminatory emotions toward others that are based on considerations of distance or closeness. You lay the groundwork on which you can cultivate genuine compassion extending to all other sentient beings. The Buddhist teaching on detachment does not imply developing an attitude of disengagement from or indifference to the world or life. Moving on to another line of the verse, I think it is important to understand the expression "May I see myself lower than all others" in the right context. Certainly it is not saying that you should engage in thoughts that would lead to lower self-esteem, or that you should lose all sense of hope and feel dejected, thinking, "I'm the lowest of all. I have no capacity, I cannot do anything and have no power." This is not the kind of consideration of lowness that is being referred to here. The regarding of oneself as lower than others really has to be understood in relative terms. Generally speaking, human beings are superior to
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animals. We are equipped with the ability to judge between right and wrong and to think in terms of the future and so on. However, one could also argue that in other respects human beings are inferior to animals. For example, animals may not have the ability to judge between right and wrong in a moral sense, and they might not have the ability to see the long-term consequences of their actions, but within the animal realm there is at least a certain sense of order. If you look at the African savannah, for example, predators prey on other animals only out of necessity when they are hungry. When they are not hungry, you can see them coexisting quite peacefully. But we human beings, despite our ability to judge between right and wrong, sometimes act out of pure greed. Sometimes we engage in actions purely out of indulgence--we kill out of a sense of "sport," say, when we go hunting or fishing. So, in a sense, one could argue that human beings have proven to be inferior to animals. It is in such relativistic terms that we can regard ourselves as lower than others. One of the reasons for using the word "lower" is to emphasize that normally when we give in to ordinary emotions of anger, hatred, strong attachment, and greed, we do so without any sense of restraint. Often we are totally oblivious to the impact our behavior has on other sentient beings. But by deliberately cultivating the thought of regarding others as superior and worthy of your reverence, you provide yourself with a restraining factor. Then, when emotions arise, they will not be so powerful as to cause you to disregard the impact of your actions upon other sentient beings. It is on these grounds that recognition of others as superior to yourself is suggested. To read the full series of talks on the 8 Verses of Mind Training just follow this link Training the Mind His Holiness The Dalai Lama in the UK 2012 Tickets for the London talk and all talks in Scotland are now sold out. There are still tickets available for the teachings in Manchester. Just follow this link on the right.
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THIS MONTH AND NEXT AT JAMYANG CLASSES AND EVENTS IN JUNE AND JULY AT JAMYANG CLASSES and RETREATS with GESHE TASHI
WEEK DAY EVENINGS
Saturday 14 - Sunday 22 July 8am - 5pm Summer Retreat Gradual Path to Enlightenment
Thursdays 7, 14, 21, 28 June, 5, 12 July 7.30 - 9pm with David Ford Buddhist Mediation in Practice
Wednesdays 6, 13, 20, 27 June, 4, 11 July 7.30pm Meditation for Enlightenment 12th June 7:30pm How to cope when you are down
Mondays 4, 11, 18, 25 June, 2, 9 July 7.30 - 9pm with Roy Sutherwood and Gerry Cummins Buddhist Meditation: Insight with a full practice day on the 16 June
26th June 7:30pm Developing a generous heart
Tuesdays 1 May to 31 July (except 19th June and 17 July) 6:15 -7pm Medicine Buddha Puja
3rd, 10th July 7:30pm Purification
14, 29 June, 13, 28 July Lama Choepa
RETREATS and WEEKEND TEACHINGS and PRACTICE
Thursdays 7,14, 21, 28 June, 5, 12 July 6.15 - 7.15pm Silent Meditation
2 & 3 June 10 - 5pm with Venerable Robina Courtin The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra (an introduction) 7 & 8 July 10am - 5pm with Venerable Nun Sangye Khandro (Kathy MacDonald) Nurturing the Kind Heart PRACTICE GROUPS 23rd June, 4th, 11th August 10.3012.30pm open to all Insight Meditation Practice Group Kalachakra Group meets 7th July, 4th August 2 -5:30pm for initiates only
Mondays 30 July, 13 & 20 August 7:30 - 9pm with Chitra Ramgoolam Settling Meditation WEEK DAY DAYTIME Tuesdays 1 May to 31 July (except 19th June and 17 July) 4pm set up for puja at 4.30pm Tara Puja Mondays 4, 11, 18, 25 June, 2, 9 July Wednesdays 6, 13, 20, 27 June, 4, 11 July 12 - 1pm with Gerry Cummins Lunchtime Meditation and Relaxation
Guhyasamaja Group meets 8th July, 10am for initiates only
COMMUNITY
Vajrayogini group meets 8 July, 12 August 2 - 5:30pm for initiates only
Monday evenings Chi Kung and Tai Chi
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SPECIAL EVENTS Monday 4 June (with Mahayana precepts) 8am - 5pm Buddha Day/ Saga Dawa A major festival in the Buddhist calendar. Please register for lunch.
Please book for all weekend classes other than practice groups by calling the office on 02078208787 or email admin@jamyang.co.uk
You can drop in to all evening classes unless we state otherwise.
Taught by William Walker. For more information and to book call William (follow the link above) Tuesday and Wednesday evenings Yoga Taught by Judy Watchman For more information and to book call Judy (follow the link above) Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June 10am - 5pm London Open Garden Squares Weekend 23 June Jamyang Walk 'Dalai Lama Renaissance' film screening Vol. 1 on 7 July & Vol. 2 on 8 July 7pm-9.30pm 28 July 10am - 4pm Dying Well 1st July Family Day 29th July Peace in the City in conjunction with Family Day
Geshe Tashi's column Geshe Tashi has been away this month accompanying His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his travels in Europe. He returns to Jamyang soon, but alas not in time for the publication of this newsletter.
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Director's Column Hello gentle folks, This month preparations for the visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the UK seem to have taken centre stage in Centre activities, whether it was getting tickets for and then attending the Templeton Prize ceremony in St Pauls, making sure the tickets for Manchester and the Royal Albert Hall arrived safe and sound, or catching glimpses of Geshe Tashi with His Holiness in the media coverage. It really is a huge thing for us at Jamyang when His Holiness visits the UK and especially when, as in Manchester, he gives Buddhist teachings. His approach to life and the way he is with people is just so inspiring. It reminds us that it is possible to turn the mind round from self-centredness to altruism, from irritation and anger to loving kindness, from ignorance to understanding. There is just something about him and the way he explains things that makes his advice for living appear as the only clear headed way to live life. It is great to be reminded that the main job is developing real unaffected loving kindness. If you haven't already booked up for Manchester please don't leave it too late. We have a Jamyang London/ FPMT UK information table at the event so you can also come and say hello to us and find out what the other FPMT UK groups are up to - especially the Land of Joy Retreat Centre which has just been given the official blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Very exciting. When in the Centre please have a look at the wooden cabinet in the main temple that Miguel has made to hold candles etc and all things needed for light offerings. It is a really fine piece of craftsmanship, and it is difficult to believe that the rather dark and dirty old shelves down in the basement that he re-used could produce such warm and beautiful wood. Miguel is not only an expert craftsman but has vision - able to recognise inner beauty through surface grime and to bring out that beauty in the finished work. Do you fancy volunteering? Then please think about helping out with the annual August Bank Holiday Monday Jumble Sale and/ or signing up to help spruce up the Centre during our annual workcamp week. Please contact Erika on admin@jamyang.co.uk if you can give of time and/ or skills. Thank you. Enjoy the summer!
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Saga Dawa: Monday 4th June This is one of the three Buddhist holy days celebrated by all Tibetan Buddhists. On this day we fondly remember the Buddha Shakyamuni's birth at Lumbini, his enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and his parinirvana at Kushinagar. It is a great day to come together and Jamyang will host a full day of practice. The schedule is below. Please let us know if you will be coming so that we can notify the kitchen of lunch numbers. The lunchtime refuge ceremony is an opportunity for anyone who wishes to make a formal commitment to follow the Buddhist path. Do let us know if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity. The day will flow something like this 08.00am - Motivation and Mahayana precepts 09.00am - Short break 09.15am - Shakyamuni Buddha Puja 10.15am - Short break 10.30am - Vajrasattva Purification puja 11.30am - Precept lunch make according to kriya tantra dietary retrictions 01.00pm - Refuge ceremony (for those who have agreed participation well in advance with Geshe Tashi) 02.00pm - Chenrezig Compassion Puja 03.00pm - Tea break 03.30pm - Tara liberating energy puja 04.30pm - Dedications 2012 World-Wide Saka Dawa Sutra of Golden LightRecitation
May 21 - June 4 On the full moon day, June 4 for this year, of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar, Buddha Shakyamuni took birth, attained full and complete Enlightenment and passed into Parinirvana. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Treasure of Quotations and Logic notes that virtuous actions done on this day are multiplied one hundred million times, and recommends activities for this time such as reciting the sublime Sutra of Golden Light. We recite the Sutra of Golden Light to end suffering and to benefit others, to create peace and to eliminate obstacles to
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fulfillment of our teachers' wishes. If you can, see yourself in a group because, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche notes, "Karma is more powerful when gathered by many ...The more people there are supporting, the more powerful it becomes. When karma is more powerful the result comes more quickly, whether it is a project or realization." This recitation is continuous May 22 until June 4. Please join whenever you can from anywhere. You need no special permissions. Simply put theGolden Light on your voice and in your heart. Lama Zopa Rinpoche tells us, "The holy Golden Light Sutra is ... extremely powerful and fulfills all one's wishes, as well as bringing peace and happiness for all sentient beings up to enlightenment. It is also extremely powerful for world peace, for your own protection, and for the protection of the country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country ... Anyone can read this text, Buddhists and non-Buddhists who desire world peace." Before you begin, bathe your hands, face and feet. Take refuge and generate a good motivation. To multiply merits, say this mantra seven times: Om Dhare Dhare Bendhare Svaha. Make heartfelt, extensive dedications for the long stable lives of the precious teachers, for fulfillment of their holy wishes, and for the end of violence, disaster and disease for all. For us in the UK we can also dedicate for a peaceful Olympic Games Click here for more on dedication Please report your recitation to Mike or Erika. The Sutra "frees every being from countless oceans of suffering... Removes the fear of the terrified and poor, and causes supreme virtue."The Sutra of Golden Light is available in a variety of languages here
Book Review: Satipatthana : The Direct Path to Realization, by Venerable Analayo. Published by Windhorse Publications Those of us who attended Gareth Sparham's fascinating weekend seminar in May "Is there a Mind in Enlightenment?" will may have come away with the insight that Bodhisattvas teach "Basic Buddhism" for the benefit of all. What is "basic Buddhism"? It is the teachings on the Four Noble Truths, including the eightfold path and the 37 factors of Enlightenment (among much more). The entry point of the Boddhisattva path is the development of Bodhicitta. Therefore those of us who aspire to enter the path of the Boddhisattvas need to develop Bodhicitta based on a full understanding of the Four Noble Truths and the path followed by the Arhats (the ones who enter Nirvana). So I hereby commend to you this book which is an erudite and insightful commentary of the jewel of meditation instructions in the Pali Cannon The Satipatthana Sutra.
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This sutra is the core text that is followed by all those subsequent teachers right up to the present day who teach Vipassana Meditation and can be seen as the core practice of the aspiring Arhat. Vipassana is frequently misunderstood in the Mahayana Schools as simply being a practice that involves emptying the mind anathema especially to the Gelugka school that values philosophical enquiry as the supreme key to right understanding. In this book, "Satipatthana The Direct Path to Realization", Venerable Analayo systematically goes through the sutra explaining it line by line and referencing out to other sutras and respected commentaries. The Satipatthana meditations are in fact a huge undertaking. The common understanding of Vipassana as simply a meditation on the breath or on the physical sensations does not last the simplest reading of the sutra. This sutra is about mindfulness and, as in all Buddhist traditions, there are four aspects to mindfulness: body, feelings, mental states and dharmas. Here dharmas is interpreted differently to Tibetan sources which speak of this as external phenomena. In this sutra dharmas are the teachings of the Buddha: the five hindrances, the five aggregates, the six sense spheres, the seven awakening factors and the Four Noble Truths. As Venerable Analayo states "These classificatory schemes are not in themselves the objects of meditation, but constitute frameworks of points of reference to be applied during contemplation". In other words they should inform the contemplations of the body, feelings and mental states Even the meditations on the body are a complex set of contemplations, starting with meditation on the breath, the calming of the body, the body postures, and proceeding right through to seeing the body as a collection of parts, the process of aging and death and the decomposition of the corpse. The aim of these meditations on the body and all the satipatthana contemplations is to realise the truth of the three marks of life: Impermanence, Selflessness and Unsatisfactoriness (suffering as it is usually translated). In reading and following the practices outlined in this book you cannot help but to start to question the implicit beliefs we have in the true and permanent existence of this creature which we call "me". As good Mahayana practitioners you are probably already asking yourself, where then is the compassion in all this? I confess to not being clear on this. There are other sutras that speak of the practice of Metta (loving kindness). It can seem that the practices of Metta are bolted onto this framework, often as the last few minutes of a longer meditation period. I offer you an alternative possibility. Throughout this sutra the practitioner is repeatedly asked to contemplate the four Satipatthanas "Internally and externally". What did the Buddha mean by this? Perhaps the internal contemplation is the development of wisdom and the external contemplation is intended to nurture not just a wider wisdom but also a deep compassion based on understanding the plight of all sentient beings. This book is an outstanding piece of academic work which also has the very rare gift of being a manual for spiritual practice. Venerable Analayo does not speak about his own experiences. This is not a book charting the peaks and troughs of a spiritual journey and documenting each moment of struggle until a final climatic realisation is reached. Venerable Analayo is far too subtle for this. His approach embodies the very teaching he is explaining, he just stands back, watches the teaching unfold and explains the processes and meaning. He does not grasp, reject, or enter any aspect that he describes. In this way he
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exemplifies the practice that is being explained. Studying and practicing as he describes will enhance and deepen your meditation and enable you to understand the scope and enormous benefits of following this path. Poetry Corner Rock slab seat legs folded sitting alone Not loathing noise not savoring silence The carefree clouds concur by Jakushitsu (1290 - 1367) from "A Quiet Room: The Poetry of Zen Master Jakushitsu", Translated by Arthur Braverman
Repaying the Kindness Gives Thanks for a Generous Donation Repaying The Kindness (RTK), the programme dedicated to making the lives of carers more joyful and balanced, has recently been at risk of closure following an end from its usual sources of funding. The programme, that has been offering breaks for carers in the Lambeth and Southwark area and serving around 200 carers a year was thrown a lifeline from a longstanding devotee and friend of Jamyang, the Venerable Palmo. On the 15th May, RTK's carers and volunteers got together to thank Venerable Palmo for her very kind and generous donation - a donation that ensures the continuity of the program into the foreseeable future. The day, which began at 11am, was called a "Healing Day", with meditation sessions before and after a scrumptious lunch prepared by Jamyang's incredible cafe team, and included a volunteer offering the carers Reiki treatment at no cost. The warm and informal atmosphere provided the carers, volunteers and Venerable Palmo with an opportunity to talk and get to know each other better and to share personal experiences. The day concluded with the cutting of a cake by the Venerable Palmo, joined by the rest of the Jamyang Team.
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Jamyang @ Open Garden Squares OPEN GARDEN SQUARE WEEKEND - Saturday, 9th June & Sunday, 10th June (10 am - 5pm) London opens it's secret gardens to the public every year as part of this event. We also participate: can you help? A big request for helpers please! If you can help out even for an hour or two, manning the gates and helping with the flow of visitors on Saturday 9th June &/or Sunday 10th June (10 am - 5 pm), that would be very much appreciated. It should be a really lovely weekend but a few extra helpers to smooth the day would really help a lot. Do get back to me if you can help, even if for a short time, and I will devise a rota for the weekend. Do pass on this message to anyone else who you think may like to help out and also let friends and family know about the weekend. Many, many thanks in advance. Jane & Vinod jane@jamyang.co.uk or vinod@jamyang.co.uk Details from: www.opensquares.org Summer Work Camp Yes, it is summer - at least when we went to press! If you can spare a few days to help us with a range of very necessary jobs around the centre then the work camp will run from 18-24 August. You do not need to attend the whole camp though we would be most grateful if you could. The tasks range from jobs in the garden and the outside of the building, tidying up and some decorating. No previous experience is required. We welcome people with two left feet and two left hands (apologies to the left -handed ones - just substitute right for left in the above). Free lunch is provided to those working whole days - and by gosh it's good. Let Erica know if you will be attending and on what days. Email or phone the office.
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Director/ Chief Executive Post at Jamyang Buddhist Centre and CCC Director/ Chief Executive: Jamyang Buddhist Centre and the Courthouse Community Centre, London. Starting August 2011. Salary package: ÂŁ24,000 a year with 30 days paid holiday a year. We are looking for a confident and dynamic hands on Director who is a real team player, working to the Board of Trustees in a consolidating role to motivate, support and lead the staff and volunteer team of London's Jamyang Buddhist Centre and its related charity, the Courthouse Community Centre (CCC) through their challenging next period of development. Jamyang Buddhist Centre is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). The London Centre is one of the oldest, largest and busiest of the city centres in the FPMT worldwide mandala. Jamyang formed CCC to carry out its community work. The CCC's current major projects are Repaying the Kindness (RTK), which offers respite care for carers, and the developing London Centre for Mindfulness, delivering mindfulness based stress reduction courses for the community and the National Health Service (NHS). The Trustees also wish to expand the range of activities that CCC is involved in. The job ahead The job of the Centre Director over the next three to five years has the following key tasks: Providing inspiring leadership and management of the staff and volunteers to develop and deliver Jamyang's agreed strategy fulfilling its commitments to education, the wider community and its students. Working creatively and cohesively with: The Spiritual Programme Coordinator to ensure that Jamyang's education and spiritual practice programme remains vibrant, attractive and robust. The Community team to consolidate and develop a strong community programme based on the established 5-year plan. The Cafe Manager, team and Board of Trustees to launch the Courtyard CafĂŠ Community Interest Company as a key member of its Board and ensure that all the interfaces with Jamyang and CCC work to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.
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Competent financial and commercial management including planning, budget setting, allocation and monitoring, and the creative development and effective implementation of a strategy for the generation of new revenue streams across the activities of Jamyang and the CCC. Liaising well and managing relations with the FPMT's UK, European and International offices, the UK Charities Commission, Companies House, local authority, bank, auditors, suppliers and the wider community, Key skills We are looking for someone with: Excellent, intelligent, mindful and compassionate people management skills, inclusive leadership and people influencing skills, to deliver the strategy and oversee the running of a programme of events and teachings nearly every day of the week with a team of paid staff who lead work programme placement and volunteer workers. A good heart, a dedicated Buddhist practitioner with devotion to Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche and a deep sense of commitment to the Dharma as taught by the FPMT. The ability to identify and generate new sources of income. Jamyang has a joint annual expenditure of around ÂŁ350,000, of which approximately half is staff costs, and a large 19th century building to maintain and develop An understanding of the potential and capabilities of new media and the ability to manage IT suppliers and the IT infrastructure of our databases, websites and on-line content. Further skills As English is the working language of the two Charities all applicants need to have a good standard of written and oral English, certainly no less than IELTS levels 5/6. This post requires web and computer literacy. This includes the ability to use the web and send and process emails, and to use word and spreadsheet packages to produce documents and for income and expenditure monitoring purposes. If you decide to apply all applications must therefore be by email with attachments. You will also be required to have a good working knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism, its many protocols regarding dealing with teachers, a strong sensitivity to Dharma and Tibetan culture, and the ability to lead the students in offerings and ceremonial thanks to the resident and visiting teachers and some Buddhist practices. Eligibility Priority will be given to applicants that are able to work in the UK without the
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need for work visas, i.e. British citizens (including dual nationals) or citizens of European Union states able to work freely in UK, or who come from countries with work visa arrangements with the UK. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide evidence that this is the case. Applicants requiring work visas will be considered only if there are no other suitable candidates. Salary package In line with standard FPMT practice for large centres, the position is a salaried post. We can offer a salary package of ÂŁ24,000 a year for the equivalent of a five day working week of 35 hours, but the responsibilities may involve a voluntary element beyond these hours. The salary package also includes 30 days paid holiday a year in addition to the 8 paid public holidays a year in England. Further information and applications If you are interested in applying and would like further information about the job and person specifications and how to apply, please contact the Director (Mike Murray) at the Centre at director@jamyang.co.uk For applications please submit a brief CV bringing out how you meet the criteria set out above under a cover of a letter detailing your connections to the FPMT. All applications must be submitted by the 30th June 2012. We would hope to interview in July with a view to appoint by the end of July and for the successful applicant to start as early as possible in September. Applicants should be available for interview in July. More information on the Centre is available at www.jamyang.co.uk. This is being advertised electronically by means of the Gentle Voice mail out, the CPMT and FPMT e-groups, Essential Education and on the FPMT website, but if you know of anyone who you think might be suitable and who would be interested please do send this on. Thank you. London Peace Pagoda Celebration 27th Anniversary Celebration of the London Peace Pagoda Saturday 16 June at 2pm Nipponzan Myohoji cordially invite all to join them at the 27th anniversary celebration of the the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park. This is an annual ceremony of the Nipponzan Myohoji joined by other Buddhist faith traditions and others. The programme will feature interfaith prayers, messages and speeeches,
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devotional music and dance. The programme will be followed by an offering of tea and light refreshments, ending by 5pm. Everyone is welcome to spontaneously offer incense, flowers, candles, etc. Work Opportunity at Vajrapani Institute, USA Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture is looking for a new Spiritual Program Coordinator to join our team. The SPC department is the heart of all Vajrapani's spiritual activities. The SPC works together with our resdent sangha member and our center director to provide co-leadership in fostering a sacred, contemplative culture, helping to meet the spiritual needs of the community. The SPC's main duties are to create, plan, market and organize the spiritual activities of the center, including programs, public and private events, practices, and classes while supporting the vision, mission and intentions of Vajrapani Institute, the FPMT and its Spiritual Director. *As an FPMT SPC you will be accountable to the center director and to the FPMT International Office to ensure that the spiritual program at the center is in accordance with FPMT policy and guidelines. ABOUT US: Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture (VPI) is a secluded FPMT retreat center located in the stillness of the California Redwoods. Our purpose is to inspire deep spiritual work by providing the most supportive retreat conditions possible. We are looking for a warm and kind hearted person who values harmony and can, therefore, live and work in a contemplative environment with a community of practitioners made up of retreaters and staff members. This individual must be service minded and understand how his/her role serves the needs of the VPI community and FPMT. APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 11, 2012 TO APPLY: Please fill out the VPI application located at vajrapani.org Email the application along with a resume to Heidi Oehler, Spiritual Program Coordinator,heidi@vajrapani.org. FPMT Job Opportunity in Portland USA (not to be confused with Portland Place London) Job Opportunity: Administrative Assistant FPMT International Office is the office of FPMT, Inc. and the international headquarters of the FPMT organization. International Office coordinates communication between Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT Board of Directors, regional and national coordinators, and FPMT
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centers, projects and services as well as providing support to the entire Foundation. We are looking for a suitable candidate to fill the fulltime position of Administrative Assistant based in Portland, OR, USA. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The primary role of the Administrative Assistant will be to provide general office support in a wide variety of clerical and administrative roles. APPLICATION Please email, mail or fax your curriculum vitae (with at least two references) by June 4, 2012 together with a brief paragraph explaining your interest in working for the organization, why you are qualified to do so, and when you would be available, to george@fpmt.org FPMTFPMT 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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