Tsoknyi Rinpoche's Blog, page 20

Yeshe Rangsal Retreat Support Building

GOOD NEWS! Here is a work-in-progress photo of our retreat support building under construction on the Yeshe Rangsal Crestone retreat land (very near the tent site). The crew, under Gary Simonson’s direction, has been working day and night to complete the building for use during this August’s Crestone retreats. In addition to mens’ and womens’ bathrooms (yes!), it will house a functional kitchen. The building will also serve retreatants on the land as future retreat cabins and facilities are gradually developed. A huge thank you to all those who are donating to Yeshe Rangsal’s development!

 

 

 

Our hard-working bodhisattva construction team!

 

Tergar 2013

Rinpoche taught Exploring the Nature of Mind to students at Tergar (St. John’s University) in Minnesota May 31 – June 6, 2013. Jonthan Gross, responsible for these photographs, had the following experience to share with us:

 

“This is the second year I have attended an Exploring the Nature of Mind retreat taught by Tsoknyi Rinpoche. This year he gave pointing out instructions using the text The Lamp That Dispels Darkness by Mipham Rinpoche. His teachings were naturally insightful and very valuable; but also the power of being in Community under his guidance created an amazing experience for me. Even during the five days of silence—or perhaps especially during the times of silence—being with a dedicated community of like-minded participants creates a bonding presence that can be felt. I think that may be why this group photograph—a group photograph with easily recognizable faces—has recreated so much joy for those who have contacted me about it.”

 

 

U.K. Retreat Report: March 30-April 11, 2013

(Notes by Michelle Bernard)  Rinpoche’s annual U.K. retreat took place at Bruton School for Girls in the beautiful rural location of Bruton, Somerset, surrounded by hills and fields. Rinpoche led a truly inspiring retreat, focusing on the Dzogchen text on the view, Striking the Three Vital Points by Garab Dorje and written by Paltrul Rinpoche. We were very fortunate this year to have Rinpoche for longer than normal: 13 days.The retreat drew 113 people from around the world, mostly from the U.K. and Europe, with a handful from the U.S.

 

The retreat routine was the same as that for the month-long retreats, with Rinpoche teaching once a day for three hours and retreatants completing seven additional hours of personal practice. Bruton’s countryside locale provided  retreatants with the opportunity to enjoy short walks in the bright, but cold spring weather, surrounded by fields full of sheep and lambs.

 

Each retreatant was very lucky to be granted a five-minute interview with Rinpoche. We were also very fortunate to have a one-hour question and answer group session each day with translator Gerardo Abboud. Rinpoche seemed very happy with the retreat and frequently included short practice sessions and guided meditations during his teaching period. It was a real privilege for us to have so much time practicing with and being guided in meditation by Rinpoche.

 

Ani Konchog has once again provided a full album of beautiful photos that give us the feel and sense of what it might be like to be on retreat with Rinpoche in Bruton:

https://picasaweb.google.com/112203052170342942604/2013TsoknyiRinpocheRetreat?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN-Ak_-kj7Xwfg&feat=directlink

Winter in Nepal (2012/2013)

by Tenzin Namsel

After a long international flight to Kathmandu, I was looking forward to receiving teachings and studying two ngondro texts. One was the Short Barchey Kunsel Ngondro, and the other was the main ngondro for the Tsoknyi Lineage called the Ladrub Kunzang Tuktik Ngondro. It was very exciting to have the chance to study these two beautiful texts that emanate from both the Tsoknyi and Chokling Tersar lineages. The goal of the trip was to gather enough information to produce two forthcoming ngondro manuals for our Pundarika sangha.

Upon my arrival, I learned that Tsoknyi Rinpoche was about to begin teaching at a three-day retreat at Nagi Gompa. During the retreat Rinpoche gave wonderful teachings on Mipham Rinpoche’s The Lamp That Clears Away Darkness. Our very own Adam Kane translated masterfully. Rinpoche’s skill at these kinds of teachings always blows me away. After the teachings, Rinpoche was back to work at Tsoknyi Gebchak Ling nunnery, meeting with architects, volunteers, and a Feng Shui master. The amount of energy and skill being put into the nunnery was an incredible site to rejoice in.

Tara Statue at Nagi Gompa

 

The ngondro studies began amidst this flurry of construction on Chobar hill. Over the course of a few weeks, Khenpo Könchok Palden (one of the main lamas at the nunnery), beautifully taught the Kunzang Tuktik ngondro to me and a few others. Khenpo-la has a wonderful “Khampa” presence and has studied and practiced the Tsoknyi lineage in depth in Nangchen, Tibet. It was a real gift to listen to the wonderful qualities of the Tsoknyi lineage directly from such a deep practitioner. Amidst the teaching environment, Tsoknyi Rinpoche could be seen almost daily at the nunnery engaging in intense architectural contemplation meditation. It was wonderful to see the depth of Rinpoche’s commitment to his nuns. Eventually the nuns will have a truly astonishing place to study and practice on Chobar hill.

 

Khenpo Konchok Palden

 

February in Kathmandu offers a unique opportunity to spend Losar (Tibetan New Year) in a place where the Tibetan diaspora has built firm roots. And Losar 2013 definitely did not disappoint. Leading up to, during, and after Losar is a time period in which most Tibetan Buddhists focus on purifying old negativities and collecting merit. Most monasteries and nunneries host long prayer and meditation gatherings with these in mind. Tsoknyi Rinpoche participated in an eight-day Drupchen at Osel Ling monastery during this time, and it was a powerful experience to witness all of the lamas and monks practicing together. Tulku Urgyen’s Yangsi came at the end of the Drupchen to officiate, and it was precious to watch the Yangsi’s ease and skill amidst such a complex Drupchen. There were other notable multi-day prayer ceremonies going on at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling (Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s monastery) as well. Watching Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and Pakchok Rinpoche engage in Lama Dancing was an unforgettable site, and the Gyutor ceremony culminating in a huge bonfire where symbolic representations are burnt representing all of our collective negativities was extremely moving.

 

Following Losar, it was time to start my studies on the Barchey Kunsel Ngondro. Lama Tsultrim Sangpo, a senior lama at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling skillfully taught the ngondro text. Lama Tsultrim was extremely kind in helping with any specific questions about the ngondro that we had. I had previously studied with Lama Tsultrim, and I’ve always been inspired by his humbleness and depth of experience. Toward the end of the trip, Tsoknyi Rinpoche gave the empowerments for Barchey Kunsel and Vajrasattva to a group of westerners at Chobar. Shortly after the empowerments, Rinpoche and the nuns started another eight-day Drupchen practice.

 

Eight-day Barchey Kunsel Drupchen at Osel Ling

 

Alas, as all composite things must change, I had to say farewell to Nepal. All in all it was an incredible opportunity to seek out the precious jewels of the lineages to which Tsoknyi Rinpoche belongs. Ultimately it is our responsibility to serve, study, practice, and eventually embody these lineages, as well. I would like to make fervent aspirations that we may all be able to accomplish this. And that the Buddha Dharma may remain and be authentically practiced in this world for countless years to come.

 

Sincerely,

Tenzin Namsel

Tenzin Namsel at Asura Cave ~ Pharping, Nepal

 

Wisdom in Aging: Mount Madonna 2013

We hope you enjoy the photos offered by Jonathan Finegold taken at the Wisdom in Aging retreat recently held in Northern California at the Mount Madonna Retreat Center.  Click here to access the photos, and here are Jonathan’s thoughts on the retreat:

 

“By the end of the retreat, I came away deeply moved by his vast compassion and dedication in attempting to address and heal our peculiarly Western suffering and neuroses. Subtle body dis-ease and lung energy disorders have become endemic to Western culture, and they now exist on a vast scale; and while it is not Rinpoche’s job to fix this problem, he clearly sees that it is an obstacle to effective practice, and I for one am very grateful that he is addressing this subject.”   ~ Jonathan Finegold/photographer

Enjoy Rinpoche’s Video on the Mantra of Not Me

Please click below and enjoy Rinpoche’s latest video clip on the Mantra of “Not Me.” Rinpoche instructs that the first mantra to chant is, “It is real, but not true.” Then, in order to re-educate the ego, chant the mantra, “It is not me.”

http://www.tsoknyirinpoche.org/teachings/not-me-2/

Rinpoche’s Latest Video Clip!

Essence Love, Basic Spark and Fixation:  Enjoy!

http://www.tsoknyirinpoche.org/teachings/essence-love-basic-spark-and-fixation/

Tricycle February Film Club: When the Iron Bird Flies

Tricycle’s February Film Club features When the Iron Bird Flies! Read the amazing responses people are posting at www.tricycle.com/filmclub

Losar Tashi Delek and Best Wishes for the Tibetan Water Snake Year

We survived 2012, and the world didn’t end! What a relief! Finally we can relax, and I hope in this coming year we will all increasingly become healthy human beings.

 

According to dharma, every day is a new day and each day can be used in a meaningful way. Just as every day can be used meaningfully, each year can be used in a meaningful way. The new year time is an opportunity to contemplate and reflect on this. Think about how to use this coming year, how to make it meaningful. Learning to appreciate each day is the basis for the teachings on the precious human life.

 

A year, after all, is just a collection of months. A month is a collection of days. A day is a collection of hours. An hour is a collection of minutes. So how we are going to spend our year depends on how we live each moment, each breath, each heartbeat. So I want you to take care of each moment, each breath, each heartbeat. Take care of the present moment. If you want to make this year a positive one, use each moment well. If you want to change, you have to transform this present moment. Then the change will take place properly, as we learn to live each moment properly.

 

What I have been doing:

 

I’ve been in Kathmandu almost two months now, working very hard on the development of the Tsoknyi Nepal Nuns project. I feel it’s like a baby growing. It’s growing very well so I am quite happy. Right now the project is at the teenage stage. I need a lot of patience and understanding to be able to help the project grow in the right direction so it can fully develop and bloom into a mature nunnery. I will be in Nepal for another month. My teaching tour starts March 10th. Hopefully I will see some of you around the world.

 

My best wishes for a new year full of dharma, transformation and taking good care of this precious human life.

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The Yogini Project

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