Shambhala Europe Shambhala Europe May 2008
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News from the Sakyong News from Shambhala Europe News from Dechen Choling News from Centres Booknotes European Programme Schedule | |
 News from the Sakyong | |
Sakyong Wangmo Empowerment in August
Please save 15-17 August on your calendar. Plans are being made to hold the Sakyong Wangmo Empowerment of Khandro Tseyang and the Investiture of Lady Diana Mukpo as the Druk Sakyong Wangmo in Halifax 15-17 August. By the Shambhala News Service | |
Gesar Drupa Offering
The Sakyong sent his love and blessings as he closed his five-week retreat in Nepal. The final week of his retreat concluded with a Gesar drupa, or long practice. As many of you may remember, last year the Sakyong conducted a retreat at the Maratika cave for overcoming sickness and increasing one's longevity. This year, he did a retreat at Pharping, the site where Guru Rinpoche,
Padmasambhava, manifested as Vajrakilaya in the Eighth Century. Vajrakilaya is unique; his traits include overcoming obstacles and accomplishing activities. By the Shambhala News Service | |
Projects of Khandro Tseyang
Khandro Tseyang, the wife of the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, and the future Sakyong Wangmo, has begun to undertake projects for the benefit of the Shambhala sangha and its extended community. By the Shambhala News Service | |
| News from Shambhala Europe | |
Two Surveys
The offices of Practice and Study of Shambhala Europe and Dechen Chöling are holding two surveys to gather the wishes of everyone who is contemplating participating in the upcoming Ngöndro MI Training and Dechen Chöling Winter Retreat. Ngöndro MI Training Survey In order to know how many people are interested in attending the Ngöndro MI Training and choose the best time to organize the programme, we would like to invite everyone who may be interested in attending next January or other times: Start the Ngöndro
MI Training Survey Dechen Chöling Winter Retreat Survey In order to know how many shrine rooms to prepare (and for which practices) and which teachers to invite for the Winter Retreat, we would like to invite you to participate in this survey: Start the Dechen Chöling Winter Retreat Survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=efbn_2bqUxaSY5t2autLoXvQ_3d_3d | |
Enlightened World (9-12 May)
There's still time to register! The Enlightened World programme will take place from 9-12 May in a lovely event tent in the parking lot of the Kalapa Centre in Köln, Germany. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche will present the three yanas from the perspective of Shambhala Buddhism, a subject of great benefit and interest both to newer students who may be considering attending seminary at some point in their future path as well as to experienced Shambhala teachers and meditation instructors. Rinpoche has created this programme as "his Sutrayana seminary," and it is a wonderful opportunity for him to get to know his students, and for students to get to know him - participants will meet with Rinpoche in small group interviews. The programme will also include meditation and contemplation practice, supplementary teachings from Acharya Barbara Märtens (who will also be translating Rinpoche's teachings into German), dining together, and a party with live music. For all information about the programme, including the (approximate) schedule, accommodation options, information about childcare possibilities, registration, and much more, please visit www.enlightenedworld.shambhala.info (English) or www.erleuchtetewelt.shambhala.info (German). Join us for a wonderful long weekend! | |
Report from the First Central/Eastern European Conference
Representatives from seven different groups in what is often referred to as "Eastern Europe" gathered in Warsaw on April 18-20 for an historic conference to discuss their vision for Shambhala in this region.
The conference began with an in-depth update from each group present, as well as a description of the status and presence of Buddhism and other Buddhist groups in each country. An important theme throughout the weekend was the question of what, if anything, binds the countries together as a maha-region, and whether this is a helpful label. Following an extremely insightful discussion, it was decided that it makes sense to work together on certain common projects but that the differences in culture, history, geography, and political situations need to be worked with at the country level. Other topics discussed included a new system for the distribution of the scholarship money granted by the European Donor Group to help people from countries in this region to attend core path programmes at Dechen Chöling and at the Kalapa Centre Europe; country/regional teacher trainings to empower local teachers and support the growth and expansion of the local sangha; the mentor system and how it could be further refined; translation; the Shambhala path for Eastern European students who may face significant obstacles to attending necessary programmes; a possible invitation of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to visit one or more groups in this region; and the wish to develop some kind of programme centre in an Eastern European country. In addition to all this discussion, Chris presented a talk about drala, windhorse, and how to invite auspicious coincidence. And everyone gathered together for dinner and socialising at the soon-to-be-opened coffeehouse/bar of one of the Warsaw sangha members. All in all, the weekend was extremely energetic and engaging, and everyone agreed that it should happen again next year. By Anna Weinstein, Centre Services | |
Shambhala Online Comes to Europe
The online teaching format that was initiated in late 2007 and has so far been the medium for several talks of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to the worldwide Shambhala community is coming to Europe! While Europeans have been active audience members in the previous online addresses, the first address to actually be broadcast from Europe took place on Saturday, 12 April. Acharya David Schneider presented an abbreviated course for tantrikas worldwide preparing to attend the Rigden Abhisheka. With the miracle of webcams and microphones, audience members were able to ask Acharya Schneider live questions and interact directly; he even encouraged a feeling of discussion between audience members, who were watching from all over the world, from San Francisco to Brazil to Amsterdam. Acharya Schneider is also in the process, along with the Office of Practice and Education, of developing some guidelines for how such online teachings should be received in Shambhala centres or homes, to emphasize the feeling as much as possible of having a genuine teaching situation. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche will offer his next online broadcast, on the topic of "Mandala Principle," from the Tenno Room of the Kalapa Centre Europe in Cologne, during the Enlightened World programme. This address will take place on Sunday, 11 May at 18:00 (Central European Time). We look forward to "seeing" you all there! | |
| News from Dechen Choling | |
Gesar Festival Update
* Setup programme on the way The participants of the Gesar Festival Setup programme have arrived and started working; helping to prepare setting up tents, making shrines, and landscaping. The participants combine six hours of work per day setting up for the festival with daily meditation, Lujong exercises led by Acharya Pongracz and weekly Buddhist classes. Tents are
arising everywhere around the chateau, grass is cut, new grass sowed on freshly raked ground and piles of brocades are being sewed. See the first pictures of the Setup Programme on the Gesar Festival website: * Registration still open Registration is still open for the biggest event in Dechen Chöling history. If you are considering coming, register now. The Outer Aspects of Gesar of Ling part of the Gesar Festival will be the last opportunity to attend a public programme with the Sakyong in Europe until 2011. Rinpoche will come to Europe in 2009 only for the Vajrayana Seminary and the Vajra Garchen, and will be in closed retreat throughout 2010. * Helping as staff during the Gesar Festival There are some staff positions to help out during the festival that are not yet filled. Programme staff will get a considerable discount on the programme price. If you are interested in staffing, please contact Christoph Schönherr at: gesarfestival@dechencholing.org. As always, all information on the Gesar Festival can be found at the Gesar Festival website http://gesarfestival.dechencholing.org/ | |
The first new windows installed in the chateau
The picture shows Suzan Oudshoorn, Director of Dechen Chöling, posing in front of the new window. Everyone visiting Dechen Chöling this summer will be able to see what the new windows look like and how they function. | |
Adopt a Window
The high quality windows will save a lot of energy. In each room on the first floor there will be at least one window that opens for ventilation. The outside is coated with white aluminium and thus maintenance free. Remaining windows to replace on the first floor: 16 windows at 2000 € each, 3 windows at 1500 € each You, as an individual, or with friends of your Shambhala Centre, can adopt one of the new windows! Let us know if you are considering adopting one of the new windows of the Chateau: window@dechencholing.org. | |
New personnel manager in Dechen Chöling
Lisa has been our manager of personnel for almost two years, and has proved to be an excellent leader. Being Personnel Manager at Dechen Chöling is a dance between the needs of the staff versus the means that are available. Lisa has mastered the obstacles, balancing intense work and practice, moving from complete stress to deep insights on a daily basis. We will miss Lisa, her vast vocabulary, the soul singer songwriter, crazy storyteller, the way she always jumps in and helps out, her courage to speak up and her sharp observations. And most of all, her unconditional friendship. For Kathy we wish all the wisdom and contentment in her life as member of the staff, and fulfillment of her aspirations in practice and work. | |
Printed calendar corrections
In the printed calendar some mistakes where made. Here is the corrected information: The Youth Leadership Programme is from June 7 until June 31. In the calendar the start date is wrongly mentioned as June 1. In the French version of the DCL calendar 2008 the wrong month is mentioned for the Vajrayogini Four Karmas Fire Puja. The programme starts June 13 and ends June 22. If you haven't received the printed Dechen Chöling calendar this year, you can still request it by sending an email to info@dechencholing.org. The overview with all programmes is listed on the website: http://programmes.dechencholing.org/ | |
Where did your money go?
In late summer 2007 Dechen Chöling began fundraising for specific projects. Many participants and staff members have been generously helping Dechen Chöling so that the following projects could be realised as planned. If you attended one of these fundraising events you might want to know what your programme has supported: Warrior Assembly 2007: all three windows in the Garuda room (teachers' room 1st floor). Sutrayana Seminary and Autumn Dathün 2007: outside renovation of porch and shutters. French Maitri programme: paint for the chateau dining room. Rigden Ngöndro January 2008: lamps and curtains in chateau dining room and Marpa room. Meditation Instructors programme January 2008: Ripa household/kitchen for the Gesar Festival. Four Root Dharmas March 2008: gravel for the Gesar Festival shrine tent platform. Spring Maitri Dathün April 2008: new furniture for the Marpa room. | |
| News from Centres | |
Hommage ā la Terre Sacrée
Du vendredi 9 mai jusqu'au lundi 12 mai, organisé par le groupe Shambhala de la Drôme : ateliers de meditation et Sweat Lodge Lakota, Nei-kong dans la nature. Selon la vision traditionnelle de nombreuses cultures et dans la vision des enseignements Shambhala, la vie et la terre sur laquelle nous vivons sont sacrées et exigent de nous amour, respect et soin. En l'absence de cette appréciation, nous sommes incapables de rassembler les énergies qui apportent la santé et l'harmonie dans nos vies. «Certains Amérindiens du Sud-Ouest font pousser des légumes dans le sable du désert. D'un point de vue objectif, ce sol est totalement aride: si l'on y semait à la
volée une poignée de graines, rien n'y pousserait. Pourtant les Indiens cultivent cette terre depuis des générations; ils ont un attachement profond pour cette terre et prennent soin d'elle. Pour eux, cette terre est sacrée et c'est pourquoi les plantes y poussent. C'est cela, la magie authentique. Lorsque nous considérons notre
environnement comme sacré, les dralas se sentent attirés. Quand bien même nous vivrions dans une masure en pisé, avec un plancher en terre battue et une seule fenêtre, il suffirait de regarder cet espace comme sacré, d'en prendre soin avec notre cœur et notre esprit, pour qu'il soit un palais. » La méditation est un chemin et une pratique qui nous permet de découvrir notre esprit et notre cœur avant et au-delà de toute pensée discursive qui tend à nous séparer du monde. Elle nous éveille à notre potentiel créatif et nous offre une nouvelle perception de l'ordre naturel. Ce programme, ouvert à tous, est enseigné par Herbert Elsky qui est sculpteur, artiste et peintre. Il est l'étudiant de Mipham Rinpoché et de Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoché Il sera accompagné de deux autres intervenants qui sont Alexis Guilhot et Jean. Alexis enseigne le Neï Kong, un art interne d'origine chinoise, l'art de la pratique corporelle pour unifier le corps et l'esprit. Il proposera des exercices dans la nature autour des 5 éléments. (terre, eau, feu, air et espace) Jean nous initiera à la Sweat Lodge (hutte de sudation) des Indiens Lakotas qui est une expérience puissante de purification de ce qui empêche ou perturbe l'esprit éveillé qui peut nous aider à toucher la qualité sacrée de notre existence. Nous cultiverons notre lien d'interdépendance avec la Terre à l'occasion de la préparation et du partage des repas, de la mise en place d'une hutte selon le rituel Lakota (construction, préparation du bois pour le feu). Inscriptions par téléphone : +33 4 75 21 5601 (Maurice Migheli), ou drome@shambhala.fr, www.drome.shambhala.fr | |
Life and Death
By Brian Hilliard | |
Opening the Good Eye
The days were filled with visual exercises,
photographic To see some images taken during the workshop by Michael Wood, Julie DuBose and Hèlen Vink, click on the links below: Workshop day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Also, Michael Wood and Julie DuBose went for a short 2-day trip to Paris, after the Level 1 workshop and before the next Miksang workshop level 2 "The Heart of Perception" started, April 24-28. See how much they experienced of Paris, through Miksang being. http://miksang.com/Amsterdam/michaelparis/index.html You can send your comments to Michael Wood at miksang@comcast.net , Julie DuBose at juliedubose@comcast.net , Hèlen Vink at helenavink@gmail.com By Hèlen Vink, Miksang Europe coordinator | |
Kado
* 01 - 04 in Marburg: Kado for beginners and advanced, with Marcia Shibata Blundell. For questions and registration: marx.martina@t-online.de, sibfraund@web.de * 09-11 in Paris with Marcia Shibata Blundell. * May 30th - June 1st in Athens: Kado for beginners and advanced, with Martina Marx. For questions and registration: opapalexandrou@yahoo.gr | |
Sun Camp
After 25 years of Sun Camps, the beauty of the experience of daily life as open space is as precious as ever. At Sun Camp, the campers have the experience of waking up with the sun and going about a simple daily schedule less fraught with complications than their usual existence. Living in close contact with the earth, sun and sky makes everyday life real and colorful. Food tastes better and meals and celebrations are more appreciated. Small events take on a large significance. This allows campers to discover themselves, their world, and each other in a unique and unconstructed genuine way. Camp is open to 10 to 16 year old children. Camp is preceded by a 3 day Cadet Command Workshop in leadership training for 14 to 16 year old veterans of camp. Camp is followed by the Rites of Warriorship for 16 year olds. Please visit www.shambhala.org/suncamp or contact us to find out more about Sun Camp. There are three camps scheduled this year. The one in Europe will take place July 20-27 in DCL. | |
| Booknotes | |
New Azuchi
An azuchi is the Kyudo traditional structure used in long distance shooting to house the targets which are 28 meters from the shooting platform. This is something that all the kyudokas want very much to accomplish before Shibata Sensei returns later this summer to DCL. Last month, Koos de Boer and I led a groundbreaking ceremony according to the instructions of Shibata Sensei. We had
strung a thick rope decorated with ceremonial paper hangings and placed bowls of salt and water in the four directions of the perimeter. Koos introduced the lhasang and then I talked about the importance of the azuchi for attracting the dralas to DCL. Then I shot two arrows, we did the lhasang . By Herb Elsky | |
Shambhala in Wales
On 22 and 23 March, Jim O'Neill taught a Level 2 at the Bleddfa Centre for the Creative Spirit near Knighton, Powys, in mid-Wales (UK). Although 12 participants were expected, only nine made it: one planned to pitch a tent until she realized that there would be snowstorms and two forgot to book a bed & breakfast. Jim was assisted by Jude Hudson, who travelled all the way from Sussex, accompanied by her husband Phil and by jars and jars of pussy willow and Easter eggs. Also helping were Chris Calitz and Peter C. The hall-barn at Bleddfa is a simple and magical space and this was a powerful weekend, with most participants from mid-Wales and three from London. The eldest was an 88-year-old local lady who in mid-life took up being a pilot, then making ceramics and most recently engraving. She now meditates twice a day. Jim, undeterred by tiredness, cooked a turkey dinner for eight people on the Sunday. By Peter Conradi | |
Tertön in Barcelona
He is also well known for his practice of divinations through the arrows of Gesar of Ling. Everybody is invited to request a divination about a given situation in life, personal or spiritual, to clarify the path ahead. For more information please contact ripa@padmaling.org, http://www.padmaling.org or call +34 93 268 11 61 | |
Oprah talks to Pema Chödrön
The interview between Oprah Winfrey, a popular TV host in the U.S., and Pema Chödrön, on April 24th, is available through the following link (also in Audio-Stream). | |
Request for financial help
Orhun Cercel has been the study co-ordinator at various seminaries, as well as MI and group discussion leader and he also co-taught a recent dathün at DCL. However, the cost of the retreat is quite high for him. If you may be interested in sponsoring Orhun by making a donation, just e-mail him at orhuncercel@hotmail.com. It is very, very easy to make a donation by credit card directly to his account in Gampo Abbey, and he can email you all the relevant information for that. | |
| European Programme Schedule | |
ST Levels in May
Level 1 (Art of Being Human) 16 - 18.05 Rotterdam Rolof Regouin 23 - 25.05 Munich Sjaak Kreffer Level 2 (Birth of the Warrior) * 09 - 11.05 Arnhem Caroline Hissink 16 - 18.05 Vienna Regula Stöckli - Imfeld Level 4 (Awakened Heart) * 09 - 11 Rome Daniele Bollini 30 - 01 Warsaw Great Eastern Sun * 10 - 11.05 Amsterdam Acharya Fenja Heupers Drala * 02 - 04.05 Madrid Sjaak Kreffer * Authorized students only | |
Other events in Europe this month
01-04 May Kyudo: el camino del arco Requena with Susanne Lando 01-04 May Kado with Marcia Shibata Blundell 02-03 May Teachings by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche London 02-04 May Il materialismo spiritualeTicino/Contone with Karl Leiter 09-11 May Kado, la Voie des Fleurs Paris with Marcia Shibata Blundell 09 May Budismo y depresión Madrid with Gyetrul Jigme Rimpoche 09-12 May Enlightened World Cologne with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche 09-12 May Hommage à la Terre SacréeDrome with Herb Elsky 10-11 May El buda de la medicina Madrid with Gyetrul Jigme Rimpoche 16 May Gesar Festival Dechen Chöling 17 May Gestalten aus dem leeren Raum Giessen 30 May- 01 June Meditation och kreativitet Stockholm with Stefan Magnusson 30 May Kado Athens with Martina Marx 31 May- 01 June Kyudo - la via dell'arcoTicino/Contone Please register 14 days in advance for all programmes. This Newsletter can be printed easily if you use Internet Explorer. Other navigation tools probably won't keep the format. Please send news from your
centres and groups to Luz Rodriguez luzrdep@elmanso.net | |
Overcoming travel and visa obstacles to attend, these representatives were: Adrian Bude (Romania), Davor Arsic (Serbia), Maks Lan and Aleksey Mikhanchuk (Lviv and Kiev, Ukraine), Jan Lamac and Vladimira Marianovska (Prague), Magdalena Brancewicz (Szczecin, Poland), and Martyna Grazyk, Robert Sudol, Bartek Kociemba, and Zbyszek Mielke
(Warsaw, Poland). Jane Hope, Bill Karelis, Karl Ludwig Leiter, and Tomasz Pietryzkowski were present in their role as mentors for particular groups in this region, and Chris Tamdjidi, Willem Kuijpers, and Anna Weinstein joined to represent the Shambhala Europe governance. Although the Greek and Viennese sanghas were unfortunately unable to send a representative, the people present agreed that
those groups are important places for the energy and development of the region as a whole.
It is planned to change all the windows on the first floor of the Chateau in the autumn of this year. The windows in the Garuda room-the coldest room of the Chateau, situated in the
suite, have been replaced already. Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche will sleep in this room during the Gesar Festival. We sincerely hope that he sleeps very well in the now totally renovated room. 
We are delighted to announce
that Kathy Southard will take part in the management of Dechen Chöling as the new Personnel Manager. Kathy is now training with Lisa Steckler who is leaving after the Gesar Festival, into a new mandala of family life.
In the first of April the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche arrived at Casa Garuda to give teachings on the Six Bardos. The seminar was based on his book, Mind Beyond Death, a commentary on bardo teachings of Padmasambhava. In
attendance were nearly 60 students from different sanghas in Europe and South America. Rinpoche's teachings were extraordinary for their clarity, warmth, and sense of humour, and his presence evoked again and again the enlightened energy of his root guru, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Also in attendance was Acharya Kelsang from Kamalashila whose presence was always delightful and who led a
lively discussion group. Ponlop Rinpoche was especially kind to visit us as he is in the midst of preparations for the first North American visit of His Holiness Karmapa. All students in attendance, beginners and seasoned, were deeply inspired by these profound teachings which show the way to overcome the fear of death by living well in this life.
Next month H.E. Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rimpoche, the father of Khandro Tseyang will teach an introduction to dzogchen in Barcelona from Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 June 2008.