August 2001

Dear Sangha friends,

Greetings from the electrified Colestin Valley! At least four small to medium fires were started here in just one week last month, all due to lightning strikes. The Colestin Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. deserves honors for their exhausting and pricelss work. July was very active at Tashi Choling in many ways: two successful retreats, Tersar Ngondro and the Six Bardos, and a fun and "beefy" old-time Barbecue & Annual Fund Drive, which raised a protion of needed money for the center. Thanks to everyone who participated in those festivities. We anticipate having Gyatrul Rinpoche among us for a while - that's really good to know - and look forward to new programs and learning opportunities in the coming months. One of our regular Sangha meetings lands in August, so please make time to join us as we look together toward "the new day dawning" at our fingertips, as we help to create Rinpoche's vision, our sacred home at Tashi Choling. Come get in on the scoop. And this month we have the supreme gift of Rinpoche's teachings in store.

A reminder about our Fire Prevention Group, headed by Sylvia Arvizu: call her for information at 530-475-9883. If you see smoke, please report fires immediately to Steve Avgeris, the Fire Chief, by calling 488-1768 or 1-530-842-3515. Also, again, never park on the grass. The Fire Fighting Fund Drive continues. Send donations to: Tony Reitz, 2125 Dutch Creek Rd., Yreka, CA 96097. For information, call him at 503 465-2308.

Dechen Ling, Lama Yeshe Nyima's Center in Hornbrook, welcomes everyone to...

A Vimalamitra Empowerment & Teachings with Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche
August 3 - 6 at Tashi Choling Temple

Vimalamitra & Chemchog Heruka Empowerment ~ 3pm on Fri. Aug 3

Teachings, Practice and Questions & Answers on Sat. - Mon., Aug 4 - 6

For more information call Dechen Ling at 530 475-3316

Our summer Sangha meeting is this month on Sunday the 26th from 1 - 3 pm, following the potluck at the temple. We need everyone's input now, with a building to complete and new programs on the horizon. Let's put our heads together - see ya there!

We will continue meeting every Sunday for work days - starting at 9 am. Potluck lunches happen around noon out in front of the temple. Please join us.

If you would like to learn choponing and how to serve the monthly puja rituals at Tashi Choling, please call Trish at 530-842-4138. Classes start soon.

Tara practice sessions go on as usual, sunday mornings from 10 - 12. Call Ani Baba for info at 541-488-0477.

In August we will practice the concise Troma Nagmo sadhana on Dakini Day, Tuesday the 14th. Please sign up on our newly instituted torma making schedule, located in the temple, a pro-active solution to the monthly torma making need for this practice. Please come early to help out with set up. And a reminder: to attend this monthly puja one must have received the empowerment. Thank you.

Lama Bruce Newman's classes continue. For information on these, and the teen classes, call him at 541-488-0881.

Now there's the question of the garden...for some reason, although two evening gardening sessions were planned in July, only one person came for this pleasurable pastime. So many people enjoy the mandala gardens, but so few support it for the rest of us. Please consider offering a bit of time for this jewel at the center. The next gardening gathering is Wed. the 15th from 6 - 8 pm. Info: Renato at 541-552-0990.

Interested in receiving this monthly mailing via email? Send your request to get the newsletter, calendar and flyers via electronic subscription to: tc@vol.com.

Mirror of Wisdom has a new address and phone number, and Scott Globus, the president of the Archives, invites everyone to use them. The new ODD center now has an operating store (open Sunday mornings), so send your orders for texts, photos, and all study materials to M.O. W., 2244 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda, CA 94501. ODD has a fabulous new website at www.orgyendorjeden.org - check it out.

Patients of the Tibetan physician, Dickey Nyerongsha, are reminded that there will be a doctor in the house soon. Dr. Dickey visits Ashland Aug. 4 - 6. Do you remember when your appointment is? For info call Julie Rogers at 541-621-8108.

The Begging Bowl...Sangha member Sangye Land requests your used and/or unwanted Dharma magazines, photos, pictures and catalogs, for use in the creation of collages. If you have any spares, call her at 541-621-8108. She thanks you.

In Our Prayers... Ed Gierke and Donna Woolsey are still dwelling in our prayers these days, those prayer dwellers. Many good vibes to you both.

The Buddha's Jewels..."The opportunity of Dharma is like living in a region of famine and suddenly coming upon a feast. If you came to a banquet, ate nothing, and then headed back into the wasteland, this would be really crazy."
from Natural Liberation by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

Send brief quotes from Gyatrul Rinpoche's books to J. Rogers, POB 885, Ashland, OR 97520

Everyone enjoy the summer. Hope to see you soon at Tashi Choling!

Julie Rogers, Communications Coordinator