July 2001

Dear Sangha friends,                                                                                                                                        

The heat is on...summer is shimmering all over Tashi Choling. Rinpoche was with us throughout last month and what a joy! He and Jigme are now off working wonders elsewhere for the time being, and we look forward to Rinpoche's return later this month. The Dor Sem Lama Chod Pa Retreat was very successful and well attended. We were fortunate to receive teachings almost daily with the blessing of Sangye Khandro's translations, and for once the pranks were on Jigme this year.

This month is one of the busiest ever at the center. Two retreats, a barbecue/fund raiser (one could think of it as "Fork-Over Fund Raising", ha ha), a gathering with Rinpoche for the kids, work and gardening parties - as Jigme has learned to say, "awesome, dude!" And Rinpoche's presence is like a beam of light showing us the way. Come on out and join in...

Please keep in mind that with the heat come snakes, so when walking, stick to the roads.

FIRE PREVENTION REPORT: After the recent valley fires, 23 members of our Sangha received needed fire training in July!

Full certification means 24 hours of classes, which are held at the Hilt Church on alternate Sat. eves from 6 - 9. Our new Fire Prevention Group is headed by Sylvia Arvizu so call her for the scoop 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, please never park on the grass and pick up any glass you find on the ground.

Fire Fighting Fund Drive: Sevyn Galambos has initiated a Fire Protection Fund. The center needs to obtain needed equipment, such as hand tools, hard-hats, nozzles, tanks, etc.. Want to help? Send donations to: Tony Rietz, 2125 Dutch Creek Rd., Yreka, CA 96097. Call him at 530-465-2308. And hats off to Sevyn and Pat Sitton, who also recently donated some fire extinguishers.

All are welcome to join us at Tashi Choling for...

Dudjom Tersar Ngondro Retreat ~ July 6 - 8.
Cost: $35.00 schedule: 9 - 12 / 2:30 - 5 / 7 - 9
For more info call Mat at 541-858-3334.

Please bring mandala offering sets and Ngondro texts.

Please join us as well for......

The Six Bardos Retreat ~July 15 - 24, 2001
Cost: 125.00 for the entire event.
Sessions will be held from 9 - 12 and 2 - 5. 8 a.m. registration on the 1st day.
Gyatrul Rinpoche has authorized Les Collins to lead this practice intensive.
To attend one must have completed a ngondro or be in the process of doing so.

For accommodations help contact Susan Bosworth at 541-488-0881

To order texts for these two retreats contact Lisbeth at 541-488-7911. Ngondro Retreat texts include the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro and Gyatrul Rinpoche?s Tersar Ngondro Commentary. Photos of the refuge tree, Guru Rinpoche, Vajrasattva, Yeshe Tsogyal and both Gyatrul Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche are also available. Bardo Retreat texts are Gyatrul Rinpoche?s book Natural Liberation, Buddha in the Palm of the Hand Ngondro (some at the temple or order from Archives) and The Bardo Prayer Book. The Prayer Book and Natural Liberation are available via preorder by July 6.

Mistake: on the recent Bardo Retreat flyer, note the last day is the 24th (see schedule.)

Tuesday, July 24, is one of the four yearly Festival Days, Chokhor Duchen. This day commemorates when Buddha Shakyamuni first turned the Wheel of Dharma seven weeks after his enlightenment, and taught the Four Noble Truths at Sarnath. We will celebrate this auspicious day with a Buddha Shakyamuni puja and tsog at 9 a.m. concluding the retreat, and all are welcome.

We will continue meeting every Sunday for work days - starting at 9 a.m. Potluck lunches happen around noon, EXCEPT on the 15th and 22nd due to the Bardo retreat.

During the Six Bardo Retreat our monthly pujas, Concise Troma Nagmo on Dakini Day and Yeshe Tsogyal on the new moon, will be held at 7 p.m. as usual. Troma practitioners, please come early to help with torma making, which will start at 5. Thanks. Tara practice sessions on Sundays the 8th, 15th and 22nd are TBA, due to retreats.

Call Ani Baba or info.

Lama Bruce Newman's classes continue with a new class on Thurs.

Come one and all to...

Tashi Chöling's Annual Barbecue/Fund Raising Extravaganza

Sun., July 29 on Guru Rinpoche's Birthday at Tashi Choling

The schedule for this festive & fun day includes:

Children's Gathering with Gyatrul Rinpoche ~ 12 - 1 p.m.

Guru Rinpoche Puja and Tsog ~ 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Old Fashioned Family Barbecue & Fund Raiser with Entertainments!

Please bring meat for the grill, a tasty dish, table service (and your wallet). To be in on the Fund Raiser Entertainments call Tony @ 530-465-2308.

Dechen Ling, Lama Yeshe Nyima's Center in Hornbrook, will soon sponsor...

A Vimalamitra Empowerment and Teachings

with Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

August 3 - 6 at Tashi Choling Temple

Vimalamitra & Chemchog Heruka Empowerment ~

3 p.m. on Fri., August 3

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

For more information call Dechen Ling at 530-475-3316.

Go for gardening greatness this month with two gatherings at the statues on Wed. the 11 & 18 from 6 - 8 p.m. More help is needed! plus a few painters to give the flower boxes a needed make-over. Call Antal if you can paint, at 482-0683. Please remember not to step on the flower boxes - the paint chips off. For all garden info, call Renato Caselli at 541-552-0990.

The Buddha's Jewels..."Most of the suffering that you are afflicted by in this corrupt era of difficult times really arises from your inferior powers of discrimination. Keeping that in mind, you should work harder to develop more wisdom. You say, "Watch your step? But you should watch before stepping. Watch and then step." from Ancient Wisdom by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

In Our Prayers...It was wonderful to have Ed Gierke at the center last month, so keep those prayers coming, as well as for Donna Woolsey.
Students here passed the hat for the family of Rex Morgan, a Valley resident who died last month, and we recently received a lovely card from Elizabeth, who wrote: "We are humbled and deeply touched by your generosity. We will never forget all of you. Love forever...Rex is smiling down from heaven.." If you would still like to make a donation, send checks to The Morgan Family, 1684 Colestin Rd., Ashland, OR, 97520.

So, enjoy a cool breeze and hope we see each other soon at Tashi Ch?ling!

Julie Rogers, Communications Coordinator