Dear Sangha family, May 1999
The weather is finally warm and we are all glad about that. Folks seem to be doing the slow unwind from winter and coming out for the activities that spring inspires. Time to stretch and participate with the community, shake out the rugs and get some things done. Time to make room for movement, both within and without. Out at Tashi Chöling weeds are being pulled up, flowers are blossoming, and soon the Vajrasattva gardens' statues will be unveiled of the tarps that protect them from the elements, and we will again enjoy the vision of their brilliance in the sun. There are many projects unfolding and everyone, no matter what your skill or pace, has something to offer as we continue to serve Rinpoche and all beings by way of helping to create this amazing place of refuge. Please, come on out and join us! At our Sangha meeting last Sunday we sat on the lawn in the sun and discussed projects and upcoming events. You can help anytime; contact Mat for guidance in what to do.
So here we go...
CURRENT AND UPCOMING PROJECTS AT TASHI CHOLING:
The annual Dor Sem Lama Chod Pa Intensive Practice Retreat is coming right up, May 21 - 31. There is a good possibility that Gyatrul Rinpoche will be attending and there may be an empowerment, but all can come to the retreat without it. Lama Sonam will be leading us through this wonderful opportunity to practice and the focus this year will be learning, how to participate in the ritual by way of mudra, choponing, torma making, and all aspects of the sadhana. Lama Sonam will arrive early to spend time with students on Wed. and Thurs. the 19th and 20th to help us create the mandala, and will take time to answer questions about the Vajrasattva practice. For info on times when he will be available, call Nick at 482-3909. There will be at least 4 tsogs: on the first day, Fri. the 21st, which is the Buddha's birthday, on Sun. the 24th (Guru Rinpoche Day), on Sun. the 30th (Saga Dawa Festival Day) and on the final day, Mon. the 31st.
In honor of Gyatrul Rinpoche we will insert the Yeshe Tsogyal Long
Life practice on Sat. & Sun. the 29th & 30th, as we did last
year.
Please arrive early for registration at 8:30 am on Fri., May 21.
The fees are: Individuals - Full retreat/$150 -- Daily/$20
and for Couples & Families - Full/$250 -- Daily/$30.00.
Starting time is 9:30 am on the first day. We expect a schedule similar
to those in the past and it may look like this: 6:30 - 8:00 (Concise Ngöndro
practice), 9:30 - 12:00 / 2:30 - 5:00 / 7:00 - 9:00. The retreat is open,
so you may come to any or all sessions. As well, pre-retreat preparation
is in progress - please contact Ani Baba for temple cleaning and Jigme
for residence cleaning at 488-0477. Barley roasting is also needed - contact
Nick about that. Everyone is encouraged to help. If you want to camp out
at the center during the retreat and for all accommodation arrangements,
call Bea Arestad 541-482-4551. See you there!
Mat Small will lead a weekend Ngöndro retreat (Concise Tersar Ngöndro) this summer from Fri. July 30th through Sun. Aug. 1st. Registration cost is $35.00 and if you are interested in attending this call him at 482-3441. As well, there will be a Tsa-Lung Practice weekend, Fri. June 25 - Sun. June 27 at Tashi Chöling. Interested? Call Mat.
Tashi Chöling's Children's Program is re-emerging this spring on Sun., May 16th from 12:30 - 2 pm. Please see the enclosed flyer. For info call Trish DeMers 530-842-4138.
Lama Bruce Newman's classes continue. The final date of the Mon. night class is May 17 and May 25 for the Tues. night class (see calendar). Due to possible changes or postponement, if you would like to attend the Spacious Path of Freedom class please call Bruce at 488-0881. As well, if you are interested in participating in a study group focusing on Gompopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation, give Bruce a jingle.
New Ngöndro classes with Mat Small are ongoing. Call him at 482-3441.
The statue canopies must be removed this month on Sat. and Sun., the 15th & 16th. Mat needs your help to do this so please call him (482-3441) and come on out!
The Gardening Party on Sun., April 25th was successful and much work was done so thanks to everyone who came. ANYTIME YOU WANT TO is a good time to tend the gardens at Tashi Chöling. Weeding (on your time schedule), planting, & bunches of other tasks are at hand so please FEEL FREE to come out. The flower beds need to be rebuilt and if anyone can donate 2' x 6' lumber, scrap or otherwise (green or dry fir) call Trish at 530-842-4138, as well as for suggestions and guidelines on the garden plan. Another Gardening Party will take place during the month of June, so stay tuned.
Green Tara practice for those suffering from illness and obstacles continue on Sundays from 2 - 4 pm but will be canceled on the 23rd and 30th due to the retreat.
IN OUR PRAYERS...Included in this mailing is a letter from Sarah Rose about her current situation - she's in Stanford for 3 months. Nick O'Connor's back is still out for a long rest so send him that healing energy too. Sangye Khandro sends her thanks to the entire Sangha for the prayers dedicated to her father who died in April.
Michelle Fidler called recently to say that Ron's health is failing. She asks that the Sangha pray for Ron during our daily practice. It is suggested that people accumulate Tara and Vajrasattva practice, and/or OM MANI PADME HUNG, the Prayer to Amitabha to be Reborn in Dewachen, and the Prayer to Guru Rinpoche to Remove Obstacles. 108 butter lamps have been lit each day in the temple since Sunday, April 18th and will continue to be for the duration. Thank you Ani Inge for that.
When the time comes, a Vajrasattva puja will take place at the temple, followed by a gathering in honor of Ron. This will be put on the phone tree at the appropriate time. (I'm not in regular contact with the Fidler's, so please don't call me looking for updates.) Sincere thanks to everyone from Michelle for your prayers and support.
Some suggestions have been made by Sangye Khandro to the Sangha on how to deal with the illness and death of someone, especially one close to us. First, Vajrasattva practice is appropriate. Reading The Tibetan Book of the Dead is very helpful, especially the pages in back, beginning with Day 1. It is good to read this aloud in the temple (in the appropriate language). Accumulate the Prayer to Amitabha (previously mentioned) located in the Daily Practice book, and do korwa, particularly around the prayer wheel. It is very important to dedicate the merit of your accumulations to all sentient beings, not just the person you are practicing for, as this could create obstacles for them. Also, showing emotion makes it difficult for the person, so it is imperative to keep one's mind focused on benefiting and releasing a being in the transitional state. Try to create a peaceful, uplifting atmosphere.The best attitude is one of love and letting go.
Bea Arestad is looking into Group Medical Insurance for the Sangha. 15 - 20 people are needed to do this for major medical coverage, which would include alternative healing. Please call her and leave a message if you are interested at 541-482-4551. More literature will be available on this later, and possibly an "info" meeting.
THE BEGGING BOWL Donations of items needed by the temple and Sangha...The donation of one or more Dictaphones for transcribing would be very appreciated and helpful. Also, a bookcase would be very useful. If you can make a donation of one of these items (or something else) please call Nick O'Connor (482-3909). Thank you for your generosity. In addition, check this out...
FOR SALE: 45 acres with homesite approval, building pad, electricity, water located on the ridge, overlooking Tashi Chöling. For financial details: FAX 530-623-2271. Lynda
AN INVITATION ~ Our friends Mitchell Frangadakis and Deidre Goldberg are the new owners of Cafe Electra, a very cool cafe located in Talent at 105 W. Valley View Road, down and across the street from Wal-Mart. Come enjoy art exhibits, Live Jazz on Monday nights, and to introduce their Open Mike night on occasional Wednesdays, the entire Sangha is cordially invited to a poetry experience...Julie Rogers & Michael "Yamantaka" Wear and other instruments will create a happening of passionate ponderings and musical musings on Wed., May 12th at 7:30 pm. at the Cafe Electra. Please come! Dharma friendly poems! Admission is free and tasties will be available.
Just to let you know, I'll be doing the June newsletter earlier in May than usual due to the upcoming retreat, so if you would like something included please get it to me ASAP. For Dharma historians, Monday the 10th, Dakini Day, is the anniversary of the `Great Fifth' Dalai Lama. Friday the 21st is the Birth of Buddha and the 30th celebrates Saga Dawa Düchen when, at the age of thirty-five, Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. This is also the anniversary of his Parinirvana.
May is a very auspicious month to do practice.
Thank you for your patience with reading this extra long newsletter - there's a lot going on for us to keep in touch about. Thank you to all those wonderful persons that have brought the various mistakes I have made here to my attention. Keep those cards and letters coming! Send comics! Best wishes!
Your Vice-Secretary,
Julie Rogers
April 15, 1999
Dear Vajra Family,
I am writing to you from my new temporary abode, in an apartment building for patients of the Stanford University Medical Center. I am so sorry that I have not been in touch with those of you who have tried to contact me. I have been overwhelmed with the demands of medical procedures, moving, family issues, and simply being sick/lacking energy.
I am still rather shocked that I have cancer again. It was an incredible, almost bizarre experience to have this negative karma ripen for me during the Guyagharba retreat. I feel as though some sangha members have kind of experienced the diagnosis with me; kind of cracking us open a bit.
As I face my next round of cancer treatment, I hope that I can conduct myself with even a fraction of the courage and grace that Ron Fidler has been showing us. He is an example and an inspiration to me. Michelle and Ron are really taking it on: the full cracking-open experience.
Life goes by so quickly. Time spent with all of you is incredibly short. Also, since I am a lousy practitioner, I can barely hold Rinpoche in my mind for a moment. I'm a small fish without much insight, who doesn't comprehend this ocean. If Rinpoche weren't here to reexplain the ABC's, I'd be at a complete loss. So, I'm feeling water-logged right now, but I'm still kicking.
Thanks so much to everyone for all of the support and help you have extended to me. I am really touched. Thanks for communicating with me. And, it means a lot to know that Rinpoche is well, that pujas are happening at Tashi Choling, that everyone is keeping things going in our mandala... Thanks.
Sarah Rose