SONGTSEN GAMPO NEWS
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche
There is a lot going on this month and beyond, so be sure to read the entire newsletter so you don't miss anything! We begin with Dawn Wegenek speaking to us on The Four Noble Truths. Then we are blessed with two visits from the Monks of Gaden Shartse. They will be performing Sacred Dances and Chants and a few days later will speak to us about Death, Bardo and Rebirth. See below for full details.
We are also thrilled to announce another visit from Taklung Matul Rinpoche from October 8-18, 2010. Rinpoche will be leading two retreats (country and city) and giving a public talk. The country retreat will likely take place from Oct 8-14, so please look at your schedule now if you want to participate. Some details below, more to come soon.
**IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE COUNTRY RETREAT, please send me an email ASAP with your name(s) and which days you are thinking of attending. This is NOT a commitment, but will help us to get an idea of how many people we can expect. The more people sign up, the cheaper the cost. Thank you!!
Our weekly meditation gatherings will continue as usual.
This Month: (Please scroll down for full details)
* Friday Aug 13 ( 7-9pm ) -- VISITING TEACHERS SERIES: The Four Noble Truths -- Dawn Wegenek of Jewel Heart Cleveland
* Tuesday Aug 24 ( 7:30pm ) -- SACRED DANCES AND CHANTS OF TIBET: Journey to the Roof of the World -- Gaden Shartse Monks
* Friday Aug 27 ( 7-9pm ) -- VISITING TEACHERS SERIES: Death, Bardo and Rebirth -- Gaden Shartse Monks
* Wednesdays in Aug ( 7-8pm ) -- GROUP MEDITATION. Please contact Sheila for full information.
September:
* Thursday Sept 16 ( 7-8:30pm ) -- CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE --
Ani Palmo
* Saturday Sept 18 ( 2-3pm ) -- INTRO TO MEDITATION-- Ani Palmo
October:
* Friday Oct 8 - Monday Oct 18 -- TRANSFORMING THE HEART: Teachings on Compassion -- Taklung Matul Rinpoche
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RECENT NEWS
Many thanks to Lama Kathy Wesley for her inspiring
talk on Karma: The Law of Cause and Effect. As one participant wrote to me: "Lama Kathy was funny, engaging, warm and spoke on a level that everyone in the room could relate to. I walked away from the evening with a renewed spirit for taking the time to really consider my motivations and how I could truly benefit all beings, including myself."
Come join us Friday Aug 13th for Dawn Wegenek's talk on The Four Noble Truths.
Louise, Anne, Nancy, Roberta, Janice and Leah at the Stupa
Our six intrepid pilgrims had a wonderful time in France! Three days of teachings from Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche were followed by much touring around the Dordogne Valley. Castles, churches, prehistoric caves and even canoeing were part of the experience. Kudos to this fantastic group of women for their joy, enthusiasm and harmony! (More pics below.)
I hope that all of you are doing well, continuing with your practice and studies. There is truly nothing more precious than the Dharma in this life. Practice with joy!
Please note that I return in September and may give some talks and programs then. Regular courses will resume in November. More information on all of that coming in future newsletters.
Peace to you,\
Palmo
*Please scroll down for full details on our upcoming programs.
Ani Palmo Rybicki, Director
Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center of Cleveland
For further information please email Ani Palmo.
SUMMER / FALL PROGRAMS
VISITING TEACHERS SERIES: The Basics of Buddhism
Dawn Wegenek of Jewel Heart will speak about The Four Noble Truths, the first teaching of the Buddha, on Friday August 13th.
The Gaden Shartse Monks will teach about Death, Bardo, and Rebirth on Friday August 27th.
Both of these teachings will take place at West Shore Unitarian Church in the Chapel (20401 Hilliard, Rocky River) from 7-9pm. Donation: $10 at the door.
Dates and Topics: (All teachings take place on Fridays from 7-9pm)
* Aug 13: The Four Noble Truths -- Dawn Wegenek
* Aug 27: Death, Bardo and Rebirth -- Gaden Shartse Monks
The Presenters:
* Dawn Wegenek is a long-time student of Gelek Rinpoche and an instructor at Jewel Heart Cleveland. She is known for her honest, straightforward and clear teaching style.
* The Gaden Shartse Monks are from the famous Gaden Monastery originally established in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa in Tibet. Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet, this monastery has been rebuilt in southern India. Today, these monks travel all over the world creating sand mandalas, giving presentations of chanting and sacred dance, and offering teachings on Buddhism.
SACRED DANCES AND CHANTS OF TIBET: GADEN SHARTSE MONKS
Please join us for this very special event as the Monks of Gaden Shartse share some of the sacred art of Tibetan Buddhism. Ancient Tibetan multi-phonic chanting is created by a single person singing a chord containing two or three tones simultaneously. The deep, resonate chords fill the room and transform both the environment and the audience with their powerful energy.
The sacred ritual dances are not simply a performance, but a spiritual ritual created to transform negativities and obstacles within our world system into positive, harmonious conditions. Throughout the dance, every movement and ritual implement utilized has a deep and profound inner and outer meaning. [adapted from www.gadenshartsetour.org]
Long hidden behind Himalayan mountain ranges, the ancient Tibetan culture remained untouched by the outside world for thousands of years. Now you can experience the rare sounds and dramatic imagery of Tibetan sacred dances, music, and chants.
Co-sponsored by Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center and InterAct Cleveland.
Breen Center for the Performing Arts
St. Ignatius High School
2008 West 30th St.
Cleveland, OH 44113
Tuesday Aug 24: 7:30pm
Admission*:
$15 General Public
$5 Student (with ID)
*All proceeds to benefit Gaden Shartse Monastery in India
For more info: www.GadenShartseTour.org
GROUP MEDITATION: Every Wednesday
We will be meeting weekly to practice meditation together for one hour at a time. These gatherings will take place at sangha members' homes on dates and times decided by the group. This is a chance to keep your practice fresh, while getting to know other members of the sangha.
Sessions begin with a brief reading from a series of books on meditation, followed by 15-minute periods of sitting and walking meditation. If you would like to attend or host a session please send an email to Sheila.
I highly recommend attending as many of these sessions as possible, since practicing in a group is a very supportive environment for meditation. Free will donation.
Taklung Matul Rinpoche
TRANSFORMING THE HEART: Teachings on Compassion
with Taklung Matul Rinpoche
Taklung Matul Rinpoche is visiting Cleveland again this year from October 8-18, 2010 to lead an intensive program examining the classic work on compassion by Shantideva called The Way of the Bodhisattva. Over a period of ten days, much of it in a country retreat setting, Rinpoche will expound on these beautiful verses, deepening our understanding of this very important text. In addition, we will be practicing meditation together with Rinpoche, chiefly Calm Abiding and the Practice of Exchange (tonglen).
The program will consist of a Country Retreat, a Public Talk and a City Retreat, taking place at two separate venues. Participants will be free to sign up for as much or as little of the program as they like, as it is not progressive in nature.
We are currently in the process of finalizing the venue (looking into a lovely place about two and a half hours south of Cleveland), dates and cost. However, we are trying to get Friday Oct 8 through Thursday Oct 14 as the dates for the retreat in the country. Please look into clearing your calendar for all or part of this period, if you would like to attend. Columbus Day is Oct 11, making it a three-day weekend.
We are expecting the Public Talk to take place in Cleveland on Friday Oct 15 and the City Retreat to take place at the same Cleveland venue from Saturday Oct 16 through Monday Oct 18.
As soon as we have more information, we will send it out to you. So, please keep your eyes on your email.
*IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE COUNTRY RETREAT, please send me an email ASAP with your name(s) and which days you are thinking of attending. This is NOT a commitment, but will help us to get an idea of how many people we can expect and to determine the final cost. The more people sign up, the cheaper the cost. Thank you!!
PHOTO GALLERY
Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche
Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche
Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche offering mandala
Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche
Photos from Khyentse Rabjam Rinpoche's talk with children
