September 2001

In This Issue

LONGCHEN NYINGTHIK NGÖNDRO PRACTICE RETREAT AT SSRC

DZONGSAR KHYENTSE RINPOCHE VISITS CHAGDUD GONPA

BLITZ ON TIBETAN ENCAMPMENT

INTERVIEW:
GYUTO MONKS' SPOKESPERSON SONAM RIDZIN

DHARMA DATES:
-Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche's Visit
-Tsoknyi Rinpoche Visits Australia
-Dalai Lama Attends Forum
-Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche's Retreat
-Hevajra Retreat
-White Lotus Children's Sponsorship Programme
-Join Gesar Springs Community
-Lama Ngawang Jinpa

Gentle Voice
Contact Information

DHARMA DATES

DZIGAR KONGTRÜL RINPOCHE'S VISIT

Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, who is an emanation of Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thaye, will soon make his second visit to Australia in 2001. Rinpoche will be giving a public talk on "The Courage of Compassionate Living" in Brisbane on Wednesday 29 August at 7.30 p.m, (phone 07 3030 0649 or e-mail jankerryn@yahoo.com for details). Then, from 31 August to 7 September, he will teach on Lojong or the Seven Points of Mind Training at Vajradhara Gonpa (phone 02 6633 1382 or e-mail vajgonpa@nor.com.au). Rinpoche will also travel to Sydney and Melbourne during his Australian visit. In Sydney he will give a weekend teaching on "Calling the Guru from Afar" on 8 and 9 September (phone 02 9211 5304 or e-mail rigpasydney@rigpa.com.au). And in Melbourne he will give a public talk on "Meditation Practice in Everyday Life" on Friday 14 September at 7.30 p.m, and a weekend teaching on "Aspects of Longchen Nyingthik" on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September 2001 (phone 03 9387 0422 or e-mail e_vam@smartchat.net.au for details).

TSOKNYI RINPOCHE VISITS AUSTRALIA

Tsoknyi Rinpoche was born into the family of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. His great-great-grandfather was the treasure revealer Chogyur Lingpa, and Rinpoche has been trained in that tradition by his father since an early age. He was brought up at Khampagar Monastery at Tashi Jong by Khamtrul Rinpoche and, in addition to his father, his other principle teacher was His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Rinpoche will be making his first visit to Australia with public talks in
Melbourne on 22 November and Sydney on 23 November and a seven-day retreat from 24 November to 2 December 2001. The retreat will be on the theme of Dzogchen meditation and will be residential in a beautiful setting in the northern beaches above Sydney. For enquiries contact tsoknyirinpoche@optusnet.com.au or phone 0412 689 162.

DALAI LAMA ATTENDS FORUM

An Australian visit by His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, has been confirmed for 16 - 30 May 2002. His Holiness has confirmed his support and attendance at the planned Nobel Peace Prize Laureates' Forum in Hobart from 16-19 May 2002. His Holiness will then travel to Melbourne (19-25 May), Sydney (25-27 May) and New Zealand (27-30 May).

Melbourne will be the major focus of other events, including a public talk, a four-day teaching programme on the great Buddhist text by Atisha, Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment, and a health and long life White Tara blessing and initiation. A public talk will be held in Sydney, as well as another significant event, currently in early planning stages. For further details visit the website at dalailama.org.au.

NAMKHAI NYINGPO RINPOCHE'S RETREAT

Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche has entered a three-year retreat near his monastery in Bumthang Valley, Bhutan. He has asked assistance from Ani Tenzin Wangmo and Ani Pema Chodron (Karen Schaefer) in finding support to feed the monks in his monastery while he is in retreat. The "anis" are setting up a sponsorship programme for Lhodrak Karchu monastery. You can sponsor an individual monk or nun or make a general donation to support Rinpoche's retreat. To enquire further about this, contact tenzin@webone.com.au or anipema@optusnet.com.au or send donations to NNRinpoche Fund, P.O. Box 83, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, or phone 02 6249 1995.

Rinpoche is sending Ani Khenmo, a nun with full training in the Longchen Nyingthik tradition who will become abbess of his nunnery, to teach in Australia this year. She is a very dynamic woman with excellent English. The dates are currently being arranged. Contact anipema@optusnet.com.au for information.

HEVAJRA RETREAT

At the request of Lam Dre students, Lama Choedak has kindly agreed to lead a 10-day Hevajra retreat from 5 to 14 October 2001. This special retreat will coincide with the fifth annual Calm Abiding Meditation Retreat organised by Rongton Buddhist Training College and will also be led by Lama Choedak. It will be held at Birrigai Education Centre, ACT. For further information please contact Julie Tinnion on 02 6288 1624 (e-mail tinnion@dynamite.com.au) or Terry Coulthard on 02 6363 1874.

WHITE LOTUS CHILDREN'S SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME

Now from future events, let's switch our focus to a weekend event just past. Forty people from different areas of northern New South Wales and from many different lineages gathered at Vajradhara Gonpa to sing sacred songs for the sake of others. After invoking the buddhas, bodhisattvas and our teachers and dedicating the merit, there was a brief explanation of the Khyentse lineage and the White Lotus Children's Sponsorship Programme, before local Bundjalung member Andrew Johnston played the didgeridoo and clapping sticks to welcome all the local guardians and auspicious friends. The singing began by introducing Tibetan chants and then working our way around the globe with sacred chants from various lineages, with the talented help of Sharmon Okan, Tess Cullen, Brian Martin and Hendrik Hazenveld. Early morning yoga classes to limber up and relax the body and throat were lead by Mark Loveridge. Of all the moving experiences during the weekend, the sight of older folks and young children singing together was especially touching.

Some children even offered money from their piggy banks and created a small shop at the gonpa with half the profits going to the White Lotus appeal. After all expenses were covered, the weekend raised $1,114.00 - enough to support three children for a whole year at school with medical coverage as well. So, in gratitude, thank you to all those who came and to the volunteers who gave of their services so generously.

Maggy Agrey

JOIN GESAR SPRINGS COMMUNITY

Gesar Springs is the community incorporating Vajradhara Gonpa Buddhist Retreat Centre, which is under the direction and guidance of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. The community both supports and, in turn, is supported by the presence of the retreat facilities. Located on 800 acres close to Kyogle in northern New South Wales, the community includes rainforest valleys, waterfalls, clean creeks, spring water, fertile alluvial soils, community facilities/resources, good community spirit and, of course, Vajradhara Gonpa, host to some of the most eminent teachers and teachings. Currently there are two houses available for sale on the community.

One house is situated high on the mountain, close to Vajradhara Gonpa (300m away). It is a small, open-plan, brick house with natural earth-rendering, lovely slab-timber bench tops and shelving, and large windows that allow the forest surroundings into the home. It has been built with energy efficiency and low maintenance in mind and includes solar power, gas hot water, fridge, stove, slow-combustion fireplace, composting toilet with majestic views, gravity-fed spring water, various fruit trees and regenerating rainforest. This house is priced at $Aus48,000 (negotiable), including community share. For enquiries contact Ngawang Palter, 16 Bancks Crescent, McKellar, ACT, 2617, or phone 0413 346 881 or 9416 4937.

Also for sale, situated in a very private and secluded valley, with cool rainforest and bubbling creek, is an exceptionally beautiful and unique home, hand built with local stone and timber. It has a large living area, one bedroom, verandas, a bathroom with a feature stonework bath tub, slate and polished timber flooring, stonework fireplace, gravity-fed spring water supply and a large shed/workshop space. Numerous fruit trees are well established in the fertile soils. This house is priced at $Aus60,000, which includes community share. For enquiries contact Sergio Jacomy, Gesar Springs, Collins Creek Road, Kyogle, NSW, 2474, or phone 6633 1490.

LAMA NGAWANG JINPA

Lama Ngawang Jinpa is the son of the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's elder sister. He is 66 years old, has been living at Tso Pema caves for 20 years and is always in retreat. He has been recently diagnosed with diabetes and urgently needs a sponsor! If you would like to sponsor him or to make a donation to him or any of the many practitioners at Tso Pema, please contact Pantha Blazely on 02 6685 8197 or
elder@spot.com.au.