campaigns : campaign preview - rangjung yeshe gomde · based on the text the final words of tsele...

Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling on the first day

The New Tulku'sEnthronement

For four days around the Buddhistfestival of Lhabab Duchen (November19th), elaborate ceremonies were held inKathmandu to celebrate theenthronement of the reincarnation ofTulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Months of careful preparation went intowelcoming the seven-year old tulkuUrgyen Jigme Rabsel, son of NetenChokling Rinpoche and Khandro TendzinChoying Gyari. Every inch of Ka-NyingShedrub Ling monastery was cleanedand whitewashed or painted in the weeksbefore the big event.

Gomde e-NewsFebruary 2009

Welcome to the February edition of Rangjung YesheGomde's quarterly e-newsletter. If you're on our papermailing list, you'll be getting a postcard soon announcingGomde's program schedule for 2009 -- or check below. Thanks to all the readers who donated to the Novembereffort to provide a Gomde offering for the enthronement ofTulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche in Nepal. Thanks to you,Rangjung Yeshe Gomde was able to offer more than$2,200 to this auspicious event. This month's news includes an account of the elaborate andbeautiful enthronement ceremonies, stories from Gomde'sland manager and caretaker, an invitation to the new onlineSangha Forum, and a report from the latest water-drillingeffort.

February 25th marks the start of Losar and the new Tibetanyear (the year 2136, to be exact). Wishing you all anauspicious Year of the Earth Ox!

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arriving at the Kathmandu airport

On the first day, thousands of guestsfrom around the world gathered at themonastery in Boudhanath to witness themain event. Crowds began to gather atdawn, everyone dressed in their finestclothes.

Decorated with colorful streamers,brocade banners and prayer flags, thegompa looked like a celestial palace.Huge tents were set up to accommodatethe crowds that filled the courtyards toview the enthronement ceremony onvideo screens displaying footage from theceremony inside. Five different camera crews from threecontinents were present to film thecolorful events surrounding these fourdays. In addition to the four sons of TulkuUrgyen Rinpoche -- Chokyi Nyima,Chokling, Tsoknyi, and MingyurRinpoches -- present were scores of highlamas, including Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi,Dzongsar Khyentse, Beru Khyentse,Tenga, Sogyal, Rabjam, Neten Chokling,Orgyen Tobgyal, and PhakchokRinpoches. As the lamas arrived and were escortedinside, the excitement grew. Around 10am on the cloudless morning, the Yangsi

2009 Programs Visit the website for more details and to register:www.gomdeusa.org. If you'd like to reserve a tent cabin forone of the retreats ($40 double, $35 single), [email protected]. Preference given to thoseattending both of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's teachings. Dzigar Kongtrul RinpocheIntroduction to the Middle Way, by ChandrakirtiJune 6-11Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche will continue his clear, conciseand practical teachings on the philosophical insights of thisclassic Madhyamika text. Kumara Internship ProgramJune 21 - July 26Study, practice and work for Dharma students ages 18-30. Lama TsultrimStudy Group on Ocean of Amrita: Ngakso PujaJuly 2 - 5Join the weekend study group on this profound Vajrayanapractice that is key to our tradition, and master the finepoints of this beautiful ritual. Chokyi Nyima RinpocheBenefiting Beings and Making AspirationsJuly 24 - 27"You can only benefit sentient beings through thebodhicitta resolve and making aspirations; comparatively,any other immediate action is of little benefit." -- fromThe Final Words of Tsele Natsok Rangdrol Chokyi Nyima RinpocheOcean of Amrita: Ngakso PujaJuly 27The profound Vajrayana practice known as Ocean ofAmrita mends violations of root and branch samayas andpurifies violations, breaches and faults of tantriccommitments. Chokyi Nyima RinpocheKnowing One Thing Liberates All


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arrived with Trulshik Rinpoche. Theywere greeted with the sound of Tibetanhorns and cymbals and clouds of fragrantincense.

July 26 - August 2Based on the text The Final Words of Tsele NatsokRangdrol, this teaching will impart the key points of thisprofound pith instruction. "Unless you realize the key pointof natural awareness -- that knowing one thing liberates all-- you won't find any certainty in pursuing endlessseemingly 'important' information." -- from the text

the new tulku on his throne Inside the main lhakhang, TrulshikRinpoche enthroned the new incarnationand bestowed a long-life empowerment.Countless offerings of mandalas andBody, Speech and Mind were made byrepresentatives from other monasteries,nunneries, international Gomdes, andlocal organisations. On behalf of Rangjung Yeshe Gomde'sAmerican community, a group ofrepresentatives including Dr. DavidShlim, Ani Marcia Hansen, GrahamSunstein, Marcia Schmidt, and Zack Beeroffered a White Tara statue and formallyrequested the young lama to remain inbody, speech, and mind. Other Gomdesangha members present for theenthronement included Robert Betonte,Jordan Rothstein, and Barry and LoisShapiro. For the remainder of that day and the

Notes from the Land

Greetings Everyone,I've really enjoyed the experience of Gomde during therelatively quiet winter months. A lot has to happen to makethings work around here! Number One is roadmaintenance. John Martin has volunteered to dig us biggertrenches so the water runs off the roads faster, which hasbeen a real help. Kelly the caretaker has also figured out adownright masterful way to smooth the roads and dig outditches. All in all, the roads are in good shape. The Buddha Hall was meticulously repainted and is nowcomplete, after three long and rainy months. Scott thepainter was a total perfectionist. He actually sanded andrepainted the doors and columns to the entrance threetimes over! I was amazed at how meticulous he was. It'sbeautiful work.We've also installed new gutters on theGatehouse, Lama House and River House -- necessary inorder to keep the houses from getting any more waterdamage. Sangha House and Middle House still need newgutters.

On the land we've hosted monthly practice weekendswhere we have been able to come together and practice asa Sangha. It's been very fun for me to have everyone hereon the land, and also wonderful to have the chance to visitand practice with the Sangha on a regular basis. All in allit's been an exciting year for me. I hope to see you all verysoon. All my warmest wishes,Lauren Kelly adds: Another Mendocino winter is coming to anend. I believe that makes nearly 25 for me. Let's just say


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next, a continuous stream of devoteesand well-wishers waited patiently in linefor four hours or more to make offeringsand receive blessings from the new TulkuUrgyen Rinpoche.

All the thousands of guests were invitedto lunch at the monastery, while visitorsfrom abroad were invited to dinner withthe lamas at the luxurious Yak & YetiHotel in Kathmandu. On the second day, ceremoniescontinued at the monastery. Acharyadegrees were presented to a number ofmonks with excellent scholasticachievement from the monastery'smonastic college or shedra. Three shedramonks recited pages of carefullymemorized Dharma discourses, alongwith their personal understanding of thetexts.

I've seen plenty of them, and am happy to report that thisone has rolled by in a fairly predictable and for the mostpart disaster-free manner. No major power outages orlandslides, nothing hit by lightning. For the most part it's a peaceful, introspective time of year.That is not to say that Lauren and I weren't grabbing ourraingear and running for our shovels when the first bigrainstorms of the season hit. The challenge of course, is toneatly and quickly channel the great torrents of rushingwater off our precious roads before any damage can occur.The good news is that I feel confident that we've sparedourselves the expense of a major re-grading of the roadswith heavy equipment in the spring. Not bad for havingdone all this by hand! I must say how much I've enjoyed meeting the nice folkswho came up to the retreats and spent some time with usthis winter. I hope your experiences here were positive andthat you'll come back again. It'd be great to see you andcontinue our various tours and conversations where we leftoff. Until then, you know where I'll be...Kel

greeters waiting at the monastery Later in the day, seven shedra monkstook part in a lively traditional debate inthe middle of the shrine hall. Specialhonor was paid to a number of RangjungYeshe Institute's Western shedratranslators, who were felicitated withwhite katas. Lastly, Chökyi NyimaRinpoche gave a brief and touchingspeech, repeatedly petitioning TrulshikRinpoche to live long for the benefit ofbeings.

E-Sangha: Version 2.0

Gomde's first foray into the blogosphere had mixed results.Although blogs are the technology of the moment, theyprimarily offer a platform for blog moderators and do notallow an equal voice to all readers. Sangha members wholooked at the blog felt that we could do better. And wehave. I'd like to introduce you to the Gomde Sangha Forum, anon-line discussion platform where you can engage invirtual conversation with community members fromaround the country. What's great about this setup is that it'stotally interactive. Anyone in the community can post aquestion or offer a reply. We've tried to design the forum with a bit of something foreveryone. You can engage in discussions about dharmapractice, health and fitness, family life and a host of othertopics. We also have a section where you can post a


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On the third and fourth days, similarceremonies were held at Ngedon OselLing, the monastery of Tsoknyi andMingyur Rinpoches, and Nagi Gompa,the sister nunnery where the former TulkuUrgyen spent the majority of the lasttwenty years of his life. Reportedly, the young Tulku UrgyenYangsi refused to leave as theprocession was departing Nagi Gompaon the final evening, asserting that hewanted to stay there.

Hopefully he will get an opportunity soon.In the meantime, he traveled during thefollowing days to Northern India, whereTaklung Tsetrul Rinpoche had begunoffering the Rinchen Terdzo, or 'Treasuryof Precious Termas.' Click here to view a beautiful14-minute video of highlights of theenthronement (highly recommended!)

website and information about your business or project,particularly if it's something that might benefit communitymembers. If there's a topic you'd like to discuss that's notcurrently listed on the forum, drop a note in the suggestionbox and we'll add a category. To sign up for the forum, log onto the Forum through thegomdeusa.org website (see link below) and click on theregistration button. You can then create a user name andpassword that will allow you to read messages on the siteand post questions or replies to sangha members. We havedesigned the site with the security of your personalinformation in mind. The forum is ad-free and spam-free,and your e-mail address will not be visible to visitors ofthe site. Gomde secures all information you provide so thatit is not possible for a third party to use it. We invite you to join the conversation. Click here and letyour voice be heard:http://www.gomdeusa.org/forums/index.php -- Paul Gustafson, Forum Moderator

7-year-old Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche Dharma Video Website

Here's a new website that's an amazingtreasury of dharma teachings: OnlineDharma Classics. This site contains videos of many of ourown teachers, including Chokyi Nyima,

Searching for Water Gomde's most recent well-drilling exercise took place onDecember 4th. We thought we had a good site picked out,based on advice from expert local dowser Mike fromStonegate Villa. Several Sangha members also felt thedivining rods tip at the well location, which was at thenorthwest end of Shedra meadow. Local well driller FischDrilling was optimistic as well. Lauren and Shabadshowed them to the site, where they drilled to a depth ofabout 270 feet. We did not hit any water -- a completelydry hole. It was truly disappointing and frustrating -- wewere so hopeful and optimistic, as I know the entireSangha was. As the drillers helpfully explained to us, generally waterresides either in an alluvial deposit, like a former riverbedarea, or from a crack/fracture that runs through a hard rocklayer. Within 10 or 15 feet of surface, we hit rock/softsandstone. This upper soft sandstone led into shales, theninto harder sandstone that could have yielded a suitable


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Tsoknyi, Mingyur, and PhakchokRinpoches. And more: Dilgo Khyentse,Dzigar Kongtrul, and Chogyam TrungpaRinpoches; Pema Chodron, theKarmapa, the Dalai Lama, Ringu Tulku,Sogyal Rinpoche, Thich Nhat Hanh . . . It's a fun site to explore to see what youstumble across. Most videos are 5-10minutes long. Check it out at:

http://www.onlinedharmaclassics.org/

water-bearing fracture. No fracture was found, or at leastnone that yielded water. At still greater depth, the rockwent back to softer sandstone and we stopped the drilling.We did not try another hole at the time because we werepermitted for a specific location.

The Water Committee will continue a number of differentefforts to secure good water supplies for Gomde retreatsand seminars. This spring, we intend to improve theseveral existing springs on the property. (The drillers wereimpressed that our springs had not run dry in December).The piping at the existing spring areas will be made a bitmore secure, and the new piping should help us obtainmore water. If you have suggestions, ideas or expertise orwould like to be part of the Gomde Water Committee,contact Shabad at [email protected].

Rangjung Yeshe Gomde | 66000 Drive Thru Tree Road | P.O. Box 162 | Leggett, CA 95585tel: 707-925-0201 | [email protected] | www.gomdeusa.org

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