Book Review – Now I Know

March 7th, 2011

Introducing the “ Now I Know ” series of ebooks

by Sally Devorsine

Sally Devorsine is a young mum who many of us have met during our wanderings in India and Bhutan. Sally had the great good  fortune to have been the English teacher to Yangsi Khyentse Rinpoche when Rinpoche was a young boy.

Sally, Yann and Anwen

I meet Sally, her husband Yann and little daughter Anwen in Tashiding. They had just completed the Indian leg of the world wide visit by Yangsi Khyentse Rinpoche. Their display as an authentic young Dharma family is inspiring and we can all look forward to seeing Anwen grow into someone who will help bring the Dharma to others just as her mother Sally has done. They are now back in Bhutan , playing , painting and awaiting the spring.

The ” Now I Know “ series is a unique and vibrant group of books for children written and illustrated by Sally and they have been endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Matthieu Ricard .

Based on the one – thousand year old eight verse mind training of Geshe Langri Thangpa, which has never before been translated for children, they delightfully combine ethics, wisdom and sense of humour.

The “Now I Know” collection is for both parents and kids offering different methods of finding happiness for self and others!

Published by Chocolate Sauce, a new boutique brand of spiritually orientated books for children.

You can purchase these great little e books at www.chocolatesauce.org

Pages from the Now I Know series of Childrens Books from Chocolate Sauce Publishing






THE MIND TRAINING EIGHT VERSES

by Geshe Langri Thangpa

Wishing to attain enlightenment

For the sake of all beings,

Who excel even the Wish-fulfilling Jewel

May I cherish them all

Whenever I am with others

May I consider myself least important

And, from the depth of my heart,

Cherish all and hold them supreme.

In all activities, may I examine my mind

And as soon as conflicting emotions arise

Endangering myself and others

May I firmly face and avert them.

Whenever I see an evil being

Overwhelmed by intense negativity and suffering

May I cherish him as something rare

As if I’d chanced upon a priceless treasure.

When others out of envy

Mistreat me, with slander and abuse

May I take defeat upon myself

And offer the triumph to others.

When someone whom I’ve helped

With much hope and expectation

Hurts me, deeply and unjustifiably

May I regard him as my sublime master.

In short, may I directly and indirectly

Offer happiness and Peace to all my mothers.

All their evil and suffering

May I secretly take upon myself.

In all this may my mind be unstained

By the eight ordinary concerns

And know all things to be illusion

Free of clinging, may I release all beings from bondage.

Pages from the Now I Know series of Childrens Books from Chocolate Sauce Publishing

Pages from the Now I Know series of Childrens Books from Chocolate Sauce Publishing

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Spring thru Late Summer

March 7th, 2011

By Zeljka Jovanovic

The oldest one within me is the little girl
covered with layers of life
now already a bit wrinkled

The outer, visible skin
although the last one that appeared
is the newest, the freshest.
I am repeatedly surprised to see her in the mirror

I see them all
They all become beautiful through love

The Sleeping Beauty

awaits a wake up call
meanwhile
sitting quietly, doing nothing.


Oh, I thought I stopped writing poems
Oh I thought the well had dried up!
But one little message from “Gentle Voice Dateless and Desperate”
gently reminded me
saying
“Next issue of GV… if you wish… short amusing bio…”
and so words were formed:

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Breathing Ganges

March 7th, 2011

Sonam Palden

Varanasi

After passing a procession of dead bodies in bustling traffic at the market , a friend and I entered the ghat in Varanasi, and were thronged by people selling lamps and flowers for offering, caged birds and fish for releasing. Everything seemed to happen all at once and in no time, we were sitting on a wobbly boat on the river Ganges with the vendors carrying buckets of fish and pigeons still wrung by their neck. The Ganges stood still, almost colourless in the afternoon light and the dipping sound of the oars in the water seemed to hark of another existence, much more raw and agile, and so the title “Breathing Ganges”.

Breathing Ganges photo Sonam Palden

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A view in Ladakh

March 7th, 2011

A pilgrimage to Phokar Guru Dzong, Guru Rinpoche Caves in Ladakh, June 2010 by Sarah Mist and Sangpo Shrestha

Small Gompa near Pokar photo Sarah Mist

200m steep walk through glacial water and snow... intense! photo Sangpo Shrestha

Caves from a distance photo Sangpo Shrestha

Entrance photo Sangpo Shrestha

View from Guru Rinpoche Cave photo Sarah Mist

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