By Douglas Mills

Arising, abiding and cessation.
Before, during, after.
What, me do a three year retreat ?
How could I possibly do a three year retreat ?
How the hell can I stay in this three year retreat ?
When is this retreat ever gonna end ? 
After I chuck a wobbler and run screaming out of the retreat boundary, can I come back ?
Oh, why, why didn’t I stay in retreat ? How can I get back into another three year retreat ?
Did a retreat actually unfold and I just happened to be there ?

Once a man, who was rumoured to have done some retreat, received the following email.

We are petitioning all retreatants to help us with our planning stage of the next retreat, blah, blah and so on and so forth. Please answer the questions authentically and return a.s.a.p. Otherwise, there will be severe and I mean severe, consequences.

Did you enjoy your retreat ?
Did you feel your retreat experience was worthwhile and verifiable ?
Can you explain the difference between Shamatha, Vipashyana and the coalescence of Shamatha and Vipashyana ?
If not, why not ?
Have you attained the first Bhumi yet ?
Can you remember why you did the retreat ?
How many fingers are there on your right hand ?
Can you find your left foot ?
Do you find yourself accidently revelling in the state where there is nothing left needing to be done ?
Who is the hero and who the anti hero in the book, ‘Winnie the Pooh does Big Ears’ ?
Please explain the difference between going to club med, being cast into a dark dungeon and forced to listen to Abba, be admitted into a mental hospital, being consigned to death row and your own retreat experience ?
Can you prove you would have done something more worthwhile with your life if you didn’t do retreat ?
Was doing retreat the most amazing, ineffable, paradoxical event of your entire life ?
Have you heard the joke about the retreat that started with twenty people and finished with twenty two ?
Which is your favourite of the following Buddhist pop tunes, compulsory listening on your retreat ?
Moov Dat Flor Skin Mar Far, subtitled Plaintive supplication to have my rug pulled,
Waz Alweighs Kry Inma Slip, subtitled Genuine heart of sadness blues,
Mar Dumb Fah Koola Yuz Rana Way subtitled My idiot compassion smells better than your definite emergence from samsara or Guru Smuru Ar Juz Wana Du Yu, subtitled Sexual Projection Detection ?
When you find yourself plummeting into the depths of Vajra Hell, do you have irreversible, inconvertible faith and devotion that your Guru will effortlessly reach down and pluck you out with his little finger ?

Which of the following books on the compulsory reading list did you find most helpful in retreat ?
Vajradhara is actually a woman by Lama Feminus Extremus, 
Vajravarahi ain’t got nothing on me by Lama Bhagus Portcullis Fangus, 
Tantra don’t have nothing to do with sex by Lama Organus Maximus or
How to get recognised as a reincarnate Tulku by Lama Penus Insignificus Tiewanus.
Do you find these questions boring ?
Answer Yes, No or Other.
Note : Please do not get someone else to fill in these questions for you.

Once there was a man who aspired to do three year retreat. He tentatively made some enquiries with a man who had done more than five years. ‘Oh, it took me more than five years to come back to earth, to feel my feet solidly on the ground again, you know what I mean. So if you are thinking about doing it, then think well on it, my friend.’
Later, the man requested a divination from his Guru as to whether he should do a particular retreat, starting at a particular time, in a particular location. ‘ If you don’t do this now, perhaps the interdependent causes and conditions will not arise again in this lifetime.’
 
Choice. There is no choice.

Choice is an effervescent, nebulous matrix of apparent possibilities.

Once there was a man who received advice from all his Gurus on how he should readjust into the world after a three year retreat. The student listened attentively to their instructions and tried his best to apply them in a simple, real way. However he found himself stumbling around in the world again, unable to do even simple stuff like speak, without really preparing what was gonna come out of his mouth. He walked into walls and kept trying to open doors the wrong way. He also noticed that the labelling of subject and object had become a real chore for him. Bit of a worry, he thought, ever so slowly. So one day he went to see his best friend, an eminently compassionate man, who, as it turned out, had had a particularly eventful life and had ended up doing serious hard time in gaol. His captors had taken a real dislike to his free spirit so they rewarded him with two thirty day stints in solitary confinement back to back, sixty days total sensory deprivation, no light and so forth. Now as you may imagine, this experience had left an indelible impression on the man. On listening to the perplexed consternations of the Buddhist retreatant on matters such as an inability to function in the world stemming from a basic lack of self confidence and other juicy morsels of self indulgence, he wryly smiled and replied. ‘ What did I do to cope, you ask ? Well, I simply retaught myself how to perceive the world and its’ objects. It took a while, you know. You get the hang of it after a while.’

One Guru, when asked what was the benefit of doing three year retreat answered the question by saying,
 ‘Well, if I ever get put in gaol, at least I will know what to do.’ Good advice? No, great advice.

Once there was a man, rumoured to have done a three year retreat, who was asked by his Guru to ask another man, also rumoured to have done a three year retreat, whether he had actually done said retreat. The questioned man was indignant and said that of course he had. He then asked the questioner, ‘ Did you do a three year retreat ?’

This prompts the enquirer with such leading questions as, ‘ Why is it that some, rumoured to have done a three year retreat, never mention it, hide it, deny it and change the subject at the drop of a hat, if given the chance ?

Why is it that others wear it like a Victoria Cross on their carefully polished Buddhist chest of medals and pull rank at the first opportunity they have in dubious social situations where they kinda look quasi compassionately at others and smirk knowingly in a way that makes you want to put your fingers down your throat and be sick.

Once there was a man who thought that he had really made a total mess of his three year retreat and needed to do another one as soon as possible. This time, of course, it would be different and he would do it ‘properly’. 
He approached another man for whom he had so much respect and devotion who had been placed in his three year retreat in an advisory capacity after doing his own retreat in a far, distant land. This man was so humble, yet overflowed with an authentic realisation of the dharma that manifested as an awesome devotion to his Guru. He was so kind, generous and humorous that the retreatant just had to ask him about his experiences in that other remote realm. ‘Oh, actually, sometimes it seems like I never even did a retreat. It all seems so dream like now.’

Once, a Guru came to visit a three year retreat one year after it had started. He said to the retreatant, ‘ Don’t worry, I have just decided to put you into retreat for life.’ The retreatant went into an extreme panic attack response so he could no longer formulate any kind of pathetic, wining questions or requests.

The next year the Guru returned to cheer up the retreatant by changing the formulation slightly,
’Don’t worry, now I have decided you only need do another five years of retreat after you have completed this one.’
The retreatant was overjoyed and returned to his meditations, but after he had thought about this so called, great offer a little bit, his mind continuum took another unforseen pathway resulting in unbounded confusion.

The final year of the retreat, the Guru returned, smiling and joking.
’ No, I never said anything about you doing more retreat, you need to go out into the world and metabolise what you have been aspiring to practice.’ ‘But Rinpoche,’ the student retorted. ‘ I would really like to stay on here and do some more retreat. I finally think I have had a glimpse of something meaningful and maybe I could make my life fruitful.’
’ Get in the car, you are leaving now.’

Once there was a man who found his guru yoga practice in the lyrics of a country song.
‘Out on this road that lies before me now, there are some turns where I will spin,
I only hope your love will find me there and hold me, until I gain control again.

‘
This was revealed from its’ place of concealment within the widget of an imported can of Guinness 
by the treasure revealer Kookaburra Lingpa.
Reading this, you will know if your bullshit detector is turned on. Check out :  arwannabeatulku@poohseawipt.org
 
UNSEALED AS MEANINGLESS   UNSEALED AS SUPERFICIAL  UNSEALED AS PUBLIC    SLARNCHA
 
Translated from the Aramaic by the Reverend Dubious Snoteater.

Disclaimer : 
Gentle Voice completely disavows any knowledge of any of the events referred to in this article and strongly recommends that the reader take the whole thing like a pinch of salt.
 All events are fictional and any resemblance of the characters mentioned herein to any Guru or disciple living or dead is purely an adventitious defilement.

One of the many faces of Douglas Mills Photo Jasmine Singh

By Chris Jay

Pat Armstrong died peacefully on the evening of July 10 in Seattle. Pat was a close student of Rinpoche for many years, and before that, she was a student of the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Pat completed a 3-year retreat at Vajradhara Gonpa in Australia in 2008, and upon returning, led the development and implementation of the North American Dharma Gar.

Pat Armstrong

Pat was a practitioner’s practitioner. She was diagnosed with breast cancer during her 3-year retreat and went through a round of operations and chemotherapy. When she returned to the retreat, all of the retreatants made a big fuss about taking care of her, making her meals, so on and so on. But Pat told everyone to just calm down and leave her alone so she could get back to her practice. Steve Cline, the retreat master, told the retreatants take their cue from her; everyone should get back to their practice.

In the last few days of her life, her close Sangha friends practiced in her room 24 hours a day. Rinpoche visited her twice in the last month of her life. Pat died as she lived – practicing, without making a fuss. We all miss her very, very much, and remember her for her humor, her humility, and for her utter devotion to Rinpoche.

“At the close of the World teaching tour of Yangsi Khyentse Rinpoche, eight stupas were consecrated at the following places: Lumbini, Shravasa, Sankisa, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Rajgir, Bodhgaya.

Here are a selection of photographs taken by Mathieu Rikard and Raphaele Demandre to inspire and encourage pilgrimage.

Thank you to Yangsi Khyentse Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche and everyone who made possible this extraordinary tour to all parts of the world ”

Lumbini

Shravasti

Yangsi Khyentse Rinpoche at Sarnath

Sarnath

Nalanda, Rajgir

Vultures Peak, Rajgir

Stupa at Rajgir

Vashali

Vaishali Stupa

Bodhgaya

Yangsi Khyentse Rinpoche Sarnath

May the great revolutionary banner

May the great revolutionary banner

Blow in the wind of peace,

May it blow in the wind of karma.

May it blow in the wind of fearlessness.

One’s own mind is revolutionized:

There is no need to conquer others.

Like the warriors of ancient times

Going to war by imperial command,

Like seasoned masters of the martial arts,

We will destroy the fortress of erroneous thinking.

We will no longer tolerate the confused way of life

Controlled by the imperial forces of materialism,

Since these forces may snatch away

The freedom of human dignity.

One must first give up the ego

And enter the war with one’s mind.

That is the first step to freedom.

But we will never be free

By following the voice of desire.

Liberation is only gained

By treading the path of what is.

September 1968

Bhutan

Message from Taksang photo Pawo Choyning Dorji

Noa Jones

Feb 2011
In September, Rinpoche posted a message on the SI Web site warning people who might be thinking to following him on his pilgrimages to Bodhgaya and Sikkim:

“Here in India, worlds like “delay”, “cancellation”, “confirmation”, “cleanliness”, “no problem,” “yes” and “no” all have different meanings. And in fact, if you learn how to appreciate those different definitions, you will find that this is what makes this part of the world magical. So, people who are wishing to come from the first world expecting their toilet will flush, and a hot shower, who are married to, the whole principal of no trespassing, who value individual rights and personal space, might as well just look at pictures, preferably black and white and especially taken by Cartier Bresson and Raghu Rai.”

Attending the drupchen in Tashiding, Sikkim was part practice, part pilgrimage and part adventure. About 20 of Rinpoche’s Bhutanese, Tibetan and Sikkimese students attended the ten-day drupchen and another ninety came from other parts of the world. Tashiding Gonpa is remote and even when one drives—and if one makes it through the road blocks and striking protesters—there is a good 10 to 15 minute walk up a set of stairs to arrive at its gates. People scrambled to find housing near the top but the higher one stayed, the more rustic the conditions became. People were shacking up in the strangest of places to be closer to the action. The action being a red hot drupchen, Lhatsun Namka Jigme’s Ridgin Songdrup, in a very cold temple.

Tashiding landscape and Farmhouse

Like all sangha gatherings, there were exuberant reunions with old friends and lots of new connections made. And of course the restrained clamour for the guru’s attention. He appeared, but always seemingly just out of reach, emerging from the mist, disappearing, giving scant moment of his precious time to as many people as possible before moving on with the enigmatic grace of his. And as the days progressed, as we all became grimy and exhausted, he only seemed to become more luminous.

It rained for days and then hail, the likes of which a 17-year resident had never seen, came crashing down on the temple roof on one sunny cold day. Most days were cold, though sometimes hot. The nights were frigid and in the sky the moon waxed from half to full. We asked if there was a reason the drupchen landed on these particular dates. Did it have to do with the moon? “Sometimes we check astrology for dates but this time we only checked Rinpoche’s schedule,” said Khenpo Sonam Tashi. The shivering masses, old friends, wanderers, court jesters, and royalty, engaged in all kinds of survival techniques, sharing supplies and telling stories, inviting romance, butting heads, and spending rollicking nights with that Sikkimese potion, tongba, in the parking lot below.

“No matter where we go, it’s the people we meet who create the ambience and character of a place and who inject it with a unique energy. A café becomes ‘cool’ or a ‘dive’ depending on the kind of people who hang out there; a rave party for three hundred over-60s and two teenagers is unlikely to involve much raving. It goes without saying that for people like us whose minds and perceptions aren’t very flexible, a holy site is made powerful by collective devotion and veneration, not wall-to-wall carpets.”

Fresh paint on old stone - Tashiding Gonpa

The real potion of the week, however, was the amrita, the mendrup, that was produced with the help of the monks from Pemayangse over the course of the ten days. Preparations had been underway for months prior to the drupchen, overseen by Khenpo Sonam Tashi. Substances were ordered and gotten from an expert in Kalingpong, others were brought from Rinpoche’s secret stash. “Mother pills” are required, just like starter is needed to make sourdough bread. These pills contain parts of pills that contain parts of pills that go all the way back to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s days and with those came snow lion milk, herbal medicines, the eight substances, and so on. During the ten day drupchen, one day is spent preparing these substances, then three days is spent mixing the dry substances, and on the fifth day it is mixed with the mother pills and wet substances. This mix is placed into a large vase and the main practice begins. On the ninth day, the vase was opened and the mendrup is measured. Everyone was very pleased because there were clear signs that the substances had increased, which is the best result. Khenpo Sonam Tashi said that this means it “woke up” and that the worst case scenario is that it merely rots.

Stupa that Liberates upon Seeing - Lhatsun Namkha Jigme photo Sangpo Shresthra

Drupchens are magical, not least because of the chanting of the mantras must continue uninterrupted through the night. Not everyone signed up for all night shifts, although some signed up for almost all of them. Tshewang Dendup, the “hero” from Travellers & Magicians, became the hero of the night, taking it upon himself to make sure there were thermoses of tea and some biscuits to keep people awake. Sometimes only one or two people would show up and the pressure of the drupchen’s success lay on their shoulders, which was enough to keep them alert and chanting ! The mantras changed every few days to match the activity of the amrita production.

We were told plainly not to complain but by the fifth day, Tashi Colman was making the rounds in the shrine room, alerting people to the exact number of minutes and seconds until the drupchen would end (although there was a rumour that he may have been set up).

Rinpoche sat on the throne flanked by Thangthong Tulku, who is the reincarnation of Thangthong Gyalpo, the famous bridge maker.  Jamyang Gyeltshen, whom many students know from Sea to Sky Retreat Centre in Canada attended them both. Jamyang was in fine form, serving Rinpoche all kinds of crazy concoctions, and seemingly always going for elaborate costume changes between services. You never knew what he’d show up with at tea time, perfectly pressed espresso in a Tibetan robe, banana flambé in traditional Sikkimese dress, paan in a tracksuit, all variety of chili pastes. Rinpoche seemed amused.

And Rinpoche was more than just amused by the westerners that came to the drupchen. He made a point of praising the effort they put into making the drupchen a success. He even went so far as to say they “saved” it. This was a surprise for some of the monks who were unaccustomed to foreigners participating in such rituals. “In the end they learned a lot,” said Khenpo Sonam Tashi about the monks, “and they were very happy.”

Stupa of Choki Lodro at Tashiding Gompa

Rinpoche noted that the very first empowerment he ever received after his enthronement was from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the Lama Gongdu. It took place right there in Tashiding, in the room that was now used for cold storage. It was also here that Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro was cremated in 1959. Several of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro’s close students were key coordinators of the drupchen. If one wasn’t made aware of these men, they might have seemed like any other old codgers fetching thermoses of tea and making sure things were running smooth. “Butter tea or sweet?” We asked them. And they pointed and poured with a smile. But these were the very same men, his carpenter and his cowherd, who travelled with Chokyi Lodro from Derge, witnessing miracles and mastery along the way.

Khenpo Sonam Tashi, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and Thangthong Tulku on the last day at Tashiding

After the drupchen, a smaller group of students followed Rinpoche to Ghezing (Geyshing) where Rinpoche did a fire puja and hosted two bonfires to burn loads of his old possessions so that he could clear way for the new abbot of the Gonpa there. He saved a few things, his Bee Gees record, a tea set from his teens, and of course his pechas, but suitcases full of clothes and books went up in flames while his students sang and danced around the flames.

For the two weeks following the drupchen, the nine monks who had come from Rinpoche’s Chokyi Gyatsho Institute (Dewathang, Bhutan), remained in Tashiding to roll the mendrup into pills, which will be saved for special occasions. Seeing what goes into the production gave many of those who attended the drupchen a new appreciation for precious pills. Many participants are now back at home with their hot showers and routines, some kept going on the pilgrim path. But all took a little shining memory of Tashiding with them that can be lit up or forgotten, clung to, used, misremembered. It doesn’t really matter. As Rinpoche said in “ What to Do in the Holy Sites of India”:

“What exactly is the right motivation for going on a pilgrimage? At best, it is to develop wisdom, love, compassion, devotion and a genuine sense of renunciation (renunciation mind). So, as you set out, you should make the wish that your journey, one way or another, will continuously remind you of all of the great noble enlightened qualities of the Buddha, and that as a result you will accumulate merit and purify defilement.“

Noa Jones  – Feb 2011

Mt. Kanchenjunga from Tashiding Gonpa

Interview with Pawo Choyning Dorji

Questions from Yvonne Gold

Q. Where were you born & when?

A. I was born in Darjeeling, India on the 23rd of June 1983. I am Bhutanese but now I spend most of my time between Bir, Northern India and Taipei, Taiwan.

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school?

A. My father worked as a diplomat for the Bhutanese government, so we were always on the move. Of course I spent a majority of my childhood in Bhutan but I also grew up in Switzerland, India and Kuwait. Since we were always on the move, my parents opted to send me to a boarding school to finish my high school. I graduated from Kodaikanal International School, an American boarding school in the beautiful Palini hills of Tamil Nadu, South India. Since my high school was an American school, it was natural for me to do my university studies in the US. I majored in International Relations and Political Science at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. After I graduated in 2006, I moved to Bir to be with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Q. How & when did you get your 1st camera?

A. I used to use my parent’s old Nikon film camera, but I got my first digital SLR camera when I graduated from college. I guess you could say that was my first serious camera.

Q. How old were you when you started taking photo’s

A. I don’t remember, I always enjoyed taking photos, but I started being serious about it around 2006.

Q. How, why & where did you get interested in taking photo’s?

Pawo Choyning Dorji

A. I think that the world is seen differently by each individual, because each eye is unique. This is just my way of sharing my viewpoint. The way I see the world.
I also take pictures because I want to share my life with others. I do lead a very unique life; I live in a place like Bir and work for my guru. I think I am very fortunate that way…because happiness I think comes down to living a life where you do what makes you happy, and for me that is being around my guru. There are many other sangha members around the world, who probably would also like to live such lives…but they cannot because of different conditions. I take pictures and share them because I want our sangha to feel connected with our guru and his activities.
Also I travel a lot and I enjoy shooting landscape. I like to share that with friends who have not been there yet. (I don’t know if this makes sense but you go ahead and edit it and do whatever.)

Q. Do you have an idea before you shoot of what you want, or just see how it is when you’re in a place?

A. I love to shoot landscape and people. People’s faces (especially old people) are my favourite, I feel like their whole life story is written on their faces…the happy times and the times of struggle. I also shoot a lot of panorama shots, where I actually take several shots on one place in a row.  I then use different software to stitch them together into a giant photo. I think this is cool because it really gives the viewer ideas of what I am seeing when I am there.
I am very open to shooting and processing techniques. I like to experiment and just see how it turns out. I shoot in HDR mode as well, that’s when a photo is shot in 3 different exposure levels and then merged together to form one photograph. Sometimes the end product looks like a painting.

Q. How / why do you go to all these places?

A. I guess it’s the life I lead. I am a Bhutanese, married to an American Taiwanese, living in a small mountain village in northern India. Following a guru who is always on the move! We just end up travelling a lot!

Q. What else would you like to do now or in the future?

A. I would like to study photography. Right now its just something that I have picked up on my own, and I think there is so much more to learn.

Q. Your photos have a huge sense of spaciousness about them, which is very inspiring for meditation. How do you achieve that? What’s your motivation in taking these images?

A. I think it just turns out like that because I am a photographer who happens to a Buddhist, and who also happens to be always hanging around meditative places! Its very unlikely I’ll be taking photos in a place like Paris or Tokyo…I am usually in places like Bodhgaya, Bhutan, or on some remote mountain top.

Instant Inspiration photo Pawo Choyning Dorji

May I become at all times, both now and forever; a protector for those without protection; a guide for those who have lost their way; a ship for those with oceans to cross; a bridge for those with rivers to cross; a sanctuary for those in danger; a lamp for those without light; a place of refuge for those who lack of shelter; and a servant to all in need” Shantideva, The Bodhicharyavatara, Chapter III, Verse 18-19

This is Pawos link which is full of wonderful photos to inspire others to travel to pilgrimage places. http://drukpakuenlay.smugmug.com/Travel/Paths

Beautiful Bodhgaya photo Pawo Choyning Dorji

Tara Blessing at Deer Park Institute, Bir HP India Oct 1 & 2, 2010.

Synopsis by Crystal Catherine Southwood.

On October 1, 2010 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche bestowed the jenang (Tib) or darshan (Skt) blessing of the tantric deity Arya Tara. The Manjushri Hall at Deer Park Institute was completely filled and many people sat outside looking in through the windows. The lineage of this blessing came from Shakya Shri.

Rinpoche explained that although “not a major abisheka (empowerment) it is one of the many methods of the infinite tantric path to introduce you to the mandala of a certain deity — it creates a connection.” The connection is with the deity and its mandala as well as with the master who bestows the empowerment.

The ceremony consisted of the classical aspects: generating bodhicitta motivation, mandala offering, refuge & bodhisattva vows, request for connection and then the body (through blessing water), speech (through mantra) and mind blessings. For the mind blessing Rinpoche handed everyone a fresh flower, which I placed on the crown of my head.

The following quotes are from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche said during this Tara Initiation

“These flowers are not just marigolds, they have infinite dimension, and represent that Arya Tara will always be your crown ornament and your pledge that you will never take it off.”

“When you just watch the non fabricated mind, that mind is none other than Arya Tara.”

” By engaging in deity practice and visualising self as deity we are actually purifying our perception to what is our true nature”.

“Ultimately our very being is Arya Tara – Arya Tara is not an externally existing deity. We must discover this innate Arya Tara and utilize its full potential.”

“Me telling you Arya Tara is inside you is the same as me telling you oil is in the sesame seed. Oil is always in the sesame seed. It [tantra] is not a deceiving path.”

“Tantra has something to do with continuity, it means, before you practice, while you practice and after realisation, your innate nature has not changed at all.”

“The real cause of suffering is that we do not have the right view.”

Rinpoche also mentioned that the ultimate truth that Buddha realised is beyond words. Concepts that at first Buddha did not teach so as not to lead people astray. What was given are called provisional teachings – teachings that lead along the path but that are not ultimate truth, because most beings were not ready for that.

Rinpoche talked about how to maintain the blessing through various methods such as various ways to do the sadhana. Viewing self and environment all as Arya Tara, visualising Arya Tara as your root guru, reciting praises, reciting mantra, even just reciting the seed syllable Tam has many blessings.

“Sadhana is a method to land on dharmata and arise as Tara instead of our impure self. To try to get pure perception for a moment and replace our impure perception with right perception.”

During question and answer someone asked about merit.
Rinpoche said “Anything that brings you closer to the truth is meritorious.”

Someone asked about grace and Rinpoche said,
“The utlimate grace/blessing is that we have innate Arya Tara.”

Climbing the staircase photo Crystal Catherine Southwood

Travel Tips for India and Bhutan

By Pamela Croci

Our experience with planning any trip has been to keep in mind worthwhile tips, step into the void and follow whatever comes up. Of course, book transport there (return) and accommodation on arrival, and depending on the season, hotels in key areas. Doing this meant that there was time for opportunities that truly resonated, to guide us to some extraordinary places. Recently we returned home, with a sense of accomplishment, rather than tired from trying to see too much, and not having the space of mind, to appreciate the place or the people. Some time ago, we did go on a long trip, with everything organised within an inch of its being, and we found this exhausting.

If you have a more organised habit, are travelling with children or if this is your first time to India then I recommend engaging a tour guide. Less anxiety if you have advice regarding hotels and a car to take you around places like Delhi. However try and give yourself some free days just to wander. In India the main pilgrimage places are a must especially if time is limited. For the rest of your life you will find them to be so inspiring as your mind can return to them again and again.

Zangpo Palri of Kurjey up ahead - Bumthang, Bhutan photo Hugo Croci

In Bhutan, unless you are travelling with exceptional Government approval you are required to have prearranged bookings with a tour company. Our driver and our guide were very accommodating and always asked us where and what we wanted to see. Any homework would be, to take note of special places where wonderful masters have been and with whom you feel a particular connection.

Travelling around India and Bhutan can not be done with tight schedules. Things happen. Roads are slow. Trains can take forever. However if time is a consideration, flying has improved enormously. Not as cheap obviously but not horrendously expensive either and very convenient. To keep costs down book air travel online before you leave and if you need to change flights this can be done for less than buying there as you go. Well that was our experience. At Airports make sure you have checked your luggage and that you are not carrying anything questionable. Security at Indian airports is now very strict so be prepared for several checks.

Please be careful with food. We travelled recently with our 15 yr old and he became very ill from what we think was a bag of potato chips. This is a time only to feed your body sustenance not to indulge in western habits. We had been warned that Bhutan’s food was only chilli, chilli and more chilli. Not so. Mainly it was rice with lots of fresh vegetable dishes, sometimes dhal, sometimes great mushrooms and yes, always with chilli as a side dish.

Regarding your health it is wise to carry some supplies. (See Nikki and Paula’s Medicine Chest list.) When our son was sick in Varanasi we went to a very good hotel and were looked after by an excellent doctor who was called to the room by the hotel. Of course becoming ill was unfortunate but able to be met without too much hardship.

Heart of Bhutan, Taksang photo Pamela Croci

Money tips: You can use rupees in Bhutan but don’t have notes in denominations above 100 Rupees. Not 500, not 1000, as they will not be accepted. Bhutan is mostly cash only country. There are a couple of ATMs. One at the airport and one in Thimpu. $US Dollars are accepted.

Regarding clothes. Check weather conditions in the immediate area in which you are travelling. Be like a chameleon – blend. We found one lot of outer layers work with good thermals and several pairs of comfortable socks. Scarves for extra warmth and colour. If travelling in summer, cover up. A simple shirt costs around $5.00 so you can buy, wear and pass it on. Try and contain everything within one bag. Travelling with warm sleeping bag is sensible if staying in cheaper hotels. Have passports, money always close. If possible don’t leave visas until the last minute. We left getting our visa into Sikkim until Siliguri when we could have done this at Sikkim House in Delhi. It worked out however it could have been very inconvenient not only for us but also for others.
That’s it. Have a wonderful time.

There are many special places in and on the way to Bumthang,
Central Bhutan.

It takes a full day to get there over a beautiful and worth every bump in the road.
Here are a few:
Jakar:
Jamba Lhakhung (7th century) ask to see Pema Lingpa’s chain shawl
Walk through the fields to
Kurjey Lhakhung and Kurjey Zangpo Palri (Guru Rinpoche Head print)
Tamshing Lhakhung – Pema Lingpa’s Monastery
Namkhai Nyingpo’s Monastery Kharchu overlooking Bumthang
Out of Jakar:
Kunzangdrak – Pema Lingpa’s Retreat (steep walk)
Dechenling – where Pema Lingpa was born and lived (shorter walk half way to Kunzangdrak)
Mebartsho (Burning Lake)
On the road back to Thimpu via Punakha
Choe Drak – Tharpa Ling Monastery – Longchenpa cave and Nyoshul Khen’s Kudung – short steep walk from car
At Punakha:
Punakha Dzong – exquisite painting of Buddha in main monastery
Not far out of Punakha
Chimi Lhakhang – Drukpa Kunley’s Monastery -a joyful walk through the fields
and
In Sikkim on the way to Tashiding is a wonderful Guru Rinpoche cave called
Kharchu Sangphog “ Secret cave of the Dakinis “

Kindly put together by Nikki Keefe
and Paula Raymond – Yacoub.

Paula is a Physiotherapist/Acupuncturist and Nikki a registered nurse who has run clinics in India.

Panadol/ Ibuprofen (good for pain &fever)

Asprin (one prior to flying to reduce risk of DVT)

Olbas oil (good for colds/sinus congestion)

Rennie/ indigestion tablets (for overindulgence of Indian food!!)

Stemetil for car sickness or nausea (Prescription only in west or over the counter in India)

Tinidazole antibiotic for Giardia gut infection, 2 gm stat (Prescription only or over the counter in India)

Norfloxacillin antibiotic for bacterial diarrhoea

Cephlex antibiotic for upper respiratory/sinus infections

Temazepam sleeping tablet (Prescription only)

Tiger balm (good all rounder for aches, pains, insect bites)

Dulcolax/ Nulex for constipation (yes it can happen!!)

Imodium/ loperimide (for diarrhoea)

Oral hydration powder (if diarrhoea)

Betadine antiseptic lotion

Tea tree oil for infections/dilute gargle for sore throat

Himalaya brand Balm for colds and pain (available in India)

Small first aid kit including plasters, gauze and bandage

SF30 cream/ Lip balm

Capsicum plaster from Chinese Herb Shops for painful backs etc

Chinese Herbal granules – Gui Zhi Tang – for chills [aeroplane aircon]

Paula and Nikki at Kiosk on the way up to Taksang, Bhutan

Yacoub

“One way or another, the majority of students and practitioners from all the different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism will have a connection with Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Some of us are fortunate enough to consider ourselves as his students. The present Yangsi Rinpoche, without a single doubt, embodies the previous Khyentse Rinpoche’s presence, wisdom and compassion. Now, for the first time, Yangsi Rinpoche is travelling to the West. This journey is a rare gift from His Eminence Rabjam Rinpoche and establishes our continuous, uninterrupted connection with Kyabje Khyentse Rinpoche and the Khyentse lineage. I hope those who have time and space will make a point to participate in this program”

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche , Dec 21, 2009

An Invitation to Celebrate Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche’s

Return to the West

His Eminence Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche & Matthieu Ricard cordially invite you to H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. The year 2010 marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–1991), one of the most remarkable spiritual teachers of our time. To mark this special occasion, there will be ongoing activities celebrating his life and paying tribute to the benefits and activities he accomplished. Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, his tulku or reincarnation, will give teachings, and preside over the ceremonies and offerings in Asia and abroad.

The celebration event in Hong Kong will be held in 2 days on 9th Oct and 10th Oct 2010. This event is free of charge and open to public. The event will be conducted in English with Putonghua interpretation. You can simply sign up for the event and receive an instant email confirmation letter. Please print out the email confirmation letter and bring it along for entry. Free seating is available on first-come, first-serve basis.

NB : Australian Students please note that there are 4 day package deals to Hong Kong
at this time for $A1000.00

Also Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche will be concluding his tour in India.

Nov 26 – Dec 5 Rangjung Pema Nyingthink Drupchen at Shechen Monastery in Bodhgaya, India

Dec 28 – 30 Closing Celebrations in Bodhgaya.

For further information regarding India leg of this tour email: samtshe@gmail.com

For details, please see the event e-flyer or visit www.dilgokhyentse.hk
For enquiries, please feel free to contact via email at info@dilgokhyentse.hk

Best Regards,
Organizing Committee of H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s 100th Anniversary Celebration – Hong Kong

Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Lerab Ling, France Photo from Rigpa

The photo on the left is Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche being received at Lerab Ling Temple in France during anniversary celebrations earlier this year.

Click this link to see photos of Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Nyima Dzong, Lama Kunsang’s gompa near Nice in France earlier this year. Photos by Olivier Vin.

Click this link to see photos from The Long Life Empowerment that Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche gave in New York. Hosted by Mangala Shri Buti, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

by Jakob Leschly
The 59 slogans of Lojong practice are found in numerous contexts. This particular sheet features the translation of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the design is created by the students of the Ven. Traleg Kyabgön. Slogan practice is an extension of studying and reflecting on the Seven Points of Mind Training. Placing this sheet where we regularly see it, is a highly efficient method for recollecting the great vision of the bodhisattva path in our ordinary life.
While the entire Buddhist path is dedicated to ending delusion, and as such renouncing samsara, the Mahayana path is distinguished by the bodhisattva’s renunciation of nirvana as well. As long as there are suffering sentient beings, the bodhisattva will not rest. Some of us may be inspired to travel the great path of the bodhisattvas, and the Tibetan Mahayana traditions have numerous profound teachings on how to generate such awakened courage. The Indian Buddhist master Atisha Dipamkara who came to Tibet in  the 11th century, particularly promoted this path of Lojong and it spread throughout all the Buddhist traditions of Tibet. These are highly practical methods, and lie at the core of Mahayana Buddhist view and practice.

Lojong, or training of the mind, has two aspects – absolute and relative bodhicitta. The first – absolute bodhicitta – is cultivating the greatness of awakening in meditation; the other – relative bodhicitta – is cultivated through joining greatness of awakening with our post-meditation life.

While meditation cultivates absolute bodhicitta by freeing us from the grasp of thoughts, the lojong path of relative bodhicitta skilfully accommodates the dualistic habits of the ordinary post-meditation intellect, yet purifies it of the narrow attitudes that invite suffering. This pro-active engagement of our own psychology brings our entire existence on to the path of awakening. As the lineage masters point out, when the brilliance of the slogans dawn on us, they come to us by themselves. Situations themselves remind us of the slogans and provide the sounding board for our path. As such we do not exclude our path from our ordinary life and our interaction with the world. The slogans ideally should be memorised, but even if we can’t do that, we should invite them to be part of the thoughts that occupy us throughout life.

For a Full Explanation of these 59 Slogans please read;

Enlightened Courage by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Published by Shechen Publications

Lojong Slogans Image from Kagyu E-vam

Download the above Lojong Slogans jpeg from E-Vam Institute

By Ani Pema Chodron
I am living in the retreat centre, up the hill behind Namkai Nyingpo Rinpoche’s monastery in the midst of Juniper trees. It has a most beautiful outlook, over the Bumthang Valley with the medieval looking Jakar Dzong on the opposite mountain. The sound of the Chamkar River below is the background to the day and night activities. The Bumthang valley is famous for many sacred temples, monasteries and sites holy to Guru Rinpoche, Pema Lingpa and Longchenpa and is truly fragrant with Dharma. As I sit for meditation practice, it feels that there is a tangible Dharma energy that elevates and supports one’s own effort. I can hear the 400 monks in Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery below me, joyfully chanting. Throughout the day, I hear the different gongs and bells for different activities. Their wake up bell goes at 4.30, then the gong starts inviting them to the temple for their morning prayers.
One of the biggest events during my six month stay in Bhutan was the visit of Dungtse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s father. He had not been to Bhutan for over 20 years, and was invited by the Prime Minister for a month’s stay along with about 30 of his students from the United States.
He was escorted by his son Garab Dorje. He participated in two large public events in Thimphu. A large chorten in the centre of Thimphu had been dedicated many years ago by His Eminence to his father, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. Dungtse Rinpoche met huge numbers of people there one morning, giving Benza Guru Mantra lung and a short Teaching. His arrival was preceded by hundreds of gomchen practitioners with large drums chanting and conducting the Chod practice. Gomchen practitioners are those trained in the dharma and also live in the community with their families.
The enthusiasm of the people was overwhelming, crowding and rushing towards Dungtse Rinpoche, but restrained by the army and police. Dungtse Rinpoche’s response was deeply moving as he opened his arms towards all those who had come to meet him. He continued his tour for a month conducting Drupchens and other events, spending most of his time in Eastern Bhutan where he had previously lived. Everywhere he went, he had his young students from America ,who had been trained by him since children, conducting the rituals, leading the chanting, and performing an extremely beautiful Cham dance that he himself had choreographed.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche arrived in Thimphu at the end of his father’s tour and over one weekend he gave a teaching on the 9th chapter of Bodhicharavatara.. His primary message, seemed to be to caution the young and educated Bhutanese, (as his talk was in English) not to lose their Buddhist values in the face of modern materialism and western education. His concern was evident as Bhutan faces more and more influence from international media, and the young people are very keen to be like their international counterparts.
It was particularly lovely to see Rinpoche relaxing with his own people “Half of Thimphu is my family, and that is very nice,” he said… He addressed many of the cultural rituals of Bhutan as having meaning only if people are aware of why they do them, otherwise they become empty rituals without meaning. In time people would start to feel that such rituals are irrelevant to their modern life. Rinpoche has several students here maintaining Deer Park Centre, and helping to restore Buddhism into the education curriculum. At the conclusion of the teachings Bhutan Broadcasting System set up and filmed a panel discussion on the topic, “Is Buddhism Relevant to Modern Bhutan?”. The panel consisted of Rinpoche and Lama Shenphen an educator, a scientist and director of Deer Park.
The audience was invited to ask questions and one woman stood up and said, “I am an architect here in Bhutan, and I design Lhakhangs, (Temples). Very often I am not allowed to even go into the Lhakhangs I have designed (women are forbidden to enter into any of the Protector Temples). My question to Rinpoche is : What do you think of this. If you were not Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, would you choose to be reborn as a woman?” Rinpoche responded saying that “Whoever tells you that Buddha discriminated against women, ask them to find such things anywhere in the Sutras of Buddha’s Teaching. They will not find it. Such attitude has been superimposed in various cultures, including ours.” Then he went on to say, “Every year when I go to Bodhgaya I make an aspirational prayer to be born as a woman, a black woman, very beautiful and to be a republican president of the United States!!!”
As you can imagine, this brought the house down!!

Ani Pema in the garden of 500 arhats,Taiwan Photo Ani Pema Chodron