Archive for January, 2010

Travelogue August-December 2009

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Rinpoche continued his intensive travel and teaching schedule throughout the last six months of 2009. Here are some highlights:

August 16 -22, Crestone, CO:  Empowerment–Transmission and Practice

In an unprecedented teaching demonstration, Rinpoche gave three empowerments and practice instructions for  Green Tara, Vajrasattva and Guru Rinpoche during this week. Additionally, participants had an opportunity to circumambulate the Jangchub Chorten Stupa (Stupa of Enlightentment) with Rinpoche prior to his blessing the newly almost-completed Dorje Yudronma Shrine on the Yeshe Rangsal land. (This week also served as the first week of the Monthlong retreat in Crestone.)

August 16-September 13, Crestone, CO:  Monthlong–The Precious Garland of the Sublime Path (The Teachings of Gampopa) One hundred participants from over 14 countries attended the Monthlong this year, which was held in the teaching tent on the Yeshe Rangsal retreat land in Crestone.  Rinpoche gave daily morning teachings, as well as small group interviews in the afternoon, along with group instructions on ngondro, yidam practice, and dzogchen practice. The retreat closed with a fire puja and bountiful tsok. Retreatants were also invited to visit Rinpoche’s new home that borders the retreat land.

Monthlong 2009

Please click below for photos of the Empowerment Retreat and 2009 Monthlong:

Tony Barrs’ Picasa Web Album/ Monthlong 2009

Richard Timan’s Picasa Web Album/Monthlong 2009

Jim Gritz Gallery (password:  Gampopa)

October 2-4, San Francisco, CA:  Wisdom for Difficult Times:  What the Buddhists Teach Sylvia Boorstein, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche co-chaired this discussion sponsored by the California Institute of Integral Studies and the Asia Society of California at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco.

October 8-9, Washington, D.C.:  The Heart of Change (The Mind & Life Conference with H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama) To learn more about this event, please visit:  www.jamesgritz.com/blog/

The Lady Yeshe Tsogyal

October 10-15, Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, CO:  Songs of Yeshe Tsogyal Rinpoche taught the nature of mind using one of the dohas (songs) of Yeshe Tsogyal who chronicled the teachings of Guru Rinpoche for the sake of future generations.

October 16-22, Garrison, NY: The Bardo Teachings The description of the six bardos, or major intermediate states occurring in our existence, provide us with great opportunities for liberation while living and dying. Particularly useful are the instructions on the bardo of death and the following states, because we learn how to deal with these extreme situations and use them to reach enlightenment.

October 23-25, Kripalu Yoga Center, Lennox, MA: Rinpoche taught on the topic of Finding Fearlessness in Difficult Times

November 21: Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche arrived at Kathmandu airport, accompanied by his parents, Neten Chokling Rinpoche and Khandro Tendzin Choyang Gyari. Tsoknyi Rinpoche then escorted the Yangsi and his family along with Namdol Gyatso Lama and two attendants to Nepal. For more information, please visit www.Shedrub.org and see “The Return of Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche” dated Sunday, November 22, 2009.

Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche

Blessings Continues Success

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Blessings: The Tsoknyi Nangchen Nuns of Tibet continues to receive a warm reception and international praise in its many screenings worldwide. It is making a heartfelt impact on non-Buddhists and Buddhists alike, initiating in-depth audience discussion about the power of prayer.

Blessings presented to a full house at the Omni Theater in Washington, D.C. in association with The Heart of Change (The Mind & Life Conference with H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama). Tsoknyi Rinpoche introduced the film, along with producer/director Victress Hitchcock, Barbara Green, and Jim Gritz participating in a question and answer dialog with the audience.

The Rubin Museum of Art presented two New York screenings of Blessings on December 23 and 30th. The film has been screened in: Boise, Albuquerque, the Denver Film Festival, the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA, the Buddhist Film Festival of Europe in Amsterdam, the St. Johns Womens Film Festival in New Foundland, and the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival.

Upcoming public screening and film festivals are:

  • January 13, 2010:  The Frontier Theater in Brunswick, Maine
  • February 2010:  European Spiritual Film Festival 2010
  • Spring 2010:  Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
  • Fall 2010:   Melbourne Buddhist Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia
  • 2010:  The International Buddhist Film Festival (dates and locations to be announced)

Supporters of the Tsoknyi Lineage Nangchen Nuns are holding successful screenings of the film in association with home fundraisers, as well as public and film festival events. For a complete list of upcoming screenings, please visit Chariot Videos. And to find out about hosting your own home fundraiser, please email maryann@pundarika.org.


2010 News from Osel Ling Monastery

Monday, January 4th, 2010

ANNOUNCING the inauguration of the new monastic college at Osel Ling Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal!

Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche recently announced that Mingyur Rinpoche will be taking responsibility for Osel Ling Monastery beginning in early 2010. Osel Ling was originally given to both brothers by their late father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. In recent years, Tsoknyi Rinpoche has overseen the activities of the monastery and guided its community of monks, in addition to creating space for his non-Tibetan students to stay and practice. Under Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s guidance, the monastic community has thrived and grown into a mature sangha of dedicated practitioners.

In planning for the future development of the monastery, both Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinoche agreed that it would be beneficial to the monastery’s monastic population to have a fully ordained monk as abbot. Therefore, they agreed that it would be appropriate for Mingyur Rinpoche to take responsibility for the monastery’s operations. While Mingyur Rinpoche will oversee the activities of the monastery from this point on, Tsoknyi Rinpoche will remain intimately involved and retain his spiritual link to the community.

Mingyur Rinpoche plans to establish a monastic college at Osel Ling and make its programs the focal point of the monastery’s activities. In addition, he also plans to have courses available for Westerners to study Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy. The monastic college will be inaugurated on February 17th, 2010. All are invited to attend. To celebrate the opening of the college, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche will also offer a two-day seminar entitled Cultivating Joyful Wisdom & Compassion on February 18th-20th.

On behalf of the Pundarika and Tergar communities, we would like to express our support for the community of Osel Ling Monastery and the vision of Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche. May the monastery continue to grow and thrive, bringing benefit to countless beings!

Tashi Delek!
Esteban Hollander (Director/Pundarika Foundation)
Cortland Dahl & Edwin Kelley (Directors/Tergar International)