Monthly Archives: June 2010

Recalling Khyentse and Trungpa Rinpoches: A close relation (Video)

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s unconventional behavior and experimental methods of communicating the Buddhist teachings have become part of the spiritual folklore of America. His work laid a foundation upon which the next generation of teachers have built stable communities as the dharma has spread in our country. Throughout the many phases of his teaching in America, Trungpa Rinpoche retained a profound reverence for the deepest heart of the traditional dharma and an unwavering devotion to his own teachers. He demonstrated that to his students through the visits of HH 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, which provided an amazing opportunity to witness the culture of devotion so essential to Vajrayana Buddhism.

In two video clips that follow here, John Sennhauser, a senior student and teacher in the Shambhala sangha, offers a wonderfully told recollection of Trungpa Rinpoche’s relation to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Khyentse Rinpoche’s subsequent caring embrace of the Shambhala sangha over the years, and many challenging times, that followed his first visit. Read More »

Posted on: June 30, 2010 – 1:47 am

Introducing the Garuda’s Feather

Posted by Mangala Shri Bhuti

We welcome you to view the first issue of a new e-newsletter about the activities and teachings of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche: the Garuda’s Feather. View now.

Posted on: June 26, 2010 – 6:55 pm

New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care graduates Clinical Pastoral Education Class of 2009-2010

On June 16, NYZCCC graduated 13 students in the Clinical Pastoral Education Program, lead by Trudi Jinpu Hirsch, Koshin Paley Ellison, and Robert Chodo Campbell. The CPE students attended classes over 10 months and  conducted their clinical work at Beth Israel Medical Center as part of its Chaplaincy team.  By the end of the  program, the students had completed 1 unit of CPE, and most are continuing on for their next CPE unit, starting in September. Read More »

Posted on: June 21, 2010 – 11:23 am

The passing of Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche

A great Buddhist master has passed away. Our friends at Wisdom Publications have the official statement.

Posted on: June 21, 2010 – 11:01 am

The LA Lakers’ view and practice of meditation

Writing for ESPN, commentator Henry Abbott describes the championship basketball team’s use of meditation: “He teaches calm,” says Person, of his boss (Head Coach) Phil Jackson. “He teaches you how to find your way in the maze, in the chaos. You can always go back and find yourself with that breath. I’ve learned during anxious moments, since I have been here with the Lakers, that that breath is very important to take to center yourself. Players do it. They get together, take a breath, collect their thoughts, so they can perform…We’re going to take our breath and we’re going to have one mind, one collective breath, and we’re going to go out there and do it together. Phil teaches that, and he’s great to learn from.”  Read the whole article.

Posted on: June 18, 2010 – 6:12 pm

Play a role in celebrating the return

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness. — His Holiness the Dalai Lama

We at Celebrating the Return! invite you to contribute to the rich and welcoming environment we are creating for the celebration this summer of the life of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the first trip to the United States of his successor, Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s words have been our guiding mandate for the last year, and we feel confident that those of you who will attend the events on the East Coast and in Colorado will experience this appreciation too. Read More »

Posted on: June 17, 2010 – 1:10 am

At the Rubin Museum: Tibetan Book of the Dead Book Club

Tibetan Book of the Dead Book Club
Can this ancient text be applied to our present lives?

In seven sessions, Ramon Prats, curator of the museum’s Bardo exhibition and the distinguished translator of The Tibetan Book of the Dead into Spanish, will engage in conversation with experts from  different disciplines to explore this ancient text.  Read More »

Posted on: June 15, 2010 – 3:24 pm

First-ever North American Kagyu Monlam only a month away

Posted by Travis May

The Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche will preside over the first Kagyu Monlam in North America on July 13-17, in Woodstock, NY, at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra. His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa has composed the prayers and program schedule for the event himself.

With the Monlam slightly over a month away, participants are encouraged to register early, preferably by June 21, to receive admission badges in time for the event. Read More »

Posted on: June 11, 2010 – 9:44 am

NYZCCC graduates another Foundations class

From New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care

On June 5, NYZCCC graduated 28 students from its Foundations in Buddhist Contemplative Care training program. During the 10-month training, the students attended monthly classes and monthly clinical supervision, while also doing clinical volunteer work in hospitals and hospices all over the country.  The students came from diverse professional backgrounds, such as social work, nursing, artistry, professional education, and counseling, with ages ranging from 27 to 71.  Read More »

Posted on: June 9, 2010 – 2:05 pm

Centennial Celebrations in Bhutan — A Personal Reflection

From Mary Sue Newton

Two weeks ago the Centennial Celebrations took place in Bhutan, led by Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. Rabjam Rinpoche and the Queen Grandmother hosted students from Croatia, Europe, America, Mexico, Brazil, the South Pacific, and thousands of Bhutanese.  For three days we practiced, and then toured the country. This was my life’s dream, and I wanted to share the experience with you, just to say how fortunate we are right now, and how fortunate we will continue to be with the new generation of teachers who are being so lovingly trained. It gives me great hope for the future of the world and the continuation of Dharma in the West.

Lamas gather at the celebration.

At this Celebration of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche were Dudjom Rinpoche’s Tulku, Namkye Nyingpo Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Khyentse  Jigme Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpcoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche the Nyoshul Khen Yangsi, Choling Rinpcohe, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, and many more. Incidentally, I learned how to give multiple katas from the most elegant Bhutanese ladies and gentlemen. Read More »

Posted on: June 6, 2010 – 3:01 pm

Peter Orlovsky, poet and partner of Allen Ginsberg, has died

Peter OrlovskyThe Los Angeles Times reports, “Peter Orlovsky, longtime partner of Allen Ginsberg and a poet in his own right, died May 30 in Vermont of lung cancer. He was 76.”

Read Anne Waldman’s poetic tribute in the Elephant Journal.

And Steve Silberman’s elegy (with never-been-seen photos) on SunSpace.

Posted on: June 1, 2010 – 10:48 am