Hung Syllable surrounded by Vajra Guru Mantra.
Chagdud Gonpa monastery in Eastern Tibet.
1988 Spring

Chagdud Gonpa: Perspectives

The Chagdud Gonpa Foundation originated some years ago when students of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, recognizing Rinpoche's unique transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism, requested that he establish a teaching center in the West, to be called Chagdud Gonpa after his monastery in Eastern Tibet. The purpose of the organization would be to make accessible the teachings and practice of Vajrayana, particularly the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana.

  

When Rinpoche agreed to this re­quest, his students dedicated themselves to fulfilling the purpose of the Gonpa, offering with unstinting generosity their time, energy and resources. In the past two years, the Gonpa activities have gained tremendous momentum, in large part because many new persons have discovered their connection to Rinpoche and have used their skills and talents to support Gonpa projects.

 

Students find joy and inspiration in working with Rinpoche. He exemplifies the principles of his teachings and has almost limitless capacity to sustain effort on behalf of sentient beings. As a young lama in Eastern Tibet he was a negotiator between hostile clans and he was the abbot of his monastery; after the Chinese takeover he became a leader in the refugee camps in India. These experiences are a source of insight, humor and humanity in dealing with ordinary situations, and together with his open, creative methods of problem-solving, make it interesting and instructive to work with him. He often finds five alternatives when his students find only two, or an oblique approach that's straight to the point.

 

Rinpoche in turn appreciates his students' Western education, American practicality, excellent skills, enthusiasm, and most of all, their good hearts. Together Rinpoche and his students have created a sphere of authentic dharma manifestation, where spiritual practice is a training for organizational conduct and the merit gained through activities enhances formal practice.

  

The organizational framework that presently supports the Gonpa's activities is composed of the corporation officers, three chartered sanghas, three retreat sites and Padma Publishing.

  

The corporation is responsible for coordinating Rinpoche's schedule, generating funds for his support, and implementing major projects such as retreat land development, the Drub Chen and the publication of Windhorse. General communication and policies are established by the corporation officers, working closely with the sangha members so that all the elements of the Gonpa func­tion well and advance its purpose.

 

The three chartered sanghas are in Oregon, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The Oregon sangha is the longest established; it has had morning and eve­ning meditation practice held in its River House Center in Cottage Grove since 1981. The sangha is increasing, par­ticularly with individuals who have entered practice through the crystal healing teachings. Losar (Tibetan New Year), Red Tara Tsog and the Red Tsog ceremonies are hosted by the Oregon sangha each year. Recently Rinpoche designated Lama Sonam Tsering as the resident lama of the Oregon sangha, although Rinpoche will continue to live in Cottage Grove for part of the year and will maintain a home there.  

The San Francisco Bay Area sangha is considering the possibility of creating a center in the Richmond area. A pro­posed focus of this center is conducting Bodhisattva Peace Trainings. These programs will use Buddhist insight and methods as a means to teach conflict resolution in both personal relationships and among groups. It is Chagdud Tulku's present intention to spend more time in the Bay Area to establish ongoing daily meditation sessions there and to carry forward the idea of the peace trainings.

 

The focus of the Los Angeles sangha is to establish strong, regular group meditation and bring its own resident lama to the United States. It is Rinpoche's wish that each chartered sangha have its own resident lama. The Los Angeles Chagdud Gonpa, through much skillful effort, has succeeded in cutting through major legal and financial obstacles to bring Gyatso Lama from India. Gyatso Lama speaks excellent English and is known not only for his teaching ability, but also for his skill in working harmoniously with various groups and reconciling different interests.

 

The three retreat land locations offer Gonpa practitioner’s expansive possibilities for both group and solitary retreats. Rinpoche delights in the unique potential of each retreat center and intends that each be completely infused with the blessing of powerful practice. Rigdzin Gyatso, the retreat land in southern Oregon, has been developed over the past seven years, beginning with a retreat house for Rinpoche and a monumental, 22-foot Guru Rinpoche statue. It is the site of the six-week winter Dzogchen Retreat and the ex­traordinary Drub Chen ceremony will be held there in June.

 

Ati Ling in the Napa Valley is the land used for the summer Ngondro Retreat. A road has been put in and this spring a well with excellent water flow was drilled. In the future there are plans to build a house for Rinpoche on the land.

 

Most recently, a 320 acre tract of land near Redding, California, was offered to the Gonpa. The arduous process of surveying the land, obtaining permits and looking for well sites has begun. The success of this process will determine what is feasible in developing a retreat facility.

Padma Publishing is the publishing arm of the Gonpa. Presently its focus is reprinting all the practice texts in a uniform format, and preparing books of Rinpoche's teachings on Ngondro, crystal healing and transference of consciousness. Next year Rinpoche has scheduled publication of the first volume of Rabjam Longchenpa's Seven Treasures.

 

Even in a brief summary of the Gonpa's activities such as this, it is ob­vious that abundant effort and resources will be needed to carry projects forward. Yet, according to Rinpoche's teachings, the sangha should approach them without hope and fear by simply engaging tasks as fully as possible, reestablishing selfless intention, dedicating merit to the welfare of all and. constantly, seeing each activity as a mirror of the nature of mind. In this way, whatever is outwardly accomplished, great or small, unlocks vast spiritual benefit.

 

by Tsering Everest

Chagdud Gonpa monastery in Eastern Tibet.
1988 Spring

Chagdud Gonpa: Perspectives

The Chagdud Gonpa Foundation originated some years ago when students of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, recognizing Rinpoche's unique transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism, requested that he establish a teaching center in the West, to be called Chagdud Gonpa after his monastery in Eastern Tibet. The purpose of the organization would be to make accessible the teachings and practice of Vajrayana, particularly the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana.

  

When Rinpoche agreed to this re­quest, his students dedicated themselves to fulfilling the purpose of the Gonpa, offering with unstinting generosity their time, energy and resources. In the past two years, the Gonpa activities have gained tremendous momentum, in large part because many new persons have discovered their connection to Rinpoche and have used their skills and talents to support Gonpa projects.

 

Students find joy and inspiration in working with Rinpoche. He exemplifies the principles of his teachings and has almost limitless capacity to sustain effort on behalf of sentient beings. As a young lama in Eastern Tibet he was a negotiator between hostile clans and he was the abbot of his monastery; after the Chinese takeover he became a leader in the refugee camps in India. These experiences are a source of insight, humor and humanity in dealing with ordinary situations, and together with his open, creative methods of problem-solving, make it interesting and instructive to work with him. He often finds five alternatives when his students find only two, or an oblique approach that's straight to the point.

 

Rinpoche in turn appreciates his students' Western education, American practicality, excellent skills, enthusiasm, and most of all, their good hearts. Together Rinpoche and his students have created a sphere of authentic dharma manifestation, where spiritual practice is a training for organizational conduct and the merit gained through activities enhances formal practice.

  

The organizational framework that presently supports the Gonpa's activities is composed of the corporation officers, three chartered sanghas, three retreat sites and Padma Publishing.

  

The corporation is responsible for coordinating Rinpoche's schedule, generating funds for his support, and implementing major projects such as retreat land development, the Drub Chen and the publication of Windhorse. General communication and policies are established by the corporation officers, working closely with the sangha members so that all the elements of the Gonpa func­tion well and advance its purpose.

 

The three chartered sanghas are in Oregon, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The Oregon sangha is the longest established; it has had morning and eve­ning meditation practice held in its River House Center in Cottage Grove since 1981. The sangha is increasing, par­ticularly with individuals who have entered practice through the crystal healing teachings. Losar (Tibetan New Year), Red Tara Tsog and the Red Tsog ceremonies are hosted by the Oregon sangha each year. Recently Rinpoche designated Lama Sonam Tsering as the resident lama of the Oregon sangha, although Rinpoche will continue to live in Cottage Grove for part of the year and will maintain a home there.  

The San Francisco Bay Area sangha is considering the possibility of creating a center in the Richmond area. A pro­posed focus of this center is conducting Bodhisattva Peace Trainings. These programs will use Buddhist insight and methods as a means to teach conflict resolution in both personal relationships and among groups. It is Chagdud Tulku's present intention to spend more time in the Bay Area to establish ongoing daily meditation sessions there and to carry forward the idea of the peace trainings.

 

The focus of the Los Angeles sangha is to establish strong, regular group meditation and bring its own resident lama to the United States. It is Rinpoche's wish that each chartered sangha have its own resident lama. The Los Angeles Chagdud Gonpa, through much skillful effort, has succeeded in cutting through major legal and financial obstacles to bring Gyatso Lama from India. Gyatso Lama speaks excellent English and is known not only for his teaching ability, but also for his skill in working harmoniously with various groups and reconciling different interests.

 

The three retreat land locations offer Gonpa practitioner’s expansive possibilities for both group and solitary retreats. Rinpoche delights in the unique potential of each retreat center and intends that each be completely infused with the blessing of powerful practice. Rigdzin Gyatso, the retreat land in southern Oregon, has been developed over the past seven years, beginning with a retreat house for Rinpoche and a monumental, 22-foot Guru Rinpoche statue. It is the site of the six-week winter Dzogchen Retreat and the ex­traordinary Drub Chen ceremony will be held there in June.

 

Ati Ling in the Napa Valley is the land used for the summer Ngondro Retreat. A road has been put in and this spring a well with excellent water flow was drilled. In the future there are plans to build a house for Rinpoche on the land.

 

Most recently, a 320 acre tract of land near Redding, California, was offered to the Gonpa. The arduous process of surveying the land, obtaining permits and looking for well sites has begun. The success of this process will determine what is feasible in developing a retreat facility.

Padma Publishing is the publishing arm of the Gonpa. Presently its focus is reprinting all the practice texts in a uniform format, and preparing books of Rinpoche's teachings on Ngondro, crystal healing and transference of consciousness. Next year Rinpoche has scheduled publication of the first volume of Rabjam Longchenpa's Seven Treasures.

 

Even in a brief summary of the Gonpa's activities such as this, it is ob­vious that abundant effort and resources will be needed to carry projects forward. Yet, according to Rinpoche's teachings, the sangha should approach them without hope and fear by simply engaging tasks as fully as possible, reestablishing selfless intention, dedicating merit to the welfare of all and. constantly, seeing each activity as a mirror of the nature of mind. In this way, whatever is outwardly accomplished, great or small, unlocks vast spiritual benefit.

 

by Tsering Everest

Chagdud Gonpa monastery in Eastern Tibet.
1988 Spring

Chagdud Gonpa: Perspectives

The Chagdud Gonpa Foundation originated some years ago when students of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, recognizing Rinpoche's unique transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism, requested that he establish a teaching center in the West, to be called Chagdud Gonpa after his monastery in Eastern Tibet. The purpose of the organization would be to make accessible the teachings and practice of Vajrayana, particularly the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana.

  

When Rinpoche agreed to this re­quest, his students dedicated themselves to fulfilling the purpose of the Gonpa, offering with unstinting generosity their time, energy and resources. In the past two years, the Gonpa activities have gained tremendous momentum, in large part because many new persons have discovered their connection to Rinpoche and have used their skills and talents to support Gonpa projects.

 

Students find joy and inspiration in working with Rinpoche. He exemplifies the principles of his teachings and has almost limitless capacity to sustain effort on behalf of sentient beings. As a young lama in Eastern Tibet he was a negotiator between hostile clans and he was the abbot of his monastery; after the Chinese takeover he became a leader in the refugee camps in India. These experiences are a source of insight, humor and humanity in dealing with ordinary situations, and together with his open, creative methods of problem-solving, make it interesting and instructive to work with him. He often finds five alternatives when his students find only two, or an oblique approach that's straight to the point.

 

Rinpoche in turn appreciates his students' Western education, American practicality, excellent skills, enthusiasm, and most of all, their good hearts. Together Rinpoche and his students have created a sphere of authentic dharma manifestation, where spiritual practice is a training for organizational conduct and the merit gained through activities enhances formal practice.

  

The organizational framework that presently supports the Gonpa's activities is composed of the corporation officers, three chartered sanghas, three retreat sites and Padma Publishing.

  

The corporation is responsible for coordinating Rinpoche's schedule, generating funds for his support, and implementing major projects such as retreat land development, the Drub Chen and the publication of Windhorse. General communication and policies are established by the corporation officers, working closely with the sangha members so that all the elements of the Gonpa func­tion well and advance its purpose.

 

The three chartered sanghas are in Oregon, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The Oregon sangha is the longest established; it has had morning and eve­ning meditation practice held in its River House Center in Cottage Grove since 1981. The sangha is increasing, par­ticularly with individuals who have entered practice through the crystal healing teachings. Losar (Tibetan New Year), Red Tara Tsog and the Red Tsog ceremonies are hosted by the Oregon sangha each year. Recently Rinpoche designated Lama Sonam Tsering as the resident lama of the Oregon sangha, although Rinpoche will continue to live in Cottage Grove for part of the year and will maintain a home there.  

The San Francisco Bay Area sangha is considering the possibility of creating a center in the Richmond area. A pro­posed focus of this center is conducting Bodhisattva Peace Trainings. These programs will use Buddhist insight and methods as a means to teach conflict resolution in both personal relationships and among groups. It is Chagdud Tulku's present intention to spend more time in the Bay Area to establish ongoing daily meditation sessions there and to carry forward the idea of the peace trainings.

 

The focus of the Los Angeles sangha is to establish strong, regular group meditation and bring its own resident lama to the United States. It is Rinpoche's wish that each chartered sangha have its own resident lama. The Los Angeles Chagdud Gonpa, through much skillful effort, has succeeded in cutting through major legal and financial obstacles to bring Gyatso Lama from India. Gyatso Lama speaks excellent English and is known not only for his teaching ability, but also for his skill in working harmoniously with various groups and reconciling different interests.

 

The three retreat land locations offer Gonpa practitioner’s expansive possibilities for both group and solitary retreats. Rinpoche delights in the unique potential of each retreat center and intends that each be completely infused with the blessing of powerful practice. Rigdzin Gyatso, the retreat land in southern Oregon, has been developed over the past seven years, beginning with a retreat house for Rinpoche and a monumental, 22-foot Guru Rinpoche statue. It is the site of the six-week winter Dzogchen Retreat and the ex­traordinary Drub Chen ceremony will be held there in June.

 

Ati Ling in the Napa Valley is the land used for the summer Ngondro Retreat. A road has been put in and this spring a well with excellent water flow was drilled. In the future there are plans to build a house for Rinpoche on the land.

 

Most recently, a 320 acre tract of land near Redding, California, was offered to the Gonpa. The arduous process of surveying the land, obtaining permits and looking for well sites has begun. The success of this process will determine what is feasible in developing a retreat facility.

Padma Publishing is the publishing arm of the Gonpa. Presently its focus is reprinting all the practice texts in a uniform format, and preparing books of Rinpoche's teachings on Ngondro, crystal healing and transference of consciousness. Next year Rinpoche has scheduled publication of the first volume of Rabjam Longchenpa's Seven Treasures.

 

Even in a brief summary of the Gonpa's activities such as this, it is ob­vious that abundant effort and resources will be needed to carry projects forward. Yet, according to Rinpoche's teachings, the sangha should approach them without hope and fear by simply engaging tasks as fully as possible, reestablishing selfless intention, dedicating merit to the welfare of all and. constantly, seeing each activity as a mirror of the nature of mind. In this way, whatever is outwardly accomplished, great or small, unlocks vast spiritual benefit.

 

by Tsering Everest

Chagdud Gonpa monastery in Eastern Tibet.
1988 Spring

Chagdud Gonpa: Perspectives

The Chagdud Gonpa Foundation originated some years ago when students of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, recognizing Rinpoche's unique transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism, requested that he establish a teaching center in the West, to be called Chagdud Gonpa after his monastery in Eastern Tibet. The purpose of the organization would be to make accessible the teachings and practice of Vajrayana, particularly the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana.

  

When Rinpoche agreed to this re­quest, his students dedicated themselves to fulfilling the purpose of the Gonpa, offering with unstinting generosity their time, energy and resources. In the past two years, the Gonpa activities have gained tremendous momentum, in large part because many new persons have discovered their connection to Rinpoche and have used their skills and talents to support Gonpa projects.

 

Students find joy and inspiration in working with Rinpoche. He exemplifies the principles of his teachings and has almost limitless capacity to sustain effort on behalf of sentient beings. As a young lama in Eastern Tibet he was a negotiator between hostile clans and he was the abbot of his monastery; after the Chinese takeover he became a leader in the refugee camps in India. These experiences are a source of insight, humor and humanity in dealing with ordinary situations, and together with his open, creative methods of problem-solving, make it interesting and instructive to work with him. He often finds five alternatives when his students find only two, or an oblique approach that's straight to the point.

 

Rinpoche in turn appreciates his students' Western education, American practicality, excellent skills, enthusiasm, and most of all, their good hearts. Together Rinpoche and his students have created a sphere of authentic dharma manifestation, where spiritual practice is a training for organizational conduct and the merit gained through activities enhances formal practice.

  

The organizational framework that presently supports the Gonpa's activities is composed of the corporation officers, three chartered sanghas, three retreat sites and Padma Publishing.

  

The corporation is responsible for coordinating Rinpoche's schedule, generating funds for his support, and implementing major projects such as retreat land development, the Drub Chen and the publication of Windhorse. General communication and policies are established by the corporation officers, working closely with the sangha members so that all the elements of the Gonpa func­tion well and advance its purpose.

 

The three chartered sanghas are in Oregon, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The Oregon sangha is the longest established; it has had morning and eve­ning meditation practice held in its River House Center in Cottage Grove since 1981. The sangha is increasing, par­ticularly with individuals who have entered practice through the crystal healing teachings. Losar (Tibetan New Year), Red Tara Tsog and the Red Tsog ceremonies are hosted by the Oregon sangha each year. Recently Rinpoche designated Lama Sonam Tsering as the resident lama of the Oregon sangha, although Rinpoche will continue to live in Cottage Grove for part of the year and will maintain a home there.  

The San Francisco Bay Area sangha is considering the possibility of creating a center in the Richmond area. A pro­posed focus of this center is conducting Bodhisattva Peace Trainings. These programs will use Buddhist insight and methods as a means to teach conflict resolution in both personal relationships and among groups. It is Chagdud Tulku's present intention to spend more time in the Bay Area to establish ongoing daily meditation sessions there and to carry forward the idea of the peace trainings.

 

The focus of the Los Angeles sangha is to establish strong, regular group meditation and bring its own resident lama to the United States. It is Rinpoche's wish that each chartered sangha have its own resident lama. The Los Angeles Chagdud Gonpa, through much skillful effort, has succeeded in cutting through major legal and financial obstacles to bring Gyatso Lama from India. Gyatso Lama speaks excellent English and is known not only for his teaching ability, but also for his skill in working harmoniously with various groups and reconciling different interests.

 

The three retreat land locations offer Gonpa practitioner’s expansive possibilities for both group and solitary retreats. Rinpoche delights in the unique potential of each retreat center and intends that each be completely infused with the blessing of powerful practice. Rigdzin Gyatso, the retreat land in southern Oregon, has been developed over the past seven years, beginning with a retreat house for Rinpoche and a monumental, 22-foot Guru Rinpoche statue. It is the site of the six-week winter Dzogchen Retreat and the ex­traordinary Drub Chen ceremony will be held there in June.

 

Ati Ling in the Napa Valley is the land used for the summer Ngondro Retreat. A road has been put in and this spring a well with excellent water flow was drilled. In the future there are plans to build a house for Rinpoche on the land.

 

Most recently, a 320 acre tract of land near Redding, California, was offered to the Gonpa. The arduous process of surveying the land, obtaining permits and looking for well sites has begun. The success of this process will determine what is feasible in developing a retreat facility.

Padma Publishing is the publishing arm of the Gonpa. Presently its focus is reprinting all the practice texts in a uniform format, and preparing books of Rinpoche's teachings on Ngondro, crystal healing and transference of consciousness. Next year Rinpoche has scheduled publication of the first volume of Rabjam Longchenpa's Seven Treasures.

 

Even in a brief summary of the Gonpa's activities such as this, it is ob­vious that abundant effort and resources will be needed to carry projects forward. Yet, according to Rinpoche's teachings, the sangha should approach them without hope and fear by simply engaging tasks as fully as possible, reestablishing selfless intention, dedicating merit to the welfare of all and. constantly, seeing each activity as a mirror of the nature of mind. In this way, whatever is outwardly accomplished, great or small, unlocks vast spiritual benefit.

 

by Tsering Everest

Chagdud Gonpa monastery in Eastern Tibet.
1988 Spring

Chagdud Gonpa: Perspectives

The Chagdud Gonpa Foundation originated some years ago when students of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, recognizing Rinpoche's unique transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism, requested that he establish a teaching center in the West, to be called Chagdud Gonpa after his monastery in Eastern Tibet. The purpose of the organization would be to make accessible the teachings and practice of Vajrayana, particularly the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana.

  

When Rinpoche agreed to this re­quest, his students dedicated themselves to fulfilling the purpose of the Gonpa, offering with unstinting generosity their time, energy and resources. In the past two years, the Gonpa activities have gained tremendous momentum, in large part because many new persons have discovered their connection to Rinpoche and have used their skills and talents to support Gonpa projects.

 

Students find joy and inspiration in working with Rinpoche. He exemplifies the principles of his teachings and has almost limitless capacity to sustain effort on behalf of sentient beings. As a young lama in Eastern Tibet he was a negotiator between hostile clans and he was the abbot of his monastery; after the Chinese takeover he became a leader in the refugee camps in India. These experiences are a source of insight, humor and humanity in dealing with ordinary situations, and together with his open, creative methods of problem-solving, make it interesting and instructive to work with him. He often finds five alternatives when his students find only two, or an oblique approach that's straight to the point.

 

Rinpoche in turn appreciates his students' Western education, American practicality, excellent skills, enthusiasm, and most of all, their good hearts. Together Rinpoche and his students have created a sphere of authentic dharma manifestation, where spiritual practice is a training for organizational conduct and the merit gained through activities enhances formal practice.

  

The organizational framework that presently supports the Gonpa's activities is composed of the corporation officers, three chartered sanghas, three retreat sites and Padma Publishing.

  

The corporation is responsible for coordinating Rinpoche's schedule, generating funds for his support, and implementing major projects such as retreat land development, the Drub Chen and the publication of Windhorse. General communication and policies are established by the corporation officers, working closely with the sangha members so that all the elements of the Gonpa func­tion well and advance its purpose.

 

The three chartered sanghas are in Oregon, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The Oregon sangha is the longest established; it has had morning and eve­ning meditation practice held in its River House Center in Cottage Grove since 1981. The sangha is increasing, par­ticularly with individuals who have entered practice through the crystal healing teachings. Losar (Tibetan New Year), Red Tara Tsog and the Red Tsog ceremonies are hosted by the Oregon sangha each year. Recently Rinpoche designated Lama Sonam Tsering as the resident lama of the Oregon sangha, although Rinpoche will continue to live in Cottage Grove for part of the year and will maintain a home there.  

The San Francisco Bay Area sangha is considering the possibility of creating a center in the Richmond area. A pro­posed focus of this center is conducting Bodhisattva Peace Trainings. These programs will use Buddhist insight and methods as a means to teach conflict resolution in both personal relationships and among groups. It is Chagdud Tulku's present intention to spend more time in the Bay Area to establish ongoing daily meditation sessions there and to carry forward the idea of the peace trainings.

 

The focus of the Los Angeles sangha is to establish strong, regular group meditation and bring its own resident lama to the United States. It is Rinpoche's wish that each chartered sangha have its own resident lama. The Los Angeles Chagdud Gonpa, through much skillful effort, has succeeded in cutting through major legal and financial obstacles to bring Gyatso Lama from India. Gyatso Lama speaks excellent English and is known not only for his teaching ability, but also for his skill in working harmoniously with various groups and reconciling different interests.

 

The three retreat land locations offer Gonpa practitioner’s expansive possibilities for both group and solitary retreats. Rinpoche delights in the unique potential of each retreat center and intends that each be completely infused with the blessing of powerful practice. Rigdzin Gyatso, the retreat land in southern Oregon, has been developed over the past seven years, beginning with a retreat house for Rinpoche and a monumental, 22-foot Guru Rinpoche statue. It is the site of the six-week winter Dzogchen Retreat and the ex­traordinary Drub Chen ceremony will be held there in June.

 

Ati Ling in the Napa Valley is the land used for the summer Ngondro Retreat. A road has been put in and this spring a well with excellent water flow was drilled. In the future there are plans to build a house for Rinpoche on the land.

 

Most recently, a 320 acre tract of land near Redding, California, was offered to the Gonpa. The arduous process of surveying the land, obtaining permits and looking for well sites has begun. The success of this process will determine what is feasible in developing a retreat facility.

Padma Publishing is the publishing arm of the Gonpa. Presently its focus is reprinting all the practice texts in a uniform format, and preparing books of Rinpoche's teachings on Ngondro, crystal healing and transference of consciousness. Next year Rinpoche has scheduled publication of the first volume of Rabjam Longchenpa's Seven Treasures.

 

Even in a brief summary of the Gonpa's activities such as this, it is ob­vious that abundant effort and resources will be needed to carry projects forward. Yet, according to Rinpoche's teachings, the sangha should approach them without hope and fear by simply engaging tasks as fully as possible, reestablishing selfless intention, dedicating merit to the welfare of all and. constantly, seeing each activity as a mirror of the nature of mind. In this way, whatever is outwardly accomplished, great or small, unlocks vast spiritual benefit.

 

by Tsering Everest

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