Traleg Rinpoche June 2012 programs rescheduled

Traleg Rinpoche June 2012 programs rescheduled
From the May 2012 magazine: Sister Chan Khong’s path of peace
Mountain Echoes literary festival held in Bhutan
Monk to test his endurance in quest to discover "Emptiness"
Tibetan woman self-immolates in Ngaba, Tibet
Nalanda University and Buddha's last sermon
Milestone encyclopedia of Buddhist philosophy published in Russia
Take your seat in a free “virtual retreat” with Pema Chödrön

Posted: 31 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

The E-Vam Institute in New York has announced that two events planned in June with Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche have been rescheduled due to a conflict. The June 22 date at Shambhala Meditation Center of New York , titled "The Legacy of Chögyam Trungpa," has been pushed back to Friday, August 24, from 7 to 9 PM. The other event, a Mahamudra weekend at E-Vam Manhattan that was originally slated for June, has been changed to September 8 to 9.

For Rinpoche's complete listing of events in 2012, please see the schedule here.

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From the May 2012 magazine: Sister Chan Khong’s path of peace

Posted: 31 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Photo: Florence Delahaye

Sister Chan Khong is best known as Thich Nhat Hanh's closest collaborator, but she's also a dedicated activist and gifted teacher in her own right. Andrea Miller profiled her in the May 2012 Shambhala Sun magazine, and the entire piece is now online here.

"People think that engaged Buddhism is only social work, only stopping the war," Chan Khong says. "But, in fact, at the same time you stop the war outside, you have to stop the war inside yourself."

Over her lifetime, Sister Chan Khong has learned the importance of not making peace, but rather being peace, being understanding, being love—and to embody this way of being twenty four hours a day. The key, she tells the Shambhala Sun, is to practice mindfulness. "When your body and mind are not one, you do not see deeply," she says.

Read the rest of "Path of Peace: The Life and Teachings of Sister Chan Khong" here. And browse our entire May 2012 issue online here.

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Mountain Echoes literary festival held in Bhutan

Posted: 30 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT

Photo: Jean-Marie Hullot via Flickr, CC-BY-SA license.)

Bhutan, known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, recently held its third annual literary festival, Mountain Echoes, from May 20 — 26. The gathering of authors and musicians in this idyllic Buddhist kingdom opened with a lamp-lighting ceremony, important to both Hindus and Buddhists alike. The festival provided "a platform for authors from India and Bhutan to get together and engage in a cultural dialogue and understand Indian and Bhutanese literature in all its myriad forms and dimensions."

Participants and attendees this year included the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the poet Gulzar, and many others. Several new books were introduced at the festival, including Bhutan: Through the Lens of a King, a book that showcases photographs by Bhutan's 5th king Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, and When Loss Is Gain by Pavan K. Varma, "a story set in contemporary India and Bhutan that deals with life, disillusionment, death, the rational, and the spiritual."

Speaking on the final day, Dr. Karma Phuntsho, a Bhutanese scholar, discussed the need to preserve Bhutan's unique perspective on happiness, remarking, "The Buddhist masters have taught us that you have the best resource for happiness within you, and that's your mind."

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Monk to test his endurance in quest to discover "Emptiness"

Posted: 30 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

by Dave Pope, The Buddhist Channel, May 31, 2012

Help Sunim cross The Americas by bicycle

Winnipeg, Canada -- Sunim Daeung is a 42 year old Korean Monk on an epic adventure of self discovery. His goal is to circumnavigate all of North America then travel down the west coast of Mexico and continue all the way to the southern tip of South America....on a bicycle!

<< Sunim Daeng in Vernon, British Columbia, April 26th 2012

He says he will camp whenever possible and stay in hostels when he can't. The members of his temple have been saving and donating to send him on this trip for a very long time.

I asked what motivated him to embark on such a trip. He humbly replied, in just four soft spoken words, while gently placing his open palm to his chest, "To test my spirit".

The immensity of the task facing Sunim as he treks across the American continent are as follows:

He has limited language skills for the countries that he will be travelling through.
He is on this side of the world for the first time of his life
He restricts himself to only what he can carry on a bicycle and sets out to peddle around two continents
He's unsure about how long it will take
He has no idea how far he will make each day, with no reservations and no itinerary
He has no contacts, no chase van and no support network.
He has willfully removed himself from family, friendship, a home, comfort, security and the ability to communicate easily, forsaking all that and replacin it with hardship, isolation, physical exhaustion, hunger, homelessness, uncertainty and danger.
In other words, he is completely and utterly alone in a strange world.

Sunim entered the monastic life at 19 years old and has spent the last 23 years of his life helping and teaching others. Sunim started his Journey Of Spirit in Vancouver and is presently heading through southern Saskatchewan and heading for Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and then on to the east coast and St. Johns NB.

From there its down to New York City then west to California. Then it's south to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and finally to the southern tip of Argentina.

Through this endurance, Sunim is demonstrating the very essence of "emptiness" by offering to test the limits of his body and mind. Along the way, he believes he will discover some parts of this truth or Dharma as taught by Buddha.

This article is an appeal to readers who happen to stay along Sunim's path to make offerings to this monk, by allowing him to have a warm bed and a hot meal at every stop he makes.

In the east, making offerings to monks, where it is known as "dana" is a virtuous and meritorious deed. What more if the offering ends with some words of wisdom from the monk, and the synergy of this symbiotic relationship is thus complete.

Sunim is a kind and gracious monk, who will positively influence the lives of those he encounters, even if just for a day.

Sunim's route update page (on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/339799639416148/doc/344166922312753/

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SUNIM

First, goto the Facebook page here: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/339799639416148/files/). Click on Photos and see what he, and his bike/gear looks like so you know what to look for.
If you can offer Sunim a place to sleep for a night, or a meal, or even a cold drink, join this group and post it, or email Your kind offer to Dave at duhpope@hotmail.com
If you live along his route, and he is in your area at the time, put out a sign that says SUNIM PLACE TO STAY or SUNIM PLACE TO EAT, or SUNIM COLD DRINK. Accessing email is sporadic for Sunim so sometimes a sign is the only way to contact him if he is in your vicinity. You can keep track of his progress by clicking on docs and opening the ROUTE UPDATE page.
If you live off of his route but want to help, put your address on the sign, place it along his route and he'll find you with his little GPS unit. I'll update his whereabouts and his route whenever I hear from him. You can also post your kind offer or email it if he hasnt reached your vicinity yet.
If you know someone who lives along his route, forward this Facebook page to them and ask for their kind support.
If Sunim stays with you please join the group, take pictures and post the experience/pics on this page.
If you see Sunim on the road, offer him a place for the night, or a meal, then post the experience.
Even if you just see him, post the sighting to help us keep track of his progress.

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SN Goenka- speech to the United Nations

Mr. Goenka gives a revolutionary speech where he discusses what is needed to achieve humanity's highest potential. www.dhamma.org

Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Tibetan woman self-immolates in Ngaba, Tibet

Posted: 30 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT

The People's Liberation Army in Ngaba Tibet; Photo by SFT HQ via Flickr using a CC-BY license

Voice of America (VOA) is reporting that a thirty-three year-old woman named Rikyo, a mother of three, self-immolated and died today outside of Jonang Dzamthang monastery in Ngaba in an apparent protest against Chinese rule in her country. This latest self-immolation comes after two young Tibetan men self-immolated on Sunday.

According to VOA, "This week's immolations follow a new Chinese move to ban Tibetan Buddhists, including current and former government officials, students, and party members, from engaging in religious practices during the sacred month of Saka Dawa, which began May 21. Saka Dawa commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death."

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Zen Master Seung Sahn: "Wake up!" (part 5 of 6)

Zen Master Seung Sahn's teaching documentary "Wake up! On the Road with a Zen Master". A professional and entertaining documentary that captures Zen Master Seung Sahn's energy while presenting the core of his teaching. Wake Up! is not only a rare portrait of an unusual and provocative teacher, but also an introduction to Zen Buddhist today. Wake Up! was shot on location during a teaching trip in Europe by award-winning independent filmmaker Brad Anderson from Boston. This video was originally uploaded by Kwan Um School of Zen at: video.google.com More info at: www.kwanumzen.org

Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Nalanda University and Buddha's last sermon

Posted: 30 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

by Walter Jayawardhana, The Buddhist Channel, May 31, 2012

Nalanda - the first university of the world - is close to the place where Buddha delivered His last sermon

Rajgir, India -- "The ruins of Nalanda stretches out below us, a poem in red. The remains of this ancient monastic university, located on the way from Patna to Rajgir consist of classrooms, stupas, monk's cells and temples. The crimson of the bricks glows in the light of the midday sun," said Kauusalya anthanam writing a news feature on the world's first university, the Nalanda.

"Some of the bricks look worn with age while others look bright and new; one admires their quality and endurance for the university is said to have flourished from the 5th to the 12th Century A.D. I have only to shut my eyes to think of the robed monks making their way across the impressive structures to attend classes in logic, grammar or medicine, and above all Buddhist studies. All the subjects Nalanda was famous for and that brought students here from many countries" the journalist from the Hindu said further.

Spanning dynasties

Nalanda was believed to have been visited by Buddha and Mahavira in the 6th Century B.C. Mahavira is said to have often spent the rainy season here, according to Jain texts. The ruins conjure up a panorama of planned and well-executed architecture. During the excavations, nine levels of construction were discovered, contributed to by the various dynasties - the Gupta, Sunga and Pala rulers. The ruins are at various levels. Presiding over them all are the grand ruins of the great temple with the shallow stepsleading up to it. Our guide,Santhanam said an elderly man, has a Masters in Pali.

"The curved shape that forms the base on the ground is typical of the architecture of the Gupta dynasty while the bricks in the reconstructed ruins are an intermingling of various centuries," he says.

"As one walks up the steps to a reconstructed parapet or down to the granary or the cell of the monks with its stone beds, it is easy to visualise their way of life. The Chinese pilgrim Fa Hien perhaps visited Nalanda in the 4th Century A.D. while Hiuen Tsang did so in the 7th Century A.D., our guide goes on. Hiuen Tsang's lyrical description when he came here during the reign of King Harshavardhana who was a great patron of Nalanda matches the poetic name of the university that derived from the lotus, the symbol of knowledge: "where an azure pool winds around the monasteries, adorned with the full-blown cups of the blue lotus…"

"Nalanda spread its fragrance till the invasion by the Turks destroyed it in the 12th Century. The university was also devastated by fire. It vanished from view, an obscure mound till Francis Buchanan discovered it in 1812. But it was Sir Alexander Cunningham who identified it as Nalanda in 1861. The Archaeological Survey of India took up the excavation in a big way in the early years of the last century. At the archaeological museum nearby we see magnificent images of the Buddha, terracotta figures and artifacts recovered from the site. But what is unique is the image of Trailokyvijaya trampling over Siva and Parvati, testifying to the tussle between Buddhism and Hinduism.

"From Nalanda we hop over to Rajgir, just 12 km away. We stop at the base of the hill at the small ropeway station. A chair car appears swinging before me, someone thrusts me in, slams the horizontal bar and before I know it I am airborne with only my prayers to keep me company. Eyes shut, I manage to reach the top. But is it worth it! The domed white structure that houses images of the Buddha in the four corners is striking.

"But more impressive is the fact that the Buddha would climb up here to Griddhakuta or Hill of the Vultures to deliver his sermons to his disciples and to the crowds gathered below.

"After descending the hill and travelling a short distance, we are brought to earth with a nasty thud as we near the remnants that are claimed to have been a royal jail. It is believed King Bimbisara of Magadha was imprisoned here by his son Ajathashatru in an unforgivable hurry to get the throne.

The last sermon

"We soon come upon a magnificent sight in Kolhua — a huge stupa surrounded by smaller ones. Towering above them is the Asokan pillar mounted by the lion — he sits there firmly, lord of all that he surveys and witness to the events of the past 2,300 years! The plaque says this was where Buddha preached his last sermon and announced his approaching nirvana.

:We also visit the stupa now in ruins, which marks the spot where one eighth of the relics of the Buddha were buried. As we drive back to Patna, the past seems more potent than the present and the intervening centuries, a mirage."

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Milestone encyclopedia of Buddhist philosophy published in Russia

Posted: 30 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Moscow Kremlin (by macle via Flickr, CC-BY license)

The seeds of dharma continue to spread. Russia, a country that has been showing a growing interest in Meditation in recent years, has seen the publication of a significant encyclopedia on Buddhist philosophy. Released in Moscow on May 23, the encyclopedia was released as scholars from around the world participated in the Third International Conference on Comparative Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy in Moscow.

The 1,045 page work, edited by Dr. Marietta Stepanyants, included the contributions and assistance of many scholars. Dr. Abdusalam Guseinov, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, stated that the work is the first comprehensive publication of its kind on Buddhist philosophy derived from original sources in the country.

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Take your seat in a free “virtual retreat” with Pema Chödrön

Posted: 30 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT

If you've already received your July 2012 Shambhala Sun magazine, you may have seen our mention of a "virtual retreat" that Pema Chödrön will leading on July 14, her 76th birthday.

Pema is spending almost the entire year in solitary meditation, and this virtual retreat is a special opportunity for fans and students to connect with and honor her by way of practice. Created by the Pema Chödrön Foundation, the retreat will explore the theme of Practicing Peace, by way of an exclusive Pema teaching specially filmed for the occasion. More on the retreat after the jump.

The Pema Chödrön Foundation explains: "She's invited all of you to take half of that day (or longer) as a retreat. You could do this alone at home, or gather with friends to share in this experience. Pema filmed a teaching just for this occasion, with advice, encouragement and meditation instruction. To have her friends and students, from around the globe, 'practicing peace' on her birthday would be a wonderful offering to Pema.

More information about registering for the retreat is available here, or on the Foundation's Facebook page. There's no cost to doing this, though donations are welcome and will go to the support of a project that is dear to Pema's heart, the building of a retreat center for the threatened Tsoknyi Gebchak Ling lineage of Tibetan nuns.

For more of Pema's teachings, look for "Signs of Spiritual Progress" in our July magazine. Also, an exclusive excerpt from Pema's new book, Living Beautifully, will be featured in our November 2012 magazine.

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