Tibet Fund names Lobsang Nyandak as new Executive Director

• Tibet Fund names Lobsang Nyandak as new Executive Director
• Meetings and a Public Talk on the Path to Happiness in Auckland, City of Peace
• The Astronaut Wives Club: Lily Koppel tells new tales of incredible friendships
• Eastern Tibet: Buddhist nun reported latest to self-immolate
• Linda Spink named Insight Meditation Society’s new Executive Director

Tibet Fund names Lobsang Nyandak as new Executive Director Posted: 12 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT The board of directors of the Tibet Fund is pleased to announce that Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, has been appointed Executive Director, effective September 1, 2013. According to a press release: "After a thorough search, short-list and interview process, the Search Committee and the Board unanimously agreed that Mr. Nyandak was ideally suited to move the mission and work of The Tibet Fund forward. The Board is very pleased with the numerous responses to the advertisements of the position and glad to have the opportunity to consider a broad range of candidates. "Mr. Nyandak's knowledge of the Tibetan community in exile, his profound understanding of Tibetan culture coupled with his years of service to the Tibetan people made his candidacy exemplary. "For the past five years, Mr. Nyandak has served with distinction as Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas. Mr. Nyandak's extensive experience of service to the Tibetan people also includes five years as a Member of the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies, five years as Kalon (Minister) in the Central Tibetan Administration, Executive Director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, and Trusteeship of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Charitable Trusts in Dharamsala and the United States. He holds Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Panjab University in India. . "The Board is thrilled Mr. Nyandak will be joining The Tibet Fund and is excited about the leadership and skills he will bring to the organization's work in service to the Tibetan people, their culture and religion." For more about the Tibet Fund, visit them online. Read More @ Source

Meetings and a Public Talk on the Path to Happiness in Auckland, City of Peace Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT Auckland, New Zealand, 12 June 2013 - It was cold and dark when His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Dunedin early this morning to fly to Auckland. The drive from the airport into the city on arrival was warm and sunny, more like an autumn morning than the depths of winter. He went straight into a meeting with the Peace Foundation that has declared Auckland, nuclear-free New Zealand's biggest city, a City of Peace. He was introduced to the small gathering that included schoolchildren by Vice President Yvonne Duncan. He lost no time commending the Foundation and expressing his appreciation of its work for peace. He summarized the wars and violence that have taken place since he was born in 1935, concluding on a hopeful note that people in many places today are showing that they are fed up with violence. He said: "As an idea City of Peace is wonderful, but a declaration is not enough, we each have to work to cultivate the inner peace that will contribute to peace in the world at large. The source of conflict is often dividing people into 'them' and 'us'. We need to educate young people in the understanding that the use of violence never solves problems; the real solution to conflict is dialogue. That's the basis on which we can work to make this a century of peace." From the Peace Foundation he went to an interview with TVNZ One, which touched on his hopes for Tibet. He said he looks forward to the new administration in China adopting a more realistic approach to ensure that the 'China Dream' does not become a nightmare. He reaffirmed that Tibetans have their own language and Buddhist culture that, along with the fragile environment of Tibet, they seek to preserve by seeking genuine autonomy, not independence. He said there is growing support for this Middle Way Approach among members of the Chinese public and intelligentsia who come to know about it. Asked if he would set foot again in Tibet, he answered, "Yes." In the afternoon, in the picturesque Civic Theatr! e he spoke to an audience of 2300 about the Path to Happiness. "Brothers and sisters, once again I have an opportunity to meet with the public, which I consider really worthwhile, because my No.1 commitment is to promoting human values in the interest of human happiness. I am one of the 7 billion human beings alive today and I believe we are all mentally, physically and emotionally the same. And as a Buddhist monk I am also concerned to encourage inter-religious harmony. Who is likely to take responsibility for fulfilling these commitments, not our leaders or governments, but individual members of the public." His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking on the Path to Happiness at the Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand on June 12, 2013. Photo/Cally Stockdale He explained that we all receive a seed of affection from our mothers, but in our materially oriented society, with an education system largely focussed upon material development, the natural human values that can grow from it remain dormant. He said that it is ultimately individual members of the public who can be effective in changing this, which is why he is always happy to talk to them. He talked of how our sophisticated human intelligence is capable of wonderful achievements, but can also be a source of great stress and anxiety. He suggested that instead of harbouring fear and suspicion we need to think of other people not as 'them' but 'us'. When we develop care and concern for others in this way, there is no room for bullying, exploitation or deceit. If on the other hand we find ways to stoke our sense of mistrust, when we need help we won't find it, leaving us isolated and alone. "What we need to recognise is that others are like us. They also want to live a happy life and have a right to do so. We need to support this recognition with common sense, our common experience and scientific findings. For example, scientists have found that concern for others improves our physical well-being, while people who often use the words I, me and mine, indicating significant self-centredness, are more prone to suffering heart attacks." His Holiness repeated a story he has told before about a Catholic monk he met in Barcelona who had spent five years living in complete simplicity as a hermit in the mountains. When he asked him what he had been meditating on, the monk answered 'Love' and His Holiness noted the sparkle in his eyes that revealed the depth of his peace of mind. He commended warm-heartedness as a source of happiness and the basis for leading a meaningful life, remarking that when we are young death seems a long way off. However, it will surely come and leading a meaningful life is a way to prepare for it. His Holiness the Dalai Lama waves to the audience at the conclusion of his talk at the Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand on June 12, 2013. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL In answering questions from the audience, His Holiness reiterated that compassion and concern for others is the key to human survival. He commented that people with no interest in religion sometimes disregard qualities like patience and compassion, which they associate with religious practice. In fact, he said, they are relevant to anyone who wishes to live a happy life. He suggested we can make such values known by promoting secular ethics by means of secular education. He clarified that by secular he means an unbiased respect for all religions and those who have none. This is relevant to today's world. A final question asked if he ever makes mistakes like ordinary people and after a moment's reflection he answered that when he was a young teenager and had the opportunity to study, he failed to use it properly. He feels he was lazy then and that it was a mistake because once time has gone you can never take it back. Before retiring for the night he met briefly with a group of Tibetans and Mongolians resident in New Zealand and members of the Chinese-Tibetan Friendship Group, followed by members of the New Zealand Friends of Tibet and the Tibetan Children's Relief Society who have given longstanding support to children in Tibetan schools in India. Early tomorrow morning His Holiness leaves New Zealand, after a short but successful visit, to fly to Sydney, Australia where he will give Buddhist teachings and several public talks. Read More @ Source

The Astronaut Wives Club: Lily Koppel tells new tales of incredible friendships Posted: 11 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Shambhala Sun readers will be familiar with Lily Koppel and her wonderful gift for telling true stories about female friendship. In Between the Lines of the Red Leather Diary she wrote about her inter-generational friendship with Florence Wolfson Howitt—a ninety-year-old woman she tracked down after finding her old journal in a dumpster. Then in The Five of Us Koppel wrote about the powerful connection she has shared with her four childhood girlfriends and the divergent and intriguing paths their lives have taken. Now Lily Koppel is celebrating the release of her new book The Astronaut Wives Club, which is about the wives of first Americans in space. Most of these women started out as ordinary military spouses who had to pinch pennies. Then their husbands catapulted to fame, and suddenly they were hounded by the media; they were getting what Koppel calls "space bling"; and they began to hear rumors about their husbands' infidelities. As the pressure mounted, booze and tranquilizers became one way to cope, but the wives' enduring friendship with each other was what really got most of them through. Check out the New York Post's review of The Astronaut Wives Club and the vintage images from the Space Age on BuzzFeed. Read More @ Source

Eastern Tibet: Buddhist nun reported latest to self-immolate Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT Breaking via The Tibet Post International: "A Tibetan Buddhist set herself ablaze on Tuesday evening, June 11, 2013 (around 5pm local time) in Tao county, Kham province of eastern Tibet, in an apparent protest against Chinese repressive rule in Tibet. "Sources coming out of Tibet said that details, including name and age of the Buddhist nun are not yet known as Chinese security forces have immediately imposed a heavy restriction after the incident. "Immediately after her self-immolation protest, she was taken to a hospital in Dhartsedho county, eastern Tibet, but it is not mentioned whether she was taken by Chinese police or local Tibetans." "She set herself on fire near Nyatso Monastery, where over 3000 thousands of Buddhist monks from over 50 monasteries in Kham region are currently holding a 10-day annual Buddhist debate meet, started on June 10. "Since 2009, at least 119 Tibetans have self-immolated reportedly to protest Chinese hardline and repressive rule in Tibet and of them 101 were reportedly passed-away due to severe injuries." Read More @ Source

Linda Spink named Insight Meditation Society’s new Executive Director Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT In a new message to the Insight Meditation Society community, Linda Spink — who was recently named IMS's new Executive Director — introduces herself: "From an early age, I was drawn to helping others. Looking back, it seemed very natural for me to become a community mental health social worker. In search of more adventure, I joined the Peace Corps and served as a volunteer in Mauritania. Over the past 22 years as an organizational development consultant, I've been fortunate to have worked with people from all over the world and to have served as the CEO of an employee-owned company. . "Nearly a decade ago, I was looking for tools to develop more effective leadership, both for myself and to offer my clients, so that we could deepen our emotional intelligence and be more present. I met someone who taught such practices for leaders, and who also happened to be an insight meditator. One day she said to me, 'If you're serious about this practice, Linda, you have to go to IMS.' And I responded, 'Great. What's IMS?' "So in 2006, I came for my first retreat. Right away I just knew that this was home – the sitting and tranquility were something I had longed for. I recognized that if I could develop the ability to drop into stillness and presence more often, more quickly, and more deeply, I could lead from a place of greater centeredness. This same centeredness is a resource for all of us. . "I've traveled to over 60 countries, and it's been an amazing life. Now I want to stay grounded, deepen my practice, and work in an organization I'm passionate about, together with people I truly respect. And that place is IMS. The thought that I will be connecting on a daily basis with teachers and staff is very exciting. Their dedication to both the practice and service to yogis continues to inspire me. . "I'm looking forward to meeting many of you!" Spink will begin in her new role on July 15th of this year. For more from IMS, including other recent sangha-building developments, visit them on the web. Read More @ Source