tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4878516860599290192024-03-05T11:34:05.030-04:00The Gampo Abbey Blog Spot<b>News and Information About Gampo Abbey and Our Monastic Community</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-29175878899692875632015-04-15T21:07:00.001-03:002015-04-15T21:19:44.274-03:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Gampo Abbey Welcomes a New Life Monastic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq5XbDv4zvO04BFVuJDmgTnAk_OwGEfiNaron8DCMF8Z5D_6GJ8ltAzDLrKWZZSAX9B5lQa7t2eCPNr1Cs857-UdM1M03_nfyTcsi1aWYqP9-iEMRsVoYxv1R5wy9rN_wRriEhRqxcUM/s1600/P1110306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq5XbDv4zvO04BFVuJDmgTnAk_OwGEfiNaron8DCMF8Z5D_6GJ8ltAzDLrKWZZSAX9B5lQa7t2eCPNr1Cs857-UdM1M03_nfyTcsi1aWYqP9-iEMRsVoYxv1R5wy9rN_wRriEhRqxcUM/s1600/P1110306.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The life monastic community, with Thubten Tingdzen bottom left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On April 9<sup>th</sup>, one of Gampo Abbey’s temporary
monks, Thubten Tingdzen, took the brave leap of Parma Rabjung ordination. In
the Tibetan tradition, this is a first step in the path of life monasticism, an
entry period before taking novice vows. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the ceremony, with Gampo Acharya Pema Chodron as
preceptor, the whole community gathered for a celebration, in which we shared
our appreciation for the courageous choice Tingdzen has made. <span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Director Richard Haspray and Shastri Alice
Haspray say: “We are honored to be supporting Tingdzen’s journey at the Abbey.
His<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>ziji<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>is contagious!”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IbYWCIFNKyA57Mn9HIIOmidTxjLnHrb6B-2w4qbQ6034zxZs0kwN1iJx8Xm3AQS3CdVBDZlvj1WVtVZtoWq4dE_Z8FWyFRHxWVTgazfz-ZneAa0jJ5po70XgOfkHSb7vhvh3li7ivrA/s1600/P1110298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IbYWCIFNKyA57Mn9HIIOmidTxjLnHrb6B-2w4qbQ6034zxZs0kwN1iJx8Xm3AQS3CdVBDZlvj1WVtVZtoWq4dE_Z8FWyFRHxWVTgazfz-ZneAa0jJ5po70XgOfkHSb7vhvh3li7ivrA/s1600/P1110298.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acharya Chodron and Thubten Tingdzen during the hair cutting rite <br />
of the ordination ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many community members celebrated Tingdzen’s kindness,
thoughtfulness, humor, intellect, and natural monastic leanings. We are very
proud to welcome such a valuable member of the community into the Shambhala
Monastic Order. <span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We all now look forward to continuing the journey together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to make a
connection to the Buddha’s monastic lineage at Gampo Abbey,” says Tingdzen “It
is humbling to think that so many inspiring practitioners have worked so hard
in order for me to be able to take this step. The ceremony was brief but I feel
like surrendering in this way has taken a lifetime of preparation. I now feel
deeply protected and nurtured by the Buddha who has accepted me just as I am,
my wisdom and confusion neatly wrapped in maroon robes, a basically good human
being. Through surrendering I have made a commitment to see myself as a Buddha
would see me: perfectly capable of realizing the nature of my own mind, worthy
of the robes I now wear, a perfectly imperfect monk.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Written by Tharpa Chodron and Gelong Loden Nyima</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pictures by Lodro Kalsang</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-16857223850767978132015-03-23T15:43:00.000-03:002015-03-25T11:06:38.814-03:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A Powerful Protector Finds Its Home</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4UOkLype3ezJKTIDdcjrkUvk6P5GQF24AGyMwTZ6y02kgIjJ6Y2Qbog5b5zJ-xOfgbZaWA-YyqDX6UrucjOsEtkVLvX452zL2KZkh0Mg8QrAka8sUpC4kMx-XWCD63MrIP1uQBASAZY/s1600/DSCF6916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4UOkLype3ezJKTIDdcjrkUvk6P5GQF24AGyMwTZ6y02kgIjJ6Y2Qbog5b5zJ-xOfgbZaWA-YyqDX6UrucjOsEtkVLvX452zL2KZkh0Mg8QrAka8sUpC4kMx-XWCD63MrIP1uQBASAZY/s1600/DSCF6916.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ani Pema Chodron with the Mahakala painting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="aqj">February 8</span>, Gampo Acharya Pema Chodron presided over a ceremony to
install Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s original painting of the Four-Armed Mahakala
on the protector shrine in Gampo<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Abbey’s
main shrine room. According to the Nalanda Translation Committee, the Four
Armed Mahakala is said to be a dharmapala (protector) predicted by the Buddha,
and he is a particular protector of the madhyamaka teachings and of the
Chakrasamvara tantra. He was also a special protector of Surmang, and his
symbolism is based on vajra anger and compassion.</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Vidyadhara painted this in the early 60s, and it isn’t known if he created it in India or during his time in England at Oxford University. For many years he kept this protector close, and he had it hanging on the wall of his residence in Boulder—the Kalapa Court. The Shambhala Archives has now entrusted care of this powerful image to the Abbey.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5AYRVB-VrY13Ga8BnVJNL7_xngNG9CjkZ04rIbiXKKgWgqeVoWBRJBQDBEO87FyJYQt-eJW90mmIW9If3wgk_VZnWAfluxikeCSk-s4yXoGpzUTDvdVcxIcS1aEC9QXajES5aYEaQS4/s1600/DSCF6919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5AYRVB-VrY13Ga8BnVJNL7_xngNG9CjkZ04rIbiXKKgWgqeVoWBRJBQDBEO87FyJYQt-eJW90mmIW9If3wgk_VZnWAfluxikeCSk-s4yXoGpzUTDvdVcxIcS1aEC9QXajES5aYEaQS4/s1600/DSCF6919.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Written by Alice Haspray with information from the <a href="http://nalandatranslation.org/offerings/notes-on-the-daily-chants/commentaries/four-armed-mahakala/">Nalanda Translation Committee </a><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Photos by Maria Losurdo</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-34277161950832928102015-03-13T20:49:00.000-03:002015-03-23T15:42:58.368-03:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Yarne: the Heart of Gampo Abbey</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2K8cMaQ5nVd5_PdL64xG4aFFk6Qt00O1S5EQ5ABB2vbI5bC4OJgs8CbT438qWY_beRLjzFiwTcCTXTyspErZqvwcT677SryHJUkSHcB5ZbqGsGd5pK1ncmBX3DUkA6wvBPFpWVu3XTA/s1600/DSCF6822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2K8cMaQ5nVd5_PdL64xG4aFFk6Qt00O1S5EQ5ABB2vbI5bC4OJgs8CbT438qWY_beRLjzFiwTcCTXTyspErZqvwcT677SryHJUkSHcB5ZbqGsGd5pK1ncmBX3DUkA6wvBPFpWVu3XTA/s1600/DSCF6822.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gampo Abbey in early January<br />
Photo by Maria Losurdo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The community at Gampo Abbey ushered in 2015 by starting
their annual winter retreat, called <a href="http://gampoabbey.org/yarne.php"><span style="color: red;">Yarne</span></a>.
Entering the retreat involves formally committing to remain within both the
physical boundaries of the land as well as the spiritual boundaries of our
intention and according conduct. Yarne is one of three essential practices for
all Buddhist monastic communities since the time of the historical Buddha, the
other two being the Sojong practice of laying aside misdeeds and renewing our
vows, and the Gagye lifting of the Yarne restrictions. This means we actually
have to leave the monastery!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yPUD9rxi7p3sRVzOLdzF7SSIZW5lvRCNOdS09vvRU0-pkanlnud-_qD6MCHkloNoB0sKeloI8AeCtIKTfalDZ9IDdObGAC3-gAFx9oTQSlag90oR_G9Pna_8Q0SI02oiwYFp8TW6f_Y/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yPUD9rxi7p3sRVzOLdzF7SSIZW5lvRCNOdS09vvRU0-pkanlnud-_qD6MCHkloNoB0sKeloI8AeCtIKTfalDZ9IDdObGAC3-gAFx9oTQSlag90oR_G9Pna_8Q0SI02oiwYFp8TW6f_Y/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sticks of the way", which count the monastics participating in the retreat,<br />
and a lock and key symbolizing the closed retreat.<br />
Photo by Tharpa Chodron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Yarne retreat was established as a natural response to
the Indian summer’s monsoon weather: during the rainy season, it was not
advisable to travel and therefore an ideal time for the sangha to practice
together. At Gampo Abbey, the most logical time for this is during the winter,
which in Cape Breton can be quite harsh and hinder travel. It includes spending
upwards of eight hours a day on the cushion engaged in meditation,
contemplation, and liturgy within the tight container of monastic discipline. As
Genyen Thubten Tingdzen points out, it’s a wonderful way for our community “to
enrich the Shambhala mandala with the blessings of this 2,600 year old
tradition.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, Gampo Acharya Pema Chodron gave a series of talks
titled <i>Making Friends with Yourself:
Exploring Self, Selflessness, and the Roots of Attachment, </i>which will be
edited in an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klDM-xWpQqk"><span style="color: red;">online
course</span></a>. Based on the Buddha’s expositions of the Five Skandhas, the Eight
Consciousnesses and the Twelve Nidanas, they draw from a variety of teachers,
including Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, HH the Dalai Lama,
Mingyur Rinpoche and Thich Nhat Han and Ken McCleod<b><span style="color: #0070c0;">. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq4v7oLj8dVhx2LQy_PPU-quC9OO0Jr0CdO6JboESDoMJoXCGzeS1qYYnwpTzbD4dh2W4cOZK9bm9KcPza3tenbjVbtz93sfTDowQlULWuba3yYdfpglS-in9CwGdMxbsSsuKya_R7u8/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq4v7oLj8dVhx2LQy_PPU-quC9OO0Jr0CdO6JboESDoMJoXCGzeS1qYYnwpTzbD4dh2W4cOZK9bm9KcPza3tenbjVbtz93sfTDowQlULWuba3yYdfpglS-in9CwGdMxbsSsuKya_R7u8/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Ani Pema during the biweekly </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">circumambulation</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">of the shrineroom during Sojong. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Photo by Soledad Gonzales</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through Ani Pema’s classes, followed by Q&A sessions,
readings, group discussions, and guided contemplations, the participants had
the opportunity to explore the concept and their experience of the illusion of self
and the freedom of selflessness. It was a rich investigation into how we view
ourselves as separate from others, consequently bringing insight into how we
relate to the world and our society. “We have come to a place where we cannot
escape from the vividness of reality,” says Tingdzen, “This was an important
lesson for me: I either struggle with reality or I can relax into it. What I
learned is that we share reality. And how we work with our mind affects that
shared reality. The way we perceive reality can mesh with reality itself. This
is inescapable at the monastery. The method that we learned from Acharya Pema
Chodron has to do with being able to relax into our own basic goodness.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODIVkg5DAW2v_IfrgIl6b0j3MRgcsSqeXDLQJXSWlq-PXpE0b_Hz_SoLcaYA8uyaUIcyCZez6S3qOKhLnNHL1V3ITJwHYCCLQx-osaiKgqFcumy6suAIioJXAgy6FJacMG6YAmXKoUEU/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODIVkg5DAW2v_IfrgIl6b0j3MRgcsSqeXDLQJXSWlq-PXpE0b_Hz_SoLcaYA8uyaUIcyCZez6S3qOKhLnNHL1V3ITJwHYCCLQx-osaiKgqFcumy6suAIioJXAgy6FJacMG6YAmXKoUEU/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by S.G.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due to the number of residents who joined the Abbey for the <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/resident.php"><span style="color: red;"><i>The Warriors Who Are Meek</i> year of monastic training</span></a><span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>in October, the monastery was filled near
capacity and we were only able to invite a very limited number of guests into a
well settled container. The demands of the schedule were strongly felt, but a
culture of support was ever present. Held together by the life monastics, along with the
Abbey Director and Shastri in residence, who provide the ground and guidance
for the whole sangha to delve into practice, there was a sense of commitment,
yet with a certain lightheartedness. “Going quite deeply into our neurosis can
make for some funny yet tender scenarios in the monastery,” Tingdzen explains, “I
think there were moments for everyone where we caught ourselves thinking about
packing our bags, and maybe even got to the point where we were looking at our
empty suitcase on our bed, ready to be filled, before being able to smile at ourselves,
seeing how far we had gone into our escape plan.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During her first address, Ani Pema made an invitation to
reflect on why each individual was undertaking the retreat and to make a
dedication to a specific person or group of people. In this way, practicing
takes on a stronger significance, implying that all the effort made is not just
for oneself, but so that one can raise bodhichitta for the benefit of others. Of
course, there are also personal benefits in going through an intense closed
retreat such as this. As any long term meditator will tell you, dedicating a period
of time to deepen one’s practice is a precious opportunity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeVSV7KSPwU4tHzqCWWG_DkQCdvzJHe0q_czUKtP7kWQOtbK3X866UxtzBaER8fzE2C1PU5N-63uwGZ6x6QdT4RnNjHEes__ODMFhN9drt3S3Bhd58fmkbq-tPxJW9DGeVo8pPz_NOIE/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeVSV7KSPwU4tHzqCWWG_DkQCdvzJHe0q_czUKtP7kWQOtbK3X866UxtzBaER8fzE2C1PU5N-63uwGZ6x6QdT4RnNjHEes__ODMFhN9drt3S3Bhd58fmkbq-tPxJW9DGeVo8pPz_NOIE/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter view from the Abbey.<br />
Photo by S.G.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doing this in a monastery, given the nature of the
container, can be challenging, but also somewhat liberating. <span style="background-color: white;">One of the lay participants, Rebeccas Eldridge, shares: "There's space to unravel at Gampo Abbey, which can be so freeing but also takes a lot of courage. I'm grateful for my fellow unravelers on this journey. And with Ani Pema at the helm, what an amazing journey it's been."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was an occasion to rest fully with mind, its workings
and potential. Discussing the eight types of consciousness can be an entryway
to observing the patterns of thoughts, emotions and reactions in daily life. This is a process, not a quick fix solution.
Rebecca adds: “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">There's been a keen sense of
comings and goings during the Yarne retreat—calm arises; it moves off. Frustration
comes on, then it leaves. A main practice for me has been staying with all the
comings and goings without beating myself up when I think I'm failing and
without puffing myself up when I think I'm finally getting somewhere.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupihE-W9xx0CnpcfOC2483Jj2a0nRCdNWc2THjIZ1f3NarHn8COEHAdBvdtQyUiaVYvrelAI_iUiGE9DoyEK1eE5Y5roJfEPusvK7OwZIY33jIu4VpyObNWfiIGSLTs78EE4jtRUyCF4/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupihE-W9xx0CnpcfOC2483Jj2a0nRCdNWc2THjIZ1f3NarHn8COEHAdBvdtQyUiaVYvrelAI_iUiGE9DoyEK1eE5Y5roJfEPusvK7OwZIY33jIu4VpyObNWfiIGSLTs78EE4jtRUyCF4/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yarne shrine.<br />
Photo by T.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starting from contemplating our understanding of self by
looking at our habitual tendencies, Ani Pema encouraged people to get intimate
with what it means to be human, as opposed of trying to get rid of ego. Tharpa
Lodro, a temporary monastic, paints a colorful picture of what it’s like to get
familiar with ourselves: <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It was like a huge gigantic empty pot and inside of that is plenty of
water in which your little pea-body is floating and here comes Ani Pema with
her teachings on selflessness to turn on the heat and get the water boiling. A
very powerful, beautiful and demanding experience.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the instructions given by the teacher was to rest in
the raw energy of our emotions in order to find a space to pause between
thought and action. This gives us a chance to see clearly our entanglement in
reactivity and interrupt the momentum of our usual unhelpful inclinations. By
contacting the energy of being hooked we can also recognize how others
experience the same suffering: “Our intimacy in this community dictates that we
see the results of our unhelpful actions sooner than we normally would,” says
Tingdzen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">During
the seven weeks of retreat, participants also had the fortune of connecting to
their body through the work of two gifted instructors: Hope Martin with the
Alexander Technique (see our previous post), and Rebecca Eldridge with Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction. Both their work appropriately coincided with the
instructions given by Ani Pema. </span>Maria
Losurdo, a lay practitioner notes: "The experiential work that has been
presented by Hope and Rebecca has supercharged the retreat by magnifying Pema’s
teachings and infusing them into felt experience.”<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While
Hope concentrated on our posture, Rebecca led the group once a week in various
MBSR exercises, such as a body scan which </span>provided a gateway to awareness of self through our most direct vehicle,
our physical sensations. Getsulma Lodro Dechen explains: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red;">“In particular, we often discussed the nervous system
(which Ani Pema brought up a few times in her talks) and how, through training
in mindfulness, we can enlarge the space in which we have the freedom to choose
our response, rather than being blindly led by involuntary reactions.
Furthermore, our nervous system could be trained to tolerate, even embrace,
painful or difficult situations, thus allowing us to be of greater benefit to
others.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc3R_-qRa6umMTcyqHUFTAOofO_ARv7TnMp28QAuejYqDeuwQE4TWjEwBQWFufyMbJHy13e8QutAorhqiLQqkYqJH2h1FdzHl8a3395f73XMMTD1gn3k8rckVtyPeNkS-IeRLHZjRop0/s1600/DSCF6839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc3R_-qRa6umMTcyqHUFTAOofO_ARv7TnMp28QAuejYqDeuwQE4TWjEwBQWFufyMbJHy13e8QutAorhqiLQqkYqJH2h1FdzHl8a3395f73XMMTD1gn3k8rckVtyPeNkS-IeRLHZjRop0/s1600/DSCF6839.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter sunset.<br />
Photo by M.L.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 45 days of retreat we celebrated Gagye, the lifting of
the restrictions.<b> </b>Each monastic (and
a few lay participants) gave a brief talk, an occasion for the community to
share how they joined the teachings they received during Yarne with their
practice and daily lives. “Yarne is a source of strength and training for the
rest of the year, and cumulatively for our monastic life,” explains Gelong
Loden Nyima, who just completed his sixth, “It’s when we put in the cushion
time and the training, which allows the teachings to affect us in a powerful way.
It’s the heart of Gampo Abbey”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Written by Genyen Tharpa Chodron and Gelong Loden Nyima</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Edited by Shastri Alice Haspray</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-47873381135283120712015-02-19T00:00:00.000-04:002015-02-19T06:16:24.965-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Cheerful Year of the Wood Sheep!</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>All of us at Gampo Abbey wish you a </i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>cheerful Shambhala Day and a joyful </i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>and auspicious New Year!</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzEN0P-_21GLl_VLp5QOwsWVDh5R0kkKV_r73OVd0SEy0z_hcbqJpcfsq4nUs9p_c_weHVxWzzSnWj-lYTfwpwSCxafISdj8fqgVbV89hMiGtXolNqUSCspWBlepYwJGrLXORHKjMLCY/s1600/Shambhala+Day+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzEN0P-_21GLl_VLp5QOwsWVDh5R0kkKV_r73OVd0SEy0z_hcbqJpcfsq4nUs9p_c_weHVxWzzSnWj-lYTfwpwSCxafISdj8fqgVbV89hMiGtXolNqUSCspWBlepYwJGrLXORHKjMLCY/s1600/Shambhala+Day+2015.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzZ01F7bWKPd7b71AZxumso_4SUqDsH_yMAbj-F81MAAnx6eOy2ofplP-q--BtE0GCRGLvpylACYVIjYbfmgg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-84437877842080523382015-02-17T09:54:00.000-04:002015-03-04T15:53:44.200-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Shape of Awake</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzAo_QYwGvoppwmt66sgkSQ1AxPVFfAHLIbn4yY3CRvUX9Mrrpz9NrnPipBHZBzQPKPT0fPC-DGF1DA77GlSrA-3_O02c6W9kO9_cudxDZc-hnj_jJTcow8S7aGQefWRe_ItTTBLMj40/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzAo_QYwGvoppwmt66sgkSQ1AxPVFfAHLIbn4yY3CRvUX9Mrrpz9NrnPipBHZBzQPKPT0fPC-DGF1DA77GlSrA-3_O02c6W9kO9_cudxDZc-hnj_jJTcow8S7aGQefWRe_ItTTBLMj40/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ani Pema Chodron with Hope Martin.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During this year's Yarne<span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://www.hopemartinstudio.com/"><span style="color: red;">Hope Martin</span>,</a> </span>a Master Teacher of the <a href="http://alexandertechnique.com/"><span style="color: red;">Alexander Technique</span></a>, was invited by Ani Pema to work with the community to help us improve our meditation posture. This body/mind discipline was developed in the late 1800's by F.M. Alexander, a stage actor with voice problems who studied himself in a three-way mirror to discover how the way he used his body was affecting his performance. He observed his tendency to unconsciously interfere with the natural expansive organization of his system, and developed a practice whereby efficient functioning could be restored. This process brings awareness to postural and movement patterns, focusing on the relationship between neck, head and spine to the rest of the body. Similar to working with the habitual patterns of our mind through meditation, this approach is an active exploration of how we show up in our body.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During silent week Hope did hands-on work in the shrine room twice a day, quietly tweaking our position on the cushion, to help us find more ease, mobility, breath and grounding in our practice. Experiencing Hope's gentle adjustments, a contrast develops between our usual way of living in our bodies and a new place that is lighter, more supportive and alive. Inevitably we revert back to our habits but her touch helps us move out of them again. In this way, we gain insight into how we formed ourselves, the qualities of our responses that are held in the body and how we physically display our world and state of mind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our temporary monastics, Padma Rinchen, shares her experience as: "It seems to me the A.T. is a practical way of connecting with oneself for a process of physical and psychological transformation. The good news is that my lifelong wilted flower stance no longer need define me."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is fitting to have the opportunity to investigate the relationship between mind, body and identity while Ani Pema has been teaching on ego and selflessness. As she said in one of her talks: "One of the main qualities of ego or grasping is contracting and tensing, based on fear."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope's practical guidance on letting go of constriction is "a gateway to access these teachings in a very personal way and apply them in our practice and daily life", says Rigpa Lhatso, temporary monastic. Ani Dechen articulates her own experience: "There is no way to ultimately separate body and mind, so recognizing subtle habitual patterns in my posture has allowed me to see more clearly certain deeply held beliefs I've had all my life that have kept a lid on my heeart and life-force energy."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another participant who has connected with this discipline in a powerful way is volunteer Sharon Meadows: "As a singer, dancer, teacher and administrator, I have spent all my life standing tall, shoulders back, head up, belly clenched, facing the world like a warrior. It took the gentle touch of Hope to release years of tension in my body. As she moved my head and neck ever so slightly forward and down, she whispered "soften, just soften" and I began to weep". Years of guardedness fell away. My heart opened. My neck relaxed. My head felt as if it was floating at the top of my spine. My body settled into the cushion with a sigh of relief."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following the first silent week, Hope conducted group classes twice a week, exploring the application of the Alexander Technique to sitting meditation as well as other activities such as walking, bending and even running. After experiencing the hands-on work, we were invited to think of awareness as a form of touch. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This empowering approach is not about imposing or striving for
an ideal posture <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">(or, as Alexander called this</span>, end-gaining), it’s about honoring our
natural structure - our birthright - and learning to stop interfering with it
through excessive muscular tension and holding patterns. Then a balance of
support and relaxation can come into play that invites our own aliveness to
show up. As Holly Chute, a lay resident of the Abbey puts it: "With a more relaxed posture my mind has been less agitated and more in tune with softer, lighter sensations in my body."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknXnifaOT-9SDgg73Ql0ysX-KxH_MOInJru7u7BrT-s2O_ly5p77Jikus3g0JB08JsgtfkaOz610LkXbWgoDVQE_yu0X5C-Zs_LG_-FG8NvnylDtH7H5LmNURvfeitC-BtIvHPFrBW0Q/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknXnifaOT-9SDgg73Ql0ysX-KxH_MOInJru7u7BrT-s2O_ly5p77Jikus3g0JB08JsgtfkaOz610LkXbWgoDVQE_yu0X5C-Zs_LG_-FG8NvnylDtH7H5LmNURvfeitC-BtIvHPFrBW0Q/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonapart, Hope's teaching assistant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Padma continues: "From the first class I immediately had a direct sense of what it means to contact my body using its natural intelligence and magnificent structure. The blind spot of not knowing how to relate to my body is beginning to disappear as I now feel I have a sense of how to both use my body and rest within it the way it was designed to."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Echoing one of Ani Pema's book titles, <i>Start where you are, </i>Hope encouraged us to get to know our habits. By not immediately trying to fix them, we can become intimate with them and they can be an opportunity to practice loving-kindness for ourselves. Holly observes: "Learning to relax habits in my posture has become a kind message to myself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ani Dechen explains it this way: "This work allows me to practice a more refined way of inhabiting this human body: not simply correcting the body according to whatever my ideas of an ideal posture are, but developing a deep listening and trust of the body, allowing it to come alive and undo its knots with its own particular wisdom." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with meditation practice, it takes time to change and, most importantly, to find the willingness to change. Facing our habitual patterns, whether in mind or body, can be challenging. "At first, I was very skeptical. It felt like I had spent a long time trying to perfect a comfortable posture, so I did not want to change it", says Kunga Rangdrol, another temporary monastic, "The willingness to look at and change my posture was the doorway to deepening the whole experience."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For some people it can also be painful. The adjustment requires certain muscles to work harder than they're used to, so an accompanying tightness can be a necessary part of the method, until the musculature gets used to working efficiently. Hope encouraged us to be gentle with the process. She taught a lying down technique called Constructive Rest to help us let go and allow the floor to support us. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rigpa, who has dealt with pain in her sitting practice with many years, discovered a gentler and almost painless way to sit: "Now without the struggle aspect, I began to really wake up and move through sleepiness and distraction which was often the result of avoiding pain in my body."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kunga adds: "When Hope corrected my posture, she put me in a position that allowed my breathing to flow completely naturally. It felt like I wasn't forcing myself to sit up, rather the earth was supporting my body. This simple yet profound correction has allowed me to be less focused on the tension in my body and more engaged in my actual practice."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a learning curve, but the results come along not only in the body, but also in the mind. As Dawa, another temporary monastic puts it: "It slowly sank in, leaving me with a sense of natural elegance, more energy in the body and with a more spacious and relaxed mind."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jonathan Green, a participant, finds motivation to go forward with this technique:"Since Hope helped me into the right meditation posture and I experienced how relaxed and awake it makes me feel, I never want to go back to my habitual way of sitting."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gampo Abbey Director Richard Haspray concludes: "It freshens practice, giving one ease and mobility (instead of bracing and holding to maintain stability). Sensory experiences are brigther, mind clearer, and you can genuinely relax with whatever arises because you are sitting with your shape of awake."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hope will be returning to Atlanta March 22-28 to lead her sixth annual weekthun there called </i><a href="http://atlanta.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=191203"><span style="color: red;">The Shape of Awake</span></a>.<i> All are welcome to attend this unique and beneficial program.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Tharpa Chodron</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos by Soledad Gonzales</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post was later published in the <a href="http://shambhalatimes.org/2015/02/23/the-shape-of-awake-2/"><span style="color: red;">Shambhala Times</span></a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-65503957352925287302015-02-05T16:37:00.002-04:002015-02-16T21:02:15.708-04:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once for a Lifetime<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Temporary Monastic Ordination<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Someone once asked one of the great
monastics and teachers of the Tibetan community in exile why he ordained so
many tens of thousands of young monastics knowing full well that many of them
would grow up in the monastery, receive an education, and then eventually give
back their robes and return to the alluring household world of modern India.
His answer was simple, profound, and touching. He said: “They’ll make better
parents”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the Tibetan tradition, temporary
ordination was not practiced intentionally: all monastic vows were given as
life ordinations. However, in many other dharmic societies, a variety of forms
of temporary ordinations have been practiced as an immersion in the dharma and
a source of processing and merit for oneself and one’s society. Chogyam Trungpa
Rinpoche felt that just such a temporary ordination would be of great benefit
in our own society and was part of his founding intention for Gampo Abbey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As the forces of speed, polarization, and
frenetic consumption increase in our global society, so too does our need for
inner strength, tranquility, and integrity. As it becomes harder to find an
hour a day to meditate, it may become more helpful to take a year instead. As
endless entertainment for the mind abounds, all the more precious is the
opportunity to strip it away and let the mind meet itself. Ironically, the less
monastic life may appear relevant to the modern world, the more relevant than
ever it becomes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">“That
is the method”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It is for this reason that the tradition of
temporary ordination has been practiced at Gampo Abbey for over twenty years by
hundreds of individuals from nearly every continent. It is for this purpose of
offering places of peace in the world that monasteries continue to exist. It is
for this offering to enlightened society that temporary ordination continues to
be upheld in the Shambhala Monastic Order. And so, it was with great joy that
ten participants from as far as New Zealand and as close as Sydney, Nova Scotia
received temporary ordination on 12 December, 2014, on a sunny winter day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqIPQoJvdYw439xWf6QMGZATBhyphenhypheno-BdmvH1p9DrMh5w9QAeDfnzQp33GOb7K0fb2bFTig46fcoL2Qd6GnrqLupcQAofiaOtwZl2rmAmE5yO50xP8zdUQ067BeSTfKtngqRUoL1JiINI8/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqIPQoJvdYw439xWf6QMGZATBhyphenhypheno-BdmvH1p9DrMh5w9QAeDfnzQp33GOb7K0fb2bFTig46fcoL2Qd6GnrqLupcQAofiaOtwZl2rmAmE5yO50xP8zdUQ067BeSTfKtngqRUoL1JiINI8/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group picture after ordination.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This ordination not only marked the first
since the establishment of the Shambhala Monastic Order, but was also the first
given by preceptor Gelong Lodro Kalsang. Before giving the ordination Kalsang
invoked the memories and qualities of the many Abbey monastics who have made it
possible and aspired that their accomplishments continue on through us. He
spoke of the monastic life being a constant practice of the paramitas, a
widening of the heart which will radiate out to whatever life brings next. In
this light he spoke of enlightened society being revealed within the
pratimoksha, the monastic code.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The rite for ordination involves receiving
and agreeing to keep the Upasaka/Upasika Bramacharya precepts (the five
precepts with celibacy) and to conduct oneself as a monastic while practicing
four hours a day, engaging in a course of study, and working closely with
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYbdSlqBXhfKT33ljBT07nquX4ON59LHy8XY4H3uZQYdi5-YQhd37VVrSYP1psLMXpcKGcWIvjILFifr666wezJMBT26wQx_1O-fhqZvL7EUJOCD-yeBjxn6kutsoOAv7hUe-7c26gt8/s1600/DSCF1473+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYbdSlqBXhfKT33ljBT07nquX4ON59LHy8XY4H3uZQYdi5-YQhd37VVrSYP1psLMXpcKGcWIvjILFifr666wezJMBT26wQx_1O-fhqZvL7EUJOCD-yeBjxn6kutsoOAv7hUe-7c26gt8/s1600/DSCF1473+(1).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lodro getting his hair cut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The ceremony itself is simple and involves
cutting one’s hair, donning robes, and adopting a Buddhist name as signals of
an inner release into freedom. After aspiring to undertake the training in
order to cultivate the enlightenment of all beings, a formula is repeated three
times. After the final repetition the preceptor snaps their fingers and says:
“That is the method”, and the newly ordained reply: “It is excellent”. And just
like that the vows have been received warm hands to warm hands all the way back
to the Buddha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As Dawa Chodzo, a current temporary monk
from Romania via London says: “The highlight, so far, has been our ordination
day. It's a bit hard to describe it in words. I had a sense of lightness and
being uplifted. The ceremony, the community's support, the elegant new robes,
nature being part of our celebration. All these elements came together into an
experience that was exhilarating and flowing for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">No
community is an island<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Society begins one mind, one conversation,
one relationship, one community at a time. Tharpa Lodro, one of the new temporary
monks from Washington D.C. expounds: “Being even a temporarily ordained
monastic means taking the time to truly embrace the activity of enlightened
society on a consistent basis. The monastic life is built for and of
enlightened society and the more fully it manifests, the deeper and stronger
the manifestation of enlightened society will be in this world. It also means
an honored connection to a very direct lineage of blessings from the Buddha in
his flesh and blood.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the monastery the heaven of bodhicitta
and the earth of close community are joined by spending hours each day in
meditation, and still more working with and surrounded by others - both
“friends” and “difficult people”. It is a place whose inescapably close corners
dissolve the boundary between personal practice and community life, and where
the impurities of our own motivations become as obvious as burnt bits of food.
Gradually, the basic goodness of ourselves and others becomes more and more
obvious because there’s simply no turning away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As Dawa said: “It feels like this is an
important, precious and fortunate time in my life that the Abbey is offering
support for. We're being held in a space where discipline and decorum are
emphasized. We receive subtle compassion through the teachings of Ani Pema and
her and the Sakyong's direct overall involvement.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">A
Process of Reflection</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">One may wonder what would draw someone to
such an endeavor. Often our stories are as diverse as the individuals, the only
universal thread being the desire to practice. Usually, this has come from a
process of self-reflection and deliberate orientation in a helpful direction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViEn74FCwTpRXGH1VaakuBNkfB5WpB8-R3pn6S0k9QTh_nGKkJ8hoK8ji22AY6W-XiXN0QX9nUvIqn-LvN5pgyU84Rqfhs8vngpqdF-7l5kt8hhyqMizd3uBZMHiKB0X1nhH05O2OM-k/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViEn74FCwTpRXGH1VaakuBNkfB5WpB8-R3pn6S0k9QTh_nGKkJ8hoK8ji22AY6W-XiXN0QX9nUvIqn-LvN5pgyU84Rqfhs8vngpqdF-7l5kt8hhyqMizd3uBZMHiKB0X1nhH05O2OM-k/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawa on the day of ordination.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“My living in the world, engaged in a life
that society approves and deems as valuable, went on with some success”, says
Dawa reflecting on his decision, “Yet there was also a sense of pain and
dissatisfaction. I was not liking the way I was interacting with people and the
world and I had a sense of creating more pain than happiness and relaxation.
Or, in Buddhist terms that are becoming more familiar, I was engaging more in non-virtue
than in virtue. So coming to the Abbey has been a natural transition fuelled by
a desire to tame my mind in order to have less suffering, to be able to enter a
role in society with a more generous intention and to hold a larger view of
contributing and extending out to as many people as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">With
the Court on Our Heels </span></b><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The ordination was given shortly after
returning from a weekend of teachings from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The weekend
generously included an audience for the Abbey residents with the opportunity to
ask the Sakyong questions about their upcoming venture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">After wondering about missing a year in the
household world, Lodro expressed his concerns to the Sakyong and asked for his
guidance. Lodro recalls: “The Sakyong said he was rather certain the world
would be there regardless of whether I was at the Abbey or not and that it
should be considered deeply how often one has the chance to take an extended
period of time to deepen their engagement with meditation?” Lodro then had to
contemplate his doubt and decide what would be of most benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Upon pondering this, Lodro explains: “I
have concluded that the world is still indeed out there and it seems as if it
will continue to be so. My time here will help build the momentum in regards to
the monastic path and those who support it. That truly I cannot think of what I
could do right now that would be of more benefit to the world and society and
it would be quite sad to miss such a blessed opportunity”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Onward
and outward<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7iC92UzAYAkb81D7E1cih6t7MzDaBk_rPWtXbBl1AnvYhdKqe2JMYftv93-20x0ZtGcRgB5i1BGeN8HQB5wIO6Qk6c5K_XPmC5a0yd9Kk8r30ZvFuJNl5bYdm1GQ3gFt_3WyM2vwbms/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7iC92UzAYAkb81D7E1cih6t7MzDaBk_rPWtXbBl1AnvYhdKqe2JMYftv93-20x0ZtGcRgB5i1BGeN8HQB5wIO6Qk6c5K_XPmC5a0yd9Kk8r30ZvFuJNl5bYdm1GQ3gFt_3WyM2vwbms/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An auspicious rainbow appeared after the ordination ceremony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">A monastery is a community that understands
interdependence. It is sustained by offerings, and understands that by helping
a person deepen their practice for a year and sending them out a little softer,
it too is making an offering. It takes pride in being an ever-changing river of
people from around the world, returning to the ocean with a slightly warmer
current. A monastery does not reject the larger world; rather, it invites it in
a few people at a time and tries to make a difference. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA">What kind of difference does it make?</span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“Temporary Ordination has been the best
decision of my life at this point,” Lodro concludes, “it will be in my
heartsblood for as long as I have a heart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">Written by Gelong Loden Nyima, Head of Education at Gampo Abbey</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">Edited by Tharpa Chodron </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-62716889896231275542015-01-21T20:22:00.002-04:002015-02-16T21:03:13.744-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Hall of Mirrors</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exploring Life at Gampo Abbey</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most common</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">misconceptions about living at a monastery is that it’s an attempt to evade our lives and the world we live in, a convenient escape plan. In fact, Gampo Abbey has been described as a hall of mirrors, a place where the simplicity of life and the intensity of practice demand that we look more closely at ourselves. Taking the leap to spend a significant amount of time here is an intentional commitment to waking up. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FyrFm5ml9Y_BEx6hcPzBZR_Kqz0Z7L2erYo69iS74blz-TRgDnPqC6gcdX8lfljkwKas52JNZR_1fDVWVoeW8UT3WU6RdZbDzZdok7YVuVREFS8iAEpcUIClIZ7vyY5QsvQHzwwEqJY/s1600/DSCF5405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FyrFm5ml9Y_BEx6hcPzBZR_Kqz0Z7L2erYo69iS74blz-TRgDnPqC6gcdX8lfljkwKas52JNZR_1fDVWVoeW8UT3WU6RdZbDzZdok7YVuVREFS8iAEpcUIClIZ7vyY5QsvQHzwwEqJY/s1600/DSCF5405.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are various components that make up the precious container of Gampo Abbey. The most obvious one is the location itself. The landscape of Cape Breton exudes drala energy and the vastness of the ocean is a constant reminder for the mind and heart to expand. This setting offers enough isolation so that all of life’s rhythms are arranged around practice. It’s the ideal environment to lead a simplified existence, regulated by the natural cycle of the seasons and with minimal distractions. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Director Richard Haspray describes: “Following the patterns of a monastic schedule reveals a healthy rhythm of life that allows time and space for practice, study, food, work, socializing, and rest. The schedule creates the boundaries necessary to experience the space of meditation and the contrast of everyday activity. As the Abbey's director, I hold this sacred space by enjoying this life and by helping to set boundaries for everyone.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re picturing a strict disciplinarian environment full of restrictions where people put themselves through some sort of trial of endurance, think again. First and foremost, the container at Gampo Abbey is full of gentleness and care. There’s a strong sense of being on the same boat. Whether we have just arrived or we've been on the monastic path for many years, we follow a culture of support, practicing loving-kindness in our day-to-day communal living. “Discipline is necessary, but kindness has to go with the discipline,” explains our elder Ani Migme Chodron. “So that means that the disciplinarian has to feel good about themselves. If you feel good about yourself, then you can transmit discipline to others in a clear-cut but gentle way that other people can accept. But if I’m feeling rotten about myself, that’s transmitted to the people I’m trying to discipline.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Five Precepts</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1GO-zUZpNawdsKEi9htLtJaFYAsNgF7kmfSUCLp7vEpyYELmM7F1EEld4diaKvqEGGtyX7RnM2jhfe7J2Hho6t7giliyFNTLLfThtL19xyB1DM9E7cHcRAzKRN08GKGymGgyGoSFucw/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1GO-zUZpNawdsKEi9htLtJaFYAsNgF7kmfSUCLp7vEpyYELmM7F1EEld4diaKvqEGGtyX7RnM2jhfe7J2Hho6t7giliyFNTLLfThtL19xyB1DM9E7cHcRAzKRN08GKGymGgyGoSFucw/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The central component, in which Gampo Abbey stands out from the land centers, is adhering to the five Buddhist precepts: not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual activity, not lying, and not consuming intoxicants. Everyone, including the householders, abides by these precepts. Keeping the precepts collectively creates an invisible but powerful container in and of itself, offering a profound way of looking into our habitual patterns. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The precepts can be understood from a coarse outer level and from a more refined level of practice, where we take the opportunity to work with their inner meaning. As Ani Migme puts it: “Not to kill, that’s easy.” The tricky part is seeing the subtleties as a way to sharpen your mindfulness. It’s not just about respecting the rules for the rules’ sake. Working with the precepts is a great practice in being aware of your intentions. When you’re not quite breaking a precept, but perhaps slightly bending it, you’re constantly viewing what’s going on in your mind. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Karma and Discernment</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In these first months, the curriculum for the </span><a href="http://gampoabbey.org/resident.php" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Warriors Who Are Meek, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red;">the One Year Monastic Training Program</span>, </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">has focused on foundational principles from the teachings on Tiger such as basic goodness, friendliness to self, and discernment based on study of the laws of karma. Understanding the twelve nidanas can make us more inquisitive about how we apply the precepts and orient our body, speech, and mind. Accepting that we are constantly planting karmic seeds, we can take the opportunity to use this particular container to train in loosening our habitual patterns and cultivating positive momentum in our practice. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is one of the ways that life at the monastery is a training ground for discipline of mind. In a way, discipline involves fearlessness: by observing the way your mind engages with the structure of the container, precepts in particular, we might find aspects of ourselves that we hadn’t noticed before, and sometimes that’s not very pleasant. So it takes fearlessness to be willing to discover your naked mind, all the recesses that you might wish weren’t there. From that, we might also be surprised to uncover the great potential near at hand. On this subject, Ani Migme says: “You have to be willing to accept change and then again when you feel the rubbing: ‘Oh I don’t like this, I don’t want to change’, that’s where you have something to learn about yourself.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enlightened Society</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How the process of inner transformation is held and supported by the community is part of how we put into practice the vision of enlightened society at Gampo Abbey. The monastery is by design going to bring up core habitual patterns in our minds and at the same time give us the space and tools to transform them in a positive or even liberating way. That’s a rare combination and an intensely vulnerable process. The key element in terms of community practice is how we work with that vulnerability. Vulnerability isn’t something we have to hide; rather, it’s what allows us to connect as people. It’s what shows us our common humanity and our common sense of path. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ffAVxppDVWQs5gPMnMs1WfrvJNug38orBGzVwNCD8atYwJImeG2Ix1W0V52EpEEueylBJc5pZxkBn4xEr8sPbfFCglBVYfBtNYpzG6EqyUq7qzhnMTHWT8uZJOBzlUn1m0XYpqWCT3U/s1600/DSCF5414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ffAVxppDVWQs5gPMnMs1WfrvJNug38orBGzVwNCD8atYwJImeG2Ix1W0V52EpEEueylBJc5pZxkBn4xEr8sPbfFCglBVYfBtNYpzG6EqyUq7qzhnMTHWT8uZJOBzlUn1m0XYpqWCT3U/s1600/DSCF5414.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On an individual level, it’s what cuts through our slickness and makes the dharma real. One example of how we work with this is that every two weeks we formally meet with our peers to share our deep self-reflections on our process, laying aside our mistakes, and reconnecting with our aspirations. It’s a safe space where one person at a time speaks and the others just listen, showing up for each other without judgment. “Over the years we know each other’s struggles, know each other’s breakthroughs, know each other’s secrets - and it’s all allowed,” says Loden Nyima, Head of Education, “It’s all regarded as the path of liberation and the whole point altogether.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, the practice container is defined by the people in it. How we react to other people’s behavior can be as clear a mirror of our state of mind as sitting meditation. Our fellow practitioners, just as most people have discovered in every sangha, can be our greatest teachers. Depending on our frame of mind, we can experience this environment as a “cool clay pot, a pressure cooker, or a hermetically sealed Tupperware,” as one of our householders, Adrian Thalasinos, describes it. All the uncomfortable aspects of community life are still present here, but it’s the commitment to no escape that makes the monastery unique. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another element of this container is the practice of silence, which in similar fashion to the five precepts, makes us more clearly aware of our mind patterns. At Gampo Abbey, silence is observed from 8pm to lunch time and it provides an open space for practitioners to work with habitual tendencies that revolve around speech. One can then more easily see the motivations behind the urge to communicate. Just like with the precepts, looking into our motivations can provide insight into how our mindless actions lead us to unnecessary suffering.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regarding how to relate to silence, Adrian says: “It is our refuge, a place to notice thoughts and emotions. Within it there is room to cultivate an awareness. Some days it's a reminder to look out the window during breakfast, the space to appreciate the outer world. Other times it's the stark sound of our agitated mind that takes the stage. Within a vacuum can rush in the cacophonous chatter of our minds. To me silence at the Abbey is as golden as a shining seated Buddha.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sense of Humor</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a context defined by such a structure, it can be easy to become rigid in following all the rules. That uptightness is resolved by keeping a sense of humor. Lightheartedness is often a gateway to gentleness and discovering an open space where the joy of discipline can flourish.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Trungpa Rinpoche, my teacher for fourteen years, said laughter is very close to shunyata,” recalls Ani Migme, “and the reason for that is that you’re going along and there’s a break. Laughter means something is surprising, something is absolutely new at that moment. That brings laughter. Shunyata is not empty, ultimately shunyata is the fullness of possibilities.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisytC4D3mB_OEpamdLZmyGRDxmy1wVdegyJtMCT35zL_WCrv5ucbaAIjVpCq32GFDJQChSeO3HCUegD2z_ikclwOJ0ItAfU8YC0Hi5j8sy1gHSBhE_rDpnYDqbSNdYcDzUo8mOIIBsDhw/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisytC4D3mB_OEpamdLZmyGRDxmy1wVdegyJtMCT35zL_WCrv5ucbaAIjVpCq32GFDJQChSeO3HCUegD2z_ikclwOJ0ItAfU8YC0Hi5j8sy1gHSBhE_rDpnYDqbSNdYcDzUo8mOIIBsDhw/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;">One might wonder about the effects of living in such a container where the forms, the discipline, and the practice are so repetitive and constant. Often residents over time describe a process of softening, opening, coming into themselves, releasing entrapping patterns, and kneading the dharma into their minds at a deeper level.</span><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sometimes people look at monastics and think we must be seeking some profound spiritual realization”, says Loden, “in the long run that’s definitely what we wish for everyone, but at the same time, when I honestly self-reflect after five years in the monastery I’d say it’s been a process of slowly becoming a dharmic person. It’s been about getting up in the morning and being happy to practice because it becomes a source of strength and joy. It’s been about the teachings becoming guiding principles for life. Other people become more and more important, especially their paths. In fact, supporting other people’s paths is pretty much the vocation of our life monastics and the motivation for going further in our own. There’s little if any realization for me to speak of and it’s only a very basic level of taming that I’ve worked with. But at the same time, the dharma becomes a way of life and the problem is that it works.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Written by Emma Cataford, Gampo Abbey resident</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>with Loden Nyima, Gampo Abbey Head of Education</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Photos by Emma Cataford</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This post was previously published in the Shambhala Times in two parts:</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://shambhalatimes.org/2015/01/10/a-hall-of-mirrors/">A Hall of Mirrors</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://shambhalatimes.org/2015/01/14/vulnerability-and-humor/"><span style="color: red;">Vulnerability and Humor</span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219702688497640409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-15038784068886166012015-01-08T14:23:00.001-04:002015-01-10T20:33:52.683-04:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Recent Events at Gampo Abbey</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December was a joyous albeit busy month at Gampo Abbey. In the midst of all the preparations leading up to Yarne, the monastic winter retreat, there have been some community events we would like to share. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On December 13th a group of Abbey residents participated in Pleasant Bay's United Church annual fundraiser. Our gracious choir performed two pieces for the local community. One was a rendition of a Bach chorale with original lyrics by Ani Dechen entitled "This World Is Like a Dream"; the other was a traditional "Metta Prayer" that involved the whole community following along. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU68yyIZyXh3taQVwp_qC99o9XUuItEizzV0-C8WYDJRACNPiHlqsrWZ0ErEppr9w3LjjX5DNbS9PyA4rF2weOnope2W15xfGdL_CideZXCAly_OrPTZd0vCjMbFPW_mIFrSficPz04Q/s1600/DSCF5539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU68yyIZyXh3taQVwp_qC99o9XUuItEizzV0-C8WYDJRACNPiHlqsrWZ0ErEppr9w3LjjX5DNbS9PyA4rF2weOnope2W15xfGdL_CideZXCAly_OrPTZd0vCjMbFPW_mIFrSficPz04Q/s1600/DSCF5539.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gampo Abbey Choir<br />
Photo by Emma Cataford</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our director Richard Haspray was recruited to manifest as Santa Clause for the children. He played the part with enthusiasm and was very credible in the role. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR90CoYO25MjYqwbicH0SDrA1XYn4Awqy314Gb_Gmsz0VFRNNP8Bck3LlIiWZw8sqUuuhnxafo699Ob8NALbAova1u3tY4fMNldA-mkjE-5hq-zqHWK3pVvJHQLNLsrghwR0Uoo9fTISU/s1600/IMG_1529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR90CoYO25MjYqwbicH0SDrA1XYn4Awqy314Gb_Gmsz0VFRNNP8Bck3LlIiWZw8sqUuuhnxafo699Ob8NALbAova1u3tY4fMNldA-mkjE-5hq-zqHWK3pVvJHQLNLsrghwR0Uoo9fTISU/s1600/IMG_1529.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard aka Santa<br />
Photo by Alice Haspray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an occasion for the Abbey to connect with the people of Pleasant Bay, continuing to nourish a relationship of mutual respect and kinship that has been present for thirty years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also contributed to the cake auction and potluck. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On December 22nd we marked the Winter Solstice with a lhasang before dawn. We gathered around the fire to offer juniper smoke in order to purify and dispel neuroses ahead of the darkest part of the year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLtsB-CoKyWmT8xXSJdGXlIrA6GdiNa2FT5cyb0j4eaq4fPdWRafg4RB-xzi3xBbBunISTDr08bV1cNq3HVvsnpXfRaFm0i5ZsLyCD0wIlxhl0OhM-RPnFTiFocWJMaccJZvRoaIuYtg/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLtsB-CoKyWmT8xXSJdGXlIrA6GdiNa2FT5cyb0j4eaq4fPdWRafg4RB-xzi3xBbBunISTDr08bV1cNq3HVvsnpXfRaFm0i5ZsLyCD0wIlxhl0OhM-RPnFTiFocWJMaccJZvRoaIuYtg/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Soledad Gonzalez</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVF5A6_WGSTC99xxibhib-p5Ce3Xn0BUSHBhS57u6edO1Dc3VzaG1CyW3c_1-PcA4QZh6wkglLtRbaVdfYnUv5UfD47k4VoRD7GoAir7qxeYeMkx3Fmy8bwFxVcwUeMAl0Am9x8RbkFI/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVF5A6_WGSTC99xxibhib-p5Ce3Xn0BUSHBhS57u6edO1Dc3VzaG1CyW3c_1-PcA4QZh6wkglLtRbaVdfYnUv5UfD47k4VoRD7GoAir7qxeYeMkx3Fmy8bwFxVcwUeMAl0Am9x8RbkFI/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by S.G.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> On December 25th we celebrated Bodhisattva Day with a special meal offered by volunteer cooks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6actE6cD7fyzPTpybaePfi-rmj7dN9A22jRw7_HamgzcRfA9mrjEdfCJjwHDjb6Qf3bJs_BX6hyX2BV4K2TMZyOPG1_ruslD93hnstxCYAE9WkJXCKnQzjug_xlEIBZjyfBwgwixqTk/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6actE6cD7fyzPTpybaePfi-rmj7dN9A22jRw7_HamgzcRfA9mrjEdfCJjwHDjb6Qf3bJs_BX6hyX2BV4K2TMZyOPG1_ruslD93hnstxCYAE9WkJXCKnQzjug_xlEIBZjyfBwgwixqTk/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawa, Nordzing and Rigpa preparing the meal for Bodhisattva Day.<br />
Photo by S.G.<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvj1WztRWYKeGgBsLF373iISRnCwDXYTNFOhmaMBoFPI7DICiBkAiT9wcfTjFlB8x70OjWFielseD17pAAUzTDbl60fPUmfAU_6OVhH8QicQWYUpQRmnHnr6W8w1Mof3VZzH16GYaqzg/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvj1WztRWYKeGgBsLF373iISRnCwDXYTNFOhmaMBoFPI7DICiBkAiT9wcfTjFlB8x70OjWFielseD17pAAUzTDbl60fPUmfAU_6OVhH8QicQWYUpQRmnHnr6W8w1Mof3VZzH16GYaqzg/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one of our Bodhisattva Day cooks: Ani Dechen.<br />
Photo by S.G.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUwCmxdrWY4JNIYp1pW4DBBWilqjPdyxP0_KuexTKMMG3bwx12GFEU3KJkIworx5ux8VhQ4Q80hi37tQym86Nz0oAIQua7vg6jjtDtYdrKG6VAMxC7Jkn8lzucGzG6ZMiY874RyaHG3k/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUwCmxdrWY4JNIYp1pW4DBBWilqjPdyxP0_KuexTKMMG3bwx12GFEU3KJkIworx5ux8VhQ4Q80hi37tQym86Nz0oAIQua7vg6jjtDtYdrKG6VAMxC7Jkn8lzucGzG6ZMiY874RyaHG3k/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Offering the food.<br />
Photo by S.G.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUOl51NsiBLE9y3ZN9K_SOP72gemBzstwtbv1NpGT36YGHvFLnimiW404IBCIwWECULyzPvD14x8XIFnXL-elY10r8qwEc_02sn6vHawhyphenhyphenWWD5qzC50fxdek0Hw0F7EUAH1ZZ2Z_1AmQ/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUOl51NsiBLE9y3ZN9K_SOP72gemBzstwtbv1NpGT36YGHvFLnimiW404IBCIwWECULyzPvD14x8XIFnXL-elY10r8qwEc_02sn6vHawhyphenhyphenWWD5qzC50fxdek0Hw0F7EUAH1ZZ2Z_1AmQ/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the food and the company.<br />
Photo by S.G.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope our followers have spent a wonderful holiday season as well! </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-63973649063877950002014-11-28T14:59:00.002-04:002014-11-28T14:59:40.522-04:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Introducing Cornelius</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 21px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hncTy8Fb0j7pIcATSca6sc1CH1Q0RN5INYJZf_NeTr67uTJu7wXN7buGfB_mcqbh1d1iGeWDlNKlN5QQhUKcqrgKNXnoVyZt70lyPQMiWMvETDLg3WhYe1k-wk_My4Q7m1JoVJiHjfU/s1600/corney+look.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hncTy8Fb0j7pIcATSca6sc1CH1Q0RN5INYJZf_NeTr67uTJu7wXN7buGfB_mcqbh1d1iGeWDlNKlN5QQhUKcqrgKNXnoVyZt70lyPQMiWMvETDLg3WhYe1k-wk_My4Q7m1JoVJiHjfU/s1600/corney+look.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Adrian Thalasinos Haley </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meet Cornelius, the bird of
nowness. It unfortunately slammed into one of the windows of the main
shrineroom during a meditation session, making some people jump out of their
skin. Adrian Thalasinos Haley, our Head of Facilities, retrieved it and it was
taken in to recover. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_pPIBJZvNV0pVfVXNal1N6KWOMeNi4B7FF81T9jwe4AkP8jW6NALpmvy-BXkJrfcjuLBtpu4TsWMEy6pC_Vw3b1NZBFpx9lTZUjLuxgXpS-p-nvXmpnZPtg-8jZR6q-O30XtWeT4ZbI/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_pPIBJZvNV0pVfVXNal1N6KWOMeNi4B7FF81T9jwe4AkP8jW6NALpmvy-BXkJrfcjuLBtpu4TsWMEy6pC_Vw3b1NZBFpx9lTZUjLuxgXpS-p-nvXmpnZPtg-8jZR6q-O30XtWeT4ZbI/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornelius resting on Adrian's head. Photo by Sharon Meadows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It was quite disoriented and it’s missing a chunk of tail
feathers. The theory is that it might have had an encounter with a hawk. After
a few days, it appears to be more confident and has taken a liking to its new
quarters. It actually enjoys its own room in Adrian and Tingdzen’s cabin and
even had its own cage custom build, although it prefers to roam around, and
sleep on Tingdzen’s bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L5UGxz5jQVwyomOZtQis8DL_FqCHfvkJ9yPzFe363_wCY1vi00Pd5voEThvI4ddKSlF0kj3tRRthdtWCEVDlMmDBJAkoskMWCbJaDRsvrBrGtt02vyOfg1L0OBe9GfBjooEYR_X154I/s1600/DSCF1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L5UGxz5jQVwyomOZtQis8DL_FqCHfvkJ9yPzFe363_wCY1vi00Pd5voEThvI4ddKSlF0kj3tRRthdtWCEVDlMmDBJAkoskMWCbJaDRsvrBrGtt02vyOfg1L0OBe9GfBjooEYR_X154I/s1600/DSCF1162.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thubten Tingdzen with Cornelius. Photo by A.T.H.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8l_ylJVUqlBfysztsvuCUzmkde5WZwpKquIQkGT-XhZHaq1WpJWrp04VvELmWdDM4tzBjS82cUmKsKJwcPp2qlzzauKoRR7D_E9Mtn1Vt03ozPSHr9ZsK2dxfMihl6cmMByeDCvbC60/s1600/DSCF1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8l_ylJVUqlBfysztsvuCUzmkde5WZwpKquIQkGT-XhZHaq1WpJWrp04VvELmWdDM4tzBjS82cUmKsKJwcPp2qlzzauKoRR7D_E9Mtn1Vt03ozPSHr9ZsK2dxfMihl6cmMByeDCvbC60/s1600/DSCF1152.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornelius enjoying her room. Photo by A.T.H.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A quick research revealed
that it’s a female specimen of the Pine Grosbeak, native to Canada. However, it
is still going by the name Cornelius.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWPq0waYu_HeVvQD1lWM1KUUP8GETLUnAxu-04z8bybgM52nT-DAv0PX9VUrNGI-uCc3NbfFN6weJqA4C9tZ1oWbg_YAGsP2IKwAxedZPVA-KFq_SF2z2nEshtnooX1Vsa0I6m48MwGI/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWPq0waYu_HeVvQD1lWM1KUUP8GETLUnAxu-04z8bybgM52nT-DAv0PX9VUrNGI-uCc3NbfFN6weJqA4C9tZ1oWbg_YAGsP2IKwAxedZPVA-KFq_SF2z2nEshtnooX1Vsa0I6m48MwGI/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornelius outside her cage. Photo by S.M.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXJfDx2DwxvBcOISFbeNkoPsGBI3TkgRH9FDa8AcVTvambrP4afdfHv1S7wMS_3JnNUUPQHpwxUDK75HsGFgApf325jlXiCwYZJSSwkFJ-EZuyw0BjnsHXHjEgDw9Zue4p8Y52O4eTWc/s1600/DSCF1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXJfDx2DwxvBcOISFbeNkoPsGBI3TkgRH9FDa8AcVTvambrP4afdfHv1S7wMS_3JnNUUPQHpwxUDK75HsGFgApf325jlXiCwYZJSSwkFJ-EZuyw0BjnsHXHjEgDw9Zue4p8Y52O4eTWc/s1600/DSCF1084.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by A.T.H.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-92008107214837027832014-11-10T22:31:00.000-04:002015-02-16T20:55:43.848-04:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Journey in Shambhala Monasticism: A Year at Gampo Abbey</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Arrival and Adjustment</i></span></b><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikLHtm86pLEl_HTpqZUXHtL2FYDFPZKYSYBIUeEQ9udCWO81Yptwndng9o8Ujfgnp_157QBEXcrZTo7reMQYCa5Lct6qLmlHfUu3WiqYovx_LYHMwHO1heL4tl6A-C7BESjBdu5NN3xU/s1600/GroupPictureHouseholdersKalsang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikLHtm86pLEl_HTpqZUXHtL2FYDFPZKYSYBIUeEQ9udCWO81Yptwndng9o8Ujfgnp_157QBEXcrZTo7reMQYCa5Lct6qLmlHfUu3WiqYovx_LYHMwHO1heL4tl6A-C7BESjBdu5NN3xU/s1600/GroupPictureHouseholdersKalsang.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Lodro Kalsang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> On October 2<sup>nd</sup>,
a new group of practitioners joined the community at Gampo Abbey<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>for a<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://gampoabbey.org/resident.php#monastictraining"><span style="color: #cc0000;">one year training program</span></a> </span>in the Shambhala Monastic Order. Ten
people, two ladies and eight gentlemen, from across the globe committed to a year
of residency at the monastery which will include receiving temporary
ordination.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Temporary
ordination has long been offered at Gampo Abbey as part of the Vidyadhara's
vision for how monasticism can impact and benefit the larger society. In
continuing to uphold and develop the monastic path, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has
established the<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://gampoabbey.org/SMO.php"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Shambhala Monastic
Order</span></a> </span>and this year marks its first residential offering. The year follows
a curriculum based on the principles of Tiger - friendliness, mindfulness,
discernment, renunciation, selflessness, exertion, contentment, and confidence.
Training methods include frequent practice of Shambhala Meditation in addition
to regular practices, interpersonal exploration, weekly classes, monastic
training, and guided study from the teachings of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and
the Druk Sakyong Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. "The aspiration is that taking
a year or more to train in the monastery is an opportunity for participants to
deepen and strengthen their understanding, practice, and embodiment of these
core teachings. Whether one then returns to householder life or goes further as
a monastic, a journey has taken place and that is an offering to enlightened
society" says Loden Nyima, Head of Education. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKloRH7Iy_Cg2RwZCq0CE8lHcMMPK8hvcg8q1YPum34qWZk1YS3lIC0wmTpCLvMti7uFZFKNV_IRhvbNcKjBXrs8yA0l02bDV1Ksfq6lV_O8ZYhpf7J5L1UoGUrxAUnN7E39OHcECo4BI/s1600/DSCF5312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKloRH7Iy_Cg2RwZCq0CE8lHcMMPK8hvcg8q1YPum34qWZk1YS3lIC0wmTpCLvMti7uFZFKNV_IRhvbNcKjBXrs8yA0l02bDV1Ksfq6lV_O8ZYhpf7J5L1UoGUrxAUnN7E39OHcECo4BI/s1600/DSCF5312.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to Gampo Abbey <br />
Photo by Emma Cataford</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> For many the journey leading here started long before the actual
travelling that took them to Canada and then across Nova Scotia finally
‘landing’ on the rugged cliff of Cape Breton where Gampo Abbey sits unruffled
by the northern winds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> As new arrival Daniel Baker explains: “Coming to Gampo Abbey was a
result of a consistent longing to deepen my connection to practice, insight and
lineage. Not to mention, practice that is consistent and deep profoundly shifts
my heart in (positive) ways I felt a sincere need for. Also, Acharya Cashman
told me to go or else; she didn’t elaborate on the else, so I booked the
ticket.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> For another participant the seeds for monastic life were sowed in
previous stays: "When I first visited Gampo Abbey”, says Josh Clarke, “I
had a very deep feeling that living here would be in my future. Now, as a
resident, I can happily say that this continues to be the most helpful thing
that I have ever experienced. Every day I learn something new about myself and
the wisdom, within that, is very profound and beneficial. Having those sorts of
experiences really helps me touch into and feel my innate goodness. Overall,
I feel strongly that my time spent here will put workable ground under my feet
for the rest of my life so that I can be there for others."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Thubten Tingdzen, a new temporary monastic, reflects on his decision as
an exploration of human nature: “I came to Gampo Abbey with a question about
humanity’s basic nature. It’s been a question that continually comes back to me
as I work with my path and move forward in my life. About five years ago I
began to see that there was something I shared with all human beings. I
realized that it was possible to sympathize and see in myself the same intentions,
motivations, longings, desires and frustrations of all beings, even those who I
had previously dismissed as evil or cruel. This was a big shock to me because I
began to realize that the narrative I had been continually trusted of good guys
and bad guys didn’t seem congruent with this new understanding of my capacity
for empathy. I had started questioning fundamental aspects of my reality: if my
basic nature is deeper than good or bad, then my own ability to choose one is
more of a responsibility than a luxury.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLIqymLbC_c8gMSLz24qq4DETQGho_Srwz2dYrIXOLRjaUPFIDiFrM0DqOW2BEPVUas4x1fm-WZgpyoSOy5urrrNTQcXIFrzKLJl1LrEYEw3Pp88YkPWtcR7FpA7MlsdnNpYY1pxvm00/s1600/DSCF5307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLIqymLbC_c8gMSLz24qq4DETQGho_Srwz2dYrIXOLRjaUPFIDiFrM0DqOW2BEPVUas4x1fm-WZgpyoSOy5urrrNTQcXIFrzKLJl1LrEYEw3Pp88YkPWtcR7FpA7MlsdnNpYY1pxvm00/s1600/DSCF5307.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> On the importance of meditation practice and community, he says: “Furthermore
I saw, as I began to work with meditation, that my capacity to choose to harm
or help beings including myself was thoroughly mucked by my own bewilderment
and self-doubt. I needed support. Deepening my understanding and ability to
work with this confusion, and learning how to trust my basic nature are the
reasons I came to a monastery. The daily schedule, ceremonies, and monastic
forms are a perfect mirror that reveals my own aggression and confusion. They
also provide an incredible avenue to experiencing basic goodness and drala.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether the reaction upon arrival was a sense of ‘I have arrived, I am
home’ or ‘What was I thinking and how do I get out of here?’, the time of
adjustment had begun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z2tLzO0VsUw3UQeiB_spG_HDH2bVAa2gdoi0ySFmATTsz5j8LQprrGYZmUfJKmuIWrH5DePPOupTyudJcVP2Lxt7WrV5DPHCiwknS-LZnkT1AzBiI0Gi9v0qF_Pr4vsVA3IKFvnqLYo/s1600/DSCF5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z2tLzO0VsUw3UQeiB_spG_HDH2bVAa2gdoi0ySFmATTsz5j8LQprrGYZmUfJKmuIWrH5DePPOupTyudJcVP2Lxt7WrV5DPHCiwknS-LZnkT1AzBiI0Gi9v0qF_Pr4vsVA3IKFvnqLYo/s1600/DSCF5364.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> The staff graciously welcomed the new arrivals and left them three open
days to settle down before jumping into the routine of monastic life. Most
people took the opportunity to explore the land.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> The first walk up to the </span><a href="http://gampoabbey.org/stupa-history.php"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Stupa of Enlightenment</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> is something to
remember. It’s a short pleasant stroll where you are immersed in the woods and
have to cross a little wooden bridge over a stream that flows down from the
steep slope of the mountain. Various Buddha statues sit around the rocks. One
has to stop to take in the jaw dropping beauty of it all. The pure energy of
nature manifests itself wherever the gaze sets.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjKvr7L0MCBwAFEV9gzvsygn8F74aZndGlAmWBj3yp3bzhfrgrqANJAFqHFHmxJhUIKfVITwrEm1zyT-VlJNR1grMplIQXm_HW84Y6M3dMzepQKeIvvQ_szmKc8EoqLi_RIVDzScj620/s1600/DSCF5334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjKvr7L0MCBwAFEV9gzvsygn8F74aZndGlAmWBj3yp3bzhfrgrqANJAFqHFHmxJhUIKfVITwrEm1zyT-VlJNR1grMplIQXm_HW84Y6M3dMzepQKeIvvQ_szmKc8EoqLi_RIVDzScj620/s1600/DSCF5334.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Stupa of Enlightenment reminds passersby that this is a place
dedicated to world peace and the benefit of all beings. The site contains
relics of the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and was consecrated in 2001
by the Abbot Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche. Weapons were buried in the ground under
the stupa, (including a World War I rifle donated by a Cape Breton neighbor of
the Abbey), symbolizing the overcoming of aggression.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsNROcBpS8KO9p9iWxkqutGjoVjddcqs-LCrSELObo4tlmzWIaYqBKWj56JYoNVtdRaJTrrL-nglfMFGxQ_s2g6LmWevATuUm5U0Z2-_iVt1022DCvv1Hc75bzPOh5vhhky8L7Ios1_s/s1600/DSCF5347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsNROcBpS8KO9p9iWxkqutGjoVjddcqs-LCrSELObo4tlmzWIaYqBKWj56JYoNVtdRaJTrrL-nglfMFGxQ_s2g6LmWevATuUm5U0Z2-_iVt1022DCvv1Hc75bzPOh5vhhky8L7Ios1_s/s1600/DSCF5347.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lojon slogans. Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> All around it are plaques
engraved with the fifty-nine lojong slogans of mind training, which can be read
while circumambulating the Stupa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another nice little trek to take is the one that leads up to Gampo Lhatse. It’s a little steep, but quite rewarding. The view from up there is absolutely stunning, giving a panoramic scene of the Abbey’s estate. The feeling of lha, nyen and lu is palpable. One feels the height of the mountain and the richness of the woodlands, the vastness of the ocean and the force of the wind. <b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnbbM__PYcKtDDeEcjCp4Z_nTZWLjbQFzPmUY3E8qyY2_1eTaXREWeuZq4st1yuNfje7KPexRT5lrbYZr9UXBPo8wSOW2b5549zYSeEGo6A6h5OLhno4xSeipYrGaAs2fioW9gmKoJgg/s1600/DSCF5400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnbbM__PYcKtDDeEcjCp4Z_nTZWLjbQFzPmUY3E8qyY2_1eTaXREWeuZq4st1yuNfje7KPexRT5lrbYZr9UXBPo8wSOW2b5549zYSeEGo6A6h5OLhno4xSeipYrGaAs2fioW9gmKoJgg/s1600/DSCF5400.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">The view from Gampo Lhatse. Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TsnTJklq-ePLXvzZ-VMbNWftdAvVG__eycCzzo5xQtCauTqQWiESKQd8QBovo-n7RsS6tV0vnH2ijYymLhVwbg9r15NW6zyOHky6jq1lxBn85kwFRhyphenhyphen56QBfuJ0jkL6xfQtgFC9oSuA/s1600/DSCF5383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TsnTJklq-ePLXvzZ-VMbNWftdAvVG__eycCzzo5xQtCauTqQWiESKQd8QBovo-n7RsS6tV0vnH2ijYymLhVwbg9r15NW6zyOHky6jq1lxBn85kwFRhyphenhyphen56QBfuJ0jkL6xfQtgFC9oSuA/s1600/DSCF5383.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gampo Lhatse. Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> Gampo Lhatse is the protector whom the </span><a href="http://gampoabbey.org/abbot.php"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Abbot</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> of Gampo Abbey, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, designated
for the land and it’s connected to Gampopa’s monasteries. A <i>lhatse </i>(Tibetan for “divine peak”)
traditionally was a stack of rocks on a mountain that indicated a place to
leave offerings to a deity to secure safe passage. On the mountain adjacent to the
Abbey there is a small structure that marks the heart of the land, so to speak,
where you can find offerings and prayer flags.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At last, after the first weekend, came the 'real thing': adjusting to
the daily schedule. Wake up 'clacks' are sounded through the hallways at 5:30
am. First meditation session with morning chants and taking of precepts at 6.
Before breakfast is served, the house gets a good scrub and straightening out.
This is a time where the sense of community is strongest: everyone has their
assignment and takes responsibility for a little piece of the Abbey. All are
equal in housework. Same goes for dishes after meal times.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNYCE1XfuzRe529TW9-KzdZDvgEOeMPPNP8wGaR_gK_wadTAbwqJYg2u9WlUVtKcn79byHKR77s472xZIEiau-UiTsFs-BcXL6qzpAmbr9A_3jCa0IB_Y8BAilK6CsfOD20GWAuRWqX8/s1600/DSCF5280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNYCE1XfuzRe529TW9-KzdZDvgEOeMPPNP8wGaR_gK_wadTAbwqJYg2u9WlUVtKcn79byHKR77s472xZIEiau-UiTsFs-BcXL6qzpAmbr9A_3jCa0IB_Y8BAilK6CsfOD20GWAuRWqX8/s1600/DSCF5280.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The han, used to call residents to practice. <br />
Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> The main meditation practice happens in the morning 8 to 11, unless a
class is scheduled. Before lunch, one hour and a half is dedicated to mind/body
time, which can mean studying or exercising (or taking a nap!). After lunch
comes a four hour work period which ends with evening chants. Dinner is called
‘medicine meal’ as traditionally monastics wouldn’t eat after lunch for two
reasons: to not burden their benefactors that offered alms and to rise fresher
the next morning. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">At Gampo Abbey this principle is observed by cooking a soup with the day’s
leftovers.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> All through the morning until lunch, the whole house is in silence,
which resumes at 8 pm. The practice of silence, also observed all day on
specific occasions is an important one in a contemplative environment. It
creates a spaciousness in the mind where one can observe the thought process
that occur in and around communication. Through silence, a lot is learned about
the use of speech and mindful, effective communication. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> The new residents
also participated in some community events. <span style="font-family: inherit;">On October 16<sup>th</sup></span>, in accordance with the view of the monastery
being part of a village, the residents of Gampo Abbey volunteered to clean up a
spectacular stretch of Cape Breton. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_4MQMHod50nbxFAwinQS4gGeKnGInETFgiXEPy_tOFC7zPl6Mhfbg6yatj2lAlWulDvvsBTdgZl0Lh3H4sW4AuWQiK33b6J2DjJ6-fC9byYkKQ0KjyixOYE2i3uu3YROWcldv87ZQ2g/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_4MQMHod50nbxFAwinQS4gGeKnGInETFgiXEPy_tOFC7zPl6Mhfbg6yatj2lAlWulDvvsBTdgZl0Lh3H4sW4AuWQiK33b6J2DjJ6-fC9byYkKQ0KjyixOYE2i3uu3YROWcldv87ZQ2g/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shoreline near the Abbey. Photo by Lodro Kalsang.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> Having joined forces with local legend
Captain Mark Timmons, they fared the sea to bring back piles of garbage left
behind by the summer tourists. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGZcljzaejSgti_lef9-NsE5rn9nb6icDatWcN1islB77eXKSXBXRkDDYw0pXSh5zFe8hSe6PVeBJ8SNQzB7h-HH3Heh4X6Tidx3y-mm5Vucxj84Ze_UcCNVa9fSdxeXnw0Zqc_xZ9es/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGZcljzaejSgti_lef9-NsE5rn9nb6icDatWcN1islB77eXKSXBXRkDDYw0pXSh5zFe8hSe6PVeBJ8SNQzB7h-HH3Heh4X6Tidx3y-mm5Vucxj84Ze_UcCNVa9fSdxeXnw0Zqc_xZ9es/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gampo Abbey crew with Captain Mark. Photo by Les St Marie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><span style="text-align: center;"> After gathering all the trash bags, plastic material and waste of all sorts, the group gathered to sing the Shambhala Anthem. During that, a seal curiously observed from the water before splashing its tail and disappearing into the waves.</span> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajfUNh9qv7nraWuoRBoqczSeqSzeX4GqAIT5IM28KjuAbxC3wvcNcAUF1MpVhoJ8dLtMqntI85dD_XQXn5QIFlej2g_hVRNIbY8UaC1wRTH2K17JmYZra0GoI2k1CcSDewIOAg9anCtQ/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajfUNh9qv7nraWuoRBoqczSeqSzeX4GqAIT5IM28KjuAbxC3wvcNcAUF1MpVhoJ8dLtMqntI85dD_XQXn5QIFlej2g_hVRNIbY8UaC1wRTH2K17JmYZra0GoI2k1CcSDewIOAg9anCtQ/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Director Richard Haspray (left) with two Abbey residents. <br />
Photo by Les St Marie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On October 26<sup>th</sup> the annual Open House occurred. The Abbey
welcomed around 85 people from the nearby towns and from further away. The
visitors were given a tour of the house, listened to a talk by one of our nuns
and received meditation instruction, while the children were busy with arts and
crafts.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2MOT3LjdZ6BkJeWDXEVOHiKdUkxEcaREHSg5mjHnJRMwkl-BPrlRm-4p0uex1uky7nsIqnA6m4lKLtBiulHP-TziQPCeOoNsqjvdtWhTJuDuphyphenhyphenVpOpv5PPUk1e4pIeX-cgPOawnBUo/s1600/DSCF5441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2MOT3LjdZ6BkJeWDXEVOHiKdUkxEcaREHSg5mjHnJRMwkl-BPrlRm-4p0uex1uky7nsIqnA6m4lKLtBiulHP-TziQPCeOoNsqjvdtWhTJuDuphyphenhyphenVpOpv5PPUk1e4pIeX-cgPOawnBUo/s1600/DSCF5441.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSGCieMBK_Fad2AgxBb7xnobrcZ_KIo8U0GqtXldu4oypnRos_fi2YMZ8COwAuwHSX7gaxniCxFdZp_Wnt_JJfXzKICeClBspGJFMuzXEOAsyLP3IycRmMIN6RXZcRoJ5k_bF97ihhH0/s1600/DSCF5451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSGCieMBK_Fad2AgxBb7xnobrcZ_KIo8U0GqtXldu4oypnRos_fi2YMZ8COwAuwHSX7gaxniCxFdZp_Wnt_JJfXzKICeClBspGJFMuzXEOAsyLP3IycRmMIN6RXZcRoJ5k_bF97ihhH0/s1600/DSCF5451.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last but not least, they were treated to a feast of offerings prepared
by residents and friends of the Abbey. The mood was friendly and uplifted.
Everybody worked hard in the days leading up to the event in a concerted effort
to offer our best. Many people were regular features of the Open House, others
were drawn to visit by curiosity.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG3iJr3B3m1PDvYq0rAkNmwBLfsfOMsIDdb2KtEYD5KJhSgqvtEgaoc9dzE98ZLzLNMV2m79gP1JBAUj4sSbwVLCy0K-d5eV2OteOIrevWg_WeQ5pNJMuJ-1UTHAAZbkat3RrWk_R32s/s1600/DSCF5466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG3iJr3B3m1PDvYq0rAkNmwBLfsfOMsIDdb2KtEYD5KJhSgqvtEgaoc9dzE98ZLzLNMV2m79gP1JBAUj4sSbwVLCy0K-d5eV2OteOIrevWg_WeQ5pNJMuJ-1UTHAAZbkat3RrWk_R32s/s1600/DSCF5466.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids' contributions. Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaOWqBxYqkI0ssgNpypMN8doBMClcyjlN4u6YCJfOFYDeMCEEZE7of306fDBEBRO8SgbOZGD3tVesmjC5jQ36xhM5xLaOTuB6izpLQxWcx193IK-6exSVy-QKwIE4Krz3dpcGZyQyNgM/s1600/DSCF5465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaOWqBxYqkI0ssgNpypMN8doBMClcyjlN4u6YCJfOFYDeMCEEZE7of306fDBEBRO8SgbOZGD3tVesmjC5jQ36xhM5xLaOTuB6izpLQxWcx193IK-6exSVy-QKwIE4Krz3dpcGZyQyNgM/s1600/DSCF5465.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Director Richard Haspray and Shastri Alice Haspray. Photo by E.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> At the end of this month of transition, the new residents were given
householder vows, a formal commitment to abide by the five basic precepts which
all Abbey residents take. Preceptor Lodro Kalsang led the simple ceremony which
concluded with the new arrivals receiving their dzens, a traditional Tibetan
Buddhist piece of clothing which householders wear in the shrineroom. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> During this first period the participants have been practicing Shambhala
meditation and the Shambhala Sadhana, receiving teachings on basic goodness and
friendliness to self, exploring these topics with one another and beginning
study from seminary teachings of the Sakyong.<b> </b>The schedule is gearing up and the participants are mostly
enthusiastic about delving into deep study of the dharma. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the months ahead, through study and meditation, we will continue to
explore our motivations for choosing to live at the monastery and how this can
benefit people in the wider community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thubten Tingdzen expressed this intention as such: “As a member of
society and as a human being I care deeply about the state of the world. If I
can contribute anything to humanity’s ability to self-reflect and heal, it will
be through investigating my mind, and trusting in my own wisdom, kindness, and
strength.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRPYK3x5vJHoTVc5eiwJM0YxCH86tdCFh1FkfvjiSajoi4cW0SITvgAJOraf7f0tLJB_1XEz1-5ju9JY6qvHlMXwdfxyWrnqbnbo2Z1TbtvYa4UfSyWyjVvjQfN2-DarUDMLX0gv0rbA/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRPYK3x5vJHoTVc5eiwJM0YxCH86tdCFh1FkfvjiSajoi4cW0SITvgAJOraf7f0tLJB_1XEz1-5ju9JY6qvHlMXwdfxyWrnqbnbo2Z1TbtvYa4UfSyWyjVvjQfN2-DarUDMLX0gv0rbA/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Thubten Tingdzen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Written by Emma Cataford and Loden Nyima</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-28306711293958476042014-04-16T19:59:00.002-03:002014-04-16T20:28:13.365-03:00Gampo Abbey is Looking to Hire a Full Charge Bookkeeper/Head of Finance<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gampo Abbey is looking for a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>full charge Bookkeeper/Head of Finance </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who will be responsible for handling all the accounting needs of the organization. This position processes and tracks all financial transactions, maintains the chart of accounts, and processes financial reports. The Abbey has just undergone a comprehensive one-year review and restructuring of its accounting systems and practises. The successful applicant will be motivated to continue working with the community on the implementation of these new practices and also be willing to maintain good bookkeeping protocol for the clear understanding and tracking in approximately 300 chart of accounts.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reporting to the Director, the Bookkeeper/Head of Finance is a member of staff who while working with other staff and members of the community maintains the integrity and transparency of the financial services of Gampo Abbey.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The preferred candidate will have 3 to 5 years bookkeeping experience, intermediate to advanced knowledge of Quickbooks, experience processing payroll, be familiar with donations and charity financial guidelines, ability to self-manage and provide supervision to a part-time assistant.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are looking for someone with excellent attention to detail, strong problem solving skills, is effective at planning and organizing their own workload, and can communicate effectively with a diverse community.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The position provides a monthly salary based upon an average 37.5 hour work-week. It includes two weeks paid vacation per year, along with one week of retreat time provided in one of Gampo Abbey's retreat cabins.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a member of the Abbey community, you will be expected to abide by the five Buddhist precepts.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our preference is for someone who can make a two-year commitment beginning <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1923446885" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">June 15, 2014</span></span>.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more details, contact Richard Haspray, Gampo Abbey’s director, at <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="mailto:director@gampoabbey.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">director@gampoabbey.org</a> or call <a href="tel:902-224-1517" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+19022241517">902-224-1517</a></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-6686905016039837332014-04-13T20:11:00.001-03:002014-04-13T20:11:11.721-03:00Celebrating 30 Years of Life and Friendship at Gampo Abbey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Click on the YouTube link below for a slide show of 30 years at Gampo Abbey. Enjoy!</span><br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e5EQiXfV-0&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-28401461169464443232014-04-13T19:59:00.001-03:002014-04-13T19:59:21.979-03:00Looking for 3 Volunteers for Gampo Abbey's Kitchen<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Warm greetings from Gampo Abbey! As the days lengthen and the first warm breezes and spring rainshowers melt the long winter's snow and ice, we are beginning to plan the summer season at the Abbey, with its increased activities and visitors.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /><b style="color: #222222;">This is an invitation for 3 volunteers to work in the kitchen: 2 people to serve as cooks from </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2031327688" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">May 15 - September 15 </span></span>and 1 person to serve as cook for the month of June.</b><br /><br />Volunteers get free room and board and are expected to take part in the Abbey's schedule, which includes, among other things, about 4-5 hours of meditation practice per day, and about 4 hours of work per day. We ask that applicants have basic cooking skills/knowledge/interest, as well as a willingness to commit to the Abbey's way of life, which includes living in community, focused practice, silence, and much more. Also, as a summer cook, you can look forward to enjoying some of our wind-swept garden's produce, herbs, and flowers.<br /><br />For more information on life at Gampo Abbey, please visit <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.gampoabbey.org</a>.<br /><br />For more information on this volunteering opportunity or to apply, please contact: <a href="mailto:director@gampoabbey.org" style="color: #1155cc;">director@gampoabbey.org</a><br /><br />We look forward to sharing the summer with you!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-24557515268874293822014-01-09T16:47:00.001-04:002014-01-09T20:32:58.401-04:00Wind-moose!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GrjQQOb93Osg0BTkBwNIIsHLZ03eoXdzifxL3TxgSzl5ZymqLuUyglj4Wn-NbKdvQ9fbyw6aOudAnntspeFPdiaulZmr_305KlJ7knmQu3fGf4rpUKOS9vpDxZuhlg5F771Uzl922dM/s1600/IMG_3480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GrjQQOb93Osg0BTkBwNIIsHLZ03eoXdzifxL3TxgSzl5ZymqLuUyglj4Wn-NbKdvQ9fbyw6aOudAnntspeFPdiaulZmr_305KlJ7knmQu3fGf4rpUKOS9vpDxZuhlg5F771Uzl922dM/s1600/IMG_3480.JPG" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Photo by Alice Haspray</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This moose could be the vanguard of the coming Year of the Horse!</span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-55327797002434679642014-01-09T15:02:00.002-04:002014-01-09T15:02:47.367-04:00Arrival of Gampo Acharya Ani Pema Chodron for Yarne 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavkz79JWwG9Y5bwmr07PR8JXMxR-kLOTAetcUO3kz5KmPgFfrnEPLRfUrLQ6q87j70lvSGjp9nAIKZ1UcA_txzFOeGU2dkC8OMXLKmQ7ZA1xcvHCc0kbOliup0izckCs-R6CTzDdSuPw/s1600/Ani-Pema-arrival-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavkz79JWwG9Y5bwmr07PR8JXMxR-kLOTAetcUO3kz5KmPgFfrnEPLRfUrLQ6q87j70lvSGjp9nAIKZ1UcA_txzFOeGU2dkC8OMXLKmQ7ZA1xcvHCc0kbOliup0izckCs-R6CTzDdSuPw/s1600/Ani-Pema-arrival-2.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYcwEja9HVEu6NaUUoNQBj_H2vj-el85PCRk7nQ3BKkpd8UzE6qviIuPDrs-ScIgRuRBTaizB306grHOWo1Njz4V026cQMdze58nXjcy0zP7majaGSFDOAOQi1S8D3e8Wsb6gpPMdbCw/s1600/Ani-Pema-arrival-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYcwEja9HVEu6NaUUoNQBj_H2vj-el85PCRk7nQ3BKkpd8UzE6qviIuPDrs-ScIgRuRBTaizB306grHOWo1Njz4V026cQMdze58nXjcy0zP7majaGSFDOAOQi1S8D3e8Wsb6gpPMdbCw/s1600/Ani-Pema-arrival-3.jpg" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1298872062"></span><span id="goog_1298872063"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>Dispatches from Gampo Abbey </b><br />
<b>From Shastri in Residence Alice Haspray</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
(Photos by Les St Marie)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
On January 7, between wind and snow storms and occasional sun, Ani Pema arrived at Gampo Abbey and was greeted by all of the nuns, monks, and residents. The flags were flying, conches were blown, and all lined the walkway in the clear, cold air to greet her. She arrived from Halifax, driven by Gampo Abbey's new Director Richard Haspray and accompanied by fellow traveller Meg Wheatley. Meg has now begun her annual two month solitary retreat in Naropa Cottage.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We then followed Ani Pema into the Abbey's main shrine room for a circle greeting. Each person--old and new--introduced themselves and the work they are doing at the Abbey. Ani Pema then began talking about the coming Yarne and the practice of silence. She said that silence is both a gateway to infinite vastness and openness and also a clear mirror of the workings of our minds. We glimpse the absolute through silence; and, at the same time, when we refrain from speech, on the relative level, we experience all of the emotions and patterns of our habitual mind clearly. Absolute and relative. Infinite and finite. Intangible and tangible. We experience all of these through silence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Fourteen Yarne guests will arrive on January 11, and we will all practice together until the Year of the Wood Horse begins on March 2. The Sakyong has given us permission to practice Shambhala Meditation during Yarne, so I will introduce that practice during our first silent week (which occurs during the second week of Yarne). The practice of feeling, being, and touching will infuse the atmosphere of Yarne with tenderness and kindness. Ki Ki So So</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-88476786058244184732013-08-19T15:06:00.000-03:002013-08-19T15:06:48.068-03:00A Monastic Youth Dathün at Gampo Abbey
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:11.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Gampo Abbey was very pleased to host
“Empowering our Lives with Meaning: A Monastic Youth Dathün” from July 13 to August
10, 2013. We had nine participants, ranging in age from 17 to 32 and coming
from homes including California, Cape Breton, and the Netherlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbUMVw_m8ClKmctZiz8iAdoEUYG7jy3bnopJHru8rGq1sxDaEeh8zMR11qNxofiWG-CcibQkBfg5UZPS_U8RHi2qAANzKmsL9mG0GboNTkCvMJC16E9lMYWSq1XhmZVnh0PDhOoJnkCg/s1600/DathunBefore2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbUMVw_m8ClKmctZiz8iAdoEUYG7jy3bnopJHru8rGq1sxDaEeh8zMR11qNxofiWG-CcibQkBfg5UZPS_U8RHi2qAANzKmsL9mG0GboNTkCvMJC16E9lMYWSq1XhmZVnh0PDhOoJnkCg/s1600/DathunBefore2.jpg" height="309" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Seven took temporary monastic ordination for
the month, an opportunity more rare in the West than in parts of Asia but a
heart aspiration of the Abbey’s founder Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B-gPd-5lfxooogS2S2XiYD6wFVqhvM1m4f57k0VCOOhYqVzpEGw-oJxRJErJ0s8HDKxT07F_Td1fqLajjFHNVOU75FEeMvvGYzKxiQFOJU45cYJI7pyWHWX4u9esLyQOBpacQy0K-VA/s1600/DathunAfter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B-gPd-5lfxooogS2S2XiYD6wFVqhvM1m4f57k0VCOOhYqVzpEGw-oJxRJErJ0s8HDKxT07F_Td1fqLajjFHNVOU75FEeMvvGYzKxiQFOJU45cYJI7pyWHWX4u9esLyQOBpacQy0K-VA/s1600/DathunAfter2.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and after</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The program took place in Söpa Chöling, the
Abbey’s long-term retreat facility. The main activity of the dathün was sitting
meditation with contemplative meals, movement, and liturgy used as supports.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span>The dathün was directed by Ani Lodrö Palmo
whose talks focused on how the view and forms of monastic life can inform and
inspire household practice, such as having a plan for life and a plan for each
day involving mindfulness and contentment, joyful discipline, fearlessness, and
wisdom as taught in the four dignities of Shambhala. She was assisted by Getsul Loden Nyima who taught the monastic
forms themselves with an emphasis on their underlying themes, which apply to
our entire dharma path, and who gave guided meditation on bodhicitta. The dathün
was warmly and spaciously coordinated by Dawa Lhatso.</div>
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span lang="EN-CA">The month-long format
allowed time to explore these themes as they apply to various aspects of life
and practice. The participants and staff alike were
grateful for the opportunity to practice intensively for a month and to have
this taste of monastic life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Participants returned home with a strong set of
tools for enriching, strengthening, and further establishing their practices.
They also took with them a heightened sense of the preciousness of a human life
and the ability to help transform the world through a conscious use of
intention and interdependent action grounded in meditation practice and
inspired by basic goodness, an underlying theme throughout the month. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This was
a deeply joyful and inspiring experience for all. We wish our participants the
very best and hope to see them again along their paths!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For more information about monastic youth </span><span lang="EN-CA"><span lang="EN-CA">dathüns</span> at Gampo Abbey, please <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/youth_dathun.php" target="_blank">visit our website</a>. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjc1CLxt0zWh5fuyYkQ51x1jkM1FA5hsbnMGmcb1aso61WFqQ7TtkKLTp0EG4afOb5Jl6JxfDnMkkRuqTyqFpS8zfr-az8DhjK2wz5yUvJ650BUwNLnEvFY5K5pT93h7iLh5sUe2e2o4/s1600/departure-rainbow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjc1CLxt0zWh5fuyYkQ51x1jkM1FA5hsbnMGmcb1aso61WFqQ7TtkKLTp0EG4afOb5Jl6JxfDnMkkRuqTyqFpS8zfr-az8DhjK2wz5yUvJ650BUwNLnEvFY5K5pT93h7iLh5sUe2e2o4/s1600/departure-rainbow2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This rainbow auspiciously appeared behind Sopa <span lang="EN-CA">Chöling</span> on the departure day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-6446902042980274112012-11-30T16:49:00.001-04:002012-11-30T16:49:08.786-04:00Empowering Our Lives with Meaning: A Monastic Youth Dathün at Gampo Abbey, Summer 2013<div class="title">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aBREwnUHjJSBgTv97ehV-PnvylWR_3nDLy3beoh4-SzUBwXuTG0cbPSq0myP3GeEcf7QnVJbCMpSgm3CuMBRIwrJwRgg70T_PdKw5jX8XH2AOzolCTXAzG9BYSeG6o0Z3MIpoPcSvi0/s1600/YouthDathun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aBREwnUHjJSBgTv97ehV-PnvylWR_3nDLy3beoh4-SzUBwXuTG0cbPSq0myP3GeEcf7QnVJbCMpSgm3CuMBRIwrJwRgg70T_PdKw5jX8XH2AOzolCTXAzG9BYSeG6o0Z3MIpoPcSvi0/s1600/YouthDathun.jpg" /></a><span class="userContent">If you are a practitioner in your early 30s or younger, we invite you to participate in our Monastic Youth Dathün next summer, from<b> </b></span><b>July 13 to August 10, 2013</b>.<b> </b>Below you will find information about the retreat. (Note that the application deadline is March 30, 2013.<b>)</b></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
In
ancient India, at the age of 29, Prince Siddhartha left his life of
transient material occupations in search of liberation from the endless
cycle of unease and dissatisfaction which no amount of distraction or
entertainment could ease. The young prince was searching for deep inner
meaning, understanding, freedom, and for a way to help the world around
him.</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
Though times have changed since then, many
of us in today's speedy and increasingly troubled world still feel this
calling and some will pursue it by becoming monastics.</div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of
Gampo Abbey, felt that it would be beneficial to do so temporarily. For
younger practitioners it could become a powerful rite of passage.
Temporary monasticism can be a way of exploring the possibility of life
as a monastic or can be a way of discovering how helpful principles
borrowed from the monastic tradition can support spiritual life as a
householder. </div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
It is in this spirit that Gampo Abbey will be holding a Monastic
Youth Dathün this summer from July 13–August 10. It will be directed by
Shastri Lodrö Palmo and Getsul Loden Nyima. This dathün is part of an
ongoing tradition at the Abbey to offer a powerful immersion experience
of monastic training to young practitioners for the duration of one
month.<br />
<br />
The theme of this year's dathün will be <i>"</i>Empowering Our
Lives with Meaning" and will focus on how dharma practice strengthens
our sense of purpose in life and our effectiveness in transforming our
minds and society. As a means of doing this the dathün will include
extensive periods of sitting practice, interviews with meditation
instructors, contemplative activities, as well as talks and discussions
about enlightened society.<br />
<br />
This will take place while immersed in the monastic lifestyle of
simplicity, contentment, and deep purpose, which includes forms such as
daily silence, oryoki, precepts, and communal living in Söpa Chöling,
the <i>Fortress of Patience, </i>the Abbey’s long-term retreat facility.<br />
<br />
Over the years we have seen the Monastic Youth Dathün playing a
poignant role in the paths of participants. As Lodrö Rinzler (author of <i>The Buddha Walks into a Bar</i>) said of his experience of Monastic Youth Dathün:<br />
<blockquote>
"Even though I was raised within Shambhala, it was only during the
monastic youth dathün that I realized that this meditation path was my
own. I fully credit my time at Gampo Abbey as the foundation for my
entire spiritual journey. It made me the man and practitioner I am
today."</blockquote>
Shortly after their arrival, participants will be given temporary
monastic ordination which will last for the duration of the program.
This includes shaving one's head, wearing monastic robes, and holding
the five basic precepts of conduct for monastics: refraining from taking
life, stealing, sexual activity, false speech, and intoxicants.<br />
<br />
The dathün is open to practitioners in their early 30s and younger.
As a prerequisite for taking temporary ordination and attending the
program one must have formally taken refuge or have definite plans to do
so. The cost of the program is $1500, which includes housing and meals.
We also have some scholarship funding available.<br />
<br />
Join us for deep practice and a profound experience of joyful living!<br />
<br />
For more information, write to <a href="mailto:office@gampoabbey.org">office@gampoabbey.org</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/youth_dathun.php" target="_blank">Visit our website to download an application form.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-69379457037214451732012-09-12T16:22:00.002-03:002012-09-12T16:22:25.860-03:00New book by Chökyi Gyatso Translation CommitteeWe are pleased to announce the second publication of our Chökyi Gyatso Translation Committee.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0HpXVg-urQw2MUXcLsF4k93Fj2KdYWw3ZelB2jOs4VoyolfFPBDZdnkVyY-LEJw2GVP03ABlZ0MdxgIgqoRJUhPH4ITfqbERw9gVP1BO1_1hHmXydf5s4Gi0VBbUOabooTouBzYmmSU/s1600/kosha-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0HpXVg-urQw2MUXcLsF4k93Fj2KdYWw3ZelB2jOs4VoyolfFPBDZdnkVyY-LEJw2GVP03ABlZ0MdxgIgqoRJUhPH4ITfqbERw9gVP1BO1_1hHmXydf5s4Gi0VBbUOabooTouBzYmmSU/s200/kosha-cover.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Abhidharmakośa-Bhāṣya of Vasubandhu</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>: The Treasury of the Abhidharma and its (Auto)commentary. </b><br /><br />Translated into French by Louis de La Vallée Poussin. Annotated English Translation by <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/shedra-faculty.php#Sangpo" target="_blank">Gelong Lodrö Sangpo</a>. With a new Introduction by Bhikkhu KL Dhammajoti. <br /><br />ISBN: 978-81-208-3607-5. 2898 pages (4 volumes; cloth). Rs. 5000 ≈ US $100 (<a href="http://www.mlbd.com/BookDecription.aspx?id=17745" target="_blank">Motilal Banarsidass</a>)<br /><br />Since its appearance in the late fourth century C.E., the <i>Abhidharmakośabhāṣya</i> has been used as a standard textbook for the understanding of not only the Abhidharma doctrines but of all the fundamental Buddhist doctrines in general. Its nine chapters cover classical presentations on the <i>skandhas</i>, <i>dhātus</i> and <i>āyatanas</i>, on mind and mental events, on causes and conditions, on dependent origination, on cosmology, on <i>karma</i>, on the <i>kleśas</i>, on the paths and the persons in whom the Noble Path arises, on the cognitions (<i>jñāna/prajñā</i>), on meditative concentration (<i>samādhi</i>), and on the refutation of the self.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />La Vallée Poussin’s French translation of this key text of Buddhist scholarship is considered to be one of the most outstanding masterpieces of Western Buddhist scholarship of the twentieth century. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Attempting to make the study of Vasubandhu’s <i>Abhidharmakośa</i> and its autocommentary more accessible to a general Buddhist readership as well as to university students, Lodrö Sangpo inserts into the text section headings (based on Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje) outlining in detail the content of the autocommentary, as well as a table of contents of each chapter, charts and drawings. In his many added endnotes, he presents summaries, overviews and additional important information drawn mainly from the work of contemporary leading Abhidharma scholars (including La Vallée Poussin).<br /><br />For an electronic appendix providing additional source materials related to the translation, <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/kosha-resources.php" target="_blank">click here</a>. <br /> <br />The translation is enhanced by the masterly introduction (69 pages) by <a href="http://www.buddhism.hku.hk/teaching_staff.htm" target="_blank">Professor Dhammajoti</a>, Glorious Sun Professor of Buddhist Studies (University of Hong Kong).<br /><br />Also new in this English translation:</span></div>
<ul style="font-family: inherit;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The original Sanskrit <i>kārikās</i> and their Tibetan translation inserted into the endnotes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cross-references internal to the <i>Kośa</i> and cross-listings with other texts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">New bibliography</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Sanskrit-English Index-Glossary; English-Sanskrit Index-Glossary (205 pages)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Remarks by the Translator (38 pages)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Please also note that the publication of this book coincides auspiciously with Lodrö Sangpo’s Fall Shedra course at Gampo Abbey (November 5–30, 2012): <i>The Essential Points of the Abhidharmakośa</i>. This course is open to non-residents. For further information and the prerequisites for participating in this course, please <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/" target="_blank">visit our website</a>.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-17452661701070348872012-07-03T13:38:00.000-03:002014-01-10T20:26:26.313-04:00A Successful Lobster Release!Thanks to the generosity of many donors, we held a very successful Lobster Release.<br />
<br />
Because of all the donations, we were able to buy the season's last catch from a local fisherman and release all the lobsters back into the sea. Residents and friends of the Abbey traveled by boat to a spot below the cliffs of the Abbey and released the lobsters into the Gulf of St. Lawrence to continue their lives.<br />
<br />
Thanks very much to all who supported this annual project!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs37Oy6-WfrZbgEhfaDMcYpTLmKkpe6uEzLqTjrKnqkAUXsCVQ7AEGJSIuDulffjAInCttJn4B11acm1kd0KBzBU_KGw8tQ01xFF1MtO7wkwUW4qHSBwoIAkxYrobotJXTBb0XrTNWrNk/s1600/DSC_0810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs37Oy6-WfrZbgEhfaDMcYpTLmKkpe6uEzLqTjrKnqkAUXsCVQ7AEGJSIuDulffjAInCttJn4B11acm1kd0KBzBU_KGw8tQ01xFF1MtO7wkwUW4qHSBwoIAkxYrobotJXTBb0XrTNWrNk/s320/DSC_0810.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKQe1WafJ9tVWy_IoAy-D8Nc09j7-WiddbKnfCh_innMCKCH05uH5TsfGglP_33YnfIyG90pAwZjjVaUp23joPulXRZqpQPGEgLSMPps6tc4bGPDv-92W6BUABGkR8cG2TKmVndzKEbQ/s1600/DSC_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKQe1WafJ9tVWy_IoAy-D8Nc09j7-WiddbKnfCh_innMCKCH05uH5TsfGglP_33YnfIyG90pAwZjjVaUp23joPulXRZqpQPGEgLSMPps6tc4bGPDv-92W6BUABGkR8cG2TKmVndzKEbQ/s320/DSC_0840.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-89751985184584562592012-06-03T15:24:00.000-03:002012-06-03T17:40:54.969-03:00The 2012 Gampo Abbey Lobster Release!Each year at the end of the lobster fishing season in this area of Cape
Breton, the monastics and residents of Gampo Abbey hold the great
Lobster Release, when many caught lobsters are released back into the
water. Read on to learn how you can participate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQwortgG6ENn4rgPMV_wSIdoB3aldN8f-QD2N71pnD9WbYDE7c0IX0i-PZdMHZiYQverj8KVHPeOWhH_eH60qivdQxIA4uraBrZijlIxxDjtyYv67nzNjuFd4iCcAZ0Rg0THwnZKMQ3A/s1600/lobster-release.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQwortgG6ENn4rgPMV_wSIdoB3aldN8f-QD2N71pnD9WbYDE7c0IX0i-PZdMHZiYQverj8KVHPeOWhH_eH60qivdQxIA4uraBrZijlIxxDjtyYv67nzNjuFd4iCcAZ0Rg0THwnZKMQ3A/s400/lobster-release.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"Life
Release" -- in which captive animals destined to be eaten are, instead,
released back into their native habitats -- is a traditional practice
for Tibetan Buddhists, especially monastics. The most obvious benefits
of the practice are for the sentient beings whose lives are being saved,
but it also serves to strengthen the individual practitioner and the
sangha as a whole, and to establish an important link with the local
environment and culture.<br />
<br />
The day after the end of the local
Lobster Fishing Season, a fisherman is compensated for his catch and the
residents of the Abbey board his boat. The lobsters are blessed with
purifying water; a liturgy written by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche is read;
and finally each person on the boat is encouraged to release a lobster
into the water. People who send donations to support the Lobster Release
sometimes include a request and these prayers and aspirations are also
read aloud at this time.<br />
<br />
Gampo Abbey has become a respected part
of Cape Breton and open curiosity has developed around the activities of
the monastery. The annual Lobster Release, while taking root in the
local culture, has served as a powerful means for the residents and
donors of Gampo Abbey to connect with this ancient Bodhisattva activity
of saving the lives of sentient beings.<br />
<br />
Each year the Abbey raises funds
to support the Lobster Release. Your tax deductible donation can be sent through the <a href="http://www.gampoabbey.org/support.php" target="_blank">Supporting Gampo Abbey</a>
page on our website (select “Lobster Release” under the Gift
Designation menu) or you can call our finance office at 902-224-1358
(Mon-Fri, 1:30-5:00 pm Atlantic Time). We can provide you with a receipt
upon request.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your support!<br />
<br />
In the spirit of the Great Eastern Sun,<br />
Your friends at Gampo AbbeyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-38828817123321902722011-09-05T14:52:00.000-03:002011-09-27T13:38:51.329-03:00Thrangu Rinpoche returns to the AbbeyAfter a seven year absence, the Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, the Abbot of Gampo Abbey, returned to the Abbey this August for a 9-day visit.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2biiUbElTfSODv2dGG7xpXRmrOKdPDSVL93Rpb7miyE1txd24-XEJ2Oerhzqr6yPUEMdyW4Rreu-gAS5nr6e16NSvm1lzADUJclgZ4XUGE_QP77mD62mjXJBcG0HSpHc76gbGqZNEB1E/s1600/VTR-with-elders.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2biiUbElTfSODv2dGG7xpXRmrOKdPDSVL93Rpb7miyE1txd24-XEJ2Oerhzqr6yPUEMdyW4Rreu-gAS5nr6e16NSvm1lzADUJclgZ4XUGE_QP77mD62mjXJBcG0HSpHc76gbGqZNEB1E/s320/VTR-with-elders.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647086064176402226" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" >Thrangu Rinpoche at Gampo Abbey with our elders, Ani Pema Chödrön, Lodrö Sangpo, and Ani Migme Chödrön</span><br /><br />Rinpoche was exceptionally generous with his time. He gave teachings on how the Shambhala teachings can support the development of monasticism, teachings on two songs by Khenpo Gangshar ("How to Recite the Mani Mantra" and "How the Six Wisdoms Arise"), and Mahamudra teachings from a song of realization by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche called "The Experiential Song of the View of Luminous Mahamudra Called 'A Symphony of Great Bliss'."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6KMn6IwmODzxg4SV1G2WmLPtjrGXSrbLqDNZYQAR6oZQqNNE62Kc_2KImihPyzvF3JjvFwgMpdW5PSHmS274CvQcTvvGyF6Kh5-l_aL-3WtpcNY-GpipkV0QXVZMeuhfizyfi9CsLz0/s1600/VTR-teaching-2011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6KMn6IwmODzxg4SV1G2WmLPtjrGXSrbLqDNZYQAR6oZQqNNE62Kc_2KImihPyzvF3JjvFwgMpdW5PSHmS274CvQcTvvGyF6Kh5-l_aL-3WtpcNY-GpipkV0QXVZMeuhfizyfi9CsLz0/s320/VTR-teaching-2011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647086592235877074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rinpoche also ordained three new novice monastics, gave refuge and bodhisattva vows, blessed our stupa and the site of a new buddha field, met with various groups, and gave many individual interviews.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh_1ffZbafYMN-UF9H3Ltnygoua_1TgUhLnx4lbA4QjTNDisJMfsDdVj01fs12KRS2EPlTGbxPx-j9Sa6wKlc74CqRUxMMihDsPfhIEeEwqDi3Ajps7_7Qnd-cxkYX7OKgYQjW4wtaZ0/s1600/vow-takers.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh_1ffZbafYMN-UF9H3Ltnygoua_1TgUhLnx4lbA4QjTNDisJMfsDdVj01fs12KRS2EPlTGbxPx-j9Sa6wKlc74CqRUxMMihDsPfhIEeEwqDi3Ajps7_7Qnd-cxkYX7OKgYQjW4wtaZ0/s400/vow-takers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647100993307159122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" >Left: Receivers of the refuge vow (new Buddhists!). Right: Receivers of the bodhisattva vow (new Bodhisattvas!).</span><br /><br />We are most grateful for Thrangu Rinpoche's radiant presence, his immense wisdom and kindness, and his continuing care and devotion for Gampo Abbey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqTQGytfmHrO0lkAlv31xyP50L1QPSjkiPGH3BERu-S9YFiv6mVgUuEE2ncYNyIA7Rqjz070VM83XlCGqvU7K3S7DF-4nUG1FeZ6Un4dkBF8dl8zLNcAILe2RXbhYr3V2upBueYgFfsM/s1600/VTR-with-participants.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqTQGytfmHrO0lkAlv31xyP50L1QPSjkiPGH3BERu-S9YFiv6mVgUuEE2ncYNyIA7Rqjz070VM83XlCGqvU7K3S7DF-4nUG1FeZ6Un4dkBF8dl8zLNcAILe2RXbhYr3V2upBueYgFfsM/s400/VTR-with-participants.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647089643976745650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For more pictures of Rinpoche's visit, <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=100619087889747764210&target=ALBUM&id=5644455406258210657&authkey=Gv1sRgCKrlhfPEuYGrrAE&feat=email">visit this album</a> created by Les Ste Marie.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-73705486360705772092011-02-07T14:43:00.013-04:002011-02-07T15:46:59.575-04:00New life monastics!Gampo Abbey celebrates two new life monastics, Tsering Sangmo and Ziji Shonnu, who took Parma Rabjung ordination on December 31, 2010.<br /><br />The Parma Rabjung ordination bestows pre-novice vows and is taken for life in order to prepare the monastics for novice (getsul/getsulma) and eventually full (gelong/gelongma) ordination.<br /><br />Life monastics make up the core of Gampo Abbey and provide the container that benefits <span style="font-size:100%;">residents who come to the Abbey for temporary training and ordination. So it is always very joyful for the Abbey when residents decide to take the step into lifelong monasticism, as it marks the entrance int</span>o their own path of lifelong transformation and it contributes to the furtherance of the monastic tradition at Gampo Abbey and in the West.<br /><br />Our resident elder, Ani Migme Chodron, served as preceptor and our life monastic community witnessed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qztk1gDjij2x8wCU-bah50Qt1FECzPJ2ON-Yf_L1bzOfHGsHr0QeeB44bfDL5JWotmjwZspSRBy2NrYdsZhTSkOOcmUMTkOtvR3wkiowS0D9HFDKyG1Ewesx8PuK1_iG6jXgE6cutVY/s1600/ordination.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qztk1gDjij2x8wCU-bah50Qt1FECzPJ2ON-Yf_L1bzOfHGsHr0QeeB44bfDL5JWotmjwZspSRBy2NrYdsZhTSkOOcmUMTkOtvR3wkiowS0D9HFDKyG1Ewesx8PuK1_iG6jXgE6cutVY/s400/ordination.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571030056928827954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >New life monastics Ziji Shonnu and Tsering Sangmo flank preceptor, Ani Migme Chodron</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-55836772399360802732011-01-05T13:35:00.004-04:002011-01-05T13:51:47.807-04:00Audio: A Talk by Pema ChodronHappy New Year!<br /><br />As a new year's offering, we are delighted to present another hard-to-find talk by the Gampo Acharya, Pema Chodron. In this lively talk from the 2008 Yarne retreat at Gampo Abbey, Ani Pema discusses karma, particularly in relation to the monastic Sojong ceremony. She talks about our tendency to get caught in our habitual patterns and act out of attachment, aversion, or confusion and sow karmic seeds.<br /><br />Ani Pema notes that by the blessing and wisdom of the Buddha, the monastic tradition starts fresh every two weeks with the Sojong ceremony, which is held every new and full moon. Sojong is a monastic practice for purifying and restoring broken vows. As Ani Pema describes, the essence of the Sojong ceremony is to acknowledge our misdeeds with regret. Then we can let them go. It is as simple as that. This is the practice of virtue.<br /><br />The talk is posted here as a streaming file. To listen, use the controls embedded below. <br /><br /><object height="28" width="335"><param value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjEzNjQ5NzM0O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTM2NDk3MzQtMTFlIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToxNjU3MDI0O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk0MjQ4MjkxO30=&autoplay=default" name="movie"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjEzNjQ5NzM0O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTM2NDk3MzQtMTFlIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToxNjU3MDI0O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjk0MjQ4MjkxO30=&autoplay=default" height="28" width="335"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-80754532812826000882010-07-09T08:23:00.005-03:002010-07-09T08:38:16.151-03:00Audio: A Talk by Pema ChodronWe are delighted to share an audio file of a talk given by Ani Pema to the Gampo Abbey community during the annual Yarne Retreat in 2008, shortly after Ani Pema was designated as the Gampo Acharya. <br /><br />In this talk, Ani Pema presents the view of how to bring obstacles to the path of awakening, with a four-step practice. This teaching builds on <a href="http://gampoabbey.blogspot.com/2009/12/pema-chodron-on-monasticism-at-gampo.html">the previous teaching</a> where she introduced the "pause practice."<br /><br />The talk is posted here as a streaming file; to listen, use the controls embedded below. Also, if you have not done so already, please sign up for our email list, in the column at right -- so you can receive future talks from Ani Pema and other teachers, along with news from Gampo Abbey.<br /><br /><br /><object height="28" width="470"><param value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjExOTIzOTI1O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTE5MjM5MjUtN2IxIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToxNjU3MDI0O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjc4Njc1NTAwO30=&autoplay=default" name="movie"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="28" width="470" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjExOTIzOTI1O3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTE5MjM5MjUtN2IxIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToxNjU3MDI0O3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjc4Njc1NTAwO30=&autoplay=default"></embed></object> <br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-487851686059929019.post-4986462950323241152010-06-29T14:45:00.005-03:002010-06-29T15:10:01.978-03:00Pema Chodron on ABC World NewsThe Gampo Acharya, Ani Pema Chödrön, was recently profiled and interviewed by ABC World News. In the interview, Ani Pema talked about the challenges of working with negative thoughts and feelings, and going beyond the storylines we attach to our experience. Paradoxically, says Ani Pema, finding happiness requires really getting to know our disappointment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/happiness-means-disappointment-11029365"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-DFxlXnM4VPC0udNgJi04O1XjskoFyGpqtc-ffVUJ6HMMi0pZChwKpxBxLBjYQAGKA0MMKeJeGqBlx_KshVLhgFlt_RUJ38lXkfEQJ27IFVm0cYSTO2jPUDGYFkqBTiBk6CVPijI1KM/s320/abcworldnewstonight.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488255292219213794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/happiness-means-disappointment-11029365">Click here </a>to view the video on ABC's web site. <br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0