Our class will begin November 8, this Sunday evening (Lhabab Duchen*) at 7PM and continue for 2 more sessions (TBA).

Below is a small explanation of the importance of this practice for us.

Paramita is a Sanskrit term, which means perfection – perfection in attitude, action and practice. The accomplishment of these perfections will result in the achievement of the ultimate perfection of wisdom that is enlightenment. Enlightenment is perfect discrimination. It is perfect wisdom that discriminates everything clearly and precisely without any distortion. To discriminate, means to understand through one ’s own seeing, and wisdom.

At the moment, our mind perceives and follows everything in a tainted way. While we are here in samsara, our perception and actions are inevitably influenced by the many conditions that hold our mind. Nevertheless, we feel, that how we think, or how we act, is perfectly normal.

There is nothing wrong and so we follow in all our usual ways. In fact, we think there is no other way. This is why it is important to train in the Six Paramitas because the training allows us to see a different way, and a better way. It reveals to us how the conditions of samsara obscure the mind. Moreover, it also happens to be the most direct way to develop and apply Bodhicitta, while we are on the Bodhisattva Path.
(Jigme Rinpoche)

This Sunday is also a very auspicious day so I am including this info for you.

*Lhabab Düchen, is one of the four major festivals commemorating four events in the life of the Buddha. According to Tibetan traditions; Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the 9th month of the Tibetan calendar.

This Buddhist festival is celebrated to observe the descent of Buddha from Tushita heaven back to earth at the urging of Maugalyayana. Buddha returned to earth by means of a special triple ladder prepared by Visawakarma, the god of machines.

*It is particularly auspicious that any merit accumulated on this day is multiplied 100,000 times.

We hope you can be with us.
Please tell your friends.
Thank you.

Our next class has been moved to Sunday evening( oct 25) at 7 pm.
Khenpo will continue instruction on the Prayer for Rebirth in Dewachen.
There is no class on Friday evening,Oct 23.

On Sunday morning( Oct 25), there are our usual practices of Kalachakra
( this requires initiation) as well as Tara Practice, which is open for all at 10:30 am.
It’s a wonderful way to dedicate merit and send blessings for those on your heart.

Our book Study group is considering Mind Beyond Death by Dzogchen Ponlop, if you want to order a copy.
Meetings TBA.

If you know of anyone needing a roofer, Mike Prewitt re-did our roof.
He donated materials as he wanted to help support our little sangha.
His webpage is mfproofs.com and if you know of anyone with a leak, send them his way.

Thanks
Teresa

For those interested in a Kalachakra retreat, I am pasting the info in below:

Kalachakra Retreat 2009
Khenpo Ngawang Dorjee will give detailed instructions in the five preliminary practices common
to the Glorious Kalachakra generation stage four enlightenments and completion stage six branches of practice:
refuge, the root of Buddhism in general;

mind generation, the root of Mahayana;
3.Vajrasattva, the purification of sins and defilements;
4. mandala, the accumulation of the collection of merit; and

Khenpo will also give the four higher initiations and the instructions of the spontaneous Kalachakra, the common preliminary practice of the K?lachakra six branches of practice on the completion stage.

In addition, there will be the opportunity to practice these meditations over the course of three days.
Vajrayana students who are interested are welcome to attend and are encouraged to bring a mandala set and mala.
Date & Location: November 13-15, 2009, TCBCI, Charlottesville, Virginia

Cost: $200

Registration: Existing students: please send in your details and registration fees to
TCBCI,1889 FiddleStick Lane, Charlottesville, Virginia, VA 22903, USA. Tel: (434) 293-7739, email .

New students: A letter of application (via email is acceptable) is required for those who are not students of Khenpo Dorjee outlining your details. Please note that only Vajrayana students will be considered.

Tcbci.org is a registered 501C3 non-profit organization.

This Friday Khenpo has announced that he will give us both the prayer and teaching on
“Prayer to be Reborn in the Buddha Field of Dewachen”.

This practice allows one to use this prayer along with developing the 4 other causes so that , at the time of death, one will go immediately to the Buddha Field of Dewachen (know as the Western Buddha Field).

This Pure land is considered the “best” as one remains there until one reaches complete enlightenment.

Many of you have been asking for Phowa and Khenpo feels that this prayer will be a strong practice for us.

We are working to locate an English translation of the prayer and hope you can attend and bring friends.

No previous empowerment is required, but please email us back a confirmation so we can plan for copies.

PLEASE, we are asking for monetary Donations . Whatever you can offer , we appreciate.
Your donations go both to support our teacher and also to help us build a new roof for Dorje Ling!!
And not only will you get merit, but you can also get a tax deduction!

Other news items:
SEPT 12 and 13: PAINT and SWEEP days:

Help us give our center a new clean fresh look…Join us around 11 am both days.
Bring whatever tools you have—paint brushes, Leaf blowers, Clippers…

We will be aided by Alvin Lee who has asked to help Dorje Ling as part of his Eagle Scout project.

Please come and bring anyone who might be available to help.

BEST WISHES
To Venerable Dorje and James as they prepare to travel to Kathmandu to study for 2 years.
Thank you to the Dharma Etiquette committee , so we now have an intro piece for visitors.
Happy Birthday to Le!
Be watching as we hope to be getting our NEW ROOF!!

If you have prayer requests, email them to me and I will try to include in our emails.
We need someone willing to haul off the old washer to recycling.

Thank you
teresa

PS
Khenpo has asked if there are any teaching we would like to request from him, so be thinking.

Description
Sunday, June 14, 2009Time:
10:00am-11:30am: Fire ceremony
11:30am-12:00pm: Tea Break
12:00-01:00pm: Tsok offering
Tashi Choeling Buddhist Center
1889 Fiddlestick Lane,
Charlottesville , VA 22903 (Just off Old Lynchburg Road )
Map

Suggested Donation: $30 per teaching WHT IS SAGA DAWA DUCHEN In the Tibetan tradition, there are 27 or 28 stars used in conjunction with the lunar calendar. On the 15th day of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar, the name of the star associated is called Saga.

The Tibetan word Dawa means ’month’. Therefore, Saga Dawa refers to the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar. The entire month during which Saga Dawa occurs is considered to be a holy month, and is highlighted by the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni, which falls on the 7th day, and his enlightenment and subsequent nirvana which falls on the 15th day.

Khenpo Ngawang Dorjee will be celebrating this important holy month by leading a Tibetan fire ceremony or puja, also known in Tibetan terminology as a ‘Vajrasattva Jin-Sik”.

The Vajrasattva fire puja practice mainly focuses on pacifying negativities and obstacles while increasing prosperity, joy, longevity, peace, and realization.

For more information, please email Kathy Anderson – sangha member (ksacklin@radford.edu), or call tcbci center 1-434-293-7739

tcbci.org

We are meeting this Friday, 7:30 at the center to start a group to discuss Buddha from Dolpo by Cyrus Stearns.

Even if you have not read the book, please join us as we discuss ideas that Khenpo has given us as related to Dolpopa.

Dolpopa, whom Khenpo calls the “omniscient one”, received his first empowerment at the age of 5.
At 17 he ran away from”home” to find a teacher that would help him learn the Dharma he felt led to study.
His work led him to create a whole new view of the Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

Come join us and share your ideas or questions.
No matter your level, we look forward to seeing each other again and helping one another learn.
And don’t feel shy if you have not read the book—this is about exploring ideas together.

Sincerely, Friends of Dorje Ling

the book discussion topics are indicated below as a starting point. (SYLLABUS)

There are 14 sessions shown on calendar including the Memorial Day and July 4 holiday Fridays, but only 12 are indicated below.  The 4th Doctrine is quite detailed & easily could be spread out into more than 3 sessions if so desired.
And everyone might prefer instead to concentrate only on certain parts of the book rather than on the entire book.

It might be good if specific people would volunteer well in advance for each session to provide a short initial discussion and lead the discussion for that session.

Tentative Sessions

1. Preface, Introduction & Chapter 1–sections 1 thru 5

2.  Chapter 1–sections 6-12

3.  Chapter 2-sections 1 & 2

4.  Chapter 2-section 3

5.  Chapter 3-section 1

6.  Chapter 3-section 2

7. Chapter 3-section 3

8. A General Commentary on the Doctrine, Introduction and Text

9.  The 4th council–Introduction thru “The opinion that whatever is cognition is impermanent is a perverse view…”

10.    ”        ”        ”Refutation through scripture and reasoning”…” thru “The pure view and meditation”

11.   ”        ”       ”Motivated by the enlightenment thought…” to end.

12.    General discussion

Samantabhadra

Next Practice is:
Full Moon June 7th at 7:00

We will do Samantabhadra chanting in English . Bring some food to share.
Everyone is invited.

You can bring cookies, fruit, candles, incense, whatever you might want to offer.

We offer these and then dedicate our merit for all the have success and that our Dharma Center and teachers can flourish.

And don’t forget that we have study Group Feb 20…start typing your notes !

Samantabhadra chanting practice is open to all, including non-Buddhist. This is a practice that helps clear away any obstructions to your meditation practice.

When: On the Tibetan full and new moon.

Location: Dorje Ling Buddhist Center, 3253 Shallowford Road, Atlanta, GA 30341 map
770-451-7715

We look forward to seeing you here.