Ari Goldfield presents the teachings of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso — Two Days only!

In the teachings of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, genuine reality refers to the actual ultimate way things are as well as to our own basic essence. These are some of Buddhism’s most profound instructions. These teachings can assist us in discovering that the qualities of confidence and ease, joy and compassion, clarity and wisdom are already at the center of our being. Ari Goldfield’s two-part seminar, inspired by the Mahamudra teachings of meditation master Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso, will present the essence of these instructions and practices in a step-by-step way that develops confidence and direct experience. The oral instructions will be enhanced through explanation, group meditation, and Q&A.

Ari Goldfield is a Buddhist teacher and translator in the Karma Kagyu tradition. He had the unique experience of being continuously in the training and service of his own teacher, Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, for eleven years. From 1998 until 2006, he accompanied his teacher on 7 around-the-world teaching tours, received extensive instruction from Rinpoche in Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and teaching methods. In 2006, Khenpo Rinpoche gave him permission to teach publicly throughout the world.

His books, articles, numerous songs of realization, and texts on Buddhist philosophy and meditation include Khenpo Rinpoche’s books Stars of Wisdom, The Sun of Wisdom, and Rinpoche’s Song of the Eight Flashing Lances teaching, which appeared in The Best Buddhist Writing 2007. Besides Khenpo Rinpoche, he has also served as translator for H.H. Karmapa, Tenga Rinpoche and others.

Wednesday, June 15-Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Kagyu Dzamling Kunchab, hosted at The Culture Center, 410 Columbus Avenue, between 79th & 80th Streets, New York, NY 10024. 6:30-8:30pm. Click here to purchase tickets. Prepayment is strongly suggested as seating is limited.

Nyungne Retreat at Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery

Nyungne Retreat – The Fasting Ritual and Meditation of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig

January 8 – 24, 2011

Venerable Lama Norlha Rinpoche and the KTC Sangha will be participating in a practice retreat of 8 consecutive sets of Nyungne (the Fasting Ritual and Meditation of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig).  The Nyungne practice is a profound kriya tantra meditation and fasting ritual based on loving-kindness and compassion in the form of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig.

The practice involves maintaining strict vows and meditating while reciting mantras and prayers, and performing prostrations and visualizations. Undertaken in sets of two days, the first day includes one vegetarian meal at noon, drinking water throughout the day as needed. The second day is a complete fast performed in noble silence. The Nyungne is renowned as a superior means to purify negative karma and accumulate great merit.

Chenrezig himself declared that completing even one Nyungne prevents rebirth in the lower realms, and the practice of eight consecutive Nyungne leads to birth in Amitabha’s pure land of Dewachen.

Guests are welcome to participate in any or all of the Nyungne sets but please note – it is necessary to arrive at KTC by 8pm the evening before any set as the practice begins as early as 5 am every day throughout the retreat.  The dates for each set are as follows:

Set 1   Begins January 8 (Saturday) at 5:30 am.  Ends January 10 (Monday) about 6:00 am.
Set 2   Begins January 10 (Monday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 12 (Wednesday) about 6:00 am.
Set 3   Begins January 12 (Wednesday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 14 (Friday) about 6:00 am.
Set 4   Begins January 14 (Friday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 16 (Sunday) about 6:00 am.
Set 5   Begins January 16 (Sunday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 18 (Tuesday) about 6:00 am.
Set 6   Begins January 18 (Tuesday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 20 (Thursday) about 6:00 am.
Set 7   Begins January 20 (Thursday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 22 (Saturday) about 6:00 am.
Set 8   Begins January 22 (Saturday) at 5:00 am.  Ends January 24 (Monday) about 6:00 am.

We do suggest that guests try to come for the 1st day of any given nyungne set, but if that is not practical, it is still possible to participate any day of the retreat.  For further details for how to participate in this way, and for all guests attending a nyungne for the first time please contact Lama Dechi at dechi@kagyu.com or call her at 845-297-2500 by 4 pm on January 3 (Monday).  It is essential that you contact Lama Dechi by this date as she will be participating in the full retreat and therefore unavailable to help answer questions during most of the retreat itself.

Reservations are required.  Please submit an on-line reservation by January 1, 2011.  This will help us to ensure that the proper number of texts are available as well as to ensure proper meal planning.

The price for each nyungne set includes all meals and accommodations.  Prices per set are:

• Dorm: $80/ Non-Members   $60/Members
• Double occupancy: $100 per person/Non-Members   $80 per person/Members
• Private room: $110/Non-Members    $90/Members
• Participation in all 8 nyungnes: get 1 free.

Teaching on “An Aspiration for the Dharma of the Shangpa Kagyu”

Lama Norlha Rinpoche will teach on An Aspiration for the Dharma of the Shangpa Kagyu. Written by Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche, this aspiration prayer to master the path to enlightenment includes teachings that span from the preliminaries, such as the Four Thoughts and Six Paramitas, to advanced practices such as the Five Golden Dharmas, Six Yogas of Naropa, and Mahamudra.

September 12, 2010 (Sunday, 1:30pm)

Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery, 245 Sheafe Road, Wappingers Falls NY 12590, U.S.A.

Seminar fees: $25 Non-members | $20 Members per session

Fees do not include charges for meals or accommodations.  Please arrive 20 minutes early to allow for registration.

click here for more details.

2011 North American Kagyu Monlam: Vancouver, Canada

At the conclusion of today’s events, Lama Chodrak of the international Kagyu Monlam organizing committee said that the dates have been set for the next North American Kagyu Monlam.

The five-day event will be conducted from June 22 through 26, 2011, at Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver, Canada. The concluding day of the program is scheduled for June 26, His Holiness Karmapa’s birthday.

To get an advance look at the home of next year’s Monlam, check out:

http://thrangumonastery.org/

Day Five: Auspicious Endings, Smiling Photos, and a Message from Home

And Now, Live from Gyuto, . . .

A television doesn’t look out of place in one’s living room, but when it’s in the front of a Buddhist shrine room, it certainly gets one’s attention.

This morning’s Monlam session began with the usual Sojong Vows and Sanskrit prayers, but when 9 a.m. came around, the television in the front of the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra shrine room came to life, it brought us a pleasant surprise: His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.

Although the setting was the same as His Holiness’ recorded message played earlier this week – his library at Gyuto Monastery – there was a major difference: the speech was being given live, via webstream….

Click here to read the whole story:

http://2010nakm.blogspot.com/2010/07/day-five-auspicious-endings-smiling.html

So, What About Those Hats?

By Lama Kathy Wesley

Many people have been thrilled by the pageantry of the North America Kagyu Monlam – the beautiful offering sculptures (tormas), the brocades, the huge butter lamps, the flowers – but one question reigns supreme: what is the symbolism of the crested yellow hats worn by the ordained sangha at various points in the puja?

First of all, the hats are worn at several special points in the puja: when the Buddhas and enlightened beings are invited to be present, and when auspicious prayers are recited at the end, among others.

But for the symbolism, we asked Karma David Choepel, Thrangu Rinpoche’s translator, who has been the many Monlam events around the world.

“The Yellow Crested Hat is just loaded with symbolism,” Karma Choepel says. “The golden color is symbolic of the golden form of Shakyamuni Buddha. The many threads on the crest of the hat represent the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha.”

But what about that unusual crested shape?

“Oh, I’m not quite sure about that,” Karma Choepel said. “But you have to remember that the Greeks did come to Kashmir in the 3rd Century!”

New video from Day Three

Below is a new video from day three (July 15) of the 2010 North American Kagyu Monlam