tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21079564181620707642024-02-20T22:15:09.236-08:00Vajrayana FormsA virtual tour of dharma space in the StatesAnnika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-30454680763681983132010-09-18T18:31:00.000-07:002010-10-15T18:30:52.519-07:00Karma Triyana Dharmachakra<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div style="text-align: justify;">One brisk early Autumn day some years back, I set out for<a href="http://www.kagyu.org/ktd/"> Karma Triyana Dharmachakra</a>, nestled in the Catskill Mountains near Woodstock, New York. I was living in Ithaca, New York at the time and it made for a great morning road trip.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the seat of the Karmapa (the head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism) in the West, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra's history, presence (spiritual and physical) and dynamic schedule has served as a significant hub in the gradually expanding network of Vajrayana centers since the 1970's.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many temples and Buddhist centers are set within a range of rich, meditative landscapes. KTD's surroundings are expansive, rolling and woodsy. As excited as I was to reach KTD, the journey there was an event in itself.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61CB2rSetZPQXdCwn09ycXeI4pnjlOVlmgQgiJn-Fu8642rBb83r1QtzgkOl5MDGBz9Gnx4n90osKCdGvUC-gz2t0cMMrHDyU5RXbKIqUvbt4ELnDapbjooSuRTLCJY2x_bqM7rYqTGQ/s1600/KTD+ceiling+view+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61CB2rSetZPQXdCwn09ycXeI4pnjlOVlmgQgiJn-Fu8642rBb83r1QtzgkOl5MDGBz9Gnx4n90osKCdGvUC-gz2t0cMMrHDyU5RXbKIqUvbt4ELnDapbjooSuRTLCJY2x_bqM7rYqTGQ/s400/KTD+ceiling+view+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518432950090740210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Inside shrine room</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photos by Annika Lundkvist</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEGpBn1xbYAd5aADHCxNK5_0PldwS1BtXYtsO4gbV1rk2UF5SEGM409wokkyecCVdlD1_pupM7kZfk20-JQoNtLGq-L_LDN1m-st8NCPWKM-ND9MRtdLqJcq7_NHn-Pz9-LlF_np2nQI/s1600/+KTD+windows.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK1Z3gXiqEgPNXxTayxw9wXIvIg4DQXIW4D6F2dU7jlxt9diaIyEo7H8nFXQ4eRnf6GRKGi2mcbrMZbYwwB_H0nmSSGNm7rtTFAukm9qaVaU4KOaolJKkT275Y_w5TM3g2otSQFeWzfw/s1600/dual+ceiling+view.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK1Z3gXiqEgPNXxTayxw9wXIvIg4DQXIW4D6F2dU7jlxt9diaIyEo7H8nFXQ4eRnf6GRKGi2mcbrMZbYwwB_H0nmSSGNm7rtTFAukm9qaVaU4KOaolJKkT275Y_w5TM3g2otSQFeWzfw/s400/dual+ceiling+view.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518432174071227314" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">KTD was founded in the 1970's and construction of representative architecture here in the 1980's. </span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEGpBn1xbYAd5aADHCxNK5_0PldwS1BtXYtsO4gbV1rk2UF5SEGM409wokkyecCVdlD1_pupM7kZfk20-JQoNtLGq-L_LDN1m-st8NCPWKM-ND9MRtdLqJcq7_NHn-Pz9-LlF_np2nQI/s400/+KTD+windows.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518432807812210226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdmTG0rwCUnaOKsOAilRenLk26JbvyUsKCcOKtRbtHQjtxXwwCa4mkutnTu_q5B3aHG_FhgzSk2mRYeLgkL88I0xVZtfmbqzU14h3qSAllcZdM_ZIBjEOWfcwUMW1Kg4hCC-T0C7WBFc/s1600/dual+ceiling+view.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYEyAJZKAtEc92gUAmwYgunmitrVjK5XVVnoCcHYOlhyXpHL1krBYfSCNCEeia_asyg8AP91HELmUqTXMUCzpyWifXVX2pwKyAeFjAo4vWSKSlD3TujcpI_XZqYgkcI3rv48DoFZFwpY/s1600/facade+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYEyAJZKAtEc92gUAmwYgunmitrVjK5XVVnoCcHYOlhyXpHL1krBYfSCNCEeia_asyg8AP91HELmUqTXMUCzpyWifXVX2pwKyAeFjAo4vWSKSlD3TujcpI_XZqYgkcI3rv48DoFZFwpY/s400/facade+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518431542538655906" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdiMrlPOkKGyti1QzWxlvovIbuBlCtReGBujTUXWtUNpkZfdnfvdFiF9WvQF2RPney27Fr6i9ts55B_VIAjqRBosihKSwDmaEj5kmry02NPwep07p-3wfNEXDLfm77FeLF4I0rflT-6E/s400/2+buildings.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518990632371283154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JKiMq29QytIqhNQDfdTHOWiITECLODO9hUB62aywgfcRXN3VSQxN1m-6HumFEM-NM71_bA1EdDz5pdGdrdNq6_LgI6yAZofbRqZX9EF2m32gI3-nNrd1xpFnS_wY93cWKd89Tc0FrV8/s400/Meads+Mtn+House.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518990345233622738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mead's Mountain House, part of the KTD complex, was built in 1865, functioned for a period of time, historically, as a summer hotel.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjr7DoQsjEKEcV8A3n6ecPYau68XK1h7pFh0lCZFJRwrSViA0Na73nbSeHwLn8TvQ1sw0hhb9aSUUjJrmqpXCVIlFLHzvLA4rpb7wcRbpwP5sTl10oHDIVYuIatZtsmJbNH2-jrewxvA/s400/construction.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518991450699187506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">When I visited, construction for the monastery was underway. Taking a look at their <a href="http://www.kagyu.org/ktd/monastery/">website</a>, the news is that the monastery is complete.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE647eZ5lYfx_54mHRIIiOaPh6F0zT4VhWfDpYBYyqYIS3xzEAKr4iKsh1VDyckY5PwSnizV0zyehcC-iSCHt9sosZhe3eWA6MLwdIkbX2tGdZxnRTznfaKWlSJ7wMOHEhs8ZejTpvohI/s400/facade+5+w:+constr.+sign.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518991350260779506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjr7DoQsjEKEcV8A3n6ecPYau68XK1h7pFh0lCZFJRwrSViA0Na73nbSeHwLn8TvQ1sw0hhb9aSUUjJrmqpXCVIlFLHzvLA4rpb7wcRbpwP5sTl10oHDIVYuIatZtsmJbNH2-jrewxvA/s1600/construction.jpg"><br /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjruxnRVDWvunFE-8Aur0MehjIbSRFKiKG0K1oanRJgoy84tWABJxQN3HgoWL4U1Uk1JdNa8fS0qkumYuTluqenBEFLdZ2aHNzruxHRP7cHCTluMtUSVl6WYzkHC0KBh1tm63EUMSu18/s1600/facade6.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjruxnRVDWvunFE-8Aur0MehjIbSRFKiKG0K1oanRJgoy84tWABJxQN3HgoWL4U1Uk1JdNa8fS0qkumYuTluqenBEFLdZ2aHNzruxHRP7cHCTluMtUSVl6WYzkHC0KBh1tm63EUMSu18/s400/facade6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518431333941177122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-61622083097206261202010-08-01T07:11:00.001-07:002010-08-01T16:19:31.457-07:00Wood Valley Temple<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In viewing the imagery of Tibetan Buddhist temples as well as visiting their spaces when possible, I am occasionally reminded of famous Swedish author Astrid Lindgren's popular red haired child character- Pippi Longstocking. More specifically, I am reminded of Villa Villekula, the house that Pippi inhabited- a charming, chaotic and color bursting scene of love, open hearts and a child's sense of keeping space.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The energy on the scene of a Tibetan Buddhist temple or monastery is certainly more decidedly infused with matters of spirit and ritual- but there too is a playfulness, a bright quirk and twinkle in the eye.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not to mention, the color schemes bear striking parallels.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtVPwkeFPlVSLie6-EGRYYa2UtUEI1WvPNCyMiLHbg32pS8F1yVxahwe2qRtGkDNE8srbOx32s5zfPeFHXWrDhouHwfZHa4ePtn-o9UvpXG94bfTBn0Wnb4R0-Ki3JDLXZoxfNm-qxmU/s1600/Wood+Valley+phat+portrait.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtVPwkeFPlVSLie6-EGRYYa2UtUEI1WvPNCyMiLHbg32pS8F1yVxahwe2qRtGkDNE8srbOx32s5zfPeFHXWrDhouHwfZHa4ePtn-o9UvpXG94bfTBn0Wnb4R0-Ki3JDLXZoxfNm-qxmU/s400/Wood+Valley+phat+portrait.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500444511424087378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All photos by Annika A. Lundkvist</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_ba4fZDEZvSXpCzvZyzamk3ZPLIqOxkjMV7SloZj8Jj0ol_MkqQZv38wzVHoM-tUyeCl_tAHArnpiw-L0H20_j78uEP8BLwHAAJGn4xURo3djFapQMWDSb4v19iMby0yTWYqzZxZe1c/s1600/Wood+Valley+View.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_ba4fZDEZvSXpCzvZyzamk3ZPLIqOxkjMV7SloZj8Jj0ol_MkqQZv38wzVHoM-tUyeCl_tAHArnpiw-L0H20_j78uEP8BLwHAAJGn4xURo3djFapQMWDSb4v19iMby0yTWYqzZxZe1c/s400/Wood+Valley+View.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500444425637742354" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: justify;">My memories of visiting <a href="http://www.nechung.org/"><i>Wood Valley Temple</i></a>, <i>Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling</i>, are infused with the memory of road tripping southward on the island of Hawai'i. First upward and over, past Pele's domain, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and onward towards the verdant and peaceful environs of the town of Pahala. Always a sense of calm, active excitement as I rounded the bend, nearing Wood Valley Temple- this bright, active little node tucked discreetly into the rainforest.</div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsR8URIbSBiuWb3MQ-xGqODZMVdtVtN21KfyBjnK9EXAmu70RKCk-k3Ld2Tb0DvcnMBzIutOVL2pvSKAKGg2eVRZV8rHiQthOF7Kd14FQsWWl5f49XvafR7WL3aFsH918xLDRDNZIoQY/s1600/row+of+prayer+flags.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsR8URIbSBiuWb3MQ-xGqODZMVdtVtN21KfyBjnK9EXAmu70RKCk-k3Ld2Tb0DvcnMBzIutOVL2pvSKAKGg2eVRZV8rHiQthOF7Kd14FQsWWl5f49XvafR7WL3aFsH918xLDRDNZIoQY/s400/row+of+prayer+flags.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500444231994545650" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I never saw many people there. Sometimes I saw the monks, or caretakers, or a peacock or two. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A friend and I happened to make the "pilgrimage" on a day that was also a Lunar Festival. Our visit was spent mostly sitting quietly in the shrine room until a small group of monks appeared on the scene, at which point we became active witnesses to ceremony, followed by a feast of the offerings that visitors had left over the weeks on the altar. Oreos, gummi bears and such.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delightful. Not to mention my introduction to ceremony in the Tibetan Buddhist sphere. My next ceremonial experience (just as rich but more solemn) would not occur for another five years or so, back in the continental U.S., in upstate New York.</div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbL4wWt_qXvraMBDhietfwQwezNHbI_2D7xefYRd6tByqL1U4byeRCH0Oi4-D-qXoqGYWH7tcyZp3jKlbx8Gk3ckysei9sLb0ngrMbofpBF79coqy4vRIITpM1D9uDIws1BT5Ssooi1k/s1600/Prayer+flag+in+color.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbL4wWt_qXvraMBDhietfwQwezNHbI_2D7xefYRd6tByqL1U4byeRCH0Oi4-D-qXoqGYWH7tcyZp3jKlbx8Gk3ckysei9sLb0ngrMbofpBF79coqy4vRIITpM1D9uDIws1BT5Ssooi1k/s400/Prayer+flag+in+color.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500444134578745314" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aptly named </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nechung Dorge Drayang Ling</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, meaning </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Immutable Island of Melodious Sound</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, this Tibetan Buddhist temple runs in the Geluk tradition, with H.H. the Dalai Lama as spiritual director. The center was established in 1973 and while I don't have the history of the center at my fingertips, I am guessing that there is a hearty tradition of local residents that have served as caretakers of this small but spacious, beautiful space. </span></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-54042864773079489532010-06-28T17:29:00.000-07:002010-06-29T17:24:45.112-07:00"Ampitheatre of the Redwoods"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37hCBzYuimhw5mEQ8PQs9PyBRk9udGA_TP7zKFCfqcOogKO_ZxdYiudEXBEzge7_mJXldpzro20cnpVf2df0cHjpSMR_DZC771uuzcpC-a5c4jB-1fRVGClW8Oy-MoPpChQVOxX10fRc/s1600/stupa-400hx300w.jpg"></a><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HiP9GACNTD00kL3ZnSANspNgKvwb-dIf8ibAdRUMezuNYhp7_wbEygnrjvk5bQ0E3YXLnsdk4SeGgfmbScNct8nfWBpa08nGZhBJ37RaSMND0U3LMSlYIk_lUVq4ArhiPj4bysrxMTA/s400/LineDrawing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488352808282776690" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Stupas, </span></span><a href="http://www.vajrayana.org/stupa-project/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Vajrayana Foundation</span></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Drawing: Matt Welsh</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">On aptly named 'Eureka Canyon Road' in Santa Cruz, California is the Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center- the '</span></span><a href="http://www.polmountainretreat.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Ampitheatre of the Redwoods</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">.' Set within the epic landscape of the redwood Forest, Pema Osel Ling serves as an exquisite, and eco-friendly, retreat center as well as a creation under the work of the Vajrayana Foundation. Founded in the late 1980's by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, the Foundation works in the vein and lineage of the Nyingma school.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The stupas at Pema Osel Ling have been constructed in the form of a mandala and in the style of the eight traditional stupas. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37hCBzYuimhw5mEQ8PQs9PyBRk9udGA_TP7zKFCfqcOogKO_ZxdYiudEXBEzge7_mJXldpzro20cnpVf2df0cHjpSMR_DZC771uuzcpC-a5c4jB-1fRVGClW8Oy-MoPpChQVOxX10fRc/s400/stupa-400hx300w.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488354610601059874" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span><a href="http://www.vajrayana.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The Vajrayana Foundation</span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-67867125163794709542010-06-23T06:34:00.000-07:002010-06-28T16:54:25.199-07:00A Kagyu Landmark in NY State<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg-ydW5SpKjG7GWezgdPYR8X4GiPiZ6jgu_aCifMUFf8a3prGR8jSgrkUSrVbVdjJkHvv9so-SUlTT-834DYBABR1qFjPR9x57nTzcRsHD4aNuj-U-cB-fQgF3ei0RJ0KlgZnHwMhswA/s1600/a1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg-ydW5SpKjG7GWezgdPYR8X4GiPiZ6jgu_aCifMUFf8a3prGR8jSgrkUSrVbVdjJkHvv9so-SUlTT-834DYBABR1qFjPR9x57nTzcRsHD4aNuj-U-cB-fQgF3ei0RJ0KlgZnHwMhswA/s400/a1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486515755269443650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source for all images: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="colorc"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery </span></span><a href="http://www.kagyu.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">website</span></span></a></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT7tU2mk8eJ2SWX2KTqdVW9FiNJ-JaZcPMMHEMbj_OSMcqgOWdPYn06PVFR4xTIzDpFytjvdbbbl1DOID4hJMjV-dp4XOxUBnZ7ovA47byZzZ-Cte3QTqKu15_W2eC5ls27Ivlwy7AEE/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT7tU2mk8eJ2SWX2KTqdVW9FiNJ-JaZcPMMHEMbj_OSMcqgOWdPYn06PVFR4xTIzDpFytjvdbbbl1DOID4hJMjV-dp4XOxUBnZ7ovA47byZzZ-Cte3QTqKu15_W2eC5ls27Ivlwy7AEE/s400/a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486515411342820066" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUoz5aPlwZaEbfjeM4szMbCkaCDrY-96aTvZ3StRcbD8IZTfEYEkuKPekLERhRSjoKpS6KoN8BPgVI40lgr5cc2sJ8Wd7Eh1-H3VccuohG08GNVWfn14XQOIATJ5nsHOig3YLddI5hjc/s1600/a2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUoz5aPlwZaEbfjeM4szMbCkaCDrY-96aTvZ3StRcbD8IZTfEYEkuKPekLERhRSjoKpS6KoN8BPgVI40lgr5cc2sJ8Wd7Eh1-H3VccuohG08GNVWfn14XQOIATJ5nsHOig3YLddI5hjc/s400/a2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486515277771959826" /></a><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></u></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUoz5aPlwZaEbfjeM4szMbCkaCDrY-96aTvZ3StRcbD8IZTfEYEkuKPekLERhRSjoKpS6KoN8BPgVI40lgr5cc2sJ8Wd7Eh1-H3VccuohG08GNVWfn14XQOIATJ5nsHOig3YLddI5hjc/s1600/a2.jpg"></a></span></span><div><span class="colorc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Founded in 1978 by Lama Norlha Rinpoche, just a couple of years after his arrival in the States </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery is located in Wappinger Falls, New York. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The first dharma center in North America to offer a traditional three year retreat for serious and dedicated students to train in the Kagyu lineage, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Thubten Chöling is one of the oldest dharma centers in North America and certainly among the very first Tibetan Buddhist monasteries to be established on the continent. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The center also serves as mother Monastery to:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Kagyu Drupgyu Ch</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ödzong (D.C.) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Kagyu Shenpen Tharchin (VA)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Puntsok Gatsal Ch</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (VA)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Samchen Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling Dharma Center (VA)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Kagyu Gyurmey Gatsal Ch</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (Key West, FL)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Tashi Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ödzong (Coconut Grove, FL) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (El Portal, FL)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Trinley Kunchab (Watertown, MA)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Osel Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ödzong (NH) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Samten Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (Barrington, NH)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Osel Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (Westfield, NJ) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Dakshang Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (NYC, NY)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Kagyu Dzamling Kunchab (NYC, NY)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Pende Kunchab (Red Hook, NY)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Samdrup Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ödzong (Greensboro, NC)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Milarepa Drakmar Kyung Dzong (Arden, NC)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Milarepa Osal Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö Dzong (Tallahassee, TN)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Palchen Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (Montpelier, VT)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Tarjay Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (Lima, Peru)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Drupgyu Ch</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">öling (Cusco, Peru)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(31, 27, 15); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Gempel Chöling (Quebec, Canada)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzvRiYngaZcgxFnyfAzOhR_EZtsIkR0xXGirzRuVxOk-Hi0fgjl6RuCuNOstwUzYGcOO8lZUTXG1IH0aQpSOxGXOyZfpY1TWcDe4xnSwDvw3YZjUYhli2mm_Iu7pdJ2OHra3xF2soKWc/s1600/HOUSE2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzvRiYngaZcgxFnyfAzOhR_EZtsIkR0xXGirzRuVxOk-Hi0fgjl6RuCuNOstwUzYGcOO8lZUTXG1IH0aQpSOxGXOyZfpY1TWcDe4xnSwDvw3YZjUYhli2mm_Iu7pdJ2OHra3xF2soKWc/s400/HOUSE2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486351951191285442" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery </span></span><a href="http://www.kagyu.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">website</span></span></a></span></div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="colorc"><br /></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-73074678993802976752010-06-22T07:15:00.000-07:002010-06-22T07:50:10.846-07:00Southernmost North American Stupa in Progress<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From the last post on a center in Hawai'i, back to the continental USA and to the southeastern extremity. The state of Florida is host to a number of Vajrayana dharma centers. Today's focus is Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ling, founded by Ven. Lama Norlha Rinpoche, who immigrated to the States in the late 70's and founded </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery in New York State. The teachings at </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ling are very diverse and address several levels of technique and skill. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ling's resident teacher is Ven. Lama Karma Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">tso, who has also devoted her time as a Professional Volunteer Chaplain for Hospice Care and has performed Buddhist death rituals for deceased, among many other services.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ling stupa project will ultimately result in the southernmost stupa constructed in North America, an interesting point for the entire energetic network of stupas on the continent. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stupas have a long history and tradition of serving both as symbolic representations of the Buddha's enlightened mind, as spaces for circumambulatory movement and meditation and tributes to precious teachers. They also have an additional and incredibly interesting dimension of 'acting' on and with the environment. It is a type of construction that sees form as infused with energy as the elements and with the ability (and often necessity) of interacting with them. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">ling's blog, <a href="http://www.southfloridakagyustupas.com/">South Florida Kagyu Stupas</a>, notes:</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">"The treasure vase is a Tibetan tradition that goes back to the time of Guru Rinpoche, who gave specific instructions on how they were to be made and their purpose. These vases can help balance the environment and promote healing of all kinds. Here in South Florida the basic elements of earth, water, fire, air and space are all out of balance. These vases are part of the reason the stupas will be balancing them and will help avert negative forces of all kinds -- storms, wars, etc."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ9tQzOt8texOE4ODhynLXk1uoj7oQTq4JTn5c0Cyd6skgF11K9QwxiL2ITXpXCnYsCqwKvxHGPNPyFxmrYcyau5mG4f2N4GbtcAK9DX-QRhLS2rBZVSSMSWs4FMauTZSGJXer-ZiovM/s400/TreasureVases.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485609216747384658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Treasure Vases</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Source: South Florida Kagyu Stupas </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><a href="http://www.southfloridakagyustupas.com/">Blog</a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">It appears that as of late, the foundation is being set and the stupa construction is in motion. Check out </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Kagyu Shedrup Ch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">ö</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">ling's blog for visuals and to watch the process unfold.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-79242652872786407662010-06-21T17:18:00.000-07:002010-06-21T18:43:53.759-07:00Aloha and the Dharma<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; ">Over in a state I consider home in a very heartfelt way are dharma centers on the most verdant and peaceful of grounds, colors exploding amidst a gentle rustling of leaves and general serenity.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The center for this post is found on the "Garden Isle" of Kauai, tucked into the mountains on the eastern side of the island. Established by Lama Karma Rinchen in 1990 and directed by Lama Teshi Dundrup, this Kauai Dharma Center offers meditation retreats, Vajrayana Dharma teachings for intermediate students and basic Mahayana Buddhism classes. The center also contributes time and efforts to maintaining the first Buddhist stupa on Kauai. A project born from the efforts of the Dharma Sanctuary, the first Buddhist stupa in Kauai was consecrated in 2009. At the Kauai Dharma Sanctuary a central stupa, dedicated to the lineage of H.E. Kalu Rinpoche in Hawai'i, is surrounded by smaller stupas. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The stupa project in general serves as a further unifying force for Lama's who devoted energy to establishing centers and transmitting dharma teachings throughout the Hawaiian Islands. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Clicking through the slideshows at the Dharma Sanctuary's website also really gives one a sense of the lushness and spacious sense on the island surrounding the centers. The Dharma Sanctuary's main focus is the construction of Tibetan stupas globally with stupas already constructed in France, Hawai'i and New Mexico. As the Dharma Sanctuary states on their </span></span><a href="http://www.dharmasanctuary.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">website</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, stupa building....</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"i</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(42, 51, 19); line-height: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">s a spiritual technology that the Tibetans have codified over centuries and is now available to the western world....</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(42, 51, 19); line-height: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Building stupas is holy work. They only appear when all the conditions are auspicious. "</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCoQ1B5cFn1_9ZW-h0fJDOuYDWsy0V7NF-Y-_0AHfaLkJoynHG6c3FZesBCk29KIuqXEaec4uyQDJk7_aN82Jtf4C14XFgrBAtfY4uFmlRJfoLg-mVLIRb7BaXx_u7kpKWZlZ7Q8sm2o/s400/KauaiDharma.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485406956179244930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stupa Empowerment ceremony at Dharma Sanctuary, Kauai</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Source: Kagyu Thubten Choling/Kauai Dharma Center <a href="http://www.kauaidharma.org/">website</a></span></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-10826950336678536962010-06-17T06:37:00.000-07:002010-07-28T05:12:12.800-07:00Bardo. Art.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogQDHmAmdUD1-VM7374n5DF8p8QD5O3UWVnpSmCrv44ge0cGIUI_ehKXJgoB66xbRzMJIJp8hlhZ31w6Cu07_YydNnXvSofoKvwJOQQMcCN6STyNbwROj8rrr4PZhpKg0-nlaaUxaEEk/s1600/BardoArt.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogQDHmAmdUD1-VM7374n5DF8p8QD5O3UWVnpSmCrv44ge0cGIUI_ehKXJgoB66xbRzMJIJp8hlhZ31w6Cu07_YydNnXvSofoKvwJOQQMcCN6STyNbwROj8rrr4PZhpKg0-nlaaUxaEEk/s400/BardoArt.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483739762076738450" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Image source: </span><a href="http://tibetanartstudio.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">New York Tibetan Art Studio</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> & Rubin Museum of Art</span></span></i></span></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A Tibetan word that translates literally to 'intermediate state,' </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bardo</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is commonly used to refer to the time between death and rebirth. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bardo Thodol</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, known in English as the Tibetan Book of the Dead, translates to "Liberation through Hearing in the Intermediate State." While Bardo often does refer to the 'interim' period between passing from one life to another, it is also indicative of other intermediate states. The Bardo Thodol outlines these 6 different intermediary states, which include the bardo of meditation, the bardo of dreaming and the bardo of dying.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Whatever your level of engagement with Buddhism, it's spectrum of artwork offers visualization of religious and spiritual concepts, shows a range of admirable craftmanship and can simply mystify and awe the mind with it's boldness, subtleties and spectacular and strange sceneries. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Rubin Museum of Art has been a well known purveyor of art from the Himalaya's as well as a dedicated sponsor for many educational activities related to Buddhism. Until September of this year, the Rubin Museum is hosting the exhibit: </span><a href="http://www.rmanyc.org/bardo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bardo-Tibetan Art of the Afterlife</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. I had the opportunity to visit the museum once when I was in NYC and it was stunning. Artwork can be one of the most enjoyable and interesting ways to share culture and aspects of spiritual philosophy with the community. This is a world class institution, sharing in the qualities of the exquisiteness of the art it shows. </span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /></div></div></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-10334791419986038432010-06-14T06:37:00.000-07:002010-06-17T07:14:43.355-07:00Sakya in the San Juan Islands<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-6JOqDLQI74oCkM7b4Rt4uyTIDSoJG87lEsXDxa05TXehvb8Tek8u2Lhw1yujirorY48kCi5sa4CzioMt9nJfv7_LWQMgQ_-25kt7YM6Aj0-oXjVQa7GZaw2Z0OWK1YpFd685GVj2QA/s1600/8_outside_deck2.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKd96-LFLJ663uGbD6bhTtw2mrKUWA6oSoqIue1-NmZaXf0aSUa-8bqGnPEjEdD-sl4EPox0jxnbMwI3h80QgSceoDyvDzYcJ6RBfpTIsBJ7MLAi0c1FUaBsj3MTA5jSfstByFWKUx_c/s1600/4gompa.jpg"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0MVG5JhyphenhyphenkKQnXj4Mo6qc5IIuv3WJlRxqsC5IzFNuI6SgawB5FCxDIpJkwK546d9eMZAgi-8JL6RrPq782WnSrFictpgPX-iuiWR6NeKcGxlYB-kgNxX7RlQtkrDyaI5wPTJFCmLt6Jc/s1600/9a_outside_stupa3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0MVG5JhyphenhyphenkKQnXj4Mo6qc5IIuv3WJlRxqsC5IzFNuI6SgawB5FCxDIpJkwK546d9eMZAgi-8JL6RrPq782WnSrFictpgPX-iuiWR6NeKcGxlYB-kgNxX7RlQtkrDyaI5wPTJFCmLt6Jc/s400/9a_outside_stupa3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631348666717362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRibNHHGx0aCrc810hUICrvlv3siXtGTxJosUMjZgutMF5Fu67d0iUKdrwCtzmeiSEXA3OErgaDkHlpbcnkBEq479Y4_TALB5QERyjrLwZzz1Y9lmPvcuDvCaft10eWGkK3ErWry-Vhyphenhyphen0/s1600/5_outside_bldg_fog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRibNHHGx0aCrc810hUICrvlv3siXtGTxJosUMjZgutMF5Fu67d0iUKdrwCtzmeiSEXA3OErgaDkHlpbcnkBEq479Y4_TALB5QERyjrLwZzz1Y9lmPvcuDvCaft10eWGkK3ErWry-Vhyphenhyphen0/s400/5_outside_bldg_fog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631120062627362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling website</span></span></a></span></span></div></span><div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Over in the Pacific Northwestern Reach of the San Juan Islands is a colorful dharma center, set in a 20 acre wooded landscape and rooted in the Sakya lineage. Established in 1986, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling (Vajrayana Buddhist Retreat Center) is largely geared towards the hosting and offering of various types of retreats.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-6JOqDLQI74oCkM7b4Rt4uyTIDSoJG87lEsXDxa05TXehvb8Tek8u2Lhw1yujirorY48kCi5sa4CzioMt9nJfv7_LWQMgQ_-25kt7YM6Aj0-oXjVQa7GZaw2Z0OWK1YpFd685GVj2QA/s1600/8_outside_deck2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-6JOqDLQI74oCkM7b4Rt4uyTIDSoJG87lEsXDxa05TXehvb8Tek8u2Lhw1yujirorY48kCi5sa4CzioMt9nJfv7_LWQMgQ_-25kt7YM6Aj0-oXjVQa7GZaw2Z0OWK1YpFd685GVj2QA/s400/8_outside_deck2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482632456506743970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling website</span></span></a></span></span></div></span><div><div></div></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">H.E. Sakya Jetsun Rinpoche's </span></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/sakya_he.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">story</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> is a rich one, crossing nations and many roles and exemplary of an "authentic, living, women lineage holder." Under Jetsun Rinpoche's direction, this dharma center in the San Juan Islands was founded as well as Sakya Thubten Tsechen Ling in Vancouver and Sakya Decehn Ling in Oakland, CA.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_NdwpxMrodJJpFYCvuBcfUxgjThgARsGXEu5460zAzm1ICrzd_ydgb8X6XLMOYByiqd-xlzwSbPsC_WiaY_OFc1gk07xrLY4dZJbSi8e-Z1gHA9qOni6-M-Yw76aOB9qJKw1AlqRoIs/s400/4_shrine_tara.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631643563143154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Tara, Shrine Room</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling website</span></span></a></span></span></div></span><div><div></div></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Part of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling's current vision is a building expansion plan, which includes retreat huts, a dining and kitchen hall and more. Like other dharma centers through the nation, the need for expansion is supported by sustained interest in practice as well as the intent to provide right accommodation and space for those for whom this is a lifelong work.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I include several photos from the center's website on this post, letting the beauty of the center speak for itself.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuigZn-fQ23V0aYjbI7gnobwmvIcuZDDYPGYq6MwuDBGaE8RJ91qD1pKpOwyubyCe_SAm5Yr6X-GkqtQdrwwOI6VnOmzbH_i11tlRz1nAoqPz4wuGWiOjZdVb3kdlwQGKOu59QbSTxJk/s1600/6_outside_deck.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuigZn-fQ23V0aYjbI7gnobwmvIcuZDDYPGYq6MwuDBGaE8RJ91qD1pKpOwyubyCe_SAm5Yr6X-GkqtQdrwwOI6VnOmzbH_i11tlRz1nAoqPz4wuGWiOjZdVb3kdlwQGKOu59QbSTxJk/s400/6_outside_deck.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631753680945682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_NdwpxMrodJJpFYCvuBcfUxgjThgARsGXEu5460zAzm1ICrzd_ydgb8X6XLMOYByiqd-xlzwSbPsC_WiaY_OFc1gk07xrLY4dZJbSi8e-Z1gHA9qOni6-M-Yw76aOB9qJKw1AlqRoIs/s1600/4_shrine_tara.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "></a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_NdwpxMrodJJpFYCvuBcfUxgjThgARsGXEu5460zAzm1ICrzd_ydgb8X6XLMOYByiqd-xlzwSbPsC_WiaY_OFc1gk07xrLY4dZJbSi8e-Z1gHA9qOni6-M-Yw76aOB9qJKw1AlqRoIs/s1600/4_shrine_tara.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_NdwpxMrodJJpFYCvuBcfUxgjThgARsGXEu5460zAzm1ICrzd_ydgb8X6XLMOYByiqd-xlzwSbPsC_WiaY_OFc1gk07xrLY4dZJbSi8e-Z1gHA9qOni6-M-Yw76aOB9qJKw1AlqRoIs/s1600/4_shrine_tara.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling website</span></span></a></span></span></div></span><div><div></div></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKd96-LFLJ663uGbD6bhTtw2mrKUWA6oSoqIue1-NmZaXf0aSUa-8bqGnPEjEdD-sl4EPox0jxnbMwI3h80QgSceoDyvDzYcJ6RBfpTIsBJ7MLAi0c1FUaBsj3MTA5jSfstByFWKUx_c/s400/4gompa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631528819717810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling website</span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div></span><div><div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTdkhi3cGLOj5e-TS3YSGS8UFet886rG1MgK5RmYJfEWJyDcGSc5JCRn7shG3tY5Ew4aazym39KbTb3G5OGzAu4mryRqwT5rN2FJIZjp2BPkAUWEv0p5Rz1igl9MUJb8tGIvLCfVhmFM/s1600/9d_outside_winter.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTdkhi3cGLOj5e-TS3YSGS8UFet886rG1MgK5RmYJfEWJyDcGSc5JCRn7shG3tY5Ew4aazym39KbTb3G5OGzAu4mryRqwT5rN2FJIZjp2BPkAUWEv0p5Rz1igl9MUJb8tGIvLCfVhmFM/s400/9d_outside_winter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631971745490994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Sakya Kach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">d Ch</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ö</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.sakya-retreat.net/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">ling website</span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div></span><div><div></div></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuigZn-fQ23V0aYjbI7gnobwmvIcuZDDYPGYq6MwuDBGaE8RJ91qD1pKpOwyubyCe_SAm5Yr6X-GkqtQdrwwOI6VnOmzbH_i11tlRz1nAoqPz4wuGWiOjZdVb3kdlwQGKOu59QbSTxJk/s1600/6_outside_deck.jpg"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuigZn-fQ23V0aYjbI7gnobwmvIcuZDDYPGYq6MwuDBGaE8RJ91qD1pKpOwyubyCe_SAm5Yr6X-GkqtQdrwwOI6VnOmzbH_i11tlRz1nAoqPz4wuGWiOjZdVb3kdlwQGKOu59QbSTxJk/s1600/6_outside_deck.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuigZn-fQ23V0aYjbI7gnobwmvIcuZDDYPGYq6MwuDBGaE8RJ91qD1pKpOwyubyCe_SAm5Yr6X-GkqtQdrwwOI6VnOmzbH_i11tlRz1nAoqPz4wuGWiOjZdVb3kdlwQGKOu59QbSTxJk/s1600/6_outside_deck.jpg"></a></span></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-63937266606215542072010-06-11T17:08:00.000-07:002010-06-17T06:37:10.252-07:00Fear<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "></span>Staying tapped into the Blogosphere will be a welcome challenge for posting relevant info here. To date, I have mainly been virtually exploring dharma centers throughout the States and describing what I perceive of spaces.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">But at some point there will be a major break. My engagement with Buddhism transcends the deep attraction I have to the aesthetics of it's practice space. The manner in which Buddhist precepts are so incredibly poised to inform current happenings is, frankly, such an overwhelming topic that I have been simply simmering the issues, to give them full justice when I do decide to finally write extensively about them.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Today over at </span></span><a href="http://binduwiles.com/buddhism/today-lets-write-about-fear-day-4-of-21-5-800/#comments"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Bindu Wiles Blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> a very frank and candid discussion regarding fear is underway. I have not thumbed through the hundreds (!!!!) of responses there but I am in awe of how many folks put forth a moment of effort to add to the discussion. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Fear shadows the most inconspicuous of situations. We may think things are under control and then there, there is the fear. Fear occurs at home, with the self, with the partner, at work, where you expect it and where you don't. Fear is tremendously equal opportunity in its approach. Fear does not care who you are.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Acknowledging our own sources of fear- fears we may not even be aware of- becomes crucial. Superstitions and distorted perceptions (some of the worst fear inspirers) dissolve in the face of courage and awareness. The ability to, first, acknowledge the fear inspiring source before it reaches a crescendo. Alternately, vulnerability can be seen as natural precursor to the induction of fear and part of a necessary chain of events to hone our fight or flight awareness. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Much like the parent nuzzling the child tearing up over the "monsters under the bed," fear presents us with the opportunity to discuss 'what is,' the nature of realities and our perceptions and to use love as the balm to soothe the angst and worry that fear often brings along.</span></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-20671916118557631572010-06-08T04:32:00.000-07:002010-06-08T05:09:37.043-07:00Dhongak Tharling: A "Quieter" Space<div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From humble abodes to lavish temple complexes, it all houses the dharma, the spaces all serving as hubs and way stations for practitioners on a path whose journey also involves the trekking of the inner terrains of the psyche, heart and mind.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am gradually charting the layout of stupas in the land. I marvel at the spiritually based construction of Tibetan Buddhist architecture- the monasteries, the temples, the large prayer wheels, the stupas- and I eventually seek to expand my virtual and non-virtual explorations of these spaces to other continents.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But stunning religious architecture is not only what I seek. The heart of the practice, I know, is not dependent on a building constructed with auspicious placement of Buddhist symbols. Throughout the country, throughout the world, the dharma is being cultivated in scores of buildings that do not meet the description 'ornate and majestic.'</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These being Tibetan Buddhist spaces however, no matter how humble, the expectation for a rush of color and dynamic art is high.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-zCrAoAkEt2Ww_xb4B6aoSxIiWpIe_jDYPykpnLhyTjhLPssOUTC3yKy9FHSiD2PfU6gwjEqkLNt8YolU6M64GG8RZiZzFvmNex7tfWTqx-2lLZijU0W54GHZbI1WSlT_48hNzJcxaI/s1600/dtdc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-zCrAoAkEt2Ww_xb4B6aoSxIiWpIe_jDYPykpnLhyTjhLPssOUTC3yKy9FHSiD2PfU6gwjEqkLNt8YolU6M64GG8RZiZzFvmNex7tfWTqx-2lLZijU0W54GHZbI1WSlT_48hNzJcxaI/s400/dtdc.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480373165451133090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dhongak Tharling Dharma Center</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Source: </span><a href="http://pluralism.org/profiles/view/72062"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Pluralism Project</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dhongak Tharling Dharma Center, founded in 1994 in New Orleans, is spiritually directed by Lama Ngawang Tsultrim Zangpo, a Dzogchen master of the Rigdzin Dakgyud lineage. The spiritual abode is decidedly low key. A visit to their </span><a href="http://www.quietmountain.org/dharmacenters/dhongak_tharling/source.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> reveals information that they are raising funds to purchase their building. So if this information is up to date and current, may they cultivate the means to secure this building for many years of practice to come.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><br /></span></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-33951357742394316902010-06-03T06:31:00.000-07:002010-06-05T10:01:41.462-07:00Tara Mandala Retreat Center<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHfaJ7sRP-Wb6pLPO_W6ADePCY8e0dF2D8RZcnaSHewlf67q606sqdIQjt_O6XK-MM4lYXOpKm0NFk-U5LKuUOS1xYWRfv_hgMq2nf_9gXsLvCxIH3LwVKEjv1ohqu8MoSwUQbnjgUZ8/s1600/stupa.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHfaJ7sRP-Wb6pLPO_W6ADePCY8e0dF2D8RZcnaSHewlf67q606sqdIQjt_O6XK-MM4lYXOpKm0NFk-U5LKuUOS1xYWRfv_hgMq2nf_9gXsLvCxIH3LwVKEjv1ohqu8MoSwUQbnjgUZ8/s400/stupa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479316463025872402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Stupa at Tara Mandala Retreat Center</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><a href="http://www.taramandalaherbs.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Tara Mandala Herbs</span></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">In an </span></span><a href="http://usvajrayana.blogspot.com/2010/04/bird-song-thunder-sound.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">April post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> on spiritual traditions and environment, I referenced the words of Tsultrim Allione. Today, I make a virtual visit to the stunning center founded by Allione herself.</span></span></span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Tara Mandala Buddhist Retreat Center.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">To throw in some personal bits before proceeding- I have never been on a Buddhist retreat but I know it is soon time. I am in my 3rd decade of living on Earth and I have begun to feel a certain peace at taking things a bit slower (this could be the influence of recently moving to the South as well..). Return to breathing deeper, taking a moment (no matter how quick or prolonged) to marvel on the beauty of the clouds, and, to just sit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Retreats and practice at dharma centers go far beyond these simple acts. But I know that I, along with many others, are built for this as well as thirst for the exchange that is often provided at retreats. Buddhism, or any other spirituality or religion, might not be the framework you choose to "retreat" in. Camping serves as a spiritual retreat for many, a weekend of quiet with no media and a focus on books and journaling could serve as a retreat for another soul.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The structured and rich schedule of retreat centers is something that beckons though. I consider some of these retreat centers offerings a sort of merged spa and boot camp for the mind and spirit. Necessary. Vigorous. Cleansing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"Symbolically, the Mandala of Tara, the female Buddha of compassion, is a kind of architecture of the awakened psyche."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">-Tara Mandala Retreat Center </span></span><a href="http://www.taramandala.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Website</span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Tara Mandala Retreat Center's website explicitly describes their location with honor given to the wealth of archaeological, cultural and geological resources in the region they inhabit. Their site also makes reference to the landscape itself as being regarded as the body of Tara.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Perceiving human's inhabiting of space amidst a matrix of land energies and building forms is a viewpoint not unique to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, but found in many regions on Earth, in different names. Extending back centuries, in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, is the notion of religious structures built with one of their express purposes being to interact with a particular energy force in the landscape, for example, the building intended as a subduing force.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">It is rich to see the tradition of honoring the surrounding landscape and to conceive of one's "habitat" as an integral function now of this environment, ecologically as well as spiritually at Tara Mandala Retreat Center.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yp44HR1lj2MErBsuPJgSz8c4pzARsG_N5XLp46aewYRibK4lbCUUlZ9eGN2wqTtTmarDJvKd3fZ0LyiQ1bvdz1Kr-UmRSmrCX6q9lHd2n9E8hqrgcrzF4Kn-HWova2_5p9fiCbYUHVo/s1600/tmrc.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yp44HR1lj2MErBsuPJgSz8c4pzARsG_N5XLp46aewYRibK4lbCUUlZ9eGN2wqTtTmarDJvKd3fZ0LyiQ1bvdz1Kr-UmRSmrCX6q9lHd2n9E8hqrgcrzF4Kn-HWova2_5p9fiCbYUHVo/s400/tmrc.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479331375454307522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: Tara Mandala Retreat Center website</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHfaJ7sRP-Wb6pLPO_W6ADePCY8e0dF2D8RZcnaSHewlf67q606sqdIQjt_O6XK-MM4lYXOpKm0NFk-U5LKuUOS1xYWRfv_hgMq2nf_9gXsLvCxIH3LwVKEjv1ohqu8MoSwUQbnjgUZ8/s1600/stupa.jpg"></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-47253417313495646212010-06-03T06:17:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:18:35.554-07:00On Compassion<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Quote for the Week</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">(but really for the Life)....</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"The point (of compassion) is not to benefit anyone or make them happy. It is a matter of an open gift, complete generosity without the relative notions of giving & receiving. Simply be what you are. If you will just 'be' then life flows around & through you. If you can afford to be what you are, then you do not need the 'insurance policy' of trying to be a good person, a pious person, a compassionate person." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">-Chögyam Trungpa Rimpoche </span></span><br /></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-30573782554647343622010-06-02T18:11:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:20:52.720-07:00Juniper, Prayer Blessings & Meditation in Memphis<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXtsCWAvWHRkjbt1dIzAwkcELIGyKlC78GqMOReZ0d6M5Eqn9pgOxLBbzjEIEBxjq_mDonIRFIA23S5n0oX51qdexbOalqzWBuADTqIdKjmpE9og0TwxzC6-3-3zDVixf_Hv3A_hb4bA/s1600/DragonSeatBlessing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXtsCWAvWHRkjbt1dIzAwkcELIGyKlC78GqMOReZ0d6M5Eqn9pgOxLBbzjEIEBxjq_mDonIRFIA23S5n0oX51qdexbOalqzWBuADTqIdKjmpE9og0TwxzC6-3-3zDVixf_Hv3A_hb4bA/s400/DragonSeatBlessing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478356693172875218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Juniper Smoke and Prayer Blessings at Dragon Seat/ Pemo Karpo</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source: </span></span><a href="http://www.dragonseat.org/pic.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Drukden Gompa websit</span></span>e</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman', serif;font-size:small;">As beings in the Tibetan Buddhist worldview cycle through numerous (perhaps at times, countless) incarnations, so too do buildings. Even in fledgling existence, many centers have already held a myriad of incarnations in the forms of different names as well as storied pasts attributed to a building's historic uses. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Pema Karpo Meditation Center in Memphis, Tennessee was established recently, in 2005 yet has already existed also under another name in it's history- Dragon Seat Meditation Center (Drukden Gompa). Pema Karpo Meditation Center, like dharma centers worldwide, hosts regular classes, talks, meditation, retreats and celebrations. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Like many dharma centers in the U.S., Pema Karpo was made possible by the collaborative and dedicated efforts of Tibetans and Americans working in concert to bring the vision to life. In this particular story of a dharma center's beginnings, it is the figures of Candia Ludy and Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche who drive much of the tale. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">It appears as well that the center serves a historical role in another way- that of being the first Tibetan Buddhist Center established in Tennessee. Referring to Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche's sentiments regarding a center here and decision to relocate to Memphis, the center's website notes:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Because there were Western students sincerely interested in studying Tibetan Buddhism but no center and no dharma teacher, Rinpoche felt he would be the most beneficial in the Tri-State area."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.pemakarpo.org/history.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">-Pemo Karmpo Meditation Center website</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_mIi7XHedKvJJ6GkC2HtP4eKXLw8-hMrLvQtGrfInfFlWBYWwb0y2eDvHpmVYlbZ1wJmAD81c-rK7xC8smGAIHoDS73HoOEX5-xU61uYOd1g055zQ904BzcHdrtmEPoQiS7ZFUi3r7A/s1600/DragonSeatStupa.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_mIi7XHedKvJJ6GkC2HtP4eKXLw8-hMrLvQtGrfInfFlWBYWwb0y2eDvHpmVYlbZ1wJmAD81c-rK7xC8smGAIHoDS73HoOEX5-xU61uYOd1g055zQ904BzcHdrtmEPoQiS7ZFUi3r7A/s400/DragonSeatStupa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478357505077087762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stupa of Enlightenment </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next to neighboring Vietnamese Temple, Chua Pho Da</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Constructed in 2003 by Ludy's coordination</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Source: </span></span><a href="http://www.dragonseat.org/pic.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Drukden Gompa websit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e</span></a></span></span></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-90156675977603699142010-05-29T09:37:00.000-07:002010-05-29T16:14:18.317-07:00Nyingma Roots in the Golden State<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">One of the oldest, if not the oldest, Tibetan Buddhist centers in California is the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center (Tibetan Nyingma Institute), founded in Berkeley in the 1970's.</span></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEfyJ4uh3AykfbOeMqeR1cOZq5pSGuY96h7v6nz3rOiPLwPkfclOfWWBevY32FR53DXVeK2q-i4iau95Y04IxwSz_U_k_EhsKKzcEUY85pKi4Lcu75x0lQ7dK0gDEdak1RVmYBqqVnJk/s1600/2425-Hillside-Aveweb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEfyJ4uh3AykfbOeMqeR1cOZq5pSGuY96h7v6nz3rOiPLwPkfclOfWWBevY32FR53DXVeK2q-i4iau95Y04IxwSz_U_k_EhsKKzcEUY85pKi4Lcu75x0lQ7dK0gDEdak1RVmYBqqVnJk/s400/2425-Hillside-Aveweb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476763565350969426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-11-26"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Berkley Daily Planet</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Nyingma Institute's home grounds span, among other spaces, two former Greek Chapter houses, one Neo-Georgian (originally a Delta house), constructed in 1927 and the other a Classical Revival building (originally a Psi Upsilon House), built in 1912. The Nyingma Institute first occupied the structures in 1971 and 1973, respectively. Like several other center's I've posted on, the center's history incorporates a story of occupying heritage rich structures and contributing further to them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">With such histories, there is usually a force linked to an individual that can be found. In this story, it is Lama Tarthang Tulku. Tulku, who immigrated to the States in the first wave of Tibetan exiles in the 60's, is the founder of the Nyingma Institute as well as </span><a href="http://www.odiyan.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Odiyan Monastery</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, further up the coast and a sister organization to the Nyingma Buddhist Institute, both centers in the global network of Nyingma. Dharma Publishing, one of the foremost global publishers of Tibetan Buddhist texts, was also founded by Tulku and is one of the many projects under his tutelage.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Nyingma Institute itself offers several fields of study, including (to name only a few of the many lines of study) Nyingma psychology, meditation, Tibetan language and art. Volunteer opportunities are an integral part of the center's organization and continuing education courses are also offered, for example, for lawyers, therapists and social workers. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Nyingma Institute is a truly historic example of a dharma center that integrates vigorous study, rooted in both religious, spiritual and community oriented practical perspectives as well as draws together practitioners for traditional Vajrayana practices and study. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-88216860577095745362010-05-29T06:06:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:25:36.948-07:00The Dharma as the trunk.....<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anyone interested in how spiritual centers might serve as models for small community living, particularly those centered in the arts, would probably find interest in numerous examples of dharma centers. Like the very basic analogy of a tree, these center's main purpose, the trunk, is the practice of the dharma, while their activities branch and flower into numerous other engaging activities that allow the dharma to be further cultivated in earthly and community works. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tsogyelgar Dharma Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan is one such example. Extensive garden work, art projects, a poetry program in the making....a historic preservation program in the works in the form of the rehabbing of a barn (a beautiful red structure that can be seen on Tsogyelgar's main page), a 35 foot tall stupa constructed on the grounds (and a smaller one in the works) and a stunning and extensive Tantric Buddhist mural.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3E0bHWGO4HHKilsHkunEc5uDycFmMcpXoRVwAgiGm6OUOwnNf4RVJYU_9JVMRoHMdL3w84vF4ArJBhQBsr6QAiIBo_vr6wnkDyKmKy184GGJytrz88wey1jugrqcxJ64f4u5zkl5c3M/s1600/TsogyelgarStupa1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3E0bHWGO4HHKilsHkunEc5uDycFmMcpXoRVwAgiGm6OUOwnNf4RVJYU_9JVMRoHMdL3w84vF4ArJBhQBsr6QAiIBo_vr6wnkDyKmKy184GGJytrz88wey1jugrqcxJ64f4u5zkl5c3M/s400/TsogyelgarStupa1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476679554293509538" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman', serif;font-size:small;"><br />Constructed in 1998, the Dorje Trollo Stupa at Tsogyelgar is filled with many sacred and precious items including 500 sacred texts of Tibetan yoga.</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"The stupa is constructed according to subtle ritual that empowers its form and structure."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><a href="http://web.me.com/tsogyelgar/Tsogyelgar/stupa.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Tsogyelgar website</span></span></span></a></div></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__9M9dxnOzAuIlcT5sxnNcuQQCmFFUzIA0WCjhoFbeMkxGG9vA2eFqrLTuVcm_siN2WU6enp1_lzJ9iOh-OwYLAuTyb-cCMQdjszlzKxeCP6m6Jd6WactU6KdrPP3QjGnH381Px_ndwA/s1600/TsogyelgarStupa2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__9M9dxnOzAuIlcT5sxnNcuQQCmFFUzIA0WCjhoFbeMkxGG9vA2eFqrLTuVcm_siN2WU6enp1_lzJ9iOh-OwYLAuTyb-cCMQdjszlzKxeCP6m6Jd6WactU6KdrPP3QjGnH381Px_ndwA/s400/TsogyelgarStupa2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476679421602641522" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"> Source for images: flickr, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40231092@N08/sets/72157622217438967/">Tsogyelgar</a></span></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I've been chewing on ideas to write about relating to sangha (common term for Buddhist community or association) and the practical spirit cultivated in sanghas which can be seen as an exemplary model for communities of all types. More to come on the Dharma and the Sangha, stay tuned.....</span></span></div></div></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-20179798242019475592010-05-27T18:09:00.001-07:002010-06-24T16:15:55.888-07:00The Universality of Primary Hues<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">One of the first things that captured me about the Tibetan Buddhist design tradition was the color scheme. It originally struck me, and still does, as elementary. Elementary in that best sense of the word, straightforward and universal.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">If you have ever seen a Tibetan prayer flag rippling in the wind, you should recall the bright spread of primary colors. The same scheme is integrated in Tibetan Buddhist temple and building design worldwide, both exteriorly (when possible) and interiorly.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">White relates to the element of Space/all encompassing space/buddha</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Green relates to the element of Wind/all encompassing wisdom/karma</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Red relates to the element of Fire/discriminating awareness wisdom/padma</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Blue relates to the element of Water/mirror like wisdom/vajra</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Yellow relates to the element of Earth/wisdom of equanimity/ratna</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF0odTPQPyMYMk8Mla35QQDuFBThKA7K_vcsx684KxBZ7ogOGJPftcUiPvPEaXL2aVzY_kdtF_sc1vGPL9Gueni050z5WEYQwAJHDlZ2fNyr-1rlIKmeV_cgVwznLa7ZVL348Wyhskug/s1600/EkojiKagyuShenpenTharchin.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF0odTPQPyMYMk8Mla35QQDuFBThKA7K_vcsx684KxBZ7ogOGJPftcUiPvPEaXL2aVzY_kdtF_sc1vGPL9Gueni050z5WEYQwAJHDlZ2fNyr-1rlIKmeV_cgVwznLa7ZVL348Wyhskug/s400/EkojiKagyuShenpenTharchin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476129554977914914" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF0odTPQPyMYMk8Mla35QQDuFBThKA7K_vcsx684KxBZ7ogOGJPftcUiPvPEaXL2aVzY_kdtF_sc1vGPL9Gueni050z5WEYQwAJHDlZ2fNyr-1rlIKmeV_cgVwznLa7ZVL348Wyhskug/s1600/EkojiKagyuShenpenTharchin.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF0odTPQPyMYMk8Mla35QQDuFBThKA7K_vcsx684KxBZ7ogOGJPftcUiPvPEaXL2aVzY_kdtF_sc1vGPL9Gueni050z5WEYQwAJHDlZ2fNyr-1rlIKmeV_cgVwznLa7ZVL348Wyhskug/s1600/EkojiKagyuShenpenTharchin.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Kagyu Shenpen Tharchin</span></span></span></a></div></span><div><div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38769890@N05/3787912809/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The Pluralism Project, flickr</span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The above photo of</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Kagyu Shenpen Tharchin in Richmond, Virginia is, in my opinion, a quite humble and pretty example of a small sangha's ceremonial and practice space, with a prominent interior use of the yellow and red hues. Why wood floors seem to be always be most fitting, atmospherically, aesthetically and even, religiously, in spiritual centers is a question that seems simple to me but which I haven't got the answer to yet. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Established in 1993, the center is, to date, the only Tibetan Buddhist centre in Richmond, Virginia. The center is part of </span></span><a href="http://www.ekojirichmond.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Ekoji Buddhist Sangha</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> which is host to other sanghas of Buddhist tradition: a Vipassana group, a Zen group and a Pure Land Group. This truly makes Ekoji a multi-dimensional center, to serve as host to different Buddhist traditions as well as be encouragingly open door to those who do not claim a lineage, tradition or faith.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The Tibetan Buddhist sangha at Ekoji, Kagyu Shenpen Tharchin, was established through the efforts of Lama Norlha, the founder of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery in upstate New York. The story of many Tibetan Buddhist leaders journeys, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century, is layered with several different geographies and, of course, the story of cultures adapting to religious tradition, or perhaps, more critically, vice versa.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span><a href="http://www.14secondsolve.com/lamanorlha/synopsis"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Diamond Vehicle</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 10px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">is a film in the works about Lama Norlha, that appears to have captured all of this, along with the political backdrop that has served as the catalyst for the perhaps, unexpected, yet completely global reading and interest in the Vajrayana. </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-39085736598689426652010-05-22T08:52:00.000-07:002010-05-22T09:26:07.230-07:00Buddhaful in Boston<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life."</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; "><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 30px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama, as seen quoted on the Buddhaful Kids website</span></span></p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">All sorts of activity can be a path for a person to stay connected with the heart of their spiritual practice. Praying, studying, reading, writing, artwork, meditation, group discussions and so much more. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I have dedicated this space online here, this blog, largely to exploring Tibetan Buddhist centers, for now sticking to exploration within the U.S.A. But "dharma space," I know extends far beyond a stupa or a monastic structure that incorporates traditional Buddhist elements. Dharma space is found in the hearts and minds, the activities and daily schedules of scores of individuals worldwide. It is intent and awareness. It is also boundless. There is no end to which this space can be cultivated, within us and without.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I recently started working at a child development center, spending the majority of my hours with 3 and 4 year olds. This age group delights me endlessly. The candor, the energy, the imagination, the desire to help and participate and learn- I love it all.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">But as anyone who has spent a good deal of time around this age group (or can simply imagine the dynamics), there comes a point where things can get frazzled. By the ending of the day, many children are on their 2nd, or 3rd wind (often dependent on how naptime went!) and caregivers can also show signs of, despite loving these kids, being winded. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I've always loved stretching and yoga and quickly found it natural to simply round up everyone by the 4 o'clock hour and do some of this. The Classical Child Cd goes into the cd player, the kids find their "space" and we proceed to do a series of exercises and some deep breathing. I was truly delighted by their response as well as other staff's appreciation to take part and also lead the session. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">And while yoga sessions by no means need to have a spiritual component, there is a golden nugget of wisdom in the saying "Your body is a temple." The transformation of the entire groups energy calms and centers. The kids, funny enough, particularly seem to love the prayer pose and the "Ommmmm" vocalization.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">So, I was also truly delighted today to, during my virtual trekking to Massachusetts, come across </span></span><a href="http://www.buddhafulkids.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Buddhaful Kids Yoga with Mary Kaye</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> and read about Mary Kaye's pursuit of true passion and health, which is shared with people of all ages through her classes and books. Elsewhere in the States, child's yoga classes and centers abound and also share their knowledge in the many ways this activity is a great benefit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Childlight Yoga makes mention of one of these:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"While yoga is becoming wildly popular with kids everywhere, one significant benefit often overlooked by parents and educators is the aspect of speech development. ChildLight "Yoga," "yogurt," or "woga" classes can help advance a young child's speech development through slow, repetitive verbal instructions, songs and the imitation of simple sounds found in nature."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">-</span></span><a href="http://www.thekidsyogaresource.com/2010/04/how-woga-helps-children-with-speech-development.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">The Kid's Yoga Resource</span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Ommmmmm on!</span></span></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-44266242887483159102010-05-16T07:35:00.000-07:002010-05-16T15:59:37.571-07:00Mindrolling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uAvWNaT_nKFpQptRtY0jvyXlwWbMh6mTmjuuOaOOaJZENzltlMDBr1R_gHblss0O_5iviOIugGZu4BNz5kP5fyd-YsQi7cZXve8eIYG5G-QwHYfF5gapkQaYcWTbS1tRnq9RtR5B7WQ/s1600/lotusgarden_500.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uAvWNaT_nKFpQptRtY0jvyXlwWbMh6mTmjuuOaOOaJZENzltlMDBr1R_gHblss0O_5iviOIugGZu4BNz5kP5fyd-YsQi7cZXve8eIYG5G-QwHYfF5gapkQaYcWTbS1tRnq9RtR5B7WQ/s400/lotusgarden_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471894599128192546" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The East Coast appears to be the hot spot for lineages to set up their North American seats. There's Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY, seat of the Dalai Lama; Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Woodstock, NY, seat of the head of the Karma Kagyu school, the Gyalwa Karmapa; Tsechen Kunchab Ling in Walden, NY, seat of the Sakya Trizin. Going a bit further south, but staying in the East, we come upon another -</span></span><a href="http://www.lotusgardens.org/index.cfm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Lotus Garden</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, tucked into the Shenandoah Valley in Stanley, Virginia, the North American seat for </span></span><a href="http://mindrollinginternational.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Mindrolling International</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">. Mindrolling follows the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.</span></span></span></div></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Lotus Garden was founded in 2003 by </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche who was born into the Mindrolling linage. The only time I have referenced Mindrolling was in the </span></span><a href="http://usvajrayana.blogspot.com/2010/04/six-mother-monasteries-of-nyingma.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Six Mother Monasteries of Nyingma</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">. Mindrolling Monastery was established in Tibet in the 1600's along with a family lineage. Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche descends from this lineage, daughter to t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(40, 40, 40); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">he 11th Mindrolling throne holder, the late Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Over at The Chronicle Project, some great audio of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche speaking on a variety of issues is featured in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.chronicleproject.com/chroniclesradio_letloose/index_letloose.html">A conversation with</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, 'san serif';font-size:16px;"><a href="http://www.chronicleproject.com/chroniclesradio_letloose/index_letloose.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Her Eminence Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche.</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I listened and transcribed her words which followed the first question in the interview. You can click on the link in the article title and listen while you read. The following are </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche's thoughts and words </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> regarding</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(40, 40, 40); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> the cultural implications of Vajrayana Buddhism in the West:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:small;">"This is a very crucial topic....because we just don't say it that Buddhism is spreading in the West because of any other simpler or more mundane reasons other than the fact that it has come to the point where the West must <i>realize </i>what is happening. So, it's not a question of just the flourshing of the Dharma into a certain region or country of the world, but karmically, sentient beings karma and the karma of the world, is going through a transition where the container that is being formed in which the future Dharma has to be held is fast pointing to the Western directions. So people feel very happy when they hear the words 'The Dharma is coming to the West' or 'The Westernization of Buddhism,' it's a fairly popular thing to say these days. But I don't think it often brings about an awareness in the minds of people of a sense of responsibility that comes with it, that which must be realized by the teachers as not being only speaking in English or translating certain things, but it is about the continuity of the stream of the essence of Dharma that must begin to unfold in a country in the most pure and authentic ways, which requires much more dedication, much more understanding of what it means when the Dharma is coming to the West from the teachers . Teachers have to realize that responsibility. Students have to realize that it's not just a simple thing to be happy about- 'Oh, Dharma is coming to the West, how nice, how good.' And that that expression of your happiness and joyfulness is not the only thing that is sufficient at this point. They have to understand that you are now building something of which you have the courage to hold, <i>again</i>, in the most pure and authentic ways. So this calls in for the need for both teachers and students of this and the next generation to understand the profoundness and the depth of what it actually means when we talk about Westernization of Buddhism. It's about having received it in its most authentic way and then continuation of it in a <i>very</i> changed world, but upholding the values, the principles, the profoundness, the truth and the purity in an unbroken way, in an unbroken lineage."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#282828;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-48626843951154426822010-05-13T04:49:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:26:24.886-07:00Vajrayana in Salt Lake City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jVs6Eu-xC25D15on9IsfBFbPryJF_quOSJ5pLLz47Eta0dotAqgeptg9gSY-JUc02AIxKk4a0hZ1NHrZLdj4m9YW_N2BCBvg4iB5-qAPyYfhIkJRnsgXLQNfILEP-3YIifprgPafR6I/s1600/566903970_08386da219.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jVs6Eu-xC25D15on9IsfBFbPryJF_quOSJ5pLLz47Eta0dotAqgeptg9gSY-JUc02AIxKk4a0hZ1NHrZLdj4m9YW_N2BCBvg4iB5-qAPyYfhIkJRnsgXLQNfILEP-3YIifprgPafR6I/s400/566903970_08386da219.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470731288225251970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Stairs at Urgyen Samten Ling Gonpa during Lotus Festival, 2006</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: flickr, Sarah Ause, Deseret Morning News</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Urgyen Samten Ling, following the Nyingma school, was established in 1994 in Salt Lake City, Utah. As with many other centers nationwide and globally, the efforts to establish Urgyen Samten Ling were spearheaded by local practitioners. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As with stories of other dharma centers, tucked into the story and home of Urgyen Samten Ling are tales of earlier American history, in this case, including stories of other religious traditions. The building became a National Historic Register listing in December of 1978 and is also on the state's historic registry. Listed as "5th Ward Meeting House" the building was built in 1910 and originally served as a meetinghouse for the Latter Day Saints. The article </span><a href="http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=7973"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A spiritual refuge: Tibetan Buddhist temple will be haven for worshippers</span></span></i></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> provides a great historical summary, highlighting the irony in that the building first served a group that had originally come to this state to escape religious persecution (and now is practically synonymous with the name Utah!) and also notes that prior to Urgyen Samten Ling taking over the building, it served as, among other things, a Gothic dance club. The many dimensions to the space of one single building...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPBlJ9d5FQr3dd7WCCB6BDeyThy0ui82fUe7Zh2pdtgycGLSGtg13npVFhKilIcvdk6sfNNCX23i_7TGXH-5bnrNi3nqUub5sgc-ylIKRtcJwKWaw4DkKUyL-ucSlHQeI-1jEdgR0FyE/s400/3072090180_d7ae8ab323.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470729869025354962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source: flickr, albill</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Urgyen Samten Ling's website references the reoccurring and vital theme of practice that is relevant to the current day. As the center's <a href="http://www.urgyensamtenling.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">website</span></a> explains, their namesake translates to "Guru Rinpoche's Place of Meditation." Guru Rinpoche is also known as Padmasambhava, whose prophecies included that the Vajrayana path, the most direct, "would be uniquely appropriate for this modern era."</div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-64894525266851687432010-05-12T17:34:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:27:03.096-07:00Karmê Chöling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg009pgMUe_olE2m98CT0tiv_zP9FYrGYxIgY1DsF2EtCZeEgFBlCn1DE1JqSbOh4K3YMJd9UdWImzgjXESWydvbVa2WMRgku7WMO8XFdGDY-8qNn-SEIZ3OD2DBnAqzhQ7VgXwIQmvzDQ/s1600/pic.k16.dpr.karmecholing.jpg"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg009pgMUe_olE2m98CT0tiv_zP9FYrGYxIgY1DsF2EtCZeEgFBlCn1DE1JqSbOh4K3YMJd9UdWImzgjXESWydvbVa2WMRgku7WMO8XFdGDY-8qNn-SEIZ3OD2DBnAqzhQ7VgXwIQmvzDQ/s400/pic.k16.dpr.karmecholing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472411502223338722" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pictured are the 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche & the Karmapa at Karmê Chöling in 1980</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source: </span></span><a href="http://dpr.info/biography.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche Biography</span></span></a></div><span class="stl"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What was Tail of the Tiger in the seventies is now the beautiful and spacious </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Karmê Chöling in Barnet, Vermont. One of the first Buddhist retreat centers in North America, Tail of the Tiger figures in many retellings of Tibetan Buddhism's early days of growing practice on the North American continent.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Some aspect of my mind just softly explodes when I first focus in on a particular state or region and then hone in on a particular center. I suppose it's naive that in doing so, I believe I will acquire singular focus of what I am going to write about. Having never visited most of these centers, I am left with visual impressions I find on the web as well as my own reveries about the landscapes they are set in. In the case of a center like Karmê Chöling, the history is only a few decades old- but well, so am I! And in those few decades there are so many stories to be told. One single post can hardly do justice....Not to mention that while the center is a few decades old, the teachings are several centuries in the making.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So if I appear to be perfunctory or absurdly brief when I post about a center with an obviously rich history, it's typically a case of realizing the abundance of information that exists about some centers and choosing to take care before I attempt to write in depth. In many cases, they are centers to which I will return. Karmê Chöling, formerly Tail of the Tiger, is one such center.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-__mQ8rGp3nkdjKQ0F6xD-AplLjxU8FFbI7_s1HJxEQsaYWAiAZeKx2THoodEKSyrdOQV2BXq6095aQb3uO-2iR7f7XMWImOCJ2BLtviq_QerpHVMN7_71lyYfQpteYWNoXBTPZZYTy8/s1600/neobuddh1635.gif"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-__mQ8rGp3nkdjKQ0F6xD-AplLjxU8FFbI7_s1HJxEQsaYWAiAZeKx2THoodEKSyrdOQV2BXq6095aQb3uO-2iR7f7XMWImOCJ2BLtviq_QerpHVMN7_71lyYfQpteYWNoXBTPZZYTy8/s400/neobuddh1635.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470565130467995458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">This place holds an important role in the historic network of Tibetan Buddhist centers in the United States and is incredibly picturesque to boot. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Originally purchased by a group of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's students in 1970, this center operated as Tail of the Tiger until 1974, when it received it's current name, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Karmê Chöling.</span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-__mQ8rGp3nkdjKQ0F6xD-AplLjxU8FFbI7_s1HJxEQsaYWAiAZeKx2THoodEKSyrdOQV2BXq6095aQb3uO-2iR7f7XMWImOCJ2BLtviq_QerpHVMN7_71lyYfQpteYWNoXBTPZZYTy8/s1600/neobuddh1635.gif"></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9omk-oDNGafyCsoBTmsmaKRWcOHZCXCN-Vh6jZqtD7ssHm_7f6lMAdOHdZjrSPWEJoVq2frFQsoY0YkNpdOyXwanag7rWvjRqpjE6klW8snXfO0PpwcPqu5BYFDzvQ4hlaFuzat36aI0/s1600/shambhala_day_piper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9omk-oDNGafyCsoBTmsmaKRWcOHZCXCN-Vh6jZqtD7ssHm_7f6lMAdOHdZjrSPWEJoVq2frFQsoY0YkNpdOyXwanag7rWvjRqpjE6klW8snXfO0PpwcPqu5BYFDzvQ4hlaFuzat36aI0/s400/shambhala_day_piper.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470555746523443442" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shambhala Day</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 12px; "><a href="http://karmecholing.org/" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Karmê Chöling</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> blog</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, February 2010</span></span></span></span></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Tahoma, Geneva, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:17px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-34991741751946379612010-05-08T19:26:00.001-07:002010-05-08T20:18:33.971-07:00The Dharma and the Film<div style="text-align: justify;">In the last post (May 7, 2010), I referenced the film The Little Buddha, in light of the fact that the post focused on a monastery that was featured in it. I then realized the whole arena of Buddhism and Film that I hadn't really touched on yet in this blog, except for the post on Dogville, exploring what I saw as a current of the bodhisattva ideal at work in some of it's character development. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hollywood has done it's fair share of touching, interesting and even epic looks at Buddhist tales- clearly Scorsese's <i>Kundun</i> is the first thing that probably comes to mind. Yet, today I learn of an entire festival dedicated to bringing together and showcasing Buddhism on film: The <a href="http://www.ibff.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">International Buddhist Film Festiva</span>l</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among the films, all with a focus on some aspect of Tibetan Buddhism and which were shown for free at the Smithsonian Institution in March of this year, is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">The Ceremony of the Vajra Crown, </span>an Academy Award nominated film that was shot<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "> at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Cathedral of the Woods in New Hampshire. The Ceremony of the Vajra Crown documents an empowerment ceremony conducted by the Karmapa and having been shot in 1980, is perhaps one of the earliest films documenting Tibetan Buddhist experience and ritual in North America. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Viewing the roster of the other films takes you on a global tour of successful efforts to document and share various aspects of Buddhist communities, practices and the many and diverse geographies that wind their way into the tale of the Vajrayana's global path. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prior International Buddhist Film Festivals and various film showings were held in (to mention a few locales) Mexico City; San Francisco; New York City and Singapore. The first festival of this kind was held in Amsterdam. Program director Babeth VanLoo is quoted on the IBFF website as saying:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“What’s special about the feature films we will present is that they are not only about Tibet, but they have been made by Tibetans and/or the cast is for the most part Tibetan. After the first wave of Hollywood films using Tibetan themes, this is new.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Indeed. In fact, not only are they cast in supporting and major roles, but have come to also serve critical roles in production. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the rich and increasingly extensive dialogue about the 'presentation' of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, the conversation ranges from analytical, academic insights and debating to very pedestrian discussions about the ways in which symbols and aspects of this culture are transmitted and accepted on this continent. From Hollywood portrayals and other media depictions, to it's presence as a vital and growing spiritual and religious culture among Tibetans and non-Tibetans alike- the questions raised and the ensuing conversations are often quite interesting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And there's few better ways to capture the attention of an information and media saturated society than through the dynamics of film. As our choices in media consumption seem to expand at a hurtling rate, the discussions revolving around how are awareness of a spirituality, a religion, a philosophy (whatever it may be) is both shaped and presented through a particular medium, this becomes an increasingly relevant dialogue. Being a lover of film, I for one see it as a form of both art and social engagement merged and at work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-1421678662179646952010-05-07T16:47:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:27:32.844-07:00Sakya Monastery in Seattle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZddjaLd8jABGUJl_z2HnD_bsfSh_zuQV3fZjtwIn76ANXP-WRNu-TcnKXHTj_CpTpz1RJznqUUbMstadJKxyGru16tY0d1HfqY-kUU81kTuy4eMFHLIyYluJNd03gQrcqMJOBxCeOVY/s1600/Sakya_Monastery_Seattle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZddjaLd8jABGUJl_z2HnD_bsfSh_zuQV3fZjtwIn76ANXP-WRNu-TcnKXHTj_CpTpz1RJznqUUbMstadJKxyGru16tY0d1HfqY-kUU81kTuy4eMFHLIyYluJNd03gQrcqMJOBxCeOVY/s400/Sakya_Monastery_Seattle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706050054174850" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source: </span><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sakya_Monastery_Seattle.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wikimedia Commons, author- Sakya Monastery</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tucked into the story of Sakya Monastery in the neighborhood of Greenwood, Seattle, is also the story of adaptive reuse of a historic structure whose original purpose served an entirely different religious group. The colorful building that now houses Sakya Monastery was originally constructed in 1928 as a Presbyterian Church. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sakya Tegchen Choling center, founded in 1975 in other locales in Seattle, acquired</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> the building in 1974 which later became the current incarnation of the center, as Sakya Monastery.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's often interesting to see the historic cycle of spaces occupied by dharma centers. What mingles in the presence of active Tibetan Buddhist teachings in many dharma centers across North America are clear echoes of American architectural history and many other stories to be told. I am reminded of the third Tibetan Buddhist center in the US that I visited- Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Woodstock, New York. At the time (2005) vast progress had been made on the beautiful new temple- but there also sat Meads Mountain House, which had served the Center for some years and whose rustic interiors I regret having not delved into and explored in more depth....</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But staying on topic and in the realm of the Emerald City, Sakya Monastery itself has, in the past few decades, built a history of it's own. Scores of pages have been written on the relationship of media and the publicity of Tibetan Buddhism in the West and popular movies have certainly been at the forefront of this. Sakya Monastery was featured in the 1993 production <i>Little Buddha</i>, which tracks a fictional plot of a group of Lamas seeking the incarnation of one of their teachers which takes them to, among other places, the key location of Seattle in their search. As with other prominent films centered on a Tibetan Buddhist themes, Tibetan monks and lamas themselves were cast in critical roles. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Pluralism Project (<i>Diverse Buddhist Communities Make a Home in Washington</i>), quotes a December 2003 article in The Daily:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"In 1960, drawn by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, and by the help of the UW Tibetan studies program, the only program of its type in the United States, Deshung Rinpoche, or 'Precious One' to his followers, moved his family to Seattle. Rinpoche worked with the Tibetan studies program for three years... Rinpoche’s congregation gradually outgrew a number of locations, from Ravenna to Capitol Hill to the U-District. Eventually, the large step was taken to buy the old Presbyterian church in Greenwood and convert it."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The white stupa outside the monastery is in honor of the late Ven. Dezhung Rinpoche. Dezhung Rinpoche arrived in Seattle in 1960 after forced exile from Tibet, and rooted here. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sakya Monastery is currently led by H.H. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Jigdal Dagchen Sakya. It maintains the tradition of the school of Sakya, but, like many other centers, is non-sectarian in it's approach to offering a wide range of teachings from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcNREgTn7_2JmOA6VhuItvW4I1zEbepUGT_LdkelwKYJ5pOGTYPa77qzk0dmxyip8yidnSOzeIOBg2hWjusgqNTVeFB1pqKuk9qRoTzdU6G4SpUujzFu8_rcgZdHkhEqPjI2OCpiJZso/s400/Sakya_Seattle_Stupa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468702087947022498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/sets/72157594280692763/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Flickr: </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/sets/72157594280692763/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">S</span></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/sets/72157594280692763/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">tupa, HE Deshung Rinpoche - The Saint of Seattle</span></a></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><div><br /></div></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-60747223079239775492010-05-03T17:24:00.000-07:002010-06-03T06:28:10.289-07:00Zuni Mountain Stupa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6btMoPt2ZvP6IyD5JnboaVHghlrLUVj9f6sAMZ0PcsULB-0e4AwsJPO_AT1zmhjQdPNVhHEKrbghGIsLlBV7Tz1SW8fTjK_4oJI8BSKD551uChP9SPVF-vnunB4_LwLf9edTT_yBzkA/s1600/710_ZuniCanyonStupatop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6btMoPt2ZvP6IyD5JnboaVHghlrLUVj9f6sAMZ0PcsULB-0e4AwsJPO_AT1zmhjQdPNVhHEKrbghGIsLlBV7Tz1SW8fTjK_4oJI8BSKD551uChP9SPVF-vnunB4_LwLf9edTT_yBzkA/s400/710_ZuniCanyonStupatop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467225224843594226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zuni Mountain Stupa</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.zunimountainstupa.org/eventsretreats.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">zunimountainstupa.org</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here in southern Alabama, it's been pouring buckets all day, pools of water swarming in the roads and dark clouds swathing the sky. However, in the site of today's virtual visit, the early May temperatures are crisp, bright blue, sunny Spring days.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grants, New Mexico is where the next trek takes us. In the Northwestern quadrant of this Southwest state, a stupa sits. A stupa with the expressed purpose of "subduing negative forces." The style of the stupa itself, Duddul Chodten, translates and is dedicated to this expressed purpose. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The act of building with the intent of a structure to interact with the matrix of spiritual and locational energies is certainly not unique to Tibetan Buddhism. I am reminded of a story I heard during my early prodding into the concepts of Feng Shui, an art and practice which is carefully considered not only in home design and layout in certain regions of the world, but also actual planning of new and prominent architecture. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don't recall all the details, but as this particular example goes, a major office building was slated to be built in an urban area in China. One particular obstacle perceived was the positioning of the building near a hilly area that was known to be the residence of a particular dragon spirit. Constructing a many leveled office building in this particular location would, according to certain experts, obstruct the path of the dragon, thereby bringing ill energy to the levels of the building that previously was it's path of movement.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The solution: allow for a large central hole in the middle of the building to pave the dragon spirit's path. Building and layout with regards to harmony with the environment takes on an entirely new level when such notions are brought to the plan. And harmony, in this sense, implies not only ushering forth 'good energy,' but a keen awareness of the flow of local elements and a will and ability to confront and compromise with aspects of the landscape or general atmosphere that, if ignored, could prove to be disruptive. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.zunimountainstupa.org/inthenews.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zuni Mountain Stupa</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was, as far as I can tell, not constructed with the intent to allay or pacify any local land deities in this particular region of New Mexico. Yet it is the first stupa I have read about whose specific purpose involved dispelling "negative forces." Certainly, many of the other stupas across the globe, intended to be a monument and circumambulation point for enlightenment, have as their structural and spiritual intent, the very same purpose. The act of 'enlightenment' itself involves a dissolution of delusion, negative thought and energy- all of which obstruct and dissuade one from any goals of enlightenment, regardless of spiritual persuasion. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche is the spiritual director for the Zuni Mountain Stupa, which was consecrated only months ago. Also known as </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ösel Khandro Duwi Ling- </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Gathering Place of the Dakinis</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Zuni Mountain Stupa is a project in the wings of the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vairotsana Foundation, of which Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche is a founder.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vairotsana Foundation's </span></span><a href="http://www.vairotsana.org/VFRetreatLand/Zuni%20Mountain%20Stupa.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">website</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> states:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"We are building this stupa in the Zuni Mountains at a time when extreme negative conditions proliferate on our planet in order to help remove those obstacles and to generate the blessings of healing, peace, and enlightenment for all beings, in every direction, in every way."</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In my own project of tracking these different Tibetan Buddhist architectural developments in the USA, it is clearer to me more than ever before that we all subscribe to different means of responding to current societal and planetary conditions. If you have read this far along, perhaps you as well see the importance and role that various architectures play in the human effort of confronting and resolving certain dynamics at play. Prayer is certainly among the ways. And the role of the stupa offers exactly that- active prayer space. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-3457457802671716972010-05-01T08:58:00.000-07:002010-05-03T18:58:10.031-07:00In the Realm of Sedona's Red Rock<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P7j7PWLb7pCpt6blnoHMZoUrAjVG1jxYmEOn6sQ5XM7qPyoMigJmi1mbN-DjlyT3WyDKQzoCJeIbGXjd9_z_TfOklA-jV03qB2s1pDRNaE6N5MZ0JUTO06jjJj6r0p6lFF8lQyz7IQ8/s1600/Stupa_Tara_AZ.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P7j7PWLb7pCpt6blnoHMZoUrAjVG1jxYmEOn6sQ5XM7qPyoMigJmi1mbN-DjlyT3WyDKQzoCJeIbGXjd9_z_TfOklA-jV03qB2s1pDRNaE6N5MZ0JUTO06jjJj6r0p6lFF8lQyz7IQ8/s400/Stupa_Tara_AZ.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466333074206466098" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Tara Stupa </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sedona, Arizona (built 1999)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Source: Kunzang Palyul Chöling's <a href="http://www.tara.org/visit-us/amitabha-stupa/">website</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kunzang Palyul Chöling, spiritually directed by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, follows the Palyul lineage of the Nyingma tradition and operates a temple in Maryland and a dharma center in Sedona, Arizona. The Arizona Center is the location for the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, home to the Tara and the Amitabha Stupa, and is exemplary of the many types of projects driven by volunteer and sponsorship efforts and a sangha that is driven by a spiritual and socially engaged mindset.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW-VgioG9Yy1oiWo4rJrPitgPd5j3V0vOIWQ1yIe7dkyALEUH3-0My1nhuTKWQeLDIHUWrRIT6SxBmePCrSLioZT9lu1Lg3yUHYAycyVOq3fgMRo8Of_uD05b1ZaHFkA9Yaq6KfHPS0o/s1600/stupa_and_fire.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW-VgioG9Yy1oiWo4rJrPitgPd5j3V0vOIWQ1yIe7dkyALEUH3-0My1nhuTKWQeLDIHUWrRIT6SxBmePCrSLioZT9lu1Lg3yUHYAycyVOq3fgMRo8Of_uD05b1ZaHFkA9Yaq6KfHPS0o/s400/stupa_and_fire.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466334932774458722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Amitabha Stupa</div><div style="text-align: center; ">Build 2004</div><div style="text-align: center; ">Source: <a href="http://peace.maripo.com/p_pagodas.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Peace Pagodas & Stupas Around the World</span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tmZYBAcQpm4xfARoCk6HsWDSxIT3eSNQVuxlMm13KgZrEDiyEhAyQK3_mbUL2DuwFClv049blsQrnuM7haWowrdK4X-alx2gBPOhf0fK_JA1WMkYMrg9g2drmhbD94_GFLPpSh2g3w0/s400/stupa-prj2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466336480504310674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Amitabha Park Project</div><div style="text-align: center; ">Source: <span class="Apple-style-span">Kunzang Palyul Chöling's <a href="http://www.stupas.org/arizona_stupa_projects.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">website</span></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Among the other projects driven by the leadership of KPC and the sangha are a Prison Ministry program, founded in Maryland and a no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in Dakini Valley, AZ- Tara's Babies Animal Welfare. Tara's Babies was formed during KPC's animal rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina, during which they partnered up with other animal rescue organizations nationwide to rescue and relocate hundreds of animals wounded and abandoned during the hurricane. Snow Lion Newsletter's published a great and touching <a href="http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N73_11.html">article</a> on the efforts. I for one always love to see when so much time and energy is spent to include non-human animals in rescue efforts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI7JfVFiDzbKyzhoL1FLcfL1AhUoyOSIDfZ62THPPlLLRQMsLOBI_30TjUTWRIpwWet7iAwD9vIqUacjLLueOehbu0E07ErqobtNV7Ush8AjzGCIXS20RObqAEaCu1ffSsRR_O4weBi0/s400/N73_11b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466346387656932306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Evacuated animals flown to Arizona, en route to KPC's retreat and refuge</div><div style="text-align: center;">Source: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N73_11.html">Snow Lion Newsletter</a></span></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107956418162070764.post-91095013042615438322010-04-27T07:17:00.000-07:002010-05-03T18:52:21.485-07:00Deer Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxqKXtIdITT2kLxt9s74BjTaW0aCCb0fIyCNj9czTX6pEDpSgGwnDAsClKQGYnyzVHvraYeqQGKoqP1LbPCmj9O9I4TnnWkVz3TFjyhhG_PfqV4gBqrM2Gidm_zHtoI9OTlzkMpUbyW8/s1600/57ff7c4c-f6ac-5067-aac2-84dde9938956.image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxqKXtIdITT2kLxt9s74BjTaW0aCCb0fIyCNj9czTX6pEDpSgGwnDAsClKQGYnyzVHvraYeqQGKoqP1LbPCmj9O9I4TnnWkVz3TFjyhhG_PfqV4gBqrM2Gidm_zHtoI9OTlzkMpUbyW8/s400/57ff7c4c-f6ac-5067-aac2-84dde9938956.image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464981437775858258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Deer Park </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Artist </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Tenzin Choephel, one of whom worked on temple art for the new center at Deer Park, seen at right</span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: Madison.com </span></span><a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj-local-gallery/image_57ff7c4c-f6ac-5067-aac2-84dde9938956.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Photo Galle</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">r</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">y</span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">As referenced in the last post, in the summer of 1981 a Kalachakra initiation was held at Deer Park, about ten miles south of Madison, Wisconsin. It was the first Kalachakra ceremony for world peace held in the West. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Deer Park was founded in 1975 by Ven. Geshe Lhundup Sopa, who began offering Buddhist teachings and hosting Tibetan cultural events in Wisconsin in 1975. Invited to the U.S.A. by the University of Wisconsin to teach Tibetan, Sopa later retired as Professor of Buddhist Studies and has been teaching and sharing his knowledge for over three decades in the heartland of the States. In addition to being the founder and contributing much to the heart and soul of Deer Park Buddhist Center and its community</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, Geshe Lhundub Sopa is also the Director and Abbot of Deer Park Buddhist Center and Monastery.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Ven. Geshe Sopa was also instrumental in what today is a vigorous and sizeable Tibetan community in the local area. A majority of the exiles in the growing Tibetan diaspora in the mid to late 20th century found refuge and new home in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, Canada and the United States. In the United States, as elsewhere, efforts of numerous individuals merged to help create resettlement nodes where Tibetans and their families could gradually move, settle and create new homes. The Madison, Wisconsin area was one such node.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">As with many other centers, Deer Park has a history of offering not only numerous Buddhist teachings, but also interreligious events, conferences and retreats. A monastery on the grounds is the home to resident monks and as with many other centers, the aspiration and efforts to establish a temple reflective of Tibetan Buddhist architectural principles has come to fruition at Deer Park.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">As Sopa himself remarks-</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> “The Deer Park Buddhist Center is a mirror of a Tibetan Buddhist Temple specifically designed to embody Buddha’s teachings."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> -Ven. Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Article: </span><a href="http://www.asianwisconzine.com/0708DeerParkBuddhistCenter.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Deer Park Center- Just About Ready</span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">In his </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1f8ERurfem8J:www.deerparkcenter.org/media/pdf_folder/pr_kit/Case%2520for%2520Support.pdf+geshe+sopa+joseph+elder+wisconsin&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShjf96oNZk2uT5dkbpkkFzgcGL8RMCEkY2nOhmD7X2OD-P0CElMYURf6MgX_bJuzlKz7qNSaN85f4WhEAMyK99jBpvLTegxoLkdo6esKK89ZyCY8JXO4oQnPce0aV1n0FcKowSr&sig=AHIEtbRIdTavZ8cn4yv2nI6JKfTn5p-QiA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Introduction to the Temple Project at Deer Park</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Geshe Sopa also remarks on the usefulness of the visual form of a building and it's accompanying arts to present to visitors the Buddha's teachings in visual form. Not only was the temple envisioned to be heavily modeled off of Tibetan Buddhist principles, but also to embody strong elements of sustainable design. Modern concepts of sustainable design and building merge with a traditional approach towards layout with respect and regards of the surrounding landscape and incorporating Buddhist symbology and art throughout the physical form.</span></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidADvqvNDteDaxnRiO7IFryr5hX1Q2ZjvnZu22dFZ1GrnhnratDpnp5dQEEbiv1sUd1E8FANIaMEGqL0b1MCaKCRMI-7bHebwroi9AaluXn7n6rqa0okUlVY_CE_Rl0HjUoeOgibXCj-Y/s1600/dali_lama.gif" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidADvqvNDteDaxnRiO7IFryr5hX1Q2ZjvnZu22dFZ1GrnhnratDpnp5dQEEbiv1sUd1E8FANIaMEGqL0b1MCaKCRMI-7bHebwroi9AaluXn7n6rqa0okUlVY_CE_Rl0HjUoeOgibXCj-Y/s400/dali_lama.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464952715871276354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">AEI Affiliated Engineer's Design for Deer Park's new center</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Source: AEI </span></span><a href="http://www.aeieng.com/services/sustainability/dali_lama.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">website</span></span></span></a></div></div></div></div>Annika Lundkvisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108477034299373791noreply@blogger.com0