Nyingma Roots in the Golden State

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.

Source: The Berkley Daily Planet

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.

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 Odiyan Monastery, 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.

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.

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.

The Dharma as the trunk.....

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.

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.

Constructed in 1998, the Dorje Trollo Stupa at Tsogyelgar is filled with many sacred and precious items including 500 sacred texts of Tibetan yoga.

"The stupa is constructed according to subtle ritual that empowers its form and structure."

Source: Tsogyelgar website

Source for images: flickr, Tsogyelgar

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.....

The Universality of Primary Hues

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.

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.

White relates to the element of Space/all encompassing space/buddha

Green relates to the element of Wind/all encompassing wisdom/karma

Red relates to the element of Fire/discriminating awareness wisdom/padma

Blue relates to the element of Water/mirror like wisdom/vajra

Yellow relates to the element of Earth/wisdom of equanimity/ratna

Kagyu Shenpen Tharchin

Source: The Pluralism Project, flickr

The above photo of 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.

Established in 1993, the center is, to date, the only Tibetan Buddhist centre in Richmond, Virginia. The center is part of Ekoji Buddhist Sangha 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.

The Tibetan Buddhist sangha at Ekoji, Kagyu Shenpen Tharchin, was established through the efforts of Lama Norlha, the founder of 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. Diamond Vehicle 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.

Buddhaful in Boston

"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."

-H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama, as seen quoted on the Buddhaful Kids website

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So, I was also truly delighted today to, during my virtual trekking to Massachusetts, come across Buddhaful Kids Yoga with Mary Kaye 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.

Childlight Yoga makes mention of one of these:

"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."

-The Kid's Yoga Resource

Ommmmmm on!

Mindrolling

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 -Lotus Garden, tucked into the Shenandoah Valley in Stanley, Virginia, the North American seat for Mindrolling International. Mindrolling follows the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Lotus Garden was founded in 2003 by Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche who was born into the Mindrolling linage. The only time I have referenced Mindrolling was in the Six Mother Monasteries of Nyingma. Mindrolling Monastery was established in Tibet in the 1600's along with a family lineage. Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche descends from this lineage, daughter to the 11th Mindrolling throne holder, the late Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal.

Over at The Chronicle Project, some great audio of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche speaking on a variety of issues is featured in A conversation with Her Eminence Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche. 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 Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche's thoughts and words regarding the cultural implications of Vajrayana Buddhism in the West:

"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 realize 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, again, 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 very changed world, but upholding the values, the principles, the profoundness, the truth and the purity in an unbroken way, in an unbroken lineage."

Vajrayana in Salt Lake City

Stairs at Urgyen Samten Ling Gonpa during Lotus Festival, 2006

Source: flickr, Sarah Ause, Deseret Morning News

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.

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 A spiritual refuge: Tibetan Buddhist temple will be haven for worshippers 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...

Source: flickr, albill

Urgyen Samten Ling's website references the reoccurring and vital theme of practice that is relevant to the current day. As the center's website 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."

Karmê Chöling

Pictured are the 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche & the Karmapa at Karmê Chöling in 1980

Source: Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche Biography

What was Tail of the Tiger in the seventies is now the beautiful and spacious 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.

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.

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.

This place holds an important role in the historic network of Tibetan Buddhist centers in the United States and is incredibly picturesque to boot. Originally purchased by a group of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's students in 1970, this center operated as Tail of the Tiger until 1974, when it received it's current name, Karmê Chöling.

Shambhala Day

Source: Karmê Chöling blog, February 2010