Saturday, March 30, 2013

An Easter Egg Romp in the Gonpa

Yesterday, local kids and parents from the Dzogchen Community engaged in an old fashioned easter egg hunt throughout the Tsegyalgar East schoolhouse (after first coloring the eggs). Several people asked why we were engaging in such rituals.

The main response is that our growing group of children from the Dzogchen Community are members of a larger culture where such holidays like Easter and Passover are universally celebrated. So don't be shy next time---these events are fun and the kids love nothing more than romping about the gonpa and building forts from meditation cushions while the adults engage in their own activities.

Yesterday, while the kids vacillated from screaming to making monster eggs, the grown-ups watched the 2nd International Dzogchen Dance Competition from Tashigar Sur. And the winner is ????. We couldn't hear the results but the judges looked as professional as any on "American Idol." The next International Dzogchen Community Dance competition will take place here at Tsegylagar East in 2014. Please leave a comment if you know yesterday's winner!





Friday, March 22, 2013

Khandroling 2013 Summer Encampment Program




Please click here to go directly to the Khandroling Encampment page. http://tsegyalgar.org/localcenters/tsegyalgareast/khandroling/summerencampment/ 

Summer Practice and Karma Yoga Encampment Program on Khandroling (Buckland, Massachusetts,USA) A Special Three Month Program Open to Beginners Click here to download the Summer Encampment Program Application Summer Encampment Program in Buckland Massachusetts Three Months • June 1 August 31, 2013 Daily Work Schedule and Contemplation Practice Free Retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

In Tibet, generations of practitioners gathered together in summer encampments to practice, work, live and play together in a community dedicated to cultivating one's awareness. Continuing in the same tradition, the Dzogchen Community in Conway, Massachusetts is offering a three month encampment from June 1 to August 31, 2013. Participants must commit to one three months (one month minimum, from June 22) of living on the community retreat land in Buckland, Massachusetts, Khandroling, and engaging in the daily karma yoga schedule. Participants are free to take part in daily group practices and the rich culture of Tsegyalgar East. There will be no charge; participants will be provided with two meals a day; free camping, and free retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu June 7-12, 2013. The program is limited to 6 participants who must submit an application to take part. Participants can expect to work for at least four hours a day in supervised Karma Yoga as they learn light construction work, forestry, landscaping and land management skills. Weekly Yantra Yoga, Vajra Dance, and contemplative practices will be led by senior practitioners in the community on Khandroling and in our schoolhouse practice space in Conway. A variety of community social events and programming will be announced as developed. Participants must be prepared for rough camping in a rustic environment, as well as the physical capacity to engage in the activities listed. Participants provide their own camping gear. Onsite facilities include fresh potable water, a bathhouse with two showers and flush toilets, kitchen with gas stoves and propane refrigerator, several portable toilets and outdoor showers. The program is free for accepted applicants and includes free camping plus two meals a day. For further information, contact the program supervisor, Joe Zurylo at jzurylo@yahoo.com Click on the link below to download the application.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Learn Tibetan Dance March 2 & 3




WHERE:  Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse gonpa

Saturday 5:15pm
Sunday 6:30pm after Vajra Dance Thun
Thursday, March 7, after Ganapuja

Led by Matt Schmookler

This comes highly recommended by those who have already participated. Join for the fun!