News from Tsegyalgar East

Dear Vajra Brothers and Sisters,

Please join us in saying a big thank you and sending many tashi daleks to Harold Graves as he transitions to another chapter of his life.  Harold has been our wonderful secretary for the past four years and we are wishing him all good things in his new pursuits.

Thank you, Harold!

The Tsegyalgar Gakyil is pleased to announce that the very important position of Secretary at Tsegyalgar East has been filled by Timothy Fisher. Timothy has been involved in the Community in the past few years attending retreats with our Master, offering his services by doing karma yoga on Khandroling, and attending practices offered at the Gar.

Meet Tim

Tim is a graduate of UMASS Amherst with a degree in Communications. This area of study, along with Tim’s excellent interpersonal skills, are assets that will facilitate the Gakyil and the Community’s goals of outreach to widen the availability of our Master’s teachings, and all of the aspects of Tibetan culture, to a greater number of people. 

Tim came with excellent references attesting to his committed, responsible work ethic, to his tendency to put his heart into his work, his high energy level, his ability to make even difficult tasks fun and enjoyable, and his compassion working in the Social Services field. 

His sincere intention to cultivate and deepen his understanding of the Teachings, to work and grow with the Community, are all attributes which make him a valuable employee and asset to our Community.

Meet John

You may also see John Shannon around the office if you are wandering the halls of the Schoolhouse. John will be working with Tsegyalgar East to provide bookkeeping and financial reporting services. 

Many of you know John as a long time and very active DCA community member who lives in Amherst, MA with his family. He and his wife Miranda, also a long time community member, operate Tara Consulting - a communications and business development firm based in Amherst, MA. and are parents to five children.

We are happy to have such terrific people to work with past and present.

With love,

The Tsegylagar East Gakyil

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Through an energy efficiency program incentive and a lot of negotiating, we had all the old fluorescent tube bulbs, fixtures, and ballasts replaced with the latest technology in LED fixtures, bulbs and ballasts in the Gonpa and the Schoolhouse. This includes new flood lights outside of the Schoolhouse building and parking lot lights. In the Gonpa, I had them install simple remote control dimmer switches so there is every option available to adjust brightness. The negotiating was spread out over about a year, but the actual installation of the lighting took about 3 days. The LED bulbs use 50%-85% less energy (depending on the level of dimming in the Gonpa), do not contain mercury like the old fluorescent bulbs, do not lose energy through heat, and last much longer.

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[Photo by Amanda Pollock during January 9 

Khandroling Paper Cooperative Open Studio]

On Saturday, January 9, 2016 four members of Khandroling Paper Cooperative and a local writer made paper together at our weekly Open house. Brenda LIlly brought several examples of Origami Lotus to review and test for our Lotus Blossom fundraising project (description coming soon). Our favorite Lotus above in one of Brenda’s homemade boxes.  

Brenda teaching us the folds

Intense concentration

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