News from Around Tsegyalgar East

 

 [Amanda Pollock's selfie]

NEW KHANDROLING ROAD SIGN

Recently Joe Zurylo wrote:

The other day while taking a ride up to KHANDROLING i stopped and picked up our
small sign along the town road, so it wouldn't be destroyed by the snow plow.
This gave me the idea that it would be nice to have a real sign on our propertywhere the new road joins into the public road. made and painted by us. The back ground will be a dark red and the carved letters will be gold leaf painted.

Jim Smith hand carved a Long-Sal symbol above the letters KHANDROLING, it will also be gold leafed. The sign will be set into PT timbers buried into the ground and have a small roof over it for protection. The sign is approximately 24" high and around 60" long.

Above the finished sign. 

TARA RETREAT

[Photo by Amanda Pollock, Group photo of Tara Retreat led by Paula Barry]




[Photo by Anastasia of Jeremy, our Geko and Paula Barry]

KHANDROLING PAPER COOPERATIVE

Khandroling Paper Cooperative held another Open Studio focusing on refining our lotus origami skills (not as easy as you think). Afterwards we embarked on carving more wood blocks to make our first edition of cards using our own paper.







Nick Boutros stopped by to show us an amulet folding. Lots happening these days as we coordinate an outstanding variety of Paper and related Contemplative workshops in light of our Lotus Paper Project. Please visit our 2016 Spring and Summer Schedule here.




[Two new woodcuts by Jacqueline (left eternal knot on a lotus) and Sheryl (right AH) on our handmade paper]

The next April 3 workshop Writing the Mani Mantra  with Tibetan Translator Dara Juels takes place in the yellow schoolhouse at 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Participants can also make paper, fold origami lotus' and print on the etching press if they wish. 

Daria Juels became interested in Buddhism as a teenager and after taking a college course in Buddhism began to study Zen meditation. She lived in a Zen Buddhist community for a few years while attending art school. She met her Teacher, a Tibetan Nyingma Lama, ten years ago and became interested in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as well as the Tibetan language. Studying scriptural Tibetan with Heidi Nevin, a well-known translator, she developed her knowledge of the written language. Wishing to become fluent in the spoken language Dara travelled to Nepal five years ago where she lived for almost two and a half years studying both language and meditation practices with various teachers in the Nyingma Lineage. When she returned to the United States she furthered her studies at a translator program at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde in Northern California. Dara began doing both written translation of dharma practices and teachings for buddhist teachers as well as oral translation for her husband. She has a passion for both Tibetan language and translating the vast wealth of wisdom within the spiritual tradition into English. Her wish is participate in assuring that the blessings of the path are carried into the Western languages.

SHANG SHUNG INSTITUTE

Shang Shung Institute of America's Menpa Wangmo and the Conway Historical Society's Board gather after her talk on Tuesday, March 22. About 30 people attended the talk.
Community member, Marilyn McArthur was elected to the Historical Society board. Red Gakyil member, Amanda Pollock became a sworn official of the town of Conway. She is a member of the 250th Anniversary Committee for the town.

REPORT FROM THE TSEGYALGAR EAST GEKO ON "THE FORTRESS OF THE DAKINIS"

Greetings Friends,

Many people may know that while Rinpoche was doing retreat in his cabin on Khandroling in 1989 and 1990 in particular, he had some of the dreams of the Vajra Dance. In the description of his dreams, he calls the cabin "The Fortress of the Dakinis".

This past week on Khandroling, 5 trees were removed that were growing closest to The Fortress of the Dakinis (AKA Rinpoche's Cabin). The purpose is to help extend the life of the cabin, to help to keep it dry and to protect from the potential of falling trees. This is the first big step towards planned repairs on the cabin for this year, which includes replacing the long time leaking roof with a new roof, replacing water and ant damaged structural beams, repairing and replacing siding on the front of the cabin, power washing the stairs and ramp and sealing them, fixing the doors, replacing the propane cook stove, replacing the large windows in the front, and other much needed work.



This plan also includes the removal of a grove of pine trees to the right of the Guardian Cabin. In 2014, one of the pine trees fell within a couple feet of the stairs to the Guardian cabin, and in a recent particularly strong storm, a large portion of another pine tree almost hit the rear side of the cabin. Also included in the plan is the finishing and stabilization of the Togal cabin. As announced in a previous blog post, some attempts were made to help further stabilize the cabin in 2015, and some wood finish was applied to the inside of the cabin. As a more long term plan, some trees to the east and the west of the Togal cabin are to be removed so the practice can be done in the cabin, but this would leave the cabin even more vulnerable to wind gusts. To help remedy this imbalance, the plan is to build a porch on 2 or 3 sides of the cabin, affix the foundation of the porch into the mountain properly, and then attach the porch to the cabin itself. Other work includes installing the chimney properly so the woodstove can be used for heating, building a firewood storage shed, powerwashing and caulking the siding, and installing a laminate floor.




As usual, these projects will be done using all the materials we already have stored, which reduces the total cost in the end. For example, we have nearly all the roofing material we need already.

We will also need lots of helpful Karma Yoga participants and volunteers to help with the cleanup phases and the smaller tasks. Please contact me, Jeremy Keaton, atgeko@tsegyalgar.org if you are interested.

The total cost estimate of all of the above mentioned work is $17,840. We need all the help we can get, in any capacity, to make this happen. Donations are appreciated and will help to make the major work possible, as well as anyone who would like to help in a physical sense.Donations can be sent through PayPal to secretary@tsegyalgar.org. If you choose this method of payment, please write in the comment box what the donation is for. I suggest writing something like "Maintenance of Rinpoche's cabin, Togal cabin and tree work". Alternatively, if you would like to send a check, please write on the check or along with the check what the donation is for, and send to:

Dzogchen Community in America
PO BOX 479
Conway, MA 01341

Make checks payable to DCA.

"Each individual's contributions are like the many drops that make an ocean, because if you want to do something you must have collaboration from the whole group and then everything becomes very easy." ~ Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

NEWS UPDATE....Urgent: 

Nested in magnificent natural habitat, exposed to the elements our Khandroling Retreat Cabins have slowly deteriorated to the point where need of IMMEDIATE REPAIRS.


You can contribute through this link:
http://tsegyalgar.org/support/retreatcabins/

OM AH HUM
Please share with the international community members, in all other Gars and Lings around the world, or at your local Gar or Ling!"

Be well my friends,
Jeremy Keaton
Tsegyalgar East Geko
geko@tsegyalgar.org
413-206-9407

The News from Tsegyalgar East & Beyond

Praise for Ayukhandro, a Poem by Barbara Paparazzo Is Published in Leveskundst

Barbara Paparazzo's poem was published in Leveskundst The Art of Living, an Ezine founded by Erik Pema Kunsung and Tara Thrinley Wangmo.

PRAISE FOR AYUKHANDRO

In bed sick, tea cold,
listening to crows,
why haven’t I practiced more?

To continue reading her poem, visit here 

Barbara Paparazzo is a poet and practitioner from Conway, Massachusetts. She has published poetry in numerous literary journals as well as a chapbook about her journey to Bodhgaya, The Red Silk Scarf (Shivastan Press).

*****

TSEGYALGAR EAST CELEBRATES AYUKHANDRO DAY ON MARCH 4, 2016

Morning Pilgrimage and Evening Ganapuja

We celebrate Ayu Khandro, Traveling Yogini of Kham, from whom our beloved Rinpoche received many precious Teachings, including the complete practice of Yangtig.

We honor her with our practice of Traveling and Ganapuja.

Morning Pilgrimage Schedule
7:15AM Gather together at lower Khandroling for Hot Butter Tea or Hot Water
147 Block of East Buckland Rd.
7:30AM Pilgrimage from Rinpoche's House to Rinpoche's Cabin at Upper Khandroling
8:30AM (or upon arrival)
Light the Butter Lamp
Nine Breathings
Kalongdorjikar (Dance of the 12 A)
Medium Tun with extended Vajra Breathing
Relaxing and Enjoying. Please bring something light to share for breakfast as desired.
10:00AM (or upon completion) Parting
Evening Ganapuja at Tsegyalgar Gonpa
Vajra Dance Tun: 6-7pm
Arrive 7pm for 7:30pm Ganapuja - will be webcast
We will Dance the Song of the Vajra (in Costume)

*****

NEWS FROM KHANDROLING PAPER COOPERATIVE

[First monoprint titled DRUK (Tibetan for Dragon) by Madeline printed on the press ]

Khandroling Paper Cooperative initiated its first printmaking on the recently acquired kelton etching press. Using carved woodblocks, they made prints of Lotus and AHs as well as monoprints using non-toxic inks. The results were well received by happy members:Tatianna Shannon, Madeline Leibling, Brenda Lilly and Sheryl Jaffe. The next Open Studio workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 to make an edition of Lotus cards for the Khandroling Lotus Project in progress and to create new origami forms with Brenda Lilly.


To stay updated SIGN UP or visit their blog at Http://khandrolingpapers.blogspot.com




[KPC members: Tatianna, Madeline, Brenda, and Sheryl]

****

We're Back!!! Khandroling Farm Co-op Meeting

         

Bottom LEFT TO RIGHT: Tim, Vladimir, Jeremy, Amanda, Martin, 

2nd ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Bret, Mickayla, Nary

                                               (absent from Photo --Lauri Marder & Jacqueline Gens)                                                                                                                     

On Thursday, February 18, 2016 several Dzogchen Community members from Tsegyalgar East met at Lauri and Brett's Ox and Rabbit B & B  in Shelburne Falls for a pot-luck dinner /meeting to explore reviving the Lower Khandroling Farm Co-op for 2016. Among those present were our gekod, Jeremy Keaton; Community secretary Tim Fisher; Nary Mitchell, an orIginal member of the Farm Co-op; Tim's housemates, Vladimir Zaitsey and Mickyala Dilorenzo; Red Gakyil member Amanda Pollock; SSI Bookstore co-manager, Martin Bobak; SSI secretary, Bret Bourman and Lauri Marder; and Jacqueline Gens, founder of Khandroling Paper Cooperative in 2012 whose idea it was to meet together. 

The purpose of the meeting was to "meet and greet" newer members of the community who have shown interest in the Farm Co-op and to focus on their personal experiences, ideas and skills they have for the revival of the farm on Lower Khandroling. 

To facilitate this Community building process with its emphasis on collaboration and create the necessary infrastructure to run the Farm Co-op efficiently, the group will meet every three weeks for a pot-luck dinner meeting. Anyone interested in attending, please contact the secretary Tim Fisher at secretary@tsegyalgar.org

The NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING is Thursday, March 10, 2016  at 6:00 PM

The current assignment is for everyone to bring 1 package of starter seeds to the March 10 meeting. Our agenda will cover a combination of sharing resources, scheduling of necessary activities and priorities, as well as other agenda items introduced by the participants. If anyone is interested in the development of an agricultural cooperative, now is the time to get on board where numerous skills and talents are required, not just an agricultural background. 

By March 10,  Spring will be around the corner. So come join us as we inaugurate a new season. 

Gekod's Report of 2015 Improvements at Tsegyalgar East PART 1

[Divination Soups Photo by Paula Barry]

Despite some financial challenges, 2015 proved a productive year for making many improvements to Tsegyalgar East including both the Yellow Schoolhouse and Khandroling properties. These are summarized in Jeremy Keaton's, the Gekod at TE, in a report below.

In addition to the following improvements, new initiatives for practice and online resources such as webcasting all monthly pujas began in 2015. In keeping with Losar, we  bring to a close the past year and look forward to an active Year of the Fire Monkey. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our report for activities scheduled for 2016. 

2015 RECAP from the Gekod:

Schoolhouse
My primary focus for the Schoolhouse in 2015 was to focus on energy efficiency improvements in the most optimal way possible by using primarily any materials we already have in order to have the largest impact on saving money in the long term, to make sustainability of our community more possible. Many of these things didn't cost us anything and others very little.

• Attic: Everything stored in the attic has been taken out. Removed the old cistern and dismantled the chimney to a few feet below the attic floor. Built a frame to seal off the chimney to prevent air leakage and heat loss. Floor was sealed off from the chimney to the back of the building above the crawlspace to stop heat loss and so it can hold insulation. Improved the ventilation of the attic. Finally, inside the attic floor was insulated and the insulation in the walls of the second floor were topped off. These things will make huge differences in our heating bill and reduce stress on the heating system here. It will also help to prevent future ice damage and leakage. The bricks will be sold.

• Replaced all 9 thermostats in the building with programmable thermostats. They cost nearly nothing. This was primarily done to ensure that the heat is turned back down to 50 degrees automatically, since it is common that people forget to do this, even though there are signs. Please continue to remember to turn the heat down when you leave by pressing the down buttons to set the heat back to 50 degrees.

• Added a large amount of pipe insulation to the heating system, which reduces our heating bill, protects pipes from freezing and stops condensation from cold pipes in the summer which mitigates some mold formation.

• Dormitory ceiling was repaired. The dorm closet was repaired and finished, making it air tight to prevent heat loss into the attic, insulated and hid the pipes behind a wall and a dropped ceiling to keep heat where we want it to be. The closet in one of the bedrooms was finished and sealed as well for the same purpose.

• All new energy efficient LED lighting was installed in the entire Schoolhouse. All brand new LED tube lights replaces the fluorescent light bulbs, new fixtures and covers were installed and dimmer switches installed in the Gonpa to reduce brightness and save money. Here are a little bit of statistics involving the lighting in the Gonpa:

1. - There are 144 bulbs in the Gonpa. Changing them from fluorescent (if 144 bulbs were on) to LED bulbs cut the power usage cost of lighting in half in the Gonpa when at full brightness.

2. - If all 144 bulbs are on and dimmed to the lowest setting of 30%, they use less power than 7 incandescent 100 watt screw-in bulbs. That is an 85% reduction in costs of electricity for lighting in the Gonpa.

• Much thicker vinyl was cut for all of the windows in the Schoolhouse. This vinyl is now being used for its second year and will likely last a few more years. This saves costs in covering the windows each year, costing only tape and staples, and acts as a thicker insulating and air leakage sealer. This saves money on our heating bill, and reduces drafts.

• Many of the windows leak air primarily due to the tops of the windows sagging down. Some descend faster, some slower. Strong wooden dowels were primed and installed in these windows to prop up the top parts of the windows to prevent sagging. In 2015, 3 different times I had to push many of the windows up so they would seal properly. Many people who are familiar with working on the building know what I am talking about. This problem is essentially solved and simplifies the Geko position with the dowels installed.

• Other many more smaller air leakage blockage and energy efficiency related work has been done as well.  As a result of all of the above, costs have been reduced and we burn less propane for eating, even with increasing activity. The Schoolhouse holds heat significantly better than in the past, is more comfortable for visitors, and there is less stress on the heating systems, effectively extending the life of the systems and likely reducing the cost of maintenance and repairs over the life of the system.

Other Schoolhouse work in 2015:
• Switches were installed for the string lights in the Gonpa, making available softer lighting.

• New shelving was installed in the library, as well as LED lights for the work stations, a tea station, new curtains, and a computer. Cataloging, archiving and digitizing library materials is ongoing and much progress was made in the library in 2015.

• A reception area was created in the building foyer with a couch and some comfortable seating along with small tables were moved into the main hall of the Schoolhouse for anyone who comes to visit.

• Repointing of the foundation brick around the Schoolhouse was finished as well as some patching of the parking lot around the edge of the Schoolhouse.

• Nary built and tested a Hugelkulture bed to grow lettuce and vegetables for anyone staying at the Schoolhouse to eat, as well as the lettuce and food planted in any of the flower beds around the Schoolhouse. This design has been begun on Khandroling.

• The most used mandala on the floor of the Gonpa was repaired and repainted.

LIbrary:
Archivist/Librarian, Marit Cranmer for many months has worked to develop storage systems for the library holdings developed over thirty years and to create an inviting environment to study in. The library was outfitted with drapes, new bookshelves and repairs as needed.  She is currently digitizing many practice and teaching tapes onto the Library computer as a resource for listening to Teachings in the library. Collections of dharma publications have grown significantly. Today there is a "Reserve" shelf for SMS related texts quoted in The Precious Vase.                                                                                                                             
Network: 

I rebuilt essentially the entire computer network system here in the Schoolhouse. When I first came, there were many problems. As time went on, more problems manifested and the network started collapsing in large sections, one after the other. In summary, I hard wired everything I could, ran new wires to replace old wires that were faulty or damaged, threw away all 3 old routers and bought 1 new, secure, strong router to replace them all, installed switches where there were old routers (switches are very cheap and generally are more durable). We also got a new gateway. In brief, approximately 90% of the networking in the building is brand new, save a few wires.

Dark Retreat Cabin:
• Thoroughly cleaned and restored to good working condition so that people can do retreat in the cabin again. New door installed. Blockage of some mice entry and air leakage.

PART 1

Khandroling:
• A new section of road was built between the pond and the Vajra Hall.

• Siding on the bathhouse was finished.

• Togal cabin foundation partially stabilized.

• Wood finish applied to the inside walls and ceiling of the Togal cabin to prevent further mildew formation.

• Wood chip piles were spread around to create a path to the Guardian cabin from Bathhouse, to Rinpoche's cabin from the new section of the road, and to create a new walking scenic path from the Pond cabin to the Vajra Hall.

• Repainting of the Guardian cabin steps and the Endless Knots.

• We cleaned out underneath and around all of the cabins. There was very much extra wood and materials underneath the cabins that were relocated to one spot so we can see clearly what materials we have for future development. T=

-Jeremy Keaton

Shang Shung Institute to Offer Weekly Meditation Practice to the Public

Open to All. No registration required.

Thursdays 8:00-9:00AM

Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA 01341

Please arrive a little bit early to be seated by the beginning of the session.
Stay and visit afterward. SSI Bookstore opens at 9:30AM.

The practice of the Yoga of the calm state (Tib. ཞི་གནས་ zhi gnas) is an essential practice for living a harmonious, healthy and happy life. It brings into balance body, energy and mind.

A daily meditation practice can help to stabilize and clarify emotions and freshen life. The benefits of meditation have been scientifically established. Meditation can reduce stress and relieve physical, mental and emotional imbalances. Meditation can improve concentration, as well as improving the health of our cardiovascular and immune systems.

All are welcome to sit together in the practice of the yoga of the calm state. These practice sessions are open to people of all levels and capacities. No registration is required.

Please feel free to contact the coordinator at b.bourman@shangshunginstitute.org with any questions about this activity.

Losar, Tibetan New Year Traditions by Dr.Phuntsog Wangmo

Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo has written an article in The Mirror on Losar, the Tibetan New Year . The article is rich in detail regarding the many traditions and customs of Losar. To continue reading, click on the link below.

Losar celebration with horses. Photo L. Ottaviani

Tibetan New Year is called Losar and is celebrated to welcome in the New Year. New Year is a festival common to the whole world and celebrated at different times, according to the way the beginning of a new year is calculated. There are, however, great differences within Tibet re­garding the preparations for the auspicious ceremonies of the New Year determined by the cus­toms of certain regions. Tibetan people who live in high, snowy regions have many traditional festivals, the New Year being the most elaborate.

To read more, visit the Mirror

2016 Membership Renewal at Tsegyalgar East

Dear Tsegyalgar East Members,

On behalf of the TSEGYALGAR East Gakyil and in the spirit of the coming Losar, we want to thank you all for your last year Membership and announce that our 2016 MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Renew 2016 / Become a member
https://dzogchen.net

This year our membership tiers are adapted to the guidelines issued by the International Gakyil and you can choose between the 3 tiers

• Ordinary: $260 / $21 monthly
• Global Sustaining: $550 /$45 monthly
• Global Meritorious: $1650 / $137 monthly

*The monthly installment payment are meant to help those of you in financial hardship - (whenever possible please make full membership payment)

PAID Members have FULL access to Closed Webcasts, replays and associated restricted files also FREE download of Mirror Newsletter. For more benefits visit http://tsegyalgar.org/membership/2016membership/

ABOUT OUR MEMBERSHIP

Through Membership fee sharing, you contribute to the life of your Gar, your Ling, and the International Dzogchen Community. A certain portion of everyone’s Membership fee helps cover these annual expenses, as well as the cost of organizing programs and the creation and hosting of a whole schedule of events.

Our Membership is still the fundamental commitment of “taking responsibility” and represents Tsegyalgar's lifeblood, allowing us to sustain Rinpoche's Dzogchen Teachings in North America.

https://dzogchen.net

With many thanks,
Tsegyalgar East Gakyil

Announcing Tsegyalgar Summer Celebration July 31-August 7, 2016

Visit the Tsegyalgar website for further information about this exciting program

Chatral Rinpoche (1913-2015)

Kyabjé Chatral Rinpoche, Sangye Dorje (Tib. བྱ་བྲལ་སངས་རྒྱས་རྡོ་རྗེ་, Wyl.bya bral sangs rgyas rdo rje) (1913–2015) was a renowned Dzogchenmaster, a reclusive yogin famous for his great realization and strict discipline. A disciple of the great master Khenpo Ngakchung, he was widely regarded as one of the most highly realized Dzogchen yogins of recent times. In addition to his relationship with Khenpo Ngakchung, Chatral Rinpoche also studied with some of the last century's most renowned masters, including Dudjom Rinpoche,Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, and the famed dakini, Sera Khandro. Rinpoche was one of the primary lineage holders of theLongchen Nyingtik, and in particular the lineage that descends through Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jikmé Gyalwé Nyugu and then on to Patrul Rinpoche.  (reprinted from Rigpa wiki)

Chatral Rinpoche’s Long Life Prayer to Choegyal Namkhai Norbu

Year of the Fire Monkey Losar Schedule at Tsegyalgar East

Original art by Ingmar Pema Dechen

Ho you Fire Monkey
Adorable Familiar of blessed places
Resourceful, enchanting
Cunning when need be
Your chatter can flatten the dolts of ignorance
When you take charge in a carpe diem kind of way
Your Ballast of confidence
Lifts our spirits
Seer of the future
Interlocutor to lost opportunities
Let’s take to heart
The ease of your swing from here to there
Always awake in the fire.

Jacqueline Gens

Tsegyalgar East, 2016

Losar and Pre-Losar activities at the Schoolhouse

Sunday February 7 

4:00 pm Learn to make Divination soup and assist Yeshe-la if you like

6:00 pm Divination soup! **Please RSVP to secretary@shangshung.org by
January31 at 12 pm if you are planning to attend so we know how many dumplings to make.

Monday February 8

6:00 pm New Moon Ganapuja

7:30 pm Demystifying SMS

Tuesday February 9 ( Losar ) Fire Monkey Year

7:00 am Long Life Practice

8:00 am Breakfast 
5:00 pm Pot luck dinner and Pagchen

Thursday February 11

9:00 am Lungta raising

We could use a couple of strong volunteers in particular to help set up ladders and hang Lungta. Please help by donating soup ingredients (beef, lamb, chicken) contact secretary@shangshung.org to arrange

Tashi delek and Happy Losar to all!

Mirror 130 PDF Now Available

Mirror 130 PDF Online

Happy New Year from The Mirror!

We are happy to inform you that the newest PDF, Mirror 130, is up on line at melong.com for your downloading, viewing off line and printing pleasure. This is actually the last PDF of 2015, so we can expect four more PDF’s in 2016.

This issue’s feature contains the history and current status of Tashigar North and South, the Gars, Lings and Centers of South America, filled with first hand accounts and photos of these two important Gars and their satellites. The Teaching from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu called The Knowledge of our Real Condition, is from Rinpoche’s public talk in Beijing, China, October 9, 2015. There is some important information from the IDC regarding membership and the registration and use of the new site: dzogchen.net, which all Community members may want to become familiar with.

There are updates from ASIA and the activity related to the earthquake in Nepal, from Dzamling Gar and Giovanni Boni on the progress and status of the newest member of the international Dzogchen Community family, an article and photos on the birth of Lekdanling, the dynamic new center for the Dzogchen Community and Shang Shung Institute in London, UK, photos and the story of the construction of the Stupa of Perfect Victory at Kunsangar North in Russia, an announcement about new publications from Shang Shung Publications of The Voice of the Bee and Mount Kailash, the Lost Kingdom of Tibet, and news from the Ka Ter Translation Project.

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

***

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.

***

[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

***