Video of Michela Martello Community Artist

Michela Martello, a Dzogchen Community member, living in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with her husband Mauro, is an artist. Vist her website at: http://www.michelamartello.com


To view a video of Michela at work visit link below: 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwTZgxNbGqi2SHkyZnB5TEl1Qms/edit

Ati the Birthday Boy

While we watched the live events from Tenerife via the Mandarava webcast, here at Tsegyalgar East we also celebrated the 1st birthday of Ati born on Rinpoche's birthday a year ago.  Yuchen Namkhai captured a few shots of the festivities with her cell phone. Below a photo by Dorin of the face painting with Tseyang and Adam.

To see more, use this link: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bwdg2QuudIVjV2JXZlpaZloxdWs&usp=sharing

Come Celebrate

Come celebrate Chogyal Namkhai Norbu's birthday as well as our own Ati's first on December 8-- a full day dedicated to Practice and Community. Read the full schedule at Tsegyalgar East below:

Sun 12/8

9:30am: Short Practice of Mandarava with many mantras.

12-1:30pm: Afternoon Teachings from Tenerife & Long Mandarava Practice (with Webcast)

1:30pm: 1st Birthday Party for Ati Norbu

2:30pm: Tibetan Dancing (Confirmed, with Webcast from Tenerife!!)

5pm: Vajra Dance Tun in Costume 

6pm: Ganapuja with Song of Vajra Dance in Costume

Afterwards: Potluck Party Birthday Celebration!!

Important Information from the International Gakyil About The Mirror

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE IG AND THE MIRROR

Transition of responsibility for services from Shang Shung Institute to the International Dzogchen Community.

As part of the reorganisation of the Dzogchen Community and of Shang Shung Institute, it has been the intention to pass over responsibility for services relating to the IDC so that Shang Shung Institute is free to focus on its core purpose of working for the continuation of Tibetan Culture in all its aspects.

The transition of responsibility for some key services is being brought forward to Jan 1st 2014.
From that time, the Gakyil of the International Dzogchen Community will take on responsibility for:

• the Mirror
• the Webcast
• and the coordination of SMS exams and trainings, for Instructors as well as for other students.

Contributions from the Gars for these services, which have previously been paid to SSI, will now need to be paid to the IDC account – further 

details will be sent to the Gakyils of Gars and Lings.

The Mirror:
A committee has been set up under the Blue International Gakyil umbrella.
It was hoped that it might be possible to continue publication in the usual format, at least through this transition period. However it has become clear that the paper publication of the Mirror is not financially sustainable at the moment, and Rinpoche has approved a provisional move to online only.

The committee has passed on its criteria for a blog style publication to the IG Red Management Services Committee to investigate solutions. This would retain all essential features, should have possibility to print some or all for personal use, and with multi language options. There would still be costs and these would need to be met by the Gars as before ; but the online publication would be open and free to all. An open letter from the Mirror follows.

The Webcast:
No change is currently planned in the existing system, except perhaps to change the branding on the webpage from SSI to IDC.
IDC will need to take over login and password support and this will be announced as it happens.

Santi Maha Sangha:

Details will be announced as they become available.

Communication about the Mirror, December 1, 2013 

Dear Friends at the Gars and Lings,
We would like to send you some important information about The Mirror for the coming year. Firstly, with the New Year, The Mirror will be moving from the 'umbrella' of Shang Shung Institute to the ‘umbrella’ of the International Dzogchen Community and the IG, which will bring about a few changes.
Our online website – melong.com – will become an online journal in a blog style format, where we will continue to do our best to bring you the most recent news from our global Community, keep you updated on Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s latest schedule and publish feature articles, videos and photos from our worldwide sangha. Other new features we intend to incorporate in the online journal include the possibility to print out material and readers will no longer need to login to access articles. We are planning to present the new online Mirror in late January after the last issue of 2013, no.125, has been published.
At the same time, the changes will also mean that there will be an interim period during which we will not be publishing the paper version of the newspaper due, unfortunately, to being unable to sustain its cost. If circumstances permit and there is sufficient interest, we may try to produce one or two print-on-demand issues in the coming year.

The new online Mirror will be open to all members of the Dzogchen Community and the general public since there will be no login required. This will mean that we no longer require membership information from the Gars and Lings in order to give access to current members.

So that is The Mirror's big news for 2014. We so appreciate each Gar and Ling's ongoing and consistent support and generosity on many levels that has helped us to keep going.
We are looking forward to a new and exciting online Mirror that has functionality for everyone who would like to read it!
If you have any questions or concerns, please write us:

Naomi Zeitz mirror@tsegyalgar.org and Liz Granger liz@melong.com

Warm wishes and holiday greetings,
The Mirror Staff and the IG

Tenerife News "Dream Comes through for Dzogchen Master"

Read the feature article about Dzamling Gar in the Tenerife News here.

Our Community

Our Community membership mailing for Year of the Wood Horse has gone out. Please consider renewing your membership online early, which will benefit our many projects in 2014 including the 30th Anniversary of Tsegyalgar East and the Inauguration of the Mandala Hall followed by a retreat (July 16-20, 2014) with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. If you are new to the Dzogchen Community, we invite you to read about the many benefits of becoming a member.

More than ever Tsegyalgar East seeks ways to serve members  - whether it is the SMS online study group, our Teachers Training Fund, or ongoing beginners courses in Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance year-round, we couldn't do it without your support. 

Come Join us for another year, Come Join the Dance!

Tsegyalgar West Holiday Retreat December 20, 2013-January 3, 2014

Visit their webpages for further information at http://tsegyalgar.org/localcenters/tsegyalgarwest/

Baja Ca Sur, Mexico is the home of Tsegyalgar West, situated on Los Naranjas Road in the San Jose Mountains. The beautiful ranch was given to the International Dzogchen Community in 2003. Since then we have been offering teachings in Yoga Yantra, The Dance of the Vajra, Mandarava, Chod as well as Santi Maha Sangha study/practice and Dzogchen pure awareness practices.

Tsegyalgar West, in the mountains near San Jose del Cabo is a rustic retreat center. This beautiful and wild 3,000 acre land has natural springs, granite boulders, grand vistas and deep quiet for retreat. There are 14 casitas available for sleeping and a nice camping area with bathhouses. Many good spots exist in the natural environment for personal retreat. In addition is a Vajra Dance mandala platform with palapa roof, a communal kitchen for group retreats, solar electricity, a big open courtyard and many hiking trails.

Mandarava Open Webcast with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu December 5th-9th, 2013 and his Birthday December 8 Schedule at Tsegyalgar East

                                Mandarava Chüdlen Retreat 
                                             December 5th - 9th, 2013

OPEN WEBCAST, Tenerife, Canary Islands, GMT+0

To Listen Live Visit: http://www.shangshunginstitute.net/webcast/

This link also has downloads for practice and a world-wide clock converter.

Please note that the Tenerife time is 5 hours ahead of EST. Bold indicates local EST time  - repeat the time indicated below in bold for EST or adjust to your own time zone.

December 5

5 - 7 pm Giving introduction about the retreat teaching and practice of chüdlen.

Noon-2:00 PM EST

December 6 
10 - 12 pm Giving donwang of Mandarava and instruction about the practice.
5:00 AM-7:00 AM EST

5 - 6:30 pm We do practice of Mandarava intensively with chüdlen.
Noon-1:30 PM EST 

December 7
10 - 12 pm Giving the instruction of Srogthig Tsalung of Mandarava and doing the short practice of Mandarava.
5 - 6:30 pm We do practice of Mandarava intensively with chüdlen.

December 8 - Rinpoche's Birthday* (see Tsegyalgar East events below)
10 - 12 pm Giving the instruction on how to apply the practice of Mandarava more short way and doing the short practice of Mandarava.

5 - 6:30 pm We do practice of Mandarava intensively with chüdlen.
6.30pm -7:30pm Dzamling Gar Lottery.
7:30pm Celebration of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's birthday and Tibetan Modern Dances

December 9
10 - 12 pm We do practice of Mandarava with chüdlen and its Gana Puja

Mandarava Chudlen Practice : Get it here

Rinpoche's Birthday Schedule December 8 at Tsegyalgar East  - Bring your Dadars and practice books!

Sun 12/8

9:30am: Short Practice of Mandarava with many mantras.

12-1:30pm: Afternoon Teachings from Tenerife & Long Mandarava Practice (with Webcast)

1:30pm: 1st Birthday Party for Ati Norbu

2:30pm: Tibetan Dancing (Confirmed, with Webcast from Tenerife!!)

5pm: Vajra Dance Tun in Costume 

6pm: Ganapuja with Song of Vajra Dance in Costume

Afterwards: Potluck Party Birthday Celebration!!

Best wishes,

Blue Gakyil

Tsegyalgar East

Sean's Crystal Ball on Khandroling

Here is what Sean Quinn's eye caught in the reflection of the crystal ball at the center of the Mandala Hall on Khandroling. (Reprinted from Facebook)

Who's that Handsome Father of the Bride in the NY TImes?

 John La France giving his daughter Marie away in a much celebrated wedding in New Orleans featured in the NY Times on November 22, 2013.

Khandroling Paper Cooperative Invites Submissions for a Festshcrift in Honor of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

Khandroling Paper Cooperative cordially invites international Dzogchen Community members to submit their writings, dreams, photos, calligraphy and visual arts works about the Vajra Dance to be part of a Festschrift in honor Chögyal Namkhai Norbu during the Tsegyalgar's 30th Anniversary Celebration: Come Join the Dance and the Inauguration of the magnificent Vajra Hall to house the only Universal Mandala on earth.

We especially invite Vajra Dance teachers to pass this message on during their courses internationally. 

The Festschrift will be a handbound leather book covered in part with Khandroling papers made with many sacred substances presented to Rinpoche as an honorifc gift sometime during the Vajra Hall Inauguration July 11-12, 2014. The selection of the Vajra Dance as an appropriate topic was approved by Prima Mai. The Literal meaning of "Festschrift" is Celebration (Fest)  Writing (Schrift).

If sufficient funds are raised we may duplicate the project for internal distribution to the community in order to share the communications or create a dedicated webpage. The content of the Festschrift will serve as a chronicle for future generations.

To stream line the process of collecting the works without any fancy software requirements or logistics, please apply the following guidelines:

1) All written text of dreams, stories, poems etc must be submitted as a word document fully formatted and with your name and date of composition on each page. Complicated formatting can be submitted as rich text.

2) Each person is limited to one (one sided)  OR two (one-sided) pages that can be printed vertically or horizontally on  8 1/2 x 11 standard paper.

3) Please send a high resolution jpeg (only) of your art work and/or photos that can also be printed vertically or horizontally on 8 1/2 x 11" paper

4) Email to me at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com with your attachments (save your attachments with your name). PLEASE indicate in the subject line   "KPC FESTSCRIFT" which will help me search your email efficiently among my sea of emails.

The above  materials will be tipped into the completed album(s). Khandroling Paper Cooperative will do all the final printing on archival acid-free paper.  

The deadline for submissions is in February AFTER the VD teachers meeting in Tenerife on February 14, 2014. Please write me if you have questions at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com

Sincerely

Jacqueline Gens

Khandroling Paper Cooperative

Naomi, Sheryl, Margherita, Kathryn, Tatiana, Brenda, Madeline

The following video explains what a Festschrift is. In this particular instance, the Festschrift is dedicated to Calligraphy teacher and artist Lloyd Reynolds who was a teacher of the poets Gary Snyder and Philip Whalen at Reed College. It exemplifies the kind of creative documents we would like to gather and then present to Rinpoche on the occasion of the Inauguration of the Mandala Hall for the only Universal Mandala on earth. 

Note: They use the rare but sometimes alternate spelling "Fetschrift"

Report from the Khandroling Development Team by Yuchen Namkhai

(Yuchen Namkhai)

On 11/24/2013 the Khandroling Development Committee met in Rinpoche's house (aka Khandroling farmhouse). Present at the meeting were Vern, John F., Joe, Nari, Sean, Paula, Martina and Jacob, Jerry, Neil, and myself (Yuchen).

Topics of discussion:

1) What functions should the proposed building(s) be built for 

                        2) What architectural style should be used  

3) What can the other 2 potential building lots be used for 

4) Where is the money going to come from

Joe summarized the situation of Khandroling Land; zoning is rural resident and we have sanitary restrictions which imply limited conventional septic access. Rural resident zoning allow resident buildings and it could allow some sort of special assembly dwelling if we audit and justify it to the Board of the Town. But that is a very expensive way to pursue because you need to follow a long list of requirements (security to parking traffic, sanitation, access, etc).

Working with composting toilets will stretch our bedrooms capacity.
Up to now we have the capacity for 3 building lots. One of them is the site Rinpoche appointed for the residential main house (the DCA Living Center) and attached auxiliary structure (Gonpa).

1) Functionality of the building: the main house would work as a living center, a welcoming place for people of any walk of life in which to spend quality time together. Activities in the house would range from: daily chores, food prep, products prep, courses, entertainment, class time, etc.The main house could have 4 bedrooms (1 for the geko and 3 possible rent out), large kitchen-dining area and the connected gonpa area.2) Architectural style would be New England traditional colonial style with attention for low maintenance costs, high energy efficiency and green materials.3) The remaining 2 lots could be either a dorm project/guest house or for people interested in a co-housing life-long lease (as Tashigar south); the only requirement is for people to show up and seriously commit on the project with money and everything (since the community can not take this responsibility at the moment).One project by Dominik that came to the committee's attention represents the living center as part of a larger Mandala of activities and synergies.  4) Where will the money come from? The big issue seems to be the money... we are dealing with a tough situation lately since TSE and TSW just committed with the new building in Dzamlingar. The annual report of 2012-13 activities, profit and loses will give a better picture of the situation to all members.We believe we need to go beyond membership and address financial issues in a more sustainable way.

(Nari, Sean and Martina (Left to right)

We brainstormed a little about Khandroling Cooperative and how that could be the seed for something productive... in 3-4 years we're going to have the first big yields from the berries and honey (Joe estimated something like $50,000), in the meantime we could explore something else that we can grow there, as well as activities that can bring some income to the DCA.

In the meantime we would also like to address what is missing in our DCA and here in Khandroling; how can we generate more commitment to the land, community and activities? How can we improve communication and engagement?

There are still lots of questions we still don't know the answers...


Love,
Yuchen

[Photos by Neil Murray]

Old Friends/ New Work, James Smith and Efrem Marder Works on Paper and Canvas

Photo of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu on the first day he visited Khandroling and carved the Longsal Symbol

[Photo Courtesy of Gerry Steinberg]

Looking Forward to 2014

[Photo by Jacqueline Gens]

Dear Tsegyalgar East Members and Friends,

On behalf of the Tsegyalgar East Gakyil, in the spirit of the coming holidays, we would like to thank everyone for your generosity and collaboration during 2013. This year, Tsegyalgar East's membership drive is well under way with individual members receiving their 2014 membership renewals in the mail shortly.

This is a time when traditionally the Yellow Gakyil looks forward to creating our 2014 budget. There is so much to anticipate in 2014 — our Tsegyalgar 30th Celebration with its highpoint of the Mandala Hall Inauguration (July 11-13, 2014); followed by a retreat with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu; a renewed commitment to further the mission of Shang Shung Institute; the mandate to build a community house/gompa between lower and upper Khandroling for year round use; new community initiatives such as the Khandroling Farm Coop and Khandroling Papermaking Cooperative; our new Community blog at www.tsegyalgar.blogspot.com; and explorations to bring you online practices and a dedicated SMS study group.   Read More......

Your early renewal is critical to making the Inauguration of the Mandala Hall and following retreat a success by providing the necessary financial support leading up to our glorious summer.

The easiest way to renew your membership is online at:
www.tsegyalgar.org/support/onlinemembership

or download a membership renewal form and submit by mail
www.tsegyalgar.org/membership/membershipforms

First dancers on the painted Universal Mandala, photo by Neil Murray

[Photo courtesy of the Mirror Facebook]

Shang Shung Institute USA Launches Fundraising on Indiegogo

This campaign is raising funds on behalf of Shang Shung Institute Of America Inc, a verified nonprofit. The campaign does not necessarily reflect the views of the nonprofit or have any formal association with it. All contributions are considered unrestricted gifts and can't be specified for any purpose.

To read more, click here  where you can donate and see all the wonderful gifts for donors and a film about the Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine

 

A Message from Dzamling Gar

Dear Gakyils of our International Dzogchen Community,

We have more information to present to you.The plan for Dzamling Gar has been developed further, as presented during the Inauguration.

There are four phases to the development, and phase 2 includes 5 houses which will be allocated to the pairs of Gars- one for Meri Gars East and West, Kunsan Gars North and South, Tsegyal Gars East and West, Tashi Gars North and South, and Namgyal Gars North and South. 

The method of allocation will be announced  by Rinpoche on November 18^th.

The pairs of Gars then have 3 months to decide whether or not they will accept the offer of a house at Dzamling Gar, since they will need to accept responsibility to complete their house ready for occupation in 2 years, which can cost in the region of € 80,000. The completed houses will each have space for a representative of the pairs of Gars to live at Dzamling Gar, and 4 apartments available to rent out to members of the International Dzogchen Community.In this way, the house fulfils several functions simultaneously:

• it makes a permanent ongoing point of connection between all the Gars;
• it provides accommodation in Dzamling Gar for IDC members from all over the world;
• and it also provides income for maintaining itself,
• and income to benefit the Gars

We know that these are financially challengng times for many people, but we hope very much that all the Gars will feel able to take this opportunity to participate in the development of Dzamling Gar as a truly Global Gar for all to come, relax, enjoy, and in this way realize!

The fundraising committee of the IDC Gakyil is here to help, if you are looking for fundraising strategies to raise the funds for this project - we don't want any Gar to miss out on this wonderful opportunity! 

Please email <yellow@dzogchencommunity.org >.

We look forward to meeting you later this week,

Ana Sanchez, Michele Salvatore and Sol Cañero

Dzamling Gar Gakyil

The Unmasking of the Universal Mandala

Well, Sean Quinn has been at it again taking those gorgeous photos  on Khandroling.  Earlier today, the masking tape and plastic covering the Universal Mandala floor was removed. Here is the result for those of you not on Facebook to see Sean's recent photographic record.  For the team of volunteers, donors and long time project managers--Tsegyalgar East offers our infinite gratitude for all your hard work. 

[Photos by Sean Quinn)

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Lama Tsultrim Allione Sign Dam Trog Agreement

The following information was cited on the Mirror facebook page this morning-- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Lama Tsultrim Allione sign Dam Trog Agreement in Tenerife. Read about this agreement in a previous post. 

"Dam Trog"  means "Samaya Fellowship", where the organizations function independently but have a close association and transmission ties and exchanges of teachers and teachings.

LIve Webcast Schedule of Dzamlingar Inauguration November 15-18, 2013

CLICK HERE FOR NEW VIDEO OF THE DZAMLING GAR SONG AND DANCE

The original lyrics can be found here. 
The English translation  here.

Th Dzamlingar Song was composed and recorded by 
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu during his stay at Dzamlingar January, 2013.

We are fortunate to be able to participate in the Global Gar's Inauguration through free live webcast November 15-18, 2013 (TIME ZONE GMT+0).

DZAMLINGAR SCHEDULE

Friday, November 15, 2013

11:00     Opening of Dzmalingar

15:30     Global Practice of Khalongdorjekar, (12A)

16:00     Tibetan Dance Presentation with more Tibetan songs and dances

Saturday, November 16, 2013

10:00     General Meeting on Dzamlinggar Development Project

17:00     Tibetan Songs and Dances

Sunday, November 17, 2013

8:00 Mandarava Ganapuja

Monday, November 18, 2013

10:00 Concluding talks about Dzmalingar Development Project

16:00 Closing Ceremony and final address by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

17:00 Tibetan Songs and Dances

Visit the website URL for each time where you will also find an updated schedule at http://shangshunginstitute.net/website

Be sure to adjust your local time using the universal time converter

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ or your favorite

Further Information about the World-Wide Transmission and Explanation

The worldwide transmission of Adzom Drugpa is coming up soon on Thursday, November 28th at 7am EST.  Due to the Thanksgiving holiday the transmission will not be hosted per usual at the Tsegyalgar East Gonpa.  

However, you will still be able to connect to the World-Wide transmission for free from any location at the time above via this link: 

http://www.shangshunginstitute.net/webcast/index.php

We will be hosting a World-Wide Transmission explanation with Community Member Gerry Steinberg at the Tsegyalgar East Gonpa at 7:30pm on Thursday, November 21st.  For first timers, this is required. You can call in to this explanation session from anywhere in the USA.  For more details on how to do so, please contact our secretary, Harold Graves, at 413-369-4153or secretary@tsegyalgar.org.

Best wishes,

Blue Gakyil