Urgent Request to Support Asia Mission to Khamdogar Today

Dear Friends of ASIA,

ASIA has the opportunity to deliver much needed aid to KHAMDOGAR right now! 

WE LEAVE VERY SOON FOR XINING! POSSIBLY AS SOON AS THIS WEEK!

PLEASE MAKE A DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT RIGHT NOW

SO WE DON’T MISS THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER AID!

WHY IS YOUR PARTICIPATION CRUCIAL?
All would be lost without the support of YOU, Dzogchen Community members because we cannot do public fund raising for this project. It is too sensitive and too specific. We rely completely on collaboration from you.

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK
to make a secure donation of any amount by credit card via paypal right now.

To make a donation by check, please make your check out to ASIA write Khamdogar  in the memo, put it in an envelope and mail it RIGHT AWAY! 
ASIA, P.O. Box 124, Conway, MA 01376-0124 USA

Please email andreamnasca@gmail.com to inform us that we can count on you and state the amount of your donation. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

KHAMDOGAR is the spiritual community that developed around RIGDZIN CHANGCHUB DORJE, the root master of CHOEGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU RINPOCHE who directly transmitted the knowledge of Dzogchen to Rinpoche, when Rinpoche resided there with him for six months in 1955. 

This project presents many challenges because it is in a geographically remote and politically sensitive region. It is very difficult, sometimes impossible to make a mission there to deliver aid but WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

Our director spoke with Rinpoche a couple years ago about Khamdogar asking, how can we continue in the face of all these obstacles? Rinpoche replied, <b>“WE MUST NEVER GIVE UP!”</b> We are the only ones who can help them. SO PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TODAY ~ THANK YOU!

The Khamdogar project has several FUNDRAISING GOALS including: 

• building a small study and practice college
• restoring a printing house
• constructing an aqueduct
• restoring the Chortens of Rigdzin Changchub Dorje
• restoring an old temple housing the relics of Changchub Dorje

The total estimated cost is $227,150 USD. 

In 2001, Rinpoche sent a handwritten letter to Tsegyalgar East, asking us to “take care of” and “be responsible for” Khamdogar. So far we’ve been able to support this holy place via 66 long distance sponsorships, annual fund raising and auction donations at Dzogchen retreats. THANK YOU! But ASIA opens the support of this project to anyone in the International Dzogchen Community who would like to participate. You don’t have to be from Tsegyalgar to donate.

Due to the very difficult situation in this region, we cannot manage this project in the usual way, preparing project proposals, budgets and financial narrative reports. Nevertheless, we must try to provide the financial support needed to maintain the life of the Khamdogar community and our spiritual tradition. We will provide an update on the situation when our counterpart returns.

Khamdogar Project: History & Overview

Khamdogar is an ancient community of practitioners founded by Rigdzin Changchub Dorje, the master of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, in the early 1900s. Rigdzin Changchub Dorje, a Dzogchen master and a famous Terton (discoverer of treasures) lived in Khamdogar with his family working as a doctor and transmitting his teachings.

Near Khamdogar, in an area called Dedrol, there is a cave in which Atha Lhamo, the daughter of Master Changchub Dorje, lived and practiced. After the Cultural Revolution, nuns built a small nunnery and currently there are 66 nuns who live in retreat for long periods (they take turns, half of them doing practice for several months while the others serve them and then they trade). 

The entire complex of Khamdogar is in ruins and the local people live in extreme poverty. The local community of practitioners, laypeople, monks & nuns who still live there, under the spiritual guidance of the son of Atha Lhamo - the daughter of Rigdzin Changchub Dorje, who attained the rainbow body ‚Äì need our help. Fortunately, at this very moment, we have the opportunity to deliver aid to them. 

ASIA, founded in 1988 by Choegyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, is the humanitarian aspect of our worldwide Dzogchen Community.  ASIA has worked continuously for over 25 years to help the Tibetan people, providing crucial aid to remote Nomad populations, who otherwise would have no access to health services, educational opportunities or emergency disaster relief. 

FROM THE DEPTH OF OUR HEARTS, 

THANK YOU FOR MOBILIZING YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW 

TASHI DELEK

With kind regards,

The A.S.I.A. Tsegyalgar Gakyil  & friends
Martina, Gregg, Damien, Andrea, Sam, Kimjaye, Ivana, Paula, Jacqueline, Diane, Al, Jakub, Cindy, Dominik,  Helena, Jacob, Elizabeth & Karen

Email: (for more info) gakyil@tsegyalgar.org secretary@tsegyalgar.org

Tsegyalgar East A Magical Place

[Photo by Miguel Farrada Gutierrez reprinted 

from Tsegyalgar East Facebook group]

This photo of the yellow schoolhouse was too good to pass up.  Maybe photo  shopped, maybe thigles. In any case, everyone is welcome.

WW Transmisson of Adzom Drukpa with Explanation (November 5) and Live Webcast (November 17)

Tsegyalgar East will host the next World Wide Transmission explanation for the Anniversary of Adzom Drukpa with Santi Maha Sangha instructor Jim Valby at the Tsegyalgar East Gonpa at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, November 5th.

Participants can call in to this explanation session from anywhere in the USA. For more details on how to do this as well as receive a required text, please contact our secretary, Harold Graves, at 413-369-4153, or secretary@tsegyalgar.org. Please do NOT wait until the last minute.

Event: World Wide Transmission, Anniversary of Adzom Drukpa
Date: November 17th, 2014.
Time: 7:00 AM, EST

Location: TBA. You can also connecto the World Wide Transmission for free from any location at the above time via this link: www.shangshunginstitute.net/webcast/video.php
About the World Wide Transmission

The transmission of knowledge from Master to disciple can be oral, symbolic or direct. The uniqueness of the Dzogchen teaching is the direct transmission or “direct introduction”. In direct transmission Master and the student find themselves in the primordial state at the same moment through one of the experiences related to body, voice or mind.

Due to the power of the transmission, the student is able to discover his or her own real condition in this way. Newcomers who want to participate at this Transmission, should be seriously interested in the Teachings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and should try to receive his Teachings in the future.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu offers direct introduction three times a year, on the anniversaries of Garab Dorje, Guru Padmasambhava, and Adzom Drukpa . In order to make it possible for people who cannot attend a retreat or come to a direct introduction in person, these direct transmissions are also offered by live Internet webcast.

If you have never participated in a transmission with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu or if you wish to renew your understanding of Worldwide Transmission, you are strongly advised to attend the explanation session in order to receive the greatest benefit from it.

Newcomers who want to participate at a World Wide Transmission should be seriously interested in the Dzogchen Teachings, which are transmitted by our Teacher Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and practiced by our worldwide Dzogchen Community. New participants at a Direct Transmission should try to receive Teachings from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu personally in the future, participating in retreats.

Dr. Jim Valby has been a student of Dzogchen Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu since 1982. He earned his doctorate in Far Eastern Studies under Herbert Guenther at the University of Saskatchewan in 1983, focusing on the texts of Shrisingha and Vimalamitra. He participates in Dzogchen Community projects helping to prepare English translations from Tibetan texts. He has taught the essence of the theory and practice of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen in more than 197 retreats at 77 locations in 28 countries. He is an authorized instructor for the Base, First and Second Levels of SantiMaha Sangha (SMS). He lives in Western Massachusetts, USA.

Yantra Yoga Studio Programs At Tsegyalgar East Announced

The Yantra Yoga teachers of Tsegyalgar East are proud to announce the broadening of our weekly program with several activities for the general public. No previous experience is needed for the public courses.

Yantra Yoga, the Tibetan Yoga of Movement, is an ancient uninterrupted lineage and a fundamental method to integrate the profound essence of the Dzogchen Teaching in the three doors (body, voice and mind) of the practitioner. Through positions and movements combined with breathing, one's energy is coordinated and harmonized so as to let the mind relax and find its authentic balance, which is the basis for contemplation.

SCHEDULE/CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
All classes start September 15 and go until November 12 2014

Pranayama with Paula Barry, Monday September 15 at 5:30pm

Pranayama Class: We will begin with a review of Complete Breathing, learn the principles of Kumbhaka with Rhythmic Breathing, and apply this type of hold to the Sog Tig breathing of the Mandarava practice.

Yantra Yoga Beginner class starting every Tuesday September 16 from 5:15 pm until 6:30pm with Martina Kacurova

Beginners Yantra Yoga class:
Martina will introduce the history, language, and poses of Yantra Yoga, which can reshape, transform, and deepen the effect of our practice by coordinating and enhancing the quality of our more subtle and powerful energies.

Harmonious Breathing every Wednesday September 17 from 9:00-10:30am with Naomi Zeitz  CANCELLED

Harmonious Breathing is a key element in coordinating the functions of our body and mind. It is indispensable for calming the mind, reducing body tension and improving both physical and cerebral functions. Harmonious Breathing can be applied anywhere and anytime thus being a very powerful tool for improving the quality of our everyday lives. The breathing exercises are simple yet very effective. Ancient breathing techniques are now scientifically and clinically studied, taken and incorporated into modern practices for people with respiratory impairment, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. Deep slow breathing can improve cardiovascular function and reduce hypertension. Harmonious Breathing takes its source in Yantra Yoga (one of the oldest methods of Yoga taught in the world, transcribed in the 8th century AD) and differs from other Yoga by the integration of movement and breathing.

LOCATION: Yellow Schoolhouse at 18 Schoolhouse Rd., Conway, MA 01341 
Cost:  $10 per session - $8 per session with card

INSTRUCTORS:

Paula Barry is a longtime student of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. She is an authorized second level Yantra Yoga instructor.

Martina Kacurova is a certified local instructor of the 1st level of Yantra Yoga. Martina teaches Yantra Yoga to adults and children. Martina has been a student of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu since 2005. She comes from the Czech Republic. Martina lives and works as a registered nurse in western Massachusetts.

Naomi Zeitz has been a student of Yantra Yoga since 1987 and an instructor in the Dzogchen lineage, authorized by her Teacher Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, since 2008. She specializes in teaching simple yet profound methods of breathing and working with people of all ages and physical conditions.

To find out more about weekly practices at Tsegyalgar East and special events

visit our website at www.tsegyalgar.org

Tsegyalgar East and the New Gakyil – 2015 Crisis and Opportunity—Meet New Yellow Gakyil Member Diane Kramer

[Diane Kramer and Fred Klarer]

The following post by new yellow Gakyil member Diane Kramer is the first of more to come introducing our new Gakyil

I was asked to write something as a new member coming onto the Gakyil as part of Yellow, the financial and organizational admin section of the Gakyil. Upon reflection, I decided to interview myself about what this all means to me, so here goes:

Why did you join the Gakyil?

I started coming up to Tsegyalgar with my husband, Fred, a former Buddhist monk in the Chinese tradition, in the early nineties. We came up for a few years from Long Island. During this time we built and hosted an early  website with Ed Goldberg.Then, we were drawn to Vajrayana Rinpoches, always Nyingma, such as Chagdud Tulku.

In 2011, we both felt the pull to return to the Dzochen path and started coming regularly to Rinpoche’s retreats and to Jim Valby weekends.

Walking around at the last retreat I felt comfortable and welcomed by community members, especially by Jim Valby and Katherine, Marilyn, Harvey Kaiser, Robin and Diane Sievers, plus others. While feeling comfortable, I also felt like a guest. Here were at least a hundred people working to make this retreat a great success and an experience of oneness for all of us, and I was not making a contribution. At that moment, I went up to Al Daggitt and said: I want to join the Gakyil. He sent me to Ed Hayes who put me to work opening wine bottles for the Ganapuja. I applied to the Gakyil and was accepted.

Now, here I am, happy at my good fortune and amazed at what has been accomplished.

What has it been like to start up on the Gakyil on Yellow?

It has been like being thrown into the deep water without being a good swimmer J I am learning and learning fast. I am in constant contact with Al and Dominick, my fellow Yellows, and looking forward to the first Gakyil meeting on Sunday, September14^th. We are coming up from Long Island for the event.

What are the Challenges?

Though money is a problem, Rinpoche says  not to make it about money. And I do not think our challenges are, at their root, money. More I see the challenge as developing a sustainable community that is self-sufficient, even when Rinpoche is not available. I see a community that keeps on expanding as each person recognizes his or her role and takes on the responsibility of helping all and each of us to self-liberate. That to me means Opportunity.

What are the Opportunities?

From what I have learned so far, we have the Opportunity to further the work of past Gakyil members and other workers for the community this year by moving forward on a number of fronts. We need to:

·   *Align more with the IDC and take our place more fully in the global community as it grows and develops

·    *Grow our membership through orienting new members more fully (as Merigar West is doing – see the article in the Mirror http://melong.com/?p=2523

·    *Find ways of more Community Involvement for more members, as was expressed in the blog A Message from the Tsegyalgar East Development Committee

·    *Develop more activities for members that will also create sustainable income streams to keep the organization going

What is my personal part in this?

I have had experience as a clinical, organizational, teaching and research psychologist over a 45 year career. I have run both profit and not-for-profit organizations. I hope I can use my resources to be helpful making good decisions in our collaborative Gakyil. My desire is for a self-sustaining and vibrant Dzochen community that attracts more members as we expand what we can be to and for each other.

With Love, Diane

Dr. Diane Kramer 

Catalysta Now Live

Cataysta is a digizine founded by NYC Dzogchen Community member Ed Goldberg that collaborates with you to create a career driven by passion and benefit for the greater good

***

Catalysta’s Fall 2014 season presents may new features

with a spot light on Eco fashion

www.catalysta.org

To read a previous interview with Ed Goldberg, visit here.