Read Margaret Jasinski’s Mirror Article on Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Tsegyalgar East

[Photo by Naomi Zeitz for the Mirror]

The excitement before Rinpoche’s arrival was palpable as Tsegyalgar East made the final preparations for a retreat with our esteemed teacher, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu from July 1-5, 2015. Rinpoche was greeted by a host of Community members, khatas in hand, dancing in honor of his arrival. With the nature of time and a most auspicious occasion, the five- day retreat moved quickly from beginning to end. Three hundred retreatants came from many regions of North America and Europe. A student newly introduced to Dzogchen traveled from Brazil. When asked about his experience, his broad smile and enthusiasm communicated that his travels were fully rewarded....

-Reprinted from the Mirror

To read the full article and synopsis of the 25 Thigles of Samantabhadra Teachings visit The Mirror here

Tsegyalgar East Offers NEW Santi Maha Sangha Class Demystifying Santi Maha Sangha: the Base in (about) 30 Lessons

Join us at Tsegyalgar East on Sunday, Sept. 13 for the “Kick-off” to the new program, “Demystifying Santi Maha Sangha: the Base in (about) 30 Lessons.”

This all-day event is the first of approx. 30 classes exploring the teachings and practices in The Precious Vase by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Led by SMS Instructor Lynn Newdome, the course aims to both simplify and delve into the vast material contained in the “Base”. This “Kick-off” Sunday will be free of charge, and podcasts will also be available. The program is open to anyone who has received transmission from Rinpoche.

To read more about this exciting new SIX WEEK PROGRAM program, visit here. 

Other SMS Programs Coming Soon:

[Visiting Authorized SMS Teacher Steve Landserg 

teaching SMS in Rinpoche’s Cabin on Khandroling]

October 30-November 1, 2015 SMS Level 1 Retreat with Jim Valby

November 27-29, 2015 SMS Level 2 Retreat with Jim Valby

WHAT IS THE SANTI MAHA SANGHA STUDY & PRACTICE PROGRAM

Santi Maha Sangha is a course of study and practice in nine levels initiated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 1994. The aim of Santi Maha Sangha, which in the ancient language of Oddiyana means "Dzogchen Commmunity," is to guarantee the continuation of the Dzogchen teaching as it was originally transmitted by Garab Dorje, and as the Master has been transmitting it for more than thirty years within the Dzogchen Community. READ MORE

Shang Shung USA Tibetan Language Course Offered August 14-19, 2015 at Tsegyalgar East

Tibetan Language I & II Intensive with Professor Tenzin Norbu

Please join us in residence at the Institute or via live-webcast for this special five-day Tibetan language course. This course is an ideal refresher for Tibetan Medical students and other students with some knowledge of the Tibetan language, or for those with an aptitude for languages.

August 14 – 19

Public Talk, 6:30PM – Evening before the course
Five-Day Course, 9:30AM – 5:00PM with pause for lunch.

IN residence at 18 Schoolhouse Rd. Conway, MA or online live

For more details, contact Shang Shung Institute here

Professor Tenzin Norbu is an experienced teacher of Tibetan language and culture at both the secondary school and university levels, having taught at Virginia University, Indiana University, and Columbia University, as well as in his native city of Lhasa. He authored or co-authored the Tibetan-language children’s books A Little Frog and a Crow and Little Shepherd, Little Shepherd, What Are You Doing?, as well as a dictionary for children, the Concise Tibetan-English Visual Dictionary. A biologist by training, Professor Norbu published a general introduction to Tibet’s environment and two volumes on endangered species of Tibet. Finally, he is also an accomplished translator, and translated eight volumes of the Open Eye Children’s Series into Tibetan.

Louisiana Himalaya Association Partners with ASIA for Post Earthquake Relief

Read Dzogchen Community member Andrea Nasca’s compelling account in the Mirror about the relationship between New Orleans and Nepal and the Louisiana Himalaya Association fundraiser for Nepal.

It’s still Happening....Come Learn the Dance of the Vajra

[Sarale Lizdas at the Vajra Hall on Khandroling]

It’s been a delightful summer up on Khandroling. There are still a few programs happening on the retreat land and in the Yellow Schoolhouse.

August 15-23, 2015

Vajra Dance Beginners Course 

with Kyu Kyuno and Carissa O’Kelly

To read more

http://tsegyalgar.org/localcenters/tsegyalgareast/tsegyalgareastcale/thevajradanceofthe/

Come learn the Vajra Dance for the first time or refresh your knowledge

Song of the Vajra Dance Intensive with Prima Mai at Khandroling

photo reprinted from the Mirror

Leela Whitcomb-Hewitt Teaches the 12 AHS Vajra Dance at Tara Mandala

Leela (center in the turquoise shirt) is one of four authorized Vajra Dance Teachers in the US. 

Tsegyalgar West Los Naranjos Nature Reserve Capital Campaign

The Story
The Tsegyalgar West Los Naranjos retreat center in Baja Ca Sur needs your support to complete repairs and renovate its infrastructure from last year's damage from Hurricane Odile. We have made progress with a new roof structure for the meeting hall, but still need support to replace solar batteries, hot water heaters in casitas, etc. This funding is essential to keep the beautiful and peaceful center maintained for renting to groups, as that is an important source of income.

Please give to the Capital Campaign and we will give back in a program in acknowledgement of your gift! Please join us in collaboration by donating

To read on, go here.

What We Need Funding for Infrastructure Repair & Renovation

Your support goes directly to the following projects. Our Goal of $54,000 covers installation of these priority projects by the Board of Directors:

SOLAR Batteries : $10,000 - Replace batteries . The existing are nine years old & don’t hold a charge. Hard to cook dinner in the kitchen without much light.

Utility Area & Bathrooms : $10 ,000 - Construct vented utility storage behind kitchen to protect utilities from wind and weather. Eco friendly bathrooms added to the common area.

Hurricane Preparation: $6,000- Shutters on windows and casita doors, road maintenance and drainage.

Upgrade Communications: $6,000 - (A matching grant available from a donor!) Add antenna for internet and phone reception. Needed for better communications in this isolated spot.

Hot water heaters $9,000 - Solar rooftop heaters were destroyed in Hurricane Odile. New systems will be protected with side enclosures.

Furnishings: $5,500 - New beds for dorm. Bedding/cabinets/curtains needed.

Kitchen hot water/separate sink: $ 2,500 - So cooking and cleanup can happen at the same time.

Tea Station/phone charging area. $1,000- In dining area for guests.

Cattle Grates and level parking area: $5,000- To keep the cows from getting into the gardens and causing soil erosion. Level parking.

Total Capital Campaign Goal: $54,000

Introduction to Yantra Yoga at Tsegyalgar East June 26-28 with Naomi Zeitz sponsored by Shang Shung Institute, USA.

[June 26-28, 2015 class with Naomi Zeitz sponsored by Shang Shung Institute, USA].

Photos of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Tara Mandala

[Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and Lama Tsultrim Allione]

We were so honored to have Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche teach at Tara Mandala last weekend. Rinpoche gave the empowerment and teaching of The Concise Daily Practice of Urgyen Menla'i to 160 participants. We were truly blessed with his presence and return to Tara Mandala. His visit included a beautiful hike to the top of the hill behind the temple to the site of our future cremation grounds where we did a special Riwo Sangchö (smoke offering).
We thank Rinpoche and all who participated and helped make this event happen. Much gratitude!

Reprinted from Tara Mandala Facebook

NEW !!!! Ganapujas Now Webcast from Tsegyalgar East

Tsegyalgar East now webcasts live all four Ganapujas each month. This is a huge service to those who do not live in proximity to other practitioners so that they feel more connected.  Pujas will be held mostly at the Vajra Hall on Khandroling through August. Thereafter, they will be broadcast from the Yellow Schoolhouse. Full moon pujas will be dedicated to Mandarava practice and ganapuja. Many Thanks to Luigi and Jeremy for coordinating this project. 

Naturally, webcasts take place according to circumstances with either more or less webcasts depending on weather or other circumstances, as well as international webcasts such as WW Transmissions and Practicing Together series. Please join us virtually or in person here at Tsegyalgar East when you can.

The link to these webcasts is :
http://webcast.dzogchen.net/index.php?id=tsegyalgar
ENTER Password: KARMA (use all caps)

Donations are welcome, which can take place on the webcast page above.

To keep updated on the dates, times, and practices that will be webcast, visit the Tsegyalgar East calendar events page and weekly practice schedule.

The remainder of the July Schedule:

• 7/25 Saturday: Webcast World-Wide Transmission Anniversary of Padmasambhava 11:00 PM Webcast

• 7/26 Sunday: Anniversary Guru Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal Ganapuja Vajra Hall - 4:30pm Vajra Dance Tun 6:00pm Ganapuja - will be webcast

• 7/31 Friday: Full Moon Ganapuja 5pm Vajra Dance Tun - 6pm arrival for 6:30pm Ganapuja: Will be Webcast

Catalysta Launches Indiegogo Campaign

Catalysta, founded by NY Dzogchen Community member, Ed Goldberg has launched an Indiegogo fundraising effort to complete the first episode of Season 1 of MunchCo Calling is now complete. He writes: 

"Since film school at NYU many years ago, I've followed my muse and embarked on a range of projects determined to realize my vision. It's been a long and winding road that's led to MunchCo Calling! 

MunchCo Calling! combines many of my favorite elements: humor, compassion, great stories, human crises, personal transformation, and super cute animals that talk. The tie that binds are the pitfalls and potential embodied by professions of every kind”.

The Catalysta Story 

Catalysta is a production company whose programs celebrate, explore and inspire work that’s born of passion, generates purpose naturally, and truly satisfies.

Catalysta builds upon three concepts:

• There is a deep relationship between work satisfaction and well-being.
• Both passion and work satisfaction are real, experiential phenomena that can be tapped and consciously developed.
• There is a mutually beneficial relationship between developing one's true work nature and the health of a society, the natural environment and future generations.

MunchCo Calling! aims to hearten our audience with the possibility that opening to a career of passion and purpose is part of a process that will create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. 

The MunchCo Indiegogo Campaign 

The pilot episode of MunchCo Calling! is nearly complete. The goal of this Indiegogo campaign is to fund the next episode in order to present the the premiere season on a regular basis, build a sizeable audience, and attract sponsors to support future seasons.

[5-time Tony award nominee, Danny Burstein (Ralph Munch) with co-stars, 
Olivia Kinter (Binnie Bunny) and Alexandra Hellquist (Chickie Munch).]


To read more visit the MunchCo Indiegogo site here.

Watch the trailer here

Updated Khandroling Summer Practice Intensive Schedule

Hi Everyone,

What follows is a day by day schedule for the Khandroling Summer Intensive Practice Retreat, July 15th thourgh August 5th. Please join us for however long you are able. To stay in the schoolhouse dorm or camp on the land contact geko Jeremy at geko@tsegyalgar.org. 

All dates and times are subject to change according to circumstances. Notice of changes will be posted to Tsegyalgarnet. For further information visit the Tsegylalgar events page here.

Everyday from 8am-9am Goma Devi with Vajra Dance

Everyday from 9am-10am Complete Tun of Vajra Dance
Everyday from 10am-12 noon Karma Yoga
Lunch break at 12 noon.

Wednesday July 15th 

3pm 25 Spaces of Samantabhadra
4:30 Yantra Yoga and Pranayama
6:00 Complete Vajra Dance Tun

Thursday July 16th 

3pm 25 Spaces
5pm Complete Tun of Vajra Dance
6:00 New Moon Gana Puja (webcast so please arrive early). Sean will lead.

Friday July 17th 

3pm 2 5 Spaces
6:00 Vajra DanceTun

Saturday July 18th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Martina
6:30 Complete Vajra Dance Tun

Sunday July 19th 

3pm 25 Spaces
6:00 Complete Vajra Dance Tun

Monday July 20th 

1pm Practicing Together 

Open Webcast Mandarava Gana Puja (please arrive at 12:30) Naomi will lead.
3pm 25 Spaces 4pm Vajra Dance Tun
5pm Kaita 

Tuesday July 21st 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Naomi
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Weds July 22nd

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Naomi
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Thursday July 23rd 

3pm 25 Spaces
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Friday July 24th 

3pm 25 Spaces
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Saturday July 25th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Martina
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Sunday July 26th 

3pm 25 Spaces
5pm Vajra Dance Tun
6:00 Guru Rinpoche Day Gana Puja (webcast from Vajra Hall, so pls arrive at 6pm) Need someone to lead (pls email me)

Monday July 27th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:00 Vajra Dance Tun
5pm Kaita

Tuesday July 28th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Naomi
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Wednesday July 29th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Paula
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Thursday July 30th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Friday July 31st 

3pm 25 Spaces
5pm Vajra Dance Tun
6:00 Full Moon Gana Puja (webcast pls arrive at 6) Need someone to lead (pls email me)

Saturday August 1st 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Martina
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Sunday August 2nd 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama-Paula
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Monday August 3rd 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:oo Vajra Dance Tun
5pm Kaita Dances

Tuesday August 4th 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Wednesday August 5 

3pm 25 Spaces
4:30 Yantra Yoga with Pranayama
6:00 Vajra Dance Tun

Tsegyalgar East Mentoring Program

We would like to invite Dzogchen Community members to join our newly developed Mentoring Program to help welcome and orient New practitioners and members to our Community on their journey.

About the Mentoring Program for New Practitioners and Members

To join, please provide your contact info and a very brief paragraph about yourself for a Mentor list. Send to Diane Kramer, Gakyil Treasurer, at dkramer@peakskillslearning.com 

We will ask New Members to consider the list and select a Mentor. You will be notified of your selection, so that the two of you can meet in person or via communications. Your name will remain on the Mentor list until you are actively working with someone and will return to the Mentor list when you feel ready to work with a new Mentee. For those who volunteer, each relationship will be an individual experience, worked out between the two of you as you connect with each other.

Some of the Mentoring that may take place:

• Introduce New Members to others at Retreats and programs at the Gar
• Take the person on a tour of our facilities and explain a little of the history
• Answer questions about Tsegyalgar East, the International Dzogchen Community and Dzamlingar
• Explain a bit about Rinpoche’s background and the importance of a Living Master
• Orient new members to Santi Maha Sangha, Yantra Yoga, Vajra Dance and Khaita – and encourage him or her to attend a session or demonstration in each area 
• Explore the bookstore and suggest publications for new commers.
• Help them get started with teachings and practices, and encourage individuals to be part of a practice group
• Answer questions about the teachings as best you can, or refer them to someone who can answer their questions
• Explain the Gakyil and how it operates
• Encourage new members to volunteer in the Community in order to become quickly integrated into the Community. We are working on materials to provide to New Members and we will provide them to you as well.
• Visit the Resource page for those new to the Dzogchen Community. 

Please join us in welcoming New Practitioners and Members into our Community.

If you want to volunteer or have questions, please email Diane Kramer
(dkramer@peakskillslearning.com). Likewise Contact Diane if you would like to be introduced to a mentor. 

Recent News, Dispatches, and Photos

[Photo by Olympia Shannon]

Please revisit Uma Shannon’s Indiegogo fundraising page 
and her story that we ran last month. She is currently trying to raise funds to 
attend the prestigious Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program. She writes,

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"I am attending the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program next year, because it has everything I am looking for as a dancer. Alonzo King LINES can provide the rigorous multifaceted program I need to prepare myself physically and mentally for my dance career. I began dancing at 14, five years ago, dance has changed me and continues to change me. My desire and drive to excel at dance has taken me far. I have studied various forms of dance including: ballet, contemporary, modern, flamenco and most recently the movement language called Gaga. I have danced continually, adding as many hours to my training as possible.”

It’s important we support our young people. Please consider making a small donation so Uma can achieve her artistic goals. Her family is also asking anyone in the Bay area of California for information about affordable housing. 

**************

[Lama Tsultrim Allione with Chogyal Namkhai Norbu in Albuquerque, NM]

 "Great to be with Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, today he arrived in Alburquerque. I am wearing a beautiful peacock shawl he gave me, he said is a symbol of protrectress Ekajati. Afternoon in the pool. A few days to acclimate before going to Tara Mandala to teach this weekend. He will be teaching Urgyen Menla a Guru Rinpoche healing terma. Precious to be with him.”

[Rinpoche empowering Medicine Buddha cards for Tara Mandala retreat]

reprinted from Lama Tsultrim Allione’s Facebook page

***********    ***    **********

Thanks to the many shutter bugs in the community, there’s a large collection of photos taken on Khandroling during the recent retreat and activities on the land.

[Photos by Kathryn O’Connor]

[Photo by Peter Makela - Fireflies reflected in the pond at Khandroling]

{Mary Gilliand at Mocha Mayas for 30th Anniversary Poetry Ready]

Mary Gilliand has two new poems published in the journal Hotel Amerika. Clcik here to read online.

A Message from the Tsegyalgar East Gakyl

[Photo by Sean Quinn of Rainbow on Rinpoche’s arrival]

Dear Vajra brothers and sisters,

Greetings to you all!

We send our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who participated in the recent retreat with Chogyal Namkai Norbu at Tsegyalgar East.

[Photo by Ellen Halbert]

Many, many thanks for your hard work, your tireless collaboration and your infinite patience. We noticed your contributions small and large and sincerely thank you. From the most visible volunteers to the unsung heroes behind the scenes and to all who participated with attendance, we send you many tashi delegs!

With love and respect,

Tsegyalgar East Gakyil

[Photo by Sean Quinn]

[Photo by Ellen Halbert of Khaita Dancing on Khandroling]

[Photo by Ellen Halbert]

[Photo by Laila Adishakti Reiss]