LOSAR TASHI DELEK

HOW TO PLAY THE DAMARU & CHOD PRACTICE RETREAT WITH AUTHORIZED SMS INSTRUCTOR STEVEN LANDSBERG

For more information or to register please visit:

Damaru Class & Chod Practice Retreat registration info

MONTHLY MOVIE NIGHT EDUCATIONAL SERIES FEBRUARY 2019

Hema Hema: Sing Me A Song While I Wait

by writer/director Khyentse Norbu

February 8, 2019 at 7:00pm 

Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA  

Enjoy delicious concessions 

Open to the public

Free admission 

LOSAR 2019 YEAR OF THE EARTH BOAR

Please join us this year for Losar 2019, Year of the Earth Boar

Saturday, February 2 through Tuesday, February 5 2019

at Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse Gönpa in Conway, MA

Read about Losar the Tibetan New Year by Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo

Saturday,  February 2, 2019

The Vajra Dance that Benefits Beings with authorized Vajra Dance instructor Ed Hayes

Review and practice 

10:00am to 12:00pm (noon) & 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Suggested Donation: $30/day or $20/session

PAY ONLINE

Sunday,  February 3, 2019

11:00am: Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse Karma Yoga Cleaning, Conway, MA

2:00pm: Divination Soup preparation

5:00pm: Small Fire Puja for burning old Lungta flags, old Namkhas, and Kyped-pa Zhi-dan (colorful shirts and clothing items with protection mantras for the year)

6:00pm: “Gu-Thug” Divination Soup

Please RSVP to bluegakyil@tsegyalgar.org by February 1, if you plan to attend Divination Soup gathering and eat dumplings

Please Donate to purchase soup ingredients.

Monday, February 4, 2019

5:30pm-6:30pm: Vajra Dance Tun

7:00pm: New Moon Ganapuja with Invocation of the Lamp (Marme Monlam) **Webcast**

Losar - Year of Earth Boar Tuesday, February 5, 2019

9:00am: Long Life Mandarava Practice; followed by breakfast **Webcast**

5:00pm-6:00pm: Khaita Joyful Dances (beginner level)

6:00pm: Potluck dinner, Pagchen and Game of Liberation

CARRYING ON with authorized Santi Maha Sangha instructor Lynn Newdome

CANCELLED DUE TO MAJOR WEEKEND STORM, WILL TAKE PLACE ON SNOW DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 FROM 1:30PM TO 4:30pm

"Carrying On" with authorized Santi Maha Sangha Instructor Lynn Newdome
Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse Gönpa or via videoconference 

Sunday, January 20th
Snow Date Sunday, January 27th
1:30pm-4:30pm

A class exploring how we may continue to study and practice as a Community after our Master's passing, using The Precious Vase and instructions on the Base of Santi Maha Sangha as our guide.

Authorized Base Level Santi Maha Sangha (SMS) instructor Lynn Newdome has been exploring the path of meditation for over 40 years, practicing and studying Tibet’s Buddhist traditions.

Open to all students who are sincerely interested in the Dzogchen path.

If you are not able to attend in-person you can join via Zoom videoconference.

Fee: $20/in-person or via videoconference.

For more information or to register click on CARRYING ON

The Dance of the Song of the Vajra Deepening Course with Bodhi

The Dance of the Song of the Vajra Deepening Course with Authorized Vajra Dance Instructor Bodhi
at the Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse Gönpa, Conway, MA

Saturday, January 19 & Saturday, January 26, 2019
Snow Date: Saturday, February 9, 2019

Open to all who have previously attended a course on The Dance of the Song of the Vajra.

For more information or to register please click on The Dance of the Song of the Vajra Deepening Course

Losar 2019 Poem by Jacqueline Gens & Illustration by Ingmar Pema Dechen

My darling Earth Pig

I bow to your 

beneficent bounty

Amid toils of duty and servitude

To further your brood 

In all that need manifest 

As we sow the seed of generosity

Its fecund curve of elegant hoof

And flow of nurturance

Sustains multitudes

Lady of the Spheres your grunt 

nuzzles to earth amid lofty intents

as you burrow deep your cosmic purpose

none other than sublime awakening

from ignorance at every moment

Poem by Jacqueline Gens in collaboration with visionary artist Ingmar Pema Dechen, 2019

Making Lungta Flags

Please join us tomorrow, Thursday January 17, 2019 at 1:00pm in our Lungta Studio - upstairs in the Tsegyalgar East Schoolhouse.

We will be making Lungta!

Khandroling Paper Cooperative Part of the 2018 Summer Retreat

The pond road leading into Khandroling

This year at the Tsegyalgar East annual summer retreat on the Land of the Dakinis at Khandrolling (July21-29, 2018), KPC will  offer many opportunities to learn about what Khandroling Paper Co-op is all about. For full information about the retreat and to register, visit the main Tsegyalgar East website events page  here. 

Every day except the 27th, during the retreat lunch hours Noon- 2:00 PM), we will be stationed at the lunch Cantina working on KPC projects where you can learn about the process of making paper. We are offering several projects interested individuals can participate in from Ppaper lanterns and luminaries to lotus origami session, making five colored paper and Khandroling grass papers and calligraphy. A schedule of drop in times will be posted on the first day of the retreat. All are welcome and encouraged to participate!

This year's papermaking on the land which began with our first walkabout in 2012 six years ago, will be facilitated by Amanada Pollock. Some members of KPC will be participating as well.

Rainbow corn cooking in soda ash outdoors at the yellow schoolhouse

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

      

                                                         Cedar papers made by Amanda                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Last weeks fiber papers made by Amanda inclduing sage, kozu, cedar and other mysteries

Amanda's flower amulets

For further information about the Khnadroling Paper Cooperative program during the summer ceebrtion, contact amanda at amandamaze13@gmail.com

For information about the summer retreat including lodging and meals, visit

the Tsegyalgar East Events page at: 

http://tsegyalgar.org/localcenters/tsegyalgareast/tsegyalgareastcale/3rd-annual-summer-sangha-retreat/

Memorial for Mark Wellens

Mark Wellens and Rita Kaiser

Dear Friends and Family,

I want to be sure all of you know that we will be holding a memorial service for Dr. Mark on at the Church on the Hill in Acworth, NH, otherwise known as the United Church of Acworth.

The memorial will take place on Saturday June 16, at 2pm at the Church on the Hill in Acworth, NH, otherwise known as the United Church of Acworth.

Please bring stories and remembrances that you would like to share.

Much Love,
Rita Kaiser

Mark Wellens (far left) on Vajra Dance Mandala 

Khandroling

We are sorry to hear of the passing of Mark Wellens on February 10, 2018, practitioner and frequent participant in Tsegyalgar East retreats. Mark was the brother of Rita Kaiser, brother -in-law to Harvey Kaiser and uncle to Tashi Kaiser of the New York Dzogchen Community.

Dear All, hello,

Sadly, we announce the passing of our beloved brother,uncle,son, Mark Wellens, 69, earlier today at his home in Acworth, New Hampshire. Please collaborate with us in his Shitro.

Thank you,

Highest regards,

Love

Rita & Harvey

Tashi and Mark

Khandroling Paper Cooperative Summer Events

Greetings from Khandroling Paper Cooperative, now in our 7th year of operation at Tsegyalgar East, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Conway, MA 01370.

Since our last post here in February 2018 ( about our duo Sheryl Jaffee and Brenda Lilly's Lantern Workshop)  Amanda and Madeline each held workshops for special interest groups.

Some of our origami Lanterns

Madeline (left) and Amanda cleaning the studio

In April while I was on a writers retreat with KPC member Ingmar Pema Dechen in Mississippi to work on our 60 Losar poetry/illustration collaboration, Madeline led a workshop for the dynamic local artist and writers group Exploded View.

You can read about them here. 

Greenfield Recorder article here.

Trish Crapo one of the members of Exploaded View wrote a long article on the paper cooperative at Tsegyalgar East during our Japanese Binding workshop two years ago. At that time we talked about making paper from ephemera such as old love letters.  On a chilly day this April Trish initiated her writing group to do a session of papermaking for projects they create for their upcoming Fall exhibit at the Great Falls Discovery Center in September 2018. Madeline will also participate in leading a papermaking workshop open to the public. The Great Falls Discovery center is a jewel of a venue in our region. 

Here are a few pictures of the ladies from Exploaded View at work:

From making pulp to pressing and drying finished papers

We do everything low tech

NEW Packers Corner 50th Anniversary in Guilford, VT

This summer we will participate in the 50th Anniversary of Packers Corner Farm in Guilford, VT where I lived from 1976-1982 before heading out to Naropa Institute (now University) to study Tibetan Buddhism.  In the early 1990's, The "Farm" hosted many of us from Tara Mandala attending Chogyal Namkhai Norbu retreats at Tsegyalgar.   One year in 1994 we all took the Base SMS exam, the first at Tsegyalgar. The farm served as refuge for many of us. While there I attended the Ada Comstock Scholars program at Smith College in its early years.

View from top of the old peach Orchard 

towards the farm

The full schedule of the 50th Anniversary is here.

Our papermaking session will begin at 1:30 PM on Saturday, June 23, 2018

but we will be there from late morning thru evening. A private event, participants arriving from all over the country will walk away with a portfolio of fine papers for calligraphy, painting, collage and lantern making.  Led by Madeline, Sheryl and Amanda. I'll be there too with the aim of  making paper lanterns.

Khandroling 3rd Annual Summer Retreat in Buckland, MA

Amanda Pollock will lead the 3rd Annual Khandroling Retreat Papermaking and Calligraphy workshop  from Saturday, July 21 - Sunday, July 29, 2018.  Full description forthcoming.

Works from last Summer's Khandroling retreat

using sacred substances led by Sheryl

Shelburne Falls 250th Anniversary -June 23/24, 2018

Details TBA. KPC was gifted a thousand origami cranes so these will be distributed to the public and a paper demo scheduled.  

Highland Village Day of the Dead Installation -October 31, 2018

Come join us at Beautiful Highland Village Public Housing in Shelburne Falls (my home) to view a traditional Day of the Dead shrine created by residents for departed family, friends, and pets. Refreshments provided.

KPC Studio Day of the Dead Shrine, 2016

in the basement of Tsegyalgar East

Every week some of us make art which requires concentration and the great joy of stepping out of one's usual mental ruminations and worries. These days I am working on creating "Talking Sticks," a native American tradition for residents to use at their meetings as a conduit for deep listening. 

Future Workshops in the at Khandroling Paper Cooperative in the works--

• A Workshop in printing slogans and posters on our etching press
• More Mindful Origami
• Adventures in Collage and Paper weaving

In some sense all art-making is stealing from the sacred source. To make amends we share our art in a spirit of generosity to benefit others and in good cheer to promote well-being. Come visit us! If you would like us to host an event for your group, contact Jacqueline at jacqueline.gens@gmail.com or call 413-522-1125.

Kaita Dancers to Participate in 12th Annual NYC Dance Parade

Once again Kaita Dancers from Shang Shung Institute at Tsegyalgar East and Kundroling participated in the international NYC Dance Parade. Local Tibetan dancers joined the Kaita dancers. This is the third year of their participation in this rousing international event. 

Here are a few photos from the event on May 19, 2018:

Last year's event can be seen here:

Amanda heading up the Khaita Dancers with her Lotus Mobile Sound System, May 20, 2017

A small group from NYC and Tsegyalgar participated in this year's International Dance Parade--an extraordinary display of the US International heritage. To learn

more about this annual event, visit their webpage here.

May 20, 2017 - photos by Stephen Korns

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE KHAITA DANCERS IN THE  2016 PARADE

VISIT HERE

Visit the Mirror article on this year's Khaita Dance participation

 in the 11th Annual International Dance Parade

Wisdom Rising A Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine

Lama Tsultrim Allione's long awaited newest publication, Wisdom Rising A  Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine is now available. It is currently listed as the #1 Amazon New Release and doing very well. 

Order here:

https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Rising-Journey-Empowered-Feminine/dp/1501115030/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525138915&sr=8-1&keywords=wisdom+rising

Don't forget to use Amazon Smile when ordering:

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2485466

Read a Review in The Mirror: 

Wisdom Rising – a Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine by Lama Tsultrim Allione is a multi-layered chronicle of the feminine principle and its importance for both personal and global evolution of the planet at this moment in time, to continue reading this review, visit www.melong.com 

Help Liam Shannon Sing Opera this Summer

Liam Shannon, son of Miranda and John Shannon has an opportunity to study opera this summer in Italy. We love to support our younger generation. He writes: 

My name is Liam Shannon. I am 20 years old, and I study classical voice on a scholarship at Bennington College.

Music has always been my greatest passion. I started violin lessons at the age of six, and I played with the Springfield Youth Orchestra from late middle school through high school.  I added piano lessons at age 12, and subsequently went through a heavy metal band phase, where I played keyboards and sang.

And then I discovered opera at the age of 14! At that time I also learned that I loved theater and began acting in numerous productions.  Over time I realized that theater, singing and music could create opera. I now wanted to study voice, but it took me until I was just shy of 18 to tell my parents. Finances have been a great obstacle, but thanks to the care and kindness of my first voice teacher, Melinda Beasi, I was able to start pursuing my dream. Concurrently, I auditioned for and was accepted into the Springfield Symphony Chorus by chorus director Nikki Stoia who also appointed me the baritone section leader.

Recently I auditioned and was accepted at the Opera Lucca summer program in Lucca, Italy, recommended to me by my amazing classical voice professor, Tom Bogdan.  This program takes place June 11 through July 6, 2018.  It gives young singers the opportunities, or opera-tunities, to go to Tuscany for three weeks, and study opera in depth and simultaneously study Italian in a total immersion language program.

In order to attend the Opera Lucca Summer Program, I need your financial support. I am one of five highly artistic siblings, and my family is of modest means.  I have a work study job, and am saving up to help fund my trip. However, I need your help.

I need to raise $5,000 to help cover tuition, travel expenses, room and board by early June.  

Tuition: $2,800
Lodging: $600
Food:$950
Airfare: $1,200
Transportation: $300
Incidentals: $250

Total: $6,100

Please help me do what I love.
Thank you!
Liam  

VISIT HIS Gofundme page below:         

https://www.gofundme.com/help-liam-sing-opera-this-summer

He also has several You Tube videos you can see here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObcjjtozJjI&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7d9bf6iivI&feature=youtu.be