Issue 4 The Newsletter of Lhokha Gongkar Chöde Dorje Dhen Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Seat of the Dzongpa Branch of the Glorious Sakya Tradition Dorje Dhen: So begins the famous prophecy attributed to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) about the Dharma eventually reaching the western hemisphere of our globe. And in early March 2009, the Dzongpa branch of the glorious Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism finally reached the West with the debut visit of His Eminence Gongkar Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche, the Venerable Tsokchen Khenpo Jampal Chozin and accompanying Sangha. An Iron Eagle brought His Eminence to London s Heathrow airport, where members of the co-ordinating Vajra Kalyana Mitrata where there to greet His Eminence with long traditional Tibetan khatas and English tea! The next day, at the invitation of Tibet Society UK, His Eminence and the Sangha led commemorative chanting at events for Tibet in the city and met with members of the Tibetan community in Britain. The monks were also delighted to see a former gap-year English teacher who had come along to catch up with them and offer lunch. 1
The next day after that, His Eminence bestowed the White Tara initiation in North London, primarily aimed for the Tibetan community living in London, who offered a delicious lunch for all in attendance. After some introductory words from Gordon Black, one of the instrumental members of the co-ordinating team, the Sangha then conducted the full traditional puja of White Tara, concluding with extensive long life prayers for H.H. the Dalai Lama and H.H. the Sakya Trizin. In attendance was Francesca Martinez, an acclaimed British actress and supporter of Tibet, whose brother, Raul, had painted a stunning portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and formally offered it for the shrine as the puja began. A representative from H.H. the Dalai Lama s office came to receive the painting with His Eminence and offer thanks; Francesca also offered poignant words of support, and Phurbu Rinzin-la offered an address on behalf of the Tibetan community in Britain too. As soon as the ceremonies were concluded, another generous co-ordinator of the tour, Rosie Nicholson, dashed His Eminence and friends back into the city centre, as they were invited by Tibet Society once again to offer a blessing to inaugurate a debut film showing of Fire Under Snow, a documentary about a former Tibetan political prisoner, Palden Gyatso, which was very well received. 2
The next day allowed time in the day for His Eminence and the Sangha to see something of London itself, care of Gordon and Rosie. They were taken around some of the major sites, took a boat ride on the river Thames, and blessed the Tibetan Peace Garden, the magic oasis that sits just outside the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth. Despite the biting cold, everyone had a great time, although His Eminence remarked that he was somewhat shocked at how overly stressed and busy everyone looked in the city, failing to talk to one another or even look each other in the eye... In the evening, His Eminence and the Sangha joined other senior monks and members of the Tibetan community in Britain at Tibet House in London, the Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama for the U.K. and Northern Europe, to offer prayers, after which they and the coordinators of the Vajra Kalyana Mitrata were offered a generous dinner and reception by the Office. The following morning, His Eminence joined the Dean of Westminster to conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial for Victims of Torture at Westminster Abbey, which is situated just across from Parliament Square. Prayers for Tibet were thus offered from both the Christian and Buddhist community, and Members of Parliament were also in attendance, offering their welcome to His Eminence. This concluded the London leg of the tour. Special thanks go to Sonam la and Yangkyi la, who accommodated His Eminence and Gen Khyentse with great warmth during their time in London, even though they had a 21 day-old baby to look after at the same time. The grateful new parents noted, however, that His Eminence s blessings seemed to be keeping their beautiful daughter unusually peaceful and quiet! 3
The next day, His Eminence and friends travelled to the Sussex coast and the famously diverse city of Brighton. There, His Eminence and Gen Khyentse stayed with Tibetan friends, Tsering-la and Kelsangla. His Eminence was very inspired to see their younger son, Tenzin-la, who is working to accomplish a Doctorate of Philosophy at Brighton University - he was pleased to see what Tibetans can achieve with a good education in the modern world at the same time as retaining their traditional values and culture. We wish Tenzin la every success with his studies and future. His Eminence s passionate support for education was further enhanced with a visit to the Dharma School, an ecumenical Buddhist school for kindergarten and primary school students; the only school of its kind in Europe. There, His Eminence was greeted by Head Teacher Peter Murdock and staff, who led a tour of the school and its classes. His Eminence watched the children studying, creating models of houses from different cultures, and saw one class enacting an entertaining play. His Eminence described in the morning Assembly His own upbringing and education over the years, as well as the work setting up the school within Gongkar Choede in India, to all the children, parents and teachers, giving them much to reflect and take inspiration from, as well as a few giggles too! The senior pupils also asked questions, and were each given gifts of Tara pictures and other presents. The school also offered a very generous donation to His Eminence, who thoroughly enjoyed visiting the school and making new friends there. Also in Brighton, a talk entitled Making Changes Work was given by His Eminence at the Bodhi Garden Buddhist Centre in the heart of Brighton s vibrant Lanes. The centre s shrine room was filled to capacity with an attentive audience, as His Eminence drew not just on the philosophy and methods of the Buddha s textual teachings alone, but also on His own direct life-experience to illustrate how the core, pragmatic aspects of the path, particularly that of love and compassion, and what is needed for a virtuous life, had affected transformations in his own life. His Eminence noted the calm, smiley faces of those in attendance, looking less care-worn and stressed than those caught up in the hustle and bustle of London, and reflected how communion with like-minded and virtuous friends was so vital on the path. Along with this, He reflected on the challenges of recognising the non-conducive conditions that may be affecting our well-being and practice, and how facing them and weeding them out is a challenge made all the more easy with good spiritual friendship and a calm, compassionate mind. The atmosphere was notably happy and relaxed, and many questions and answers were exchanged before His Eminence offered everyone a personal blessing to conclude. 4
The next destination was in New Milton, a small town in the picturesque area known as the New Forest in Hampshire. There, as guests of Jen Hill and family, another key co-ordinator of the Vajra Kalyana Mitrata, His Eminence and the Sangha made the short car journey each day to a local hall hired for the occasion for a series of talks and initiations, entitled The Heart of Buddhism for Today and Three Golden Goddesses respectively. An enjoyable informal lunch at a local Indian restaurant gave the chance for everyone to get to know each other too. His Eminence gave an introduction to the essence of the Buddhist path on the first day and a transmission and teaching of Refuge according to a text by Drogon Rinpoche Chogyal Phagpa (the 7 th Sakya Trizin) on the second day. The first initiation given was that of Parnashavari, with special dedications given for those afflicted by illness at the end and the prayer known as Liberation Sakya from Dis-ease by the great yogi Thangtong Gyalpo recited in English at the conclusion. The second was Vasudhara for abundance, and the third was Marici, after which the recent prayer for the environment composed by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin was also recited among the dedications. His Eminence explained that the late, great Chogye Trichen Rinpoche had said that the practice of Parnashavari, Marici and Guru Rinpoche were particularly relevant for our time, adding that prayer flags with their mantras on were considered highly beneficial too. So all participants wrote prayers on a collection of special prayer-flags, which His Eminence intends to hang in an auspicious location in Arunachal Pradesh, the place of His birth. He also gave an unscheduled oral transmission to complete the three practices encouraged by the late Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, that of The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche for Removing Obstacles on the Path (Barche Lamsel). For the last session in the programme, the Venerable Tsokchen Khenpo Jampal Chozin gave an introduction to the Heart Sutra, explaining the gradual process one undergoes to truly assimilate its profound meaning. Tenzin Jigdal-la kindly travelled down from London, despite cumbersome rail engineering disruptions, to translate for Khenpo-la, and did a terrific job. 5
After a few days of respite, the last port of call was the beautiful town of Chard in Somerset, which Roger Upright, one of the hosts, pointed out, was the actual birthplace of powered flight, and thus a perfectly fitting venue for the first time that the Dzongpa initiation of Vajra Garuda to be bestowed in the West! Many friends gathered at the happy home of Harry Hunt and Noel MacGuinness, who were incredibly generous in not only hosting His Eminence and other members of the team, but arranging delicious food every day for the participants and offering their shrine room for all the teachings, initiations and pujas to take place. Venerable monks from Hartridge Buddhist monastery in Devon came with their abbot, Ajahn Jutindharo, to meet His Eminence and the monks, and Khenpo-la, Umze-la and Khyentse-la reciprocated with a short visit to their monastery, where they were warmly hosted and given a tour of the grounds, the majestic views from the rolling hills above, and the many beautiful meditation huts for the monks retreats tucked away in their sanctuary. His Eminence gave a talk on Transformation, drawing on His own experience again to demonstrate the inextricable connection between theory and practice in Buddhism. He also gave a detailed and advanced commentary to a short text composed by the first Dorje Dhenpa (the great Kunga Namgyal) to explain the principles, aims and practices of Tantra in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The initiation of Vajra Garuda was given, as well as the oral transmission of the mantra of Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion, and an offering prayer to Mahakala, the Dharma Protector. The Sangha also conduced the Mahakala puja, with many dedications read out beforehand for those near and far, allowing everyone present to feel part of the ceremony rather than just as casual observers. His Eminence concluded with some words of gratitude to all the people involved in making this tour possible and such a fruitful success, emphasising that of the varied teachings and ceremonies conducted during His visit to England, the most important thing He would hope for everyone to keep in their hearts as much as possible is COMPASSION. 6
Reciprocal words of thanks were offered on behalf of the Vajra Kalyana Mitrata and local friends to acknowledge how moved and inspired everyone was by His Eminence s great generosity, kindness and wisdom. So many people gave so much to make the tour a success - funding, driving, cooking, organising and many other areas. And most significantly, perhaps, was that all involved ensured that everything was done according to dana (generosity) - attendance to the teachings was by donation and everything was done to make the tour non-commercial. As always, His Eminence was also tremendously generous with His time, never turning anyone away who wished to meet Him and benefit from His warmth and wisdom. As the Sangha prepared to return to India, it felt like less of an ending but more of the beginning of a special connection between Dharma practitioners in the UK and the Sangha of Gongkar Choede monastery... It is also with a deep feeling of gratitude that we reflect upon all that our incomparably kind Root Guru, H.H. the Sakya Trizin, has done and continues to do to bless, support, facilitate and encourage Rinpoche and the Dzongpa Sangha to flourish. Virtually all the special teachings Rinpoche holds have been bestowed by His Holiness, who has also given tremendous help in causing the Dzongpa to fully revive. The seat of the Dzongpa, Gongkar Choede monastery, is thus incredibly honoured and joyous to be organising this year s Sakya Monlam in Nepal in the year of His Holiness s Golden Jubilee as Throne Holder of Sakya. More details on this exciting programme will be posted soon...! STOP PRESS! Later this summer, Rinpoche is likely to also visit Malaysia and Taiwan; details to follow shortly. HAWAII SUMMER 2009 7 H.E. Gongkar Dorje Dhenpa Rinpoche will travel to Three of the Hawaiian Island; Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii in June and July of this year. This will be Rinpoche's first visit to the United States. Rinpoche has kindly consented to bestow Empowerments and Teachings that are at the heart of Buddhism and unique to the Dzongpa lineage. A Retreat is also being planned to help deepen our understanding of our Buddha Nature. There will be plenty of time to relax and rejuvenate and learn how to confidently work with our changing world in a skillful manner based on the Teachings of the Buddha. Come enjoy this rare opportunity to meet the sole Lineage Holder of the Dzongpa lineage of Sakya. Rinpoche embodies a joy that is contagious, a kindness that is heartopening and a deep wisdom that comes from His own experience. Please check the website (www.dzongpa.com) for further details that will be posted soon!