www.khachodling.org Khachodling Newsletter May 2012 News from Khandro-la Blessings of Dharma in Perth Renewal A Personal Journey Khachodling Project Reports Khachodling Nuns Update Teaching & Pilgrimage Reports Page 2-5 Page 6-7 Page 8 Page 8-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-20
News from Khandro-la Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, H.E. Ghyeltshen Tulku, Khandro Rinpoche, H.E. Langpo Rinpoche & the Abbot of Tsomoriri Gompa For the first time, I attended the Annual Drukpa Council that was held in Leh last September. It was great to be in the presence of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa and to reconnect to all my colleagues, masters of the glorious Drukpa lineage and especially to see Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. We were the only two women there. After the ADC I invited H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche and Jetsunma to join my pilgrimage group to the nomadic region of Lake Tsomoriri where we were to conduct the annual eye clinic. It was a great joy to see the devotion of the nomadic people. They received our group with joy and great hospitality. My Western group was especially touched by their genuine devotion. I have a strong connection with H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche, who purely holds the Shaky Shri lineage in Bhutan. A lay practitioner, he is one of the most learned and practiced contemporary spiritual masters of Bhutan. He travelled on with us to visit our nunnery in Mulbek and gave pith instruction to my nuns. We also went for a beautiful pilgrimage to the holy sites and caves of Guru Rinpoche. We walked across the rugged Himalayan mountains, through deep ravines and snuggled into dark caves that looked like a birth canal. With our torches we glimpsed the imprints of Guru Rinpoche s spine on the rocks in the cave. The cave tunnel opened up and we emerged out the other end onto the side of a sheer cliff face hundreds of metres above the ground. It was a great adventure and true blessings! It was auspicious to make lamp and food offerings in the Guru Rinpoche cave with Rinpoche, nuns and the monks. On the way back down, we collected rubbish and picked up plastics to help purify the local environment. It was a great joy for our nuns and the whole group to be able to contribute in this way. 2
News from Khandro-la When I returned to Delhi, I was invited to give a talk by Geshe Dorji Damdul at Tibet House, the centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Many Indians came and it became a colourful event with the offering of light and flowers. Geshe-la expressed his gratitude and took pride in having a female Tibetan teacher come and talk there. To me, it felt that in a small way I was of service to the inconceivable mandala of His Holiness. The office of Khachodling and Druk Expeditions in New Delhi is coming together in a beautiful way. Now, after great effort over the last few years, we have finally found the right people to take care of my office. Two energetic, young refugee Tibetan boys, Dhargyal and Ngawang, are managing the administrative and accounting side of the office. It feels a great honour to offer this employment as otherwise there is little opportunity in Indian society for Tibetan refugees to get respectable jobs. Jane Miknius has been training them and we now feel there is solid team in our base in India. In March we were even blessed by a visit to our little office from Jetsun Pema-la, the sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I want to mention Gerard, who was my first male attendant and served me beautifully during the Singapore teachings on my way back home from Australia. He came to Manali and was going to join our pilgrimage to Ladakh. I asked him to help prepare for the arrival of the rest of Dhargyal, Ngawang, Jetsun Pema-la & Khandro-la in the Delhi office of Khachodling the group. In that process he twisted his ankle trying to find walking paths just the day before the others were to arrive. I personally felt sad that Gerard wouldn t be able to join us on the pilgrimage. However, he happily surrendered to the situation and decided to stay with Agu la and the nuns in my Manali home and undertake a retreat. Later, he was able to go to make his own pilgrimage to Lahoul, the land of Dakinis and my birthplace. I was very touched by how he beautifully accepted whatever arose. This is how a true practitioner should deal with difficulties on pilgrimage. Thank you Gerard. Thank you for not complaining. After Delhi, I went to Indonesia to conduct a retreat in Amanjiwo. Many beautiful people came and it was wonderful to reconnect with the holy site of Borobudur. This was my second retreat there. I personally feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to help bring this monument alive by offering light, flowers and fruits. I am once again invited in September 2012, for my third annual retreat there. After this, I was invited to visit Hong Kong for the first time in my life. The events were well organised and attended. The people who came were very receptive to the teachings. Many felt a heart connection and were deeply touched. It was a beautiful visit and I have a standing invitation to return. I had a good few days rest in Bangkok with Jane although the city was flooded. From there I flew directly to Paro, Bhutan and Jane returned to Delhi to take care of our office. At Paro airport, Lama Tsewang from Manali, two of my nuns from Zanskar, and some of my Bhutanese sponsors came to receive me. Terry from Sydney and two other Westerners also joined me in Paro. We started our pilgrimage there in the Tigers Nest and then from there we went all the way to East Bhutan (except for Terry, who had to return home after Bumthang). We were shown all the special places of Bhutan, all the holy sites. The abbot helped us to conduct a refuge ceremony for my group in the renowned Kuje Lhakhang in Bumthang. It was touching to wit- Continued over 3
News from Khandro-la ness the devotion and love of the people. Everywhere we went locals came to greet us with picnic lunches. People of all ages came for blessings. It was especially joyous when they brought their cute, new-born babies to be blessed and given names. When we neared Pemagatsel in East Bhutan, H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche sent a greeting party with tea and picnic snacks and then we all drove to the nunnery. We were on our way to attend the last three days of Demchog Pema Vajra, a blessing-pill making ceremony. This grand event was being conducted by Rinpoche, 90 nuns and the lay community. It involved the immense blessings of continually chanting and praying for 21 days. Khachodling is proud to have been the main sponsor for this event. This was first time in the history of Bhutan that nuns completely organised an event of this size. They even performed the Lama dancing. On the last day, Rinpoche gave the empowerment and also asked me to bless the public. More than twenty thousand people came from near and far. Every day, during the ceremony, there was dancing and on the last day everyone was offered food. It was so beautiful to see the monks, nuns and lay people come together in such depth and joy. The scent Offering blessings in Bhutan of the herbs used to make the pills permeated the whole environment. It ended with a bonfire party attended by all the local high officials. The whole event was very profound. His Eminence built a little meditation hut for me above the main temple where the nuns go into their three-year retreat. After so many years, finally, I had the opportunity to be in complete silence for two months. It was a gift I enjoyed! The practices of this particular nunnery are completely dedicated to the Shakya Shri lineage. The abbess of this nunnery is the first officially recognised female tulku in Bhutan. As a child she remembered clearly her past life. In her previous life, she was a nun in life-retreat and used to give teachings through a hole in the wall of her cave. It is my great honour and joy to announce that this year we are able bring H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche to Australia. Perhaps he will share more stories about his connection to the precious lineage of Shakya Shri when he is here with us. After returning from Bhutan, I visited Pedong where the holy body of my late husband, the 9th Shabdrung Ngawang Jigme, resides. The local people there were so happy to receive me in my home where I had lived with Rinpoche for so many years. It was wonderful to reconnect to the community and share teachings with the lay people in front of the holy body. The elders and the women in the community had tears in their eyes and received the teaching with Continued over 4
News from Khandro-la depth and gratitude. Their deep wish was for me to return home there. Then after this I went back to Manali to finish the yearly flag-raising ceremony for His Holiness Shabdrung Rinpoche with the local community. It is a whole day ceremony with food, rituals and teachings. Soon one of my students from Hong Kong, Belinda, Jane s niece, Stephanie and her boyfriend Will arrived and together with Jane we took a little tour to Rajasthan and saw the vast, colourful Indian desert with forts and camel races. Then I spent a little more time in Manali including some precious time with my father s life long attendant Imi-la, studying with him and listening to his amazing stories of devotion. Then already it was April and time to depart to Australia. Back in Delhi I was struck with diarrhoea. I had to deal with stomach pain, scorching heat and being stuck waiting for hours in the Indian Registration Office with its dirty, dirty bathrooms, which not only lacked toilet paper, but didn t even have any water. Indian bureaucracy is endless! Finally, we finished with barely any time to get to the airport. Everything was in such a hurry no one had time to even say a proper goodbye. Then, when I did at last arrive at the airport there was a big hassle with my luggage and I had to take some statues out of my bags and again rush to give them to Jane before I boarded the plane. Somehow I managed to arrive in Malaysia, half dead. Fortunately, in the plane from Malaysia to Perth, there were two empty seats next to me and I quickly fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, I was in Perth for the first time. At Perth airport, My brother Jigme, his wife Jasmine and my little niece Yeshe were there to receive me. Here I am being nurtured by my family and enjoying the comfort of the Western World (especially the clean toilets). Today it is the first of May. I am looking forward to receiving His Eminence Gyeltshen Rinpoche for his first visit here on the sixth. I am very proud that our Khachodling team is able to bring such an authentic master to this ancient land. 5
The Blessings of Dharma in Perth H.E. Ghyeltshen Tulku, Khandro-la and Sey Jigme Dorje We have no words to express how happy we were to receive our precious sister, Khandro-la into our new, unfolding lives in Perth. Jigme and I moved here in December last year and we feel so honoured to have contributed to Khachodling by organising Khandro Rinpoche and H.E. Gyeltshen Tulku s first visit to Western Australia. Perth is smaller and more spacious than Sydney. With the blessings of our lineage, we have both found good jobs. Our little Yeshe is also enjoying the more natural environment. She is crazy about her aunty and they had a great time together. Later, Yeshe s grandma from Malaysia arrived and we all enjoyed this precious family time. Khandro-la s presence in Perth has been accompanied by miraculous dharma activities. Within just three weeks of planting and sowing the seeds, our Khachodling Sangha is already developing. As it happened, some of Khandro-la s students Jenny from Sydney, as well as Pushpita and Swari from Melbourne moved here around the same as us and they have been a great help. We also met Karen Kotze, who has a coffee shop nearby, auspiciously named the Bodhi Tree. One fine day we visited there and Jigme picked up Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo s latest book. On the cover there is a photo of Lahoul and he pointed at it, mentioning that it was his home. Karen responded by telling us that she had been on a pilgrimage with Jetsunma to her cave in Lahoul. It turned out that this trip was led by Jampal, Jigme s brother! All this happened just before Khandro-la arrived and, immediately, everything started to unfold for her. Karen invited Khandro-la to talk in her coffee shop and, to her surprise, at very short notice more than 80 people turned up. It was the biggest audience this venue had ever had. Already people have received refuge and signed up for the practice group, including Karen who has quickly become a student of Khandro-la and is very committed to Khachodling s activities. People here are very touched with Khandro-la s compassion and the purity of the lineage. The devotion towards the Shakya Shri lineage peaked after our Question and Answer session with H.E. Gyeltshen Tulku Rinpoche, who began his time in Australia here. He inspired audiences with stories of his past life connections with Shakya Shri and by explaining his own unshakable devotion and commitment towards the lineage. Immediately after the talk, a people came to Khandro-la to request personal transmission for meditation so that they can join our practice group, which brings the total to 20 Continued over 6
The Blessings of Dharma in Perth people in our Perth Sangha. Many Bhutanese also came to greet and serve Rinpoche and Khandro-la, signifying the importance of both great meditation masters. The night before Rinpoche and Khandro-la left, Jigme, my mum and I cooked food to fundraise for Rinpoche s projects in Bhutan. Many came to get blessings and final advice from Khandro-la. No doubt, Rinpoche and Khandro-la have imprinted deeply in our hearts and helped bring the blessings of dharma to Perth. Jasmine Lay-Peng Shakya Khandro-la translating for H.E. Gyeltshen Tulku at the Bodhi Tree Riding on a Dragon My short time in Perth was dedicated to my little niece Yeshe, who seems to soak in all the dharma energy I offer her. Every morning I spent time creating an alter in Jigme and Jasmine s home and she would be completely involved in decorating the alter with flower and offering incense. We would both sit down and meditate and bless the whole house. She loved making wishes for her mom, dad, me and herself by the end of her session. She would always wish the Buddhas to bring her a pussy cat and for me never to leave her home. Khandro-la with her niece, Yeshe and sister-in-law, Jasmine I really enjoyed having some intimate time with her and tucking her into bed with chanting and sharing stories. She loved it and wants to come to visit me, riding on a dragon, wherever I am. We had a lovely quiet family birthday party she is four and it is such a lovely age to teach her dharma. In the photo above she is sitting on my chair before my talk, dressed in the Indian outfit I brought her from Delhi. Khandro-la 7
Renewal, a personal journey have been involved with Tibetan I Buddhism since 1979, but in recent years my spiritual practice had lapsed. In February 2011 my mother died of oesophageal cancer and at the same time I underwent neck surgery on bone damage caused by Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer which attacks the bones and kidneys. The combination of these two events, naturally, had a profound impact upon me and I began to consider my own mortality more deeply than I had up to that point in time. Most of us go through life rarely thinking about death unless we are already in old age. I am only 53 and up until January this year was active and in good health. I had excellent medical, social and family support but I felt spiritually unprepared for a potential early death. During the hospitalisation, I asked my wife to bring Buddhist texts from my library that dealt with the process of dying and the passage through the Bardo. I had read these books as a young man purely out of intellectual interest but now there was a real sense of urgency as I was facing the real thing. By fortunate chance (or karmic intervention) a friend had mentioned to me that my neighbour Robyn North-Zaman is a Buddhist; so when I returned home from hospital I spoke to her about my condition and thus began my introduction to the wonderful Khandro-la and the lovely group of Dharma friends at Khachodling. I met Khandro-la in May 2011 and was immediately struck by her warm personality and friendliness. I had met high lamas before but all were male. Khandro-la radiated a special maternal energy of which I was in desperate need. I was also looking for a spiritual guide who could assist in redirecting me back to Buddhist practice. I explained my situation to Khandro-la, and during that very emotional first personal meeting with her I felt that a great burden of worry was released because I knew that I had become reconnected with a genuine spiritual master. Khandro-la later performed a healing ritual for me and very confidently professed that I was going to get well. I can happily tell you that, to date, my chemotherapy program has been very successful (with the Myeloma now under control); but just as important, my outlook towards the future is full of positive energy thanks to the guidance of Khandro-la and the renewal of Buddhist spiritual practice. John Barratt The Translation Project Recorded public talks and extended talks/teachings given by Khandro la are often transcribed. The intent of this project is twofold. Firstly, the written transcripts provide a useful resource for Khandro-la for future talks. Secondly, it is intended that the transcript materials eventually result in some form of publication of collected talks/teachings. Each year, a number of the Australian tour talks are earmarked for transcription. Whilst the work is slow and requires patience, it provides a great opportunity to hear teachings in a very intimate way. What is more, if undertaken in the right spirit, it can constitute a powerful form of practice. The more people involved in the transcription effort the better. All one requires are familiarity with Khandro-la and her teachings, a computer with itunes, or an equivalent mp3 player, some time and, of course, goodwill. If anyone is interested in volunteering time and effort to this endeavour, please email jane@khachodling.org Jane Miknius 8
Education Project All Khachodling children are doing extremely well. They are working hard at their studies and their parents are very thankful for the help they are receiving. This project started with Khandrola s Australian student Deborah Sheehy and her good heart. The first child supported by Khachodling was Tenzin Tsokyi, the child of Tibetan refugees. Almost a year ago, his father contacted us with the exciting news that they would be migrating to Australia. Tenzin s parents belong to an Australian- Tibetan support group and they have been assisted through their application. However, the process is a slow one and a year later they are still waiting for the immigration to be finalised. So, in the meantime, we will continue supporting Tenzin who has become an outstanding student and is always top of his class. In addition to their academic studies, every Sunday the children are meeting at Khandro-la s home in Manali for dharma classes led by Khachodling monks and nuns. Recently, the annual flag-raising ceremony was held and everyone in the community came together to rejoice and celebrate. The children were very active in the flag-raising event, impressing everyone with the commitment they demonstrated by learning all the prayers and chants. They were even able to teach their parents some of the traditional practices. Thanks to those who support this project, it continues to grow. Most recently several children from poor families in the rural Ladakhi community were added to the program. Children of the Education Project in Khandro-la s home 9
The Eye Project This simple project continues to make a profound difference to the lives of the remote Ladakhi nomad community at Lake Tsomoriri. Khandro-la feels strongly connected to them due to their devotion to her family lineage. Her father, Apo Rinpoche, visited and taught this community and their leader H.E. Langpo Rinpoche in his previous life was one of his direct students. During the pilgrimage in September 2011, Khachodling Trust gave away free sunglasses, medicines and about two hundred smokeless stoves. The need for these stoves was recognised on previous visits, when the health effects of smoky living conditions were witnessed first hand. They were received with great enthusiasm at a wonderful event attended by the whole nomadic community as well as the young H.E. Langpo Rinpoche, H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche, Khandro-la and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. All the nomadic people gathered at their camping site and welcomed Khandro-la and her team with a herbal smoke offering that perfumed the whole atmosphere. They had organised a beautiful picnic lunch in traditionally painted Tibetan tents for the guests. It was an event to remember for the westerners fortunate enough to be there on pilgrimage as part of this team. Each stove will protect the eyes of a whole extended family and all for the cost of only $75. It is a very beautiful gift. The new stoves were highly prized but unfortunately, due to lack of funds, not all need was met. They were distributed first to the poorest nomad families and then a lottery system was used to distribute the remainder. The success of this program, which is making a real and tangible difference to many lives, was only possible because of the offerings and contributions made by many Khachodling supporters. We wish to pass on the thanks of the nomad families themselves as well as the heartfelt gratitude of Khandro-la: This is a program that we should continue. It makes such a big difference in the life of the people there. Any further support is most welcome as there are so many more families who need help. The nomadic way of life is becoming extinct in this world but still thrives in this community. These people truly live in their hearts and their offerings come with such generosity and abundance. As part of Continued over 10
The Eye Project (from previous page) the celebrations they offered traditional folk dancing, resplendent in their lovely costumes with turquoise head dresses, as well as horse and foot races. Auspiciously, H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche offered a rare long-life empowerment, which although held at a short notice, was attended by the whole community. The Roofing Project In Manali, there are certain slums where very poor people face housing challenges of the most basic kind. Sometimes whole families are living under leaking roofs. A serious problem at any time, their predicament becomes quite acute during the monsoonal downpours of the rainy season. This project actually began in Bhutan with the family of the late Shabdrung Rinpoche s attendant, Agu la, who still works with Khandro-la in Manali at Rinpoche s house. Khandro-la s brother, Jampal, suggested this project be extended in Manali. It turns out that it only takes $50 to fix a roof and keep a whole family dry. The project is ongoing and there is no shortage of need. Already more than fifty roofs have been fixed. 11
Khachodling Nuns Khachodling nuns are doing extremely well, especially given the most unfortunate news that came in November. Three Khachodling nuns, on their way to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama s teachings in Bodhgaya, were in a serious bus accident. Two of the Khachodling nuns were injured and, sadly, Ani Sonam, one of our senior and treasured nuns, passed away. Ani Lhamo and Ani Tashi, who were injured in the accident, were taken to a local hospital. They have since been released and report that they feel well but Khandro-la is still concerned that they may have sustained some deeper injuries. If funds can be raised for their treatment, when the passes open in June or July she would like to bring them to Delhi for a more thorough check up. These nuns are young and energetic beings who uphold the precious teachings. When Khandro-la received reports of the accident she was in Bhutan at Punakha Dzong. This is a very special place where the holy body of the first Shabdrung is kept and venerated. Khandro-la being there and being able to offer butter lamp offerings and prayers in front of this holy kudung shows that Ani Sonam was an amazing practitioner. Khandro-la feels it is a big loss for her and her Khachodling nunnery. Ani Tenzin, Ani Sonam s younger sister, was grief stricken when Khandro-la met her recently in Manali saying, I should have been Ani Kunsang, Khandro Rinpoche and the late Ani Sonam at Lake Tsomoriri the one who died. My sister would have served the nunnery much better. Ani Tenzin has suffered much ill health in her life including rheumatoid arthritis. Ani Sonam cared for her sister s wellbeing while she herself enjoyed extremely good health and was full of life. Despite this, impermanence struck and it was Ani Sonam who died. This is a lesson on impermanence. It is a big teaching. Khandro-la and Khachodling continue to hold her in their hearts and her energy will always be there to strengthen the nunnery beyond the physical world. We are very happy to have Ani Tenzin, she is a gem and a great practitioner and Ani Sonam will continue to live through her in the nunnery. Despite this hardship, the nuns continue to be very active. They all came to the Annual Drukpa Council in Ladakh and after that some of the nuns joined H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche and Khandro-la to be part of the Eye Project at Lake Tsomoriri. Ani Sonam eagerly volunteered to be Khandro-la s personal attendant during this tour and was able to share the journey intimately with her teacher. At that time who knew that in a few months she was to leave this human realm! After Tsomoriri, the nuns continued on their journey to Mulbek, Khandro-la s nunnery, and then they had the most amazing pilgrimage with His Eminence and Khandro-la to Guru Rinpoche s Caves. H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche was specially invited to Mulbek by Khandro-la to impart the pith instructions and deeper teachings of the precious lineage. This was happily received by the nuns and would not have happened otherwise. It is so wonderful to have a female teacher such as Khandro-la who is giving such opportunities Continued over 12
Khachodling Nuns to the nuns. In the past, women were forbidden to receive such high teachings. This year some of the nuns also travelled with Khandro-la to Bhutan, where they were trained with ninety other nuns to conduct ritual ceremonies as part of the communal blessing pill making practice. They received empowerments, transmissions and teachings personally from Rinpoche and Khandrola. They were also exposed for the first time to trains, cities, malls and aeroplanes on this journey. Khandro-la says, It was hilarious when my nuns clutched onto me for protection before they used escalators and lifts for the first time. I wanted them to acquire some interest in the western food and took them to restaurants to eat pizza and salads, but they just kept longing for tsampa and butter tea. Habitual patterns are hard to get rid of! In general, Khandro-la is really proud of her nuns because they know how to take advantage of Morning at Khachodling Nunnery in Zanskar the opportunities they are given. Their gratitude and practice is very strong. She would like to thank all those who support her and the Khachodling nuns from the depth of her heart and wants everyone to know that you are making a big difference. Breathtaking Ladakh Ladakh, literally meaning Land of High Passes, has often been described as Shangri-la a Paradise Land. Situated at an average height of 20,000 ft, it is the proverbial lost Himalayan Kingdom. Surrounded by the majestic Karakoram range, this cold desert has a quaint lunar landscape criss-crossed by the great Indus river and a plethora of grand tranquil lakes.home to some of the last nomadic tribes on the planet, any visit is part fantasy and part reality, keeping the visitor spellbound forever. It is a highland bridge between the earth and the sky and a trip to Ladakh is what dreams are made of. Druk Tour: 1st - 15th August 2012 Druk Expeditions A Himalayan Boutique Travel Agency organising tours to the Himalayan Kingdom for the past sixteen years. Its team has exclusive access to the ancestral customs and intense spirituality of the region due to its patrons who belong to a rich lineage of Great Buddhist Masters and Rinpoches. www.drukexpeditions.com Ms. Vinita Agrawal 91-9818336879 / 8527223337 vinitaagrawal18@yahoo.co.in drukexpeditions@gmail.com Remote & Magical Zanskar Zanskar is a spectacular valley in state of Jammu & Kashmir. Separated from Ladakh by the Zanskar Range, roads to the outside world opened only in 1981. A surreal landscape dotted by small villages, cliff-side monasteries and cultivated fields, most of Zanskar s landscape is barren stillness surrounded by folding hills & extremely high mountain peaks. Once part of Western Tibet, the isolated geography of the area has fascinated & attracted scholars, mountaineers, Buddhist practitioners & tourists. Regardless of one s background & motivation, visiting Zanskar is an unforgettable experience. Druk Tour: 1st-15th September 2012 13
The Rewards & Delights of Spontaneity In June 2011 Khandro-la visited Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia for the first time. In 2007 and again in 2010, I travelled with Khandro-la on two amazing pilgrimages to Ladakh. During those life changing experiences, I witnessed, over and over again, and sometimes in the most difficult situations, her love and compassion, her wisdom and commitment, to bringing alive her vision of Khachodling. Khandro-la is the embodiment of warmth and humaneness and I so wanted my friends and the community in Hervey Bay to see, hear, feel and be touched for themselves. So the planning began. During her time here people were invited to be part of an Introductory Talk and Teaching Workshop, and a Candlelight Puja for the deceased. We were overwhelmed with the response. It seemed as if people couldn t get enough of Khandro-la! We had so many visitors to the home where Khandro-la, Jane Miknius and her little 3-year-old niece, Yeshe were staying. The sounds of laughter, fun and joy coupled with the smells of wonderful Indian cuisine entranced us all and reminded us of the rewards and delights of spontaneity, which Khandro-la personifies. The legacy that Khandro-la has left us here in Hervey Bay has taken many directions. We have a strong Sangha practising weekly and just waiting for Khandro-la to return. We also have a growing group of tai chi practitioners who were very touched by Khandro-la and her projects in the remote Himalayas of Ladakh, particularly the eye restoration project for the nomads. These women, and their friends, come together one a month in each other s homes for a fundraising lunch and update on Khachodling s activities. Since Khandro-la visited, the group has continued in their activities to raise funds for Khachodling. The group are waiting for Khandro-la s next visit, which is now only a few weeks away. Jane Barnes An Unforgettable Experience Khandro Rinpoche is a truly living yogini. The way she teaches is simple, yet it goes directly to the understanding deep inside. She is a model for lay practitioners who live in this modern age with all sorts of magical phenomena but at the same time have the fervent wish to make a meaningful life, for oneself and others. Being with her always makes me feel that my judgmental mind easily falls apart. She shows great warmth and acceptance to everybody, a quality that makes everybody she meets feel greatly connected to her. Being with Khandro Rinpoche for one day can be an unforgettable experience for one s life. Yabin Yap Yabin and his wife and friends have been coming to visit with Khandro Rinpoche in Java and Bali for the last two years after her Amanjiwo retreat. In 2011 they have invited her to teach in Djakarta. 14
Compassion and Warmth in Melbourne Khandro-la visited Melbourne in April 2011 and kindly transmitted teachings to us on the Meditation Practices of her family s yogic lineage. A group of us have been meeting regularly to practice together since, and this time feels very special for us as we always feel the direct blessings from Khandrola and the Shakya Shri lineage. Although we are only a small group, many of whom are new to the dharma and new to each other, the closeness and the peace that we feel when we practice together is testimony to the warmth, generosity and enthusiasm that Khandro-la expresses in everything that she does. We feel her energy supporting us which brings more depth and strength to our experience of the practices. We were fortunate to have Khandro-la return to Melbourne in June for the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Australia. Khandro-la was invited to instruct participants on Meditation before His Holiness taught on the 13th of June and she shared her knowledge and understanding of the practice of Tonglen (giving and receiving) in a beautiful, heartfelt way. For me, this seemed to resonate so well and so naturally with the Bodhisattva Teachings of the weekend in helping us to develop our love and compassion, that I felt quite overwhelmed with all that we were receiving. Khachodling had a stall at His Holiness Teachings that weekend and it was lovely to see students from Melbourne and Hobart, who had never met before, working together, connecting and enjoying being part of the whole experience. Before Khandro-la left Melbourne, we held a Candlelight Puja and fundraiser evening for the Nomad Project. This was the first time for The Melbourne Sangha us to participate in a Candlelight Puja together and it was lovely to see how enthusiastically everyone volunteered to help with all the preparations for the evening and the creation of a beautiful Mandala. We watched the moving Nomadic Eyes documentary on Khandro-la s Eye Project and also saw a slide show of Khandro-la s time in the Himalayas earlier that year. This was a wonderful opportunity to see first hand how well all of Khachodling s Dharma work is going in the Himalayas and to feel a part of the whole experience of this important sharing between East and West. Deborah Sheehy 15
Precious Teaching in Hong Kong During my first visit to Ladakh in August 2011, I joined with 3 other ladies Amy, Yeeming and Hanna to visit the famous Hemis Monastery. When we were resting and having our tea Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo arrived. We were about to leave and spare the rooms for the masters, but they were so kind that theyasked us to stay and started to chat with us. It was so amazing! The room was full of female energy! Khandro Rinpoche mentioned to us that she was going to Indonesia in September and would like to visit Hong Kong. So after I came back to Hong Kong, I started to ask other Dharma friends what I should do to organise her first visit to Hong Kong since I really had no experience and no idea what to do. But in my heart I really felt blessed to facilitate Hong Kong people to meet Rinpoche and thereby benefit from her warmth, motherly love and compassion. It was only six weeks between when we met Khandro Rinpoche and when she and her assistant Jane arrived in Hong Kong on the 8th of October! Everything happened so spontaneously with lots of blessings that the arrangements unfolded beautifully one by one. Thanks to all the Dharma friends: Theresa, Grace, Lau Wai ming, Yeeming, Patty, Chris everyone contributed purely from their heart to help Rinpoche s visit successful and joyful. Khandro Rinpoche was very kind to give us the precious teaching and transmission of her family tradition, Shakya Shri s Mind Terma for Chenrezig. We also held a Candlelight Puja for the deceased and removal of life obstacles, as well as a talk and workshop for meditation. Everything ran perfectly smoothly and everyone was joyful and filled with love and blessings. We were so touched that Rinpoche not only gave us teachings following her family tradition and the Buddha, but she also delivered love and compassion from her heart. The blessings were so powerful just like they were coming from all the Buddhas, Khandro-la teaching for the first time in Hong Kong Bodhisattvas and all the enlightened beings through the Universe. Rinpoche also shared with us her own experience in practicing Buddha Dharma as a lay person a woman who faced different obstacles in her life just like every one of us. It really encouraged us to keep practicing in our daily life. Thanks to Lama Choedrak and Christina of Pal Shangpa Thekchen Ling for providing us the venue and all the support for the teaching and the puja. Thanks for the blessings from His Holiness The 12th Gyalwang Drukpa and the support from Drukpa Hong Kong. Thanks for everyone who contributed and attended the programs to help Khandro Rinpoche s auspicious first visit be so joyful and complete. We pray and wish Rinpoche long life and that she will come back to Hong Kong again very soon! Jan Chow 16
Spirit and Community in Tasmania Khandro Rinpoche s most recent teachings in Hobart marked her fifth visit in just five years. It was also the first time that there was a group of students to greet her. For a little over a year, since her previous visit, a small but dedicated group had been deepening their connection with Khandro-la by putting her teachings into practice. It was a real pleasure and a practical vindication of this practice to see the local team work together so well to make each event during Khandro-la s stay a great success. Khandro-la gave a public talk well attended both by those who had met Khandro-la during previous visits and many who were doing so for the first time. Then there was a whole day for those interested in deepening their connection to her lineage and teachings. There was a very moving candlelight puja, with a spirit made all the more palpable by several recent deaths connected with those attending. A delightful mandala created from local flowers offered a fitting setting for a poignant teaching and this gently healing practice. The next morning we all gathered Connecting with the land & sea in Tasmania on a bluff overlooking the beautiful Dodges Ferry beach to raise prayer flags and take part in a puja to bless and connect us with the land and sea. It was very moving to see Khandro-la bringing her ancient tradition to a new land in such an authentic way. Those who have taken part in one of these events will relate to the peals of laughter that accompanied its culmination as we covered each other in flour. It was with a very satisfying and tangible spirit of community that we then walked down to the beach and spread the remnants of the candlelight puja among the rock pools. The official part of Khandro-la s visit was concluded with a successful fundraiser at which Khandro-la discussed many of her Himalayan projects. Some teenagers from a high school social action group heard of her endeavours and made a spontaneous donation. Khandrola also worked tirelessly around these events and connected with many different people through individual healing sessions. So much was packed into a short time. This visit effectively built on the efforts made to facilitate Khandro-la s previous visits. I wish to thank again all those involved in making these previous visits a reality, as well as those who lent their time and effort in such a heartfelt manner this time around. Of course, the greatest share of our thanks and appreciation goes to Khandro-la who travels so far to offer us so much. Stuart Lord 17
A Whirl of Flying, Dancing Dakini Energy Khandro-la s 2011 visit felt like a whirl of flying, dancing dakini activity and amidst the whirlwind we could always find the steadying presence of Rinpoche. Over the course of Khandro-la s visit, our practice, and our connections with each other as a sangha, deepened. The tour began in Sydney with a public talk at the Buddhist Library. This was followed by last year s Easter Retreat, which was so beautiful and so deeply, spiritually connecting, both inwardly and between us all. It s so lovely to gather as a sangha and practice together and integrate that practice into our activities off the meditation mat! It is a dream come true for me, and such a powerful experience of surrender. Some of our retreatants wrote to Rinpoche about their contemplative reflections. Having attended all Avalokiteshvara retreats with Khandro-la beginning in Kerala in December 2007 and continuing annually during Khandro-la s Sydney visits at Easter, I find my love for this practice continues to grow and I am deeply grateful as it nourishes my heart. Practicing with my Khachodling family is very precious to me. It brings us closer and strengthens our connection with Khandro-la and her lineage masters. We draw the blessings of peace and joy from our regular practice sessions and tsog lunch. I feel it deepens our commitment and devotion and softens and opens our hearts. Susy Benson This was our first year where we trialled our events manual so we could coordinate our organisational and administrative activities under the Khachodling Australia banner. The committee is very happy with how all our Dharma sister and brother volunteers participated in the organisational flow as a devotional practice. Please know that your generosity and endeavours are deeply valued and appreciated. Flowing on from Khandro-la s 2011 visit we have two Shamatha practice groups in Sydney, one in the inner west at Robyn North Zaman s gompa in Balmain on monday evenings and on Tuesday evenings at Susy Benson s gompa on the Northern Beaches at Narrabeen. Visitors are welcome to join any of these practice groups when visiting Sydney, just call Jen on 9799 3387 or 0400 865 118 or call Susy on 9970 8109 or 0414 710 028. Sydney sangha who have received the transmission for Avalokiteshvara practice, have been meeting monthly for practice and a shared tsog/lunch. The regularity of meeting and practice has deepened both our practice and our connection with each other. We are hoping that more folks connected to Khandro-la and the teachings will volunteer for Khandro-la s 2012 visit as many hands make light work and also because volunteering is a lovely way to integrate spiritual practice as devotional conduct. Jen Fox 18
The Inner Life in Canberra A Return Visit to Canberra Canberra was blessed to have had Khandro-la from the first to sixth of April last year. A public talk was given on 1st April, and a teaching on the inner life took place the next day. Lunch and stories were shared beneath a still, leafy tree which was preparing for autumn. The events took place in Griffith, a suburb of Canberra. Beauty & Welcoming The space is made of glass, wood and stone, surrounded by stillness that allows even the crickets to be heard as Khandro-la imparts her wisdom. Rae, June, Janet, Marie and Ann further transformed the exquisite space into one of beauty and welcoming. A golden Buddha vibrates Forward and back A Buddha field emanates Om Mani Padme Hung Khandro-la radiates Air streams her hair in all directions Nothing is forever. This too shall pass. Eighteen dakinis gather to share the precious jewels of Buddha. Mindfulness holds all with Om Ah Hung on the breath. Body, Speech and Mind are given attention. With Om white light fills the third eye; with Ah comes red light to the throat area and with Hung the heart is filled with blue light, all under the eminence of Avalokiteshvara/Chenrezig who is the essence of the embodiment of all the Buddha families. What is this yearning to be present to one s being away from chaos, free of attachments? We were reminded to know what you know and to consciously choose where to direct the resources that are available to each of us. The Buddha s Tooth A story is told and reminds us that without devotion nothing will sprout. The story of the Buddha s tooth goes something like this There was a mother whose son was often away on business to distant lands. He wanted to bring a gift back for his mother and asked her what she would like. Her only wish was for a holy relic, the Buddha s tooth. The son would go away and, being so preoccupied with his business, would forget his promised gift. On his return, his mother would be consistently disappointed that he had not fulfilled her wish. After sometime, while returning to his homeland, he realised he had, once again, forgotten the promised gift and, determined not to fail her again, he took action. There was no opportunity to procure the Buddha s tooth so he took a creative initiative. He saw a dead dog on the road and pulled a tooth from its mouth, washed it cleaned, wrapped it in velvet and placed it in a box. His mother was filled with joy and gratitude that her son had carried out her wish. This relic was given the glance of love and devotion daily by the mother, a devotion that was acknowledged by others beyond the walls of her home. Over time the tooth began to manifest signs of great potency and healing qualities. Visualisation practices were shared to develop our pure perception, to see oneself and all beings as wisdom deities and our environment as a Buddha field; to hear all sounds as mantras and to understand all thoughts as the display of awareness the recognition that all phenomena are truly and inherently pure. So from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet, ask the Beings of Light for support and obstacles will be removed. Go beyond the conditioned mind; develop your capacity to create then dissolve, without attachment. An Opportunity There was an opportunity for the Sangha to gather for a blessing of June s beautiful new space in Bungendore. Several individual healings were given in Queanbeyan and Yarralumla. There were opportunities for Khandro-la to informally be with people and personal time for her to rest and enjoy some of the beauties of this area. We give thanks for the gift of Khandro-la s presence. Josephine Lolicato Josephine first met Khandro-la on the pilgrimage to Bhutan in 2010. She coordinates a practice group in Canberra, as she will Khandro-la s visit to the region in 2012 contact: jlolicato@gmail.com 19
So Many Stories to Tell Such is the breadth and depth of experience arising from a pilgrimage with Khandro-la that it can hardly be contained by words. There are so many different ways you could write about our journey to Ladakh; so many different stories to tell. We sang and danced with nuns in Lahoul, rode horses with the nomads at Lake Tsomoriri and listened as Khandro-la discussed the Dharma with H.E. Gyeltshen Rinpoche and Jetsun Tenzin Palmo. We watched Kung Fu nuns performing the dragon dance, saw Khandro-la parade with other masters at the start of the Annual Drukpa Council and listened to Imi-la regale us with hilarious stories of Drukpa Kunley. Again and again we climbed, circumambulated and prostrated, full of spirit but short of breath, at sacred sites set midst holy hills. Then there was the time when we were stuck for thirty hours at a roadside cafe. Torrents of rain and rock falls had blocked the road. Several times whispers spread that it was cleared and departure seemed immanent. Instead, we ended up hunkering down overnight sheltering in cars or the cafe. Our feet, at least, were warm and cosy in woollen socks knitted by Khandro-la s nuns. There were more delays and false starts until, finally, in fading light and after taking to foot, we reached Rotang Pass. By the supa build by H.H. Drukpa Rinpoche, the glory of the Himalayan range spread out before us. It was truly blissful. Of course, pilgrimages aren t always so ecstatic. They can also be unsettling. On narrow, barely made Himalayan roads bus wheels often spin, seeming perilously close to precipitous, vertiginous falls. Even when our feet were planted firmly on the ground, personalities can start to chafe and trifles begin to appear substantial. As schedules were broken and remade and the altitude began to take it s toll, a rhyming roadside advisory offered a valuable instruction: Don t be silly in the hilly. In some respects, pilgrimages are like ordinary life but only more so. Neuroses are uncovered; the hooks of habitual tendencies are sharpened. Then again, other senses are sharpened as well. The same clarity that brings negative propensities into focus also help us to raise our eyes above the spectacle of our own inadequacies. The majesty of the landscape, the intention of our endeavour and the inspiration of the people and places we visited were an eye-opening reminder of all that really matters. The pilgrimage offered an opportunity to witness pure devotion and selfless service; to be reminded of the benefit that can be brought into the world by those who have cultivated a good heart. Our pilgrimage was a group endeavour and I am deeply and sincerely grateful to all those with whom I had the good fortune to travel. Your presence added immeasurably to the experience and made it all the more rewarding. This pilgrimage was more than an insightful journey, it was an absolute privilege. My unending and heartfelt thanks to Khandro-la for making this amazing opportunity possible and for her unyielding efforts along the way. Stuart Lord 20