Center for the Study and Practice of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism

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~Song of Fulfillment~

Founded by His Eminence KALU RINPOCHE

Directed by Venerable LAMA LODU RINPOCHE

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Schedule of Teachings Winter 2009 through Spring 2010

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To schedule a personal interview with Lama Lodu Rinpoche, please call him directly at (415) 386-4531.

Stars of Wisdom: Analytical Meditation, Songs of Yogic Joy, and Prayers of Aspiration: A weekend of Teaching and Meditation from Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche’s new book
KDK, 1892 Fell St., San Francisco, CA
$50 a day for Non-Members, $25 a day for Members ($25/$15 for Friday evening)

Friday 4/16 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM; Sat 4/17 & Sun 4/18 10AM-Noon, 2PM-4PM

His Eminence Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche is the head abbott of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and has produced many lamas and learned scholars. Many Westerners who have studied under him have become highly respected scholars; among these is Ari Goldfield, who has studied closely under Rinpoche as well as served as his translator for many years. His close connection with Rinpoche has made him a continuation of Rinpoche's gifts of insight and intellect, providing a great opportunity for KDK's students. Ari and his wife, Rose Taylor will give teachings as well as Q&A based on this book. Attendance of their entire class will be an invaluable learning experience, but even one or two classes is helpful. This material is suitable for all levels: Beginners new to practice will find benefit within these teachings; Intermediate practitioners who have encountered obstacles on their path of realization will find this greatly helpful, and advanced practitioners with some experience on the path will experience enhancement for their meditation and practice.

From the starsofwisdom.com website:

Tibetan Buddhist master Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso is known for his joyful songs of realization and his spontaneous and skillful teaching style. In this book he explains how to gain clarity, peace, and wisdom through step-by-step analysis and meditation on the true nature of reality. He also introduces readers to the joy and profundity of yogic song, and reveals the power of altruistic aspiration prayers to inspire, transform, and brighten our hearts. The book has been translated expertly into English by Khenpo Tsultrim's close students, Ari Goldfield and Rose Taylor.

Karma Pakshi is the name of the Second Karmapa. His previous reincarnation was the original First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa. His Holiness the Karmapa, an emanation of Avalokitesvara, was originially born in India as one of the great Eighty Mahasiddhas. In Tibet, he was born as Dusum Khyenpa and was the first to make a detailed prediction about his future incarnation. When this prediction came true with his rebirth as Karma Pakshi, he invented a tradition that has since passed all over Tibet and the world. In this tradition, the predecessor.s activitiy is taken over by the next incarnation, maintaining a continuation of the lineage. He became the example that Tibetan lineage masters followed for their future incarnations.

In Karma Pakshi's time, he was most well known as a Mahasiddha Yogi. Many centuries later, the great Treasure Master Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche had a vision of Karma Pakshi. Mingyur Rinpoche received the pith instruction of the whole mandala within this vision, and created a sadhana based on this holy experience. Afterwards, Mingyur Dorje passed the empowerment, sadhana and instruction down to the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages where it is now continued up to the present time.

Several months ago, at the request of the KDK Sangha, Lama Lodu Rinpoche gave the Karma Pakshi empowerment at KDK. In this retreat, Rinpoche will be giving ritual instruction and detailed visualization and meditation, including the Ganachakra feast offering which is a specific tradtion of the Vajrayana.

All those of you who wish to practice Karma Pakshi in dedicated retreat, I must invite you to come. Otherwise, if you wish to engage this ritual in daily practice, you are more than welcome.

White Tara is ultimately Prajnaparamita, the mother of all Buddhas. Relatively, she appears as White Tara, to free the obstacles for the practitioner and expand their life, wealth prosperity and health. Those who have initiation will experience greater intensity in their practice. White Tara is the female form of the Compassionate One. In Tibet, she is reincarnate in human beings such as Yeshe Tsogyal, the consort of Guru Padmasambhava, Machig.Labdron the founder of the Chöd lineage Pungpo.Zenkyurma, which means “giving the body as food for the ghosts”. This teaching is well known through all the world and all lineages of the Vajrayana. When one has the connection to receive this empowerment, their practice intensifies.

Registration is an absolute requirement for this retreat. Please call (925) 228-3999 by April 25th, 2010.

Arrival day is May 10th, Torma Day is May 11th, and the practice continues from May 12th until the morning of May 28th. On the first day of the lunar month, the moon, though present in the night sky, is not visible. As the moon waxes, a sliver of light is seen and then a larger portion of the sphere appears until finally we witness the glort of a full moon. The phases of the waxing moon mirror Buddha Shakyamuni’s experience under the Bodhi tree. He subdued the maras of negativity and his wisdom increased and expanded until he accomplished full enlightenment. Lord Buddha’s realization is symbolized as the final phase of a waxing moon, perfect unobstructed wisdom light.

During the Eight Nyung Nes practice, participants follow the example of Buddha Shakyamuni. Just as Lord Buddha engendered enourmous, selfless aspirations for all beings, a Buddhist practicing this way can accumulate tremendous positive karma. But since the maras of negativity rally forces at this time as well, negative karma can also increase. The retreat always ends auspiciously on the day of the full moon.

In Tibetan, “Nyung” means less. “Nes” means remaining. This means that during this retreat, we reduce our negativity and, ideally, eliminate negativity entirely. The eight precept vows are called “So Jong”. “So” means we replenish the positive, and “Jong” means we purify the negative. By taking the eight precent vows, the experience is greatly intensified. In addition, we practice creation stage meditation where we visualize the 1,000 Arm Chenrezig, who is the embodiment of all the enlightened ones, and we recite his mantra. We visualize the environment as the mandala, ourselves as the deity, and thus transform all impure perceptions to perfectly pure and divine, celestial perceptions.

Nyung Nes is a practice of fasting and purification. Each morning, one takes vows and abides by them for the whole day. On the first day, one vegetarian meal is consumed at noon and liquids are taken. On the second day, no food or drink at all is consumed. On each day practitioners do the 1,000 Arm Chenrezig practice.

So great is the powerful merit of this practice that to do one Nyung Nes closes the doors to the lower realms in the next rebirth. It is also said that by completely eight consecutive Nyung Nes practices, one closes the door to rebirth in samsara. One is instantlty reborn into a realm where enlightenment comes quickly and easily.

For more information, contact Lamas Pema and Yeshe at (541) 552-1769/ ksc@mind.net Website: http://www.kscashland.org/

For more information, contact Henry and Mody at (707) 822-4756 / hnrymody@yahoo.com

We invite students of Kagyu Droden Kunchab to join the celebration of His Holiness’ Birthday. This annual event is sponsored by many organizations and devoted individuals and is held at the Berkeley Marina. The public is invited to participate in this wonderful gathering where food, a fire puja, prayers and Tibetan cultural festivities will occur.

Location: Berkeley Marina Shorebird Park, next to His Lordship’s restaurant.

Parking Lot directions: Take University Ave. Exit west toward the bay, then follow the signs to His Lordship’s restaurant.

We regret that due to scheduling difficulties, Lama Lodu Rinpoche can not visit Santa Fe and Questa at this time.

Teachings in St. Louis, July 8th-14th
by Ven. Lama Lodu Rinpoche

Please contact Delores for more information at openheart227@yahoo.com

Prayers for peace in the world will be conducted by Lamas from across the United States at KTC. Please see http://www.kagyu.org for information.

Please contact Shelley at drshell@hawaii.rr.com for more information.

Please contact Rod or Wangmo at thubten@directcon.net / (530) 295-1695

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