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~Song of Fulfillment~

Founded by His Eminence KALU RINPOCHE

Directed by Venerable LAMA LODU RINPOCHE

News - Spring 2009

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje

Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorj

His Holiness 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje, the crown jewel of all the Kagyu lineages, continues his activities to benefit all beings of the six realms, and especially our world. His Holiness is planning to do a tour of Europe in the near future. Right now, he is in Gyuto monastery where each day His Holiness receives and gives audience and blessings to many disciples from the East and West. Anyone who is interested in visiting His Holiness can go to http://www.kagyuoffice.org/ to receive contact information. His Holiness has emphasized the need to protect the environment and has written a guide book that is easy for all to understand. We offer heartfelt devotion to His Holiness, the 17th Karmapa, and prayers for His Holiness' long life and the flourishing of his enlightened activity.

 



His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche

Kalu Rinpoche

His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche recently participated in the Five Tantric Deity ten day intensive practice at Sonada. Following this event, which included the creation of a sand mandala, Rinpoche traveled to Hong Kong and Taiwan for a short visit. Kalu Rinpoche requested that His Eminence Tai Situpa offer the Shangpa Lineage Empowerments. This series of initiations which Rinpoche will attend at Palpung Sherab Ling begins on August 13, 2009. Kalu Rinpoche is planning a teaching tour in North America next year. We are delighted that Rinpoche will visit our own KDK center in San Francisco which the previous Kalu Rinpoche established in1974! We look forward to this glorious event with joy, gratitude and  enthusiasm.




Mingyur Rinpoche at KDK

Khenpo GhawangIn June 2009 Very Venerable Mingyur Rinpoche gave teachings at KDK on the Seven Points of Mind Training. This was an illuminating and inspiring transmission. Rinpoche revealed all the subtleties in this profound method for realizing relative and ultimate bodhicitta. Especially beneficial were Rinpoche's answers to questions from the audience. Much to the delight of everyone, on June 15, 2009,  Rinpoche bestowed the Chenrezig empowerment, another great blessing.

Mingyur Rinpoche was born in Nepal. Among his ancestors was the 19th century authentic Treasure Master, Chogyur Lingpa. Rinpoche's father was an eminent teacher who, until the Chinese invasion of Tibet, was engaged in a complete solitary retreat. Rinpoche's father is well known throughout Tibet, and was one of the teachers of H.H. the16th Karmapa. Mingyur Rinpoche's father was, in fact, the master who transmitted the New Treasures to His Holiness. The 16th Karmapa deeply respected Rinpoche's father, regarding him as a supremely wise yogi.

Mingyur's Rinpoche's mother, also from Nepal, had two sons who are highly realized incarnations. Two of Rinpoche's half- brothers are tulkus.

Mingyur Rinpoche was recognized as the great Treasure Master, Yongey Mingyur. This master's life story is readily available. From an early age, Rinpoche remained in retreat studying Buddhist philosophy. Mingyur Rinpoche is deeply respected and revered by his peers. He currently serves as the retreat master of Palpung Sherab Ling in India.

We in the West are truly fortunate to have had access to Rinpoche's teachings. Since he began his teaching tours six years ago in Europe and North America, Rinpoche has dispelled confusion through his activities of body, speech and mind. Merely by seeing, hearing and studying with this great master, doubt and obscurations swiftly dissolve.

Rinpoche's best selling book, The Joy of Living, demonstrated that Western science is in accord with Buddhist philosophy. Rinpoche's teachings are clear and direct; his use of humor ensures that students are never bored with the subject matter and always look forward to learning more and practicing more. We deeply appreciated Rinpoche's kindness in offering teachings and an empowerment here at our Kagyu center in San Francisco. It was a joyful experience for all who attended. Mingyur Rinpoche's transmission of the Dharma opened our hearts and enriched our lives.

KDK would like to thank all of those people who donated their time to make Rinpoche's visit go smoothly.

Beautiful Thangkas Available Again

Kagyu Droden Kunchab is happy to announce that our bookstore has obtained many beautiful thangkas and other ritual objects which are now available for purchase. Each of these items was carefully selected by a qualified Lama who confirmed that the images and iconography are in perfect accordance with the deity sadhana. These thangkas are invaluable as sacred tools, especially useful during the "creation stage" of the meditation practice. Some are decorated with gold and all are framed by exceptionally good quality brocade.

Among the thangkas which are of especially fine quality with remarkably vivid, clear imagery, are Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) and the Kagyu Preliminary Practice thangka. Each of those is $400. Amitaba thangkas are priced between $150 - $400 depending on the size. Vajrasattva is listed at $300, Machig Labdron, $400 and Manjushri, $300. We are also able to custom order Thangkas for you. Prices range between $260 and $1000.

We have priced these items so that they are affordable for most practitioners. KDK members receive a 20% discount. The bookstore manager will accept installment payments from those who wish to purchase a thangka.

If you have any questions, please call (415) 752-5454. These items and more are available for purchase on line through the KDK Bookstore page or even better, come by the KDK bookstore before or after puja, where you can view these inspiring works of art up close.

Personal Retreats at the KDK Retreat Land

The KDK retreat land was purchased and developed by our Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche with one goal: to provide students of the dharma with an environment where they may engage in serious meditation practice in beautiful, silent and sacred surroundings. Much effort went into securing and establishing the facilities, and scores of public teachings, empowerments, retreats, (including two traditional 3-year retreats), have taken place there. Now Lama Lodu Rinpoche has expressed the hope that many people will engage in personal retreats on the land. The daily fee is $20, $10 for KDK members. This stipend covers housing, the use of the community kitchen, bathroom and shrine room, as well as full hiking access to the 160 acres.

(Please note: KDK cannot provide food for your retreat. And, since a traditional Tibetan 3-year retreat is now in progress, visitors will be asked not to enter those compounds, and to observe quiet behavior when nearby.)

Registration for personal retreats is required by calling (707) 984-7038. Samten, the KDK retreat land caregiver, will provide more information. People wishing to stay on the land for a personal retreat will be given a set of simple rules which we request that they read carefully. Lama Lodu Rinpoche has repeatedly stated that the intention to go on a religious retreat, whether in a group or on one's own, creates vast merit. Carrying out the plan, taking time off from one's daily activities, packing up, making all the necessary preparations, all of this adds to the purification and benefit. We hope that those of you who are interested in pursuing a personal retreat on the KDK retreat land will do so with the knowledge that all your merit joins with the merit of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas past, present and future for the benefit of all beings.

KDK Membership dues

Have you considered paying your KDK membership dues online? Many banks have automated bill paying systems. It is easy to schedule a regular contribution to KDK. Set up your "bill pay" to send payments to: Kagyu Droden Kunchab, 1892 Fell Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Remember that dues went up last year to $240 for a year, or $120 for six months

Or see the KDK Membership page for other options.

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