News - Spring 2008

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje

His Holiness Karmapa continues to bless the beings of the six realms, three times and ten directions with his limitless compassion. We long for His Holiness's visit to the United States so we may meet the mind of the living Buddha who liberates upon being seen.

His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche

Khabje Kalu Rinpoche will complete his three-year retreat in 2008. We look forward to the time he will visit all the centers he established in Canada and the United States, especially of course, our own Kagyu Droden Kunchab. We pray for Rinpoche's long life and the furtherance of his enlightened activity for the benefit of all beings. .

Lama Lodu Rinpoche will lead a Chöd Retreat and Empowerment
At the KDK Retreat Land in Laytonville July 17 –21, 2008
To see details click here.
Registration required by calling (925) 228-3999

Beautiful Thangkas Available

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

As another option, KDK now accepts credit card payments on a secure website:
https://kdk.org/ccsub_memberships.html

Or see the KDK Membership page for other options.