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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KDK Teaching Schedule, Spring - Summer 2013

Chod is the most effective practice in the Vajrayana tradition. This lineage originated with the great mahasiddha Dampa Sanggye and was passed down to the great Tibetan Holy Lady Machig Labdron in the 11th century. This practice spread in Tibet until it became well known throughout all the land. Monastics, lay people, and villagers all became Chod practitioners. This practice has a special emphasis on cutting through the ego, which is the root cause of suffering in the samsara.

It is especially effective for sick people or those affected by many different mental disorders, and their sickness can be pacified through this practice. Among all the Tibetan Schools, the Eight Great Chariots, all of the lineages have continued this practice until now with the fresh blessing of the dakinis.

This lineage arrived from the Buddha direct to Dampa Sanggye, then on to Karmapa Rangjung Dorje and continuously up until the present Karmapa. This lineage has been maintained precisely and without interruption or defilement. Furthermore, this lineage has come directly from Machig Labdron to the Shangpa Lineage from Norbu Dondrub, the Yogi who accomplished Rainbow Body, the root guru of His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche. Finally, this fresh, unbroken and undefiled lineage has passed down to Lama Lodu Rinpoche himself.

Anyone interested in joining this initiation and teachings in welcome. The full practice empowerment and complete set of instructions so that upon completion of the retreat, everyone would be able to bring this practice into their daily life. A KDK student requested this initiation to Rinpoche so KDK is kindly putting this open to the public. If you are karmically connected and the time is right for your karma to ripen you are welcome to participate. It is best if you have taken refuge and initiation and have some familiarity with Buddhism, but newcomers having the karma to come are more than welcome.

The practice text can be ordered from the KDK Bookstore if you order in a timely fashion. The .Chod Practice Manual and Commentary. by Shambhala Publications (as well as KDK Bookstore) contains the complete practice, and is also a complete commentary on the Chod practice.

Arrival time is Thursday night to the KDK Retreat Land; register with Deborah Janke at deborahpricejanke@att.net before March 20th to receive all necessary instructions. Initiation is at 10AM Friday morning.

Lama Lodu Rinpoche, author of .Bardo Teachings: The Way of Death and Rebirth., will give a two hour teaching on Impermanence. Death is the end result of all life, yet it is never easy to accept when we see it closely. Rinpoche will teach on Impermanence from the perspective of the Dharma, which can allow students to transform even the most difficult experiences into positive qualities.

Rinpoche will give teachings for the April 27th-28th weekend. For more information, contact Henry and Mody Holloman at: hnrymody@yahoo.com or call them at (707) 822-4756.

Pre-registration is absolutely required for this retreat. Please contact Deborah Janke via Email at deborahpricejanke@att.net by April 25th, 2013. Arrival day is May 7th, Torma Day is May 8th, and the practice proceeds from May 9th until the morning of May 25th. 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 glory 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 ArmChenrezig, 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.

His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa recognized Tsoknyi Rinpoche (the present incarnation) as the reincarnation of Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche II. He is a renowned master of the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma traditions and holder of the Tsoknyi Lineage, which is based on Ratna Lingpa's termas. Rinpoche was born into an unbroken father-to-son lineage of realized Dzogchen masters. Born in 1966 and recognized as a tulku at the age of eight, he was trained by many renowned masters of Tibet: Khamtrul Rinpoche Dongyu Nyima, his father Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and Adeu Rinpoche. Tsoknyi Rinpoche heads 50+ practice centers and hermitages with over 2000 nuns and 900 monks that practice the Tsoknyi and Ratna Lingpa Lineages in the eastern region of Tibet (Nangchen). Yeshe Rangsal in Crestone, Colorado is his seat in the West.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche will give teachings on the Seven Points Mind Training at the KDK Retreat Land in Laytonville, CA. Retreat participants will need to register with Deborah Janke / deborahpricejanke@att.net prior to June 3rd in order to register and receive all necessary instructions.

For new updates, please see the KDK home page for the latest information.

Located a few miles from Laytonville, this remote and scenic retreat area features a lake (suitable for swimming), a Stupa, a yurt for teachings and two compound trailers containing a total of four bathrooms and two kitchens, as well as ten individual cabins. All sleeping areas are available on a first-come first-serve basis only. For those camping outside, you will need to bring a tent and protection from insects. Arrival to the Land must be prior to 12:00 Noon June 7th; teachings will commence that evening and continue to Wednesday morning June 12th.

Water and electricity are provided but participants will need to bring their own food for the duration of the retreat. This isolated retreat is the ideal way to fully engage with the precious instructions of this accomplished teacher.

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