Dublin Teachings 13th - 18th April 2010

click on the image to enlarge it

Sections of Gampopa's Great Public Teachings, - Che Dagpo Rinpoche Tsog Chö Chenpo - will be the subject of Rinpoche's teaching for this week. This is a little known text by 12 century Tibetan saint and scholar, Jé Gampopa (1079 - 1153). Gampopa was renowned physician, who renounced the world and became a monk after he was unable to save his wife and two children who died in an epidemic that ravaged their homeland. After years of spiritual practice Gampopa was deeply moved on hearing the name of the great yogi, Milarepa, and sought him as his teacher. Milarepa subjected Gampopa to various tests before accepting him as a student, but subsequently gave him his complete teachings.

This text is one of these and was put into writing around the time of the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi. These are both General and Specific Teachings, and have not yet been translated and published outside the Tibetan. It is only the second time that they have been taught in the west, the first was also by Ringu Tulku in Barcelona, between 2004 - 2006. According to Rinpoche they are the very basis of the Karma Kagyu teachings and represent the classic Kagyu teaching tradition.

Thanka painting of Jé Gampopa. by R D Salga.

If you plan to attend the whole week of teachings for both evenings and weekend talks, please book through Kagyu Samye Dzong, Dublin . If you plan to attend the weekend only at the Writers Musem, you may book through Bodhicharya Ireland, c/o 24, North Terrace, Dublin 8 and make your cheque payable to Sowa Rigpa Europe. The proceeds from the weekend will go directly towards helping Rinpoche with his educational and charitable work In India and Tibet. Numbers are limited for the teachings, so please book early to ensure a place .

Please recite Vajra Kilaya Mantras for Ringu Tulku

Margaret Ford has passed on a message from Rinpoche :

Ringu Tulku has asked if his students and friends can recite as many Vajrakilaya mantras for him as possible :

OM VAJRA KILIKILAYA SARWA BIGHNAN BAM HUNG PHAT

some versions read

OM BENZA KILIKILAYA SARVA BIGNAN BAM HUNG PHAT

Benza = Tibetan, Vajra = Sanskrit

There's a download of the mantra available here :

(thanks, Ian)

Vajra Kilaya is a very powerful practice for removing obstacles. It is said to have been found by Guru Rinpoche in a cave in Nepal, and hidden as a terma by the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal.

Please make this part of your daily practice for Rinpoche who is currently in Nepal attending the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, widely regarded as one of the greatest Dzogchen Masters of our time and one of Ringu Tulku's main teachers. Click here for more.

Gardening and Gilding the Buddha in Bodhicharya Retreat Centre

THE SOWA RIGPA GARDEN

BODHICHARYA RETREAT CENTRE

RUMTEK, SIKKIM

from Pat Little.

Last autumn I spent three extraordinary weeks at Ringu Tulku’s Bodhicharya Retreat Centre. I went in hope rather than expectation: Rinpoche had graciously accepted my request to do retreat, but had not been particularly encouraging about my other aim, namely to help in the setting up of the Sowa Rigpa garden. Rahima was already doing the necessary research, he assured me, and as for the actual gardening, there were local women employed to do that. As it happened, I arrived at the same time as both Rinpoche and Rahima (back from sorting out her visa in Nepal, after an absence of several weeks).

As we entered the garden down the steep steps that lead from the wood towards the Retreat Centre, it was immediately obvious that there would be much to do: a magnificent blue-flowered weed had spring up everywhere, and taken over the old rice terraces where Rahima, an assortment of gardeners and an ox-plough had made a tentative approach in creating the garden for medicinal plants that was Rinpoche’s dream. The vegetable beds which were part of the project had been colonised in the same way; in short, nature had triumphed, order had blossomed into anarchy.

This was an inauspicious start; I had already learned that none of the medicine plants carefully sourced by Rahima had survived: the ruta seed from Ladakh that had germinated so promisingly had grown well for about six weeks, but had then been struck by a hailstorm, after which some ‘worm’ (= maggot?) had attacked it. Rahima had transplanted some 100 plants, but these had subsequently died. The tikta had simply disappeared during Rahima’s absence: she suspected they were ‘weeded out’. The manu seed from Himachal had not been a success either: the wild seed had not germinated, the cultivated Ayurvedic variety only erratically, and then the monsoon had proved too much for the young plants.

We therefore had to set to and establish a serious plan for taking the garden in hand, restoring what had been done, developing new areas and planning for the future. We were exceptionally fortunate in that Rinpoche came to stay, along with his mother and uncle, just at that time, rather than just coming for the teachings he gave to the retreatants. He made himself available to us in remarkably generous fashion, often coming out into the garden when he saw us, to encourage us and calm our anxieties. When we talked of setbacks, he calmly brushed the notion aside, giving us the impression that what had happened was all part of the overall plan. In short, the inspiration of his energy kept us from total discouragement.

The first thing was to rescue what was possible from the vegetable beds, separating out beans, peas, radishes etc. from their carpet of weeds, and harvesting what was harvestable. Then new beds had to be cleared – this of course had already been done with the ox-plough at a much earlier stage. Nyima, the young man hired as chief gardener, but during Rahima’s absence rather lacking in direction, set to work with us, and soon beds of young cabbages were springing up.

It was obvious, however, that the impoverished soil was badly in need of improvement, so we had recourse to two solutions: we started various compost-heaps for the medium and long term, and then placed an order with Pema for a large quantity of cow-dung for immediate use. This, of course, had to be transported in baskets down the stony track from the road on the backs of local porters, making it an expensive commodity.

Rinpoche, however, has an idea for bypassing this particular difficulty:

we should get a cow (or two). It/they would give milk for the retreatants and visitors, any surplus could be sold to generate modest funds for the Centre, and there would be manure a-plenty. Appropriate time and effort went into discussing how to source such a cow, the best type to get, who would look after it, etc. etc.

No problem seemed insuperable. It was envisaged that Rinpoche’s mother, Ama-la, might be recruited as consultant in the matter: a country-woman born and bred, she had owned and managed large herds of yaks in her younger days, as well as cattle, and a couple of cows would therefore hold no terrors for her. She was already an asset in the garden: on one occasion, seeing us busy at the weeding, she came out to join us, seized a cutter and started to give an energetic demonstration of the right way to cut weeds. And then, with the heavy right-angled fork, she showed us how to dig up the roots, accompanying the demonstration with a commentary in voluble Tibetan! Such energy, such spirit!

Given the previous experience, it was clear that certain plants would do better with some protection. This could be in two stages: the immediate construction of a simple shelter out of bamboo poles and fine plastic netting, and then, more long-term, the erection of a proper poly-tunnel. As I left, the bamboo poles were arriving on site, and we had identified the area where the shelter was to be erected.

The question of overall planning was obviously very important. Spaff, one of the three-year retreatants, who had therefore seen through three seasonal cycles, had done a useful job in identifying hot spots and cold patches, dry and boggy areas, and with this prior knowledge Rahima and I were able to walk the whole site and establish some sort of basic plan for the future garden, including new paths to create leech-free circuits for the retreatants and others, and areas for ornamental plants and aromatics, as well as for fruit and medicinal trees and bushes. The question of a cow-shed was also addressed.

Just before my departure, Pema arrived with a surprise package of 22 young orange trees and guavas. This concentrated the mind as to where to put them, but we located a hot spot where we thought they would be happy, and at the first opportunity Nyima was set to work to prepare the siteThe pattern of retreat practice and gardening which evolved quickly in the first few days proved ideal for me. And the blessings of my stay were multiplied by the arrival of the new Buddha

statue for the shrine-room. The 7-foot statue had been cast in Nepal, had made the journey from Kathmandu by road in three pieces, and had then been transported by around a dozen porters on a sort of bamboo stretcher down the path from the road. It then had to be gilded, and we watched fascinated as the Nepali craftsmen began

to apply the gold leaf with a tooth-brush, heating it first with mercury, which gave it a silver appearance, before treating the whole surface with a blow-lamp, thus dissolving the mercury and leaving the burnished gold.

The finished statue is magnificent in its flowing lines and serenity, and now awaits the completion of the carpenter’s work of creating a plinth for it in the shrine-room. The presence of this splendid artefact was for me a source of energy in the parallel development of the garden. Each day that saw the realisation of another stage of the statue saw also a new stage in the planning and execution of the Sowa Rigpa project. Under the influence of the spirit of the Buddha, we became acutely aware of the garden as a spiritual entity that would speak to us if only we would listen.

My stay was all too short. But seeds have been sown, both literally and figuratively, and others will come to nurture them, strong in the belief that the principles of Sowa Rigpa are the way forward for the planet, and that, because everything is interconnected, small seeds that are sown in Sikkim can become forests whose positive potential can only be guessed at.

Pat Little, 09.1.10

Wish you a wonderful Iron Tiger Year.

May all beings be kind to each other.

With love and prayers from
Ringu Tulku

You will be pleased to know that on Losar the 14th Feb the 3 year retreat in Bodhicharya Meditation Center, Sikkim will be completed. The centre will now be open for short term retreats.

Rinpoche's Dublin Visit

Ringu Tulku at the Bailey Lighthouse on Howth Summit. Co Dublin in January 1990
Photo: John O'Neill.
We are extremely happy to acknowledge and give grateful thanks to Rinpoche on the occasion of his 21st year of visiting Ireland. Many of us remember his first visit , which was for two weeks in January 1990, and included a brief trip to Dzogchen Beara. It was his first visit to the Western Hemisphere. In Dublin we were able to give Rinpoche an introduction to life in a european city, including breakfast in Bewleys. Above is an image taken during a walk around the Howth Head coastline north of Dublin Bay.
He has revisited us more than 21 times in those years, and taught on many many topics.
This year Rinpoche will give a week of teachings from the

Great Instructions to the Assembly, by Jé Gampopa

Ringu Tulku is bestowed the 'Gampopa Hat' on his first visit to Rigul Monastery, Eastern Tibet, since leaving in 1959.

Evening talks: Dublin Samye Dzong: 13/14/15/16^th April 7.30 – 9 pm

56, Inchicore Road, Dublin 8

Topic: The Four Dharmas of Gampopa

1. Grant your blessing that my mind may become one with the Dharma

2. Grant your blessings that the dharma may go along the path

3. Grant your blessing that dharma may clarify confusion

4. Grant your blessings that I may transform confusion into wisdom

Weekend talks: The Dublin Writers Museum: 17^th/18^th April 2010. 10.45 - 4.45 both days.

Parnell Square, Dublin 1 (2 doors from Hugh Lane National Gallery)

Teachings on the Nature of Mind from the Great Instructions to the Assembly by

Je Gampopa

Costs: Weekend talks 50€ per day.

Evening Talks: 18€ per eve.

Bookings: Evening talks, cheques payable to Kagyu Buddhism Ireland, 56 Inchicore Rd, Dublin 8.

Weekend teachings: Proceeds will be given directly to sponsor Rinpoche's charitable work in India and Tibet. Cheques payable to 'Sowa Rigpa Europe' and sent to Kagyu Samye Dzong Dublin, address as above.

Please note : please send two separate payments if attending both evenings and weekend. Numbers will be limited at KSDD, so early booking is advised.

Concessions may be given. Donations to Rinoche's charities are welcome.

Further details:

Bodhicharya Ireland:

bodhicharyaireland.blogspot.com, bodhicharya.ireland@gmail.com, ph. 01 453 7304

Kagyu Samye Dzong Dublin:

www.buddhism.ie, info@buddhism.ie, ph. 01 453 7427.

Rigpa Ireland:

www.rigpa.ie, www.dzogchenbeara.org

for those travelling from abroad, we can suggest the following places to stay.

Prices vary, so the list is in order of distance to Dublin Kagyu Samye Dzong.

The Hilton Hotel, Kilmainham, (3 mins walk)

The Sheldon Park Hotel, (10mins by bus or tram)

The Ashling Hotel, Park Gate Street. (15/20 mins walk)

Jurys Hotel, Christchurch Place . (15 mins by bus )

Nua Haven, B&B Harolds Cross, (2 bus journeys, but good rates for single room, may have concessions for RT students)

The prices range around 80 - 105 for a twin room, and Sheldon Park currently has a very good special offer. Most include breakfast and seem open to price reduction if you plan to stay more than 3 nights. If you are travelling alone but happy to share, please contact us at bodhicharya.ireland@gmail.com and we can put you in touch with each other.

Kilmainham is 2.5 km west (45 mins walk) to/from Dublin City Centre and easily reached by bus or Luas (tram). It is 20 mins walk to Heuston Station.

Adjacent places of interest are: The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), National Museum at Collins Barracks, The National War Memorial Park, Kilmainham Gaol Museum.