A Poem for 2012

Ringu Tulku has sent his new year greetings in the form of an aspirational poem for 2012.  As he suggests, let's aim for a new awareness and try to hold a stable place in the midst of so much change. 

Happy New Year 2012

The year Two Thousand and Twelve has arrived.

Some say this is the end of the world.

Others predict it will be the beginning of a new awareness.

We have just lived through a challenging and eventful year

And it certainly will be another year with lots happening.

But what is the use worrying about the future?

We need to live today the best we can

And create causes for a better tomorrow.

Let us celebrate the freedom of choice that we have.

Who says I cannot make a difference?

I can make a difference to myself and around me.

Isn't that making enough difference to my world?

My mind goes to those brave men and women

Who offered their lives as lamps for the freedom of others.

My heart is moved by those who came forward to help

People in distress through natural or man-made calamities.

Human spirit of compassion, courage and longing for freedom,

Neither can be crushed by power nor bought with gold.

Let us celebrate that undying human spirit!

Happy New Year.

Rinpoche is currently in Sikkim, and leading a New Year Retreat at his meditation centre organised by a group from South Africa.  

Cheerful Sky

click in image to enlarge.

Could this be the best gift ever? Wishing everyone peace and wellbeing for the Christmas season, from Bodhicharya Ireland

Summercamp 2012 Portugal

Details of Rinpoche's Summercamp 2012 in Portugal have been announced. All details can be found on the Bodhicharya Portugal website
People are making suggestions regarding transport on the Bodhicharya Ireland Page on the INTOUCH site. The Irish group is only visible to members. If you are an  member of Bodhicharya Ireland and have logged on to the communities website wishing to join the Irish group discussions, please send an email to us  and we will sign you in. 

7th Annual Bodhicharya Summercamp 2012 to be in Portugal

Lama Tsering Paldron (with a little help form her friends) has valiantly undertaken to host the annual International  Bodhicharya Summercamp 2012 in Portugal,  information so far is:

From 14 to 20th July 2012
Casa da Torre – Centro de Retiros
Soutelo – Vila Verde – Braga
PORTUGAL
Click on Bodhicharya INTOUCH  and register to receive regular updates closer to the time.
The closest airport to the venue is Porto.

The current study text is by Dagpo Tashi Namgyal  Moonbeams of Mahamudra, (Clarifying the Natural State) which Rinpoche began to teach  last year. 
The text, in English and also in Tibetan is available from amazon.com


Tsering runs the Humkara Dzong Buddhist Centre in Portugal.
For the first six Bodhicharya Summercamps hosted by Bodhicharya France, Tsering has  been the official translator for the French speaking sangha. She is a published writer and poet, and you can read some of her beautiful work on her INTOUCH page.

Fundraising for those who've been affected by the Earthquake in Sikkim.

 The Rigul Trust has set up an earthquake relief fund, to help those affected by the Earthquake in Sikkim in September.   Ringu Tulku is now back in Gangtok and will oversee how the funds are used. If you'd like to contribute please go to the link at the bottom of the page, or go to the new community website, Bodhicharya  INTOUCH    and sign in for regular updates of Rinpoche's activities.

SIKKIM EARTHQUAKE RELIEF WORK FUND
A devastating EARTHQUAKE of 6.9 in Sikkim and parts of northern India last week has been followed by 50 further after-shocks of up to 3.9 and has caused terrible destruction to buildings, loss of life and injuries, and closed roads challenge rescue efforts. The death toll is now 130 people but many more bodies are trapped in the rubble of buildings.

The remoteness of much of this underdeveloped mountainous region and road closures from land slips hasmade it a very difficult task to get any help to the region and 9 villages are still completely cut off. With rescueteams facing difficulties to reach some far-flung quake-hit areas in Sikkim, hundreds of survivors are trekkingout of their cut-off villages, crawling sometimes to negotiate dangerous stretches where landslides and heavyrain have loosened huge boulders which have come down the mountainsides. Entire areas are cut off becauseof landslides - and more often than not people are without clean water, adequate food supplies, medicine andtelephone contact with the outside world. Sikkim's hospitals have seldom been so full.

Disaster Relief by Rigul Trust

In the last two years we have set up two emergency appeals, one for the survivors of the Yushu earthquake 2010 and one for the Ladakh flood disaster last year where we supported the relief work that Khenpo Rangdol, Principal of Kagyu College, Dehradun was in charge of. 100% of all donations went to these projects. We also helped fund emergency relief work in Yushu province of Tibet and now we have an ongoing sponsorship programme for 14 little children who were orphaned as a result of Yushu earthquake. We sent money for the buying and distribution of barley.

And in Ladakh we sent money for emergency relief and the reforestation of trees. Khenpo Rangdol went to Ladakh, oversaw the projects and distributed the money.

This is background information for you to know that all of what we do is overseen by Rinpoche, 100% of your donations gets to the targeted projects. We are extremely careful with whom we deal with and Rinpoche always has the last say.

To donate please go to link :  Sikkim Earthquake Relief Work Appeal

100% of all donations sent through this secure PayPal site will go to the Sikkim Earthquake Relief Work. PayPal accepts all currencies.

Earthquake in Sikkim and Nepal - Rinpoche and family are safe.

Village in eastern Nepal where the earthquake has hit hardest.

Following news of an earthquake on the border of Sikkim and Nepal yesterday, Sunday 18th September, we have heard that a number of people have died, including some in Kathmandu, where the British embassy collapsed but there's no news yet from the more remote regions of the hill districts, where roads are precipitous, and the region is prone to mudslides.  
Rinpoche was in Delhi and due to travel to Gangtok today, however he will now travel Nepal instead. 
 He has written from Delhi with news:

Pelling, western Sikkim

" There was a 6.8 earthquake in Sikkim, Nepal and North India which lasted for over 40 seconds the epicentre of which was in Sikkim. The roads to Sikkim are badly damaged. 18 people are so far reported dead and many with injuries. Gangtok is relatively safe and none of my family and friends are affected so far. There were 3 more shocks and people lived outside all night. The extent of damage to life and buildings is not yet known as roads and mobile communication are broken to remote places.
I was going to Gangtok today from Delhi but going to Nepal till roads are open again.
We are all well".

Sankuwashaba, east Nepal

So far it is thought that the most affected area is on the Nepalese side, around Sankuwasabha National  Park region, much of this area of the hills can be accessed only by foot or small plane. Here the villagers live in tiny hamlets on the hillsides in houses of bamboo and earth, 60 km walk from the  10 km length of dirt road that is their lifeline to the outside world.  Many towns in Sikkim including Gangtok are built on vertiginous slopes, with houses built on and against the hillside one on top of another, up to 5 stories high.  At present roads are impassable  from Siliguri to Gangtok, as well as in the outlying areas of Sikkim.  Many hydro-electric dams are being built in Northern Sikkim that supply India with water and electricity. This area is also affected by the earthquake and  there are reported casualties.

There will be further news updates on the Bodhicharya.org news page.

Reflections on Bodhicharya Summercamp 2011

This year, Bodhicharya Summercamp moved south - it was held in the village of Vassieux-en-Vercors, in the department of the Drome in the Rhone-Alps region.  Vercors is known for it's prominence in World War Two as a refuge for the French resistance fighters,  on 21st July 1944, German troops entered the village of Vassieux on parachutes launched from gliders,  and killed all 120 resistance fighters based there, along with the 72 remaining villagers, mainly women and  children.  Since then the village has been rebuilt and has become a testimony to the strength of the human spirit.
Ringu Tulku had  requested  a change of venue this the 6th year of summercamp  so that families with children could attend, and  childcare was provided enabling parents to attend teachings on 'Mahamudra - the Moonlight', by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, [1511-1587] as a natural continuation from the previous summercamp teachings, 'Pointing Out The Dharmakaya' by the 9th Karmapa, Wangchup Dorje.
Rinpoche described this as one of the more elaborate explications on Mahamudra, and in the introduction by Lobsang Lhalungpa, who translated the text itself, he states that it is 'neither a students manual nor a self explanatory book........it is studied under the guidance of a chosen teacher'  and that on detailed study and reflection, 'The distinct Mahamudra meditation will then reveal ways of achieving instantaneous insight into the innate perfection of every perception and thought'. 
Thus the teachings elaborate in great detail the path to enlightenment.

Rinpoche gave two -  two hour teachings on each  day, morning and late afternoon,  so there was plenty of time for other activities.  These included a visit to a local Greek Orthodox Monastery,  lectures on Scale Relativity from astrophysicist Laurent Nottale,  Rinpoche told Tales from the Jataka for the children (some also took refuge in a very touching ceremony), and of course music, dance, hikes, pony treks and afternoon coffee in the local cafés.

A new departure is the launch of the Bodhicharya In Touch website, which has been sponsored by Rager Ossel, designed by Ireland's website whizz Paul O'Connor and mentored by Minna Stenroos amongst others. It is a community interactive sight that allows the whole  of the Bodhicharya communities to meet, form groups and share ideas.  Bodhicharya Ireland has a it's own private forum for sharing ideas and projects with each other and Rinpoche.  

A decision was taken to rename what has been Bodhicharya France Summercamp to become the Bodhicharya International Summercamp, and plans are now underway to find a venue closer to an airport for easier and less expensive travel and as soon as news becomes available it will be posted on the In Touch site.

Buddhist Network Ireland update: Dzigar Kongtrül to visit Ireland

Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche will be teaching in Dublin on the weekend of 14th & 15th July.  

All details and booking can be found on the Buddhist Network Ireland website.  The Buddhist Network is working on behalf of Buddhist communities from the mainstream practice lineages and traditions established here in Ireland.   There are regular updates on teachings, retreats and visits so if you are interested to receive news of what is happening in other Buddhist communities in Ireland we recommend that you check the link above.

Two new working groups from the Buddhist Network Ireland

Buddhist Network Ireland (BNI) is looking for members and friends of the Buddhist community who'd like to become more involved in a practical way with the BNI activities, specifically in the following areas.  (As you are registered here on the Bodhicharya Ireland news page and have received this, that includes you).

It is widely acknowledged by many within the education system that there has been a growing lack of  emphasis on an ethos of kindness and consideration for others.   At a recent conference on Science, Meditation and Education in Sikkim where there is a very high incidence of suicide amongst the young, the Dalai Lama and many eminent international meditation teachers talked about the importance of including a spiritual dimention in the school curriculum using a secular set of references - in other words we need to find ways to allow our young people to experience and express their inherent  kindness and inner knowing.
See Bodhicharya e-magazine 'Many Roads' for a full report on talks given by HH Dalai Lama,  Ringu Tulku, Robert Thurman, Alan Wallace, Rinchen Khandro and many more.

Here in Ireland members of BNI would like to either join with an existing group - there are a few pilot schemes already underway in schools in some parts of the country - or on forming a new group who'd be interested to help develop a programme for engagement within the Irish education/youthwork  system, offering courses by and for  schools, students, teachers Please see the invitation from BNI below.
The second proposal is to form a group of people who will work together to help support and guide those who are terminally ill and their families, especially where a Buddhist funeral service is requested.
The topics under that heading below are  prompted by hearing that the Irish Government plan on changing the current practice of carrying an organ donor card if one wishes to donate at the time of death, to that of a card stating that the carrier does not wish to donate. The topics dealt with by the group will be broader than the list below but for those interested to consider the implications,  you will find there are  articles on the subject by clicking  here  and also  here .

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche has often answered questions on the topic of preparation for death, see for instance his talk on the topic in Thailand.

Working Group :  "Kindness in Education"
Buddhist Network Ireland is wishing to set up a working group that
has expertise or an interest in Education, and that wishes to advocate and
advise on how to develop further Kindness in Education (such as schools
and colleges). This would definitely include mindfulness as a kindness to
oneself (and others).
Areas of interest would be
- how to go from an aspiration of kindness to a realization of kindness in school
- how to use mindfulness to aid the health of the individual and the school system
- how teaching kindness can be a preventative approach to reducing bullying behaviour.
- how mindfulness can enhance learning and make it more enjoyable.
- etc.
Please contact info@buddhism.ie

Working Group :  "End of Life Care"
Buddhist Network Ireland is wishing to set up a working group that
has expertise or an interest in "End of Life Care".
This group will advocate for "End of Life Care" in the following areas amongst others,
- medical practitioners not to presume consent to retain organs.
- medical practitioners not to over-prescribe drugs at time of death.
- advocating for allowing a 3/4-day delay before autopsy (if required) etc.   
Please contact info@buddhism.ie
 

Rinpoche's invitation to Summercamp in France

 Rinpoche has extended an invitation to all of his friends, students and their families to his annual Bodhicharya summercamp.  This year the venue is in the sunny southern part of France, at Le Piroulet en Vercors.  All information can be found at the link below.

Dear Friends,

I would like to personally invite all my students all over the world to the Bodhicharya Summer Camp in France (July 30 to August 5). I encourage all to come and join us if possible. I will try to present the essentials of Dharma that I understand and also make a support system through deeper social network so that they can work together and keep up the study and practice.
Hope to see you soon,
Ringu Tulku

http://www.bodhicharya-france.fr/en/summercamp2011

 

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Launching BIG BUDDHA DAY DUBLIN May 17 2011

Dear Friends,

Big Buddha Day will celebrate internationally Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away into parinirvana EVERY year on May Full Moon Day.

For lots of info and background please check out www.bigbuddhadaydublin.blogspot.com

and www.bigbuddhaday.blogspot.com


Hope you are free to come sit with us!
Or maybe start your own BIG BUDDHA DAY event where YOU are?
Either way, please help us promote awareness of this event by emailing others and printing off our poster-

click poster for larger image

Chenrezig Book Signing in Dublin

The new book 'CHENREZIG, The Practice of  Compassion' by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche will be on sale at the Kagyu Samy Dzong and The Hilton Hotel teachings in Kilmainham, Dublin between 6th - 10th April.
Rinpoche will be signing copies of the book at both events. To have your copy signed at the weekend, please present it before the afternoon teachings at the Hilton Hotel.

All proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to  projects at Rigul, Kham, Tibet, where there is a school and medical clinic, and where over 60 monks and nuns are also training at the newly completed Shedra for Buddhist studies.  Money is urgently needed now for the education, health and wellbeing of these youngsters who rely entirely on our contributions to survive, so all donations are gratefully received and will be directed to these people.

Ringu Tulku's New Book on Chenrezig

BOOK LAUNCH: Chenrezig – Practice of Compassion

Chenrezig

The Practice of Compassion

Commentary by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

This new book, available from 31st of March 2011, presents a wonderful introduction to both new comers and old timers – it’s so nourishing and warms the cockles of our hearts! An inspiring and beautiful book by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, it presents a complete approach for generating and working with loving kindness and compassion in our every day lives, making ourselves, and the world, a better place
Cover illustration by R D Salga. Book design by Paul O'Connor 

here's the link if you would like more information and to order a copy.....and we hope to have some for sale at the April Teachings.

Accommodation for Rinpoche's Dublin teachings.

For people who wish to attend the teachings and are looking for local accommodation,  the Hilton Hotel Kilmainham Dublin 8 is proving a small discount if you  book mentioning you are attending  Ringu Tulku Teachings
The Sheldon Park is 10 mins away by light rail or bus and they have a very good internet offer on twin rooms for those dates (25 euro per person sharing).  Another  inexpensive hotel a little further away is the Maldron Hotel at City West which would also be convenient for the visit of HHDL on 13th April, but with bus access only to Kilmainham.
If anyone living locally is in a position to offer accommodation for any part of the visit  please contact us on bodhichary.ireland@gmail.com as there have been some enquiries.

Thank you!!

Bodhicharya Summer Camp – France 2011

This years Bodhicharya Summercamp details are now available on the Bodhicharya France website.  It is a new venue, and more suitable for families :
  
http://www.bodhicharya-france.fr/en/summercamp2011

Update on Ringu Tulku Rinpoche's Dublin Teachings

The Bodhicharya Ireland Weekend Teachings on 9th and 10th April 2011 will be on 'Turning Suffering and Happiness into Enlightenment'.  The teaching is from a text by Dodrupchen Jigmé Tenpé Nyima (1865 - 1926), who was the third incarnation of the Dodrupchen Lineage and  takes place at the Hilton Hotel Kilmainham, Dublin 8, opposite the rear entrance to IMMA.  .
The talks will begin at 9.30 am and run through to 5.30 pm.  Suggested donation €50.00 per day. These teachings raise funds for Rinpoche's charity projects.  The text can found here - please download your own copy to bring with you.  If have a personal meditation cushion please feel free to use it, and chairs will also be provided.
Please arrive in time for a prompt 9.30am start.
Lunch 1 - 2.30 each day,  there are several cafes nearby as well as in the hotel.
Parking: 5€ per day in the Hilton Car park if you mention Ringu Tulku Teachings, or free in the IMMA car park 7 mins walk away.

Also, three evening talks will take place at Kagyu Samye Dzong, 56 Inchicore Road, Dublin 8. The topic will be  "The Works of the First Karmapa',  Düsom Khyenpa.   This year is the 900th anniversary of the  Karmapa lineage and to mark this, Rinpoche will be giving progressive teachings  from the same text at centres throughout Europe. The evening talks at KSDD run from Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th April 2011  from 7.30 - 9 pm.   Suggested donation 12 euro for each talk.

Bookings and further information for both events please contact  Kagyu Samye Dzong, Kilmainham, tel 00353 1 4537427 or email info@buddhism.ie and please don't forget to download your text here for the weekend talks!

Prayers for His Holiness 17th Karmapa

Lama Chodrak has asked that certain prayers be said for His Holiness Karmapa at this time:

Dear Dharma Friends,

You may already know, His Holiness Karmapa's office is encountering some obstacles and that many groundless news have been circulating. For a reliable source of news about the development, please visit http://www.kagyuoffice.org. Meantime, His Holiness requests all students to keep calm and continue our daily Dharma practice of and say the following prayers: The Seven-Line Guru Rinpoche Prayer, Barchey Lamsel, Sampa Lhundrub, the Twenty-One Praises of Tara and Mahakala Puja also if you know how to do. So let's try our best in doing so for removing obstacles and flourishing of His Holiness's Activities.

Please note that the schedule of the 29th Kagyu Monlam will be changed because His Holiness the Dalai Lama is going to give the Kalachakra empowerment, the exact date is not decided yet, it will be put on the website as soon as it is confirmed. Hope to see you in some of the International Kagyu Monlams!

Happy Losar (Tibetan New Year) ! 

With Many Best Wishes,
Lama Chodrak

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and His Holiness Dalai Lama both to visit Ireland in April 2011

A shower of blessings!
Bodhicharya Ireland are happy to give news that this year Ringu Tulku Rinpoche will be teaching in GALWAY from 4th to 6th April, DUBLIN from 6th to10th April and DZOGCHEN BEARA from 22nd to 25th April.
In Dublin, he will teach on three evenings at Kagyu Samye Dzong, Kilmainham, and the Bodhicharya weekend teachings  will be held on Saturday and Sunday (two full days) at the Hilton Hotel, Kilmainham, Dublin.
Rinpoche has happily agreed to teach from a special  text by the 3rd Dodrupchen Rinpoche - Jikmé Tenpé Nyima - called  'Turning Suffering and Happiness into Enlightenment'. More information on the Dublin visit will follow very shortly.


News has also finally broken today of the imminent visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ireland, North and South.  He will spend two days in April, (13th and 14th) at the invitation of three groups: Children in Crossfire, Spun Out and Afri.  His Southern Irish visit will include public talks in Dublin - City West, Kildare - at the Solas Bhride Centre, and at the University of Limerick.  Tickets go on sale  on 2nd February through Ticketmaster.  See also  www.possibilities.ie  and www.dalailamaireland.ie  for more information.