New Year 2010 Tashi Deleg!
It is from the 27th Kagyud Monlam held in Bodh-Gaya in the presence of His Holiness Karmapa and the major Kagyud Rinpoches leading an assembly of several thousand Lamas and devotees that I write this New Year's letter to you.
We have had some time here to make many prayers and wishes for all beings in general, the sangha members' benefit and well being as well as all of your relatives and friends in particular. May these wishes come true!
As we say good bye to 2009 and anticipate the beginning of 2010, it is a good time to reflect upon all we have accomplished as a sangha in the past year, as well as, the possibilities to benefit beings that await us in the coming year.
So many wonderful things have been done in the past year for which I am most grateful to you. I am so happy with all the activities that have been accomplished this year.
Much work has been completed at the Center, both in dharma practice, teaching and completion of building projects. As a reminder of all of this, let me review.
About myself there is little to say…. my usual laziness has prevented me of achieving anything worst of mentioning here this time.
TNG Retreats
Presently Karma Lekshey is in retreat completing the Khorlo Demchok practice.
It is the first time that such retreat is being done at TNG. This is a most profound Vajrayana Dharma practice, which will benefit many beings and the centre in particular.
I see this to be very inspiring for all sangha members showing what is possible by practicing the six Paramitas, developing great Bodhicitta and diligence.
Further this last year has also seen several sangha members- both old and new, completing months long retreats to further their individual practices. This is truly wonderful! I make prayers it may continue to increase every year!
TNG Teachings
The teaching sessions at TNG continue weekly, with more sangha members taking advantage of the opportunity to learn the Dharma. Four week long seminars were completed with much enthusiasm and positive results.
TNG Centre has expanded internationally to include a new Dzong in Switzerland. Lama travelled there to teach twice this year as well as to Malaysia where new disciples have engaged in the practice of Ngondro. These are good signs of our sangha development due to good and improving practice. Currently, TNG Centre also has two new residents: Tashi Drolma and Kate SIM who are practicing daily in open retreat.
This year saw also several new local disciples taking Refuge and engaging in the practice of Dharma.
TNG Building
Many projects have been completed or started in 2009!
The retreat house on the lower land is now finished and has been fully furnished, allowing Karma Lekshey to seclude there for a six months retreat.
The stupa foundations have been plastered and a road providing access to the lower land has been built on the other side of the river. The surroundings of the stupa site have been landscaped.
The main house has been plastered and the Tsam khang patio has been enclosed.
What to look forward to in 2010!
The coming year will again see our centres activities increasing… to embed this I call upon each member of the sangha to pursue diligently their individual practice within the motivation of Bodhicitta. This is the basis for success in all we do!
2010 activities His Holiness’ European Tour
As some of you know, I was requested to join the European Coordination Office of KARMAPA EUROPE 2010 to organize and manage the merchandising for the Tour across Europe. Of course there will be much to do in this regard and I will need you to support me in various ways. Please contact me if you would like to volunteer your time.
Stupa Project
This project will be on-going throughout the year. Support is needed both for building activities as well as fundraising to bring the opportunity of supporting such project to people around the world. As it is said the Stupas represent the mind of Dharma, what better project can there be to support.
As Dharma practitioners we can give this opportunity to friends and family to benefit in this and future lives. This is a very rare opportunity in the west, so I invite you to take advantage of it. If you have ideas for fundraising please contact the Centre to make arrangements.
Website
Thanks to the support of designer Davide OPPIZZI and programmer Ronald MALDONADO, TNG new website is under creation and will be on line by Losar time. This project has taken much time yet the new site will offer several languages and much interaction including multimedia access, blog and download section as well as a Dharma Shop. We should all look for its completion and rejoice in its benefit to all.
My schedule for 2010
Upon my return, I will stay one month at TNG Centre before conducting a three days retreat at TNG-FINHAUT in Switzerland. I will then return to celebrate Losar at TNG and invite all of you to join locally or in your respective Dzong. I will provide you with a program of Monlam recitations for this auspicious day. Starting the year in this way is indeed most beneficial, providing the tone for the year's activities.
The following day I will be going to America to visit TNG-Phoenix in AZ and then to San Paolo in Brazil where I was requested to go an teach at the Centre of Naljorpa Zodpa Norbu, a disciple of Bokhar Rinpoche.
In April 2010, we will receive the visit of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche who is doing a pre-tour of His Holiness European Tour hopefully scheduled to take place from May 27 to July 3, 2010.
I will then most probably be following the European Tour. Soon after, I am scheduling to go to Gyurto in Dharamsala to receive teachings from His Holiness. This will then be followed by my annual visit to TNG-Ipoh in Malaysia where I will conduct a retreat on Mahamudra.
The entire teaching schedule will be on the new website once it is finalized. As you can see we are really growing as a sangha , for this I rejoice and make the wish that for all of you and your families and friends prosperity and happiness abound in 2010 Tashi Deleg and many blessings from Bodh-Gaya, the Seat of Enlightenment
Lama Norbu Repa
January 2010