SACHEN NEWS

** WEDNESDAY EVENING: MEDITATIONS:

All are cordially invited to attend Khenpo Lhungrik's Wednesday meditation sessions!

Khenpo Lhungrik will offer weekly Wednesday evening meditations with teachings, suitable for beginners (no prerequisites) and others.

Dates: Wednesday, September 11, 7:00 - 8:45 p.m. through the end of January, 2003 (with the exception of Dec 25).

Suggested donation: $5 per session.

** THURS. EVENINGS: VAJRAYOGINI TEACHINGS

Those who have previously received the initiation and teachings from any lineage of Vajrayogini are invited to attend these teachings by Khenpo Lungrik.

Dates: Thursdays October 3, 10, 17, & 24

Suggested donation: $40 (four sessions)

The teachings in this course of study will help the student form a good knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism following mainly in the Sakya tradition. Don't miss this great chance to study with Khenpo!

Dates: Sunday Oct 6, Friday Oct. 18 (this session at 7:30 pm); Sunday Oct 27. Sundays November 3, 10, 24 Sundays December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Sundays January 5, 12, 19, 26

Times: Sundays 1:30 - 3:30

Suggested donation: $100 whole course; $15 per session

Course Topics:

• Lama tentsul - How to find a teacher
• Motivation
• Basic things you need to practice the dharma
• Bodhicitta
• The Four Immeasurables
• Parting from the four attachments (Sakya)
• How to treat everything we do in our daily lives as meditation practice
• Six paramitas (part 1); (part 2)
• Faults of samsara
• Rarity of attaining human birth
• Death and impermanence
• Law of karma
• Four ways in which a teacher attracts students
• Buddhahood: enlightenment/fruition
• How to help the dead and dying

** TARA PUJA

SUNDAYS at 10:00 a.m.
MON - SAT at 8:00 a.m.

Khenpo Lhungrik will lead the Four Mandala Tara Puja each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.. His teaching before the puja each week will focus on a different aspect of the practice. Those attending must have received the Green Tara Initiation. Initiates are also encouraged to join Khenpo Lhungrik all other days of the week at 8:00 a.m. for Tara Puja.

Note: puja will not be held on Sun. Oct 20 & Nov 17.

** VAJRAYOGINI TSOK

Those who have received the Vajrayogini initiation are invited to attend tsok on Vajrayogini days. Please phone the centre for dates and times.

** SMOKE PUJA

The first Friday of each month Khenpo will lead a smoke puja and the hanging of prayer flags. All are welcome. Participants in this purification ritual can bring sweet smelling herbs or incense as offerings.

Learn to speak and write some Tibetan from visiting translator, Chime Dolkar. She was born in Southern India and graduated from the Central Institute of Higher Studies in Varanasi, receiving a Bachelor of Education and Masters Degrees.

Chime took language courses for one year in the United Kingdom and also taught a successful Tibetan language class for six months outside of London. She then travelled to Europe and did Dharma translations for other Tibetan teachers for another year. She has been to Malaysia and Hong Kong for four months as a translator.

Chime is translating for her uncle, Khenpo Lungrik, for six months at Sakya Tsechen Thubten Ling.

She has also directed and produced a VCD: Walking along the Buddha's Footsteps.

** TIBETAN LANGUAGE CLASSES:

Learn to speak and write some Tibetan from visiting teacher, Chime Dolkar.

This Tibetan language class is suitable for beginners, but would also be a great review with emphasis on pronunciation and conversation for those who have studied some Tibetan.

Dates:
Saturdays: October 19, 26
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
December 7, 14
January 4, 11, 18

Time: 2:00 - 2:45 p.m.

Suggested donation: $80

Phone: 604-244-8439 to pre-register; please leave your name and phone number

This course is being taught by Lama Jamyang Tharchen who has painted thangkas for his Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness Sakya Trizin. He is here painting a thangka for Her Eminence Jetsun Chimey Luding.

You will learn how to make the correct measurements when drawing the Buddha and also learn about the use of colour.

Dates: Thursdays Nov 7 - Jan 30

Time: 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Suggested donation: $80

Phone: 604-244-8439 to pre-register; please leave your name and phone number

It is always very special to be invited to attend a teaching by Spiritual Teacher, Jetsun Kushok. The Green Tara Empowerment and Teaching was especially meaningful as it was a reminder that returning to the basic of teachings strengthens the understanding of one's practice. The teaching of Green Tara Meditational practice was not only a 'refresher' teaching but an opportunity to experience a new awareness and consciousness of the practice.

Tara is the principal female manifestation of enlightenment and specifically the Green Tara is known as the 'Swift Liberator' and Mother of the Buddhas of the past, present and future. She arose from the compassionate tears of Avalokiteshvara and is the embodiment of compassion and wisdom, left leg withdrawn to symbolize her renunciation of worldly passion and her right leg extended to show that she is always ready to arise and come to the aid of those who need her help. Her ability to assume many forms in order to answer those needs is illustrated in the stanzas of homage, 'assembly of twenty-one Taras'. Tara's supreme benefit lies in guiding practitioners along the path of 'full awakening'. Along this path one may encounter obstacles and fears and Tara offers protection to us all.

Through the Empowerment Teachings the student/practitioner is given permission to practice the deity's sadhana. Through daily practice, reciting the mantra and keeping in mind the fundamental unity of the deity and the teacher guru, one can awaken and cultivate the enlightened qualities embodied by the deity.

As is in any undertaking, success in meditation depends upon purifying one's negativity, accumulating merit, and receiving the blessings of the Buddhas. Enlightenment comes from within, not searching around us. With the guidance of an authentic teacher and a dedication to daily practice one cannot help but succeed on the path of enlightenment.

This past July (2002), we were privileged to have HE Jetsun Kushok give the Vajrayogini Empowerment and Retreat as well as the Green Tara Empowerment at my farm in Vancouver, Washington. The retreat was very successful. If I recall, there were about 12 participants: some old acquaintances, some new.

We practiced everyday under a large canopy in my front yard, shaded by its large evergreen trees. The weather was hot for one or two days, but in general, it was very comfortable. Each day, we did three meditation sessions: one at seven a.m., then two others at midday and late afternoon. We also received teachings on the Vajrayogini practice for two hours each day. The practice, the empowerments, were a blissful experience, and it was a blessing beyond my dearest hopes to have Her Eminence bestow these with her incredible kindness and wisdom.

The practice, the empowerments, were a blissful experience, and it was a blessing beyond my dearest hopes to have Her Eminence bestow these with her incredible kindness and wisdom.

The Green Tara Empowerment was open to the public, and thanks to Chrystal and Chris's resources, we had a large attendance: over thirty people were there! So many people were so happy to have met her, and to be able to spend some time with her. I think all of us that participated in organizing this effort are very happy to have done that.