The Wisdom Age - Issue 64

The Wisdom Age Newsletter of Drogmi Buddhist Institute A Tibetan Buddhist Centre in the Sakya Tradition Issue 64 November 2022 Dear Dharma friends, Khenpo la’s End of Year Message Firstly, we are near the end of 2022. I sincerely pray that it is the end of the pandemic throughout the world. For the last few years, during the pandemic we have all faced many challenges and tough times, this has made us not weak yet stronger: may this strength that we have gained during COVID last for the rest of our lives. The reality is whatever we think, and whatever the world says – at the end of the day the cause of all our problems is our defilements. The only remedy for this is the Dharma, for just meeting the Dharma in this very lifetime is to recognise how fortunate we are, we have found the solution from beginningless time until today. Read More Yours in the dharma SAKYA CELEBRATIONS His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche’s birthday In celebration of our precious Guru His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche’s 77th birthday, during Healing Practice, Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe led us chanting His Holiness’s Long-Life Prayer for His Holiness to have a long and healthy life and continue to benefit countless sentient beings in this world. Read More His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche’s Birthday We celebrated the 92nd birthday of the most precious Guru, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, on 7 November 2022. Khenpo la shared at our gathering at Shamatha Practice that it is important to know and realise, even though His Eminence is in His nineties, his schedule is extremely busy. He is always travelling to different parts of India helping countless sentient beings, it truly is incredible. Read More Her Eminence Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche’s Birthday Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, all members and friends of Drogmi Buddhist Institute would sincerely like to wish Her Eminence Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche a very happy 84th birthday on 14 November, to have a long and healthy life so She may continue to Turn the Wheel of Dharma for all mother sentient beings to be free from suffering and their causes. Read More Lhabab Düchen The 22nd day of the ninth lunar month is known in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar as Lhabab Düchen. It is one of the four most holy days of the year, each of which commemorates a major event in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha. Read More Sakya College Golden Jubilee In Dehradun on 28 October 2022, Sakya College, based in Rajpur, held celebrations of its 50th Anniversary of Founding. Photos are from the third day of the ceremony for the launching of Khenchen Appey’s biography, the Grand Long-Life ceremony for His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche in the morning, and the bestowal of oral transmission and Dharma teachings by His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen. Read More NEWS FROM DROGMI BUDDHIST INSTITUTE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP/FRIENDS OF DBI Due on 1 January every year, this can be a good way to support the centre, and in turn receive lots of benefits. For all current DBI Friends/Members you will receive 15% off all programs at the centre, and large discounts of up to 25% off retreat hut and van hires at the centre. Cost is $150 single/$250 family (2 adults and children 18 years and under). Payments can be made at: www.drogmi.org/support-us.html Retreat Hut HIRE Fully self-contained huts are available for hire on daily (minimum of 2 days), weekly or monthly rates for those wishing to undertake retreat or spend time in self-reflection. Many remark just how perfect an environment this is for meditation and contemplation. Costs reduce the longer you stay: Daily $75 ($50 members/friends); Weekly $350 ($250 members/friends). Monthly rates available upon request. Enquiries and bookings [email protected] VOLUNTEERS The centre runs totally on volunteers. We value your contribution to the centre and in turn it has tremendous benefit to the individual and the centre. If you have any skillset to offer, please let us know. Should you like to help in any way, from cooking, cleaning, gardening, maintenance, and working on events to name a few things, please contact us at [email protected] UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS Shamatha-Vipassana Weekend Retreat Friday 18 – Sunday 20 November In this weekend retreat with Venerables Ayyas Jitindriya and Jayasara we will explore the practice of calm abiding and insight meditation within the framework of mindfulness, taught by the Buddha as a path to liberation. Offering formal guided meditations as well as instructions for everyday life, we will show how Shamatha-Vipassana can be engaged in all situations, bringing ever-deepening peace and freedom from stress and suffering. This event is full – to register on a cancellation list email [email protected] AGM AND END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS Saturday 10 December On Saturday 10 December the Drogmi Buddhist Institute Annual AGM will be held in person and by Zoom if you are not able to travel, at 4pm. There will an end of year celebratory dinner following at 6:30pm. RSVP is necessary if you would like to join us at dinner for catering purposes – email [email protected] Annual Healing and Purification Retreat Tuesday 27 December 2022 – Sunday 1 January 2023 Khenpo la will give detailed teachings on the meditation techniques on both Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha practices. The retreat is designed to help participants clear away and heal any negativity from the old year, and bring in the New Year rejuvenated and refreshed, with a positive mind and perspective for the year ahead. The setting of the retreat is peaceful and grounding, at the base of Gulaga, a mountain with great spiritual significance to the local Aboriginal community. Even to spend a few hours in this environment is very precious. More details and bookings SUNDAY and TUESDAY MEDITATION PRACTICES 10.00-11.00am at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre A reminder that the centre runs two meditation practices weekly – all welcome, whether a beginner or more experienced with meditation. The last sessions for the year will be Sunday 18 December and Tuesday 20 December. These are guided meditations with Khenpo la when he is not travelling with teaching nationally, and Tuesdays are lead by senior students. Photo credit: Dean Dampney RECENT EVENTS The Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course – Year 1 Reflections on the experience of being mentors and students: “It has been a privilege to share their philosophical enquiries, explorations, and personal insights, and I hope we have all felt we have had companions on the road to understanding the teachings of the Buddha and practising those teachings in our daily lives.” Read More Meditational Experiences in Mind and Body Workshop At the invitation of Khenpo la, Dr Tony and William led a wonderful experience of connecting our physical body experience in meditation and a spiritual process. We learnt ways to experience joy in our bodies through simple exercises that we can access easily. Read More Karma Yoga Retreat Another wonderful (and productive!) day at the Karma Yoga Retreat. Meditations led by Khenpo la framed a day of good humour, hard work and connection. Read More Annual Shamatha Retreat 2022 The Annual Shamatha Retreat commenced in the evening with Khenpo la giving detailed explanation about the three levels of retreat, each one relating to our own motivation and applied effort in retreat. As the rain fell Khenpo la, guiding us in meditation, led us to use the sound of the rain falling as a focus of our meditation. Read More FROM OUR MASTERS “Bodhicitta is an extremely powerful element in one’s practice. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. In the teachings of Lord Buddha, we find reference to the fact that if the merit and virtue from a single instance of bodhicitta could be made visible, the whole of space could not contain such merit. So, this element of one’s bodhicitta, one’s altruistic concern is an extremely important, powerful and effective element in aiding one’s whole spiritual path. “This element of bodhicitta is effective in several ways. It is an extremely powerful force to counteract the negative tendencies and obscurations that have been reinforced since time without beginning, that are intrinsically part of one. It is also an incredibly effective means of developing one’s awareness and merit. It is also a means to bring all of one’s activities regardless of whether they are formally spiritual or worldly activities to the spiritual path because if one engages in any activity through bodhicitta that activity becomes in and on itself a spiritual activity in some sense.” ~Kalu Rinpoche Find out more by visiting our website. Home Courses & events Venue hire Support us Contact Home Courses & events Venue hire Support us Contact We only use this list for The Wisdom Age newsletter. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list below. To unsubscribe from general mailings from Drogmi Buddhist Institute, please email [email protected]. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Wisdom Age

Newsletter of Drogmi Buddhist Institute

A Tibetan Buddhist Centre in the Sakya Tradition

Issue 64 November 2022

Dear Dharma friends,

Khenpo la’s End of Year Message

Firstly, we are near the end of 2022. I sincerely pray that it is the end of the pandemic throughout the world. For the last few years, during the pandemic we have all faced many challenges and tough times, this has made us not weak yet stronger: may this strength that we have gained during COVID last for the rest of our lives. The reality is whatever we think, and whatever the world says – at the end of the day the cause of all our problems is our defilements. The only remedy for this is the Dharma, for just meeting the Dharma in this very lifetime is to recognise how fortunate we are, we have found the solution from beginningless time until today.

Yours in the dharma

SAKYA CELEBRATIONS

His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche’s birthday

In celebration of our precious Guru His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche’s 77th birthday, during Healing Practice, Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe led us chanting His Holiness’s Long-Life Prayer for His Holiness to have a long and healthy life and continue to benefit countless sentient beings in this world.

His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche’s Birthday

We celebrated the 92nd birthday of the most precious Guru, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, on 7 November 2022. Khenpo la shared at our gathering at Shamatha Practice that it is important to know and realise, even though His Eminence is in His nineties, his schedule is extremely busy. He is always travelling to different parts of India helping countless sentient beings, it truly is incredible.

Her Eminence Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche’s Birthday

Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, all members and friends of Drogmi Buddhist Institute would sincerely like to wish Her Eminence Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche a very happy 84th birthday on 14 November, to have a long and healthy life so She may continue to Turn the Wheel of Dharma for all mother sentient beings to be free from suffering and their causes.

Lhabab Düchen

The 22nd day of the ninth lunar month is known in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar as Lhabab Düchen. It is one of the four most holy days of the year, each of which commemorates a major event in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Sakya College Golden Jubilee

In Dehradun on 28 October 2022, Sakya College, based in Rajpur, held celebrations of its 50th Anniversary of Founding. Photos are from the third day of the ceremony for the launching of Khenchen Appey’s biography, the Grand Long-Life ceremony for His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche in the morning, and the bestowal of oral transmission and Dharma teachings by His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen.

NEWS FROM DROGMI BUDDHIST INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP/FRIENDS OF DBI

Due on 1 January every year, this can be a good way to support the centre, and in turn receive lots of benefits. For all current DBI Friends/Members you will receive 15% off all programs at the centre, and large discounts of up to 25% off retreat hut and van hires at the centre.

Cost is $150 single/$250 family (2 adults and children 18 years and under). Payments can be made at: www.drogmi.org/support-us.html

Retreat Hut HIRE

Fully self-contained huts are available for hire on daily (minimum of 2 days), weekly or monthly rates for those wishing to undertake retreat or spend time in self-reflection. Many remark just how perfect an environment this is for meditation and contemplation.

Costs reduce the longer you stay: Daily $75 ($50 members/friends); Weekly $350 ($250 members/friends). Monthly rates available upon request. Enquiries and bookings [email protected]

VOLUNTEERS

The centre runs totally on volunteers. We value your contribution to the centre and in turn it has tremendous benefit to the individual and the centre. If you have any skillset to offer, please let us know. Should you like to help in any way, from cooking, cleaning, gardening, maintenance, and working on events to name a few things, please contact us at [email protected]

UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS

Shamatha-Vipassana Weekend Retreat

Friday 18 – Sunday 20 November

In this weekend retreat with Venerables Ayyas Jitindriya and Jayasara we will explore the practice of calm abiding and insight meditation within the framework of mindfulness, taught by the Buddha as a path to liberation. Offering formal guided meditations as well as instructions for everyday life, we will show how Shamatha-Vipassana can be engaged in all situations, bringing ever-deepening peace and freedom from stress and suffering.

This event is full – to register on a cancellation list email [email protected]

AGM AND END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Saturday 10 December

On Saturday 10 December the Drogmi Buddhist Institute Annual AGM will be held in person and by Zoom if you are not able to travel, at 4pm. There will an end of year celebratory dinner following at 6:30pm.

RSVP is necessary if you would like to join us at dinner for catering purposes – email [email protected]

Annual Healing and Purification Retreat

Tuesday 27 December 2022 – Sunday 1 January 2023

Khenpo la will give detailed teachings on the meditation techniques on both Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha practices. The retreat is designed to help participants clear away and heal any negativity from the old year, and bring in the New Year rejuvenated and refreshed, with a positive mind and perspective for the year ahead. The setting of the retreat is peaceful and grounding, at the base of Gulaga, a mountain with great spiritual significance to the local Aboriginal community. Even to spend a few hours in this environment is very precious.

More details and bookings

SUNDAY and TUESDAY MEDITATION PRACTICES

10.00-11.00am at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre

A reminder that the centre runs two meditation practices weekly – all welcome, whether a beginner or more experienced with meditation. The last sessions for the year will be Sunday 18 December and Tuesday 20 December.

These are guided meditations with Khenpo la when he is not travelling with teaching nationally, and Tuesdays are lead by senior students.

Photo credit: Dean Dampney

RECENT EVENTS

The Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course – Year 1

Reflections on the experience of being mentors and students: “It has been a privilege to share their philosophical enquiries, explorations, and personal insights, and I hope we have all felt we have had companions on the road to understanding the teachings of the Buddha and practising those teachings in our daily lives.”

Meditational Experiences in Mind and Body Workshop

At the invitation of Khenpo la, Dr Tony and William led a wonderful experience of connecting our physical body experience in meditation and a spiritual process. We learnt ways to experience joy in our bodies through simple exercises that we can access easily.

Karma Yoga Retreat

Another wonderful (and productive!) day at the Karma Yoga Retreat. Meditations led by Khenpo la framed a day of good humour, hard work and connection.

Annual Shamatha Retreat 2022

The Annual Shamatha Retreat commenced in the evening with Khenpo la giving detailed explanation about the three levels of retreat, each one relating to our own motivation and applied effort in retreat. As the rain fell Khenpo la, guiding us in meditation, led us to use the sound of the rain falling as a focus of our meditation.

FROM OUR MASTERS

“Bodhicitta is an extremely powerful element in one’s practice. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. In the teachings of Lord Buddha, we find reference to the fact that if the merit and virtue from a single instance of bodhicitta could be made visible, the whole of space could not contain such merit. So, this element of one’s bodhicitta, one’s altruistic concern is an extremely important, powerful and effective element in aiding one’s whole spiritual path.

“This element of bodhicitta is effective in several ways. It is an extremely powerful force to counteract the negative tendencies and obscurations that have been reinforced since time without beginning, that are intrinsically part of one. It is also an incredibly effective means of developing one’s awareness and merit. It is also a means to bring all of one’s activities regardless of whether they are formally spiritual or worldly activities to the spiritual path because if one engages in any activity through bodhicitta that activity becomes in and on itself a spiritual activity in some sense.”

~Kalu Rinpoche

Find out more by visiting our website.

We only use this list for The Wisdom Age newsletter. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list below. To unsubscribe from general mailings from Drogmi Buddhist Institute, please email [email protected].