NOVEMBER 2006
Hello friends. Greetings from the Abbey!
Venerable Chodron is in Asia, first having visited Singapore and now India. She left on a beautiful sunny morning having just completed work on a new Lamrim book with an audio component for Snow Lion Publishers. In Singapore the talks have been well attended and included teachings on Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, a public talk, a Green Tara retreat, and a prison visit. FOSA Singapore has been wonderful in organizing the talks with many volunteers chipping in. In India she is visiting her teachers and also giving teachings as you can see from the schedule below.
The old Ponderosa
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Meanwhile back at the Abbey life is quite peaceful. We feel so connected to the land and sky, the wind and weather. The feeling is of the approach of winter. In latter October we viewed serene sunrises and clear starry nights. Now we experience a late fall heat wave with occasional stormy windy days. We have the spaciousness of silence to watch similar fluctuations of the inner world landscape and the meditation practice structure to create peace amidst the changes.
We’ve had a number of visitors and activities this last month:
Gehse Phelgye blesses Ven. Tarpa
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One highlight was a return visit to the Abbey (and teachings on karma in Coeur d’Alene) by Geshe Phelgye from India, a monastic representative in the Tibetan Government in Exile. Geshe-la’s enthusiasm for the Abbey’s vision is a great support. He spoke of three qualities for leading undertakings: vision, interest, and capacity.
We continue a weekly teaching series in Newport with Nanc and me filling in for Venerable Chodron in a new setting, the United Church of Christ. The discussions have been lively and sincere with people showing genuine interest in learning practices to decrease stress and increase peace of mind and compassion.
The Abbey hosted our fire marshal Chris and neighbors to learn about fire prevention, fire extinguishers and more. Chris is quite entertaining and has a genuine concern for the local community.
Denise
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Our anthropologist friend Denise visited for over two weeks from Mexico. She fit like a hand into a glove with the Abbey way of life. Like many people she found her visit beneficial for her commitment to a daily meditation practice. Being involved in ‘engaged anthropology’ she had many questions about Buddhist practice and culture, so many interesting discussions ensued.
Friends have been generous in helping to batten down the hatches for winter, as well as other projects including: Laresa & Denise helped us revamp the back steps into the house. Bob, Barbara, Yusuke, and Tracy helped with felling and bucking up trees for more firewood. Claire, Ara Jo and Tracy helped mulch the roses and garden on a day with fog, hail, and light rain. Mary is in the midst of setting up a computer network in our office space with the two new (anonymously gifted) computers. Deb and Tree helped with some small painting projects and also joined Susan with typing the text for the teachings next month. Chris, Amy, Natalie, Joan, and Denise helped with our knapweed raking and reseeding while Dwight and Yusuke built and organized wood shelves in the barn. We thank you all and those from afar for all your interest and support!
By the time you read this Nanc and I will have returned to visit Airway Heights Correctional Center near Spokane to practice with the Gateless Sangha inmates. If you ever have the opportunity to share the Dharma in this setting it is quite a powerful experience. One of my mottos is: “No Practice, No Change” and many inmates are diligent practitioners transforming themselves in difficult circumstances. The sharing goes both ways in these visits.
Looking ahead, we have added a One Month Chenrezig Retreat to our winter retreat schedule as we have space for a few interested folks. Or join us “from afar” in retreat this winter as we focus on compassion for 95 days by doing the Chenrezig Retreat from Afar. Also, the Thanksgiving weekend retreat is fast approaching.
Lastly, we are so pleased that Geshe Jampa Tegchok will be here teaching on Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland in December as well! You are welcome to attend all or any of the teachings. See the schedule below for dates, information, and links to upcoming Abbey events.
In the spirit of the season we at the Abbey rejoice and offer our sincere thanks to all of you for your generosity of thought, word, and deed towards the vision of Sravasti Abbey. Many thanks as well to all our kind friends in Coeur d’Alene and beyond who contribute to and manage a food fund as well as offer food to the monastics.
With kind regards, Thubten Tarpa
Upcoming events at Sravasti Abbey
Ven. Chodron’s Travels
- November 16: Talk at Tushita Retreat Centre in Dharamsala
- November TBA: Talk at Thosamling
- Nov. 27 Talk at Tushita Centre in Delhi, 9 Padmini Enclave, Hauz Khas, New Delhi. Tel: (11) 2651 3400
- Nov. 28 29: Teachings in Singapore.
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