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Stop Misleading Energy Pipedreams with your signature!

Maria — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:16:48 GMT

Stop Misleading Energy Pipedreams with your signature! Remind Congress that we don’t want to be misled into conclusions based on distracting statements that suggest that energy “independence” substitutes for real energy security. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/973/117/362/stop-misleading-energy-pipedreams/ Thanks, Maria

Location: Santa Rosa - 42 views

We Are One World - Earth Day 2013 : Views, Resources, References, Tools, History, Inspiration

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:33:08 GMT

Earth Day 2013 : Views, Resources, References Keywords: land ethic, stewardship ethic, Earth Charter, Earth Day, Rio Earth Summit, United Nations Environmental Programme, International Green Movement, water quality, environmental health and public health, permaculture, sustainable environmental democracy, community organizing, ecofeminism. Summary: This *short* article is a micropedia of key references for the global environmental movement. Please share as widely as possible. "This is for everyone." Dr Tim Berners-Lee, London Olympics “As I looked down, I saw a large river meandering slowly along for miles, passing from one country to another without stopping. I also saw huge forests, extending across several borders. And I watched the extent of one ocean touch the shores of several continents. Two words leaped to mind as I looked down on all of this: commonality and interdependence. We are one world." John David Bartoe, Challenger 8 NASA space mission, July 1985 "But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. . . I too am a steward." Gandalf the White "With love of the land comes a fierce responsibility." Terry Tempest Williams "We are not brothers. But we could be brothers. We shall see." Rolling Thunder, 1983 “Our capacity is limited only by our ability to work together. I am committed to doing my share.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt "The vision I see is not only a movement of direct democracy, of self- and co-determination and non-violence, but a movement in which politics means the power to love and the power to feel united on the spaceship Earth... In a world struggling in violence and dishonesty, the further development of non-violence - not only as a philosophy but as a way of life, as a force on the streets, in the market squares . . . - becomes one of the most urgent priorities." Petra Kelly, Green Movement organizer “The next few years will be decisive.” Frederico De Armas, UN Environmental Programme President, 2013 “If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it.” Severn Suzuki, 1992 To Speak For All Generations To Come : Severn Suzuki at Rio Earth Summit, 1992 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g8cmWZOX8Q Earth From Space http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/20-amazing-images-of-earth-as-seen-from-space/12526 The view from the International Space Station: Astronaut posts breathtaking pictures of Earth http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2273936/Astronaut-Chris-Hadfields-breathtaking-photos-Earth-space-Twitter-storm.html --------------------- The Big Picture: a new vision for the future "Underlying the various crises is a crisis of consciousness. Much of this has to do with the illusion we tend to subscribe in the western world that we are separate from each other and the planet. "We have lost our connection to nature and reduced her to a commodity. We have failed to understand that all species are interdependent and that every human being is of value. ". . We have to create a future that works for everyone, all life forms as well as future generations. We will work towards a culture that is based on wisdom, transforming our society into a more equal and compassionate one. "A new vision of the future will be one in which individuals have a sense of social responsibility and the contribution they can make to it. Ethical values, personal growth and spirituality are essential in this transformation. ". . The good news is that the transformational shift in consciousness has begun. If enough people wake up and hear the thunder, then we can be hopeful that the evolutionary process will result in a new kind of human being with a new kind of consciousness." From the new book "Wake Up and Hear the Thunder" by Eileen Campbell, EC Books -------------------- Background articles: http://the-stewardship.org/stewardship.htm "Stewardship is the assumption of responsibility for the welfare of the world. It is the inclination which leads some part of the world to care for the whole; it is the practice of that inclination. Stewardship is the mantle under which operate all of the progressive causes ― human rights, conservation, economic welfare, government reform and oversight, education, health care, disaster relief, animal welfare, mental health, peace. "The stewardship is a perpetual institution, existing in all times and all places. It includes countless persons, working alone or working together, most without regard to their affiliation to the whole. And yet they are connected, and not merely by the common purpose which leads them all to take responsibility for the world they inhabit. "The stewardship is, first and foremost, a phenomenon of the universe. It is a force in the universe which acts to preserve the universe from harm. Primarily this takes place through the actions and due to the will of individual minds. Individuals feel the sense of responsibility; individuals act to care for the universe. The stewardship, then, is the collective of all those individuals, the cumulative effect of their actions." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sand_County_Almanac http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioregionalism ----------------------------------------------- Earth Day http://www.earthday.org/2013/about.html “Every year on April 22, more than one billion people take part in Earth Day. Across the globe, individuals, communities, organizations, and governments acknowledge the amazing planet we call home and take action to protect it.” -------------------------------------- http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/ The Earth Charter is a universal expression of ethical principles to foster sustainable development. The Earth Charter Initiative is the global network that embraces, uses and integrates the Earth Charter principles. Individuals or organizations that endorse the Earth Charter signify their commitment to the spirit and aims of the document and that they intend to use it. Endorsement means that they intend to work for the Earth Charter’s implementation, its values and principles, and that they’re ready and willing to work with others towards the same goal. There are many ways that endorsers can support the Earth Charter Initiative. Visit our Areas of Work pages to find resources and information that’s relevant to you or your business, community, school, university, research center, family, organization, or institution. Endorsers are expected to: • Actively promote the Earth Charter and follow the Action Guidelines. • Contribute to the Earth Charter Initiative and to Earth Charter-inspired action projects in whatever way is most appropriate. • Implement the Earth Charter in your professional work and personal life. ----------------------------------- THE EARTH CHARTER Preamble We stand at a critical moment in Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations. Earth, Our Home Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence a demanding and uncertain adventure, but Earth has provided the conditions essential to life's evolution. The resilience of the community of life and the well-being of humanity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure waters, and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth's vitality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred trust. The Global Situation The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, and a massive extinction of species. Communities are being undermined. The benefits of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is widening. Injustice, poverty, ignorance, and violent conflict are widespread and the cause of great suffering. An unprecedented rise in human population has overburdened ecological and social systems. The foundations of global security are threatened. These trends are perilous—but not inevitable. The Challenges Ahead The choice is ours: form a global partnership to care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life. Fundamental changes are needed in our values, institutions, and ways of living. We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more. We have the knowledge and technology to provide for all and to reduce our impacts on the environment. The emergence of a global civil society is creating new opportunities to build a democratic and humane world. Our environmental, economic, political, social, and spiritual challenges are interconnected, and together we can forge inclusive solutions. Universal Responsibility To realize these aspirations, we must decide to live with a sense of universal responsibility, identifying ourselves with the whole Earth community as well as our local communities. We are at once citizens of different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked. Everyone shares responsibility for the present and future well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The spirit of human solidarity and kinship with all life is strengthened when we live with reverence for the mystery of being, gratitude for the gift of life, and humility regarding the human place in nature. We urgently need a shared vision of basic values to provide an ethical foundation for the emerging world community. Therefore, together in hope we affirm the following interdependent principles for a sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the conduct of all individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and transnational institutions is to be guided and assessed. Principles I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE 1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity. a. Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings. b. Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings and in the intellectual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual potential of humanity. 2. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love. a. Accept that with the right to own, manage, and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm and to protect the rights of people. b. Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and power comes increased responsibility to promote the common good. 3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful. a. Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone an opportunity to realize his or her full potential. b. Promote social and economic justice, enabling all to achieve a secure and meaningful livelihood that is ecologically responsible. 4. Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations. a. Recognize that the freedom of action of each generation is qualified by the needs of future generations. b. Transmit to future generations values, traditions, and institutions that support the long-term flourishing of Earth's human and ecological communities. In order to fulfill these four broad commitments, it is necessary to: II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY 5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life. a. Adopt at all levels sustainable development plans and regulations that make environmental conservation and rehabilitation integral to all development initiatives. b. Establish and safeguard viable nature and biosphere reserves, including wild lands and marine areas, to protect Earth's life support systems, maintain biodiversity, and preserve our natural heritage. c. Promote the recovery of endangered species and ecosystems. d. Control and eradicate non-native or genetically modified organisms harmful to native species and the environment, and prevent introduction of such harmful organisms. e. Manage the use of renewable resources such as water, soil, forest products, and marine life in ways that do not exceed rates of regeneration and that protect the health of ecosystems. f. Manage the extraction and use of non-renewable resources such as minerals and fossil fuels in ways that minimize depletion and cause no serious environmental damage. 6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach. a. Take action to avoid the possibility of serious or irreversible environmental harm even when scientific knowledge is incomplete or inconclusive. b. Place the burden of proof on those who argue that a proposed activity will not cause significant harm, and make the responsible parties liable for environmental harm. c. Ensure that decision making addresses the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long distance, and global consequences of human activities. d. Prevent pollution of any part of the environment and allow no build-up of radioactive, toxic, or other hazardous substances. e. Avoid military activities damaging to the environment. 7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being. a. Reduce, reuse, and recycle the materials used in production and consumption systems, and ensure that residual waste can be assimilated by ecological systems. b. Act with restraint and efficiency when using energy, and rely increasingly on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. c. Promote the development, adoption, and equitable transfer of environmentally sound technologies. d. Internalize the full environmental and social costs of goods and services in the selling price, and enable consumers to identify products that meet the highest social and environmental standards. e. Ensure universal access to health care that fosters reproductive health and responsible reproduction. f. Adopt lifestyles that emphasize the quality of life and material sufficiency in a finite world. 8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired. a. Support international scientific and technical cooperation on sustainability, with special attention to the needs of developing nations. b. Recognize and preserve the traditional knowledge and spiritual wisdom in all cultures that contribute to environmental protection and human well-being. c. Ensure that information of vital importance to human health and environmental protection, including genetic information, remains available in the public domain. III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE 9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative. a. Guarantee the right to potable water, clean air, food security, uncontaminated soil, shelter, and safe sanitation, allocating the national and international resources required. b. Empower every human being with the education and resources to secure a sustainable livelihood, and provide social security and safety nets for those who are unable to support themselves. c. Recognize the ignored, protect the vulnerable, serve those who suffer, and enable them to develop their capacities and to pursue their aspirations. 10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner. a. Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations. b. Enhance the intellectual, financial, technical, and social resources of developing nations, and relieve them of onerous international debt. c. Ensure that all trade supports sustainable resource use, environmental protection, and progressive labor standards. d. Require multinational corporations and international financial organizations to act transparently in the public good, and hold them accountable for the consequences of their activities. 11. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity. a. Secure the human rights of women and girls and end all violence against them. b. Promote the active participation of women in all aspects of economic, political, civil, social, and cultural life as full and equal partners, decision makers, leaders, and beneficiaries. c. Strengthen families and ensure the safety and loving nurture of all family members. 12. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities. a. Eliminate discrimination in all its forms, such as that based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, language, and national, ethnic or social origin. b. Affirm the right of indigenous peoples to their spirituality, knowledge, lands and resources and to their related practice of sustainable livelihoods. c. Honor and support the young people of our communities, enabling them to fulfill their essential role in creating sustainable societies. d. Protect and restore outstanding places of cultural and spiritual significance. IV. DEMOCRACY, NONVIOLENCE, AND PEACE 13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice. a. Uphold the right of everyone to receive clear and timely information on environmental matters and all development plans and activities which are likely to affect them or in which they have an interest. b. Support local, regional and global civil society, and promote the meaningful participation of all interested individuals and organizations in decision making. c. Protect the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, association, and dissent. d. Institute effective and efficient access to administrative and independent judicial procedures, including remedies and redress for environmental harm and the threat of such harm. e. Eliminate corruption in all public and private institutions. f. Strengthen local communities, enabling them to care for their environments, and assign environmental responsibilities to the levels of government where they can be carried out most effectively. 14. Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life. a. Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to sustainable development. b. Promote the contribution of the arts and humanities as well as the sciences in sustainability education. c. Enhance the role of the mass media in raising awareness of ecological and social challenges. d. Recognize the importance of moral and spiritual education for sustainable living. 15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration. a. Prevent cruelty to animals kept in human societies and protect them from suffering. b. Protect wild animals from methods of hunting, trapping, and fishing that cause extreme, prolonged, or avoidable suffering. c. Avoid or eliminate to the full extent possible the taking or destruction of non-targeted species. 16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace. a. Encourage and support mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among all peoples and within and among nations. b. Implement comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict and use collaborative problem solving to manage and resolve environmental conflicts and other disputes. c. Demilitarize national security systems to the level of a non-provocative defense posture, and convert military resources to peaceful purposes, including ecological restoration. d. Eliminate nuclear, biological, and toxic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. e. Ensure that the use of orbital and outer space supports environmental protection and peace. f. Recognize that peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part. The Way Forward As never before in history, common destiny beckons us to seek a new beginning. Such renewal is the promise of these Earth Charter principles. To fulfill this promise, we must commit ourselves to adopt and promote the values and objectives of the Charter. This requires a change of mind and heart. It requires a new sense of global interdependence and universal responsibility. We must imaginatively develop and apply the vision of a sustainable way of life locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Our cultural diversity is a precious heritage and different cultures will find their own distinctive ways to realize the vision. We must deepen and expand the global dialogue that generated the Earth Charter, for we have much to learn from the ongoing collaborative search for truth and wisdom. Life often involves tensions between important values. This can mean difficult choices. However, we must find ways to harmonize diversity with unity, the exercise of freedom with the common good, short-term objectives with long-term goals. Every individual, family, organization, and community has a vital role to play. The arts, sciences, religions, educational institutions, media, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and governments are all called to offer creative leadership. The partnership of government, civil society, and business is essential for effective governance. In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to the United Nations, fulfill their obligations under existing international agreements, and support the implementation of Earth Charter principles with an international legally binding instrument on environment and development. Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life. ----------------------------------- Thanks Matt et. Al. www.water.org http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/ More than 3.4 million people die each year from water, sanitation, and hygiene-related causes. Nearly all deaths, 99 percent, occur in the developing world.3 Lack of access to clean water and sanitation kills children at a rate equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every four hours.1 Of the 60 million people added to the world's towns and cities every year, most move to informal settlements (i.e. slums) with no sanitation facilities.7 780 million people lack access to an improved water source; approximately one in nine people.2 "[The water and sanitation] crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns." 9 An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country slum uses for an entire day.9 Over 2.5X more people lack water than live in the United States.2 More people have a mobile phone than a toilet.2 Resource Links Look for more facts in our collection of Water Resource Links. 1. Estimated with data from Diarhhoea: Why children are still dying and what can be done. UNICEF, WHO 2009 2. Estimated with data from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation. (2012). Progress on Sanitation and Drinking-Water, 2012 Update. 3. World Health Organization (WHO). (2008). Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, benefits, and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health; Updated Table 1: WSH deaths by region, 2004. 4. International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2011). The World in 2011 ICT Facts and Figures 5. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2011). State of World Population 2011, People and possibilities in a world of 7 billion 6. World Health Organization (WHO). (2004). Evaluation of the Costs and Benefits of Water and Sanitation Improvements at the Global Level 7. UN Water. (2008). Tackling a global crisis: International Year of Sanitation 2008 8. UN Water. (2009). The United Nations World Water Development Report 3, Water in a Changing World 9. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2006). Human Development Report 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis 10. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP). (2000). Linking Sustainability with Demand, Gender and Poverty: A study in community-managed water supply projects in 15 countries 11. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP). (2010). Financing On-Site Sanitation for the Poor, A Six County Comparative Review and Analysis 12. World Health Organization (WHO). (2002). The World Health Report 2002, Reducing Risks, Promoting Health Life 13. World Health Organization (WHO). (2004). Evaluation of the Costs and Benefits of Water and Sanitation Improvements at the Global Level 14. Map data sourced from "Progress on Sanitation and Drinking-Water, 2010 Update." WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation. ------------------------------------------------ World Wildlife Federation "In the face of massive, unprecedented threats to the natural world – especially climate change and unsustainable resource management – WWF will focus on truly global conservation priorities which can achieve real and lasting change." James P Leape, Director General, WWF International http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/ http://wwf.org/ "Our mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. From our experience as the world's leading independent conservation body, we know that the well-being of people, wildlife and the environment are closely linked. That's why we take an integrated approach to our work. "We're striving to safeguard the natural world, helping people live more sustainably and take action against climate change. We spend a lot of time working with communities, with politicans and with businesses to find solutions so people and nature can thrive. "Our projects are innovative, collaborative and based on scientific evidence. And we think big. We run a number of Global initiatives focussing on the regions and challenges where we can make the biggest difference - from the Arctic and the Amazon to responsible fishing." ------------------------------------------------ United Nations Environment Programme http://www.unep.org/ Our Planet : Time to Act http://www.unep.org/pdf/OP-FEB-EN-2013.pdf ------------------------------------------------ Green party http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_party A Green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of Green politics, such as social justice, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and environmentalism. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation for world peace. Green party platforms typically embrace social-democratic economic policies and forming coalitions with leftists. Green parties exist in nearly 90 countries around the world; many are members of Global Greens. -------------------------- Earth Summit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Earth_Summit The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, and Earth Summit (Portuguese: ECO-92 [ˈɛku no̞ˈvẽtɐ j ˈdojʃ]), was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992. In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was also held in Rio, and is also commonly called Rio+20 or Rio Earth Summit 2012. was held June 20-22nd. Overview 172 governments participated, with 108 sending their heads of state or government.[1] Some 2,400 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended, with 17,000 people at the parallel NGO "Global Forum" (a.k.a. Forum Global), who had Consultative Status. The issues addressed included: • systematic scrutiny of patterns of production — particularly the production of toxic components, such as lead in gasoline, or poisonous waste including radioactive chemicals & sonia • alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels which are linked to global climate change • new reliance on public transportation systems in order to reduce vehicle emissions, congestion in cities and the health problems caused by polluted air and smoke • the growing scarcity of water An important achievement was an agreement on the Climate Change Convention which in turn led to the Kyoto Protocol. Another agreement was to "not carry out any activities on the lands of indigenous peoples that would cause environmental degradation or that would be culturally inappropriate". The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the Earth Summit, and made a start towards redefinition of measures that did not inherently encourage destruction of natural ecoregions and so-called uneconomic growth. Twelve cities were also honoured by the Local Government Honours Award for innovative local environmental programs. These included Sudbury in Canada for its ambitious program to rehabilitate environmental damage from the local mining industry, Austin in the United States for its green building strategy, and Kitakyūshū in Japan for incorporating an international education and training component into its municipal pollution control program. The Earth Summit resulted in the following documents: • Rio Declaration on Environment and Development[2] • Agenda 21[3][4] • Forest Principles Moreover, two important legally binding agreements were opened for signature: • Convention on Biological Diversity[5] • Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Critics, however, point out that many of the agreements made in Rio have not been realized regarding such fundamental issues as fighting poverty and cleaning up the environment. Green Cross International was founded to build upon the work of the Summit. -------------------------------- Chipko movement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipko_movement "The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a movement that practiced the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, then in Uttar Pradesh with growing awareness towards rapid deforestation. The landmark event in this struggle took place on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, acted to prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system of the state Forest Department. "Their actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the grassroots level throughout the region. By the 1980s the movement had spread throughout India and led to formulation of people-sensitive forest policies, which put a stop to the open felling of trees in regions as far reaching as Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.[1] Today, it is seen as an inspiration and a precursor for Chipko movement of Garhwal. "The Chipko movement, though primarily a livelihood protection movement rather than a forest conservation movement, went on to become a rallying point for many future environmentalists, environmental protests and movements the world over and created a precedent for non-violent protest. It occurred at a time when there was hardly any environmental movement in the developing world, and its success meant that the world immediately took notice of this non-violent movement, which was to inspire in time many such eco-groups by helping to slow down the rapid deforestation, expose vested interests, increase ecological awareness, and demonstrate the viability of people power. "Above all, it stirred up the existing civil society in India, which began to address the issues of tribal and marginalized people. So much so that, a quarter of a century later, India Today mentioned the people behind the "forest satyagraha" of the Chipko movement as amongst '100 people who shaped India'. Today, beyond the eco-socialism hue, it is being seen increasingly as an ecofeminism movement. "Although many of its leaders were men, women were not only its backbone, but also its mainstay, because they were the ones most affected by the rampant deforestation, which led to a lack of firewood and fodder as well as water for drinking and irrigation. Over the years they also became primary stakeholders in a majority of the afforestation work that happened under the Chipko movement." -------------------------------- Book References (1) Living Downstream: An Ecologist's Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment [Paperback] http://www.amazon.com/Living-Downstream-Ecologists-Investigation-Environment/dp/0306818698/ ISBN-13: 978-0306818691 The first edition of Living Downstream—an exquisite blend of precise science and engaging narrative—set a new standard for scientific writing. Poet, biologist, and cancer survivor, Steingraber uses all three kinds of experience to investigate the links between cancer and environmental toxins. The updated science in this exciting new edition strengthens the case for banning poisons now pervasive in our air, our food, and our bodies. Because synthetic chemicals linked to cancer come mostly from petroleum and coal, Steingraber shows that investing in green energy also helps prevent cancer. Saving the planet becomes a matter of saving ourselves and an issue of human rights. A documentary film based on the book will coincide with publication. Amazon Book review "I've worked for a number of years as an environmental lawyer and had often heard of this book from colleagues. I finally decided to read it recently and was glad I did. The author conveys an incredible amount of information about environmental connections to cancer -- some of it quite shocking -- while at the same time telling her own story dealing with cancer and tracing and understanding its potential origins. The book is always readable in spite of the great amounts of data and analysis presented. In fact, Steingraber's writing is excellent, at times even poetic, never dry, boring or overly technical. While this is a personal narrative it is also much more. She presents a whole new vision for the way we -- as a society -- should approach manufacturing, one in which we simply deem putting carcinogens into the environment and the stream of commerce "too expensive". I found her arguments and her logic not only compelling but inspiring. I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who is him or herself dealing with cancer." (2) Beyond the Limits: Confronting Global Collapse, Envisioning a Sustainable Future [Paperback] Donella H. Meadows (Author), Jorgen Randers (Author), Dennis L. Meadows (Author) http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Limits-Confronting-Envisioning-Sustainable/dp/0930031628/ Twenty years after their influential book, The Limits to Growth, was published to worldwide acclaim, the authors revise several scenarios of growth, concluding that the global industrial system has already overshot some of the Earth's vital ecological limits. Amazon Review "This book is a must read for anyone seriously interested in global sustainability. It is clearly written and is easily accessible to non-technical readers. Although based on a sophisticated computer model, the authors avoid presenting a dry, scientific explanation of the simulation -- equations and mathematical formulations are deemphasized. Instead, the authors refer the technically-minded to an earlier book (Dynamics of Growth in a Finite World, available at www.pegasuscom.com) that contains every equation used in the model. Moreover, Prof. Meadows makes the model itself available to anyone interested (for a nominal fee). So read this book. Then, if you want more detail, get the model and technical book." From Publishers Weekly "In 1972 The Limits of Growth, sponsored by the Club of Rome and produced by a research team on a MIT computer programmed with a World3 model, created a stormy sensation. Denounced as eco-gloom and doom, the book also became a keystone of the era's environmentalism. Now on the eve of the June U.N. Earth Summit, three of the researchers give World3 another run. Although many books and reports examine 'sustainability', the authors provide unique insights thanks to their background in systems analysis. Society has gone into overshoot, they argue, a state of being beyond limits without knowing it. "These limits are more like speed limits than barriers at the end of the road: the rate at which renewable resources can renew themselves, the rate at which we can change from nonrenewable resources to renewable ones, and the rate at which nature can recycle our pollution. Without being a catch-all on the environmental crisis, the book shows how we are overshooting such crucial resources as food and water while overwhelming nature with pollutants like those causing global warming. . . Systems analysis may sound like an academic specialty, but the authors have written for the general reader and provide a compelling challenge to traditional economics and public complacency. " (3) "Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace" [Paperback] Vandana Shiva http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Democracy-Justice-Sustainability-Peace/dp/089608745X "A leading voice in the struggle for global justice, Vandana Shiva is a world-renowned environmental activist and physicist. In Earth Democracy, Shiva updates the struggles she helped bring to international attention—against genetic food engineering, culture theft, and natural resource privatization-—uncovering their links to the rising tide of fundamentalism, violence against women, and planetary death. "Starting in the 16th century with the initial enclosure of the British commons, Shiva reveals how the commons continue to shrink as more and more natural resources are patented and privatized. As our ecological sustainability and cultural diversity erode, so too is human life rendered disposable. Through the forces of neoliberal globalization, economic and social exclusion ignite violence across lines of difference, threatening the lives of millions. "Yet these brutal extinctions are not the only trend shaping human history. Struggles on the streets of Seattle and Cancun and in homes and farms across the world have yielded a set of principles based on inclusion, nonviolence, reclaiming the commons, and freely sharing the earth’s resources. These ideals, which Shiva calls Earth Democracy, serves as an urgent call to peace and as the basis for a just and sustainable future." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandana_Shiva "Dr. Vandana Shiva has fought for changes in the practice and paradigms of agriculture and food. Intellectual property rights, biodiversity, biotechnology, bioethics, genetic engineering are among the fields where Shiva has contributed intellectually and through activist campaigns. She has assisted grassroots organizations of the Green movement in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Ireland, Switzerland, and Austria with campaigns against genetic engineering. "In 1982, she founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, which led to the creation of Navdanya in 1991, a national movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources, especially native seed, the promotion of organic farming and fair trade. For last two decades Navdanya has worked with local communities and organizations serving many men and women farmers. "Navdanya’s efforts have resulted in conservation of more than 2000 rice varieties from all over the country and have established 34 seed banks in 13 states across the country. More than 70,000 farmers are primary members of Navdanya. In 2004 Dr Shiva started Bija Vidyapeeth, an international college for sustainable living in Doon Valley, in collaboration with Schumacher College, U.K. "In the area of IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) and Biodiversity, Dr. Shiva and her team at the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology successfully challenged the biopiracy of Neem, Basmati and Wheat. Besides her activism, she has also served on expert groups of government on Biodiversity and IPR legislation.[8] "Her first book, Staying Alive (1988) helped redefine perceptions of third world women. In 1990, she wrote a report for the FAO on Women and Agriculture entitled, “Most Farmers in India are Women”. She founded the gender unit at the International Centre for Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu and was a founding Board Member of the Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) "Shiva has also served as an adviser to governments in India and abroad as well as non governmental organisations, including the International Forum on Globalization, the Women's Environment & Development Organization and the Third World Network. Dr. Shiva chairs the Commission on the Future of Food set up by the Region of Tuscany in Italy and is a member of the Scientific Committee which advised former prime minister Zapatero of Spain. "Shiva is a member of the Steering Committee of the Indian People’s Campaign against WTO. She is a councillor of the World Future Council. Dr Shiva serves on Government of India Committees on Organic Farming. Vandana Shiva participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007. "Time Magazine identified Dr. Shiva as an environmental “hero” in 2003, and Asia Week has called her one of the five most powerful communicators of Asia. Loyola Marymount University has asked her to speak on numerous occasions on the topic of eco-feminism, where she continuously attracts large crowds of interested students. "Vandana Shiva is working on a 3 year project with the Government of Bhutan, at the invitation of the Prime Minister Jigme Thinley, advising the government on how to achieve their objective of becoming an organic sovereign country (the first fully 100% organic country)." (4) Permaculture: A Designers' Manual [Hardcover] Bill Mollison (Author) Hardcover: 576 pages Publisher: Tagari Publications (December 1988) ISBN-10: 0908228015 http://www.amazon.com/Permaculture-Designers-Manual-Bill-Mollison/dp/0908228015 "Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order. "Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms. The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them; and of allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions." Amazon Review "For those of us searching for an ecologically responsible lifestyle amid urban and suburban insanity, Bill Mollison has a real and exciting answer. This book is full of helpful advice presented in a very readable way. (The only problem might be getting stuck in the chapters on climates that don't concern you; just skip them until later!) The groundwork philosophy of permaculture is laid first, and the book moves from there to the practical business of actually designing one. "The emphasis is on letting various plant and animal species work together as much as possible, to form a basically self-sustaining system from which people can reap a continual harvest, not only of food, but of interest and self-respect. What a prospect! It is certainly a very different one from what we young people have been taught to expect from life! This volume is much more complete in both the philosophy and the practice than were the original 'Permaculture One' and 'Permaculture Two.' "It is also much less focused on the Southern Hemisphere, which is helpful for North Americans trying to visualize their own permaculture. I can only hope that more people happen upon this book as I did and are themselves inspired to create a fulfilling life for themselves and their children." -------------------------------- SMOKEY THE BEAR SUTRA BY GARY SNYDER http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/bear.htm [ This is a modern Zen poem well known to American environmentalists. It is written in the form of a Buddhist Mahayana / Great Way / Universal Service scripture and playfully calls upon a US Forest Service fire prevention mascot, Smokey the Bear. It also gives a Sanskrit mantra for Acala Vidyaraja, one of the Protector deities of Esoteric Mahayana Buddhism. I have corrected one word of the mantra. ] Once in the Jurassic about 150 million years ago, the Great Sun Buddha in this corner of the Infinite Void gave a discourse to all the assembled elements and energies: to the standing beings, the walking beings, the flying beings, and the sitting beings--even the grasses, to the number of thirteen billion, each one born from a seed, assembled there: a Discourse concerning Enlightenment on the planet Earth. "In some future time, there will be a continent called America. It will have great centers of power called such as Pyramid Lake, Walden Pond, Mt. Rainier, Big Sur, Everglades, and so forth; and powerful nerves and channels such as Columbia River, Mississippi River, and Grand Canyon. The human race in that era will get into troubles all over its head, and practically wreck everything in spite of its own strong intelligent Buddha-nature." "The twisting strata of the great mountains and the pulsings of volcanoes are my love burning deep in the earth. My obstinate compassion is schist and basalt and granite, to be mountains, to bring down the rain. In that future American Era I shall enter a new form; to cure the world of loveless knowledge that seeks with blind hunger: and mindless rage eating food that will not fill it." And he showed himself in his true form of SMOKEY THE BEAR A handsome smokey-colored brown bear standing on his hind legs, showing that he is aroused and watchful. Bearing in his right paw the Shovel that digs to the truth beneath appearances; cuts the roots of useless attachments, and flings damp sand on the fires of greed and war; His left paw in the mudra of Comradely Display--indicating that all creatures have the full right to live to their limits and that of deer, rabbits, chipmunks, snakes, dandelions, and lizards all grow in the realm of the Dharma; Wearing the blue work overalls symbolic of slaves and laborers, the countless men oppressed by a civilization that claims to save but often destroys; Wearing the broad-brimmed hat of the west, symbolic of the forces that guard the wilderness, which is the Natural State of the Dharma and the true path of man on Earth: all true paths lead through mountains-- With a halo of smoke and flame behind, the forest fires of the kali-yuga, fires caused by the stupidity of those who think things can be gained and lost whereas in truth all is contained vast and free in the Blue Sky and Green Earth of One Mind; Round-bellied to show his kind nature and that the great earth has food enough for everyone who loves her and trusts her; Trampling underfoot wasteful freeways and needless suburbs, smashing the worms of capitalism and totalitarianism; Indicating the task: his followers, becoming free of cars, houses, canned foods, universities, and shoes, master the Three Mysteries of their own Body, Speech, and Mind; and fearlessly chop down the rotten trees and prune out the sick limbs of this country America and then burn the leftover trash. Wrathful but calm. Austere but Comic. Smokey the Bear will Illuminate those who would help him; but for those who would hinder or slander him... HE WILL PUT THEM OUT. Thus his great Mantra: Namah samanta vajranam chanda maharoshana Sphataya hum trat ham mam "I DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE UNIVERSAL DIAMOND BE THIS RAGING FURY BE DESTROYED" And he will protect those who love the woods and rivers, Gods and animals, hobos and madmen, prisoners and sick people, musicians, playful women, and hopeful children: And if anyone is threatened by advertising, air pollution, television, or the police, they should chant SMOKEY THE BEAR'S WAR SPELL: DROWN THEIR BUTTS CRUSH THEIR BUTTS DROWN THEIR BUTTS CRUSH THEIR BUTTS And SMOKEY THE BEAR will surely appear to put the enemy out with his vajra-shovel. Now those who recite this Sutra and then try to put it in practice will accumulate merit as countless as the sands of Arizona and Nevada. Will help save the planet Earth from total oil slick. Will enter the age of harmony of man and nature. Will win the tender love and caresses of men, women, and beasts. Will always have ripened blackberries to eat and a sunny spot under a pine tree to sit at. AND IN THE END WILL WIN HIGHEST PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT ...thus we have heard... (may be reproduced free forever) ------------------------------- This is dedicated to the 30,000 people, from all over the world, who attended the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, my bothers and sisters of many NGOs. All Our Relations. Sarva mangalam. KT, for the Rio Greens and the International Green Movement 'The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?’ Gandalf the White, speaking to Denethor

Location: Downtown / Civic Center - 376 views

Please sign my petition "Stop Misleading Energy Pipedreams."

Maria — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:30:16 GMT

Please sign my petition "Stop Misleading Energy Pipedreams." Remind Congress that we don’t want to be misled into conclusions based on distracting statements that suggest that energy “independence” substitutes for real energy security. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/973/117/362/stop-misleading-energy-pipedreams/ Thanks, Maria

Location: Santa Rosa - 62 views

tantric Buddhist psychology and shamanism : Lama Lodu, Lama Tsultrim Allione ( American woman Buddhist teacher ) March - April

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:08:13 GMT

Keywords: shamanism, magic, mysticism, tantra, goddess spirituality, Buddhism, Buddhist psychology, Buddhist shamanism, Buddhist tantra, Buddhist deity yoga, Tara, Machig Labdron, Lama Lodu, Kagyu Droden Kunchab San Francisco, Tsultrim Allione, Tara Mandala Colorado. From http://www.kdk.org/teaching-schedule.html Chod Retreat By Lama Lodu Rinpoche April 4th-7th KDK Retreat Land, Laytonville, CA Tuition: $275 (KDK Members $150) "Chod is the most effective practice in the Vajrayana tradition. This lineage originated with the great mahasiddha Dampa Sanggye and was passed down to the great Tibetan Holy Lady Machig Labdron in the 11th century. This practice spread in Tibet until it became well known throughout all the land. Monastics, lay people, and villagers all became Chod practitioners. This practice has a special emphasis on cutting through the ego, which is the root cause of suffering in the samsara. "It is especially effective for sick people or those affected by many different mental disorders, and their sickness can be pacified through this practice. Among all the Tibetan Schools, the Eight Great Chariots, all of the lineages have continued this practice until now with the fresh blessing of the dakinis. "This lineage arrived from the Buddha direct to Dampa Sanggye, then on to Karmapa Rangjung Dorje and continuously up until the present Karmapa. This lineage has been maintained precisely and without interruption or defilement. Furthermore, this lineage has come directly from Machig Labdron to the Shangpa Lineage from Norbu Dondrub, the Yogi who accomplished Rainbow Body, the root guru of His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche. Finally, this fresh, unbroken and undefiled lineage has passed down to Lama Lodu Rinpoche himself. "Anyone interested in joining this initiation and teachings in welcome. The full practice empowerment and complete set of instructions so that upon completion of the retreat, everyone would be able to bring this practice into their daily life. A KDK student requested this initiation to Rinpoche so KDK is kindly putting this open to the public. If you are karmically connected and the time is right for your karma to ripen you are welcome to participate. It is best if you have taken refuge and initiation and have some familiarity with Buddhism, but newcomers having the karma to come are more than welcome. "The practice text can be ordered from the KDK Bookstore if you order in a timely fashion. The .Chod Practice Manual and Commentary. by Shambhala Publications (as well as KDK Bookstore) contains the complete practice, and is also a complete commentary on the Chod practice. "Arrival time is Thursday night to the KDK Retreat Land; register with Deborah Janke at (925) 228-3999 / deborahpricejanke@att.net before March 20th to receive all necessary instructions. Initiation is at 10AM Friday morning." ------------------- Lama Tsultrim Allione, bestselling author of "Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict", was given the Outstanding Woman in Buddhist Award for 2009 and was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdron at Machig's monastery in Tibet in 2007 and authorized by Lama Tsering Wangdu to give this empowerment. Founder of Tara Mandala Retreat Center in Colorado, she has taught internationally for over thirty years. Events sponsored by Tara Mandala. www.taramandala.org Machig Labdrön and the Nature of Mind March 28, 2013 Location: Rudramandir, Berkeley CA http://taramandala.org/program/introduction-to-the-lineage-of-machig-labdron/ Green Tara Teachings March 29 - 31, 2013 Location: Sukhasiddhi, Fairfax CA http://taramandala.org/program/green-tara-teachings/ Chöd, Three Evening Sessions April 2 - 4, 2013 Location: Rudramandir, Berkeley CA http://taramandala.org/program/chod-practice-at-orgyen-dorje-den/ "Feeding Your Demons" Daylong Benefit April 6, 2013 Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA http://taramandala.org/program/feeding-your-demons-daylong-benefit/

Location: SF Bay Area - 307 views

Support Tribe.com Let's make something out of this community. If you want friends and good conversations then you need to start talking.

Ron — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:36:12 GMT

We have a good thing going here at Tribe but we are letting it just sit there while we blankly stare at it and say nothing. It is not enough to just come here and click other people's posts, you need to get involved and post too. Alot of you are bored, lonely, or just plain looking for something to do. Well the answer to all that is to talk to people, get involved in something, wheather it is a personal intrest or someone else's. That is what Tribe is for. Even in this crazy world we live in it is still possible to make new friends and develope new intrests. Make a new friend today, it will give you a good feeling inside, and make someone else feel good too.

Location: Japantown - 157 views

Do you want more financial well-being & abundance?

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:37:42 GMT

Do you want more financial well-being & abundance? Being spiritual doesn't mean being broke. More lightworkers on the planet need to make the intention to become financially free. We need more people on the planet to have financial wealth and to use it with wisdom, care, and love. Below is a affirmation for lightworkers to recite on the daily basis in order to make this commitment to themselves and to help our financial evolution as a whole. We hope you will join us and tell others. For more info about our project, visit www.10millionlightworkers.wordpress.com Subscribe to our Youtube Channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjBAkBjBSAPOXTGgUFnqLyw/featured Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/10-Million-Lightworkers-for-Financial-Freedom-Project/186816071367012 Bright blessings!!!!

Location: SF Bay Area - 121 views

The Ways of The Goddess

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:33:51 GMT

Do you love nature? Do you dabble in the occults? Do enjoy healing work? Are you into the earth, paganism, or The Goddess? or just want to learn more about some of this interesting stuff? The Ways of The Goddess is a website filled with lots of useful info, videos and tons of great resources Visit, share with a friend, and become follower!!!!! www.TheWaysofTheGoddess.Blogspot.com Subscribe to our Youtube Channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0x9CrEJbJ_Ps4PI9ipg2ZQ/featured "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ways-of-The-Goddess/214895645199670 Blessings!!!!

Location: SF Bay Area - 45 views

Healthier Living, Healthier Being

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:36:57 GMT

Are you interested in healing and clearing yourself? Are you into spiritual practices that help you to higher your consciousness? Are you a light or love worker? Are you interested in healing yourself, so you can more of an contribution to humanity? Are you looking for free or inexpensive ways to learn more about your spiritual purpose? It is a simple, practical, and free resource that is devoted to helping people with info that they can use to better take care of themselves and their lives on the daily basis Feel free to visit, share with a friend, and become a follower!!!!!!! Healthier Living, Healthier Being - http://www.Tennebula.blogspot.com Subscribe to our Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/Tennebula Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Tennebula "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Healthier-Living-Healthier-Being/123894087692923 Blessings!!!!

Location: SF Bay Area - 90 views

International Womens' Day: Background, Resources, Tools for social empowerment and effective community

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 20:51:57 GMT

International Women's Day : Background, Resources, Tools for social empowerment and effective community Summary: Here I provide background and tools directly related to modern feminism and social empowerment, such as leadership examples and manuals. This is for everyone. For more on International Women's Day, see http://www.internationalwomensday.com/ "internationalwomensday.com is a global hub for sharing International Women’s Day information, events, news and resources. "The website was founded in 2001 as a non-profit philanthropic venture dedicated to keeping International Women’s Day (IWD) alive and growing. Since 2007, IWD has gained considerable momentum due to greater media attention, events, social networking and corporate support. IWD is now celebrated via wide scale activity in almost every country and many world leaders support the day with official statements." There are many resources available at the above web site. May this be of help to everyone. As Tim Berners-Lee said at the recent London Olympics, "This is for everyone." I do not represent any person or organization mentioned here. This is about supporting women everywhere, who hold up half the sky. This post is dedicated to the late Petra Kelly of Germany, to the late Princess Diana, to Angelina Jolie, to Dr. Vandana Shiva of India, and to Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma. All Our Relations. KT "The only real prison is fear. And the only real freedom is freedom from fear. The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit." Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Laureate, Burma "I think a woman has two choices. Either she's a feminist or a masochist." -Gloria Steinem. "And what I saw was that nobody can take away your power. That really is the truth." -Oprah Winfrey "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." -Nora Ephron "Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men." -Joseph Conrad ""There's a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." -Madeleine Albright "The story of womens' struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. -Gloria Steinem. "The vision I see is not only a movement of direct democracy, of self- and co-determination and non-violence, but a movement in which politics means the power to love and the power to feel united on the spaceship Earth... In a world struggling in violence and dishonesty, the further development of non-violence - not only as a philosophy but as a way of life, as a force on the streets, in the market squares . . . becomes one of the most urgent priorities." -Petra Kelly, Green Movement organizer “As I looked down, I saw a large river meandering slowly along for miles, passing from one country to another without stopping. I also saw huge forests, extending across several borders. And I watched the extent of one ocean touch the shores of several continents. Two words leaped to mind as I looked down on all of this: commonality and interdependence. We are one world." -John David Bartoe, Challenger 8 NASA space mission, July 1985: -------------- Resources The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups [Paperback] Starhawk (Author) Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: New Society Publishers; Original edition (November 15, 2011) ISBN-10: 0865716978 http://www.amazon.com/The-Empowerment-Manual-Collaborative-Groups/dp/0865716978/ Review "Starhawk has stepped forward to help the 99 percent camped in the streets from Syria and Bahrain to New York and London. To have power one needs to discover the ultimate tools of power - the ability to build friendships and to focus group attention on shared goals. This book provides the real formula for empowerment, in earthy detail, from family to village to culture to global movement." - Albert Bates, author The Biochar Solution: Carbon Farming and Climate Change and The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for Change "It's not easy to meld a sweeping vision with practical steps on how to implement it, but Starhawk has succeeded brilliantly in The Empowerment Manual. Filled with case histories, illustrative stories, and, most importantly, clearly written exercises for honing your collaborative skills, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in building community and truly empowering themselves and others." — Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture "Strong, sustained leadership at the grassroots is more essential by the minute, given the failure of political and corporate power-holders to stop trashing our world. True social change is a collaborative art. Here's a trove of tips, guidelines, deft strategies and open secrets, that will speed and ease our capacity to work together. It comes to us with Starhawk's signature blend of vast experience, wit, and love for life." — Joanna Macy, author, The Work that Reconnects and co-author, Active Hope: How to Face the Mess we're in Without Going Crazy "A Transition Town group involved in preparations for peak oil and climate change; an intentional community, founded with the highest ideals; a nonprofit dedicated to social change—millions of such voluntary groups exist around the world. These collaborative organizations have the unique potential to harness their members' ideals, passions, skills, and knowledge—if they can succeed in getting along together. "The Empowerment Manual is a comprehensive manual for groups seeking to organize with shared power and bottom-up leadership to foster vision, trust, accountability, and responsibility. This desperately needed toolkit provides keys to: Understanding group dynamics Facilitating communication and collective decision-making Dealing effectively with difficult people. "Drawing on four decades of experience, Starhawk shows how collaborative groups can generate the cooperation, efficacy, and commitment critical to success. Her extensive exploration of group process is woven together with the story of RootBound—a fictional ecovillage mired in conflict—and rounded out with a series of real-life case studies. The included exercises and facilitator toolbox show how to establish the necessary structures, ground rules, and healthy norms. The Empowerment Manual is required reading for anyone who wants to help their group avoid disagreement and disillusionment and become a wellspring of creativity and innovation. "Starhawk is the author of eleven previous books including the award-winning Webs of Power. A highly influential voice for global justice and the environment, she is deeply committed to bringing the creative power of spirituality to political activism." -------------- The White House - Office of the Press Secretary March 08, 2013 Statement by the President on International Women’s Day On International Women’s Day we celebrate the many milestones on the road to gender equality, and recommit ourselves to fight for the rights and opportunities of women and girls around the world. Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do. When women succeed, nations are more safe, more secure, and more prosperous. Over the last year, we’ve seen women and girls inspiring communities and entire countries to stand up for freedom and justice, and I’m proud of my Administration’s efforts to promote gender equality worldwide. As a nation, we’ve launched new efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment and political participation, to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and to strengthen our commitment to helping more women participate in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. We are promoting food security initiatives that recognize the rights and needs of women farmers, and ensuring that women and girls are at the center of global health programs. And we will continue to focus on empowering women and girls at home and abroad. We’ve also worked with a wide range of partners – from the United Nations and civil society groups to the private sector – to advance this important agenda. Because when it comes to creating a world in which our sons and daughters can reach their potential, we each have a role to play. And we can make even more progress together. -------------- http://www.unwomen.org/2013/03/un-women-urges-implementation-of-historic-global-agreement-to-end-violence-against-women-and-girls/ UN Women urges implementation of historic global agreement to end violence against women and girls Posted on March 20 2013 | Ending Violence against Women | Press Releases UN Women Press Release Media Contacts: Oisika Chakrabarti, +1 646 781-4522; oisika.chakrabarti[at]unwomen.org Hadrien Bonnaud, +1 646 781-4751; hadrien.bonnaud[at]unwomen.org Sharon Grobeisen, +1 646 781-4753; sharon.grobeisen[at]unwomen.org Michelle Bachelet: “UN Women stands ready to support countries to turn agreement into action” (New York, 20 March) In the follow-up to the historic global agreement reached at the 57th Commission on the Status of Women to prevent and end violence against women and girls, UN Women today called for action to translate it into reality for women and girls globally. UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet urged speedy implementation of the Agreed Conclusions. “The best way to honour the commitments made by Member States at the Commission is to work for implementation and accountability. We must continue moving forward, with courage, conviction and action. UN Women with its strong programmatic focus, experience on ending violence against women, and field presence in 85 countries stands ready to fully support implementation of the Agreed Conclusions,” she said. UN Women will use the Agreed Conclusions to protect the right of women and girls to live free of fear and violence, working closely with UN Member States, UN country teams and civil society. The agreement constitutes a roadmap for prevention and response, with a total of 69 clear and concrete actions that should be taken by Governments and other stakeholders. These form the basis to move expeditiously at the national level – including through strengthening prevention, services and data collection; improving laws and policies; expanding programmes, and committing the resources needed to make a difference. Efforts will also be undertaken to support the implementation of commitments made by 54 Governments through the UN Women COMMIT initiative to address the pandemic through concrete national actions. In a new global prevention effort, a non-formal curriculum on ending violence against girls, developed in collaboration with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and announced at CSW, will reach millions of young people. Through ongoing initiatives such as the Safe Cities programme, service delivery will be improved. The Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, managed by UN Women, will continue to enhance coordination efforts across the UN system. The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women will continue to provide resources to local and national initiatives. And UN Women and UNFPA are working to define and provide critical services to survivors. “UN Women is uniquely positioned to work with governments, civil society and UN partners to turn the Agreed Conclusions into decisive action at the country level,” said Michelle Bachelet. “This organization was founded to deliver for women and girls worldwide and is in a strong position to do so.” Meeting on the heels of high-profile violence cases that fuelled global outrage and rising demands for justice, the 57th session of the Commission is widely hailed by governments and civil society as an historic session, especially given the lack of Agreed Conclusions in 2003, when the issue was last discussed at the Commission. It took significant efforts and preparations, including regional meetings and a global stakeholders’ forum convened by UN Women, to deliver a global blueprint at this session. A record 133 States addressed the meeting and 6,000 NGOs pre-registered; there were more than 120 side events and 300 civil society events, and unprecedented media attention. The final text adopted by Governments is forward-looking. The document strongly emphasizes that violence against women is a human rights violation and underlines that it is the duty of all States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights, which are universal and indivisible. It places a strong emphasis on prevention, the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment and their full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, urging Governments to advance women’s economic empowerment, political participation, access to education and health, including sexual and reproductive health and the fulfillment of reproductive rights. It calls special attention to the need for women’s and girls’ safety in public spaces, and for attitudinal changes through challenging gender stereotypes, and the full engagement of men and boys. It highlights the need to strengthen legal and policy frameworks, with important provisions on ending impunity, and ensuring accountability and access to justice, as well as addressing domestic violence. The need for adequate responses in armed conflict and post-conflict settings are also emphasized, such as ensuring that sexual violence not be included in amnesty provisions. The document calls for coordinated multisectoral services that respect confidentiality and the safety of survivors. It emphasizes health services, both in addressing the health consequences of violence, including sexual and reproductive health, as well as an entry point to detect violence against women. The agreement calls on States to improve data collection and analysis which is urgently needed to improve the evidence base, including in terms of risk factors, structural and underlying causes, and to better inform the development of laws, policies, and awareness-raising. New elements include the first-time mention of the phenomenon of gender-related killings, or femicide, as well as the need to tackle phenomena such as cyber stalking and cyber bullying in regard to ICT and social media. The document highlights the need for targeted attention to older women, women living with HIV, women human rights defenders, women with disabilities, indigenous women and other groups that face particular risks of violence. Another important emphasis throughout the document is on the consultation and participation with stakeholders, including survivors of violence, in devising laws and policies, and also the use of information and communications technology and social media as resources for awareness-raising. The historic 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women produced an agreement that paves the way for action to prevent and end violence against women and girls. As Ms. Bachelet said in her closing statement, “This agreement is one step more for realizing the rights and dignity of girls and women. But we cannot stop here. We need to do so much more. Words now need to be matched with deeds, with action. Now is the time for implementation and accountability. We must continue moving forward, with courage, conviction and commitment.” ------------- IWD 100 years from http://www.internationalwomensday.com/ [ The below is copyrighted material. ] International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. 1908 Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. 1909 In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913. 1910 n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result. 1911 Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign. 1913-1914 On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity. 1917 On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March. 1918 - 1999 Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life. 2000 and beyond IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives. Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'. So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. -------------- Aung San Suu Kyi from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. The decision of the Nobel Committee mentions: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar (Burma) for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. " ...Suu Kyi's struggle is one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades. She has become an important symbol in the struggle against oppression... "In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize for 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour this woman for her unflagging efforts and to show its support for the many people throughout the world who are striving to attain democracy, human rights and ethnic conciliation by peaceful means." —Oslo, 14 October 1991 See also http://theelders.org/aung-san-suu-kyi From http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-acceptance_en.html ". . . Although my mother is often described as a political dissident who strives by peaceful means for democratic change, we should remember that her quest is basically spiritual. As she has said, "The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit", and she has written of the "essential spiritual aims" of the struggle. The realisation of this depends solely on human responsibility. "At the root of that responsibility lies, and I quote, "the concept of perfection, the urge to achieve it, the intelligence to find a path towards it, and the will to follow that path if not to the end, at least the distance needed to rise above individual limitation... ". "To live the full life," she says, "one must have the courage to bear the responsibility of the needs of others … one must want to bear this responsibility." And she links this firmly to her faith when she writes, "...Buddhism, the foundation of traditional Burmese culture, places the greatest value on man, who alone of all beings can achieve the supreme state of Buddhahood. Each man has in him the potential to realize the truth through his own will and endeavour and to help others to realize it." Finally she says, "The quest for democracy in Burma is the struggle of a people to live whole, meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world community. It is part of the unceasing human endeavour to prove that the spirit of man can transcends the flaws of his nature." This is the second time that my younger brother and I have accepted a great prize for my mother in Norway. Last year we travelled to Bergen to receive for her the Thorolf Rafto Prize for Human Rights, a wonderful prelude to this year's event.3 By now we have a very special feeling for the people of Norway. It is my hope that soon my mother will be able to share this feeling and to speak directly for herself instead of through me. Meanwhile this tremendous support for her and the people of Burma has served to bring together two peoples from opposite ends of the earth. I believe much will follow from the links now forged. It only remains for me to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Let us hope and pray that from today the wounds start to heal and that in the years to come the 1991 Nobel Prize for Peace will be seen as a historic step towards the achievement of true peace in Burma. The lessons of the past will not be forgotten, but it is our hope for the future that we celebrate today. " -------------- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights PREAMBLE Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations, Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge, Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Article 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. Article 7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. Article 8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law. Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him. Article 11. (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed. Article 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Article 13. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. Article 14. (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 15. (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality. Article 16. (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. Article 17. (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. Article 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Article 20. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association. Article 21. (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. Article 22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. Article 23. (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests. Article 24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. Article 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. Article 26. (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. Article 27. (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author. Article 28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized. Article 29. (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein. --------------

Location: SF Bay Area - 484 views

Great Perfection tantric empowerments California Spring 2013 ( Nyingma lineage )

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:43:28 GMT

Great Perfection tantric empowerments California Spring 2013 ( Nyingma lineage ) Keywords: meditation, yoga, tantra, pagan mysticism, shamanism, guardian angels, Mahayana Buddhism, Feminist spirituality, Tibetan Buddhism / Vajrayana, Tantric Buddhist empowerment, Guru Padmasambhava, Old School / Nyingma Lineage Buddhatantra, Great Perfection Primordial Awareness Yoga (Dzogchen ), Vajrakilaya, Wrathful Goddess Kali / Troma, Mystic Sacrifice / Chod and Buddhist shamanism, Goddess Tara, Very Venerable Yangthang Tulku, Lama Jigme Rinpoche, Northern California ( San Francisco and Redding CA ). "The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit." Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Laureate, Burma "The Guru’s blessing like the warming of water and earth If I do not receive it there is no way to recognize my own true nature When I step on the short path without turning in circles May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching." HH Dudjom Rinpoche Summary : there will be two sets of Old School tantric transmissions in California this Spring. Here I provide extensive teaching references and event information. Background: All of the teaching of Guru Padmasambhava is condensed into a few key principles, which are Vision, Meditation, and Action. Namkhai Norbu, a refugee Tibetan lama and university professor, has written extensively on this teaching and practice. For a basic and extremely useful introduction to Great Perfection type tantra and the core teaching of Guru Padmasambhava, see his book "The Crystal And The Way Of Light: Sutra, Tantra And Dzogchen, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (Author), John Shane (Compiler, Editor) " at http://www.amazon.com/The-Crystal-And-Way-Light/dp/1559391359/ I have provided a deep and detailed teaching article on Old School / Nyingma teaching and practice at the following link: http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/UPDATED-comprehensive-teaching-article-Tantric-Buddhist-Empowerments-and-Teachings-and-Retreats-Nationwide-USA-and-India-Winter-2012-Spring-2013-/san-francisco-ca/b99e6708-8246-4bf8-a8f7-1b5e9830ef8b The above link is a comprehensive introduction and context which contains many book references. It has been viewed over 4700 times and has helped many. I do not formally represent any of the teachers or fellowships mentioned here. One of the major practice centers for Nyingma is Orgyen Dorje Den, in San Francisco ( Alameda ). This practice center is of great importance to me although I do not in any way represent it. It was founded by Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche, who has made available a tremendous amount of tantric Buddhist teaching and transmissions. I have received major transmissions at Orgyen Dorje Den and make use of their excellent practice texts and tantric commentaries. Rigdzin Ling is another major practice center where major transmissions are given each year. Ven. Jigme Rinpoche is an excellent teacher, from whom I have a major Tara transmission in full form. Rigdzin Ling is also the site of Tibetan Treasures, which makes available a profound and powerful set of Nyingma practice texts, which are mostly restricted to initiates of these specific practice lineages, such as the Dudjom Treasures. See www.tibetantreasures.com All these empowerments are based on receiving and holding three sets of Buddhist commitments, the basic Buddhist Refuge, the Mahayana vows, and the tantric vows. The overall context of Buddhist vows and practice are given in the book "Dakini Teachings" by Padmasambhava http://www.amazon.com/Dakini-Teachings-Padmasambhava/dp/9627341363/ This book is indispensable for those who take these empowerments. You have been helped. KT ------------------- Long lineage ( Kama cycle ) of Old School transmissions in San Francisco ( March and April 2013 ) at Orgyen Dorje Den Orgyen Dorje Den invites you to join us for another historic event with Ven. Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche. At the request of Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche, starting on March 15th, 2013, Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche will bestow the transmissions from the Nyingma Kama. The Nyingma Kama, translated as the "Oral Transmission of the Nyingma", in parallel with the terma tradition, is one of two unique streams of teachings in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Nyingma Kama includes Indian root texts and commentaries as well as Tibetan commentaries and instructions based on the Indian tradition. The Kama was brought to Tibet by Guru Rinpoche and other great vajramasters during the early translation period, and passed down in an unbroken stream of blessings from teacher to student to the present day. Please note, it is also possible that Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche will bestow all or some of the empowerments from Terchen Dorje Dechen Lingpa. We will keep you all informed via email as the details of his schedule and the programs offered become known to us. Where: Orgyen Dorje Den 2244 Santa Clara Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 When: beginning March 15th, 2013. At this point we are planning that the Kama Wangs will last 3 weeks; as we get more details from Yangthang Rinpoche we will send updates via email. The wangs will begin at 12:30pm each day. Stay tuned for further information regarding registration. Requested Donation: $1000. for the entire program We encourage everyone to attend the entire Wangchen, but it is acceptable to attend on a daily basis according to your schedule. In a future email we will provide daily pricing and if possible a daily schedule of the empowerments. Contact www.orgyendorjeden.org --------------------- Dakini Legacy Empowerments with Jigme Rinpoche Dates: April 6-7, 2013 Location: Northern California ( Redding CA, near Oregon ) http://chagdudgonpa.org/events/directions-to-rigdzin-ling/ Jigme Rinpoche Empowerment During the time of Guru Rinpoche, one of his 25 intimate disciples was the great siddha[ adept ], Gyalwa Chokyang. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche was an incarnation of this great master and during Rinpoche's lifetime he revealed several hidden dharma treasures (termas). Chagdud Rinpoche bestowed these transmissions on Jigme Rinpoche as caretaker, to uphold the transmissions and, when conditions were right, to bestow them to others. Through the ripening of our collective dharma-virtue, Jigme Rinpoche will give these empowerments at Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, the North American seat of the Chagdud tulkus. Jigme Rinpoche will bestow the pure vision termas of Green Tara and Seven-Eyed Red Tara in addition to the empowerments of Lion-faced Dakini and Black T’hroma from the Dudjom Cycle of Termas. Please join us as we receive blessings from these sacred treasures! Saturday, April 6: (9:00AM Start time) Seven Eyed Red Tara Empowerment T'hroma Empowerment [ Chod / major Buddhist Shamanic cycle of practice Lion-Faced Dakini Empowerment Teachings Sunday, April 7: Green Tara Empowerment, Practice, and Tsog Cost: Camping/Local: $140 Dormitory: $180 Double Room (per person): $250 Single Room: $280 The cost for this event covers attendance for the event, lodging and three meals/day for the two day weekend. Sheets and towels are provided for all, excluding campers. Contact sangha@chagdudgonpa.org 530.623.2714 Chagdud Gonpa is an international Nyingma Buddhist organization, founded in 1983 by H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1930-2002), a highly revered meditation master, artist and Tibetan physician who taught extensively in the East and West. Through its many activities, which include offering public teachings and retreats, translating, and publishing texts, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation upholds and preserves the arts, philosophy, and meditation practices of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. ------------ "May I constantly practice" A Prayer by HH Dudjom Rinpoche http://meditationclub.tribe.net/thread/506d140d-81b8-4d83-8d3e-339fb6f17fad (Tsoknyi Rinpoche requested that this poem be read aloud to participants at the Crestone September 2008 month-long retreat.) Thus having united the meaning of the diamond words of the past saints, I have written this as my own prayer. ~ Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdral Yeshe Dorje) Sole unfailing and unchanging Refuge, Lord of the Mandala Most precious and kind Root Guru, hold me with compassion When I squander the freedoms and endowments Ignoring death, providing only for this life. This fleeting human life like a dream It it’s happy that is alright, if it’s unhappy, that’s alright. Without concern for happiness or sorrow May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This mortal existence, like a candle in the wind, If it’s long that’s alright, if it’s short that’s alright… Without intensifying the tight grip of the ego, May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These intellectual judgments, like the lure of a mirage If they’re suitable that’s alright, if they’re not that’s alright Discarding like hay, talk that carries the eight worldly concerns May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This entourage like a flock of birds in a tree If it’s assembled that’s alright, it it’s scattered that’s alright Without letting others lead me by the nose May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This illusory body like a hundred year old house If it survives that’s alright, if it collapses that’s alright Without becoming entangled with obsessions for food, clothes and medicine May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This religious position like a child’s game If it’s kept up that’s alright, if it’s dropped that’s alright Without deceiving myself with numerous diversions May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These gods and demons, like reflections in a mirror If they are helpful that’s alright, if they are harmful that’s alright Without perceiving my own hallucinations as the enemy May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This delusive talk, like a trackless echo If it’s pleasing that’s alright, if it’s unpleasing that’s alright Taking the Three Jewels and my own mind as witness May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. That which is useless at the time of need like the antlers of a deer If it’s known that’s alright, if it’s unknown that’s alright Without simply relying on the various sciences May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These religious possessions like virulent poisons If they are acquired that’s alright, if they are not that’s alright Without devoting my life to sinful, unwholesome means of survival May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This form of greatness like dog excrement wrapped in brocade If its obtained that’s alright, if it’s not that’s alright Having smelled the rottenness of my own head May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These relationships like gatherings on a market day If they are loving that’s alright, if they are spiteful that’s alright Cutting the ties of passionate attachment from deep within the heart May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This rank like a little bird perched in a tree If it’s high that is alright, if it’s low that is alright Without concentrating on that which actually brings sorrow May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This black magic like a sharpened weapon If it’s successful that is alright, if it’s not that is alright Without buying the blade that will cut off my life May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These recitations like a parrot’s six syllables If they are repeated that’s alright, if they are not that’s alright Without counting the numbers of the various practices May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. Mere religious discourse like a mountain cascade If it’s eloquent that’s alright, if it’s not that’s alright Without thinking of this glibness as Dharma May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The mind quick to judge like a pig’s snout If it’s sharp that’s alright, if it’s dull that’s alright Without uselessly digging up the rubble of anger and attachment May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The yogi’s experience like a stream in spring If it expands that is alright, if it recedes that’s alright Without chasing rainbows like a child May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These pure visions like rain on a mountain top If they happen that’s alright if they don’t that is alright Without giving credence to illusory experiences May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The freedoms and endowments like a wish-fulfilling gem If I do not obtain them there is no way to accomplish Dharma When I have them in hand without letting them spoil May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The glorious Guru, light on the path of liberation If I do not meet him there is no way to realize the true nature When I know the way to go without jumping into the precipice May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The holy Dharma like a cure that removes sickness If I have not heard it there is no way to decide What to give up and what to take up Distinguishing the beneficial from the harmful without swallowing the poison May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The alternation of happiness and suffering Like the changing of summer and winter If I do not recognize it there is no way to develop renunciation Being certain that I will suffer in turn May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This immersion in samsara like a stone in water If I do not get out of it now I will not be free of it later Holding on to the lifeline of the compassionate Three Jewels May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The qualities of liberation like an island of jewels If I am unaware of them there is no way to develop diligence Seeing the unending benefits to be gained May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The life stories of the great saints like the essence of nectar If I am unacquainted with them there is no way to awaken faith When I recognize the real gains and losses May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The aspiration towards enlightenment like a fertile field If I do not cultivate it there is no way to attain Buddhahood Without becoming indifferent to the accomplishments of this great goal May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These thoughts of mine like a monkey’s antics If I do not tame them there is no way to eliminate my negative emotions Without falling into all kinds of crazy mimicry May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This attachment to ego like an inherent shadow If I do not give it up there is no way to reach the peaceful land When I recognize the enemy without befriending it May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The five poisons like glowing embers in the ash If I do not extinguish them I cannot abide in mind’s self nature Without breeding venomous baby snakes in my bed May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This temperament of mine like the stiff hide of a buffalo-bag If I do not soften it the Dharma and my mind will never blend Without indulging the child that is born from myself May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These ingrained bad habits like the course of a river If I do not eliminate them I cannot part from the profane Without delivering weapons into the hands of the enemy May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. These distractions like the ceaseless rippling of water If I do not reject them there is no way to become steadfast When I have the freedom of choice without devoting myself to samsara May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The Guru’s blessing like the warming of water and earth If I do not receive it there is no way to recognize my own true nature When I step on the short path without turning in circles May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The solitary place like a summer valley of medicine plants If I do not dwell there, there is no way for the good qualities to grow When I stay in the mountains without wandering off to samsaric cities May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This desire for comfort like a greedy ghost lodged at the hearth If I do not part from it painful efforts will never cease Without making, as to a god, offerings to a hungry demon May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This alert mindfulness like the key to a fortress If it is not relied upon the movements of delusion will never stop At the time the thief arrives without leaving the latch unfastened May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. The true nature like the unchanging space If I do not realize it the ground of the view will not be found Without chaining myself in iron fetters May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This awareness like a stainless crystal If I do not see it, the concept and effort of meditation cannot dissolve When I have this inseparable companion without searching for another May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. This natural mind like an old friend If I do not recognize it all my activities will be deluded Without fumbling around with my eyes closed May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching. In short, if I do not abandon the concerns of this life There is no way to apply the teachings for the benefit of the next life Having resolved to be kind to myself May whatever I do become the Supreme Teaching. To doubt the Guru’s instructions that accord with the Dharma To feel bitterness toward the deity when bad karma emerges To discontinue the sadhana and so forth when adverse circumstances arise May such obstacles not occur as accomplishment approaches. All this doing has no more meaning than walking around a desert All these efforts make my character rigid All this thinking just reinforces my delusions What worldly beings consider to be Dharma is the cause of binding myself. All this exertion produces no result All these ideas bring not a single actualization All the numerous wants will never be fulfilled Abandoning activities may I be able to meditate on the oral instructions. If you think you want to do it, take the Victorious One’s words as witness If you think you will really do it, blend your mind with Dharma If you think you can practice, follow the example of the past saints You spoiled ones, is there any other way? Taking a humble position rich with the treasure of contentment Free from the binds of the eight-worldly concerns Firm and strong hearted in practice Receiving the Gurus’s blessing realization becomes equal to space May we attain the Kingdom of the All Good. ----------------------------------------------

Location: SF Bay Area - 555 views

The Gaulin Project

Helen — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:26:46 GMT

Imagining a Just and Sacred World The Gaulin Project is a migratory creative inquiry program that brings together the art of writing, a passion for justice, and deep relationship to the Sacred in all things. The heart-child of Greek Bahamian writer and teacher Helen Klonaris, The Gaulin Project believes in imagination as power, and stories as a place of exquisite transformation and possibility. Named after a Bahamian folk figure, the shapeshifting Gaulin wife, sometimes woman, sometimes bird, The Gaulin Project understands the imagination as a liminal space, that is, an in between space where our unconscious and conscious minds meet and talk to each other. Whether this dialogue takes place in a fiction workshop like "Tell Me a Story" or in a spiritual writing retreat like "Watering the Spirit", the ensuing alchemy generates transformations that are not surface, but deep, from the inside out. It is this kind of interior transformation that The Gaulin Project seeks to cultivate, reminding us that as human beings, we have the power to heal and transform our living in the world, as well as the world in which we live. Programming for Spring/Summer 2013 •ONLINE CLASSES• Writing Down A Life – 8-Week Online Memoir Writing Course – March 4-April 28 Tell Me A Story – 8-Week Online Fiction Writing Course – March 4-April 28 When My Body Speaks – 8-Week Online Creative Writing Course – March 4-April 28 •WORKSHOPS ON THE GROUND• Writing Down The Walls – 8-Week Narrative Storytelling Course – April 2-May 21, Berkeley, CA Restorying Our Lives: Transforming Whiteness – 8-Week Creative Writing Course – April 5-May 24, Berkeley, CA Re-Membering Ourselves: Healing Our Colonial Legacy – 1-Day Creative Inquiry Workshop – April 26, 27, & 28, Nassau, Bahamas •RETREATS• Spirit In The Flesh – 3-day Retreat – June 14-16, 2013, Gaulin House, Eleuthera, Bahamas Watering The Spirit– 4-day Retreat – January 2-5, 2014, Gaulin House, Eleuthera, Bahamas • WRITING COACHING• One on One Coaching Available For more information, please visit www.helenklonaris.com

Location: Berkeley - 62 views

Beginning blacksmithing class

shawn — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 22:27:25 GMT

Mondays from 6:00 to 9:00 1916 Stanford St. Alameda CA. 94510 Feb 25th-March 25th Cost: $300.00 All levels welcome In this class You will be guided through a series of exercises designed to teach you the fundamentals of forging. Learn how to start and tend a coal forge, move metal efficiently and hammer ergonomically. Progress through basic forging techniques and learn to make and temper tools. Students will have the opportunity to make useful and decorative household items. Come with a desire to learn and leave with your own hand forged ironwork. Deadline to enroll Feb 18th About the Instructor Shawn Lovell graduated with high distinction from the California College of Arts and Crafts with a BFA in sculpture and also holds a BFA in design from Arizona State University. She furthered her studies by traveling to the Czech Republic and Austria to study under Alfred Haberman and has also studied the techniques of Uri Hoffi with Tsur Sadan of Israel. She established her own shop Shawn Lovell Metalworks in 1997, specializing in hand forged architectural ironwork that fuses contemporary design with traditional old world craft. Shawn has taught at the Penland School of Crafts, demonstrated for the California Blacksmiths Association, and has competed at Helfstyn Castle in the Czech Republic. Contact phone: 510 708 2799 email: shawn@slmetalworks.com Website: slmetalworks.com

Location: SF Bay Area - 88 views

The Divine Nature of The Goddess

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:09:50 GMT

This site is a meditation on the divine qualities that make up our lovely universe and since we are a part of the universe these are also our divine qualities So focus on the goodness that is all around you Visit, share, and follow us!!!!! http://divinegoddessnature.blogspot.com/ Make time to Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ways-of-The-Goddess/214895645199670

Location: SF Bay Area - 202 views

Building a Conscious Community

dekado — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:22:43 GMT

ET Phone home!!!! any body out there? any, body! As most of the world tunes in for the end of something around 2012, we are tuning into the beginning of something else. The love we hold for our Mother Earth is now due for a gracious manifestation of what life upon this magical being can be like. Is anybody out there who may like to join and contribute to a fantastic project? A retreat of peace where the highest ideals we hold can find expression on an ongoing basis. A place founded upon principles of cooperation. A fearless and uncompromising place. Imagine, clean air, open green spaces near the ocean, fresh organic heirloom produce, healing practices and arts, gatherings and a melting pot of people who share a common interest. Can you see it? A self sustaining conscious living community to rise the vibratory rate of the grid a notch up. Can you see yourself here, sharing with us? Let me know how you would like to be part of this....there is room for EVERYONE!!!

Location: SF Bay Area - 94 views

Wordpress Guru (Online, Worldwide)

dekado — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:07:44 GMT

We are a non profit organization with a really interesting project between hands. We are looking for someone with a passion for self sustaining conscious living lifestyle. Our aim is to get a Wordpress guru involved from the very beginning for our web based content. The right candidate will have the opportunity to become a key player and also an opportunity to partake in the main project we are developing. The load is minimal and very rewarding. Here is a link to our site www.turtlebreath.com. We have not gone live yet and are currently working on the starting content, but you can get an good idea for what we are trying to accomplish. We expect to attract a very large audience/community and the people involved will get full credit for their work. Currently we are putting our team together and if you know anyone who may be interested we also need, a graphic designer, and an Editor for web content. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have, hope to hear from you soon.

Location: SF Bay Area - 234 views

Editor for Web Content (Online, Worldwide)

dekado — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:06:29 GMT

We are a non profit organization with a really interesting project between hands. We are looking for someone with a passion for self sustaining conscious living lifestyle. Our aim is to get an editor involved from the very beginning for our web based writings. The right candidate will have the opportunity to become a key player and also an opportunity to partake in the main project we are developing. The load is minimal and very rewarding. Here is a link to our site www.turtlebreath.com. We have not gone live yet and are currently working on the starting content, but you can get an good idea for what we are trying to accomplish. We expect to attract a very large audience/community and the people involved will get full credit for their work. Currently we are putting our team together and if you know anyone who may be interested we also need, a graphic designer, and a wordpress guru. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have, hope to hear from you soon.

Location: SF Bay Area - 223 views

event listings for tantric empowerments /retreats across the US and also India ( Winter 2012 / Spring 2013 )

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:25:55 GMT

Keywords : meditation, magic, yoga, mysticism, high-level wellness, wisdom culture, empowerment, Mahayana Buddhism, tantra, internal energy practices, primordial awareness yoga ( dzogchen ). In classical Asian systems of meditation such as the Hindu, the Bonpo, the 3HO Sikh and the Buddhist, "tantra" is the word used to describe the path of practice that works with "energy". These systems of practice are historically and theoretically related. They overlap in some significant ways, particularly in terms of "energy medicine" and subtle healing. What is the purpose of doing such a "tantric" practice? There is a broad range of reasons based in "self-development". These include * development of psycho-physical energy and balance and power * development of emotional balance, sensitivity and harmony * generating a bright and clear energy field ( aura ) * purification of negative, confused, divisive and self-defeating mental states and the opening up of expansive, pure sky-like awareness. In short, the purpose is to become a more fully conscious and high functioning human being. The basis is actual whole person practice founded on lineage teaching, not religious belief and the hope for "pie in the sky, bye and bye." In other words, what is put forward is spiritual discipline rather than dualistic theology. The broader goal is the development of "wisdom culture", which in Buddhist terms prioritizes inner discipline, awareness, respect, co-operation, and ethics. By ethics I mean the following: "Dasasila / Ten Precepts as Taught By Guru Sakyamuni Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava ( NOT Ten Commandments )" at http://tribes.tribe.net/buddhadharma/thread/b5e17424-caec-432c-afb9-fad0d2269936 That is the baseline of real Buddhist practice. It's not just a set of physical movements or ritual or yogic formulae. It is a way of life that helps everyone. Here I provide a new ( and renewed set ) of event listings for tantric Buddhist empowerments in the US and India. Many have relied on these specific practices and similar Buddhist tantric methods for inner healing, for awakening powerfully clear awareness, for psychic protection and so forth. In the last generation these methods have become broadly available in the West ( North America, Europe, South America, etc. ). So thee is no need to go to India or central Asia per se. The original article post in late October was written as a listing and so expired for most tribes in November. There are however more such retreats and transmissions in the coming months of early 2013, and these were not really broadcast although the original article was updated a lot over 4 weeks. Here is the summary list detailed below: California Great Perfection/ Dzogchen Retreat ( Watsonville ) Padmasambhava transmission / retreat Florida ( north of Miami ) Dzogchen Retreat New York ( upstate ) Dzogchen Colorado ( west ) Mipham cycle of transmissisons, India ( Bodhgaya ) ( There is expected to be another round of Nyingma transmissions in San Francisco / Alameda, in January. I do not have full information on that at present, but hope to shortly. ) These confirmed and official event listings are detailed here, along with the original ( and greatly expanded ) teaching article reference link that gives the necessary background. The "hard issues" of technical communication have been solved for the Buddhist tantras. What is needed to practice has all been translated, and teachers are available at rotating teaching venues across a couple continents. The "soft issues" of cultural ignorance, doubt, hostility, and confusion have also been solved. I have done most of the heavy lifting ( dialectical engagement ) across tribe.net for several years. This is called strategic communication. I do some more here as well. The importance of lineage A vast amount of Buddhist mantras and key teachings have been openly published, but the esoteric practices of Great Perfection ( and guhyamantrayoga and anuttarayogatantra ) are based on transmission. Transmission from gurus, not from hatha yoga teachers, not from university professors nor from naturopaths. From gurus ( i.e. Tibetan lamas ). Harvard Divinity School now advertises a "Buddhist degree program". But they cannot teach Buddhist tantra there without Buddhist gurus, empowerments, commitments, and yoga sadhana. They do not have Buddhist lineage authorization. Harvard and Yale are originally Christian schools. Christians are muggles, and they do not practice Buddhism or tantra, much less serve as tantric Buddhist gurus who do teach in the real sense. The various divinity school programs at major universities such as at Yale and Harvard are generally based on muggle theology only. That is *not* tantra. Similarly, observant Jews and Islamists do not practice any Buddhism or tantra, much less the profound Buddhist tantras. Buddhism and buddhatantra are completely outside their cultural systems. These Buddhist empowerments and their associated practices are the tantric Buddhist means of developing "wisdom, compassion, and power ". ( In Sanskrit these are prajnajnana, karuna, and bala. ) The key point to understand is that these are meant to benefit not only ourselves ( by working on ourselves ), but also to benefit as many other people as we can, as our practice develops. That is the real meaning of Buddhist wisdom culture: Buddhist yoga is undertaken to uplevel ourselves AND others. Very importantly, a broad range of techniques and practices may be employed. Buddhism is an "open system", *not* a closed system. Buddhist yoga overlaps Hindu yoga and Taoist chi kung ( Chinese internal energy practice ), and these can be employed by Buddhists as well. Padmasambhava and empowerment into "Vision, Meditation, and Action" These specific transmissions mentioned below relate primarily to the lineage of Guru Padmasambhava and the Great Perfection / Atiyoga primordial awareness yoga, which the Great Adept ( mahasiddha ) Guru Padmasambhava brought from India to Tibet. All of the teaching of Guru Padmasambhava is condensed into a few key principles, which are Vision, Meditation, and Action. Namkhai Norbu, a refugee Tibetan lama and university professor, has written extensively on this teaching and practice. For a basic and extremely useful introduction to Great Perfection type tantra and the core teaching of Guru Padmasambhava, see his book "The Crystal And The Way Of Light: Sutra, Tantra And Dzogchen, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (Author), John Shane (Compiler, Editor) " at http://www.amazon.com/The-Crystal-And-Way-Light/dp/1559391359/ The purpose of empowerment a) One major purpose of Buddhist empowerment and transmission is to purify energetic disorders and disharmony in body, mind, and spirit. In other words, empowerment is about "inner healing" and psychic cleansing. This is explicit in the Sanskrit word for empowerment "abhisinca", which means rinsing or cleansing. Of course, not everyone feels this and no one promises an immediate miracle to participants. But the experience can be very very powerful and uplifting, and thereby develops faith in the power of the practice. Hint : don't mess yourself up with cigarettes, alcohol or recreational drugs, as these pollute, weaken and disorder the mind and one's magnetic field. b) A second major purpose is to make a direct connection to the power of the tantric lineage of practice, for one or more yogas or deities. Empowerment authorizes personal practice of tantra ( visualization, recitations, energy work, awareness yogas ). This is explicit in the Tibetan word for empowerment, which is "wang-kur", the "conferral of power". At the deepest level, this practice leads to the complete removal of divided and conflicting energy patterns and disordered states of consciousness, and thus to "full realization of buddha nature, the primordial pure awareness of the sky-mind". At least for some, who really work at it. Tantra for householders I have made some basic progress in the past thirty years as a householder-yogi, and I find that the teachings and transmissions of Guru Padmasambhava ( e.g. Vajrakilaya, of Troma, Dudjom Tersar, and the Great Perfection /Dzogchen ) are profoundly helpful. I know many people can in fact benefit greatly from Buddhist tantra and Great Perfection teaching while living the householder life, and as a Buddhist teacher it is my personal responsibility to help these teachings flourish for the benefit of as many people as possible. The key points here are the following: 1) to make a personal connection to the lineage 2) to develop an informed, authentic personal practice, including the practice of Buddhist Mayahana ethics 3) to demonstrate that these transmissions are in fact available from coast to coast in North America. That's the one-two-three. Because that is true, the Buddhist teachings and the tantras are not just empty talk, or general academic philosophy. The buddhatantra is yoga sadhana. Point (3) is well-demonstrated by the event listings below, and in my other listings on tribe. All my listings remain accessible via my tribe home page http://people.tribe.net/aa35e5c2-3d1f-4b92-b135-bdc41d795776 My teaching and outreach articles across tribe.net here are completely transparent, very broadly based and inclusive. I offer Hindu and Taoist and kundalini yoga teaching references to everyone. I do this public teaching because otherwise it won't get done on tribe.net. Ninety five percent of the Buddhist teaching and tantric teaching ( Buddhist or otherwise ) on tribe.net is by my hand. Also most of the Taoist teaching done on tribe.net is mine - see below section "Taoist Resources". That's from summer of 2007 to late 2012. And I have a lot more to do. The main purpose here is to build a bridge of understanding and to raise awareness and to make available useful resources for the emerging wisdom culture. We can safely say that through tribe.net community fora and in particular through my work here, the connection is now well established. -------------------------------- Buddhist and non-Buddhist tantra and yoga and energy practices Not all tantra is Buddhist. The tantric yoga approach is also employed by Hindus, Sikhs, Bonpos, and related Asian systems. For more background and some book references, see my article "Kundalini Yoga, Theory and Practice ( Hindu, Buddhist, 3H0 Sikh, etc. )" at http://energymedicine.tribe.net/thread/9766ea64-55a4-4793-acee-70db74fae3ea Taoist Resources A very useful and powerful set of book references and practice teachings from the Taoist tradition of China / East Asia is given at the following posts. Technically, Taoists are not "yogis" because their culture is not Sanskrit-based. But Taoist culture *is* influenced by Hindu and Buddhist spiritual culture, and classical Chinese culture is significantly a composite Taoist-Buddhist mix. The Taoist practices include energetic practices ( "chi kung" ) and can be called "Chinese yoga". They are similar to Hindu / Buddhist tantric practices in some key principles and methods. These Taoist practices are complementary to tantric practice and I both use and recommend them. No specific commitments ( such as Buddhist refuge, etc. ) are required to practice these Taoist methods. In East Asia, many millions today practice both Buddhist AND Taoist methods. "Book References for Taoist / Energetic Practice This deep and broad survey includes some Buddhist teaching and some Korean Taoism. This bibliography is useful at all levels of practice. It includes some very new important titles." "Spiritual Practice : Taoism, Taoist Practice Resources, and Eighth Annual Taoist Gathering ( CA )" http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/Spiritual-Practice-Taoism-Taoist-Practice-Resources-and-Eighth-Annual-Taoist-Gathering-CA-/san-francisco-ca/d084bdc2-a9b3-460c-bd4f-b9b9fc239a42 "Whole Person Integrative Spiritual Practice ( Chinese Mysticism ) - The Ninth Annual Taoist Gathering / Meditation Resources" http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/Whole-Person-Integrative-Spiritual-Practice-Chinese-Mysticism-The-Ninth-Annual-Taoist-Gathering-Meditation-Resources/san-francisco-ca/2af6d510-1d88-4b21-a2b8-36c893e7ff92 ------------------------ Thus, a significant and very valuable amount of classical tantra can be practiced without entering the Buddhist community or doing specifically Buddhist practices. It is important to rely on proven classical teachings, not something newly made up. I strongly support the mixed and general approach to tantra, as you can all see. The difference is that the Buddhist systems is well documented, broadly available, that is relies on transmission and commitments and that the transmissions are in fact available. A basic perspective on entering the Buddhist path through empowerment and tantric commitments In general, all sincere and respectful dharma students are welcome to attend Buddhist empowerments. The empowerments are open to practitioners of all levels and from all backgrounds—from beginners to people with years of experience. Samaya, or Sacred Commitment Please note that in accordance with the tradition one will be taking Buddhist Refuge & Bodhisattva vows and accepting Vajrayana Samaya with every empowerment. Please be or become familiar with these topics as they are essential on every step of the path to enlightenment. People have asked what will be the “commitment", and that can vary from transmission to transmission, but all have a common foundation which must be understood or the practice does not work. Broadly speaking, in an empowerment, we are vowing to have pure perception and deep faith in the teacher and the teachings, promising to transform our negative habits and passions and awaken to our inherent Buddha nature as quickly as possible with the motivation to benefit all beings. This is turn means there is a definite commitment to personal practice ( in Sanskrit, this is called "sadhana" ). Typically what is recommended is at least a short daily formal practice. In general it is inappropriate to take tantric Buddhist empowerments as a "spiritual sightseer" without the intention to practice. I have provided two clear and effective book references in the extended post: 1) Heartfelt Advice, by Lama Dudjom Dorjee 2) Dakini Teachings, by Padmasambhava These 2 books cover everything needed to understand and take up the Buddhist Mahayana and tantra. The first is very simple and accessible, and the second is profound, sophisticated and inspiring. Together they provide a whole bookshelf of Buddhist and tantric Buddhist teaching, covering the principles and models of sound practice. With these as a basis, you cannot go wrong. For more information on Guru Padmasambhava, the Great Perfection, and Buddhist Great Way / Mahayana and Buddhist tantra, please read the extended article cited below. ------------------------- Please note that I do not formally represent any of these teachers or organizations. You have been helped. Sarva mangalam. Siddhi rastu! KT "UPDATED comprehensive teaching article: Tantric Buddhist Empowerments and Teachings and Retreats - Nationwide USA and India ( Winter 2012 - Spring 2013 )" from http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/UPDATED-Tantric-Buddhist-Empowerments-and-Teachings-and-Retreats-Nationwide-USA-Winter-2012-Spring-2013-/san-francisco-ca/b99e6708-8246-4bf8-a8f7-1b5e9830ef8b Keywords: meditation, yoga, tantra, pagan mysticism, shamanism, guardian angels, reality hacking, Mahayana Buddhism, Feminist spirituality, Tibetan Buddhism / Vajrayana, Tantric Buddhist empowerment, Guru Padmasambhava, Old School / Nyingma Lineage Buddhatantra, Great Perfection Primordial Awareness Yoga (Dzogchen ), Vajrakilaya, Wrathful Goddess Kali / Troma, Mystic Sacrifice / Chod and Buddhist shamanism, Goddess Tara / Kurukulle, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo, Vajrayana Foundation, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche / Garchen Institute, Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. Summary: This is a comprehensive teaching / outreach article, events schedule and resource list for Buddhist yoga and tantra related to Guru Padmasambhava and the Great Perfection ( primordial awareness yoga ). ------------------- Annual Trekchod Retreat December 30 - January 13, 2013 http://www.vajrayana.org/retreats/trekchod-retreat-dec-2012-an-2013/ The Tantra of the Sharp Vajra of Insight and Awareness (Shey-rik Dorje Nonpo Gyud) Teachings and Practice on this Dudjom Lingpa trekchod text with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche In Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's words: "Shey-rik Dorje Nonpo Gyud is the wisdom mind treasure of the Lord of the Dance, Traktung Dudjom Lingpa, who experienced Kuntuzangpo directly in a vision giving teachings and answering questions to his own emanation's retinue of bodhisattvas. Of Dudjom Lingpa’s five Dzogchen tantra treasures (the others being Neluk Rang-jung, Ma-gom Sangye – also known as the Nang Jang, Dagö Japu Chen and Sang-tri Ka-gya-ma), this is the root tantra treasure. "Our teachings will cover the Shey-rik Dorje Nonpo Gyud along with a commentary, The Essence of the Clear Meaning, written by Dudjom Lingpa’s main disciple Pema Tashi. With this perfect combination of the perfect teacher and perfect student, the root text and commentary is unbelievably beautiful, incredibly amazing and carries great blessings. "I have never had the opportunity to teach this root text and commentary outside of Tibet. Even though I am not a professional teacher and lack qualities, I do hold the lineage and have the explicit permission from my wisdom teachers to give these teachings. Therefore it is possible that some blessings accompany these teachings and this year I will do my best to open this up to all of you, my Dharma friends, serious practitioners who have finished your ng?ndro in the proper way. Therefore I will make this unique special offering to my Dharma friends. This teaching in ten chapters is traditionally given over the period of a month. But as we are in the West and our time is limited, we have made the retreat shorter. Still, our time together will truly contain the entire path of Dzogchen’s view, meditation, action and result. I think it will be of great benefit." Requirements Rinpoche has requested that the Trekchöd Retreat be restricted. If the student has completed Rinpoche’s Drubdra, Rushen Retreat, or any of the previous Trekchöd Retreats (from January 2001-2011), then they do not need permission to attend this retreat. In order to attend retreat, the student should have completed the Dudjom Tersar, Khandro T’huk-T’hik or Tröma Nagmo ngöndro. If someone has finished ngöndro from another lineage, then Rinpoche requests that they also complete at least 10% of the Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro, preferably prior to retreat. Rinpoche requires that retreatants attend all of the teachings. It is very important to receive these teachings in their entirety. People must also commit to individual practice sessions. If someone is absolutely unable to attend all the teachings, they must request permission to miss teachings from Rinpoche by emailing the office. Schedule The retreat will start December 30, 2012 with an evening tsok (Start time TBD) Rinpoche’s first teaching will start on December 31 (Start time TBD) The retreat will end on January 13 after the morning tsok session (Start time TBD) More details will be sent out upon receiving your registration. Phone: (831) 761-6266 Email: office@vajrayana.org Fax: (831) 761 6284 Address: 2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076 ------------------ Vajrakilaya (Namchak Putri) Gutor and Losar Retreat February 7-11, 2013 Gutor Day – Feb 9 New Moon - Tangrak Day – Feb 10 Losar day – Feb 11 Details TBA Phone: (831) 761-6266 Email: office@vajrayana.org Fax: (831) 761 6284 Address: 2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076 ---------------------- January 2013 Dudjom Tersar Transmission Florida ( North of Miami ) www.padmasambhava.org/ January 19-26, 2013 Winter Dzogchen Retreat Empowerment and Teachings of Lake Born Guru Padmasambhava according to HH Dudjom Rinpoche given by Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche "In 1978 Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche was enthroned as the abbot of the Wish-fulfilling Nyingmapa Institute in Boudanath, Nepal by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, and later became the abbot of the Department of Dharma Studies, where he taught poetry, grammar, philosophy and psychology. "In 1981, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche appointed Rinpoche as the abbot of the Dorje Nyingpo Center in Paris, France. In 1982 he was asked to work with H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche at the Yeshe Nyingpo Center in New York. "During the 1980s, until H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s mahaparinirvana in 1987, Rinpoche continued working closely with him, often traveling as his translator and attendant." www.rigpawiki.org/index.php Palm Beach Dharma Center & Mandarava House 1205 North Federal Hwy Lake Worth, FL 33460 (561) 547-4711 info@pbdc.net www.pbdc.net --------------------- India ( Bodhgaya ) January 2013 pathgate.org/index.php Transmission of Mipham Rinpoche's Entire Work at Bodh Gaya in 2013 His Eminence Kyabje Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche has graciously accepted an invitation by Ngagyur Kama Tradition Preservation Association (NKTPA) to confer the empowerment of the entire works of Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche of the Nyingma Tradition followed by the complete oral transmission and long life empowerment at the conclusion of the event. The teaching will start on 23rd January 2013 in Bodh Gaya, India after the completion of the Annual Nyingma Monlam Chenmo. NKTPA will also at the same time host an International seminar on the distinct view and philosophy of Mipham Rinpoche. Khenpo Tsewang Sonam, an eminent Nyingma scholar will preside over the seminar which will serve as a platform for open discussion for the participants. English and Chinese translations will be provided for foreign students with free food and free accommodation available for the participants at the Nyingma Monlam Temple. For further info, please contact the following persons: 1. Khenpo Neydon Sangpo Tel: +91-9418612887 / +91-7250680808 E-mail: nitartha2009@gmail.com 2. Khenpo Ngawang Nyandak Tel: +91-9758268893 E-mail: nyandakn@yahoo.com 3. Khenpo Sangay Tel: +91-9733012799 E-mail: lop_sangay@rediffmail.com ____________ Dzogchen Retreat in Upper New York State, March - April 2013 From www.padmasambhava.org/ March 23 – April 20, 2013 One Month Dzogchen Retreat 'Explaining the Meaning of Clear Light Original Mind According to the Instructions of the Victorious Vidyadharas known as 'Vajra Heart' by Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche Given by Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche For autobiography, see http://www.padmasambhava.org/teach/longkhenpo.html Padma Samye Ling, NY 618 Buddha Hwy Sidney Center, NY 13839 Contact (607) 865-8068 jowozegyal "at" catskill.net Registration: www.padmasambhava.org/regist.html -------------------- Dzogchen Retreat with Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche May 2013, Western Colorado From http://taramandala.org/program/dzogchen-retreat/ Dzogchen Retreat With Chögyal Namkhai Norbu May 24 - 26, 2013 Date and Time Details: This retreat begins with a mandatory registration from 2pm to 4pm. This retreat will end after dinner on the last day Location: Tara Mandala Retreat Center Categories: Residential Retreats, Tara Mandala Colorado, Weekend Retreats We are looking very forward to the historic return of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu to Tara Mandala. Please join us to receive his teachings and transmissions in the lineage of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. Rinpoche will chose what he will teach at the time of the retreat. Suggested Dana: $100 – $200 Registration will open in January 2013 http://taramandala.org/programs-retreats/registration-information/ E-mail: info@taramandala.org Phone: 970-731-3711 Fax: 970-731-4441 Mailing Address: PO Box 3040, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 About Tara Mandala "Tara Mandala is an international Vajrayana Buddhist community with its home base in Pagosa Springs in Southwest Colorado. It is guided by Lama Tsultrim Allione, author of Women of Wisdom and Feeding Your Demons. Lama Tsultrim has studied Tibetan Buddhism under traditional teachers for more than 45 years. Today, opportunities for quiet contemplation are rare, and places dedicated to long-term retreat are even more scarce. Meditation has a profound effect on the individual and its benefits emanate into the rest of the world. "In a chaotic and stressful world, Tara Mandala retreat center offers refuge, renewal and traditional Buddhist training through our residential Living Dharma program as well as group and solo retreats. Bordered by the San Juan National Forest and Southern Ute Tribal Land, the retreat center is on 700 acres of rolling hills and meadows adorned with many varieties of wild flowers, ponds, and forests. The land itself is a mandala with a stunning peak in the middle surrounded by four valleys. Retreat cabins are scattered across the landscape, and at its heart is the extraordinary three-story mandala Tara temple." --------------------

Location: Alameda - 663 views

Daily Thoughts with Ten Nebula

Ten Nebula — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:22:07 GMT

I am a healer, shaman, teacher, and artist. This site is where I share my personal thoughts on life, light, and my path Join me there!!!!! Daily Thoughts with Ten Nebula http://dailythoughtstennebula.blogspot.com/ Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 113 views

All About Wrapping Your Dreadlocks

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:53:19 GMT

Wrapping your dreadlocks can be fun, creative, a way of life, and numerous others things Our site talks about the loveliness of wraps and hows and whys of this great art visit, share it with a friend, and follow us!!!!!!! All About Wrapping Your Dreadlocks http://wrappingyourdreadlocks.blogspot.com/

Location: SF Bay Area - 263 views

WANTED: Pillows and Persian disigned rugs for Hookahdome

Rxy — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:59:35 GMT

Hello and greetings, Hookahdome is in the process of planning to venture back to the playa in the coming year, 2013. We provide an oasis in the desert with welcoming hospitality, tea, shisha, performances and music. Currently, we are looking more pillows (large, medium good condition) and Persian designed rugs. These items would also help with our future fund raising parties as well. If you've been to Burningman and wondered into our dome and fell in love with this theme camp, here's an opportunity to donate to this exquisite camp. If you've never experienced the lush, exotic and mellow vibe of Hookahdome, please come and visit us. We will greatly appreciate your donations and will take care of these items for future burns. For your generous donations, please include a photo of carpets with dimensions, when replying to this posting. Please contact me in Tribe, search for Rxy. Nameste Rxy

Location: Pacific Heights - 319 views

I am...The Great Mother Goddess

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:49:31 GMT

Is paganism the same as satanism? What is the number if The Goddess? So many illusions about The Goddess have existed over the centuries This site talks about these illusions and brings light to herstory Visit "I am...The Great Mother Goddess" - http://thegoddesstruthes.blogspot.com Make time to "like us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ways-of-The-Goddess/214895645199670

Location: SF Bay Area - 285 views

AliceInBondageLand is Nominated for Awards - Vote Now!

dalloftheabove — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:56:12 GMT

Wonderful news, bondage fans! I am up for SEVERAL Bondage Awards this year! My hard work, enthusiasm and creativity is getting some recognition, but I need YOUR HELP to take home these awards. I need your clicks and I need your votes. LET'S WIN THIS!!! First off, you have to sign up for a voting account (so they can keep it fair) and confirm the account... then log in and VOTE. Confirmation is super fast, via email. Sign up for a voting account (one vote per category, per day) at: http://www.bondageawards.com/signup.php Then KEEP COMING BACK TO VOTE EVERY DAY! Send me a note if you are taking the "vote every day challenge" for some special goodies!!! VOTE FOR ME: AliceInBondageLand : IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: 2012 NEW Bondage Website Award: http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/new-bondage-site Best Female Dominant: http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/female-dom Most Authentic Bondage: http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/most-authentic-bondage Best Amateur Bondage: http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/amateur-bondage Best Bondage Paysite: http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/bondage-paysite Public Bondage Award: (sissy maid flashmob, pantswetting on golden gate bridge, etc) http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/public-bondage Water Bondage Award: (hot tub heavy rubber hypnosis) http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/water-bondage Webmaster Affiliate Program Award: http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/bondage-affiliate-program Also, my favorite kinky cafe is up for some awards! Show Wicked Grounds some LOVE by voting for them at: Best Local Bondage "Scene" : Wicked Grounds http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/local-bondage-scene Best Play Space : Wicked Grounds http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/playspace Bondage Society : Wicked Grounds http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/bondage-society Best Bondage Resource : Wicked Grounds http://www.bondageawards.com/voting/bondage-resource Thank you for your ongoing support! Without my friends, fans and supporters, I would be just a girl with a camera and a ton of kinks, but you help me build it into an ongoing adventure! Thanks for your belief, your votes, your inspiration, your lust and your love! Cheerfully, - Alice http://www.aliceinbondageland.com

Location: SoMa - 366 views

Be The Change You Want to See In The World

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:55:48 GMT

You can make a positive change in the world you can do a little bit of good everyday what you does matter you can add to the light, peace, and harmony or you can add to the chaos, drama, violence, and negativity you always have a choice Be The Change You Want to See In The World Visit http://changeyouchangetheworld.blogspot.com Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 310 views

UPDATED comprehensive teaching article: Tantric Buddhist Empowerments and Teachings and Retreats - Nationwide USA and India ( Winter 2012 - Spring 2013 )

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:14:02 GMT

Tantric Buddhist Empowerments and Teachings and Retreats - Nationwide USA and India ( Winter 2012 - Spring 2013 ) Venues: California ( Bay Area and Watsonville ), Washington ( Olympia and Seattle ), Arkansas ( Little Rock ), Texas ( Austin ) > > > New venue for Vajrakilaya transmission / retreat Arizona ( Chino Valley ) > > > New venue for Padmasambhava transmission / retreat Florida ( north of Miami ) > > > New venue for Dzogchen Retreat New York ( upstate ) > > > New venue for Dzogchen Colorado ( west ) > > > New Venue India ( Bodhgaya ) ( N.B. Please note that I do not represent any of these teachers or fellowships. ) Keywords: meditation, yoga, tantra, pagan mysticism, shamanism, guardian angels, reality hacking, Mahayana Buddhism, Feminist spirituality, Tibetan Buddhism / Vajrayana, Tantric Buddhist empowerment, Guru Padmasambhava, Old School / Nyingma Lineage Buddhatantra, Great Perfection Primordial Awareness Yoga (Dzogchen ), Vajrakilaya, Wrathful Goddess Kali / Troma, Mystic Sacrifice / Chod and Buddhist shamanism, Goddess Tara / Kurukulle, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo, Vajrayana Foundation, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche / Garchen Institute, Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. Summary: This is a comprehensive teaching / outreach article, events schedule and resource list for Buddhist yoga and tantra related to Guru Padmasambhava and the Great Perfection ( primordial awareness yoga ). Invocation Prayer from the Great Perfection ( Dzogchen ) Lineage "Kye! To all the Buddhas of the Three Times Inseparable from the great absolute space, Great intrinsic nature of phenomena, Space of awareness uncontrived and ever free, The primordial Buddha Samantabhadra - We bow in order to realize our self-nature, And vow from now not to separate from it. . . The primordial space of the Ground, Dharmakaya, is the Adi Buddha among all Buddhas . . . The great space beyond conceptualized views. May we realize the nature as it is. All-pervasiveness beyond all partiality and limitations, Expanse free from attributes and labels, Great confidence that there is nothing to give up and nothing to gain: May we realize the nature as it is. . ." from "A Prayer From the Sang Ti Kagyama - Secret Esoteric Instruction", by Dudjom Lingpa page 9 of "The Lamp of Liberation: A Collection of Prayers, Advice and Aspirations" by Dudjom Rinbochay, translated by the late Dr. Terry Clifford ------------------------- Calling Out to Guru Padmasambhava ( The Seven Line Prayer, which is translated and taught in detail later in this post. ) "River of Light Padmasambhava Monjes Budistas" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ5_kUcHJN0 ------------------------ On Guru Padmasambhava Guru Padmasambhava of ancient India is one of the preeminent yogis and wizards in all Buddhist history, and a tremendous and growing influence on Buddhist practice worldwide. He is called upon for spiritual protection and spiritual guidance by millions each day. In JRR Tolkien's story cycle, the Fellowship of the Ring had Gandalf the White Wizard as guide and protector. Padmasambhava is, for purposes of introduction to the public, the "Buddhist Gandalf". All of the teachings and transmissions listed here relate directly to Guru Padmasambhava. http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Padmasambhava "Padmasambhava (Skt.), or Padmakara (Skt. Padmakara; Tibetan: Pemajungné; Wyl. pad+ma 'byung gnas ) means ‘Lotus-Born’, which refers to Guru Rinpoche's birth from a lotus in the land of Oddiyana. Guru Rinpoche, the ‘Precious Master’, is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and the Buddha of our time. "Whereas Buddha is known primarily for having taught the teachings of the sutra vehicle, Padmasambhava came into this world, and to Tibet in particular, in order to teach the tantras. "While Buddha Shakyamuni exemplifies the buddha principle, the most important element in the sutrayana path, Padmasambhava personifies the guru principle, the heart of Vajrayana Buddhism, and he is therefore known as the ‘second Buddha’ (Tibetan: sangyé nyipa)." He said: My father is the pure awareness of rigpa, Samantabhadra, My mother, the space of all things, Samantabhadri, My line, the indivisibility of awareness and space, My name, the glorious Lotus Born, My homeland, the unborn dharmadhatu, My sustenance, consuming dualistic thoughts, My destiny, to accomplish the actions of the buddhas of past, present and future. A Short Biography Jamgon Kongtrul the First Now follows a short life story of Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmakara or Padmasambhava, extracted from the Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli http://www.rangjung.com/authors/padmasambhava.htm The Seven Line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava, a key tantric practice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:7-line_prayer_to_Guru_Rinpoche.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaHHp6Wk4G4 The Meaning Of The Vajra Seven Line Prayer To Guru Rinpoche http://www.quietmountain.org/links/teachings/7_Line_Prayer_To_Guru_Rinpoche/7lnpryr.htm "THIS CHAPTER is a summary of a commentary on The Vajra Seven-Line Prayer, entitled Padma Karpo (The White Lotus), written by Mipham Namgyal (1846-1912), a celebrated scholar of the Nyingma Buddhist tradition of Tibet. The original Tibetan text of Mipham's commentary is very profound and difficult to understand or to translate, and I have summarized the basic points of his text in this chapter. "The Vajra Seven-Line Prayer is the most sacred and important prayer in the Nyingma tradition. This short prayer contains the outer, inner, and innermost teachings of the esoteric trainings of Buddhism. By practicing The Vajra Seven-Line Prayer according to any one of these trainings, the result of that particular training will be attained. "In this summary there are five levels of interpretation. They are (1) the general or common meaning; the path of the hidden meaning (sBas Don), consisting of the next three levels; (2) the meaning according to the path of liberation (Grol Lam); (3) the meaning according to the perfection stage (rDzog Rim); (4) meaning according to the Nyingthig of Dzogpa Chenpo: the direct realization of the spontaneous (Lhun Grub Thod rGal); and (5) the meaning according to the accomplishment of the result. From among these levels of meaning it is proper for a person reciting the vajra prayer to learn and practice the particular level that is suitable to his or her capacity. "I have arranged this summary merely with the hope of being able to indicate that this brief prayer contains different levels of meaning and training, as many followers of the Nyingma teachings who are acquainted with The Vajra Seven-Line Prayer are often unaware of its deeper meanings, But in order to comprehend the complete meaning of the prayer, I urge the readers to read the original text of Mipham Rinpoche. "In Tibet, the Nyingmas recite The Vajra Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche three times before reciting any other prayers, doing any meditation, or performing any ceremony. Many devotees repeat it hundreds of thousands of times, reciting it during all their waking hours, making it as their main prayer, breathing, life, and contemplation. . . . ------------------------ The following teachings are in the tantric Buddhist lineage known as the Great Perfection, also known as "Dzogchen" in Tibetan and Atiyoga in ancient India. These teachings are rapidly spreading in different parts of the world, but remain little known to the general public. I will therefore provide a clear, simple book reference by a living master. It is the best place to start learning about Great Perfection / Dzogchen. "The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen" Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (Author), John Shane (Compiler, Editor) http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Way-Light-Dzogchen-Philosophy/dp/1559391359/ Amazon.com Review "Within Tibetan Buddhism, there is a little-known discipline called Dzogchen, the turbo path to liberation. In some traditions, the path to liberation extends over lifetimes of diligent practice, but Dzogchen is an accelerated way to achieve self-perfection. After many years of formal study, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu was initiated into this less-formal practice, which is one of the highest yet most accessible of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. "Namkhai Norbu eventually made his way to Italy to teach, where John Shane transcribed and translated Namkhai Norbu's lectures, putting together what is now one of the most popular books on Dzogchen. Namkhai Norbu makes it clear that these teachings are not a handbook for practice but rather an overview of Dzogchen, notably its three divisions: the base, the path, and the fruit. "The ultimate and immediate goal is to achieve the primordial state of non-dual awareness, the one taste, and to maintain it. With colorful anecdotes from his own experience (finding an ancient text manifested in a dream, for example, and visiting eccentric cave yogis), Namkhai Norbu's teachings illustrate that Dzogchen is not just theory but the way to a new, and almost incomprehensible, way of being." --Brian Bruya Review "One of the most significant contributions to the understanding of Tibetan Buddhism to have appeared in recent years." --The Middle Way, Journal of the Buddhist Society, London ------------------------- Tantra, Buddhism and Mahayana : Background and Key Online References A "tradtional tantra" is a classical tantric text, as in "sacred scripture", and the basis for a magical / yogic type of esoteric spiritual practice. The tantras are oriented towards deep personal practice and experience and accomplishment, not mere religious belief of externalist "faith followers". To a classical tantric practitioner, religion and religious belief is basically all muggle culture, and mostly an obstacle to mystical practice and realization, which is wizard / siddha culture. A core classical scripture is called a "tantra". These typically come to us from Hindu and Buddhist Sanskrit root sacred texts that were written down in medieval times, and were said to be delivered by oral transmission before, often over many centuries. The word "tantra" has the sense of "weaving together" or integration, of wholeness, and in the Buddhist sense, primordial unity and "original Buddha Nature". All Buddhist tantras build upon and carry the general Buddhist refuge vows and the universal Buddhist vows known as the Mahayana. So, Buddhist tantra is distinguished by strictly following the theory and practice of the Mahayana, while Hindu tantra and other tantras are very diverse, and do not follow a single consistent theory and practice such as the Mahayana. All the Buddhist tantra lineages of ancient India, and Nepal, China, and Japan, are based in Mahayana ethics and philosophy as central and primary teachings. To practice Buddhist tantra in any lineage or any culture is to be a member of the great worldwide Mahayana community, which include Zen and Pure Land and the other such schools, and further as a tantric Buddhist to respect all these schools. All the Mahayana teachings demonstrate a deep internal coherence of theory and practice, as well as relating historically and thematically to parts of other yogic and mystical systems of Asia, such as Hinduism, Taoism and so forth. Mahayana does not in any way relate to the four monotheisms ( Judaism, Christianity, Islam or Mormonism ). ( The statements by Alexander Berzin and some others that Buddhism is somehow "compatible" with Islam and other eternalist and closed belief systems is clearly absurd and already disproven. To an Islamist, all Buddhist teaching and practice is pagan and prohibited by Islamic law. That is why the Islamists destroyed Buddhist universities in medieval India, such as Nalanda University. That is also why there has been war and conflict for many centuries between Islamists and Hindu communities. The Buddhist scholar Dr. Berzin simply does not understand *any* of the overall history of India! ) It is claimed that many tantras were originally spoken by Guru Sakyamuni himself, and passed through the oral transmission lineages, like other early Mahayana teachings. Some tantras explicitly claim that Guru Sakyamuni spoke them, for example the root Tara Tantra and the root Guhyasamaja Tantra. I have a legal bookcase (twelve linear feet ) full of classical Buddhist tantra / sacred Buddhist scripture, plus three linear feet of Sikh kundalini yoga tantra and Hindu mantra literature and Bonpo tantra. This material is all the real stuff, not that silly Deepak Chopra fluffy nonsense ( such as "novelizations" of major religious figures ), and not the general type of Hindu literature. For the overall summary and survey articles on Buddhist Great Way teaching and Buddhist tantra, see the following: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism for the overall scope and background of this teaching. In particular, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana and, specific to the present discussion : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as spiritual rock and roll! "We'll always be together." See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUrxG8APyiI -------------------------- A basic perspective on entering the Buddhist path through empowerment and tantric commitments In general, all sincere and respectful dharma students are welcome to attend Buddhist empowerments. The empowerments are open to practitioners of all levels and from all backgrounds—from beginners to people with years of experience. Samaya, or Sacred Commitment Please note that in accordance with the tradition one will be taking Buddhist Refuge & Bodhisattva vows and accepting Vajrayana Samaya with every empowerment. Please be or become familiar with these topics as they are essential on every step of the path to enlightenment. People have asked what will be the “commitment", and that can vary from transmission to transmission, but all have a common foundation which must be understood or the practice does not work. Broadly speaking, in an empowerment, we are vowing to have pure perception and deep faith in the teacher and the teachings, promising to transform our negative habits and passions and awaken to our inherent Buddha nature as quickly as possible with the motivation to benefit all beings. I have provided two clear and effective book references in this post: 1) Heartfelt Advice, by Lama Dudjom Dorjee 2) Dakini Teachings, by Padmasambhava These 2 books cover everything needed to understand and take up the Buddhist Mahayana and tantra. The first is very simple and accessible, and the second is profound and technical and inspiring. With these as a basis, you cannot go wrong. ------------------------- Foundational Buddhist Principles for Newcomers The following small book, "Heartfelt Advice", is a key text for newcomers to Buddhism. It is written by a Sanskrit scholar, retreatant and tantric abbot, Lama Dudjom Dorjee, and he conveys the essential Great Way / Mahayana and tantric Buddhist worldview very directly to all. "Heartfelt Advice" is a great book because it saves a lot of time and prevents a lot of confusion. The text provides a self-contained, clear, extremely accessible and functional gateway to understanding the overall Buddhist teaching in terms of core classical principles for personal practice. This book is based entirely on classical teaching of many centuries, and speaks straight to the point, without any casual sidetracks, dilutions or digressions. It is very concentrated and useful long term as a set of continuing reminders for self-managing Buddhists of any Mahayana Buddhist approach in an unsupportive, non-meditative, non-Buddhist muggle culture. Thus, this book of wise counsel is extraordinarily useful for contemporary western readers. Lama Dudjom Dorje, direct representative of His Holiness the Karmapa, has been teaching in the West for many years, and he ably covers a broad array of topics for all Buddhist practitioners in the simplest and most direct terms. As a tantric Buddhist guru here in the West, this is now the main text I recommend as a starting point for new practitioners and interested outsiders. It is also strongly recommended by major Buddhist teachers guiding many practitioners in the West. All that is required to benefit is straightforward English and a willingness to reflect on oneself, on life, and on karma. Heartfelt Advice [Paperback] Lama Dudjom Dorjee (Author) Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Snow Lion; 1 edition (March 16, 2010) ISBN-10: 1559393467 http://www.amazon.com/Heartfelt-Advice-Lama-Dudjom-Dorjee/dp/1559393467/ "A terrific example of the traditional genre of shal-dam, or life advice, written for contemporary North Americans. This small book touches lightly on profound topics, gently suggesting ways of viewing the world and one's existence in it in a radically new way. The ninety-five short sections—many less than a single page—address foundational ideas of the Buddhist path such as renunciation, impermanence, and cause and effect."—Alexander Gardner, Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly "Heartfelt Advice, from the uniquely qualified scholar and meditation master Ven. Lama Dudjom Dorjee, is a wonderful treasure for Western Dharma practitioners. Anyone who comes into contact with this comprehensive collection of key Buddhist teachings will receive the gift of priceless wisdom." —Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, author of Mind beyond Death [ and tantric Buddhist guru of the Kagyu lineage ] "Whoever reads this book will receive blessings and benefit. . . . [Lama Dudjom Dorjee] is both scholarly and a highly accomplished practitioner." —Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche [ tantric Buddhist abbot of the Kagyu lineage ] "Heartfelt Advice provides a brilliant picture of the depth and breadth of Buddhist meditation. This book is a masterful integration of Buddhist teachings and how they can be applied in difficult life situations. This book provides a unique view formed from his experiences as a Tibetan refuge, Lama scholar, father, and husband. After thirty years of teaching around the world, Heartfelt Advice is a gift to behold." —Dr. William Bradshaw, PhD, professor at University of Tennessee ------------------------- Lama Tharchin, Lama Dechen Wangmo, and the Vajrayana Foundation, a short introduction This article section introduces Lama Tharchin, who will be giving transmissions and retreats described later in this post. Lama Dechen Wangmo, who is also giving transmissions mentioned later in this post, teaches under the authority of Lama Tharchin. The home center for Lama Tharchin is The Vajrayana Foundation web site www.vajrayana.org contact info: Phone: (831) 761-6266 Email: office@vajrayana.org Address: 2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076 Lama Tharchin Rinpoche is a teacher of Buddhist tantra, extremely gentle and open, yet also profound and powerful. I first began taking teachings and transmissions from him in the early 1980s. This is one of my most favorite people on the entire planet. Just to see him brings real gladness to one's heart, just to remember him is greatly comforting. Please note that I do not represent him in any official sense. I use texts and practices from his fellowship, the Vajrayana Foundation, which principally focuses on the lineage transmissions of HH Dudjom Rinpoche. HH Dujom Rinpoche was a profound Nyingma lineage holder whose efforts were of central importance in saving major parts of the Buddhist tantra during the destruction of Buddhist Tibet by the Chinese. HH Dudjom Rinpoche trained and authorized Lama Tharchin as a vajra master. Lama Tharchin can train westerners to become full fledged tantric Buddhist gurus - on a basic but functional level - in the Nyingma lineage of Guru Padmasambhava. See also heartteachings.com/index.html "Heart Teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche" "The Friends of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche have put together this site for Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's video series. The video series is the main vehicle Rinpoche uses to disseminate his vast knowledge of Buddhist teachings. Each month Rinpoche records a 1-2 hour long video. "Anyone interested can purchase any of the past Series as an individual set, or subscribe to the Series in progress on an ongoing basis. There are also a few teachings offered as individual DVDs or DVD sets." Note - many of these recordings require specific authorization, i.e. empowerment. From the above site "Turning the Three Wheels of Buddhadharma: Learning, Practice, and Teaching" Lama Tharchin Rinpoche is a Dzogchen (Great Perfection) master of Vajrayana Buddhism. He is the tenth lineage holder of the Repkong Ngakpas. This is a family lineage of yogis, or householders, and was the largest community of non-monastic practitioners in Tibet. Rinpoche was trained in His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche's monastery, engaged in five years of solitary retreat and then completed the three year retreat with three others under Dudjom Rinpoche. "In addition to Dudjom Rinpoche, his main teachers have been Chatral Rinpoche, Lama Sherab Dorje Rinpoche, and Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Rinpoche left Tibet by foot with his family in 1960. "Many of the early years of Rinpoche's life were dedicated to intensive study, practice and retreat. Mastering the many traditions of his lineage under the guidance of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche benefited countless beings through the purity of his heart and his compassionate dedication to all beings. Through many years of practice and retreat, Rinpoche developed the skills and qualities most needed to bring maximum benefit to beings in this lifetime. "Fulfilling the request of his teacher, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche came to the West with the intention to protect the holy Buddhadharma and to plant authentic seeds of dharma in the West. With an incredible flurry of enlightened activity, Rinpoche's blessings and accomplishments have flowed like rich wisdom nectar. Founder of the Vajrayana Foundation, Rinpoche has established the College of Tibetan Buddhist Studies (Shedra), and the three-year retreat program (Drupta). He has directed study and practice retreats, given us bountiful empowerments and pure Dzogchen teachings, and he has shown us the true nature of our own minds." From the home page of www.vajrayana.org with some notes and commentary --------------------------- Dudjom Treasure Revelations ( Dudjom Tersar ) of His Holiness Dudjom Lingpa and his reincarnation, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje. “Lord of one hundred families of enlightenment, illustrious holy spiritual master, at your feet I bow! In the past you were Rigdzin Nuden Dorje Tsel, In the future you will become the Buddha Infinite Aspiration, At present you are Padmasambhava’s regent, Drogben incarnate: Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, to you I pray.” The Dudjom Mind Treasure Revelations from http://dudjomtroma.org/about.html "Guru Padmasambhava concealed many texts that were later discovered at the prophesied times by tertons, or treasure revealers. One such person was Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904), who discovered the lineage known as Dudjom Tersar beginning in the mid-19th century. It consists of hundreds of texts and twenty-two volumes of teachings. Dudjom Lingpa stated that these teachings were especially profound, effective and appropriate for these degenerate times. Over thirteen of his disciples attained rainbow body by following these great teachings. Many thousands of others attained the level of Vidyadara (Tib. rikzin) or awareness holder. "The Dudjom Tersar lineage comes to us directly from Guru Padmasambhava through Dudjom Lingpa to Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (1904-1987). Just like his predecessor, His Holiness Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje was a terton who revealed over twenty-three volumes of various mind treasures. His Holiness' previous incarnations have included many of the greatest masters, yogis and scholars in the history of Buddhism. "Among them are Nuden Dorje Chang, Shariputra, Saraha, Choelon Krishna Dzin, Acharya Hung Kara, Drowen Khyue Chung Lotsawa, and Jowo Smriti-Jnana. Guru Padmasambhava prophesied that anyone who has had Dharmic connections and unbroken samaya with His Holiness Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje would be taken to the pure land of Zangdok Palri (Padmasambhava's Copper Colored Mountain). . . "The goal of these practices is to minimize suffering, psychological problems, obstacles, and illness, as well as to avoid personal and natural calamities. . . The Dudjom Tersar teachings are direct, vivid and fresh, with no loss of meaning in either the words or the blessings. Therefore this lineage is perfect, and is unimpaired by broken samaya." For much detailed information on the Dudjom lineage and the third incarnation of Dudjom Rinpoche, Yangsi Dudjom Rinpoche, see http://dudjom.blogspot.com/ Book reference on Dudjom Treasure visionary teachings of the Great Perfection ( Atiyoga / Dzogchen ): "Buddhahood Without Meditation: A Visionary Account Known as Refining One's Perception (Nang-jang)" Author Kyabje Dudjom Lingpa Cover Softcover, Revised Edition http://www.tibetantreasures.com/Padma_Publishing-Buddhahood_Without_Meditation.html "This text presents the view of the Great Perfection through the approach known as trekchö (cutting through solidity). Buddhahood Without Meditation is widely known by its subtitle, Nang-jang (Refining Apparent Phenomena). "This second, revised edition is the result of a thorough re-examination of the original English translation done in an effort to clarify the terminology and meaning of Dudjom Lingpa's text for Western students of the Great Perfection. "The glossary has been revised accordingly and expanded to incorporate new terms. It also includes the Tibetan text as edited by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, as well has his structural analysis and outline." "The Nangjang was prepared as an inexhaustible treasure trove of the gift of the Buddha's teachings, the relics of the dharmakaya." ~ H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche ----------------------- On Vajrakilaya, the Wrathful Vajrasattva, the Tantric Buddhist equivalent to the Hindu Shiva Why Vajrakilaya? from http://www.pemayoedling.org/WhyVajrakilaya.htm "Vajrakilaya is the most important "yidam" or tantric wisdom deity of the Nyingma tradition. The Vajrakilaya scriptural tantras are vast and profound, and they have been continually refreshed by further Vajrakilaya revelations with each new generation of meditation masters, and by the insights of the most learned scholars who have composed extensive commentaries. In the traditional histories, Vajrakilaya has a preeminent place as the special deity of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the eighth century master and second Buddha who helped to establish Buddhism in Tibet. Moreover, Guru Padmasambhava's principal Tibetan disciple, the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal, is famed as attaining enlightenment through the Vajrakilaya practice. As a wisdom deity, Vajrakilaya covers everything necessary in a spiritual practice: the full path to Enlightenment and every temporary need for good conditions in the meantime. Vajrakilaya is surrounded by a retinue of deities with special functions, including the gathering of auspiciousness, prosperity and longevity, and the expression of mastery and control. This retinue are all wisdom emanations of Vajrakilaya himself, so even their apparently mundane activities work only for good and virtuous ends, and the deepening of spiritual practice. Vajrakilaya: for Inner Peace and World Peace "The special quality of Vajrakilaya is the ability to clear away obstacles and to transform all the emotional afflictions, and especially the most destructive emotion of hatred, into enlightened wisdom and compassion. Vajrakilaya's inner nature is peace (zhi-ba), and his wrathful outer guise should not be misunderstood. He is. . . the wisdom deity who embodies and reveals the true nature of our minds. His fires of wisdom burn away our emotional afflictions, uncovering the calm and serene nature of mind, and opening up the possibilities for genuine communication with others and compassionate activities. Therefore, the Vajrakilaya practice is particularly powerful for engendering inner peace, family and social harmony, political stability and world peace." Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche on the practice of Vajra Kilaya from http://www.siddharthasintent.org/Programs/1204-vajrakilaya-taiwan2.html "Vajrakilaya, or kila, means something sharp, and something that pierces--a dagger, basically. A dagger that is so sharp it can pierce anything, while at the same time nothing can pierce it. That is the quality. This sharp and piercing energy is what is used to practice and out of the many infinite, endless Vajrayana methods this happens to be one of most important methods. "Vajrakilaya is one of the most popular deities when it comes to destroying the obstacles. Guru Rinpoche achieved enlightenment through practicing Yangdag Heruka but he first practiced Vajrakilaya to clean, or to clear the obstacles, and then, through that, he practiced the rest and then achieved whatever he wanted to achieve. So, Vajrakilaya is known for clearing the obstacles. "Vajrakilaya is also known as being the embodiment of all the Buddha's activities. At times, when we speak of Vajrakilaya, we speak of Vajrakilaya as if it is the wrathful form of Vajrasattva. There are many, many great masters both in India and Tibet, but especially in Tibet, who have practiced Vajrakilaya, especially in the Nyingma lineage, and among the Kagyu and also within the Sakyapas . [among the three traditions] the Sakyapa, Tsharpa and Ngorpa. The Sakyapa's main deity, besides Hevajra, is Vajrakumara or Vajrakilaya. To this day, one of His Holiness Sakya Trizin's main practices is Vajrakilaya. "Vajrakilaya is not just a simple deity. There is a complete path from the ngondro to the developing meditation and completion meditation, everything. It has a complete path of its own. There are many treasure teachings based on Vajrakilaya. For instance, there are treasure teachings from Jigme Lingpa, Ratna Lingpa, and Nyang-rel Nyima Ozer. Not only are there treasure teachings, actually there is also the Indian [lineage], just as there is the Hevajra Tantra, there is [also] a Vajrakilaya Tantra. Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, almost all the great lamas, especially within the Kagyu and Nyingma tradition, have each their own Vajrakilaya sadhana practice. "When we talk about Vajrakilaya, we talk about four kinds of dagger: substance dagger, compassion dagger, bodhicitta dagger, and wisdom dagger. Substance dagger, we actually make purba, which is the substance. We make it with a very special quality of wood or iron, and bless it with the proper Pujas, blessings, visualizations. We keep it, and use it mainly to pierce the outer obstacles. "Compassion dagger is basically the practice of compassion, and the object the dagger has to stab, the object to stab is sentient beings. You have to put it onto sentient beings. And there is bodhicitta practice, the bodhicitta dagger, and that is another form mainly of practicing relative bodhicitta and ultimate bodhicitta together. We stab this dagger on methods. Wisdom and method, method is the object. That's the complicated one. "And then lastly, the most important dagger is the dagger of wisdom. That dagger, the wisdom, is the whole Ati-yoga teaching, such as the Dzogchen teachings, and this wisdom is stabbed on ignorance. This is the fourth. "During the Puja, we definitely try to include all of them, through visualizations, through mantras and through mudras. It is believed and this is not some ordinary human being's talk, Guru Rinpoche himself said, .wherever the Vajrakilaya Puja is done, even that site will become auspicious, free from all kinds of outer, inner, and especially inner and secret suffering. Those who are indirectly or directly connected to Vajrakilaya for certain, have a connection with Vajrakilaya, and gradually or immediately all obstacles will be dispelled and the ultimate result, which is the state of Vajrasattva can be obtained very soon. " ________________ The great master Mipham Rinpoche [1846-1912] condenses the meaning of Vajrakilaya in the following words: "Suchness is the natural state of all phenomena This is the great perfection free of duality. Such nature is realised through individual awareness, Which is the absolute kila - wisdom of awareness. [It is called] Vajra as non-dual wisdom is indestructible, And Kumara [Youth] as this the unchanging nature, free of decay. This primordially all-pervading buddhanature Resides as the absolute nature of all beings. Through the skillful oral advice of the guru's insructions And through the yoga of realising the natural ground of the intrinsic mind. The manifestations of samsara and nirvana are brought under control, Through piercing these phenomena with the kila of awareness. Thus, the wisdom confidence that destroys [the illusions of] samsara and nirvana, Steals the life force of the confusion so difficult to tame. It fills the space of bliss with bodhicitta, And it perfects appearance and existence as the mandala of the magical net. "Ema! May all sentient beings practice this yoga of the kila: The supreme activity-deity of all buddhas, With the [retinue] of supreme sons and wrathful ones. Gaining power over the emptiness life of samsara and nirvana, May they all achieve the level of the Great Glorious One, in this very life! Written by the one named Dhi on the twenty-third day in the second month of the Earth Monkey Year. " ---------------- Book Reference on Vajrakilaya ( A primary tantric practice of Guru Padmasambhava, now practiced in many countries for inner purification and protection and the removal of negative conditions. The text is openly available, but empowerment is required to take up this deity yoga. ) The Dark Red Amulet: Oral Instructions on the Practice of Vajrakilaya Kehnchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche (Author), Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche (Author) http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Red-Amulet-Instructions/dp/1559393114/ Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (February 16, 2009) ISBN-13: 978-1559393119 "The wrathful deity Vajrakilaya embodies the enlightened activity of all the buddhas in order to subjugate delusion and negativity that can arise as obstacles to spiritual practice. The Vajrakilaya system of meditation is practiced widely in Tibet as well as in Western Buddhist centers. "Written by the renowned scholars Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, The Dark Red Amulet presents a line-by-line description of this Vajrayana practice and describes the history of its oral transmission lineage. This book conveys the essential meaning of the Vajrakilaya teachings and provides an invaluable guide for Tibetan Buddhist practitioners to discover the absolute vajra nature that will transform every duality hindrance into clear wisdom and compassion. "The book includes a translation of a brief biography of the text's terton, Tsasum Lingpa, and a chapter of students' questions and the Khenpos' answers." Review "This is an extraordinary Vajrakilaya teaching and quite rare within the terma tradition. During the twentieth-century upheaval in Tibet, almost all of Tsasum Lingpa's works were in danger of being lost forever. Together, the Khenpo Rinpoches have dedicated much of their lives to the preservation of the wondrous spiritual system envisioned by this 'crazy wisdom' terton. Revealed to the Western world for the first time, The Dark Red Amulet is a one-of-a-kind gem in every sense of the word." --Mikel Dunham, author of Buddha's Warriors "[The] extensive and thorough commentary clarifies and enlightens...An absolute must-have for any scholar or Buddhist practitioner seeking to better understand the past and future path of the Vajrayana practice of Vajrakilaya."--The Midwest Book Review, March 2009 --The Midwest Book Review, March 2009 "The Dark Red Amulet conveys the essential meaning of the Vajrakilaya teachings and provides an invaluable guide for Tibetan Buddhist practitioners to "discover the absolute vajra nature that will transform every duality hindrance into clear wisdom and compassion". The book includes a translation of a brief biography of the text's terton, Tsasum Lingpa, and a chapter of students' questions and the Khenpos' answers." Eastern Horizon, April 2009 --Eastern Horizon, April 2009 Review "[A] feast for the mind and spirit." --Thomas Peter von Bahr, New Age Retailer, March 2009 ---------------- Kali/ Troma and Chod/ Mystic Sacrifice The Kali/ Troma empowerment always include "Chod", the Mystic Sacrifice. This is a major shamanic Buddhist practice, one of the main shamanic practices being taught in North America. There are different lineages and practices of Troma / Chod. The comprehensive ritual texts of Troma Nakmo are available from TibetanTreasures.com. These are of course restricted to those who have a DUDJOM TERSAR empowerment of Troma. They are however made available to all who have an authentic Dudjom Tersar from ANY teacher of the Dudjom Tersar, at any location, whether or not the empowering guru is associated with the Chagdud Tulku Fellowship. Tibetan Treasures *openly* sells a short but very powerful and useful Chod text for Troma. It is called Feasts of Chod. I strongly recommend this text to anyone who has any kind of Chod empowerment, any major Tara empowerment, any Yeshe Tsogyel or Padmasambhava empowerment, or any trekcho empowerment. See www.tibetantreasures.com I have given a general introduction to Chod practice and resources at the following post: "Chod is defined as the functional enactment of prajnaparamita. It can also be Mahamudra or Atiyoga" At http://tribes.tribe.net/chodtribe/thread/7b13b607-4624-4ae3-a76a-deb94cc8a1f9 What follows is a general introduction from http://www.khandro.net/dakini_queen.htm "Here's a description printed in a flyer from Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche's sangha given out freely as an excerpt from a talk on Troma and Chod given by him in Los Angeles April 9, 1986: "Troma, the Black Vajra Mother is the true heart essence of Guru Padmasambhava. It is also the method of many of the great siddhas from the forefathers Sarahaba until it was revealed by the very noble siddha and terton, Dudjom Lingpa, who is the previous incarnation of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. "Chod by definition is 'to cut through'. The essence of chod is the prajnaparamita: the pervasive permanent unalterable absolute nature of emptiness. Emptiness is not nothingness, it is the full resplendent quality of subtle appearance and is called unstoppable clarity: the inner capacity of the nature of emptiness. It arises as the display of the five Dhayana Buddhas' consorts. Emptiness is inseparable from its resplendent capacity for manifesting beneficial appearances, the Five Wrathful mothers, Troma, also known as Vajra Khrodikali. " What must be understood about the cutting Chod, is what is to be cut and how it is that we cut it. The answer to what must be cut is the root of samsara. Samsara is the cycles of endless suffering of forever becoming: we must look at what causes that and that cause must be cut. "For us, non-realization of our absolute nature is not because we once realized our nature and then forgot it. It isn't that we had it and then lost it. The essential primary nature of absolute purity is innate in our being. Non-actualized purity is ignorance and so ignorance must be cut. It must be destroyed. It must be liberated. "Next to ignorance of Nature, the poison of desire must be cut. We have basic self-centered recognitions which function as our "I" or "me" or any manner of self-perceptions. Beyond this comes the recognition of everything which isn't "me", generally named "other". through this process of "I" and everything else that is not "I" a dualistic mode begins to function between the two. From this dualism arises the judgment of "it's so pretty" and the subtle attachment of "yes, I like it" which gives way to the gross attachment of "I need it" which is where suffering begins. If we need it and we can't get it, then we suffer: if we need it and we get it and we find out that we didn't want it, then we also suffer. If we need it and we get it and it fades away and dissolves into nothingness as all temporary things will, we suffer... . " Desire is also a stepping stone to hatred which is aversion or the other side of desire. Because I want something, then I have some vested interest in that particular phenomena happening: something comes along such as rain, for example, and blocks the fulfillment and "I don't like that." It's because I had some invested interest in what I wanted that aversion developed. Whatever prevents me from getting what I want results in this same aversion and so we find that at the forefront of aversion is desire. " From the poisons of ignorance, desire, and aversion the mind further complicates its delusion with a very beguiling pride of its own confusion and from this arises jealousy. These complete the full array of the poisons of the mind. In Chod, there is always what are called the four demons or the four maras which are the four obstructing influences. "The first obstruction is the personal defilements of mind: the defilements are the five poisons: ignorance, desire, aversion, pride and jealousy. The second demonic influence is the obstruction of false contentment which is somewhat like pride. One takes for granted good situations thinking that they will go on forever: this is a very big obstacle because it wastes opportunities. The third demonic influence that obstructs the realization of enlightenment is based on self-holding and other-holding. The mind zig zags back and forth from "I like this" and "I don't like that" "this is pretty, that is not" "I need this" "I don't need that". Our mind enticed by the appearance of objects goes to the object and becomes dynamically involved there, totally seduced by samsaric appearances. The fourth obstruction is the root of the other three obstructions, the self-centeredness of one's "I". "The method to cut through these demonic influences is called Chod. One's pure motivation is the blade that cuts though the faults of self-centeredness. "Chod is the practice of generosity with one's most valuable possession, the body. There is nothing we value more, so this is what we use as our gift. Our mind is deathless, our body is not, so we transfer our mind out of our body and pure mind stands complete in space. The body, like a shell, is an empty remain.[sic] Through mantra and visualization, the practitioner transforms the body into a vast and wholesome offering of whatever would be satisfying. The offering is not just substance, but it is also wisdom nectar which fills the vastness of space. This is then offered to all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to any and all wisdom beings beyond the limit of our understanding. Further it is offered to every sentient being whoever they are, wherever they are. Whatever their particular need is is completely met by this offering and they're completely satisfied and fulfilled immediately and ultimately. "This trains the mind to cut through attachment. By this practice, one accomplishes both the accumulation of merit through generosity and the accumulation of wisdom through understanding the basis of non-reality of our physical form. One understands the nature of emptiness that pervades all beings and this accumulates wisdom. Enlightenment is produced by the two accumulations of merit and wisdom, so this is a path capable of rendering full realization of enlightenment." ----------------- On Krodhi Kali / Troma Nakmo, the Tantric Buddhist counterpart to the Hindu Kali The practice of Troma Nagmo is classified as a "mind treasure," and was transmitted by Guru Padmasambhava, the great Indian saint and sage who brought Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet during the 8th century. Troma Nakmo is the Tibetan name of the goddess Krodhikali, one of the three primordial wisdom dakinis of the universe, the others being Vajra Varahi and Samantabhadrini. Troma practice also empowers us to recognize and develop our own wisdom and abilities, realizing that all beings have the potential for awakening, or Buddhahood. Two Major Events with Lama Dechen Wangmo in Little Rock Arkansas and Austin Texas The Ecumenical Society of Little Rock & Jnanasukha are pleased to announce Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo's schedule for Little Rock, November 15-18. http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0f7caeca0bec2a2ce3879ea36&id=fe73f580b7&e=11803451b2 Contact: Charlotte: cabesch@midsouth.ualr.edu Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock website map 1015 West Second Street, Little Rock AR 72207 FEATURED PROGRAM Freeing the Mind: Black Dakini Throma Transmission, Instruction & Practice We meditate in order to free ourselves of false limitations and to discover our own enlightened awareness. The meditation in which we develop ourselves as the Black Dakini Throma is the mind treasure (terma) of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, who described it as the ultimate instruction of all my revealed treasures. Attendees will learn how to do this practice through short periods of teaching, meditation, and exploration. Suitable for those wishing to learn about Tibetan Buddhism as well as those wishing to deepen their understanding and/or practice. REGISTRATION INCLUDES •Saturday Nov. 10, 10AM - 5PM (lunch break 12:30PM) and Sunday Nov 11, 10AM - 12:30PM. •download PDF practice text •download Lama Wangmo's Q&A webinar on this practice •download audio recording of the teachings after the event Fire Offering of the Magnetizing Dakini Kurukulle to Benefit All Beings Sunday Nov 11, 2 - 4:30PM Kurukulle is the dakini who draws all beings onto the path of enlightenment and creates favorable conditions and circumstances, both mundane and spiritual. Donation to benefit the nuns of Tsogyal Latso in Tibet. Location To be Announced. Everyone Welcome! Lama Yeshe Wangmo grew up in Montreal, Canada, and began her Buddhist path with the Sixteenth Karmapa in 1978. In 1992, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche enthroned her as a lama in the Nyingma lineage. She is the founder of Jnanasukha and The Tsogyal Latso Fund to support the birthplace of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal in Tibet and the nuns living there. While living in Hawaii, her Dharma activities have focused on translation and teaching in the U.S. as well as leading pilgrimages to the places of the life story of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal in central Tibet. Recently, she has entered the digital world with YouTube videos and interviews and a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Combining her education, retreat experience, and facility with the Tibetan language of Dharma, Lama Wangmo teaches with inspiration and clarity while relying entirely on the principle of connection to benefit beings and the doctrine. Jnanasukha is pleased to announce Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo is returning to Austin, November 8-11. http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0f7caeca0bec2a2ce3879ea36&id=e0d6752954&e=11803451b2 Contact: Rikzin: rikzin@jnanasukha.org Please do not contact TOCI. 2499 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Suite A100 Next to Yoga Yoga by Barton Creek Mall Schedule of Events Teachings, transmission, practice, and explorations . . . Welcome Reception for Lama Yeshe Wangmo Thursday Nov 8, 7 - 9PM Private residence, $10 at the door benefits the nuns of Tsogyal Latso in Tibet. RSVP here Celebrating the Day of the Female Buddhas with Throma Feast Offering Ganachakra Friday Nov 9, Dakini Day, 7 - 9PM Following Thinley Norbu Rinpoche's Throma Compilation Quintessential Accomplishment in Accordance with the Lineage of the Vajra Essence. Everyone Welcome! Toltec Center of Creative Intent (TOCI) 2499 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Suite A100, next to Yoga Yoga by Barton Creek Mall Donation at the door. Freeing the Mind: Black Dakini Throma Saturday Nov 10, 10AM - 5PM, TOCI. Pricing offered at the regular rate of $70 and scholarship rate of $45. Opportunity to donate any amount for sponsorship. Please register in advance. Special Event: Feminine Aspects of Spirituality: Interactive Discussion Sunday Nov 11, 10AM - 12 Noon Current speakers include HeatherAsh Amara, Dr. Judith Yost, and Lama Yeshe Wangmo. TOCI. $10 at the door. Proceeds benefit the nuns of Tsogyal Latso.More info below. Fire Offering of the Magnetizing Dakini Kurukulle to Benefit All Beings Sunday Nov 11, 2 - 4:30PM Donation benefits the nuns of Tsogyal Latso in Tibet. This will be held at TOCI or Palri Pema Od Ling. To be Announced. ------------------- > > > > > New event listing for Arizona > > > > Updated : Tantric Buddhist Empowerments Europe and US, HE Garchen Rinpoche et Al ( Sept 2012 through January 2013 ) (Arizona) From http://arizona.tribe.net/listing/Updated-Tantric-Buddhist-Empowerments-Europe-and-US-HE-Garchen-Rinpoche-et-Al-Sept-2012-through-January-2013-/arizona-us/9ec9e93e-8b53-4ead-8d82-9235ffdc3fd3 November 9-17: Chino Valley, Arizona: Garchen Institute Vajrakilaya Empowerment, Teachings, and Drubchen November 9 (9 am – 5 pm): Vajrakilaya Teachings November 9 (1-2 pm): Refuge November 10 (9 am – noon): Vajrakilaya Empowerment [ Vajrakilaya is a fierce form of Vajrasattva, and a primary practice of the Old School / Nyingma lineage. ] November 10 (2-5 pm): Vajrakilaya Teachings November 11 – 17 (around the clock from 9 am, 11/11 to 5 pm, 11/17): Vajrakilaya Drubchen [ Intensive accomplishment short retreat. ] Contact: questions@garchen.net Website: garchen.net < < < < < ------------------- Lama Tharchin Rinpoche Khandro Norlha Empowerment, Treasure Vase Consecration and Teaching at Orgyen Dorje Den 2244 Santa Clara Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 [ Khandro Norlha is a Peaceful form of Guru Padmasambhava from the Treasure Tradition of HH Dudjom Rinpoche. ] Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 Khandro Norlha teaching 10 am -12:30 pm Khandro Norlha Empowerment 3 pm -5:30 pm Total cost for day: $75 for the full day or $50 for empowerment only. Registration is at the door on the day of event only. Doors open one hour before the start of the event. Please arrive early to register so that you may be seated when Rinpoche enters the shrine room. For location and directions, please go to www.orgyendorjeden.org For further info on this event please see the website (www.vajrayana.org) or email the office (office@vajrayana.org) with questions. For more info on Treasure Vases, please go to www.vajrayana.org/treasure-vase/ ---------------------- Lama Tharchin Rinpoche in Washington --- November 13-18 Nov 13: Olympia: Bodhi House: Calling the Lama from Afar, 7-9 PM http://www.bodhihouse.org/ Bodhi House • 360.459.1967 • 4846 Johnson Point Rd. • NE Olympia, WA 98516 • bodhihouse@comcast.net Nov 16-18: Seattle- Nalanda West: The Life and Songs of Dzogchen Master Dudjom Lingpa. http://www.nalandawest.org/ Nalanda West 3902 Woodland Park Ave. N Seattle, WA 98103 Nalandabodhi Seattle presents: The Life and Songs of Dzogchen Master Dudjom Lingpa Teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche "The entirety of the Buddha's teachings is complete and perfected within the Dudjom lineage. Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904), the renowned treasure revealer and previous incarnation of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, led an extraordinary life mirroring the highest levels of wisdom experience and realization. His life and the songs that arose spontaneously from his realization outline the entire path of the Great Perfection and inspire, guide, and bless us on our path. "Rinpoche's teachings will be based on A Clear Mirror, the Visionary Autobiography of a Tibetan Master, by Traktung Dudjom Lingpa, translated by Chonyi Drolma, forward by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, North Atlantic Books, 2011" Suggested donation: $150 NB and Vajrayana Foundation members, students, seniors (62+): $108 No one turned away. Please inquire for Work Practice. Contact Nick Vail practice@nbseattle.org -------------- December California Bay Area Public Talk by Lama Tharchin Lama Tharchin Rinpoche at Open Secret Bookstore, San Rafael [ Berkeley Area ] Monday, December 10, starting at 7PM Open Secret Bookstore is located at 923 C St. in San Rafael Contact Sheppard at (415) 333-3639 or sheppardp@earthlink.net ------------------- Annual Trekchod Retreat December 30 - January 13, 2013 http://www.vajrayana.org/retreats/trekchod-retreat-dec-2012-an-2013/ The Tantra of the Sharp Vajra of Insight and Awareness (Shey-rik Dorje Nonpo Gyud) Teachings and Practice on this Dudjom Lingpa trekchod text with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche In Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's words: "Shey-rik Dorje Nonpo Gyud is the wisdom mind treasure of the Lord of the Dance, Traktung Dudjom Lingpa, who experienced Kuntuzangpo directly in a vision giving teachings and answering questions to his own emanation's retinue of bodhisattvas. Of Dudjom Lingpa’s five Dzogchen tantra treasures (the others being Neluk Rang-jung, Ma-gom Sangye – also known as the Nang Jang, Dagö Japu Chen and Sang-tri Ka-gya-ma), this is the root tantra treasure. "Our teachings will cover the Shey-rik Dorje Nonpo Gyud along with a commentary, The Essence of the Clear Meaning, written by Dudjom Lingpa’s main disciple Pema Tashi. With this perfect combination of the perfect teacher and perfect student, the root text and commentary is unbelievably beautiful, incredibly amazing and carries great blessings. "I have never had the opportunity to teach this root text and commentary outside of Tibet. Even though I am not a professional teacher and lack qualities, I do hold the lineage and have the explicit permission from my wisdom teachers to give these teachings. Therefore it is possible that some blessings accompany these teachings and this year I will do my best to open this up to all of you, my Dharma friends, serious practitioners who have finished your ng?ndro in the proper way. Therefore I will make this unique special offering to my Dharma friends. This teaching in ten chapters is traditionally given over the period of a month. But as we are in the West and our time is limited, we have made the retreat shorter. Still, our time together will truly contain the entire path of Dzogchen’s view, meditation, action and result. I think it will be of great benefit." Requirements Rinpoche has requested that the Trekchöd Retreat be restricted. If the student has completed Rinpoche’s Drubdra, Rushen Retreat, or any of the previous Trekchöd Retreats (from January 2001-2011), then they do not need permission to attend this retreat. In order to attend retreat, the student should have completed the Dudjom Tersar, Khandro T’huk-T’hik or Tröma Nagmo ngöndro. If someone has finished ngöndro from another lineage, then Rinpoche requests that they also complete at least 10% of the Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro, preferably prior to retreat. Rinpoche requires that retreatants attend all of the teachings. It is very important to receive these teachings in their entirety. People must also commit to individual practice sessions. If someone is absolutely unable to attend all the teachings, they must request permission to miss teachings from Rinpoche by emailing the office. Schedule The retreat will start December 30, 2012 with an evening tsok (Start time TBD) Rinpoche’s first teaching will start on December 31 (Start time TBD) The retreat will end on January 13 after the morning tsok session (Start time TBD) More details will be sent out upon receiving your registration. Phone: (831) 761-6266 Email: office@vajrayana.org Fax: (831) 761 6284 Address: 2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076 ------------------ Vajrakilaya (Namchak Putri) Gutor and Losar Retreat February 7-11, 2013 Gutor Day – Feb 9 New Moon - Tangrak Day – Feb 10 Losar day – Feb 11 Details TBA Phone: (831) 761-6266 Email: office@vajrayana.org Fax: (831) 761 6284 Address: 2013 Eureka Canyon Rd., Watsonville,CA 95076 ---------------------- January 2013 Dudjom Tersar Transmission Florida ( North of Miami ) http://www.padmasambhava.org/ January 19-26, 2013 Winter Dzogchen Retreat Empowerment and Teachings of Lake Born Guru Padmasambhava according to HH Dudjom Rinpoche given by Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche "In 1978 Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche was enthroned as the abbot of the Wish-fulfilling Nyingmapa Institute in Boudanath, Nepal by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, and later became the abbot of the Department of Dharma Studies, where he taught poetry, grammar, philosophy and psychology. "In 1981, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche appointed Rinpoche as the abbot of the Dorje Nyingpo Center in Paris, France. In 1982 he was asked to work with H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche at the Yeshe Nyingpo Center in New York. "During the 1980s, until H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s mahaparinirvana in 1987, Rinpoche continued working closely with him, often traveling as his translator and attendant." http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Padmasambhava Palm Beach Dharma Center & Mandarava House 1205 North Federal Hwy Lake Worth, FL 33460 (561) 547-4711 info@pbdc.net www.pbdc.net --------------------- India ( Bodhgaya ) January 2013 http://pathgate.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=52 Transmission of Mipham Rinpoche's Entire Work at Bodh Gaya in 2013 His Eminence Kyabje Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche has graciously accepted an invitation by Ngagyur Kama Tradition Preservation Association (NKTPA) to confer the empowerment of the entire works of Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche of the Nyingma Tradition followed by the complete oral transmission and long life empowerment at the conclusion of the event. The teaching will start on 23rd January 2013 in Bodh Gaya, India after the completion of the Annual Nyingma Monlam Chenmo. NKTPA will also at the same time host an International seminar on the distinct view and philosophy of Mipham Rinpoche. Khenpo Tsewang Sonam, an eminent Nyingma scholar will preside over the seminar which will serve as a platform for open discussion for the participants. English and Chinese translations will be provided for foreign students with free food and free accommodation available for the participants at the Nyingma Monlam Temple. For further info, please contact the following persons: 1. Khenpo Neydon Sangpo Tel: +91-9418612887 / +91-7250680808 E-mail: nitartha2009@gmail.com 2. Khenpo Ngawang Nyandak Tel: +91-9758268893 E-mail: nyandakn@yahoo.com 3. Khenpo Sangay Tel: +91-9733012799 E-mail: lop_sangay@rediffmail.com ____________ Dzogchen Retreat in Upper New York State, March - April 2013 From http://www.padmasambhava.org/ March 23 – April 20, 2013 One Month Dzogchen Retreat 'Explaining the Meaning of Clear Light Original Mind According to the Instructions of the Victorious Vidyadharas known as 'Vajra Heart' by Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche Given by Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche For autobiography, see http://www.padmasambhava.org/teach/longkhenpo.html Padma Samye Ling, NY 618 Buddha Hwy Sidney Center, NY 13839 Contact (607) 865-8068 jowozegyal "at" catskill.net Registration: http://www.padmasambhava.org/regist.html -------------------- Dzogchen Retreat with Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche May 2013, Western Colorado From http://taramandala.org/program/dzogchen-retreat/ Dzogchen Retreat With Chögyal Namkhai Norbu May 24 - 26, 2013 Date and Time Details: This retreat begins with a mandatory registration from 2pm to 4pm. This retreat will end after dinner on the last day Location: Tara Mandala Retreat Center Categories: Residential Retreats, Tara Mandala Colorado, Weekend Retreats We are looking very forward to the historic return of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu to Tara Mandala. Please join us to receive his teachings and transmissions in the lineage of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. Rinpoche will chose what he will teach at the time of the retreat. Suggested Dana: $100 – $200 Registration will open in January 2013 http://taramandala.org/programs-retreats/registration-information/ E-mail: info@taramandala.org Phone: 970-731-3711 Fax: 970-731-4441 Mailing Address: PO Box 3040, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 About Tara Mandala "Tara Mandala is an international Vajrayana Buddhist community with its home base in Pagosa Springs in Southwest Colorado. It is guided by Lama Tsultrim Allione, author of Women of Wisdom and Feeding Your Demons. Lama Tsultrim has studied Tibetan Buddhism under traditional teachers for more than 45 years. Today, opportunities for quiet contemplation are rare, and places dedicated to long-term retreat are even more scarce. Meditation has a profound effect on the individual and its benefits emanate into the rest of the world. "In a chaotic and stressful world, Tara Mandala retreat center offers refuge, renewal and traditional Buddhist training through our residential Living Dharma program as well as group and solo retreats. Bordered by the San Juan National Forest and Southern Ute Tribal Land, the retreat center is on 700 acres of rolling hills and meadows adorned with many varieties of wild flowers, ponds, and forests. The land itself is a mandala with a stunning peak in the middle surrounded by four valleys. Retreat cabins are scattered across the landscape, and at its heart is the extraordinary three-story mandala Tara temple." -------------------- Core Teaching of Guru Padmasambhava, in the palm of your hand Re Rose: "I want to gain a basic understanding of traditional tantra. What book should I read first?" From http://tribes.tribe.net/practicaltantra/thread/60dae7a7-02a1-40d2-b350-8d5d4a29a15e A crucial and indispensable text on Buddhist tantra - the most comprehensive system of tantra - is "Dakini Teachings" This is worth a whole library of other texts on tantra. It is an essentialized encyclopedia of Buddhist and Tantric practice. For most people, i.e. newcomers, the book mentioned above, "Heartfelt Advice" by Lama Dudjom Dorjee, is the best place to start, followed by "Dakini Teachings". These two books provide the essential context for all tantric Buddhist practice. Dakini Teachings [Paperback] Padmasambhava (Author), Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator), Nyang-ral Nyima Ozer (Author), Yeshe Tsogyal (Author), Erik Pema Kunsang (Author), Marcia Binder Schmidt (Author) http://www.amazon.com/Dakini-Teachings-Padmasambhava/dp/9627341363/ "Padmasambhava, the Indian mystic and tantric Buddhist master, is second only to Buddha Shakyamuni as the most famous personage in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism. In the ninth century, he made the journey across the Himalayan Mountains to establish Buddhism for the people in that country. Now, more than 1,000 years later, we are able to hear and be touched by his voice as contained within this collection of oral advice. "The selections in Dakini Teachings are timely advice - short, direct instructions relating to the three levels of Buddhist practice: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The main emphasis of Padmasambhava's teaching is that spiritual knowledge must be personalized and not remain as mere theory. The book includes an introductory discourse by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and a short biography of Padmasambhava by Jamgon Kongtrul the First." review: "Yeshe Tsogal and his Holiness Guru Rinpoche cut through the noise of everyday life and have given the human race a profound set of teachings accessible to a new student, but which delivers the most concise exposition on the teachings that I have ever read. This is a book of discussion and practices, and by working through the commentaries and practices, it is almost inevitable that one will develop a profound respect for this amazing being and his most loyal student, Yeshe Tsogal, Princess of Karchen. "This book was written 1,500 or so years ago by Guru Padma by Tsogyal, who concealed it in code and hid it in a cave. Guru Padma named the individual who would find it generations later. "The book begins with a foundational set of practices that enable even a novice to develop a different awareness of one's own mind, it's structure, components, and their interaction. The results of those practices are then built upon by succeeding chapters. Buddhism at this level is a profound science of the nature of our minds, how they work, and where the perception of phenomena can become distorted. It also contains advice for the student in how to correct herself or himself within the context of the teachings; an area where most Buddhist books in English are silent. "In particular, Guru Rinpoche describes the outer, inner, secret, and sublime components of awareness in a way that is accessible to anyone with average or better capacity. For a book that was written so long ago, it is profoundly fresh in most places and even Rinpoche's jokes and wry sense of humor come through completely alive. " KT : This is an advanced text. It is comprehensive and it is an extraordinarily valuable introductory summary text, because it will save you many years compared to not having this material in hand. It requires some patience and intelligence to read. Being a classical text, there is some reliance on key words such as Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, etc. This is what I rely on. I can recommend a lot of texts for tantric theory and practice, and in many lineages Buddhist or otherwise, but none replaces this. The teaching in this book, from pages 1 to 100, is the foundation for all the many tantric Buddhist methods. --------------------- REFERENCES vajranatha.com/excerpt/GoldenLetters.htm for intro and excerpts from book "The Golden Letters" THE GOLDEN LETTERS: The Three Statements of Garab Dorje, the First Human Teacher of Dzogchen, together with a Commentary by Dza Patrul Rinpoche entitled "The Special Teaching of the Wise and Glorious King;" Foreword by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, A Short Commentary on the Three Statements by HH Dudjom Rinpoche, Translation, Introduction, and Commentaries by John Myrdhin Reynolds, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1996. See http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Letters-John-Myrdhin-Reynolds/dp/1559390506/ "According to the ancient traditions of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, the central teachings of dzogchen, "the Great Perfection," were first expounded in the human world by the great Buddhist master Garab Dorje from the mysterious country of Uddiyana (Eastern Afghanistan). "This core Buddhist teaching directly introduces the meditation practitioner to the Nature of Mind, or innate Buddha-nature, which has been there from the very beginning, since before Samsara itself came into manifestation, but which goes unrecognized lifetime after lifetime because it is covered over by adventitious obscurations and negative karma. The practice of dzogchen purifies and removes these layers of the clouds of obscuration an d karma, so that one's own original nature, intrinsic awareness or Rigpa, shines through like the face of the sun in the sky free of clouds. "From Uddiyana, the Dzogchen teachings were brought to India by Manjushrimitra and, in turn, his disciple Shrisimha transmitted them to three students, Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, and Vairochana the Tibetan translator, who brought them to Tibet. Since then these Dzogchen teachings have been preserved and propagated within the traditions of the Nyingmapa school of Tibet established by Guru Padmasambhava in the eighth century of our era. "The essence of Garab Dorje's message or kerygma is found in his last testament delived to Manjushrimitra after the master had passed into Nirvana by way of attaining the Rainbow Body of Light, the culmination of the practice of Dzogchen. "Having dissolved his physical body into pure radiant energy and fading into the clear open spaces of the sky, he reappeared as a resurrected Body of Light in the guise of a sixteen year old youth inside a rainbow sphere of light suspended in the middle of the cloudless sky. This last testament or final posthumous communcation ('das-rjes) is known as "The Three Statements that Strike the Essential Points," (Tshig gsum gnad brdeg), and represents the quintessence of the Dzogchen teachings. "In the nineteenth century in Eastern Tibet, the famous master Patrul Rinpoche wrote a brilliant commentary on these three statements, together with the contemplation practices relating to them, entitled "The Special Teachings of the Wise and Glorious King," (mKas-pa shri rgyal-po' khyad chos). In this volume these important Dzogchen texts of Garab Dorje and Patrul Rinpoche are translated from the Tibetan into contemporary English. Notes, commentaries, and glossary of Dzogchen terms are also included." For a basic perspective on Dzogchen Primordial Awareness Yoga, see http://www.keithdowman.net/dzogchen/eye_of_the_storm_excerpts.htm which has information and excerpts related to book " Eye of the Storm: Vairotsana's Five Original Transmissions" Eye of the Storm is a translation of Vairotsana's five original transmissions (Snga 'gyur lnga) , the five seminal tantras of the Mind Series of Dzogchen Precepts, with a commentary from the Mdo bcu, by Keith Dowman, a foreword by Bhakha Tulku Pema Rigdzin, published by Vajra Publications in Kathmandu, Nepal. For a short introductory meditation text on dzogchen, see book "THE CYCLE OF DAY AND NIGHT, where one proceeds along the Path of the Primordial Yoga" A Basic Text of the Practice of Dzogchen by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, ttranslated and Edited by John Myrdhin Reynolds http://www.amazon.com/The-Cycle-Day-Night-Primordial/dp/0882680404/ "The Cycle of the Day and Night where one proceeds along the Path of the Primordial Yoga" (gdod-ma'i rnal-'byor gyi lam khyer nyin mtsham 'kor-lo-ma) is a presentation of the fundamentals of Dzogchen practice in a clear and precise manner by one the leading exponents of Dzogchen in the West, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. Central to the practice of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, is the making of contemplation into a continuous process through one's activities during all twenty-four hours of the day. "Thus, the author describes the Practice of the Day (nyin gyi rnal-'byor) where one simply observes the rise and fall of one's thoughts and gazes into the open clear dimension of the sky and a Practice of the Night (mtshan gyi rnal-'byor) entailing thge taking of awarenress into sleep and thereafter lucid dreaming. Followng these simple methods, the practitioner develops in the state of contemplation. "Based on the teachings of Garab Dorje, the first human master in the Dzogchen lineage from Uddiyana, this volume consists of a translation from the original Tibetan of the author's verse text, together with a commentary drawn from the author's own more extensive oral commentary. A reproduction of the original Tibetan text, as well as a glossary of Dzogchen terms and a biographical sketch of the Tibetan author are included." For information on Yeshe Tsogyel and the Nyingma school, see www.keithdowman.net/books/sd.htm which has introduction and excerpts from "Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel" Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Snow Lion (January 1, 1996) ISBN-10: 1559390654 http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Dancer-Secret-Songs-Tsogyel/dp/1559390654/ "Among the great female adepts of Tibetan Tantra, Yeshe Tsogyel is foremost, and this masterpiece of Tibetan biographical literature conveys the meaning of her sublime apocalyptic life with lyrical beauty. Yeshe Tsogyel was an eighth century Tibetan princess who became the tantric consort of Tibet's Great Guru Padmasambhava. "Her exemplary life story describes the ideal path of a yogini (a female practitioner) and in so far as it provides a blueprint for every woman who aspires to Buddhahood, Sky Dancer is one of the most important translations to be made from the Tibetan. It describes her motivation, the initiations taken from the Guru, her path of practice, her tribulations and the impediments in meditation practice, and the signs of her success in realisation of her buddha nature. "'Skydancer' is a translation of the Tibetan word 'Khandroma' (dakini), 'female buddha'. Many of the songs provide secret precepts given to her by her teachers and by her to her disciples. These oral instructions belonging to the supreme path of tantra (anuttara-yoga-tantra) and Dzokchen provide the core of the biography. 'This work is important not only for its profound and detailed instruction on tantra-yoga, as an inspiration and guide on the tantric path, but also as an historical work shedding light upon the heroic period of Tibetan history, the epoch of empire, and the life and activity of Guru Padmasambhava.' 'Keith Dowman's four essays on the historical and religious background and woman's place in the tradition introduce readers to the Buddhist Tantra and elucidate the main points touched upon by the text.' 'Mr Dowman's translation possesses an immediate, compelling voice, its clarity all the more remarkable when one considers the relative inaccessibility of the spiritual biography he translates...The brilliance of this translation stems from the fact that Dowman combines the linguistic and historic skills of a scholar with the insight and practical wisdom of a sadhaka. Jane Casey in ReVision. 'No doubt it will be found relevant by feminists who yet have to make much headway against the taboos of Western Christianity. Tantra may provide an exciting alternative.' Iain Finlayson in the Glasgow Herald. 'Tsogyel's biography overflows with profound meanings that either cannot or may not be fully explained in print. Where many fools have rushed in before him, Keith Dowman has trod lightly and well. Anne Klein in Parabola. 'PREMATURE READING OF THIS BOOK MAY SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH.' Michael Hookham in The Middle Way - - - - end references - - - - --------------------- Prayer from HH Dudjom Rinpoche and the Dudjom Tersar Treasure Tradition "A Prayer of What to Accept and What to Reject" See http://tribes.tribe.net/chagdudgonpa/thread/8825a3ff-f516-4c2e-9b03-5f9bcad05e29 ---------------------- Nyingma resource links http://dudjom.blogspot.com/ http://nyingma-centers-america.blogspot.com/ European Nyingma centers http://nyingma-centers.blogspot.com/ Padmasambhava Buddhist Centers - US and International ( Canada, Europe, India, Russia ): http://www.padmasambhava.org/centers.html --------------------- Every major tantric Buddhist empowerment includes the Diamond Being Action Recitation, the "Hundred Syllable mantra". This is a primary practice for purification. See my post "VAJRASATTVA KARMA MANTRA, with teaching and references ( repost )" at http://dzogchen.tribe.net/thread/db968448-f2d6-4da3-8317-054ad9925ff1 Translation of the VAJRASATTVA KARMA MANTRA ( Diamond Being Action Recitation Which Is All-Accomplishing ) ". . . Identical to Vajrasattva, the supreme siddhis ( powers ) are perfected in him; he attains the blissful pure land, supreme wisdom becomes his display, and he is an exemplar to gods and men; he is empowered in body speech and mind and whatever he imagines is actualized." - - from the Thirty First Chapter of the Guhyagarbha tantra, The Chapter on Direct Perception of Vajrasattva This mantra is quintessential to the foundational practices of Buddhist tantra ( i.e. mystical yoga ), and also is broadly and extensively used at the highest levels of Tantra, up to and including Mahamudra / Great Seal and Atiyoga/ Great Perfection. The following text and teaching is most sacred. Vajrasattva is the quintessence of ( all ) the Hundred Families of Buddhist tantra. It is a universal key to all the esoteric Buddhist tantric traditions of India, Tibet, China, and Japan. Vajrasattva practice distinguishes Inner Mahayana / Great Vehicle Buddhism from Outer Mahayana / Great Vehicle Buddhism, for in the latter it is either not found or very hidden. . . ---------------------- Additional resources on Great Perfection Yoga useful worldwide Internal Energy Yoga: Great Perfection / Dzogchen / Yantra Yoga Retreats and Resources ( Tantric Buddhist Whole Body Yoga / Kundalini Yoga ) http://boston.tribe.net/listing/Internal-Energy-Yoga-Great-Perfection-Dzogchen-Yantra-Yoga-Retreats-and-Resources-Tantric-Buddhist-Whole-Body-Yoga-Kundalini-Yoga-/boston-ma/b63cefca-e9d1-43ad-a771-d160a6bd0816 Great Perfection Yantra Yoga Retreats and Resources ( Tantric Buddhist Whole Body Yoga / Kundalini Yoga ) Keywords: meditation, sadhana, inner healing, human energy systems, kundalini yoga, Buddhism, buddhist tantra, great perfection / atiyoga / dzogchen, yoga teaching retreats, pranayama, chi kung, Fabio Andrico, Namkhai Norbu, International Dzogchen Community. . . Summary: Fabio Andrico, Senior Yantra Yoga Instructor under the world renowned Tibetan Dzogchen Master Namkhai Norbu, is giving three yoga teaching retreats. . .. Resources and references and international contacts are given for Yantra Yoga and the Dzogchen teachings and centers of Namkhai Norbu. This is not only a set of event listings, but a comprehensive dharma teaching article meant to be useful long term for people everywhere who seek to realize their innermost potential, their own inherent Buddha nature. . . . ---------------------- Additional resources on Buddhist Medical Tantra Buddhist Medical Tantra - Resources and Transmissions and Ayurveda ( Hindu-Buddhist yogic medicine ) at http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/Buddhist-Medical-Tantra-Resources-and-Transmissions-and-Ayurveda-Hindu-Buddhist-yogic-medicine-/san-francisco-ca/15a26f7c-2a80-4043-bc3c-17fcddac6e14 Summary : This is a broad and comprehensive teaching article on inner healing, from the standpoint of yogic medicine, and in particular from the standpoint of central Asian medicine. Many key book references are given, along with online introductory materials, so this article is broadly useful for different audiences from the beginner level to the professional clinical level. > > Note that every Padmasambhava empowerment includes a full Medicine Buddha empowerment at the highest level. --------------------- A Common Question on "Other Traditions and Participation" Re: other traditions - Native American, Hindu, Shinto, and Taoist Sat, January 16, 2010 - 12:52 PM Re Low: "KT, Is it common to have people of other traditions to participate in some of your ceremonies?" KT answers: I have seen significant numbers of Hindus attend Buddhist empowerments. With good reason. The Hindus and Buddhists share a lot of Goddess Tara practice. Many Hindus and some tantric Buddhists ( In Tibet and Japan ) do Ganapati / Elephant Headed God practice. I myself am both a tantric Buddhist guru and pipe carrier of the Lakota Sioux tradition. And I have Hindu mantra transmissions from Hindu spiritual doctor Thomas Ashley Farrand. Thus wherever I show up I do so connected to several different traditions. The Shinto practitioners ( indigenous Japanese shamanism / nature spirit religion ) incorporate some Buddhist mantras, as I have seen first hand. There are native American Buddhists, such as Lama Dhyani Ywahoo, Hindu Buddhists such as Thomas Ashley Farrand ( Kalacakra initiate and fellow student of HH Kalu Rinpoche ), and Shinto Buddhists such as O-Sensei Morihei Uyeshiba, who chanted the Heart Sutra. The Heart Sutra is sometimes chanted in Aikido practice halls for that reason. Taoist masters revere the Buddhist goddess Kuan Yin and at least two are students of Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhism is universal in nature. It is not however compatible with the notion of a chosen people, with a unique savior figure, nor a final teaching from above. So Buddhism is not compatible with Judaism, Christianity, nor Islam. But Buddhism remains compatible with a broad range of Hindu, shamanic, yogic, and Taoist practices. One of the greatest Taoist masters alive is a tantric Buddhist guru. I know this first hand. ---------------------- "The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche [ Padmasambhava ] That Swiftly Removes Obstacles and Fulfills All Wishes" by Dudjom Rinpoche http://dudjom.blogspot.com/2007/04/prayer-to-guru-rinpoche-that-swiftly.html From the translations freely available at www.Lotsawahouse.org "The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche That Swiftly Removes Obstacles and Fulfills All Wishes" Emaho: O wonder! O Guru Rinpoche! You are the compassion of all the buddhas in one, Our only unfailing and constant refuge! Quickly turn your love and attention to your sons and daughters and their prayers, Inspire us with your blessings, empowerments and siddhis—here and now! Although we know the example of your life, your qualities and kindness Surpass those of any other buddha, Yet in happy times, Guru, we do not remember you, And our prayers are nothing more than so many meaningless words. Now when the dark age’s intensifying decay oppresses us, And unwanted suffering strikes us without warning, Then we remember you, our protector, deep within our hearts. Turn your loving attention to this anguished plea of ours, our cry for help: Earthquakes, infernos, hurricanes, drought, flood, and such— Remove these outer obstacles, nature’s disruptions, externally! All kinds of illness—of heat and cold, wind, bile and phlegm— Remove these inner obstacles, physical disorders, internally! The five poisons within our own minds: attachment and aggression, hope and fear—demonic forces, Dissolve these secret obstacles, mental disturbances, into all-pervading space! When immense suffering engulfs the world and beings, Turn it into happiness and peace, O Guru Rinpoche! When weapons of war threaten the whole face of the earth, Turn back the armies that plunge this age into turmoil, O Guru Rinpoche! When obscurations, malevolent spirits, diseases and epidemics plague us, Wipe out all this sickness, O Guru Rinpoche! When resources fail in the environment and amongst beings, bringing deprivation and suffering, Reveal abundant food and riches, O Guru Rinpoche! When the time comes to help beings with a wealth of hidden teachings and sacred objects, Hand over the father’s treasure to his heirs, O Guru Rinpoche! When roaming through mountain valleys, deserted places and hidden lands, Lead us on the right path, O Guru Rinpoche! When vicious wild animals attack us, Drive off these ferocious creatures, O Guru Rinpoche! When the four elements become unbalanced, and threaten us with catastrophe, Harmonize the elements into their natural state, O Guru Rinpoche! When thugs, bandits and robbers assault us, Dispel the terror of such cruelty and greed, O Guru Rinpoche! When armed aggressors and killers torment us, Enclose us in a vajra-tent, O Guru Rinpoche! When this life-span is exhausted and death comes, Lead us to the Realm of Great Bliss, O Guru Rinpoche! When the illusory experiences of the bardo arise as suffering, Let the delusion be self-liberated, O Guru Rinpoche! When we stray into the cycle of karmic existence, Show us the path to liberation, O Guru Rinpoche! Throughout this life, the next and the bardo state, We have no-one to rely on but you, O Guru Rinpoche! In short—rest your lotus feet in the hearts of us, your devoted followers, Always, without ever separating, Completely purify the suffering of impurity and delusion, And inspire us, with your blessing, to reach the stronghold of everlasting happiness and peace! This prayer is offered by Jikdral Yeshé Dorjé (Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche) for the peace and happiness of the world, at a time when we are all afflicted both physically and mentally by all kinds of outer and inner circumstances. For anyone who encounters this prayer, may it serve as the cause to eliminate all the outer and inner obstacles they face and accomplish their wishes and aspirations, just as they desire. This appears in A Great Treasure of Blessings: A Book of Prayers to Guru Rinpoche, Rigpa, 2004. Rigpawiki.org From: Lotsawahouse.org ---------------------- Prayer to HH Dudjom Rinbochay "Drubnye Drogben lotsai kuyi gar Yingchuk Dechen Tsogyal sungi od Gyalwang Pemai thugkyi gyutrul che Jigdrel Yeshe Dorjer solwa deb Gonkye khorwa jisi shendon du Gangdul trulpai trinle kabyewar Dagkyang denye khorgyi thogma ru Kyene sangwa zinpai thiutob sho." "Bodily display of the accomplished Drogben Lotsawa, Radiance of the speech of Tsogyal, Great Bliss Queen of Space, Great magical wisdom mind emanation of the powerful conqueror Padmasambhava, Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, I pray to you: Protector, wherever I for the sake of others, Unofold the Nirmanakaya activity of caring for beings to be trained, May I be born in your foremost retinue, And be able to hold your secret abilities." page 19, "The Lamp of Liberation", by Dudjom Rinbochay --------------------- May this public communication greatly benefit many people of all different countries, and may this teaching flourish and manifest powerfully for the benefit of all, and long endure. This is written in partial fulfillment of my teaching responsibilities as a tantric guru and mahayana guru. "Mahayana" means Great Way Buddhism, which really does mean helping everybody, not just one group. This post is truly for the benefit of all. May it serve you well! I am giving you my very best. Don't waste these opportunities! All Our Relations. Sarva Managlam! May All Beings Benefit! Siddhi Rastu! May There Be Yogic Accomplishment! KT

Location: SF Bay Area - 5485 views

Goddess Project Update

bushdoctor — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:08:13 GMT

Dear Goddesses, I just counted and the great news is that I've already photographed 75 goddesses for the new book. I was surprised to learn that only 17 are non-white, only 16 are large women and only 11 are over 40 years old. The project needs more diversity. I will likely shoot about 50 more people for the book so the vast majority of them will be women of colour or larger or older ladies. Please keep your eyes open for the coolest women in those categories who cross your path, only the coolest need apply. We are at least two months ahead of schedule, thank you for your support and rock on, wild things. https://www.facebook.com/RicardoScipiosGoddessProject

Location: SF Bay Area - 125 views

Whole Person Integrative Spiritual Practice ( Chinese Mysticism ) - The Ninth Annual Taoist Gathering / Meditation Resources

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:26:50 GMT

Whole Person Integrative Spiritual Practice ( Chinese Mysticism ) . . .and . . . The Ninth Annual Taoist Gathering October 26-28, 2012 San Francisco area ( East Bay ) Keywords : meditation, high-leve lwellness, mysticism, alternative medicine, shamanism, martial arts, energy work, pagan culture, inner healing, energy work, tai chi, chi kung, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buddhist chikung and kungfu, Buddhist tantra and mysticism. Summary: This post accomplishes several goals. 1)To announce the Ninth Annual Taoist Gathering in the San Francisco Bay Area this October. 2) To make broadly known "Qigong Empowerment: A Guide", a remarkable single volume encyclopedia of Buddhist and Taoist internal energy yoga, and also "Simple Chinese Medicine: A Beginner's Guide", by Aihan Kuhn, C.M.D. 3) To make available to people everywhere a practical set of English language book references on Taoist meditation and healing practices, tai chi and chi kung. 4) To offer references to other closely related teaching posts on Buddhist healing and yoga. Master Yoda said: "Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. . . For my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is! Life creates it, makes it grow. It's energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we...(Yoda pinches Luke's shoulder)...not this crude matter. (a sweeping gesture) You must *feel* the Force around you. (gesturing) Here, between you...me...the tree...the rock...everywhere!" The Annual Taoist Gathering in San Francisco is one of the most important held in the western hemisphere. Each year numerous and diverse high level practitioners and scholars of Taoism give talks and master classes. My previous event listing for this same event last year was viewed by over 800 people, and was one of the first major cross tribe postings on tribe.net, as well as the main Taoist teaching resources post for tribe.net. Thus we know that much good can be accomplished through this kind of outreach. Here is the information for this year's event: http://www.thetaoistcenter.com/the-ninth-annual-taoist-gathering-call-for-papers 3824 MacArthur Boulevard Oakland, California 94619 510-336-0129 Email: info@thetaoistcenter.com This center is a major resource year-round for traditional Chinese spiritual culture and healing practices. Zhi Dao Guan, The Taoist Center is the umbrella organization, created by Dr. Alex Feng in 2002, that encompasses: * The Clinic for Traditional Chinese Medicine * Zhi Dao Guan – The Taoist Center * Wu Tao Kuan School of Martial Arts Taoist practice resources / Booklist at my post for the previous Eighth Annual Taoist Gathering: http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/Spiritual-Practice-Taoism-Taoist-Practice-Resources-and-Eighth-Annual-Taoist-Gathering-CA-/san-francisco-ca/d084bdc2-a9b3-460c-bd4f-b9b9fc239a42 ---------------- Introductory Book: Simple Chinese Medicine: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Healing & Well-Being [Paperback] Aihan Kuhn http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Chinese-Medicine-Beginners-Well-Being/dp/1594391246/ Paperback: 248 pages Publisher: Ymaa Publication Center; 1 edition (June 16, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1594391246 ISBN-13: 978-1594391248 About the Author Aihan Kuhn, C.M.D., is a Chinese medical doctor trained in both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is a graduate of the Hunan Medical University, Changsha China. In China, Dr. Kuhn practiced OB/GYN in Chinese hospitals (1983-1988), studied Tai Chi and Chi Kung (since 1978) and returns each year to advance her training in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts. Best Books Award Finalist - USA Book News Bronze Award Winner - Living Now Book Awards "Written for those new to natural healing, Simple Chinese Medicine gives you tools that you can use today to improve your quality of life and begin your healing journey. Based upon centuries old practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), readers are provided simple-to-do exercises for stress relief, health maintenance, and cancer prevention. Additional sections include guidance on using food for healing and for weight control. "Careful attention is given to explaining the differences between Eastern healing methods and Western treatment methods, as well as an insightful discussion of TCM’s concept of ‘prevention’ for health maintenance. A final section shares the personal experiences of some of Dr. Kuhn’s patients. This book is exactly what it's title suggests - a simple but thorough and comprehensive beginner's guide to (traditional) Chinese medicine (TCM), natural healing and well-being." Amazon Review: "If you are an advanced student of TCM or a TCM practitioner, you will not need this book as you already are familiar with it's contents. If you are new to TCM however, or, like me, have some experience and knowledge but would like a comprehensive introduction and guide to TCM and natural healing at your fingertips, this book is an excellent choice. "Dr. Aihan Kuhn studied both conventional western and traditional Chinese medicine in China. Throughout the book Dr. Kuhn clearly describes the differences (and similarities) between Eastern and Western healing and treatment and what to consider when choosing and seeking the right medical treatment (western vs. eastern or both). "Dr. Kuhn introduces and clearly and simply explains many TCM topics such as diagnostic methods,TCM treatments, the use of herbs for healing and health, moxibustion, acupuncture, the meridian system and chi, cupping, medical massage, five elements theory and much more. "Dr. Kuhn clearly stresses the importance of proper diet and proper exercise for healing and health maintenance - as whole sections of the book are devoted to these topics. As Dr. Kuhn is also a practitioner and teacher of Taiji and Qigong, she includes illustrated examples of Chinese self massage, warming up exercises and Qigong routines for health and healing. Although I usually find it difficult to learn Chinese exercise (Qigong, Taiji, etc.) from photos, their inclusion here makes for a very well rounded work. The book concludes with three appendixes: Commonly Used Patent herbs and Herbal tonics, Recipes for Healthy Eating, Asian Style, and Students and Patients Speak. "Dr. Kuhn has put together a very informative and useful introductory guide to TCM and better health and longevity which is easy to understand and - for me at least - a joy to read. Dr. Kuhn's positive and caring personality seems to come to life in every section of the book - which is reinforced throughout by small boxed anecdotes of her experiences taken from her life and career - and an appendix of her students and patients personal experiences with Dr. Kuhn, included at the end of the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning and understanding the fundamentals of TCM, as a general TCM reference, and as a guide to living a healthy and natural life." ----------------- New Book Reference: Qigong Empowerment: A Guide to Medical, Taoist, Buddhist and Wushu Energy Cultivation [Paperback] Master Shou-Yu Liang (Author), Mr Wen-Ching Wu (Author) http://www.amazon.com/Qigong-Empowerment-Medical-Buddhist-Cultivation/dp/1889659029/ Paperback: 348 pages Publisher: Way of the Dragon Publishing, The (December 1, 1996) Language: English ISBN-10: 1889659029 ISBN-13: 978-1889659022 The Authors "Shou-Yu Liang was born in 1943 in Sichuan, China. At age six, he began his training in qigong, under the tutelage of his renowned grandfather, the late Liang, Zhi-Xiang. He was taught esoteric qigong and the martial arts of the Emei Mountain region, including Emei Dapeng Qigong. At age eight, his grandfather also made special arrangements for him to begin training Emei Qigong and Wushu with other well-known masters of the time. By the time he was twenty, Shou-Yu Liang had already received instruction from 10 of the most well-known legendary grandmasters of both Southern and Northern systems. His curiosity inspired him to learn more than one hundred sequences from many different styles. . . "Shou-Yu Liang has personally taught over 10,000 students. Additionally, Shou-Yu Liang has touched the lives of tens of thousands of students in his affiliate schools and schools of students students. His students have received hundreds of gold medals in national and international competitions. Many of his students are currently teaching all over the world. . . "In the past few years, Shou-Yu Liang was selected as The Instructor of the Year by Inside Kung Fu Magazine, selected by the China Wushu Magazine in the Biography of Todays Extraordinary Martial Artists. He has been awarded the Worlds Top 100 Outstanding Martial Artists Professional Award, Worlds Greatest Contribution Award and Worlds Outstanding Accomplishment Award. He has also been selected to be included in the Current List of Famous Martial Artists and in the Chinese Whos Who in the World. "Wen-Ching Wu reached a martial arts highlight in 1990 when he competed in the United States National Chinese Martial Arts Competition where he was awarded the Grand Champion award in both Internal and External Styles. He competed in 8 events in 1990 and was ranked first in every event he competed in. Since then, he has been focusing his efforts on teaching and writing." Amazon review of this book: "Definitely the best book on QiGong available in English to date. And no doubt better than a lot, if not most, of the QiGong books in Chinese. The varieties of QiGong in China number in the THOUSANDS, this book presents some of the best in essence. This 348-page volume is divided into five chapters or "Books". "The materials contained in Book 1 (Medical QiGong) are pretty basic, and commonly available, though useful for beginners. The last chapter (Book 5) on WuShu QiGong will be primarily of interest to martial artists and some athletes. The weakness here is that it covers only the "Hard" techniques, but does not include the Soft or internal methods like TaiJi and similar QiGongs. Toaist QiGong is covered in Book 2. . . "These encompass the whole spectrum of physical to spiritual development purposes. The disadvantage of Taoist QiGong is that sometimes it can get overly complicated, and burdened by cultural dross. The authors however, have been able to present the information in a reasonably simple and straightforward way, easily comprehensible to those not steeped in ancient Chinese lores. "The most unique part is Book 3, which is about Buddhist QiGong, more specifically QiGong as taught in some Tantric Buddhist traditions. Most of the information contained here are not easy to come by, even for students of Tantric Buddhism. This is really a pity as, in my experience, Buddhist QiGong has some of the most powerful and profound techniques. "So the author really has done a great service to the general public by sharing such information in a non sectarian way. For some this section alone will justify getting the whole volume. Book 4 teaches the principles and techniques to develop (build), regulate and work with Qi (both within and outside of the individual) for a variety of purposes, especially healing. These really make up the foundation for any advanced QiGong cultivation. After you have mastered them, the rest are easy. This section is invaluable to those involved in energetic healing work. . . . "The language used throughout the volume is simple and straightforward, the instructions are direct and easy to understand. The numerous photos, charts and illustrations are clear and helpful. Though the volume also contains a fair amount of philosophical and technical details. . . "An immensely practical book well worth the price." ----------------- Other closely related resource lists 1) Internal Energy Yoga: Great Perfection / Dzogchen / Yantra Yoga Retreats and Resources ( Tantric Buddhist Whole Body Yoga / Kundalini Yoga ) at http://boston.tribe.net/listing/Internal-Energy-Yoga-Great-Perfection-Dzogchen-Yantra-Yoga-Retreats-and-Resources-Tantric-Buddhist-Whole-Body-Yoga-Kundalini-Yoga-/boston-ma/b63cefca-e9d1-43ad-a771-d160a6bd0816 2) Buddhist Medical Tantra - Resources and Transmissions and Ayurveda ( Hindu-Buddhist yogic medicine ) at http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/Buddhist-Medical-Tantra-Resources-and-Transmissions-and-Ayurveda-Hindu-Buddhist-yogic-medicine-/san-francisco-ca/15a26f7c-2a80-4043-bc3c-17fcddac6e14 ----------------- May All Beings Benefit! KT

Location: Oakland Downtown - 650 views

Spiritual Awareness: Cultivating A Daily Spiritual Practice

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:42:33 GMT

Yoga, Meditation, Walking, Chanting, Tai Chi, Breath work, Prayer What is a daily spiritual practice? How can having one help you? Expand your way of being Learn more about it by visiting our site Spiritual Awareness: Cultivating A Daily Spiritual Practice http://adailyspiritualpractice.blogspot.com/ Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 302 views

Announcing New Social Enterprise - GatherWell Garden Rental Service and Grow Your Own Resources

Cynthia — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 04:04:31 GMT

GatherWell helps folks rent and find garden space in their neighborhood, and provides other grow your own resources. To rent or find garden space go to www.gatherwell.com To stay up to date on GatherWell's progress take 15 seconds to sign up at: http://eepurl.com/FthB. To be in touch with ideas, questions, partnership potential, or to say hi, just e-mail: growforgood@gatherwell.com Hope to hear from you!

Location: SF Bay Area - 330 views

Cutie Pie Vegetarians

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:44:27 GMT

Do want to learn more about vegetarian lifestyle? Do you feel this may be your path? Do you wonder how it can help you to be a healthier person? We have a great site focused on the benefits of vegetaranism and how it may serve you. Visit http://cutevegetarians.blogspot.com/ Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795 Blessings!!!!

Location: SF Bay Area - 103 views

TRANCE DRUMMING CLASSES in SF - 6 Sessions 10.9 -11.13

AuntieMatter — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 01:26:19 GMT

WORLD BEAT TRANCE DRUMMING CLASSES... Djembe, Doumbek and All World Single-Head Hand Drums - Use polyrhythms, improvise, feel joyful & effortless Drumming! Teacher: Auntie Matter (aka Sondra Slade) Founder & Lead Percussionist AXIS MUNDI TranceFusion World Groove LEARN TO DRUM & IMPROVISE IN ANY SITUATION! Enter the Flow of the PULSE and get mad new skills for Rituals, Drum Circles, Sound Healing and Transformational Journeys. BEGINNING CLASS - 6 Sessions - 7pm to 8:30pm *Starting the 2nd week of October - Tuesday Oct. 9th 6 weeks on consecutive TUESDAYS Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30 - Nov. 6, 13 Learn mesmerizing World Beat rhythm patterns from the Middle East and India, techniques & tips for getting the best sounds from your drum, & skills for navigating the shamanic realm of World Beat Trance Drumming. You will learn how to STOP THINKING and journey through the deepest dimensions of transformational rhythmic Entrainment. You will learn several rhythm patterns and their variations, that can all be combined into a seamless cycle of nested polyrhythms. You will also learn how to easily transition from one to another of these patterns, simultaneously play them canon style with other drummers, improvise and invent your own rhythms, & effortlessly return to the Mother Beat, all without getting lost or dropping the beat! AND! you will experience the amazing powers of Trance Drumming for stress relief, healing, disconnection from time, tranceformation, shamanic journeying and expanded consciousness. For BEGINNERS and ANY LEVEL of drummer, and for SOUND HEALERS and members of the Holistic community who wish to learn how to work with Theta State Brainwaves and Entrainment for healing and transformational benefit. BYO drum if you have one... Drum Rental available: (from my personal stock of premium drums) Doumbek & Djembe - $10 per drum, per class. After you have joined the class I can email you my recommendations for the best drums, buying them and where to get the best deals, including special 10% discounts for my students! LOCATION: Potrero Hill in San Francisco (very close to the Bay Bridge) easily reached by car - PLENTY OF EASY STREET PARKING!! or Public Transportation - the Muni line 22 runs right to it. Once you register for the class, you will be sent the address and directions. TERMS: Please pre-register to secure your place – I keep classes small in order to give each student as much personal attention as possible! TUITION: Full Tuition - $210.00 payable in 3 Installments of $70 each Registration & Payment Information: 2 classes non-refundable tuition is the Registration fee. $70 due in advance upon Registration - covers your first 2 classes $70 due on 3rd Class $70 due on 5th Class *Registration Fee pre-paid at PayPal - contact me for instructions *I will send you a Confirmation of payment after PayPal notifies me. *You can choose to pay in Full when you Register, if you prefer. *Otherwise, the remaining 2 installments will be paid at Class - Cash or checks are OK For Questions, more info and to Register: contact Sondra direct by email: axismundi@jps.net Drumming Classes: http://pweb.jps.net/~axismundi/id5.html Music: http://www.soundclick.com/axismundi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUNTIE MATTER (aka Sondra Slade) founded AXIS MUNDI World Beat TranceFusion and is the bands lead Percussionist. She studied at the Ali Akbar Khan School of Music & the Center for World Music. She has been drumming for over 25 years & over 13 years ago she began journeying the path of shamanic Tantric Trance Drumming as an integral part of her practice of Kundalini 'Spontaneous Sound' Yoga. She taught Trance Drumming at Belladonna, Goddess Arts Institute Alliance, the SF Spiritual Enrichment Center, Spiral Muse, Change Makers, the Humanist Fellowship and the Institute for Conscious Body Work. She now teaches ongoing classes & private lessons in San Francisco, performs, facilitates Drum Circles and Rituals, and leads Drumming Retreats. Student Testimonials: "Last night, I spent two hours with Axis Mundi founder Sondra Slade, being tutored by her in "trance drumming." Sondra is a marvelous teacher, extraordinary drummer, and utterly delicious human being. I can confirm that the claims she makes for the transformational powers of trance drumming are quite reasonable, as I experienced all of them. My arms and hands became birds diving and slicing through time to land on the drumhead of Eternity. A joyous elation flooded my body, mind, and heart as I entered a sensual world beyond thoughts and concepts, a world of feeling, rhythm, vibration, pulse, and primal conscious energy." Robert Rabbin, Founder, Radical Sages "Thank you for a wonderful class. We went home absolutely ecstatic! You were very kind and gentle to us as beginning drummers. I was worried that I would not be able to follow the rhythm or attempt to keep up with the class, but you helped me focus and get into that nice 'theta state'. I felt good drumming! We plan to study with you again and again!" Chris and Robert "I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the classes! It’s so beautiful to see the passion you have for your work! The magic of the drum can take me into an altered state of consciousness very quickly. I can’t wait to practice the beat you taught me." Doris "Thank you for your time and your generosity. You have imparted and shared not just musical notes but a lot of insights about drumming and cosmology which are very enlightening - and made me love drumming more." Mae

Location: San Francisco - 355 views

FULL MOON TRANCE DANCE ACTIVATION with AXIS MUNDI TranceFusion

AuntieMatter — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 03:01:40 GMT

Axis Mundi TranceFusion & Friends invite you to Full Moon Trance Dance Activation Saturday - Sep. 29th - 2012 Trance Dancing ~ Live Sacred Sound World Beat Drumming ~ Hosted Food Sound Healing ~ Singing Bowls Circle Casting ~ Invocation with *AXIS MUNDI *Loriel Starr Bowls Saturday - Sep. 29th - 2012 Bhakti Mandir (House of Devotional Ecstasy) 6225 Doremus Ave. - Richmond, CA 94805 $15.00 at the Door 8:00pm to 12:00am Doors open @ 8:00 - Festivities start @ 8:30 We're dancing across the final stepping stones in the 2012 Activation! Ignite your Blue Flame & explore the Inner Mystery & Ecstasy that is your Essence as we revive the untamed longings of the Eternal Dance... the Spontaneously Arising Ecstatic Agony of Endless Bliss born at the dawn of consciousness. Bask in the glow of the FULL HARVEST MOON and join a radiant commUNITY of kindred spirits to celebrate the Fall Equinox and the First Harvest in the full bounty of Gaia's abundance. Facebook event page: Hosted Savory Edibles Served - veggie & omnivore BYO Libations & Contributions of Savory or Sweet Snacks Welcomed! Wear your EXOTIC & FESTIVE FINERY & have a warm layer to enjoy FULL MOON Gazing from the beautiful 3 level outdoor deck! *********************************************************** 8:40 pm (approx): Opening Sacred Space ~ *Tibetan Bowl Activation by Loriel Starr *Celtic Calling The Dragons by Druid James - House of Danu * Invocation to The Moon by Auntie Matter 9:00 to 10:30pm ~ Ecstatic Trance Dancing with Live Drumming & Sound Healing Meditation with AXIS MUNDI TranceFusion Shamanic Chant Experience the Ecstasy of the Tantric Cave Rituals of ancient India in a journey of whirling sacred sound that seethes with the power of primal energy erupting from the cauldron of deepest Inner Space! Stuart-ji Sovatsky > Kundalini Trance Chant with Live Looping Sondra Slade> Doumbek, Klong Yaw, Djembe, Shakers, Gongs Deborah Cardoza> Djembe, Udu, Frame Drum, Washboard Brandon Waloff > Didjeridoo, Didj Sound Healing http://www.soundclick.com/axismundi http://www.facebook.com/axismunditrancefusion 10:40pm to Midnight ~ Ambient Down Beat House Mix compiled by Auntie Matter, Food, Socializing, Card Readings Also Featuring: ~ Group Meditation & Sound Healing with Brandon on Didjeridoo, Loriel on Bowls & Axis Mundi ~ Nyasa Third Eye Anointing ~ Hand-made copies of Auntie Matters' "Little Book of Odes & Invocations" ~ Chill Room upstairs for kicking back, spontaneous Divination Readings by Druid James with Celtic Animal Cards, and whatever else manifests! ****************************************************** "Experiencing this environment of conscious estascy through dance & movement is a gift beyond. The drumming and music is out of this world and transports me to bliss. It was profoundly transformational for my body and soul; no other dance event comes close to what you offer." Gena G. "My whole body was flowing in a beautiful, effortless dance as if I was carried by my ascended teachers and guardians. The sacred trance music inspired me to let go of my conditioned mind and I found how deeply I can connect with others. This energetic feeling of love, openness, & ecstasy lasted long after the event." Yiwen "Your music inspires my inner eye to unfold, invoking the ancient ways and scared days lived in prayer and meditation - we are once again ready for elevation." Gypsy Rainbow "This is my hands-down favorite trance dance band. Be prepared to travel the full spectrum of human longing, from the ecstatic to the deranged. You will be profoundly changed and humanized in the process." Geralyn G. ******************************************************** Directions to BHAKTI MANDIR 6225 Doremus Ave. Richmond 94805 Brown Wooden House on Hill with curving Driveway, at the corner of Doremus & Cortland. Plenty of Street Parking (please do not park in the driveway) FROM SF: right off 80 EXIT SOLANO Ave. in RICHMOND (not Albany!) Bear Left Curve Left at 1st STOP SIGN Immediate Right onto Solano Ave at 2nd Stop Sign 2 Blocks - turn Right onto Yuba 1 Block - turn Left onto Doremus map link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=6225+DOREMUS+RICHMOND+CA&sll=37.46714,-122.215919&sspn=0.007204,0.014012&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=6225+Doremus+Ave,+Richmond,+Contra+Costa,+California+94805&z=16 contact: axismundi@jps.net Join the Axis Mundi Community! 'Like' us on Facebook: Bonus Fan Tracks, Video & more... http://www.facebook.com/axismunditrancefusion

Location: SF Bay Area - 543 views

Buddhist Medical Tantra - Resources and Transmissions and Ayurveda ( Hindu-Buddhist yogic medicine )

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:41:47 GMT

Buddhist Medical Tantra - Resources and Transmissions and Ayurveda ( Hindu-Buddhist yogic medicine ) Keywords: inner healing, yogic medicine / siddha medicine, Ayurveda, "planetary herbology", moxabustion and meridian therapies, Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana, Medicine Buddha, Vajrapani, Buddhist tantra, mantra healing. Summary : This is a broad and comprehensive teaching article on inner healing, from the standpoint of yogic medicine, and in particular from the standpoint of central Asian medicine. Many key book references are given, along with online introductory materials, so this article is broadly useful for different audiences from the beginner level to the professional clinical level. "This is for everyone." Dr. Tim Berners-Lee, London Olympics, 2012 "If our mind is at peace, the circulation of energy in our body will return to its original state, and the elements of the body will be balanced. Whatever we say will be peaceful and whatever we do will be an expression of peace. We will then become a source of peace and healing for others." - Tulku Thondup A major and profound teaching on Buddhist tantric healing will be given in San Francisco. Also, there is an excellent book on Medicine Buddha ( Bhaisajyaguru ) available from Snow Lion via Amazon, which is introduced following the seminar announcement. Third, a tantric Buddhist book on moxibustion / acupuncture is referenced. Fourth, classical Ayurveda is introduced. These are in fact closely related aspects of a single discipline, which is Hindu-Buddhist yogic medicine, or Ayurveda. "Therefore the World's Most Venerable entered into a Samadhi called the Removal of Suffering for All Beings. While He was in this contemplation a great radiance of light of light was sent forth from his Ushnisa, and he pronounced the great Dharani recitation as follows: NAMO BHAGAVATE BHAISAJAYA-GURU-VAIDURYA-PRABHA-RAJAYA TATHAGATAYA ARHATE SAMYAKSAMBUDDHAYA TADYATHA OM BHAISAJYE BHAISAJYE BHAISAJYA SAMUDGATE SVAHA When He, in his radiance, had spoken this mystical formula, the earth was shaken and emitted a great light. All beings were delivered from their diseases and miseries, they became happy because their bodies and minds entered rest. " - above taken from http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/medicine-buddha.htm which provides a broad range of Medicine Buddha resources Medicine Buddha Mantra on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fVRzgZit2M and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDvEt2qSFbU ------------------------------- Short excerpt on Tibetan Buddhist Medicine from extended online introduction by a Tibetan doctor, at http://www.tibetanmedical-astro.com/about_tibetan_medicine.php "The major goals of Tibetan Medicine are maintaining a healthy constitution through balance as an overall preventative approach, providing treatment methods for sick people, aiding in longevity, and assisting those who want to be successful in their physical body and spiritual fields. Tibetan medicine laid high emphasis on the importance of having love and compassion. The fact that, many illnesses can be cured by the one medicine of love and compassion. These qualities are the ultimate source of human happiness, and our need for them lies at the very core of our being. "Tibetan medicine is much deeper than what it appears to be. Beyond treating symptoms, Tibetan Medicine concentrates on treating the patient as a whole to promote peace and healing through diet, physical exercise, herbal formulas, and spiritual practice. When Tibetan physicians treat a patient, they focus equally on both the mental and physical states because they believe that the mind and body are inseparable. They address the three poisons as the fundamental cause of emotional disturbances and mental disorders. Tibetan physicians also consider how diet, behavior, and daily habits affect each individual patient. Therefore, Tibetan Medicine can be best described as a Holistic approach to tackle illness because it is designed to prevent and treat all diseases of our living being." ------------------------------- A Clinical Book Reference on Tantric Buddhist Life Science [ Ayurveda ] Essentials of Tibetan Traditional Medicine [Paperback] Thinley Gyatso (Author), Chris Hakim (Author) Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1 edition (March 16, 2010) ISBN-13: 978-1556438677 http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Tibetan-Traditional-Medicine-Thinley/dp/1556438672/ "Tibetan medicine is a rarified field with few publications in English; it is also one of the most comprehensive of alternative therapies, addressing body, mind, and spirit. Written for intermediate-level practitioners, Essentials of Tibetan Traditional Medicine brings this important healing tradition to Western practitioners. The book begins by summarizing the basics behind Tibetan medical theory and its methods of diagnosis. "The second part of the book presents the core concepts of wind, bile, phlegm, dark phlegm, epidemic fever, heat, and cold, along with their corresponding nosologies, differential diagnoses, and treatments. The third section covers therapeutics, with an emphasis on medicinals—the mainstay of contemporary practice. A chapter on therapeutic strategies discusses unclear diagnosis and other challenging clinical situations. "Other chapters explore the crucial components of lifestyle and diet. Each herb and animal product used in Tibetan medicine is profiled on its own page, with its Tibetan, common, and botanical names; its key properties and clinical uses; its known pharmacological properties; and a simple illustration. This useful handbook concludes with a description and indepth analysis of some 60 frequently used formulas." “This book is the fruition of an ambitious project to present the essence of the ancient Tibetan medical system to a Western audience. The work combines a logical order and systematic presentation of the material with much detailed data not only on healing plants and herbs but also on a wide variety of food sources and spices. This book is valuable in breaking new ground so as to reveal more valuable knowledge of Tibetan medicine.” —Dr. Barry Clark, translator of The Quintessence Tantras of Tibetan Medicine “For most readers, the most important part of this book will be the Materia Medica section, where the herbs (and in some cases, the animals and minerals) used in Tibetan medicine are described… What is most interesting is to see how the remedies fit into the Tibetan system of medicine, their commonality with other types of traditional medicine, and of course it is always gratifying to see the use of some of these remedies now being supported with modern scientific evidence… As an introduction to Tibetan medicine, this book fulfills its aim, and a gap in the literature on the subject; it is also well written and worth the modest price tag.” —Phytotherapy Research Journal “[Essentials of Tibetan Traditional Medicine] is a very interesting and unique position on the market of TTM books, offering extensive medical teachings for advanced students. It assumes the reader to have knowledge of the basics of Tibetan medicine and so focuses primarily on the pathology and therapies—the last two tantras of the rGyud bzi, (currently still untranslated into English and hardly accessible). It is well written and is clearly and logically structured. An excellent book for those who wish to deepen their medical knowledge.” —The Journal of Traditional Tibetan Medicine “The Four Tantras is considered the fundamental treatise on Tibetan medicine, yet more than half of the chapters have never been translated into English. Fortunately, Essentials of Tibetan Traditional Medicine now offers a distillation of the text, in English, using non-academic language. The book starts by unpacking the basics of Tibetan medical theory and methods of diagnosis, then addresses the humors, their corresponding illnesses, and the possible treatments. Lastly, the book dives into therapeutics, such as diet, lifestyle, bloodletting, and material medica—mostly herbs but also ingredients of animal and mineral origin.” —Shambhala Sun About the Author Thinley Gyatso has been practicing Tibetan medicine since 2002. Chris Hakim is the co-author of Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine: An Integrated Approach. ------------------------------- Buddhist Medical Tantra - Transmissions in San Francisco September 11 - September 23, 2012 Location: Orgyen Dorje Den | 2244 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda, CA 94501 www.orgyendorjeden.org Yuthok Nyingthik Wang and Guru Yoga Teachings: Sept. 11, 2012 10 am - 6 pm The Yuthog Nyingthig is a complete cycle of teachings taught by Yuthog Yonten Gonpo, the founder of Tibetan Medicine, who was an incarnation of the Medicine Buddha, Jivaka Kumara, and Padmasambhava. As well as being the meditation tradition practiced within the lineage of Tibetan medicine, the Yuthok Nyingthik also has been revered by many practitioners interested in healing. This lineage has been upheld by many great masters and doctors from all of the Tibetan traditions such as Terdak Lingpa, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Karma Chagme, and Jamgon Kongtrul. It is a complete path of meditation practices and prayers, from the perspective of Tibetan medicine. Dr Nida will bestow the short Yuthok Nyingthik empowerment, then give the teachings on the Ladrub (Guru Yoga) practice. For dedicated students only, as there is a commitment to complete a one week retreat in the future. Anatomy of the Vajra Body, Speech, and Mind: Sept. 12-14, 2012 10 am - 6 pm This teaching is part of our ongoing TIbetan Medicine program, and will also be opened up to experienced Vajrayana practitioners. Dr. Nida will go into a detailed explanation of the body, energy system, and mind according the traditions of Vajrayana and Tibetan Medicine. These precious teachings illuminate aspects of Tibetan yogic practices that are rarely presented in a clear and practical way, and can be very beneficial to practitioners on the path. Subjects include: Vajra Body: the five elements, channel systems, chakras, energy drops, and how they function. Vajra Speech: the various winds (pranas) of the body, in their relation to breath, mantra syllables, and physiology. Vajra Mind: the nature of thoughts, emotions, and consciousness. Mantra Healing: Sept. 15-17, 2012 10 am - 6 pm; Sept 16, 2012 7 pm - 9 pm The night of 16 September will be an evening practice of mantra recitation. This course presents a comprehensive introduction to the art and science of the Tibetan Mantra Healing (sngags bcos) tradition. Mantra healing is the practice of using sound as a healing medium, using primordial sounds of nature, as well as divine words from the Sanskrit and Tibetan languages. It is a powerful method of bringing balance to various diseases and restoring health for oneself and others. Based on a text by Ju Mipham Rimpoche and transmissions from medical texts, Dr Nida will introduce the Tibetan Mantra Healing tradition. This will include general instructions on using mantras for healing, the differences between Vajrayana mantras and healing mantras, as well as a transmission of a pharmacopea of mantras for various functions. There are traditional mantras for many types of diseases and imbalances of body, speech, and mind. Topics to be covered include: Introduction to Mantra Healing and Tibetan Medicine. Theory of how Mantras function, including the law of interdependent origination of all phenomena, the five elements, etc. Instruction on usage of mantras for healing purposes. Using Mantras to bless substances, such as medicine, water, gems, and amulets. Transmission of many healing Mantras for various diseases, with practical applications. This type of healing practice is common in the Ngakpa tradition, and is frequently preferred by practitioners over ingesting medicines or other therapies. The use of healing mantras can enhance the quality of a healing arts practice and can be applied in times of need. The course will consist of mantra recitation alternating with theoretical teachings. Nejang: Tibetan Healing Yoga: September 22, 2012 10 am - 6 pm These yogic exercises from the Kalachakra and Tibetan medical traditions promote healing, balance the internal energies, and cleanse the body. Similar to more advanced forms of Tibetan yoga, but more gentle, nejang is frequently prescribed by Tibetan doctors to assist in healing. The class consists of dynamic and meditative exercises of the body and breath. Yuthok Nyingthik Mahamudra: Sept. 23, 2012 10 am - 6 pm The Yuthok Nyingthik cycle includes teachings on all of the advanced practices of the Tibetan tradition. Here are presented the four yogas of Mahamudra, a direct path of sitting meditation to uncover the nature of mind and cut the dualism of samsara from the root. Dr. Nida Chenagtsang studied Tibetan medicine in Lhasa, as well as in his native Amdo. For over a decade he has lived in Europe and has taught the wisdom of the Tibetan healing tradition all over the world with the International Academy of Traditional Tibetan Medicine and here in the US with the Sorig Institute. In addition to his work with medicine, he is the co-founder of the Ngakmang Institute, a charity organization based in Tibet that works to preserve the Rebkong Ngakpa tradition. Currently, they are active building schools, cultural and retreat centers; as well as preserving and publishing texts of great Ngakpa masters and Tertons. For more information: Click here: www.thesoriginstitute.com Email: info@thesoriginstitute.com Phone: (510) 717-8026 -------------------------------------- Primary Book Resource: Medicine Buddha Teachings http://www.amazon.com/Medicine-Teachings-Khenchen-Thrangu-Rinpoche/dp/1559392169/ Medicine Buddha Teachings [Paperback] Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (Author) Paperback: 200 pages Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (April 7, 2004) Language: English ISBN-10: 1559392169 ISBN-13: 978-1559392167 From Publisher's Weekly: "In 1999, Thrangu (Everyday Consciousness and Buddha-Awakening) led a retreat in Washington State where he explicated the Medicine Buddha Sadhana (traditional liturgy) and the Sutra of the Medicine Buddha. Chapters in the book are edited transcripts of his teaching sessions at this retreat. "The first portion of the book is largely a detailed, verse-by-verse commentary on and guide to practicing the sadhana, highlighting such topics as the importance of visualization, making offerings to the deity and why certain symbolic objects are auspicious. The next section is the text of the sadhana itself, in Sanskrit and in translation. "Thrangu then exegetes the sutra (scripture) underlying the liturgy, explaining the Medicine Buddha's 12 "aspirations"-the vows he made to illuminate, benefit, heal and prosper all beings-and describing the benefits of "recollecting" and supplicating him. Thrangu rounds out the book with a discussion of the Vajrayana view of gods and spirits. . . " Excerpt from this book: In his Teachings on the Medicine Buddha the Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche discusses the position of the Medicine Buddha's two hands: "His right hand is extended, palm outward, over his right knee in the gesture called supreme generosity. In it he holds the arura, or myrobalan, fruit. This plant represents all the best medicines. The position of his right hand and the arura which he holds represent the eradication of suffering, especially the suffering of sickness, using the means of relative truth. Sickness can be alleviated by adjusting the functioning of interdependent causes and conditions by the use of relative means within the realm of relative truth, such as medical treatment and so on. The giving of these methods is represented by the gesture of the Medicine Buddha's right hand. "His left hand rests in his lap, palm upward, in the gesture of meditative stability or meditation, which represents the eradication of sickness and suffering— and, indeed, the very roots of samsara— through the realization of absolute truth. From the point of view of either relative truth or absolute truth, the fundamental cause of sickness and suffering is a lack of contentment and the addictive quality of samsara. Therefore, to indicate the need for contentment, in his left hand he holds a begging bowl." ------------------------------- From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaisajyaguru Bhaiṣajyaguru (भैषज्यगुरु), formally Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja (भैषज्यगुरुवैडूर्यप्रभाराज, ‘Medicine Master and King of Lapis Lazuli Light’), is the buddha of healing and medicine in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha", he is described as a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of his teachings. Origin Bhaiṣajyaguru is described in the eponymous Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra (भैषज्यगुरुवैडूर्यप्रभाराज सूत्र), commonly called the Medicine Buddha Sutra, as a bodhisattva who made 12 great vows. On achieving Buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the eastern realm of Vaidūryanirbhāsa, or "Pure Lapis Lazuli".[1] There, he is attended to by two bodhisattvas symbolizing the light of the sun and the light of the moon respectively: Suryaprabha (simplified Chinese: 日光遍照菩萨; traditional Chinese: 日光遍照菩薩; pinyin: rìguāng biànzhào púsà) and Candraprabha (simplified Chinese: 月光遍照菩萨; traditional Chinese: 月光遍照菩薩; pinyin: yuèguāng biànzhào púsà).[2] A Sanskrit manuscript of the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra was among the textual finds at Gilgit, Pakistan, attesting to the popularity of Bhaiṣajyaguru in the ancient northwest Indian kingdom of Gandhāra.[3] The manuscripts in this find are dated before the 7th century, and are written in the upright Gupta script.[3] The Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang visited a Mahāsāṃghika monastery at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in the 7th century CE, and the site of this monastery has been rediscovered by archaeologists.[4] Birchbark manuscript fragments from several Mahāyāna sūtras have been discovered at the site, including the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra (MS 2385).[5] The Twelve Vows The Twelve Vows of the Medicine Buddha upon attaining Enlightenment, according to the Medicine Buddha Sutra[6] are: To illuminate countless realms with his radiance, enabling anyone to become a Buddha just like him. To awaken the minds of sentient beings through his light of lapis lazuli. To provide the sentient beings with whatever material needs they require. To correct heretical views and inspire beings toward the path of the Bodhisattva. To help beings follow the Moral Precepts, even if they failed before. To heal beings born with deformities, illness or other physical sufferings. To help relieve the destitute and the sick. To help women who wish to be reborn as men achieve their desired rebirth. To help heal mental afflictions and delusions. To help the oppressed be free from suffering. To relieve those who suffer from terrible hunger and thirst. To help clothe those who are destitute and suffering from cold and mosquitoes. Dharani and Mantra In the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra, the Medicine Buddha is described as having entered into a state of samadhi called "Eliminating All the Suffering and Afflictions of Sentient Beings." From this samadhi state he spoke the Medicine Buddha Dharani.[6] [ Om ] namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya arhate samyaksambuddhāya tadyathā: oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā. The last line of the dharani is used as Bhaisajyaguru's short form mantra: oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā. There are several other mantras for the Medicine Buddha as well that are used in different schools of Vajrayana Buddhism. Iconography Bhaiṣajyaguru is typically depicted seated, wearing the three robes of a Buddhist monk, holding a lapis-colored jar of medicine nectar in his left hand and the right hand resting on his right knee, holding the stem of the Aruna fruit or Myrobalan between thumb and forefinger. In the sutra, he is also described by his aura of lapis lazuli-colored light. In Chinese depictions, he is sometimes holding a pagoda, symbolising the ten thousand Buddhas of the three periods of time. He is also depicted standing on a Northern Wei stele from approximately 500 AD now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accompanied by his two attendants, Suryaprabha and Candraprabha. Within the halo are depicted the Seven Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddhas and seven apsaras.[7] ------------------------------- "Buddhism, Medicine, and Health" An excellent detailed article at http://www.blia.org/english/publications/booklet/pages/37.htm ------------------------------- Dr. Tsering Thakchoe Drungtso: Book on Inner Tantric Buddhist Medicine ( Mantrayana - Siddha Medicine ) and Tibetan Healing Centre Healing Power of Mantra The Wisdom of Tibetan Healing Science [Paperback] Dr. Tsering Thakchoe Drungtso (Author) Paperback: 220 pages Publisher: Drungtso Publications (December 31, 2008) ISBN-13: 978-8190139564 http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Mantra-Wisdom-Tibetan-Science/dp/8190139568/ http://www.tibetanmedical-astro.com/ About Drungtso Tibetan Healing & Astrological Centre, India "Drungtso Tibetan Healing and Astrological Centre is a Dharamsala based non-profit organization, which promotes and preserves the rich tradition of ancient Tibetan medical and astrological science. It believes that the Tibetan medicine and astrology can be valuably understood through both its traditional role within Tibetan Buddhist culture and modern perspective. It is also one of the best source and platform for information on Tibetan Medicine and astrology. The centre provides consultation facilities, carries out teachings, conducts courses and holds seminars on Tibetan medicine and astrology on international level, through correspondence courses or residential teaching and training at Dharamsala. "The resource persons working in this centre are all professionals, well versed and qualified in Tibetan medicine and astrology and are morally and legally fit to carry out teachings, researches and consultations. It also organizes medical and astrological tours internationally either on request or per the organization’s plans. "The centre has had landmark achievements in terms of teaching and providing information on Tibetan medicine and astrology and had students from all over the world. It gives introduction to full training in English for the non-Tibetan speaking students. "The doctors and astrologers teach in English without requiring an interpreter. In the past, layperson, doctors, healers, astrologers, researchers and medical students have studied under us. The doctors and astrologers of this centre regularly visit abroad and many places in India for conferences, seminars, consultations, and exhibitions." See also http://www.tibetanmedical-astro.com/about_tibetan_medicine.php ------------------------------- Healing with Fire: A Practical Manual of Tibetan Moxibustion http://www.shangshungpublications.org/2011/03/healing-with-fire/ By Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Translated by Elio Guarisco This manual is the first of its kind to focus on the Tibetan technique of moxibustion, an external therapy that uses the power of heat to stimulate a curative effect. A widespread form of traditional healing in the East, moxibustion is one of the most ancient medical therapies known to humanity. Mainly popularized as a branch of Chinese medicine, moxibustion was originally practiced in Shang Shung, a kingdom predating Tibet whose existence can be traced back at least four thousand years. Healing with Fire is a comprehensive compendium of the five hundred most important and effective moxibustion points in the Tibetan and Shang Shung system, with an emphasis on practical instructions for readers with varying levels of expertise in the healing arts. The book is the culmination of decades of painstaking research by Professor Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, a foremost scholar of Tibetan culture and philosophy, who, inspired by his personal experience of this unique and effective treatment method, has gathered knowledge from ancient scriptures ranging from the well-known Four Medical Tantras to recondite manuscripts found in the caves of Tun-Huang. The book features twenty-five original drawings illustrating the positions of the individual points, as well as an index of indications to facilitate the identification of points for the treatment of specific medical conditions. It includes an appendix that discusses arcane astrological factors frequently taken into consideration in Tibetan traditional medicine. Excerpt: Therapeutic Benefits of Moxa Since moxa is principally a method of infusing the body with the energy of heat, it is particularly indicated when heat decreases and the cold nature of Phlegm energy increases in the body. An increase in the cold nature affects digestive heat first of all. Digestive heat is the very basis for good health. Good digestive heat infuses the body with inner and outer radiance and confers a sharp intelligence, a strong determination in activities, and a long life. For these reasons, it is crucial to maintain good digestive heat, for instance, by eating foods that are easy to digest, exercising regularly, and taking herbs that strengthen digestive heat. When digestive heat diminishes and symptoms such as flatulence, vomiting, or diarrhea manifest, foods are not properly digested and as a result either nutritional essence is depleted or non-assimilated nutritional essence is accumulated. In particular, the accumulation of residual nutritional essence in the organism can impair the self-regeneration process of the various parts of the body. This condition favors the appearance of minor and major pathologies that manifest externally or internally. Internal conditions range from chronic indigestion to abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, low body temperature, deficient blood circulation, tumors, edemas, neuralgia, lung disorders, and calculi. External conditions include rheumatism, arthritis, problems in the joints, and swellings. In all of these cases, the regular application of moxa reduces the symptoms of the illness and helps the healing process. In today’s society we are witnessing a progressive increase in unhealthy lifestyles, paralleled by a loss of real values. Selfishness, worries, discontent with ourselves, fear, and expectations are just a few of the many attitudes that dominate our lives. In addition to physical illnesses, these attitudes, combined with the stressful pace to which we subject ourselves and the chemical-laden food we eat, are the source of many emotional disorders, known in Tibetan medicine as Wind energy disorders. These disorders manifest with symptoms such as sadness, insomnia, nervousness, excitement, depression, isolation, refusal to communicate, or lack of concentration and memory. Untreated, they can easily develop into emotional instability and serious illnesses such as schizophrenia and other psychoses. Since the causes of these disorders are manifold, they should be addressed with a multi-pronged strategy that can include dietary changes, a different social environment, the administration of medicines when necessary, and the reestablishment of the basic ground of sanity through increased contact with the body. Although it is obvious that the best remedy in these cases would be for the person to regain deeper values, regular application of moxa on the specific points indicated for these disorders can be a valid and strong support for other therapies. As will be explained in this manual, moxa can be used to treat a wide variety of physical and emotional conditions. — From Translator’s Introduction Example Moxa point : Stomach Tumor Points II. 63-64 (143-144) Location: One point on each side. Apply the appropriate form of moxa on the points located two fingers below the right and left Upper Lung Point. Indications: Stomach disorders (Wind-related) Indigestion Stomach cancer Viral or bacterial illnesses Wind disorders arising after a fever Chronic gastritis — From The Compendium of Points ------------------------------- Ayurveda - 2 major book references See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda David Frawley is a professor of the Hindu yogic system of medicine known as Ayurveda. He has taught Ayurvedic college in India. Dr. Frawley is also licensed as an Oriental Medicine Doctor ( Traditional Chinese Medicine ). Therefore he is a doctor twice over. Dr. Frawley is one of the most significant exponents and reliable guides to functional, classical alternative medicine on the planet. This book is, simply put, one of the key modern references on Ayurveda, whether one is Hindu, Buddhist or naturopath. I use the earlier edition. KT (1) Primary Book Reference for Ayurveda Ayurvedic Healing: A Comprehensive Guide Dr. David Frawley Paperback: 468 pages Publisher: Lotus Press; 2nd Revised and Enlarged Edition edition (April 23, 2001) ISBN-13: 978-0914955979 http://www.amazon.com/Ayurvedic-Healing-A-Comprehensive-Guide/dp/0914955977/ Biography "David Frawley (or Pandit Vāmadeva Śāstrī वामदेव शास्त्री) is a Vedic teacher and educator with numerous books in several Vedic and Yogic fields published worldwide over the past thirty years. He is the founder and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico (www.vedanet.com), which offers courses and publications on Ayurvedic medicine, Yoga and meditation, and Vedic astrology. "He is also involved in important research into ancient Vedic texts and is a well known modern exponent of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma. His work is high respected in traditional circles in India, where he has received many awards, as well as influential in the West, where he is involved in many Vedic and Yogic schools, ashrams and associations." Amazon Book Review "Ayurvedic Healing is an excellent book whether you know anything about the Vedic medical science of Ayurveda, or not. The book deals with: a) Finding out what body type you have, (vata-air, pitta-fire, kapha- earth/water) based on a questionnaire of health related questions. b) It helps you determine what kind of diet you can follow to balance your system. c) It deals with common ailments as well as major diseases, covering everything from arthritis to AIDS. d) You can learn how to use chants, colors etc to relieve stress. And that's just section I. In section II, it deals with the technical preparations with the use of various herbs, oils etc, which ayurvedic doctors use. Thus this book is a comprehensive study of Ayurveda, which can be used to good effect by both the layman and the ayurvedic practitioner." (2) Ayurveda and the Mind: The Healing of Consciousness [Paperback] Dr. David Frawley (Author) Paperback: 358 pages Publisher: Lotus Press; 1st edition (March 21, 1997) ISBN-13: 978-0914955368 http://www.amazon.com/Ayurveda-Mind-The-Healing-Consciousness/dp/0914955365/ Amazon Review "This is an EXCELLENT book. Abstract and very deep truths are lucidly conveyed without sacrificing intricacy or impact. If you are interested in psychology, spirituality, or Ayurveda, this is a wonderful, unique book. Dr. Frawley is extremely thorough and brings much integrity to his work. This book may be a bit much for some, but those truly interested in furthering their awareness will find many treasures in these pages." ------------------------------- This is an extraordinarily useful book which systematically groups and classifies herbs by their energetic and metabolic properties. It is a lay reference and a clinical reference, written by a naturopathic physician, and edited by an ayurvedic doctor/ TCM doctor, David Frawley. KT Planetary Herbology [Paperback] Michael Tierra (Author) Paperback: 490 pages Publisher: Lotus Press; 1st edition (October 9, 1992) ISBN-13: 978-0941524278 http://www.amazon.com/Planetary-Herbology-Michael-Tierra/dp/0941524272/ Description 'A major work integrating the herbal traditions of the East with those of the West by the bestselling author of "The Way of Herbs." This practical handbook and reference guide is a landmark publication in this field. For unprecedented usefulness in practical applications, the author provides a comprehensive listing of the more than 400 medicinal herbs available in the west, classified according to their chemical constituents, properties and actions, indicated uses and suggested dosages.' Amazon Review "Tierra has put so much information in these pages its breathtaking, a wonderful way to blend Ayurveda, TCM, and Western herbalism. With the popularity of the internet and with herbalists exploring different cultures and enjoying different aspects of various paths, this book should become a welcome addition to libraries everywhere. Tierra digs into the background of all three branches, breaking down the basics of each area of thought, including more than 400 herbs and their details. It gives Western herbalists another way to view herbs and their actions, which makes the book worth it on its own." ------------------------------- The following book is a simple and straightforward foundational teaching on Buddhist healing meditation, by a renowned tantric Buddhist master of the Nyingma School, Tulku Thondup. The teaching is also available as a set of two audio discs, from Rigpa International. His website is http://tulkuthondup.com/ Boundless Healing: Meditation Exercises to Enlighten the Mind and Heal the Body [Paperback] Tulku Thondup (Author) Paperback: 232 pages Publisher: Shambhala (October 16, 2001) ISBN-13: 978-1570628788 http://www.amazon.com/Boundless-Healing-Meditation-Exercises-Enlighten/dp/1570628785/ "Esteemed author and teacher Tulku Thondup offers this convincing guidebook on healing the mind, body, and spirit through meditation. . . In fact, what makes Boundless Healing so effective is Thondup's very detailed and nondogmatic style of teaching meditations. For example, when speaking to a meditation for healing sick cells, he stays focused on the physical and mental sensations, rather than flittering into ungrounded spiritual metaphors. . ." "Devout Buddhists will find nourishing soul food in his one section devoted to specific Buddhist healing meditations. As for everyone else, Thondup has written an accessible, information-packed book that covers it all--from "Avoiding Expectations" to "Creating a Healing Aura While Sleeping" to "Meditations for the Dead or Dying" to "How Helpers and Survivors Should Behave." Regardless of the disease, discomfort, or desire, Thondup has a meditation up his sleeve, making this one of the most practical handbooks on healing meditations available." --Gail Hudson "Doctors and patients alike can use this book to promote health and healing."—Andrew Weil, M.D. "A wonderful adaptation of ancient Buddhist meditation practices for modern life."—Herbert Benson, M.D., Mind/Body Medical Institute Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and author of The Relaxation Response and Timeless Healing "In this priceless book, Tulku Thondup offers us a complete handbook of healing from the heart of the Buddhist tradition of Tibet. These are powerful, authentic and yet simple meditations to bring health to body and mind, heart and spirit. But most precious of all, Tulku Thondup shows that not only are well-being and happiness within our reach, but our whole life can be lived as a journey of peace and joy."—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying Boundless Healing Teaching by Tulku Thondup 2 audio CD 20.0 euros From http://www.zamstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=841_843_669&products_id=13199 Drawing on his book, Boundless Healing, Tulku Thondup explains a meditation practice that stimulates the body and mind's own healing power. The practice focuses on the Medicine Buddha as the source of healing and uses prayers to invoke his blessings Tulku Thondup also gives a clear, elementary introduction to the Buddha's teachings on healing. Tulku Thondup was born in eastern Tibet in 1940. Recognized as the reincarnation of a great scholar, he studied and practised at Dodrupchen Monastery from the age of five. In 1958, he fled to India, where he lived and taught for over 20 years. In 1980 Tulku Thondup became a visiting scholar at Harvard University, and has since written and translated many books on Tibetan Buddhism, including: The Healing Power of Mind, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Enlightened Journey, Hidden Teachings of Tibet and The Practice of Dzogchen. These teachings were given at the Dzogchen Beara retreat centre in Ireland in November 2002, during a tour Tulku Thondup made of Rigpa centres in Europe at the invitation of Sogyal Rinpoche and Rigpa. ------------------------------- Vajrapani, Guardian of the Medicine Buddha teachings The guardian of the Medicine Buddha teachings and practice is Vajrapani, Master of Secrets and Lord of Power. (1) See the Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon http://dsbc.uwest.edu/ for a Vajrapani praise mantra in phonetic Sanskrit, at http://dsbc.uwest.edu/node/3743 That is, the Vajrapaninamastottarasatastotram "University of The West and Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods (NIEM) have jointly launched the Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon Website for the benefit of the scholastic world. Our goal is to promote research into the vast corpus of Sanskrit Buddhist texts. The scriptures and treatises which make up this collection encompass tens of thousands of printed pages. Electronic access to Sanskrit Buddhist texts, with its profound possibilities for enhancing the depth, scope and subtlety of research, has been a desideratum of the field for some time. Clearly, the conversion of canonical Buddhist texts into machine-readable format is an idea whose time has come. "In 2003, the University of the West, Los Angeles, under the generous sponsorship of Most Venerable Master Hsing Yun and guided by the initiative of Dr. Lewis Lancaster, began the Sanskrit Buddhist Canon Project (SBCP). The initial grant, covering the input of 50 Mahayana sutras, was completed in 2004. Our second phase, generously sponsored by Mr. Ching-Tung Tsai and Mr. Ming-Ti Tsai, covering the input of about 100 Shastra titles comprising the works of Acarya Nagarjuna, Arya Deva, Asanga, and Vasubandhu, has already commenced, and will be completed at the end of 2014. We are currently seeking donations for the final phase of the project, which will make over 150 additional sutras, shastras, and other Buddhist titles freely available to all." (2) The following is a powerful mantra of purification and associated scripture excerpt of the teaching held by Vajrapani. Excerpt from Sutra of the Whole-Body Relic Treasure Chest Seal Dharani The Heart Secret of All Tathagatas Translated from Sanskrit into Chinese in the Tang Dynasty by The Tripitaka Master Amoghavajra from India at http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra03.html . . .The World-Honored One [ Guru Sakyamuni Buddha ], having traveled not too far on the road, came to a garden called Abundant Wealth. In that garden were the ruins of an ancient pagoda, dilapidated and collapsed. With the courtyard covered by thistles and the doors sealed by creeping weeds, the rubble resembled a mound of dirt. The Buddha went straight to the pagoda. Forthwith, the pagoda issued vast, bright light, illuminating and glowing. A voice from the heap of earth praised, “Very good! Very good! Sakyamuni, Your action today is excellent! And you, Brahmin, will receive great benefits today!” The World-Honored One paid respects to the ruined pagoda by circling it clockwise three times. He took off His upper garment, placed it over the pagoda, and wept tears with blood. He then smiled. Meanwhile, all Buddhas in the ten directions, looking on together, also shed tears, each emitting light to illuminate this pagoda. The multitude was so astonished as to lose their color, and they all wanted to resolve their bewilderment. Vajrapani and other Bodhisattvas also shed tears. Twirling his vajra in glowing flames, he came to the Buddha. He asked, “World-Honored One, through what causes and conditions does this radiance manifest? Why did the Tathagata’s eyes shed these tears? And why do Buddhas [in worlds] in the ten directions emit vast auspicious light? I pray that the Tathagata will resolve my bewilderment.” The World-Honored One replied to Vajrapani, “This great treasure pagoda of accumulated whole-body relics of Tathagatas contains innumerable kotis of the heart dharanis, the secret seal of the essentials of the Dharma of all Tathagatas. Vajrapani, because of the essentials of the Dharma contained in it, the pagoda has become tiered seamlessly like sesame seeds. The bodies of 100,000 koti Tathagatas are also like sesame seeds. Contained in the pagoda is the accumulation of the whole-body relics of 100,000 koti Tathagatas and even the store of 84,000 Dharmas. Also contained in it are 99 billion koti Tathagata-crowns. Because of these wondrous things, the site of this pagoda has superb, awesome virtue and serves as a spiritual testament. It can fill the entire world with auspicious events.” . . . Vajrapani asked, “Through what causes and conditions has this Dharma such superb virtue?” The Buddha replied, “Because of the spiritual power of this Treasure Chest Seal Dharani.” Vajrapani said, “I pray that the Tathagata, out of compassion for us all, will pronounce this dharani.” The Buddha responded, “Hearken, contemplate, and do not forget it! The radiance of the copies of the bodies of all Tathagatas of the present and the whole-body relics of all Buddhas of the past are contained in this Treasure Chest Seal Dhara?i. The three bodies of every Tathagata are also in it.” Then the Buddha pronounced the dharani [ sacred recitation for accomplishment ] : namas tryadhvikanam sarva tathagatanam | om bhuvi-bhavana-vare vacana-vacati | suru suru dhara dhara | sarva tathagata dhatu dhare padmam bhavati | jaya vare mudre | smara tathagata dharma-cakra pravartana vajre bodhimanda-alamkara-alamkrte | sarva tathagata-adhisthite | bodhaya bodhaya bodhi bodhi budhya budhya | sambodhani sambodhaya | cala cala calantu sarva-avaranani | sarva papa vigate | huru huru sarva soka vigate | sarva tathagata hrdaya vajrini | sambhara sambhara | sarva tathagata guhya dharani mudre | bhute subhute | sarva tathagata-adhisthita dhatu garbhe svaha | samaya-adhisthite svaha | sarva tathagata hrdaya dhatu mudre svaha | supratisthita stupe tathagata-adhisthite huru huru hum hum svaha | om sarva tathagatosnisa dhatu mudrani sarva tathagata sadhatu vibhusita-adhisthite hum hum svaha || After the Buddha finished reciting this spiritual mantra, all the Buddha-Tathagatas in the pile of earth voiced their praises: “Very good! Very good! Sakya the World-Honored One, You have appeared in this turbid, evil world to expound the profound Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings that have nothing and nobody to depend upon. Therefore, the essentials of the Dharma will long remain in the world, bringing wide, abundant benefits and joyful peace.” Then the Buddha told Vajrapani, “Hearken! Hearken! The essentials of this Dharma have inexhaustible spiritual power and boundless benefits! It is like a wish-fulfilling jewel atop a cylindrical banner, constantly raining down treasures and fulfilling all wishes. . . . The Buddha then said to Vajrapani, “I now entrust this secret spiritual mantra and this sutra to you all. Revere, protect, uphold, and disseminate them in the world. Do not allow the transmittal [of the Dharma] to end for sentient beings.” Vajrapani said, “I am honored to receive the trust of the World-Honored One. I pray only that we will requite the World-Honored One for his profound grace, day and night protecting, upholding, disseminating, and pronouncing [the mantra and the sutra] to the world. If there are sentient beings that copy, uphold, and remember them unceasingly, we will command the Brahma-kings, the god-king Sakra, the four great god-kings, and the eight classes of Dharma protectors to protect them day and night without leaving even temporarily.” The Buddha said, “Very good! Vajrapani, for the benefit of all sentient beings of the future, protect and uphold this Dharma, and make it endless.” ------------------------------- A basic mantra for Vajrapani, reserved to tantric Buddhists, is OM VAJRAPANI HUM PHAT which is recited 1,000,000 times following the authorizing empowerment, for example of Vajrasattva. A Vajrapani Practice Prescribed by Padmasambhava, the Mahasiddha who cofounded the practice of Buddhist tantra in Tibet. These powerful mantras, from the collection of the Rinchen Terdzod cycle of tantric transmission, can be employed by tantric Buddhists for several purposes, such as a) general protection and healing/ purification and energy work in general b) destroying poisonous and negative energy patterns in the environment and shielding from directed negativity c) freeing the consciousness ( souls ) of recently deceased beings from intense fearful illusions and traumas arising from death in war, by weapons, and in accidents. From http://www.choegyalrinpoche.org/Teachings.htm http://www.choegyalrinpoche.org/Tsonchei%20Mijigpai%20Gyalpo.pdf "Precious Dharma Family, Trillions of thanks for the love, compassion, and practices you are all doing for the suffering beings in our human family. I am so grateful for sharing this practice of Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo which I think is the right practice for this time. The Vajradhara 8th Khamtul Rinpoche and Vajradhara Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche stressed the urgency of this practice during these times of violence and war. "Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo means the supreme enlightened one who liberates bardo beings from the fear and terrifying illusions arising from death by weapons. I send all you practitioners my deep heartfelt gratitude and prayers for transmission blessings of these teachings directly from the Buddhas and from Gurus. It will surely be of immense benefit for all the dead since we are doing it with very profound and pure loving motivation, free from any partiality. I ask all Buddhists to practice this to help the dead from all sides and to protect the innocent." Short mantra of Vajrapani ( corrected form: use CHANDA, not "chandra" ) OM VAJRA CHANDA MAHA ROSANA HUM PHAT Extended mantra of Vajrapani OM VAJRA CHANDA MAHA ROSANA HUM PHAT OM APRATIHATA VALA HUM PHAT SARVA VIGHNAN ANTARAYA VINASHKARA MARAYA HUM PHAT ------------------------------- Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu! May All benefit! May there be yogic realization! May the teachings of the Medicine Buddha and all the profound healing disciplines of Asia flourish everywhere, for the benefit of everyone! This is written in partial fulfillment of my responsibilities as a Mahayana Buddhist guru. Medicine Buddha is one of the principal practices and teachings which I am required to propagate. This responsibility is now completed. KT, inner medical tantrika

Location: Alameda - 1360 views

Love dreadlocks? Then Follow us on Twitter

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:39:12 GMT

Want to learn great ways to care for your dreadlocks? Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/DrealocksTenneb and be sure to visit our dreadlocks service site https://www.lovinmylocs.blogspot.com

Location: SF Bay Area - 388 views

Looking for cocks to suck in Sonoma County ca

Danl — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:55:38 GMT

I am looking for guys that want good BJ'S in Sonoma county. I can meet you anywhere in the county. Love giving head outdoors.Email me and lets get going. Repeats wanted

Location: Santa Rosa - 576 views

Millionaires, Billionaires, Trillionaires......Oh My!!!!!

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 18:10:47 GMT

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Location: SF Bay Area - 408 views

Basic Teachings on The Goddess Craft. For Newbies.

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:30:24 GMT

Are you new to the Goddess craft? Are you a beginner to wicca? Are you a newbie pagan? Need some guidance and direction? Learn about The Goddess in a simple way that is aligned with Light Visit our site for info......... http://www.tennebula.wordpress.com Visit our site and "Like us" on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ways-of-The-Goddess/214895645199670 Blessings!!!

Location: SF Bay Area - 416 views

Major Tantric Buddhist Empowerment- Retreat / September 2012 / Northern California : Red Vajrasattva / Hundred Deities

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:51:47 GMT

Major Tantric Buddhist Empowerment- Retreat / September / Northern California : Red Vajrasattva / Hundred Deities Keywords : Buddhist tantra, tantric empowerment and short retreat, Northern California ( Redding ), Nyingma lineage, Great Perfection / Atiyoga / Dzogchen, Red Vajrasattva / Hundred Deities, His Eminence Gochen Tulku Sangnak Rinpoche, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation, pagan mysticism ( high magic ) and polytheism. Summary: This September 2012 HE Gochen Tulku is giving a major tantric / primordial awareness yoga transmission in Northern California, at the Nyingma retreat center Rigdzin Ling. This is a rare and powerful and comprehensive transmission of Red Vajrasattva / Hundred Deities / Bardo. Here I give background information and book references and practice text resources, event information and so forth. The Red Vajrasattva is an extraordinary, high level transmission and practice that was only recently revealed from the "sacred treasure" lineage, in 1964, by Padgyal Lingpa. It is a practice of Guru Padmasambhava, an Indian wizard-yogi and principal co-founder of Buddhism and Buddhist tantra in Tibet. The source of this cycle is the same as that which Guru Padmasambhava brought to Tibet over a thousand years ago, the "Tibetan Book of the Dead". The real purpose of this practice is to develop full realization ( liberation as an awakened Buddha ) in this lifetime, or shortly thereafter. A secondary purpose of a full Bardo transmission is to purify the negative thoughts and acts of thirteen ( 13 ) lifetimes. In other words, this is a powerful transmission. Red Vajrasattva and Bardo ( and the like ) are in the grouping of Great Perfection texts and transmissions, the main and quintessential Nyingma teaching of pure awareness yoga, for which see http://vajranatha.com/books/the-golden-letters.html and also "The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen" Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (Author), John Shane (Author, Editor, Compiler) (Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy) [Kindle Edition] Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Snow Lion Publications; First American Edition edition (October 1, 1999) Language: English ISBN-10: 1559391359 ISBN-13: 978-1559391351 Available at http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Way-Light-Dzogchen-Philosophy/dp/1559391359/ This type of teaching, the Dzogchen primordial awareness yoga, is now being made available in different parts of the world through different teachers ( among them HE Gochen Tulku and other teachers of Chagdud Gonpa Fellowship, the Dalai Lama, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, and so forth ). Important parts of this specific Bardo / Hundred Deities teaching have been made fully public. See the book The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) [Paperback] Gyurme Dorje (Translator) Publisher: Penguin Classics; Deluxe edition (January 30, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0143104942 ISBN-13: 978-0143104940 at http://www.amazon.com/The-Tibetan-Book-Dead-Translation/dp/0143104942/ From Amazon Reviews: "The most celebrated and widely read work of Tibetan literature outside Tibet . . . now in its finest and most complete form in this excellent English translation." (Bryan J. Cuevas, Tricycle) "Profound and unique, it is one of the great treasures of wisdom in the spiritual heritage of humanity." (Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying) "One of the great scripts of world civilization . . . a voyage inside the profound imagination of a people, immaculately rendered in an English both graceful and precise." (Time Out, London) "This new translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a tremendous accomplishment. The whole text is a vast source of inspiration." (Francesca Fremantle, Buddhadharma magazine) "Magnificent . . . beautiful verse meditations." (The Guardian, London) "I hope that the profound insights contained in this work will be a source of inspiration and support to many interested people around the world." (His Holiness The Dalai Lama) Please note that the actual practices of mantras and so forth can only be practiced by initiates of the Bardo / Hundred Deities empowerment. Empowerment is the key, and this type of empowerment is rare. I have received numerous Bardo / Hundred Deities empowerments in full form, and in different forms, including Tendrel Nyesel ( HH Dilgo Khyentse ), Longchen Nyingtik, Guhyagarbha ( Ven. Kilung Tulku ) and Red Vajrasattva ( twice, from HE Gochen Tulku and HE Namkhai Drimed Rabjam ). Red Vajrasattva and Tendrel Nyesel and associated methods are central to my own personal practice. All of these differently named transmissions authorize the mantras given in the above book, and also many of the restricted practice texts from Tibetan Treasures/ Chagdud Gonpa Foundation California, and also from other sources. It is crucial to keep in mind that only a full Bardo class empowerment authorizes one to practice the mantras given in the above "Tibetan Book of the Dead". Within this set of transmission avenues, Red Vajrasattva is both a Guru Padmasambhava practice and a Hundred Deities practice. As such it includes complete authorization for many of the restricted, high level practices of the Nyingma / Ancient Tradition of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. These include many of the restricted practice texts made available only to initiates at the Chagdud Gonpa online store: http://www.tibetantreasures.com/ These include the profound and extensive manual Red Vajrasattva http://www.tibetantreasures.com/product.cgi?group=114&product=2593 as well as Akshobhya Amitabha Vajrakilaya Hayagriva Lion-Faced Dakini Manjusri Padmasambhava ( peaceful form, Shower of Blessings ). ( . . . And all the many mantras given in the above translation by Gyurme Dorje PhD and Thubten Jinpa PhD. ) I have all of these Tibetan Treasures practice texts and they are of extraordinary high quality and quite powerful. The event information from Chagdud Gonpa Fellowship / Rigdzin Ling follows. I have given a basic English teaching on the fundamental ( common ) Vajrasattva mantra under the photos page ( Vajrasatta ) at my tribe page KT. You have been helped. Sarva mangalam! Siddhi Rastu! KT -------------------------------- VAJRASATTVA KARMA MANTRA, with teaching and references http://dzogchen.tribe.net/thread/db968448-f2d6-4da3-8317-054ad9925ff1 > > > Begin Translation > > > Om vajrasattva samayam anupalaya Om Vajrasattva ( Diamond Being )! Protect the sacred commitment. Vajrasattva tvenopatistha Vajrasattva abide in me. dridho me bhava Make me firm. sutosnyo me bhava Grant me complete satisfaction. suposnyo me bhava Fulfill me ( increase the positive within me ). anurakto me bhava Make me compassionate ( or: be loving towards me ). sarva siddhim me prayaccha Grant me all siddhi ( powers and attainments, both relative and transcendent ). sarva-karma su ca me chittam sriyam kuru Manifest for me all ( noble ) actions. Make my mind wholly virtuous. "hum" "hum" ( the bijmantra, the essential vibratory wave-particle of Vajrasattva ) "ha ha ha ha" "ha ha ha ha" ( the Four Joys, Four Immeasurables, Four Levels of Tantric Empowerment, the Four Dimensions of Sacred Being - Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya, Svabhavivakaya ) "ho" "ho" ( exclamation of joy at accomplishing these sets of four ) bhagavan sarva-tathagata-vajra Transcendent Lord who embodies ( or: who is together with ) all the Indestructible Realized Buddhas ! ma me munca Do not abandon me. vajri bhava maha-samaya-sattva Make me indivisible, Great and All Encompassing Pledge Being ( great angel of angels ). "ah" "ah" ( release into vast primordial pure wisdom-dimension beyond all limitations and obscurations ) (optional : hum phat! ) (hum phat!) Hum here means manifest great diamond power! Phat! has the sense of strike / cut through all confusion, grasping and negativity! I.e. by prajnopaya, the Union of Wisdom and Skillful Means. < < < End Translation < < < --------------------------------- Deity and Retinue Picture at http://www.tibetantreasures.com/Deities-Red_Vajrasattva_and_Retinue_Photo.html The following is taken from http://chagdudgonpa.org/red-vajrasattva-drubchen-2/ Please note that I do *not* represent Chagdud Gonpa, HE Gochen Tulku or anyone else referenced in this post. Red Vajrasattva Drubchen with Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche September 15 – September 23, 2012 Rigdzin Ling PO Box 279 Junction City, CA 96048 [ Northern California ] (530) 623-2714 Fax: (530) 623-6709 sangha@chagdudgonpa.org www.chagdudgonpa.org "Guru Rinpoche said that for someone who engages in a group Drubchen (Great Accomplishment), the benefits are the same as practicing alone in a three-year retreat. Participating in a Drubchen with an altruistic motivation reduces afflictive mental states, restores broken spiritual commitments and allows positive qualities and circumstances to arise unhindered. These eight-days of Red Vajrasattva retreat will be a wonderful and effective way to bring benefit and happiness to oneself and others. "Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche as a young boy studied with his father and learned his family’s tradition of religious rituals and liturgies, as well as traditional Tibetan medicine. After being imprisoned in Tibet for ten years, along with his root guru, Tulku Orgyan Chemchok, he spent fourteen years serving Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche at Shechen Gonpa in Nepal. The treasure revealer, Padgyal Lingpa, formally recognized Sang-ngag Rinpoche and Chagdud Rinpoche as lineage holders and custodians of his own hidden treasure revelations. Red Vajrasattva is the heart-practice of these treasures of Padgyal Lingpa, specifically revealed for these difficult and distracting times." Join us! Prices for entire event (includes empowerment): •Camping- $540 •Local Commuter- $540 •Dormitory- $700 •Double Room- $980 (per person) •Single Room- $1,100 Note: Pre-registration is required Event will begin September 15th at 9:00 am and end on September 23rd at 1:00 pm. The empowerment will be given on the first day. Includes all meals and event fees from the September 15 breakfast through dinner on September 23. A deposit of $200 is required to register for this event. To inquire about other payment options or for all other questions, please call the events office: 530.623.2714 ext. 126 or email: sangha "at" chagdudgonpa.org attn: Abby. If you are interested in purchasing the Red Vajrasattva text or other dharma items, contact TibetanTreasures.com http://chagdudgonpa.org/about-2/ "Chagdud Gonpa is an international Nyingma Buddhist organization, founded in 1983 by H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1930-2002), a highly revered meditation master, artist and Tibetan physician who taught extensively in the East and West. Through its many activities, which include offering public teachings and retreats, translating, and publishing texts, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation upholds and preserves the arts, philosophy, and meditation practices of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism." North American Centers http://chagdudgonpa.org/directory/ ---------------------------- From http://vajranatha.com/articles/dzogchen-and-meditation.html Dzogchen and Meditation WHAT IS DZOGCHEN? "The Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha regarding the nature of reality and one’s own true nature, were written down after his own time and now are found in three types of scripture: (1) The Sutras represent the public discourses of the Buddha on the topics of ethics, psychology, and philosophy. In terms of actual practice, this is embodied in the three-fold training in ethics, in psychology and meditation, and in philosophy. (2) The Tantras are more restricted and represent private teachings given to advanced practitioners, in particular referring to the methods of energy transformation and how energy manifests to consciousness. Here the emphasis is on Tantric sadhana or the process of transformation. (3) The Upadeshas are private advice on meditation practice given by a master to a disciple. Their principal concern is Mind, that is to say, the Nature of Mind. In Tibet, the Upadeshas are largely represented by Dzogchen and Mahamudra, and in China and Japan by Zen. All three systems of meditation represent non-gradual methods for the realization of sudden enlightenment. "In Tibetan, Dzogchen means “the Great Perfection”. It is so-called because it transcends the Tantric transformation practices of the Generation Process (Kyerim) and the Perfection Process (Dzogrim). In Dzogchen everything is perfect and complete just as it is; nothing has to be transformed into something else as is the case with Tantra. It is called the Great Perfection because there is nothing lacking (dzogpa, perfection) and it is total with nothing higher or beyond it (chenpo, great). "Basically Dzogchen signifies the state of contemplation beyond the mind, that is to say, just being in and finding oneself in that state. Whereas with meditation, the mind is still operating and mental processes continue to function, including the ego, but with contemplation, we find ourselves in a state beyond the mind, where the mental processes are no longer functioning in terms of the conditioning of awareness. Nevertheless, this is not unconsciousness because it is a state where we are totally present and aware. "This contemplation is like the condition of the mirror that has the capacity to reflect whatever is set before it, whether beautiful or ugly. But whatever is reflected in the mirror in no way changes or modifies the nature of the mirror. However, one must clearly distinguish the reflections from the mirror. In the same way, the Nature of Mind has the capacity to be aware of whatever may arise, yet these phenomena and thoughts whether good or bad, which arise to consciousness, in no way change or modify the Nature of Mind. So, in terms of Dzogchen, we must clearly distinguish between mind or the thought process and the Nature of Mind. Finding oneself in the Nature of Mind and its capacity for intrinsic awareness (Rigpa) is what is meant in the Dzogchen context by contemplation. "The practitioner can access the state of contemplation through the practices of Zen, Dzogchen, and Mahamudra. However, Zen exists in the context of the Sutra system in terms of its explanations and source texts, whereas Dzogchen and Mahamudra come out of the context of the Tantric system and its processes for transformation. Both Dzogchen, which has reference to the Old Tantra system of the Nyingmapas, and Mahamudra, which has reference to the New Tantra system, especially of the Kagyudpas, represent the culmination stage of the Tantric process of transformation. However, both of them may be practiced on their own without first undergoing a prior process of Tantric transformation. . . ." ------------------------------- Closing Prayer "Kye! To all the Buddhas of the Three Times Inseparable from the great absolute space, Great intrinsic nature of phenomena, Space of awareness uncontrived and ever free, The primordial Buddha Samantabhadra - We bow in order to realize our self-nature, And vow from now not to separate from it. . . The primordial space of the Ground, Dharmakaya, is the Adi Buddha among all Buddhas . . . The great space beyond conceptualized views. May we realize the nature as it is. All-pervasiveness beyond all partiality and limitations, Expanse free from attributes and labels, Great confidence that there is nothing to give up and nothing to gain: May we realize the nature as it is. . ." from "A Prayer From the Sang Ti Kagyama - Secret Esoteric Instruction", by Dudjom Lingpa page 9 of "The Lamp of Liberation: A Collection of Prayers, Advice and Aspirations" by Dudjom Rinbochay, translated by the late Dr. Terry Clifford

Location: SF Bay Area - 882 views

Shipping to the Playa

Event Shipping — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:17:43 GMT

THIS IS A LISTING Burner owned company provides reasonable shipping to and from Black Rock City for Theme Camps / Artists / Out-of-Towners.

Location: SF Bay Area - 212 views

virgin burner seeks ride to brc end of august from san francisco cali.

anny — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:25:43 GMT

hey there, well, finally get some free time to go to brc!! for the first time! I am excited!! I am a cd/420 friendly, and would love to find a person, or persons to help me learn more about the burn.....i am in the east right now, but will be in the city around august 25, hope to hear from ya soon! xo blessings anny

Location: Haight Ashbury - 430 views

!!..English Bulldog Puppies For Adoption To Loving Homes..!!!

shanoon — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 16:02:15 GMT

Gorgeous, loving spayed Male/Female ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPIES up for another loving home.The puppies are called Missy (female) and Dyson(male). Very well behaved , housebroken and crate trained. Walks very well on leash.Gets along great with Kids and other dogs of all sizes. No eye/breathing problems, no allergies. AKC/CKC registered , Vet checked,champion sired and awesome pedigree.Coming with all their health papers and all their accessories like TOYS,BLANKETS and CLOTHINGS.The Puppies would also come along side their travel crates. All we are interested in is a loving and caring home for this puppies. A home that they would fine all the love attention that they deserves.If you take you are up to the task of giving this Little Cuties a loving home,then contact for more information and pictures. email:(shanoonmoore@gmail.com )

Location: Downtown / Civic Center - 452 views

Exploration Workshops: Inside The Secret Garden

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 22:54:47 GMT

San Francisco Opera invites you to learn more about The Secret Garden in preparation for seeing the performance! Experience this new opera in an interactive, multi-generational workshop based on the themes, story, characters and music of The Secret Garden. The workshops will take place Saturday, March 2, 2013 and Saturday, March 9, 2013, with two each day: one from 3:30-4:30 pm and one from 5-6 pm. Ages 6 and older are recommended, and children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are $5 per person, and can be purchased at the box office (301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA – across from City Hall), on the phone at (415) 864-3330, or online at www.sfopera.com/gardenworkshop. Workshops will be held in the Toll Room of Alumni House at UC Berkeley. They are presented by San Francisco Opera’s and Cal Performances’ Education Departments. More information can be found at www.sfopera.com/gardenworkshop.

Location: Berkeley - 422 views

Affectionate and Cute looking English Bulldog Puppies For Adoption

shanoon — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:39:57 GMT

We have some Adorable English Bulldog puppies which we are willing to give out to any lovely and caring home, these puppies are pure breed English puppies and are 10 and 11 weeks old, they are both home and potty trained and they have all their health papers which they will be taking to their new home, these puppies will also be going to their new home with a feeding Menu, their playing toys and also with a crate. contact us for details through Email - shanoonmoore@gmail.com

Location: Inner Sunset - 443 views

WORLD BEAT TRANCE DRUMMING CLASSES in SF - 6 Sessions

AuntieMatter — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 01:03:24 GMT

LEARN TO DRUM & IMPROVISE IN ANY SITUATION! Enter the Flow of the PULSE and get mad new skills for Rituals, Drum Circles, Sound Healing and Transformational Journeys. Teacher: Auntie Matter (aka Sondra Slade) Founder & Lead Percussionist AXIS MUNDI TranceFusion World Groove WORLD BEAT TRANCE DRUMMING CLASSES... Djembe, Doumbek and All World Single-Head Hand Drums - Use polyrhythms, improvise, feel joyful & effortless Drumming! BEGINNING CLASS - 6 Sessions - 7pm to 8:30pm ALTERNATING THURSDAYS - Starting Thurs. July 12th 7/12 - 7/26 - 8/9 - 8/23 - 9/6 - 9 -20 This schedule will miss Burning Man, giving you ample time before & after *Note about class dates* Your class will meet consistently every other week (every 2 weeks). Learn mesmerizing World Beat rhythm patterns from the Middle East and India, techniques & tips for getting the best sounds from your drum, & skills for navigating the shamanic realm of World Beat Trance Drumming. You will learn how to STOP THINKING and journey through the deepest dimensions of transformational rhythmic Entrainment. You will learn several rhythm patterns and their variations, that can all be combined into a seamless cycle of nested polyrhythms. You will also learn how to easily transition from one to another of these patterns, simultaneously play them canon style with other drummers, improvise and invent your own rhythms, & effortlessly return to the Mother Beat, all without getting lost or dropping the beat! AND! you will experience the amazing powers of Trance Drumming for stress relief, healing, disconnection from time, tranceformation, shamanic journeying and expanded consciousness. For BEGINNERS and ANY LEVEL of drummer, and for SOUND HEALERS and members of the Holistic community who wish to learn how to work with Theta State Brainwaves and Entrainment for healing and transformational benefit. BYO drum if you have one... Drum Rental available: (from my personal stock of premium drums) Doumbek & Djembe - $10 per drum, per class. After you have joined the class I can email you my recommendations for the best drums, buying them and where to get the best deals, including special 10% discounts for my students! LOCATION: Potrero Hill in San Francisco easily reached by car - PLENTY OF EASY STREET PARKING!! or Public Transportation - the Muni line 22 runs right to it. Once you register for the class, you will be sent the address and directions. TERMS: Please read the fine print! Please pre-register soon to secure your place – I keep classes small in order to give each student as much personal attention as possible! TUITION: Full Tuition - $210.00 payable in 3 Installments of $70 each: 1 each at the start of every 2 sessions. Registration & Payment Information: One month (2 classes) non-refundable tuition is the Registration fee. $70 due in advance upon Registration - covers your first 2 classes $70 due on 3rd Class $70 due on 5th Class *Registration Fee pre-paid by PayPal contact me for instructions, or to mail a Check if need be. *You can choose to pay in Full when you Register, if you prefer. *Otherwise, the remaining 2 installments will be paid at Class - Cash or checks are OK *If you have to miss a session, make-up classes are available: Tuesdays or Thursdays- 7pm to 8:30pm, scheduled in groups. *You are allowed ONE free make-up class - after that there will be a fee. For Questions, more info and to Register: contact Sondra direct by email: axismundi@jps.net Drumming Classes: http://pweb.jps.net/~axismundi/id5.html http://www.classmonkeys.com/org/trance-drumming-classes-san-francisco Music: http://www.soundclick.com/axismundi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUNTIE MATTER (aka Sondra Slade) founded AXIS MUNDI World Beat TranceFusion and is the bands lead Percussionist. She studied at the Ali Akbar Khan School of Music & the Center for World Music. She has been drumming for over 25 years & over 13 years ago she began journeying the path of shamanic Tantric Trance Drumming as an integral part of her practice of Kundalini 'Spontaneous Sound' Yoga. She taught Trance Drumming at Belladonna, Goddess Arts Institute Alliance, the SF Spiritual Enrichment Center, Spiral Muse, Change Makers, the Humanist Fellowship and the Institute for Conscious Body Work. She now teaches ongoing classes & private lessons in San Francisco, performs, facilitates Drum Circles and Rituals, and leads Drumming Retreats. Student Testimonials: "Last night, I spent two hours with Axis Mundi founder Sondra Slade, being tutored by her in "trance drumming." Sondra is a marvelous teacher, extraordinary drummer, and utterly delicious human being. I can confirm that the claims she makes for the transformational powers of trance drumming are quite reasonable, as I experienced all of them. My arms and hands became birds diving and slicing through time to land on the drumhead of Eternity. A joyous elation flooded my body, mind, and heart as I entered a sensual world beyond thoughts and concepts, a world of feeling, rhythm, vibration, pulse, and primal conscious energy." Robert Rabbin, Founder, Radical Sages "Thank you for a wonderful class. We went home absolutely ecstatic! You were very kind and gentle to us as beginning drummers. I was worried that I would not be able to follow the rhythm or attempt to keep up with the class, but you helped me focus and get into that nice 'theta state'. I felt good drumming! We plan to study with you again and again!" Chris and Robert "I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the classes! It’s so beautiful to see the passion you have for your work! The magic of the drum can take me into an altered state of consciousness very quickly. I can’t wait to practice the beat you taught me." Doris "Thank you for your time and your generosity. You have imparted and shared not just musical notes but a lot of insights about drumming and cosmology which are very enlightening - and made me love drumming more." Mae

Location: San Francisco - 514 views

The Basics of Meditating

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:17:31 GMT

The Basics of Meditating Meditating has many great benefits It can help you to relax, connect with higher realms, and know yourself at a deeper level Learn about meditating today and begin your daily spiritual practice Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://meditatingwithtennebula.blogspot.com/ Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795 Make time to "Like Us"

Location: SF Bay Area - 197 views

Mythology of the Goddess

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:07:33 GMT

Ahh, The Goddess!!! Do you love the divine feminine? Do you love reading about her? Connect with her various myths and legends from numerous cultures from around the world today Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://goddessmythsandlegends.blogspot.com Make time to "Like Us"

Location: SF Bay Area - 175 views

Crystals are our Friends

Sat, 26 May 2012 20:42:25 GMT

Crystals are master healers Cystals are intelligent beings who can help you to grow, expand, and heal Learn all about crystals and their wonderful benefits Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://crystalsareourfriends.blogspot.com/

Location: SF Bay Area - 188 views

The Basics of Yoga

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:28:47 GMT

Are you a newbie to yoga? Have questions about the styles and philosophy? Do you want to learn more about it in a simple way? Our yoga site is created for beginners to yoga Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://yogawithtennebula.blogspot.com Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 201 views

The Magic of Shamanism

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:20:02 GMT

Shamanism is ancient Shamanism honors nature It helps us to learn about the spiritual & physical worlds It helps us to heal ourselves and others learn more about how to use shamanism in your daily life in order to create a life with more peace, harmony, happiness and abundance Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://shamanismwithtennebula.blogspot.com/ Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 170 views

Light and Lightworkers

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:10:47 GMT

Do you feel the call to light? Do you hear the call to the divine plan? Do you want to help but don't know how? Learn more about what is light and what it means to be a lightworker....today!!!!!! Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://lightandlightworkers.blogspot.com/ Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 229 views

Knowing your Ego, Fears, & Shadows

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:00:24 GMT

Get in touch with your truth by facing your fears & illusions learn how to conquer your shadows and hold more light Visit, share, and become a follower!!!! http://knowingyouregofearsandshadows.blogspot.com Make time to "Like Us" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Works-Projects-of-Ten-Nebula/411606365529795

Location: SF Bay Area - 514 views