Our big news, of course, has to do with the attendance
by David and twelve representatives of our school to the
six-day teaching by the Dalai Lama on The Great Treatise
on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment by Tsong-kha-pa.
Sponsored by the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center of New
Jersey the event was held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem,
PA, July 10 - 15.
 |
In late June Lynn Teale sent out a request
for volunteers to assist at the event. Our school
responded with the largest number. We supplied about
one third of the volunteer help. We did a number of
jobs ranging from telling people what would or would
not be allowed inside to ushering and distributing
hearing devices. It was an honor to be a part of this
event and to be able to be assisting those who came
to hear the Dalai Lama speak.
We received many thank yous for our efforts. And made
many new friends.
Not to mention the thrill and inspiration of the opportunity
to be present for this very special teaching by the
Dalai Lama. |
Listening to the teaching was not easy since this is
a major work of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy which His
Holiness was doing his best to share and comment upon
to a large audience. It is a deep work endeavoring to
convey the various paths of three levels of spiritual
seekers. These paths are described in great detail and
great concentration was required to follow the commentary.
The last day was focused on a discussion of reality both
objective and non-existent and emptiness - the final awareness
a Buddhist is seeking. While the terms and methods are
specific to Tibetan Buddhism the concepts are not significantly
different from those of Taoism. As has been said often,
"There are many roads to the top of the mountain."
There were many wonderful experiences. I was struck by
the explosion of energy when His Holiness entered the
hall. It was palpable. Then there was the singing of sutras
each morning by nuns or monks . In particular a group
of nuns whose singing was particularly moving and beautiful.
Even if His Holiness did comment after their first time,
"Very beautiful, just a little bit too long."
Indeed his constant good humor and light heartedness was
a delight. When I met him in the dorm where we were staying
he said, "I take a lot of notes." And he did
but very unobtrusively. He has been the translator for
His Holiness for sixteen years. He made our understanding
of this difficult text possible. Certainly we came away
aware of the depth of His Holiness' mental as well as
spiritual capacities.
| Then as I mentioned one kept making
new friends - I got to know a Tibetan musician, Penpa
Tsering, who became a close friend in a few hours.
And all the other volunteers who were a really special
group of people. And every once in a while someone
you knew would suddenly appear and one had a special
moment of unexpected sharing. Then there was the Dalai
Lama's translator, another Penpa. He was amazing!
His Holiness could speak for 15 or 20 minutes about
very complex philosophical principles and then Penpa
would talk for the same length of time. |
 |
When I met him in the dorm where we were staying he said,
"I take a lot of notes." And he did but very
unobtrusively. He has been the translator for His Holiness
for sixteen years. He made our understanding of this difficult
text possible. Certainly we came away aware of the depth
of His Holiness' mental as well as spiritual capacities.
This was an extraordinary experience, for some perhaps
life changing. It's unexpectedness contributing to the
power of the moments we shared. Our pot luck dinner on
our return gave us a means to share some of what we experienced.
I think we all came away with a new respect and admiration
for this man who manages to remain compassionate and caring
while facing attacks of denigration from the government
occupying his country. His continued strong belief that
eventually his people will be free to live their lives
without threat and to practice their religion holds out
hope for all the parties involved.
Nameste`.
David
UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Rick Barrett, the author of Taijiquan Through the Western
Gate will be returning in October or November. The date
will be announced as soon as Rick confirms it. His workshop
last October demonstrated how each of us can quickly and
easily move to higher states of energetic coherence in
body and mind.
Expect a similar exciting presentation this time!
The QIGONG classes Five Animal Frolics and Shiba Luohan
Gong continue and are open to newcomers this time. See
flyers.
David has arranged the Five Animal Frolics into four
practice groups for easier study. He will be offering
workshops this Fall in which you can review and refine
the movements of each group and explore how the posture
is affecting the energy of that animal/element/meridian/organ!
Watch for details on those workshops. They will be open
to anyone who has previously learned the Frolics.
Dr. Jay Dunbar will be returning early in 2009 to do
a weekend workshop centered around a lecture by our grand
teacher, Master Jou, Tsung Hwa, entitled The Tao Delivers
to the Devoted.
And - just a mention that we had five new people from
our school attending the San Shou Intensive. So if you
haven't come to our practices recently now is the time
to change that. There is new blood to practice with. San
Shou practice is essential to your T'ai Chi Ch'uan growth.
Come join us at our school in the woods!
Nameste`.
David
