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| Editor's welcome |
 As I write this column, London is experiencing one of the heaviest snow storms in 13 years. It is Monday morning and many people cannot get to their jobs because busses and trains are suspended. I am sure this has triggered different reactions in different people: some welcomed an extra weekend day, others will be tense because they know a day without work means financial losses in a time where finance is on the top of Britain's agenda. Truth is, no matter how strongly you disagree with a situation that presents itself, like a snowstorm, there is nothing you can do once the karma ripens. Then, you just have your mind to transform adverse circumstances into your spiritual path, as the quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama that we chose for Gentle Voice suggests (and Robin Bath illustrates).
To find out more about what is happening at Jamyang don't miss Geshe Tashi and Anil's columns below, they include some important information about visiting teachers and dates to save in your diary.
Also, if you or anyone you know is looking for an alternative way of spending Valentine's day, you must come to Ven. Rita's weekend on love, attachment and anger. She is a fantastic teacher with lots of experience and practical advice on how to deal with our romantic disillusions or, should we say, delusions?
Finally, a big thanks to Christian Jelen for working on Gentle Voice's design.
Love,
Esther G.
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| Teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama- |
 Do not be discouraged. It would be very foolish to give up now.
On those occasions when you feel most hopeless, you must make a powerful effort. We are so accustomed to faulty states of mind that it is difficult to change with just a little practice. Just a drop of something sweet cannot change a taste that is powerfully bitter. We must persist in the face of failure.
In difficult personal circumstances the best recourse is to try to remain as honest and
sincere as possible. Otherwise, by responding harshly or selfishly, you simply make
matters worse. This is especially apparent in painful family situations. You should
realize that difficult present circumstances are entirely due to your own past undisciplined actions, so when you experience a difficult period, do your best to avoid behavior that will add to your burden later on.
It is important to diminish undisciplined states of mind, but it is even more important
to meet adversity with a positive attitude. Keep this in mind: By greeting trouble
with optimism and hope, you are undermining worse troubles down the line. Beyond
that, imagine that you are easing the burden of everyone suffering problems of
that kind. This practice - imagining that by accepting your pain you are using up the
negative karma of everyone destined to feel such pain - is very helpful.
From "How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins.
If you are interested in learning more about how to Transform Problems as part of your spiritual path, this month we are hosting a weekend on this topic at Jamyang, for more info click here. Also, you can read Lama Zopa Rinpoche's advice on the topic, click here. And Geshe Tashi's class on the Tonglen practice has now been uploaded on to the Talking Buddhism website! |
| Robin's corner- |
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Speaking of difficult financial times, Robin's contribution to this edition of Gentle Voice speaks for itself.
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THIS MONTH AT JAMYANG |
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THIS MONTH AT JAMYANG |
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GROUP PRACTICE
4/ 19 February
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| Geshe Tashi's column- |
 Hello to all the readers of this issue of Gentle Voice,
In this issue I want to take the opportunity to remind you, as well as request you, not to miss the great programmes that are coming this year and two great teachers who are going to come and give us amazing teachings.
The first of which is not far away, at the end of April and early May, and you can see more details in our programme, is when we will have a great opportunity to listen to the teachings from the great Tibetan master Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Tegchok. He is a great great living teacher and taught many years in Nalanda in France. After that he went back to Sera to serve as abbot very successfully and then again returned back to the west and taught in America. He is currently teaching in Italy.
 Some of you know him very well - actually he is one of the first FPMT great teachers who came to the west. He was at Manjurshi Institute, and he also taught two years ago at one of the Jamyang summer retreats. So Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Tegchok has kindly accepted our invitation to come and teach and he will teach Lojong: mind training, thought transformation which are extremely important teachings in general.
I really want to recommend and encourage you to take this opportunity to listen to teachings from this great master. Sometimes we have a tendency to say - oh its Lojong thought transformation which I have received many times therefore I want to listen to some teachings which I haven't heard before or some big name teachings with a very esoteric name - but in reality until our minds, our thoughts, our emotions, our behaviours are transformed into altruistic thoughts and behaviour it is good to listen again and again to teachings from such great teachers as Jampa Tegchok. So therefore I'm strongly recommending you to come and listen.
The second great opportunity will be of course Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin who came last year and who in the past has taught amazing, amazing teachings. Teachings such as the Guhuyusamaja initiation - not just initiation - year after year giving the commentaries and great encouragement for people to practise.
This year Khensur Rinpoche will come in September and he will give again great teachings and initiation. This time Mother Tantra, Vajrayogini initiation and commentary; and how to do the saddhana and meditation. To receive Vajrayogini you have to receive Heruka five deities initiation, which Rinpoche will also be giving.
There are many important reasons to bring these teachings here. The first being that we are a  Tibetan Buddhist Centre and so therefore in Tibetan Buddhism we have not just the Vajrayana teachings but up to the highest yoga tantra. My approach for Jamyang Buddhist Centre is to be able to bring teachers such as Khensur Rinpoche and invite them to teach these amazing teachings. Up till now he has given the Father tantra teachings such as Guhuyusamaja and Yamantaka. But this year, in order to complete highest yoga tantra teachings, we have requested a Mother Tantra initiation that is a very important part of the highest yoga tantra.
That's one reason, and there are other reasons. I've said in the past and I'll say again, there are some teachers, so called Gelug, like the NKT, saying directly or indirectly, that without doing the controversial Shugden practice you can't do the Vajrayogini or Heruka practice. That is deceiving for the sincere practitioner. So that is another reason for asking Rinpoche to give this initiation for people who are interested in practising the Mother Tantra, Vajrayogini teachings, with a true understanding.
So there are many important reasons to bring these teachings from this great teacher this year. Just recently on a visit to India I saw Khensur Rinpoche and I requested him to give us a time for people to come to these teachings. So although it is not very much part of Tibetan culture to schedule for many months earlier, very kindly he understood my request and said 'yes I will come in September' and start the teachings. So therefore, both you and the people you know, your friends, the spiritual connections in the past and present, let everyone know this great opportunity is going to come. So from Jamyang's side, we are already preparing what we need for the initiation such as Vajrayogini tangkha.
Also, although this is a little bit early to make a firm decision, I'm thinking about having as soon as possible a Vajrayogini retreat - a complete full retreat that I would join. Therefore I strongly request that you put these dates in your diary to receive Rinpoche's teachings. Don't miss this great opportunity as it will not come very often. With these teachers, such as Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Tegchok and Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin, it is not easy to have them here in this world, and even if they are here, it is difficult to get their time and their energy to come and teach in the west, so therefore don't miss the opportunity.
Thank you
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| Dates to save in your diary- |
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Following Geshe Tashi's column, here are a few dates for events you might want to write in your diary:
 *Easter Retreat: Shine or Calm Abiding with Geshe Tashi (10-13 April) *Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Tegchok (various dates from the 28 April to the 10 May) *Ven. Robina Courtin (17-19 July) *Summer Retreat: Stages of the Path to Enlightenment with Geshe Tashi (22-30 August) *Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin (various dates from the 7 to the 20 September) *Alan Wallace, shamata retreat (7-13 December)
All of these events have been confirmed, but except for the first 2, we are not yet taking bookings. We are hoping to start doing so with a new "online" registration website, we will let you know as soon as it is launched.
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| Message from Geshe Wangchen- |
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This postcard arrived all the way from India; we know some of you will appreciate the words and good wishes of Jamyang's first resident teacher.
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| The manager's bit- |
 A large part of the manager's job is helping to transform problems. The problems come in all shapes and sizes from a leaky water pipe to the trials and tribulations of living in a dharma centre.
I remember when Jamyang was fortunate enough to be able to host the Relic Tour and how obstacles appeared to be jumping out at Jamyang from every corner. The first was that the van bringing the statute of Maitreya, broke down in Paris, and could not be repaired. On that occasion, Steve Sinclair and Venerable Jinpa hired a van in the UK and drove all the way to Paris to pick up Maitreya and ensemble. Further problems arose but everything was overcome. Those of you who remember the Relic Tour will remember how all the problems were transformed into loving kindness.
The motivation to serve the dharma and our teachers helps hospitality and me keep things in perspective and transform our problems into ice cream.
Love,
Anil S.
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| Family Day at Jamyang |
| Feedback from January's family day - BRILLIANT, EXCELLENT, THE KIDS LOVED IT SOOOO MUCH.
 The theme of this month's Family Day (Sunday 15th February) will be How We Act. We will look at qualities like kindness, honesty, generosity and right speech. We will be making prayer flags using these qualities. We will also have a story "The tiger's whisker" and will be learning a little song. And much more.
This is a new project to offer a space at Jamyang for children aged 5 to 14.
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| Peace from within at St. Ethelburg's- |
'Each one has to find his peace from within.' Mahatma Gandhi
A new seven week course exploring the ways in which we as individuals can bring peace into the world by creating peace within our own hearts. It draws on wisdom from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Judaic and Sufi traditions, and offers an unusual opportunity to enter into a deeper form of dialogue in a mixed faith group.
Each evening has a specific theme and will include time for personal reflection, working on ourselves, dialogue and sharing, inspiration and periods of shared silence. All meetings: 6.30 - 9.15pm.
For more details on the contents of each session visit: www.stethelburgas.org/event.htm
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| Your thoughts |
| What do you want to see in Gentle Voice? We would love to hear your ideas and comments about Gentle Voice, please contact Esther at: spc@jamyang.co.uk | |
