| Request from our Spiritual Director |
Rinpoche's Request To Avoid The 10 Non-Virtues As Much As Possible
29 June 2007
My most dear brothers and sisters,
I thought to mention this.
In
order for oneself and others to have a healthy life - I don't mean
healthy in the sense of diet and exercise, I am talking about a healthy
life in the sense of one's mind and attitude, the actions of one's
body, speech, and mind being positive, healthy, virtuous and pure - the
main cause for this is to abstain as much as possible from negative
actions, which result in suffering. This means actions done with
negative mind, with ignorance, anger, attachment, and the
self-cherishing thought. One way to do this is to abstain from the ten
non-virtuous actions, which are killing, stealing, telling lies, and so
forth. In Christianity there are also the ten commandments.
If
you harm others, there are consequences - immediate consequences and
also long-term consequences - that you experience for many hundreds and
thousands of lifetimes. These are the result of karma. The immediate
consequence of harming others is that others are angry with you, upset
with you. They find out your mistakes, you get in trouble, you are
killed by others, etc. In order not to be killed by others, to have a
long life and be healthy, then it is important that you do not create
the cause to experience this karma.
It
is important to abstain from harming other living beings, including
animals, any being that has a mind and feels suffering and happiness.
This is different from plants, which do not have mind. Happiness and
suffering are dependent on causes and conditions, having the right
causes and conditions. For example, there are specific causes and
conditions needed for a plant to grow (stem, trees, branches, leaves,
flowers, and fruit) and then also to die. Living beings have suffering
and all the causes of sufferings - the delusions, meaning ignorance,
anger, and attachment, and the actions arising from these delusions.
These actions plant more seeds causing more delusions to arise, and
like this, the karma doesn't end.
By
harming others out of ignorance, anger, and attachment, you cause
suffering. Actions created from the disturbing obscuring negative
thoughts - including the root, ignorance - are what cause us to die and
be reborn and experience all the sufferings again and again.
So
this is the fundamental solution: Don't harm others, and then you will
not receive harm from others. Even if a child shoots you, or an unknown
person shoots you, or an animal attacks you, or mosquitoes bite you,
or an ant bites you, or even the tiniest insect harms you ... This
includes all the problems in the world, from suicide up to war. All
your suffering and happiness is due to either a lack of education of
mind or a correct education of mind.
Here, what I am suggesting is at least to avoid the ten non-virtues, as at least as much as possible.
With much love and prayers,
Lama Zopa
Visit Lama Zopa's Site
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| Geshe Tashi's Column |
This GentleVoice will be my last
article for a while, because as some of you may know I am going to be
away from Jamyang for 6 months for my retreat, and then 1 month for the
pilgrimage in India. I'm leaving in the middle of August and will be
back at the beginning of April 2008. From October, Jamyang will have a
Geshe from Germany who will be doing the classes. He is a great Geshe,
with great knowledge and a good friend of mine. People who have been
coming to Jamyang I would suggest you come to his classes. It will be
different from the classes I have been doing, but he is much more
knowledgeable than me. Other activities will carry on, so even though I
am not here, there will still be all the activities at Jamyang.
For my retreat I guess for the first
few months I'll be in Bodhgaya and the last few months near the Sera
monastery to do some retreat. I haven't had the opportunity to do
personal retreat since I first took this role as resident teacher of
Jamyang, and it is really something that I need. To lead some of the
practices like the Guhyasamaja, I myself need to have done some
retreat, although it is unrealistic that I will gain any deep
realisations, but to do retreat will make a difference so that's
another reason why I'm going. I'm going not as a full holiday, but to
cultivate some experiences and at least to work with some of those
important practices that great teachers have taught me. I'm really
looking forward to this break. When I come back in the beginning of
April then I will slowly start the activities again, including those at
centres such as Leeds etc.
It might be too early to say Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year, but as I'm not going to be here I should
say it. It might be too stressful for some to hear that this early, but
I shall say it anyway!
Keep
going! Whatever activities you are doing in ordinary life and in your
spiritual path, keep trying. This is what we have to do. Thank you and
good-bye!
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| HH Dalai Lama's Birthday & Visit to the UK in 2008 |
 His Holiness' Birthday
is this Friday the 6th July and to celebrate we're holding a short puja
at Jamyang London at 6pm led by Geshe Tashi. If you would like to bring
offerings of flowers, etc this would also be very auspicious!
Visit to the UK in 2008 You
will be delighted to hear that contracts have now been signed at the
Nottingham Arena for HH the Dalai Lama's teachings from 24th - 28th May
2008. Over the weekend His Holiness will give a series of talks on the
theme of Bringing Meaning to our Lives followed by three days on Investigating the Nature of Reality
with a Vajrasattva Initiation. Arrangements are nearly finalising and
the arrangements and it is hoped to open the Box Office for ticket
sales in mid August. A website with full information is under
construction.
Nantes 2008 - The
Dalai Lama is also teaching in Nantes next year between Friday 15
August and Wed 20 August during the Beijing Olympics and will give a
public talk, four days of teachings on Bodhicitta and a Padmasambhava
initiation from the secret visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama. See the website here.
MOVIE NIGHT - The
centre is getting in the mood for the teachings in Hamburg this month,
and to prepare we are screening a feature length film about His
Holiness on Saturday 14th July at 7pm. Jamyang now has the ability to
broadcast with a projector so it will be on the big screen!
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| SPC's Column |
Hello! Hoping you are all well and happy.
I've
been doing the Spiritual Programme Co-ordinator job at Jamyang for
almost 8 months now, so about time I wrote some lines in our very own
GentleVoice. Although
I still feel very new and am learning all the time, I would like to
share with the community (you) some Jamyang education programme ideas
and projects.
The first thing I would like to tell
you about is the existence of the Education Group, a committee formed
by 6 students, 1 trustee, Geshe Tashi and me. This group has very
recently come together, having met only twice so far. The idea is that
decisions regarding Jamyang's education projects come from this group
There are 6 areas which the group focuses on. 1 academic programme
(content and delivery), 2 community activities and visiting teachers, 3
rituals, texts, and gompa maintenance, 4 preserving teachings in
various media, 5 Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana
Tradition (FPMT) UK, all of its branches, and 6 correspondence courses
- Foundation of Buddhist Thought
(FBT) and Lam Rim Chenmo. You
will soon find a link on Jamyang's website that will take you to a page
where you will find all information regarding the Education Group's
structure,
functions, membership, plus the agenda and minutes of every meeting.
There will also be a space on the "Volunteers" notice board outside the
library dedicated to this group, where you will be able to leave
suggestions, ideas and very importantly, let us know if you have time
to help carry the projects forward.
You can also email us at educationgroupjamyang@yahoo.com.
It
is in all of our best interests for everyone to have sight of these
projects and decisions made in relation to them. Hopefully this will
encourage people to get involved. Every Jamyang student has her/his own
degree of interest in, understanding of and commitment to the Dharma,
and it's crucial that we all work together to make the best use of our
joint
resources.
Hope to hear from you soon =)!
Esther G.
By the way, we are looking for a volunteer to take notes in the next meeting
on September 1. Please email educationgroupjamyang@yahoo.com. if you are
interested.
PILGRIMAGE UPDATE
There is only one place left on this
precious opportunity to tour with Geshe Tashi for 30 days in India,
visiting the sacred buddhist sites. For more information please contact
esther@jamyang.co.uk.
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| New Centre Manager - Anil Sharma |
 Jamyang
is sorry to say good-bye to Mathew who has been a extremely organised
and efficient Centre Manager for the past year and a half. Stepping
into the hot seat is Anil Sharma...
My name is Anil and from 1st July 07 I am taking over from Mathew as Centre Manager here at Jamyang, London.
I
first came to across Buddhism in Nepal, 1990, where I met Robina
Courtin, who quickly sorted me out and put me onto the right path. I've
been a student of Geshe Tashi since 2004 when I participated as medical
officer on the first Jamyang pilgrimage and again in 2006.
My
background is in nursing and I have an MSC in health promotion. Between
2005-2006 I was a volunteer in FPMT Mongolia as their health and social
community co-ordinator.
I look forward to being of service now and in the future.
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| Relic Tour |
 Preparations
are already under way for Jamyang to host the Relic Tour in October
2007 (12-14th) and at this stage we'd like to ask for volunteers who
would be willing to fill a number of the roles involved in hosting this
massive event. Primarily we need people to be in the building on a
morning or an afternoon to keep the crowds moving and to be stewards
for the opening ceremony etc. Also if people would like to donate for
the costs of candles and flowers for the event, this would be most
welcome.
If you would like to be involved, please contact the organiser, Jane Sill at janesill@aol.com. |
| Peace in the City |
 Many,
many thanks again to all those who helped to make the last 'Peace in
the City' day in May such a success. Not only did we manage to raise a
substantial sum for Jamyang's heating fund, but we also attracted many
local people who were visiting Jamyang for the first time. Following on
this success, Esther has very kindly allocated us another day this
Autumn. So make a note of SUNDAY, 11th NOVEMBER in your diaries! The
date is very appropriate and we shall be pausing for 3 minutes silence
at the 11th hour in memory of all those who have fallen victim of
conflicts and to pray for a peaceful world.
The details of the
programme for the day are still at planning stage. We are responding to
all the very helpful feedback from May and hoping to make the November
day even more successful. We shall be keeping to the same format, ie
starting at 10 am and running through to 5pm, with meditation and
relaxation sessions in the main gompa; Yoga, Tai Chi and Chi Kung in
the Tara Room; and a variety of therapies including reflexology,
cranial therapy, massage and reiki taking place elsewhere in the
building.
If you would like to take part in this very enjoyable and valuable day, please do let us know at admin@jamyang.co.uk
Everyone is very welcome! We need plenty of people to help out on
reception, people to help with food and more therapists! We shall be
holding our first planning meeting in September and all those
interested are warmly invited to come along and contribute their ideas. |
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| Water Bowl Offerings |
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Water Bowl Offerings
Why do we make the offerings?
Basically
offerings are a practice of giving; therefore making offerings helps us
to develop spiritual qualities due to the accumulation of method and
wisdom. Any act performed with a virtuous motivation brings merit and
the more pure the object of our offering is, then the greater the
merit. This is the accumulation of method. The accumulation of wisdom
means that the offering is performed with the understanding that the
one who offers the act of offering and the object to which we are
offering are empty of inherent existence.
The origins of the eight offerings
In
ancient India when an important guest was received in the palace of a
king, he was first presented with a drink of water. To get rid of the
road dust his feet were washed and to rest and rejoice his spirit he
was offered flowers, incense, light and perfume. Lastly he was given a
feast to eat whilst musicians played. In the same way, since our guest
is the visible manifestation of the Awakened Mind, we make these
offerings with humility.
Elaborate offering ideas
It is common to offer
all bowls with water and visualize them as the specific offerings,
however it is also nice to offer the physical offering sometimes too,
here are some ideas.
Water: the first two bowls are water for drinking and water for washing, so these are always water. Flowers: in the third bowl a flower can be placed in white rice or water. Incense:
in the fourth bowl two short sticks of incense (unlit) can be placed in
the rice, Light: the fifth offering can be a candle, small electric
light or small oil lamp Perfume: the sixth can be perfumed water of plain water Food: the seventh offering can be food, e.g. An apple, orange or chocolate on rice (it should be kept fresh).
Handy hints
The
water bowls are filled each day from a clean jug. They should be
offered first thing in the morning, starting from left to right. The
bowls themselves should be identical in size and can be made of silver,
copper, crystal, porcelain, glass or any other quality substance. The
bowls should be placed in a straight line with the space of a grain of
rice between them, (it is said that too much space between the bowls
means that one will be separated from one's teacher; if too close one
will become attached.) Always place empty water bowls upside down. The
simplest way to make an offering is to fill all the bowls with water.
The water should be clean drinking water and can be colored with
saffron. Whilst the bowls are being offered visualize that they are
being offered to the Buddha's holy body speech and mind. It is
necessary to have a good motivational intention and although we may be
offering water to Buddha's and Bodhisattvas, it should be imagined as
nectar or visualizing what the water represents (i.e. beautiful
flowers, elaborate baths, etc)
How to make water bowl offerings
First make 3
prostrations, then dust the altar and objects on it. Start from the
(your) left, wipe the inside of each bowl with a clean cloth, and then
hold the bowl upside
down over burning incense saying OM AH HUM (the
mantra which represents the blessings of the Buddha's body, speech and
mind). Place each bowl on the altar upside down as they are still empty
at this stage. Start with the left bowl; pour a small amount of water
into it. Pour most of the water from this bowl into the next, leaving a
little behind and repeat until all have some water in them. (This
allows you to adjust the bowls placement without spilling the
offerings.)
Completely fill each bowl, whilst reciting the manta OM
AH HUM to below the level of the rim of the bowl by about the thickness
of a grain of barley. The water should be poured noiselessly and with
great respect, as if you are offering a cup of tea to an honored guest.
Both hands should therefore be used to hold the jug. At night the bowls
are emptied from right to left, dried and left upside down. The water
from the
bowls should be emptied in a clean place (i.e. the garden)
This material copyright Shyla Bauer, full copies are on sale at Jamyang for £3
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