Old friends and new gathered in the main gompa at the Old Court House to receive a recorded birthday greeting from FPMT's Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Smiles were exchanged between those who knew him, as Rinpoche wasted no time in seizing the opportunity offered by a noisy truck passing his window to give an impromptu teaching on emptiness. Referring to the truck (and its distractions) having no inherent existence, he pointed out how easy it is to become "very tightly fastened" as if "trapped in a case of iron [by] the creations of mind". As Sally commented afterwards "Rinpoche, having such compassion, never misses a single opportunity to teach Dharma!"
 
Lama Zopa also paid tribute to Jamyang's past teachers, but most especially to resident teacher Geshi Tashi's "compassion and vast knowledge" and closed his message by praising Sally, saying that she had arrived at the Centre during a very difficult period, and that she was  "the perfect person to be at Jamyang at the right time".
 
During a couple of technical hitches, Board of Trustees Chair Roy Gillett and Robin Bath filled us in with the day's programme, which was rounded off by another short video message, this time from Geshe Tashi , who unfortunately couldn't be with us due to a clash with his teaching schedule. Rumours that a place on a last-minute 18-30s skiing trip to the Swiss Alps becoming available was the real reason behind our teacher's absence, were said to be unfounded. (Hell Realms, here I come.)
 
Robin and Geoff Jukes (Jamyang's first ever director) then read birthday messages and greetings from those who couldn't attend. Geoff also spoke of how the Centre, through all the services it provides to the community and the city, was fulfilling Lama Yeshe's vision; and particularly so now that possibilities for a Hospice Centre were being looked into. Geoff also reminded everyone of "how very spoilt' the Centre has been in having so many great lamas come through its doors. He said that Jamyang was a place where authentic teachings are given by precious lamas - actually living Dharma! And that we really must take as much advantage as possible of these oral transmissions coming to the West.
 
And if Geoff's reminder of the Centre's roots wasn't enough to create an atmosphere toasty with nostalgia, Robin's slide show, showing wonderful pics of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa from 1978, completed the task. We also saw snaps of the initial group gatherings in a St John's Wood studio, where the first once-a-week sessions were held. From there to the gompa being built in a Finsbury Park house that was purchased a few years later; and finally, photos of the group's arrival at the Old Court House.
 
It was also lovely to see so many familiar faces staring out of these early photos  - even if they were camouflaged beneath floppy hats, uncontrollable sideburns and mullets (and that was just the sangha!) Yet after considering the debt that many of us sitting in the gompa that day owed to the hard work and dedication of these people, it became possible to forgive them some of their fashion faux pas ... though perhaps not the sideburns... nor the purple flares! I suppose, however, that even those things can give us something to work with in Geshe-la's Tong-len classes, or perhaps by remembering that cheesecloth is empty of inherent existence.
 
Further messages of congratulation were given and stories shared - notably the arrival in 1984 of Lama Osel at the Finsbury Park gompa. A mere toddler at the time, the young lama apparently climbed up onto the throne area and made a mandala with his tiny hands! And one more endearing memory shared was that of His Holiness the Dalai Lama joining the rest of the group on the floor of Jamyang rather than the seat prepared for him during his 1998 visit. 
 
Following on, announcements were made regarding the special puja taking place at Kopan Monastery on December 17th for the long life of Lama Zopa, and Sally suggested that any private donations to the event could be passed on through Jamyang. It was also mentioned that if there was anyone who had been a member of Friends of Jamyang for a long time, and who remained on the old rate but would like to consider increasing their subscription, then this would be greatly appreciated.
 
Just before the break, members of the Board of Trustees were introduced to the group and their roles and legal responsibilities under charity law outlined. With this,  Jamyang broke for a lovely lunch and an opportunity to seek out and question some of those mullet-headed comrades, and to take part in the silent auction fundraiser.
 
By 3pm we returned to the gompa where Sally talked about how fortunate Jamyangers were to have a long established centre with such a stable foundation, and was full of praise for Geshi Tashi's "hands on approach," to whatever was needed. In particular, Sally told how she found sitting in our resident teacher's classes being  "like a lotus opening".
 
Our director then set out an overview of the Centre's finances - both generally and in relation to the café's importance as a place for socializing in the Dharma, and the belief that once it was more fully established, it would become a fruitful source of income.
 
The Spiritual Programme Co-Ordinator, Esther Garibay, spoke of the development of 'Cultivating the Path' - a set of tools to guide students through Jamyang's spiritual programme suggested by the Education Group members, particularly Jim Clark. She said that Geshe Tashi's emphasis was upon giving the Centre's own students opportunities to teach the Dharma, rather than bringing in 'big names', and also upon increasing the number of introductory classes to Buddhism and meditation. In closing, Esther offered a sneak preview of Jamyang's new programme designed by Marianne Hartley and the forthcoming events, which included a new course being offered by Geshe Tashi on the Introduction to the Nalanda Traditions.
 
The final leg of this session consisted of an outline of Jamyang's priorities - namely 'education' and 'community' - the two issues that mean most to Geshe Tashi and which were at the root of Lama Yeshe's vision. We were also informed that in order that the Centre could continue to flourish, targets for a five year, three year and one year plan had been set in place and covered the following objectives:
 
By 2013 - to have in place a retreat centre; hospice, and new business stream that would give us one-third of our total income;
By 2011 - to have the development of a local community project under way, and also for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to visit the UK (a letter having been already drafted requesting this);
One year objective - to have a strategy in place to achieve a more secure financial base; a strong educational programme and widen Jamyang's community appeal.
 
The close of this session brought with it great optimism and hope about Jamyang's future, and while holding this vision, the lights went out in the gompa and a birthday cake appeared, with those past directors being invited to blow out the candles as the whole group sang Happy Birthday to Jamyang!
 
At a break for tea and cake, people were invited to join one of four groups for a brainstorming session to help find practical measures to bring the Centre's goals to fruition. We then returned to the gompa to share ideas, and arrangements were made for actions to be taken.  The session appeared very productive, but what was evident was the positive family atmosphere and a sensed determination to bring about the Centre's objectives.
 
Venerable Barbara then led the dedications before another quick break was taken in order to close the silent auction and to prepare for the next, more frivolous, leg of the day's celebrations!
 
And so it began.... a showcase of the largely hidden talents from within our own team ... First up were two 'lifers' - William Walker who gave a highly impressive Dragon Sword display entitled 'Saluting Manjushri' (and miraculously managed to leave the stage with all his aggregates still attached); followed by our own rebel with a cause (and effect), Dharma librarian extraordinaire and Che Guevara look-a-like, Dave Benn who showed his skills as a wordsmith through some great comic poetry!
 
Winners of Jamyang's pilgrimage photographic and writing competitions had their work shared, and songs were sung by the lovely voice of Clare Walsh, that included a particularly beautiful Dharma song, with the music being composed by Lily Schalen and her music teacher, and the lyrics being written by our Robin no less! A most poignant rendition of the song 'Some Day' was also given which had been dedicated to moments of uprising during the Beijing Olympics, highlighting the need to bring in the visions of our Dharma Teachers as quickly as possible. And finally, the most wonderfully talented Lily played two pieces of emotive and uplifting music on her violin. Really! Who knew what gifted companions we have among us!
 
Oh, one last thing that we should not close without mentioning (as much as I'd like to!) Two little words - 'Dharma Charades'. Put together with the 'Countdown' theme tune for timing out the clues, and slides of our Jamyang friends using props to give hints for Dharma teachings, texts and films with quizmaster Venerable Barbara at the helm. Actually ... it was brilliant fun, even though some of us were rubbish at it. I did manage to get '7 Ears in Tibet' though!
 
The beautiful giant Catherine wheel display at the end of the evening went off to cheers, and caused me to reflect upon Jamyang's journey, and in particular the irony of Rinpoche's opening greeting, when he talked of being "trapped in a case of iron" - much like the prisoners that were once kept in the cells of the Old Court House.  I'm sure that the symbolism of a building previously used for incarceration being transformed into one that offers opportunity for the greatest freedom isn't lost on any of us. How incredibly blessed we have been to find these precious teachers and this place at this time, and how we pray that all beings will benefit from becoming serial lifers at a place such as ours.