Words on kaliyuga by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

Some say the dark age, age of vice, Kaliyuga, is here now, or at least coming soon. Some even fear that at the end of 2012 the world as we know it will end. What determines if an age is dark or golden? What are the symptoms or omens? Earthquakes, violet skies, meteoric activity, these are not the omens of doomsday as we are made to believe. Likewise, cherub's flying, a sound economy, freedom of information, peaceful times are also not necessarily signs of a golden age. The age of light is said to be when people value empathy and forgiveness, when they have a willingness to see other people's view, and are contented with what they have. When such values are systematically sabotaged, then you can say that the dawn of the doomsday has begun. When we look at a harmless beggar as a pest and envy billionaires who routinely destroy the earth,we are inviting doomsday to come.

Like Buddha taught, everything is dependant on cause and condition. Dark and golden ages are no exception. They are not predestined, nor are they random or chaotic. Destiny is conditioned, Chief among the causes and conditions is one's own individual self, you can create your destiny. Your choices are your destiny. What and how we are now depends on what and how we have been in the past. What and how we will be in the future depends on what and how we are now.

Shakyamuni with his lotus feet may approach your doorstep for alms but if we keep on being obsessed with Patek Philipe watches, fame or friends, or six pack abs, then Buddha's truth is an annoyance, an inconvenient truth.

Even though we may be in midst of Kaliyuga and are subject to endless causes and conditions of the dark age—easily distracted and confined to thinking of our own self preservation, aspiring to reach benchmarks based on materialistic, consumerist values—we can take advantage of it. It is said that during the degenerate times, the compassion of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas ever more stronger. A savvy spiritual person could take advantage of that opportunity. The dark age can be a reminder of the urgency and preciousness of the Buddha, dharma, and sangha.

As beings that are dependant on conditions, we need to search for light, and cultivate the conditions that will brings light. We need constant reminding of the opposite of materialism. For that we need the image of the Buddha, the sound of the dharma, and the structure of the sangha.

In the past few years, we have lost some of the greatest appearances of the Buddha, such as Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, and Mindroling Trichen Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche, who were all great reminders. But even though their appearance has dissolved, bear in mind that their compassion does not know the meaning of limitations.

In the spirit of where there is a demand, there is supply, we should have aspirations and longing for the appearance of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to never to cease, and—to put it in a trendy term—their swift rebirth. But this rebirth should not be limited to a Tibetan child who has been raised in a particular culture or tradition. We can wish for Buddha's rebith in all forms, even as something seemingly insignificant as the breeze, to remind us of the values of love and compassion and tolerance. We must aspire to galvanize myriad manifestations of the Buddha, not just throne-hopping, Rolls Royce-driving tulkus who are a product of nepotism.

DJKHYENTSE. 28/120012

The passing of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Dungsey Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, the father of our founder Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, passed away on December 27th, 2011. Below is the letter that Khyentse Rinpoche composed to the sangha with suggestions on how to view the passing of such a great yogi. Thinley Norbu Rinpoche was born in Tibet, the eldest son of Dudjom Rinpoche. He was a great poet and author of seminal texts such as A Small Golden Key, Magic Dance, White Sail, and A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar.


http://khyentsefoundation.com/2011/12/a-message-from-dzongsar-khyentse-rinpoche/

PS. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has several times been invited to teach at Gomde Denmark and is expected to come this year.

Praksis weekend den 10.-12. februar 2012 på Rangjung Yeshe Gomde DK

Kære Gomde Sangha

Praksis weekend den 10.-12. februar 2012 på Rangjung Yeshe Gomde.

På opfordring  fra mange i Sanghaen under  vores skønne nytårsretreat med Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, indkalder vi til årets første praksis weekend på Gomde.
Vi genoptager herved en tradition, hvor vi har mødtes fra hele landet til praksis, hygge og mulighed for en masse udvekslinger på kryds og tværs i Sanghaen.

Sanghaen står for alt fra indkøb til madlavning, æbletærter og oprydning, det giver mulighed for at alle kan være aktive og få en tættere kontakt til Sanghaen og til Gomde.

I tilfælde af pludselig hård vinter afsætter vi en reserve weekend 17. -19. februar, så reserver den i din kalender.

Et kæmpe flot tiltag har forvandlet ”Albertgården” til ”Strandgården” med smukke lokaler og værelser. Dem af jer der har lyst til at invitere resten af familien med denne weekend er meget velkommen til det. Forplejning sker i så fald selvstændigt på Strandgården, hvor der er køkken faciliteter.

Pris: 450 kr for ophold og mad, pris for fuldtids studerende og pensionister 350 kr

Tilmeldingsfrist: 30. januar.  oplys venligst både telefonnr. og email

Fælles transport: Brug Gomdes transportsystem på Gomdes hjemmeside.

Medbring: Tekster( se program), soveposer sengelinned,varmt tøj.

Er der nogen der har mulighed for at købe ind eller lave velkomst suppe?

Vi glæder os til  at se alle der har lyst til at mødes og praktisere sammen.

På Sanghaens vegne

Varme hilsner

Gita og Annie
Gomdes Københavner praksis

Tilmeldingsmail adresse: flow@gita.dk




Program for  praksisweekenden:


Fredag: Ankomst

Kl.20: Varm suppe velkomst

Kl.21-22: Meditationspraksis


Lørdag:

Kl.7-8: Praksis: Buddha Sakaymuni praksis og meditation

Kl.8-9: Morgenmad

Kl.9-11.30: Praksis: Korte daglige Guru Rinpoche praksis og sidde- og gå meditation.

Kl.12-15: Frokost og gåture evt. egen praksis

Kl.15-16.30: Praksis: sidde- og gå meditation

Kl.16.30-17 : Kaffe og te, måske hjemmebagt kage?

Kl.17-18.30: "Calling the Guru from Afar"

          Recitation af Jamgön Kongtrül Rinpoches tekst.

          20 min. meditation efterfølgende

Kl.18.30-20: Middag

Kl.20-21: Recitation af Hjertesutraen

          20 min. meditation efterfølgende.


Søndag:

Kl.7-8: Morgenpraksis: Buddha Sakaymuni praksis og meditation

Kl.8-9: Morgenmad

Kl.9-12 : Praksis: Korte daglige Guru Rinpoche praksis og sidde- og gå meditation

Kl.12-15: Frokost, evaluering og fælles oprydning.

Seminar Survey Results

Here are the results from the seminar survey. A big thanks to everyone who answered the survey. In total we received 44 replies.

1. Overall, how satisfied were you with the seminar?
		%	votes
Very satisfied		75,0%	33
Satisfied		22,7%	10
Not satisfied		0,0%	0
Very unsatisfied		2,3%	1

2. How satisfied were you with the number of teaching and practice sessions?
		%	votes
Very satisfied		59,1%	26
Satisfied		38,6%	17
Not satisfied		2,3%	1

3. Did the audio system function well?
		%	votes
Yes		97,0%	32
No		3,0%	1

4. (For Danes) did you enjoy the translation into Danish?
		%	votes
Yes, I enjoyed it a lot		62,2%	23
Yes, it was good		32,4%	12
No, I prefer to listen to teachings in English		5,4%	2

5. (For international participants) How would you rate the English translation via headphones?
		%	votes
It worked very well		54,5%	6
It was ok		36,4%	4
I did not like it		9,1%	1

6. Were you satisfied with your sleeping arrangements?
		%	votes
Yes		94,7%	36
No		5,3%	2

7. Were you satisfied with the meals?
		%	votes
Yes		82,9%	34
No		12,2%	5
Not sure		4,9%	2

Out of 11 comments regarding the meals:

- 3 people asked for non-vegetarian meal options

- 2 people asked for vegan meals

- 2 people asked for meals without garlic

- 4 people were happy with the meals

8. What did you think of the daily tasks?
		%	votes
I enjoyed it		65,9%	27
It was ok		29,3%	12
I did not like it		4,9%	2

9. Do you prefer to help out with tasks such as washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms or should Gomde hire people for such jobs?
		%	votes
I am happy to help with those jobs - we save money and have fun together		62,8%	27
I prefer to pay a little extra to avoid such jobs		23,3%	10
It is not important		14,0%	6

Retreats at Gomde 2012

Here is a preliminary list of retreats taking place at Gomde in 2012. Registration will soon be available at www.gomde.dk

----------------------------

Lama Tenzin

Tara Retreat

30 March - 8 April

----------------------------

Khandro Rinpoche

The Awakened Heart: Teachings on our innate qualities of kindness and wisdom

April 14-15

----------------------------

Erik Pema Kunsang

Padmasambhavas Direkte Vej I

May 17-20

--------------------------

Erik Pema Kunsang

Meditations Retreat

May 21-28

---------------------------------

Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

July 29-6

----------------------------------

Erik Pema Kunsang

Padmasambhavas Direkte Vej II

August 17-19

-----------------------------

Erik Pema Kunsang

Dø fredeligt med kærlighed og indsigt

August 24-26

--------------------------------

Tsoknyi Rinpoche

A Dzogchen Approach to an Open Heart and Open Mind

October 13-19

------------------------------

Phakchok Rinpoche

October 22-27

-------------------------------

Erik Pema Kunsang

Padmasambhavas Direkte Vej III

November 23-25