Inside this issue...

Feature Section:
The Buddha
How should we understand all the myths and stories surrounding the Buddha¹s life? For those of us who claim to be Buddhist, whose example and teachings are we really following? Is it essential, or even possible, to have a direct connection to the Indian prince whose story of enlightenment is over 2,600 years old? With this issue of Bodhi we begin a year-long focus on the life and teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni. From the perspectives of historical accounts, the commentaries of masters and the words of the Buddha himself,we explore both common lore and lesser known details of a life and body of wisdom that have deeply influenced hearts and minds for millennia. The words of the Buddha have impacted the development of societies as well as the paths of individuals since the first utterance of the four noble truths at Deer Park in India long, long ago. The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche invites us to "get to know" the Buddha in his four-part commentary, which travels through conventional and cosmic dimensions of time and landscape, guiding us on a pilgrimage to meet the Buddha, a journey towards open heart.

by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
25 The Prince Who Became Buddha
29 Getting to Know Buddha, Part I

By Nagarjuna
33 In Praise of the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha

Pilgrimage:
By Kathok Situ Chokyi Gyatso
36 Three Kinds of Pilgrims
By Gendun Chophel
37 An Excerpt from: On Traveling to The Sacred Places of India
By Stephanie Johnston
39 Lumbini: Birth Place of the Buddha

Teachings
By the Venerable Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
9 A Commentary on No Birth, No Base and Union, Part II
In Part II of his commentary on Milarepa¹s song, No Birth, No Base and
Union, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche elaborates on the true nature of appearances,"pointing students towards the profound understanding of emptiness" that is gradually revealed as one penetrates the increasingly subtle presentations of the buddhist philosophical schools.

By Ken Holmes
13 Biographical Note on the Fifteenth Karmapa

As told by the Fifteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Khachab Dorje
15 The Mahasiddha Who Tamed the Untamable
The Fifteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Khachab Dorje, at the age of sixteen, related a series of stories describing his previous lives. These stories illustrate the unceasing manifestation of enlightened mind wherever there are beings suffering. Whether their delusions are that of demons or kings, the Karmapa subdues their confusion through overwhelming compassion.

By Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen
19 Developing Awareness: The Practice of Analytical Meditation
Within the Buddhist tradition of meditation, the point is not just to have
the mind rest—the point is to develop our awareness, our insight,
our prajna. Here, we are given clear instructions on using the analytical
method to search for the object of our ego-clinging, an abiding
personal self.

23 Notes on The Reasoning Process
A succinct guide providing practical tools for working with the reasoning
process in analytical meditation.

Society and Environment
This section features articles that examine issues related to our shared
world. Beyond our paths as individual practitioners, we face certain challenges associated with problems of suffering and confusion in our social environment. How do we move from simply holding "he view of compassion"to implementing the compassionate activities that will fulfill that view? How does our practice of dharma serve the needs of people in everyday life and promote an element of social harmony?

By Dr. Reginald Ray
43 Taking September 11th as the Path
The Sept. 11th cataclysm confronted people of all ages, temperaments,
beliefs, and situations with the most basic questions of life and death: why am I here? how can I handle the awareness of death I now have? how can I deal with my feelings of fear and insecurity? how can I lead a meaningful life?

By Anna-Brown Griswold
47 The Witness: An Interview with Martha Boesing
An interview with the director of "The Witness,"a play that follows the
journey of a privileged young woman onto the streets and observes the
relationships she forms there. This interview focuses on the interface of
art, social activism and spiritual practice.

departments
4 Karmapa News by Martin Marvet
8 Teaching Schedule of the Ven. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
8 Teaching Schedule of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

Poetry:
24 To His Holiness Karmapa on the Occasion of Losar by Christine Johnson
24 New Year¹s Dishes by Patti Fraser

Nitartha Institute:
51 Journey to Nitartha by Colleen Wolstenholme
53 Looking Closer at Our World, the View of Valid Cognition by Steve Seely
55 Seeds and Sprouts: Too Many Monkeys by Robert Margolis
57 Tsurluk Tibetan Calendar
74 Last Word: Ike Rinpoche by Lynne Conrad Marvet
75 Bodhi Directory