Letter to the Sangha
Dear Sangha Friends,Six months have elapsed since I wrote you last in these pages. It has been quite interesting to watch time
fly by. A reminder that time is passing is the delivery of a new issue of Bodhi to your door! Summer & Fall:  I had a wonderful summer. The highlight was spending some time in the United States and a
longer time in Canada with my guru-vajradhara, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Because of the teachings and presence of Khenpo Rinpoche, we had the best Nitartha Institute ever this year. Afterwards, we were together during his visit to the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver, and I had the good fortune to work with Rinpoche on some remarkable projects. At the same time, I had a wonderful visit from my Nalanda classmate and colleague, Acharya Lama
Tengyal, who also taught at the Nitartha Institute this year. I very much enjoyed the annual Treasury of Knowledge retreat of Rigpe Dorje Center in San Antonio, Texas. This year's retreat was special because His Eminence's reincarnation, the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, has been recognized and is now in Pullahari, Nepal. This news brings us great joy. Students of mine should be aware that I have officially resigned from the
position of administrative and resident spiritual teacher at the Vancouver Karma Thekchen Choling. However, I have offered to give teachings and lead dharma practices at the center, in the role of a visiting teacher, for the service of His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa and the lineage. I also had a great visit from the Venerable Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, currently a resident of London. Rinpoche is one of the most learned masters of
Dzogchen tradition, and it was very fortunate that I had the opportunity to study with him during his visit here in Vancouver.
Nalandabodhi Curriculum: I have been greatly encouraged by our students' strong enthusiasm and genuine effort in preparing the Nalandabodhi study curriculum in Boulder,
Vancouver, and other places. During this time, I have been deeply contemplating the introduction of a meditation curriculum to the group at large, when the right conditions come together. I hope this will be sometime soon.As many of you know, I have always encouraged my students to balance study and meditation equally. We are in the process of finalizing the practice curriculum, which is based on my own spiritual training in this journey, as well
as on the detailed instructions of Khenpo Rinpoche. This practice curriculum will be the most complete one, and additional practice curriculums will not be necessary. It will be modeled on the footsteps of Indian and early Tibetan Buddhist lineage masters, as they themselves practiced and as they taught their own students throughout the centuries. This is the way our forefathers, the great Nyingma and Kagyu lineage masters, have transmitted the practice of dharma.
Therefore, in many ways it becomes important that our sangha have its own retreat land in the United States. The sangha should know that I think that the acquisition of retreat property is a very important project for us to complete, so that we can carry on this very profound practice lineage and implement its instructions through individual and group retreat practice. I hope to see you all soon. Please keep up with your study and meditation
practice which will fulfill your purpose of being on the path of dharma as well as the wishes of all enlightened beings of the three times! Well, this is all for now – signing off! Hasta la vista baby! I'll be back! The Dzogchen Ponlop, Rinpoche |
