March 2014

In This Issue

HHDL - For the Benefit of All Beings

This Month at Jamyang

Geshe Tashi's column

The Director's Column

Easter Retreat

Volunteers Needed

HHDL in Sera

Poetry Corner

Jangtse Choje in Deer Park

FPMT Job Opportunites

About FPMT

Your Thoughts for Gentle Voice

Quick Links

Jamyang Website

Current Programme

Talking Buddhism The Foundation Study Course The Lamrim Chenmo Study Course

FPMT

Editor's welcome

Dear friends,

Lots of news from Jamyang in this edition. Changes to our staff and to the cafe. We include an obituary to the much loved Clare Walsh and the usual crop of Dharma extracts, poems and news from around the FPMT as well as an interesting take on community from Geshe Tashi. Do enjoy this edition of Gentle Voice

John

His Holiness the Dalai Lama - Mahamudra

Extract from "The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of MAHAMUDRA" by His Holiness he Dalai Lama and Alexander Berzin We pick up the text at page 115

THE SUTRA TRADITION OF MAHAMUDRA The text continues, The former refers to the ways of meditating on voidness as directly indicated in the expanded, intermediate and brief (Prajnaparamita sutras). The supremely realised Arya Nagarjuna has said, "Except for this, there is no other pathway of mind leading to liberation." The sutra tradition of mahamudra refers to methods for meditating on voidness as explained in the Three Mothers - the hundred thousand, twenty thousand and eight thousand stanza recensions of the Prajnaparamita sutras. As Nagarjuna has said, there is no other pathway of mind to liberation except through this. So long as we are not aware of and do not eliminate our apprehending everything to exist truly and independently, we wander through uncontrollably recurring rebirths by a mechanism of twelve factors that dependently arise - unawareness, affecting impulses, consciousness, nameable mental faculties with or without form, stimulators of cognition, contacting awareness, feeling a level of happiness or suffering, craving, grasping, the compulsive impulse to continue living, conception, aging and dying - the "twelve links of dependent arising." The two major divisions of Madhyamaka, the "middle way" Indian tenet system that follows from Nagarjuna, provide progressively more subtle understandings of true, independent existence. Svatantrika uses the term to mean unimputed existence - existence truly independent of being what mind can produce an appearance of, and impute or mentally label as "this" or "that", on an appropriate basis. Such a basis is one having an inherent, findable self-nature or defining characteristic mark making it not only existent, but what it is. Prasangika takes true, independent existence as a synonym for inherently findable existence - in other words, existence truly independent of being simply what mind can impute or mentally label on an appropriate basis, without that basis having such a self-nature or mark. For the former, then, true, independent existence means true, unimputed existence, while for the latter, it means true, inherent existence. The beginningless lack of awareness of the total absence of true, inherent existence, responsible for our samsaric existence, can be explained in two

ways. We are unaware of the actual nature of how things actually exist in the sense of either (1) being clouded about it, or (2) projecting and apprehending that nature to be a manner of existence contrary to that which is actually the case. Fatherly Nagarjuna and his spiritual offspring take the second position. They assert that (a) projecting that things exist in a manner contrary to the way they actually exist, and (b) apprehending things to exist in this fantasised, impossible manner, are both within the sphere of lack of awareness that apprehends true, inherent existence. Since such ignorance causes and perpetuates our samsaric existence, bringing us all our problems and suffering, we must definitely eliminate our lack of awareness of how everything actually exists. To extinguish our ignorance, we must realise that our lack of awareness is due to the confused and disturbing way in which we apprehend the appearance of everything that arises in our mind. That, in turn, is due to the obstacles preventing our omniscience that cause our mind to make everything appear as if it existed truly and inherently. A scriptural quotation indicates the solution, "The mind that craves for uncontrollably recurring rebirth is distorted with respect to its objects. Its understanding, however, of the voidness of its objects causes its craving for such rebirth to cease." Awareness that understands voidness - the lack of true, inherent existence - has a manner of apprehending its object that focuses on there being no such thing as true and inherent existence. It apprehends such existence not only to be totally absent, but never to have existed at all. The force of this manner of apprehension, then, is the exact opposite of the manner in which apprehending true, inherent existence takes its object - namely by implying that this impossible manner of existence is actually real. Therefore the understanding of voidness causes direct harm to and undermines the ignorance that entails this mistaken apprehension. The former has the support of valid cognition, while the latter lacks such support. The former is a mind that apprehends what corresponds to reality, while the latter is a mind that apprehends what does not correspond to anything real. "The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of MAHAMUDRA" is published by Snow Lion

December 2013 and January highlights at Jamyang

CLASSES AND EVENTS IN FEBRUARY & MARCH AT JAMYANG Full information about these and all our events can be found here on the

Jamyang Website

CLASSES and RETREATS with GESHE TASHI FBT Module on Emptiness 1,2 March Registered Students only

WEEK DAY EVENINGS AND AFTERNOONS Buddhist Meditation: Wholesome Emotions with Roy Sutherwood

Middle Length Lam Rim Wednesday 5,12,19,26 March, 2, 9 April Easter Compassion retreat with Geshe Tashi 19 -22 April Kindness Sunday 9 March, 10am - 12:30pm VISITING TEACHERS Meditation, Stability, Clarity with Alan Wallace 11 - 16 April Tara Puja Practice Group training With Ven Angie Muir Fridays 14, 21, 28 March 6.30 - 8.30pm Mandala - How to offer the Mandala (Part 2) With Ven Angie Muir Sunday 23 March 10am - 1pm Extensive Lama Choepa with Jorcho With Ven Angie Muir Saturday 29 March 2 - 5.30pm Chenrezig Practice with the 8 Verses of Mind Training with Ven Angie Muir Thursdays 1, 8 and 15 May 7.30pm RETREATS, WEEKEND TEACHINGS and PRACTICE GROUPS Insight Meditation Practice Group 8, 22 March , 26 April 10.30-12.30pm open to all Guhyasamaja Practice Group 22 March, 26 April For initiates only Vajrayogini Practice Group 23, 30 March, 6, 13, 27 April For initiates only Kalachakra Practice Group 22 March, 26 April

Mondays until 31 March 7.30 - 9pm Vipassana: Insight Meditation in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw with Carl Fooks Tuesdays 4th to 25th March 7.30 - 9pm Meditation for Beginners with David Ford Thursdays 6 March, 3 April 7.30 - 9pm Giving and Taking (Tong Len) With Steff Hill Tuesdays 1, 8 April 7.30pm Tara Puja Tuesdays except 15 and 22nd April 4.30 - 5.45pm Medicine Buddha Puja Tuesdays except 15 and 22nd April 6:15 - 7pm Silent Meditation Thursdays weekly except 17th April 6.15 - 7.15pm Lama Choepa Puja 11, 26 March 9, 24 April check website for times COMMUNITY Peace in the City Sunday 9th March 12 - 4pm Dying Well Group 5th April 10am - 4pm Chi Kung and Tai Chi Monday evenings taught by William Walker. For more information and to book call William (follow the link above) Satyananda Yoga Tuesday evenings taught by Judy Watchman For more information and to book call Judy (follow the link above) Hridaya (Heart Centre) Yoga

For initiates only Full details of these and all other events are on our website Please book for all weekend classes or retreats other than practice groups on-line if you can. If you can't call the office on 02078208787 or email admin@jamyang.co.uk You can drop in to all evening classes unless we state otherwise SPECIAL EVENTS Day of Miracles with Geshe Tashi 15 March

Taught by Naz Wednesday evenings 7.30pm For more information please call Naz (follow the link above) Chair Yoga Taught by Cathy Brebion Tuesdays 10.30am - 11.30am

Full details of these and all other events are on our website

Geshe Tashi's column

Hello Everybody,

I have been thinking how important a sense of community is to the well-being of all of us. I say this because we need to make this sense of community stronger, both in our own lives and here at Jamyang. Coming to Jamyang and attending the classes is very good. It is a very positive influence on your lives. How much stronger that could be if we all engage with the sense of community here at Jamyang. I am not talking about making big contributions to Jamyang, just attending and helping to create that kind, helpful feeling that we all so much need. This is done just by sharing with each other; listening to each other, supporting each other. I hope that you can all appreciate this and it all comes down to very simple things such as sharing a cup of tea with someone, maybe someone you have seen and not spoken to yet. The strength of Jamyang entirely depends on the strength of this sort of open, sharing community spirit. If we can help nurture this, then we are really experiencing the Dharma at work. Having this kind, open attitude of mind really begins to tackle the root causes of our problems. It really helps to counter our self cherishing mind and leads us towards the mind Bodhicitta, the mind that really wants nothing but the long term best for all the beings around us.

On the 15th of March we have the Day of Miracles, which is one of the special celebration days in the Buddhist calender. I hope to see lots of you there!

Director's Column

Weather? Changeable. Enough said - that time of year! His Holiness joined The Huffington Post HuffPost Live on Wednesday for an interview with Willow Bay. It was simultaneously livestreamed on all of the Huffington Post's international editions and the recording is still up there for viewing: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/25/dalai-lama-live-interview_n_4855972.html His Holiness was conducting a series of public events in California and agreed to go into the HuffPost live studio in Los Angeles to talk to Willow about a wide range of subjects, including mindfulness, spirituality and the need to think about how we redefine success. Re-defining success beyond money and power is one of Arianna Huffington's key messages. Well worth a watch. His Holiness has also joined Instagram: http://mobile.theverge.com/2014/2/27/5452688/the-dalai-lama-has-joined-instagram Some good pics up there already! Much looking forward to his visit to Instituto Lama Tsongkapa in Pomaia, Tuscany and the teachings in Livorno in June: http://www.dalailama.it/en/ Keep watching this space for news of more visits here from our precious teachers this year. A strong wish and the generation of merit will make it happen. Help us create that merit with your own practice and join us here for prayers and pujas whenever you can. We are also continuing to upgrade the quality of our own livestreaming capability for Geshe-la's teachings. The pilot is going well and much is being learned from it. Once established our capacity for livestreaming Geshe-la and other visiting teachers regularly to a good and consistent quality will be greatly enhanced. This will be a great benefit to those who are unable to attend onsite and help create a great archive for the future. As we slowly move toward the coming spring, the front of the building is beginning to be unwrapped as these words are being written the cladding and scaffolding is coming down! The renovation of the brick, stonework and windows is nearly complete. Then we have the groundwork, the new paving, hedging, cycle racks and external notice board to go up and weather permitting, this should be done by mid to late March. The weather may be changeable but Jamyang is changing, as always, and hopefully for the better. As well as the building development, from the 1st of March, Jamyang's Courtyard Cafe moves forward with a new look! Ali did an amazing job re-launching the food side of the cafe, establishing good quality and tasty food, a hospitable atmosphere for the cafe visitors, running fully booked bread making courses, she trained up a very good deputy, Ilaria and gathered a good pool of enthusiastic volunteers and part-time hired help. Ali is now ready to move onto fresh pastures and projects as she is now living on the south coast and not in the Centre but wants to still offer us two days a week for creative development and staff training, support for retreats and respite

for the team when the rota can't be delivered. So you may still see her occasionally in the cafe. The new team combines a mix of volunteer and paid staff with Ilaria as Cafe Manager, supported by two full-time Cafe Assistants, Sophie and Vi, Ali part time and Gian Luca as part time book keeper and administrative support - you may also see him rolling up his sleeves and helping out in the Kitchen and front of house from time to time along with Marion and other volunteers! Ilaria, Sophie and Vi are all resident on the premises. If you think that you may be able to offer reliable volunteer service to the cafe from time to time, speak to Ilaria. There is a separate article on the new cafe developments elsewhere here in Gentle Voice so take a look there for more news. The builders will soon be out of the courtyard and Anne will be developing the garden for the spring and summer months. Anne and llaria have ideas for some kitchen garden space for herbs and vegetables. We are also in the process of getting some new tables and seating for the new look courtyard! The turnover of people on the hospitality team three month work programme continues with Naiara returning to her home the Basque country in Spain and Vi is moving from the volunteer team to paid employment as an assistant in the cafe. Viktorija from Latvia remains and is joined by Diana Elena from Romania and Ana Sofia from Portugal. Another great team being well looked after by Lorena! Many, many thanks to Naiara and Vi for all you contributed to the Jamyang community. So, all in all, a great welcome is awaiting you here at Jamyang over the coming spring and summer months. All the developments here are being done to improve your experience. Come and enjoy and rejoice in the community here, whether it is for teachings, meditation, prayers, pujas or community events. Help build and strengthen that sense of community, be a part of it. Our programme and facilities provide all you need for a very balanced diet of spiritual practice, in the company of supportive friends and a great teacher, all treading the same path.

Remembering Clare Walsh

Clare Walsh was well known by many at Jamyang, particularly for her work with the carers' group which she co-founded. Sadly, she passed away after a return of the breast cancer which had already taken the life of an elder sister.

The following is an account shared by Erica Read, a college friend, at Clare's funeral which took place on Thursday, 27th February at West Norwood. It was a lovely Spring like afternoon and the churchyard was full of the colours of Spring - daffs, snowdrops, crocuses, blossom and catkins. Just before the service began there was a sharp shower followed by a return to bright sunshine. A beautiful rainbow appeared over the chapel for a few moments - a fitting tribute to such a colourful and multitalented person.

"All of us will have particular and special memories of Clare. Mine is of first meeting her in the Sunday afternoon sunlight of the old library in Lopes, at hall at Exeter university, in 1968. She was in blue. Probably your image will also be colourful for she loved colour in her surroundings as fabrics, flowers, household things - and of course to wear, including a hat.

Her sisters say she had a vivid imagination from early on. She was proud of a ballet she created as a teenager which was performed at school. Her creativity ran through all her activities with a special love of music and poetry. She wrote many poems herself. Her creativity was especially involved in her work with people. As a student, she volunteered for the Simon Community, doing night duty, but she also organised a concert for them to raise money. There was music round the bonfire the night of our shared 21st birthday party held on the beach. And after her year away in Bordeaux, when her French became fluent, she completed her French degree and spent a couple of happy years immersed in music by working at Left Bank, THE trendy, serious and ONLY music store in Exeter. Our friendship was well cemented by the time she left Devon for Southampton and probation training. In 1974 she was my bridesmaid.

Post qualifying, she worked first in Rochester then London with high risk

offenders. While doing all this she kept her love of the arts going, went to drama and dance classes and, of course, sang. She also discovered Tai Chi.

Almost 30 years ago, she settled at 47a and the flat in the Gardens became a home and a place full of treasures. It was her working base as she became interested in alternative methods of healing and moved to self employment. She set up relaxation clinics and workshops, working with carers to provide respite. Ultimately, she co-founded the carers project at Jamyang Buddhist Centre using her creative skills to help others. The programme began in the late 1990s and continues to this day as RTK.

Clare referred to herself as a Christian Buddhist and thought her parents would have been bemused by this. I doubt they would have been bemused by her deep compassion and generosity to others. Since the 1990s she drew great comfort and inspiration from the teachings of the Dalai Lama and much support from the communities at Jamyang and the Buddhist retreat centre in Ireland, Jampa Ling, where she loved to go and was often asked to help. It also afforded welcome stays in the country - a constant source of pleasure when she had the chance to visit friends or go to workshops. Clare was also very close to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and attended several retreats led by him.

Clare had a lovely voice and if she was telling you about some singing, was likely to break into song. In recent years her Indian singing became central and it took her on 2 voyages to India. It was part of the expression of her spiritual life and until her last month she met and sang with a regular group of friends. Her sisters tell me that the musicians at St Christopher's hospice where she spent her last days, also made it possible for her to sing right until the end.

Clare was not a person who could tell a funny joke, but she laughed a lot and often. She had a special capacity to be delighted. She counted artists, potters, musicians amongst her friends but made lasting friendships with people from all walks of life and through every stage of her life. She often complained of herself as forgetful and disorganised but even when life and health were tough, she didn't forget her friends and remained meticulous in her professional care for others.

The love of and for her family, her sisters, niece and nephew, was especially important. Her joy in all of them was always evident. She was an absolutely loyal friend and one of the most gentle human beings I have ever been lucky enough to know. You never heard Clare critical or judgmental about anyone. To be in touch with her was always a reminder about how not to be pompous or self-important.

And then there were the gifts. The carefully chosen beautiful images she sent.

The many exquisite hand made cards she spent hours creating.

If we are lucky, we have these to remind us of her, but really the gift was to have had her in our lives at all.

-----

Estelle Rose remembers Clare.

Dear Clare- from Estelle . I think it was 2000 when Alison Murdoch introduced me to Clare as she was setting up a project to support carers.We were very enthusiastic. Both of us had worked in Community work before, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had said that he hoped Buddhist centres would do practical work with people as well as teach meditation.

Clare and I sat on the little bench near the coat hangers and spoke for about 2 hours about how the project could work, I had worked in Community Education for years and Clare had been a probation Officer and librarian.Both of us had taught alternate health techniques, Clare Tai Chi and myself Yoga. I had taught crafts and Clare was a musician. We spoke of the way we could use our experience.

Repaying the Kindness was advertised and started slowly with only one person coming to our first morning. But then a lively crowd came from Southwark Carers and let everyone know, soon we were very busy and worked closely with Lambeth and Southwark Carers. we met lots of lovely carers and lots of wonderful volunteers.

Clare was my friend at work for about 10 years, she was always gentle and patient.

I had to tell her take care of herself because she would listen endlessly to people who wanted to talk to her and forget to get her lunch.

She brought relaxation, music, and poetry to the carers and they wrote poetry with her.

She loved Louis Armstrong"s 'What a Wonderful World" and always ended her sessions with that music.

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An RTK session this month. Vinod serves the tea

CANDLELIGHT OFFERINGS - will take place on Mondays at 6.30 for the 49 day period during which Clare will be passing through the bardo. All are very welcome to join.

Programme News

Geshe Tashi: Kindness Sunday 9 March 10 - 12.30pm

We all need more kindness, human warmth, love and compassion in our lives, to nurture and be nurtered, to care for and be cared for.

Join Geshe Tashi for a shorter than usual Sunday morning exploration of this core human emotion through listening, sharing and contemplation - opening up the heart to its limitless potential.

For those of you staying on don't forget that it is Peace in the CIty afterwards from 1 to 5pm. Fine food in the cafe, cut price complementary therapies offered by kind practitioners, children's activities. All the fun of the fair organised by the indefatigable Jane and her teams of kind therapists and wonderful volunteers.

Day of Miracles Saturday 15 March from 8am to 5pm The first of the three big holy days in Tibetan Buddhism, the Great Prayer Day at the end of the Celebration of the Shakyamuni Buddha's display of miracles at Sravasti falls this year on a Saturday. Join Geshe Tashi and the Jamyang community to make merit on this special day when the energy from good deeds is greatly enhanced. Geshe Tashi will offer the chance for people to take the set of 24 hour vows known as the 8 Mahayana precepts which he highly recommends for lay people. Jamyang will offer participants a lunch made according to the dietary restrictions of Kriya Tantra at 11.30am. So we can get catering numbers/ food ordering right please let Lorena know if you will be coming for lunch.

Dr Alan Wallace Meditation, stability, clarity: Experiencing the liberating power of full attention A six day training in meditation co-hosted by the Consciousness Network and Jamyang Friday 11 April - Wednesday 16 April

This event is nearly fully booked, check on our website to book your place

Easter Compassion Retreat with Geshe Tashi

3.5 days - 9am Saturday 19 April through to 1pm Tuesday 22 April

Saturday 19 April 9am - 5pm, Supporting Land of Joy

Wholesome Emotions. Every Monday evening at 7:30 until 31 March

A chance to settle back and see how positive emotional states can be nurtured in your daily life. (This is a drop-in class)

Vipassana: Insight Meditation in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw Every Tuesday until 25 March with Carl Fooks

You can book for all of these and all our other classes through our website

Courtyard Cafe News

From the 1st of March, Jamyang's Courtyard Cafe moves forward with a new look! Ali has done an amazing job re-launching the food side of the cafe - establishing good quality and tasty food, a hospitable atmosphere for the cafe visitors, run fully booked bread making courses, trained up a very good deputy, Ilaria and gathered a good pool of enthusiastic volunteers and part-time hired help.

Ali is now ready to move onto fresh pastures and projects as she is now living on the south coast and not in the Centre but wants to still offer us two days a week for creative development and staff training, support for retreats and respite for the team when the rota can't be delivered. So you may still see her occasionally in the cafe. The future for the cafe is very bright. Spring is on its way and sales are starting to pick up after the seasonal winter lull. We now have a new and excellent Cafe Manager in Ilaria and a new staffing structure to further improve our service to both the Jamyang community and the wider community as a Community Interest Company. The builders will soon be out of the courtyard and Anne will be developing the garden for the spring and summer months. Anne and llaria have ideas for some kitchen garden space for herbs and vegetables. We are also in the process of getting some new tables and seating for the new look courtyard. The cafe closely supports Jamyang's Buddhist and Community programmes through catering for Geshe-la's weekend and evening teachings as well as retreats and special events. It provides daily lunches for staff, the weekly communal lunch for staff and volunteers with Geshe-la on Wednesdays, leaving cakes and catering for community and special events -not to mention providing for groups deciding to book rooms in Jamyang because we can cater for them!

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), the cafe can also annually donate a portion of its profits back to Jamyang. The mutual benefit of working closely together both now and in the long term is much bigger than many of us immediately think! The obvious is often the most hidden and new structure is going to further bring Jamyang and the cafe CIC even closer together for the benefit of the communities we seek to serve. The new team combines a mix of volunteer and paid staff with Ilaria as new Cafe Manager, supported by two full-time Cafe Assistants, Sophie and Vi, Ali part time and Gian Luca as part time book keeper and administrative support - you may also see him rolling up his sleeves and helping out in the Kitchen and front of house from time to time along with Marion and other volunteers! Ilaria, Sophie and Vi are all resident on the premises. If you think that you may be able to offer reliable volunteer service to the cafe from time to time, speak to Ilaria. We will be trialling the new structure and working agreement between Jamyang and the cafe CIC for the next three months to 31 May, after which we will review what is working and what is not and look to see how best to shape and take it forward to provide the best service possible for Jamyang and the wider local community. Ilaria and the team are being closely supported by Roy and Ros and we ask that you continue to support the cafe positively, use it regularly and if you have any ideas during this three month review period, we encourage you to talk to us with any ideas you have. When you are here or passing the café, please just pop your head in to say hi to Ilaria, Sophie and Vi, make use of the wonderful cafe facility that we have and enjoy amazing, wholesome and healthy food, really good coffee and yummy cakes!

Volunteers Needed at Jamyang

Can you spare some time to volunteer at Jamyang?

Are you a driver? We have moved to paper towel so the hospitality team would like to donate our old towels to the homeless shelter. Could someone help us with the delivery? We are looking for someone who could come in during the week and help out on some of the admin tasks in the office. We also need some help with the hospitality team when we have big events, opening the door to students, keeping the tea station going, etc. This could be at the weekend or maybe some evenings. If you want to know more then please contact Lorena through her email admin@jamyang.co.uk

Jamyang Comings and Goings

We sadly said good bye to Naiara on Wednesday the 26th of March. She did an amazing job as a hospitality volunteer for the past five and a half months . Naiara studied interior design in her home town in the Basque Country, so she often helped with the building maintenance mostly on her days off. We owe her for the rooms she has painted, fixing of the leaking showers by changing the silicon seals, and she helped me greatly cleaning and decluttering many areas of the Centre such as the small stationary room and the understairs cupboard. She was always fixing things and somehow she had the ability to mend everything. I am very grateful for the job she has done for the Centre. She was very happy to go back home but she was also very sad leaving the Community. She is a lovely girl and she will be sorely missed by all the volunteers and members of staff. Violeta-or just Vi as she likes to be called- moved from the Hospitality team to the Café team, so you will continue to see that smiley person around. However she will prepare your coffees rather than opening the door and registering your name for classes. So, some people have gone however some new people have arrived!! We welcomed last week two new hospitality volunteers. The new volunteers are Diana Elena from Romania and Ana Sofia from Portugal. Please come to the front desk and say hello. I would like to thank Ros Williams for volunteering during the weekend retreats. Her help is much appreciated, and also Varun Sachdeva who has joined the gardening team. Incidentally Anne Swindell will train all willing garden volunteers in a workshop soon. The scaffolding in the courtyard was dismantled today so that workshop will happen very soon. Anne will be recruiting people so you may get a call. I would also like to acknowledge the amazing job that Ilaria Alongi does with the flowers arrangements for the altars. She plans to start taking care of the indoors plants as well. So, Constantine has very kindly agreed to help us change the soil, and the Centre plants will all be revived. As we are committed to being as environmentally friendly as possible, a green

Vi turns Mike into a rabbit at her leaving party

centre in the midst of the concrete jungle; we have two new recycling boxes one for light bulbs and one for batteries please come and hand yours to the front desk. Moreover, we have placed enough recycling bins around the Centre so we kindly ask you to recycle paper and glass. Lorena

Peace in the City - Sunday 9th March

Peace in the City will start a little later this time, at 1 pm, following Geshe-la's talk on Kindness in the morning. We have some great therapies on offer including shiatsu, Indian head massage, face massage, reflexology. Bookings will start at 12.30 pm. There will also be classes of Kum Nye at 1.30 in the big gompa, followed by laughter with Ilana at 2.30 and gong therapy at 3.30. Free childrens' activities will run all afternoon in the library with Kate and Cynthia. And there will be amazing cake therapy all day. Come and enjoy some tlc and help boost Jamyang funds at the same time!

Poetry Corner

Hsuan Chueh (665 - 713) From Canticle of the Way Heart's mirror clear reflects beyond fetter. The void stripped clean, innumerable worlds. All things in their majesty, shadowed and seen there. The single gleaming jewel: not within, not without. -------- One moon seen as one in all the waters. All waters' moon, that one moon holds. Thus, the Buddha-dharma in my being: my being at one with the Awakened One

published in "The Poetry of Zen" by Sam Hamill and J.P. Seaton

Offering Lights at Root Institute

This year Root Institute have changed the way Light Offerings can be sponsored at Bodh Gaya. Take a look at their website here and see if you want to sponsor some light offerings yourself. Festival of Lights and Merit 2014

Land of Joy Matched Funding Appeal

Land of Joy has been offered £200,000 in matched funding if we can raise a further £200,000 by September 2014. In all we could raise £400,000 through this initiative, taking us over the £1m we set as our initial fundraising target. Can you help us to provide retreats at moderate rates, by helping generate the capital to purchase without a loan? Every pound you give becomes two pounds. Even if you give a small amount its value doubles, but this only applies until September 2014. It would be so wonderful if all of our supporters gave something - from £1 to £100,000 - to help create the Land of Joy. Now is the time to give. A Land of Joy Board Member and his wife, have been among the first to join in the match-funding campaign since it began two weeks ago. They are donating £20,000, which becomes £25,000 with gift-aid, which becomes £50,000 with the matched funding! This generous gift is multiplied by 150%, and helps take Land of Joy closer to becoming an active Retreat Centre. There are two principal ways to donate:

1. Donate by bank transfer: For bank account details including BIC and IBAN please email the Treasurer, Bob Charlton (bob.landofjoy@gmail.com).

2. Send a cheque, bank draft or postal order made payable to 'Land of Joy' together with your contact information to: Land of Joy, c/o 27 Hollin Drive, LEEDS, LS16 5NE, United Kingdom.

If you are a UK taxpayer, the value of your gift can be increased by 25% under the government's Gift Aid scheme at no extra cost to you. Please download the Gift aid form, complete it and return to: Land of Joy, c/o 27 Hollin Drive, LEEDS, LS16 5NE, United Kingdom.

His Holiness offers Guhyasamaja Tantra Initiation

His Holiness will be offering the Five Stages of Guhyasamaja Tantra and the Gyalwa Gyatso Initiation during a five-day retreat style event in the quiet and conducive environment of the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. 5 June -9 June 2015 His Holiness is offering this special opportunity so that serious practitioners can progress to the next level of practice. The Guhyasamaja Tantra and its circle of texts changed the face of Tantric Buddhism. It is the fundamental purpose of the Gelukpa Tantric colleges. There are two parts on the path of Highest Yoga Tantra, the system of mainstream Highest Yoga Tantra and the system of Kalacakra Tantra. The mainstream system includes the presentation of such Tantras as Guhyasamaja, Heruka and Yamantaka and among these, Guhyasamaja is taken as the primary Tantra. His Holiness's Teaching will be based on Je Rinpoche's Lamp Illuminating the Five Stages of Guhyasamaja, which will deal with the generation and completion stages of this tantra. It is of the highest, most esoteric practices of Tibetan Buddhism and His Holiness has said this Initiation and Teaching is suitable for those serious practitioners who have been practicing for at least 5 to 10 years and who have knowledge of the structure of the Buddhist path. In attending the Initiation and Teaching, participants will be taking His Holiness as their Tantric Guru and this will involve taking Tantric Vows and other life-time commitments. Not following the vows and commitments given can cause obstacles to the life and health of His Holiness, so attendance at this Teaching needs to be taken seriously. Group practice, meditation and discussion sessions will also be part of the Retreat. The special event will be held at Fairmont Resort, which overlooks the bush land of the Jamison Valley in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. Located only one-and-a-half-hours drive west of Sydney, Dalai Lama in Australia have secured the entire Resort to ensure a peaceful setting in which to hold such a rare and precious event. We have negotiated special packages for attendees, including the Teaching, Initiation, accommodation and meals and we will also have a monthly payment plan to enable you to pay off the cost over a 12 month period. Because of the commitments that need to be kept and the limited number of

participant spaces available, we have created a REQUEST TO ATTEND form. We require you to complete this form, which can be found on our website and return it to us as soon as possible to secure your place. Having already recognised what a very special opportunity this Retreat is, over 250 people from several countries around the world have submitted their requests to attend. Don't delay, as spaces are limited. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RETREAT

FPMT Annual Review

We received the following from our mothership organisation, the FPMT. We are very happy to bring you your FPMT Annual Review 2013. In it you will find so much to rejoice about, including Lama Zopa Rinpoche's letter about the benefits of the work of the FPMT and offering service to the guru, the handing over of the land in Kushinagar, India to Maitreya Project, and many many other achievements! The digital version (as a pdf and a ezine) is available for you to read and download now. We will mail copies to FPMT centers, projects and services (including study groups) as soon as it comes back from the printer. Love from all at FPMT International Office PS: the February FPMT International Office e-news is also out, which includes Rinpoche's advice about the essence of education in FPMT....

FPMT

Jamyang is affiliated with FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) and is one of more than 150 centers and projects worldwide.

FPMT is based on the Gelugpa tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. If you would like to receive FPMT's monthly newsletters please subscribe here.

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Jamyang Buddhist Centre | The Old Courthouse | 43 Renfrew Road | London | SE11 4NA | null