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Jewel Heart News
CLEVELAND CHAPTER July - August 2005

Jewel Heart is an educational and cultural center whose doors are open to all. Its purpose is to transmit the essence of Tibetan Buddhism in an authentic and accessible form. Jewel Heart provides guidance and practical methods to anyone interested in spiritual development, as well as those who wish to follow the traditional Buddhist path.

Introductory Dharma Talks

Held the first Sunday of the month, these talks are intended for newcomers as well as those with experience in Buddhist practice. They are free, open to the public and followed by refreshments.

JH Cleveland Events

HHDL Picnic:
Saturday July 9, in Jewel Heart's typical fashion (the real birthday is July 6), we will celebrate His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's 70th birthday called "Trunglha Yarsol" by having a potluck picnic at the South Mastick picnic area in MetroParks Rocky River Reservation (no. 4 on this map
http://www.clemetparks.com/images/download_pdf.gif) We will provide charcoal for cooking and some drinks and ice, but it may be a hot one, so come with more ice as well as delicious food that we can all share. The festivities will start at 11:00am, hoping to have the fires started by noon for grilling. At 2:00pm we will have a long life ceremony for His Holiness and then at 4:00 an OPEN MIKE. So bring your poems, short stories, music, etc.
We may even have a few poets from Michigan join us. A family funfest that we can enjoy for those in Tibet that may not. Please rsvp and/or plan to read on open mike to steve@ieee.org or call at 440-785-4214.

July 22-24 Ven. Thubten Chodron to speak in Cleveland Venerable Thubten Chodron, founder of Sravasti Abby, will be giving a series of talks at Jewel Heart Cleveland. Author of Introduction to Buddhism, Open Heart, Clear Mind and many other wonderful books, she is known for her clear and humorous teaching style, which draws examples from 21st century American life.
Ordained in 1977 she has studied extensively with Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as H.H. the Dalai Lama.

Fri. July 22 7-9 potluck with Ven. Chodron. Come hear news about the abbey and her new book on Tara.

Saturday July 23 7-9 pm Dharma Talk: Our Inborn Goodness

Sunday July 24 1:30-3:00 pm: Dharma talk: What is Karma?

4:00-5:30 Dharma Talk: Buddhism in Daily Life.

Suggested donation $15 for per session. As always, those who cannot afford this are also welcome to attend, and those who can afford more are encouraged to be generous!
For more information contact Anne at 216-691-5950 or cleveland@jewelheart.org

August 7 1-2 pm Beginning and Maintaining a Daily Practice by James
Jorah. James is a long-term student of Gehlek Rimpoche and led an inspiring Tara meditation at the recent summer retreat.

Note: No September talk due to Ann Arbor workshop.

Gehlek Rimpoche - Eight Verses of Mind Training in Cleveland. August 20 and 21
On Saturday and Sunday, Gehlek Rimpoche will speak on the Eight Verses for Training the Mind, written by Kadampa master Langri Thangpa. These verses describe methods for generating great compassion and Bodhimind, the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment in order to help others. This is a rare opportunity to hear Rimpoche teach on this advanced Mahayana practice.

Time: 10:30-1pm and 3-5 pm each day

Suggested donation: $40 for the weekend, but please come anyway even if you can¹t afford this, and if you can afford more, please be generous!

Jewel Heart Study Program classes

Healing and Self-Healing through White Tara
This course teaches simple practices to connect with Tara, a female Buddha who embodies the wisdom, compassion, and healing powers of all enlightened beings. It will include guided visualization and meditation to heal and balance both mind and body..

Four week course, beginning Saturday July 16, 1-2:30 pm. $40 for four weeks, free for JH members.

Taught by Sarah Ralston, Jewel Heart Dharma Instructor.

Creating Space: clarity and insight through meditation
A concentrated mind is an important basis for the spiritual path as well as for a focused daily life. This course provides instruction in basic elements of meditation, including breathing, posture, stabilizing the mind, and coping with distractions, as well as guidance in establishing a daily meditation practice. This class is suitable for beginning and continuing students.
This class and Deepening Awareness, which will be offered in the fall, are recommended as prerequisites for Rimpoche's advanced meditation class, which is currently being developed.

Saturdays 10:30 to noon 8 sessions beginning July 16

Fee: $80 Free for Jewel Heart members at $300 a year level.

Led by Anne Warren, Jewel Heart Dharma Instructor

Odyssey to Freedom Third module
Wed evenings beginning June 29. Led by Susan Kirchner, Jewel Heart Dharma Instructor

Yamantaka study group
Thursday evenings 7-8:30 pm Open to those who have had the Solitary Hero
initiation. Led by Anne Warren, Jewel Heart Dharma Instructor

Contact Anne at 216-691-5950 if you are interested in this group.

Open meditation hours
Open to anyone, non-Buddhist or Buddhist, this sitting meditation practice is ideal for beginners. You may sit on a chair or cushion, and there will be time for questions and discussion. Guided by various instructors and facilitators. 1st and 3rd Suns, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 Free.

White Tara practice sessions
In these sessions, we will practice The Prayer to the Noble Tara, written by Gehlek Rimpoche for use by anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist. Guided by various instructors and facilitators. Tara, a female Buddha, is a swift and reliable source of spiritual guidance and blessing. 2nd and 4th Sundays 1-2:00. Free.

Monthly Tsoh offerings
Lama Chöpa and Vajrayogini Tsohs are held monthly. These offering ceremonies generate a lot of positivity, and strengthen our connections as sangha members.

Vajrayogini Tsohs: Saturday July 2, July 30, and August 27 from 4-6 for Vajrayogini initiates
Lama Chöpa Tsohs: Saturday, July 16 6-7 pm, Sunday August 14, 6-7 pm Open to all.

Cleveland News

Silent Auction fundraiser a success!
This year's silent auction raised nearly $1500 for Jewel Heart, thanks to those who purchased and especially those who donated the wonderful items.
We are beginning now to collect donations for next years auction, since basement storage is available. Articles donated should have a value of $20 or more or else be 'priceless' joke items. Bring them to any Jewel Heart event or contact Anne at 216-691-5950.

Saga Dawa Tsoh
A Lama Chopa Tsoh with saffron water offerings and 100 candles was celebrated May 23 to honor the day of Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment. In addition to food offerings shared among participants, three bags of groceries were donated to the Hunger Center at St. Augustine's church.
Shelling-la (Tsewang Namgyel) spoke to us afterwards about how the day was celebrated in 'good old Tibet', and spoke movingly of how the Tonglen verse from the Lama Chopa enabled him to maintain an uplifted mind even while he was handcuffed and shackled for nine months during his 12 year sentence to a Chinese prison.

Sunday Dharma Talks
Our first two Sunday talks, by Chris Branson and Supa Greg Corner were enjoyable and well attended. Chris spoke on 'Mother Beings" and Supa on 'Reincarnation: Fact or Fiction.' These free talks are held the first Sunday of every month from 1-2 pm. (No talk in Sept.)

Other events in the area

Relics in Columbus
Another chance to experience the precious and awe-inspiring relics that were shown at JH Cleveland two years ago!

September 9, 10, 11 the FPMT Maitreya project relic tour will be in Columbus at the Karma Thgsum Chöling 231 s. Grubb street Columbus Ohio. Friday, 5:00 pm opening ceremony.

Sat. and Sun 10-5pm each day. Donations welcome. For more information contact FTC director Michael Brennan

National Jewel Heart News

More than 20 Jewel Heart sangha from Ohio attended the Joyful Summer retreat at Albion College Michigan. Local members also went to Rizong Rimpoche's teaching on the Ganden Lha Gyema, and Gehlek Rimpoche's spring retreat at Garrison.

A weekend retreat with Gehlek Rimpoche on the Secret Ganden Lha Gyema
September 3-5 Saturday Morning thru Monday Afternoon. The teaching is open to all, but it is preferable to have a Highest Yoga Tantra inititation. You must have obtained teachings on Odyssey to Freedom or Three Principals of the Path. For inquiries, Call 994-3387 ext 2 or 5 or e-mail programming@jewelheart.org

All Jewel Heart Members - No Charge
Non-members - $75

Song of the Four Mindfulnesses
Autumn Retreat Oct 7-10 Garrison Institute

Mindfulness of the guru, the altruistic aspiration to enlightenment, body as divine form and the view of emptiness are central pillars to achieving profound, complete spiritual awakening. In this retreat, Gehlek Rimpoche will guide us in constructing our own perfect architecture of enlightenment.

Calendar of Cleveland Events

Dalai Lama Picnic July 9

Odyssey to Freedom third module Wed. June 29, July 6,13,20,27 Aug. 3 from 7-9 pm

Odyssey to Freedom fourth module Wed. Aug. 10, 17,24,31 from 7-9 pm

Yamantaka study group Thurs. June 30, July 7,14,21,28 Aug. 4,11,18,25 from 7-9 pm

Sunday Dharma Talk July 3, Aug. 7 from 1-2 pm

Coordinator Meeting Sun. July 3 after dharma talk

Clarity and insight Sat. July 16,23,30 Aug. 6,13,27 from 10:30-12 pm

Open Meditation Sun. July 3,17 Aug. 7,21 from 11-12:15 pm

White Tara Class July 16,23,30 Aug. 6 from 1-2:30 pm

Ven. Thubten Chodron July 22, 23, and 24 (see above)

Rimpoche August 20-21 (see above)

APPEAL - Newsletter on line!

If you received a printed copy of this newsletter in the mail, please consider accessing it on line and removing yourself from the mailing list! Helps save $ for production/mailing costs. Email Anne at aewarren@sbcglobal.net to have your name removed from the regular mail list. THANKS!

Anyone wishing to donate a book of stamps to help defray cost of mailings, the generosity would be greatly appreciated!

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May all beings have happiness.
May they be free from suffering.
May they come to know the joy that has never known suffering.
May they be free from attachment and hatred.

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