Archived Newsletters: July-Aug
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04 | Nov-Dec
04 | Jan-Feb 05
Jewel Heart News
CLEVELAND CHAPTER March - April 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.
JH Cleveland Events
April Potluck with the Gaden Shartse Monks
Join us at Jewel Heart on Friday, April 15, at 7PM for our April
Potluck Dinner with guests of honor, Jinpa Rinpoche and the Gaden
Shartse monks. They'll be arriving in town that afternoon so bring
your favorite covered dish and help us welcome the monks to Cleveland!
For further information, stop by any Jewel Heart event or call
Bill at (330) 722-7770 evenings before 9PM. (See below for more
about the monks' tour.)
Friday night at the movies
Join us on Friday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m. for the debut of Jewel
Heart's Movie Night. Monthly (or thereabouts) we will get together
to view and discuss movies set in Tibet and/or dealing with .subjects
related to the dharma. Thanks to the marvels of technology, we
will view the movies in large screen format (rather than huddling
around the TV). Popcorn and soda will be provided. Bring a desert
to share or just show up! Our first film will be Himalaya, a powerful
depiction of the life and customs of a group of Tibetan nomads.
Also, for the movie buffs amongst us, note that the Cleveland
International Film Festival will be showing two films made in
Bhutan, dealing with Buddhism, and a third film about the director
of these two films.
Open meditation hours
Open to anyone, non-Buddhist or Buddhist, this sitting meditation
practice is ideal for beginners. Sitting may be on the floor or
on a chair. Sitting postures, breathing practices, concentration
practices and information are available. We usually sit for brief
meditation sessions. Discussions, questions, and encouragement
can be anticipated. Craig Hartmann is the current facilitator.
Second and fourth Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 Free.
White Tara practice sessions
In these sessions, we will practice The Prayer to the Noble Tara,
written by Gelek Rimpoche for use by anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist.
Guided by various facilitators.
First, third and when applicable fifth Saturdays each month, 10:30
a.m. - 12 noon. 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 Tsoh Sat Mar 5 & Apr 2 from 4-6 for Vajrayogini
initiates.
Lama Chöpa Tsoh Sun Mar 20 & Apr 17 from 7-9 All are
welcome.
Tibetan Language Class
Our Tibetan Language classes are moving to the 2nd and 4th Sunday
of the month. The time of the classes will remain the same. March.
3/13, 3/27, 4/10, 4/17 12pm to 2pm.
Jewel Heart Study Program
Jewel Heart offers a graduated study and practice program based
on the teachings of Gelek Rimpoche. Open to all, these classes
are especially intended for those wishing to study the Tibetan
Buddhist path in a systematic and in-depth manner.
New Odyssey to Freedom Group
The Odyssey to Freedom is Gelek Rimpoche's step-by-step guide
to the Buddhist path, written especially for us in the 21st century.
Each evening will include a brief videotaped talk by Rimpoche,
discussion, and guided meditation and practice advice. Course
fee: free for supporting members and above. $80 for non-members
(in cases of financial hardship, contact Anne aewarren@sbcglobal.net
about fee reduction)
Fee waived for Jewel Heart members at the supporting level or
above.
Odyssey to Freedom Part 1 Wed. Feb 23-Apr 13 from 7:15-8:45
Odyssey to Freedom Part 2 Wed. Apr 20, 27 from 7:15-8:45
Bodhisattva vows discussion group
This 10 week group is intended primarily for those who have taken
Bodhisattva vows or who have completed the Odyssey to Freedom
course and are considering taking these vows. Using Rimpoche's
transcripts and other teachings, we will work on learning the
vows and what they mean, on understanding their purpose and on
trying to see how they apply in our daily lives.
Thursdays, 7:15-8:45 pm beginning Feb. 24. Cost $100 or free
for members at the supporting level or above.
Six Session Guru Yoga
The Six Session Guru Yoga is a required practice for those who
have taken Highest Yoga Tantra initiation. This 10-week class
will be based on Gelek Rimpoche’s teachings and Six-Session
Guru Yoga by Geshe Losang Tharchin. Restricted to students with
Highest Yoga Tantra initiation.
Mondays, 7:15-8:45 beginning March 1. Cost $100
or free for members at the supporting level or above.
Most Jewel Heart Study Program classes are free to supporting
members of Jewel Heart. The fee for an 8-session course is $80,
for a 4-session course $40 or $15 for a drop in session, although
if you cannot afford this, please let Anne know and come anyway.
Cleveland News
Our Feb. 9 Losar (Tibetan New Year) Tsoh was celebrated by a
group including representatives from Tibet and Buryatia! Lora
provided the traditional materials of tsampa, butter, sugar and
Tibetan cheese, which Pema Rimpoche and Shelling quickly made
into Tsoh cakes. After the beautiful offering ceremony, everyone
shared in the feast and non-perishable food items were donated.
Our two mandatory Tsoh offerings in January had fewer participants
at the center than usual due to weather, but all Vajrayana students,
wherever we did the practice, in a sense did it together - one
Clevelander in a Boston hotel room!
A hard core group braved cold, snow, and ice to squeeze in a
course on Good Life, Good Death before winter retreat and they
MADE IT! Based on Rimpoche’s best selling book, they explored
how the Tibetan Buddhist perspective on reincarnation could be
utilized by anyone to bring depth, meaning and joy to our daily
lives with the discussions facilitated by Vivian Harman and Steve
Goldberg.
The mala elves have been hard a work. Over the past few months
several malas have been sent all over the country. Bags made at
the recent potluck filled the last requests and completed the
project.
Wed, 2/2/05 was the final meeting date for the current Odyssey
to Freedom class. Many thanks are due Anne for her patience, and
insights over the many months. Participants, many of whom have
journeyed this path together for well over a year, will continue
pursuit of their personal odysseys through other study.
The 2nd Annual Momo Party, held at Bill and Susie's house, was
a big success. About 20 people spent the afternoon covered in
flour learning the finer point of momo-making from Chunden. Not
surprisingly, no instruction was required on the eating of momos
and everyone managed to get their fill. Special thanks go to Chunden,
Shelling and Pema Rimpoche for their patience and hard work making
this party a success. Chunden-la, you really do make the best
momos in the universe!
The description of the Ganden Lha Gyema workshop promised to
deepen the connection with the spiritual teacher, and after the
four hour workshop led by Anne Warren, that promise had been fulfilled!
Not only were Anne's explanations of this text in the Tsongkhapa
tradition clear and concise, but also were layered with words
from Rimpoche and stories from both his life and the lives of
other great teachers. Those in attendance came away with the strong
impression of joy and inspired faith associated with this practice
Thanks Anne, for a great workshop!
The White Tara Workshop was held on 4 Saturdays in January/February.
The Workshop was a meditation/discussion class based upon the
material in The Tara Book by Gelek Rimpoche. Undeterred by bad
weather and even a "snow day" cancellation, a group
of 12-16 attended each week, including several people new to Jewel
Heart. Many are enthusiastically continuing the JH study program
with the Odyssey to Freedom starting this month!
The Winter Retreat was held at the Jewel Heart Ann Arbor Center
from Feb 11-Feb 21. The annual Vajrayana retreat was on Yamantaka.
Rimpoche began the retreat with a brief Lam Rim teaching and the
Yamantaka Initiation, followed by a week long teaching. Rimpoche
ended the Retreat with a Lama Chopa Tsoh on Sunday evening and
an open Chenresig Initiation on Monday morning. Many local Sangha
brought other family members for the blessing.
Ten members of JH Cleveland attended, including John and Julia
Thornton who came all the way from Florida! Jewel Heart was well
represented internationally as well at the retreat with many students
in from the Netherlands and Malaysia, not to mention from all
across the US. Hospitable Ann Arbor volunteers, did everything
from hosting out of town guests, setting up breakfast and afternoon
snacks, to making delicious soups for lunch!
Other Cleveland Area Events
2005 Gaden Shartse Sacred Earth and Healing Arts Tour
A group of monks from Gaden Shartse Monastery are visiting the
US as part of the 2005 Sacred Earth and Healing Arts of Tibet
The tour, sponsored by their monastery in India, will be in Cleveland
from April 15 - 23.
The purpose of the tour is to spread the dharma and to help bring
an increased appreciation for the art and culture of Tibet as
well increase awareness of the desperate plight of their country.
Funds raised from the tour provide the primary means of support
the 1600 monks currently studying in Gaden Shartse.
During their visit, the monks, led by senior lama Jinpa Rinpoche,
will be available for a variety of programs including lectures,
music and dance performances, healing ceremonies and personal
healings, house or business blessings and astrology readings.
For more information or to schedule an event, please contact Bill
or Susie Kirchner at xlucent@zoominternet.net.
Wisdom compassion and power:
The dance of the 21 praises of Tara Julie Thomas a student of
Prema Dasara and certified teacher of the Mandala Dance is leading
the Mandala Dance of the 21 praises of Tara. The dance involves
simple, tai chi like movements done with Tara mantras and the
Twenty-One Praises of Tara, a traditional Tibetan practice translated
into English. All are welcome, Buddhist or dance experience not
necessary.
For more information please contact Julie Thomas at jethomas@ysu.edu
or visit www.taradhatu.org
Ann Arbor News
The Mirror of Your Mind: Reflections on Wisdom and Folly
Retreat with Gelek Rimpoche--May 27-30, 2005. Garrison Institute:
The nature of mind is mirror-like and luminous. When obscured
by negative emotions a solid world of suffering is experienced.
This weekend retreat will explore how the mind functions and how
we can look at our habitual perceptions.Registation, contact registration@jewelheart.org.
Summer Retreat 2005
The Jewel Heart summer retreat (June 19-25, 2005) on White Tara
retreat will be held at Albion College in Albion, MI. Registration
information available soon.
A Call to Power
Aura Glaser a senior student of Rimpoche has released a new book:
A Call to Compassion. Look for this new release in the JH store.
Announcements
Missing Library Items
The library requests members who have borrowed items from the
library to please check their personal shelves for items that
belong to the JH library. Many missing items still need to be
catalogued in the new system.
Meeting with Marilyn
Anyone interested in hearing the reorganization meeting held by
the council with Marilyn Hoffer CDs are available in the library.
Newsletter volunteer wanted
The newletter staff is looking for an additional member. Please
contact Michele at Katrinlya@hotmail.com for more information.
Call for Volunteers
Looking for opportunities to get involved at Jewel Heart? Join
the volunteer list. Contact Laura at Cleveland@jewelheart.org
to add your information and areas of interest to the list.
JH Cleveland Calendar of Events
(all events at Jewel Hear Cleveland center unless otherwise noted)
Odyssey to Freedom Part 1 Wed. Feb 23-Apr 13 from 7:15-8:45
Odyssey to Freedom Part 2 Wed. Apr 20, 27 from 7:15-8:45
Tibetan Language/Culture Class Sun. Mar 6, 20 Apr 10, 17 from
12-2:00
Vajrayogini Tsoh Sat Mar 5 Apr 2 from 4-6 pm
Lama Chöpa Tsoh Sun Mar 20, Apr 17 from 7-9 pm
White Tara healing practice Sat. Mar 5, 19 Apr 2, 16, 30 from
10:30-12 noon
Open Meditation Mar 12, 26 Apr 9, 23 from 10:30-12 noon
Bodhisattva Vows class Mon. Feb 28- Apr 25 from 7:15-8:45
Six-session Guru Yoga Class Thurs. Feb 24- Apr 28 from 7:15-8:45
Movie Night Fri Mar 11 beginning at 7:00
Potluck with Gaden Shartse Monks Fri Apr 15 beginning at 7:00
Gaden Shartse Monks Visit Apr 15-23
Sunday Service Sun. Apr 3 and May 1, 1-2 pm
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!
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.
