Archived Newsletters: August/Sept 2003 | October 2003 | Nov/Dec 03

Jewel Heart News
CLEVELAND CHAPTER Feb 2004

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.

Ganden Lha Gyema Workshop

Hartmut Sagolla, a Jewel Heart instructor from Ann Arbor, will lead this day-long workshop on the Ganden Lha Gyema. One of the most widely known practices in the tradition of Je Tsongkhapa, it is an excellent introduction to the Tibetan visualization practices and prepares one for later Vajrayana practice. It serves to deepen the connection with one’s spiritual teacher and includes all the elements of a daily meditation practice. Those who take this workshop may do a retreat with Je Tsongkhapa’s mantra, the Migstema. All are welcome to attend.

Sunday, Feb. 1, 11 am through 4 pm.

Bring your lunch, hot beverages will be available.

Suggested donation $15-25 (but if you cannot afford this, please come anyway). Free to Jewel Heart members at the supporting level or above.

Coming Cleveland Events

Jewel Heart Study Program

Odyssey to Freedom (part one review) Sat., Feb. 21, 1-4 pm.
We will view all the brief videos Rimpoche made for this class, and briefly discuss the main points. Open to all and highly recommended for those who wish to join the Odyssey to Freedom group now.

Vajrayogini Short Sadhana Study Group Mondays, beginning Feb. 23, 7:15-9 pm.
For those with Vajrayogini initiation.

Odyssey to Freedom part two.Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 25, 7:15-8:45.
Eight sessions with new videos by Rimpoche.

Creating Space: Clarity and Insight through Meditation First and Third Saturdays, 10:30-noon.
This course provides instruction in the basic elements of meditation – breathing, posture, stabilizing the mind, coping with distractions, as well as establishing a daily meditation practice. Open to all, especially helpful for beginners. Eight sessions.

The Healing Practice of White Tara. Second Saturdays, 10:30 – noon.
Tara is the mother goddess of Tibetan Buddhism, known for her quick and compassionate activity, particularly associated with healing and longevity. This course uses visualization techniques relying on the feminine energy of White Tara to overcome physical, mental and emotional suffering. Four sessions.

Most Jewel Heart Study Program classes are free to supporting members of Jewel Heart. For others, the suggested donation per class is $10, though if you cannot afford this, please let Anne know and come to class anyway. For more information about any of these programs, call 440-576-1190.

Compulsory Tsoh Days

Making Tsoh offerings is a special practice for those with Mother Tantra initiation, and is required for them on the 10th and 25th of the last month in the Tibetan year. In Cleveland, we will be doing a Lama Chopa Tsoh (with an extra verse) on these days. All are welcome to attend. Please bring your ritual implements, if you have them, and a food or monetary offering if you wish to contribute to the Tsoh.

Sat. Jan 17, 7-9 pm

Sat. Jan. 31 4-6 pm

Bring a cold dish to share as potluck after the Tsoh, then plan to see The Cry of the Snow Lion at Cleveland Cinematique at 7:30 pm (see below).

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion

Cleveland Cinematique, Cleveland Institute of Art
Saturday January 31 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, February 1, at 4:00 pm

Filmmaker Tom Peosay took nine trips to Tibet, India, and Nepal over a ten-year period to assemble this amazing, sobering portrait of the "rooftop of the world." Since being forcibly annexed by China more than 50 years ago, Tibet has struggled to maintain its unique cultural and spiritual identity. Peosay's wide-ranging film contains awesome footage of rarely-seen rituals in remote monasteries, as well as disturbing shots of the ruins of other monasteries destroyed by Chinese soldiers. Breathtaking pictures of the Himalayas and the holy city of Lhasa co-exist with sobering first-person accounts of repression and torture. Narration by Martin Sheen, with voiceovers by Ed Harris, Tim Robbins, and Susan Sarandon. "An impeccably made, often moving account of the captive nation of Tibet...Functions as both a breathtaking travelogue and a political provocation...A more concise and affecting summation of the Tibetan crisis would be hard to imagine." -The NY Times. Cleveland premiere. 35mm. 100 min. www.artlic.com

All Day Taradhatu Dance

Sat. Feb. 28 10 am to 4 pm.

The Tara Dances, originated by Prema Dasara, have been taught worldwide as personal practice and communal offering. Simple, tai-chi like movements are done accompanied by Tara mantras and the 21 Praises sung in English. In this all-day workshop, we will dance all 21 forms of Tara, invoking, honoring and embodying her sublime qualities.

Suggested donation $25. For more information, please contact Kris 330 494-9413 kiko-cozy@kiko-cozy.com or visit www.taradhatu.org or www.kiko-cozy.com

Tibetan Art Show in Columbus
The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art will be at the Columbus Museum of Art from Feb. 6 through May 9. This exhibit, which was previously in Los Angeles, includes about 150 pieces that illustrate the Chakrasamvara Tantra and related practices.

On Thursday March 11 Robert Thurman will be speaking! Tickets $10 call 614-629-0359 for tickets. A number of other lectures are also scheduled during this exhibit.

www.columbusmuseum.org 614-221-4848 or 614-221-6801

Nov./Dec/Jan. News

After many requests Rimpoche gave a teaching and initiation of Medicine Buddha. The Cleveland center was especially fortunate for the teaching which was Rimpoche's last before his retreat. A picturesque snowfall was the perfect compliment to hot cocoa and ice sculptures at the first Jewel Heart trip to Zoolights. Fund raisers included the Baliwood film festival, which treated viewers to impossibly sentimental plots and excellent Indian cuisine, Ujjen's rug sale, and also the fine arts sale, which raised nearly $800 for Jewel Heart. Special thanks to eveyone who contributed to its success. After leading an inspiring Lama Chopa Tsoh in celebration of Tsongkhapa Day, the Ganden Shartse monks completed their week of mo-mo's, lectures and a purification ceremony with a front page story in the Ashtabula Star Beacon complete with color photo.

Ann Arbor News

Broadcast teachings Beginning Feb. 24, Kyabje Gehlek Rimpoche will again be teaching weekly in Ann Arbor and New York. The previous open teachings on Tuesday and Thursday nights will be replaced by formal courses taught by Rimpoche, providing more opportunities for in depth teachings. The first courses will be on concentrated meditation. These teachings will be available over the internet for JH members at the sustaining level or above ($600 a year or more.) For more information, watch the website www.jewelheart.org

Winter Retreat - Chittamani Tara
The Jewel Heart Winter Retreat dates are Sunday, February 8th through Sunday,
February 15th 2004. The retreat will be held at the Jewel Heart Center in Ann Arbor, MI.

The subject of the retreat will be Cittamani Tara, and as usual, a previous
Mahanutarayoga tantra initiation and attendance of the entire retreat is required.

For registration information contact registration@jewelheart.org or call
734-994-3387.

For other Ann Arbor news, please check the Jewel Heart webpage www.jewelheart.org frequently!

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@apk.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!

JH Cleveland Calendar of Events

Events at Jewel Heart Cleveland unless noted

suggested donation for each event is $5-10

Mondays, Jan. 5 – Feb. 2, 7-9 pm White Tara Sadhana study group.

Wednesdays, Jan. 7 – Feb. 4, 7:15-8:45 pm, Good Life, Good Death

Saturday Jan 17 Lama Chopa Tsoh 7-9 pm.

Saturday Jan. 24, 10 am-noon Taradhatu Tara Dances with Kris Kiko-Cozy

Saturday Jan 31, 4-6 pm Lama Chopa Tsoh followed by potluck and Cry of the Snow Lion at CIA at 7:30 pm.

Sunday Feb. 8-Sun. Feb. 15 Winter Retreat in Ann Arbor

Saturday Feb. 21 10:30-noon White Tara Practice Group

Saturday Feb. 21 1-4 pm Odyssey to Freedom part 1 review

Wednesdays beginning Feb. 25 7:15-8:45 Odyssey to Freedom part 2

Sunday, Feb. 1, time to be announced, Ganden Lha Gyema Workshop with Hartmut Sagolla.

Mondays, beginning Feb. 23 Vajrayogini Short Sadhana Study Group. For students with Highest Yoga Tantra initiation only.

Saturday Feb. 28 10-4 All day Taradhatu Practice with Kris Kiko-Cozy

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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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