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Jewel Heart News
CLEVELAND CHAPTER June 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.
Rimpoche to speak in Cleveland
Gehlek Rimpoche, Jewel Heart's founder and president,
will be speaking at Jewel Heart Cleveland on June 12. He will
teach about using practical spirituality at end of this life:
how to prepare for and face our own death and also help others
who are dying. Many of us in Cleveland have recently lost loved
ones or struggled with our own illnesses and increased realization
of mortality. Rimpoche's talk will provide guidelines for these
difficult times and suggestions for how we can continue to help
ourselves and each other through spiritual practice that is directly
relevant and engaged with our daily existence.
Saturday, June 12
11 am to 1 pm Continuity of consciousness
1 pm to 3 pm Lunch
3 pm to 5 pm Dying in peace - a good death
$30 requested site donation for all day, or $15 for morning or
afternoon session. As always, those who cannot afford this are
also welcome to attend, and those who can afford more are encouraged
to be generous!
Coming Jewel Heart Cleveland Events
For more information about the following Jewel Heart events,
contact Anne at 440-576-1190 or aewarren@apk.net
June Potluck
The June potluck will be Saturday June 5 beginning at
2:00 at Bill and Susie Kirshner's house with Tremont Holler providing
entertainment. Those wishing to bring a dish may. Bill and Susie
have requested those attending RSVP to Bill at xlucent@zoominternet.net
or call 330-722-7770.
Saga Dawa
Lora has volunteered to open the center on June 6th from 7-9pm
for group practice. Saga Dawa considered the holiest of Buddhist
Festivals. During this month, (the fourth month of the lunar calendar)
on the full moon, at different points in his life, Buddha took
birth, achieved enlightenment and passed away attaining pairanirvana.
During the entire Saga Dawa month, (May 20th- June 17th) it is
very auspicious to increase the amount of virtuous activity performed,
because the merit accumulated is magnified by one-hundred thousand
times. (In Tibetan, the month is called "Bum Gyur Dawa"
or "one-hundred thousand multiplying month" translated
literally.) Therefore it is good to practice meditations on bodhicitta,
compassion, wisdom realizing emptiness and renunciation, as much
as possible. Or, reciting mantras along with refuge and generation
of bodhicitta prayers and of course dedication are also examples
of virtuous activity. In brief, try to abandon the ten non-virtuous
actions and increase the practice of the ten virtuous actions
throughout the month. (excerpt taken from Namgyal monastery email
announcements)
Venerable Thubten Chodron will be giving a series of dharma talks
on Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1. More details to follow.
A Pracitice in Generosity: Rummage Sale Volunteers
Needed. We are looking for people to help with the rummage sale
that is going to be held June 27th from Noon to 4pm. This is a
great opportunity to offer your services and help to benefit the
center. All PROCEEDS GO TO JH!. We will be preparing items for
sale on June 26th during the day so if your talents lie in that
area, please also consider lending a hand. If you have items to
donate, please drop them off at JH on June 26th between Noon and
2pm. Any questions or for more info call Dorothy at 440-886-0108
or email: deeyurkiw@yahoo.com.
BYOB - (Bring your own broom) - Jewel Heart
Center Clean up day! We will be at the center cleaning on June
10th at 6pm. Please stop by to lend a hand. Need any info contact
Dawn Wegenek: wegenek@stratos.net
Monthly Tsoh offerings! Thanks to Marsha and
Dennis, we are beginning to plan for regular monthly Lama Chöpa
and Vajrayogini Tsohs. These offering ceremonies are a great opportunity
to generate a lot of positivity, and to strengthen our connections
as sangha members.
Lama Chöpa Tsoh Saturday May 29 and June
27 from 7-9. Open to all, this traditional ritual offering will
chanted in a combination of English and Tibetan. Bring a food
offering if you can. Afterward, nonperishable food items will
be distributed to local charities.
Vajrayogini Tsoh June 12, For those who have
received the Vajrayogini the tsoh may be held after Rimpoche's
teaching. E-mail to follow.
Open meditaton hours The Cleveland center will
be available for open meditation the first and third Saturdays
beginning in July at 10 am.
The Jewel Heart Study Program
Jewel Heart offers a graduated study and practice program based
on the teachings of Gehlek 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.
Odyssey to Freedom, Part Three The third module
in this class will continue on Wednesdays throughout June from
7:15-8:45 pm, at Jewel Heart Cleveland. The Odyssey to Freedom
is Gehlek 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@apk.net 440-576-1190 about fee
reduction)
Lama Chopa Study Group Mondays starting June
7, 7-9 pm Lama Chopa study group for those with highest yoga tantra
initiation. Taught from the transcript Guru Devotion: How to Integrate
the Primoridal Mind-available from Jewel Heart store. Call Susan
or Ujjen for copies.
Creating Clarity and Insight Saturdays June
5 and June 19 10-12 Craig Hartman's meditation continues this
month. To join the class please contact Craig at craigr@config.com
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.
Other Cleveland Area Events
The Buddha Project: Visual Manifestations of
Buddhist Thought in the Western World Cleveland State University
Art Gallery will be hosting the Buddha Project May 21- June 26,
2004. The project will include art exhibitions, workshops movie
screenings and many other events encompassing many traditions
of Buddhism Visit www.buddhaproject.net or call the CSU gallery
216-687-2103 for more information.
Jewel Heart at the Buddha project support fellow Jewel Heart
members at the Buddha project.
Tuesday June 8 7-9: Julie Thomas leads Tara Dances at Thrive.
CSU Art gallery
Saturday June 19 2-4: Anne Warren participates in a panel discussion
on Women in Buddhism.
Saturday June 26 10-12: Anne Warren leads White Tara guided meditation
and Art/dharma talk: Psychoactive Art at the CSU Art gallery.
Reb Anderson Tenshin Roshi at the Cuyahoga Valley
Environmental Education Center Reb Andersen Tenshin Roshi a lineage-holder
in the Soto Zen tradition will be leading a 5-day session at the
Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center Fri June 4 thru
Wed June 9, 2004. Their schedule includes zazen and dharma talks
as well as other activities. For more information contact coordinators
for the event: Nancy Wolf (330) 329-7950, buddhagirl54@hotmail.com
or Jennie McMullen (216) 939-9117, Jennie@PeacefulWarriorYoga.com.
Event co-sponsored by The NEO Soto Zen Group and Stillpoint Zen
Practice Comm. of Pittsburgh.
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, graceful,
tai-chi like movements done with Tara mantras and the Twenty-One
Praises of Tara, a traditional Tibetan practice translated into
English. Dates: Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. - June 26th & July
24th at the First Unitarian Church of Youngstown, 1105 Elm Street
Please note that all dates are subject to change. All are welcome,
Buddhist or dance experience not necessary.
Your donations will be greatly appreciated - $5 for students,
$10 for adults.
For more information please contact Julie Thomas at jethomas@ysu.edu
or visit www.taradhatu.org
Other Events
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama visits Miami, Florida
September 19th - 21st, 2004 His Holiness will give a public talk
on World Peace through Inner Peace and a Two-Day Buddhist Teaching
& Empowerment. More information at http://www.odn-usa.org/
2004 Summer Ecology Trip to Nepal and Tibet
Carole Elchert will be leading this small group tour to Kathmandu
and Tibet this July. Those who have traveled with her know that
the knowledge and access to the culture she offers are incomparable
- ask Janice C.! The very reasonable cost of $3000 includes hotel,
food, transportation in Nepal and Tibet and from Kathmandu to
Lhasa and back. Airfare to Nepal is not included. For more details,
contact Carole Elchert, University of Findlay, OH. Ph. 419-365-7131
or email carole799@yahoo.com
Ven. Thubten Chodron Retreat
Venerable Thubten Chodron will lead a nine-day residential retreat
on Manjushri with teachings in the Wheel of Sharp Weapons. The
teachings will focus on developing wisdom and the function of
karma in our lives. For more information see www.dharmafriendship.org
or for registration contact retreat manager Tom Gibb at tsultrim@verizon.net.
JH Cleveland News
Jewel Heart Art Show Opening. The opening, which
took place May 14th at the JH Cleveland, was a great success.
There was a steady stream of people viewing the show throughout
the evening. A reporter from WKSU was also on hand interviewing
some to the participating artists; the airing of which will be
at a later date. For those unable to attend, the works will be
on display through June 26th. Many thanks to Claire for her hard
work on coordinating this event.
Kalachakra 2004. Several JH members attended
the Kalachakra for World Peace with His Holiness the DL in Toronto
April 25th through May 6. The Canadian Tibetan Association that
sponsored the event reported this was the largest Kalachakra that
has ever been held in North America. Well over 7,000 people were
in attendance.
Tibetan Classes. Our first Tibetan class was
a great success and lots of fun! We have decided to meet the 1st
and 3rd Sundays of the month - at noon at JH. Next class will
be on June 6th. It's still early so anyone interested in joining
us is welcome to attend!
New editions of Rimpoche's transcripts are available
in the library. Those who want their own copies may order them
through Susan at any Jewel Heart event. Vajrayana transcripts
are available in the Vajrayana library or for sale for those with
the applicable initiation.
Cleveland Coordinating Team meets
Sixteen members of the Cleveland coordinating team met on Monday
May 17 Topics included the general functioning of the center,
line dancing, preparing for Rimpoche's visit in June, and future
events such as potluck barbecues with live music. John Thornton
volunteered to be the Cleveland point person for the Tara project,
a series of special talks and ceremonies for healing and protection
that Rimpoche will be bringing to cities around the country over
the next year. Watch for more about this project in future newsletters!
JH Cleveland Calendar of Events
Saga Dawa June 3 from 7-9
Creating Clarity and Insight June 5, 19 from 10-12
Dharma Talks by Rimpoche June 12 from 11-5
Odyssey to Freedom Part 3 June 2, 9, 16, 23 from 7:15-8:45
Lama Chopa Study group June 7, 14, 21, 28 from 7-9
Tibetan Language and Culture Class June 6, 20 from 12-2:00
Vajrayogini Tsoh June12 after teaching (TBA)
Lama Chöpa Tsoh May 29, June 27 from 7-9
Ann Arbor News
Rimpoche in the media! At newsstands now!
This month's Tricycle contains an article about Gehlek Rimpoche
by Jane Ratcliff titled Nothing to Hide: Gehlek Rimpoche, the
"Renegade" Lama. The interview brings out Rimpoche's
humanity and accessibility, and talks about parts of his life
that newcomers to Jewel Heart may not be familiar with. <A
portion of the article can be accessed here>
The relatively new and always interesting publication Buddhadharma:
The Practitioner's Quarterly contains an article by Rimpoche
on Tonglen called In with the Bad Air, Out with the Good. The
illustrations are memorable, so if you have always wanted to know
what the self centered ego looks like, check this out!
The Tara Box Public Talk and Book Signing
Saturday, June 5, 3:00 - 4:00pm - at the Crazy Wisdom Bookstore
& Tearoom, 114 South Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI Open to public,
free of charge
Tara Blessing Ceremony for Protection and Healing Sunday,
June 6 - 3:00pm The Tara Blessing Ceremony is for anyone seeking
the benefits of self-healing and protection. It will include guided
visualization and meditation to heal and balance both mind and
body. At the close of the program guests will have the opportunity
to purchase The Tara Box and have the companion book signed by
Gehlek Rimpoche.
Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline
Road, Ann Arbor, MI (Corner of Ellsworth and Ann Arbor-Saline
Road) Time: 3:00pm Open to the public and free of charge.
White Tara Teaching Workshop for Protection and Healing
Saturday, July 24 10:00am - 4:00pm at Renaissance Unity, 11200
East Eleven Mile Road, Warren MI. Gehlek Rimpoche will teach this
day-long workshop focusing on the meditation practices in his
newly published book about White Tara. Fee: $50 (includes box
lunch)
Registration contact registration@jewelheart.org
or 734 994 3387 extension 1
Summer Retreat 2004 will be held Sunday, July
11 thru Sunday, July 18 at Albion College, Mi. Rimpoche will be
presenting the Six practices for living with compassion and courage,
based on the six paramitas; generosity, ethics, patience, joyful
effort, concentration and wisdom.
Autumn Retreat 2004 Infinite Heart: Dissolving the Barriers
to a Radically Compassionate Life will fall on Labor
Day weekend, Sept 3-6, 2004, Gehlek Rimpoche will share methods
to generate, maintain and increase our capacity for love and compassion
based on the steps to develop bodhimind and the practice of tonglen.
Location: Garrison, NY.
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!
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.
