Archived Newsletters: May
04 | June 04 | July-Aug
04 | Sep-Oct 04
Jewel Heart News
CLEVELAND CHAPTER November - December 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.
Tara Blessing Ceremony for Protection and Healing
With Gehlek Rimpoche
Tara, the goddess of compassion, has the ability to protect from
fear and awaken love. The Tara Blessing Ceremony for Protection
and Healing is open to the public free of charge. In this hour-long
ceremony, Rimpoche will include guided visualization and meditation
to heal and balance both mind and body. The ceremony is suitable
for those of any (or no) religious background.
Gehlek Rimpoche, author of The Tara Box: Rituals for Protection
and Healing from the Female Buddha, and founder of Jewel Heart
is a member of the last generation of lamas to be born and fully
educated in Tibet. He is particularly distinguished for his understanding
of contemporary society, and his skill as a teacher of Buddhism
in the West After the Tara Blessing Ceremony, participants may
have their copies of the Tara book signed by Rimpoche.
Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 1:30 pm This event is free
of charge.
Unity of Greater Cleveland, 3350 Warrensville Center Road, Shaker
Hts, OH 44122 216-751-1198
Rimpoche will also speak at Unity's two Sunday morning services
at 9am and 11am on Nov. 14.
For more information about this event, please contact Sarah Ralston:
sarah@kpphoto.com
Ritual Arts Workshop
On Saturday, December 4, Jewel Heart's Sönam, former Gyuto
tantric college chantmaster and long-time ritual assistant to
Gehlek Rimpoche, will be coming from Chicago to teach two workshops
for Vajrayana students. He will include practical, hands-on instruction
in mudras, chanting, setting up the altar and offerings, yearly
tormas and so forth. Suggested donation is $20 per workshop.
10 am to 12:30 pm Workshop for those with Kriya Tantra initiation
and above
1:30 to 4:30 pm Workshop for those with Highest Yoga Tantra initiation
December Potluck with Sönam
Come enjoy eclectic edibles and good company at a holiday potluck
at Anne and Marty's with Sonam as guest of honor! Saturday, December
4, 7 pm to whenever. Pick up directions at any Jewel Heart event,
or contact Anne by calling 216-687-1617.
Tsoh for Je Tsongkhapa Day, Sunday Dec 5
Ganden Ngamchu, the yearly holiday commemorating Je Tsongkhapa,
the founder of the Gelug tradition falls in December this year.
We will be celebrating a Lama Chopa Tsoh in Tibetan with Sönam
leading the chanting. Copies of the text in Tibetan and English
will be available. We will be purchasing the food for the Tsoh
in advance of the ceremony. If you want to contribute, put a donation
in the Tsoh envelope in the donation jar. You may also make a
contribution on the day of the Tsoh.
Noon to 2 pm Preparing offerings, Tsoh set up (optional)
2 pm to 4:30 pm Lama Chopa Tsoh
Fine Arts and Crafts Sale Dec 10-12
Once again, we are hosting a Fine Arts and Crafts Sale to benefit
Jewel Heart Cleveland. Stop by to finish up your last minute gift
buying! You'll have the choice of many beautiful artist-made items
to pick from. The Jewel Heart Store will also have traditional
Tibetan Dharma ware for sale and refreshments will be served.
Come and support Jewel Heart and the artists!
Friday Dec. 10 6:00 - 9:30 pm. Saturday, Dec.11, 11:00 - 4:00.
Sunday, Dec. 12, 11:00 - 2:00.
Notice to artists! There are only three open spaces available
for artists. Please contact Claire Ackerman at bandoc@bellefairejcb.org,
Janice Cogger at janicecogger@yahoo.com
or Theresa Yondo at tyondo@alltel.net
or 440.338.6219 no later than November 26th for additional information
Prticipation fee is $20 and a 15% sales commission is collected
to benefit Jewel Heart.
Other Jewel Heart Cleveland Events
Open meditation hours
The Cleveland center will be available for open meditation the
second and fourth Saturdays each month 10:30-noon. White Tara
meditation will be held on the first and third Saturdays at the
same time.
Lama Chöpa Tsoh
November 21 and December 19 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
Saturday, Nov. 6 from 4-6 and Tuesday, Dec.7, 7-9 pm, for those
who have received the Vajrayogini initiation.
Tibetan Language and culture class, November
7 and 21, noon to 2 pm, December dates to be announced.
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.
Our newest course is Gateway to the Spiritual Path,
eight weeks focusing on preparatory practices and foundational
topics of the spiritual path. Vivian Hartman and Steve Goldberg
are leading a diverse and lively group in discussions of transcribed
teachings by Gehlek Rimpoche. Other ongoing classes include the
Odyssey to Freedom, now on the next to the last module, and the
Lama Chopa study group.
New courses in 2005!
Plans are currently underway for the courses Healing and Self-Healing
through White Tara, Good Life, Good Death and a new Odyssey to
Freedom group. We are also planning a class on the Bodhisattva
vows and a Six Session Yoga class and White Tara sadhana class
for Vajrayana students. Watch for details in future newsletters.
Contact Anne Cleveland@jewelheart.org
or 216-687-1617 if you have questions about particular courses.
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 contact Debbie Burr at 734-994-3387
debbie@jewelheart.org
JH Cleveland News
Rimpoche's teaching on the mantra of the Heart Sutra in September
inspired all in attendance, giving a deeper understanding into
this profound mantra. About ten people from the Cleveland area
were able to attend the 1000 armed 1000 eyed Avalokitesvara initiation
held on Oct. 23 and 24 in Ann Arbor. Welcome new Vajrayana students!
Dorothy's mala making potluck was a huge success! Participants
learned the basics of mala making and helped complete malas which
were subsequently blessed by Rinpoche and sent to inmates. The
malas for prisoners will be an ongoing dharma-in-action project
at JH Cleve. If you are interested in helping with this project
or in making a donation for supplies to help fund it, please contact
Terry or Michele.
The three Introductory evenings in September were well attended.
Discussion was lively and a number of participants have joined
various other JH activities. We will plan to repeat these introductory
sessions once or twice a year.
Ujjen, the store manager at JH Ann Arbor, once again brought
the Jewel Heart tent to the Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival,
selling good stuff and raising funds for JH.
At the Fall retreat held this past Labor Day weekend, Gelek Rimpoche
taught on the topic of "Infinite Heart: Dissolving the Barriers
to a Radically Compassionate Life." Rimpoche's text was based
on the seven point mind training instruction formulated by Geshe
Chekawa. As always, the teachings were profound, practical, and
filled with humorous anecdotes. The sessions concentrated on developing
bodhimind and culminated with tonglen practice; we also had the
opportunity to participate in White Tara practice sessions each
morning.
Tibetan class is in full swing with new books. Thanks again to
Dorothy for bringing this opportunity to us!
Despite running for only 10 days, the silent auction raised over
$500 for Jewel Heart. Plans are already underway for the next
auction. If you find something you would like to donate (monetary
value greater than $20 or else 'priceless' joke item) you may
bring it to the center at any event and we will store it in the
basement until the next auction. Clean out your closets now!
Sangha council Following Gehlek Rimpoche's recommendations, all
Jewel Heart chapters are currently undergoing a reorganization
process that will make it easier for JH members and friends to
stay informed and become involved in their local chapters. Look
for more about the Sangha council in future newsletters!
Other Cleveland Area Events
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.
Date: -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
Jewel Heart Malaysia
Teaching Retreat with Gehlek Rimpoche December 2004. Join Gehlek
Rimpoche as he charts the route for our personal Odyssey to Freedom
on 6th to 9th Dec. and benefit from his instructions on White
Tara longevity meditation for healing and clearing obstacles on
10th to 12th Dec. at Chempaka Buddhist Lodge Petaling Jaya (translation
into Mandarin available), for more info. see the homepage.
Jewel Heart Winter Retreat
Topic: Yamantaka
Dates: Fri., Feb. 11 - Mon., February 21, 2005
Location: Jewel Heart Ann Arbor
Initiation: Yamantaka February 11 - 12, 2005
Details including cost, times and registration to come. Anyone
interested in taking initiation for the first time, please contact
programming@jewelheart.org
Summer Retreat 2005
June 19-25. Topic: White Tara - details to come.
Other Events
Ven. Thubten Chodron Retreat
There will be a three-month Vajrasattva retreat at Sravasti Abbey.
Most of the details for the Vajrasattva retreat scheduled for
January 5- April 1, 2005 are set. The details are posted on the
Sravasti Abbey website
www.sravastiabbey.org/vajrasattva.html
For questions regarding the retreat please contact Kevin Conlin
(352) 378-3174
JH Cleveland Calendar of Events
Odyssey to Freedom Part 6 Wednesdays from 7:15-8:45
Lama Chopa Study group Thursdays from 7-9
Gateway Mondays from 7-8:30
Tibetan Language/Culture Class Sunday Nov. 7, 21 Dec. TBA from
12-2:00
Vajrayogini Tsoh Saturday Nov. 6 from 4-6 Tuesday Dec. 7 from
7-9
Tara Blessing Ceremony, Sunday, Nov. 14, 1:30 pm Unity of Greater
Cleveland
Lama Chöpa Tsoh Sunday Nov. 21, Dec. 19 from 7-9
White Tara healing practice Saturday Nov. 6, 20 Dec. 4, 18 from
10:30-12
Open Meditation Nov.13, 27 Dec. 11 from 10-12
Ritual Arts Workshops Saturday, Dec. 4 - see above
Tsoh for Je Tsongkhapa day, Sunday Dec. 5, set up at noon, ceremony
2 pm.
December potluck Saturday Dec 4
Fine Arts and Crafts Sale Friday-Sunday, Dec. 10-12
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.
