The Internet Newsletter of Jewel Heart
March, 2003

In this issue:

Rimpoche News
Why Is the Buddha Smiling?
Major Himalayan Art Exhibition Coming to Chicago
Spring Retreat
Programming News
Jewel Heart Store
Ann Arbor Office Want List
Chapter News
Member News
Classifieds

Welcome to another issue of e-JEWEL, the Jewel Heart email newsletter.

Your Jewel Heart eNewsletter, e-JEWEL is published on a monthly basis, with Madonna Gauding serving as editor. Look for it sometime in the first week of the month. If you are on the Jewel Heart email list, you will be informed when a new issue of eJewel is posted on the Jewel Heart web site. A link from your email will take you there.

If you are not a member of Jewel Heart, consider becoming one to help support this and other Jewel Heart activities. Email: donations@jewelheart.org and someone will get back to you.

Send any correspondence regarding the newsletter and its contents, or any member news, or article ideas to ejewel@jewelheart.org. The deadline for submissions for the March edition is February 28. Our intention for e-Jewel is to help our sangha stay better informed about all Jewel Heart activities, in all chapters.

Remember, classified ads are for all Jewel Heart sangha members, in all chapters. Send classifieds to Kate Glahn at classifieds@jewelheart.org

-Madonna Gauding (Ann Arbor)

RIMPOCHE NEWS

Rimpoche to teach at Renaissance Unity
On Monday, March 17, 7:30 PM, Rimpoche will begin a course of regular Monday night teachings at Renaissance Unity Church, 11200 E. 11 Mile Road, Warren, Michigan. The course is titled "How to Attain Lasting Satisfaction." These teachings will continue every Monday night at 7:30 PM through the end of August. When Rimpoche is traveling, senior students will give a talk in his place. Click here for more information,

Book Signing in Traverse City, Michigan
There will be a Good Life, Good Death book signing in Traverse City, MI., on Friday, March 21 from 6p.m. to 8 p.m., at Horizon Books: 243 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Call (231) 946-7290 for more details.

-Madonna Gauding, (Ann Arbor)

WHY IS THE BUDDHA SMILING?

The following is an excerpt from Mark Magill's new book Why is the Buddha Smiling?: Mindfulness as a Means of Bringing Calm and Insight to Your Life. For those of you who may not know Mark, he is a student of Rimpoche, and a member of Jewel Heart. He assisted Rimpoche in writing Good Life, Good Death: Tibetan Wisdom on Reincarnation (Riverhead Books, 2001).

Excerpt from: Why is the Buddha Smiling?
By Mark Magill
(published by Godsfield / Fair Winds, 2003)

Chasing the Thief on His Own Horse
Suffering robs us of our equanimity. Through mindfulness, we can learn to use suffering
as a tool on the path to awareness.

When we are happy and comfortable, we are apt to be complacent. But wayward glance by a lover, the embarrassment of a bounced check, or the headache brought on by a harsh word from the boss are enough to show us the temporary nature of this kind of happiness. When we are suffering and experiencing firsthand the nature of life and death, we begin to realize that we must do something to help ourselves. So what is a useful approach to suffering?
First, we can determine whether the suffering is avoidable. If the suffering can be alleviated by a heart-to-heart talk, a little bit of financial planning, or an aspirin, then, by all means, alleviate it. There is enough suffering to go around. There is no benefit to suffering needlessly. If there is no way around it, then mindfulness can help us recognize that fact.
Second, if a mindful examination of the situation leads us to conclude that the suffering is unavoidable, there is not much use in suffering over the fact that we're in for some suffering. One suffering is quite sufficient.

Some years ago, I was trying to put together a movie deal. I managed to get a movie star attached to the project and to make an appointment with the studio that was to produce it. The head of the studio was a notoriously belligerent person. I figured I was in for it. I spent the morning before the big meeting wandering up and down the Santa Monica beach. How was I going to get through this in one piece?

Then it occurred to me. If I was going to suffer anyway, then why not suffer cheerfully? It seemed strange, at first, putting those two words together. But by the time I got to the meeting I was repeating "suffer cheerfully" like some kind of mantra. The meeting went better than I had imagined. We made a deal and they bought the project.
That night I took the red-eye back to New York, pleased with my new "mantra." We took off. They lowered the lights for the long flight home. The attendant came down the aisle asking if anyone was willing to give up their pillow. "Suffer cheerfully," I thought as I handed her my pillow. By the time we landed in New York, I had an exquisitely stiff neck. That's when I learned the second half of the mantra. Suffer cheerfully, sure. But don't suffer needlessly.

If we do have to suffer, at least we can try to bring mindfulness to the suffering. Suffering is temporary. A simple examination of past suffering shows this. A deeper analysis will lead to an understanding of the impermanent nature of all such phenomena. If we are going to suffer, at least let's be accurate about its nature. Just as there is enough suffering to go around, we also don't need to give suffering qualities it doesn't deserve. Immortality is certainly not one of them.

Here, again, mindfulness is the key. Ask yourself: What part of me, exactly, is suffering? My toe? The tip of my toe? Is my toe all there is to me? Or am I suffering in my heart because my lover scorned me? Where is my "heart?" Where does the suffering end and I begin? Who is this person who is suffering anyway? How did I get into this mess and how am I going to get out of it? Maybe I should begin see what this suffering is really all about. If we use our minds in this way, we can begin to turn the tables on suffering.

When encountering suffering, Gelek Rinpoche uses what he calls a meditator's trick. Rinpoche suffers from diabetes. Because of this, he must inject himself with insulin every day. By his own admission, the needle hurts. Instead of simply putting up with the pain, he takes advantage of the situation. Since he is going to suffer from diabetes anyway, he says, he asks that he be able to take on all the diabetes for the entire world so that no one will ever have to suffer from diabetes again.

You can try this trick the next time you're suffering. If you suffer from migraine and you've tried all the remedies at hand and still you're experiencing pain, then let it be for some good. Since you have to suffer anyway, then let it be for all the migraine suffers in the world, so that no one will ever have to bear this miserable affliction again.
If your lover has left you behind and you are suffering the heartache we all know, then let it be for all the heartbroken ones in the world, so they will never have to bear the pain of loneliness again.

Remember that this wish includes yourself, too. You are one of the heartbroken ones. You, too, are the diabetic or the migraine sufferer. In your mindfulness, you are wishing for us all to be free.

Rinpoche calls it a meditator's trick. I call it chasing the thief on his own horse.

-Mark Magill (New York)

MAJOR HIMALAYAN ART EXHIBITION AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, APRIL 5-AUGUST 17, 2003

Three Bodhisattvas,
11th century.
Pritzker Collection

Regenstein Hall
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600

For those of us in the Midwest, this exhibit is probably worth a trip to Chicago. And for you lucky people in Chicago, we may need your couch for a weekend. This upcoming show at The Art Institute is advertised as the first exhibition, on a grand scale, of art representing the entire region of the Himalaya Mountains. Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure will showcase 200 works of Buddhist and Hindu art created between the 5th and 19th centuries.

The sculptures, paintings, and other works comprising the show have been drawn from private and public collections across North America, Europe, and Asia, and more than one-half of these objects have never before been publicly exhibited. The exhibition will also include large-scale photomurals, regional images by contemporary photographers, and maps dividing the galleries into distinct geographic areas.

The curators of the show are Pratapaditya Pal, visiting curator for Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art, and Betty Seid, exhibition curator, The Art Institute of Chicago

At any rate, this show at The Art Institute promises to be very special, and worth the effort to see. If you are intellectually inclined, you can attend a special symposium on the exhibit to be held April 4-6. An international group of scholars and collectors have been invited to present papers and lead discussions on art from India, Nepal and Tibet. And good news: the symposium is free.

For a detailed brochure on the symposium, send a request with your mailing address to asianart@artic.edu.

-Madonna Gauding, (Ann Arbor)

SPRING RETREAT 2003 TO BE HELD AT GARRISON INSTITUTE, GARRISON, NY

Garrison Memorial Weekend Retreat dates for 2003 are May 23-26
The spring retreat to be held at the Garrison Institute, in N.Y. opens Friday, May 23, with a 7:30 PM teaching it closes Monday, May 26, at 11:00 AM. The spring retreat topic is White Tara. This retreat will focus on the healing and compassionate activity of Tara. Tara is known as a mother goddess whose response to any heartfelt request for her help is quick and effective. All forms of Tara are wonderful, but White Tara is particularly associated with healing, protection and stabilizing your life force.

To Register Call: (914) 767.0368

PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE NEWS

The Spring 2003 Program Brochure for the Ann Arbor chapter is available for download in pdf form.

-Madonna Gauding (Ann Arbor)

JEWEL HEART STORE

Greetings from the Jewel Heart Store!

Tashi Delek! Happy Losar! as we begin the water sheep year of the Tibetan calendar.

Here in Ann Arbor the store is regrouping after a profound and successful winter retreat. It was great to see all the familiar faces from out of town. We were happy to be able to supply many retreatants with books, bells, dorjes, thangkas, and a multitude of other materials to help them along with their daily odyssey. Please help us to provide more relevant material with your feedback and suggestions at store@jewelheart.org.

Ujjen is still accepting orders for meditation carpets. During the White Tara retreat Rinpoche suggested that if you were to do your own White Tara retreat you should have the symbol that looks similar to the swastika under your meditation cushion. Ujjen can order the carpet with either a white symbol or a red symbol against a blue background, with an existing design surrounding it. It is quite nice and can designate your practice space as well as serve the retreat purposes. The size is (check with Ujjen) and normally sells for $180.00. but the retreat price of $135.00 will be extended for a limited time. Please contact us for more info if you are interested.

Well, here's hoping that spring is closer than we think!

-Beth Locke (Ann Arbor)

ANN ARBOR OFFICE WANT LIST

Does anyone have a microwave or a toaster oven they don't want? The Ann Arbor office will be happy to give it a new home.

CHAPTER NEWS

ANN ARBOR / DETROIT

ADDESS: 207 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
PHONE: 734-994-3387
FAX: 734-994-5577
EMAIL: annarbor@jewelheart
URL: www.jewelheart.org

Suggested minimum donation for Teachings - $5. Ann Arbor also has a Fragrance Free Policy - We ask that those participating in Jewel Heart events kindly refrain from wearing perfumes colognes, or other scented products in consideration of other people's allergies.

White Tara Practice - Sundays 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Staff - These sessions are meant to provide a time and place
for those wishing to practice guided White Tara Meditation as a group. All are welcome. Suggested site donation: $5.00

Meditation session - Sundays 10:00 am 11:00 am
Staff - These session s are available for all those who wish to join with others in sitting meditation. All are welcome. Suggested site donation: $5.00

NEW YORK

ADDRESS (CENTER): 260 West Broadway, NY 10013
PHONE: 212 966-2807

ADDRESS (OFFICE): 33 Katonah Aveune, Katonah, NY 10536
PHONE: 914 767-0024

Suggested donation for Teachings $15 / Suggested donation for classes - $5
For a detailed listing of New York programming, go to the Jewel Heart web site at www.jewelheart.org, click on "Chapters" then on "New York" for more information.

CLEVELAND

ADDRESS: 2670 W14th St., Cleveland, OH 44113
PHONE: 216-556-4858

Cleveland has a full schedule of programming as well as their own newsletter. Go to the Jewel Heart web site at www.jewelheart. org, click on "Chapters" then on "Cleveland" for more information.

Cleveland's next newsletter will be out in a couple weeks (thanks to Dorothy!), but in the meantime here is some new information.

Venerable Thubten Chodron's visit in April
As most of you know, Ven. Chodron is the author of Open Heart, Clear Mind
and other inspiring books. She will be speaking at Jewel Heart on Friday April 11at 7 pm, Saturday April 12 at 7 pm and Sunday morning April 13 at a different location. Mark these dates on your calendar! Topics will be announced later.

Saturday March 15, White Tara practice 10 am-noon, followed by a Vajrayana lunch 12:30 to 1:30 or so.

Tuesday, March 18 is the Day of Miracles, when any act is karmically multiplied by millions of times! So say a few extra mantras or whatever!

Saturday, March 22 Tara Dance Practice, followed by a meeting to plan Prema's and Anahata's visit and workshop this fall.

Sunday, March 30 1-4 pm Mandala Workshop. Come and learn about the outer mandala offering - what it is, why we do it and how to do it. All are welcome! We'll practice both the shorter and longer versions. Everyone will have a chance to practice with a
mandala ring set, and will go home with a set of fool-proof instructions!
Workshop fee $20 non-members, $15 pledging JH members.
(This workshop replaces the previously announced Ganden Lha Gyema practice.)

CHICAGO

PHONE: 847-256-3176
EMAIL: dabolitho@hotmail.com

LINCOLN

PHONE: 402-435-7679
EMAIL kporter@well.com
MEETING SPACE The Gathering Place, 1448 E Street, Lincoln, NE

Thursdays 7:00 pm Weekly practice sessions.
Call for details and to confirm all scheduled events.

SAN FRANCISCO

PHONE: 415-248-2656
EMAIL sanfran@jewelheart.org
Regular meetings continue twice monthly on Tuesdays; call for details.

NIJMEGEN

ADDRESS: Dominicanenstraat 2b, 6512 GX Nijmegen, The Netherlands
PHONE: +31 24-322-69-85
EMAIL: info@jewelheart.nl

Jewel Heart Netherlands has extensive programming and its own website. Go to http://www.jewelheart.nl/ for more information. The website is available in both Dutch and English.

MALAYSIA

PHONE: 011-606-952-7961
EMAIL: malaysia@jewelheart.org

Weekly Vajrayana discussion held every Wednesday. Weekly Lam Rim discussion held every Friday at the Muar Buddhist Society. Call to confirm details of scheduled events.

SINGAPORE

PHONE: 011-65-3348-566 ext 23
EMAIL: singapore@jewelheart.org

MEMBER NEWS

This section of e-JEWEL is dedicated to keeping us all informed of what's happening with individual members of Jewel Heart who have any news they'd like to share. Please email any information you'd like distributed to eJewel@jewelheart.org.

CLASSIFIEDS

In an effort to unify the Jewel Heart community and to help and support all of its members, eJewel will be offering free classified ads. The classifieds will be organized by city and category, including Nijmegen and the chapters in Malaysia and Singapore. Do you have an item that you would like to buy or sell? Do you have something you would like to give away? Are you looking for or offering employment or housing? Do you have a skill, trade or service that you would like to share with your community? Please write up a very short classified advertisement and email it to kglahn@comcast.net Please put "JEWEL HEART CLASSIFIED" in the subject line of your email.

Because eJewel is available to all on the internet, we encourage the contact information contain email addresses only (no phone numbers or personal information unless you are comfortable the whole world seeing it!)

-Kate Glahn

ANN ARBOR / DETROIT

For Sale: Lakewood Space Heater.(Electric, looks like a little radiator) Very good condition. $20 mgauding@comcast.net

For Sale: 3/4 cello with softcase and bow, $550. Debbieburr@comcast.net

Services Offered: Astrology readings, nourishing delicacies, specialty meals, special occasion cakes. Mcr_15@hotmail.com

Services Offered: Handyman, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, minor repairs. Call John Moran at 734 332-1647

Services Offered: Piano tuning, repairs, and regulation. Call James Jorah at Pristine Piano Care at 734 253-2007

NEW YORK

CHICAGO

CLEVELAND

LINCOLN

SAN FRANCISCO

NIJMEGEN

SINGAPORE

MALAYSIA