Past Issues: July 03 | September 03

The Internet Newsletter of Jewel Heart

In this issue:

· Monthly Rimpoche Teaching
· Rimpoche Cancels Teaching Engagements
· Jewel Heart Health Center and Community Hospice Opens
· Rimpoche’s Birthday Benefit Brunch and Concert
· Tibetan Medical Astrologer to Visit Ann Arbor
· JHHC&CH Planning other Events and Workshops
· Handy Information about the JHHC&CH
· Upcoming Tsoh Days

Samsara and Nirvana - Rimpoche Teaching

Samsara is said to be the cycle of existence life after life, based on conditioned existence.

But what is conditioned existence? What is samsara really? What is the continuation of life after life?

These are questions we need to be asking ourselves. You may simply say that samsara is the continuation of “me” but that is not correct. Samsara is actually the continuation of contaminated identity life after life. This is what we hold onto and identify with. It is not necessarily the physical identity, or the mental identity, or the emotional identity; it is the combination of these things. Sometimes this identity has form, sometimes it is formless. With or without form, this identity is contaminated by our continual neuroses. The moment you switch from samsara to nirvana, the contaminated identity will become uncontaminated. You will no longer be pushed life after life by the belief in a solid important “Me” controlling everything from behind a curtain. As soon as you open the curtain you will see that this “Me” is not there. That does not mean you will lose the relative “me” that goes to work, and eats and sleeps and functions in life. That “me” will continue and that “me” will ultimately reach enlightenment.

From the Mahayana point of view, if you are looking for the way out of this cycle the best thing to do is generate love and compassion to the ultimate degree. This is what we call bodhimind, or the awakening mind. It does not matter how weak a person you may be. You may be completely tied down in suffering; you may be at the bottom of the pit of cyclic existence. You may feel like the most hopeless person that ever lived, but if you grow the bodhimind within yourself you will get out. The Buddha, in a previous life, first generated bodhimind in the hell realm. He had tremendous compassion for the companion with whom he had to pull a horse cart. The future Buddha wished that he could mange to pull it by himself so his companion would not have to suffer. The administrator of that hell knew what he was thinking and hit him on the head with a hammer for having these forbidden thoughts. He hit him so hard that the Buddha died as a hell being and was reborn as a human being. This is how the Buddha first generated bodhimind.

Likewise, this is the key for us. No matter how immature our state might be, if we can grow the bodhimind we have the solution. This is a mind that cares for others, and that seeks enlightenment in order to serve others. If you want to benefit yourself through saying mantras you have to do millions and millions of them to gain some benefit. But if you try to do whatever you can to benefit others, then even if you say a single mantra it is more powerful than reciting zillions of mantras without this motivation. Even if you make constant offerings to all the enlightened beings and the whole environment is filled with jewels, a single moment of bodhimind generated with folded hands is far more effective. There is no comparison! So the trick or the method lies in the bodhimind. This mind makes the total difference in everything you do. This is the best way to help yourself overcome negativity. This is how you can push yourself through from the contaminated samsaric existence to uncontaminated total liberation.

Edited by Aura Glaser, October 2003

Rimpoche Cancels Teaching Engagements

Gehlek Rimpoche is canceling all his teaching engagements including his regular Tuesday and Thursday evenings from Thanksgiving to the Winter Retreat in February to attend to health and personal matters. We are happy he is taking the time to look after his needs.

Based upon Rimpoche's request, Ann Arbor and New York sangha will continue to meet in his absence to review and discuss previous teachings.

JHHC&CH Opens! (Jewel Heart Health Center and Community Hospice)

A Little History, and a new tax break for JHHC&CH donors

The Working Group for the JHHC&CH began meeting in sangha member John Madison’s living room at 508 Cherry Street back in February 1997. The inspiration for this activity and dream came directly from Rimpoche, who has encouraged the Working Group members from the very beginning to pursue this project. After Jewel Heart purchased the building at 207 East Washington, the meetings were held there and The Working Group has grown in numbers over the years. Members recently celebrated the State of Michigan’s grant of non-profit status for the JHHC&CH. This grant cleared the way for the application for federal non-profit status under USC Section 501(c)(3).

Meanwhile, the Cassini Ensemble, Inc. has stepped forward and offered to act as a fiscal agent for the JHHC&CH. In plain English, this means that the Health Center can accept donations NOW from individuals and businesses, and offer the donor the 100% tax-free charitable donation status for their gift. So, for example, if you donate $100, or $1000 to JHHC&CH, the Center can provide you with a receipt that allows you to deduct 100% of that donation from your income taxes. All donations to the JHHC&CH should be made payable to The Cassini Ensemble, Inc. restricted fund JHHC&CH.

Rimpoche’s Birthday Benefit Brunch and Concert

Sunday, October 26
10 AM to 1 PM
Kerrytown Concert Hall
Ann Arbor

An upbeat and joyous time is planned in honor Rimpoche’s 64th birthday on Sunday October 26, 2003, with a benefit brunch and concert at Kerrytown Concert Hall in Ann Arbor, MI. The food promises to be outlandishly wonderful, and will be provided by some of Ann Arbor’s best chefs and eating establishments (as well as some special JH sangha culinary favorites!). Need we mention that luscious birthday cake for a particular person will also be served? For your listening enjoyment, the performing musicians will be some of the best talent garnered from the Midwest. Among other acts, long time JH member James Coats will be offering his first public performance since his sold out solo concert “Kalachakra” at Kerrytown in August 2002.

A short presentation during the brunch will give everyone the opportunity to wish Rimpoche a very happy birthday and to acknowledge his continuous support and encouragement for the health and hospice project. In addition, the audience will be introduced to the new Executive Director and to the Board of Directors of the JHHC&CH, and the many contributions of so many JH members to this project will be highlighted. Tickets are $30. per person, and may be purchased at the door. And 100% of your ticket cost is tax-deductible! Make out check to: The Cassini Ensemble.

For more information call 734 996-1980

Tibetan Medical Astrology Weekend Nov. 14-16th, 2003

There are a very limited number of appointment times available, since Dr. Kalsang does an average of 2-3 hours of preparation for each client/patient prior to the appointment date. In order to secure an appointment with Dr. Kalsang, please call the JHHC&CH new phone number—734-332-, and leave a message, indicating your interest. A volunteer staff person will return your call within 24 hours.

You will need to provide your birth date, place, and if at all possible, the time of your birth. Dr. Kalsang is a graduate of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute of HH the Dalai Lama, based in Dharmsala, India. He has lectured on traditional Tibetan medical astrology throughout Europe and the United States for the past 7 years. This is his first visit to Michigan. The talk on Friday, November 14th is $20.00, with a discounted rate of $15.00 for JH members. Tickets are available at the door. And 100% of your ticket cost is tax-deductible and is a welcome donation to the JHHC&CH. Dr. Kalsang’s private consultations on Saturday and Sunday are $125.00. A portion of this fee is tax-deductible. Please call (734-322-0224) or e-mail (JewelHeartHealth@aol.com) for further information and to secure your appointment time.

Upcoming Events and Workshops at JHHC&CH

JHHC&CH announces a series of workshops and classes beginning December 2002 through April 2004, at the JHHC&CH, 207 East Washington, Ann Arbor, and MI. The class and workshop schedule will be distributed at the end of this month and will focus on the needs of the caregiver. The course and workshop offerings will be particularly useful for those persons who regularly provide assistance for a family member, friend, colleague, or acquaintance who lives with a health challenge. In addition, the classes and workshops provide an excellent introduction to the role of the caregiver in our society, and would be useful for anyone considering volunteer or paid employment in the healthcare profession.

Handy Information about the JHHC&CH

Upcoming Tsoh Days

Oct 20 (25th)