This Week at Kurukulla Center                          December 06, 2010 - December 12, 2010
From the Director


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Dear Kurukulla Community,

Over the past two weeks the Kurukulla Center community has been through a lot, some of it very difficult and some of it absolutely amazing and very powerful. As we look to the weeks to come, no doubt there will continue to be a mixture of the two, and we are incredibly fortunate to have Geshe Ngawang Tenley, Ven. Tsunma-la and Ven. Ani Yeshe serving as such stalwart support and guides during this time. It is our strength as a community, however, our love, compassion and dedication for one another, that is of the greatest support. Thank you all for your commitment to the Center and more importantly to each another.

 

New Resident Teacher

Geshe Tenley-la


It is with great joy that I announce that Geshe Ngawang Tenley has agreed to serve as our resident teacher! As with any FPMT Center, our spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche is responsible for inviting a teacher to serve as resident teacher, as he invited Geshe Tsulga-la to do almost twenty years ago.

 

When Rinpoche visited in September, Geshe Tsulga-la told him that it was his hope and request that Geshe Tenley could fill in as resident teacher after his passing. Rinpoche had begun a strict retreat when Geshe Tsulga-la passed away, but as soon as Rinpoche finished his retreat he called Geshe Tenley directly and said, "Your Geshe's wish for Kurukulla Center is my wish for Kurukulla Center," and invited Geshe Tenley to assume Geshe Tsulga-la's various teaching responsibilities. Rejoice! Geshe Tenley has offered all of his efforts and energies to best serve Kurukulla Center and to serve all sentient beings as Lama Zopa sees it most beneficial, and we are overjoyed that he will be continuing here with the Kurukulla Community.

 

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Community Meeting & Potluck


As the calendar year comes to an end, we take stock of the new situation at Kurukulla Center. Our precious lama Geshe Tsulga-la has passed away and we mourn this loss. However, we are blessed that Geshe Tenley is with us. He can lead us through this challenging time and continue to offer excellent teachings. We also rejoice in the strength of our community members with the support we give each other.

 

Following the morning teaching next week, Sunday December 12, we invite everyone to gather to share a meal and raise questions about what is ahead and discuss any other concerns. Please bring a dish to share. You are welcome to attend even if you cannot come to the morning teaching. If you do bring something, please make sure that it has no meat and no garlic.

 

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100,000 Hayagriva Mantras


During the last week before Geshe Tsulga-la passed away, he requested his students recite 100,000 Hayagriva mantras supplemented by a special requesting prayer. Once we collectively reached 100,000 he extended the request, and asked that his students each recite 100,000 mantras + requesting prayer. It is important to remember that this is a practice he gave us not for his benefit, but for our own, and for the benefit of future generations. Out of his incredible wisdom and generosity Geshe Tsulga-la offered us the opportunity to make this a meaningful practice in our lives and to fulfill a specific request of our teacher in the process.


Geshe Tenley has encouraged us to continue this practice and meet our commitment to Geshe-la. As he reminded us in class this morning, the best offering you can make to your guru is following his advice, fulfilling his requests and meeting your commitments to him.  If you have any questions about this practice please email Tsultrim at tsultrimdavis@kurukulla.org.

 

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Statues to be filled


If you have any statues at your home that have yet to be filled with mantras and consecrated, now is the time to bring them in to Kurukulla Center! Geshe Tenley is planning on rolling mantras and blessing statues in the upcoming weeks and wanted to invite any members to bring in their statues to be included.


 

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Recycling at Kurukulla Center

 

The town of Medford has recently changed their recycling program, and here at Kurukulla we are working hard to work with the new system, but we need everyone's help! As you can imagine, we generate a lot of waste, and it is important that we recycle everything we can, separate our paper from plastics & glass, and make sure to crush and boxes or large containers so we can fit as much as possible.


We need to thank Barbara, who has been incredibly helpful in assisting to organize and sustain this effort. Please see her or a member of the Management Committee for more information. Thanks for your help!

 

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December FPMT News


LZRThe newest monthly newsletter from our parent organization, the FPMT, is available now. The newsletter regularly includes updates and advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and this month's newsletter has a small article about Geshe Tsulga-la, as well as a great photo of him and some children from Kurukulla Center. You can find the newsletter on the FPMT site.

 

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Kalachakra Tickets on sale Dec. 15

HHDL


As we have announced before, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be offering the Kalachakra Initiation and Empowerment in Washington D.C. next July. Tickets go on sale as of December 15. Information on the different types of tickets and their various prices can be found on the Kalachakra 2011 website.


Thank you again for your wonderful support.

Much love,


Debra Thornburg

  Debra Thornburg
  Director

Calendar of Events

Monday, December 06

 

Prayers for Geshe Tsulga-la's Passing

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Join us for recitations of Chanting the Names of Manjushri and the King of Prayers, prayers requested of us both by our precious teacher Geshe Tsulga-la, as well as by his teachers at this time.

 

Buddhism in a Nutshell with Tsültrim DavisTsultrim Davis

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Buddhism in a Nutshell is an introductory course on Buddhism for complete beginners, organized by our parent organization the FPMT. It presents basic Buddhist philosophy and principles within the Tibetan Mahayana context, and provides simple meditation instruction. It is a four series courses that will meet Mondays 11/15, 11/29, 12/6 and 12/13. This is a great way to introduce friends and family to Buddhism, we encourage you to invite your friends!

 

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Tuesday, December 07

 

Morning Meditation with Ven. Tsunma-la (Sue Macy)Ani Tsunma-la

6:30 am - 7:00 am

Start your day on the right foot by calming your mind, setting your day's purpose to be a meaningful one and remembering to just breathe! Resident nun Tsunma-la leads basic meditations that help stabilize the mind by learning to focus on the breath. By using these simple techniques, you can bring a sense of tranquility to your day. If you plan to join Tsunma-la in the meditation hall (gompa) at Kurukulla Center, please arrive a few minutes early. We will start promptly at 6:30 am. Feel free to listen online!

Prayers for Geshe Tsulga-la's Passing

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Join us for recitations of Chanting the Names of Manjushri and the King of Prayers, prayers requested of us both by our precious teacher Geshe Tsulga-la, as well as by his teachers at this time.

 

Yoga & Meditation with Wendy CookWendy-la

7:00 pm to 8:45 pm

These classes include therapeutic movements, standing postures, back strengthening postures and hip openers. The last twenty minutes are spent in guided meditation, including breath awareness, visualization, and analytical techniques to enhance our inner good qualities. Suitable for both experienced and new students, you are welcome to attend on a drop-in basis. Please arrive a few minutes early and wear comfortable, fitted and modest clothing.

 

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Wednesday, December 08

 

Prayers for Geshe Tsulga-la's Passing

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Join us for recitations of Chanting the Names of Manjushri and the King of Prayers, prayers requested of us both by our precious teacher Geshe Tsulga-la, as well as by his teachers at this time.

 

Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas with Venerable Geshe Tenley Geshe Tenley-la

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Geshe-la continues an explanation of the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas by Togme Sangpo (1245-1369.) Come and discover what it means to model your actions after those of a bodhisattva. All are welcome. A copy of the text will be distributed in class and a commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is available on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website. Other contemporary commentaries are available for purchase in our bookstore. Feel free to listen live online.

 

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Thursday, December 09

 

Prayers for Geshe Tsulga-la's Passing

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Join us for recitations of Chanting the Names of Manjushri and the King of Prayers, prayers requested of us both by our precious teacher Geshe Tsulga-la, as well as by his teachers at this time.

 

Discovering Buddhism - The Spiritual Teacher with Ven. Tsunma-la (Sue Macy)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Relating to a Spiritual Teacher is from our Discovering Buddhism program. Taught by resident nun Tsunma-la, it covers the importance and role of a spiritual teacher in Buddhist practice, the ideal qualities of a teacher, and how students can gain the most benefit from the student-teacher relationship. The course meets five Thursday evenings: Nov 11 & 18 and Dec 2, 9 & 16. It is recommended you attend all five sessions but it is not required. If you are unable to join us at our center, you can listen on-line to the live broadcast.

 

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Friday, December 10

 

Morning Meditation with Ven. Tsunma-la (Sue Macy)

6:30 am - 7:00 am

Start your day on the right foot by calming your mind, setting your day's purpose to be a meaningful one and remembering to just breathe! Resident nun Tsunma-la leads basic meditations that help stabilize the mind by learning to focus on the breath. By using these simple techniques, you can bring a sense of tranquility to your day. If you plan to join Tsunma-la in the meditation hall (gompa) at Kurukulla Center, please arrive a few minutes early. We will start promptly at 6:30 am. Feel free to listen online!

Prayers for Geshe Tsulga-la's Passing

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Join us for recitations of Chanting the Names of Manjushri and the King of Prayers, prayers requested of us both by our precious teacher Geshe Tsulga-la, as well as by his teachers at this time.

 

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Saturday, December 11

 

Puja in recognition of the third "seventh day" after Geshe-la's passing

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

We will be performing puja every 7 days, as is Tibetan Buddhist custom. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage in practice, born from Geshe Tsulga-la's generosity and compassion. We do not know yet what Puja will be performed this morning, but will let you know when we do.

 

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Sunday, December 12

 

Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand Day 2 with Geshe Ngawang Tenley

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Pabongka Rinpoche's Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand is the seminal lam-rim text of the 20th century. It is a transcription of a 24 day lam rim teaching given in 1921. Offered as a "practical teaching," it is less scholarly than Je Tsongkhapa's Jang chub lam rim chen mo or The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and as such it is the text from which most modern lamas teach lam rim. Today Geshe-la gives commentary on Day 2. If you are unable to join us at our center, you can listen on-line to the live broadcast.

 

Community Meeting & Potluck

12:15pm - 2:00 pm

As the calendar year comes to an end, we take stock of the new situation at Kurukulla Center. Our precious lama Geshe Tsulga-la has passed away and we mourn this loss. However, we are blessed that Geshe Tenley is with us. He can lead us through this challenging time and continue to offer excellent teachings. We also rejoice in the strength of our community members with the support we give each other.

 

This afternoon following the morning teaching, we invite everyone to gather to share a meal and raise questions about what is ahead and discuss any other concerns. Please bring a dish to share. You are welcome to attend even if you cannot come to the morning teaching. If you do bring something, please make sure that it has no meat and no garlic.





     Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies

     68 Magoun Avenue
     Medford, MA 02155
     617.624.0177

     http://www.kurukulla.org


May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes!