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The Clear Mind Quarterly Newsletter #11
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[This version: 2 August 1993]
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SAKYA LOSAL CHOE DZONG
THE CLEAR MIND QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER No 11
April-June 1992
His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit Canberra in May
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan
people will now visit Canberra in early May. Born in the village of Takster in
North Eastern Tibet in 1935, He was recognized as the rebirth of the 13th Dalai
Lama and was duly enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama and leader of the Tibetan
people. Due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama sought
asylum in India and established the Tibetan government in exile in Northern
India. His administration oversees and co-ordinates settlement and welfare of
some 100,000 Tibetan refugees in various countries. His message of compassion,
tolerance, non-violence and universal responsibility, and His warmth and
approachability has attracted thousands of followers around the world.
In the early 80's He sent senior members of His Kashag (cabinet) and other
delegations to Tibet with the hope of opening a dialogue with the Beijing
government and made a constructive proposal known as the Five Point Peace Plan
for a peaceful resolution of the Question of Tibet which attracted unprecedented
international support as evidenced by His winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in
1989. Following this, some long overdue resolutions were passed by several
parliaments around the world denouncing the Chinese violation of Human Rights in
Tibet and her illegal occupation of Tibet. In spite of His responsibility as
the exiled leader of the Tibetan people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tenzin
Gyatso, who prefers to be identified as a " simple Buddhist monk" has become
one of the prominent leaders of the world. His full dedication for Tibet and
compassion for His people earned him the title, "Yishin Norbu", the
Wish-Fulfilling Gem. His universal appeal for peace, compassion and
non-violence breaks all the man made barriers and makes people of all faiths (or
without faith) inspired to see and listen to Him. For the Dalai Lama, politics
is
a job He would prefer to pass onto someone else if only there was a suitable
candidate. But the unwavering faith and support from His people both in Tibet
and in exile has compelled Him to act on their behalf. His popularity, charisma
and pragmatism has more recently even attracted some otherwise bored citizens of
the world who without any knowledge about Tibet's history, language, religion
and her culture are politicizing His stance, sometimes done in extreme for their
own personal gratification. However the majority are attracted by His
humbleness as a simple Buddhist monk with a universal message for peace and
non-violence reaching to the hearts and minds of all who have a good affinity to
see and revere Him as a religious leader and as a man of peace. For instance a
few weeks ago, a lady rang to check when the Dalai Lama was coming to Canberra
so that she can bring her husband who is dying from cancer to be able to see Him
before he dies. While there are many hundreds of Australians and others alike
each year who go to India to meet Him and hear Him speak, here Canberrans have
the perfect opportunity to do that in their hometown.
As indicated below, His Holiness will give three public talks which you are all
welcome to attend (not including the National Press Club luncheon) I personally
recommend you to attend all His talks so that you give yourself the maximum
chance to hear one of the most respected Buddhist world leaders as you might not
have a similar opportunity in the near future. Arrive at least 15-20 minutes
before the talks start as you might not find a seat. Offer a gift of a ticket
to your friends to see Him even if they do not have any interest in Buddhism or
Tibet. They only need to have the chance to see Him and feel His warmth and
clarity that they can see how being in His presence can enliven their intuition
and spirituality. Originally planned for 1991, this is His Holiness' second
visit to Australia. He will visit all the capital cities in Australia except
Darwin. Jointly organized by committees in each state, the cost of the visit is
being raised by all the organizing committees mainly comprised of Australian
Tibetan Buddhists. There are individual benefactors for the visit but there is
no one organization sponsoring this visit or part of it (as misrepresented in
the tickets sold for the public address) The ACT committtee hopes that
everybody out there will generously give donations towards costs, such as
international airfare, when you attend His talks and attend the fund raising
dinner mentioned below. His Holiness arrives in Canberra on Wednesday 6 May
and leaves Saturday 9 May.
How you can Help the Visit
Firstly the committee requests you to become a part of the visit by providing
whatever assistance you can give. There will be preferential seats for those
who become members of the visit and you must indicate if you are attending the
talk. Other than filling in the enclosed form to become a member of the visit
if you are not already one, there are several ways you can help the visit:
putting up posters and advertising in your organizations' newsletters,
volunteering to help as ushers at the talks, selling tickets to your friends and
telling them about the visit, helping to set up the venues, sponsoring to hire a
car for the visit or lend your car, helping to mind book-stalls at the talks,
helping as a driver during the visit or part of. Members and friends of the
Centre who wish to go to welcome and farewell His Holiness at the airport,
please contact Lama Choedak for details.
Fund Raising Dinner for the Visit
When: Friday 24 April at 7 pm.
Cost: $20.00
Where: Canberra Vietnamese Restaurant
upstairs, 21East Row, Civic
Bookings: phone the restaurant directly on ph. 247 4840. With the encouragement
of Ven. Thich Quang Ba and Lama Choedak, the ACT visit committee is finally
organizing this fund raising dinner. Please make your bookings as early as
possible and try to support the visit by bringing friends so that we will be
able to raise some funds to defray the many costs of this visit. Please come,
all welcome.
Offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
If you cannot attend the fund raising dinner or even if you do and still wish
to make some personal offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Centre is
planning to make a special offering to His Holiness. All members and friends
are encouraged to contribute towards this as a way of paying our respects to His
Holiness for His tireless effort of spreading the precious Dharma through His
unconditional compassion. It is unlikely that people will have the opportunity
to present Him offerings personally, so it is recommended that you send your
contributions to the Centre so that they can be made as a collective offering
from Buddhists in Canberra. It is extremely important to be able to develop a
connection with such a living Bodhisattva with our faith and devotion when we
have this special opportunity. The historical Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have
initially made connection through the offering of a fistful of sand to one of
the previous Buddha out of devotion which led Him to attain ultimate
enlightenment. There is an offering box at the Centre in front of His
Holiness' photograph where you can place your donations which will be offered
to His Holiness at the end of His teaching. If you cannot come to the Centre,
you can send your contribution there.
His Holiness Dalai Lama's Canberra Programme
Thursday 7 May
12.30-2.00pm National Press Club Luncheon, live telecast
4.30-5.30pm Buddhist Teaching "Developing Compassion" Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre,
Archibald St., Lyneham. Donations appreciated
7.30pm Interview with His Holiness broadcast on the ABC 7.30 Report
Friday 8 May
12.30 - 2.00pm Morrison Lecture, "Question of Tibet and Democracy in China"
Llewellyn Hall, School of Music,
Australian National University, Acton.
5.15 - 6.30pm Public Address
National Convential Centre, Constitutional Ave, bookings through box office
Canberra Theatre Centre on ph. 257 1077.
$ 10 Adult & $ 5 children
Interstate Itinerary
28 April -1 May Perth, WA.
Tel.(09) 277 1321
1 May - 3 May Adelaide, SA.
Tel. (08) 233 6400
3 May - 5 May Melbourne, Vic.
Tel. (03) 662 2755
5 May - 6 May Hobart, Tas.
Tel. (002) 344 223
6 May - 9 May Canberra, ACT.
Tel. (06) 281 1493
9 May - 10 May Brisbane, Qld.
Tel. (074) 437 100
10 May - 13 May Sydney, NSW.
Tel. (02) 957 1364
Monthly White Tara Practice Recharged
Our third annual White Tara Retreat was held at Yerrinbool Bahai School near
Mittagong, and seven of us attended the retreat including Lama Choedak. Having
attended all the previous retreats, the participants had greater opportunity to
become familiarized with the chanting, mudras, visualization and the overall
understanding of the Sadhana as we had more practice sessions than teachings
this time. Regardless of how many questions we had about the practice, this
retreat helped us all in many ways to appreciate the wonder and richness of the
White Tara practice. Even if our understanding about Buddhism is relatively
clear, it still depends on the determination and commitment to our practice. If
we have not adopted a strict discpline to practice regularly, then we have to
try to learn to do so by participating in group practices. In view of this, we
all agreed to hold the monthly White Tara practice more consistently as a way of
keeping our mutual commitment to help one another by attending the practice
sessions more regularly. It was decided that the practice will be held at
the Centre on the first Sunday of each calendar month at 7.00 am except on long
weekends. Partcipants will take turns to offer breakfast and there is a roster
at the Centre where you can write down your name. This is a good opportunity to
practice generosity to your Dharma friends. The actual practice begins at 8.00
am and finishes around 9.30 am. This is then followed by the regular Sunday
meditation and Dharma class. It is a wonderful way of making full use of your
time at least once a month. If you have been initiated and wish to do your
practices with the group, then this is a suitable opportunity where you can
revitalize your spiritual discipline and well-beingness. The Centre can only
help you by organizing practice sessions, but the rest is under the control of
your diligence or lack of it. I hope you have the former to help yourself and
members of the group.
John Chen
Introductory Course on Buddhist Meditation
10.00 am - 4. 00 pm Sun. 24 May, 1992
Cost $50 including lunch.
Bookings ph. 292 8150
This will be the Centre's 5th Course on Introduction to Samatha (Calm-Abiding)
Buddhist meditation designed to help many of our friends who have not had any
formal teachings on meditation. As mankind's unceasing searching has not led
them to any real happiness, meditation is becoming increasingly popular in
recent years. Even doctors recommend many of their patients to learn meditation
to help them to recover from stress, emotional difficulties and some sicknesses.
Most people are looking outside themselves into the external world as the source
of their happiness or problems. Buddhist meditation practice gives inner peace
and happiness which we cannot find anywhere outside of us. True meditation
helps you to get rid of your tension and stress and find inner reconciliation of
your life. It teaches you how to cultivate a positive attitude towards your
life and all of its experiences. A disciplined practice of meditation improves
your memory, transcends emotional instabilities and you will become tolerant and
more caring towards others. Meditation provides self-confidence and instils a
touch of dignity and sacredness to your life. Life is full and wholesome in
itself if you know how to subdue your emotions and be happy with the way things
are. It needs not to be a struggle. There is no happiness in possessing wealth
and fame if you have no contentment and appreciation of the things you have.
Through meditation you can get rid of negative habits and resolve to develop a
more wholesome and peaceful and tolerant way of life. The happiness and inner
contentment you find from meditation can not be bought from anyone else, but you
must learn under a proper guidance. Enclosed is a flyer for this course. Please
give it to someone whom you think may be interested in attending. Please book
early to avoid disappointment.
Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche and His Aussie students in India
Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche led a group of students from Sydney and Singapore on a
pilgrimage tour of India. In a post card he sent from Delhi, he said, " In
India all the impossible things are possible and all the possible things are
impossible." But it is not entirely true because one thing that was possible
possible was that the group had an audience with the Dalai Lama as planned.
Colin Moore from Canberra went to Bir with Rinpoche but his pilgrimage included
many places in Europe. The main pilgrimage took them to some of the important
Sakya monasteries in northern India and particularly to the Ngor Monastery in
Manduwala where His Holiness Sakya Trizin was giving initiation as a part of the
Collection of Tantra. Rinpoche kindly took all our sponsorship money to be
delivered to those sponsored from our Centre. We all look forward to see him
in Canberra to help His Holiness' visit.
Refuge Ceremony
On Sunday 15th March, a number of people attended the Centre for the taking of
formal Refuge Vows, administered by Lama Choedak. The ceremony was very simple,
the most dramatic point being when we all came forward in turn and Lama cut a
tiny lock of our hair, which he threw over his shoulder towards the altar with a
few grains of rice.
Many of those attended had been coming to the Centre for some time, though there
were a few new faces. I was particularly impressed that one person had come
from as far as Braidwood. Even though most of us probably considered ourselves
Buddhist already, it was good to take Refuge Vows under somewhat formal
circumstances. It reinforced the feeling that, in the constantly changing world
of Samsara, where nothing is truly permanent, our commitment to Buddhism is
something like a home, a raft, as Buddha said, for crossing over the stormy
ocean of suffering.
Yet at the same time, Buddha emphasised that ultimately, when we have reached
the further shore, even this Dharma is "not for holding onto." The faith itself
is an expedient means to guide us where we have to go, and as we receive it now,
it is adated to our limited understanding; inevitably, when we reach our Goal,
it will appear differently to us. For this reason, I find I have to remind
myself not to allow a commitment to Buddhism to be warped by that same old
combative spirit which lies just below the surface in everyday life.
Unfortunately, I find that I am still too prone to criticize believers in other
religions (may be others have the same problem!) To do so is contrary to the
spirit of Buddhism itself, as Lawrence Mills (formerly Ven. Khantipalo) once
pointed out: we should rather deepen our own faith by seeing what we can learn
from them. Ken Gardiner
A Child's Play By Ken Gardiner
Crowded over the dappled land, the clouds redesign the distance and the light.
At each ten steps the trees belie their years, hiding behind each other, while
the bright reflections shift from leaf to leaf, and stones beneath my feet age
visibly with lichen.
I build the present landscape from my dreams, and see what I have trained myself
to see. The pardalote's unconcious lullaby from minor busyness amongst the
leaves, making the courtyard ring as years ago, moves me to tears with what I do
not know, and not to know is still part of the dream.
Annual General Meeting on 11.00am Sunday 3 May 1992
All members of the Centre are strongly invited to attend this Annual General
Meeting. Contact Tim if you wish to add anything to the agenda (copies are
available at the Centre) The new executive committee will be elected at this
meeting. Bring some lunch to share after the meeting.
Special Days for this quarter
Month April May June F/moon 17 16 15
W/Tara Day 5 3 &31 -
Tsog Days 12/25 12/27 10/25
R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M
Send to: Treasurer, Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra, P.O. Box 3430, Manuka, ACT, 2603
Name:.................................................................................................................................................
Address..............................................................................................................................................
Ph................................................
I enclose a cheque for $................as a (please tick)
[ ] personal offering for His Holiness to be presented after the Dharma talk
[ ] deposit for the Introductory Course on Buddhist Meditation
[ ] deposit for June Long Weekend Combined Retreat
If undelivered please return to :
SAKYA LOSAL CHOE-DZONG
CENTRE FOR TIBETAN BUDDHIST STUDIES
PO. BOX 3430 MANUKA ACT 2603
Introductory Course on Buddhist Meditation
10.00 am - 4. 00 pm Sun. 24 May, 1992
Cost $50 including lunch.
Bookings ph. 292 8150
to be held at the Centre - 33 Bruxner Close, Gowrie
This will be the Centre's 5th Course on Introduction to Samatha (Calm-Abiding)
Buddhist meditation designed to help many of our friends who have not had any
formal teachings on meditation. As mankind's unceasing searching has not led
them to any real happiness, meditation is becoming increasingly popular in
recent years. Even doctors recommend many of their patients to learn meditation
to help them to recover from stress, emotional difficulties and some sicknesses.
Most people are looking outside themselves into the external world as the source
of their happiness or problems. Buddhist meditation practice gives inner peace
and happiness which we cannot find anywhere outside of us. True meditation
helps you to get rid of your tension and stress and find inner reconciliation of
your life. It teaches you how to cultivate a positive attitude towards your
life and all of its experiences. A disciplined practice of meditation improves
your memory, transcends emotional instabilities and you will become tolerant and
more caring towards others. Meditation provides self-confidence and instils a
touch of dignity and sacredness to your life. Life is full and wholesome in
itself if you know how to subdue your emotions and be happy with the way things
are. It needs not to be a struggle. There is no happiness in possessing wealth
and fame if you have no contentment and appreciation of the things you have.
Through meditation you can get rid of negative habits and resolve to develop a
more wholesome and peaceful and tolerant way of life. The happiness and inner
contentment you find from meditation can not be bought from anyone else, but you
must learn under a proper guidance. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Rejuvenation of Life: A Comprehensive Buddhist Retreat
June Long Weekend Retreat
with Ven. Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Choedak
The students of Sakya Tharpa Ling of Sydney and Sakya Losal Choe Dzong Centres
are organizing a combined residential retreat. Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche and Lama
Choedak will jointly conduct a comprehensive Buddhist Meditation retreat at the
Bahai School at Yerrinbool. It is an excellent venue with all the facilities
you can ask for where many Buddhist retreats have been conducted. You need to
bring your own sheets and sleeping bag although they do provide blankets. There
is a play area for children so let us know if you require childminding for a
small fee. Our centre's official chef, Susie Servante has kindly agreed to come
and cook for the retreat. The Retreat starts with an introductory session at
8.00pm on Friday night and finishes at 3.00pm Monday.
If we reflect on ourselves and regress what we have been doing so far in our
lives, we do not have much to show except some memories. We are still
struggling as much as we had began with as if nothing had been achieved. The
fleetingness of life is hard to notice when we try to catch up the pace when we
subscribe to the political, social and economical infrastucture of this illusory
world. The more we try to be successful in our career and relationships the less
we seem to live a life of our own. It appears as we have been blown away by a
storm this far without having any control over our lives and what we do with it.
If we look in the mirror, we notice from our faces how wearied and aged we
already are. People go away for holidays in the island but rarely find
happiness and come back dissappointed. Happiness does not come from what we
want; it derives from accepting what we are engaged in doing. A calm,
peaceful, mindful and patience mind can only enable us to see these things
clearly. Our upbringing has rarely taught us these fundamentals of life and it
looks as if we have been provoked to be greedy, materialistic and selfish. The
logical and rational Buddhist philosophy, meditation and way of life can help
you come to realize and develop a self-discipline to overcome these
negativities.
Cost: $ 110 members and concession
$150 general public
Venue: Bahai School Yerrinbool
Date: Friday 5 - Monday 8 June 1992
Enquiries:
Lama Choedak, Sakya Losal Choe Dzong, Canberra, Ph. (06) 292 8150
Jane Miknius, Co-ordinator Sakya Tharpa Ling, Sydney Ph. (02) 818 3695
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