Mon, 25 May 2009
Retreat News
Memorial Day weekend always marks the beginning of the Spring Retreat at the Tibetan Meditation Center. I hadn't been up there in a while and the center has been repainted since I was there last center. Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen, who founded the center, was there and was teaching on a text he had composed: "Permissions and Prohibitions: Their Mode of Abiding." He explained that the title came from Buddha's famous dictum, "Cease to do evil, learn to do good, purify the mind." I sat next to Luther during the morning, who was Twittering Khechen's talks. I was taking notes on my new nettop and they'll see the light of day one way or another. During the afternoon Khenpo Tsultrim taught on a text by Phagmodrupa. The text is similar to Jewel Ornament of Liberation, but simpler and more pragmatic, sort of like the relationship between the Path of Purification and the Path of Liberation. Terry was the man of the hour, as he had translated both Khenchen's text and Phagmodrupa's. I spoke with Lama Gyaltsen and found out that his visa problems have been cleared up and he's on track for a green card. Ani Trinlay was at the retreat and led today's discussion session. It was pleasnt to be back in a class with her, though I'm afraid I made my points too forcefully. It's getting late (for me) so I'll wind things up. Tomorrow I take off my Drikung hat and put on my Karma Kamtsang hat. It's back to Lama Phurbu Tashi. I'm definitely on lama overload this week.
