Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia

We were delighted to hear from Venerable Losang's dear friend - and now ours as well - Ven. Narkyid Ngawangthondup - who will be arriving in Philadelphia on July 3rd to participate in the upcoming March for Tibetan Independence.  This march will begin with a demonstration at Independence Hall (6th and Chestnut Streets) and will continue all the way to Washington, D.C., where they plan to arrive on July 13th.  Please see our calendar for more details and links.  Click here to view his visit with and talk to us on May 9, 2010, and here, to see images from that Sunday morning.  Click here to read about the July 4th march for Tibet's liberation and independence.

His message to us in part -

Today (July 1), I would like to inform you that I will be in Philadelphia on the afternoon of the 3rd of July ... on July 4th, I will also be joining in the Independence march that will begin at the Liberty Bell. ...

As I mentioned before, Tibet never was part of China and Chinese government has not presented any logical evidence and proof that Tibet was ever a part of China. I am moving closer to publishing my booklet in English, with the help of Barbara Montgomery, who helped me on the introduction. I would like to thank everyone for inviting me to speak about the Tibetan cause and also would like to thank everyone for listening to me, despite my broken English. Special thanks ... for taking the wonderful pictures and video. I have also attached a statement that I have prepared for the ceremony of the 2010 Tibetan Independence March on the 4th of July.

With Dharma love,
N.Narkyid

♡  

Statement for the Ceremony of the 2010 Tibetan Independence March on the 4th of July, Independence Day

By Narkyid Ngawangthondup

In June of 2007, I had the great honor and privilege to join Taktser Rimpoche’s last Tibetan Independence March from New York City to Philadelphia.

Today, I am here to honor the memory of Taktser Rimpoche and his great love and determination for Tibet by joining the 2010 Tibetan Independence March from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

Since 2001, I myself have been following our Supreme leader’s policy of the “The Middle Way” approach as well as fully understanding the practical solution under present circumstances and for the long term peace in Tibet and China.

However, we shall not give up our struggle for regaining an Independent Tibet, which was the goal of our respected Taktser Rimpoche.

TBC's Introduction to Buddhism, ten class series will continue this Sunday, May 16th, ~12 noon (right after morning meditation practices).  This week, Senior Student Jeffrey Carr will be talking about the traditions of the Sutrayana, known as the "Causal Vehicle" because it is designed to create in the practitioner the "causes" for enlightenment.  Jeff continues ... "It is comprised of the first two Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma, as expounded by the Buddha.  The first two Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma are the practices and understandings of the Hinayana and those of the Mahayana.  The teachings and practices associated with the Sutrayana will foster the "two accumulations" of Wisdom and Compassion.  Wisdom is the understanding and then the direct realisation of True Reality, which is a progressively more subtle understanding of emptiness of self and other.   This is accompanied by a progressively more subtle understanding and direct experience of Compassion, which is the Mind of Bodhichitta. This is what we will be discussing. Important Stuff!   And close to the very essence of the extraordinarily profound teachings of Buddhism. We'll also do some exploration of meditation practice itself; how you can make a subtle shift in perception from calm abiding meditation (shamatha) to a direct glimpse of the true nature of mind."  These classes are open to all, and can be taken individually. A $12 donation is requested, but never required.  Please join us if you can!  Next week, May 23rd, our series continues led by Floyd Platton, entitled "The Mahayana Path: awakening on the level of the heart.  We will post more about this on our weblog, or you can also check our Teachings and Events and Calendar pages right here on the site.  Thank you.

On Sunday, May 9, at our regular morning meditation practice, it will be our privilege to welcome and host a most honored guest, from India, Venerable Narkyid Ngawang Thondup. Mr. Thondup is the principle biographer of His Holiness The 13th Dalai Lama, and served in the Tibetan Cabinet prior to the Chinese invasion.  Losang has extended a request to all our friends to please come and offer a warm welcome. The requested donation is $15, and we will start at our usual time of 10 am. You can read a couple of neat articles about Mr. Thondup's recently published biography, The Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama, by clicking here, and here.  (Here also is another neat link that appeared in the course of doing research for this entry.)  Why not bring your mother for Mother's Day?

This coming Sunday, May 2nd, Losang Rinpoche will begin his series of teachings on the Six Yogas of Naropa, a set of advanced Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices. For further reading, feel free to check out The Six Yogas of Naropa, by Glen Mullin published by Snow Lion. This first of six classes on the subject will address the Yoga of Inner Heat. The Yoga of Inner Heat (Tummo) employs the meditations on Five Pranas of the body. It includes meditation on fire; some Tibetan Yogis have mastered this method and demonstrated its power by perspiring heavily in very cold regions. Losang will also lead Vajrasattva Practice, which has the purpose of purifying obscurations and removing hinderances on the path to enlightenment. Also, don't forget to bring something to draw with, and something to draw on (paper, for example), as we will be learning how to write the Tibetan characters for Om, Ah and Hung.  (We've got extra paper and pencils just in case.)

The Capital Campaign: It's On! We're only a few weeks in so far, but you are responding - thank you!  And please continue!  For those who are new to our center, we are committed to finding a space, a home, that we can truly call our own.  Why?  For oodles of reasons!... So that our center can truly be a community center and a home to our community, where people can really come and spend time with the dharma and with our sangha....  So that we can offer an even greater breadth and variety of teachings, events, programs and guest speakers, and, so important, to honor our most precious teacher, Losang Rinpoche. And, what goes in the Capital Campaign - Stays in the Capital Campaign.  Your contributions will not be used for any other purpose!  Please understand also, we are grateful for any offering at all, truly.  However, if you are able to offer $50 or more towards our new home, we will give you a free set of prayer flags, for yours.  Are you visualizing it yet?  If you would like to make a contribution - of any amount - click here to link to our new Capital Campaign page on our TBC website.  We are truly grateful for all of our friends.

Please join us for our 10 class "Introduction to Buddhism" series, continuing on designated Sundays through June, starting around 12:15 pm following our Sunday meditation practice.  This course, led by our senior teachers, follows three basic divisions: the Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana Paths. The suggested offering: $100 for the entire course (if paying in advance), or, $12 per class.  Don't worry though - no one is ever turned away from the Dharma for inability to pay.  The approximately one-hour classes will be held on the following dates: February 28, March 21,  28, April 4, 18, May 2, 16, 23, June 6, 20.  Each class addresses a new subject, so taking the entire series is not required.  Please be in touch with Floyd Platton  (floyd.pema@gmail.com)  Click here to see the full schedule on our website, and here to see our recommended reading list.