Contents
- Some Words From Our Kind Teacher
- Long Life Prayer and Mantra Drive
- 2009 Spring Retreat: Register Now
- 2009 Summer Retreat: Register Now
- 2009 Three-Month Dzogchen Lineage Internship Retreat
- 2009 Fundraising Update
- Bookkeeping Volunteer Request
- Forward this Newsletter to a Friend
- About Us (subscribe and unsubscribe)
Back To Top
Some Words From Our Kind Teacher
H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche on the throne at the DRC
on His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's birthday, July 6, 2008
We are pleased to share a pair of “dohas” from Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. Dohas are spontaneously uttered songs, poems, or teachings from enlightened masters such as the Indian Mahasiddhas. While sometimes short in length, dohas can serve as pith instructions conveying essential truths directly from an enlightened master to his or her students. These dohas were delivered during the first ever six-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship, a program that ran from July 4, 2008 to January 4, 2009.
“Because all phenomena is empty, I cannot cling.
Because I cannot cling, all phenomena is empty.
Because emptiness appears as phenomena,
all phenomena is interdependent origination.
Because all phenomena is interdependent origination,
emptiness appears as phenomena.”
— A doha delivered by Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche on November 23, 2008
“On one cushion,
one person,
at one time,
can practice all of Buddha’s teachings.”
— A doha delivered by Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche on November 24, 2008
Back To Top
Long Life Prayer Request and Mantra Drive
As all of Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche’s students know, Khenpo works tirelessly for the Dharma, his students, and all beings. He is continuously traveling, joyously teaching, and doing Dharma activities, all while coordinating the activities of Dzogchen sanghas around the world.
Constant travel, exposure to challenging conditions, and vigorous workload can have adverse consequences on one’s physical health. To antidote this, we are announcing a Long Life Prayer Request and the Mantra Accumulation drive to remove any potential obstacles for Khenpo’s health and ensure his long life and the complete fulfillment of his aspirations.
Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche teaching
at the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA on September 23, 2008
After leading and successfully completing the first six-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship retreat, with his leadership of the upcoming Dzogchen Lineage Internship 2009, and with his international teaching tour this year, it is imperative that we come together as a sangha to pray for Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche’s long life and the success of his Dharma activities.
How you can help:
ONE:
Recite the “Prayer for the Longevity of Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche” and the “Prayer for the Dharma activities of Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche” as often as possible in personal and group practice. To download the PDFs, visit:
Download Prayer for Khenpo's Long Life (161 KB PDF)
Download Prayer for Khenpo's Dharma Activities (135 KB PDF)
TWO:
Contribute to the recitation of one million Guru Rinpoche mantras and one million Tara Mantras:
Guru Rinpoche Mantra:
OM AH HUNG BADZRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG
Tara Mantra:
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SWAHA
Please send your mantra pledges and confirmation of mantra accumulations to Padma Wongmo at:
sukhajnana@gmail.com
Back To Top
Spring Retreat is Here
Last Chance to Register for the Dzogchen Spring Retreat
Saturday, April 11 through Saturday, April 18, 2009
Mystical Views surrounding the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA in late October 2008
Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Dzogchen Spring Retreat with teachings and trainings on The Buddha Path starting on Saturday, April 11, 2009 and ending on Saturday, April 18, 2009. At the request and with the authorization of His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, the retreat will be taught by several of his senior students while he is teaching overseas. The retreat will include in-depth and direct teachings on the sacred text The Buddha Path, the Buddhist fundamentals, and will include many practices including mantra recitation, reciting sacred text, visualizations, music making, light offerings, and food offerings.
The teachings will be given at the beautiful Dzogchen Retreat Center USA. Seating is limited, so please register early at: www.dzogchenlineage.org/springretreat
Register NOW
Registration for this special event will be opening soon and space will be limited. For more information about the Summer Retreat, please contact:
John Sullard, Director, Dzogchen Spring Retreat
Email: johnsullard@gmail.com
619-817-8255 - Dzogchen Retreat Center
If you have trouble reaching John, you may also contact:
Anthony Culver, Assistant Director, Dzogchen Spring Retreat
Email: wisdombuddha48@hotmail.com
720-530-3959
Dzogchen Spring Retreat site: www.dzogchenlineage.org/springretreat
Back To Top
Dates Finalized for the Summer Retreat
Register NOW for the Dzogchen Summer Retreat
Saturday, June 6 through Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Dzogchen Summer Retreatants
at the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA on July 12, 2008
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation is pleased to announce that Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche will guide the 7th annual Dzogchen Summer Retreat. This summer's retreat will have a unique format with two weeks of teaching and training on The Buddha Path, and a third week of work practice.
The first week of the retreat will consist of Buddha's traditional teachings on the foundations of Buddhism. These teachings will be conveyed by individuals selected by Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche from among the Bodhisattvas of the Dzogchen Lineage, the graduates of our 6-month Internship.
Week two will be taught by Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, whose teachings will build upon on the foundation taught during week one.
The third week will be focused on service to the retreat center in preparation for the 3-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship. There will be group practices every morning and evening and work practice during the day. Private practice retreats are possible during the third week as well. Contact the Retreat Director for details. Rinpoche is likely to be available to give some teachings and guidance to retreatants during the third week.
Register NOW
Registration is open until May 30, 2009. However, space is limited so you are encouraged to register as soon as possible to ensure your reservation at: www.dzogchenlineage.org/summerretreat
After you have completed the online form the Retreat Director will contact you to confirm your acceptance into the retreat.
For more information:
William Ivanoff, Director, Dzogchen Summer Retreat
Email: william.ivanoff@gmail.com
541-337-6256
If you have trouble reaching William, you may also contact:
Kunzang, Assistant Director, Dzogchen Summer Retreat
Email: kunzang108@gmail.com
619-817-8255 - Dzogchen Retreat Center
Dzogchen Summer Retreat Site: www.dzogchenlineage.org/summerretreat
Back To Top
Dzogchen Lineage Internship Update
Registration is now OPEN for
the three-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship 2009
Sunday June 28, 2009 through Sunday, September 28, 2009
H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche and Dzogchen Geydak Rinpoche with the staff and 43 graduates of the first 6-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship on January 3, 2009
Registration is open for the Dzogchen Lineage Internship 2009, a three-month Dharma training retreat at the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA. Under the daily guidance of H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, students will observe a full-time schedule of practice and study based on the traditions of the great Buddhist universities of ancient India and Tibet. This program will help students deepen their understanding and enhance their ability to clearly teach others. Space is filling up quickly, so apply soon.
Internship Overview and Online Application
Please visit the website for all the details about and registration for this year's internship: www.dzogchenlineage.org/internship
Fees
The low fees for the retreat, subsidized by donors, have a built-in scholarship. For the benefit of participating students, the internship fees have been minimized to our projected expenses to operate the retreat so that the maximum number of interested students may attend. Instruction is provided free of cost. Donations to the teacher are optional, but encouraged. Food and lodging are included in the fees charged for the internship. Students must support themselves financially during the internship and are expected to cover the costs of their health care and any personal necessities such as the purchase in advance of the books listed on the website.
Cost of the Three-Month Internship:
$3,500 USD if paid by May 1, 2009
$4,000 USD if paid by June 15, 2009
$4,500 USD if paid by June 28, 2009
In order to encourage young people to attend this internship, an additional discount of 10% will be offered to students in need who are 25 years of age or younger.
If you have a sincere intention to participate, but have time or resource restrictions, you may contact the Internship Director to discuss other possible options. We are also seeking donors to help provide financial aid. Please contact the Internship Director if you would like to contribute or volunteer.
Internship Sponsors and Volunteers Urgently Needed
The Internship Committee is seeking sponsors to financially support interns and the operation of the internship program.
For more information:
Hazlitt Krog, Internship Director, Dzogchen Lineage Internship 2009
hazlitt@gmail.com
415-846-3618
Dzogchen Lineage Internship site: www.dzogchenlineage.org/internship
Back To Top
2009 Fundraising Update
Help Save the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA
As we prepare for the start of our three-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship 2009, we also will simultaneously reach the milestone of our next installment payment for the land of $112,000.
In order to finish what we’ve started and fulfill the aspirations for one more great year in our lineage, we all need to come together to raise the financial resources to accomplish our goals.
The picturesque Mandala Garden framed by a rainbow and fall colors
at the Dzogchen Retreat Center USA on October 4, 2008
Please help us save this sacred land for future generations of Dharma practitioners by contributing funds toward our next installment of $112,000 by July 1, 2009. This crucial payment will enable us to finally place the deed in the name of the Foundation.
To donate, send a check to:
Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA
1400 Colorado Street, Suite C
Boulder City, Nevada 89005
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
The 200 Sanghas Initiative
If over the next three months, each one of the Dzogchen Shri Singha International sanghas raised $500 USD or more, we would come very close to reaching our $112,000 goal for this year. Please spread the word amongst your local sanghas and contact Sean Young (contact information below).
Fundraising Volunteers
The Fundraising Committee is actively seeking volunteers to help us secure the financial resources to ensure the proper transmission of the Dzogchen Lineage teachings in the west.
Circle of Compassion
If you prefer to make ongoing monthly contributions to support the Foundation, you can do so automatically by enrolling in the Circle of Compassion: www.dzogchenlineage.org/giving. Your gift of as little as $1 per day makes a huge difference in helping us meet our operating expenses and land payments. For example, if this very month, only 290 additional people signed up for the Circle of Compassion at $1 per day and continued to give for the next 15 months, we would have enough money on hand to pay off our final balloon payment when it comes due in July 2010.
For other ways to help, please contact Sean as soon as possible.
Sean Young, Publicity Director, Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation
seandavidyoung@gmail.com
208-412-2582
Back To Top
Bookkeeping Volunteer Request
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation is seeking a volunteer bookkeeper from within the Sangha. Some compensation is possible. The candidate needs to have some financial background as a bookkeeper and/or accountant and to be skilled in software such as QuickBooks. Real world business experience as a bookkeeper is a big plus.
If you are interested, or have potential leads, please contact:
Hazlitt Krog, Secretary, Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation
hazlitt@gmail.com
415-846-3618
