Message for the Sangha

Please Help Us Save the Dzogchen Retreat Center

Dear Precious Sangha,

We kindly request you to help us preserve the Dzogchen Retreat Center in Oregon, USA. As you may know, we entered into a purchase agreement for the Dzogchen Retreat Center property in May 2007. This sacred land, with 160-acres of beautiful forested hills, lush riparian meadows, and dotted with numerous improvements, is our Dharma Base for transmitting the Buddha’s teachings in the West.

Since the summer of 2007 we have completed many Dharma activities, including countless teachings given during 10 successfully completed retreats. Last year was a milestone with the Retreat Center's hosting of the first Six-Month Dzogchen Internship Program which had 43 graduates. This year we are preparing for the second Dzogchen Internship with a three-month retreat program of intensive teaching and training beginning June 28, 2009.

Please visit the schedule page for more information on our upcoming teachings and retreats including the Dzogchen Spring Retreat starting April 11 (register now), the Dzogchen Summer Retreat starting June 6 (register now), and the Dzogchen Internship starting June 28 (register now).

We hope to continue the Dzogchen Internship Program every year for the peace and happiness of all beings. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to study and practice at this retreat center with a teacher as remarkable as His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche.

The Retreat Center is Vital to Our Success

As of today we have collected donations totaling about 78% of the $1,064,000 USD assessed value when we acquired the property. We are very close to holding the deed to this sacred Dzogchen Retreat Land. By June 7th we must be ready to make a balloon payment of $106,000 USD, which will be our final payment to the seller. It is only with your help that we can do this and secure our ownership of the property.

We always have and must continue to rely on the generosity and effort of every individual Sangha member, as we have no particular wealthy patron to cover our expenses to purchase and operate our Dharma Base.

Our precious teacher Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche has suggested that each individual in our Sangha make an effort to raise $1,000. This is our goal, but of course, any amount that can be raised is needed and will be greatly appreciated.

We know that many people are experiencing financial difficulties. The practice of generosity and making offerings with good intention during such a time has much greater merit and has more impact on the world than during times of great prosperity. Therefore, this is a perfect opportunity for you to create good karma while making it possible for future generations to study and practice at the Dzogchen Retreat Center.

There is a story that takes place during a challenging period of famine and drought in India during the Buddha’s time. One man had a single apple. He had a choice to either eat it himself, or offer it to the Sangha. He felt that if he ate it himself it would not be of great benefit and so he faithfully decided to offer it to the Sangha for the happiness of all beings. Buddha asked the man “What is your wish?” The man said, “I want rain to fall on the Earth.”

The Buddha said “Excellent, noble child. Offering a single fruit during this difficult time generates the same merit as offering the entire Earth filled with fruit when the fields are plentiful and the harvests are bountiful. You are a holder of great merit so your aspirations will be fulfilled. By the truth of all Buddhas, Dharmas, and Sanghas along with the power of your merit, your wish will be fulfilled.” Immediately it began to rain and the Earth became green again and blossomed. Soon the generous man became very wealthy and successful.

Please help the Dzogchen Retreat Center directly through your generous donations or through fundraising efforts before May 15, 2009.

The Importance of Generosity, Fundraising, and The Dzogchen Retreat Center

1. In this time of global economic uncertainty, one can find strength in the merit and positive karma of practicing generosity, because generosity is the root of genuine prosperity.
2. It is very good to encourage other people and give them the opportunity to practice generosity because practicing this type of Dharma activity greatly benefits that individual and the whole world.
3. If we don’t have enough money on June 7 to complete the payment, it will be much more difficult for the Sangha to engage in Dharma activities without a retreat center. As a result, providing teachings and preserving the Dzogchen Lineage will be much more difficult.
4. Whether the Dzogchen Retreat Center continues to be successful or not is based on your efforts and generosity. The Dzogchen Retreat Center belongs to each and every member of the Sangha and is for our benefit. Therefore, every individual Sangha member is 100% responsible to maintain this sacred Retreat Center so that Dharma activities flourish throughout the world.

Some Suggested Fundraising Methods

It is very important to joyfully invite your Sangha members, friends, family, other organizations and people with substantial resources to support our fundraising goals.

Generate Proceeds by Using Your Voice:

1. Give Dharma teachings and offer any donations collected to the Retreat Center.
2. Talk to people with access to substantial resources and ask for support.
3. Coordinate with local Sangha and ask them for support.

Generate Proceeds from Sales:

1. Organize a garage or yard sale.
2. Hold a bake sale.
3. Sell clothing at a flea market.
4. Hold a used book sale.
5. Sell Dzogchen Incense.
6. Host eBay auctions.
7. Sell Dharma notebooks, t-shirts or other items.

Generate Proceeds from Events:

1. Organize a fundraising dinner.
2. Work with a restaurant that will support a non-profit organization by sharing profits.
3. Organize a fundraiser movie night with a Dalai Lama, Tibetan or Dharma movie.
4. Organize fundraising concerts.
5. Organize fundraising music and dance parties.
6. Organize fundraising s ports tournaments.
7. Organize fundraising poetry readings.

Generate Proceeds from Working:

Everyone is capable of supplementing their income towards the benefit of Sangha and all beings. Families may even encourage children and teens to contribute; perhaps by finding opportunities to clean houses, walk dogs, babysit, or through other creative ways to perform fundraising work.

It is only with your help that we make the payment of  $106,000 USD due June 7, 2009. Thank you for your time and for everything you do to help us fulfill our mission of preserving the Dzogchen Lineage and increasing world peace.

How You Can Contribute

We appreciate your kind generosity to the Dzogchen Retreat Center Project. Contributions of any amount are welcome. Your donations are tax-deductible.

The founding organization of the Dzogchen Retreat Center Project is the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA, an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Nevada. Every member of the board of directors of the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation works on an entirely volunteer basis. They receive no compensation for their efforts. One hundred percent of your dedicated contributions go to the establishment and maintenance of the Dzogchen Retreat Center.

Your donations are tax-deductible. We will offer receipts and written acknowledgment for any donation for which we can identify the donor. Your name and personal information will not be sold or shared with any other group or organization. Anonymous donations will remain confidential.

You can make cash donations by check, credit card, money order, bank transfer, direct deposit, PayPal or other financial instrument. Financial donations should be made payable to: Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA. Please specify in the memo area of your check: “For Dzogchen Retreat Center Project.”

Contributions can be mailed to:

Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA
1400 Colorado Street Suite C
Boulder City, Nevada 89005-2485
Phone: 702-343-5833
Email: drc@dzogchenlineage.org

Electronic Donations can be made online at: www.dzogchenlineage.org/giving

Further Guidance for Contributing

There are many other ways you can support this project:

1. Donation of real property
2. Planned giving (bequests)
3. Donation of securities in the form of stocks, bonds and/or mutual funds
4. Borrowing against existing financial equity and donating the proceeds to the project
5. Making an interest-free loan to the project
6. Making a monthly or annual pledge
7. Volunteering skills
8. Telling a friend
9. Making useful suggestions
10. Offering Prayers

If you have any questions regarding how you can contribute, please contact me or anyone on the Fundraising Committee of the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA. Watch your inbox for regular updates from us on our progress over the next few weeks leading up to our deadline.

Sincerely,

John Sullard
President, The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation
619-817-8255 - at the Dzogchen Retreat Center
702-768-9929 - mobile phone
drc@dzogchenlineage.org
www.DzogchenLineage.org

 

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About Us

DSSF, the Dzogchen Lineage's North American organization, publishes occasional email newsletters and announcements. It is located at:

Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation USA, Inc.
1400 Colorado Street, Suite C
Boulder City, Nevada 89005-2485

The volunteer staff of this special announcement issue of the Dzogchen Lineage News include:

Hazlitt Krog, Publisher / Photographer / Editor
Sean David Young, Principle Writer / Editor
Ellen Klowden, Proofreader / Editor
...and other contributors as may be mentioned above.

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