Newsletter No. 17 - April 2005

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TASHI DELEK! From the Trustees
TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
 
WELCOME to the latest newsletter from the STL.
We open with an e-mail recently sent to us by our dear Lama Lekshey …..
 

“Although I would like to write more for the newsletter, I do not have the time as I am quite busy right now up here in Darjeeling. My visit could be in May. I will give you the exact date when I get back home at the beginning of next month.

Anyway, I will teach on the “Bodhisatocarya Avatara”* See you soon. My love to all of you. Lama Lekshey, Darjeeling, 10 March 2005.”

*Shantideva’s “Bodhisattva’s Way of Life”).

(At the time of printing, we still do not have a date for Lama-la’s visit. As soon as we have this, we will let you know. Also please check out our Web site for details in due course.)

CENTRE VOLUNTEER DAY

As the Centre approaches it’s first anniversary since opening last year, we will be holding another cleaning and meeting day. This will be on Sunday, 1st May 2005, 10.00-3.30 p.m., followed by an open meeting so that members can be given an up-date on activities at the Centre and have an opportunity to discuss any future plans for the STL. Everyone welcome.

MEDITATION AFTERNOON

On Sunday, 8th May 2005, we will be holding a Meditation afternoon from 2.00-4.00 p.m. led by our Trustee, Liz Elwick. Please come along, we look forward to seeing as many as possible of you with us on that day.

THE DHARMA WHEEL

It is proposed to add two Deer to the Dharma Wheel on the gable end of the Centre. Correct practice is for the Wheel and Deer to be donated rather than paid for by the Centre. Peter Naylor originally made and donated the Wheel (he also made the prayer tables). The costs involved in making the Deer is likely to be £200 and if you would like to make a donation to help towards the costs, please contact one of the Trustees. Thank you.

LONG LIFE CEREMONY FOR HIS HOLINESS SAKYA TRIZIN,
RAJPUR, INDIA 30 DECEMBER 2004

In our last newsletter, we told you that the STL would be represented at the above ceremony by our Trustees Liz Elwick, Richard Sedgley and his wife Sue. A separate page containing a report of their experiences accompanies this newsletter. A video / dvd recording some of the events will be available to borrow from the Centre library very soon. Click here to view report.


PROGRAMME FOR APRIL / MA Y / JUNE 2005

SUNDAYS 18.00-19.30
INTRODUCTORY BUDDHIST
TEACHINGS AND MEDITATION
EVERYONE WELCOME

TUESDAYS 19.30-21.00
GREEN TARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

WEDNESDAYS 19.30-21.00
INTRODUCTORY BUDDHIST
TEACHINGS AND MEDITATION
EVERYONE WELCOME

THURSDAYS 09.30-11.00
MEDITATION
EVERYONE WELCOME

THURSDAY 14 APRIL 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 28 APRIL 2005
19.30-21.00
MANJUSHRI SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 5 MAY 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 12 MAY 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 19 MAY 2005
19.30-21.00
MANJUSHRI SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 26 MAY 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 2 JUNE 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 9 JUNE 2005
19.30-21.00
MANJUSHRI SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 16 JUNE 2005
19.30-21.00
AVALOKITESHVARA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

THURSDAY 23 JUNE 2005
19.30-21.00
MEDICINE BUDDHA SADHANA
INITIATED MEMBERS ONLY

SUGGESTED DONATION: £5
CONCESSIONS: £2.50

The Sakya Thubten Ling celebrated Losar or the Tibetan
New Year Festival on the New Moon of 9th February 2005.

We were fortunate to have Dolma, Kadun and Pembadolma to guide us on traditional practices. We all wore our best clothes to show respect and some students wore chupas (traditional Tibetan dresses ) which made a very colourful display.

The Shrine was completely cleaned and offerings made by everyone.  A Mandala offering was made with rice and gemstones and we all sang the Mandala Offering prayer and the prayer to the Sakya Masters.

A prayer was also sung by Dolma, Kadun and Pembadolma.  They had a tricky moment when someone either forgot the words or was singing different ones! This caused much hilarity amongst them and made the general atmosphere light and happy.  Dolma recounted this incident to Lama Thubten later on the phone and he thought it was hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing.  He also sends his love to us all.

After the prayers Dolma, Kadun and Pembadolma who had prepared  day-sey (Tibetan rice) and Kab-say (Tibetan biscuits) offered them to everyone with tea and cake.   It was delicious!

The old prayer flags outside the Centre were taken down and burned and new ones put up to symbolize letting go of the old year and welcoming the new year.

I’m sure everyone enjoyed the evening very much.

Our thanks to Dolma, Kadun and Pembadolma and health and happiness to everyone in the New Year of the Wood Bird.

Prem


For any information on the activities of the Sakya Thubten Ling,
please contact the Trustees:
Vedant White on 01202 300116
Richard Sedgley on 01202 483110
Liz Elwick on 01202 524975 or
Jill Stanley on 01202 423707
Public Relations : Sue Sedgley on 01202 483110

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Newsletter compiled and edited by Maddy Hadley

Patron: His Holiness Sakya Trizen
Founders:  Ven. Lama Thubten Nyima, Ven. Lama Jamyang Lekshey, Edith Drew-Wills