News From White Conch Dharma Center

Precious Gems
from Domo Geshe Rinpoche

The Newsletter of White Conch Dharma Center

August 30, 2008 - Vol 1, Issue 1

Have you been longing to develop Great Compassion?

Many people want to know how to develop great compassion. There are few methods more powerful than the Seven Point Mind Training taught in Tibet by Geshe Chekawa. These compasison trainings are so healing that many lepers in Tibet healed when practicing the methods of Geshe Chekawa.

We are happy to announce that the teachings from last summer retreat have been released (with the exceptions of those that require empowerment).

The five days of teachings of Seven Point Mind Training (session 1) are available as a bundle, as are the five days of teachings on Unfolding the Mystery of Emptiness and Love (session 2.)

Rinpoche also gave an introductory seminar on the Seven Point Mind training called Developing Compassion. We highly recommend listening to Developing Compassion as a preparation for the subsequent teachings on the Seven Point Mind Training. Information on ordering these teachings is below:

Developing Compassion May 5, 2007 CD and MP3

Seven Point Mind Training July-Aug, 2007 CD and MP3

Unfolding the Mystery of Emptiness and Love, Aug 2007 CD and MP3

More teachings by Domo Geshe Rinpoche

White Conch Calendar

White Conch Dharma Center website

Announcements

Announcement: The autumn Introduction to Chod retreat is canceled. This retreat will be rescheduled in 2009.

This week's Precious Gem

Once you put salt into water, it does not have choices whether it is going to be salty water or not. It definitely will arise as salty water. Like that, you are currently in a form that you cannot help being. You wish to be different than you are. In fact, many people pretend to be different than they are, but they still can not help being them. The Buddhist path is to give you methods to help you genuinely change so that you can not help being an enlightened being.

Domo Geshe Rinpoche Aug 2, 2007
Seven Point Mind Training: Applying the Five Forces

White Conch welcomes Namkha Rinpoche

White Conch Dharma Center is delighted to sponsor the visit of Namkha Rinpoche to Chicago Sep 11-15, 2008. Namkha Rinpoche, a master of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, will be bestowing Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) empowerment at a special retreat (Sep 12-14).

Students of White Conch are encouraged to attend. Southwest Airlines, often the least expensive option, flies directly into Chicago Midway airport from many areas of White Conch. Register for the retreat here. More details will be forthcoming. For more information, contact Ngakmo Tsering.

Namkha Rinpoche will also be engaged in fund raising for humanitarian projects at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. White Conch is pleased to support these humanitarian efforts (education, health care, elder care) to aid Tibetans in Tibet and in India, and also to support the Buddhadharma (such as rebuilding monasteries that were destroyed, and providing a safe location for Tibetan nuns escaping out of Tibet into exile.)

A special evening of cultural entertainment, a silent auction and a teaching from Namkha Rinpoche will be held at East Meets West on 2118 W. Lawrence Ave. in Chicago, IL Entertainment begins at at 6:30 pm; teaching begins at 7:30 pm.

How to Help:
For those who cannot attend the retreat or fund raising events, but wish to contribute to these efforts, please send donations (of any size). Small donations add up, especially in poor countries. Help us and spread the word to your friends and neighbors to support this very worthy effort.

Checks should be made out to Golden Bridge for Tibet (a 501c3 not for profit organization) and mailed to Tsering at:

1063 Waterford Rd., Bartlett, IL 60103

Ordinations and candidates

The desire to express lifelong commitment to one's spiritual practice through the taking of vows is a very joyous occasion. On August 9th, White Conch celebrated three ordinations.

Receiving monastic ordination was Ngawang Gema (formerly known as Kipu).

Receiving ngakphang ordination was: Ngakmo Tsering and Ngakmo Rinchen Dawa (aka Ngakmo Rinda)

During summer retreat, Dorje Lhakpa (from NM), formally requested monastic vows and was accepted as a candidate. Dorje Lhakpa now enters a year's candidacy where she will explore the monastic vows and lifestyle.

We wish the new ordained and candidates much joy. You may send them your congratulations and good wishes by clicking on their names.

Save the Date (for winter retreat)

Winter retreat will again be held at the Madonna Retreat Center in Albuquerque, NM. Winter retreat this year is being held from Dec 27, 2008 - Jan 4, 2009.

For the first time in many years, Rinpoche will be giving Vajrayogini empowerment.

In accordance with White Conch tradition, we will join in Prayers for World Peace as we welcome the New Year during retreat.

The powerful messages of the dharma speak for themselves. Share the dharma by forwarding these Precious Gems to your friends and family.

May there be a rain of dharma,
Your Precious Gems team: Ngawang Thekchen & Jim Clark

White Conch Dharma Center

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