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Precious Gems from Domo Geshe Rinpoche
The Newsletter of White Conch Dharma Center
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Preparing for the End-of-Life
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Oct 13 2008 |
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Je Tsongkhapa
White Conch offers a monthly opportunity to join in the Ganden Lhagyama, The Hundred Deities of the Land of Joy, the sadhana of Je Tsongkhapa, founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. Join via conference call on the first Sunday of every month at: 5pm Pacific Time
6pm Mountain Time
7pm Central Time
8pm Eastern Time
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Quick Links
Save the Date:
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Some of Domo Geshe Rinpoche's teachings on end-of-life:
Other teachings by Rinpoche are available here.
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The Dharma is Free
Unfortunately, the programs of White Conch require ongoing funding. Please support White Conch programs, including the important hospice project. We are also establishing a scholarship fund for those whose financial struggles make it difficult to attend retreats and trainings. White Conch is a 501c3 organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible in the US. Donations may be mailed: White Conch Dharma Center PO Box 14372 West Allis, WI 53214
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Precious Gem
In Buddhism, we take a larger view of the human
life process, not from the point of view of the physical being. We see a kind
of continuity of a different sort that is dependent on the need to enter a
perceptual realm (such as the human realm), or other realms (such as the heaven
realms) or other form realms to heal and grow. These karmic worlds or places,
such as this world, where living beings act out and experience events and
energetic dynamics with others are not conscious choices by that being, but are
dictated by a pent up need to have energetic closure. This means you, too. This
energetic closure feeds a dynamic that relates to preparation for a becoming (i.e.,
enlightenment) that all living beings will need to accomplish.
Domo Geshe Rinpoche, May 16, 2008 The Joy of Caring for Others at the End-of-Life. Available in CD or MP3
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Grand Transitions Institute and Hospice: Training Program for Hospice Workers
Designed for hospice workers and others who are interested in trainings
for end-of-life as either a caregiver, or proactive preparation for one's own
end-of-life.
Grand Transitions Institute is offering a training program in hospice
care, which may culminate in certification at each level of the training if the
student demonstrates accomplishment of the objectives of that level.
This specialized training is intended for enhancing conventional hospice
care by preparing hospice workers (professional and volunteer) who want to
increase their skills in providing a careful spiritual environment,as
well as a dynamic fresh approach based on Buddhist principles.
This training will be directed by Domo Geshe Rinpoche, a Western
reincarnate lama in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and is based on Buddhist
approaches to compassionate care at end-of life. However, the training is
appropriate for individuals of many spiritual paths. Although techniques will be
taught, this program goes beyond mere techniques, and is intended to guide the
student to transform into the one who is increasingly capable of providing the
highest quality of spiritual support. This includes overcoming one's own fear
of death in order to live more fully and to be prepared for one's own grand
transition.
According to Tibetan Buddhism, passing from this world is viewed as an
opportunity to accomplish great spiritual advancement. Like an Olympic skater
who trains for years in preparation for the one chance to perform at his or her
peak of skill, preparation for end of life allows one to enter into that new
stage awake and alert. Each person deserves an elegant passing.
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Our Prayers are with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
As many of you may know, His Holiness has been hospitalized for stomach pain at least twice in the past month. This past Friday His Holiness underwent successful surgery to remove gall stones. That evening at the end of the Medicine Buddha Empowerment, and again on Saturday at the end of Hospice Training, we offered the Long Life Prayer of His Holiness. We continue to pray for his swift, uneventful recovery. We invite you to join us in offering His Holiness' long life prayer. It is traditionally repeated three times each time it is offered. In the pure land by snow mountains surrounded
Tendzin Gyatso, Great Lord of all Compassion
You are the source of bliss and aid unbounded
Remain, we pray, that all might be awakened
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Grand Transitions Institute and Hospice; First training session held.
On Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a group of students attended the first modules of Level 1 training for hospice workers. This group of people, including a physician, nurses, supervisors, experienced hospice workers, volunteers, future volunteers, and ordinary folks who want to prepare for their own future grand transition, gathered and began a journey of great importance. Taking the first steps towards becoming the one who can care for others at the end of life, each person left with a greater understanding of the hospice patient and a deepened commitment to develop the kind of transformative inner patience needed to be an effective caregiver, and also to become the one who can eventually care for all living beings.
We plan to offer this training soon in Wisconsin. Watch for announcements in the coming weeks. If you are interested in being placed on a list to be notified of training dates as they are released, please send your contact information, including e-mail address, here.
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Overview of the Grand Transitions Hospice Training Program:
Level 1: Prepares one in the basics of establishing the
environment supportive of the patient, and energetically interacting with the
person who is passing. Who is this
person and what process are they engaged in? Training will focus on learning to be energetically
quiet, and developing or increasing patience.
Level 2: Beginning training in the transformative
compassion practices. What is your relationship to all living beings? Develop the correct view of compassion, which
is not sentimental, but allows you to hold all living beings dear. Deepen awareness of patience and inner quiet
that was started in Level 1. Receive the practice of the Medicine Buddha.
Level 3: Training in overcoming your personal
intellectual fear of death; deepening in the understanding and practice of
patience and correct compassion. This
level includes preparation for level 4. Before
one can engage in the end-of-life yogas (i.e., the inner energetic practices at
the time of passing) one must become the one capable of undertaking them.
Level 4: Training
includes: Overcoming your innate fear of death; overcoming the obstacles that
arise to achieving a correct view of compassion; deepening all previous training; training for one's own end-of-life while still
healthy (i.e., the end-of-life inner yogas.)
Exercises included in the
training program:
Taught
in all levels-
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Prayers
to meditate on in order to benefit the end-of-life care receiver.
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Exercises
to quiet the mind of the caregiver.
Taught
in level 2
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White
Tara practice or (other long life practice appropriate within the spiritual
tradition of the student) for the caregiver. In giving care to others,
sometimes one's own basic life energy is accessed and drained and this can lead
to disease and physical complications. Regularly engaging in long life practice
restores this basic life energy.
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Midwest teachings
Evening teachings in the coming week:
Multidimensional Being: An Owner's Manual on Oct 16 from 7-8:30pm CDT in Bartlett, IL
Life is Illusory, But the Lessons are Real on Oct 17 from 7-8:30pm in Normal. IL
Half-Day Seminars in the coming week:
Taking all Beings to Heart (Tonglen) on Oct 18 from 10am-1pm in Normal, IL
Elevating Consciousness: Understanding the Heart-Mind on Oct 19 from 2-5pm in Downer's Grove, IL
See flyer for addresses and details.
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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
Ngawang Thekchen
White Conch Dharma Center
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Like an Olympic skater who trains for years in preparation for the one
chance to perform at his or her peak of skill, preparation for end-of-life
allows one to enter into that new stage awake and alert. Each person deserves
an elegant passing.~ Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~
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