Current News

November 16, 2009

Greetings from Milarepa Center

We are keeping warm this fall with many wonderful teachings, daylong meditations, pujas, practices and cups of tea. Ven. Amy led a great group through a weekend exploration of death and rebirth at the end of October. One participant reported:

The Death and Rebirth weekend offered an opportunity to expand our understanding of how important the teachings on death and impermanence are to the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. Through meditation, instruction, and lively conversations about the beliefs and habits of our daily lives, Venerable Amy illustrated how the teachings offer opportunities for insight into our behavior and habits of mind. As well, she gave detailed teachings on the stages of death and rebirth. The core principle of the weekend? Death is always at hand, and most of us are not ready. After receiving these teachings, we have a road map for beginning this important work and deepening our practice.

We are looking forward to the November 26-29 (Thanksgiving Weekend) Nyung Ne retreat. Nyung Ne is a powerful purification practice with Chenrezig (the Buddha of Compassion) at the center. There are periods of fasting, prostration, silence and meditation as one purifies a great deal of negative karma and creates extensive merit. This retreat is an excellent training in great compassion, and is highly recommended and practiced by our teachers. There is still time to register for this program, so please contact us here at the center to participate and purify!

The month of December will be a very joyous time at Milarepa Center. Geshe Gelek of Kapampa Center in North Carolina will be spending a few precious weeks with us. Geshe-la trained at Sera Jey Monastery and Gyume Tantric College in India and received their highest degrees before agreeing to come to the United States and share his knowledge with Westerners.  

December 4-6

Awakening Enlightenment: Cultivating the Good Heart
His Holiness the Dalai Lama constantly encourages us to develop both wisdom and compassion, and this weekend can help us on that path. Geshe Gelek will explore the method to develop bodhicitta, the enlightened heart and mind which cherishes others more than ourselves.

December 8

Karma and Emptiness: the Definitive Presentation
Geshe-la will lead the final session of our Tuesday evening series at 6:30pm. Come learn the fundamentals and interconnectedness of these two profound aspects of Buddhist philosophy.

December 11

Lama Tsong Khapa Day: Light Offering Festival and Lama Chopa Puja
We are so happy to celebrate the anniversary of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa tradition, with Geshe Gelek. It is currently the darkest time of the year here in northern Vermont, so come join us at 6:30pm in offering lights and enjoying a blissful Lama Chopa puja.

December 12-13

Lojong: The Eight Verses of Mind Training
From the time we are children, our culture sends us powerful messages about how to be happy, how to win, how to be successful. The Lojong, or mind training, turns many of these ideas upside down and provides us with a template of true happiness, satisfaction and peace. These are some of the most significant Tibetan Buddhist teachings and we are so fortunate to have Geshe-la here to elucidate these concepts for us.

Please contact the center to register for the weekend programs with Geshe-la.

Annual New Year’s Vajrasattva Purification Retreat

Ring in the New Year in a most meaningful way by joining this deeply purifying retreat. This weekend is appropriate for all levels of practitioners, with guided meditation, mantra recitation and silent meditation throughout. Musicians, bring your instruments to join our party at 8pm New Year’s Eve!

Financial and fundraising update:
 
Many thanks to Bill Blandford, Jim Davidson and Janice Allan, and Ping Gee for their recent contribution to our end-of-the-year fundraising appeal that has raised a total of $4,633.00 to date.
 
We are planning to show you via pie charts a complete picture of the Center’s financials in January 2010 when we have completed a full-year cycle of income and expenses. Milarepa Center does not receive funding from our parent headquarters FPMT, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or other such sources as was thought by some attending our programs and retreats. Milarepa Center is solely supported by your donations to our membership, programs, retreats, and fundraising appeals. We greatly appreciate any help you can lend in this area and all donations are tax deducible. Donations can be made in the following ways:

Send a check or money order payable to Milarepa Center and mail to: Milarepa Center, PO Box 51, Barnet, VT 05821 USA

Donate via PayPal at our website: www.milarepacenter.org <http://www.milarepacenter.org/>
Thank you!
We hope you are able to join us soon for many and any of the programs and activities here at Milarepa center. Until then, we are sending our warmest regards to you.