2014 PROGRAM CATALOG
Transcription
2014 PROGRAM CATALOG
2014 PROGRAM CATALOG taramandala.org V I SI O N A N D MI S S I O N Tara Mandala was established to foster the development of innate wisdom for the benefit of all beings. It is a vibrant international Buddhist Community with practice groups around the world. The hub of the community is the 700acre retreat center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, home to the deepest and largest mineral hot springs in the world. Fierce Tara who protects the earth. Symbolically, the Mandala of Tara, the female Buddha of compassion, is a template of the awakened mind. Experiencing the phenomenal world with an integrated state of compassion is Tara’s Mandala. We offer a complete path of practice, study, and deep retreat in authentic lineages of Buddhism and nurture a full path to ultimate realization focused on the teachings of Machig Labodrön, offering both the Mother and Father Lineage paths. We provide solo retreat cabins for long term deepening of the practice. Tara Mandala also offers a Living Dharma Volunteer (LDV) Program, group practices and retreats, and webbased teachings. Tara Mandala’s community and practice groups are modeled on the Mandala Principle and Vajrayana Buddhist ideals of the unity of wisdom and skillful means, feminine and masculine. 2 The Trikaya Tara Temple. Ta ble o f C o n t e n t s About Lama Tsultrim Allione .......................................................................................................6 Letter from Lama Tsultrim: Tara Mandala Celebrates 20 Years! ......................................... 7-12 20th Anniversary Special Events ................................................................................................13 Lama Tsultrim’s Teaching Tour ...................................................................................................14 Tara Mandala Retreats..................................................................................................................15 The Mother Lineage Path ...................................................................................................... 16-18 Personal Retreat in Prajna Residence Hall .................................................................................19 Retreat Descriptions................................................................................................................ 20-40 Visitor Days ..................................................................................................................................41 Retreat Registration .....................................................................................................................43 Financial Assistance & Other Information .................................................................................44 Retreat Accommodations ............................................................................................................45 Tara Mandala Retreat Cabins.......................................................................................................46 Community Building and Tara Mandala Store ..........................................................................47 Trikaya Tara Temple.....................................................................................................................48 Living Dharma Volunteer Program .............................................................................................49 Special Thanks and Gratitude / Donors and Members ........................................................ 50-52 Reflections on the 20th Anniversary and the future of Tara Mandala.................................. 53-55 A N ot e on D ana Most Tara Mandala retreats are completely dana based. Dana is a Pali word that means generosity. The teachers in our programs donate their time in service to the Dharma and only receive what retreatants offer at the end of the retreat. Traditionally teachings are given freely, so there is no required amount of dana. Tara Mandala charges a retreat fee that covers our food, facilities, staff, and overhead costs. Unless specified, dana is not included in this price. Below the retreat fee, we have listed a suggested dana amount in an effort to give participants an idea of what a traditional offering might be for each retreat; however, no minimum amount is required. Please remember that the precious teachings are priceless, and the offering of dana is an opportunity to practice the paramita of generosity. There will be an opportunity to make dana contributions (cash or checks preferred) at the end of each retreat. 3 The Land of Tara... ABO U T LA M A T S U LT R I M ALLI ONE “Lama Tsultrim Allione has had a great devotion toward the teachings of Chöd for a long time. She has been doing a lot of work to preserve and maintain the continuity of the teachings and practice of Chöd, and she has a very pure heart motivation in doing this, which I deeply rejoice in.” - His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje Lama Tsultrim Allione, author and international teacher, founded Tara Mandala in 1993. While living in the Himalayas in the 1970s, she was inspired by the vision of creating a retreat center in the West. She was ordained as a Tibetan nun in 1970 at the age of 22 by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. At the age of 26, after nearly four years as a nun, she returned her monastic vows, then married and raised a family of three children. While raising her children she earned a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies and Women’s Studies from Antioch University. Author of Women of Wisdom, a ground breaking book on the lives of great Tibetan women practitioners, Lama Tsultrim also authored the recently published National Best Seller, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict now translated into twelve languages. Feeding Your Demons presents Lama Tsultrim’s pioneering technique based on Chöd, using five steps to nurture the parts of ourselves we usually fight against. Numerous audio programs, DVDs, and magazine articles have been produced about her life and work, including Feeding Your Demons: The Life and Work of Lama Tsultrim Allione, a one-hour documentary by Jaap Verhoeven. For many years, she has focused on the teachings from the lineage of Machig Labdrön, the 11th century Tibetan yogini who founded the Chöd lineage. In 2007 while traveling in Tibet, Lama Tsultrim was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdrön by the resident lama at Machig Labdrön‘s monastery, Zangri Khamar. In 2009, Lama Tsultrim Allione was selected by an esteemed committee of scholars and practitioners to receive the international Outstanding Woman in Buddhism Award given in Bangkok, Thailand. Her teaching inspiration comes from her sublime Tibetan teachers and her experience as a Western woman. 6 L oo k in g b a c k : T w entie th anniv er sa ry De a r Frie n d s, Tara Mandala was conceived in the early ‘70s while I was a Tibetan Buddhist nun living in the Himalayas. I envisioned a retreat center in the United States where the authentic Tibetan Buddhist tradition of deep meditation could take root. I never forgot this vision, but it was a long pregnancy. I disrobed and became the mother of three and it was not until 1993 that I started to have specific dreams and visions of this retreat center again. I decided it was time to look for land for the retreat center I had envisioned twenty years earlier. My late husband, David and I first walked on the land that was to become Tara Mandala southwest of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on Sept 18, 1993. As we turned onto Burns Canyon Road off of Trujillo Road, I saw two hills with striated cliffs in a variety of colors on the right. I had seen these hills in a vision and when we came up through the sharp curves of Burns Canyon and emerged into the open meadow at the top, a breast-shaped peak lay in front of Lama Tsultrim’s drawing of the future Tara Mandala 1993. 7 Rainbow on the land during land consecration November 12,1994. us. I had studied the ancient goddess sites in Europe where, in some cases, the body of the goddess was found in the landscape itself. The main protectress of the Dzogchen tradition, Ekajati, has a single breast like the mountain in the middle of the land. As we crossed the border of the property, a huge golden eagle flew out of a big Ponderosa tree and circled us. There were no roads or structures on the land, except a few old, decaying homestead cabins. We climbed the breast-shaped peak and stood on the small flat area on the top with magnificent views in all directions, four valleys stretched out in the four directions. The land was a mandala with the peak in the center and four gates in the four directions. That September day was absolutely glorious. The sky was a deep cerulean blue, it was still warm, the scrub oak glowed in hues of rust and red, and purple asters were blooming amongst the remains of wild sunflowers. A hidden meadow was below us to the west and, in the distance, the sacred Anasazi site of Chimney Rock stretched its magical stone spires to the sky. The terrain was alpine meadows with forests of cedar, juniper, scrub oak, tall Ponderosa pines, and stands of Douglas fir trees on the north slopes. We went home and I wrote a letter and organized two meetings on the land that autumn, one on October 30 and one at Thanksgiving, for the Sangha to see the land. The first time we explored the land and offered a Dakini feast (tsog) on the peak, at the end a big rainbow appeared over the land. Everyone loved the land and enough funds arrived for the first payment to be made. The vast generosity that has created Tara Mandala had begun. We packed up our house in New York and moved to the land in the summer of 1994 with a fledgling organizational structure and a group of friends. We started holding group retreats that summer following the model from Tibet of summer encampments with everyone in 8 tents, tepees, or yurts. A kitchen was established under a tarp shaded by a box elder, the largest tree on the land. This generous box elder spread her arms over our kitchen for the next eleven years. Volunteers appeared and served every possible function. Hundreds of people came to the land that first summer in spite of the primitive conditions. David and volunteers put up a larger canvas yurt that became our temple for the next fifteen years. On November 12, 1994 we did the consecration ceremony for the land, asking permission from the local guardians to use it for the Dharma. During the consecration, there was a downpour so loud on the roof of the yurt that we could not hear our own voices. Toward the end of the ceremony, it stopped and there was a strange silence as the sun broke through, a rainbow lay right on the hillside near the yurt. The stupa (a twenty foot stone reliquary) was our first building project, requiring years of work and ceremonies for each stage. In May of 1994, I had three dreams in one night of Nyala Pema Duddul, who took the rainbow body in 1872. In the last dream he shouted, “Build the stupa and don’t forget!” That woke me up and so I got up and told everyone we needed to start a stupa that day dedicated to his lineage. The stupa is made of natural stone gathered from our land. Sang-ngag Rinpoche, an expert stupa builder, came and oversaw the ceremonies for each stage. After four years, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu came to do the consecration which happened to fall on 9.9.99. As the first ‘AH’ was sounded at the beginning of the consecration ceremony, two red-tailed hawks flew directly overhead, locked talons, and let themselves fall together directly over the stupa. The long ‘AH’ became a gasp as we saw this happen. Red-tailed hawks perform a courtship “dance” where a male and female lock talons and fall through the sky, something very rare to see. To me it represented the divine union of masculine and feminine, skillful means and wisdom, at the heart of the Vajrayana tradition. During the first ten years when everyone camped, we got to know the land in all seasons and to appreciate its magic. The roofless solar showers formed rainbows as you took showers in the sun. We were always outside and close to the earth, living in a village of yurts, tents, and tepees. Elk and deer herds, lynx, badgers, and bears passed through. We hosted up to 150 people, feeding them from the outdoor kitchen while many great teachers came to offer 9 their wisdom. Students developed in their practice, retreat cabins were completed, and people started doing long retreats. Early on we started the Family Retreat with a vision quest for teenagers and Buddhist teachings for the younger children. We became one of the only Buddhist retreat centers to hold retreats for the whole family. Now after 20 years, former children from the family David and Tsultrim the day the land was found, September 18, 1993. retreat have come back as volunteers or consultants and are beginning to take responsibility for the future of Tara Mandala. I continued to teach, travel, fundraise, and do personal retreats when possible. In 2001, I decided to do a yearlong solo retreat to restore my health, sit with some big questions, and deepen my practice. During the retreat on the full moon of June 5th, the Buddha’s birthday, I had a dream of the design for the future temple at First yurt onstruction became our first meditation hall Gompa 1994. Tara Mandala. At that time we had no buildings and a three-story mandala temple seemed impossible, but I made a drawing of it. I decided during that retreat that the nature of mind, specifically Prajnaparamita, simple direct teachings leading to the experience of our true condition, would be the focus of my teachings. After the retreat, we developed the Kapala Training Program based on Machig Labdrön’s lineage, “Feeding Your Demons”, and the nature of mind teachings. The level of support needed for the land to serve as Outdoor kitchen 1996 a retreat center was profound and over the years we were always the recipient of incredible generosity. In 1996, within three years of our original purchase, the entire 700 acres (over one square mile of land) had been fully paid off. In 2004, after ten years on the land, we began a capital campaign. Again, the generosity of the Sangha, family, and friends was extraordinary. By 2009 we had completed three core buildings: the temple, community building, and Prajña residence hall. Three Bhutanese Morning meditation on Ekajati Peak 10 carvers and Tibetan artist Lama Gyurme, brought their extraordinary artistry to the temple. Through the expert design and implementation of Lama Gyurme, Tara Mandala became home to one of the most extraordinary Buddhist temples in the world and the only one dedicated to the sacred feminine in the West. After all this work was done, there were some beautiful moments for David and I with our arms around each other, looking out at Tara Mandala from the temple saying, “We did it!” Then, like the intense lightning that strikes in summer, he was gone. On July 22, 2010 David passed away in the night from a heart attack. He was only 54, a bright light suddenly went out; our protector was gone. That day and in the days that followed there were many rainbows as well as an extremely unusual moon bow one night. A moon bow is a rainbow that can only form under rare atmospheric conditions. It stretched from the top of Ekajati Peak to our home where David had passed away. He had become a very powerful yogi in the last years of his life and apparently he had completed his work on this plane and transferred into the dimension of light. For my children, the community, and me this was a shocking loss. Gradually we recovered, went on, and grew closer, deeply touched by the mystery of David’s sudden departure. We still feel his presence on the land and in 2013 completed a memorial for him on Prayer Flag Ridge. Our endowment fund “The David Petit Sustainability Fund” is a tribute to his efforts to bring Tara Mandala into being. This fund will ensure the future of Tara Mandala. Since 2007, after visions of Machig led me back to her monastery in Tibet where I was recognized as her emanation and given her remaining relics, we have focused on establishing her lineage in both the hidden treasure (terma) and historical oral (kama) traditions at Tara Mandala. After we brought the first three-year retreatants out of retreat in 2012, I began to feel the need for a path for those dedicated practitioners who could not leave their normal lives for three years, but wanted to practice the path to completion. So in 2013, we began Gateway, a seven-year cycle in Dzinpa Rangdröl, a terma cycle received by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje from Machig Labdrön, with Sang-ngag Rinpoche as our guide. Also in 2013, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu returned and blessed our temple and gave teachings. In 2014, we have launched Magyu: the Mother Lineage path based on Machig’s lineage and meditation practices (see page 16). In the past twenty years, we have grown to become a thriving, international community with Satellite Sanghas in many countries as well as in many parts of the USA and we have birthed an amazing retreat center. We plan to eventually add more staff cottages, build another residence building, more retreat cabins, to complete the library in the temple and to build the endowment. Tara Mandala carries no debt, both the land and buildings have all 11 Teachings in the Old Gompa Yurt 1996. been fully paid for, thanks to all of you. Every year your ongoing support, your membership, and your generosity keeps our operations going. There have been many blessings and much energy from the luminous dimensions that have created Tara Mandala; I have continually drawn on them for support. My precious Tibetan teachers have offered a steady stream of blessings. Those who love the place and the vision of a community steeped in ancient Buddhist wisdom serving the modern world and dedicated to the sacred feminine have created Tara Mandala. When I sit in the temple, it feels like the walls are woven with your love. It has not been easy, but we have given the world a place of retreat and renewal, a deep resource to draw on. We have gradually grown up together. As we reach this amazing milestone, I want to thank each one of you for making Tara Mandala possible. It is a time to celebrate. W ith i n f i nite g ratitud e , Lama Tsultrim Allione 12 20 th Anniversary special events An Afternoon Event with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo & Lama Tsultrim Allione J une 14 “Intimate Dialogue ~ Dharma Stories and Favorite Teachings” ...............................................................25 J uly 25-27 TARA MANDALA’S 20th YEAR CELEBRATION! ......................................................... 31-32 With Krishna Das, Lama Tsultrim Allione, Scott Blossom, and Chandra Easton J uly 26 Krishna Das in Concert .........................33 J uly 27 Historical walking tour of Tara Mandala with Lama Tsultrim .........................................31 S ep te m be r 19 - 21 Founder’s Weekend with Guest Artists Peter Rowan and Yungchen Lhamo........................................................................ 38 13 201 4 Te a ch in g T o u r M a r c h 16-21 Kapala Training Level I Kripalu Center, Lenox, MA www.kripalu.org M a r c h 21-23 Chöd Retreat Kripalu Center, Lenox, MA www.kripalu.org M a r c h 24, 7:30p m Public Talk: Dakini Wisdom Shambhala Center New York City, NY (212) 625-6544 M a r c h 25, 6:30-8:30p m Public Talk: Feeding Your Demons ABC Home Deepak Homebase New York City, NY www.deepakhomebase.com M a r c h 26, 7p m U S A P r e m i e r : “ F e e d i n g Yo u r D e m o n s : The Life & Work of Lama Tsultrim Allione” Rubin Museum New York City, NY www.rmanyc.org M a r c h 27 The Bardo: Six Moments of Opportunity Nalanda West, Seattle, WA www.nalandawest.org M a r c h 28 – 30 Yeshe Tsogyal and the Nature of Mind Whidbey Island, WA A p r i l 4-6 Zhitro: Awakening to Death and Dying Orgyen Dorje Den Alameda, CA A p r i l 12 Benefit: Machig Labdron & the Nature of Mind Spirit Rock Meditation Center Woodacre, CA A p r i l 13 Feeding Your Demons Daylong Retreat Against the Stream Santa Monica, CA 14 A p r i l 13, 7:30p m LA Pr e m i er o f “F eed i n g Yo u r D em o n s: The Life & Work of Lama Tsultrim Allione” Shambala Meditation Center Los Angeles, CA www.lashambala.org A p r i l 18 – 20 Feeding Your Demons Weekend Retreat Naropa University Boulder, CO www.naropa.edu O c t o b e r 18 – 20 Workshop and Keynote Speaker at Naropa University: Feeding Your Demons 40th Anniversary Symposium Boulder, CO O c t o b e r 24 - 26 The Mandala of Enlightened Union: Inviting the Sacred Masculine/Feminine Kamalashila, Langenfeld, Germany www.kamalashila.de O c t o b e r 29 - N o v e m b e r 2 Dzinpa Rangdröl Ngöndro Kamalashila, Langenfeld, Germany www.kamalashila.de November 3 Screening: “Feeding Your Demons: The Life & Work of Lama Tsultrim Allione” Warsaw, Poland November 4 Feeding Your Demons Warsaw, Poland [email protected] N o v e m b e r 7 - 13 Kapala Training Level II Tenuta San Vito, Tuscany, Italy To register email Sara at [email protected] N o v e m b e r 14 -16 Song of the Vajra Retreat Merigar, Tuscany, Italy www.dzogchen.it/merigar-west For the most current information, please visit taramandala.org. 2 014 ta r a mandala re t re ats M ay 5 – 1 1 Feeding Your Demons™: Kapala Training Level I .................... 20 with Lama Tsultrim Allione M ay 1 5 – 2 8 Dakini Retreat..................................... 21 with Lama Tsultrim Allione, Ellen Booth Church and Miranda Shaw M ay 31 – J u n e 27 Three Yana Retreat......................... 22-24 with Lama Tsultrim Allione and others M ay 31 – J u n e 27 Shamatha Retreat ............................... 24 with Lama Tsultrim Allione and others M ay 31 – J u n e 7 Sutrayana: The Path to Enlightenment through the Buddha’s Journey ......... 23 with Lama Tsultrim Allione and others J u n e 10 – 17 Mahayana: Vast View, Open Heart.. 23 with Lama Tsultrim and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo J u n e 14 20th A n n iversary S pe c ial E ve n t : An afternoon of Intimate Dialogue – Dharma Stories and Favorite Teachings............................................. 25 with Lama Tsultrim and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo J u n e 20 – 27 Vajrayana: The Mandala Principle... 24 with Lama Tsultrim Allione and others J u ly 1 – 6 Parchangma Chöd,Gateway: Foundation (also open to others)........................... 26 with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Anna Raithel J u ly 9 – 13 Green Tara .......................................... 27 with Lama Tsultrim Allione J u ly 9 – 13 NNR Chöd .......................................... 28 with Chandra Easton J u l y 1 6 – 22 Family Retreat ............................... 29-30 with Lama Tsultrim, Jonathan Barfield, Mary Flowers, MacAndrew Jack, Charlotte Rotterdam, and Alexis Slutzky J u l y 2 5 – 27 Tara M a n dala ’s 20 th Y ear Celebratio n ! ........................ 31-33 with Krishna Das in concert, Scott Blossom, and Chandra Easton A u g u s t 9 – 20 White Dakini Drubchen ................... 34 with Sang-ngag Rinpoche A u g u s t 23 – 25 Gateway: Complete Transmission (by invitation only) with Tulku Sang-Ngag Rinpoche September 1 – 6 The Heart of the Heart ...................... 35 with Lama Tsultrim and Annette Kaiser S e p t e m b e r 9 – 15 Feeding Your Demons™: Kapala Training Level II.................... 36 with Lama Tsultrim Allione S e p t e m b e r 9 – 15 Feeding Your Demons™: Kapala Training Level III ................. 37 with Lama Tsultrim Allione S e p t e m b e r 18 – 21 20th A n n iversary F o u n ders W eeke n d ....................................... 38 with Lama Tsultrim Allione, Peter Rowan and Yungchen Lhamo S e p t e m b e r 27 – O c t o b e r 1 P’howa & Zhitro: Practices for Death and Dying ......... 39 with Chagdud Khadro and Lama Tsultrim Allione S e p t e m b e r 27 – O c t o b e r 1 Tibetan Medicine Rejuvenation Retreat ......................... 40 with Matthew Schmookler and Nashalla G. Nyinda 15 MA GYU : T he mot her linea g e In t r o d u c t i on Lama Tsultrim after her recognition as emanation Machig, Tibet 2007 The 11th century teacher Machig Labdrön evolved two paths of practice: the Father and Mother Lineages. The Mother Lineage came from Machig’s own experiences with direct transmissions from female deities such as Tara and Vajra Yogini, her own meditation experiences, and the practices she evolved through teaching and practicing as a woman in her lifetime. The Father Lineage evolved from her male teachers, thus the word “father” was used. Machig was the only teacher to develop this distinction between male and female lineages. It allowed her to honor both the lineage from her teachers, and the teachings that came directly to her. In Machig’s time, there were some disciples who held both lineages, as well as those who held one or the other. Both men and women held these lineages; it was not the case that one was for women and one was for men. For example, Machig’s second son, Tönyöm Samdrub, was the main holder of the Mother Lineage. At Tara Mandala, Lama Tsultrim has chosen to follow this model. The Father Lineage was established through the Gateway Program which began in 2013 and is carried on in all the other practices she teaches from her male teachers. She is now introducing the Mother Lineage in the form of the Magyu Program. Lama Tsultrim met Buddhism in India and Nepal while still a teenager, deepened it through her years as a Buddhist nun in the early ‘70s, and honed it as the mother of three and through her unceasing commitment to the Tibetan Buddhist path, extensive solo retreats, daily practice and continual study with her sublime Tibetan teachers. Interfacing these teachings with the western psyche, she developed particular methods to make the teachings accessible and effective in the modern world and to create genuine transformation for the whole being. 16 Teachings at Merigar, Italy 2013 MA GYU : T he mot her linea g e As with other Vajrayana teachers before her, Lama Tsultrim has received meditative visions throughout her life. These visions have informed and guided her life in many ways, including her inspiration to manifest Tara Mandala as a seat for authentic and deep practice in the West. Just as Machig Labdrön herself experienced a thousand years ago, Lama Tsultrim has received specific practices from Sambogakaya beings in visions as a result of her sincere connection with the Dharma. She has refined these received teachings, organized them into a consolidated and complete path for students to follow, and is offering this program as Magyu: The Mother Lineage Path. Overview of the Magyu Program The Magyu Program is an invaluable opportunity to enter this extremely fresh practice stream revealed by Lama Tsultrim. The psycho-spiritual integration of this path inherently distinguishes it from the more traditional Father Lineage. The Magyu Program in the mother lineage works directly with the individual through helping each student to identify his or her particular encumbered patterns and relevant practices to transform those patterns. There are special webcasts and tele-teachings for those enrolled in the Magyu Program, as well as direct contact and support through interviews and emails with Lama Tsultrim and her authorized Magyu teachers. The Magyu Program is a path of personal development and individuation as well as a path of spiritual evolution leading to the stabilization of the recognition of the ground of being and its display within the individual. THE PATH Similar to the Gateway Program in the Father Lineage, the complete path of the Magyu Program will take approximately seven years (it may take less or more time depending on the student’s commitment), and will be undertaken within a supportive sangha of practitioners. Unlike the Gateway Program which has certain retreats that must be done each year, the Magyu students works their way through the retreats and practice commitments according to their own timing. This allows flexibility for those in the Magyu for having a baby, an illness, or some other life changing situation. Those who have completed Kapala Training Levels 1, 2 or 3 prior to entering the Magyu Program, will not have to repeat them but will need to document the practice hours required for each level. Each student enrolled in the Magyu Program will receive a “Kalyanamitra” or Spiritual Friend, who is an authorized teacher providing personal practice support, email contact and phone calls as well as personal meetings. From Kapala Training Level 3 and higher, each Magyu student will also have personal interviews with Lama Tsultrim as part of the program. Due to the fact that this is a fresh and evolving lineage there may be some additions and variations once the program is underway. 17 MA GYU : T he mot her linea g e Both women and men will participate in the Magyu Program. The Mother Lineage is oriented toward dedicated practitioners who wish the walk the path fully with guidance and support. It includes solitary retreats, group retreats and dedicated daily practice. A mother lineage practitioner should be prepared to commit to a daily practice, with occasional retreats and day-long practices, as well as all the necessary group retreats. The path follows five levels of Kapala Training beginning with such practices as Feeding Your Demons and Prajnaparamita, then going more deeply into the Nature of Mind practices taught by Machig. It also includes other practices and retreats compiled and revealed by Lama Tsultrim. This path cultivates both the spiritual and emotional awakening of the practitioner, integrating the ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices with modern teachings appropriate for our western disposition. The Magyu Program of the Mother Lineage can be a complete path by itself or it is possible to combine it with the Gateway Program of the Father Lineage or some of those practices such as the ngondro for those students with the time, inclination, and endorsement of their Kalyanamitra and Lama Tsultrim. A p p l i c a t i on P r o c e s s a n d R e q u i r e m e n t s To enroll in the Mother Lineage you must submit an application and be interviewed by Lama Tsultrim or an authorized Magyu teacher. You will be contacted to set up your interview. You will also be provided with log books to track your practice hours for each requirement. The application can be found on our website at taramandala.org. F i n a n c i a l Comm i t m e n t The financial commitment for those in the Magyu Program is to be a continual member of Tara Mandala at the level of Supporting Member ($30, 22 Euros a month or higher). Membership also entitles you to store and retreat discounts according to the level of membership you hold. Magyu students are also asked to make an annual tuition offering of $350 (255 Euros) by January 31 in order to support the program, webcasts, text development and other program costs. Students will also make Dana offerings to their teachers and Kalyanamitra in gratitude for teachings and guidance as is customary. For a complete description of the Magyu, please visit taramandala.org. 18 p er sonal re t re ats in pr a j ñ a Prajña Residence Hall: Open for Personal Retreats April 4 – May 2 We will be opening our lovely residence hall for personal retreats for one month this spring. You will have your own spacious room large enough for prostrations and yoga. All rooms have a sink with a granite countertop and wood floors with all non-toxic natural finishes. There are shared baths and toilets on each floor. It is also possible to rent a suite with a private bath. Two meals a day will be provided in the community building with the option of a silent table. Fridays in April (4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th) are arrival and departure days and May 2nd is the final departure day. The minimum stay is one week and the maximum stay is one month within these dates. Please note: There is a minimum stay of 7 days for this retreat. Prici n g One week: $476 Two – Four weeks: $455 per week 19 F e e din g Yo ur De mons ™ : Ka pala Training Le v el I With Lama Tsultrim Allione May 5 - 11 Inspired by the ancient practice of Chöd, Feeding Your Demons™ is a five-step process created by Lama Tsultrim Allione that allows us to offer compassion and understanding to our own inner demons rather than engaging in battle and struggling with them. This process is of great benefit when working with a wide variety of personal demons and other dilemmas of modern life. The demon work will be balanced by the deep practice of Prajna Paramita, a “nature of mind” practice. This training is for individuals who wish to work in an intensive way with their own inner demons. In addition, this retreat is the first step for licensed healing professionals who want to become certified to use this process professionally. By completing Kapala Training Level II you can apply for this official certification. This is a required retreat for Mother Lineage students. This course meets the qualifications for 29 hours of Continuing Education. Tara Mandala is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a continuing education provider (#3260). CE hours are offered for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Please sign up for CE hours at the time of registration; a $20 fee applies. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $630 | Double: $784 | Queen Double: $1,085 Queen Single: $1,330 | Camping is free with a Retreat Fee of $490 Suggested Dana: $210 – $280 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 20 da k ini re t re at With Lama Tsultrim Allione, Ellen Booth Church and Miranda Shaw, PhD May 15 – 28 For the first time in ten years, Lama Tsultrim will offer this celebrated and unique retreat which she developed to bring transformational personal work into the container of spiritual practice. It involves meditation practice, art, mask making, sound, and movement. We will work with the Dakini Mandala morning and night followed by dedicating two days each to the five Dakini families. We will be honored by the presence of Miranda Shaw, PhD, author of “Passionate Enlightenment” and “Buddhist Goddesses of India” who will give her slideshow about the history of women and goddesses in the Vajrayana tradition. This is a required retreat for Mother Lineage students. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $1,162 | Double: $1,365 | Queen Double: $1,918 | Queen Single: $2,198 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $980 Suggested Dana: $420 – $560 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIONE’S bio can be found on page 6. miranda shaw, ph.D.is a Buddhist scholar known for her groundbreaking work on women in Tantric Buddhism, chronicled in her renowned book “Passionate Enlightenment.” Author of “Buddhist Goddeses of India,” a thorough and fascinating study of the divine feminine. Dr. Shaw serves as Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Richmond and continues to explore and write about the sacred arts and embodied spiritual practices of Himalayan Buddhism. ellen booth church (Yeshe Choepel) has been practicing Tibetan Buddhism for over 25-years. She is a Buddhist teacher, meditation coach and former member of the Tara Mandala Board of Trustees. She is also an accomplished educator and author of many educational books for parents and teachers. Currently an adjunct Professor of Education at Nova Southeastern University, Ellen has also assisted in creating three satellite Tara Mandala Sanghas. 21 Th r e e Yana R e tr e at With Lama Tsultrim Allione and guest teacher Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo May 31 - June 27 A retreat that covers the historical and contemplative development of Buddhism involving a combination of meditation practice and daily teachings. During each section there will be noble silence and six hours of practice per day as well as two hours of teachings by Lama Tsultrim and invited guest teachers. An optional oral exam will be give at the end at the end of each yana. P ricing F ull T hree yana retreat May 31 – J une 27 Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $1,988 | Double: $2,072 | Queen Double: $2,828 | Queen Single: $3,472 Camping free with a Retreat Fee of $1,904 Suggested Dana for Full Three Yana Retreat - $720 - $960 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo was raised in London and became a Buddhist while still in her teens. At the age of twenty, she traveled to India, becoming one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Buddhist nun. Her lineage is within the Drukpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The international bestseller “Cave in the Snow” chronicles her twelve years of seclusion in a remote cave in the Himalayas. Deeply concerned with the plight of Buddhist nuns, she established Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India, at the request of her Guru, His Eminence the Eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche, Director of Khampagar Monastery. 22 s utr ayana: T he j o ur ne y of t h e b udd h a May 31 - June 7 Sutrayana looks deeply at the life of the Buddha and his teachings including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eight-fold Path, the Twelve Links of Interdependent Origination and other key teachings of the Buddha. We will be doing intensive practice of Shamata (sitting with the breath) and walking meditation and tracking the life of the Buddha. P ricing Retreat Fee Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $664 | Double: $780 Queen Double: $1,096 | Queen Single: $1,256 Camping is free with a retreat fee of $560 Suggested Dana for each Yana - $240 - $320 M AHAyana: VAST VIEW, OPe n HEART June 10 – 17 Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo will be a guest teacher during part of the Mahayana retreat and will teach on the 37 precepts of a Bodhisattva. Lama Tsultrim will teach the Prajnaparamita practice and the Heart Sutra as well as the Four Immeasurables (Loving Kindness, Compassion, Empathetic Joy, and Equanimity), the historical development of Mahayana, and a brief introduction to the Mahayana philosophies of Yogacara and Madhyamika. P ricing Retreat Fee Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $664 | Double: $780 Queen Double: $1,096 | Queen Single: $1,256 Camping is free with a retreat fee of $560 Suggested Dana for each Yana - $240 - $320 23 VAJ RAyana: T HE m an dal a pri n ci p l e June 20 - 27 During the Vajrayana portion of the retreat we will study how the Vajrayana developed historically and learn the fundamentals of Vajrayana practice. Lama Tsultrim will give an introduction to the five Buddha families, the mandala principle, and deity yoga as well as giving transmission for the 5 Dakini Mandala, the 5 Buddha Mandala, and the Yab Yum Mandala. The Three Yana retreat is a required retreat for Father Lineage (Gateway) and Mother Lineage students. P ricing Retreat Fee Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $664 | Double: $780 Queen Double: $1,096 | Queen Single: $1,256 Camping is free with a retreat fee of $560 Suggested Dana for each Yana - $240 - $320 sha m atha retr e at May 31 - June 27 This month-long program focuses on intensive sitting and walking meditation practice within a closed retreat container. Each day includes 1-hour morning sitting practice, 3-hour morning sitting/walking session, 3-hour afternoon sitting/walking session and 1-hour evening sitting practice (total 8 hours). Brief dharma talks, meditation instruction and opportunities for participant questions ground participants’ meditation practice. Please visit taramandala.org for more information. 24 20 t h A nn i ve r s ary ev e nt Int imat e D i alog u e ~ Dh arma Stori es and Favorit e Te ac h i ngs An Afternoon with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Lama Tsultrim Allione June 14 2:30–3:15 Book signing with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo 3:30–6:15 Join us for this rare treat: Lama Tsultrim Allione and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who have known each other since the 1970s, will share their journeys and Dharma stories from over 45 wonderful years of practice and adventure. They will guide us in meditation and dialogue in the joy of the Dharma. Light refreshments will be served at this event which will be preceded by a book signing with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. Prici n g f o r thi s b ene fit: Suggested Donation: $108 – $1,008, a joint benefit for Tara Mandala and Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. jetsunma Tenzin palmo bio can be found on page 22. 25 parchan gma ch ö d With Lama Tsultrim Allione and Anna Raithel July 1 – 6 The Parchangma Chöd is an integral part of Do Khyentse’s Dzinpa Rangdröl (Self-Liberation of Clinging) treasure cycle (terma). In this retreat, you will learn the five melodies and the musical patterns for the drum, bell, and kangling. This centuries-old practice is sung and accompanied by the use of a traditional Chöd drum and bell. Healing comes when fear, fixation, and self-clinging are cut through, giving rise to the awareness of the pure nature of emotions and the emptiness of mental obscurations. This retreat requires a Chöd drum and bell, both of which are available through the Tara Mandala Store. A kangling is optional. This is an open retreat and also a required retreat for the Gateway Foundation students. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $540 | Double: $672 | Queen Double: $930 | Queen Single: $1,140 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $420 Suggested Dana: $180 – $240 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. annA raithel After finishing her B.A. in Religion, Anna moved to Tara Mandala where she has lived for the last five years. She is the Temple Director and Lama Tsultrim’s Executive Assistant, and is the primary Umdze and Chopon. Anna has also studied Tibetan language and the musical instrument, gyaling. 26 gree n ta r a With Lama Tsultrim Allione July 9 – 13 Emanation of active compassion, Green Tara embodies the forces so necessary in today’s world. She has one foot stepping down to actively help beings and one foot in meditative equipoise, expressing her ability to rest in awareness while actively relieving the suffering of beings. Green Tara is the female Buddha of compassion and provides protection from fears and obstacles. She embodies active compassion and serves as a model for modern day contemplative life. In this retreat, you will learn the Green Tara practice from the Luminous Secret Vajra Treasury, a treasure cycle of Adzom Drukpa. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $450 | Double: $560 | Queen Double: $775 | Queen Single: $950 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $350 Suggested Dana: $120 – $200 Suggested Dana: $150-200 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 27 C hö d With Chandra Easton July 9 – 13 The Chöd taught and practiced during this retreat will be the Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Chöd which came to this great Dzogchen Master in a dream. Chöd is a unique blend of the Tibetan Shamanic traditions and the Buddhist tradition of compassion and emptiness. This centuriesold practice is sung and is accompanied by the use of a traditional Chöd drum and bell. Healing comes when fear, fixation, and selfclinging are cut through, based on nurturing not fighting what assails us, giving rise to the awareness of the empty nature of afflictive emotions. Required materials: The Chöd practice requires a Chöd drum and bell, both of which are available through our store. Also recommended is a headlamp or small booklight for night practice. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $450 | Double: $560 | Queen Double: $775 | Queen Single: $950 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $350 Suggested Dana: $120 – $200 Chandra Easton has studied the Sutrayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings with many qualified teachers, both at the scholastic and practice levels. Her primary studies have been in the Tibetan Vajrayana teachings. She has received teachings and empowerments from many authentic teachers including H.H. Dalai Lama, Khenpo Wangchuk Sonam, Gyatrul Rinpoche, Adzom Paylo Rinpoche, and Lama Tsultrim Allione, among others. 28 family retre at With Lama Tsultrim Allione, Jonathan Barfield, Mary Flowers, MacAndrew Jack, Charlotte Rotterdam, and Alexis Slutzky July 16 – 22 Every family, and each person in every family, has demons and allies. The more these become conscious the less likely we are to pass down our demons or fail to recognize our allies. This year the family retreat will focus on family lineage demons and allies as well as the five steps of the Feeding Your Demons™ process. With the parents, we will also look at how demons and allies express themselves in families. Both teens and parents will learn the five step process and the younger children will learn a simplified version involving drawing and clay that they can use themselves. We will also look at the allies in our family lineage and stories that we have inherited from our own family. As we become more aware, we can shift old patterns into new ones and work with establishing what is nurturing in our family lineage. The children will also spend time outside with nature projects. The teens will be guided by working with their life visions as they dive deeper into their own relationship with themselves, their family and community in a 24-hour solo vision quest. P ricing Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: ADULT: Dorm Yurt: $525 | Double: $581 | Queen Double: $707 | Queen Single: $952 Camping $476 | Commuting $476 TEEN: Dorm Yurt: $472 | Double: $531 | Queen Double: $657 | Camping $426 Commuting $426 CHILD: Dorm Yurt: $422 | Double: $481 | Queen Double: $607 |Camping $376 Commuting $376 Suggested Dana: $210 - $280 29 Family Retreat Teachers LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. jonathan barfield Ph.D., lives in Telluride, CO and is a psychotherapist using cognitive, mindfulness, and compassion based approaches. He lectures, facilitates workshops, and publishes internationally on the subjects of Buddhism and Ecology, Buddhism and Psychotherapy, and the Psychology of Meditation. He has a private practice in Telluride, CO and has led many vision quests for youth. MARY FLOWERS brings over 25 years of experience with children of all ages as she guides the children’s program this year. As an award- winning educator, Mary’s approach focuses on the integration of heart and mind through all facets of learning. She delights in connecting Dharma and daily life and looks forward to sharing many-colored adventures with Tara Mandala’s family retreatants. macandrew jack has broad clinical experience and exceptional training in a variety of settings including university research clinics, hospital-based behavioral medicine, college counseling centers, inpatient treatment centers, emergency rooms, community based clinics, and private practice. He is an Associate Professor at Naropa University has published and presented nationally and internationally on mind-body connections in therapy and mindfulness practice. Charlotte Rotterdam is a teacher, organizational leader, and consultant/coach. She has been teaching meditation and Feeding your Demons™ internationally for several years. She is Adjunct Faculty at Naropa University and received her Masters degree in comparative religion from Harvard Divinity School. Ms. Rotterdam has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism for 15 years and of Lama Tsultrim Allione for the last ten. Ms. Rotterdam served as Executive Director and later President of the Board of Tara Mandala and is an Authorized Teacher under Lama Tsultrim Allione. alexis slutzky MFT, is a mentor and guide bringing earth-based wisdom into contemporary forums. She is a council trainer with The Ojai Foundation’s Center for Council and has worked as a facilitator in their youth programs for many years. Alexis partners with a variety of organizations and is passionate about working with young people in their transition toward adulthood. 30 20 t h ye a r ce l ebr ation With Krishna Das, Lama Tsultrim Allione, Scott Blossom and Chandra Easton July 25–27 An amazing and historic weekend with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Krishna Das, who have known each other since they met in Bodhgaya, India in 1971. These two renowned teachers have followed different traditions on their spiritual paths, which have crossed many times, bridging East and West. Throughout the weekend, we will explore favorite teachings, dance, kirtan, stories, meditations, dialogue, and the spiritual journey. Scott Blossom and Chandra Easton will lead morning yoga practice. The weekend will include a book and CD signing and wine reception, benefactors dinner, screening of “Feeding Your Demons: The Life and Work of Lama Tsultrim Allione”, a documentary film, yoga, meditation, hanging out with Krishna Das, a full concert, and a walking tour of Tara Mandala. P ricing Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $270 | Double: $336 | Queen Double: $465 | Queen Single: $570 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $210 Suggested Dana: $90 – $120 31 J u l y 25, 4:00 - 6:00 p m – Boo k a n d CD S i g n i n g a n d W i n e R e c e p t i on w i t h l a m a t s u l t r i m , K r i s h n a d a s a n d M a r c o s p i nn e r Mr. Spinner created a beautiful book of photos taken at Tara Mandala in 2012-2013 which are accompanied by gratitude poems and comments. Krishna Das will be signing copies of his CDs and Lama Tsultrim will also be present for conversation and to sign books. J u l y 25, 6:15 p m – B e n e f a c t o r s ’ D i nn e r w i t h K r i s h n a D a s a n d L a m a T s u lt r i m at H aw k H i l l R a n c h A gratitude dinner for those great benefactors who have made Tara Mandala possible. By invitation only. J u l y 25, 8:00 p m – S c r e e n i n g o f “ F e e d i n g Yo u r D e mon s : T h e L i f e a n d Wo r k o f L a m a T s u l t r i m A l l i on e ” at the temple with Lama Tsultrim available for questions afterwards J u l y 26, 8:00p m – K r i s h n a D a s Con c e r t (see page 33) J u l y 27, 10:30a m - 1 2 : 3 0 p m – H i s t o r i c a l wa l k i n g t o u r o f Ta r a M a n d a l a w i t h L a m a T s u lt r i m LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. Krishna das became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba, (the guru of Baba Ram Das) in the 1970’s, living near him with Ram Das. He also began his Buddhist practice of meditation in India sitting Vipassana retreats with S.N. Goenka and continues to study and practice with many great lamas. scott blossom is a Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner, Shadow Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic Consultant. He has been studying yoga for over twenty years and teaching for thirteen. His primary teachers are Zhander Remete, founder of Shadow Yoga, and Dr. Robert Svoboda, Ayurvedic physician and scholar. Scott lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife, Chandra, and their two children. Visit www.shunyatayoga.com to learn more. Chandra Easton has studied the Sutrayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings with many qualified teachers, both at the scholastic and practice levels. Her primary studies have been in the Tibetan Vajrayana teachings. She has received teachings and empowerments from many authentic teachers including H.H. Dalai Lama, Khenpo Wangchuk Sonam, Gyatrul Rinpoche, Adzom Paylo Rinpoche, and Lama Tsultrim Allione, among others. 32 20 t h A nniv er sa ry e v e nt: kr is h na das con cert July 26 | 8:00pm Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Grammy-nominated Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls. He has become a worldwide icon and the best-selling chant artist of all time with over 300,000 records sold on which he sings both Buddhist and Hindu chants. “I guarantee you one thing tonight: No one’s problems will be solved. So just forget about everything and sing. Let go and give yourself wholeheartedly to what we’re doing for this short period of time. Sing your heart out and we’ll see what’s left to worry about when it’s over.” -- Krishna Das c o n c e rt o n ly – $30 Concert Fee is $30 Krishna das became a devotee of Maharaji Neem Karoli Baba (the guru of Baba Ram Das) in the 1970’s, living near him with Ram Das. He also began his Buddhist practice of meditation in India sitting Vipassana retreats with S.N. Goenka and continues to study and practice with many great lamas, while never leaving the stream of devotion to Maharaji. 33 w h it e da k ini d ru bch e n With Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche and Lama Tsultrim Allione August 9 – 20 The annual Drubchen (Great Accomplishment Ceremony) of the White Dakini practice from Do Khyentse’s Dzinpa Randröl (Self-Liberation from Fixation) treasure cycle will be performed at Tara Mandala. This lineage comes directly from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to Sang-ngag Rinpoche, our Drubchen Vajra Master. We will experience a traditional empowerment given by Rinpoche and we will be led through an in-depth process of learning and practicing the White Dakini mandala. This practice is the union of Machig Labdrön and Yeshe Tsogyel surrounded by the dakinis of the five families. In addition to the precious teachings from Tulku Sang-ngag, Lama Tsultrim will help frame the experience through discussion and further teachings and will give two days of introductory teachings. This retreat is open to anyone interested. Prici n g There will be two days of introductory teachings, August 9 – 11. Please choose either to register for the teachings and Drubchen (Aug 9 – 20) or Drubchen only (Aug 11 – 20). Teachings & Drubchen: Dorm Yurt: $996 | Double: $1,170 | Queen Double: $1,644 | Queen Single: $1,884 Camping is free with a Retreat Fee of $840 Suggested Dana: $360 - $480 Drubchen only: Dorm Yurt: $830 | Double: $975 | Queen Double: $1,370 | Queen Single: $1,570 Camping is free with a Retreat Fee of $700 Suggested Dana: $300 - $400 sang-ngag Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of Ewam International Centers around the world. Born in 1952 into one of the oldest families in Tibet in an area called Chamdo in the Kham region, Rinpoche was recognized in early childhood by the great rimé lama (representing all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism), Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893-1959) as well as by the former Zigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, to be the reincarnation of the Gochen Tulku. LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 34 t he he a rt of the h ea rt With Annette Kaiser and Lama Tsultrim Allione, guest teacher September 1 – 6 Annette Kaiser, lineage holder of the Sufi master Irina Tweedie, who is the author of “Chasm of Fire,” will teach on the stillness of the moment. In silence we experience – beyond words – a dynamic that is the source of all forms emerging in beauty and harmony. There are rhythms and cycles, big and small, ever-changing patterns, a constant coming and going, all held in the Heart of the Heart. During the retreat we will practice meditation, have small group discussions, do dream work, and take walks in nature as well as learning some Qigong exercises while we experience the silence. Lama Tsultrim Allione will honor us twice with her teachings as well. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $540 | Double: $672 | Queen Double: $930 | Queen Single: $1,140 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $420 Suggested Dana: $180 – $240 annette kaiser is a spiritual teacher and the spiritual director of Villa Unspunnen (Switzerland) and Windschnur (Germany). She is a lineage holder of Irina Tweedie, author of “Daughter of Fire: A Diary of Spiritual Training with a Sufi Master.” She was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1948 and is married with two adult children. After completing her studies in economics, she worked for many years in the field of development cooperation and became involved in women’s rights. She developed the “Integral Practice DO” and runs her own Tai Ji and Qigong school. LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 35 f e e din g y o ur d e mons : ka pala t raining l ev el I I With Lama Tsultrim Allione September 9 – 15 This retreat is a continuation of the Kapala Training program. It consists of a deepening of the Prajña Paramita practice, an introduction to Jamgön Kongtrül’s text “Transmitting the Meaning of the Mother”, and Machig Labdrön’s method for cutting through discursive thoughts with sound. Feeding Your Demons™ work will continue individually and in dyads and will expand through mapping of family lineage demons, physical body demons, and hydra demons. For licensed therapists or counselors, completion of this Level II retreat and the required 108 Feeding Your Demons™ Tracking Forms allows one to apply for certification to use the five steps of Feeding Your Demons™ professionally. This course meets the qualifications for 29 hours of Continuing Education. Tara Mandala is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a continuing education provider (#3260). CE hours are offered for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Please sign up for CE hours at the time of registration; a $20 fee applies. PREREQUISITES: Kapala Training Level I and the interim assignments Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $630 | Double: $784 | Queen Double: $1,085 | Queen Single: $1,330 Camping is free with a Retreat Fee of $490 Suggested Dana: $210 – $280 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 36 Fe e din g Yo ur De mons ™ : Kapala Training Le v el I I I With Lama Tsultrim Allione and others September 9 – 15 PREREQUISITE: Completion of Kapala Training Level I, Kapala Training Level II, the Three Yana retreat, Chöd retreat, and the interim assignments. In Kapala III we will go further into Machig Labdrön’s lineage, learning specific new practices and deepening our understanding of the roots and branches of her lineage tree. Lama Tsultrim will be giving the Machig empowerment and associated practices during this retreat. This course meets the qualifications for 29 hours of Continuing Education. Tara Mandala is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a continuing education provider (#3260). CE hours are offered for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Please sign up for CE hours at the time of registration; a $20 fee applies. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: © Katrin Brueggemann Dorm Yurt: $630 | Double: $784 | Queen Double: $1,085 | Queen Single: $1,330 Camping is free with a Retreat Fee of $490 Suggested Dana: $210 – $280 LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 37 20 t h anniv er sa ry fou nder s week end With Peter Rowan and Yungchen Lhamo September 18 – 21 This weekend celebrates the Founders of Tara Mandala. September 19 will be a big Chod Feast with musical offerings from our very talented Sangha as well as Peter and Yungchen Lhamo, toasts, poems, stories. Tibetan music, like bluegrass, has its roots in the earth with strong spiritual overtones. Both kinds of music share a yearning for transcendence. Peter Rowan and Yungchen Lhamo are Tibetan Buddhists whose similarities and differences create a dynamic, creative collaboration which we will witness and share over this weekend that celebrates the founding of Tara Mandala, another East-West experiment! There will also be morning practice, stories, songs and an anniversary slideshow with poems from Tara Mandala poets. Included in the celebrations will be a benefactors’ reception at Lama Tsultrim’s home with the artists and a raffle and silent auction. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $360 | Double: $448 | Queen Double: $620 | Queen Single: $760 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $280 Suggested Dana: $120 – $160 PETER ROWAN: GRAMMY-Award winner and six-time GRAMMY nominee, Peter Rowan is a bluegrass singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, Peter’s stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and his subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings. yungchen lhamo was born in Tibet and escaped to India overland in 1989. Lhamo’s name means “Goddess of Song” - a name given to her by a Lama soon after she was born near Lhasa. She has made pilgrimage to Dharamsala, to receive the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama . She reaches out to the world through her music; to share the great beauty of her culture and spread understanding about the situation in Tibet. She moved to to New York City in 2000. 38 P ’h o wa & zhitr o : p r ac tices for de ath & dy ing With Chagdud Khadro and Lama Tsultrim Allione September 27 – October 1 These two extraordinary women are teaching P’howa and Zhitro together this year. Chagdud Khadro will teach P’howa, the transference of consciousness into an exalted state at the moment of death. P’howa transforms death into an opportunity for liberation and releases us from the fear of dying. It assures us that we won’t die in a state of spiritual uncertainty and drift helplessly after death. Lama Tsultrim will teach the Zhitro (Peaceful and Wrathful) practice, which is used to help those who have died. Knowing a practice to help those who have passed away, provides assistance to the dead and gives those who remain a positive practice to do for their loved ones. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $450 | Double: $560 | Queen Double: $775 | Queen Single: $950 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $350 Suggested Dana: $150 – $200 chagdud khadro met His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in Nepal in 1978, became his wife in the US in 1979, and remained his devoted student for twenty-three years. In 1997, Rinpoche invested her as the future Spiritual Director of Chagdud Gonpa Brazil. At Khadro Ling, the seat of Chagdud Gonpa Brazil, she has worked with a team of lamas, artists, and talented sangha members to construct a Guru Rinpoche Palace, publish texts, accomplish education projects, perform spiritual care for the dying, and preserve and teach Vajrayana ritual arts. LAMA TSULTRIM ALLIoNE’S bio can be found on page 6. 39 ti be tan m e di c in e r e juvenation ret re at With Matthew Schmookler and Nashalla G. Nyinda September 27 – October 1 The Tibetan Medicine Rejuvenation Retreat is designed to create a uniquely relaxing experience that rejuvenates body, energy, and mind into their naturally relaxed, coordinated, and balanced condition. The journey will begin with your seeing a Tibetan doctor who will create an individualized treatment regimen for you incorporating Tibetan herbal supplements, dietary guidelines, and a schedule of therapies to be carried out through the week. The days include group meditation, Yantra yoga classes, Tibetan Kunye Therapies, massage, hot springs visits, and informational talks. Prici n g Retreat Fee/ Lodging and all meals: Dorm Yurt: $450 | Double: $560 Queen Double: $775 | Queen Single: $950 Camping and Commuting are free with a Retreat Fee of $350 Suggested Dana: $150 – $200 matthew schmookler is one of seven instructors of Yantra Yoga in the US. He was authorized to teach by the great Tibetan cultural scholar and Dzogchen master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Matthew is also a Tibetan Medicine and Massage Practitioner, who graduated from Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine with certification as Doctor of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. nashalla g. nyinda TMD, holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Naropa University in Asian Medicine and Buddhist Psychology. She began studying Tibetan Medicine in 1999 studying extensively in Nepal and India; taking a decade to complete her Menpa degree. In 2009 she traveled to Tibet and received her degree from Qinghai Tibetan Medical College and The Shang Shung Institute of Tibetan Medicine. Dr. Nyinda, practices and teaches while maintaining a clinic in Boulder, Colorado. 40 2 0 1 4 Tar a Mandala O PEN H O U S ES May 4, June 29, and Sept 7 | 9:30am – 2pm Tara Mandala is open to the public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple, which includes a brief introduction to meditation with time for Q&A and a vegetarian buffet lunch. Please plan to arrive by 9:30am. All visitors must sign in. The tour starts promptly at 10am and ends by 1pm, followed by lunch. Our Tara Mandala Store will be open during your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to Tara Mandala. There is no charge but reservations are required. You can reserve your place on our website at taramandala.org. (Visiting at other times is by appointment only.) Please contact us if you have any questions at (970) 731-3711 ext 108 or by email at [email protected]. 41 S pec ial O ff er Tar a M andala partner s wit h the Sp rin gs Resort and Spa Treat your body to a day of relaxation before or after your retreat. We invite you to visit the beautiful town of Pagosa Springs, home of the World’s Deepest and Largest Geothermal Hot Spring, a 30-minute drive from Tara Mandala. The Hot Springs have an array of minerals that have extraordinary therapeutic effects on the body. The minerals include: Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Silica, Chloride, Fluoride, Arsenic, Boron, Iron, Lithium, Manganese, Sulfate, and Zinc. There are also no added chemicals in the pools. In honor of the launch of the Magyu, Mother Lineage, we wanted to let you know that we have created a special partnership with The Springs Resort and Spa for our retreatants. Ta r a Ma n d al a Spa & H ot S p ri ngs Pack age $108 (regular price $155) – A special 1 hour San Juan Essential Massage and All Day Come and Go Hot Springs Pass. Visit the Tara Mandala website (taramandala.org) to learn more about the Springs Package and see what other discounted Spa treatments are being offered. A percentage of the proceeds goes to Tara Mandala. S p e ci a l Ta r a M a n d a l a di s c o u n t e d H o t e l r at e s at Th e Sp ri n g s R e s o rt and S pa Hot el Book Online with Promo Code: TARAM at www.pagosahotsprings.com. For the most current special Tara Mandala packages please visit taramandala.org. To learn more about The Springs Resort and Spa, visit www.pagosahotsprings.com. 42 RE T RE AT REG I S T R ATI O N Retreat Fees are per person and include the cost of the retreat, meals, practice texts (except Drubchen), and full use of the facilities from check-in on the first day of the retreat until it ends. Accommodations and meals are not available between retreats. The retreat fees do not include teacher dana, unless otherwise specified. Our Sangha members can receive a 5-25% discount. Tax-deductible donations to the Evada Scholarship Fund are used to help people who otherwise might not be able to attend our retreats to come to Tara Mandala. Dana is offered to support the teachers of your retreat. Dana is the Pali word for generosity. The teachers in our programs donate their time in service to the Dharma and only receive what retreatants offer at the end of each retreat. R e g i s t r a t i on PR O CEDURES • • • • Space is limited, so please register early! Register securely online at: www.taramandala.org. A minimum of 50% of your Retreat Fee is required with your registration form. I f you do not initially pay in full, the balance is due at least 30 days before the retreat begins. • Y our space and accommodations are held when the retreat fee is received; your space and accommodations are fully guaranteed only when the entire retreat fee is received. C h a n g e s , C a n c e l l a t i on s , R e f u n d s Please understand that last minute cancellations are extremely costly for us. The staff time, food ordering, and budget committed to each program is based upon the number of people who have registered. In addition, you may have contributed a portion of your program cost to the Evada Scholarship Fund. These contributions cannot be returned because others are then affected. ancellations or Change Requests must be received in writing for a refund or credit to • C be issued. We recommend that you send an email to [email protected] with the subject line: “Retreat Cancellation Request.” • Refund/credit amounts are dependent on the timing of the written request. • If we receive your written Cancellation or Change Request 31 days or more before the retreat starts, you will receive a full refund minus a $75.00 processing fee and minus any scholarship funds donated. • No refunds/credit for Cancellations or Change Requests received 30 days or less before the retreat start date can be considered. • Cancellations or Change Requests cannot be accepted by phone. • There is a $50.00 fee for all returned checks. 43 F I NANC I AL A SSIS TA N C E P ay m e n t P l a n s Deferred payment plans are available based on financial need. You must fill out an application and work out a payment schedule with the office. If approved you must provide post-dated checks or your credit card number for scheduled payments. Financial assistance forms are on our website. E va d a S c h o l a r s h i p F u n d The Evada Fund is designed to assist those who, due to financial hardship, may not otherwise be able to attend our retreats. These funds are available to cover up to 50% of the lowest retreat fees for programs at Tara Mandala. Financial assistance forms are on our website. Special Needs Retreats are not meant as a substitute for psychotherapy. We recommend that if you are currently undergoing psychotherapy you inform your therapist of your intention to participate in a retreat. Retreats can be emotionally demanding and physically strenuous. If you have a health condition or are aware that you may require medical supervision, we recommend that you not participate in a retreat. We do not have the appropriate staff or facilities to accommodate special needs of this nature. Con t i n u i n g E d u c a t i on Tara Mandala is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a continuing education provider (#3260). CE hours are offered for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). The number of CE hours offered is listed below programs for which credit is available. Please sign up for CE hours at the time of registration; a $20 fee applies. S t ay i n g Conn e c t e d We have an email distribution list that we use to keep people informed of upcoming retreats and other Tara Mandala news. We invite you to join by visiting our website at www.taramandala. org. Those who subscribe to the our email list will also receive Words of Wisdom: a Dharma quote selected by Lama Tsultrim and framed by current photos from Tara Mandala. We are on Facebook under Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tara Mandala Retreat Center. Our website is updated regularly and has information about our center. TARA MANDALA PO Box 3040, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (970) 731-3711 taramandala.org This program guide is printed on post consumer waste recycled paper and is produced annually by Tara Mandala, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization. All Rights Reserved © Tara Mandala, 2014 44 R E T R EAT A C cOM mO DAT I ONS Prajña Residence Hall offers 16 rooms on two floors with stunning views of the San Juan mountains to the East and Ekajati peak to the West. The building is beautifully handpainted with traditional Tibetan flower imagery on the window lintels. The outer plaster is a brilliant golden yellow ochre limestone that matches the community building. Our rooms offer beautifully decorated, extremely comfortable accommodations with a sink and granite counter in each room. The amenities of the residence hall allow retreatants to take advantage of our retreats year-round. Dorm Yurts are communal style and consist of 6 to 12 twin beds with fitted sheets, pillows, and side tables. Bring your own sleeping bag. All facilities, including full baths, are in the community building. Camping continues to be an option for anyone coming here during the warm months. Bring your own tent and gear and sleep under the big open sky on Tara Mandala’s beautiful land. All facilities, including full baths, are in the community building. Camping is free. 45 TARA MANDALA R E TR E AT CA B I N S Retreat, or returning back to a place of origin, is an age-old practice in many cultures. Our retreat cabins provide a rare and precious opportunity to be completely secluded and alone in a remote mountain setting. Here you are free to maintain intensive practice and connect with your innermost being. All of our cabins are ideal for solitary retreat. They feature vast views and are remotely located for ultimate privacy. Each cabin has a single bed, wood stove heat, a gas burner or cooking stove, and kitchen supplies. Retreatants bring their own food, bedding, and practice materials. Shopping once a week is provided for longer retreats. Re n ta l F e e s Retreat cabins may be rented for a minimum of two nights, and as long as any number of years with the permission of an authorized teacher; rates are based on length of rental. Retreat fees cover: cabin rental, fuel (wood and propane), retreatant care (weekly shopping for retreats of more than one week in length), and various supplies. Food is not provided. 2 Nights (minimum stay*) = $70/night | 3-5 Nights = $50/night 6-28 Nights = $40/night | 28 Nights or more = $700/month ($23/night) *Minimum stay varies based on weather, and can be as long as one week during winter months. For more information about our current retreat schedule or solo retreats, please visit our website at taramandala.org or call (970) 731-3711 x108. w e at h e r Our retreat land, located at 7500-8000 feet elevation, presents varied weather conditions. Summer days are sunny and can reach over ninety degrees and afternoon thunderstorms likely. Nights may be quite cool dropping between forty and fifty degrees, requiring a warm sweater or jacket. In the spring and fall, night temperatures can go below freezing. 46 T HE C O M M U N I T Y B U I L D I NG The Community Building was the first structure to be built at Tara Mandala and was completed in 2005. It is a 6000 sq’ double-walled, adobe structure which houses our kitchen, dining room, store, full bathrooms with soaking bathtubs, and offices. The wood for this building was harvested from the land using horses. Lama Gyurme and his brother Palden from Tibet were the artists for the wood carving and painting. All the interior plasters are different colors of clay that were found on the land, and the decorative paintings of traditional Tibetan motifs were created using natural mineral pigments. TA R A M ANDALA STO RE The Tara Mandala Store carries a variety of Buddhist and Tibetan treasures to support one’s practice. The store carries a unique selection of art, textiles, practice and ritual items such as thangkas, statues, bell and dorjes, Chöd drums, shrine items, malas, mala counters, high-grade Tibetan and Bhutanese incense, clothing and much more. The Store is also home to the ever popular Tara Mandala Herbs, 21 herbal formulas infused with awareness and cultivated directly from the land or nearby mountains. In addition to Lama Tsultrim’s autographed books, Feeding your Demons and Women of Wisdom, we have a variety of books on Sutrayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism. To p l a c e a n o r d e r, y o u m a y v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e : t a r a m a n d a l a . o rg ; e m a i l : [email protected]; or call (970) 731-3711 x103. 47 Th e T rik aya Ta r a T e m p l e The main temple at Tara Mandala was born from a dream Lama Tsultrim had during a year-long solitary retreat on June 5, 2001 – the night of the Buddha’s birthday. The dream began with depth radiance blue, then the three levels and a mandala formation were revealed to her by the great Dzogchen master from the 8th century, Vimalamitra. The 12,000 sq’ temple was constructed between 2007-2009, using the skills of traditional Bhutanese wood carvers and Tibetan artists. he third and top floor represents mind and the pure awareness: Dharmakaya. This is • T an open room with four doors and is painted the same blue from the original dream. • The second floor represents sacred speech and the luminous radiance of pure form: Sambogakaya. This floor houses offices, guest quarters for visiting teachers, library, and archives. • The ground floor represents the physical embodiment of enlightened energy in our world: Nirmanakaya. This level is the main temple with a circumambulation corridor and four entrances. The exterior has more than eighty uniquely painted lintels, such as a series of twelve astrological animals, mythic beasts and animals representing the elements, and deities for each direction, which are located on each of the three floors representing the three kayas. The artist for the entire temple has been Lama Gyurme Rabgye, who worked with David Petit and Lama Tsultrim Allione to create one of the most exquisite representations of Vajrayana Buddhist cosmology in the world. 48 LIV IN G D H A R MA VOL U N T EER S The intention of the Living Dharma Program is to offer participants the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities with which to integrate Dharma practice and mindfulness in daily life. Through the teachings of Vajrayana, volunteers will gain a new perspective on how Dharma practice can transform the attitude with which one approaches all aspects of life and work. Creating such a shift in perspective requires significant effort on the part of the volunteer; one is invited to take on this challenge through service, the support of a practice community, and a curriculum of Dharma teachings and practice. Volunteers camp in summer and are housed in dorms in colder months. Volunteers work an average of 35 hours per week at an assigned job. Work opportunities include: kitchen, temple, garden, land crew, retreat setup, the Tara Mandala Store, Prajna residence hall, community building, and the office. Those who can make a full 3-month commitment beginning in June to the Living Dharma Program will participate in the Three Yana Retreat in June. Following that period, daily group practice and weekly teachings with an authorized teacher comprise the core of the spiritual curriculum. The evening teaching sessions of group retreats is often available, depending on the boundaries of each retreat. Volunteers also take part in all community practices, events, councils, and karma yoga. While personal practices are honored without discrimination, all Living Dharma Volunteers must make a commitment to fully participate in the Vajrayana teachings and practices offered. Applications and volunteers are welcomed year-round. A one-month minimum commitment is required and preference is given to applicants who are available for longer periods. Visit our website for more information. “As a volunteer, you’re really offering yourself to the Dharma, and the karmic effects of such are abundant. Between the incredible teachers, the profound teachings, the familylike community, and the many offerings of the land itself, you feel truly blessed and held. If you want a summer of pure relaxation and spiritual coasting, the Living Dharma program at Tara Mandala is the wrong choice. If you want to challenge yourself, face your ‘stuff,’ delve into the beautiful teachings, and create bonds that will last a lifetime, Dakini Land awaits!” -Erik Andersson, Volunteer 49 2013 DONOR S AND SUS TA I N I N G SANG HA MEM BE RS S P E C I AL T H ANK S AND G RAT I T U D E Special thanks and gratitude to all who have contributed to the ongoing vibrancy of Tara Mandala through their donations and work. We apologize for any omissions. m a ha b e n e fa ct o rs in 2013 Annette Marwald • Marco Spinner • Ulla Tretter • Anonymous TARA THANKA $1,000 Donors Albert Reed • Ani Kelsang Rinjung • Astrid Klostermeier • Augusta Talbot • Bobbi Popovec • Brian Lahti • Cary Twomey • Catherine Fehrmann • Catherine Horan • Chandra Easton • Cindy Lyon • Dori Langevin • Erin Hill-Selover • Gayle Dixon • Jeff Tipp • Jessica Rafka • Jonathan Barfield • Julie Williams • Karen Fong • Karla Jackson-Brewer • Katharine Menton • Keely McDonald • Koncha Pinos • Lil Fishman • Linda Bonde • Lisa Erickson • Lisa Foreman • Lisa Maas • Mali Jimenez • Margaret Howe • Marianne Gunther • Marie-Jo Galas • Mark Jahnke • Michael Stevens • Monica Mesa • Monica Metea • Nancy Thompson • Robyn Catchlove • Shellie Noyes • Sherab Chodron • Stephen Becker • Steven Young • Sue May Hall • Tansy Foster • Taylor Pattinson • Timotha Doane • Tsultrim Allione • Vera Claus-Maisel • Victor Neves • Walter Maisel SUSTAINING SANGhA DONATIONS Anonymous • Albert Reed • Aleksandra Suriel • Amy Holmgren • Anette Marweld • Ani Kelsang Rinjung • Anja Klein • Anke Nowicki • Ann Patterson • Anna Marie Taylor • Anna Rayne-Levi • Anna Sanders • Annalis Prendina • Astrid Klostermeier • Augusta Talbot • Avery Otto • Barbara & Jon Landau • Barbara A Graham • Barbara Hicks • Barbara L. Secrest • Barbara Staemmler • Benjamin Imdieke • Bernard Koellhofer • Betina Holdrich • Bettina Grote • Bettina Hoeldrich • Bobbi Popovec • Brian Hodel • Brian Lahti • Bridget Bailey • Brook Stone • Carol Jolley • Carre Hamm • Cary Twomey • Catherine Horan • Cathy Travis • Chandi New • Chandra Easton • Charmaine Larsen • Cheryl Kellogg • Chimae L. Say • Christine Anisko • Christine Daverio • Christine Hill • Christine Ho • Christopher & Jennifer Warren • Cindy Lyon • Csilla Torok • Cynthia Morrow • Cynthia Rubenstein • Dagmar Lowenkamp • Dana Price • Daniel Lesny • DeAnn Glenn • Debra Kupchok • Debra 50 2013 DONOR S AND SUS TA I N I N G SANG HA MEM BE RS V Quayle • Dennis Rose • Diana Sullivan • Dixon (Frick) Burden • Elinore Evans Rampe (Hoke) • Eliot Shieler • Elizabeth (Liz) Cramer • Elizabeth Navas • Ellen Booth Church • Ellen Miriam Ziegler • Ellen Serrano • Elsa Wolman Katana • Eric & Jeanine Kuhrts • Eric Horstman • Erica Rayner-Horn • Fran Anderson • Frances (Pema) Lin • Francie Nolde • Gail Flynn • Gail Tiefenbach • Gayle Dixon • Gena Mccarthy • Greg Powers • Gudrun Binder • Heidi Oman • Heidi Rotterdam • Heidi Wong • Helen Terre Blanche • Hugh Danville • Jacqueline Mills • James South • Jeff Tipp • Jennifer Fahey • Jennifer Hector • Jenny Terbell • Jessica McDuffee • Jim Boal • Joan Sheehan • Jonathan Barfield • Jonathan Weber • Josephine Doig • Joyce Thom • Judith Harrington • Julia Jean • Julie Kostuch • Julie Wester • Julie Williams • Karen Bewick • Karen Fong • Karen Williams • Karla JacksonBrewer • Katalin Koda • Katharine Menton • Katherine Barr • Kathy Garvasi • Katia Wolf • Katie Langton • Katiza Satya Ivulic • Keely McDonald • Keith Weinstein • Kenneth Sloan • Khandro Noble • Kimberly Rettenwander • Koncha Pinos • Kyle Nelson • Laara Jansen • Larissa (Lara) Bruhns • Laura Pavicevic-Johnston • Lauren Palmateer • Leah ConroeLuzius • Lee Weinstein • Lenore Olmstead • Letitia Quinn • Lila Friedman • Linda Wetmore • Lindsay Morgan • Lisa E (Orineya, Naya Rose) Dwyer • Lisa Erickson • Lissa Treasure • Lizzy Hoke • Louella Montgomery • Louise A. Venetucci • Louise Brewer • Lucia Roncalli • MacAndrew Jack • Mali Jimenez • Marcia Meyers • Marco Spinner • Margaret (Sherab Wangmo) Carlson • Margarita Loinaz • Margot Truini • Maria Protopsaltis • Maria Rosa (Rosie) Kaufman • Marie-Jo Galas • Marilyn O’Mara • Mark Jahnke • Martha Roberts • Marti Hanna • Mary Ann Littleton • Mary Flowers • Mary Gilliland • Maureen Freehill • Maya Goodson • Melissa Ambrose • Melissa Berryman Faria • Michael Stevens • Michele Stupka • Michelle Hemingway • Michelle Cormack • Michelle Johnson • Michelle Vesser • Mimi Maduro • Monica Mesa • Monica Metea • Morgan McDonald • Nancy Thompson • Nonnie Welch • Pamela Ambrose • Peggy Shropshire-Mobbs • Penelope R. Burton • Peter Weinstein • Petra Sloan • Polly M Ryan • Rachel Homer • Rain Hastings • Rebecca Owens • Renee Pitts • Rhenna St. Clair • Richard Klein • Robert Olander • Roberta Godbe Tipp • Roberta Kvenild • Robin Gayle • Robyn Catchlove • Rodney Fuller • Rodney Spencer • Rosario Escobedo • Rosemary (Akhila) Bourne • Ryan Jacobson • Sabine Hayoz Kalff • Sabine Schirmaier • Sahaj Wood • Sally Goodwin • Sandra Jayne Belen • Sandy Gougis • Sara Crampton • Sara Lefkowitz • Sarah Hylton • Sean Feit • Sechmet Botger • Shanti Loustaunou • Sharon Jackson • Sharon Slebodnick • Shellie Noyes • Shena Jade Jensen • Sherab Chodron • Shirsten Lundblad • Sietske (Yutso) de Haan • Skipper Kripitz • Stella Bonnie • Stephen Becker • Steve LeClair • Steven Kuhn • Sue May Hall • Susan Miller • Susan Glumac • Susan Lynn Kelsey • Susan Moffat • Susie Kessler • Suzanne Lippuner • Suzanne Manz • Tansy Foster • Tanya Dalley • Tara McLeer • Taylor Pattinson • Ted Faris • Thomas Fischbach • Thomas Nelson • Timotha Doane • Timothy Eyes • Tina Starfire • Tom Hirschi • Trish (Patricia) Heck • Troma Khandro • Trudy Goodman • Tsultrim Allione • Ute Bangert • Vajra Lila • Valerie Sowinski • Vera Claus-Maisel • Zita Arocha 51 2013 DONOR S AND SUS TA I N I N G SANG HA MEM BE RS 2013 capital campaign Alysia Trombla • Anette Marweld • Anna Raithel • BAE Acupuncture PLLC • Barbara Coloe • Barbara D Demuth-Mullally • Barbara & Jon Landau • Benjamin Imdieke • Berit Andersen Sandvik • Carmen Correa • Carre Hamm • Catherine Horan • Chanda Mollers • Chandi New • Chandra Easton • Cheryl Kellogg • Chimae Say • Dagmar Lowenkamp • Daniel Blacklock • Debbra Gill • Deborah Epstein • Deborah Klibanoff • Dian Doody • Diane Abrashkin • Eileen Crist Patzig • Eleanor Loudon • Elizabeth Navas • Ellen Booth Church • Emanuel Seiler • Erica Rayner-Horn • Frances (Pema) Lin • Helen Terre Blanche • Inna Kogan • Irina Kurlyandchik • Jason Baumann • Jeanne Lepisto • Jennifer MacFarlane • Jeris Miller • Judith Marcus • Karen Fong • Karen Lee • Katia Wolf • Keelin Curran • Kimberly Rettenwander • Larissa (Lara) Bruhns • Lauren Palmateer • Leila Jerene • Letitia Quinn • Lila Friedman • Lil Fishman • Linda Barnett • Linda Morris • Louella Montgomery • Lucille Laurin • Lucinda Herring • MacAndrew Jack • Mai Nguyen • Marco Spinner • Margaret (Sherab Wangmo) Carlson • Maria Heiss • Melissa Berryman Faria • Morgan McDonald • Nancy Hagel • Nancy Nordhoff • Patricia Amsler • Peggy Shropshire-Mobbs • Polly M Ryan • Ruth Ewing • Sally Goodwin • Sandra Mastromonaco • Shanti Loustaunou • Sharon Slebodnick • Shellie Noyes • Sofia Stephenson • Steven Kuhn • Susan Glumac • Susan Lirakis • Tanya Dalley • Taylor Pattinson • Tom Hirschi • Tracy Dickerson • Tsultrim Allione • Ursula Tretter • Victor R Neves 2013 Maintenance fund Alysia Trombla • Barbara D Demuth-Mullally • Erica Rayner-Horn • Jeanne Lepisto • Jeris Miller • Keelin Curran • Maria Heiss • Nancy Nordhoff • Patricia Amsler • Peggy ShropshireMobbs • Sally Goodwin • Shanti Loustaunou • Sharon Slebodnick • Shellie Noyes 2013 david sustainability fund Debra V Quayle • Jenny Terbell • Sidney (Yudron Wangmo) Skinner • Tanya Dalley • Tina Starfire 2013 machig statue fund Anette Marweld • Benjamin Imdieke • Dagmar Lowenkamp • Eleanor Loudon • Morgan McDonald • Sofia Stephenson • Steven Kuhn • Susan Glumac • Tanya Dalley 52 Re fl e ct i on s on t h e 20 t h Ann iv e rs ary and th e Fu t u re of Tara Mandala F ROM O U R DE V ELOPMENT C OU NCI L Those who pass through the gate of Tara Mandala for the first time are struck by the beauty of the land, the magnificence of the temple, and the comfort, form and function of the retreat facilities. During their time here, they engage in world-class programs led by extraordinary teachers, supported by a dedicated staff and Living Dharma Volunteers. Whether in isolated retreat cabins or in a group retreat, each is guided in the traditions of transforming encumbered Lama Tsultrim and David Petit the day Tara Mandala land was found Sept 18, 1993 patterns into wisdom through both authentic Tibetan Buddhist wisdom traditions and innovative methods de- veloped for the 21st century western Buddhist. And as they return to a chaotic world beyond our gate, they are renewed and inspired by what they have learned, and join an international community that radiates out from Tara Mandala with numerous Satellite Sanghas in Europe and the USA. Twenty years ago, Tara Mandala existed as only our founder’s dream for a retreat center in America where people could reach the depths of meditation that occur in Tibet. Today thousands of people have contributed their efforts, prayers, practice, butter lamps, tsog offerings, karma yoga, and donations to help enrich the community to become what it is today: the largest center of its kind — a center to nurture to steward the re-emergence of the sacred feminine within the Buddhist tradition, two well articulated and planned 7-year practice paths, serving an international community that expands every year. Thank you for all your help reaching those goals, together we have raised more than $7.5 million to bring Tara Mandala to where it is today. For this special anniversary year we are focusing on sustainability, we hope you will consider joining us in making these goals a reality. 53 WAT ER Tara Mandala’s first project for this year is to develop its water infrastructure. As many of you have experienced, our shallow wells do not adequately support the activities taking place on the land now, plus we are in an extended drought cycle in the Southwest. We recently consulted with a hydrologist and performed a geophysical study that points to a large fracture near a spring on the northwestern edge of the land. According to the hydrologist this fracture has the greatest potential of providing ample water for our future needs. The plan mandates well drilling, production yield tests and, if the amounts are sufficient, almost a mile of pipe from the source to our settlement area. Additionally, to increase our water we would like to create a system to harvest rain water for our gardens. The existing gutter systems for the Tara Temple and Community Building require storage tanks and a pumping system for water that will sustain our gardens and landscaping. We estimate a need for $175,000 to complete these two projects and have sufficient water for our summer programs. Currently, we are also researching new technologies for low-flush toilets as well as other water saving options. T HE D AV I D PE T IT SUSTA INABILI TY FUN D In honor of Tara Mandala co-founder David Petit, whose devotion built Tara Mandala, we have developed the “David Petit Sustainability Fund”. Our 20th anniversary fundraising efforts will focus on establishing this $2 million fund. Please take a moment to visualize Tara Mandala as financially secure with an annual investment income sufficient to supplement our program and membership income. Imagine our children and grandchildren practicing at Tara Mandala with a sense of security. We have a good start on this, having well built structures and absolutely no debt, both our land and our buildings are completely paid for. However in order to keep our programs affordable and to pay our operating expenses the budget needs to be supplemented. The David Petit Sustainability Fund would provide investment income to supplement the operating budget. 54 Num b e r o f g i f t s ne e d ed Number of Gifts $ Amount of gifts Would Equal $ 1 1,000,000 1,000,000 1 500,000 500,000 1 250,000 250,000 1 100,000 100,000 2 50,000 100,000 4 25,000 100,000 6 10,000 60,000 8 5,000 40,000 Other Donations less than 5,000 25,000 total $2,175,000 O THE R WAYS T O SU PPO RT TAR A MAN DALA J o i n o r In c r e a s e Yo u r P a r t i c i p a t i on i n t h e S u s t a i n i n g Sangha Membership Sustaining Sangha members provide operating support that makes retreats affordable, provides budgetary flexibility for our leadership to engage in new initiatives, and helps us adequately compensate our dedicated staff. By making a monthly, semi-annual or annual commitment, members enable Tara Mandala to effect peaceable change on the planet through growing the Holy Dharma. In c l u d e T a r a M a n d a l a i n Yo u r E s t a t e P l a n s Recognizing impermanence is a key part of the Dharma. Acknowledging death as inevitable and putting our final affairs in order is a gift to our families and friends. Consider naming Tara Mandala as a contingent beneficiary of your will or trust, or name Tara Mandala the beneficiary of an IRA or retirement account. Our staff can provide you with language to make this bequest upon request, and we would be happy to speak with your attorney or financial planner to ensure that documents are executed correctly. To act on these or other opportunities to contribute, or to learn more about supporting Tara Mandala, please call Josephine Doig, Executive Director [email protected] or call 970731-3711 ext. 110. 55 56 Visit taramandala.org for a current retreat calendar and information about solo retreats. Group Retreats u Solo Retreat Cabins Vast View u Open Heart AN INTERNATIONAL Retreat Center P.O. Box 3040 Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 taramandala.org