Prayers for Tharpaland

Excerpt from an email sent by Kelsang Shri, the Admin Director at Tharpaland International Retreat Centre in Scotland:
We have found out quite recently that the proposed windfarm at Tharpaland may not yet have full planning permission to go ahead. While the wind farm situation in Scotland is high profile, especially due to Donald Trumps campaigning and address to parliament on this issue, we have been asked by Venerable Geshe-la to campaign vigorously against windfarms and in particular to attend the demo in Edinburgh on Wed 25th April 2012 if at all possible. ... Can you all help us by promoting this demo as much as possible, encourage people to go, display the following poster in your centre and help us to finally win this fight against a windfarm at this sacred site. This is a very important time for Tharpaland and anything you can do to help, and especially by coming to the demo will be greatly appreciated. If you can't attend then please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

If you're not familiar with Tharpaland, here is a brief introduction from their website:

Tharpaland International Retreat Centre was founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1985, when he began a three year retreat here together with ten of his students. During that time Geshe-la also wrote and edited several books on the essential practices of our tradition.
Over the years retreaters have come to engage in long solitary retreat, shorter solitary retreat and guided group retreats. Through the power of all their practice, Tharpaland has become a very blessed and peaceful place to engage in retreat.
"When I go to Tharpaland, it seems as if I am entering another world. It is so quiet, pure and clean. I like Tharpaland very much, the time I spent there was very special for me".
- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Tharpaland Will Be Moving

Tharpaland, the blessed retreat center in Scotland where Geshe Kelsang did a long retreat, and where many others have had the opportunity to do short or long retreats, just sent out this update:

"Thank you for all your support and offers to help Tharpaland International Retreat Centre with the move. For now we are staying where we are and are running a full retreat programme until June 2012. We have no further news other than that Tharpaland's relocation is taking longer than we expected, please keep us in your prayers and dedications. 

For those of you who want to help with the move please keep in touch and we will let you know how you can help and when as soon as we know ourselves.  Also keep checking our website: www.tharpaland.org for any further updates and for retreat information. And meanwhile why not come to Tharpaland and enjoy our special retreat conditions?"

Registration for UK Festivals

Did you know that booking for UK Spring Festival is already open?
http://kadampafestivals.org/spring-2-2/booking

And that booking for Summer Festival opens @5am Seattle time* on Wed. April 11?
http://kadampafestivals.org/summer-2/book-for-the-summer-festival

I pray that everyone with a strong wish to attend is able to go.

* according to the World Clock time converter at http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

US Fest Website Live

FYI
The website for the US Festival in April now has a lot more info:

http://www.kadampafestivalus.org/

Note that registration for on-site accommodation opens at 12 noon EST, Monday March 12.

There's a Torma Workshop afterward with Gen Chönden.

Gen-la D Teaching at US Festival

When I first looked at the webpage for the US Festival, Gen-la Kunsang was going to be the main Teacher. Although I am very fond of her, I have a closer connection with Gen-la Dekyong, who was my Resident Teacher for 9 months (hmm ... what does that length of time make you think of?) and did my first Vajrayogini close retreat under her guidance.
Gen-la K is warm and friendly - she really embodies the teachings about compassion and love. One recent Summer Festival I had a volunteer job sitting at a post; she walked by after a tsog puja and asked me if she could get me anything! She was already the Deputy Spiritual Director at that point! I also saw a lot of her in the dining marquees, chatting with students. Her teachings have a very international feel, in that she make comments on the police in Mexico (you don't go to them for any kind of refuge) and explains idioms in other languages.
I'm going anyway, no matter who the Teacher is, but admit to being very happy to hear Gen-la D teach again, especially after hearing her sublime teachings in Vancouver. I hope that many others are inspired to attend.
So far, the site has only the most basic info - dates, subject and Teacher - with the promise of more details to come mid-month.
http://www.kadampafestivalus.org/

Good Karma Bowl-A-Rama

Our sister center in Olympia is have a fun-raising fundraiser. Here's part of the description:

Each team member collects sponsorship for strikes, spares, or any amount as you can. The
day of the tournament you may buy as many strikes, spares and ‘Do-Overs!’ (gutter balls)
you can with donations (all’s fair for World Peace :) ...

There are various creative prizes, including a cooking class, for best team name.

If you'd like to generate some good karma, feel free to send a check of any amount to:

Olympia Mahayana Buddhist Center
211 Legion Way SW
Olympia, WA 98501

Or just rejoice!

NYC New Center!

Here's a cause for rejoicing: The Kadampa Center in New York City is getting a new home!
Their current location has many limitations, most notably its small size: For years now, people have been packed into their General Program classes, and I'm told they've even had to turn people away.

Check out the photos and description of their new space:
http://meditationinnewyork.org/makeadonation_the_new_space.php
Also note that Chakrasambara Center is now a special center, called a "KMC."

As you can imagine, real estate is very expensive in the city, even during an economic slump.
If you want some good karma, generate your biggest mind of love for all, and then make even a small donation; imagine how many people will benefit.

You can also make donations to our Seattle Kadampa Center or the International Temples Project, which is creating new Temples all over the world, as well as schools (!), hotels, retreat centers, etc.