Letter from Pema Khandro

Dear Friends and Members

How Buddhism relates with illness has been a long time interest of mine, namely after dealing with serious illness as a child. All that time in the hospital changed how I saw life. And since I had been exposed to Buddhist teachings from a young age I had some way to make sense of it. It is after all, part of the Buddha’s life story, his reckoning with illness during the four sights was a turning point in his life. In the U.S. illness and disability is hidden from us. It is part of our cultural customs to hide it away in institutions or homes or hide it from coworkers, family or friends. The body can be treated like such an afterthought, but that is impossible now. We are, so many of us, thinking about illness, disease and dying. That can be stressful but it can also be illuminating. Illness can also be part of the path. By this I mean that we don’t just have to suffer needlessly, but that we can learn and grow from what illness has to teach us. These are some of the most valuable lessons to be learned. Surrender, loss of control, the boundaries of the body, that we must care for our health, the realities of our dependence and interdependence with others…. illness is a great teacher.  

I brought up this issue with some teachers I greatly appreciate in a recent pod-cast mini-series for LionsRoar.com.

One of the conversations was with Karma Lekshe Tsomo. She is a teacher who greatly inspires me for her work with Buddhist women, for her work as a scholar and for her kindness. I was always curious about the story of when she almost died from a snake bite in India. She was walking in the forest when it happened. So when the pandemic hit, I took the opportunity to ask her about it and to reflect together on how illness shaped our lives.

You can listen to that conversation here: Illness Can Teach Us So Much with Karma Lekshe Tsomo and Pema Khandro

It was so lovely to do this interview with Karma Lekshe Tsomo for so many reasons – but one of them was the underscoring yet again of the power of the internet to keep us connected. I got to spend time with her while she was in Hawaii, and I was in Virginia!

The power of online dharma continues to amaze me. During our summer retreat I was so overjoyed to realize that we could do such deep practice and study together online. It was really beautiful to see everyone’s homes and their shrines (and some of their pets). It furthered the sense of connection and being together. For the Winter Dzogchen Retreat, I am asking that we all practice on camera together for this reason. I know that not everyone will be able to, but it is more supportive for ourselves and our community if we can. Of course there will be off-camera periods as well.

In this retreat we will be studying the Mirror Illuminating the Heart. A dzogchen treasure teaching written down by Yeshe Tsogyal which focuses on how we can practice with our view. It is one of the sayings about Dzogchen, that the view is the base the path and the fruit. This text really brings that to light by opening up the way we see self, mind and reality. I hope that by studying this text in retreat that we can connect with a sense of the expanse more readily. We need to rest in that expansive presence for periods of time and not have a sense that we will do it later someday when we have it all together or have more time (there is never any more time by the way). Instead we can carry it with us as our base, path and fruit of the path. I look forward to the retreat, you can register here: Winter Dzogchen Retreat.

Praying for your health and healing, or at the very least, for wisdom in the face of whatever comes,

The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro

The Deep Retreat

Online Restorative Meditation Retreat

February 5th-7th

10am-6pm San Francisco / 1pm-9pm New York / 6pm-2am London

Sliding Scale Tuition: $270-$395

*Financial Aid and Scholarships Available

After a year of obstacles and stress, we invite you to join us for a weekend of restoration, serenity and serene contemplation of the ultimate purpose of life.

Buddhist Philosophy Pema Khandro teaches on The Mirror Illuminating the Heart, Dzogchen Nyingthig teachings on the vast view. These beautiful teachings consider the fundamental nature of mind and reality.

Group Meditation Classes
Pema Khandro teaches from the 27 Practices for training for Dzogchen meditation from the sems nyid ngal gso, Longchenpa’s instructions on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind.

Heart Sutra Chanting
Remember the profound teachings that unravels it all at the root. Afternoon Heart Sutra chanting will be led in English by Dr. Satya.

Dharma Conversations
Spiritual community is an important aspect of Buddhist practice, and it is even more important during the times of pandemic when in-person gatherings are limited. Join your fellow community members in dharma conversations during afternoon tea breaks (bring your own tea!). These are guided, small group conversations led by the teaching assistants.

Restorative Yoga
Unwind, let go of stress and give your body support. This simple, slow, bliss yoga class is designed to give rest and release to your body and mind. Each afternoon session will begin with an optional yoga class for you to do at home led by Buddhist Studies Institute Faculty.

Deep Practice
Unplug. Disconnect. Take space for inner silence and chanting meditation. Share silence together. Enjoy deep dharma study. This retreat includes guidance and support for taking a break from social media and news to create space for reflection and to de-clutter the mind. There is an optional one-hour social media period suggested each day for those who want to reduce but need to stay plugged in.

ONLINE OPEN TEACHINGS

*All times are listed in Pacific Time UTC-8 (Timezone Converter)

Now – Feb 12th Tibetan New Year (Losar)
New Years Meditation Marathon
Free, Short, Daily.

Thursdays – Resuming on Jan 7th, 8am
A Course in Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam
Winter Pramana Study

Feb 5-7, 10am-6pm
The Deep Retreat with Pema Khandro
Dzogchen Meditation Retreat

Feb 12, 6pm-8pm
Tibetan New Year – Losar Celebration for Members
Annual Member Celebration

Starts Feb 12, 12pm
Daily Meditation
A short free daily practice online and community time with certified meditation teachers

Feb 24-26, 1-3pm
Ngondro Training
Purifying the Mind: Vajrasattva Meditation & Purification of Karma

MEMBERS-ONLY CLASSES

Learn More about Membership
1st and 2nd Wednesdays – Vajrayana Training with Pema Khandro
For students on the path of Vajrayana and Great Perfection (Dzogchen)

3rd and 4th Wednesdays – Ngakpa Training with Pema Khandro
In-depth study of the Ngakpa Tradition

Every Monday until Feb 12 (Tibetan New Year) – Meditation Mondays
Group Meditation with Janak Kimmel & Guest Teachers

DAKINI MOUNTAIN NEWS

Seeking Land Manager for Dakini Mountain

Seeking a land manager for twenty hours a week in exchange for someone who wants to do off grid living with your own self-sustaining mobile home/RV system on Dakini Mountain property and free Buddhist Studies Institute courses. No RV hookups are here but it is the one of the most beautiful places on earth. Applicants must have farm experience, landscaping skills, construction, building knowledge, handyman skills etc, as well as capacity to be self-motivated, self-starting, work with others, take direction well and problem solve. Past experience as well as three employment references are required. Please send your resume, a photo, along with the name and contact for three employment references to Info@DakiniMountain.org.

Do you have Business and/or Real Estate Expertise?

Seeking conversation partners in reshaping the future of Dakini Mountain – seeking to converse with people with experience in real estate and running businesses as we re-vision how Dakini Mountain will take shape during the pandemic and beyond. Contact Info@DakiniMountain.org.