Thanksgiving Day

ཐུགས་རྗེ་ལེགས་འབུལ་ཉིན་མོ།
November 22, 2012 Thursday

Thanksgiving Day is one of the major holidays in the United States. With Thursday and Friday as holiday, combining this with the weekends, people plan for a great holiday with the friends and family. Origin of Thanksgiving Day has a long history dating back to ancient harvest festival in Europe. Harvest festival is popular in many countries, where people thank the gods and nature for good and healthy bountiful harvest.

Thanksgiving Day in the United States is believed to have started in 1621, when some 50 Plymouth Pilgrims had a feast with native Indians at Plymouth to thank the natives for their help and in granting corn seeds. The two communities got into peace accord and lived peacefully around that time. It was then observed impromptu annually after the harvest. It was during President Lincoln time that the day was made public holiday and celebrated widely.

Today, the Thanksgiving Day is celebrated by the people to thank their respective gods, family and friends for all the help and guidance they had received during the year. It is also an important occasion for the family members to gather at their country home and celebrate.  

Most importantly, it is a day for all to thank and to remember the native Indians for their sincere help in accommodating and allowing the early Plymouth Pilgrim settlers in the land. Today the United States accommodates people from all the continents with freedom, democracy and equality as its guiding principle. The Day also reminds us to be thankful and grateful for all the help and blessing we have received from our friends and neighbors during the course of our journey in this life.

It would have been a nice tradition still relevant in this modern busy material century to allow the people to have a peaceful and joyful family time if only the turkeys are spared of their lives.

Flame of Truth

བདེན་པའི་མེ་ལྕེ།

San Francisco: November 10, 2-012 Saturday

བོད་མིའི་བདེན་པའི་མེ་ལྕེའི་ལས་འགུལ་ ༢༠༡༢ ཟླ་ ༡༡ ཚེས་ ༡༠ ཉིན་བྱང་ཨ་རིའི་ཀེ་ལོ་ཕོར་ནིཡ་མངའ་སྡེའི་གྲོང་ཁྱེར་སེན་ཕེརན་སི་ཀོ་ལ་མཇུག་སྒྲིལ་ཞུས། བོད་མི་དང་བོད་དོན་རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ཚོགས་པ་མི་གྲངས་ལྔ་བརྒྱ་ལྷག་མཉམ་བཞུག་གིས་རྔམ་སྟོན་ཁྲོམ་སྐོར་དང་གོམ་འགྲོས། རྒྱ་ནག་གཞུང་ཚབ་ལས་ཁུངས་མདུན་དུ་སྐད་འབོད་ངོ་རྒོལ་བྱས་ཡོད།

Photo: Lhamo Tso, the wife of "Leaving the Fear Behind" documentary maker Dhondup Wangchen carrying the Flame of Truth, TANC President Kunjo Tashi standing beside her.

Flame of Truth North America chapter concluded on November 10, 2012 at San Francisco city. More than five hundred Tibetans and Tibet supporters gathered to show solidarity to the Tibetan cause and marched to Chinese embassy in the city to protest and urged the Chinese government to resolve Tibet issue, and stop repression in Tibet. 

 Tibetans and Tibet supporters protestng before the Chinese Cosulate office in San Francisco on the day.

What is Halloween?

October 31, 2012

San Francisco: The eve of October 31 is a great evening of excitement and fun for the children here. The children dress themselves up in their favorite ghostly characters and move around the neighborhood knocking doors and chanting, "Trick or Treat". Meaning either they should be given something to eat, or the owner face a trick or mischief. Usually, the children were given sweets, chocolates and other eatable things. Many of the houses are decorated in a ghostly style; very scarring and frightening. People have a big yellow pumpkin hollowed and curved to a demonic face with a light inside. It is called Jack-o-lantern. It gives a very scary sight in the night. Originally, a carrot was used; later an apple and when it came to the States, pumpkin came in.

 Halloween is widely celebrated in the Western world. It is said that it came to United States along with the Irish immigrant [after the potato famine in the region] in 19th century. It is an age old festival of Celtic Irish tribes dating back to BC era. In early days, October 31st is the end of the summer and the harvest season, and is celebrated as festival of Samhain [summer-end]. It is also to thank the Sun for the good summer, and pray for its early return from the harsh winter. Samhain is sometime referred to as the lord of death. From November 1st, it is the start of the New Year, and the long harsh winter. At the end of the year, the lord of death Samhain let the spirit of the people died during the year to visit their home, and sometime cause harm and possess the living people. In order to ward off the spirits and the ghosts, tradition came up that the people dressed themselves up in ghostly styles to avoid, confuse and to scare the real ghosts away.

It is also sometime referred as Roman festival of the dead, when the dead returns to their home for feast and treat on the eve. People leave some eatable things outside so that the dead could pick it up and go away. If the dead are not treated to a feast, they tend to harm the people living in the house. This is construed as the origin of “trick or treat” chanting.

Later the Roman amalgamated this festival with one of theirs to propitiate the Roman goddess of fruits and trees, Pomona. Christian culture worked further on to turn this festival to celebrate the "all saints eve". November 1^st was celebrated “all saint day” to honor all martyrs and saints. The Etymology of the word Halloween became "all hallow evening". Much of the ancient meaning and purpose of the event is lost, but today it is celebrated as one the most awaited children festivals. Above is an iceberg information on Halloween, the festival is very old, and many explanation can be found about its origin and the purpose by many scholars and folklorists.

Now, many Asian immigrants have also taken to enjoy the festivals. It was heartening yet at the same time frightening to see many Tibetan kids also in ghostly attires going around chanting "trick or treat".

Above is a picture of candy, sweets, chocolates and other eatables what one child gathered  during the 'trick or treat' visits.

Jekdel; Leaving the Fear Behind

འཇིགས་འབྲལ། དོན་གྲུབ་དབང་ཆེན།
 October 15, 2012 Monday

San Francisco: Jekdal, Leaving the Fear Behind, a documentary that exposed the gaudy and happy picture of Tibet painted by the Chinese government prior to the 2008 Olympic to fool the world has received wide attention and acclaims of interanatonal community. The documentary is seen as the real opinion of the people in Tibet. This documentary was screened in San Francisco today before some forty young computer and technology professionals. Heidi Minx, a human rights activist organized the event at Causes.com in the heart of the city. She gave a brief introduction of situation in Tibet, and introduced Lhamo Tso, the young wife of the film maker Dhondup Wangchen, who was present at the event.

 

People watched the 25 minutes documentary film with great interest and some were moved to tears, and many were seen showing their support for the young director. After the screening of the film, Lhamo Tso, answered and clarified questions from the audiences.

Lhamo Tso with the organizers Heidi and Rocky
Following is the summary of what Lhamo Tso said in the question-answer session. She said that despite the Chinese promise, situation is Tibet did not change and in fact became worse after the Olympic. Opinion of Tibetan people as reflected in the film is same even today, i.e. freedom of culture and religion, and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since 2008 Olympic, Chinese government became very repressive, and intolerant. Situation became so critical that the Tibetans were left with no choice than to commit self-immolation to protest the Chinese occupation, and to draw the international community's attention.

 When asked if her husband received facility of lawyer and trail, Lhamo Tso said that her husband was arrested on March 27, 2008 for making this documentary film. This documentary is collection of public opinion on 2008 Olympic in China, and it also talks about coexistence with Chinese under Middle Path approach adopted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. But the Chinese police arrested him and sentenced him for six years of imprisonment without any trail. The two Chinese lawyers who represented Dhondup were not allowed to file case. It is not only my husband; there are many Tibetan languishing in prison for speaking up for freedom and justice in our land.

 My husband when he went into prison, he was a healthy man. Today he is in very poor health suffering from hepatitis. I am campaigning for his early release so that we could take care of his health properly.

 Lhamo Tso expressed gratitude to all the supporters, and said that her European and American tour to campaign for Tibet's cause and her husband's release was very effective. Governments, lawmakers, NGOs, and supporters have raised the issue at different platform, and this has had good direct as well as indirect effect in warning the China that the world is watching.

 Lastly, Lhamo Tso thanked the audience for their time, and requested them to use their professional knowledge to spread the injustice going on in Tibet, and to speak for freedom and justice in Tibet.  

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in San Francisco

Sept 29, 2012 Saturday

San Francisco: Burmese freedom fighter and Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the crowd of some three thousand at San Francisco University today. San Francisco city is known for supporting the Burmese movement for freedom and democracy. The city also has the largest Burmese community in the United States. San Francisco Mayor welcomed the Nobel Laureate, and handed her the San Francisco Golden Key award. He said that the city is honored to have the lady, who has become a symbol of Burmese freedom and democracy. Senator Nancy Palosi addressed the crowd and expressed her support to the Suu Kyi and democracy movement in Burma. She said the United States have always been with the freedom seeking people in Burma.

 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi greeted the crowd, spoke first in English for sometimes and later spoke in Burmese language. She said she want to communicate in Burmese with the Burmese community to see that they have not forgotten their root. She said the innovative, multicultural democracy and courage to welcome change and difference here in this country should be a good lesson for all Burmese people. We should learn but without giving away your value.

Our society need to open our heart as well as mind. We must thank the people here for putting us firmly on the path of human rights, freedom and democracy. She thanked the Americans for their support, and said that Burmese will work hard to repay the generosity. Burma is on the path of democracy and national development. Although our party has 43 seats in 600 plus parliament, we are all working hard to establish rule of law. The speakers are very supportive, things are moving in a positive direction.

We need to reflect in ourselves. Think about what we are lacking, don’t think about what others are lacking. See what you have done or not done to promote peace and freedom in your homeland. Important ingredient for peace and development is humility. If you want to come back to contribute, you should be willing to work with the people in homeland. Feeling that you are helping and superiority feeling will not work. We all need to work together to build our homeland.

More...

Geshe Chapur Rinpoche's Teaching

Dhondupling dZogchen Community Center, Berkeley

Sept 23 – 24, 2012, Saturday and Suday

Berkeley: Geshe Chapur Rinpoche gave teaching for two days on Zhang Zhung Ngondro, preliminary teaching to the profound teaching of dZogchen, the great perfection at Dhondupling dZogchen Community Center in Berkeley. The teaching consisted of foundation practices that form a gateway to Bön dzogchen (great perfection) teaching. Rinpoche taught on preliminary instruction system, ngondro allows the student to approach properly the different levels of teachings passed down through the ages from Dzogchen masters of the revered ancient Zhang Zhung lineages of Bön.

 

Geshe Chaphur Rinpoche gave detail instructions and teaching on the Zhang Zhung Ngondro based on oral teaching transmission and the text Nyam rGyu rGyal wa’ Phyag Khrid. He gave historical background of the lineage of the teaching, and how the teaching was passed through mind, and then orally and finally in written form.

 

At later dates Rinpoche will continue teachings on the different levels of practice related to Dzogchen Oral Transmission.

The teaching was organized by Gyalshen Institute, a non-profit organization [501(c) (3) ] dedicated to the preservation and revival of Zhang Zhung and Tibetan culture and traditions. Geshe Chaphur Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the institute.

Teaching on Bon Religion

Geshe Chaphur's Teaching at Dondrup Ling

Organized by Gyalshen Institute [June 16, 2012 Saturday]

 Berkeley, CA: Geshe Chapur Rinpoche of Gyalshen Institute gave a one-day teaching at Dondrup Ling center in Berkeley on historical aspect of the Bon teaching, its development, and about the unique status of the doctrine, and the current situation. Following is the summary of the Geshe la's teaching and the clarifications he gave to the questions asked by the participants. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya translated the teachings.

The word Bon is as old as history of Zhangshung and Tibet. It can mean many things. We have Bon, Yungdrung Bon, Bon nyingma, Bon sarma, Bon Buddhist etc. The word or the sound "Bon" is also said to be the origin of word "Tibet". From Bon came Bod; from Bod came Bhote; from Bhote came Tibet.

 But generally Bon is understood as the native religion of Tibet. Sometime people say Bon is similar or same as Shamanism, this is wrong. When we say Bon, we have to think of what Bon we are talking about.

The Bon teaching that we are talking about and practicing is the Yungdrung Bon, propagated or founded by Tonpa Shenrab Miwo. Before Tonpa Shenrab, there was a native religious practice in Zhangshung and Tibet, which were also known by the name of Bon. It involved the practice of propitiating gods or deities through animal sacrifices. This primitive Bon may have similarity with Shamanism. Tonpa Shenrab later reformed this and instead of actual animal sacrifice, a ritual symbolizing animal sacrifice without having to take the lives of real animals was introduced.

Tonpa Shenrab was born a common man in Olmolungring. The religious doctrine that he taught was Yungdrung Bon. Yung means kyeme, unborn and primordial. It represents "Conventional truth". Drung mean gagme, uninterrupted or no obstruction. It represents "Ultimate truth". It is said that 18,027 years have passed since the birth of Tonpa Shenrab. During Tonpa Shenrab's time, shenlo system is used to count the years. One shenlo was equal to our 100 years. So, when we say that Tonpa Shenrab lived for 82 years, it means he lived for 820 years.

It was possible around that time that people lived long, and were very big in size. Our fortune and moral came diminishing since then. Tonpa Shenrab's footprint, which could be seen in Kongpo is the proof of his size.

Tonpa Shenrab has a Yungdrung Chagshing in his hand. Two swastikas at the end of a feet-long wood, swastikas represent the Sutra and Tantra teaching. Chag means breaking or destruction, therefore the destruction of all mental afflictions, and shing, the wood which is straight represent Dzogchen teaching, leading us straight to enlightenment.

Tibetans have a word "Nangpa" which literally means insider, and sometime people relate this to Buddhist follower only. Question comes whether Bon follower are nangpa or not. Nangpa is defined as those who believe in realizing the inner self through proper study of Sutra and Tantra to achieve understanding of the Two Truth.  As Bon teaching also believe in the same thing, we can very much say that Bonpos are "nangpa".

Since the assassination of Zhangshung king by Trisong Deutsen's army, Bon follower in Tibet fled Tibet. Many Bonpos fled Tibet, many Sutra masters or monks fled to Mongolia, and many Tanra practitioners fled to Nepal and India. The Bonpo master Nangchenlopa, although a highly accomplished Dzogchen master, was very angry that he retaliated with his magical power. His anger was so great at that time that it was pacified only after his meeting with Tapiritsa.

Both Bon and Buddhism suffered great downfall since 9th century to early 13th century. This period was termed as dark period of Tibetan history.

The religious situation deteriorated to such an extent that there was no one to give monks' vow, Gelong dhompa. Lachen Gongpa Rabsel, a Buddhist monk from Amdo received the Dhompa from Sogton Trimpar Tsultrim, a Mongolian Bonpo. Sogton advised Gonpa Rabsel that this is a Bonpo Dhompa, so you should use a blue color in your rob. That is why today we see blue lining in Buddhist monks rob.

Now, why blue color. Tonpa shenrab has adopted blue as sacred color. It was said that when he came to Tibet, he was in blue dress. Blue represent sky, bodily it symbolizes eternal and unchanging; in speech, it symbolizes uninterrupted; in mind, it symbolizes vastness and emptiness. Generally, in Tibetan society it is said "Bonpo ngonpo togo ngonpo jyon" meaning Bonpo in blue attire came. In this Tibetan sentence there are nine naro [o vowel of Tibetan language]. And this is said to represent the "Nine ways of Bon" taught by Tonpa Shenrab.

Tonpa Shenrab taught the teaching through "Nine ways of Bon", known as thegpa rimgui Bon. He did not teach Sutra, Tantra, and Dzongchen from the beginning. Considering the different intellectual capacity of the people, Tonpa Shenrab adopted this nine ways of Bon to transmit the teaching. First thing that Tonpa Shenrab taught was mo, the art of divination, followed by tsi, astrology; to, ritual; and men, medicine. When a person is sick, divination and astrological readings are done to know the cause of the sickness, accordingly rituals and medicines are prescribed to cure the sick person. This is something understandable to any person, and appreciated by all. What happens when all these fails to cure the person, then comes the importance of mind. How to deal with this sickness, and understanding its cause? This will convince the people and lead them to study and practice Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen.

In Sutra, we come to see the vision as mind. In Tantra, through chorim, generating stage; and zogrim, completion stage, deities are created by mind. Dzogchen is the amalgamation of Sutra and Tantra. Do-ngag zung drel.

About Guru Padma Sambhawa: Tibetan name for Padmasambava is Pema Jungne, which means lotus born. And the Tibetan says that the Guru was born out of a lotus flower. This may be alright when talking at the level of belief and reverence to ones belief, but scholars or researcher cannot take this as true for someone to be born out of lotus. And the Tunhuang manuscript, the oldest written record found on Tibet does not mention anything about the existence of a great influential teacher like Guru Rinpoche from India.

According to Bonpo scholars, Padmasambava is Padmathongdrol. He was one of the twin sons of Drenpa Namkha and Woden Barma of Zahor, other son being Tsewang Rigzin. Padmathongdrol played great role in amalgamating the teaching of Bon and Buddhism. He was revered highly; Bonpos who strictly followed his teaching came to be known as Bon-sarma, the New Bon.

Jerinpoche, [Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen] was born in Gyarong in 1356. He revived Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen teaching of Yungdrung Bon from the verge of extinction. Therefore, he is revered greatly as the second Buddha or the Tonpa.

Yeru monastery was a large Bon monastery from where Jerinpoche graduated. This monastery was so big that it is said that there were four gongs in four different directions to call the monks for assembly. Some says, monks come riding horse to attend the assembly. But unfortunately, when Jerinpoche was away to his home town Gyarong, this great monastery was destroyed in a day by a great flood. Sidpai Gyalmo, the protector deity of Bon is said to have visited Jerinpoche, and informed that, the moral and spiritual fortune of the people have fallen so low that she could not save the monastery from this natural calamity. She further advised Jerinpoche to return to Central Tibet and start teaching. This Jerinphoche did and he established Menri monastery, later Yungdrungling monastery came up near Lhasa.

Today, there are some 360 Bonpo monasteries in Tibet. In terms of followers in Tibet, Bonpos are ranked third. First being Geluk; second Nyingma; fourth Kagyu; and fifth Sakyapa.

How the Dzogchen teaching spread to Europe and the West. It was first in UK, when Yongzin Rinpoche built a small stupa and taught few Englishmen. Later, in 1987 or 88, Yongzin Rinpoche visited LA, and did the teaching. It is said the Yongzin Rinpoche faced great difficulty initially, it had been a difficult start; people are not aware and not ready for the teaching. Some teachings ended up talking only about Yak and other Tibetan things. But Rinpoche's visit did produced result later on.

In 1991 or 1992, young master like Tenzin Wangyal came and spread the teaching in America. Nyima woser and Chongtrul followed thereafter. Today, we are here discussing the brief history of evolution of Bon, its development and the current situation.