Looking Back at 2011

Contributed by: Mindrolling International News Staff
Published: 12 January 2012

Buddha Family Report

Rinpoche during the first teaching of the Shedra in which she gave a commentary on the text Ascertaining the Three Vows by Lochen Dharmashri.

The Buddha Family holds the very heart essence of Lotus Garden, its mandate being the guidance of the spiritual life of the sangha. From this core comes the motivation for the activities of the other four families.

The Buddha Family is overseen by HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsün Dechen Paldrön. They are assisted by senior nuns and monks, lopöns, umdzes, chöpöns, and others, who are responsible for teachings, curricula and programs, retreats, meditation, rituals, the care of shrines, and the spiritual well-being of residents, retreatants, and practitioners.

Jetsün Dechen Paldrön bestows a teaching during the Ati Zabdön program in May.

The Dharmashri Foundation, headed by Jetsün Dechen Paldrön, is responsible for all translations, liturgies, web/media projects, archival activities, and the publication of Dharma Dhrishti, an online journal. In 2011, Dharma Dhrishti produced two video issues of teachings with Rinpoche, Jetsunla and Ven. Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche, and published many teachings online, in both transcript, video, and audio form.

Highlights of 2011 Buddha Family activity include a very successful series of winter retreat programs; the largest ever turnout for both the Shedra and the Annual Retreat; a reorganization of the local study groups; and a deepening of study and practice in the Lotus Garden local study group. Approximately fifty new students came to Lotus Garden having "met" Rinpoche on our Facebook pages or on her international tours.

HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche bestowing teachings on Chandrakirti's Introduction to the Middle Way.

During the Shedra Program HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche began a new cycle of teachings on Madhyamaka by beginning to teach on Chandrakirti's great commentary on Nagurjuna's Madhyamakavatara, Introduction to the Middle Way. And HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche presented a commentary on Ascertaining the Three Vows, a text by Lochen Dharmashri. In September, the much anticipated empowerment of Krodhi Kali was bestowed by HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, assisted by Jetsunla, who prepared the liturgy and patiently spent hours coaching the sangha the finer points of the sadhana practice.


WINTER PROGRAMS

Lopöns Jann Jackson and Helen Berliner with participants of a program.
Shrine team member, Lucie Novakova, displays tormas for a special practice day.
Participants of the Guru Yoga Retreat with photos of the various manifestations and forms of Padmasambhava.
Ngöndro practitioners at the Buddha shrine in the early morning.
The shrine is arranged for a sadhana practice.
Senior practitioner and Lotus Garden senior umdze, Mark Beckstrom, in deep meditation in the solitude of a distant field.
A ngöndro practitioner offers mandala.
Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche addressing program participants via Skype from India, as she did regularly during the winter programs.
Some members of the Lotus Garden Local (Thursday Night) Study Group with Lopön Helen Berliner.

SHEDRA PROGRAM

HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsün Dechen Paldrön arriving for the first teaching of the Shedra Program.
Tsultrim Dechen, Karma Wözer and Chönyid Chödron arriving for the first day of Shedra.
Lopön Andre Panatonio and Lopön Rita Gross during the offering the Body, Speech and Mind Mandala Offering to Rinpoche.
Monastics gather to welcome HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche to Lotus Garden.
Barbara Ryan, Jesse Munn, Mark Beckstrom, Helen Berliner, Judy Wolfer and Cathie Papantonio await the arrival of HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche.
HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche welcomes HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche to Lotus Garden.
Lama Riga and Lama Phuntsok greet HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Kyudo students at an early morning practice with Sensei Ken Rawie.
HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and the nuns offer mandala to HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche at the conclusion of the Shedra program.
During the Shedra, Lotus Garden celebrated the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Here, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Jetsunla offer the first khatags to the throne.
HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche departing from Lotus Garden.

ANNUAL RETREAT

Lopöns Jann Jackson and Helen Berliner (front) and Rita Gross, Andre Papantonio, and Barbara Ryan (back row).
Lopön Jann Jackson making the mandala offering to Rinpoche on behalf of the sangha.
HE Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche teaching.
Rinpoche admires artwork done by Lilli Baker and Sofina Davis during the teaching.
Photographer Gabriel Berde (right front of speakers) visits Lotus Garden and shows some of his marvelous photos of murals from the Great Stupa at Mindrolling Monastery.
Rinpoche and Jetsunla meet with the local area study group facilitators in the Künzang Gatsal shrine room to discuss plans for the coming year.
Rinpoche, Jetsunla, and the nuns returning to the residence after a teaching.
Lotus Garden's very own Linda Fisher as a member of the Press for the Kalachakra.

RINPOCHE'S FINAL TEACHING OF 2011

On New Year's Eve, Rinpoche spoke to the worldwide sangha via webcast from Mindrolling Monastery sending New Year greetings and urging us all to cultivate the wealth of dharma in the coming year. Rinpoche's inspiring message was a marvelous New Year's gift to our worldwide community and a wonderful way to begin the year. 

Watching Rinpoche's webcast from Lotus Garden.

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