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04
Jewel Heart News
CLEVELAND CHAPTER January - February 2005
Jewel Heart is an educational and cultural center
whose doors are open to all. Its purpose is to transmit the essence
of Tibetan Buddhism in an authentic and accessible form. Jewel
Heart provides guidance and practical methods to anyone interested
in spiritual development, as well as those who wish to follow
the traditional Buddhist path.
White Tara Class to begin January 8
Open to all, The Healing Practice of White Tara
is a four-week course led by Sarah Ralston. Tara, a female Buddha,
is the mother goddess of Tibetan Buddhism, known for her quick
and compassionate activity. She is particularly associated with
healing and long life. This course teaches visualization techniques
that rely on the energy of White Tara to overcome physical, mental
and emotional suffering.
Saturdays. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 from 12:30-2pm Cost $40 or $15
for a single session free to supporting members
Come 15 minutes early to first class to register, or preregister
at any Jewel Heart event or by calling 216-691-5950
Sangha Council Meeting
On Saturday, January 22, from 2:30-4:30 pm or so we will hold
our first Sangha Council Meeting at the JH Center, featuring brief
presentations by President Bill Kirchner and other executive committee
members, time for questions, and discussion of future goals and
aspirations for Jewel Heart Cleveland. All who are interested
in learning how Jewel Heart works as well as those who may want
to participate in the organization are welcome. Everyone is encouraged
to attend!
Ganden Lha Gyema Workshop January 30
Based on one of the most popular recitation texts in the Tsongkhapa
tradition, this practice serves to deepen the connection with
your spiritual teacher and with this tradition in particular.
It includes elements of a daily meditation practice, as well as
a guided visualization using the Migtsema mantra. Instructor Anne
Warren
Sunday January 30 from 1-5 pm Cost: $20 for non-members and $15
for members
Come 15 minutes early to register, or preregister at any Jewel
Heart event or by calling 216-691-5950
Coming Jewel Heart Cleveland Events
Momo Workshop Fundraiser Jan. 29
Join us for a wonderful afternoon of mo-mo making (and
eating!) Chunden Goldstein has generously agreed to teach this
fine Tibetan art. If you've never eaten mo-mo's (Tibetan filled
dumplings), you're in for a wonderful treat! A $15 per person
donation is requested with all proceeds going to Jewel Heart.
If you play a musical instrument, please bring it along, and bring
whatever beverage you enjoy drinking.
Jan. 29 2pm-? at Bill and Susie's. For directions, contact Bill
or Susan at xlucent@zoominternet.net or (216) 287-4774.
Mala Bag Making Potluck, Friday Feb. 25, 7 pm - 9ish
The Mala elves are at it again! As part of the ongoing malas for
inmates project, mala bags are offered to inmates as well. There
is now a back order for bags so we are asking for your help. Come
be part of the team that will cut, sew and construct bags. (This
is not a gender-based skill so everyone is welcome to join us).
If you learned to use scissors in kindergarten, you have all the
skills you will need to be of great assistance on this project.
Materials will be provided, just bring lots of enthusiasm and
a dinner dish to share. See you there!
(So that we may continue to fund this project, we are asking
for a donation of $5 per person. If you are unable to attend the
potluck but would like to contribute, leave your donation at the
center and specify it for the mala-making project.)
Mandatory Tsohs for Mother Tantra Practitioners
Wednesday January 5 7-9 pm Vajrayogini Tsoh offering
for those who have taken the Heruka initiation. Please bring food
offerings and also your ritual implements and Vajrayogini prayer
book.
Wednesday January 19 7-9 pm Lama Chopa Tsoh offering. Required
for Mother Tantra practitioners, but open to the Jewel Heart community.
We will chant this offering in a combination of English and Tibetan.
Please bring a food offering, ritual implements if you wish and
the Jewel Heart Prayer Book.
Open meditation hours and Tara Meditation
Saturdays from 10:30 to noon we alternate breathing practice
and guided White Tara meditation. See the calendar below for dates.
Lama Chöpa Tsoh for Losar
Celebrate the Tibetan New Year February 9 from 7-9 Open to all,
this traditional ritual offering will chanted in a combination
of English and Tibetan. Bring a food offering if you can. Afterward,
nonperishable food items will be distributed to local charities.
Vajrayogini Tsoh
Saturday, Feb. 5, from 4-6 for those who have received the Vajrayogini
initiation.
The Jewel Heart Study Program
Jewel Heart offers a graduated study and practice program based
on the teachings of Gelek Rimpoche. Open to all, these classes
are especially intended for those wishing to study the Tibetan
Buddhist path in a systematic and in-depth manner.
Courses generally cost $10 per week if paid in advance, or $15
a week at the door. The fee for most courses is waived for supporting
members. If you are unable to afford this, contact Debbie Burr
at 734-994-3387 for possible fee reduction. Come 15 minutes early
to first class to register, or preregister at any Jewel Heart
event or by calling 216-691-5950.
Good Life Good Death Discussion Group
Based on the national bestselling book Gelek Rimpoche, this course
explores how Tibetan Buddhist perspective can be utilized by anyone,
of any faith, to bring depth, meaning and joy to daily life. Mondays,
beginning December 27, 7-8:30 pm Seven weeks, $70
New Odyssey to Freedom Group
Module One: Key Elements of a Daily Practice The Odyssey to Freedom
is Gelek Rimpoche's step-by-step guide to the Buddhist path,
written especially for us in the 21st century. Each evening will
include a brief videotaped talk by Rimpoche, discussion, and guided
meditation and practice advice.
Course fee for Module One: free for supporting members and above.
$80 for non-members
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm beginning Feb. 23.
Bodhisattva vows discussion group
This 10 week group is intended primarily for those who have taken
Bodhisattva vows or who have completed the Odyssey to Freedom
course and are considering taking these vows. Using Rimpoche's
transcripts and other teachings, we will work on learning the
vows and what they mean, on understanding their purpose and on
trying to see how they apply in our daily lives.
Thursdays, 7-8:30 pm beginning Feb. 24. Cost $100 or free for
members at the supporting level or above.
Six Session Guru Yoga
The Six Session Guru Yoga is a required practice for those who
have taken Highest Yoga Tantra initiation. This 10 week class
will be based on Gelek Rimpoche's teachings and Six-Session Guru
Yoga by Geshe Losang Tharchin. Restricted to students with Highest
Yoga Tantra initiation.
Mondays, 7-8:30 beginning March 1. Cost $100 or free for members
at the supporting level or above.
White Tara Class
see top of the page
Lama Chopa Study Group continues
Thursdays from 7-9 pm through January for those with highest yoga
tantra initiation. Taught from the Gelek Rimpoche's transcript
Guru Devotion: How to Integrate the Primordial Mind.
JH Cleveland News
About 200 people attended the Tara Blessing Ceremony held at
Unity of Greater Cleveland on November 14. The beautiful and inspirational
ceremony, led by Gelek Rimpoche, included guided meditations
and a Tara mantra transmission. At the two morning services preceding
the Tara Blessing, Rimpoche spoke to more than 300 people about
the power of compassion and the ability of each of us to bring
about healing for others and ourselves through our actions.
Marilyn Hall, International Director of Jewel Heart, met with
the Cleveland Coordinator's Team on November 11 to explain the
organizational changes taking place in Jewel Heart and to officially
introduce the Cleveland Sangha Executive Council officers appointed
by Rimpoche.
In two workshops for Vajrayana students, Sonam, former chant
master of Gyuto Tantric College, gave instructions in setting
up an altar, making offerings, mudras and chanting with concentration
on the Lama Chopa. His humor and encouragement were a great inspiration
to all who attended. Our December potluck with Sonam as special
guest was well attended - everyone enjoyed Chunden-la's special
steamed mo-mo's and some enjoyed her hot hot sauce! Sonam also
helped us prepare the offerings for our Lama Chopa Tsoh for Ganden
Ngamchu or Je Tsongkhapa Day. For once we had actual Tsoh offering
cakes make of tsampa (roasted barley flour) and dried Tibetan
cheese among other ingredients, beautifully decorated with Sonam's
butter sculpture. We were surprised to learn that at Gyuto Tantric
College where Sonam was once chantmaster (umdze) the Lama Chopa
was chanted without special melodies, because the college specialized
in other practices such as Guhyasamaja. However with the help
of our Cleveland umdze team, we were able to sing the Lama Chopa
in Tibetan according to the Jewel Heart tunes. Sonam has agreed
to return to Cleveland for a followup workshop on ritual practices
including his specialty of butter sculpture sometime later this
year - so watch for details in future newsletters.
Jewel Heart was once again part of the Tremont Art Walk. Artists
sold their wares at a holiday sale and open house, the weekend
of Dec. 10-12. A portion of the profits from this sale was donated
to JH raising more than $700. Thanks to everyone who supported
the artists and Jewel Heart!
Our first Gateway to the Spiritual Path class finished Dec 6
with near a dozen participants reluctant to part ways. Vivian
Hartmann and Steve Goldberg tag-teamed to lead this introductory
course, based on a short text pulled from various teachings by
Rimpoche. The teamwork and openness of this diverse class helped
create a sense of community and Sangha. And, although a good number
of students came in from Kent and Warren each week, all were eager
for the next offering in the Jewel Heart study program!
Ann Arbor News
Gelek Rimpoche's live teachings will again be available online
on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Jan. 11! The teachings can
be heard at 7 pm and are rebroadcast for one week. On Tuesdays
in Ann Arbor he will be speaking on the wisdom chapter of Shantideva's
Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. In NYC on Thursdays, he
will give complementary teachings on wisdom. These teachings are
available to members pledging at the supporting level or above
for information contact debbie@jewelheart.org.
The 2005 Jewel Heart Calendar is now available at the center.
Filled with photos of Rimpoche and pithy sayings, it is a rare
treasure and a bargain at only $17!
Jewel Heart Winter Retreat Yamantaka will be the topic for this
year's winter retreat at Jewel Heart Ann Arbor
Fri. Feb. 11 - Mon., February 21, 2005 with the initiation February
11 - 12, 2005. Details including cost, times and registration
available from the Ann Arbor office. Anyone interested in taking
initiation for the first time, please contact programming@jewelheart.org
**Rimpoche generally encourages students to attend at least one
summer retreat or take the Odyssey course before considering this
level of initiation.
For other Ann Arbor news, please check the Jewel Heart webpage
http://www.jewelheart.org frequently!
Other Cleveland Area Events
Wisdom compassion and power: The dance of the 21 praises of Tara
Julie Thomas, student of Prema Dasara and certified teacher of
the Mandala Dance, teaches the Mandala Dance of the 21 praises
of Tara. This dance consists of simple, graceful, tai chi like
movements done with Tara mantras and the Twenty-One Praises of
Tara, a traditional Tibetan practice translated into English.
Place: First Unitarian Church of Youngstown, 1105 Elm Street.
All are welcome, Buddhist or dance experience not necessary. Donations
greatly appreciated - $5 for students, $10 for adults. For schedule
and more information please contact Julie Thomas at jethomas@ysu.edu
after Jan. 17or visit www.taradhatu.org
Introduction to Buddhism course Ani Palmo, an American Buddhist
nun for ten years, will be giving an introductory course called
"Discovering Buddhism." The course will cover a wide
range of topics including the philosophies and practices of all
the different Buddhist schools, Science/Psychology and Buddhism,
Death and Dying, and Women and Buddhism as well as some basic
meditation techniques in each class.
The course will run one evening per week during January and February.
Cost is 10 dollars per class. Times and venue to be announced.
(This class is not at Jewel Heart.) For more information and to
register please contact Palmo at palmoska@yahoo.com.
JH Cleveland Calendar of Events
(all events at Jewel Hear Cleveland center unless otherwise
noted)
Good Life Good Death Dec. 27 Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. Feb. 7 from
7-8:30
Odyssey to Freedom Part 6 Wed. Dec 29, Jan 12, 26 from 7:15-8:45
Lama Chopa Study group Thurs. Dec. 30 Jan. 6, 13, 20,27, Feb.
3 from 7-9
Tibetan Language/Culture Class Sun. Jan. 3, 16, Feb. 6, 27, from
12-2:00
Vajrayogini Tsoh Wed. Jan. 5 (compulsory for mother tantra) from
7-9. Feb. 5 from 4-6
White Tara Class Sat. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 from 12:30-2
Lama Chöpa Tsoh Wed. Jan. 19 (compulsory for mother tantra).
Wed. Feb 9 (Losar) from 7-9.
White Tara practice Sat. Jan. 15, 29, Feb. 5, 19 from 10:30-12
Open Meditation Jan. 8, 22 Feb.12, 26 from 10-12
Sangha Council Meeting Jan. 22 at 2:30
Momo workshop fundraiser Sat. Jan. 29 beginning at 2:00 (at the
Kirchner's)
Ganden Lha Gyema workshop Sunday Jan. 30, 1-5 pm
Bodhisattva Vow class Mon. Feb. 28 from 7-8:30
Odyssey to Freedom Part 1 Wed. Feb. 23 from 7:15-8:45
Six-session Guru Yoga Class Feb. 24 from 7-9
Mala Bag Workshop/potluck Fri. Feb. 25 beginning at 7:00
May all beings have happiness.
May they be free from suffering.
May they come to know the joy that has never known suffering.
May they be free from attachment and hatred.
