News

As usual the summer has been a hive of activity at Orgyen Cho Dzong  and Yeshe Nyingpo. The maintenance of the centers continued apace with the completion of the renovation of Buddha House as a wonderful refurbished retreat space. Each room is now fully equipped including its own new shower room, refrigerator and fan. The Stupa also had a new face lift with its annual maintenance and looks as good as new. Many students are increasingly drawn to circumambulate and make prayers around this beautiful and highly blessed monument. The lamp house too was decorated inside and out, and is available to all as a facility to make and dedicate light offerings. On each of the Great Wheel Turning days over the past six months Rinpoche has requested us to prepare and light 1000 butter lamps. Needless to say, the result is always brilliant.

Over the summer Rinpoche gave some extraordinary instructions on how to set up, conduct and finalize an authentic Vajrayana retreat including all the ritual objects necessary for the shrine and how to use them properly. The teachings were given according to Vajrakilaya, the Putri Repung Terma of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, an outstanding revelation designed specifically to cut through difficult circumstances and obstacles.  Following the retreat, Rinpoche gave incisive teachings on the Nature of Mind including oral instructions on three simple yet profound methods to help activate and maintain awareness. We are aiming to get a transcript of these unique teachings on to the website soon.

More recently Lin Learner, continued to instruct and lead students in the practice of the Five Dhyana Buddhas according to a formal retreat schedule over the course of a long weekend. By all reports this was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

In the City, at Yeshe Nyingpo regular Ngondro, Shinay and Luijin practice sessions continue according to their usual schedule. Moreover, Ken Frey and John Halpern have recently led a 3 day Shinay workshop for budding city yogins. Here, instruction was given in Shinay, (Calm Abiding), and also in  Bum Chung  (the Small Vase). This latter is known as the ‘Yogi’s Best Friend’ due to its profound ability to help stabilize the winds of the body and in turn the mind. John noted that the group successfully maintained a supportive atmosphere where everyone could concentrate in a stable situation in the development of Shinay concentration and awareness.

At the moment, Orgyen Cho Dzong is open for individual retreats and is currently serving a number of devoted retreatants in each of the retreat areas available, i.e. the cottage at Gilboa, the caravan in the forest and in Buddha House. Rinpoche is available for personal instruction for this purpose.

In the meantime the retreat project continues to progress with estimates coming in regarding plans for building new forest cabins. In addition, the aim to purchase a significant piece of land adjoining Orgyen Cho Dzong in order to secure the property completely according to His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche’s vision, is also going ahead as planned.

Finally, we would like to get a volunteer list together for anyone who would like to contribute their time, energy and skills towards the centers activities. These can range from gardening, cooking, cleaning and construction to transcribing teachings, general administration and website maintenance. This is the best way to get and feel really connected to either or both of the center’s activities and doing so benefits everyone so it’s really a win win situation. If you would like to be included on this list please phone on (518) 966 4077 or email ocdsangha@aol.com indicating any skills you may have and the areas  in which you’d be happy to offer some help.