Bodhicharya Mitra network………….for everyone

Dear friends,

As many of you will be aware, there are a number of our Dharma friends who do not have the support and friendship of a group where they can meet up, discuss Dharma, or just have the social interaction of being in contact with like minded people. The idea behind this Sangha email list is mainly to keep people informed about Ringu Tulku’s activities, but it also serves the purpose of bringing people together from all over the world. We would like to take this a step further and offer the ‘ Bodhicharya Mitra Network’ where Dharma friends can express an interest in meeting up with others who need support and friendship, or become email or ‘phone friends and/or mentors.  Or if people just want to get to know each other, no matter where they might live.  The idea is to offer help where help and support are needed. Please note that you are very welcome to join the Bodhicharya Mitra network although your main involvement may be with another Sangha. Everyone is welcome!

I will be working in conjunction with Bodhicharya London where there is already a support network in place for the London area. We will put together an international database of friends who would like to support each other. and I will help co-ordinate the setting up of local support groups. I know that many of you will be interested in becoming involved and helping this worthwhile project.

Ringu Tulku wrote about this project:

” There is absolutely no better Dharma practice  than to help and support people in need. “

I look forward to hearing from interested people. Please email me with any questions. Please pass on to whoever you think may be interested.
Love and best wishes,
Margaret Ford
Bodhicharya International

Mgtfrd(at)aol.com

Rigul Trust Newsletter, Spring 2009

To read the latest Rigul Trust Newsletter visit www.rigultrust.org then click on ”Projects”.

It includes an account of Francois Henrard’s trip to Rigul, Tibet in October 2008, Ringu Tulku’s birthplace and Ringu Tulku’s Meditation Centre in Sikkim, written by Pat Murphy

Rinpoche in Berlin

On march 29th 2009, Ringu Tulku lay the first stone for the building of the new temple for the Bodhicharya center in Berlin.

You can see more photos here.

Updated with pictures taken on March 30th.

Rinpoche is at the 26th Kagyu Monlam, Bodhgaya, India.

Visit the Kagyu Monlam website for all the details.

New Year greetings from Ringu Tulku

Months passed,
in solving problems
in hope and fear,
did I do one act of kindness?

I worried about everything,
economics, politics,
global and regional crisis.
Did I do one helpful act?

May we be kinder to each other
and learn to live delightfully
in spite of all the problems
and do some useful things.

Wish you all a very happy year in 2009

Ringu Tulku
Gangtok
25th December, 2008

Tara mantras for Ringu Tulku and the Bodhicharya mandala

Dear friends,
I asked Ringu Tulku if there is any practice or prayers that would be helpful for him and the Bodhicharya mandala. He told me that he had also asked this recently of one of his Lamas and he had been advised to perform 100,000 Tara praises. He said it would therefore be good if all his students and sangha could recite as many Tara mantras as possible before the end of the Tibetan new year.

The tibetan year ends on 24th February 2009 and the Tara mantra is as below this email. I would be grateful if all of you could please join us in reciting the mantra as much as possible. Please keep a count of your recitations and let me have your number of mantras either every week, or as often as you please, until or by 24th February 2009, I’ll keep a record for everyone. I’ll then let Rinpoche know how many mantras we have accomplished together by Losar. It will be our New year gift to him and each other.

As you recite the mantra please think of a positive and compassionate energy coming from your heart and surrounding Rinpoche and all of us, whether as Bodhicharya centres or groups or individuals, think of this positive and loving energy field expanding and reaching out to all beings, and dedicate all merit for the benefit of all.

I hope this is clear, but if anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to hear from you.

Please pass this on to all of Ringu Tulku’s students and friends.

with love and thanks and best wishes,
Margaret Ford
mgtfrd(at)aol.com
for Bodhicharya International

TARA MANTRA

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SO HA

Rigul 2008

I finally posted on Flickr some pictures of my trip to Rigul in October.

Just click here to see them.

The Four Reminders

Rinpoche’ Spring 2009 schedule

Tue 3rd March – Wed 4th March Tibet House Frankfurt
Thu 5th March – Bad Münster am Stein, Germany
Fri 6th March – Sun 8th March KCL Heidelberg
Mon 9th March – Wed 11th March Kamalashila Institute, Germany
Thu 12th March – Fri 13th March Muenster
Sat 14th March – Sun 15th March Bookholzberg
Mon 16th March- Tue 17th March Bremen
Wed 18th March – Mon 23rd March Hamburg
Tue 24th March – Mon 30th March Bodhicharya Berlin
Tue 31st March – Mon 6th April Belgium
Tue 7th April – Thu 9th April Paris
Fri 10th April – Thu 16th April Bodhicharya Huttenried
Fri 17th April – Thu 23rd April Barcelona
Fri 24th April – Mon 27th April Bodhicharya France
Tue 28th April – Thu 30th April Dundee
Fri 1st May – Sun 3rd May Glasgow
Tue 5th May – Thu 7th May Edinburgh
Fri 8th May – Mon 11th May London
Tue 12th May – Thu 14th May Somerset
Fri 15th May – Mon 18th May BBG Sussex
Tue 19th May – Mon 25th May Dublin
Tue 26th May – Thu 28th May Galway
Fri 29th May – Mon 1st June Dzogchen Beara, Ireland

The Bodhicharya Summercamp will take place from 3rd – 9th August 2009

Bodhicharya publications on Amazon

GOOD NEWS!  Ringu Tulku’s Lazy Lama books, and his most recent book on the Ngondro, can now be ordered via Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk Please note that Lotus Lines are the only authorised seller for Bodhicharya Publications through Amazon.