Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

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DGA
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Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by DGA »

http://bonshenling.org/dzogchen-teaching/
We are happy to announce that His Holiness of Bon the Gyalwa Menri Wa will visit the U.S. in 2016 to teach the concluding sections of the Ah-Tri (A-Khrid) Dzogchen text. We encourage you to take part in this very special Dzogchen teaching by the greatest living Dzogchen master of the present era.
The teaching will be from the Ah Tri Thun Tsam Cho Nga book which gives instruction on the mind and how to manage the mind processes in the three concluding aspects of Ah Tri Dzogchen: Semtri, Trekcho, and Thögal.
I'm posting this in part because I'm interested in how the leaders of this group have chosen to organize the event. It's unconventional by US standards for a group that does not have a dedicated space in a city to hold teachings in, or one large enough. The usual approach is to rent out a space accessible by mass transit for the teachings, and ask for reservations and funds to cover that expense; participants are on their own to find a place to stay and to handle their own meals. This works out well for locals, who may commute to the teachings from their homes, and for frugal people, who prefer to crash with friends or find something affordable on AirBnB or similar. For example, when ChNN visited New York last time, the local organization rented a meeting hall at an Armenian church and cultural center. That worked out well from what I heard.

This event is very different. It's held at a Marriott hotel way, way out in the suburbs in New Jersey. Here's how it works:
FEE
Includes meals, lodging and teaching tuition. All meals include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian selections.
Couples and those wishing to share a room should each register for the double room option. In the comments section of the registration form, please write the name of the person sharing your room and let the Retreat Manager know whether you prefer 2 Queen beds or 1 King bed in the room. Each person attending the retreat should fill out a registration form even if his/her retreat fee is paid by someone else. Thank you.
Registration through January 10, 2016
Non Member $785 (single); $635 (double/shared)
Supporting Member $769(single); $622(double/shared)
Sustaining Member $746(single); $603(double/shared)
From the perspective of a New Yorker or a frugal traveler, participants in this retreat are expected to overpay for mushy, mediocre hotel food and lodging to participate in these teachings.

Alternatively, from the perspective of someone who is not an intrepid traveler, or may have some limitation with spoken English, or who just wants to get from the airport to someplace with a bed and something (anything) to eat regardless of cost, this must be an appealing.

Am I badly misinterpreting this? I'm trying to understand what needs are met by organizing this event in this way. As someone who is interested in the logistics of how to organize an event like this, I'm interested to know how well this serves the participants in the retreat.
Malcolm
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Malcolm »

DGA wrote: Am I badly misinterpreting this? I'm trying to understand what needs are met by organizing this event in this way. As someone who is interested in the logistics of how to organize an event like this, I'm interested to know how well this serves the participants in the retreat.
If you think this is expensive, you should check out his program to become a long life and prosperity ritual specialist, and it is packed!

There is a market for it. But not all Bon programs are so expensive, as you know.

M
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Garudavista
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Garudavista »

Malcolm wrote:
DGA wrote: Am I badly misinterpreting this? I'm trying to understand what needs are met by organizing this event in this way. As someone who is interested in the logistics of how to organize an event like this, I'm interested to know how well this serves the participants in the retreat.
If you think this is expensive, you should check out his program to become a long life and prosperity ritual specialist, and it is packed!

There is a market for it. But not all Bon programs are so expensive, as you know.

M
Malcolm is correct. Not all Bon programs are expensive. For example, Tempa Dukte Lama will teach part 1 of the Bon A Khrid Dzogchen Transmission in Boswell, PA this November and the retreat fees are very reasonable:

Retreat fee:
•Single room: $330 (Olmo Ling members), $355 (non-members)
•Double room: $265 (Olmo Ling members), $285 (non-members)
•Shared 4 bed/room: $230 (Olmo Ling members), $250 (non-members).

You can get more information about the retreat at the Olmo Ling website:
http://www.olmoling.org/events/bon_a_kh ... ctice_part
DGA
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

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I just had a good experience at Serenity Ridge in Virginia (they allow participants to camp it if they want, which is great--I slept in my truck).

I'm curious how these teachings are divided up into segments. What does "part one" of the A-Khrid involve? how many parts are there?

thanks
Malcolm
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Malcolm »

DGA wrote:I just had a good experience at Serenity Ridge in Virginia (they allow participants to camp it if they want, which is great--I slept in my truck).

I'm curious how these teachings are divided up into segments. What does "part one" of the A-Khrid involve? how many parts are there?

thanks
It is probably the A Khrid in fifteen sections — about 36 western pages. There are other instructions, the fifteen section A khrid in the version I have amounts to about 165 pages of instructions. There is also another earlier manual divided into eight or ten sections. It is about 135 pages all totaled.

I imagine, though I could not tell you for sure, that is is three sections divided by five sections. It has the usual subjects like confidence in the guru, bodhicitta, refuge and confession, mandala, supplication to the guru, etc.

So I imagine that first retreat focuses mainly on Ngondro, the second and third retreats focus mainly nature of mind, etc.
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Garudavista »

Malcolm wrote:
DGA wrote:I just had a good experience at Serenity Ridge in Virginia (they allow participants to camp it if they want, which is great--I slept in my truck).

I'm curious how these teachings are divided up into segments. What does "part one" of the A-Khrid involve? how many parts are there?

thanks
It is probably the A Khrid in fifteen sections — about 36 western pages. There are other instructions, the fifteen section A khrid in the version I have amounts to about 165 pages of instructions. There is also another earlier manual divided into eight or ten sections. It is about 135 pages all totaled.

I imagine, though I could not tell you for sure, that is is three sections divided by five sections. It has the usual subjects like confidence in the guru, bodhicitta, refuge and confession, mandala, supplication to the guru, etc.

So I imagine that first retreat focuses mainly on Ngondro, the second and third retreats focus mainly nature of mind, etc.
Yes. I recently contacted the director of Olmo Ling to ask her about Part I and was in informed that it will focus mainly on ngondro and the other two sessions will focus on recognizing the nature of mind. Here is a description from the website:
This year Tempa Lama will focus on teaching the Nyoshi, the actual practice of the A Khrid Dzogchen through his vivid fresh understanding and experience. During the following two retreats, Tempa Lama will offer instructions on how to distinguish between the ordinary mind and the true nature of the mind and how we can stabilize this recognition through the practice of klong sgom, the spontaneous presence in the natural state.
DGA
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by DGA »

Thanks.

Now I'm having a confuse, because it also says that ngondro isn't necessary to participate in this teaching... which is a no-brainer if it's a ngondro teaching. "ngondro" can mean more than one thing, though. It's the four thoughts that turn the mind; it's the accumulations of prostrations and so on; and then there are specific practices associated with certain Dzogchen transmissions that are also called "ngondro." If the subsequent teachings are in 2016, is there some expectation of one doing a lot of accumulation before parts two and three, or...?

I also don't know what Nyoshi means.

I'm sorry if all this is obvious in context; I'm an ignorant lout asking out of interest in Dzogchen but lacking in context or much knowledge at all about Bon. Thanks.
Malcolm
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Malcolm »

DGA wrote:Thanks.

Now I'm having a confuse, because it also says that ngondro isn't necessary to participate in this teaching... which is a no-brainer if it's a ngondro teaching. "ngondro" can mean more than one thing, though. It's the four thoughts that turn the mind; it's the accumulations of prostrations and so on; and then there are specific practices associated with certain Dzogchen transmissions that are also called "ngondro." If the subsequent teachings are in 2016, is there some expectation of one doing a lot of accumulation before parts two and three, or...?

I also don't know what Nyoshi means.

I'm sorry if all this is obvious in context; I'm an ignorant lout asking out of interest in Dzogchen but lacking in context or much knowledge at all about Bon. Thanks.
It just means that in some of his A khrid teachings, you should have attended section one. Here, no need since it is the preliminary section.

Here Ngondro means Ngondro, as in refuge, bodhicitta, etc. The first five or so sections involve some Ngondro teachings up to guru yoga among meditation instructions as well.
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Garudavista »

DGA wrote:Thanks.

If the subsequent teachings are in 2016, is there some expectation of one doing a lot of accumulation before parts two and three, or...?
I had the same question and emailed my question to the director at Olmo Ling who asked Tempa Lama who said that "as long as you have received the preliminary transmission [i.e. part 1 in November], you can attend the subsequent A Khrid teachings. It's not necessary to be finished with the 100,000 recitations."

As for the meaning of nyoshi, I'm not sure either. In the context of the sentence it seems to have something to do with instructions related to the teacher's direct experience. I tried looking for the meaning of the word on Google but couldn't find anything. Malcolm, do you know what nyoshi means?
Malcolm
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Malcolm »

Garudavista wrote:
DGA wrote:Thanks.

If the subsequent teachings are in 2016, is there some expectation of one doing a lot of accumulation before parts two and three, or...?
I had the same question and emailed my question to the director at Olmo Ling who asked Tempa Lama who said that "as long as you have received the preliminary transmission [i.e. part 1 in November], you can attend the subsequent A Khrid teachings. It's not necessary to be finished with the 100,000 recitations."

As for the meaning of nyoshi, I'm not sure either. In the context of the sentence it seems to have something to do with instructions related to the teacher's direct experience. I tried looking for the meaning of the word on Google but couldn't find anything. Malcolm, do you know what nyoshi means?
dngos gzhi means "main section".
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Garudavista
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Re: Gyalwa Menri Wa, New Jersey, May 2016: Dzogchen

Post by Garudavista »

Malcolm wrote:
Garudavista wrote:
DGA wrote:Thanks.

If the subsequent teachings are in 2016, is there some expectation of one doing a lot of accumulation before parts two and three, or...?
I had the same question and emailed my question to the director at Olmo Ling who asked Tempa Lama who said that "as long as you have received the preliminary transmission [i.e. part 1 in November], you can attend the subsequent A Khrid teachings. It's not necessary to be finished with the 100,000 recitations."

As for the meaning of nyoshi, I'm not sure either. In the context of the sentence it seems to have something to do with instructions related to the teacher's direct experience. I tried looking for the meaning of the word on Google but couldn't find anything. Malcolm, do you know what nyoshi means?
dngos gzhi means "main section".
Ah! Makes sense now. Thanks, Malcolm.
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