Dear Dharma Friend, Tashi Delek for 2007 and for Year of the
Fire Pig. We are delighted to confirm the plans of His Eminence
Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche to come to North America
and teach us again this year. It is expected that Rinpoche will
give teachings Coast to Coast between the first week of July and
the first week of October; the schedule is being finalized at
this time and more information on the tour will be sent out shortly
and uploaded to the website
www.ripaladrang.org See you then!
Appeal for support.
We know you are quite busy with your many personal and practice
commitments and we thank you for your participation in and support
of the teaching and humanitarian activities conducted via the
Foundation -- monetarily and in the form of kindest prayers, good
works and excellent motivation. We do not conduct extensive fundraising
drives or mailing campaigns and yet the need for your generous
support is ongoing. As we also prefer not to fundraise during
events we humbly ask that those inspired person wishing to begin
or continue their support for the following worthwhile programs
to act on that interest and send in your annual renewal(s), pledge
of support, or one-time gift.
http://www.ripaladrang.org/payment.htm
Additionally, in order to make the teachings available we depend
upon offerings from many generous individuals who feel inspired
to send donations or early registrations and if you find yourself
able to participate in that way we thank you again and again.
It is a great opportunity to be able to contribute to the spread
of Dharma in any way and we salute you. With very best wishes,
The Ripa Ladrang Foundation Teaching Tour Team
Projects and Programs
Rigon Tashi Choeling -- Nepal
A key project of the Foundation continues to be the "New
Treasures" monastery in the Kathmandu Valley. Reports from
those present for the opening report that for those brief, few
days, they were in the very heart of Tibet, as if they had traveled
in time directly to the Land of Snows -- transported to a magic
landscape of ecstasy and color, sacred sound, dance and mantra.
The continued support and development of the temple and monastic
complex, as well as humanitarian projects for the surrounding
community is close to many hearts. Offerings for this project
go into a restricted fund set aside exclusively for the project
and make a huge difference
http://www.ripaladrang.org/openingceremony.htm
Monk Sponsorship
http://www.ripaladrang.org/monksponsor.htm
As the temples, statues, teachers, texts, incense and other offerings
are key to our practices and experience the key players of much
of the activities are the monks themselves. Through the Foundation
we have to opportunity to participate in this most precious process
of learning and transmission of oral tradition throughout the
centuries. The Monk Sponsorship program is very kindly coordinated
and many of you will have received updates directly from them.
The sponsorship amount enables the monk to pursue practice and
dedication to serving others and if you are interested in connecting
with this wonderful process please don't hesitate to let us know
via email monksponsorship@ripaladrang.org.
Foundation Membership
http://www.ripaladrang.org/member.htm
Are you currently a member of the Ripa Ladrang Foundation? Your
membership assists the foundation to operate, to take care of
its administrative expenses, pay its attorney and accountant,
maintain required insurance, and pay general operating expenses,
plus the necessary travel and teaching expenses for the Ripa Masters.
It helps pay for printing costs, operation of the Web Site, postage
and shipping, supplies, photo reproduction, etc. We are grateful
for your membership and encourage you to renew your dues this
year, if you have not done so already. Here are the categories
of membership:
Friend - $5.00/month or $60.00/year
Supporter - $20.00/month or $240.00/year
Family Member - $35.00/month or $420.00/year (couples or parents
and children)
Benefactor - $50.00/month or $600.00/year
Patron - $100.00/month or $1200.00/year
Sangha Activities
Throughout the world there are many of us who have received teachings
and blessings from the Ripa Masters. During the years incredibly
precious organizations and individuals have invited and hosted
hundreds of hours of teachings, practice, and countless activities
which have brought so much benefit. The Sangha is far and wide
and practices on behalf of beings are undertaken by thousands
of practicioners -- in retreat, in individual homes, in Dharma
centers…. There are also some geographies where monthly meetings
to engage in pujas associated with empowerments and teachings
received from the Ripa Masters are sponsored by The Foundation
and we invite you to contact one of the coordinating volunteers
using the email addresses below to find dates in your area.
The Golden Cup
NEW! for members of the Ripa Ladrang Foundation…
Plans are underway to launch an exciting new vehicle of communication
for the Ripa Ladrang Foundation, a newsletter of our very own
- The Golden Cup. The idea stems from something His Eminence once
said to us: "A close, harmonious sangha is like a golden
cup - it holds the blessings of the Lama." Taking this as
our inspiration, we will strive to create a space that holds the
very best of what we have to offer one another.
The Golden Cup will make its debut, during the next few months,
in an experimental and highly evolving form. It's designed to
bring us closer as a sangha through the sharing ofour own unique
thoughts about our practice, the teachings, our teachers and our
daily walk down the Buddhist path. It's about allowing our personal
observations, experiences and insight to touch and inform one
another so that we can grow and develop as a sangha.
Contributions from all sangha members will be welcomed, and editing
will be a judicious and collaborative process so get the creative
juices flowing and don't let fear hold you back. You don't have
to be an experienced writer (or even a good one) to participate.
We all have things to learn from one another and the more open
we are to sharing, the more effective our newsletter will be.
This is our own space for asking questions, sharing information,
books we are reading, things that excite and inspire us.
So, be on the lookout for the first issue of The Golden Cup,
coming soon to an inbox near you. We will have an email address
set up for it and look forward to hearing from
you and making The Golden Cup ours! -- The Golden Cup Team
Thank you!
We thank you very much for your time in reading the update and
we look forward to sending information on the tour schedule as
soon as it becomes available. Please feel free to pass this email
along to friends who may not have received, and if you would like
to be taken off our mailing list or if you have received this
in error please let us know by contacting info@ripaladrang.org.
We want to make sure your email is included properly so please
do let us know if you change addresses. Thanks again!
