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KALACAKRA To promote the study and practice of Kalacakra "All beings arise in time, Time continually
consumes them all, |
| Volume 1, Number 6, November 2001 |
New Group Meetings Study Schedule
Below are the details of the first four months of the new programme for the 2000-01 Session.
2000
October 14: Ed Henning described the two short two-armed Sadhanas including the symbolism and the use of the six yogas etc. There was a lively discussion arising out of gender issues surrounding the imagination of oneself as the deity.
November 11: Roy Sutherwood will continue his 'notes from the void' and in this session will try to approach emptiness from the point of view of the Kalacakra practice rather than from a philosophical or theoretical perspective. It would be helpful if all those able to come could bring some reflections of their own about how they approach emptiness in their own practice.
December 9: Ed Henning will lead a session on Khyabje Serkhong Rinpoche's commentary on the verses in praise of Kalacakra.
2001
January 13: Andy Wistreich will be leading a session entitled 'Becoming Kalacakra' which is an open topic for group discussion.
Further details of the new study programme will be announced as soon as possible. We really would like to see a wider range of people from both within and outside the group making a contribution. We would also like to see a greater proportion of sessions dealing with issues arising out of our practice and experience.
Could anyone who would like to take the opportunity to lead a session or to present something to the group contact our programme co-ordinator, Sara, on 020 8881 8500.
We are a trans-sectarian group dedicated to Kalacakra practice. We are open to anyone who has taken the Kalacakra initiation from a qualified lama and seriously wishes to practise accordingly. We use ‘The Jewelled Heart’ - A Sadhana focusing on Glorious Kalacakra by Buton Rinchen Druppa (1290-1364) for group practice at these meetings
If any further changes occur we will let you know as soon as we can.
Unless otherwise stated, our meetings, all usually on the second Saturday of each month, start at 2.00pm and finish at around 5.00pm.
When the group meets at Jamyang Buddhist Centre the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) guidelines attached to FPMT centres should be respected regarding guest teachers and practice materials.
Although teachings, study and practice meetings are free and those without funds should not feel that they are expected to pay, for those that are able to afford it the standard donation is £4 or £2 for a concessionary rate.
This money covers the rent we pay to Jamyang and any surplus goes into the KPG funds. We have a designated bank account for the purpose.
We have also been collecting donations for regular production and mailing of the newsletter. Currently, there is a suggested donation of £5 per year. Many of your donations are coming up for renewal. Would you please contact Martin if you wish to make a further donation.
Kyi Opens the Way to the 21st Century
A photo essay from Liz Banks who was fortunate enough to attend the Kalacakra initiation given by His Holiness in Spiti this August is being posted on the website. The images are the copyright of Liz Banks so if anyone wants to use them for commercial purposes please seek her permission first.
His Holiness invitation for 2004
Steve has been progressing our efforts to organise an invitation to His Holiness to give the Kalacakra initiation in the UK during 2004. We are seeking the backing of all the relevant, interested Buddhist and Tibetan community groups.
At 11am on the morning of Saturday 14 October, there was a meeting at Jamyang of the representatives of all the groups interested in playing a part in agreeing a request to His Holiness to give the initiation. Steve et al cooked lunch for our guests and the usual Kalacakra Practice Group Meeting commenced at 2 o'clock.
All those present agreed that, as representatives of their respective Buddhist organisations, they should not make any commitment at the meeting beyond that of their own personal support or concerns about the project going forward.
A motion to send an invitation to His Holiness requesting him to give the Kalacakra Initiation, and necessary associated teachings, in the United Kingdom was proposed. This was unanimously agreed.
In conjunction with this, members proposed that those present agree to abide by whatever His Holiness the Dalai Lama's response to the invitation will be. This was also unanimously agreed.
A steering group of volunteers was formed. This group consists of those who feel they can commit initially to be involved in this project at a core level, potentially envisaging a four or five year ongoing involvement. Tessa King was nominated to convene the group.
The steering will meet initially to draw up the letter of invitation, which will then be sent to those groups who wish to sign it before it is delivered to His Holiness. Specific requests or suggestions regarding what preliminary teachings to request of His Holiness should be addressed to members of the steering group.
Many thanks to all who participated and all those who have worked hard to get the project to this stage. Special thanks to Dawn for her excellent minutes; from which this report is taken.
Network of Buddhist Organisations
The Kalacakra Practice Group is now a full member of the Network of Buddhist Organisations. Martin attended a meeting as our representative on Saturday, 30 September.
The Network of Buddhist Organisations (NBO) was founded in 1993 as a meeting point for Buddhist organisations in the UK. Since then it has grown steadily and provides the basis for a number of joint initiatives among British Buddhist groups.
The NBO's aims are:
Martin reported that this meeting had a very good presentation about how to teach meditation to those new to the practice.
The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 2 December at the London Buddhist Vihara. Martin and Roy have as you know agreed to 'box and cox' to fulfil the groups commitment to the NBO but if anyone else with interest and time would like to take this responsibility up we would be delighted to hand over the reigns. Please let us know well in advance of the meeting on December 2, as only nominated people can attend - it is not an open meeting.
'The Nature of Things' - a booknote
Roy Sutherwood
Snow Lion have recently published William Magee's 'The Nature of Things: Emptiness and Essence in the Geluk World.' (ISBN 1-55939-145-6. $22.95 in USA and £15.95 in UK). The book investigates 'emptiness' and 'nature' according to Nargarjuna, Candrakirti and Tsongkhapa. Part Two of the book provides translations of portions of five texts important for the lineage which provide textual support for Tsongkhapa's discussion of 'nature'.
These are: chapter XV of Nargarjuna's 'Fundamantal treatise on the Middle'; Candrakirti's commentary on chapter XV in the 'Clear Words'; Tsongkhapa's 'Ocean of Reasonings' on chapter XV; Tsongkhapa's 'Great Exposition of the Stages of the Path' section entitled "The Refutation of an Identification of the Object-to-be-negated That is too Narrow" and an interwoven commentary - entitled 'Four Interwoven Annotations' -on Tsonkhapa's 'Great Exposition of the Stages of the Path'.
The book will be of particular interest for those familiar with Cyrus Stearn's 'The Buddha from Dolpo' as it articulates Tsongkhapa and followers' refutation of 'nature' interpreted as a positive and independent nature: the Nature Body (rang bzhin gyi sku) asserted by Dolpopa. Dolpopa's assertion in the 'Fourth Council' was said by Stearns to paraphrase the 'Great Commentary on the Kalacakra Tantra the Stainless Light'
There is a sharp point where Magee highlights Tsongkhapa's analogy to describe the situation.
In this analogy, the object -to-be-negated nature, the cause of fear and distress, that which we think inherently exists but in reality does not is likened to a snake in the East. For Tsongkhapa, putting forward the other-emptiness of Dolpopa is akin to speaking of a tree in the West to dispell the conception of the snake in the East - it is completely beside the point.
Although Dolpopa's positive, independent ultimate is seen as violating the criteria that point toward Madhyamika ultimates being negative phenomena, realisation of it does not appear to address the main issue, ie., abandoning the conception of inherent existence that underlies all afflictive emotions. Instead, Tsongkhapa is held to say that Dolpopa's ultimate involves an unrelated topic, as unrelated to the realisation of emptiness as thinking about a tree in the West is unrelated to a snake in the East. If we have not rid ourselves of our fundamental, innate conception of ourselves and things in the world as inherently existing and realised emptiness in this way how can contemplation of an unrelated positive ultimate make any difference at all?
This provokes some interesting thought around these issues and they are not merely philosophical or academic. The debate has implications for the way that we choose to practice. Just how do we set about realising emptiness? How are we to meditate on emptiness? What do we actually do?
The International Kalacakra Website
The newsletter should shortly be available on the site and we should shortly have a colour picture of a Kalacakra thangka to illustrate the site. More pictorial and graphic material would be welcome.
Ed is still actively seeking for more ideas, help with design, practitioners to write materials, graphic materials etc. You can contact ed_henning@ziffdavis.com with any offers of help, ideas or materials for the site.
More materials please!
Roy and Martin would really like to see more material for the newsletter coming in from members for future editions. Especially from those who have not yet put anything our way!
Contact Points:
Roy Sutherwood on e-mail at royas@cwcom.net
Martin Kerrigan on 0181-881 8500
Mailing address: c/o Jamyang Buddhist Centre, 43 Renfrew Road, London, SE11 4NA
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