DEAR FRIENDS OF THE TARAB INSTITUTES AND TARAB LING,
From Tarab Institute Denmark we should first of all wish you a really joyous and fortunate New Year with a lot of opportunities for genuine development. Secondly we would like to apologize for not having send out the Unity in Duality Newsletter that we announced to come Summer/Autumn 2005 we have simply been too busy following up on all that Venerable Tarab Rinpoche asked us to do in connection with the Tarab Ling Building Project and setting up Unity in Duality Education in India together with running the Educations already set up in Europe.
However we are very glad finally to be able to present for you an important article by Ven. Tarab Rinpoche basically on the Interrelation between Body and Mind, followed by many different types of news: Meeting with Ku-ngo Kalsang Yeshes and Tri-kalon Samdhong Rinpoche February 2005; Unity in Duality Education in India, Dehradun March 2005; Tarab Ling Building Project; Unity in Duality course in Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies for Tibetans December 2005; The New Incarnation of Tarab Tulku Rinpoche and the preparation for Rinpoches stupa for Tarab Ling, Dehradun; Unity in Duality Education in Europe; A new line of Unity in Duality Education, Module III Tarab Institute International; our new umbrella organization; News from Tarab Institute Denmark, News from Tarab Institute France Tarab Institute Germany Program for 2006
1 UD-NEWSLETTER VEN. TARAB TULKU RINPOCHE ON THE REALTIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY AND MIND During the Tendrel / Unity in Duality conference in Munich 2002 several western scientist gave their, sometimes unconventional, view on how Unity in Duality is found in their specific area of research. Among them was Candice Perth who talked about the relation between body, the subconscious and emotions. The conference, and in this case her talk, gave rise to some questions we asked Rinpoche (again) to elaborate our understanding of the ancient view which he represents, and to be able to relate to both Western and Eastern sources of knowledge.
Is the Ancient Buddhist Knowledge and Modern Western Science Compatible? What is the Interrelationship between the Body and Mind? And, are Body and Mind two different substances or just one? What is the connection between Body and Mind in relation to the continuation of the Mind-stream? If the entire Body has Consciousness, what comes first: the Body-sense of thirst and hunger (the Body aspect) or the Awareness of it (the Mind aspect)? What is the Role of the Body in Generating a Certain state of Mind like Emotion? (Candace Pert talked in the Tendrel / Unity in Duality Conference on the Emotions in terms of Hormones or Neuro-peptides!) 1
Is the Ancient Buddhist Knowledge and Modern Western Science Compatible?
When asking the question: If the ancient Buddhist knowledge and modern Western science are compatible, we need, first of all, to consider one fundamental point: Looking at the four different Buddhist schools of Science of Mind and Phenomena 2 , generally all four of them investigate the nature of phenomena on the grounds of the subject-object interrelationship, wanting to find out what the nature of this relation really is. The way they do that, however, is not through some kind of belief system, but in a truly scientific way.
1 Article based on Question raised by the Editor of the Unity in Duality Newsletter, Robert Keurntjes 2003. Transcribed and edited by Alexia Meyer-Kahlen, 2004. Final editing by Lene Handberg, 2005. 2 The Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Yogacara and Madhyamaka Schools We can already get some notion of that from the Tibetan canon of literature, which is divided into five major sciences 3 , one of them being the Inner Science (of mind and phenomena). In this way the view of the four Buddhist Inner Science of Mind and Phenomena Schools regarding the nature of mind and the nature of phenomena is fundamentally connected with different Western scientific views, and this not just in the way of trying to establish connections through interpretation, but there is a real relationship. Even though the Buddhist science and Western science are trying to find out the nature of phenomena with different means - the main difference being that the Buddhist or Ancient inner science 4 of mind and phenomena is an inner science, whereas modern Western science is more an outer science both in regard to its means as well as in regard to its object of inquiry. When it comes to the point both are getting to similar results. This was what also became so evident during the Tendrel / Unity in Duality Conference, Munich 2002.
If we consider on the other hand Western philosophy, one can see that the occidental philosophical investigations into the nature of mind and phenomena were of course also heading in the same direction as Ancient Inner Science and as Western Science; however, occidental philosophy was conducting its investigations
3 (Tib.) Rig gnas chi-pa lnga: 1.Grammar (Tib.) sgra, 2.Medicine (Tib.) gSo-pa, 3. Art (Tib) bZo, 4. Logic ( Tib.) gTan-tshig, 5. Inner science (of mind and phenomena) (Tib.) Nang don. 4 Here related to Ancient Inner Science to indicate Tarab Rinpoches view that the roots of this knowledge dates much further back than to the beginning of Buddhism, back to the common ground of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, dating back to the melting pot of cultures in the Indus Valley 5000 years back in time. 2 Number 4, January 2006 3
more on a purely mental level, i.e. by thinking and reasoning about a certain topic. In this way it cannot really be considered a science as such. The Buddhist philosophies / Ancient Inner Science on the other hand is actually conducted in a scientific way, by scientific means, which is why science of mind and phenomena is a much more appropriate term for it than philosophy. This is a very important point. Coming back to the question of compatibility: It is thus not that Buddhism is just stating something, which we are trying to fit with Western Science. Rather, since ancient times Buddhism itself has conducted a scientific analysis into the nature of mind and phenomena to find out what are their natures, taking the mutual subject object interrelationship into account for each step.
What is the Interrelationship between the Body and Mind? And, are Body and Mind two different substances or just one?
If now one is asking about the relationship and communication between body and mind, between the way we experience the world and how our body is functioning, again we need first of all to address a fundamental point: Already in asking the question in this way there is an underlying assumption implied that the body is one thing and the mind is somewhere else like two separate and isolated phenomena. 5
As already mentioned, the way of approaching the investigation into the nature of reality by Western Science and by the Ancient Inner Science is a different one, due to the different tools or scientific means applied: Western Science is inherently separating subject and object, mind and phenomena, as being two separate substances, in this way mainly focusing on these as separate objects of investigation: The scientists mind is looking at a phenomenon, as if it were a separate entity (totally separate from the subject conducting the examination), trying to find out what it is in itself. This already excludes the experiencing mind from the phenomena in question. It is my impression, however, that in the view of the Ancient Inner Science of mind and phenomena the basic mind and the phenomena are never separate. Especially according to the Yogacara School, mind and phenomena are
5 Which from an Inner Science of mind / phenomena view points to the fact that this is a question / investigation from conceptual mind, being based on a separation from its object of investigation, i.e. one already starts out by saying: this is body and this is mind, as if they were two separate phenomena. considered to have the same basis. Even in the ancient Indian Brahmin viewpoint, mind and phenomena are not seen as separate.
We can thus summarize two fundamental points: The Ancient Inner Science is a science, which contrarily to western science is basing its investigation on the assumption that mind and phenomena cannot be regarded independently of each other. They are fundamentally interrelated 6 , and even in accordance with some views sharing the same basis 7 . This fundamental difference to the Western scientific approach bears decisive implications for the question of the body-mind interrelationship.
One might ask, on what grounds is it possible to make such a statement, that mind and phenomena have the same basis, and furthermore what is this basis considered to be?
First of all there are the words of Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, saying in a Sutra The whole universe is created by mind only 8 . This famous sentence has received many different interpretations. The Yogacara School for example is using these words as a reference for their statement that everything is but one substance 9 , and that substance is mind. From there they proceed with many arguments to prove why this is so.
But also looking at the other Inner Science of mind and phenomena schools of Madhyamaka, Vaibhasika and Sautrantika, they state that the creation of dual existence 10 is connected with Ma
6 As stated by the Vaibhasika and Sautrantika Schools. 7 As expounded by the Yogacara School, whereas the Madhyamaka School holds that there is no basis at all, since mind and phenomena both arise inter- relationally as an effect of the subject and object meeting. 8 (Tib.). Khams gsum-po di dag ni sems chem mo. This quote can be found in the Sutra sa bchu-pai mdo. 9 The Tibetan term rdZas, which could be translated as substance, here does not imply any special connotation of matter. Only in this respect it is to be understood, that according to the Vaibhasika and Sautrantika Schools mind and body are two different rdZas; however according to the Yogacara School they have one and the same substance / rdZas, which is mind, and according to the Madhyamaka School there is no substance / rdZas at all. 10 In Buddhism traditionally referred to samsara. UD-NEWSLETTER 4 i
rig-pa 11 , considering Ma rig-pa to be the very root of samsara. This Ma rig-pa is an awareness principle connected with or you could say obscuring the nature of mind. If all of dual existence has the same root, coming from or being created by Ma r g-pa, this implies that matter nature as well is based on some kind of fundamental awareness principle or connected to some kind of fundamental mind. How is this to be understood?
Ma rig-pa is the root of samsara, i.e. samsara is appearing on the basis of Ma rig-pa. But Ma rig- pa is also connected with the basic nature of mind: when this basic mind nature is Ma rig-pa it produces samsara; and when it changes into Rigpa 12 it is not producing dualistic reality anymore and leads to the non-dual / nirvana 13 .
Concerning the body and mind inter-relationship, according to the Yogacara School as well as Tantric Buddhism, both body and mind can be traced back to a single substance in terms of a fundamental energy field 14 or mind field. At our level of existence we humans have a body and a mind, i.e. sense-mind faculties, feeling-mind faculties 15 , image-mind faculties 16 as well as the conceptual mind faculty. But those minds are based on a more fundamental mind; we are not conscious of this basic mind, which is there all the time, also when we are unconscious or in deep sleep. When the conditions are there, this more fundamental mind rises up and starts functioning through the mental faculties mentioned above. 17
11 Traditionally translated to ignorance, but in a more accurate rendering translated to a lack of intrinsic awareness. 12 Intrinsic awareness. 13 The cessation of samsara. 14 In my usage of the term energy it is equivalent to mind. Denoting the deepest nature of this energy / mind I am using the terms mind field and mind stream, which will be introduced later on. All of these latter terms are relating to a very fundamental level of existence that is at a much deeper level then the individual human level of existence. The basic mind field is not the same as the individual mind field, rather the individual one continuously rises from and is being continuously sustained by the basic mind field. 15 In terms of Myong-bai rnam-shes. 16 In terms of sNang-ba rnam-shes. 17 This is in accordance to a very ancient way of talking about basic mind (Tib. rNam-shes), which is figuratively presented as to the light in a pot with many holes. Even though through the different holes many different rays of light are coming out (i.e. the different faculties of mind), it is still one light (i.e. one basic mind), which is giving the light. However, if this picture is seen as
However, plants and trees and all other living organisms, according to Hindu philosophies, also have senses, i.e. a body-sense. As well according to modern Western research plants and even water show distinct reactions when exposed to different outer influences, such as music, shouting, prayer etc., which is being reflected in particular crystallization patterns in the case of water and in an increased or decreased growth in plants. This indicates that they have some kind of energy or mind, which is able to distinctly respond to outside stimulation. This mind-like energy nature, which we also have, we can find in the whole universe and in the body too. This energy / mind nature is part and parcel of everything; all matter nature has got this basic energy / mind-nature.
We already know from Western particle physics that at the basis of the universe some kind of energy-field is at work. In accordance with Ancient Inner Science, going even further in the investigation of this energy-field, one discovers a basic mind-energy-field, which is connecting everything in the universe. At this point one cannot say any longer whether it is one mind or two minds, or in modern particle physics: whether there is one subtle individual particle or a field.
So we can call this basic energy for a fundamental underlying mind-field. This means, in accordance with Ancient Inner Science that everything existing partakes in a fundamental mind field, which is the basic substance from which basis both mind in a more individual way and the individual body develops.
However, not just at the time of evolution but still at present the connection to the fundamental mind field is there: There is this mind field and there is the matter nature of the human body, of the plant body etc., which is subject to transitory nature, i.e. it is only momentarily existing, based on continuous change, implying ongoing processes of dying into the underlying mind field and rebirth from it. 18
If this basic nature of mind is functioning through the body of a tree, the tree has a certain
representing a basic level of individual mind is should not be confused with the much deeper level of the mind-field basic to the whole universe. 18 In a dream once I even had the experience that our humans mind, in terms of thinking, seeing etc., actually is the thinking and the eyes of the world, i.e. that it is mind reflecting or looking back at it- self. Number 4, January 2006 5 i
way of experiencing connected. Whereas if it is functioning through an animal body it has its own particular way of experiencing; the same is true if it functions through the human body or through anything else in the universe. According to the Hindu tradition, even water and earth has body- sense and accordingly it has a certain way of experiencing through its particular embodiment.
In that way, if we are looking at the energy side and at the beginning of creation, mind is the main factor. From there, different bodies evolve as a means to bring about different ways of experiencing. So from a Buddhist point of view this seems to be the answer to the question, whether body and mind are two different substances or just one.
What is the connection between Body and Mind in relation to the continuation of the Mind-stream?
From this explanation we can also understand the Buddhist view of how the body and mind interconnection is to be seen in relation to the continuation of the mind stream over many lifetimes. How the fundamental Ma r g-pa is connected with the strong urge to survive, to uphold and continue individual existence in the process of evolution, is basic to this understanding. Looking at this process from a Western point of view, one can say that at first the earth was created. Still there were no animals, no humans, only single-cell organisms. From there everything developed further and further into more and more complex bodies. In the course of this development beings needed to have more and more tools for their survival. In that way throughout the different stages of evolution there was an ongoing development of the body and of the mind.
From a Buddhist point of view one could describe evolution in a similar way: From Ma rig-pa, the root of dual existence, it is a long process of development to our level of existence. First there is this mind-field identifying with itself, trying to keep its own individual nature 19 resulting in the development of a most subtle self-reference, on the basis of which attraction 20 (of that which was conducive to the individual continuation) is born as well as rejection 21 (of that which is destructive). In this way the individual entity becomes more
19 (Tib.) bDag-dzin, which literally means self- holding. It can also be described as mind looking back at it-self and fundamentally identifying with it-self as it-self. 20 (Tib.) Dod-chags. 21 (Tib.) Zhe-dang. and more individual and isolated from the other. It develops more and more on this line for finally manifesting in a rough level like matter existence in terms of developing a physical embodiment. In this process, oneself and everything else becomes increasingly dense, heavy and separate.
One could even consider the body as some sort of crystallization of mind. Why? We have said that Ma rig-pa is the root of dual existence. Because Ma rig-pa implies holding / identifying with it- self/ one-self, it also imply separation, fixation and solidification in order to secure the continuation of existing. The main approach to exist, however, is to exist in form, i.e. to exist with a body. Dual existence / samsara has therefore a very strong force to take form and to manifest at a matter level. Even when matter disintegrates into energy it will try to take form again; there are strong forces of trying again to come into matter existence. In that way the mind-field is developing or taking a body. However, the mind I am here referring to is not our present mind, rather it is a long process I am describing, starting from the beginning of dual existence, from the basic universal mind-field.
Coming back to the question of the basic mind stream: The different ways of body functioning are changing all the time and when youre getting old these functions decrease; and when they cease to work, then you die. But, in accordance with Ancient Inner Science the basic mind stream is still going on even throughout the death-process. Then at a certain time it comes up again, trying to go on, wanting to take form again. So in that way you can say that at the time of death both body and mind disintegrate into the fundamental mind stream from where it again rise through some kind of embodiment.
When were dying, first this outer body function close down. But we still have mind connecting to another more subtle type of embodiment, which can be called mind-body or energy-body. Through the process of dying, the body functioning goes more and more down, until the form aspect subside and only its energy base is left. In the Tantric tradition this moment is called the clear-light.
From there, we partake again in a process of becoming where the first embodiment recognized in accordance with Ancient Inner Science is a mind-body named the bardo-body of the bardo state. I.e. in this state mind has developed a bardo-body through which it experiences. However, the bardo-body is not a solid body, but again an energy-body.
UD-NEWSLETTER 6 i From the bardo-state there is a strong drive to develop further in order to manifest in a more solid form level, developing a more solid body again, like the physical body. So when talking about rebirth and the continuation of a basic mind stream, it is not like the body is left behind and mind alone goes on to the next life. Rather, both are melting down into the basic mind stream, keeping some kind of body-mind inter- relationship all along. Because body has many different levels and mind has many different levels, these two aspects of being move together all the time, thus body and mind is said to be inseparable.
In Tantric Buddhism, even when you reach to the very final stage, you still have a body aspect as well as a mind aspect. It is said that mind has a clear awareness nature, and it has also a kind of movement-nature. That movement-nature is the very subtle body aspect, which later develops into the physical body, whereas the clear awareness aspect is what later develops into the ordinary mind, as we know it these two aspects of being are always interrelated.
Thus, one can distinguish body and mind right from the level of Ma rig-pa: we have seen that when there is Ma r g-pa, there is attraction and rejection; and from this comes action (karma), and with that the gradual unfoldment of dual existence / samsara.
Of course now one could ask: How does dual existence actually start to come out from the non- dual? This question also came up in the Tendrel / Unity in Duality Pre-conference in Munich 2002. There I answered: When asking about the transition from unity to duality we tend to look at it in the same way as when normally talking about body and mind, i.e. as if they were two different substances. I.e. we basically look at it from a dualistic point of view. I said further: Maybe the way we look at duality is not the way duality exists, because Ma rig-pa and Rig-pa are not different, they are both the same fundamental mind the only difference is that the Ma rig-pa side is like an illusion, a dream; and the Rig-pa side is wakefulness. So if one looks from the Rig-pa / wakefulness point of view, the action of attraction and rejection and all that merely serves to secure the dream. From this point of view the question of any kind of transition from non-dual to dual becomes obsolete.
From the previous explanation, the role of the specific body-mind inter-relationship in generating certain experiences should have been rendered clear. Actually, the interrelationship between body mind reality already becomes obvious when just considering the seeing sense- mind. If you do something to your eyes, i.e. closing one eye, your field of vision is reduced and thereby there is also a reduction in what you can perceive with your sense-mind and later with your 6 th mind.
Of course, in the West one does not make the differentiation between the five sense minds and 6 th mind, so when asking that question of the body-mind connection, one usually thinks more of 6 th mind. Still, if one has really understood what we so far have been saying, one can see how the Western point of view basically approaches these kind of questions from the perspective of the side of the body, i.e. from the side of matter, asking: if the body does this and that, how does the mind change? From this perspective of course it will seem like certain body functions make the mind change, just as well as all kinds of brain sicknesses etc. will do. But one does not consider that the brain is just some kind of tool, which the mind is using.
Instead, one can also look at this body-mind relationship from the side of mind, and this is what is being done in Buddhism: We have the fundamental kind of mind field, which is connected with Ma rig-pa, and with this we have all the very strong forces for the continuation of existence to be and continue to be individually existing. Because of these forces we are trying to develop many faculties. If you look at nature, it has very strong forces to exist and to survive. It is these energy forces that bring forth, for example, the leaves of a tree, the roots etc. It is these energy forces that push new creations to appear. And these energy forces are of mind nature.
In this way there is a communication all the time. Because all the time there is an exchange from this mind field, from this stream of energy forces to manifestation at a form level of existence. When we look at a tree again, we can see that it takes the water from the ground and distributes it into every single leaf. This is a fantastic system, and if scientists had to build such a system they wouldnt be able to. These kinds of forces are truly fantastic. Grass, for example, is not so strong, but sometimes it can even break through asphalt, because it has such strong natural forces for taking form existence. It is these forces, which pushes forward the creation of our body, of our individual mind. They crystallize into whatever is needed in order to go forward within dual existence.
Because of these basic forces there is an ongoing communication between body and mind, but not as a communication between two separate things; Number 4, January 2006 7
the communication is rather inherent in the way body and mind have developed from the beginning of evolution in the way they function. There is communication all the time, but it is an inside-communication, not one between two separate entities! Rather we can say that body and mind are basically developed and built in a complete interwoven relationship of communication.
If the entire Body has Consciousness, what comes first: the Body-sense of thirst and hunger (the Body aspect) or the Awareness of it (the Mind aspect)?
From the Buddhist point of view thirst and hunger are an experience of the body sense-mind. Yet one cannot separate the body sense-mind (i.e. mind) and the body sense-organs (i.e. body), because as we have seen they are completely interrelated. In the perceptive process on a sense level we have body sense-organs and residing within these organs we have effectual body-sense-powers 22
and we have the body sense-mind.
It becomes too complicated in this context to explain in detail the process of sense perception, but generally it is the body sense-mind that experiences, for example, thirst. However, then when we say: Now I am thirsty, in according to Ancient Inner Science, it is the 6 th mind that conceptualise and therefore can tell like that (now I am thirsty) a faculty that is entirely different from the body-sense mind. The telling about is a conceptual awareness of the body sense-mind experience, a conceptualisation of what formerly was experienced through the body-sense mind. Since this is what is happening, one cannot really ask: What comes first, body or mind? Actually this whole questions cannot be answered, because if from a Buddhist point of view we say body, there is always a body sense-mind present, which is having body-sense experience. So also in this way mind and body cannot be separated.
What is the Role of the Body in Generating a Certain state of Mind like Emotion? (Candace Pert talked in the Tendrel / Unity in Duality Conference on the Emotions in terms of Hormones or Neuro-peptides!)
The same is true for the question of the role of the body in relation to emotions: When asking in this way, again you are normally looking from the body aspect. However, when we are taking a Unity in Duality view, we are approaching the question from the mind side. Thus we would ask
22 (Tib.) Bang-po / wangpo differently. For instance: When the mind becomes emotional what effect does it have body wise? And of course the body has certain specific ways of functioning when we become emotional that is clear.
If we were only to look from the body aspect, one can recognize that there are certain types of hormones or neuro-peptides present when someone gets afraid etc. like Candace Pert so clearly has outlined. But looking from the Buddhist or from an Ancient Inner Scientific point of view the approach would be like we have seen before. In connection with Ma rig-pa, which gives rise to a strong urge or force for survival, rooted, as it is, in dualistic isolation. In this way also body wise we have our particular reactions on the mind aspect. It is like how and what we see, how and what we hear, how the molecules function together, etc. Each has its function for survival. Similarly physically (body wise) we reach to secure survival, also when we become emotional.
Of course you need to have something happening on the outside in order to react, e.g. someone is shouting at you, then you get afraid. But also in this case the reaction of your body has to do with your mind. Especially as we humans are strongly dominated by our conceptual mind, if somebody is shouting at you and you dont conceptually notice it, you dont get afraid. It takes the conceptual mind to say: This and this is happening, and it is bad for me, then the body reacts. This is what I mean with looking from the mind side.
Is the Body our Subconscious Mind?
I dont think you can say that the body is subconscious. In the Buddhist understanding, when you are talking about the mind you are not talking about the body side. And when you are talking about the body, you are not talking about the mind side. But still, body and mind are together, inseparably interrelated with each their specific way of functioning. UD-NEWSLETTER UNITY IN DUALITY EDUCATION IN INDIA, FEBRUARY / MARCH 2005 Interview with Lene Handberg Meeting with Ku-ngo Kalsang Yeshi and Tri-Kalon Samdhong Rinpoche
The first important task Rinpoche asked us was to carry through the program of establishing Unity in Duality Education in India. We through it would be impossible without Rinpoches physical presence, but surprisingly within very short time 45 persons from Europe had registered for the first U.D. training period in Dehradun March 05. So even we had no contact with potential Tibetan participants we decided to carry through the program as planned.
Before starting up the U.D. teachings in Dehradun, Lene Handberg went to Dharamsala to make the first contact with the Tibetan administration. And she was very lucky, as Ku- ngo Kalsang Yeshi (the former minister of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Exile Government), who is presently the Director of Norbulingka and a long time friend of Tarab Tulku Rinpoche from Drepung Monastery University apart from being very helpful and supportive to all our projects also agreed to become a Board of Director of the Tarab Ling Association. Furthermore Kalsang Yeshi was so kind to suggest and arrange a meeting with the Prime minister, Tri-Kalon Samdhong Rinpoche, who would be the right person to help carry through Ven. Tarab Tulku Rinpoches last wishes.
It showed that Tri-Kalon Samdhong Rinpoche told Lene how deeply he respected Tarab Rinpoche both for his very special human qualities as well as for being a genuine and highly qualified scholar, which showed clearly right from his young age in that he could explain the most complicated philosophical ideas in such a way that everybody could understand the meaning.
Samdhong Rinpoche claimed that as soon as he would get time he would help us going through Rinpoches unfinished material in Tibetan and try to make it available at least for researchers. Samdhong Rinpoche was very thankful for our pursuit to make all tape material available for Tibetans by digitalizing it, a huge job which a group in connection with the Tarab Institute France, Tarab Institute Germany as well as Tarab Institute Denmark has initiated (so if you have any tapes from Rinpoches lectures, conferences, workshops etc. please contact either of these places and lend your tapes to be digitalized where after they will be returned to you again).
Also Ven. Samdhong Rinpoche expressed his great support and gratitude that we would try to make the Unity in Duality Education available to Tibetans despite Ven. Tarab Tulku Rinpoches early departure. But as there was no time for him to contact anyone to help us in connection with the March course in Dehradun, he asked Lene if she could come one time more this year to give the first part of the training, so that a group of Tibetans could join in Dehradun for the second part March 2006. They agreed on late December.
As His Holiness the Dalai Lama had in mind to ask Ven. Tarab Tulku Rinpoche, after his Director job of Tibet House in Delhi late 60s, to start up the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath (if Rinpoche had not chosen to go back to Denmark to continue his job and his special research leading to Unity in Duality); and as Tarab Rinpoche already 10 years ago gave teachings on the Four Noble Truth under a small boddhi tree in the Dear Park of Sarnath like Buddha Sakyamuni Buddha many years before him it would be the most auspicious place to start the Unity in Duality Education for Tibetans. And surprisingly, with the help of Norbu-la (see below) it showed to be agreed upon by the Director of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath and planned to take place December 14-24, 2005.
Unity in Duality Education in India, Dehradun March 2005
Meanwhile the Unity in Duality Education started up in Dehradun in the Drikong Kagyu Songtsen 8 Number 4, January 2006 Library, which we had been so lucky to be able to rent, as the building project of Tarab Ling has not started yet see below. The first part of the U.D. Education, on Rinpoches extracts on Vaibhasika and Sautrantika, was apart from the 45 western students attended by a few Tibetans and a few Ladahkies, among whom was the Kempo (a person who has graduated from the philosophical studies as well as studies of meditation within the Kagyu tradition) of the Songtsen Library. The Kempo expressed later that he was very thankful for the course and told that he had learnt a lot from Rinpoches special presentation and connections to daily life experiences. Also he expressed his wish to continue the next part of Module I in Dehradun 2006. He further asked if he could translate the diagrams to Tibetan, as he found them very useful.
During his death process Tarab Rinpoche had told that he would be present at the Education in India to help Lene Handberg carry out this difficult task to start up alone. Lene tells that she never felt alone when teaching but on the contrary greatly supported by Rinpoches presence. According to Lene, Rinpoches felt presence was one of the major reasons for the acceptance of and respect for the teachings from the side of the Tibetans at the Songtsen Library, from His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche (the head of the Songtsen Library), the Director of the Songtsen Library, whos support were increasingly stronger as the course went on; as well as from the Secretary, Norbu Wangchuk. The Secretary, Norbu Wangchuk-la, showed to be the former secretary of Ven. Samdhong Rinpoche. He has ever since this our first meeting been an incredible great help throughout the start of the U.D. Education in Sarnath in December 06. Without his untiring work and genuine interest in reaching out to the Tibetan community informing on Ven. Tarab Tulku Rinpoche and Unity in Duality we would not have had any course in Sarnath. We are greatly indebted to Norbu-la and very thankful.
Also the good start of the Unity in Duality Education in India was due to the great work on the diagrams and other handout in French and English from the side of the French translation group. The success was also due to the great help from the larger group of senior students with psychotherapeutic background in coaching the new participants. It should be mentioned that al the work before and during the teaching period was done on voluntary basis and all surplus from course fees, when all expenses were paid, went without exception to the Tarab Ling Building Project. From the Dehradun course Tarab Institute Denmark was able to transfer 7.500 Euro to the account of the Tarab Ling Association. So a great thank you to all who have contributed with voluntary work to attain these ends. Tarab Ling Association
In March, at the very end of the teaching weeks, the Tarab Ling Association held their yearly assembly, to which Morten Rolighed Jensen was invited to give an overview of the situation concerning the state of affairs of the Tarab Ling Building project, and Lene Handberg was invited to tell about the beginning of the Unity in Duality Education Project in India. All the Board of Directors agreed to continue, but as the President wanted to be freer to travel abroad, the Board of Directors had to find a new President. All Board of Directors in agreement suggested Lene Handberg to take the post. She accepted the position if it would not cause any problems in regard the Indian authorities; and on the condition that the statutes of Tarab Ling would be changed to those of the Tarab Institutes where the former statutes were fare too broad. As the changes of the statutes have full support from all Board of Directors, Lene Handberg became the new president. The Tarab Ling Association got additional two new members: We are very honoured that Kun- ngo Kalsang Yeshi (former Minister in the exile Tibetan Government, present Director of Norbulingka) has agreed to become a board member of the Tarab Ling Association. We are deeply indebted to his sincere help and support also in connection with taking are of Rinpoche's stupa and the rituals that was being performed under Rinpoche's illness and during as well as after his dying, as well as his support now in relation with making available Tarab Rinpoche's teachings for Tibetans in the frame of the Tarab Ling. The other new board member is Norbu Wangchuk (Samdhong Rinpoches former secretary, present secretary of Songtsen Library), who is a real jewel for us already deeply engaged in helping both with Tarab Ling as well as with the Education set up in India. Both were voted as Board of Directors in a now three person stronger Board of Directors group (the full list of Board of Directors of Tarab Ling Association are to be found at the back of the folder of the Tarab Ling Building Project and on the Tarab Institute website: tarab-institute.org). The account was agreed upon and the next General Assembly will be February 2006, when we all meet in Dehradun again. 9 UD-NEWSLETTER TARAB LING BUILDING PROJECT Morten Rolighed Jensen, Architect and Director of the Tarab Ling Building Project
For those of you who do not know, Tarab Tulku Rinpoche initiated the Tarab Ling building project in Dehradun by establishing a local association to acquire land, built and run a place for the study of Unity in Duality as well as related subjects for Tibetan, Indian and Western students. For this purpose a small farmland 11 km out of Dehradun set beautifully by the Baldi Nadi riverbed was purchased in 2001. The project consists of a cluster of buildings situated on the elevated land 40 meters above the riverbed, overlooking the Himalayan foothills. The architecture will be in Himalayan/Tibetan style with pitched roofs due to the heavy rainfalls in the monsoon time.
Since the land was purchased we have faced a lot of difficulties getting the permissions to build including transferring the land from agricultural use to building purpose. At the moment we are not as far in the process as expected due to a demand form the planning department in the administration asking for a 12 m wide approach road. We are now working on settling this issue that seems to be the last obstacle for getting the final permission. These kinds of problems are actually rather common to encounter and local people here are not surprised, but they are also positive now and thinks that we shall finally get things through quite soon. At first we thought to carry the project out in stages, but after some consideration we have decided to try and realise the whole project in one go, in order to avoid giving teachings while building work is in progress. Also to finish it all at once will make the building cost less, and the conditions for the students and staff much better when everyone can stay at the premises. However, in order to make this happen, a larger portion of the funds than what we have now has to be at our disposal. My wife Lene Handberg and I have therefore decided to render a loan free of interests on 133.000 for as long as needed. At the Tarab Ling account in Denmark we have at this moment 34.400 together with the latest very generous contributions. In addition to this comes 24.000 worth studio flat sponsorships. In all we now have 191.400 to our disposal + approximately 500.000 RS at the account in India. This should enable us to pay for the raw building works including walls, slabs, roofs etc. but excluding the finishing works, furnishing etc. A revised budget has been worked out including water harvesting, solar heating furniture and decoration see below. A more accurate budget will be made when we have finished the detailed project and got the tender result and a more clear idea of the costs for furniture as well as that of the decoration. At this moment I have taken 5 month leave from my work in Denmark in order to finish the drawings and the tender documents and do what is needed in order to push the project through the local administration. I hope to have a positive outcome on this issue before I leave in April. To this end we have engaged extra legal support to deal with the higher administrative level and a local monk from the Songtsen Library who is experienced in dealing with the clerks in the administration.
For your information I am working for this project on a voluntary basis. If you have any questions in regard to the project I will be happy to answer on my e-mail that for the moment works fine on my laptop: morten@rolighed- jensen.dk
More information including project drawings and pictures from the site is available on our Website: www.tarab-institute.org. Also see the print below from our new prospect including pictures and drawings.
Contributions to the Tarab Ling building project can be made to the bank account below.
Nordea Hrsholm Hrsholm Midtpunkt 78 2970 Hrsholm IBAN number DK4320006264371943 Reg. number 1329 Account number 6264 371 943 10 UD-NEWSLETTER BUDGET NOV. 2005 B.01 Construction of buildings 512000 B.02 Additional costs for water harvesting 20000 B.03 Additional costs for solar heating 20000 B.04 Local advisors, fees and salaries 15000 B.05 Unforeseen costs 56000
B.06 Total building costs 623000 FURNITURE, INTERNAL DECORATION, IT ETC. C.01 Furniture etc. 40000 C.02 IT and audiovisual equipment 10000 C.03 Books etc. 10000 C.04 Kitchen equipment etc 10000
C.05 Total 70000 EXTERNAL EXPENSES D.01 Secretariat in Denmark 7000 D.02 Travel expenses 6000 D.03 Accountant 3000 D.04 Costs for architects (paid by MRJ) 30000
D.05 Total 46000
E.06 Overall total expenses 723000
Folders is available on request at the secretariat at Tarab Institute in Denmark info@tarab-institute.org or Morten@Rolighed-Jensen.dk (after April 2006) VISION OF TARAB TULKU RINPOCHE Tarab Tulku Rinpoche, Ph.D. / Lharampa Geshe is one of the most revered Tibetan scholars of recent time. As Tarab Tulku Rinpoche was highly educated in ancient inner science of the East and for more than half his life worked in academic circles in the West, he was able to draw upon his well of experiences and insight and so develop and establish the Education, Unity in Duality. Rinpoche found a beautiful piece of land in the foothills of the Himalayas, which would be a perfect place where he could build a sanctuary, and where students and scholars from all over the world could come to study, contemplate and pick the ripened fruits of his lifework. Unity in Duality Unity in Duality is based on the tendrel view: the interrelated nature of all that exists. The view of tendrel originates in India as far back as Sakyamuni Buddha, app. 500 BC. By the most famous Buddhist scholars Nargajuna (Indian), Tsongkhapa (Tibetan) the tend el view is seen as the Buddhist quintessential contribution to the world. r By extracting the universal aspects of the ancient Inner Science of Mind and Phenomena, based on the tendrel view, Tarab Tulku Rinpoches profound knowledge is expressed in Unity in Duality particularly in the paradigm of the mutual interrelationships between the three interrelated unities of subject/object, body/mind and energy/matter. In the context of an everyday modern reality Tarab Tulku Rinpoche has in this way made his insight available to humanity at large, transcending the boarders of cultural and religious faith the heart of Unity in Duality which at the same time complies with the findings of modern science. 11 UD-NEWSLETTER Securing the ancient Inner Science with Unity in Duality for the younger Tibetan generation His Holiness the Dalai Lama has acknowledged the importance of the Unity in Duality view as formulated by Tarab Rinpoche. H. H. Dalai Lama, together with his Prime Minister, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, have both expressed their great wish that the Unity in Duality Education should be made available for Tibetans. H. H. Dalai Lama is especially concerned with the younger generation of Tibetans in exile, who are in danger of losing their roots in the meeting with modern civilisation. And to meet the needs of his own people as in an educational and research institute in the frame of Unity in Duality was one of the main purposes for Tarab Rinpoche in establishing the Tarab Ling in Dehradun, India.
View from Tarab Ling towards the Eastern foothills Making Unity in Duality available to professionals of Western civilisation Furthermore, Tarab Ling should be a peaceful, restful and resourceful place for western students, scholars and professionals engaging in longer and more concentrated Unity in Duality education, research and comparative studies in an area of natural outstanding beauty at the foothills of the Himalayas where language studies and also other studies connected with ancient inner science will be available too. Start of the Tarab Ling Building Project The increasing demands for the Unity in Duality Education has been a great incitement for pushing forward with the building project. We are now getting the final building permission allowing us to start the actual building project this autumn. The start of the Unity in Duality Education in Dehradun and Varanasi, India Already before starting to build Tarab Ling, the first Unity in Duality Educational Program has been started this March 2004, in the Songsten Library Institute in Dehradun, India. And on request of Professor Samdhong Rinpoche who whole-heartedly supports the Unity in Duality Project a second Unity in Duality Educational Program will begin in December 2005 at the Central Tibetan Institute of Higher Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi, India. 12 Number 4, January 2006 The site Nestling in the foot hills of the Himalaya at an altitude of 800 metres, Tarab Ling is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is surrounded by State Forests and reserved farmland, 11 km from Dehradun on the hillside overlooking the riverbed of the Baldi Nadi. Dehradun is situated approximately 300 km north of Delhi and it takes 6 hours with the fast, very comfortable and inexpensive train.
Plan of the site
13 UD-NEWSLETTER Tarab Ling Building Project Tarab Ling will be built in a traditional Himalayan style with thatched slate roofs and white washed stone walls. At the moment there Is at the plot quite a few trees, which will be incorporated in the layout of the garden. The compound consists of the following buildings:
The building with teaching hall is a 3 storied building with a 200 m2 assembly and teaching hall at the ground floor; separate teaching rooms, library and offices at the first floor and finally, as it is tradition among Tibetans, a small flat for special purposes at the second floor. This flat is normally used as a meditation / contemplation room.
A college, a housing facility for long term students and scholars. This building is formed along an exciting crescent of trees as a circular two storied building with a centre court yard. It contains 20 rooms for one or two persons with attached bathrooms.
Three two storied guest houses with each 8 separate small studio flats with attached bathrooms. Each unit can be used for one or two persons and can be provided with a simple cooking facility to supplement the common facility. Each room will have access to the garden or to a small balcony.
A two storied house with 3 flats to accommodate the teachers. At the ground floor there is two small flats with a common kitchen. At the first floor there is one flat with a conference room and access to a balcony.
The exciting farm house will be rebuilt with the kitchen facilities at the ground floor and the dining hall with a fireplace and access to a balcony at the first floor.
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Main facade o the building with teaching hall, library and study rooms
14 Number 4, January 2006 Funding of the Tarab Ling Building Project The Tarab Ling Association is launching a campaign to raise funds for the building project. At present the most beautiful piece of land has been bought and has been paid for. All legal expenses and land transfer fees have been paid, and now we just need to raise funds for the actual building complex. An approximate estimate of the building costs are of 500.000.
Estimated costs of the different buildings: Teaching hall: 180.000 Studio-apartment: 6.000 x 32 = 192.000 Teacher house: 48.000 Kitchen & dining room: 30.000 College: 130.000
How to sponsor the Tarab Ling Project Contributions to the Tarab Ling Project can be made directly to the bank account: Nordea Hrsholm Hrsholm Midtpunkt 78 DK-2970 Hrsholm IBAN number DK4320006264371943 Reg. number 1329 Account number 6264 371 943
Please notice: Tarab Institute Germany has obtained a tax reducing status, i.e. if you live and pay tax in Germany in order to reduce your tax you should pay your donation to the Tarab Institute Germany, c/o Axel Brenzinger, Tel. 040-6548456 / E-mail: mail@axelbrenzinger.de - see further enclosed sponsorship form.
Main Aims and Objective Tarab Ling Association, Dehradun, India.
To make avai able courses, education and research in Ancient Inner Science of Mind and Phenomena, as presented in Unity and Duality, togethe with Unity in Duality Personal Development as well as Spiritual and Psychotherapeutic Application; l r
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Comparative studies of the Anc ent Inner Science and Modern Science; Comparative studies o Unity in Duality Psychotherapeutic Application and o her Psychotherapeutic Approaches; Comparative studies o Unity in Duality Spiritual Application and o her Spiritual Approaches; To publish Literature and arranging Courses, Education and Conferences and in any manner in which the Society deems fit and proper in concerning the points above; To work as a Charitable and philanthropical organisation for promotion of spir ual, mental, physical development and upl fting o the Socie y, regardless of the r age, nationality and political o re gious conviction To work towards care, training and education of children and young people as well as care of poor and needy and also sick people in need o medical care; To develop a spir t of communal harmony and brotherhood; To undertake and execute any Society the undertaking thereof may seem desirable either gratuitously or otherwise; To do all such other things as may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above stated objects. Members of the board of Tarab Ling Association India
Lene Handberg, Semrig Tablam Rabjam, Chairman of the Tarab Ling Association, India. Rinchen Sadutsang, former Minister of the Tibetan government in exile. Ku-ngo Kalsang Yeshi, Director of Norbu Lingkha institute of Arts, former Minister of the Tibetan government in exile. Wangchuk Gyalpo, Field Manager of IM in India, treasurer of Tarab Ling Association, India. N N Goel, Advocate to the Supreme Court in Dehradun. J M Singhal, Advocate to the Supreme Court in Dehradun. Norbu Wangchuk, Secretary of the Songtsen Library in Dehradun. Tashi Namgyal, Executive Secretary of Rinchen Sangpo Society for Spiti Development. P D Sham Rao, Retired Principal of Christian Retreat Society Centre. 15 Tsering Dorje, Principal of Munselling School in Spiti,H P India. UD-NEWSLETTER How to sponsor a special building If you should have special wishes as to which building you would prefer to sponsor, you can cross any of the squares on the enclosed form and send it to us with your name and address. In connection with sponsoring a studio apartment or the teaching hall you can obtain special advantages see enclosed sponsorship form.
Join one of the Options of the Sponsorship Scheme
1) Studio Apartment Sponsorship Scheme A number of specially designed and ecologically sustainable one-room self-catering studio apartments will become available as the building project proceeds. Each apartment may be occupied on a single or double basis. These apartments will provide ideal spaces for retreat purposes or may be occupied by students following the Unity in Duality training at Tarab Ling who do not always wish to eat in the communal refectory. Each apartment occupies a space of 30 square metres and includes a private ensuite bath/shower room with its own toilet. All the apartments have either their own balcony area for sitting out or give private access to the beautiful natural gardens. Every sponsor of the Tarab Ling apartments will have the right of sole occupier for one full month in the year or for the duration of a specified retreat period. Building costs are being kept as low as possible in keeping with local, practical and aesthetic considerations and those joining the scheme at this stage will have the opportunity of sponsoring an apartment for as little as 6,000. If you would like to join the Tarab Ling Studio Apartment Sponsorship Scheme, please cross in the square below : Studio Apartment sponsorship, fill in the rest of the form and send it to: St. Shj, Hrsholm Kongevej 40, 2970 Hrsholm, DK.
2) Teaching Hall Sponsorship Scheme There will be only 10 sponsorships available for students who wish to invest in the Unity in Duality Education. Such a sponsorship will give the possibility to attend a monthly teaching each year for free, five successive years. It will be possible to sponsor the teaching hall in this way for only 10.000 If you would like to join the Tarab Ling Teaching Hall Sponsorship Scheme, please cross in the square below : Teaching Hall sponsorship, fill in the rest of the form and send it to: St. Shj, Hrsholm Kongevej 40, 2970 Hrsholm, DK.
3) Plain sponsoring If you join the Tarab Ling Sponsorship Scheme without Award for donations exceeding 1000 your name will be engraved on a sponsor plaque at your discretion. In this case please cross in the square below : Plain sponsorship, fill in the rest of the form and send it to: St. Shj, Hrsholm Kongevej 40, 2970 Hrsholm, DK.
1. Studio Apartment 6.000 2. Teaching Hall 10.000 3. Plain Sponsorship: Apartment Teaching Hall Kitchen College Dining room
I have sent: 200 500 1000 ...........
By means of transfer to Tarab Ling account in Denmark By means of transfer to Tarab Institute account Germany By enclosed check
Name .................................................................. Tel/Fax................................................................. Address................................................................ .............................................................................. E-mail ..................................................................
Please make your crosses and fill in the form with name, address etc. and send it to: St. Shj, Hrsholm Kongevej 40, 2970 Hrsholm, Denmark 16 Number 4, January 2006 UNITY IN DUALITY EDUCATION, INDIA, SARNATH, DECEMBER 2005 By Lene Handberg send straight from India We just finished the first part of the Module I of the Unity in Duality Education in Sarnath on the Central Institute of the Higher Tibetan Studies, a branch of the Indian Varanasi University. It has been an astonishing experience to teach a group of 30 Western students, half of them completely new and green in regard Buddhism, together with a group of 20 well educated Tibetans - two of them having 9 years of philosophical studies behind them, an Educational Director and several research students, while others only had Buddhism as a background culture. Such a variety of cultures and levels, however especially due to peoples great patience and a good helping group of old students supporting the new participants what at first seems to be impossible, in the end turned out to be quite a success.
Many of the Tibetans expressed great interest in continuing the training either in Dehradun in February or in Sarnath next year. Even very high positioned Tibetans got interested in Tarab Tulku Rinpoches direct teachings cutting through right to the bone. The Educational Director attending said that this course had really been a real eye-opener. Also the continuous change from theoretical teaching, discussion groups, meditative contemplation or analytical meditation, followed by testing the theory through application in everyday life, was by the Tibetan participants seen as a new methodology and greatly appreciated. Both Tibetans and Westerners expressed that this occasion created a unique cultural meeting that has been very enriching for everybody. However, it was rather difficult for the bigger part of the Western beginners to follow the very eager discussions that evolved when the Tibetans first got started. So another time we should probably try to avoid too many new western students together with a Tibetan group. But as the first teaching of Tibetans it was a great experience with this enthusiastic involvement of the Tibetan participants, which luckily slowly influenced also the Western group after overcoming the first headaches of diagrams, new and difficult vocabulary and new ways of thinking.
This first part of the Unity in Duality Education in the Central Institute of the Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath culminated in an invitation to give a public lecture in the Atisha Hall where to all the students of the Institute were invited. Here Tarab Tulku Rinpoche and the Unity in Duality Education as well as me, the speaker, were introduced at length both by the Sanskrit Professor, Losang Norbu Shastri, and the student representative. The lecture was followed by questions and debate with the students, which was very lively and real fun to the great amusement of the Professor, who at the end addressed particularly the women students among the audience telling that they could also become like her, a real Geshe-ma.
Also the Director of the Sarnath Institute told in the end of our stay that he thought these teachings of Tarab Tulku Rinpoche was very useful indeed and that they in the future may turn out to constitute its own special way of teaching Buddhism. The Director further welcomed us to continue at the Sarnath Institute next year in accordance with demand.
I think that this first part of the Unity in Duality Education in Sarnath has been a great success and a very rich experience for all of us in many different ways. So thank you to all the participants for partaking in this first chapter of a great experiment, which has its continuation in Dehradun in February 2006 and in Sarnath December 2006.
Last, but not least I would like to express my thankfulness and gratitude to the fantastic hospitality we meet in the Sarnath Institute as well as the welcoming open-mindedness of the Director, Professors as well as students. There is a very special thank you to Norbu Wangchuk-la, who has been extremely busy with this arrangement many months before these first training weeks as well as during the time in Sarnath, which did not leave him any time to participate at all. Also many thanks to all the helpers from translators, who did a great job with simultaneous translation (which especially under discussions was very difficult), to our tutors and senior students who was coaching and helping the new ones - all the work of which has been voluntary like the teaching. Also a firm thank you 17 UD-NEWSLETTER to Franois for preparing background material in French and English especially the dictionary with entrance from English, French, Tibetan and Sanskrit so far in respect to Vaibhasika and Sautrantika (and I know he is working on including also the vocabulary of Yogacara and Madhyamaka). Then also I should like to thank all the donors of the Tibetan participants for making it possible to pay for their travel, food and lodging. The surplus from this course will after payment of expenses, go without exception to pay for the travel, food and lodging of the Tibetans that decide to continue in Dehradun in February. And if there should be anything over still, it will go to Tarab Ling Building Project. We will announce the surplus after Dehradun. RITUAL AND VIP VISITORS ON TARAB LING SITE On request, H. H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche (the head of the Songtsen Library) send his Retreat Master and 12 monks for conducting an important ceremony at the Tarab Ling ground in Dehradun that had to be carried out before starting to build on the land - attended by all the U.D. participants. Under the whole ritual two white eagles was souring over the ground, which in accordance with the Tibetans is a very good omen indeed. The retreat master thought that this plot of land was so wonderfully peaceful and beautiful, and he felt that it gives such a great support for meditation, so before we left, he asked if he could have a little hut on the edge to the riverside, then he would like to come and help us. It seems like we are extremely fortunate, so many Tibetans have been offering their help it feels like a deeply blessed project.
Morten Rolighed Jensen and Lene Handberg had also the honour to invite Tibetan representatives from the Sakya tradition, His Holiness Sakya Trinsins son and several of their senior monks from the Sakya Monastery of Rajpur, Dehradun, together with His Holiness the Dalai Lamas sister-in-law, Mrs. Namgyal Taklha for picnic on the site of Tarab Ling. H.H. Sakya Trinsins son asked how Tarab Rinpoche could find such a great site for building Tarab Ling? Even they lived so near for many years they did not know of such a place. All Tibetans coming to this place was greatly surprised of its qualities. It looks good for the future. SUPPOSED TO BE A FUND RAISING, BUT AT LEAST A NOBLE VISIT AT TENT PARTY ARRANGED BY TARAB INSTITUTE, DK (Ed. TI-DK) In June 2005 we had the great honour of the visit of Mrs. Namgyal Taklha (see above) from Dehradun, as well as Kuno Rinpoche, a young reincarnation of an important Lama from the Nyingma Monastery in Clementown near Dehradun to a tent party held in the frame of the Tarab Institute Denmark. Mrs. Namgyal Taklha gave an informative speech on Tibetan Women of which topic she has written two books. She had the wish to give this speech in order to raise funds for the Tarab Ling Building project, for which we are her very grateful. In this connection Morten Rolighed also gave a presentation of the Tarab Ling Building Project and Lene Handberg spoke on the Unity in Duality Education in India. However, we have to become better in using the situations for raising funds we are still too shy so unfortunately the expenses for the arrangement held by Tarab Institute, Denmark, were greater than the funds coming in - this time but we all have to learn.
18 Number 4, January 2006 THE NEW INCARNATION OF THE TARAB LAMA Morten Rolighed and Lene Handberg We have one more thing we should like to share with you. This is concerned with the New Incarnation of the Tarab Lama. We are presently at His Holiness the Dalai Lamas Kalachakra in Amaravati in South India, where we have been asked to come for attending meetings with the different Tibetan Institutions and Tibetan persons involved with and concerned about the new incarnation of the Tarab Lama. The Tarab Institute DK, in close cooperation with the Tarab Ladrang and the Kongpo Kangtsen, Losaling, Drepung - both represented by Geshe Chgye, has been agreed as to take an active role in finding the New Incarnation of Tarab Lama including taking responsibility for his upbringing in the frame of Tarab Ling until his age of about 12-13. Hereafter he should resume the classic studies at Drepung University, Losaling. The finding of the new incarnation of the Tarab Lama will most probably be started next year based on His Holiness the Dalai Lama research and advise. His Holiness said earlier that he would do whatever in his power to find the new incarnation of Tarab Tulku. We have had a row of very useful meetings with the Tarab Ladrang and the Kongpo Kangtsen ending up with an assurance from the Tarab Lhadrang and the Kongpo Kangtsen to support and help us with the Tarab Ling project in many different ways from work power to rituals / teachings and taking care of Rinpoche; and with the assurance from our side that we will help financially to build a place for the new Tarab Lama, whenever it is the right time for the Tarab Lama to assume a formal education in Drepung Monastery University. We are greatly rejoicing in these new friendships created and for the cooperation, which was sealed with kataks and words of appreciation from all sides. TARAB RINPOCHE S STUPA IN INDIA In this connection it should also be mentioned that Geshe Chgye has already make arrangements with Ku- ngo Kalsang Yeshi to come o Dharamsala in March to start to make Rinpoches relics ready for the stupa, and to perform the connected rituals. When the stupa is ready it will eventually and Tarab Ling it will be placed on the shrine inside the teaching hall. Chgye is also considering placing some of Rinpoches relics in the stupa Rinpoche was planning in the northwestern corner of the Tarab Ling plot. TARAB RINPOCHE S STUPA IN DENMARK Kirsten Tarab Losang is going to Nepal this February and will there make arrangements about the stupa for Rinpoche, which is planned to be in Rinpoches meditation room in Store Shj, in Denmark.
* It is serious to make sure the Tarab Ling is ready when the Tarab Lama XII is being found. * We still have far to go to meet with the financial needs! * We need your creative thinking and enthusiastic energy together we can for sure make it all possible. * Let us know your ideas and we will send them round to inspire others. * Form fund-raising groups within as well as without the Tarab Institutes * You can order folders to distribution from the Tarab Institute Denmark.
Contributions to the Tarab Ling building project can be made to: Nordea Hrsholm, Hrsholm Midtpunkt 78, 2970 Hrsholm, IBAN number DK4320006264371943, Reg. number 1329, Account number 6264 371 943 UNITY IN DUALITY EDUCATION IN EUROPE 2005 (Ed. TI-DK) This first year since Rinpoches passing into another state we managed to fulfil Rinpoches wish of carrying on the Educations in Europe, and Lene Handberg, who was carrying most of the teaching, should like to thank for the great support and acceptance she has received from Rinpoches students in fulfilling this great task, as she tells, it is only due to your support that it has been possible to continue the Unity in Duality Training at all.
19 UD-NEWSLETTER Generally for the year 2005 can be said that we managed to carry out most of the courses scheduled, except for a few weekend workshops, which was impossible to fit into the program, and with the help of Alexia Meyer-Kahlen, who very successfully gave the two weekend courses of Yogacara and Madhyamaka at the University in Tallinn, Estonia.
In the program for 2006 below you will find that some graduated senior students has responded positively to the request of taking responsibility for carrying on the Unity in Duality teachings by announcing U.D. Evening Teachings or U.D. Weekend Teaching. So we hope that you will receive them well and give your full support to their great efforts. In this way we can train ourselves slowly to meet the needs and demands for the Unity in Duality teachings, which seems to grow steadily.
Also in connection with Module III of the U.D. Education in France 2006, a few of the graduated students have agreed to assist Lene Handberg and we should also mention that Pia Keiding already assisted Lene in Paris this fall in connection with the 1st. week of Module III. In the future, Lene Handberg thinks that in connection with training weeks, right from the examination week of Module II and throughout the Module III training weeks, it is necessary to be at least one main teacher and an assistant teacher. Within the next couple of years we also hope to have trained assistant teachers for the Module I and II of the Unity in Duality Education to lift the great responsibility to carry on these precious teachings of Tarab Tulku Rinpoche. TEACHING U. D. IN TARTU By Alexia Meyer-Kahlen It was not too long after having translated the training weeks of Module I in Hamburg, dealing with Yogacara and Madhyamaka, that Lene Handberg asked me if I felt up to continue teaching the U.D. course Rinpoche had been giving in Tartu, Estonia.
Rinpoche had visited Estonia for over a decade on a regular basis, and upon the request of his Estonian students three years ago he began teaching the four schools of inner science. However, the rhythm was quite a different one than in the training. While in the training we are dealing one week straight with each school, in Estonia Rinpoche taught each science of mind school on two weekends over the course of one year.
Rinpoche had been teaching himself up to the first weekend of Yogacara when his illness broke out and gave no more room for continuing his precious teachings in Estonia or elsewhere. Since Rinpoches Estonian Students were very interested in continuing at least the studies of the four philosophies, and since Lene found no time in her schedule to arrange travel to Estonia, I agreed to take over and continue the teachings after all we could only gain something
I felt a very warm and open welcome from the Estonians and I have to admit that I was impressed by the sincere interest with which they pursued their studies. Another thing struck me that I had already been able to observe during my Scandinavian U.D. training: Contrary to the people in middle European countries there still seems to be such a strong contact with nature and its natural rhythms in the Northern people. It was a pleasure to teach there, while feeling that the teachings were not only taken in on an intellectual level, but likewise with body and heart.
For me personally the experience to teach U.D. was somewhat a continuation of what I had felt in the many different courses I attended as well as in translating both Rinpoche and Lene: A continuation of an ever-deepening learning experience in regard to the U.D. view as well as in regard to personal insight and realization. I felt as much student as I was teacher, and that attitude allowed me to take so much with me from of the teaching situation, as I was hopefully able to pass on to the participants of the course.
Strangely enough, Rinpoche did not feel gone in any way, but on the contrary he was so present in and through his teachings, that at times it felt strange to remember that physically he is no longer with us. Just coming out of another teaching experience in Hamburg I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Rinpoche for having been here and for giving what he was giving, just as to the people who are willing and able to receive. May these teachings continue to open and enlighten the hearts and minds of people for many more years to come! 20 UD-NEWSLETTER A NEW LI NE OF UNI TY I N DUALI TY EDUCATI ON, MODULE III (Ed. TI-DK) In connection with the Unity in Duality Education, Module III in France we are trying out a new model, which Tarab Rinpoche already suggested some years ago, but which we did not manage to implement before now: to have 3 lines: 1) Unity in Duality Coaching and Teaching line, 2) Unity in Duality Psychotherapeutic Application line, as well as 3) Unity in Duality Spiritual Application line.
However, in the future - already in connection with the Unity in Duality Education in Hamburg it has been suggested to move the Unity in Duality Spiritual application to a Module IV, and then keep the two lines of Module III of: 1) Unity in Duality Coaching and Teaching line and the 2) Unity in Duality Psychotherapeutic Application line.
The reason why we make this new line available so suddenly, without much preparation and announcement beforehand, is due to the establishment of the Tarab Ling International (see below). In the statutes of the Tarab Ling International it is stated that the Board of Directors should all be graduated students. In this connection it is important at this moment to open up for the possibility also for non-psychotherapists to be able to graduate and take part in the responsibilities of the Tarab Institute International, therefore the great need to go fast with this renewal in the Unity in Duality Educational structure. Tarab Rinpoche, for the same reason, was pushing for this change too. But, as we with Rinpoches illness had other things to think about, we did not manage to implement this change before. However, we are now implementing all that we knew Rinpoche still had in his sleeves, hoping this renewal, which was well received in Paris, will show to be useful for everybody and appropriate for the Unity in Duality application. TARAB INSTI TUTE INTERNATI ONAL ( ED. TI - DK) Finally we are able to establishment the Tarab Institute International, which Tarab Tulku Rinpoche had been trying to establish several times during the last 10 years (but without result as it seemed that almost all regional Tarab Institutes were afraid to lose sovereignty being under the same umbrella organization). The Tarab Institutes, who are hosting Unity in Duality Education, have now all seen the importance of uniting under the common umbrella organization, Tarab Institute International, which will have the same statutes as the regional Tarab Institutes and take care of the international affairs listed below:
Arranging the Annual Unity in Duality Conference. Compiling Unity in Duality Educational material in whichever form available. Compiling the Unity in Duality Journal. Compiling annual program of the Tarab Institutes and Tarab Ling. Compile material for the website. Coordinating the activities of the Tarab Institutes and Tarab Ling. Setting up U.D. Educations preferable in the frame of the Tarab Institutes and the Tarab Ling. Appointing Teachers and Assistants for the Unity in Duality Educations. Arranging exhibitions, conferences, publications in accordance with the objectives (Art.4.) Taking decisions on the use/miss-use of Unity in Duality Logo and Name. Coordinating and implementing support to educational institutions aspiring to Unity in Duality and adhering to the objectives of the Tarab Institutes and to the Tarab Ling as well as to social and other educational institutions in the areas of the Himalaya and Tibet.
All these international affairs has until now mainly been taken care of by the Tarab Institute Denmark, work power wise as well as financially.
The Tarab Institute International will be directed by a Board of Directors in which all Tarab Institutes / Tarab Ling that should wish to become a member will have one seat each; also the organisation of the Unity in Duality Graduates will have a seat; as well as the organization of the Collegiate of the Unity in Duality Educational. The President and a General Secretary should undertake the day-to-day work. And the financial background will be a certain percentage of the surplus from any Unity in Duality intervention. Of course the main source of income will be the Unity in Duality Education set-ups within the Western countries.
21 UD-NEWSLETTER With this step of sharing the responsibility among all the Tarab Institutes, the Tarab Ling, as well as among the Graduated students and the Unity in Duality Collegiate we hope to make this enormous work easier and the expenses connected more transparent for everybody. As a beginning we have made an agreement of participation in the Tarab Institute International between the Tarab Institutes, which at present is hosting a Unity in Duality Education. Later, all the other Tarab Institutes will be invited to become members too. The Statutes of the Tarab Institute International will be brought in its full length in the next Newsletter, and will also be available on our website. NEWS FROM TARAB INSTI TUTE DENMARK ( ED. TI - DK) We are very happy to announce that the Tarab Institute Denmark, apart from being able to transfer funds to the Tarab Ling Association as mentioned above, have also been able to invest in carpets and cushions for the Tarab Ling, which we at present use in the Songtsen Library. Also we have been able to invest in translator equipments to a value of almost 10.000 Euro, which was first tested at the annual summer-course in Marcevol and now for the most part will be stationed in India, so that Tibetans and other nationalities does no longer need to listen to French and German translation, but only to the teachings in English. This equipment will save a lot of teaching time and hopefully it shows to be equally good for those who are dependant on the translations. At the Tarab Ling in Dehradun, India, we will even be able to have the translators behind glass, so in the future there should be no disturbance to the rest of the audience.
We have also been able to pay for the son of Tarab Rinpoche, Norbus education as well as saving up a good amount for his further education. And we have been able to renew the hardware as well as a good part of the software systems in the Tarab Institute DK, which had been necessary for a long time.
We had hoped to be able to have more funds over in the Tarab Institute Denmark for Tarab Ling and other projects, but as we have no income but only expenses with the Unity in Duality Educations in India and as Lenes time is now being more than filled up with teaching obligations, she had to employ a helper to do at least some of all the additional organisation / coordination work (basically being of the future field of Tarab Institute International) that she was doing before when Rinpoche was alive. However, she is still doing a lot of this work herself, as it will take some time to educate others to take it over completely. CONSERVATI ON OF VEN. TARAB TULKU RI NPOCHE S TEACHI NGS FOR THE FUTURE ( ED. T. I . DK) In order to save Rinpoches teachings for the future please support the great work of digitalizing the tape- material from Rinpoches lectures, conferences, workshops, and also from the Unity in duality Education weeks by contacting either of the Tarab Institutes involved to make arrangements of lending them your tapes for digitalisation. Also if you have capacity and time for helping with this huge job yourself, please contact either of the Institutes in France, Germany or Denmark for further arrangement. TARAB INSTI TUTE GERMANY AXEL BRENZI NGER I believe we the German Tarab Institute - are not afraid of loosing our sovereignty anymore and see a great fortune in being a member of Tarab Institute International. (As Germans like institutions anyway its a rare opportunity being in 2 in 1 time.) In cooperation with a lawyer we currently try to get the right elaboration of the statutes so it will be working in any case in the future (almost). And hopefully we can decide to join into the Tarab Institute International already on our next General Assembly on the first half of April. Then the name of the German institute might be the one in the headline. Generously well have several weekend courses with new teachers (all well known) 2006 as you can see in this years chart. Being chairman of the German Tarab Institute I want to make my little contribution to keep Rinpoches teachings alive. Im still wondering at the presence of Rinpoche each time Im engaged in his teachings. And last but not least. Its written (in the objectives of the statutes): Teaching and research in Unity in Duality Science of Mind and Phenomena.... Research? Again and again Im impressed how much Rinpoches presentation for instance of localisation / delocalisation fits with ideas of modern science here in particular with quantum mechanics only to mention superposition, entangled even delocalisation youll find there.
22 Number 4, January 2006 TARAB INSTI TUTE FRANCE SANDRI NE GOUSSET Just a few lines to give you some news from Tarab Institute in France. As some of you may know, we, as all over Tarab Institutes, had to try to find a way to join the Tarab Institute International. As we began to think about all that, a huge wind of change blew up. Indeed until now only few people had all the responsibilities on their shoulders, and most of us realised that we should be more involved in our association. So, as we had to change the status, it happened to be easier to dissolve the Institut Tarab France and to create a new Tarab Institute France. I dont know how it is in other countries, but in France the association world is subject to a lot of rules and laws, so it took us a lot of time (and several appointments with lawyers and fiscalists) to find the best legal and fiscal structure for our new association Eventually the French administration recognised our new association last February, and now the most important is just ahead: all the members are invited to put their abilities and creativity to manifest a living association. In that order we created a structure where everyone can just find a place in different work groups (like working for public relations, or transcriptions of the teachings, etc.). Each group will have an elected responsible who will be in charge of the coordination of the work not only in the group but also with the other groups. I have to admit that this new way of functioning is certainly challenging, but we realised how important it is for us all, to have a chance to be active in our association. Besides those major changes, the training is also touching to an end here (we will have our last session in October) and this will certainly be another challenge. We will have to find another breath: no other session to wait for before applying the teachings (ouppsss) and we will have to create a new boost But fortunately one is already speaking of a new training beginning in October 2007 in France Concerning the perspectives, we are also beginning to speak about the U.D. Conference Rinpoche wanted to make in Paris It will certainly take several years to organise and we are thinking of doing it in 2009 or 2010. The aim is to gather people working in the field of psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy and neurobiology and to create a meeting space of theories, practices and discussions around the specific approach of UD. We are for the moment at the very beginning of this project, so let it grow and manifest PRESENTATI ON OF NEW PERSONS TO GI VE U. D. COURSES Alexia Meyer-Kahlen Semrig Thablam Mawa degree (S.T.M.) in U. D., Ph.D. in Philosophy, Master of Fine Arts. Psychosynthesis Therapist and Trainer. From 1999 until his death editor and translator of Tarab Tulku Rinpoche.
Liisa Vuorinen Semrig Thablam Mawa degree (S.T.M.) in U. D., Psychologist (M.Sc.), Psychotherapist, has studied psychology and family therapy in Finland and systematic therapy at the University of Rochester Medical Centre 19'87-90. She is president of the Tarab Institute Sweden and was translator for Tarab Tulku Rinpoche. She has worked as psychotherapy trainer, given lectures in many international conferences and published in different journals. She has worked as psychotherapist in many countries and is presently running her own psychotherapeutic practise as well as treating first episode psychotic patients in Stockholm.
Cecilia Innanen Semrig Thablam Mawa degree (S.T.M.) in U. D. Ph.D. in Philosophy, Long experience of working in psychiatry and as superviser and tranier. Has attended Tarab Tulku Rinpoches and Lene Handbergs trainings since 1985. Now working as superviser and psycho-therapist with Unity in Duality aproach.
Ute Hofmann-Hanf-Dressler Semrig Thablam Mawa degree (S.T.M.) in U. D. PhD of educational science and adult education, PhD, these about Alfred Adlers concept of neurosis and spoiling. Since 1980 she is running her own practise, at first with adlerian, later with energetic methods and applications. She was a student of Sogyal Rinpoche for five years and got training in Spiritual care. In 1997 she started the training with Tarab Tulku Rinpoche, which she finished 2003. In 2002 she founded a school for Tibetan healing, where she is practising and teaching psychotherapy and energetic healing methods from the view of Unity in Duality. 23 UD-NEWSLETTER Unity in Duality Program for 2006 Jan. 20-22, AMK, Hamburg, D: Death - Key to Creation
Feb. 10-12, AMK, Munich, D: Death - Key to Creation
March 11-31, LH, Dehradun, IND: U.D. Edu. Module I. 1p.
April 08-10, LH, Munich, D: Revealing Natural Energy R. 13- , LH, Copenhagen, Psychoterapeutic Appl. 22-24, LH, Aix-en-Provence, F: Mandala. 30-1/5, LH, Paris, F: Transformation of 'Self'.
May 05-08, LH, Arvillard, F: Karma Ling, Conference. 14-20, LH, Hamburg, D: U.D. Edu. Module II, 1. w.
June 03-05, LH, Hamburg, D: Revealing Natural Energy R. 18-24, LH, Sigonce, F: U.D. Edu. Module II, 5. w.
July 08-10, LH, Upper Berwick, GB: Gate of Death. 22-24, LH, Warsaw, PL: Gate of Death - Programme. 29-31, LH, Bratislava, SK: Mandala.
For more information and contactadresses please have a look at the program at www.tarab-institute.org.
Tarab Institute International St. Shj, Hrsholm Kongevej 40 DK-2970 Hrsholm Tel./Fax: (+45) 45 76 00 44 e-mail: info@tarab-institute.org
The Unity in Duality Newsletter is a publication of the Tarab-Institute.
It will be published irregular and will be available through www.tarab-institute.org for free.
Contributions, in English, are to be sent to: newsletter@tarab-institute.org . In case of translations please do sent the original language as well. When you are not capable of writing in English do contact your local Tarab-Institute, or sent us a message in German or French.
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Unity in Duality Newsletter newsletter@tarab-institute.org Tarab-Institute 2006. 24