Patience and Other Lessons From Shedra
t this year’s fabulous Shedra Program, we were blessed by the Venerable Khandro Rinpoche’s continued teachings on
Uttaratantrashastra, as well as His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche’s teachings on the Bodhisattvacharyavatara. This year His Eminence focused mainly on the Patience chapter, teaching in his unique way from personal experience and a love for the western students, along with his immense wisdom and knowledge of the subject. All participants will remember his two-syllable suggestion regarding what to do when having erred against a loved one: "Sor-ry!"
New faces, new teachings
The number of participants this year was larger, with many returning students from last year, as well as some people attending Shedra for the first time, and even a few totally new to Lotus Garden. In addition, several brand new little ones graciously agreed to join their parents.
A new course at this year’s Shedra was a three-part series on the history of Buddhism, taught by Lopön Rita Gross. Lopön Rita inspired in-depth thought and analysis, challenging us to step out of our "Buddhist" label and approach things in a more scholarly and intellectual way.
The number of participants this year was larger, with many returning students from last year, as well as some people attending Shedra for the first time, and even a few totally new to Lotus Garden.
Ken Rawie continued to teach Kyudo, as the Dharma Art portion of the curriculum. He was delighted to have several continuing students who were clearly progressing on the path. Because of so much interest in Kyudo, he brought an assistant to help with the beginning students. Kyudo was being practiced in the background during a gathering and celebration at the Residence as His Eminence presided over the engagement blessing of Earl Dendel and Martha McGinnis. Judy Wolfer and Jud Williams gave the toast for the happy couple and everyone drank to their future blessings. It was really a lovely afternoon. In the evening we all retired to the Main Shrine Room for a movie, The Curse of the Golden Flowers.
The other course rounding out the Shedra curriculum was Tibetan Language. Amazingly, participants showed such interest in studying Tibetan—at least at the first class—that three teachers were required to instruct the eager students: Ani Zopa Chodrön, Ani Drolma Chodrön, and Geoff Picus. Another of Geoff’s Tibetan Lessons appears in this issue of Lotus News. For the doubtful among us who have yet to undertake this rite of passage, Ani Zopa mounts a convincing argument in in her article on learning Tibetan.
Weather, accents and everything else
And
as far as weather goes— as anyone who has ever been at Lotus Garden
will recall, the weather is very
unpredictable—we had some rain
and low temperatures in the beginning but the campers were brave and
hardy. A few campers slept on the shrine room floor, but luckily the
nasty weather only lasted a couple of days, and, after that, gave way
to relatively mild temperatures and sunny skies.
VKR did prayers in the kitchen of the Residence for a nest of small birds that had been exposed to the hail.
The day of His Eminence’s departure, we were treated to a freak hailstorm that, from all accounts, only affected Lotus Garden property and those directly adjacent. We did suffer hail damage, as the tent that served as the prostrators’ shrine room was destroyed. Unfortunately many small birds and animals did not survive. VKR did prayers in the kitchen of the Residence for a nest of small birds that had been exposed to the hail. No one expected them to make it but after some loving care and warmth they were spotted flying away, as most of the participants began packing their belongings and heading out too.
Many funny and delightful things happened during the Shedra—to be expected when such exceptional teachers are present. They seem to attract interesting and gifted people from all walks of life, and from many countries too. While sometimes it is frustrating trying to understand where everyone is coming from and remain kind and patient, it can be even more difficult just trying to figure out what they are literally trying to say with so many varied accents.
Being with the teachers and with the teachers’ students and sharing this path with everyone is an amazing experience. I truly feel blessed by it all.
- Ani Jigme (an American national) is a Tibetan Buddhist nun who lives part of the year at Lotus Garden and the other at Samten Tse, in India.
Photo credits: VKR and HE DzKR say goodbye at the end of Shedra; Earl and Martha at their reception; Sangha members pondering the hail storm ©2007 Mindrolling International All rights reserved