Dear Kurukulla community,
As Nick communicated to everyone on 10/31/2008, Geshe-la was diagnosed with liver cancer and has been undergoing treatments since then. He is under the careful care of both his western and Tibetan doctors who continually monitor his progress. Geshe-la has been tired lately, which was expected. And we must do what we can to ensure his comfort and continued improvements – our offerings of practice are critical to this end (see details below).
To ensure that Geshe-la gets the rest that he needs, please be mindful and coordinate your visits to see Geshe-la with the household, who are familiar with his schedule and daily activities. Thank you! Also, Geshe-la’s teaching schedule will be reduced until he regains his strength. We are very fortunate to have Geshe Tenley available to teach while Geshe Tsulga recuperates. For up-to-date information on our teaching schedule, check the KKC on-line calendar.
Like he did for us, Khensur Rinpoche gave Geshe-la’s students in
How You Can Help with Geshe-la’s Recovery – Offerings of Practice
The two key components of Khensur Rinpoche’s advice to us were: (a) mantra repetitions, and (b) animal liberations. Thus, we are coordinating our efforts to help support each other in our offerings of practice to Geshe-la in the following ways:
Mantra Repetitions
Individual Practice
As we communicated on 4/30/2009, Khensur Rinpoche’s advice is for us to recite Vajrapani and Long Life Deity mantras…particularly White Tara. Our goal is to complete 111,111 malas of each mantra (one mala consists of 108 mantra repetitions), starting with the Vajrapani mantra. We will make offerings to Geshe-la at each 11,111 mala repetition and expect to do the first accumulation of 111,111 mantras by the end of Saka Dawa (on 6/22/2009).
Everyone can recite the Vajrapani mantra either at home or by coming to group practices at the Center (see the group practice schedule below). If you are doing the practice on your own, keep your practice uninterrupted by reciting as many mala repetitions as you can on a daily basis. The Vajrapani mantra is (as instructed by Geshe Tsulga):
As you do your practice, think that the merit generated by each mala repetition is boundless because we are accumulating it for our beloved teacher, Geshe Tsulga, so that we may attain enlightenment through his teachings. Be sure to dedicate your practice to Lama Geshe Tsultrim Chopel.
All mala repetitions between April 27th and June 22nd can be included towards our goal. We ask that you send your mala counts on a weekly basis on Fridays to Debra (Debra's e-mail); please include “Long Life Tally” in the subject line. We’ll report our collective progress in the This Week. Thank you!
If you have time and familiarity, it is good to combine your mantra repetitions with either Lama Tsong Khapa Guru Yoga or 21 Taras Prayers as a preliminary practice. Otherwise, be sure to do your mantra repetitions with Mahayana motivation as Geshe-la has taught us.
Group Practice
Everyone is welcome to participate to one or as many sessions as desired or able. Please let Emilio (Emilio's e-mail) know if you have any questions. We will update the This Week and the KKC on-line calendar if there are any changes:
• We will meet on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 5/28 to 6/21.
• On Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays we will have four sessions: 6 to 7:30 am, 9 to 11 am, 2 to 5 pm, and 8 to 9 pm
• On Sundays we will have four sessions: 6 to 7:30 am, 8 to 9:30 am, 2 to 5 pm, and 8 to 9 pm
• We will adjust the schedule to avoid conflicts with other planned activities, as needed
Animal Liberations
It is very important that we all do as many animal liberations as possible, both individually and as a group. And it is extremely important that we do them today, right now. Having the good intention to do them “soon” or “next time an opportunity arises” is too late.
Although it is always good to support animal liberation projects, in this specific case it is uncertain if and when those projects will dedicate the merit to Geshe-la’s health and long life. Therefore, it is very important that we each take action immediately and without the uncertainty of when and whether or not proper dedications will be made.
We can all create tremendous merit that we can immediately dedicate for Geshe-la’s long life and health through simple, easy, everyday practices – we offer some ideas below and will continue to expand on this list in the coming weeks. Our steady, constant stream of animal liberations is a very important offering of practice. Please send an e-mail to Debra (Debra's e-mail) and include “Animal Liberations Tally” in the subject line; include the type and number of liberated animals. We’ll report our collective progress in the This Week. Thank you!
From Nick, “The main point about liberating animals is to give them imprints as well as setting them free.” This FPMT resource gives us a lot of specific advice to establish an animal liberation practice with this goal in mind. Also, the FPMT has an extensive downloadable PDF with prayers to say during animal liberations, which you can include as part of your animal liberation practice to maximize the benefits to the animals.
Individual Practice
Here are some ideas of simple things that you can do right away, today, to practice animal liberations:
• Geshe-la suggests buying some crickets. You can find them at pet stores that carry life feed for reptiles or fish; they’re very inexpensive. Give them as many imprints as you can. When you release them, preferably do so in areas where you can hear other crickets, so that you don’t introduce crickets to areas where there may not be any already – your neighbors will appreciate your mindful practice!
• After a rainy day, look for worms on the ground. Carefully collect them, give them as many imprints as you can, and then release them in a safe place where they will be less likely to be stepped on or harmed.
• Many of us have carpenter ants in our
Whatever you do, it is most important that you dedicate your practice to Lama Geshe Tsultrim Chopel.
Group Practice
• We are thinking about coordinating a lobster liberation event, possibly similar to some of those that we’ve held in the past. We need one or two volunteers to help coordinate the event. Please let Haim (Haim's e-mail) know if you’d like to help!
• Have any ideas / suggestions for other group activities? Please let Haim (Haim's e-mail) know!
As Geshe-la has told us many times, a seed on its own does not grow a tree; the seed must meet specific conditions to grow the tree. We have ample opportunities to make offerings of practice to Geshe Tsulga for his long life and health. It is up to us to do the work – in accordance with Khensur Rinpoche’s instructions – with faith, dedication and a pure Mahayana motivation.
You are not on your own, but each of us does have work to do individually. Coming together as a community we can support each other to succeed. Let us know how we can help you realize the full potential of your practice for the benefit of all sentient beings, in particular for Geshe-la’s long life and health.
Thank you for all you do,
Sean González,
Assistant Director
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