Welcome to the November 2013 Marpa Monthly Update, letting you know about events, volunteering opportunities and more at Marpa House.
EVENTS – NOVEMBER 2013
Meditation Practice Day
Sunday 3 November – 10.30am and 2.30pm
The Calm Abiding meditation sessions will be led by Eva Ward, who has been a student of Chime Rinpoche for many years. The day is ideal for beginners as well as the more experienced practitioner. It is a wonderful opportunity for the Sangha to practise together and to spend a day in the tranquillity of Marpa House. Free of charge but if you would like to have lunch (£5), please let the Secretary know.
Black Tie Dinner and Dance Fundraising Event
Saturday 9 November – 7pm
Ashdon Village Hall
The Committee have planned a wonderful evening with dinner, music and dance to raise funds for Marpa House. There are just a couple of tickets left, so contact the Secretary or go to Paypal to buy your ticket. We are not able to sell tickets on the door due to restricted numbers for catering and fire regulations at the venue.
Calling the Lama from Afar
Sunday 10 November – 2.30pm
The Trustees and Committee of Marpa House invite you to join them in Calling the Lama from Afar. As the house will be full with many guests, we regret that we cannot offer lunch for day visitors.
Tibetan Language Day
Sunday 17 November – 10.30am and 2pm
Anyone with some knowledge of Tibetan (who can read Tibetan and use a dictionary) is welcome to join in a day of reading and translating.
Fee for the day: £10 (including lunch)
The Venerable Tenzin
Carrying the Dharma into Daily Life
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November – 10.30am and 2.30pm
Course fee: £5 per session
Too often, we separate our practice and our daily life when we really need to unify the two. In Vajrayana, our everyday activities can be part of our practice. We need to pay attention and ensure that our thoughts and actions are anchored in the Dharma. In this weekend we will examine how to do this, even by using our suffering as a path to freedom. Sessions will include a short discourse, general discussion and questions. Four areas will be dealt with – family life, working life, hobbies and samsaric addictions.
The Venerable Tenzin has been a student of Lama Chime Rinpoche since 1987. Tenzin took ordination with HE Tai Situpa in 1989. He is a follower of the path of devotion and he also likes gardening.
LOOKING FORWARD TO DECEMBER
Lama Alasdair
Talk on the Three-Year Retreat
Saturday 7 December – 10.30am and 2.30pm
and
Lojong
Sunday 8 December – 10.30am and 2.30pm
Course fee: £5 per session
Lama Chime Rinpoche has asked Lama Alasdair to speak about the three-year retreat that he did under the guidance of the previous Kalu Rinpoche. This will be on Saturday, and then on Sunday we shall look at practice from a Mahayana perspective, in particular the genre that is known as Lojong.
Lama Alasdair has been a student of Lama Chime Rinpoche since 1974. In the same year he was ordained by HH the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and later, on his advice, completed the 3-year retreat under the guidance of Kalu Rinpoche in Kagyu Ling (Plaige), France. He was a monk for over 12 years and spent many years living and teaching at Marpa House. Since 2000, Lama Alasdair has been the resident lama in Kagyu Benchen Ling in South Germany, the centre established by Rinpoche.
THE GATHERING ON 12 OCTOBER
With sad hearts we gathered with Rinpoche on 12 October, to say special prayers for his dear friend Choje Akong Rinpoche, at this time of his sudden and unexpected death. We also heard advice for those of us who are now retired or approaching our retirement, about how to be prepared for our old age and dying. Our heartfelt love and sympathy go out to the family and students of Akong Rinpoche.
STAFFING OPPORTUNITIES
We are looking for someone to join the Marpa House staff as cook, from early January. We are also looking for a cleaner to start in mid-January. Is this your opportunity to come on staff?! Please contact a member of the House Committee or the Secretary if you would like to volunteer to be on staff in early 2014 for a short or long period.
JOIN THE COMMITTEE
The Marpa House Committee provide vital support to the Trustees and Staff in the day-to-day organisation of the House and running of events. Ideally we need six members. If you would like to know more about giving your support and input into the running Marpa House by joining the current team, please contact the Secretary or a Committee member.
KARRIM RABI-LALEH IN CORNWALL
Karrim will be presenting an Introduction to the Medicine Buddha day, a whole day’s instruction and practice of the Medicine Buddha puja, on Sunday, 24 November. We will go through all the basic stages of the visualisation and learn the mantra recitation. Together we will have a full day of healing and meditation. For more information and to book your place, please contact Sophie Temple-Muir on 01326 221651 or sophiemuir@freeuk.com.
SUPPORTING MARPA HOUSE – MAKING A DONATION
It is easy to donate to Marpa House and to help ensure that Marpa House is here for at least another 40 years. All you have to do is click here.
Thank you for your ongoing support and interest in Marpa House!
with best wishes,
Marpa House Committee
