A Losar Message from Ven. Geshe Kalsang Damdul

Dear Students, Sangha and your friends and relatives!

I have been deputized recently by the Tibetan Parliament.  As a new Tibetan Government official, I am attending a workshop held in Innsbruck, Austria on “Federalism and Minority Protection.”  Today is my fifth day at this event.  I am finding it to be a really interesting and enriching workshop.  About 30 participants from different countries are attending.

Tomorrow we are going to Bolzano, in the Italian Alps, for the second part of the workshop.  Then I will be going back to India on the18th of February for the Tibetan Losar celebration.

I am sending my heartiest greetings and saying Tashi Delek to every one of you on this Tibetan New Year.  My sincere prayers go out for your good health, long life and success in both your secular and spiritual life.

You may also know that the situation in Tibet is so serious and sad.  So please kindly keep all those who have self-immolated and are imprisoned in your hearts, along with their near and dear ones.

It’s very cold and it is snowing every now and then.  But I like it very much.  It is my first time in Austria.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Big love and big hugs,

Geshe la

Thanks to Amy Price for the lovely photo of Geshe la in Innsbruck.

Shakyamuni Tibetan Buddhist Center Prayer Booklet

Our Opening and Closing prayers are now available in a convenient format for download and printing.

STBC-Prayers-Open-Close-2012

After you print the prayer booklet, please remember that it is a sacred text and to treat it as such. Store the booklet carefully. If you need to dispose of it, burn it.

Holiday Message from Geshela

Dear Sangha Friends and Family members of the Sangha,

I am leaving for Bodh Gaya to receive the Kalachakra Initiation from His Holiness Dalai Lama. Over two hundred thousand people from all over the world are expected to join this great event. Thousands of Tibetans from Tibet are also expected to arrive there for the Initiation. Our monks are also going there, bringing cooks with them. So it will be like big picnic and feast, along with the wonderful teachings. I am not sure whether there is good internet access in Bodh Gaya, so I thought to write to you now.

As the Merry Christmas is very soon, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. And I also wish you all a very Happy New Year of 2012! May the Triple Gem bring you, your friends, and family members good health, joy and peace in your life, and success in your every endeavor. As His Holiness suggests, we should all pray for the 21st century– that it will be one of peace and harmony, free from any kind of bloodshed, hunger and poverty.

With big hugs and love for each and every one of you.
Geshe la

View the Kalachakra teachings live January 1 – 10, 2012 on http://dalailama.com/live-english.

Heart Sutra Retreat

The Venerable Geshe Kalsang Damdul led a one day retreat on the Heart Sutra Ritual on July 16th. The essential teaching of Heart Sutra is on emptiness. If we could get even a rough understanding of emptiness it is helpful in overcoming our afflictive emotions and achieving wisdom eye for what to adopt and what to discard, thus making our life more peaceful and harmonious, and gaining a sound footing to reaching enlightenment for the benefit of countless number of sentient beings. The Heart Sutra ritual and practice is best performed in the evening and can remove obstacles and hindrances in your daily life.

The Heart Sutra