Lama Lena Returns - Rime Buddhist Center

in this
issue
page 2
Meditations:
Dharma I’ve Learned from Inmates
Lama Lena Returns
with Dzogchen Retreat in May
Dzogchen translates to the “great perfection”
in Tibetan and is considered the pinnacle of
Tibetan Buddhist theory and meditative practice.
It is considered to be the “teaching of our time”
because it is direct, immediate and profound and
especially appropriate for our modern era. Lama
Lena (Yeshe Kaytup) will return to the Rime Center
May 21–23, 2010 with a Dzogchen retreat.
Lama Lena will teach from the text of the Flight
of the Garuda. The teachings include showing the
View of the Nature of Mind by direct transmission
and instruction on this specific meditation
and post-meditation experience. It is said that by
dedicating one’s self to this single practice, full
enlightenment can be achieved in a single lifetime.
Dzogchen is a teaching that allows a person
to discover their true human nature and transcends
the existence conditioned by any cultural, historical
and/or social context.
“The essence of every single Buddhist line is
to draw one’s attention inward to see their own
Family Life as Practice
Dharma Talk by Karen Maezen Miller
Zen Priest Karen Maezen Miller will share
her kind and generous teachings in a talk titled,
“The Mindful Home,” at the Sunday dharmatalk
at the Rime Center – starting at 10:30 a.m. on
May 30, 2010.
Karen Maezen Miller is a mother, wife, writer
and Zen Buddhist
priest at the Hazy
Moon Zen Center
in Los Angeles
as well as the
author of Momma
Zen: Walking the
Crooked Path
of Motherhood
(Shambhala Publications,
2006).
She will give a talk
on recognizing the
practice opportunities
in the everyday
page 3
Tibetan Refugees
Half-Day Summer Retreats
summer 2010
inherent perfection,” Lama Lena said.
Beginning in 1972, Lama Lena spent three
years studying with Lama Thubten Yeshe at his
monastery in Nepal and seven years in retreat and
practice in a small cave above Tso Pema under the
tutelage of her root teacher, Ven.Wangdor Rimpoche.
For the past 25 years she has traveled extensively
with Wangdor Rimpoche as his translator
and assistant. Lama Lena has also studied Chinese
medicine and had a private practice in the San
Special Note: The Rime Center will
be open on Sunday, July 4, 2010.
upheavals of family life. Her book and her topic
are inspired by the teachings of the late Taizan
Maezumi Roshi, founder of the Zen Center of
Los Angeles, with whom she began her practice
in 1993.
“Maezumi Roshi said many marvelous and
inscrutable things, but one I remember most
vividly is ‘Your life is your practice.’ Like nearly
everything I heard him say, I thought it meant
something else. Something deep and beyond mere
mortal comprehension. It does. But it also means
just what it says. Your life is your practice. Live
the life in front of you, be the life you are, and see
what you find out for yourself,” Karen Maezen
Miller said.
She will also be available to sign copies of her
new book coming out in early May, Hand Wash
Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life,
that speaks about the spiritual dimension in our
everyday lives.
For more info: www.mommazen.com
Member Profile: Vickie Cumberland
Member Directory Sign-up
May 21–23, 2010
pages 4–5
Illuminations:
Photo Pages
Rime Buddhist Center
700 West Pennway
Kansas City, MO 64108
www.rimecenter.org
816-471-7073
Session 1: Friday, May 21, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
Session 2: Saturday, May 22, 10 a.m.–noon
Session 3: Saturday, May 22, 2–4 p.m.
Dharma talk: Sunday, May 23, 10:30 a.m.
$120 in advance or $140 at the door, which
includes all three sessions.
Francisco Bay Area. In 2005 she returned to Tso
Pema to assist Wangdor Rimpoche. She currently
lives on the mountain above Lotus Lake with her
two kandros. When she is not traveling, teaching or
translating, she works providing medical assistance
to the Tibetan refugee community as well as the local
Indian villagers and mountain tribe people. At
the request of H.E., Zigar Choktrul Rimpoche and
Ven.Wangdor Rinpoche, as well as many Western
and Tibetan dharma students, she has been traveling
and teaching from the lineages she holds.
To watch a clip of Lama Lena discussing the nature
of the mind through Dzogchen teachings visit
www.rimecenter.org/community/videos-new.php
Core Classes
Starting in the fall semester there will be a
change to a new program format for the Rime
Center’s classes. The Rime Center will now offer
a core curriculum of classes that will allow those
new to Buddhism and to the Rime Center a more
comprehensive understanding of Buddhism.
The three classes typically offered will still be
included. Those classes are:
1) the Basics of Buddhism
2) Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
3) Lam Rim
Added to those the Rime Center has expanded
the core classes to also include:
1) The Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness
2) Lojong
3) Bodhicharyavatara
4) Images of Enlightenment
These new classes added to the original three
will bring a deeper understanding of Buddhism in
the Tibetan form. When students take the classes
sequentially they will find that the classes build
on each other so that the student’s comprehension
of Buddhism deepens. The classes will be offered
during the fall and spring semesters.
These teachings, like all Dharma teachings are available to everyone regardless of ability to pay. We offer partial and full scholarships to those who need them, so don’t let lack
of finances prevent you from attending. Download and print out a PDF version of our scholarship form at: www.rimecenter.org. Scholarship forms are not accepted by e-mail.
Please submit them either by mail, fax to 816-471-7853, or at the center. Scholarship forms need to be submitted well in advance of the event. We ask everyone (even on
scholarship) to pay something - whatever you can afford.

Dharma I’ve Learned From Inmates
I started working with prison inmates 10 years
ago when my friend the former Theravadin monk,
Santikaro was living in Kansas City and regularly
visiting a Buddhist inmate group at Lansing State
Prison. He encouraged me to become a volunteer,
especially since he was planning on leaving the
metropolitan area. This is something that had been
in the back of my mind, so with this extra little
push, I became a volunteer at Lansing and took
over leading the groups when Santikaro left.
There were two at groups at Lansing: maximum
security and medium security. We had Buddhist
inmate groups on both sides of what they
called “the wall.” From there, that lead me on a
path of working as a part-time staff chaplain at
the Leavenworth federal prison in 2004 and 2005.
Now, I currently serve as a part-time Chaplain at
The United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB)
at Ft. Leavenworth, a military prison.
I correspond with a quite a number of inmates
in other states. Each year I write over 100 letters
to these inmates seeking spiritual direction.
Back in 2001, I was corresponding with several
Buddhist inmates housed in prisons in Missouri.
When I inquired about starting a Buddhist inmate
group at one of the prisons in Missouri I was
informed that the Missouri Department of Corrections
didn’t recognize Buddhism as a religion.
So with the help of Kalen McAlister, a Zen priest
friend of mine in St. Louis, and few other Buddhists,
we started making our case to encourage
the Missouri Department of Corrections to recognize
Buddhism as a religion. It took a full year
before we even allowed to speak before the board
that makes such decisions, but we were successful.
Today there are Buddhists inmate groups at
nearly all of the prisons in Missouri. The irony is
that I now serve on that very board, and my Buddhist
friend Kalen was hired last year as the first
non-Christian Chaplain at one of the prisons in
Missouri. It is amazing what patience and persistence
can bring about. Today I also have Buddhist
inmate groups at two prisons in Cameron, Mo.
I do this work because I’ve learned so much
from the inmates I’ve worked with. I find it
incredibly rewarding and satisfying because
I’ve seen amazing change and transformation
by many of these inmates. Prison life is really a
microcosm of our own culture. Within prisons
meditations
By Chuck Stanford, Lama Changchup Kunchok Dorje
The founder of the Rime Center, Lama Chuck Stanford was ordained in 1998 as
Lama Changchup Kunchok Dorje. Lama Chuck writes a monthly column on
Buddhism for the faith section of the Kansas City Star and is the Buddhist
member of the Kansas City Interfaith Council. In addition he is a
volunteer chaplain at Lansing Correctional Facility and regularly
visits Buddhist inmate groups at five area prisons.
Dharma talk given on Feb. 28, 2010 An inmate learns: “Compassion is cool.”
you have racism, sexism, classism – and every
kind of “ism” you can think of. There is also an
incredible amount of injustice that occurs inside
of prisons. In general being in prison will usually
result in one of two outcomes. The offender either
becomes angrier, meaner, and more manipulative.
Statistics show that once the inmate is released
they usually re-offend as the recidivism rate is
about 70% for state prisons.
Or – the convict turns to religion – it doesn’t
matter the religion. It could be Christianity, Judaism,
Islam or Buddhism. But as a result of their
religious experience they learn the virtues taught
by all religions of: kindness, compassion, generosity
and patience. I believe the Buddhist inmates
have one added benefit not offered by the other
religions and that is the meditation practice. Inmates
who get into serious trouble are sentenced
to a period of time in what is known as “the hole”
or solitary confinement. This is complete isolation
23 hours a day. For many inmates not trained in
meditation, they actually lose their minds and
become psychotic. Buddhist inmates on the other
hand, use that time as an opportunity for doing
meditation practice – a kind of meditation retreat
– and actually come out better than when they
went in. Part of my job at the USDB is visiting
the Buddhist inmates in solitary, and when they
first arrive I tell them what an incredible opportunity
this is for them to deepen their practice. I tell
them truthfully that people on the outside actually
pay for this same experience!
I’ve learned so much from working with
inmates and I’ve seen amazing transformation.
I’d like to share with you, just one of countless
stories of such transformation.
Tony was a tough convict I met at Lansing Prison.
This was Tony’s third trip to the “big house” on
a conviction of drugs and burglary. In prison you
really have to belong to a gang to survive and Tony
was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, a racist
and dangerous gang. Tony’s back was covered with
racist tattoos, including a black man hanging from
a tree. One night after severely beating up another
inmate, Tony had what you might call a “dark night
of the soul.” He felt remorse for the first time and
didn’t like the life he was living. He thought “What
I want to do is, I want to be a man of honor and
integrity, most of all.”
So, he joined the Buddhist group and he attributes
Buddhism with “saving his life.” The day
he joined the Buddhist group is when I first met
Tony. He took the “Basics of Buddhism” class
from me and attended several all-day retreats
that I lead, and eventually took refuge vows from
me. He made a complete 180 degree turnaround.
I remember the last time I saw Tony at Lansing,
he was leaving because he had completed his
sentence, but he had another year to do on another
charge at a country jail out in Kansas. He said to
me, “You know Lama Chuck, I’ve decided that
compassion is cool.” He completed that year and
moved to Wichita, Kansas.
He looked into having his tattoos removed by
laser but it was going to cost $25 per square inch
which would have run into thousands of dollars.
So instead he had additional tattoos added, that
transformed the horrible racist tattoos on his back
into a Tibetan deity. The deity looks like a Mahakala
– a wrathful deity. I think this is a beautiful
metaphor – his mind had changed and in turn the
tattoos on his back changed as well. Tony has
visited the Rime Center a few times, and told this
story here one Sunday about five years ago.
There are so many other stories I could tell you.
Inmates who learn to practice patience after being
turned down by the parole board multiple times.
Many of these inmates actually work to help inmates
put down or shunned by the other inmates.
As you know Buddhism is all about freedom
– liberation from suffering. What I’ve learned
from these incredible individuals in prison is that
despite your situation you can still be free. It was
Gandhi who said, “They can imprison my body
but they can’t imprison my mind.” I guarantee
you that many of these men feel more free than
many of you. This is due to their level of spiritual
practice, their daily meditation practice.
If a man in prison can dedicate himself to doing
a daily practice and change his mental attitude
from the afflictive emotions to practicing the
Buddhist virtues of: compassion, generosity and
patience, then so can you. I hope these stories of
change inspired you, as they have me, to continue
your daily practice and to make a real effort to
practice mindfulness in ALL aspects of your life.
2 The Rime Jewel Newsletter — © 2010 Rime Buddhist Center Summer 2010

Help Update Our Mailing List
If you would like to sign up for the weekly
e-mail updates, no longer wish to receive
mailings from the Rime Center or you have
moved, contact us at lama108@aol.com or
816-471-7073. Fax: 816-471-7853
Join a Committee
Joining a Rime Committee is an excellent way
to contribute to the sangha and to become
more involved with the Rime Center. If you
are interested in becoming involved and
serving on a committee, please contact the
following chairs or come to a meeting:
Facilities Committee
Meets upstairs: 9:30am 4th Sunday of the month
Chris McCready buckethat@hotmail.com
Programming Committee
Meets: 9:30am 2nd Sunday of the month
Denise Case denisecase@gmail.com
Gift Shop Committee
Meets: 9:30am 3rd Sunday of the month
Chaplain Mary Stanford
marystanford2000@yahoo.com
Finance Committee
Meets: 12:15pm 2nd Sunday of the month
Vickie Cumberland, treasurer
vacumberland@aol.com
Membership Committee
Meets: 9:30am 1st Sunday of the month
Chris Mikel chrispmikel@gmail.com
and Melanie Mikel melaniemikel@gmail.com
Dharma Sunday School Committee
Meets: 9:30am 4th Sunday of the month
Michael Hart michael_e_hart@msn.com
Library Committee
Meets: 9:30am 1st Sunday of the month, in library
Pete Scott rockywind1@sbcglobal.net
Prison Outreach
Chuck Stanford lama108@aol.com
Rime Board Officers
Chuck Stanford, executive director
Gabriele Otto, board chair
Mary Stanford, vice chair
Teri Brody, secretary
Vickie Cumberland, treasurer
Board Members
Bernie Evans, Matt Rice, Toni Wills
Special Thanks
To Paul Kotz and FRD Communications for
donating all of the printing for our newsletter.
Newsletter Designer/Volunteer Coordinator
Michele Cavin Lowrie oneLmichelekc@gmail.com
Permission
Articles may be reprinted or reproduced with
permission. Please contact Lama Chuck Stanford.
Financial Aid Available
Workshops and classes, as with all Dharma teachings,
are available to everyone regardless of ability
to pay. Discounts, a limited number of scholarships
and work/study programs are available to those in
need. However, scholarship forms must be submitted
one week prior to the start of the teachings for
review by our scholarship committee. Call the Rime
Center at 816-471-7073 or email Lama Chuck at
lama108@aol.com for details.
Change a Life
Become a Tibetan Sponsor
• Seeking sponsors for over
50 Tibetan refugees
• Sponsors matched one-onone
with refugees
• $30 monthly contribution
is sent directly
• $30usd has the buying
power of $600 in India
• We connected over 40
sponsors and refugees in
2009, with a total of 239
since 2002
More info: Lama Chuck at
Tenzin Namdol
lama108@aol.com or 816-
471-7073.
Half-Day Summer Retreats
The Rime Center will have several half-day
meditation retreats this summer. All of them will
be led by Lama Chuck and Mary Stanford. Designed
to be accessible for all levels of learning,
each half-day retreat will focus on Developing
Bodhicitta. Bodhicitta is the altruistic intention to
attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient
beings. This path of selfless and profound
compassion is one of the most important aspects
of Mahayana Buddhism.The retreat will focus
on releasing ego clinging and training the mind
in compassion through, mindfulness and tonglen
meditation. This retreat will also focus on guidelines
for using everyday experiences as opportunities
to deepen bodhicitta.
Member Profile
Vickie Cumberland
Hometown: Ponca City,
Oklahoma, but I grew up in
Wichita and have spent most
of my adult life in Kansas
City.
Role at the Rime: My main
role at the Rime is as a
student of the Dharma, but I have recently been
appointed as the Treasurer and like being a volunteer.
Day Job: Accountant
Hobbies: For the past year, my grandchildren
have been my primary hobby. I also like to ride
my bicycle.
What led you to the Dharma: I began studying
Buddhism as a one year project just to learn
something new, but to borrow a phrase from Tom
Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle, “It was like coming
home.” Nothing has ever made more sense to me.
Something that most people don’t know about
you: I enjoy being old(er). I played my first organized
game of baseball when I was 50 and rode a
bicycle last year after more than 35 years.
Dhasang Nyima
Lobsang Rinzin
Lobsang Thugche
Tenzin Dhaton
Tashi Phuntsok
Sonam Tenzin
Thupten Dhargyal
Saturday Morning (Half-Day) Meditation Retreats
Time: 9:00a.m. to Noon
Dates: June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, 2010
Cost: $15 suggested donation
Beginners are encouraged to attend. We will
be observing noble silence throughout the retreat.
Tea and bottled water will be provided.
Please see the class schedule to register.
Member and Services Directory
The Rime Center plans to publish a membership
directory this spring. If you would like to be
included in the directory, complete the information
below and send to the center or email it to
RimeDirectory@gmail.com. If you would like to
advertise in our directory, please send an email
with “Advertising Information Request” as the
subject and we’ll provide information for listing
your business or services.
Member(s) Information
First name: ______________________________
Last name: _______________________________
First Name: ______________________________
Last Name: ______________________________
Address: ________________________________
City:____________________________________
State: ________ Zip code:__________________
Home phone: _____________________________
Cell phone: ______________________________
Email: __________________________________
Children to be included in directory:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
3 The Rime Jewel Newsletter — © 2010 Rime Buddhist Center Summer 2010

illuminations
First Friday “Open Mic” nights
The Rime Center’s monthly
gathering of gratitude and
creation continues to transform
the center into a hip, laid back
hot spot. Each First Friday the
Rime Center is open for the
Gratitude Open Mic Night and
celebrates artistry of all kinds.
From belly dancers, to ecstatic
poetry, the night is sure to entertain.
Above, one member of
a Celtic Irish duo at the March
event. Right, poet Paul
Goldman addresses the crowd.
prison Sangha celebrates losar
Rime volunteers went
with Lama Chuck to
celebrate Losar with
the Buddhist inmates
at the U.S.D.B. prison
at Ft. Leavenworth.
Front Row (left to
right:) Debbie Blair
and Susan Rico;
Middle Row (left
to right:) Michele
Barlette, Kathy Ellis,
and Gabi Otto; and
Back Row (left to
right:) Frank Bartlette
and Rich Hubbard
Alan Wallace Visit
Alan Wallace’s February visit was a memorable one for all of the sangha. Leading a
weekend retreat focused on Dzogchen, Alan Wallace brought to life this practice
regarded by many as the pinnacle of Buddhist theory and meditative practice. He also
visited with the Dharma school and gave the Sunday morning Dharma talk during his
visit. (Pictured above)
Redesigned Rime Website launched
Visit www.rimecenter.org to see the Rime Buddhist Center’s
redesigned website. Many thanks to Rime member Ken Lange, for
many months of work to spruce up the center’s web presence.
Youth Blessing Ceremony
On Mar. 21 the Rime Center held a baby blessing ceremony officiated by Lama Chuck,
who blessed 10 children. Part of the ceremony includes the parents, the sangha and
the children all reading parts of a text. Pictured are Jenna Harper and daughters,
Alena and Darra
4 The Rime Jewel Newsletter — © 2010 Rime Buddhist Center Summer 2010

Losar
The Rime Center held a Losar celebration Saturday, Feb. 20. Losar is the Tibetan word
for “new year” and 2010 is the year of the male iron tiger. The Rime’s Losar celebration
included a variety of activities, including Lion dancers, the making of prayer flags and tsatsas.
Sand mandala making
tools were provided
for experimentation
(pictured below) Sangha
members also enjoyed a
pot luck dinner together.
Pete Scott is at right
with his girls. Below,
a dragon dancer from
the Vietnamese Temple
entertained the crowd
and gobbled up traditional
money envelopes.
Congrats
On Sunday, Mar. 14,
2010 Rime member
Elise Delcamp
and Elisha Boozer
were wed at the
Rime Center. Lama
Chuck performed
the wedding.
Welcome New members!
When you become a member of the Rime Center you
not only become part of the sangha, but you demonstrate
your support of the center. The Rime Center recently
welcomed two groups of new members to the sangha.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the
Rime Center, look in the class schedule contained in this
newsletter for information on new member’s classes.
Mar. 3 – Front Row (left to right:) Amy Hodge, Barbara
Hubbell, Halie Pitman, Jenny Duffie and Sage Norbury
Back Row (left to right:) Kris Stice, Jeff Hall and Brent
Northcutt
Apr. 4 – Front Row (left to right:) Phil Kilmer, Angee
Mullis, Jamie Comstock, Rachel Hart, Jennifer Childress,
Joy Huppe, and Robin Houston
Back Row (left to right:) Steve Robinson, Dawn Sanders,
Laura Iorg, Lisa Grimes, Rob Menteer, and Luke
Kopmeyer
Bodhisattva Vows
Six people took Bodhisattva Vows on Feb. 21. The
ceremony consists of eighteen root vows and forty-six
branch vows, which all are concerned with not harming
others and being helpful in all situations. Pictured (left
to right): Jeff Drake, Eric McIntyre, Melanie Bartch, Luis
Flores, Charles Bradley and David Eldringhoff.
5 The Rime Jewel Newsletter — © 2010 Rime Buddhist Center Summer 2010

Rime Buddhist Center
www.rimecenter.org
816-471-7073
700 West Pennway
Kansas City, MO 64108
May
June
July
August
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*Schedule subject to change, see weekly email for
important updates.
Sunday Service with Meditation: 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Childcare & Sunday School available.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Meditation: 7–7:30 p.m. — Classes: 7:45–9 p.m.
Extended Thursday Meditation: 6–6:45 p.m.
Noon Meditation: Monday and Thursday 12–12:30 p.m.
Yoga Class: Before Sunday Service 9–10 a.m.
Potluck: Last Sunday of the month
Gratitude Open Mic Night: Crossroads First Fridays 7–9 p.m.
May
2 Refuge Vow Instruction and Ceremony and
pot luck 12:30–2:30 p.m. Lama Chuck
5 Meditation Instructors Training and
Certification (3 Wednesdays) Lama Chuck
13 Teaching Meditation to Children Matt Barr
16 Pratimoksha Vow – Lay Ordination (3 Sundays)
Lama Chuck
21–23 Dzogchen Retreat with Lama Lena
23 Lay Ordination Ceremony and pot luck
12:30–2:30 p.m. Lama Chuck
31 Zen Priest Karen Maezen Miller
“The Mindful Home” Dharmatalk
June
6 Rime Membership Class (4 Sundays)
9 Meditation Workshop (1 session) / Basics of
Buddhism (12 Wednesdays) Lama Chuck
12 Developing Bodhicitta Half-Day Retreat
Online Resources: www.rimecenter.org
Dharma talk podcasts: http://lama108.libsyn.com/
Lending library: http://sites.google.com/site/rimecenterlibrary
Find us on Facebook! “Rime Buddhist Center Community”
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Kansas City, MO
15 Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness
(8 Tuesdays) Matt Rice
16 Application of the Four Noble Truths to Daily
Life (5 Wednesdays) Matt Rice
17 A Beginner’s Guide to Tibetan Buddhism
(5 Thursdays) Alan Jon Snyder
July
4 Note: Rime Center Open (Sunday Holiday)
7 Rime Membership Class (4 Wednesdays)
10 Developing Bodhicitta Half-Day Retreat
28 No Self, No Problem (5 Wednesdays)
Dr. Teri Brody
August
11 Meditation Instructors Training and
Certification (3 Wednesdays) Lama Chuck
12 Teaching Meditation to Children Matt Barr
14 Developing Bodhicitta Half-Day Retreat
29 Refuge Vow Instruction and Ceremony and
pot luck 12:30–2:30 p.m. Lama Chuck