Ligmincha Europe Magazine # 8 – Spring 2013

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European sangha's. Due to my state of health, I had to withdrawn a few years ago, but the monthly meetings have continued to flourish. When looking back on your period as chair of the Dutch sangha, do you have any remarks? Jan: I did the work with a lot of enthusiasm for ten years, but I was not on my own. From the beginning, I managed with a lot of support from Wil Leenders and Veronique Leenders. I have fond memories of my cooperation with Tonny Maas and Erik Robbemont of the Lishu-project. Finding the best way of cooperation was a recurring challenge. When working together one can stumble on all kinds of obstacles especially when working with other people on a personal level. Until 2011, Rinpoche had visited Holland twice a year to teach us a four day seminar. From 2012, Rinpoche reduced this to once a year for a two day seminar. We were disappointed. Back then we asked him to consider establishing a center in Europe. He explained to us that buying land in the United States was much cheaper due to the gift system and resources available for projects such as ours and that in Europe such resources were not easily available. For me it was not an easy time, as Chairperson, I was supposed to contribute new ideas and at the same time people held opposition to my ideas. That's why I am very glad Anneke has the Chair now and she does the job very well. As Adviser of the Board there is also a lot of consultation going on with Veronique and Adrienne. I truly hope that the board will find the right way of working in harmony and agreement into the future. What kind of advice will you give as support for the diverse levels of practicing? Jan: The board has plans to separate practice programs for beginners and more experienced practitioners. A group can come together in a private home where under guidance basic exercises can be initiated. As far as the more experienced students, lacking any progress, I can endorse the view of Sogyal Rinpoche (of the Tenzin Wangayl Rinpoche and Jan Dinkelaar give information about the first Lishu trip in the Muider church in Amsterdam, May 2007. The sangha Nyingma Rigpa organisation) who says some people in the West need some kind of therapy first, before going on. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche once said to me: “Some people are very enthusiastic in the beginning, they frequently come to the seminars and then they don't show up at all for some reason.” An always approachable teacher is needed, a Tibetan teacher, who can answer all your questions regarding the practice and exercises, who can tell you to go to the next exercise or call you back to a previous one. page 14
H.H. Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Chongtul Rinpoche, Geshe Gelek Jinpa and Geshe Lhasay Tenzin with represetatives of the Europese sangha in Amsterdam, June 2006. There is a Dutch group going to the five-year cycle of Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud teachings in Austria. The energy built up there gets diluted when coming back home. My health conditions did not permit me to follow these teachings, starting with the Ngöndro in the first years. If I could have participated, I would have loved to take the initiative to start an intensive supported Ngöndro group in the first year. Can you say something about reading and studying with the active practice? Jan: In principle you should read the books about Bon and if you read books next to it, it might be interesting, but it can also be confusing. And also: you can read Bon books ten times without being bored. Books of Rinpoche can be repeatedly read and it still offers something new. Along with reading you have the practical exercises and the new experiences which come with them. Most important for us is: what you experience in practice, what you read, what you hear in the teachings, how can you integrate these in your normal daily life? In closing up this interview are there any other remarks you wish to make? Jan: I am very glad that I have met Rinpoche in this lifetime. At my farewell gathering as Chairperson, Rinpoche remarked on how I have influenced the lives of many people by inviting him to the Netherlands. I too feel Rinpoche has influenced a lot of people and certainly touched The sangha me in a profound way. I am grateful for that. I sincerely hope he has a long and happy life and will continue his teachings for a long time. Also I wish the readers of Ligmincha Europe Magazine a lot of success, happiness and prosperity. The ‘new’ Board: Anneke Dekkers, Jan Dinkelaar, Veronique Leenders and Adrienne van de Maas Anneke, when you became the Chair of the Board of Ligmincha Nederland the management structure had changed. Did you have an example of this new structure in the worldwide sanghas of Rinpoche? Anneke: This structure surely has many examples. The old board had previously spoken to Rinpoche about changing the organisational structure. We took the organisation of Ligmincha Virginia U.S. as an example. The tasks of the board are clear in page 15
Page 1 and 2: Celebration at Triten Norbutse # 8
Page 3 and 4: GREETINGS AND NEWS FROM THE EDITORS
Page 5 and 6: are very important, because they ar
Page 7 and 8: IMPRESSION OF TRITEN NORBUTSE'S CEL
Page 9 and 10: Going beyond page 9
Page 11 and 12: of the first building and many othe
Page 13: The Posthoorn church in Amsterdam,
Page 17 and 18: Boat tour on the Amsterdam canal, c
Page 19 and 20: March 23: Many people watched the l
Page 21 and 22: April 10: At one o'clock in the ear
Page 23 and 24: THE MAGICAL MOVEMENTS OF TIBET In S
Page 25 and 26: I I am always I'm just here, I'm ob
Page 27 and 28: It is useful to draw your attention
Page 29 and 30: THE FLIGHT OF THE GARUDA In the boo
Page 31 and 32: ing remains. The base that keeps th

Ligmincha Europe Magazine # 8 – Spring 2013

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