Contents03 From the Director04 Advice from His Holiness08 TBI Annual Symposium10 TBI Teachings12 Living and DyingMeaningfully13 News from Sera14 Visiting Sera16What’s New at TBI18 News from Tenzin18 Cooking up a Storm
From the Director“Let me see that proper devotion to my kind Master,Foundation of all good qualities, is the root of the Path,and devote myself to him with great Respect andmany efforts – inspire me thus!”– Lam Rim PrayerIt seemed entirely appropriate that in early August, following the astoundingblessings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet gracing our humble Centre,that the TBI 2013 Symposium examined in depth the topic, <strong>Buddhist</strong> Meditation: AnInterdisciplinary Approach. His Holiness emphasised study more than anything elseensuring that our practice is deeply grounded in sound reason and understanding.Having no less than three <strong>Buddhist</strong> Professors together with our very ownindependent scholar and Tibetologist, Ilia Durovic, ensured high quality, thoughtprovoking and incredibly valuable presentations and discussion. The fact thatinternationally acclaimed Prof John Powers, at the request of Ilia, flew in directly fromAlaska where he had been teaching on a text of the Chittamatra tradition,underscores how fortunate we are to have Ilia with us. Ilia is not just the translator, or“loud speaker,” for our precious teachers, whose words would otherwise be justmeaningless sounds, but he occupies a rare place in the history of the transmissionof <strong>Tibetan</strong> Buddhism into the West. According to our resident teacher, Geshe JampaGyaltsen, Ilia achieved the equivalent of the high Lharampa Geshe degree as aformer monk at Sera Jey Monastic University and has been praised as “a yogi ofyogis” by none other than our very own Founder and Mentor, Kyabje KhensurKangurwa Lobsang Thubten Rinpoche, according to Geshe Yama Rinchen whenvisiting us earlier this year. This means that we can have uttermost confidence in theauthenticity of the translation of the profound teachings such as Lama Je Tsong KhaPa’s The Canticle of the Stages of the Path on Wednesday evenings by one of thefew remaining elderly Lharampa Geshes, Geshe Pema Tsering, who fled Tibetfollowing the Chinese invasion in 1959. Geshela’s incisive and humble presentation“cuts to the quick” as was further evident in the October long weekend teaching onLiving & Dying Meaningfully, an experience to be treasured and practiced! For mepersonally all these teachings, including Ilia’s August Seminar, The <strong>Buddhist</strong>Understanding of Suffering and The Four Noble Truths, seemed to hit home like apile driver, the fact that there is nothing and nowhere within this cycle of lives,Samsara, where we can find true solace – only the Dharma can do this. How kindour teachers are to reach out to teach us this precious Dharma week after week,month after month, year after year, exemplifying the Buddha’s Great Love,Compassion and Wisdom! Let’s not take them for granted; their presence isdependent on each of us! Thank you everyone who are helping to fulfil His Holiness,Rinpoche and our Geshe’s vision for TBI by the offering of service and donations,especially as some students have had to step back for various reasons of family,health, work, etc. I especially thank Carole Armstrong, our former Centre Managerfor her years of faithful service. I’m sure you will all join me in wishing Carole muchlove, good health and prosperity! Thank you everyone for your support as weprepare for exciting times ahead – His Holiness and Kyabje Khensur KangurwaRinpoche’s teachings at Sera in India in December/<strong>Jan</strong>uary, then the return of ourbeloved Geshe Jampa Gyaltsen!Much love,ChrisSpiritual HeadHis Holiness Dalai LamaFounder and TeacherKyabje Khensur Kangurwa LobsangThubten RinpocheChanzoe (Private Secretary of TotalAffairs) and FoundersRepresentativeNawang Thubten (Tenzin)Resident TeacherGeshe Jampa GyaltsenTranslator and Director ofPublishingIlia DurovicDirectorChris RidleyAssistant DirectorAaron TrottTreasurerTania BellLibrarianJeannie SironaMembershipJad AlbaneseTranscribing CoordinatorJill Stoner<strong>Magazine</strong>Aaron TrottRyan Paine<strong>Tibetan</strong> <strong>Buddhist</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>Thekchen Shedrub Choeling8 Ross AvenueFlinders Park SA 5025(08 8351 8788) or 0404 839 293office@tibetanbuddhistinstitute.orgwww.tibetanbuddhistinstitute.orgChris RidleyTBI Director3 • TBI• tibetanbuddhistinstitute.org
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