Pilgrim's Corner
Best Wishes to all for a healthy, joyous Year of the Iron Tiger!
At the beginning of 2010, Bo Wiberg, who had been KTTG's Director for four years decided to move on to a life of more practice and establishment of his woodworking business. Many thanks to Bo for his years of service to KTTG!
There has been so much exciting renewed activity here at KTTG and Friends of the Karmapa since Khenpo Karthar's visit to Crestone at the beginning of March this year! We are all just now catching our breath as the bulk of the "heavy" work is almost completed. Accompanied by his nephew, attendant and translater, Lama Karma Drodul, and Ani Karuna, Rinpoche's party stayed at our brother organization in Crestone, Vajra Vidya Retreat Center. Rinpoche gave a teaching on the meaning of Refuge taken from Karma Chagme's Retreat Manual. In the morning he gave an animal blessing mostly attended by dogs and their owners--everyone behaving very well and wagging tails. Among the dogs blessed was Dakota, a completely paralyzed dog. Dakota later received several other lamas' blessings and died peacefully one night late spring.
Perhaps the most stunning event of this visit was Rinpoche's teaching up at the Tashi Gomang Stupa. There was still ice on the road winding up the mountain only 4W drives could make--frankly I couldn't look out the window until we were at the top of that mile high road. Sitting in the sun and wind at the top, we all felt Rinpoche's words on the meaning of the stupa weave synergistically with the love and blessings pouring down from the Stupa.
These blessings and love fully re-energized our group. Within days of Rinpoche's visit, we gained some new members and a new Director, Lama Zoe de Bray. In a very short time and with a lot of sweat, the group completely refurbished the cabins and the Halaby house into fresh, sparkling, mousefree, fully rented retreat spaces. Through the help of a dear friend, a fundraising letter got circulated on the internet and then translated into other languages. Less than 2 months later more than $45,000 was raised for the entire extensive repairs of the stupa, allowing us to complete this work before the low overnight temperatures that begin in September would have prevented work happening this summer.
From the very beginning of our fund raising campaign we had one immediate heartfelt offer of a $10,000 matching grant. A second donation followed quick on this, but then not much for several weeks. I began to wonder if we could even match this grant. Then the money started to pour in from around the world, often with notes saying how much the stupa meant to a donor. One morning I awoke and found that a donor was wiring her entire alimony of $10,500 to us with the accompanying note,"So you can get the work done THIS SUMMER." And on and on it went from pennies to large sums and so our prayers were answered! How can we ever thank all of you!
Then on one of those very very windy spring days in May, KTTG participated for the first time in Shumei's Interfaith day here in Crestone. One of our former Directors led the group and the audience in one of Khenpo Tsultrim's happy yogi songs for world peace.
Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche brought his attendants and retreatants up to the Stupa on June 27th to celebrate the 17th Karmapa's birthday. Many people had brought floral arrangements, decorated the front of the Stupa as a tasteful colorful shrine. Several people stood with umbrellas above Rinpoche and the ordained sangha to protect them from the blazing sun even at 10 AM. Two experienced Sang attendants fueled the smoker built by Paul Kloppenburg which had been recently moved up to the Stupa. The occasion was so lighthearted and joyous with plenty of cake and refreshments for more than 120 people.
We are looking forward to the visit, even if so brief, of Yangsi Rinpoche, Dilgo Khentse's reincarnation on August 18th. More to come!
Zoe de Bray
Director KTTG and Friends of Karmapa