Happy Losar and blessings from all of us at Tara Mandala as we enter the year of the Fire Dog!

This has been a time of many celebrations at Tara Mandala. We ushered in the new year with a full day and night of celebrations on the land. Monday afternoon we gathered to tour the house, cabin or yurt of every resident on the land, spending time drinking tea and eating delicacies – from sushi to pie and cookies. Our stomachs full and hearts glad, we embarked on our all night Tara practice in the Community Building where we have converted the dining room to a winter meditation hall. We welcomed the rising sun and pink burning dawn sky with mantras and conch blowing, and washed away the old year with star water left out all night to soak in the light of the night sky. A beautiful breakfast feast offering brought closure to our celebrations. We did a Tibetan divination for a glimpse into the year ahead – we received the most auspicious result in the Tibetan divination signifying auspicious blessings for all intentions and harmony in their successful unfolding. Wonderful signs as we look ahead to the Temple building and a glorious year of Tara revealing her ongoing blessings!

Costanzo Allione

Last week we celebrated Costanzo Allione Osel Dorje’s completion of his one year retreat in Dragon’s Nest cabin (see picture above). He and Tsultrim walked down the hillside to a juniper smoke ('sang') offering where the community greeted him with waving white scarves ('katas') and song. An abundant feast offering gave us the chance to gather and hear a few of Osel Dorje’s insights gathered over this deep and profound time of practicing twelve hours a day starting at 4 am every morning. He spoke about faith, devotion and diligence as the foundation for his practice and commitment over this last year. It was powerful to hear his words and be in his presence. For those of us who have had the fortune of being on the land, it has been a most wonderful gift knowing of and feeling the power of deep practice happening in our immediate surroundings. Costanzo will be going back into retreat in the next few months for another 6 months.

Our other retreatants continue their practice – Claudia Webinger is entering the 6th month of her one year retreat; Ian Jenkins continues his retreat in Padma after coming out to attend Rinpoche’s teachings; and More Guzman is finishing up a three month retreat this coming month. How wonderful to be able to support and feel the blessings of these practitioners.

Travels and Capital Campaign

Tsultrim has returned to her writing retreat after being on the West Coast for the month of January teaching. Her Prajna Paramita course at Spirit Rock, Sacred Union workshop in California, and Green Tara retreat on Whidbey Island were all well attended and clearly powerful as students have been calling us ever since to see how they can become more involved at Tara Mandala. Tsultrim’s talks on the Temple vision and plans brought in around $75,000 towards Phase II of the Capital Campaign. Special thanks to all who continue to participate in manifesting Tara’s mandala. We are now feeling our way into whether to begin building the Temple and Residence buildings this spring, so please if you plan to give - even if it’s not all now - let us know so we can plan ahead.

Events in New York in April

Two new events are scheduled for April in New York City. Tsultrim will be teaching on the Nature of Mind at the Tibet House Friday evening and all day Saturday, April 21 and 22. On Sunday April 23 TPG Architects who are designing the Temple and Residence buildings will be hosting an afternoon gathering to show and discuss the Temple plans. Tsultrim will be joined by the two main architects on the project. Wine and scrumptious appetizers will be served; please come if you live in the area.

Tsultrim and David continue their weekly talks with the Temple architects and David is going to New York next week to meet with them again in person to work through some of the finer details of the planning. Rinpoche did a blessing and fragrant juniper smoke offering at the Temple site when he was on the land briefly in January.

Sustaining Sangha

As many of you know we launched our Sustaining Sangha Membership program in December and have met with wonderful response. We have almost met our goal of doubling our Sustaining Sangha income, money that is crucial in supporting the vital inner workings and core staff of Tara Mandala. Thank you most deeply to everyone who is contributing! If you have not yet joined, you might consider becoming a member at any level; you will receive weekly Words of Wisdom from Tsultrim, a Losar gift, and valuable discounts on retreats at Tara Mandala and in the bookstore. To become a member, call the office or go to www.taramandala.org for secure on-line registration.

Study Groups

Our Sunday morning Lojong, mind training, study group continues to meet. We alternate between open discussion guided by Blake, our registrar and office manager, and teachings offered by Tsultrim. Two weeks ago Tsultrim offered most beautiful teachings on the Four Kayas, tracing the development of the enlightened body from Indian times through Tantric and Dzogchen teachings. Tsultrim will be teaching on Lojong, mind training, again this summer in the second session of the month-long retreat. These teachings and associated practices are incredibly powerful in bringing mindfulness and an open heart to the encounters and obstacles of everyday life.

Summer is Coming!

We are beginning to prepare for the summer season even as we still hope for snow to soak our dry earth. Our printed program guide will be mailed to you shortly; please visit www.taramandala.org for a complete listing of all summer retreats. In early summer we are offering a few day-long programs that will hopefully make Tara Mandala accessible to our ever-growing local community. Our retreat season begins officially July 1 with Tsultrim’s Green Tara retreat. Tsultrim will also be teaching a Chöd retreat, Kapala Training on the teachings of Machig Labdrön, and a month-long Three Yana Retreat. We’re excited to have Chief Arvol Looking Horse return to the land for a weekend program on How Peace Works. Arvol will also join the Community/Family retreat for a day or two. The Community Retreat this summer will focus on ways of better connecting with our mother earth through inner and outer practice. Tsultrim will be offering teachings on Green Tara and wilderness rite of passage guides Michael and Erin Jospe have just agreed to join us to lead a special program for teens. Jeremy Taylor will offer a Dream Workshop in mid-July; in November Kilung Rinpoche will offer advanced teachings on Longchenpa’s Way of Abiding to more experienced practitioners.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

We’re in the process of recruiting and hiring summer staff and are looking for more applicants. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend the summer at Tara Mandala, helping with retreats and engaging in daily practice. Our summer season runs June 20-September 17, but we can consider those who are able to come for shorter periods as well. If you know anyone who might be interested, please contact Beth at admin@taramandala.org or visit our web site at www.taramandala.org.

Help us Network

We continue our efforts at getting the word out about our retreats and have placed color ads in Shambhala Sun and quarter page ads in the Snow Lion newsletter. If you can help in any way – distributing program guides, flyers, or anything else - please contact Charlotte at charlotte@taramandala.org. It is such a gift to be on the land and we hope to welcome as many people as possible here this summer.

The land has been dry this winter with little snowfall. Last night we were blessed with a thin dusting and now the clouds are gathering again. Perhaps we will get lucky. A bobcat visited Pat and Beth’s house a few days ago and the bald eagles are passing through again.

All of us at Tara Mandala send you love and wishes for deep blessings in your practice and everyday life.

With love,
Charlotte Rotterdam, Director