December 30, 2009 – 12:30 pm
Happy holidays and my very best wishes to all of you for a new year filled with blessings. Just a quick note for those of you that are fans of 30 Seconds to Mars. Back in July we got together with them and recorded some chanting for their new album. It has recently been released and you can here the monks on the opening cut, Escape, and the closing one, L490. They actually end the album with the monks chanting Gaden Lha Gyema (The Hundred Deities of the Land of Joy). I thought it came out quite well.
September 30, 2009 – 10:10 am
September 30th – First the exciting news – I became a grandfather to a precious little girl on September 21st. My daughter gave birth to little Caitlyn and both are incredibly healthy and happy.
In addition to relishing the joy of this new addition, I also discovered that I will be fortunate enough to attend the 15th Western Monastic Conference next week (Oct 5 – 9). I was on a waiting list and a spot opened up! I have wanted to attend since becoming a monastic and I finally have this wonderful opportunity. So I get to spend a week with some of the longest ordained Western monastics of all traditions. What a amazing learning experience this will be. The theme of this year’s conference is Monasticism and the Environment. I will blog about it as soon as I have the chance.
Now a tour update. We are currently working with an immigration attorney to get the visas for the upcoming tour. Everything looks good but it will take a few months. So instead of having them here by December, it looks like February is a safer bet. That means I am starting our schedule in March, 2010. Hopefully I will have them here for at least 18 months and we will get to visit all the parts of the country that would like to have them. I am already scheduling, so if you would like the tour to come to your city please contact me.
The Passing of the Holy Master Venerable Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen: Sadness, Joy, Inspiration and Blessings.
By Gelong Gyaltan Yarphel
On February 13, 2009 Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen stopped breathing and entered his clear light meditation. Those of us who had the immeasurable good fortune to have been guided, cared for and protected by him have experienced a loss which will not be replaced. I have been asked to relate some of the experiences I had as one of Gen-la’s attendants and companions over the last four months of his life and the adventure to Ganden Monastery in south India for the rituals and ceremonies for the cremation of his holy body. I apologize for my lack of skill in composition, and if I had realized at the time of these events that I was going to be responsible for such a composition, I would have surely paid closer attention to what I had experienced. Read More »
Sorry it has been so long since posting something. Things have been pretty busy lately here in Long Beach. The monks are still here, but getting ready to head back to India. It looks like we are getting plane tickets for August 12th. I will be sad to see them go. They asked me to thank everyone for all their kindness and generosity. So many have been so kind – it has been overwhelming. The tour has been a great success due you all of you and the monks cannot thank you enough. They have so many wonderful memories (and pictures) to take back to the monastery, as well as funds for the medical clinic. When I have a little more time I will write some of my own reflections on our time together traveling the country. I am now also on Facebook so you can look up Jangchub Chophel and add me as a friend if you would like. Read More »
