July 15 - 17, 2005: Retreat with Garchen Rinpoche
Red Tara Empowerment, Green Tara Empowerment & Teachings, Teachings on Tsok
In July Garchen Rinpoche came to Dayton for the third time.  This time the retreat was held in our new temple space on Creighton Avenue and offered people to experience his profound compassion which radiates to all beings. Here is a description of the retreat from Sean:  One of the most common things you will hear from our sangha members who attended this retreat, is, "There is no one that can really understand the effect (the retreat) had on me." After this retreat many of us could not describe to our friends, and family members what you experienced over those few days. Because you know what ever you say to them, will be like a small drop of water in an ocean of energy that you experienced, and won't justify the overwhelming experience. more>

For some of us at Gar Drolma, who had not met Rinpoche before, there was a great excitement leading up. We've been influenced by his guidance physically from afar through the teachings at Gar Drolma. What exactly will it be like when we see him face to face? Who is this living Bodhisattva before me?

His Eminence (and they don't call him, His Eminence for nothing!) Garchen Rinpoche is most definately, "In the world, but not of it."Many of his students will always rememeber the first glimpse you get of him, and that goes for any Buddhist Master you have great affinity for. Rinpoche is completely magnetic, as you meet him face to face, you remember every smile he raises from greeting you, from sitting next to you, from waving to you from afar, from sharing a joke with you--even if you are the subject of it. And you can simply not help to laugh and smile with him. Why do I talk so much about Rinpoche? Simply because, the images you see on our thangkas, the spirit of the Sangha, the Triple Gem, The Buddha himself seem to be embodied in this single form--known as Garchen Rinpoche. Rinpoche you will find is the living example of who you aspire to reflect in this path. Mental defilement - gone. Anger and Hatred - gone. Bodhicitta and Unconditional Love and Compassion - Is the mind of Rinpoche, and other Rinpoche's within our world.

As many practitioners came from Columbus, Cincinnati, New York state, there was a constant energy at this retreat. The Empowerment and Teachings of Arya Tara in the from of Green Tara and Red Tara, for Gar Drolma's students who came over the past 3-10 months or so, seemed to be filled with great joy to be bestowed with this particular empowerment, as we've built a relationship and practice around Arya Tara, the Liberator, in the House of Tara - Gar Drolma Choling. Sat attentively, with eyes wide open we listened to these profound teachings on the practice of the Mother Liberator, Tara. As Rinpoche teaches the practice steeped in awareness of one's own Buddha-nature, deep and profound, Rinpoche smiles and will make the congregation laugh with his little jokes in between, which I personally enjoyed the best. During this retreat, for some of us we took that leap of faith towards Tara, and allowing our mind to soften, and rest in a nature without thoughts of, Is Tara real? Is Tara just a spiritual tool? What is Tara? What is this Buddhist definition of deity? and  just let our mind become Tara naturally through practice.

Taking refuge, another monumental point for the practitioner. Taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and The Sangha as your raft across samsara, your spiritual guide. As I looked down the line of those taking refuge, every other person seemed to be shaking. Perhaps because they felt at rest in their mind, but overwhelmed at what they have been looking for is finally before them -The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha. For many, Rinpoche is the that. Greeting you up to his throne he smiles with open arms, as if he is saying "Ah, How Joyful for you!" He laughs and as he he cuts the pieces of hair to be taken back to Tibet. For the first time,  I felt that my mind was silent, it came to a stop, neutral. At the end, Rinpoche cups your face in his hand, and gives you one last smile, handing you the pecha-shaped card with the name he is given you, your Dharma name. As the translator told me, "It is your chance to become a new being".

Tsok was the real after party of the event. It wasn't quite like a Puff Daddy/P. Diddy party, but it is was a good party, with some quirks. Food, prayers and singing, "Row, Row, Row your boat" ( a suitable Dharma song) and as we sung, Rinpoche's attendants, Lamas Bunima and Abou played a large part adding to the humor of the retreat,Lama Abou being chanted on to sing, he did enjoy having that microphone. With this retreat you will find many points of view, many emotions, experiences, so, so, so many. This is just a small part of the mass of energy and experiences at Gar Drolma during July. But it will always leave imprints on our heart, in many ways. For many of us, we've found our Guru, the one to show us the path. For some, we have met the Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha, and for others minds were liberated perhaps.

MANY THANKS to H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, Ellen Marie, Naomi  Lama Bunima and Lama Abou, Tenzin Norbu, and all who helped make this a wonderful retreat that will be remembered as such a wonderful event in Gar Drolma's History.