Lama Tsultrim Sangpo, Lama Gerry Prindiville

June 10 – August 15, 2013

This summer Rangjung Yeshe Gomde invites practitioners to engage in individual retreats in our Tent Cabin settings. This program is also suited to those who are not in the Kumara age range, or cannot commit to the one month requirement, yet would like the benefits of supported practice.

Retreats maybe personalized and solitary or participatory in the Gomde activities. Practitioners will have access, if desired,  to meditation and practice support with Lama Tsultrim and Lama Gerry Prindiville, Gomde daily practices, and the Buddhist Study Program’s class on the “ A Brilliant Sun”  Patrul Rinpoche’s commentary on Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. Kumara staff will bring meals for those who wish to minimize contact.

This offering is only for days when there are no public seminars although those who are attending seminars will have priority if they wish to remain on the land for practice.

Fee includes meals, classes, Lama support, and Tent Cabin $35/day. For those who would like to engage in service to the dharma center for 4 hours a day the fee is reduced to $20.

Please contact Ani Marcia programs@gomdeusa.org for reservations or more information. 707-925-0201.

As part of this process we have also been in discussions with the Building Inspection Department of the County.  We will have to bring the Buddha Hall up to code as a public assembly building.  What this will entail is still up to discussion and review with county staff.  It is safe to expect that this work will need to take place sooner than later.  It is estimated to cost about $140,000.

As part of this process we must also review our status, permits and system requirements for water, septic/wastewater, and utilities.  Short term improvements are likely to include upgrades to our gray water system and water treatment systems.  Water storage is also likely to be needed.  The exact timing of these improvements has not been determined.

Once we have an acceptable application it will be distributed to a variety of public agencies including State and Federal agencies such as regional water quality and fish and wildlife.  We had a botanical survey done on the property last year and there is only one potential plant that may have any protected status.  This is good news.

Our application’s main purpose is to bring the property into compliance with County requirements as they relate to our actual uses and activities as a retreat center.  We have requested a small amount of new development, including the conversion of the barn into a 12 room dormitory, two new retreat cabins, and new storage buildings to replace our existing storage sheds across from the Sangha House.

Other good news is that based on a legal review of our water rights, we have established legal rights to use all of the water interchangeably on the property, i.e., springs and water from Leggett Gulch, Cedar Creek and the Eel River. Exactly what water we will use has not been determined and will be based on the “demand” the county will expect to meet our uses and activities.

The rough budget for work is as follows:

Planning Studies, Engineers, processing fees, etc.:     $142,500

Water, Sewer and Utility Upgrades:                             $130,000

Buddha Hall Code Compliance Upgrades:                   $141,000

Other buildings, roads, campground, etc.:                    $126,000

Total Short Term Budget:                                             $539,500

This work is expected to take place over the next five years.

The Master Plan committee consists of:

Joanne Brion, Project Manager

Shabad Khalsa, Fire, Water and Utilities

Bruce Hammond, Building Codes, Design and Septic/Wastewater

Dorje Bond, Community Outreach and Building Code/Permits

Please let us know if you have any questions. Click here to email Joanne.

Lee proceeded to complete new flooring, painting, molding, and lighting in the pantry area of the Sangha House. Ani Marcia rearranged the pantry and purchased new storage containers and created a better lay out for the storage of food and equipment/cooking utensils.  Lee put a new roof on the Middle House shed and built the new platform for the Ratna shop across from the Sangha house. Lee and Joanne and other volunteers converted the Gate House kitchen back to a real kitchen and cleared out all the Ratna Shop inventory and supplies.  The Gate House living and dining room and kitchen and ceilings were painted and new lighting was installed in the kitchen and dining area.  Tent platform locations and the use permit botanical survey locations were decided in the spring. Dave Lawson became our new grounds caretaker in May, working three days a week.  His hours were increased to up to 110 hours per month during the seminar season.

During and near the time of work week in May, the following improvements were made:

1. Built porch for Tara Cottage

2. Built new 3 tent platforms

3. Set up Ratna Shop tent and installed small solar light system

4. Removed old porch and built new trex porch at front of the Lama house

5. Installed window blinds in Gate House

6. Cleaned the carpets at the Gate, Middle and River Houses

7. Replaced covers on two 12×20 shade structures (at Ratna Shop and Barn)

After work week and continuing through the summer, we saw work as follows:

1. Groovy old land signs were removed and new commercial signage installed

2. Additional effort to clean and organize the barn

3. Gardening and improvements to the campground were completed, including a new numbering system for all campsites

4. New solar lights were added to the campground

5. Lee repaired screening on storage shed #2 and at the back of Sangha House

In July, people from URS (Shabad’s employer) conducted botanical surveys.

In September the MH shed wiring was replaced. In October, we planned a possible Kumara area in the campground, but the final location and plan is expected to change. Lee completed MH shed insulation and sheet rocking and repair of the MH leach field piping.

The primary focus for several people was the Use Permit application. Meetings were conducted at Mendocino County in July, October, and November. The permit application was submitted in December.

Overall, 2012 continued to see excellent work provided by Lee Rust and David Lawson, contractors to Gomde. Several areas saw wonderful improvement, including the Lama House and Tara Cottage porches, the MH shed, the campground, and signage on the land.

Retreat accommodations are available when programs are not in session. Personal retreats can range from a weekend to several months from October to May. Retreatants can mingle practice sessions with time spent appreciating Gomde’s unique natural environment. Walking trails crisscross 250 secluded acres of woods and meadows and meander along the banks of the rushing Eel River. Or you may choose to do an exclusively indoor retreat.

Click here to download an article giving clear guidelines for conducting your own retreat, by Lama Gerry Prindiville.

Click here to learn more about our retreat accommodations.

Known as The Triple Excellence, this teaching describes the entire Buddhist path in gradual practical instructions. With its rich and vibrant interface, The Triple Excellence is perfectly accessible and profound for both beginners and seasoned practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. The instructions spring from the great Tibetan master Chokgyur Lingpa, who met Tara in person and received this terma teaching of deep and true meaning.

In practical steps this teaching covers all three vehicles (The Triple Excellence) from the perspective of the Vajrayana. Beginning with fundamental mind training, one proceeds to the Bodhisattva path of love and insight combined. Finally, the penetrating wisdom of the Vajrayana is introduced, culminating in the secret paths of the higher tantras. At this more advanced stage of practice, participants will receive a transmission, which includes methods that use the energies of the subtle body, and they will be initiated into the practice of trekchö or “cutting through resistance” within the primordial purity that is the nature of the mind.

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche received these teachings from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Rinpoche is also a close descendant of Chokgyur Lingpa. This is a wonderful and rare opportunity to receive these precious teachings from an authentic master who holds a short and uninterrupted lineage of transmission.

The program will be open from January 28th, 2011 onwards.

For more information, click here.

Best Wishes
DharmaSun team

Use the following links to download Part 1 and Part 2 of “The Five Powers”:

Download Part 1
Download Part 2