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In This Issue
Dear Friends, It's Thanksgiving ... and at this precious moment my heart is brimming with so much to be thankful for. At our recent opening, someone asked me how long we had been working on our new Center. Seven years, I replied. The recent weekend
was an extraordinary culmination of all the previous activities
of Chakrasambara Center, and a powerful springboard to the future.
Venerable Geshe Kelsang arrived in person to bless our new Center,
and it was a moment beyond expression to have this living Buddha
seated on the teaching throne in front of our new Buddha statue
and our just completed shrine in our new meditation room in the
middle of Chelsea, Manhattan with its sweeping views of southern
Manhattan and of the absence of the WTC Towers. For Geshe-la to
be there at just that moment was Geshe-la was so clearly delighted with everything and clearly expressed that this was the beginning of a whole new phase for Chakrasambara Center. "Up until now", he said, "the main problem has been a material one."We did not have the right physical situation to be able to attract many people. But with our new setting that is about to change. Our main job now is getting the wordout. What is the word: The word is that there is a Center in Chelsea where you can learn to train your mind and establish inner peace, an inner peace and joy that no amount of problems can touch, that can withstand anything, even crashing towers and disappearing worlds. And these mind training methods are open to all, Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike. If we¹ve learned anything from the recent month's events it's that samsara does not work. There is no security in this world. Maybe soldiers can protect you from Bin Laden ... but can they protect you from poisons, from cancer, degenerative diseases, from crime, accidents, natural catastrophes, from heartbreak, and from the anger, jealousy, and attachment in your heart. Finally only inner realizations can protect you. A peaceful heart. And for this we need the Dharma. Due to the tireless kindness of this man who visited our center on Sunday, the Dharma is here in our world, in our lives, in the very city in which we live. A simple path to peace and real joy, that can transform every aspect of our life, work and relationships into a path to enlightenment. How lucky we are. We cannot take this good fortune for granted. Like the pilgrims who celebrated their first bountiful harvest, I feel like we are harvesting at Chakrasambara Center ... and that the future is bright. Geshe-la has said many times that although in general the golden age of spirituality is long gone, for us, here in the West, this is our Golden Age. So please take time to meditate on Thursday on your good fortune, to contemplate the preciousness of your human lives, and especially our good fortune in having a met a path to enlightenment. And generate great joy, and bathe in that inner experience. Geshe-la said again and again, we have to enjoy the Dharma. Joy is our greatest resource and it is the greatest kindness we can extend to others. Also please contemplate how many people, all beings, have contributed to your good fortune, and develop a compassionate wish to extend this good fortune out to others. How wonderful if we could help others find real peace! Finally please reflect on the kindness of this great spiritual master who has ventured into the madness of our lives for no other reason than to liberate us, and realize that our new Dharma center is the very manifestation of his kindness, and the best means by which we can help others. (and please contemplate ways to draw more people at this special time.) Our city is crying for what we have to offer. As you enjoy your thanksgiving feast, please remember to feast on your inner Dharma, because that is where the real feast lies. I hope to see all you soon, at our programs, at our retreats, at our parties (Geshe-la said we need to have lots of those!). In the meantime enjoy. Love and many prayers for a peaceful, safe, harmonious Thanksgiving, Kadam Morten
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A
Message From Kadam Morten
too
perfect. As Laura Dolp, our Administrative Director, said in her
dedication, "it was like a dream come true."
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Past issues
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