Rigdzin Ling Presents Tibetan Cultural Arts Day to the Trinity County Community
Throughout the vastness of basic space, the nature of mind joyfully and effortlessly displays the outer and inner elements and colors, the radiance of minds perfection. Mind is the great artist. The objective of art is to expose the exalted ground of the human potential. Like a mirror, art reflects the true nature of mind.
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche,
Tibetan Cultural Arts Day
Rinpoche' s two talks on Tibetan art and culture wove together the radiant fabric of Tibetan Cultural Arts Day, held on Memorial Day weekend in Weaverville, California. Co-sponsored by the Trinity County Arts Council and Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, the Arts Day was held in a yurt village constructed for the occasion in a meadow in downtown Weaverville.
The festival was the inspiration of Ron Demele, director of the Arts Council, who conceived the day as an educational opportunity for Trinity County. We were intrigued by the idea, seeing the event as an opportunity to introduce ourselves to more of our new neighbors.
Our reception since we arrived in Junction City a year and a half ago has been a mixture of hospitality and apprehension. People's fears ranged from demographic and environmental concerns about a relatively large development taking place in such a small town, to rumor-fueled speculation that we were an irresponsible religious organization bent on taking over the small community of Junction City.
Since we were all new to the county, it was clear that the only successful response to people's concerns would be to let them get to know us both informally and by providing them with accurate information about us. We have responded to invitations to participate, both as individuals and as an organization, in various community activities and this has given us some opportunity to educate interested persons about our activities and goals.
Shortly after our arrival we addressed a large gathering at the Grange Hall to respond to people's fears, questions and concerns. On New Year's Day, we held an open house party that was attended by hundreds of people. With the director of the Planning Department, we worked out a schedule of development at Rigdzin Ling designed in part to allay the towns-peoples' social and environmental concerns. Because we have been very careful never to violate our commitments to the county, that policy is bearing fruit as neighbors and county officials alike learn that we can be trusted to work with them honorably.
We saw the Tibetan Cultural Arts Day as a perfect next step in introducing ourselves to the community. Our challenge was in deciding how to present Tibetan culture and ourselves as a dharma center. While it is impossible to convey Tibetan arts separate from dharma, we had to be sensitive to the towns-peoples' fears of having dharma imposed on them. Similarly, there couldn't be too much emphasis on politics, yet it is impossible to tell the history of Tibet without recounting the devastation caused by the Chinese occupation. We decided to offer a varied presentation of Tibetan history, culture, art and religion, without stressing any one aspect too heavily.
The event was attended by more than one thousand participants, quite extraordinary for a county with a population of seven thousand. Rinpoche sat in the largest yurt, which housed splendid exhibits of Vajrayana art–including t'hangkas, statues and lama dancing costumes. Listeners during his talks overflowed out both doors of the yurt, and many stayed on to ask additional questions as well as simply to greet and welcome him.
The video yurt was extremely popular, constantly brimming with people of all ages watching videos on Tibetan history and culture. A lovely photographic display with commentary, made from Jane Tromge's slides of Rinpoche's 1987 "Return to Tibet," was exhibited in a second yurt . Also in the yurt was an exhibit of the Lha Khang to be built at Rigdzin Ling and video images of Tibet set to music by Windham Hill. Under a large tent loaned by the local supermarket, a never ending stream of cold and hungry enthusiasts bought mo-mos and chai, as well as Tibetan books, arts and crafts sold by Tibetan Treasures, the Rigdzin Ling store, and other Tibetan vendors who came to Trinity County for the occasion.
All the yurts emptied as the lama dancing performance began outdoors. A snow lion, led by Lama Sonam, pranced his way through the crowd. The antics of the snow lion elicited squeals of delight and thunderous applause as he rolled over and stood up on his hind legs.
At midday, Tsering and Tashi, two master performers from Chaksampa. a San Francisco based Tibetan opera and dance troupe, sang and danced to an entranced crowd. At the conclusion, over half the crowd joined in with an "offering to the deities" of tsampa and prayer, with a spirit of gratitude and rejoicing at the religious freedom enjoyed in this country.
Throughout his talks, Rinpoche wove together the meaning of each of the displays. In explaining the dharma meaning within the art forms, Rinpoche said that each of us has a perfect core, obscured by delusion, which can be revealed through the application of methods designed to expose that absolute nature. If the artist creates with the pure intention to remove his or her own poisons and thus to be able to benefit others, whatever is created has the power of transformation. All who see, hear, touch or remember it are brought closer to the essential truth of mind’s nature.
For many participants, Rinpoche's teachings on Vajrayana art were a doorway to tasting dharma's essential meaning. Several people expressed interest in further study with Rinpoche and a few have already visited Rigdzin Ling to learn more about us and our activities.
The Tibetan Cultural Arts Day and the good community relations that it generated have contributed to a broader climate of understanding. The tremendous work it took to produce the event was well worth the effort, as the radiant mandala of Rinpoche’s dharma activity has expanded to touch many more lives.
Rigdzin Ling Presents Tibetan Cultural Arts Day to the Trinity County Community
Throughout the vastness of basic space, the nature of mind joyfully and effortlessly displays the outer and inner elements and colors, the radiance of minds perfection. Mind is the great artist. The objective of art is to expose the exalted ground of the human potential. Like a mirror, art reflects the true nature of mind.
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche,
Tibetan Cultural Arts Day
Rinpoche' s two talks on Tibetan art and culture wove together the radiant fabric of Tibetan Cultural Arts Day, held on Memorial Day weekend in Weaverville, California. Co-sponsored by the Trinity County Arts Council and Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, the Arts Day was held in a yurt village constructed for the occasion in a meadow in downtown Weaverville.
The festival was the inspiration of Ron Demele, director of the Arts Council, who conceived the day as an educational opportunity for Trinity County. We were intrigued by the idea, seeing the event as an opportunity to introduce ourselves to more of our new neighbors.
Our reception since we arrived in Junction City a year and a half ago has been a mixture of hospitality and apprehension. People's fears ranged from demographic and environmental concerns about a relatively large development taking place in such a small town, to rumor-fueled speculation that we were an irresponsible religious organization bent on taking over the small community of Junction City.
Since we were all new to the county, it was clear that the only successful response to people's concerns would be to let them get to know us both informally and by providing them with accurate information about us. We have responded to invitations to participate, both as individuals and as an organization, in various community activities and this has given us some opportunity to educate interested persons about our activities and goals.
Shortly after our arrival we addressed a large gathering at the Grange Hall to respond to people's fears, questions and concerns. On New Year's Day, we held an open house party that was attended by hundreds of people. With the director of the Planning Department, we worked out a schedule of development at Rigdzin Ling designed in part to allay the towns-peoples' social and environmental concerns. Because we have been very careful never to violate our commitments to the county, that policy is bearing fruit as neighbors and county officials alike learn that we can be trusted to work with them honorably.
We saw the Tibetan Cultural Arts Day as a perfect next step in introducing ourselves to the community. Our challenge was in deciding how to present Tibetan culture and ourselves as a dharma center. While it is impossible to convey Tibetan arts separate from dharma, we had to be sensitive to the towns-peoples' fears of having dharma imposed on them. Similarly, there couldn't be too much emphasis on politics, yet it is impossible to tell the history of Tibet without recounting the devastation caused by the Chinese occupation. We decided to offer a varied presentation of Tibetan history, culture, art and religion, without stressing any one aspect too heavily.
The event was attended by more than one thousand participants, quite extraordinary for a county with a population of seven thousand. Rinpoche sat in the largest yurt, which housed splendid exhibits of Vajrayana art–including t'hangkas, statues and lama dancing costumes. Listeners during his talks overflowed out both doors of the yurt, and many stayed on to ask additional questions as well as simply to greet and welcome him.
The video yurt was extremely popular, constantly brimming with people of all ages watching videos on Tibetan history and culture. A lovely photographic display with commentary, made from Jane Tromge's slides of Rinpoche's 1987 "Return to Tibet," was exhibited in a second yurt . Also in the yurt was an exhibit of the Lha Khang to be built at Rigdzin Ling and video images of Tibet set to music by Windham Hill. Under a large tent loaned by the local supermarket, a never ending stream of cold and hungry enthusiasts bought mo-mos and chai, as well as Tibetan books, arts and crafts sold by Tibetan Treasures, the Rigdzin Ling store, and other Tibetan vendors who came to Trinity County for the occasion.
All the yurts emptied as the lama dancing performance began outdoors. A snow lion, led by Lama Sonam, pranced his way through the crowd. The antics of the snow lion elicited squeals of delight and thunderous applause as he rolled over and stood up on his hind legs.
At midday, Tsering and Tashi, two master performers from Chaksampa. a San Francisco based Tibetan opera and dance troupe, sang and danced to an entranced crowd. At the conclusion, over half the crowd joined in with an "offering to the deities" of tsampa and prayer, with a spirit of gratitude and rejoicing at the religious freedom enjoyed in this country.
Throughout his talks, Rinpoche wove together the meaning of each of the displays. In explaining the dharma meaning within the art forms, Rinpoche said that each of us has a perfect core, obscured by delusion, which can be revealed through the application of methods designed to expose that absolute nature. If the artist creates with the pure intention to remove his or her own poisons and thus to be able to benefit others, whatever is created has the power of transformation. All who see, hear, touch or remember it are brought closer to the essential truth of mind’s nature.
For many participants, Rinpoche's teachings on Vajrayana art were a doorway to tasting dharma's essential meaning. Several people expressed interest in further study with Rinpoche and a few have already visited Rigdzin Ling to learn more about us and our activities.
The Tibetan Cultural Arts Day and the good community relations that it generated have contributed to a broader climate of understanding. The tremendous work it took to produce the event was well worth the effort, as the radiant mandala of Rinpoche’s dharma activity has expanded to touch many more lives.
Rigdzin Ling Presents Tibetan Cultural Arts Day to the Trinity County Community
Throughout the vastness of basic space, the nature of mind joyfully and effortlessly displays the outer and inner elements and colors, the radiance of minds perfection. Mind is the great artist. The objective of art is to expose the exalted ground of the human potential. Like a mirror, art reflects the true nature of mind.
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche,
Tibetan Cultural Arts Day
Rinpoche' s two talks on Tibetan art and culture wove together the radiant fabric of Tibetan Cultural Arts Day, held on Memorial Day weekend in Weaverville, California. Co-sponsored by the Trinity County Arts Council and Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, the Arts Day was held in a yurt village constructed for the occasion in a meadow in downtown Weaverville.
The festival was the inspiration of Ron Demele, director of the Arts Council, who conceived the day as an educational opportunity for Trinity County. We were intrigued by the idea, seeing the event as an opportunity to introduce ourselves to more of our new neighbors.
Our reception since we arrived in Junction City a year and a half ago has been a mixture of hospitality and apprehension. People's fears ranged from demographic and environmental concerns about a relatively large development taking place in such a small town, to rumor-fueled speculation that we were an irresponsible religious organization bent on taking over the small community of Junction City.
Since we were all new to the county, it was clear that the only successful response to people's concerns would be to let them get to know us both informally and by providing them with accurate information about us. We have responded to invitations to participate, both as individuals and as an organization, in various community activities and this has given us some opportunity to educate interested persons about our activities and goals.
Shortly after our arrival we addressed a large gathering at the Grange Hall to respond to people's fears, questions and concerns. On New Year's Day, we held an open house party that was attended by hundreds of people. With the director of the Planning Department, we worked out a schedule of development at Rigdzin Ling designed in part to allay the towns-peoples' social and environmental concerns. Because we have been very careful never to violate our commitments to the county, that policy is bearing fruit as neighbors and county officials alike learn that we can be trusted to work with them honorably.
We saw the Tibetan Cultural Arts Day as a perfect next step in introducing ourselves to the community. Our challenge was in deciding how to present Tibetan culture and ourselves as a dharma center. While it is impossible to convey Tibetan arts separate from dharma, we had to be sensitive to the towns-peoples' fears of having dharma imposed on them. Similarly, there couldn't be too much emphasis on politics, yet it is impossible to tell the history of Tibet without recounting the devastation caused by the Chinese occupation. We decided to offer a varied presentation of Tibetan history, culture, art and religion, without stressing any one aspect too heavily.
The event was attended by more than one thousand participants, quite extraordinary for a county with a population of seven thousand. Rinpoche sat in the largest yurt, which housed splendid exhibits of Vajrayana art–including t'hangkas, statues and lama dancing costumes. Listeners during his talks overflowed out both doors of the yurt, and many stayed on to ask additional questions as well as simply to greet and welcome him.
The video yurt was extremely popular, constantly brimming with people of all ages watching videos on Tibetan history and culture. A lovely photographic display with commentary, made from Jane Tromge's slides of Rinpoche's 1987 "Return to Tibet," was exhibited in a second yurt . Also in the yurt was an exhibit of the Lha Khang to be built at Rigdzin Ling and video images of Tibet set to music by Windham Hill. Under a large tent loaned by the local supermarket, a never ending stream of cold and hungry enthusiasts bought mo-mos and chai, as well as Tibetan books, arts and crafts sold by Tibetan Treasures, the Rigdzin Ling store, and other Tibetan vendors who came to Trinity County for the occasion.
All the yurts emptied as the lama dancing performance began outdoors. A snow lion, led by Lama Sonam, pranced his way through the crowd. The antics of the snow lion elicited squeals of delight and thunderous applause as he rolled over and stood up on his hind legs.
At midday, Tsering and Tashi, two master performers from Chaksampa. a San Francisco based Tibetan opera and dance troupe, sang and danced to an entranced crowd. At the conclusion, over half the crowd joined in with an "offering to the deities" of tsampa and prayer, with a spirit of gratitude and rejoicing at the religious freedom enjoyed in this country.
Throughout his talks, Rinpoche wove together the meaning of each of the displays. In explaining the dharma meaning within the art forms, Rinpoche said that each of us has a perfect core, obscured by delusion, which can be revealed through the application of methods designed to expose that absolute nature. If the artist creates with the pure intention to remove his or her own poisons and thus to be able to benefit others, whatever is created has the power of transformation. All who see, hear, touch or remember it are brought closer to the essential truth of mind’s nature.
For many participants, Rinpoche's teachings on Vajrayana art were a doorway to tasting dharma's essential meaning. Several people expressed interest in further study with Rinpoche and a few have already visited Rigdzin Ling to learn more about us and our activities.
The Tibetan Cultural Arts Day and the good community relations that it generated have contributed to a broader climate of understanding. The tremendous work it took to produce the event was well worth the effort, as the radiant mandala of Rinpoche’s dharma activity has expanded to touch many more lives.
Rigdzin Ling Presents Tibetan Cultural Arts Day to the Trinity County Community
Throughout the vastness of basic space, the nature of mind joyfully and effortlessly displays the outer and inner elements and colors, the radiance of minds perfection. Mind is the great artist. The objective of art is to expose the exalted ground of the human potential. Like a mirror, art reflects the true nature of mind.
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche,
Tibetan Cultural Arts Day
Rinpoche' s two talks on Tibetan art and culture wove together the radiant fabric of Tibetan Cultural Arts Day, held on Memorial Day weekend in Weaverville, California. Co-sponsored by the Trinity County Arts Council and Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, the Arts Day was held in a yurt village constructed for the occasion in a meadow in downtown Weaverville.
The festival was the inspiration of Ron Demele, director of the Arts Council, who conceived the day as an educational opportunity for Trinity County. We were intrigued by the idea, seeing the event as an opportunity to introduce ourselves to more of our new neighbors.
Our reception since we arrived in Junction City a year and a half ago has been a mixture of hospitality and apprehension. People's fears ranged from demographic and environmental concerns about a relatively large development taking place in such a small town, to rumor-fueled speculation that we were an irresponsible religious organization bent on taking over the small community of Junction City.
Since we were all new to the county, it was clear that the only successful response to people's concerns would be to let them get to know us both informally and by providing them with accurate information about us. We have responded to invitations to participate, both as individuals and as an organization, in various community activities and this has given us some opportunity to educate interested persons about our activities and goals.
Shortly after our arrival we addressed a large gathering at the Grange Hall to respond to people's fears, questions and concerns. On New Year's Day, we held an open house party that was attended by hundreds of people. With the director of the Planning Department, we worked out a schedule of development at Rigdzin Ling designed in part to allay the towns-peoples' social and environmental concerns. Because we have been very careful never to violate our commitments to the county, that policy is bearing fruit as neighbors and county officials alike learn that we can be trusted to work with them honorably.
We saw the Tibetan Cultural Arts Day as a perfect next step in introducing ourselves to the community. Our challenge was in deciding how to present Tibetan culture and ourselves as a dharma center. While it is impossible to convey Tibetan arts separate from dharma, we had to be sensitive to the towns-peoples' fears of having dharma imposed on them. Similarly, there couldn't be too much emphasis on politics, yet it is impossible to tell the history of Tibet without recounting the devastation caused by the Chinese occupation. We decided to offer a varied presentation of Tibetan history, culture, art and religion, without stressing any one aspect too heavily.
The event was attended by more than one thousand participants, quite extraordinary for a county with a population of seven thousand. Rinpoche sat in the largest yurt, which housed splendid exhibits of Vajrayana art–including t'hangkas, statues and lama dancing costumes. Listeners during his talks overflowed out both doors of the yurt, and many stayed on to ask additional questions as well as simply to greet and welcome him.
The video yurt was extremely popular, constantly brimming with people of all ages watching videos on Tibetan history and culture. A lovely photographic display with commentary, made from Jane Tromge's slides of Rinpoche's 1987 "Return to Tibet," was exhibited in a second yurt . Also in the yurt was an exhibit of the Lha Khang to be built at Rigdzin Ling and video images of Tibet set to music by Windham Hill. Under a large tent loaned by the local supermarket, a never ending stream of cold and hungry enthusiasts bought mo-mos and chai, as well as Tibetan books, arts and crafts sold by Tibetan Treasures, the Rigdzin Ling store, and other Tibetan vendors who came to Trinity County for the occasion.
All the yurts emptied as the lama dancing performance began outdoors. A snow lion, led by Lama Sonam, pranced his way through the crowd. The antics of the snow lion elicited squeals of delight and thunderous applause as he rolled over and stood up on his hind legs.
At midday, Tsering and Tashi, two master performers from Chaksampa. a San Francisco based Tibetan opera and dance troupe, sang and danced to an entranced crowd. At the conclusion, over half the crowd joined in with an "offering to the deities" of tsampa and prayer, with a spirit of gratitude and rejoicing at the religious freedom enjoyed in this country.
Throughout his talks, Rinpoche wove together the meaning of each of the displays. In explaining the dharma meaning within the art forms, Rinpoche said that each of us has a perfect core, obscured by delusion, which can be revealed through the application of methods designed to expose that absolute nature. If the artist creates with the pure intention to remove his or her own poisons and thus to be able to benefit others, whatever is created has the power of transformation. All who see, hear, touch or remember it are brought closer to the essential truth of mind’s nature.
For many participants, Rinpoche's teachings on Vajrayana art were a doorway to tasting dharma's essential meaning. Several people expressed interest in further study with Rinpoche and a few have already visited Rigdzin Ling to learn more about us and our activities.
The Tibetan Cultural Arts Day and the good community relations that it generated have contributed to a broader climate of understanding. The tremendous work it took to produce the event was well worth the effort, as the radiant mandala of Rinpoche’s dharma activity has expanded to touch many more lives.
Rigdzin Ling Presents Tibetan Cultural Arts Day to the Trinity County Community
Throughout the vastness of basic space, the nature of mind joyfully and effortlessly displays the outer and inner elements and colors, the radiance of minds perfection. Mind is the great artist. The objective of art is to expose the exalted ground of the human potential. Like a mirror, art reflects the true nature of mind.
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche,
Tibetan Cultural Arts Day
Rinpoche' s two talks on Tibetan art and culture wove together the radiant fabric of Tibetan Cultural Arts Day, held on Memorial Day weekend in Weaverville, California. Co-sponsored by the Trinity County Arts Council and Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, the Arts Day was held in a yurt village constructed for the occasion in a meadow in downtown Weaverville.
The festival was the inspiration of Ron Demele, director of the Arts Council, who conceived the day as an educational opportunity for Trinity County. We were intrigued by the idea, seeing the event as an opportunity to introduce ourselves to more of our new neighbors.
Our reception since we arrived in Junction City a year and a half ago has been a mixture of hospitality and apprehension. People's fears ranged from demographic and environmental concerns about a relatively large development taking place in such a small town, to rumor-fueled speculation that we were an irresponsible religious organization bent on taking over the small community of Junction City.
Since we were all new to the county, it was clear that the only successful response to people's concerns would be to let them get to know us both informally and by providing them with accurate information about us. We have responded to invitations to participate, both as individuals and as an organization, in various community activities and this has given us some opportunity to educate interested persons about our activities and goals.
Shortly after our arrival we addressed a large gathering at the Grange Hall to respond to people's fears, questions and concerns. On New Year's Day, we held an open house party that was attended by hundreds of people. With the director of the Planning Department, we worked out a schedule of development at Rigdzin Ling designed in part to allay the towns-peoples' social and environmental concerns. Because we have been very careful never to violate our commitments to the county, that policy is bearing fruit as neighbors and county officials alike learn that we can be trusted to work with them honorably.
We saw the Tibetan Cultural Arts Day as a perfect next step in introducing ourselves to the community. Our challenge was in deciding how to present Tibetan culture and ourselves as a dharma center. While it is impossible to convey Tibetan arts separate from dharma, we had to be sensitive to the towns-peoples' fears of having dharma imposed on them. Similarly, there couldn't be too much emphasis on politics, yet it is impossible to tell the history of Tibet without recounting the devastation caused by the Chinese occupation. We decided to offer a varied presentation of Tibetan history, culture, art and religion, without stressing any one aspect too heavily.
The event was attended by more than one thousand participants, quite extraordinary for a county with a population of seven thousand. Rinpoche sat in the largest yurt, which housed splendid exhibits of Vajrayana art–including t'hangkas, statues and lama dancing costumes. Listeners during his talks overflowed out both doors of the yurt, and many stayed on to ask additional questions as well as simply to greet and welcome him.
The video yurt was extremely popular, constantly brimming with people of all ages watching videos on Tibetan history and culture. A lovely photographic display with commentary, made from Jane Tromge's slides of Rinpoche's 1987 "Return to Tibet," was exhibited in a second yurt . Also in the yurt was an exhibit of the Lha Khang to be built at Rigdzin Ling and video images of Tibet set to music by Windham Hill. Under a large tent loaned by the local supermarket, a never ending stream of cold and hungry enthusiasts bought mo-mos and chai, as well as Tibetan books, arts and crafts sold by Tibetan Treasures, the Rigdzin Ling store, and other Tibetan vendors who came to Trinity County for the occasion.
All the yurts emptied as the lama dancing performance began outdoors. A snow lion, led by Lama Sonam, pranced his way through the crowd. The antics of the snow lion elicited squeals of delight and thunderous applause as he rolled over and stood up on his hind legs.
At midday, Tsering and Tashi, two master performers from Chaksampa. a San Francisco based Tibetan opera and dance troupe, sang and danced to an entranced crowd. At the conclusion, over half the crowd joined in with an "offering to the deities" of tsampa and prayer, with a spirit of gratitude and rejoicing at the religious freedom enjoyed in this country.
Throughout his talks, Rinpoche wove together the meaning of each of the displays. In explaining the dharma meaning within the art forms, Rinpoche said that each of us has a perfect core, obscured by delusion, which can be revealed through the application of methods designed to expose that absolute nature. If the artist creates with the pure intention to remove his or her own poisons and thus to be able to benefit others, whatever is created has the power of transformation. All who see, hear, touch or remember it are brought closer to the essential truth of mind’s nature.
For many participants, Rinpoche's teachings on Vajrayana art were a doorway to tasting dharma's essential meaning. Several people expressed interest in further study with Rinpoche and a few have already visited Rigdzin Ling to learn more about us and our activities.
The Tibetan Cultural Arts Day and the good community relations that it generated have contributed to a broader climate of understanding. The tremendous work it took to produce the event was well worth the effort, as the radiant mandala of Rinpoche’s dharma activity has expanded to touch many more lives.
