Note: Because of the length of this month's newsletter, your email service may clip the message. Please click on the link, "View entire message" at the bottom of your email. | |
|
At Dorje Ling
Tsa Tsa Workshop:
For those that have received instructions from Caleb, materials are available to make Tsa Tsa's before White Tara and Troma Nagmo pujas. Please email for other options: dorjelingpdx@gmail.com
Thursday, January 9th, 6:30-8:30 Guru Rinpoche Puja Hosted by ODD (DL center and online)
Sunday, January 12th, 1:00-2:15 Smoke Offering (DL center)
NEW Sunday, January 12th, 2:30-4:00 Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche Teachings from Vimala Video
Monday, January 13th, 4:00-6:30pm White Tara Puja Hosted by Dorje Ling (DL center and online)
NEW Thursday, January 16 7:00-8:30 Troma Ngöndro and Black Feast Practice (DL center only, led by Matthew Small)
Friday, January 24th, 6:30-8:30pm: Dakini Day Yeshe Tsogyal Puja Hosted by ODD (DL center and Zoom)
Wednesday, January 29th, 4:00-6:30pm: New Moon Troma Nagmo Puja Hosted by Dorje Ling (DL center and Zoom)
| |
|
Ongoing at Dorje Ling
Sunday mornings, 11:00-12:15: Ngöndro Practice (DL center and online)
NEW Starting January 26th, Sundays 12:30-1:40 Ngöndro Teachings (DL center and online)
Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30: Book Study (online)
Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30: Meditation Class (DL center)
In Our Greater Community
Friday, January 17th, 6:00-8:00pm Meditation with Lama Chonam Hosted by Yeshe Nyingpo, Mexico (online)
Saturday and Sunday, January 18th/ 19th White Tara Retreat with Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro Hosted by Yeshe Nyingpo, Mexico (online)
January 24th-January 26th The 14 Root Downfalls of Vajrayana with Chakung Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche Hosted by Pema Osel Ling (online)
January 18th-January 25th Dzogchen Heart Instructions of HH Dudjom Rinpoche Retreat with Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche Hosted by Pema Ling, Florida (online)
| |
|
As well as being a Buddhist Center for the practice, study, and contemplation of the Dudjom Tersar Traditon of the Nyingma School of Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism, Dorje Ling is a nonprofit religious organization. We have a Board of Directors which has many responsibilities: governance, financial management, legal and ethical compliance, advocacy for Dorje Ling’s mission, goals and strategies, and hiring and working with the Program Director, currently Mat Small.
Here is a glimpse of what our current five board members have to say about their initial contact with Dorje Ling, what they value about their work, and what goals they have for our center going forward.
| |
Linda Jo Enger
I was part of the original crew of Dorje Ling, starting in the 1980s. We were all volunteers back then, mostly just starting out on our Buddhist path. Gyatrul Rinpoche and Sangye Khandro (Sangye and I had been friends since middle school!), visited Ashland, Oregon in 1978 and were settled there by 1980. Whenever Rinpoche would come to Portland to teach, throughout the 80s and 90s, we would scurry around to find a location which could seat enough students and create as beautiful and appropriate an environment as we could. The center itself had always been at someone’s house. It moved around for the first decade and then became housed at Clark’s (Jampal Gyatso’s) house in 1989. In the early 2000’s Jampal donated his house to the center and since then, we have been able to establish a temple in the living room, have a library, and provide lama quarters. My connection to Sangye Khandro and Lama Chonam remains very strong and we all are dedicated to continuing Gyatrul Rinpoche’s teachings and legacy.
| | |
|
Pictured from left to right: Mark Fry, Matthew Small, Laurie Frajola, Dallen Esselstrom, Jeff Clemes
(Linda Jo Enger, not pictured)
| |
|
Laurie Frajola
In August of 2015, I attended an event at New Renaissance bookstore titled "Understanding Mind's True Nature" presented by Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro. It was at this talk that I met Jampal Gaytso, aka Clark Hansen, and learned about Dorje Ling, located in the NW hills of Portland, and I've been going there ever since. At Dorje Ling I have been introduced to many Buddhist teachings and Lamas, but what I have enjoyed the most are the friendships I have made there over the years. I look forward to working with my fellow board members on bringing teachers to our center and planning meditation retreats for our community.
| |
|
Mark Fry
My little brother Andy invited me to attend teachings by Chowang Rinpoche in Eugene at his dharma center, Saraha. I began looking for a place to learn and practice dharma here in Portland. The director of Saraha told me “there is this kind monk,” Jampal, at Dorje Ling in Portland. I showed up one Sunday ten years ago and have never left. I took refuge with Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal, had teachings from Getse Rinpoche, and empowerments through Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa: all because Gyatrul Rinpoche blessed and protected his centers and invited great lamas to come. I became a board member (Jampal asked me to) because I saw an opportunity to participate in planning for events and keeping the lights on at Dorje Ling as a non-profit agency. I feel and cherish the informal ease and commitment of all who come in and sit down to practice dharma: undoing our habitual confusions and supporting each other. As we move ahead, I would like to see participation in our monthly lunar day practices increase, attention paid to making the retreat center usable and available, and gathering Gyatrul Rinpoche’s teachings and archival recordings for all who come to Dorje Ling to study and practice this lineage.
| |
|
Dallen Esselstrom
I met Clark and Mat at the same time – in 2016. I came on the Sunday that there was an orientation for the Ngondro practice. Mat taught the class that day. I had been given Clark’s name after attending the Gutar-Losar retreat at Pema Osel Ling in Santa Cruz. I was recruited for the Board by Jampal around 2018 – as co-president with Linda Jo. Something our center should focus on is updating the retreat cabin and making it more accessible – part of that is creating a path of trails through the woods. One more thing: begin creating our own record of Matthew’s teachings at Dorje Ling.
Jeff Clemes
My journey in Buddhism began in 1993 while living in Taiwan, fostering a deep connection to the teachings. Years later, I was drawn to Dorje Ling, a local Buddhist center, captivated by the Tibetan prayer flags. After introducing myself to the resident monk, Jampal, we developed a meaningful friendship. Since 2023, I have been honored to serve as a board member for this remarkable sangha, deeply rooted in practice. I am committed to supporting the center’s growth, especially by helping establish meditation retreats to benefit the sangha and community.
| |
Teachings by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche
From Vimala Video
| |
Throughout 2025, Dorje Ling will share recorded teachings by Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche, selected from the Vimala Video archive. These video recordings begin in the early 1990's and continue throughout Rinpoche's teaching years, with oral translation by Sangye Khandro, Shashi Reitz and B. Alan Wallace. They range from short spontaneous talks, to one-time teachings, to extended classes that last over several sessions. The first two offerings will be introductory teachings and will be shown on Sunday, January 12 at 2:30 and Thursday, February 6, at 7:00. After that, the selection of teachings and the dates and times of the showings will be chosen by attendees.
For some this will be a voyage of discovery, a chance to experience Gyatrul Rinpoche in teaching mode. For others, a journey of remembrance. Open to everyone!
| |
Vimala Video is a historical dharma video archive established by the Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche in 1980. The mission is to contribute to the recording, preservation, and dissemination of Vajrayana Buddhist practices and teachings as they are transmitted in the West. | |
|
|
|
Thursday, January 16, 7:00-8:30
Troma Ngöndro and Black Feast Practice
At Dorje Ling center, led by Matthew Small
All are welcome. Please bring texts and instruments. If you don't have either, we have some available or can share.
| | | |
New Ngöndro Class
Starting January 26th
Sundays 12:30-1:40
| Matthew Small will teach on the Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro practice. He will talk about how to do the practice and share important commentaries. The classes are open to all including those new to Buddhism and those interested in learning more. | | |
Riwo Sang Chod
Sunday, January 12th, 1:00-2:15
| |
To pray for the pacification of negativities plaguing our world,
we make this offering once every month.
All are welcome, texts provided.
| | |
|
Monday, January 13th 2:00-3:30
Wednesday, January 29th 2:00-3:30
For those that have received instructions from Caleb, materials are available to make Tsa Tsa's before White Tara and Troma Nagmo pujas. Please email for other options: dorjelingpdx@gmail.com
With sangha member Caleb Forrester's help, Dorje Ling's contributions to making 100,000 tsa tsa's is underway. The tsa tsa's will be placed in a stupa to be built at Tashi Choling in honor of Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche.
| |
|
Regular Events at Dorje Ling | |
Updates for Pujas During the Winter | |
|
Meditation Classes
Wednesdays 7:00-8:30pm
(in person only)
We explore a variety of meditation techniques. Open to everyone and drop-ins are encouraged.
| |
|
Ngöndro Practices
Sundays 11:00-12:30pm
(in person and online)
A preliminary practice that is the foundation for students of Vajrayana Buddhism. Open to everyone.
| |
|
Lunar Day Practices or Pujas
4:00-6:30 pm
See Upcoming Events for dates
(in person, some offered online)
These practices are intended for the sangha (our Buddhist community) to come together and make offerings.
Open to everyone.
| |
Yeshe Nyingpo, Mexico Hosts Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro | |
|
Friday, January 17th, 6:00-8:00pm Meditation with Lama Chonam Hosted by Yeshe Nyingpo, Mexico (online)
Saturday and Sunday, January 18th/ 19th White Tara Retreat with Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro Hosted by Yeshe Nyingpo, Mexico (online)
| | | |
|
|
January 18th-January 25th
Dzogchen Heart Instructions of HH Dudjom Rinpoche Retreat
Given by Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
Hosted by Pema Ling, Florida (online)
| |
|
January 24th-January 26th
The 14 Root Downfalls of Vajrayana
Given by Chakung Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche
Hosted by Pema Osel Ling, California (online)
| | | | |