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What's (been) Happening at Milarepa Center
a recap of what's been going on
May - September
& teasers of what's to come
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Please welcome our new Team with open arms!
They are so grateful to be part of our Milarepa Family and look forward to serving you during retreat and enjoying time with you during social events.
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KIIRA ANDERSON
SPIRITUAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR
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SAMANTHA FERRATO
KITCHEN MANAGER/CHEF
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HELENA MONTGOMERY
CENTER MANAGER
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Rejoice: Sakadawa Nyung Nä
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| 2015 Nyung Na participants |
T
his year 10 people participated in our Sakadawa Nyung Nä
retreat. Even though it is a difficult practice, everyone enjoyed it and the group bonded beautifully. Thank you very much to Larry Howe for cooking for the retreat and to Wendy Cook for leading the retreat.
We just received news that our own Venerable Amy MIGHT be able to come in May and one or lead several Nyung Nas.
If you are interested in seeing this happen, please let us know
so we can see if there is enough interest and if folks would be interested in doing more than one Nyung Na in a row. Nyung Nas are preliminary practices and requirements to become complete Discovering Buddhism course.
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Pilgrimage to Milarepa:
Venerable Namgyal Returns for a Visit
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Venerable Namgyal (Jeff Garnett) was Milarepa Center' previous facility managers. He left Milarepa Center to become a monk and live at Root Institute in India. He has since been serving at Lama Zopa's house in Aptos, California. We were very lucky to host Venerable Namgyal this June for a weekend. Venerable Namgyal gave an evening talk to share about his life story and reconnect with old friends. He also gave a workshop on the practice of offering water bowls. He spent time with our team and volunteers and also gave us some help around the facilities! We can't wait for him to visit again.
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Nepal: Rebuilding and Repairing
Our Part
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In total, through three different fundraisers we raised: $876 for Nepal!
On May 30, we hosted an Open House and Pancake Breakfast for Nepal. Michelle Bos-Lun was our kind chef a
nd Neema Sherpa helped and brought yummy traditional Nepali chai. We raised a total of: $430.
We raised the money to the Village of
Yillajung. Our Sherpa neighbors in St. Johnsbury are from this village. They are also students of Lama Zopa's and are always so thoughtful to us. We wanted to directly help our neighbors and their families and friends rebuild. They brought photos of what the devastation was like to their village and shared what aid they have already received and what the money we were raising would be going to. They happily reported that their family and friends received packages from Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the
FPMT Social Service Fund. They reported their village is on to the next stage of rebuilding and the money we raised would be evenly distributed throughout the village and together they would be rebuilding the houses.
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Felicity, Michelle, & Rosanne with the Sherpa family in St. Johnsbury. We are all smiling so big because of the successful pancake fundraiser!
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Venerable Sarah generously donated very beautiful large
prayer flags from Nepal when she came to visit Milarepa Center earlier this summer. Visitors and retreaters could donate $15 (or more) for the prayer flags and all proceeds would directly benefit the
FPMT Social Service Fund, where all funds were directly going to help everywhere in Nepal, particularly the most difficult to reach regions where they were using a helicoptor to deliver supplies. $15 would support a family with rice for a month or give tarps and other supplies to shelter themselves for the coming monsoons. We still have 4 more large prayer flags to sell.
Total we have raised through the purchasing of prayer flags for the FPMT Social Service Fund: $338.
Our neighbors at
Beth El Synagogue in St. Johnsbury were also very generous and thoughtful. Their congregation wanted to participate in donating to Nepal.
They sent us $108 and we donated directly to the FPMT Social Service Fund on their behalf.
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Kopan Vermont: FPMT Sister Center Collaberation
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Sheri, David, & Shelley greeted Geshe Konchog & student Mike at the Burlington Airport
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Geshe Konchog & retreaters at Harvey's Lake for a picnic during the Forgiveness Day Retreat
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Kopan Vermont 2015 group photo! This was our biggest Kopan Vermont yet. It was a beautiful collaboration with our FPMT sister center in Florida, Tubten Kunga Center. Geshe Konchog gave LamRim teachings and Jacie Keeley lead meditations, discussion groups, and told stories of the early years with Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa. We had a diverse group....we had long-time practitioners and new students...seven students from Florida, seven students from Canada, a number of students from Massachussettes, and three mother/son or daughter teams. It was a beautiful retreat. We hope you will join us next year.
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A Commentary on Patience with Geshe Lobsang Jampa
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We were delighted to host Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Jampa in July. Geshe Lobsang gave a beautiful commentary on Patience from Shantideva's Bodhisattva's Way of Life. Even though we need a translator, Rinpoche teaches with such sincerity you feel as if He is really speaking a language you understand. Tenzin was our amazing translator as always. Tenzin does such a wonderful job of getting the core essence of the teachings. We didn't complete the entire commentary, so we are looking forward to Khensur Rinpoche returning Summer 2016.
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Family Camp was an amazing success, as always. We had 4 new families join us this year. Families come from all over such as Florida, California, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, & Vermont. Our theme this year was Mandalas & the children loved doing annual activities of animal liberation, sword fighting, & archery. We hope you'll join next year. Thank you to Kasia and Chessy for organizing camp and for Dave for volunteering during the weekend!
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L-R: Kiira, Ani Dawa, Samantha, Leslie, & Felicity
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On September 19, Felicity, Kiira, Leslie, and Samantha collaborated to create banners and flyers for the Maple Parade in St. Johnsbury. Ani Dawa blew bubbles to cheering children and their parents as we handed out flyers and long boarded to the tune of Nawang Khechog's flute. It was a whimsical experience and brought a growing awareness of the future activities at the Milarepa Center to the surrounding communities.
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Special thanks to everyone who participated in our work party in September.
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Dakini Power: L-R: Leslie, Felicity, Dawn, Samantha, Kate, Lisa, & Kiira (not pictured: Sig)
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On Friday, Luke worked all day, taking care of many outdoor chores, preparing for the winter and
Dan continued the mowing he has helped us with all summer, even with his new busier schedule.
On Saturday, Sig mowed one of our fields, a major feat given he was pushing a large walking mower-lots of muscle power all day long. Lisa, all the way from Canada, took charge of repairing the outside front wall of the Center. She had come a few weeks earlier to clean and paint the outside back area of the center. Kate stacked lots and lots of wood, adding to our winter wood supply and helped with the finishing touches of the men's dorm, since it received its new coat of paint-that Zoe applied days before the work party. Dawn, our previous facilities manager, worked the entire weekend helping us winterize the center. Thanks so much to our WWOOFer, Leslie, who helped harvest the garden, & organize & inventory our supplies.
Saturday night we did a Dharma burn and said Om Ah Hum as the words from the Dharma texts went into the sky and spread Dharma wisdom everywhere.
Eric came over on Sunday and helped put up our Speed Bump signs and helped around the Center a lot! Eric also donated worms from the general store to be liberated.
Enjoy more photos from the Autumn Work Party here!
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Kiira, Jovin, and Leslie with the liberation worms, saying Om Mani Padme Hum to give them a better rebirth
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Donate to Milarepa Center's Wish List
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We need a quart of seasoned wood for the Winter. We have a wood chopper, so it's OK if it is in rounds. We would be very grateful for whatever you could contribute to help keep the Center warm for the winter.
Check out other items on our Amazon
wishlist including coconut milk for tasty winter soups and curries.
Thank you for your amazing support!
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Wednesday Night Meditation:
Mindful Work Weeks
EVERY Wednesday
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
stay afterwards for sweet treats, tea & conversation 8 - 8:30 p.m.
FREE Film Series @ Catamount Arts in St. J!
2nd Thursday
s, 7pm
September -December
Next up: Chasing Buddha, Thursday, October 8th
Soft Launch for Ashtanga Yoga w/ Susan Kapp Monaghan
Tuesday, October 13th
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Bring your own yoga mat!
Cost: $15 | no RSVP
Workshop Series:
Create a Vision Board
Saturday, October 17th
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
You will need: large paper or poster board for your vision board, old magazines,
we supply the rest.
lead by Felicity
Fundraiser by donation! No RSVP
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Celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Birthday
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We liberated worms and sang Happy Birthday to His Holiness on July 6. We dedicated towards his long life and that He may always live until samsara ends to continue to guide all sentient beings.
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an insence and sur puja at the Stupa led by Paula Chichester and Larry Howe
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Later, in August, we hosted a retreat with Paula Chichester to honor His Holiness's long life by learning and singing a Chenrezig sadhana that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama wrote when He was a teenager.
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Lama Zopa came to Milarepa with Liz & Diane
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L-R: Jacie, Liz, & Diane with the large Lama Zopa poster
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Liz & Diane, long time students of Lama Yeshe & Lama Zopa stopped by the other day to socialize with their friend Jacie Keeley. Liz spent the first winter at Milarepa Center with Peter Baker & friends. Diane spent six summers at Milarepa. They both marveled at how Milarepa Center has blossomed over the years & the fresh energy that pervades the land. Liz kindly shared a large poster photo of Lama Zopa with Milarepa Center.
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The Male Dorm Gets a Facelift!
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Zoe, our youngest Work Study this summer, is a high school student who lives in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She took on a project to re-fresh the male dorm. She picked out new paint & made it all bright and shiny. Thank you so much for your hard work, Zoe!
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Our Driveway to Enlightenment Got a Facelift!
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In Spring of 2014 we received a grant from the FPMT Merit Box to fix our Driveway to Enlightenment. We started part of the process fixing a run-off water problem last summer and finished the job this summer.
The once rugged drive way is restored! It is a wider entry way with trees neatly standing on either side. There is also an extra parking place for visiting at the stupa. We encourage everyone to stop by and see the new development for yourself. Thank you to Jeremy and the crew of Blue Mountain Trucking for all their hard work.
In the spring/summer we look forward to hanging prayer flags, planting wild flowers and adding some benches along the side of the driveway, to make for a very mindful walk to the Stupa. Let us know if you'd like to help!
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche Sightings!
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Lama Zopa with Kiira, Samantha, & Felicity
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At the beginning of September, Team Milarepa was blessed to attend teachings of Lama Zopa, sponsored by Shantideva, and to receive a three-hour private audience. Rinpoche was so kind to spend so much time with our team. He even gave the oral transmission of the Daily Meditation practice, which we have integrated in
to our lives as part of our group practice.
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Rinpoche with Teddy Tulku at the Essence of Nectar Retreat in Mexico, Sept 2015
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Felicity received the chance to see Lama Zopa in Mexico at the Essence of Nectar retreat. It was a beautiful experience. Rinpoche's teachings emphasized developing Bodhichitta and practicing Bodhichitta mindfulness to reach enlightenment.
One practice of integrating Bodhichitta mindfulness into your life is to imagine you are bringing all sentient beings to enlightenment every time you walk. You can read more about Bodhichitta mindfulness in the
Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive book edited by Venerable Sarah called "Bodhichitta Attitude". Stop by Milarepa Center today to receive your FREE copy!
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Fire Puja at Milarepa Center
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Robyn & Paula performing the fire puja
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Robyn Brentano came to Milarepa Center in August to complete a fire puja. Paula Chichester, Larry Howe, Martha Tack, Mike Mordis, and Kiira Anderson all helped make the fire puja possible. The biggest help, and the most admirable help was from Bill Kelly, Robyn's husband. We are so grateful Robyn chose Milarepa Center to perform her fire puja.
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Fire Puja at Milarepa Center
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A.P. teachers from around the country with Jacie Keeley in the Milarepa Center gompa
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Every summer we partner with the St. Johnsbury Academy as a place to host their A.P. Institute teachers for an evening of Introduction to Buddhism. This summer we hosted over 100 A.P. teachers from across the country over a four-week period. Thank you to Martha Tack, Geshe Konchog, and Jacie Keeley for giving each group an introduction to Buddhism and meditation.
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THANK YOU FOR SERVING
a tribute to our 2015 Board of Directors
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MONICA DIGIOVANI
Monica, located in Montpelier, VT, provided an invaluable service to Milarepa Center guiding us in the ways of non-profits and helping us launch of Friendship campaign.
Thank you, Monica!
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WENDY COOK
Wendy, located in Boston, MA, has been a supporter and retreater at Milarepa Center since the very beginning. Wendy's history of Milarepa Center, the FPMT, and living/working at a Dharma Center from her experience at Tara Institute in Australia helped shape Milarepa Center. Wendy also provided amazing service on request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche to be Felicity's assistant/adviser when she first started as the Director of Milarepa.
Thank you, Wendy!
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ROSANNE HEBERT
Rosanne, located in St. Johnsbury, VT, was a previous full-time team member at Milarepa Center. She started as a work-study and worked her way up to Assistant Director. Rosanne gave a lot of hands on support to Milarepa Center during her time as a Board member and helped navigate Felicity and the rest of the Board through the various seasons and what the big picture looks like as the leaves change.
Thank you, Rosanne!
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MIKE WALDMAN
Mike, located in VA, served as our secretary and proved to be our no non-sense guide to legal issues and laws in Vermont. Mike made sure we had our i's dotted and t's crossed. He was a voice of reason and always kept us on track!
Thank you, Mike!
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JOHN GANZI
John, located in Washington DC, served as our treasurer and HR ombudsman. John was an excellent facilitator and consistently used his expertise in finance, management, non-profits, and people skills to help each and every Board Member better serve. He kept our budget on track and always had a good attitude.
Thank you, John!
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SHELLEY HAGAN
Shelley, located in Burlington, VT, served as our faithful president. She came as often as she could to Milarepa Center to participate in programs and to hands on volunteer. She also provided invaluable insight and was very hands on with making Milarepa Center's Master Plans move forward and make progress.
Thank you, Shelley!
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THANK YOU FOR SERVING
a tribute to our summer work-study team
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A big thank you to (L-R) Kiira, Sara, Julian, Ryan, and Zoe (not pictured: Zoe)
for being our back-bone this summer. They each brought their unique charm to the Milarepa mix and contributed 100% of their ability to make Milarepa succeed this summer. We absolutely could not have managed without them.
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THANK YOU FOR SERVING
a tribute to our autumn WWOOFers
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WWOOF is a volunteer program known as World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
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Leslie (left) and Jovin (right) with Kiira (middle)
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For the month of September, we hosted Leslie, a WWOOF volunteer. She is working on closing out the garden for the winter and doing small jobs in the kitchen at the Milarepa Center. Leslie is from Ohio and this is her first time in Vermont, and she hopes to come back soon! We are so thankful for Leslie's enthusiasm, good nature, friendly smile, and big help. We will miss Leslie very much.
Jovin, a WWOOF volunteer, came to Milarepa Center on September 27 and we will be hosting him through October 21. Jovin has a background in carpentry and has been helping us get ready for winter by stacking wood, chopping wood, fixing up some holes in the outside of the house that were being neglected over time, and other handy jobs to help our work flow. Jovin is from Germany and has been attending a Buddhist Center in Switzerland.
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What's Happening at Milarepa Center this Fall
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Milarepa Center needs YOUR help.
We need some volunteer help with preparing the house for winter, etc!
email
Milarepa@MilarepaCenter.org to offer your services!
Saturday, October 10 & Saturday, October 17
Join us for a morning of meditation from 9-9:45am and stay to lend a hand with winter preparations. It's a perfect way to start your mindful weekend out right with meritorious actions! email milarepa@milarepacenter.org to RSVP by Thursday, 10/8 and sign up for lunch if you would like to stay for that (note: lunch is $10 and DELICIOUS)
New Programs!
Weekly open meditations. Wednesday Night Mindful Work Weeks
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
The program has gotten off to a great start, already with return participants, and we are looking forward to being your refuge mid-week each week as we enter the colder months. Stay after fro 8 - 8:30 p.m. for sweet treats, tea, and conversation.
Catamount Arts Movie Series: Chasing Buddha, starting Venerable Robina
Thursday, October 8, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
his documentary explores the life of an unconventional and passionate Buddhist nun, Venerable Robina Courtin. Australian ex-Catholic, ex-political activist and feminist, she has been a nun since 1978. Venerable Robina is an extremely well-known and sought-after teacher, who travels worldwide.
Cost: Free
Ashtanga Yoga with certified teacher Susan Kapp Monaghan
Tuesday, October 13, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
We are so excited to be partnering with Susan to offer these yoga classes at the Milarepa Center. Susan will lead a gentle class that eases students into the standing poses and sequences of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series. We will have a soft launch on Tuesday, October 13th from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. and weekly classes will begin on Tuesday starting November 3rd from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. This is being offered as a fundraiser for the center, a way to introduce new people to the center, and as a way to promote the ability to sit in meditation with a more calm mind.
Cost: $15, no RSVP necessary, and no prior yoga experience necessary
Vision Boards: Imagine Your Future (Saturday Workshop Series)
Saturday, October 17, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
These afternoon workshops are being offered by donation as a fundraiser for the Milarepa Center. It kicks off on Saturday, October 17th from 1 - 4 p.m. with a Vision Board workshop led by Milarepa Center Director, Felicity Keeley. She will be helping participants learn to utilize meditation techniques in the creative process with images and words that symbolize what they would like to bring into their lives.
Cost: By donation.
KARMA: The Cause and Effect Connection with Venerable Robina Courtin
October 23rd - October 25th
We are so excited to host Venerable Robina for this weekend retreat, and so are all of you! We are basically booked solid. Don't miss a screening of the award-winning documentary documenting her life, Chasing Buddha, at the Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, October 8th at 7pm, as we prepare for the event!
Cost: $300, includes accommodations and meals. Must RSVP to attend.
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Practice Schedule and 2016 Retreats Teaser
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We'd love to see you! Milarepa Center is open for visits and tours Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. You are welcome to join us for lunch, with an
RSVP by 9am the morning before. Lunch is $10 and we can accommodate most dietary restrictions.
Plus! Don't forget to join us any morning from Tuesday to Saturday for waterbowl offerings at 8:00 a.m.! Or at
sunset for sang (incense) and sur (flour) offerings to create merit for the Milarepa Center land and activities.
Monthly pujas and tsog offerings are also open to the public and on the website. No RSVP required!
We are busy planning the
2016 Retreat Schedule.
Expect announcements in the coming weeks for retreats with teachers such as:
Geshe Lobsang Jampa
Don Handrick
Geshe Sherab
Geshe Konchog Kyab
Elaine Jackson
Venerable Amy Miller
Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi & more!
Is there a particular program or topic you are interested in seeing at Milarepa Center?
Let us know! We are YOUR East Coast retreat center. We will do our best to make it happen.
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Thank you for being patient with Milarepa Center. Thank you for continuing to support us over the years. We are joyous about serving others, but it is a lot of moving parts. We have noticed it is challenging for us to do monthly updates during the summer months. We will start to do monthly updates again to keep you in the loop and provide opportunities to rejoice in our good works. We can't wait to see you soon.
Big Love, your Milarepa Center family |
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Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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