The Dzogchen Community of Namgyalgar in the Glasshouse Mountains, Queensland, Australia, hosted a wonderful retreat with our teacher Chogyal Namkai Norbu on November 3- 8.
Rinpoche gave an extraordinary teaching on the ancient Dzogchen text known as
Dorje Sempa Namkha Che which sets out weekly advice for the Dzogchen practitioner.
It is said that when the Dzogchen Master Garab Dorje reached age seven he spontaneously recited this text. Rinpoche has worked over several years comparing and collating several versions of the text which miraculously surfaced after being hidden away for centuries.
Rinpoche was in fine form and taught every day from ten til twelve
reminding us
that if we take nothing else away
to keep the wisdom of this text close to our hearts
and remember to practice Ati Guru Yoga as often as we can
During the rest of the day
retreatants enjoyed coffee and cake
at Namgyal-Bar
or browsed for bargains
in Nicki's Bodhi Tree pop up shop
It was a time
for catching up
with old friends
or hanging out at the child care tent
for admiring all the work
that has gone into the gar garden
Time for taking a dip in the lily pond
while singing the seven line prayer to the lily pads
for enjoying pool side gazebo chats
and reflecting on reflections
There was time to attend the AGM
to listen to SMS teacher Arnaud give an excellent explanation of the WWT practice
to learn some new Tibetan songs
Time to enjoy the mandala view in rare moment when it wasn't wasn't full
(just in case you don't believe me!)
And five o'clock is of course, Khaita time
where we can practice our moves again and again!
There was time to take in the view of the sacred mountains from the top of the land
to escape to a not too far away waterfall
And of course
after the teachings
there is
always
time for tea
Thanks to Rinpoche for travelling so far to bring us the precious Dzogchen Teachings yet again. This retreat marks thirty years since Rinpoche first gave teachings in Australia.
Thanks to all who worked so hard to make the retreat such a great event.
There were many more activities going on which are not represented here like: early morning Yantra and Vajra Dance, Q&A with SMS Teacher Amare, Evolution Creations auction, Namgyalgar auction, karma yoga, kid's yoga, Shang Shung AGM and more. There was so much going on I don't know how anyone got any sleep!
Soon CHNN will be winging his way to Argentina and home to Tennerife where he will spend most of 2016. Now all we have to do is do is practice... Ati Guru Yoga.
As Rinpoche says in his great classic,
Practice in Daily Life:
"I always ask my students, remember to do Guruyoga. If in one day you
remember to do Guruyoga 100 times that's good, it can be never too much.
If your life becomes the state of Guruyoga, that is fantastic. Even if
it doesn't become something like that at least try to remember Guruyoga
very often."