Hello ... DOME Sangha people ... here is an UPDATE message about some of the things that hell_Zen [A.J.] and I are working on for the launch our often-delayed new teaching site at hell_Zen's great website ...

            www.perfectcircleservices.com/DOME

that will be FREE and has lots of new bells and whistles, with many new items for your consideration!

[1] Delayed from the Fall, A.J. [hell_Zen] will be teaching and facilitating a new course around the book:

"THE DZOGCHEN PRIMER - Embracing the Spiritual Path According to the Great Perfection," Compiled and edited by Marcia Binder Schmidt. Shambhala, Boston & London, 2002 -- $17.95 when I purchased my copy in 2002. $26.95 in Canada, then. Perhaps still the price! But it is PRICELESS ... so just go for it!!! [End of Publication Information] The course will be open to all interested persons, under A.J.'s complete control, with my help as he requests, so he may make some decisions about it that I am unaware of at this time.

[2] In any event, there will be a "Study Seminar," also, connected with the "PRIMER" course. So that will be item #[2]!!!

[3] I will teach a Seminar, also with [4] discussion group on the main text for the Dome Dzogchen Sangha, "The Practice of Dzogchen" -- the writings of Longchen Rabjam [1308-1363], as detailed in several frames below, here in the "DZOGCHEN" discussion on DailyOM, and at the Care2 group "Meditation - DZOGCHEN - Ati Yoga - Healing Circle" which you can find at www.care2.com.  This seminar will be open only to those that have the text and have been authorized to be in the seminar through application. Teaching on the Internet has its limitations, and I will address this elsewhere in this group.

[4] This discussion group for "The Practice of Dzogchen" is open only to authorized participants in the accompanying seminar, [3] above. Please PM me with any of your questions or concerns about this requirement.

[5] I will teach an "Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana)" which will present the Nine Yanas of the Nyingma School and my commentaries about all of that. It will be a 6-week course [FREE!] and will repeat every 8-weeks, after it is underway soon!

[6] Discussion group for [5], the Introduction, which everybody should take as it will fill in a lot of blanks that I presume most of you have with regard to the "Higher Buddhism," the "Greater Vehicle," and finally with Ati Yoga DZOGCHEN, the "Great Perfection."

[7] There will be a "DOME Dzogchen Glossary Project," which many of you, if your way is open, may help A.J. and myself compile.

[8] There will be a "DOME Dzogchen Bibliography Project," which many of you, if your way is open, may help A.J. and myself compile.

[9] There will be a "DOME SANGHA GENERAL DISCUSSION BLOG ABOUT DZOGCHEN" open to all, and somewhat like the "DZOGCHEN" discussion group here on the DailyOM, which will continue and be perrenial.

[10] Finally there will be a "DOME DZOGCHEN SANGHA" messaging area, for all that are involved with the work which we are doing on the site which A.J. is sponsoring at this very nice teaching website  [ send green star]

 ... which he has extended to me and to all of YOU! It costs him some good money, and we are right now offering it FREE! I would suggest that you consider ways in which you could compensate A.J. for this generosity!!

In addition to these line items, there will be facilities on the site for you to connect with either myself or A.J. for personal messaging and contact. And many other useful "Education Site" bells and whistles! 

Well, that is {ALMOST} all that I have for now. I hope that you are all having a great Winter or Summer, wherever you are on this tumultuous Planet of ours. I have been having a good Winter, these days, in Lyons, CO, on the Front Range, the temperatures are becoming entirely reasonable, finally, and I am sooooooo looking forward to the Spring, Summer & Fall! The DOME Sangha will strive to basically function from September 15th thru May 15th, and take a hiatus and "vacation" during the hot, tumultuous Summers here in the Northern Hemisphere, with a cutback in some of the courses, and continuation or start-up of some others. We shall see how it goes!!

Next Summer, in July through September, there will be many activities in conjunction with the Phuntsok Choephel Ling Monastery Project [PCL], the Gompa and Retreat Center which Chogye Trichen has authorized me to construct! If you are interested in tracking that project, see the group, "Phuntsok Choephel Ling Monastery Project" at:     

http://www.Care2.com/c2c/group/PCLMonasteryProject 

and you will be able to connect ... except I may have to INVITE you, so you ought to PM me about your interest. 

Thank you for your FAITH and being back here at the Dome Sangha blog on the fabulous DailyOM.com, or on Care2.com, or here at our HOME DOME ... at www.perfectcircleservices.com/DOME ... CONTINUE!

Kindest regards, 

Sapan Rinpoche
03FEB2007                           

 [ send green star]

Greetings, good people ... I am very sorry to report that I was never able to get the DOME SANGHA off the ground. A.J. has done his best to get and keep me activated and I am grateful to him for everything that he has done and continues to do in this Dharmic World of ours.

This thread will now be closed and drift down the "blue-pinned" list. Please go to the VPIWW Sangha [see discussion list for directions] for a further ONLINE SANGHA activity. Thanks, and good luck and best wishes with all of your Study & Practice.

Personally I am very busy, very engaged with my writing these days. I appreciate all of your visits to my Care2 group sites. Thank you for that! Please contribute whenever your way is open.

Kindest regards,

Sapan Rinpoche ... 16JAN2009

 [ send green star]