Dear Sky: Sorry to post this as a direct msg to you. But I would like to extend an open invitation to you, as a dedicated Tibetan Buddhist, to come visit the Dawn Mountain temple in Houston. The founder is Dr. Anne Klein, the personal translator for the Dalai Lama who is credited for publishing the first English translations of many of the traditional prayers and texts. She brings him in on a semi-regular basis to give presentations in Houston, most are open to the public and some are addressed to specific issues, such as addressing the business community in Houston. I don't know how closely the Rinpoche's you follow and her group follows are connected, but I believe that would be closer to the practice of Buddhism you relate and are dedicated to. If you would like to join their mailing list to receive updates on calendar events, look online for DawnMountain.org. If there is a special event in the future you would like to attend in Houston, I am happy to help chip in for your airfare or make arrangements so that can happen for you. Since you volunteer in counseling, that is like my way of contributing to your outreach work. If you do come to Houston I would love to meet you, and introduce you to my friends with similar outreach work. Whatever ways work for different people, I believe we should have knowledge of these varieties so we can refer to different people who need these different approaches. I would not want any soul to suffer for lack of access to the group or person that could support them in their steps of spiritual progress and healing. So I would rather each person be connected and networked in with all the available resources that could help them. If this sounds like something you would like to explore, please let me know. My email is emilynghiem at hotmail or you can contact Dawn Mountain and become a member of the email list to receive information directly. Some of the past presentations include bringing to Houston the Tibetan nuns who sing the ancient prayers of the Tara, and a film showing of the Life of the Buddha from PBS at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. They also brought the Dalai Lama to speak at Rice University (where Dr. Klein is Chair of the Religious Studies) two times since I lived in Houston (with a 3rd engagement cancelled due to hurricane emergencies, even though Pastor Joel Olsteen at Lakewood Church had offered to reschedule at his building to accommodate the event and the large audience.)
I believe you would probably relate to Dr. Anne's teachings and presentations she gives that are more traditional to Tibetan Buddhism, as she has studied the language herself to be fluent in order to adhere to the original meaning and to translate into English.
So I offer this to you, in support of your practice, that you may better realize the purposes you seek through that.
Thank you Sky
I hope I do get to meet you someday!
To help you to come to Houston if that would help you to support and develop your practice would be an honor. I think you would really like Dr. Anne and how she teaches and explains these things. As a religious studies professor, she is adept at distinguishing the Buddhist from the Christian and other traditions, but without any conflict just pure harmony and wisdom. She works closely with many other ministers and religious leaders, so I think you would find assurance and comfort in that approach. She and others worked with the Dalai Lama to set up a center for religious tolerance at Rice, and the speakers there are just wonderful. All coming from positions that respect Christianity and Buddhism, without compromising either one, while also making distinctions between how they teach things. I align more with Thich Nhat Hanh's "engaged Buddhism" that is how Buddhism applies to American culture more specifically. I recognize that you prefer the Tibetan Buddhism so I would want you to have access to more resources and contacts with that realm of practice and study. If I can help you in any way, I am glad. Please let me know!
Yours truly,
Emily
emilynghiem at hotmail or yahoo.com
I believe you would probably relate to Dr. Anne's teachings and presentations she gives that are more traditional to Tibetan Buddhism, as she has studied the language herself to be fluent in order to adhere to the original meaning and to translate into English.
So I offer this to you, in support of your practice, that you may better realize the purposes you seek through that.
Thank you Sky
I hope I do get to meet you someday!
To help you to come to Houston if that would help you to support and develop your practice would be an honor. I think you would really like Dr. Anne and how she teaches and explains these things. As a religious studies professor, she is adept at distinguishing the Buddhist from the Christian and other traditions, but without any conflict just pure harmony and wisdom. She works closely with many other ministers and religious leaders, so I think you would find assurance and comfort in that approach. She and others worked with the Dalai Lama to set up a center for religious tolerance at Rice, and the speakers there are just wonderful. All coming from positions that respect Christianity and Buddhism, without compromising either one, while also making distinctions between how they teach things. I align more with Thich Nhat Hanh's "engaged Buddhism" that is how Buddhism applies to American culture more specifically. I recognize that you prefer the Tibetan Buddhism so I would want you to have access to more resources and contacts with that realm of practice and study. If I can help you in any way, I am glad. Please let me know!
Yours truly,
Emily
emilynghiem at hotmail or yahoo.com