New Photos and Latest News

Hi Everyone,

My name is Bliss and this is my first blog post. If you go to the DM flickr site that Evan has been maintaining over the years, you'll see that I've posted 100+ photos from the last three terms. I'll work on titling them and adding captions soon. Also, if any of you have photos from DM that you'd like to share, I would love to post them.

So what's new?

Building: So far we have two retreat cabins that are in the final stages of completion: the Stumpf's place and Dharma Megha. Jame's and Lisette's cabin is well under way, with the framing and roof completed. Ven. Robbie Funk's foundation has been poured and the earthbags are being laid. Arie and Dvora's foundation has begun. The Lama Dome has been beautifully plastered. Bill McMichael's, Ben and Kendra's, and my (Bliss's) pads have been leveled and septics have been installed. Several roads have gone in and more are on the way. The waterlines are slowly but surely being laid and buried. The Kali Shrine is underway. Things are looking good. I'll post photos of the various projects soon.

Term 16: It was eventful start to the final year of DM as we know it. There was an ordination ceremony where Ernie Jones (now Ven. Chandra Prabha) received novice monk's vows, Mercedes Bahleda received lifetime laywoman's vows, and Ven. Marut, Ven. Marie, Ven. Gyelse, and Ven. Nyingpo all received their full ordination vows. For the final 10 days of the term the Tantra students stayed on the land for a retreat-like initiation.

Other than the big events, there was the usual rockin debate ground, some great new courses, a lot of music, some hard work days, a much needed mid-term party in Wilcox and a lot of work all aimed at getting those who want to into three-year retreat.

2008 - 2009 Diamond Mountain Newsletter

Just completed is the Diamond Mountain 2008 - 2009 retrospective newsletter. The online newsletter features some of the coolest projects, activities, and events from Diamond Mountain or organized by Diamond Mountain students and teachers. You wouldn't believe all the stuff we do until you take a look at this newsletter, and this is just a few highlights. This is what happens when you get a bunch of world-saving over-achievers together in one place.

Diamond Mountain 2008 - 2009 Retrospective Newsletter

Found Video: Ori Carin and Je Tsongkapa

It's been more than a few months since the release of the Je Tsongkapa biography supreme, King of the Dharma, which features the first ever English translation of one of the most famous Tibetan biographies of this founder of the Gelukpa lineage. Leafing through the book one's attention is immediately drawn to the artwork within. Much of the art is from original Tibetan sources, but throughout the book is scattered the most captivating visuals in its pages: the work of Ori Carin.

In this video Ori talks about Tibetan tangka painting, the specific events in Je Tsongkapa's life which inspired the painting, and Buddhism in general. He also discusses the idea of translating Tibetan paintings into our own culture. A task which he is most certainly up for.

Spring Break Work Party

Why is this term different from all other terms? Because there's a two week class break right in the middle. From June 3 - 17 no classes will be held at DM. So what meaningful thing are we to do for that time? Get out of the classroom and into the dirt. From Diamond Mountain board member Nicole Davis:

Jobs include the Lama Dome, water system, helping build retreat and caretaker cabins, and making adobe bricks. Valuable work can be found for everyone.

Earle will be outside the kitchen yurt at 11am each morning to meet with anyone who doesn't have an assigned job for the day. Those who already have a designated project will meet with their crew leader at the agreed upon time.

We are planning community meals each evening for the work crews, including a time to dedicate and de-brief about the day. The BOT has pledged some money for meals, and we are asking for additional donations. Let me know if you would like to contribute.

See you on the land!

Spring Term Yoga Schedule

Thanks to the hard work of Jessica Kung we all now have the morning yoga teaching schedule for the first half of Spring term 2009. If you don't know what that's supposed to mean, allow me to explain. Every morning, except Wednesdays, a different skilled yoga teacher leads any willing attendee through one of the seven Tibetan Heart Yoga series. And like everything else at Diamond Mountain, these world-class instructors teach for free.

On the schedule you'll find the teacher leading that morning's yoga as well as which Tibetan Heart Yoga series they'll be going through. That way you can avoid the easier series. If you've never done any Tibetan Heart Yoga, you're in for a treat.

You can view the yoga schedule on the Diamond Mountain events page or you can download the schedule in iCal format or PDF.

Elisa Monte Coming to Diamond Mountain

Dancer and choreographer Elisa Monte will be spending a week at Diamond Mountain starting May 25th. Ms. Monte, who is Geshe Michael and Lama Christie's favorite choreographer, will be giving daily dance master classes during her stay. For the class schedule see the Diamond Mountain events page. From Elisa Monte's bio:

Elisa Monte founded her own company following early training at the School of American Ballet and fifteen years as a professional dancer – eight as principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Monte’s first choreographic work, Treading, (1979) defined her as an important innovator and contributor to contemporary dance. Rooted in sensuality and controlled, sustained energy, Monte’s work is notable for its expansive range of movement, which refuses stylistic conformity.

New Online Diamond Mountain Calendar

New on the Diamond Mountain website is a calendar of events. This Diamond Mountain Calendar lets you look at what's happening at Diamond Mountain each day and see actual class times and locations right in your browser. The calendar also features the schedule of Geshe Michael and Lama Christie so you can see what our spiritual directors are up to and what exotic country they'll be in month by month.

My favorite part of the new calendar is the ability for it to be shared and subscribed to. If you use a calendar that supports subscriptions like Google Calendar, iCal, Thunderbird, or maybe even Outlook, you can subscribe to the Diamond Mountain calendar. This means you can have the schedule right in your personal calendar and watch it automagically update when changes are made to the Diamond Mountain schedule! Instructions on how to do that are below the calendar on the Diamond Mountain events page.

Diamond Mountain Events and Calendar

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