Shiwa- Center for Peace

09/14/2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBTIRLGuZ0I

Day 1 of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s two-day teaching on Chandrakirti's "Entering the Middle Way" in conjunction with the "Autocommentary" at the request o...

07/18/2021

RINPOCHE TO BEGIN NEW SERIES OF SATURDAY TEACHINGS THIS WEEKEND, JULY 17

Hello Everyone —
We are writing to let you know that Rinpoche will begin a new teaching this Saturday, July 17 at 2 pm. The Sunday meditation classes will continue as usual.

This new teaching offers a profound opportunity. Rinpoche will be discussing a very important text which addresses the subject of death and dying, from the viewpoint of the wonderful opportunity which the dying experience provides.
He will be offering commentary on the text entitled “Prayer for Freedom from the Perilous Straits of the Intermediate State, Hero Releasing from Fright,” The author of this text is the First Panchen Lama, Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen.
Understanding death and the dying process, and what happens in those states, is very important. If one cannot understand the death and dying process, it becomes very difficult to understand the process of living. Without this information, we may not really know life, nor be able to fully appreciate the beauty of being alive.

Understanding the dying process is crucial to our chances of being able to break the cycle of suffering and be liberated from Samsara. Yogis have long used this knowledge to be empowered to break the cycle of conditioned existence and to choose the type of life we wish to live. If we can learn to catch what is known as the clear light, we can break free of the karmic, cause and effect, cycles, which keep us in bo***ge to a limited and conditioned existence.

Please join us for this new series of teachings, and feel free to spread the word to others who may be interested.
Best wishes,
SHIWA

05/13/2021

This Saturday at 2pm EST Rinpoche is starting teaching on the 12 links of dependent origination... click the zoom link below to join:

https://zoom.us/j/3383954559?pwd=c1l4UnJ4RmxrcUFCSGRwL09CbW9Bdz09

Meeting ID: 338 395 4559
Passcode: shiwa

05/07/2021

04/03/2021

Hello Everyone —

We are writing today to let you know that the Shiwa Center for Peace will be relocating to the Asheville/Flat Rock NC area, effective April 1.

The Shiwa Center has been operating in Mount Pleasant for the past 14 years, and Rinpoche is greatly appreciative of all the support from the community over this time. Although there are new opportunities to explore in North Carolina, Rinpoche will be returning to the Charleston area periodically, to keep in touch with his current students, and to be open to meeting new students as well. Also, there will be teachings on Zoom, for the foreseeable future. For the next few weeks, there will be no Zoom teachings, due to the logistics of moving. We will send an updated email as soon as we have the new schedule.

Rinpoche would like to express his gratitude for the time spent here in Charleston, and he looks forward to building on this in North Carolina.

Sending very best wishes,

Shiwa

07/02/2020

Hello Everyone — Rinpoche is still with his family in India and is doing well. He continues to pray and to send his best wishes to all of us, as well as to all beings. Rinpoche would like to share some more information with us about Lhamo Loma Gyonma practice (see below).
He also wants to remind everyone to continue to do Tara practice, and Medicine Buddha practice, as much as possible. All these practices are beneficial for our selves personally, as well as for all beings.

Some of his thoughts on the current world situation are:

Although there is no doubt that we are going through a very challenging time, this time can also be seen as a great opportunity. We can deepen our spiritual practices and generate much compassion during these days.
It is very important to maintain a positive mindset and outlook, no matter what the situation. Meditation and enjoying simple activities as part of our daily routine can be very helpful, and can keep us from getting caught in negative thoughts and emotions.

We are living in a time where there are many “poisons” — pollution, unhealthy food, unclean water and air etc. It is also a time where many diseases are arising, some that we have never heard of in the past. The Lhamo Loma Gyonma, or Pita Parnasavari, practice is extremely effective in fighting all contagious diseases as well as purifying the karma that can harm our body and manifest as disease.

A simple way to pronounce her mantra is “Om Pe Sha Chi Par Na Sha Wa Re Sa Wa Ja Ra Ta Sha Ma Na Ye SoHa” (The audio pronunciation of her prayers can be found on the Shiwa web site).

Saying her mantra daily, one mala or more, is very beneficial. If one is very ill, saying as many mantras as possible is good. After mantra recitations, it is also good to blow on any medicines one may be using. If one is healthy, it is a good idea to blow the mantra on water that you drink, or even on your pet. Allowing pets to hear the mantra prayers is very helpful for them, and the sounds of the mantra and prayers also bless the environment in which they are done.

Before beginning her prayers and mantra, there is a visualization that one should do, very diligently. You can find this visualization below. (There is also a depiction of Lhamo Loma Gyonma on the Shiwa web site.)

We will continue to provide periodic updates from Rinpoche and will certainly let everyone know when he will be returning to the US.
Meanwhile, please do all the prayers as much as possible, and stay safe and well.

Best wishes,
Shiwa

05/28/2020

There will be live webcasts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's two day Avalokiteshvara Empowerment from his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on May 29-30, 2020 from 9:00am to 10:30am Indian Standard Time each day. People are requested to please follow social distancing rules while viewing the live webcast.

05/18/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOBu3Cow5RM

Day 1 of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's two day teaching on Chapters 1 and 4 of Nagarjuna's "Precious Garland" from his residence in Dharamsala, HP. India on ...

05/12/2020

Hello Everyone — Rinpoche remains in India and is still not sure about when he will be able to return to the US. He sends his continuing best regards and prayers to all of us, and is thinking of everyone.

In addition to the Tara prayers and Medicine Buddha practice that Rinpoche has recommended, he is also requesting that another practice be incorporated into our routine during the COVID-19 crisis.

The details of this practice can be found on the Shiwa web site at https://www.shiwacenter.org/teachings-blog/2020/5/7/dharani-of-goddess-parnasavari

This new practice focuses on Lhamo Loma Gyonma, whose Sanskrit name is Parnasavari. Her name means “the mountain hermitess who is able to lift the veil of ignorance and prevent illnesses that arise from such ignorance, especially those of the contagious kind.” She is also regarded as one of the 21 emanations of Tara.

Rinpoche hopes that this new practice will be used by as many of us as possible, he feels that it is very powerful. He has made an audio recording of the mantra and that is contained with the other information in the link.

Best wishes,
Shiwa

Download Dharani-of-Goddess-Parnasavari.pdf

04/21/2020

Update from Rinpoche

Hello Everyone —

Rinpoche has been in touch recently and has asked that an update be sent out on his behalf. He remains in lockdown in India with his family and is doing fine. There is no certainty yet about when he might be able to return to the US, but he wants everyone to know that he is thinking of us constantly, and holding us all in his prayers.

Rinpoche is doing intense retreat, and is currently focusing on Yamantaka, the conqueror of the Lord of Death. He asks that all of us continue to focus on the Tara Mantra (Om Tara Tutare Ture Soha) and also suggests that the Medicine Buddha Mantra be recited as much as possible as well.

That mantra is “Tayata, Om, Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Radza Samudgate Soha”.
It is generally pronounced Tie-ya-tar, om beck-and-zay beck-and-zay ma-ha beck-and-zay, rad-ja-som-oom-gut-eh- so-ha

Rinpoche is praying for all those who have been sick or passed away due to the virus, for all the beings who are currently struggling with the virus,
For all those living in fear, uncertainty and difficulty of any kind, for all the health care workers, and for those who are working to find an effective medical cure. He asks that we keep all these beings in our prayers as well.

We will send out another update in the near future, and meanwhile, we send our very best wishes for everyone’s well-being!

Shiwa

04/16/2020

https://www.shiwacenter.org/teachings-blog/2020/4/15/verses-of-advice-for-meditating-on-impermanence

Thoughts that we might finish this life’s tasks, Within just a single month or year, Only then to practise Dharma well Are like harmful spirits that deceive us.

03/31/2020

Hello Everyone — Rinpoche continues to send his best wishes from India.
He is with his family and they are all doing fine at the moment. Rinpoche is praying and performing sacred rituals on a daily basis, and is keeping us all in his thoughts. He urges everyone to stay as calm and centered as possible, and to try very hard to keep worry to a minimum. He strongly recommends saying the Tara mantra — Om Tara Tutare Ture SohA - as much as possible, while praying for the best outcome for all beings as we experience this global crisis.
Please everyone, be safe and well. We will send periodic updates as the world situation unfolds.
Best wishes and prayers,
Shiwa