WELCOME SPRING, WELCOME NEW BEGINNINGS – A MESAGE FROM LAMA SURYA DAS (1)

1
WELCOME SPRING, WELCOME NEW BEGINNINGS A MESAGE
FROM LAMA SURYA DAS

• Spring greetings from the fragrant hills
  overlooking Malibu, where weve just completed
  our annual spring Dzogchen Centers weeklong
  Southern California retreat. The Franciscan
  mission-style Serra Retreat Center built long
  ago on the burned out ruins of an original
  hilltop mansion here, called The Castle of
  Emptiness, created a perfect atmosphere of
  gentle quietude for our week of Dzogchen
  practice, sangha friendships old and new, and
  koinonia (spiritual communion and
  transformation). Their lovely meditation hall,
  complete with huge panoramic windows, coupled
  with vast ocean and mountain views, made
  skygazing meditations and prayerful devotions,
  along with daily mindful nature walks, all the
  more satisfying, especially in these tumultuous
  times. A new retreatant said she felt as if shed
  landed here at a retreat for angels. Another
  told me, in a private guidance-interview I
  lived in a beautiful ice palace. This practice
  has really opened my heart, melted the
  frozenness, and almost ripped my guts out. I go
  home transformed and curious to see whats next
  on this path.

2
It was hard to beat the mid-March blizzard and
get out of Boston by plane two weeks ago as I
headed to Boulder, CO, where I was honored to
give Naropa Universitys Distinguished Lecture
sponsored by the Lenz Foundation for American
Buddhism. My visit allowed for time to visit with
students and staff as well as teach a few
classes. How wonderful to see so many avid young
folks, and dedicated faculty and staff too. It
was refreshing, inspiring, thought-provoking, and
a bit challenging as well. Each and every
Buddhist community is somewhat different. I
finished my time in Boulder at Ken Wilbers
Integral Center, where our dedicated Boulder
sangha held a day-long Saturday meditation
retreat the perfect way to end my stay! This
being my first travel in almost five months,
unusual for me it feels so good to be back in
the saddle again. Ive missed communing with my
students and teaching actual meditation. And
while my hip recuperation period is almost over,
Ill continue on with a bit more physical therapy
and exercise, longevity practice, and chanting
for a better world and more peace, harmony,
mutual understanding, loving-kindness and
cooperation. I hope to see ya in July for our
next Dzogchen Center meditation retreat in
Garrison, NY.
3
Welcome spring, welcome new beginnings! With
love and blessings,Lama Surya Das For more
details about Lama Surya Das feel free to
visit https//lamasuryadasmarried.tumblr.com