February 21, 2010

Milarepa Center

1344 U.S. Route 5 South
Barnet, Vermont  05821
(802) 633-4136

www.milarepacenter.org
milarepa@milarepacenter.org

Affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT)

Greetings from Milarepa Center!

Here at Milarepa Center we have eased into the deep winter-time with much practice and rejoicing.  We are happily planning our Kalachakra Initiation with Choden Rinpoche this July (registration opens March 1 so stay tuned for more details on our website) and many other wonderful programs including a Manjushri Jenang and Heart Sutra teachings with Venerable Dagri Rinpoche in July, and a Tara Retreat with Geshe Gelek the second half of August. It looks to be an incredible summer.
 
We are currently accepting applications to our Work Study Program so if you are interested in playing a larger role in this season's activities, please contact us about joining this valuable program.
 
We have just finished a fantastic Skiing to Enlightenment weekend that included teachings, meditation and outdoor activities with our beloved Ven. Amy. When the retreat was finished, most of the participants (photographed below) lingered in the dining room with dharma talk and laughter, soaking up their last bit (for now) of the blessed Milarepa Center environment.  
 

 
Rosanne Hebert and Elisa Lucozzi (below) who were with us last year for most of the season have just returned from their journey to India and Nepal. They had a wonderful time and not only brought back many touching stories, but also managed to deliver many helpful items to the Center. We are very excited to announce that they will be moving to the Center beginning in March, as Rosanne will assume the position of Administrative Manager. She will be a great support to Jeff and Amy as she can oversee more of the day-to-day running of the Center while Jeff can focus more on the Master Plan and Amy more on the spiritual program and teaching, among other things.
 

 
Please see below for more information about:
     :: Upcoming Programs (we hope you can join!)
     :: Appreciative Thanks
     :: 2009 Financial Update
     :: Practice Days
     :: Wish List

Upcoming Programs

Next Weekend!
   (February 26-28, 2010)

"The Foundation of Tibetan
Buddhist Practice" 
with visiting Master
Geshe Thubten Sherab

   

The path to enlightenment includes three principal aspects: Renunciation, the determination to be free from cyclic existence and attain liberation; Bodhicitta; the loving, compassionate aspiration to become a Buddha in order to benefit all beings most effectively; and Emptiness, the wisdom that understands the actual way that we and all phenomena exist.
 
Join this insightful program and learn the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhist practice. Geshe Sherab lived for several years in the U.S. and teaches in English. He lends a delightful and open style to his programs and presents the teachings in a very accessible down-to-earth manner.
 
Geshe Thubten Sherab was born in the Manang region of western Nepal and entered Kopan Monastery outside Kathmandu at the age of nine.  When he was 22, Geshe-la moved to Sera Je Monastery in south India for further study and the completion of his Geshe (Ph.D.) degree.  He studied an additional year at Gyumé Tantric College and in 2001 accepted the assignment of teaching in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico.

Now in his early forties, Geshe-la just completed a four-year position as headmaster at Kopan Monastery and oversaw the entire education program there.
 
Suggested donation: sliding scale $100-$225 per person includes all meals and shared accommodation. No one turned away for lack of funds. Private cabins also available. Pre-registration required by calling (802) 633-4136 or by e-mailing us at
milarepa@milarepacenter.org.


Program

Friday:
6:00pm             Registration and Dinner
7:15pm             Orientation
7:30-9:00pm     Introductory Session

Saturday:
7:00-8:00am           Meditation
8:00am                   Breakfast
9:00am-12:00pm   Session with short break
12:00-2:00pm         Lunch and break
2:00-5:00pm           Session with short break
6:00-7:00pm           Dinner
7:00-8:30pm           Session

Sunday:
7:00-8:00am           Meditation
8:00am                   Breakfast
9:00am-12:00pm   Session with short break
12:00pm                 Lunch and clean-up

***

Weeknight Teachings with Ven. Amy Miller will begin Tuesday and Wednesday evenings May 4 and 5, 6:30pm.  Please stay tuned for more details.
 
 

An Appreciative "Thanks"

What follows in this e-letter is a financial report for 2009 so people can see the overall financial picture of the Center.

There is no way we could continue our activities and have any of the resources we do without the commitment and generosity of the following individuals. We are so grateful to you for not only being part of our family, but for your continued support in enormous ways:
 
           
Financial Donors:
Anonymous (3), Daniel Aharon-Roni, Sarah Albert, Suzan Altman,
Suellen Aptman, Elizabeth Barndt, Thomas Beach, John Bell, Carrie Bennett, William Blandford, Eyrn Bordes and David Jaffe, Taye Bosley,
Ron and Michelle Bos-lun, Ruby Brezinsky, Anne Britton, Myna Bushman, Lynne Carter, Katherine Carver, Marcelene Celiz, Greg Chilenski,
Mernie Clifton, Deb Colony, Linda Cole, Wendy Cook,
Pam Cowan and Steve Miller, Fred Crouch, Jim Davidson and Janice Allan, Bruni Davila, Kathleen Daye, Dolores Devellis, Diamond Mountain, Inc., Charlene Dobbins, Emily Donovan, Freddy English, Mary Esbjornson,
Amy Felske, Anders Ferguson, FPMT, Inc., Liz Fukushima, Karen Gallas,
Ping Gee, Howard Gershenfeld, Jose Manuel Gonzalez,
Angie and Joe Gittleman, David Gould and Manoshi Ghosh, Deborah Gosline, Laurence Guillaumie, Shelley and Jim Hagan, Herb Hale, Katarina Hallonblad,
Doren and Mary Harper, Roy Harvey, Melissa Hay, Dick Herbert,
Martha Howard, Larry Howe and Martha Tack, Wendy Hugessen,
Jane Hulstrunk, International Mahayana Institute, Don Isaacson,
Marianna Janicelli, Jim Johnson, Wendy Kan, David Kaplan,
Win and Chessie Kelley, Toni Kenyon, Ai Chin Khor,
Amy and David Kittelstrom, Kurukulla Center, Tony Lagreca,
Kurukulla Center, Ross and Amy Lasley, Amy Levitin, Yi-Fang Li,
Eric Lindberg and Brittni Vallejo, Mike Lipko, Dana Lissey, Wen-Chuan Liu, Diana Lyman, Maureen Lynch, Jeana Malachowski, Will and Sandi Manson,
Peg McAdam, Elaine McGrath, Tim McNeill, Felicia Messuri, Shankha Mitra, Rick Monarque, John Muecke, Jan Murray, Robert Neill, Network for Good, MA O'Donnell, James O'Hearn, Donna O'Malley, Susan Ostertag,
Edward Parsons, Ven. Matthew Pasion, Jane Patrick,
Andrea Patten and Larry Bienemann, Pascale Philibert, George Plumb,
Sandy Raynor, Ingrid Reade, Cynthia Ross, Eytan Salinger, Nancy Sanchez, Eeva Sarela, Mike Scanlon, Victoria Schafer, Nancy Schulz, Ajna Seret,
Sharif Seret, Nima Sherpa, Sleepy Records, Anneliese Smith, Tangie Solow, Mike Souza and Christine Cockey, Troy and Mer Stafford, Camilla Strauss, Preston and Paule Sult, John Sutton, Brenda Tapia, Valerie and Chuck Thomas, William Thornburg, Institut Vajra Yogini, Katherine Vose, Harvey Whitten, Elizabeth Wilson, Mila Wilson, Wisdom Publications,
John Wolf and Norma Quesada, Larry Wolf, Janet Wormser, Ray Zelesky,
Bob and Mae Zimmer, Deb Zuk, and Claire Zurawski.

 
Additionally, there a number of amazing people who contributed their time and expertise to Milarepa Center in the last year. The Center's great flourishing is due to all of your efforts:
 
Ven. Desal, Ven. Tsunma-la, Copper John Bieling, Larry Bienemann,
Kasia Beznoska, Eryn Bordes, Taye Bosley, Ron Boslun, Linda Cole,
Eric Cook, Wendy Cook, Sheila Cohill, Greg Cundiff, Kathleen Daye,
Pasang Dekyi and Ang Phurba Sherpa, Charlene Dobbins, Fred Fickera,
Dan Finklestein, Karen Gallas, Jeff Garnette, Cheryl Gipson, Elvia Gonzalez, Shelley and Jim Hagan, Dick Herbert, Rosanne Hebert, Larry Howe,
David Jaffe, John Keveany, Peter King, Toni Kenyon, Joan Klappert,
Lisa Landow, Ross and Amy Lasley, Amy Levitin, Li Lightfoot, Elisa Lucozzi, Geoff Lunde, Maureen Lynch,  Jeana Malachowski, Sandi and Will Manson, Brad Miller, Heather Mitchell, Rick Monarque, Katie Willis Morton,
Aris Nogueron, Donna O'Malley, Andrea Patten, Pascale Philibert,
Giselle Poirer, Mike Scanlon and Kristine Lingle, Bryce Schintzius,
David Scribner, Peter Shoults, The Stafford Family, Camilla Strauss,
Martha Tack, Chayil Timmermann, Katherine Vose, Bernard Warren,
Linda Wheatley, Mark Winwood, Janet Wormser, Bob Zimmer and Deb Zuk.
 
If your name is omitted, it isn't that your contribution wasn't noted; it was greatly appreciated. It is entirely due to a clerical error of the e-letter author and is deeply regretted.

2009 Financial Update

 
Despite the financial challenges of 2009, the very touching generosity of our supporters helped further establish Milarepa Center as a beacon of hope for its growing number of participants.

In 2009, the Center posted $110,268 in income (most of it from specific fundraising appeals) and $69,650 in expenses for a net of $40,618 (up nearly $9,000 from 2008 figures).

You can see the breakdown in the accompanying pie charts. While we have no financial experts working with us at the present time, we felt it was important to give you a current financial update since we now have one complete year of accurate bookkeeping figures.

 
Just to further explain a few of the categories, in the income chart, "restricted fundraising" of more than $26,000 is money that was raised and designated for specific projects that will be purchased in 2010 such as:
  -- a Center truck and snow plow;
  -- two Guru Rinpoche statues along with shipping, transport and consecration materials and ritual;
  -- completion of the first tiny house and construction of the second one;
  -- a Lama's chair and some other general Center upgrades.

 
In the expenses pie chart, "administrative" includes $7,200 in salaries for both Amy Miller and Jeff Garnette along with stipends to the seasonal cook and other part-time employees. "Capital investments" shown in the expenses chart involves some larger purchases we made that are actually long-term assets: the construction of one tiny cabin so far, a snow blower, refrigerator, event tent, and the barn loft renovation.

The more than $40,000 in net income will be reinvested in the following ways:
  -- staff development (a much-needed although small raise for Jeff Garnette, the Center         manager;
  -- adding a full-time administrative manager, and putting some funding aside for a seasonal cook;
  -- adding a proper worker's compensation insurance policy along with proper payroll systems;
  -- development of the Master Plan which will involve hiring a professional planner and lawyer, various permit and application fees, and various environmental and engineering studies to meet state and local criteria.

One of the most challenging event of the past year is that the Center's main benefactor for the past two years has seen a radical decline in his business. As a result, the more than $25,000 per year he offered the center in 2008 and 2009 stopped last October.  So, we'll need to get more creative in ways to increase our membership base, program attendance, and group rental business to make up for this huge loss. In addition, we will very much come to rely on more of your support.
 
However, the current financial health of Milarepa Center demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction to manifest Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche's vision (please see this area of our website that outlines this vision:  http://www.milarepacenter.org/vision.html).

It shows that more and more people are supporting the work we are doing. For this, we are enormously grateful. In addition, though, our initial steps to create a viable and realistic Master Plan tell us just how vast this vision is and how much more support we will need.

We welcome your continued support to see this vision through to completion.
 
If you have questions or comments about this financial update, please contact Milarepa Center Director, Amy Miller.

Practice Days from mid-February through March

Each month there are days set aside in the Tibetan calendar which are auspicious for specific practices. It's very helpful for Milarepa Center and its community to do these practices whenever possible. Group practice leads to a greater sense of overall harmony. These practices lend benefit in clearing obstacles to different activities (Tara Puja), for healing (Medicine Buddha Puja) and for overall center health and prosperity (Tsog, etc.).
 
We invite you to join us for the various rituals or pujas we have scheduled. These practice days are open to all levels of practitioners. It's very easy to participate, you don't need to know the practices in advance as we have practice booklets available. It's nice to bring offerings that can be set-up on the altar and shared with others such as fruit, chips, pretzels and any other snacks you enjoy. Flowers are always welcome.
 
February
22       Tara Puja, 6:30pm
24       Lama Chopa Tsog, 6:30pm with Geshe Sherab
28       Day of Miracles (1st Big Festival Day of the Tibetan calendar when all activities are multiplied extensively), Guru Shakyamuni Buddha Puja with Geshe Sherab, 2pm following his weekend program
 
March
10       Tibet Freedom Day and Milarepa Tsog, 6:30pm
23       Tara Puja, 6;30pm
25       Lama Chopa Tsog, 6:30pm
30       Medicine Buddha Puja, 6:30pm

When you wish upon a star . . .

Our Wish List

 
We respectfully request that you not bring anything that is not on the list without checking with us first and like all families and organizations, we always need cash to operate.

Your gift in any amount is greatly appreciated.

To make a donation, please make checks payable to Milarepa Center and mail to Milarepa Center, 1344 US Route 5 South, Barnet, VT 05821 or use our PayPal account at www.milarepacenter.org.
 
Also, you can receive a letter for tax purposes for any in-kind item donated below. 

 If you are able to help us out or would like to donate toward our securing any of the items below,  please give us a call at (802) 633-4136.  Thank you so much!
 
Here's what we are wishing for:
·        Good quality saffron;
·        Ceramic serving platters;
·        Septic safe toilet paper and paper towels;
·        HP inkjet cartridges 94/95, black and color;
·        New large-sized microwave oven.
 
 Please check our website as we regularly update the information.

 Our best wishes to you in this beautiful contemplative season.  We hope to see you soon. 
 

www.milarepacenter.org

(802) 633-4136