Letter from the Editors

Ways We Connect

Dear Friends,

In this issue's teaching excerpt, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche addresses our 'addiction' to searching. And how the simple truth of our own natural perfection, just as it is, eludes us in our busy-ness of searching. One's distractions can be endless. So we continue to be grateful for all of the reminders – the teachings, teachers, the texts and practices – that can point the way back to ourselves, to our own self-discovery, our own realization of the luminous nature of mind and its qualities of love, joy, compassion and equanimity.

We are excited to share two interviews in this issue – one with Pat Leavitt, who is retiring as kitchen manager/chef at Serenity Ridge, and the second with Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, on expanding the Ligmincha community.

Ligmincha is very happy to share the new details about two online retreats with Rinpoche on Zoom in October: “Serenity Ridge Dialogues: Body, Breath and Mind” with several new presenters is October 9–11, and the online Fall Retreat on “The Five Elements” will be held October 23–25.

In addition, enjoy the article with brief excerpts on the five elements from Rinpoche's book Healing with Form, Energy and Light, along with some images we chose, in light of two upcoming elements retreats (the second sponsored by Ligmincha Learning). You can also find elements-related items in Ligmincha's online store.

More announcements to share from Ligmincha International:

• Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 4, 11 a.m. New York time, for a Facebook Live conversation on “The Power of Compassion” with Rinpoche hosting esteemed teachers from six spiritual traditions. And don’t miss the next 24-hour Full Moon Practice on October 1; the focus will be resting deeply in silent contemplation. Find out more on cybersangha.net.
• Ligmincha Learning has two upcoming online courses: “The Five Elements” beginning October 30 and “Treasures of Bon History, Lineage & Practices” beginning November 14.
• In November Serenity Ridge is offering two online Zoom retreats: “The Red Garuda: Powerful Wings of the Heart” with John Jackson November 6–8, and “Tibetan Yoga for Health and Well Being” with Alejandro Chaoul-Reich November 12–15.
• TEASER alert: On November 3 two new audio books of Rinpoche's books will be released by Hay House: Awakening the Sacred Body and Awakening the Luminous Mind. Both are read by Marcy Vaughn.
• We say thanks and goodbye to longtime Serenity Ridge resident Jana Kolarikova.
• This month's international sangha sharing features two poems, one by Sibylle Reuter-Beck in Germany and one by Scott Clearwater in California.
• In the Student and Teacher article, Rinpoche answers a question about how to gain confidence in our informal practice out in the world.
• View the translation of the August VOCL in Spanish.

In Bön,
Aline and Jeff Fisher