Vietnam

This is the Vietnam production team (back row) Tú Oanh; Liên; Linh; Hang; Thao; (front row) Thúy; Hùng; Geshe Michael; Hai'; Huyen.
(Please note some accents are missing because they didn't show up in the font)



They managed some kind of amazing advanced publicity.

Staff debriefs

Click on the names!










Ven. Chukyi


Rob Hou


John Brady

Anatole Nguyen

More media coverage and photos from the tour

Click here for Will Duncan's excellent video of the Hong Kong experience.

Click here for links to audio recordings of teachings, updated as we go.

Ramesh Iyer posted a lot of photos of the Singapore events on Facebook. Click here and here for the links.

Click here for a great article by Vicky Wong in "Holistic Asia" about the tour in Hong Kong.

Some of our Singapore crew

Click her to see the Diamond Wisdom Way website

Ramesh Ramachandran Iyer


Yat Peng, Jaki, and Tara


Jay Khialani


Tara leading meditation


Alvin Lee, Tzu Wong, and Yen Yu Chen

Alvin Lee and Yap Tee Peng


Shirley

Tour notes from Diamond Mountain teachers

"In Taipei, Elisha and I sat down with the retreatants, and we asked questions and were asked questions. We listened and connected to people while they expressed their problems in life and business. We tried our best to figure out the cause together, and make changes to eliminate the problems. People left with with a short list of dos, changes in behavior to improve their lives. It was really amazing to see..."

"For me, the highlight has been debating with GM on stage during the public talks; i love the photo Jamie has of GM in the air getting ready to clap. Priceless. :-) Also, i thought of one story... i was answering one woman's question at dinner during the retreat and after i gave her some advice, she said, "after I heard your answer I knew in my heart that it was true." I thought that was really beautiful. :-)"


"Traveling in Asia is, as usual, an exhilarating and wondrous experience. It is, however, not without its hazards. Should you ever find yourself at a table full of exuberant and open hearted Asian people, be very careful about what you say. Should you even accidentally mention that you like something, such as mochi, you will soon find yourself inundated in whatever it is you happen to like. Be especially careful of claiming to like things you aren't really all that interested in, as your refusal to publicly partake in the mountain of gifts you have now found yourself underneath, will not be taken lightly."



"The really cool thing here is that instead of the old format where the presenters just sit on stage and talk, Geshe la has completely turned it around. He started right off insisting on calling us DM Teachers, and putting all of us in the program. The new public talk consists of short segments with him talking, interspersed with DM Teachers debating about the pen, leading tonglen meditations, and answering questions. So the first day we were in Taiwan, we all had to perform in front of an audience of 1200 people, with only about 10 minutes advance notice. And what that does is that before you can even have time to get nervous, you've already done it, and after that, you can look back and say, 'Well, I was onstage in front of 1200 people, and it wasn't bad at all.' So that empowers all of us DM Teachers forever after this as well not to be afraid to get up and present what we already know so well.



"And since we're being treated as teachers, we're thinking like teachers, and acting like teachers. Some of us had many students before, but mostly we've been students, some of us for many years. We see each other every day and think of each other as peers, and so we have been missing the extraordinary potential that all of us have developed. We really are highly trained and uniquely qualified to do this work, and suddenly we're starting to recognize what we have to offer the world. And not only that, but we're seeing an amazing response, that people are recognizing the value of what we have to offer and clamoring for more."

Click here for Will's video of the Taiwan experience.




Found on a garage door in Taipei.

Retreat at Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort, Taiwan

This is a beautiful place, with gushing hot springs and steep forested slopes, a perfect venue for a weekend retreat. 150 people have gathered here for a cram course in how to practice, and we're going to try to establish them in a daily practice of meditation, yoga, and ethical conduct. In the evenings, Geshe Michael is teaching Heart Sutra. It's a really packed schedule -- no time to sit in the spa.

Scott demonstrating postures for Jessica's yoga class.

Yoga class

Here is a link to Geshe la's explanation of the mantra Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Soha, from the first talk.


The students wanted names, so Geshe la had Ven Nyingpo write them down as he thought of them.

Hong Kong public talk

Hong Kong: the same thing but in business clothes

Taiwan Public Talk Dec, 2009

Geshe Michael has been touring in Taiwan and Hong Kong, birthing the new Diamond Cutter Institute, using a format involving an open talk followed by a 2-day retreat. We have a completely different program to offer now: Geshe la is involving the entire crew in the production. He says it will change over time, but already the basic program is taking form. The program moves quickly, changing presenters, formats, and translators every few minutes.

The first night started with Mercedes singing "Emmanuel" (from the Christmas album), accompanied by Geshe Michael on the sitar. There were several segments using the success stories from the new Diamond Cutter book, used to illustrate various principals of how karma ripens; a couple of meditations, led at various venues by Rob Hou, Nicole Vigna, John Brady, Eric Stryson, Teddy Sczudlo, and Jamie Plante; a couple of rousing debates with Geshe la and Ven Jigme, Ven Chukyi, and Ven Nyingpo; and afterwards a chance for everyone to get their books and CDs autographed and to get photos with Geshe Michael.


The program was extremely well organized, with an amazing turnout: 1100 people packed the auditorium in Taipei both nights, and we're expecting a full house for the retreat, which starts on Friday night.

Oh and then the demonstration to encourage people to do their yoga:

Business and family in New York

Geshe Michael and Lama Christie have been teaching for Yoga Studies Institute in New York this week and next, and during odd moments, Geshe Michael has given a few extra teachings. There was a talk for people who are going to help train new students in the use of the Diamond Cutter for business and personal problems, and who are going to be working with the new Diamond Cutter Institute, which is being organized to help provide the world with practical and innovative materials for economic success. Here's the link for that, and there will be more as we travel to Asia.

Then there was a baby shower for Lama Ora, who is planning a December baby. (Click here for photos.) Geshe Michael gave a careful and well-thought-out teaching on three major aspects to raising children.

Geshe Michael teachings in Phoenix

During the summer, Geshe Michael gave two talks in Phoenix, the beginnings of a regular series of talks for Christians that he will be giving there.



The first was at his old church, All Saints, and it was a very powerful reunion, and for all of us as well, seeing him in a place that had been so formative to his life. At the end, he talked about the impossibility of actually achieving our common goal, of getting to heaven, by any means available to us as suffering beings, and then gave the solution -- faith in our Lord:

"The seed of asking sincerely and having complete trust -- that's enough. As a seed, you need to do it, the easy way, instead of all these years of hard work. You still need to work, at least try honestly, but I think it's beautiful: in the eastern tradition, and in the western tradition, in the end, whoever you see as your teacher, you just commit to them, and you say, 'I have faith you can take me,' and it's not a mistake or an accident. It follows the same rules. If you see a pen right now, you can go to heaven, because the rules are the same. It's coming from you, from some kindness that you did to other people, from some goodness that you did. So they would say in the Eastern tradition, and I think in the Western tradition: 'The goodness of believing in your teacher is enough.' If you just keep working on that, you could see anything. Because this is not a pen; you could see anything. Anything could happen. You just have to have enough faith in your teacher."

Here is a link to the recording of that talk.

In September there was another teaching, this time at Trinity Episcopal Church. This time instead of exploring the similarities between Christianity and Buddhism, he had been asked to talk about the differences. One main difference, he said, is that whereas Christians practice once a week, in a group, Buddhists practice every day, by themselves. And this, he said, is how you can change your world, even within a day. By practicing in the morning, you can create miracles in the afternoon. The practices are

1) Creating a simple space by spending 5 minutes sweeping out our mind.
2) Meditation: 15 minutes of taking others' pain & giving them their wishes.
3) Yoga: 30 minutes opening the inner channels.
4) Study: 20 minutes learning something new.
5) Mood food: eating healthy food -- being nice to you an hour from now.
6) Service: one good deed every day, and best if you keep it anonymous.
7) Tracking: the inner diary of your positive and negative actions.
8) Thanksgiving: secret for a good sleep.

Link to the recording of the talk

The Tibetan Book of Meditation talks

On May 2 and 3, Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York was overtaken by Lama Christie's family, friends, students, and teachers, all gathering to celebrate the publication of her new book, The Tibetan Book of Meditation. They were rewarded with two nights of talks about meditation and the opportunity to buy this wonderful new book. Here are the talks: day one, and day two. Enjoy!

In early October Lama Christie taught a new set of meditation teachings at another book release party -- this time at Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles. Here are the links for that teaching.video, day 1 audio, and day 2 audio.

Israel, 2009

The lamas' first talk was on Israeli Independence Day, May 28th, which is a huge holiday, starting the night before with fireworks and dance parties. Every green spot in Tel Aviv was filled with families having picnics, barbecuing, enjoying the day. Everyone told us that it was a very bad day to have teachings, but in spite of that, we had a big crowd.

Here is the *link* to the first day's talk, "Path of Wisdom for a Perfect World". And the first day's reading: *link*.

The next day was all about yoga, Tibetan Heart Yoga series 4, all about inner winds. Mercedes and Nyingpo taught asanas, and later, Lama Dvora taught the philosophy section: *link*. Mercedes also learned and sang a beautiful Israeli song, Mi Ha-Ish, or "Who is the man". *link*

In the afternoon, Geshe Michael and Lama Christie taught *asanas*, and later a talk on How Yoga Works, which is available *here*. And *here* is the link to the reading for that talk.

Vietnam business talks

Geshe Michael and Lama Christie with the publishers from Thai Ha Books.

The first talk was in Hanoi, consisting of up to 500 CEOs and business executives, and sponsored by Thai Ha Books and the Ha Noi Young Business Assn. Afterwards a representative of the business association got up and gave a very stirring thank-you talk:

"Vietnam friends, Vietnam people: today's seminar is very magic. It's not magic just because I bought the book, but the seminar today was very interesting because only presidents are here: CEOs and high ranking business people from Vietnam and Hanoi. And as Christie has said, we are connected together, we are all together. We are business people, we are presidents, and so we're trying to do our best to have wealth. Now we've learned how from American people, and from the Diamond Cutter Sutra. And I know that a lot of you are followers of Buddhism, so I think this is useful for you and you will very active in its practice.

"Geshe Michael shared that with us, and especially invited us to the university where people may study and improve their knowledge and practice. Fortunately there are some companies and corporations that are following Buddhism, but some companies do not understand the meaning, real meaning, of Buddhism. So I think that we could improve that way.

"A lot of people come to a monastery but they do not understand what they get from the monastery. They just come there. So we should understand the real meaning of Buddhism. And I think after that, we need more of this kind of seminar. A lot of high-ranking people have taken up the new ideas and understand very clearly. They understand about giving money to get money to be rich. When Lama Christie compared the money and emptiness, I understood about emptiness.

"I want to say to you American people, that during the war, during the war, we saw emptiness. And our president said that sometimes our bodies are inside, but our mind is outside. So our country is also a Buddhist country. Today we have our friends, plus they have protested the war, and they have come today to Vietnam to share their understanding and knowledge with our business people. I do not practice Buddhism, but I appreciate, highly appreciate, Buddhism.
I want to say thank you to the book publisher. After that, I also want to say thank you to our people, the volunteers sitting over here. It is not easy today to get a lot of presidents and high-ranking people in one hall.

"Two important things are money and knowledge. Maybe we cannot give money, but we can give each other knowledge. And then we can earn the money by using the knowledge. I can give knowledge and I can give a lot of things. I hope the companies, the corporations will benefit, and that this will be the turning point for the situation of the economy in our countries as well as in the world. We will apply the teachings in this book to our business and to our life. And once again on behalf of everyone here I want to say thank you."


Here's the recording of the business talk in Hanoi, April 22nd, 2009. *here*



Here's the recording of the talk in Ho Chi Minh City, April 24th, 2009. *here*

Vietnam

This posting isn't going to be objective; Vietnam is too charged for that. We arrived late last night in Hanoi, and haven't gone out yet but I can hear the birds outside and the faint sound of traffic. The Diamond Cutter book just came out in Vietnamese, and Geshe Michael and Lama Christie came here to promote it, and just to connect with people by teaching and meeting with them. Here's a link to the publisher: *click here*.

We were all looking forward especially to being here, since so many of us grew up hearing about Vietnam in the context of our country destroying theirs, and trying so hard to make it stop. There's a strong heart connection. When I see their faces, it flashes me to faces I used to see in the news, of prisoners, or that little girl running with napalm burns. I'm afraid I'm going to start crying at some inappropriate time.



Some of the local native American Apaches, whose ancestors lived on our land in Arizona, heard we were going, and they were moved, because many of them were sent to Vietnam as young men and came back with broken spirits. They wanted to do something to be part of it, so four of the elders came to Diamond Mountain to bless our trip. They did long prayers and songs, and gave us a feather they had blessed to carry for protection. So I feel in a way that we're here for them too. Tomorrow the lamas will teach.

I took some photos on the street: link

Tokyo, 2009: Sun and Moon Yoga Center

Geshe Michael and Lama Christie have been teaching in Tokyo the past two days, along with several of Diamond Mountain's best yoga teachers, including Yvonne Jaques, Mercedes Bahleda, and Anatole Nguyen. The venue is Sun and Moon yoga studio, a small but mighty yoga group in the middle of Tokyo's busy downtown area. Sun and Moon is the creation of Leza Lowitz, an American who has lived in Japan on and off since the early 90's, and who has studied both Buddhism and yoga for many years. The sincerity of her own practice is reflected in the serenity of the venue, as well as the enthusiasm of her students. At every class and teaching, the room was packed, and the students stayed for more, even after the end, talking and exchanging emails with Worldview staff, buying books, and happily discussing the teachings.

Here's a link to Geshe Michael and Lama Christie's classes:

Friday April 17, 2009: Yogi’s Mind, Business Mind
Handout for Friday class

Saturday April 18, 2009: How Yoga Works
Handout for Saturday class

For more about Sun and Moon yoga, check out their website here.

Report from the Bahamas Yoga Sutra teachings

We just completed the fourth and final year of a 4-year program on the yoga sutra, team-taught with Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati, one of the world's leading experts on the Samkhya Hindu interpretation of the Yoga Sutra. Over the years, the course has grown larger and larger, as people all over the world have heard about it. We had participants for example from Colombia, Israel, Serbia, Iran, Italy, England, Mexico, etc.

The Sivananda lineage actually derives from the same lineage as our own Naropa lineages — we were all one lineage at one time, and were then separated for a thousand years. Everyone at the teachings felt the deep magic of the two mature and evolved lineages rejoining to make a powerful new tradition, and there was a lovely moment on the dock as we left the island: everyone spontaneously gathered and sang holy mantras together. It was really beautiful.

The Sivananda Bahamas yoga ashram is one of the oldest yoga schools outside of India, operating for the past 35 years, and catering to many hundreds of guests every year. It is a deep and beautiful place, with the entire staff celibate yogis. We are so impressed with their operation that we have sent several Diamond Mountain students this month there to study their very successful ways of running their programs and operations.

We look forward to seeing everyone there at the Bhagavad Gita teachings given by Swami Ji May 7-17; an extraordinary opportunity to learn the most famous holy book of India, the class will be a real window into the Indian soul; can still register at the Sivananda website, by clicking *here*.