TARAB LING newsletter

A UD Study, Research & Retreat Institute in the Himalayas – Number 3, Jun 2016 –

ACTIVITIES ending 2015 Norbu Wangchuk

Manager

The year 2015 had been a very busy year

for the institute in many respects –

finishing the building works, arranging

courses at our premises, partaking in

other education programs and making

connections to other institutes and

universities. We were partaking in the

teaching program at the Dalai Lama

Institute of Higher Education, Bangalore in

September 2015 (under Mysore

University) where we organized a series of

activities and were invited to collaborate

with the university starting with a study

program in 2017 with the perspective for

obtaining a Ph.D. degree in Unity in

Duality.

Table of Content:

• Finishing the building works

• Beginning of a new UD training , 21st Dec to 30th December

• UD graduation exam first time at Tarab Ling

• Retreat: Jan 18th to 29th 2016

• Supervision of Graduate Paper Writing Feb 14th to 1st March

• Ven. Prof Samdhong Rinpoche’s visit at Tarab Ling

• Workshop on Inner Climate and Quest for Environmental Sustainability

• Letting out the Tarab Ling campus

• UD RELATED PROGRAM AT TARAB LING Summer 2016 – Spring 2017

• A brief Description of the courses offered here at Tarab Ling

• Announcement of the conference on environmental sustainability

• Friends of Tarab Ling

• You can help Tarab Ling institute

Update on the building work Morten Rolighed Jensen

Architect of Tarab Ling

Dear Friends of Tarab Ling, it is with great pleasure I can tell

you that our building works is now approaching its final stage

with the completion of the third guest house and the staff

building as well as landscaping and numerous other tasks.

We expect to finish these works by the end of May. In this

connection I would like to thank the Tarab Institutes and our

private donors for their invaluable support throughout this

long process of creating this, if I may say so, extraordinary

charming ambience.

We have now 24 studio flats plus rooms at

the Teachers House accommodating up to

60 persons on our premises. I can only

recommend making use of Tarab Ling

either for the regular courses or for your

personal studies and retreats. Tarab Ling is

also available for likeminded activities on

a rental basis.

Most of the studio flats are now equipped

with wood burning stoves to keep you

warm and comfortable in the cold season

– December to March -

Tarab Ling is, as you may know, situated 50 meters above

the Baldi River overlooking the farmlands and the Sivalik

hills and only 11 km from the bustling city of Dehradun and

45 minutes’ drive from the airport. We are protected by

reserve forest and so far the city has not moved out here

and we pray it may remain so for many years.

Due to the fact that we created this institute many doors is

now opening here in India, connections that shows a keen

interest in the Unity in Duality program and are supportive

to our aims. Apart from many individuals interested also

several universities has now approached us for

collaboration as well as institutions from the Tibetan side.

We welcome you here.

Beginning of a new UD training

21st Dec to 30th December

Norbu Wangchuk

Manager

One of the main ambitions behind

establishing Tarab Ling by late Tarab

Rinpoche is to impart the Unity in Duality

trainings to the youth of this country and

in this line Tarab Ling has organized

numerous trainings since 2005.

Lively discussions as part of the course

The UD education holds the teachings which are of universal

nature where it brings awareness into areas we seldom

venture into, be it within or without. Learning and the

experiential understanding of our inner realities and the

natural laws which govern them is the key for personal

development and a happier life.

We organized a new UD training in the month of December

attended by more than 40 students from the Himalayan

region, Tibetans as well as from the local community. We are

indebted to our sponsors who made it a possibility and

reality for bringing the teachings to the younger generations

of this part of the world.

UD graduation exam first time at

Tarab Ling

I am very pleased to announce that since

the establishment of Tarab Ling, the

campus witnessed for the first time four

UD students who sat for their UD

Graduation Exam. On behalf of Tarab Ling

and all the faculties, I would like to

congratulate Catherine Pawlik, Michel

Petitt, Perter Barica and Joelle Camlin and

wish them a great success in their

continuous exploration of Inner Science.

Retreat: Jan 18th to 29th 2016

For the first time since the inception of

Tarab Ling an investigative retreat was

conducted on the subject of Vaibashika

and Sautrantika, attended by 16 graduates

plus those 4 persons, who were going to

graduate. The day began early in the

morning at 6:00 am with yoga by

Catherine Pawlik followed by Heart Sutra

recitation and meditation until breakfast.

The group had to study the text and refer

the diagrams in order for them to dive into

investigative meditation on specific topics

related. Instructions were given every

evening by Lene Handberg.

Meditation practice at second floor of main building

Morning Yoga with Catherine Pawlik

The retreat was maintained as silent and participants could

talk out of context only if necessary. The whole group

gathered every evening to exchange, ask questions, interact

with one another and share their experience, and put

questions late in the evening in their meeting with Lene

Handberg. The participants, besides going in retreat,

extended their help in serving and clearing as well as

cleaning the campus of which we were very thankful.

During the one day break in the middle Tarab Ling organized

a bus tour for the group to Surkhanda Devi temple located

at an altitude of 3.000 meters, which is about 2.5 hours’ drive

up the hill into the Gharwal Himalayas. It involves a trek of

seemingly unending steps for exactly one km steep rising.

When it’s clear, once reaching the top, you get an

outstanding panoramic view of snow peaked Himalayan

mountain ranges.

The Tarab Ling kitchen provided as much

organic food as possible – and it’s

becoming better and more organic every

day now! At the end of our retreat and to

mark the sacredness of the occasion, we

invited monks from Drikung Kagyu

monastery to accumulate Tara Mantra

and prayers, which when time was

attended by the retreaters

Supervision of Graduate Paper Writing Feb 14th

to 1st March

Lene Handberg conducted supervision of graduate-paper-

writing for 14 days for a smaller group of persons, with

supervision cession every afternoon, interspersed by

individual sessions. Something Lene will make sure to

announce every year – the next opportunity will be October,

2016 (see program below) – a good opportunity for persons

who would like to have support in this important process of

writing and relating own experiences to the whole

curriculum of UD.

Ven. Prof Samdhong Rinpoche’s visit

It was a blessing for Tarab Ling that on 17th February, Ven.

Prof Samdhong Rinpoche’s paid a visit to the campus to

consecrate recently acquired 330 volumes of Kagyur and

Tengyur – mainly the Buddhist texts deriving from India that

is translated to Tibetan. Rinpoche spend the whole day here

in the campus and our staff and the heads received guidance

on the future activities of Tarab Ling as well as what are the

important books that need to be collected for the library.

Workshop on Inner Climate and Quest for Environmental Sustainability 3rd to 5th March

Tarab Ling Faculty was presenting some essential points from UD in the context of a local based workshop

on the Inner Climate and the Quest for Environmental Sustainability on the Campus. This workshop was

a forerunner for the Conference in October 2016 at Tarab Ling on the same theme

The Unity in Duality program at Tarab Ling Autumn 2016 – Spring 2017

Dates

2016

Program Nature of the trainings

1st – 10th

October

UD

Graduate-Retreat

Investigative Meditation based on Vaibhasika and

Sautrantika

Seats available

1st – 10th

October

Graduate-Paper-

Writing

Supervision in Graduate-Paper-Writing Seats available

21st – 31st

December

UD Module I

part III+IV

Yogacara and Madhyamaka philosophies –

study and practice

Seats available

2017

January

9th – May

21st

UD Module I

Part 1-4

Vaibashika, Sautrantika, Yogacara and

Madhyamaka philosophies – study and practice.

A degree course particular designed for philosophy

students from Dalai Lama’s Institute of Higher

Education (DLIHE), Bangalore, but also a unique

chance for others to get a truly in depth guidance

into the study and practice of the first module of the

UD education.

A certificate from DLIHE for all participants can be

obtained.

Seats available

4 days

second

part of

March

International

Conference

Conference on Inner and Outer Climate - The Quest

for Environmental Sustainability.

In Collaboration with Doon University

Seats available

Letting out Tarab Ling

Twice this spring we have rented out the Tarab Ling

campus.

First to the Swedish aid organization IM to their annual

congress with about 60 participants and the second

occasion was to the 12 class from the Tibetan school in

Selaqui where not less than 140 persons stayed and

participated.

A brief Description of the courses offered here at Tarab Ling:

1st to 10th October Retreat: Investigative Meditation based on Essential points of Vaibhasika and

Sautrantika

Participants invited are those who have finished the formal UD Training, and this course is a unique

opportunity to deepen the insight into the material on Vaibhasika and Sautrantika that Tarab Rinpoche has

made available for us through the UD Training. Every day of the retreat will start with heart sutra

meditation, and the retreat will involve text studies, investigative meditations and optional group

discussions.

1st to 10th October Supervision-Retreat on Graduate Paper Writing

During the retreat Lene Handberg will give guidance into the graduate paper writing; every day there will

be optional group supervision; and also there will be possibility also for private sessions/ supervision.

21st to 31st December Continuation of the UD Training Module 1, Yogacara and Madhyamaka

The Yogacara and Madhyamika philosophies are building on top of Vaibashika and Sautrantika that forms

the necessary foundation. But the Yogacara and Madhyamika philosophies goes much deeper and further

in their understanding of the interdependence of mind and reality, including an all encompassing evolution

theory, which is on the forefront of modern science; and in depths investigation into relational self-

existence. This second part of Module 1 takes you on to a truly mindboggling depth of our reality.

9th of January to 21st of May 2017

It is such a privilege for Tarab Ling to offer the First 2 Modules of the UD Training to students from the Dalai

Lama Institute of Higher Education (DLIHE). A collaboration, which means that Tibetan and Indian fourth

year philosophy students can come to Tarab Ling for their 8th semester to make the UD Training part of

their bachelor degree. In Tarab Ling we look very much forward to this endeavour and the future prospect.

DLIHE is affiliated with Mysore University in South India.

This collaboration with DLIHE on the first two Modules of the UD Training opens a wonderful opportunity

also for other participants from East or West to join this course, for which the DLIHE will provide a

Certificate after the completion – which is of great importance to those participants who want to use UD

as a part of their official higher education.

At the same time, this course will give time to dive deeper into the material as there are 4 months available

and secondly to study along with Tibetan and Indian philosophy students for whom the Inner Science is

part of their cultural background.

4 days second part of March (exact days will be announced later)

International Conference on environmental sustainability

“Inner and Outer Climate and the Quest for Environmental Sustainability –

A cooperative framework bridging ancient inner and modern sciences”

Collaboration - Tarab Ling Institute and Doon University

This conference is collaboration between Tarab Ling Institute and Doon University, Dehradun, India. It is

aiming to merge the modern scientific methods in dealing with environmental sustainability with the

ancient holistic inner science approach that also and foremost includes the inner “climate”.

In the ancient inner science it is recognised that if we develop our mind towards a truly holistic way of being

this will have a profound effect on our surroundings creating harmony and a more peaceful development.

In other words; if we do not include our own person and only project problem solutions on the outside –

we will not be successful in the longer perspective.

At the conference a number of experts from the West, for instance Dr Tarik Chekchak, Master in Marine

Biology Directeur Sciences & Environnement Equipe Cousteau, France – one of the important speakers at

the Paris Climate Summit, Dec. 2015 and Dr. Andreas Weber who has written the very interesting book

“The Biology of Wonder – Aliveness, Feeling and the Metamorphosis of Science”; as well as from India will

participate as speakers, including Dr Tolia, former Secretary of State and presently deeply involved with

Environmental Sustainability, Prof. Kusum Arunachalam, Doon University, Prof. Manas Ray, Calcutta

University on Ghandi’s approach to environment and Prof. Swati Ganguly, Santinikitan University on

Tarore’s approach; and apart from Lene Handberg from UD Inner-science also for instance Prof. Carin Muir

on “Inner ecology - an interrelated point of view.

For more Information and Registration for any of the above mentioned courses:

Please write to infotarabling@gmail.com

FRIENDS OF TARAB LING

Morten Rolighed Jensen

Last year at the retreat in Marcevol an initiative vas taken for starting a group of interested in Tarab Ling.

We named it ‘FRIENDS OF TARAB LING’.

The idea behind ‘Friends of Tarab Ling’ is to give information about activities and to support in general

the running of the institute. At the same time Tarab Ling would like to give some benefits to those of you

who choose to be part of this endeavour and Tarab Ling will offer:

Support Membership of Friends of Tarab Ling

50€ x 4 /year = 200€ a year

30% reduction on course fees and conference fees of courses/conferences conducted at Tarab Ling,

Digital Newsletter directly send to the member and other info about Tarab Ling course/conference program

+ Conference presentations (those free for distribution).

Membership of Friends of Tarab Ling

50€ / year where we offer newsletter send directly and other info from and about Tarab Ling

Digital Newsletter directly send to the member and other info about Tarab Ling course/conference program

+ Conference presentations (those free for distribution).

As you can see from this newsletter there is already a good amount of activities on Tarab Ling some of

which gives income and some activities is free training and education to primarily Tibetan students with a

refugee background or with a very poor background.

If you join ‘Friends of Tarab Ling’ it can really make a difference in this start-up phase providing some regular

funding for the basic running of the institute. We are calculating that in a few years Tarab Ling will be self-

sustained concerning the general running costs, but funds for scholarships will still be required in the

foreseeable future.

Your participation will be greatly appreciated and help Tarab Ling in this start-up phase.

For joining FRIENDS OF TARAB LING please mention which of the memberships you would like to be part

of in an email to Norbu Wangchuk infotarabling@gmail.com and mortenrolighed.jensen@gmail.com

YOU CAN HELP TARAB LING INSTITUTE

To make Tarab Ling a viable and self-sustained institute requires activities. At present we cannot utilize the

capacity of the institute fully, and in this regard you may be able to help us by referring groups or individuals

to Tarab Ling or bring your own groups – please see the brochure on the webpage:

http://tarab-institute.org/tarab-ling/tarab-ling-india/tarab-ling-introduction-and-background

To fill the institute with activities, UD or related, is first of all the whole purpose and secondly it is a necessity

for covering the running costs. I am confident that Tarab Ling Institute has the potentiality to be more than

self-sustained, but here in the startup phase the institute will require financial support. If you feel you can

support us in this important transition period, please make your donation as under the building project:

http://tarab-institute.org/tarab-ling/tarab-ling-india/tarab-ling-sponsoring-and-benefits-society

Norbu Wangchuk