September 2007
September 30, 2007SEPTEMBER COMMUNIQUE AVAILABLE
In This Issue: Three New Spotlight Videos; 2007 Board Meeting; The Siddhartha School; Restructuring of Benefits Gallery and more. If you missed the September Communiqué or any past Communiqués, please check that you are signed up on our mailing list. The Communiqué is Khyentse Foundation's monthly publication that keeps you updated on the latest news, Rinpoche's teaching schedule, new downloads and other important information. If you are on the mailing list but haven't received the Communique, please check your spam filters so that messages from any khyentsefoundation.org address are allowed through, especially if you have a Yahoo address. Access this and all past editions of the Communique on the Downloads Page. Click here for September.
September 29, 2007
KF BOARD MEETING SPARKS NEW INITIATIVES
The annual meeting of the Khyentse Foundation Board of Directors was held in Vancouver, BC on August 3, 2007. Khyentse Foundation Fellow Alex Trisoglio facilitated the meeting, which was attended by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, eight board members, three advisors, and a number of project coordinators.In his opening remarks, Rinpoche... reminded the board members of the scope of the Foundation's work, which benefits "not only one or two monasteries or lineages or selective projects." He spoke about the current buzz of interest in Buddhism and quoted Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, who said that "when dharma activity is glowing, then we should put every effort.
The board then heard updates on the Five Projects and a report from the Investment Committee. First up was a discussion about ways to support the development of Buddhist studies in academic institutions around the world. The board agreed to focus on developing one or two centers of excellence with endowed chairs at their core. In addition, contacts have already been made and fundraising has begun on a project to develop visitorships at institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. KF Advisors Gene Smith and Richard Dixey gave crucial advice and direction on these matters.
In keeping with the Foundation's goal of supporting Gene Smith's unique and invaluable work of collecting, scanning, formatting, digitizing, and distributing Tibetan texts, the board decided to allocate long-term funding to the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center. A full report will be available soon.
Board member and Scholarship Committee Director Florence Koh reported that the number of scholarship applications has been increasing steadily. Thirty-seven applications were received for the January, 2007 round, and 50 for the July round. Because we have received a number of applications from students who wish to attend Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal, and because of the high quality of the Institute's training program, the board decided to offer Rangjung Yeshe an institutional grant for scholarships. The board also voted to offer support to long-term nonmonastic practitioners in Tibet, some of whom are in lifelong retreat and currently have to beg for their food.
Board Member Amelia Chow gave a report about her work with Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute in India, where the administration team is implementing simple and efficient new accounting and management procedures, and where the quality of the monks' food has been significantly improved because of the Foundation's support. The DKCLI medical clinic is kept busy providing medical care to the Institute's monks and teaching them about relevant health and hygiene issues.
The board discussed and accepted the annual and five-year budgets proposed by Executive Director Cangioli Che on behalf of the Budget Committee; approved a series of policy guidelines on funding, organization structure, fundraising, and publications; and supported the motion to appoint Ang Chui Jin to the board of directors and Ding Nai-Chu to be an advisor to the board.
Following the five-hour meeting, Rinpoche joined the participants for a celebratory dinner in a restaurant that rotates high above the city of Vancouver.
RESTRUCTURING THE BENEFITS GALLERY
The Benefits Gallery is having a sale as part of its restructuring. The Khyentse Foundation Benefits Gallery is an online store from which all profits go to support the Foundation's activities. Over the next few months, the site will undergo some changes, primarily a reduction in inventory. We will continue to sell items that relate to the study and practice of Buddhism but will discontinue offering services, art, jewelry, and other items. Please visit the site to take advantage of discounted items. Many thanks to volunteer Helen Jones for her hard work in managing the gallery and handling all of the orders. Some Sales Items: Travellers & Magicians book Was $28, now $15. Hand-stitched purses Were $12 to $26, now $10 to $24. On the Path book Was $40, now $15.
THE SIDDHARTHA SCHOOL CREATES NEW PARTNERSHIPS
In July, 2007, as part of the continuing development of The Siddhartha School (TSS), a Buddhist primary school in Lismore, Australia, the TSS team hosted Jackie Mitchell, a teacher in the elementary school and cofounder of the Shambhala School in Nova Scotia. Through the sponsorship of Khyentse Foundation, Jackie led a three-day curriculum workshop attended by TSS curriculum coordinator Phil Davis, teachers, and board members. She also met with Rinpoche to discuss and clarify the relationship between the Shambhala School and The Siddhartha School. TSS aims to open its doors in 2009, and the meeting with Jackie Mitchell will help to ensure that the school's curriculum is ready for submission to the Australian NSW Board of Studies for approval before that time. The Shambhala School in Nova Scotia was founded in 1994 by parents in the Shambhala sangha who wanted their children’s educational experience to reflect their values as Buddhist practitioners. The approach to curriculum is based on meeting the needs of the child, not just academically, but socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The school fosters an environment where compassion and curiosity go hand in hand, and where each child is recognized for his or her unique capabilities while learning to work with others in the community. At the elementary level, the arts are integrated into the curriculum in all subjects and a thematic approach, based on cultures from around the world, gives the students an expansive world view and an appreciation of the wisdom that unites all cultures in their diverse forms. More information about the Shambhala School can be found on their web site at www.shambhalaschool.org. Team leader and Program Director Eva Thomas says that TSS's experience with Jackie Mitchell "has been a huge help in bringing the school to the next level of formulating policies, building plans, and setting out the educational philosophy of the school." Jackie has offered her ongoing support, primarily in the area of curriculum development, and the team hopes to send its future teachers to the Shambhala School for further training in 2008. In addition, the team was approached this year by Southern Cross University, in Lismore, to find ways that the two organizations can work together toward common goals. SCU, already in conversation with Rinpoche and Vajradhara Gonpa, is working to create a Buddhist studies course at the university. (While he was in Australia in June of this year, Rinpoche gave a talk to introduce the Buddhist perspective series at SCU, slated to be an ongoing program at the university.) SCU is interested in working together with TSS in areas such as curriculum development and environmental education, as well as sharing facilities, computer resources, and outdoor space. The university has already donated a room to house the monthly children's day program that began in 2003. To read more about The Siddhartha School, and for information about how you can offer support, visit www.thesiddharthaschool.org.au.
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