“For many years, the Tibetan community in the Surmang area has been helped and supported by members of Shambhala and others living in Europe. These activities have now been grouped into the Gesar Fund, registered in the Netherlands. The Fund aspires to grow into a strong organization that can extend its activities beyond Surmang to include support for people in the regions of Kham and Golok. I very much welcome this development and I would like to encourage people of good heart to contribute generously to these projects that will be so meaningful to the Tibetans living there.” (Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, June, 2009)

The “Gesar Fund” is a new name for the European foundation within the Shambhala Mandala that supports medical and educational projects in Tibetan areas. It was formerly called the Surmang Europe Foundation and used to work closely with the American/Chinese Surmang Foundation. However, because the Surmang Foundation does not comply anymore with the legal requirements we have in The Netherlands for nonprofit charities, we had to choose between giving up our non profit status or sever our bonds with the Surmang Foundation. Having chosen to do the latter we also decided to broaden our activities beyond just Surmang to Kham and Golok and also to extend them beyond just healthcare to include education. We also offered our services to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in choosing our projects in the area of healthcare and education in Kham and Golok, as well as in Surmang. This offer is closely related to the connection of Sakyong Mipham and Khandro Tseyang with - and responsibility for - people in Kham and Golok. In order to express that connection to our Shambhala sangha we choose a new name for our foundation: Gesar Fund. This name reflects the Shambhala view that includes taking care of physical and social well-being as part of creating enlightened society.

We are pleased to announce two new projects that we are fundraising for:

- Education in Surmang
We are funding a small educational project in Surmang through the Könchok Foundation with the help of Khenpo Tsering. We offer about a hundred young children some form of education that they otherwise would not be able to receive. We are planning and looking forward to developing this project further.

- Health care in Kham
We also initiated an extensive health care project in Kham. Certain areas close to Yushu (Jekundo) are notorious for a high percentage of tuberculosis. It is mainly the monks in remote monasteries and the nomads who suffer from this, often without knowing. They infect others who occasionally go to the cities and spread the disease there. The people in the cities have the possibility of going to a clinic but for the nomads and monks there is no healthcare close by.

Our project, carried out in cooperation with doctors of the Health Department of Chenduo County, consists of buying a car with an X-ray machine and offer its use to the Health department’s hospital that is specialized in infectious diseases. Doctors will go with this car to all the remote townships in Chenduo County (to begin with) and test and treat the people for free. We have just joyfully and ceremoniously signed a contract (designed by our sangha member and international lawyer Jason Newman and translated into Chinese by Mr. Nyima Kunga, the son-in-law of Acharya Han de Wit) with this Department.

We are very excited about this project and so are the four Tibetan hospital doctors that committed themselves to this project! We very much hope our Shambhala sangha will also be inspired to support these two projects in these economically difficult times. For further information about budgets of these two projects you can email our current treasurer, Mr. Eric Elbers (e.elbers@gesarfund.nl).
By Willem Kuijpers, Chairman and Acharya Han de Wit, member of the Executive Committee and author.

Last September, Edyta Wancowicz and Seweryn Julien were married in a Karma Kagyü dharma centre, near Warsaw, where they were to receive teachings. This is what they wrote about it:
"It was absolutely a big surprise for both of us. The whole life both of us were sort of mistrusting about long term commitments. On September 7th (Edyta`s birthday) the planets and stars were probably in opposition to all our fears and worries and we just trusted and JUMPED. Very Venerable Tenga Rinpoche (he was our very first dharma teacher) was kind enough to bless us, so now we are wife and husband (see picture). We are very happy about our new roles. Rinpoche told us that the most important thing in marriage is to have patience, tolerance and to train in loving kindness."

Starting in North London, basic meditation practice on Friday mornings, 8:15 to 9:15 in Dalston. At Bradbury Street Workspace, 3 Bradbury Street, London N16 8JN [ring doorbell for Room C5], 50 m. from Dalston Kingsland over ground train station, Kingsland High Street.
Initiated by Adam Hart [friend and student of Ch

he Buddhist Youth Festival will offer a new and optional 3-day shamatha meditation retreat this year. It will take place directly after the festival, from the 2-5 January. The retreat is meant for all who want to take time to deepen their practice and start the New Year by cultivating their own inner peace. All levels are welcome and meditation instruction is provided. The new initiative is based on request from last year’s participants.

The upcoming edition of the BYF will take place in Germany from 27 December - 1 January. Last year’s festivals were very joyous and successful with more than a 120 participants from over 17 countries, representing all kinds of Buddhist traditions, but also lay people interested in meditation.

Within the new theme “Peace within, peace in the world” are several topics that the participants will explore through guest speakers, workshops and discussions. Think of art (dance, painting, cooking, music, calligraphy, ikebana and photography), social engagement, Buddhism (what does it mean to be a young Buddhist in today’s world) and meditative practices like tai chi, yoga and sitting. Of course there is lots of room as well for fun and parties. The festival is meant for people between 16 years and early 30.

The Buddhist Youth Festival might go abroad next year and have its first North American edition. The organisers are contemplating exporting the festival - that is bringing lots of new people to Buddhism - to all continents in the future. Lots of the youngsters that entered through the Buddhist Youth Festival showed up at Dechen Ch

On 24-25 September, Stockholm was the host for the second annual Nordic Regional Shambhala Conference. Around 20 members of the Shambhala sanghas in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Helsinki gathered together for a day and half to discuss the topic of “Vision”, practice together, and deepen personal connections. The group was joined by Shambhala Europe Director Chris Montone, the Director of the Office of Practice and Education and mentor for Finland, Sabine Rolf, and mentor for Copenhagen, Dorothea Gaedeke. Shambhala Finland.
During their time together, the participants shared meals together in the meditation hall, presented updates on their activities and plans, shared ideas, and learned more about the “Way of Shambhala” curriculum. Everyone seemed to enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones in the region. The conference was followed by a Shambhala Training Level IV weekend, led by Dorothea Gaedeke.

Pictures show a group photo and a photo of the Helsinki contingent, Douglas Toth and Paavo Hirn, taken on board the Viking Line ship that took 14 hours to bring them to Stockholm from Helsinki.

Upcoming regional conferences are scheduled for Spain (Madrid, 22-23 January) and the U.K. (London, 20-21 February).

Shambhala Europe is delighted to announce the latest addition to our staff. Mrs. Tessa Ladendorff (formerly Maclaren) has been hired part-time to fill the position of Centre Services Coordinator that was vacated by Anna Weinstein in May. Due to financial circumstances we have only been able to hire her for 15 hours per week at this time, but we hope that will change in time as our financial situation does. During November, Anna will be helping transition Tessa into her new role. Tessa, who grew up in a Shambhala family, was married this summer to Sasha Ladendorff (who also grew up in Shambhala) and relocated with him to Cologne in September. She is currently studying German intensively and is enthusiastically jumping into her new job. Tessa will be using the centreservices@shambhala-europe.org e-mail address. For up-to-date contact information for all Shambhala Europe staff, please visit our “Contact Us” web page: http://www.shambhala-europe.org/contact.php I know you will extend to Tessa the warmth and kindness that you did to Anna!

Shambhala Europe is in the process of creating a one-year plan to stabilize its finances so it can continue to support the sustenance and growth of Shambhala on the European continent. The first and most urgent part of this plan is hiring a talented and devoted Finance Director. The incoming director will work with our previous director to review and modify existing finance policies and procedures as needed; ensure that financial policies and the detailed work of Shambhala Europe’s bookkeepers are done in a timely, compassionate, and skillful manner; and create a sustainable financial system to ensure the future economic success of Shambhala Europe. He or she will be responsible for managing communications with Shambhala Centres and groups, directing the accounts payable and bookkeeping staff, maintaining accounting software, and preparing periodic financial reports for Shambhala Europe. The Shambhala Europe Finance Director also has a seat on the Sakyong’s Council and is encouraged to participate in meetings among Shambhala Finance Directors both regionally and internationally as often as possible.
This position does not require that one reside in Cologne and has previously been held by individuals who volunteered their time and who have had their travel expenses reimbursed when requested. English and German language skills required. Applicants need not be member of Shambhala; the priority is finding a candidate with extensive financial experience and expertise.

Inquiries by interested candidates should be emailed to the Director of Shambhala Europe, Chris Montone at director@shambhala-europe.org.

More detailed information about the position and responsibilities is available here: http://shambhala-europe.org/index.php?id=4400

Warrior Assembly in Europe 2009
The European Warrior Assembly will take place from July 5 - July 18, 2009 at Dechen Choling, led by Ms. Sarah Coleman and Acharya David Hope. For information and application form please visit: http://www.shambhala.org/programs/WA/

A regional Italian Warrior Assembly will take place from 31st of July - 11 of August 2009, led by Acharya David Schneider and Jerry Granelli. This programme is primarily for Italian speaking participants. For more information please contact Daniele Bollini daniele.bollini@span.ch

Entering the Vajra World
This course is a prerequisite for Vajrayana seminary, and is meant only for those who have applied and already received acceptance letters for the 2009 seminary. (Acceptance letters will be sent between February 15 and March 1 for those who have completed the application process by then).
The course is offered in:
The Netherlands
Ukraine
Dechen Choling
Shambhala ON-line
The online course will be a combination of seven recorded talks and Q&A’s given by Acharya Rockwell in 2008, as well as two talks (with Q&A) to be given live on April 18/19, 2009. This nine-class online course will fulfill the requirements for the Entering the Vajra World course. The structure will accommodate participants from many time zones.
For more information about this programme or other programmes please visit: http://www.shambhalaonline.org/

More programme information
Please mark your agenda:
- The MI conference is planned for 20-22 November 2009 in Cologne, topic among others new curriculum.
- A Ng

The European Shambhala Leadership will be hosted in the Kalapa Centre in Cologne from May 7th through to May 10th 2009.

Leadership training, consultation and celebration will be the catchwords for this colourful meeting of Centre Directors and Group coordinators with members of the Sakyong’s council and other Shambhala dignitaries.

The programme will be presided over by the President of Shambhala, Richard Reoch.
He and both the former and the present Shambhala Europe Directors (Chris Tamdjidi and Chris Montone, respectively) will present unique Shambhala teachings on leadership and governance. This programme is open to all who have an active interest in Shambhala leadership.

The first half of this programme will focus on examining the teachings on natural hierarchy, virtue, enrichment and the sudden leap of courage. For those who have received the Golden Key text, they are encouraged to study it in advance and bring it. The Sakyong is increasingly speaking about the importance of the Shambhala teachings on how to govern, and we want this academy to deepen our understanding of this rare and timely wisdom. Special attention will be given to the training of skills needed to be a Shambhala leader.

During the second half of the programme participants will be invited to apply what they have learned in the training within the Mandala Council meeting itself. The Mandala Council plays an important part in the process of consultation within the mandala on important topics like finance, organization and curriculum. All Centres have a seat in it, and all groups are invited to send a representative as well.

Programme cost will be 125 euros, with a reduced fee for representatives from Central and Eastern European centres and groups. We would like to call upon all Centres and Groups to send a delegation with at least one representative, and to enable their representative(s) - if necessary also financially- to attend the programme from Thursday though Sunday. For information and registration: http://shambhala-europe.org/index.php?id=8300.

By Ernst Kleisterlee, Vicechair to the MC

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