Dear Vajra family,
Happy holidays from The Mirror!
We are pleased to announce that The Mirror 150, December 2020, is up online and ready for downloading at melong.online and dzogchen.net.
In the new issue you can find many interesting articles. It contains two teachings by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu — The Three Doors for Entering Knowledge given just before the New Year of 2018 at Dzamling Gar, and a talk On Collaboration in the Dzogchen Community given in 1994 in Australia.
As an editorial we have an inspiring message by Steven Landsberg, President of the International Gakyil, given to the Community at the opening of the Annual General Meeting 2020.
You can find a detailed report on the International Dzogchen Community’s AGM on October 30 on page 12.
We also offer the thoughts and reflections of some SMS instructors on newcomers and existing members of the Community, after the passing of our beloved Master, and remember our dear friend and Vajra brother Elio Guarisco who passed away in November due to Covid complications, offering his last poem and a detailed biography.
In the new issue you can also find the IDC’s announcement on Global Membership Policy 2021, updates from the Atiyoga Foundation, Shang Shung Publications (main office and Russian branch), the Russian School of Tibetan Medicine, ASIA Onlus, MACO, Khaita Joyful Dances as well as recent news from Gars and Lings of the Dzogchen Community.
On page 39 John DiLeva-Halpern, artist and filmmaker, presents his review of Be Angry, a new book based on conversations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“It’s a pocket size manual of accessible and terse instructions, perspectives and affirmations easily referenced as we navigate the tsunami of injustice and imbalance we face.”
Then in Pictures from the Past, a series recounting retreats, travels and moments spent with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, we offer some personal accounts by some of the Master’s first students from Naples and an interview with Adriano Clemente that covers the time that Rinpoche was in Naples up to the founding of Merigar.
‘Reflections’ contains the story of Judith Pickering’s visit to Merigar West in September 2018 when many people from the Community gathered together to spend their final days with the Master.
“He is present, he is with us, he as present as he ever has been, he is not someone who has departed and I am filled with a strange unexpected sense of joy and utter gratitude.”
Artists in the Dzogchen Community this issue features Silvia Nakkach, a Grammy nominated award-winning composer, sound artist, former psychologist, and author.
“By remembering the devotional nature of music, we open our hearts to the deep longing of the chant and become familiar with “the enchanters,” those who journey through the magic of the sound to attract the spirit power.”
Our Vajra sister Karin Koppensteiner shares her story of her meeting with Rinpoche in the ‘How I Met’ feature.
“There are so many aspects of the relationship between a Master and disciple. Eventually the example of the Master will manifest in the disciple. Then, that is what I feel, Teacher and student really meet.”
With love,
The Mirror Team
The Mirror in pdf is available for free for members of the International Dzogchen Community on dzogchen.net. Those who wish to support publishing costs by donating a small amount can contribute here: https://melong.online/donations/. If you are interested in a print version subscrption, please contact Liz Granger at [email protected].
