Our Autumn Newsletter is Out!
Deep in the mountain wilderness
Where nobody ever comes
Only once in a great while
Something like the sound of a far-off voice.
The low rays of the sun
Slip through the dark forest,
And gleam again on the shadowy moss.
Wang Wei (trans. Kenneth Rexroth)
Greetings from the San Luis Valley, where bright autumn glows under dark blue skies above the Sangre de Cristos. It’s been a productive time for us.
By Cottonwood Creek, gateway to the Tashi Gomang Stupa Road, sculptor Paul Kloppenburg recently rebuilt our naga shrine, washed away by a flood several years ago. Nagas are protector deities who dwell in streams. The plaque at the site explains:
‘This is a naga shrine, a half-human/half-serpent dwelling place. Nagas represent the spiritual protection of the sacredness of wealth as carried by water. As water is essential for all life on earth, may this place generate awareness in wise use of this resource.’
Another project for us these past several years has been the building of a new ‘attendant’ stupa in honor of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. This culminated last August in a very special consecration ceremony. We are grateful for the lamas who presided, as well as for the presence and support of our western friends. We’re in the process now of integrating the KKR stupa into the larger site, building retaining walls and new stone and flag work.
Here’s a few photos from the ceremony (click an image to view in a popup slideshow):
We had a special visit recently from students of the Valley Verde International High School in Sedona Arizona, on a field expedition exploring the Rio Grande Rift Valley, both the physical landscapes and the spiritual undercurrents they instill in the people that live there. We spent a sunny morning together talking about the combination of Tibetan and Western energies that make the Tashi Gomang Stupa so special.
Some of their on the spot impressions:
“I think the first thing was when we got up here, I just saw the very top of the stupa and I was like, oh, my gosh, it’s beautiful with the sunlight shining on the top. Definitely cool. And then as we walked down the steps to come sit, I was like, it’s really peaceful. And I don’t know, it’s something that I haven’t felt in a very long time.”
“Driving up the road and there was like, basically nothing for the longest time and then just seeing this appear out of nowhere. I don’t know, it felt like it was really majestic.”
“When I first saw the stupa, I was like, wow, this is incredible. And when I came around to the front I wasn’t quite sure who was in the glass window or what it was supposed to be but it was very, very cool. It’s such beautiful architecture along with the prayer flags just floating around like a kind of sacred space. I don’t know why but I felt instantly very calm.”
Rainbows observed on our land on Saga Dawa 2023. This was also the day of the passing of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Over the years he came to visit the stupa many times, and his compassionate presence will always continue to be felt here.
“At the time of death, you should bring to mind eleven thoughts. What are the eleven?
You should bring to mind the thought of nonattachment to this life,
the thought of love for all beings,
the thought of giving up all resentments,
the thought of acknowledging all faulty moral discipline,
the thought of undertaking the entirety of moral discipline,
the thought that even great harms that have been caused are insignificant,
the thought that small acts of virtue are significant,
the thought of a lack of fright with respect to the next world,
the thought that everything conditioned is impermanent,
the thought that all phenomena lack a self,
and the thought that nirvana is peace.”
Teaching the Eleven Thoughts: The Buddha’s Final Statement
From 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha
This winter, enjoy snow falling outside, a cup of tea by a crackling fire in the wood stove, and the spacious peace and quiet that will inspire your personal meditation. Come do a winter retreat at KTTG – a few days, a week or more – and rediscover what fresh air and starry nights can do for your practice! Why do a retreat? Contact us for more information about our very affordable retreat cabins.
We’re an entirely volunteer organization, so your personal donations are very much appreciated. Please visit the Donate page to view where you would like your contribution to go. Thank you so much!
Located high above the San Luis Valley with a spectacular view of several distant mountain ranges, the 42-foot high Tashi Gomang Stupa is a spiritual monument built on 200 acres of pristine natural beauty, and open to the public every day since 1996.
For over 40 years, the dedicated volunteers and sponsors of KTTG, young and old from all parts of the world, have labored to build a place of peace, to be caretakers of a protected environment, and to foster and encourage a haven for all to contemplate, to wonder and to practice.
Photo credits: Anna-Rosja Haveman, Chester Wood, Rob List