PARTICIPATE IN SACRED ART AND OTHER PROJECTS AT THE NYINGMA INSTITUTE

Creating sacred art links the artist with the beauty and power of the sacred image in a special relationship. One of the purposes of the Nyingma Institute is to make this meaningful work available to people in the West.

Dharma Wheels for America and World Peace Dharma Wheels contain the words of the Buddha, teachings of wisdom and compassion, printed on rolls of paper glued together and wrapped by hand. The Nyingma Institute is looking for volunteers to work on assembling these powerful and healing ritual objects. Two thousand years ago, the famed Buddhist master Nagarjuna determined that setting the Buddha's printed words in motion activated the same blessings as reciting them with the human voice. In Tibet, Dharma Wheels became a part of daily life, turned at every opportunity in order to activate the blessings of compassion, promote harmony and peace, and prevent natural disasters. Tarthang Tulku, founder of the Nyingma Institute, is creating a beautiful garden at the Odiyan Retreat Center in Sonoma County. The new garden will encircle a huge bronze bell engraved with texts that embody the whole of the Buddha's teaching. Surrounding the bell will be 704 ever-turning Dharma Wheels dedicated to the welfare of America. The Dharma Wheels for this garden are now being made at the Nyingma Institute. The goal is to complete them by July 4th, 2006.

These extraordinary Dharma Wheels contain vast numbers of texts and mantras. They will bring benefit to countless beings for generations to come, easing the suffering of difficult times and helping to ensure that the teachings of the Buddha are established in the West in a meaningful way. Those who participate in this work will tap into a stream of virtue so great that it is hard to measure. You are invited to participate in the sacred work of preparing these Dharma Wheels. All that is required is quiet respect for the sacred materials. Residential work-study positions are available. To learn how you can help call or email the project coordinator: Bob Russo  (510) 540-7639.     Prayer Wheel Project website

 

STUPAS We are making 300 large stupas. Please come just us in pouring the forms, sanding, and other tasks. We need to finish these quite soon so they can go up to Odiyan.	Unique among all forms of sacred architecture, the stupa is the quintessential symbol of enlightenment, the primordial sacred structure for all Buddhist traditions. More than a symbol, the stupa is a powerful catalyst for activating past, future, and present blessings simultaneously. Its form, luminous and pristine, communicates directly to subtle levels of consciousness and calls forth the potential for enlightenment.

CREATE AND PRESERVE THE INSTITUTE'S BEAUTY AND FUNCTIONALITY

Gardeners and Groundspeople If you have spent time in our meditation garden, you know that the flowers around the prayer wheel change with the seasons, and that the roses have their own cycle. If you like being outdoors and being part of the beauty that supports so much practice here, please come garden --planting new plants, weeding, tending to the pond, helping us to design the most beautiful spaces. Even doing mundane tasks such as sweeping can be satisfying and result in much merit. Maintenance and Machine Repair A skilled electrician/handyperson who can diagnose and fix large applicances -from washer-dryers, heaters, commercial dishwashers, furnaces would be extremely helpful. As would a plumber . We would also be very much helped by someone who can tend to small machines that break all the time and who would be willing to tackle the odd jobs that come up all the time in running an old building. 3.Cleaning Making space more beautiful and preserving what is here for everyone is an ongoing, and renewing task. We regularly have all sorts of cleaning projects --from sweeping to deep cleaning floors, kitchen, pantry and meditation rooms.

Maintenance and Machine Repair A skilled electrician/handyperson who can diagnose and fix large applicances -from washer-dryers, heaters, commercial dishwashers, furnaces would be extremely helpful. As would a plumber . We would also be very much helped by someone who can tend to small machines that break all the time and who would be willing to tackle the odd jobs that come up all the time in running an old building. Cleaning Making space more beautiful and preserving what is here for everyone is an ongoing, and renewing task. We regularly have all sorts of cleaning projects --from sweeping to deep cleaning floors, kitchen, pantry and meditation rooms.

 

Call (510) 843-6812 for more information or to volunteer.

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