Richard (Kunga Dawa) Arthure, who is coming to Phoenix to direct Great Eastern Sun, will present a public talk Friday evening, 10/16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Center. Kunga Dawa became a close student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1966. He was the first Westerner trained by the Vidyadhara as a meditation instructor and authorized by him to teach the Dharma. He traveled to India, Sikkim and Bhutan with Trungpa Rinpoche, was present with him at Tagtsang when the Sadhana of Mahamudra was revealed and co-created the English language version of it. Kunga Dawa was a co-founder of the Karme Choling Center in Vermont and has traveled and taught extensively in the US, Canada and Europe. He completed a three year retreat in northern New Mexico in 2003 and currently resides in Boulder, Colorado. He is the author of a book of poems, Bone Ornaments and Mirrors and a forthcoming book, Confusion into Wisdom.

Friday evening’s talk is entitled Meditation and the Essential Points of Practice. Beginning with the precision of basic mindfulness, we becomebetter able to transcend ego’s habitual pattern of striving to accomplish something, as we learn to relax in the simplicity of nowness. Progressively letting go of the watcher, we gradually unfold the complete openness of panoramicawareness. At the same time, we develop both relative and absolute bodhichitta as essential elements of the path.

This is a great opportunity for everyone - members and friends alike - to meet and listen to one of our wonderful Shambhala teachers. I really feel like you can connect to the practice and the teachings in a much more personal way when you are able to meet the teacher and have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas. I hope lots of people will attend. The talk is free although a $5 donation would be very appreciated.

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