2009 Chair's Report-Rigdrol Dechen Ling -Vajra North2009 marked the 25th anniversary of Chagdud Gonpa in the Yukon. A display ad announcing the anniversary year was featured in the Yukon News on Losar 2009. Lama Zangpo visited the annual Losar party and told stories of his travels to Tibet with Chagdud Rinpoche
during the slide shows. We held three events in 2009 . All retreats were well attended. Therefore our teachers went away with more
than the base honoraria and a percentage also went to Vajra North. Lama Padma May 1-3 taught on Bodhichitta, The Heart of Compassion. 30 attended the public talk and 18 people attended the weekend. It was the first time a retreat was held at
VOLC. The weather was sunny and mild and everyone enjoyed the space. Lama Padma was joined by his wife
Susan on this visit and stayed with the sangha a few days after the retreat. A lunch meeting launched the
Stupa project in which Lama is enthused to work with us over the next few years. The retreat occurred at the same time at Thalina's passing and many prayers were offered for her. Thalina donated her wonderful library to VN. In May, an article on the roots of Buddhism in the Yukon was featured on the Northwest Dharma association website . A garage sale fundraiser was held on July 4th and raised $580. The September highlight of the anniversary year was to host Khadro in a P'howa retreat. This was the first time she visited Rigdrol Dechen Ling. It was the first stop on her tour of the North America. Twenty five people attended the empowerments and 23 stayed for the residential retreat. The success of the retreat was in the great attendance of the sangha for these important teachings and practice. Some people who first met Chagdud Rinpoche when he visited in 1984 attended the retreat. A group continues to meet every full moon to practice P'howa for people in our community who have recently died. Another article was featured in the NWDA website with a photo and paragraph on the Yukon portion of her tour. Khentrul Rinpoche returned for a weekend of meditation retreat and a continuation of the 7 Key Points of Mind Training. 60 people attended on Saturday and 54 on Sunday. Of the 30 who attended on Monday, several are inspired to undertake the Ngondro retreat in April 2010. Sangha members pitched in to help in all the many tasks it takes to put on retreats including coordinating the November event. New intiatives were inspired by the retreats. These include: A monthly full moon P'howa practice A Ngondro intensive weekend in a residential setting Monday shamatha meditation practice at Swan Sanctuary Tonglen continues on the first Sunday of the month at 10 am Wednesday Red Tara practice continues at 7 pm. Extended practices continue according to the Chagdud Gonpa practice calendar. Once a month all day practice of Riwo Sangchod, Ngondro, and either Shower of Blessings or Wish Fulfilling Essence with Tsok occurs in good weather at Lake Laberge. Online streaming teachings by Khentrul Rinpoche experienced good attendence especially after the retreat. Some technical difficulties are ongoing in the transmission. The library was expanded by Thalina's donation of books and tapes and purchases suggested by sangha members. (see Library link on web site) Vajra North supported Laura and Lama Zangpo with donations who are in three year retreats. Donations went with Rosemary Briggs for her work in the village in India as well as to Greg Sheldon for the village where he works. Donations went to the Long Life Prayer for Lama Padma, for Nandroling Monastery drubchod(Khentrul Rinpoche) . and a butterlamp offering and other offerings from our retreats to Chagdud Gonpa foundation. Lama Gyatso passed away in Oct. 2009. His activities continue with the sangha in LA as well at Ari Bhod retreat center in Tehachapi.