A LETTER TO A FRIEND... Aloha Temple Friends: We're thinking of you all on this quiet evening,listening to the gentle rain drops. We're finally getting a little break from the activities associated with Nechung Rinpoche's visit between 12/9/03 until 2/26/04, along with a couple of group bookings at the retreat center.

On March 20th, the temple will be begin having classes each Saturday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, using "Words of My Perfect Lama" (Kunzang Lamai Shelung) by Paltrul Rinpoche as a guideline. We have been fortunate to receive this teaching three times - twice from the previous Nechung Rinpoche in 1979 and 1982, and once from Khamtrul Rinpoche in 1989. We decided to do classes on a more regular basis, as there are often requests for basic meditation & Buddhist instruction. Since lamas' programs take place only occasionally each year, these Saturday classes will fill the gap between visits. Marya will be leading the sessions.   We are also pleased to announce the winners of the Raffle Fundraiser, the winners were drawn by Nechung Rinpoche on Losar, the Tibetan New Year's Day party on Saturday 2/21/04. There were 111 prizes for a total of 374 tickets! The names of the winners will be sent in a separate email and the prizes for all the folks who were not at the party will be sent out via priority mail (soon!). Mahalo once again to all of you that support the temple!!   Losar was really a fun day, with traditional Tibetan chanting in the temple for an auspicious year, with good health and long life. We had tea and sweet rice in the main hall, followed by a pot luck lunch on the upper grounds. A group of Hilo ladies gave a hula performance - a special thanks to Maile Canario for organizing this.   It was a really wonderful for us to have Nechung Rinpoche here for such an extended stay. Shortly after his arrival, he gave his first public talk at the temple. It was very touching, since he is very shy, but gave a very eloquent talk on the basics of Buddhist practice, as well as a brief history of Nechung Monastery's importance in the Tibetan Culture, and a glimpse into his own lineage and personal background. During the 3 week tour to the mainland (12/23/03 to 1/13/04), Rinpoche spoke to the Tibetan community at the Northwest Tibetan Association in Portland, Oregon. At the request of the Nechung Buddhist Center in SF, he gave two talks in Berkeley to the Tibetans, as well as to a Western audience. In New York, the Nechung Foundation organized a well attended event at the Tibet House. Our gratitude to Wangchuk & Sonam Dorje; and our Nechung brothers  Phelgye, Pedor, Gyaltsen, Rinchen, Gyume for their hospitality and hard work in organizing the events in these places. On the East Coast, we also visited our good friend Lodi Gyari Rinpoche, the head of International Campaign for Tibet in Washington DC, who hosted a dinner party at his home. Our thanks to Gyari Rinpoche and his wife Dawala; as well as to Namgyal and Tenzin for hosting our stay in DC. Back home, Rinpoche gave a weekend retreat at the temple on the "Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind" (towards the Spiritual Path) and the "Seven Point Cause & Effect Method to Generate Bodhicitta" on January 31st and February 1st. The teachings were clear and concise, and well attended with participants coming from off-island, and as far away as Alaska. At the request of the Maui Dharma Center in Paia, Rinpoche visited Maui for several days (2/14/04 to 2/17/04) again speaking on essential points of practice. It was a very special time for Miguel and myself, since we saw many old friends from the '70's who were students of the previous Rinpoche and who were involved in the early temple days. We wish to thank everyone that made the Maui visit such a memorable event, particularly Lama Gyaltsen & Georgiana Cook from the center; Starr, Henry and Yugan with whom we stayed; Joss & Tom for the use of their car; Kushog Dhontrub, and Theresa & Steve for hosting several lovely meals.

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