icarusancalion

Temple open for visitors ... oh, thank god....

2013-03-14T05:38:24Z

Oh, thank god.

The temple can reopen to visitors.

We can't have group events until we do all the renovations, but we spoke with the Interfaith Advocate from Montgomery County and people can visit the temple, come and go as before -- we just can't hold classes.

Which, er, for a place that's supposed to be for Buddhist classes, isn't ideal.

But!

The classes are still being webcast every Friday and Saturday. We're having all-outdoor events for the spring, summer, and fall (not sure what we're going to do about winter -- yeah, it's gonna take that long).

Here's the official word:

In a meeting with the Interfaith Advocate from Montgomery County, we were informed that we can open our doors, that visitors can come and go, taking advantage of the many blessings the temple has come to offer. The Prayer Room will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week once again for ANYONE seeking a place of spiritual refuge. You will be welcome to meditate quietly or pray, and take in the wealth of blessings offered by the statues, thangkas and crystals.

Not all functions of the temple will be able to continue until we are able to navigate the permitting process of Use and Occupancy and make the necessary renovations to ensure public safety and accessibility, but for those who have come to count on KPC as a place of peace, refuge and blessings the doors will once again be open to all regardless of faith.

We cannot hold events inside the temple, but will continue to offer events outdoors in order to continue with KPC's mission of offering the Dharma. In just a few weeks KPC will host Khenpo Norgay who will be offering teachings and empowerments associated with Phowa, a powerful Buddhist practice to prepare for the time of death. Though this event will be held outdoors, KPC will do it's best to ensure you are comfortable while enjoying this precious opportunity.

Please continue to support us in our effort to come into compliance with the county. The renovations required to ensure the safety of all will require everyone's ongoing support, as they will be very expensive. Please donate. Meanwhile, all are invited to come and partake of the many blessings of KPC.

To learn more please visit: www.tara.org

Annnnd now to raise ten quadrillion dollars. Because I don't want to be taking classes in a snowbank.

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When I love my temple....

2012-09-17T01:04:41Z

Walked into the Mani Jewel (the temple gift shop) to find the three managers, Chris, John, and Atira, all sitting on the carpet, calmly writing on small cards.

"Oh. Looks like I've walked in on a meeting," I said.

No, no, Chris explained, they were just fixing their business cards.

Somehow the hours of the gift store were wrong on their business cards (they changed? a mistake? I didn't ask). Since the temple can't afford to reprint three $9.95 boxes of business cards, they were fixing them by hand. One card at a time.

LOL!

I watched for a long moment. "Much as I'm entertained by this -- and believe it or not I really am--" They laughed. "--I gotta run."

I think it was their air of oh-man-here-we-go-again tired acceptance. And the fact they had five hundred cards each.

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Received my invitation to join AARP ... and I know just you pulled this joke.

2012-05-27T10:17:17Z

I received my invitation to join AARP. And I know just who at the temple signed me up.

Made a comment, you see, at the ripe old age of 44, about getting too old for something ... in the hearing of someone in her 60s.

Hahaha, okay, you got me.

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My way: by Michelle Grissom, formerly ani Dechen Drolma

2009-08-15T17:44:17Z

I'm cleaning up my relationship with my teacher, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, and temple, Kunzang Palyul Choling.

In order to do so, I need to post my clean-up confession just as publicly as I once posted my criticism. I'm crossposting this to Dreamwidth, but most have seen it here.

To some of you I've alluded to my past Buddhist associations. Maybe three of you I've told in detail. If you've been curious all these years, well ... here you go. Some of you might read this and go, "Wow, I want nothing to do with this person."

I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't worried about that. LJ and fandom have been a refuge from the rest of my life. But here goes.

( The truth. )

A few of you have noticed over the years (maybe more than a few on Fandom Wank) that I've been a pretty angry and arrogant person in the LJ community and fandom. Hanging on to this stuff has been a large part of why. I hope I can treat you guys all a little better now.

ETA: If you would like to help -- PLEASE DO LINK TO THIS POST.

There are people who are using my past words and my RL name to continue to lambast Jetsunma. If this post is linked to and has hits, it will show up in the search and mitigate what I've done.

She's taken flack no male teacher would receive, just because she's a woman.

This is a mostly female community. She's a rare woman Lama and deserves our support.

sharp_tongue put it best: "Jetsunma sounds like a woman of profound compassion."

c_smith_author has done so here: http://c-smith-author.livejournal.com/40016.html
sharp_tongue has done so here: http://sharp-tongue.livejournal.com/43103.html
rellan has done so here: http://rellan.livejournal.com/60186.html and http://rellan.dreamwidth.org/1035.html
kijikun has done so here: http://kijikun.livejournal.com/947614.html
ix_tab has done so here: http://ix-tab.livejournal.com/320965.html
violetknights has done so here: http://violetknights.livejournal.com/29145.html
undinae has done so here: http://undinae.livejournal.com/7630.html
rabidfan has done so here: http://rabidfan.livejournal.com/59623.html
bella_the_dark has done so here: http://bella-the-dark.livejournal.com/49779.html
kirby_crow has done so here: http://kirby-crow.livejournal.com/301205.html
laney_cairo has done so here: http://laney-cairo.livejournal.com/24214.html
wildebeth has done so here: http://wildebeth.livejournal.com/346799.html
wadjet_theperv has done so here: http://wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com/336397.html
severedscythe has done so here: http://severedscythe.livejournal.com/669820.html
lexstar29 has done so here: http://lexstar29.livejournal.com/46509.html
tekalynn has done so here: http://tekalynn.livejournal.com/250456.html

You guys are amazing friends, as you've proven again and again. Thank you all.

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