Contents
- Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche Quote
- Announcing the Dzogchen Autumn Retreat 2011
- Introducing Dzogchen Connect
- Prevention of Suicide Teaching
- The Buddha Path is Back in Print!
- Forward to a Friend
- About Us
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“My human body is precious, for the leisures and endowments are rarely attained. My life is impermanent, for the time and circumstances of death are uncertain. Karma is infallible, for every result I experience corresponds to my intentions and actions. Samsara is exhausting, for within the cycle of my ego-clinging the experiences of fear and suffering are inevitable. Nirvana is beyond suffering, for the cessation of my negative thinking and negative karma is enlightenment. The Vajra Master is the embodiment of all Buddhas, for my qualified Dharma teacher guides me along the true path to Vast Awakening.“
~ Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, The Six Outer Principle Mind Trainings
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JOIN US FOR THE AUTUMN RETREAT!
ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER
At the Dzogchen Retreat Center, October 25–31, 2011
Unplug • Slow Down • Awaken
We hope you will join us for the upcoming 5th annual Dzogchen Lineage Autumn Retreat. This one-week retreat, starting at 3 pm on October 25th will be held at the secluded Dzogchen Retreat Center USA and will conclude October 31st at approximately 3 pm.

During the Dzogchen Internship and Buddha Path Retreat. July 31, 2011. Photo by Bhadra.
The Dzogchen Autumn Retreat is a joyous opportunity to journey toward Enlightenment in the company of both beginners and seasoned Buddhist practitioners. Learn how to increase your happiness, causes of happiness, and the happiness of all beings, while decreasing the suffering and causes of suffering of yourself and all beings.
About the Retreat Center
The Dzogchen Retreat Center is a small Buddhist village situated on 160 pristine acres in the beautiful Coastal mountains of Oregon with native forests, lush meadows, beautiful valleys, peaceful ponds, and the powerful Suislaw River connecting us to the Pacific Ocean.

A rainbow over the Mandala Garden at the DRC on October 5, 2011. Photo by Bhadra.
We welcome practitioners with all levels of experience. Whether you are completely new to Buddhism or have been practicing for many years, you will be offered valuable instruction, guidance, and support.
About the Teacher
Because Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche is traveling abroad and currently leading an extended retreat in Russia, the Autumn Dzogchen Retreat will be lead Lama Orgyen Zangpo (Kunzang), a monk and resident at the retreat center, who has been faithfully and diligently studying under Khenpo Choga since 2002.

Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche presenting Kunzang with a certificate authorizing him to teach Buddhadharma in the tradition of the Dzogchen Lineage.
Kunzang was born and raised in northern California, but met Khenpo while living in Eugene, Oregon. He has attended and directed numerous retreats, including the first 6-month Dzogchen Lineage Internship in 2008. He has attended every subsequent Internship and been an indispensable aid to fellow retreatants by leading tutoring sessions and exemplifying the conduct of a Bodhisattva.
His teaching experience is extensive, including teaching tours in Asia and Hawaii. Kunzang has recently been praised by students as an emanation of Khenpo, for his teachings are just as clear and direct. He teaches with incredible care, humor, and humility, and is furthermore incredibly well versed in the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy.
Please visit the Dzogchen Autumn Retreat Registration Page.
Contact
Joanne Kumekawa, Autumn Retreat Director
Robert Lapham, Assistant Autumn Retreat Director
Dzogchen.Fall.Retreat.2011@gmail.com
360-390-8367– cell
360-385-1219 – Port Townsend Dharma Center
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Introducing Dzogchen Connect
A New Way to Stay Connected to the Dzogchen Lineage
The Dzogchen Society of Washington—in conjunction with Dzogchen Shri Singha International—has established Dzogchen Connect, an online magazine whose aim is to “connect the Dharmas, Sanghas, and Aspirations of H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche.”

The site offers all of Rinpoche’s students and Sanghas around the world a place to stay connected and informed about the ongoing activities of our precious Vajra Master.
Be sure to check the “Community” section for Sangha updates. If your Sangha is missing from the list, please send us a message including practice times, contact information, and anything else you think is relevant.
Now that we have established the basic framework of the site we are eager to expand our staff. If you are interested in writing for the magazine, contributing pictures, or you have and other ideas or suggestions, please contact us.
Click Here and Subscribe Now!
Contact
Robert Lapham, Editor & Publisher
robert.lapham@gmail.com
Jeffrey Harker, Managing Editor
dotnetrocks@hotmail.com
Stella Bonnie, Web Editor, Social Media Liaison
stella@dzogchenconnect.org
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Prevention of Suicide Teaching
Self-Loving Awareness—Prevention of Suicide
Twelve Reasons Not to Commit Suicide
By H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche
All beings want happiness and do not want suffering; therefore, you should love yourself and all beings equally. I have heard there are over one million people who take their own lives each year, not including an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal attempted suicides every year worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that suicide is the thirteenth-leading cause of death worldwide and is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35.
For these reasons, I want to give some heartfelt advice on the importance of protecting human life. I also wish to show how harmful suicide is, and to share some valuable methods for preventing suicidal thoughts.
Click here for the entire teaching.
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The Buddha Path is Back in Print!

The Dzogchen Valley and snowy Siltrom Mountains
from the cover of the second edition of The Buddha Path.
The Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation is pleased to announce that the second edition of The Buddha Path, first released in 2004, has been reprinted. We've created a print-on-demand version on Lulu to fulfill requests from many Buddha Path practitioners who have wanted to share copies with newer sangha members. This printing is identical to the second edition in textual content, but does not include the color plates. It is also a somewhat larger format and has an improved binding.
Click here to read more about The Buddha Path.
Click here to order a copy of the The Buddha Path.