Mother Lineage Day (Sunday, 17 August 2008)
If yesterday was a high Tibetan day, today was high Shambhala.
It began when Acharya Christie Cashman came in to brief the crowd. She took us back to the Fall of 1976 when the Druk Sakyong, Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, received the terma of The Golden Sun of the Great East. She reviewed for us the process the Druk Sakyong used to confirm appointments to high office: the candidate would appear before him and the sangha and perform the stroke of Ashe and answer questions about dharma matters.
Acharya Cashman said this hotel room was the Palace of Kalapa within the Kingdom of Shambhala. No one present was just an "everyday schmuck." All here were Shambhalian personages about to witness the ascension of Lady Diana Mukpo to the post of Druk Sakyong Wangmo.
She said Lady Diana would be presented with three offerings representing Heaven (a crystal sphere), Man (a list of every member of the worldwide Shambhala community), and Earth (a copper sphere). She would also be receiving a gold windhorse statue--her seed syllable.
After she was empowered, Lady Diana would then receive various gifts from various persons, the new Sakyong Wangmo would enter and the two would engage in a "dharmic discussion." Afterward the Druk Sakyong Wangmo would invite someone from the sangha to come up and engage in a spontaneous "discourse."
Various surprises might ensue.
Acharya Cashman retired to her seat and western classical music played ushering in the Sakyong leading a procession of four or five women wearing white and carrying various sacred objects, followed by the requisite kasung. He took his seat on the high throne, before which were two brocaded-covered chairs.
Lady Diana Mukpo then entered wearing her kasung uniform -- black jacket and skirt with a red stripe down the sides, and a black peaked cap, plus all her military awards. Over all was a sky-blue sash, with the Order of the Rigden medal, identifying her as a Sakyong Wangmo.
The Order of the Rigden Medal is worth going into a little bit here. From the Decorum of Shambhala: It has a "gold sun and moon representing feminine and masculine principles, surrounded by a ratna crest on a deep blue ground representing the principle of heaven, surrounded by a gate and peony motif. The ratna crest (flaming three jewels) represents buddha, dharma, and sangha contained by Shambhala society.
Sangyum Drugmo Serri, Agnes Au then performed the invocation of the four directions.
Acharya Cashman read a proclamation from the Sakyong appointing Lady Diana as the Druk Sakyong Wangmo.
The new Druk Sakyong Wangmo then received various gifts. The first was a crystal sphere, hand blown and created in Halifax, ornamented with the sunburst and crescent moon (see above) with the inscription: "To Her Majesty Lady Diana Mukpo with love from the people of Shambhala."
Mr. David Brown presented her with a golden Gesar of Ling Thangka on behalf of the Office of the Sakyong.
Next was a calligraphy done by the Sakyong that had an ashe and the words in Tibetan "May the Druk Sakyong Wangmo be Victorious."
The Sakyong then made a few remarks about the qualities of Lady Diana, who he said was a "student, friend, consort, advisor, and trouble maker" to the Dorje Dradul with an intense love for the sangha. He then thanked her for her support of Khandro Tseyang, saying when he gave his fiance her ring, LDM winked at him. Then he did a sort of double take and said "it was a wink of approval, right?" Lady Diana confirmed it. The Sakyong reiterated that being a Sakyong Wangmo was not a "one lifetime commitment." He then presented Lady Diana with a white katha, symbolizing purity, and a yellow silk one with the eight auspicious symbols on it.
Khandro-la's mother presented Lady Diana with a rupa.
Around this time Khandro-la entered with her attendants and took the brocade-covered chair opposite Lady Diana.
Lady Diana made a few remarks, saying that when she married the Druk Sakyong at age 16, she was incredibly naive, but also felt tremendous loyalty to him with the awareness of who he was. She has now transferred this loyalty to the present Sakyong.
She said that it was not a "given" that just being married to a Sakyong meant that one would be a Sakyong Wangmo. She said she has total confidence that Khandro Tseyang personally -- and with the support of her family -- has all the requisite qualities necessary to be a Sakyong Wangmo.
Then ensued a "dharmic discussion" between Khandro-la and Lady Diana, wherein Lady Diana asked Khandro Tseyang questions. The final question was on the duties of a Sakyong Wangmo. What popped out of Khandro-la was "first thing, produce some babies." Everyone laughed. Other qualities of a Sakyong Wangmo were to be loyal, tough, a friend, and advisor to the Sakyong and to harvest peace and embody and promote harmony, decency, communication, and secure the lineage.
Next Khandro-la performed the stroke of ashe in red ink on a gold shiki board, which was signed by the Druk Sakyong Wangmo and the Sakyong.
Lady Diana then invited a woman from Washington D.C. to give a "spontaneous discourse." She did a yeoman's job of opening her heart and expressing her devotion and caring for both.
Then about seven or so children who'd just gone the through the Rites of Passage (done at age eight) came in and sang a song written for the occasion. Very cute. When they left, one said fairly loudly at the door "that was scary," which seemed to epitomize some of the energy in the room.
Lastly, senior officers of the Dorje Kasung in colour party formation performed the royal salute. After they departed, we sang the Shambhala anthem and the principals departed, then the sangha headed out to the garden party being held at Kalapa Court.
Garden Party at the Court
It couldn't have been a better afternoon. After days and days of rain, this one afternoon was sunny and just the right temperature. People gathered and hob-knobbed for an hour or so drinking sangria punch and eating cakes and cookies. Then the principals came out to sit under their pavilions. Toasts were made and we were treated to another performance by cellist Claudio Bohorquez.
Then we were treated to a Gesar dance performed by the Ripa family. Quite haunting and lively.
Lastly the Shambhala Cadets gave a very precise drill demonstration, marching in circles and then breaking out into a star formation, merging and parting. At the very end, the young cadets seemed to epitomize the energy felt by many (phew, job done!).
Signing off for now,
Fearless Wildflower
It began when Acharya Christie Cashman came in to brief the crowd. She took us back to the Fall of 1976 when the Druk Sakyong, Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, received the terma of The Golden Sun of the Great East. She reviewed for us the process the Druk Sakyong used to confirm appointments to high office: the candidate would appear before him and the sangha and perform the stroke of Ashe and answer questions about dharma matters.
Acharya Cashman said this hotel room was the Palace of Kalapa within the Kingdom of Shambhala. No one present was just an "everyday schmuck." All here were Shambhalian personages about to witness the ascension of Lady Diana Mukpo to the post of Druk Sakyong Wangmo.
She said Lady Diana would be presented with three offerings representing Heaven (a crystal sphere), Man (a list of every member of the worldwide Shambhala community), and Earth (a copper sphere). She would also be receiving a gold windhorse statue--her seed syllable.
After she was empowered, Lady Diana would then receive various gifts from various persons, the new Sakyong Wangmo would enter and the two would engage in a "dharmic discussion." Afterward the Druk Sakyong Wangmo would invite someone from the sangha to come up and engage in a spontaneous "discourse."
Various surprises might ensue.
Acharya Cashman retired to her seat and western classical music played ushering in the Sakyong leading a procession of four or five women wearing white and carrying various sacred objects, followed by the requisite kasung. He took his seat on the high throne, before which were two brocaded-covered chairs.
Lady Diana Mukpo then entered wearing her kasung uniform -- black jacket and skirt with a red stripe down the sides, and a black peaked cap, plus all her military awards. Over all was a sky-blue sash, with the Order of the Rigden medal, identifying her as a Sakyong Wangmo.
The Order of the Rigden Medal is worth going into a little bit here. From the Decorum of Shambhala: It has a "gold sun and moon representing feminine and masculine principles, surrounded by a ratna crest on a deep blue ground representing the principle of heaven, surrounded by a gate and peony motif. The ratna crest (flaming three jewels) represents buddha, dharma, and sangha contained by Shambhala society.
Sangyum Drugmo Serri, Agnes Au then performed the invocation of the four directions.
Acharya Cashman read a proclamation from the Sakyong appointing Lady Diana as the Druk Sakyong Wangmo.
The new Druk Sakyong Wangmo then received various gifts. The first was a crystal sphere, hand blown and created in Halifax, ornamented with the sunburst and crescent moon (see above) with the inscription: "To Her Majesty Lady Diana Mukpo with love from the people of Shambhala."
Mr. David Brown presented her with a golden Gesar of Ling Thangka on behalf of the Office of the Sakyong.
Next was a calligraphy done by the Sakyong that had an ashe and the words in Tibetan "May the Druk Sakyong Wangmo be Victorious."
The Sakyong then made a few remarks about the qualities of Lady Diana, who he said was a "student, friend, consort, advisor, and trouble maker" to the Dorje Dradul with an intense love for the sangha. He then thanked her for her support of Khandro Tseyang, saying when he gave his fiance her ring, LDM winked at him. Then he did a sort of double take and said "it was a wink of approval, right?" Lady Diana confirmed it. The Sakyong reiterated that being a Sakyong Wangmo was not a "one lifetime commitment." He then presented Lady Diana with a white katha, symbolizing purity, and a yellow silk one with the eight auspicious symbols on it.
Khandro-la's mother presented Lady Diana with a rupa.
Around this time Khandro-la entered with her attendants and took the brocade-covered chair opposite Lady Diana.
Lady Diana made a few remarks, saying that when she married the Druk Sakyong at age 16, she was incredibly naive, but also felt tremendous loyalty to him with the awareness of who he was. She has now transferred this loyalty to the present Sakyong.
She said that it was not a "given" that just being married to a Sakyong meant that one would be a Sakyong Wangmo. She said she has total confidence that Khandro Tseyang personally -- and with the support of her family -- has all the requisite qualities necessary to be a Sakyong Wangmo.
Then ensued a "dharmic discussion" between Khandro-la and Lady Diana, wherein Lady Diana asked Khandro Tseyang questions. The final question was on the duties of a Sakyong Wangmo. What popped out of Khandro-la was "first thing, produce some babies." Everyone laughed. Other qualities of a Sakyong Wangmo were to be loyal, tough, a friend, and advisor to the Sakyong and to harvest peace and embody and promote harmony, decency, communication, and secure the lineage.
Next Khandro-la performed the stroke of ashe in red ink on a gold shiki board, which was signed by the Druk Sakyong Wangmo and the Sakyong.
Lady Diana then invited a woman from Washington D.C. to give a "spontaneous discourse." She did a yeoman's job of opening her heart and expressing her devotion and caring for both.
Then about seven or so children who'd just gone the through the Rites of Passage (done at age eight) came in and sang a song written for the occasion. Very cute. When they left, one said fairly loudly at the door "that was scary," which seemed to epitomize some of the energy in the room.
Lastly, senior officers of the Dorje Kasung in colour party formation performed the royal salute. After they departed, we sang the Shambhala anthem and the principals departed, then the sangha headed out to the garden party being held at Kalapa Court.
Garden Party at the Court
It couldn't have been a better afternoon. After days and days of rain, this one afternoon was sunny and just the right temperature. People gathered and hob-knobbed for an hour or so drinking sangria punch and eating cakes and cookies. Then the principals came out to sit under their pavilions. Toasts were made and we were treated to another performance by cellist Claudio Bohorquez.
Then we were treated to a Gesar dance performed by the Ripa family. Quite haunting and lively.
Lastly the Shambhala Cadets gave a very precise drill demonstration, marching in circles and then breaking out into a star formation, merging and parting. At the very end, the young cadets seemed to epitomize the energy felt by many (phew, job done!).
Signing off for now,
Fearless Wildflower
posted by Fearless Wildflower at 11:43 AM
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