The weekend begins on Friday at 6pm and ends on Monday lunchtime. Everyone is warmly invited to attend especially shy singers! We will be singing yogic songs together, doing some vocal exercises, some lujong ( yogic physical exercises) , meditation and some discussion over the meaning of the songs.
The weekend is led by Kristina Bischoff who we met at Khenpo Rinpoche's 80th party celebrations inNepal last year. She led a pretty spontaneous choir which was amazing!
She writes: - " I have been a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche since 1999. In the year 2000 I then met Khenpo Rinpoche. I am singer, a journalist, and have published in the past a Dharma Music CD, that was made with the blessing of the DPR. (Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche). In 2005 I opened a Buddhist choir here in Hamburg named „Siddha Singers“. Its aim was to bring people together, that would like to sing Dharma Songs or Dohas, no matter what tradition they were from On the basis of that former work, in 2012 I started a choir workshop in three centers here in Germany called " Siddha Singers Reloaded“. I especially invite shy singers to join in, using advice from Pönlop Rinpoche, who quotes Karma Chakme on Dohas: " You should sing these songs, no matter how good or bad your voice is. Even if you sound like a howling dog, you should sing and connect with the blessing of the lineage."
When there is the opportunity, we even perform what we have learned. In May 2015, we had the great chance to sing for HH the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa during the inauguration of the Stupa at the Kamalashila Institute in Langenfeld, Germany. Check out this Video starting from minute 1.12: m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=gmM8wIiiEUE In August of the same year, around 200 visitors of the Dalai Lamas teaching in Hamburg, joined me successfully in a 90 minutes Siddha Singers Workshop. In November 2014, I took the workshop to the United States, joining with singers and practicioners in cities like Boulder, Seattle, New York, Hartford and Philadelphia.
It should be a fun weekend. Open to all.
Suggested donation £60-120 as an offering for Kristina.
Donation to the Hermitage for staying
Dana and Donations
Lama Shenpen would like to make the teachings available to everyone regardless of their financial situation. This can be done if there are enough people who give generously to cover the costs of running, maintaining and developing the Hermitage as a sacred place dedicated to Dharma practice. Retreatants like to have some kind of guidance on how much they need to be giving in order to keep the Hermitage afloat. As a rough and ready guide we can usually cover our costs if sufficient retreatants give at the following rates for an overnight stay:
Generous offering: £45+ per night: This will allow us to invest in projects to improve the hermitage for future retreats as well as support Hermitage residents and cover running costs.
Supportive offering: £25-£45 per night: This will allow us support Hermitage residents as well as subsidise those who cannot afford the full rate and to help us cover running costs.
Low income offering: £15-£25 per night: This will help us to support Hermitage residents and cover running costs
Subsidised offering: up to £15 per night: We estimate that £15 per night is around the minimum required for us to cover running costs and pay for food during your stay. If you can only afford this level, your stay will be subsidised through the generosity of others who are willing to donate more.
You will be given a donation form during the retreat to fill in before you leave. All cheques may be made payable to the Shrimala Trust.
All donations are deeply appreciated by Lama Shenpen and all the members and friends of the Awakened Heart Sangha because they encourage and sustain our Dharma activity for the sake of all beings.