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Owen Cole offering the mandala to Ven. Tenzin Tsapel, Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, Perth, Western Australia, January 2019. Photo by Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.
Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, an FPMT center in Perth, Western Australia, offered a six-week Buddhist Summer School program during the Australian summer, from January 8-February 10, 2019, consisting of teachings, meditations, and workshops led by Australian visiting FPMT registered teachers Ven. Thubten Dondrup and Ven. Tenzin Tsapel. This was Ven. Tsapel’s first visit to the center. Center member Owen Cole shares the story.
Geshe Ngawang Sonam, Hayagriva Buddhist Centre’s resident geshe, was on holiday, many people had leave for the summer holiday with time on their hands, so it was an ideal time for a Buddhist Summer School.
Our center’s much loved former resident teacher, Ven. Dondrub, was in Perth for almost two weeks in January teaching from January 8-20, 2019, and Ven. Tsapel, who had never previously visited our center, came after him for a similar period, teaching from January 24-February 10.
Ven. Tenzin Tsapel teaching at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, Perth, Western Australia, January 2019. Photo by Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.
Ven. Tenzin Tsapel has been ordained for 34 years, studied the Dharma at FPMT center Chenrezig Institute for 15 years, and taught at FPMT centers in a number of countries.
It didn’t matter that most students didn’t know her as Ven. Tsapel’s warmth and down-to-earth manner captured the hearts of many students. Her program had something for everyone, from an explanation of Buddhist prayers and prostrations to teachings on the three poisonous minds and a Vajra Yogini self-initiation.
Ven. Tenzin Tsapel teaching at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, Perth, Western Australia, January 2019. Photo by Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.
Long-time student and former spiritual program coordinator Susan di Bona found great benefit from having teachings from a woman’s perspective. “We are of similar age so there is already a feeling of sisterhood. Ven. Tsapel’s stories about the Dharma used life experience to illustrate points; this came more easily from a female teacher,” Susan said.
One of our youngest students Zendra Giraudo said she found Ven. Tsapel accessible, and that she resonated with Ven. Tsapel more than other people. “Ven. Tsapel has a grounding presence which makes it easier to understand the teachings,” Zendra said.
Another relatively new student, Penni Sutton, said she benefited from the way Ven. Tsapel linked the three poisonous minds of anger, greed, and ignorance, and that she really connected with Ven. Tsapel. “What I like about FPMT is that there are so many teachers and you get a little bit more with every teaching you receive,” Penni said.
Ven. Tenzin Tsapel with Swee Lin Tan, Poh Choo Tan, Sau Chee Chiew, Cheryl Choong, Stella Low, and AK Ch’ng celebrating Australia National Day, Perth, Western Australia, January 2019. Photo by Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.
Long time student Ros Charron said, “I was totally captivated. It was as if someone had switched on a light in my mind not only through slightly differently wording phrases but by the explanations, which were succinct and clear.”
A fundraising dinner and raffle for Machig Labdron Nunnery, which Ven. Tsapel is establishing, raised more than US$900. The nuns community will share a site in Bendigo with the Great Stupa for Universal Compassion, Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery, and Atisha Centre, and so will be part of a Buddhist oasis in Australia.
We thank Ven. Tsapel for the knowledge and time she gave us collectively and as individuals and would love to have her back.
For more information about Hayagriva Buddhist Centre visit their website:
http://hayagriva.org.au
Listen to audio recordings of Ven. Tsapel’s 2019 teachings at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre:
https://www.hayagriva.org.au/venerable-tsapel-jan-feb-2019-teachings-audio-recordings/
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