The annual Fire Island Retreat Experience (FIRE) will close the season at Fire Island's Cherry Grove in a mellow mood during Columbus Day weekend, October 10-13, 2003. It is intended for gays and lesbians and their friends. The largest such event in North America, it reflects the growing interest in spirituality in the gay and lesbian community. It welcomes meditators – both experienced and newcomers -- from all traditions.

Though secular in its approach, FIRE is inspired by Buddhism. It includes group meditation sessions, instructions, discussions, hatha yoga classes, and talks by experienced teachers – plus time to make friends and get help for establishing one's own daily meditation practice.

FIRE's team leader is Craig Warren Smith. A leader in the Gay Liberation Movement of the late 60's and 70's, Mr. Smith has been a recent professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. He has been a teacher of meditation for many years. He was recently a visiting professor at Harvard University. He founded FIRE in 1999. Other teachers from Shambhala and other traditions will be represented as well.


For more information, and to register, visit www.ny.shambhala.org/fire or call 212-675-6544.
Shambhala Meditation Center 118 West 22nd Street - 6th floor (between 6th and 7th Aves.) 212.675.6544 www.ny.shambhala.org

This Empowerment of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities (Shitro) is one of the most important in the Tibetan tradition of Dharma Treasures (Terma) and is part of the same cycle of teachings, discovered by Karma Lingpa, from which derives the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The empowerment introduces the phenomena associated with the dying process and after-death state (bardo) and also prepares the recipient to meditate and realize the teachings of Dzogchen Maha Ati, the Great Perfection.

Venerable Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche is the chief lineage holder of the Tibetan lineage of Rigdzin Pema Lingpa, one of the Five "Kingly" Tertons or Treasure-Finders of the Tibetan Nyingma tradition. Of him Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche has said, "Bhakha Tulku is a committed Vidyadhara holder of the Mantra Tradition. Those who feel faith and devotion may rely upon him as their teacher."

Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche was recognized as the rebirth of the great treasure revealer, Terton Dorje Lingpa, and as an emanation of the eighth century Dzogchen master Vairotsana, by the 16th Karmapa and Dudjom Rinpoche. Bhakha Tulku first studied at Mindroling Monastery in Tibet and later, in Indian exile, received an English language education at the Young Lamas Home alongside Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and others. He served Dudjom Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche and Chatral Rinpoche for many years, receiving many transmissions from those masters as well as from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Rinpoche and others. In recent years Bhakha Tulku's Dharma activities have taken him to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Taiwan, Tibet and the United States. He is the principle lama and sponsor of his hereditary monastery in Powo, Tibet, and the main teacher and founder of Vairotsana Foundation, with two centers in California and a retreat center in New Mexico. In addition to being a Vajracharya or master of Tantra, Bhakha Tulku is an accomplished scholar and master calligrapher. He speaks English fluently.

For further information see http://home.earthlink.net/~jwp02/BTulku/btulku.htm or call 845-246-4570.

A full-color flyer of this publicity is downloadable at

http://home.earthlink.net/~jwp02/BTulku/Shambhala_flyer.jpg