Temple of the Adawees -- Ribbon Cutting ceremony

Photos from the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On June 15, 2009, Venerable Dhyani performed a ribbon cutting ceremony forthe newly renovated Temple at the Peace Village in Lincoln, VT--the HomeFires of the AniYunWiwa.

Joining Venerable Dhyani were 15 community members celebrating the reopening of Temple after this beautificationproject, including finish work on the windows and doors, removal of the window behind Ven.'s teaching dias, new floors, repainting, wall mounted shrine tables for the Buddhist Protectors, Children of Abraham and Christian traditions.This completed the first stage of the Temple Beautification Project and it was celebrated with great joy by Stick Dancing, drumming and completion of the shrines!

The second stage of this project includes new shrine tables for the Cherokee and Buddhist altars, a new dias for Venerable Dhyani, windowshades to help with temperature control and a divider for Venerable Dhyani's consulation room.

If you or members of your communities wish to sponsor any part of the project, we would joyously accept your donations! Contributions can be made on-line by going to the Peace Village's secure site.

We hope you enjoy the photos from the ribbon cutting celebration! And we look forward to seeing you in person at the Temple of the Adawees, Wise Protectors!

Rev. Tori Hovde

Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo retreat at the Sunray Peace Village -- July 1-7

Greetings!

Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo's summer week long seminar is scheduled for July 1-7th, 2009 from 10AM-1PM and 3PM-5PM daily.


The cost for the week is $1050. If you would like to attend the seminar, but are not able to come for the entire time, Venerable has graciously said that LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS may attend the first three days of this seminar ON A DONATION BASIS. She is making this possible in order to honor the continuing service that the local community members give to the Sunray Peace Village.(The donation for these three days for other folks will be $300.) Peace,Patricia

For more information, and to register, please click here.

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BirthPath Songs at the Peace Village


Dear Friends of Sunray,


I have been exploring Venerable Dhyani's BirthPath Song teachings for the past year. During that time I have used this Cherokee Teaching as a method to create music to resonate with the hope and potential brought forth with the election of President Barak Obama.


". . . I find the music evocative of our nations' potential to actualize wisdom and skill. . . . My heart is filled with joy knowing that you apply the teachings which are so dear to me."
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo


I have also been creating BirthPath Songs on the piano for individuals as a musical reminder of the essential vibrations present on the day of their birth. During Venerable Dhyani's upcoming retreat (July 1-7, 2009), I will be available to create BirthPath Songs in The Temple Building during the evenings. The 1 hour sessions include:

• The option to energize specific intentions into your Song


• Optional slow, gentle, energy/bodywork on the shoulders, neck and head, to invite relaxation and to deepen the integration of your Song


• A BirthPath Song created on a electronic keyboard, experienced live as it "flows" (10 - 20 min in length). Depending on the length of your Song there may be the option to hear/experience it more than once.


• A CD of your BirthPath Song to use during yoga, meditation or manifestation

There will be 2 times available each evening (6:30 pm and 8:00 pm) of the retreat, creating an opportunity for up to 14 people, to receive their BirthPath Song live in the Temple's sacred space.

The cost is $65 to $80 depending on your means. Twenty percent of the profit from the creation of your BirthPath Song goes to Venerable Dhyani and projects that she supports.Please contact me if you would like to place your name on the schedule of available times.

Wado, Margaret
info@margaretcarol.com 207-310-3890

Learn more about BirthPath Songs

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The Sunray Peace Village is in Lincoln, Vermont. Please visit our blog at www.sunraypeacevillage.blogspot.com for directions.

Elders' Kitchen -- donations needed

Friends,

In about four weeks the Elders kitchen will begin making meals for the Elders, their families and the volunteer staff. Every year for almost 20 years we have sought donations of food and money to support this undertaking. In the course of a week we will provide as many as 1500 meals in three dining areas. We also help support the ceremonial celebrations and caregiving between meals and at the Elders host homes.

We have been able to do this because of generous donors from the Vermont Business Community, Gadugi members, friends, and the Elders themselves.

This year our letters are out and the responses are coming in. We are on track, but no ice cream donation from Ben and Jerry's (now part of a multinational ).

We have been asked to lower our budget this year because of the economy and we had overspent last year. Which brings us to the point of this email...we need everyone's help... so let me suggest some ways you can help support the Elders Kitchen.

Easiest and most flexible is a monetary contribution: we thank many including Corrine, Barbara W, Janet, Julie, Shannon, Aviva, Mary K, Eberhart and many others who have been generous financial donors in the past.

You can donate food. I donate the older emergency food I have each year and renew it fresh. Some ideas of what we need are:

Bulk Foods
1 case Eden Soy plain
1 case rice milk
50 lbs bag yellow organic cornmeal
25 lbs lundberg short grain brown rice
25 lbs white basmati rice
25 lbs organic all-purpose flour
20 lbs black turtle beans
10 lbs pinto beans
10 lbs oatmeal
5 lbs green lentils
5 lbs red lentils
5 lbs Arrowhead multigrain pancake mix
5 lbs corn flour
5 lbs pearled barley
1 Pail X-firm Tofu
1 case of Tempeh

The greatest single expense is for animal protein which is Chicken, Fish, Beef etc: Donating the money as a community to support one of these items would be great.

Sea Run Salmon $150
Roast Beef $75
Hamburger $40
Lamb roasts $75
Chicken breast $100
Ocean wild caught fish $100
Fresh Produce: total for 1 week
7 Cases of mixed lettuces
20 lbs green and yellow beans
50 lbs of onions
50 lbs of potatoes
25 lbs of red potatoes
3 cases beet greens
3 cases swish chard
1 case Oranges
1 case Lemons
2 cases Banana
4 cases grapes
1 case peaches,plums or nectarines
2 cases melons
plus:
tomatoes
fresh herbs
spinach
broccoli
Other Items
2 gal Maple Syrup
Fresh native Berries

This gives everyone an idea of what we have to procure. So if you can donate money, great. If you know of a good source for product let me know. If you can donate items let me know if possible by email artobey@gmavt.net . Produce and berries we accept freely, but advanced notice prevents surpluses where we have limited storage capacity.

We have had a great cheese donation every year from Saputo in Hinesburg and many of you know the factory burned down this year leaving many out of work and requiring us to look elsewhere for cheese donations. Perhaps you could help with that...we use Mozzarella, Provolone, Cheddar, Feta, and Goat Cheeses.

All donations are tax deductible...make checks out to Sunray with a clear note that it is for the Suray Elders Kitchen. And if you want to sponsor a particular item, please let me know via email. We will have to order our food items one week before the Gathering. artobey@gmavt.net phone/fax 802-453-5327

Wadogh (thanks)
2009 Sunray Elders Kitchen
Andy, Julie, Shannon, Amy, John, Janet, (hopefully Claire)

Women of Wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism: Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo on Yeshe Tsoygal

CLICK HERE to watch an excerpt on YouTube of the Women's Wisdom series as Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo illuminates the life of Yeshe Tsogyal as a template for contemporary practitioners." The entire three day seminar is available by CLICKING HERE. Please forward to all your friends.

Khenmo Drolma
Abbess
Vajra Dakini Nunnery
Bristol, VT

Report on Sunray's United Nations work

NEWS FROM INDIGENOUS NGO WORLD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
INTERNATIONAL MOTHER EARTH DAY

APRIL 22 has been declared INTERNATIONAL MOTHER EARTH DAY (A/63/L.69) by the UN General Assembly. On hand to celebrate this historic occasion was Mr. Roberto Mucaro Borrero (Taino) Conch Shell opening of event, Ms. Tonya Gonnella Frichner (Onondaga Nation), President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia H.E. Mr. Evo Morales Ayma, General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann and a cultural performance by The Silver Cloud Singers. Assembly President Mr. Brockman thanked Bolivia for having taken the lead in bringing the resolution to the Assembly and added that, by declaring the International Day, Member States recognized their responsibility, as called for in the Rio Declaration, adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the “Earth Summit”, to promote harmony with nature and the planet to achieve a just balance among economic, social and environmental needs of the present and future generations of humanity.
Sunray was a co-sponsor of this event.

PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES

The Eighth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was held at UN Headquarters in New York 18-29 May 2009. Over 2,000 Indigenous representatives from all regions of the world as well as state representatives, civil society, academia and UN system bodies attended. The Forum discussed the relationship between indigenous peoples and industrial corporations, and the need to promote corporate social responsibility. Focus was on extractive industries (oil & mining) while other items on the agenda were climate change, the Arctic region, land tenure and implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. For more information please CLICK HERE.

Sandy Sheridan, Sunray UN/NGO Representative

Monthly tele-class by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo -- June 18th at 9 pm Eastern time -- on the Summer Solstice

Thursday, June 18, 2009
9:00 PM - EST, 6:00 PM PST


~ Summer Solstice Teachings ~


"Some of the Southeastern Native Peoples of North America claim descent from the sun. In essence we are all star dust and during the Solstice time we may consider the fruits of thought and action and offer loving thoughts and action dedicated to bringing forth a harvest of communities in harmonious relationships. What seeds do you choose to plant for an abundant harvest. Let us energize together the field potential of wisdom of the Solstice."
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Please join Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo for teachings offered through the Masterful Living Course. Venerable will offer these tele-classes approximately once a month for 10 months. This is a wonderful opportunity to stay connected with the BeautyWay Wisdom teachings in an ongoing way. For more information or to sign up for one or more tele-classes, please CLICK HERE. If you miss the class, you can log on afterward to listen to it.

Late Planting and Solstice Ceremony -- Sunday, June 21st at 6:15 AM at the Peace Village

On Sunday, June 21st at 6:15 AM, the late planting and solstice ceremony will be in the sacred Arbor at the Peace Village in Lincoln, VT. All are welcome!

Let us celebrated our community and connections with coming together at this time!

We will begin the day with stick dancing and the lighting of the sacred fire together. Together we will offer the Dance of the Four Directions, prayers, and corn meal offerings.

After basic meditation practice, sharing of a potluck breakfast at the community hall (please bring food for firekeepers as well), we will return to the sacred fire to make special offerings for an abundant harvest, to energize the seeds, plants and the Earth.

This is a time of great openings and good to be together to practice the medicine wheel mandala. Traditionally at this time, we offer plantings in the garden and caretaking the land with brush cleanup, weeding gardens, and beautifying the land! Even one hour of of care contributes greatly and is joyful to do together!

Please bring:
-- Potluck breakfast to share,
-- Extra seedlings/plants/seeds to plant in the community garden (Elder cooks are suggesting lots of basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans). Bringing one plant will help feed the people and Elders in July!
-- Drums, rattles, dance sticks,
-- Gloves for caretaking land

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The California community will be having their Solstice Fire on Saturday and with our connections to Fires in Boston, California and Europe, we celebrate together these precious Teachings.

This is from Robert Eichsteaedt in California about Solstice:

The Solstice Ceremony is a large community gathering that has relationship with the individual, family, clan, national and universal unity. This is a time to celebrate the fullness of Life and witness the growth of the seeds that we have planted, to celebrate going through the cycle of the seasons together. Let us strengthen our community bonds as we come together around the sacred fire and offer prayers for those we know, for all beings, and for ourselves. How wonderful it is to simply enjoy being together recognizing all that we have in common and remembering how wonderful it is that we have found one another. Let us offer our thanks for the beauty of the season and may we note the common factors that unite all people and remember that we are all one in the light.

25th Annual Elder's Gathering -- July 24, 25, 26 -- at the Sunray Peace Village

Please sign up to attend. YOU CAN REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE.

Please also circulate this poster.

Thank you.

(Clicking on the image will enlarge it.)

Ribbon cutting ceremony -- Temple of the Adawees -- Monday June 15th

Many hands and generous donations have created beauty in the Temple of the Adawees, Wise Protectors at the Home Fires in Lincoln! And now we are completing the first of 2 stages of beautification with a "RibbonCutting"!

Please come or join in at 6:30 PM EST this coming Monday evening, June 15 as Venerable Dhyani will cut the ribbon to the Temple doors, honoring the Lineage, Wise Protectors and all those who have contributed to this project! We are so grateful!

After the ribbon cutting, the community will stick dance, sing the Heart Chant and do the shrines together! Photos will be sent including the ribbon cutting on Monday!

The second stage of transition after fund raising will include window treatments in the Temple (which will retain heat in winter and cooling in the summer), repainting the hall and VDY's consultation room, creating a screen for kitchen/caretaking area and a new dias. And we celebrate the completion of the first stage as a new tone has been created in the Temple!

We look forward to seeing each of you again this summer and practicing together!

In Gratitude,
Rev. Tori