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."
~~~~~~~~~


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

****************
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

Buddha's Enlightenment Day ceremonies and blessings -- June 7th

June 7th is Sagadawa or Buddha's Enlightenment Day filled with special merit for all activities. Please join in any and all the celebrations at the Peace Stupa at the Sunray Peace Village and forward the invitation to your friends!

7:30 am Smoke offering and Tsog

1 pm Animal Blessing

On this million merit day it is appropriate that we celebrate our friends that teach us pure loving kindness! We will circunambulate the Stupa together.

7 pm Achi the Grandmother Protector and candle lighting

Khenmo Drolma
Abbess
Vajra Dakini Nunnery
PO 382
Bristol, VT 05443
802 453 6867
www.vajradakininunnery.org

Early Planting Ceremony -- Sunday, May 24th, 6:30 AM

EARLY PLANTING CEREMONY At ODALI UTUGI, SUNRAY PEACE VILLAGE, LINCOLN, VT.

On SUNDAY, MAY 24 at 6:30 AM, under the guidance of the Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo. At this time during the New Moon in May, we celebrate the early planting with the lighting of the sacred fire. These spiritual practices of singing songs of thanksgiving, dancing to give energy to the earth and offering prayers bring vitality to the seeds and goodness to the entiregrowing season.

After the lighting of the fire and making offerings, we will process to the garden to prepare for the early planting with songs and dances, preparing the earth for the seeds!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Monthly tele-class by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo -- May 21st

Venerable Dhyani will be participating
in a wonderful new Monthly Tele-Class. The next Class is Thursday May 21st, 2009.
Click Here to learn more about this special opportunity.

Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, motivational speaker, author, musician, co-parent of brighter tomorrows, offers transformational programs and life coaching via the BeautyWay Wisdom Seminars and private consultations.

Gleaned from her success in business for over 30 years, BeautyWay Wisdom Seminars are a powerful tool to learn how to apply spiritual insights to the practical issues of one's everyday life. Dhyani's coaching methods awaken creative potential resulting in skillful action and creative solutions that lead to successful life planning and career development.

For the last 3 decades, Venerable Dhyani has also been involved in training peace makers and mediators, and in designing effective methods of reconciliation.

Offering inspiration for those who hear a different beat, Venerable Dhyani guides one beyond the doors of perception to a place where spiraling wisdom expands into all aspects of one's life.