Deep Peace and the Healing of the World

An 8-session self-study program on treasure teachings from the seven stars. With Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, Dr. Louise Diamond, and Ministers of Sunray Meditation Society. To order this wonderful audio program, please click here.

Diane Patterson's "Grandmother's Tour" -- part two

To read this post on the Sunray Peace Village blog, click here.

Community sustainability report -- next meeting March 11th

On Thursday, February 18, the second monthly meeting was held to discuss community sustainability. Present were Robert Rex, Kelly LeCain, Madeleine Piat-Landholt and Rev. Tori Hovde.


Please read the notes here from the first meeting. The decision was made to move the monthly meeting to the second Thursday of the month. Next meeting then will be MARCH 11 at 7:30 PM, in the Temple of the Adawees.

Madeleine talked about the possibility of attending the next meeting of Seed Savers. Rev. Tori made lists of first aid supplies needed for each family, as well as a list of herbal first aid items (created by our friend Annie McCleary).

It is time to energize the teams! Find a way to join in! Each group,which is described in the first meeting (see this link) has a focalizer with contact info.

•THE PLANT TEAM. Focalized by Madeleine. Contact her: redbear@gmavt.net
•THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TEAM. Focalized by Robert : robert_rex@gmavt.net
•THE SURVIVAL RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TEAM. Jim Vyhnak: vyhnak@sover.net
•THE ALTERNATE SCENARIOS TEAM. Dechen Rheault: reiedinst@gmavt.net
•INFORMATION SHARING TEAM. Rev. Louise Diamond: diamond@louisediamond.com
•MEDICINE/HEALING TEAM. Rev. Tori: vhovde@gmavt.net

Please take responsibility NOW to contact a focalizer(s) to let them know that you want to join. The focalizers will inform each person about their team meeting and the whole community will meet on the second Thursday of the month with a practice at 7:30 and meeting at 8 PM.

NEXT MEETING MARCH 11!

ALL ARE WELCOME. SHARE THIS WITH FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY!

Wadogh!

Peace,
Rev. Tori

Tibetan/Cherokee New Year weekend, Sat-Sun Feb 13-14

Click on image to enlarge.

Bittersweet goodbyes -- a parting report from Haiti

Some of you may not know me; I'm an RN (on the left) who lives in Lincoln and works at Fletcher Allen. I wanted to share a little about the experience I and my colleagues have had assisting with disaster relief for the Haitian people. We have teams lined up to continue the effort through March. Please consider supporting the continuation of the wonderful work our Vermont team has been doing by donating to the Vermont Haiti Project (please designate as for Vermont Haiti Relief - union).  Thanks in advance.......

I’m writing to you on my last night in Jimani; feebly attempting to discover a metaphor that would describe any part of this slice of time in this spot on our planet.  It’s an impossible task; I can only share what in the telling seems like brief episodes of a two dimensional mini- series compared to actuality.  And I’m feeling very sad.

I’m not sure exactly how long I’ve been down here. I believe it’s been between 2 and 3 weeks. Down here = on a hot dusty piece of real estate owned by folks from Tennessee who set up a hospital, clinic and orphanage called “Good Samaritan” or “Buen Samaritano” in Spanish, in the border town of Jimani, Dominican Republic.  We can see Haiti from our “home”.  After the earthquake, Haitians began crossing the border into Jimani any way they could, looking for emergent medical assistance.  At first it was completely disorganized, however they could get a ride, and some of them walked. Eventually earthquake victims were sent here by helicopter and ambulance as well.

Buen Samaritano was inactive at the time of the earthquake. The systems and supplies sprang up almost immediately, and were ever-evolving as more patients and volunteers arrived.  As I write, we have 2 highly functioning, though primitive, operating rooms with PACU, 2 pharmacies, digital xray at the orphanage and fluoroscopy at the main building; we’ve been staffed with ortho and trauma providers, nurses, EMTs and paramedics; infectious disease, ob-gyn, plastics, physical therapy, psychology, and more.

As soon as we arrived, our prayers were answered: we were able to do what we came here to do - work really hard (and, serendipitously, fall in love with these amazing people).  Initially, we worked 7 twelve hour shifts in a row (both day and night crews did – I would not recommend it, but it mostly worked).

The heat and the sweat were incidental.  The aching feet eventually became so as well.  The 12 hour day shifts passed very quickly for the staff because there was so much to be done. For the patients I think the days must have been endless, like a nightmarish Groundhog Day.  The nights dragged on for some as well, who couldn’t stop thinking about how their family members died, how they tried to get their children and parents and siblings out of the rubble, but couldn’t. 

At the beginning, the Vermont team was caring for 40-55 patients in the post-surgical ward A (other Vermonters were in PACU or ICU), sometimes with only 2 RNs or EMTs or med students, and if we were fortunate, 3 or 4.  We begin every shift rounding on every patient, managing pain, doing assessments, and taking notes for that day’s plan of care.  Rounds typically took up to 3 hours when the census was high, because patients always had immediate needs.  Family members would also come get us when their loved ones needed something.  After rounds, we would start doing dressing changes on the major abrasions, avulsions, amputations, and pin care on the external fixation devices. We had no xray for at least 10 days: external fixation was performed by landmark and physical assessment.  When we finally got the digital xray, every patient had films taken, and many had fixation adjustments or revisions.  Some had undiscovered fractures.  And then we planned for and assisted with mobility, bowel management, and chronic medical problems.  And get up and do it again - Amen.

The family members with each patient are as heroic as the patients.  We could not have done our work without them. We were able to leave supplies of medications, even opiate analgesics, with instructions at the bedside – because the patients and the families were incredibly responsible.  The families bathed the patients, and assisted with toileting.

Three weeks ago, most patients were afraid to move.  Many were afraid to be taken to the operating room because they might find a part of their body missing when they awoke.  Yesterday and today, I witnessed two sights (among many the past few weeks) that were a holy balm for the accumulated ache moving through my heart for all of this suffering.

The first – I was with a patient on the front porch of the orphanage when I heard someone call my name. I looked up to see, waving at me, twenty something year old Wilfred with his new above the knee amputation, beautiful twenty something year old Chantel with her new complete arm amputation, and feisty twenty something year old Emmanuel with her new below the knee amputation all walking together outside of their cardboard/bedsheet ‘shantytown’.  I hadn’t seen them out of  their cots together since I’d been there.  They’d overcome their fear of mobilizing, and were so excited to be walking about together, like they were all going out on the town. Indescribable joy.

The second – I visited a similar disaster relief clinic in Haiti today called Love a Child, about an hours drive away (depending on the traffic).  We have gradually been discharging patients from Buen Samaritano to Love a Child (previously a well established orphanage). Amos Hare and I rode on a school bus there today with more of our discharged patients there, including 14 year old Lorentia, and her mother Saintenise. Saintenise also has a 3 month old baby who she hasn’t seen since the earthquake; both Lorentia and her mother have left fractured femurs with external fixators and were sent to Buen Samaritano while the father and the baby had to stay in Haiti.  Today – Saintenise and her baby were reunited – as was the whole family. Indescribable joy.

For most of them, the future beyond physical rehabilitation in Love a Child or any other clinic is a colossal unknown. And still, they gave us such grand affection and love, and grew to trust us immensely.  This alone was a magnificent gift and honor, one that I will treasure for the rest of my life.  Though I’m using first person narrative, it is not my story - it is theirs.  I will probably never see these people again.  I remind myself that this great beauty in this great tragedy is a collection of moments that continue to pass all of us by, and that grasping to the feelings or to our new friends will only diminish the power of the love and insight that has passed between us.

Mari Cordes

Here is some music from emergency room patients.   Click to download.

Peacekeeper training in Munchen, Deutschland

Peacekeeper Training  

Weekends, 20 to 21 Feb. 2010, 10 to 11
April 2010, Sat 10:00 am to Sun 16:00
Life Garden - Growth Area 80336 Munich, Mathildenstr.12

(Translated by Google toolbar.)

Sunray Peace Project Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, Spiritual director

The highlighted action is guided by three principles:


Implement the will perceive the mystery as it is the intention of its own goals for the benefit of all the courage to try and do that which we need to do.

The Peacekeeper Training is based on the teachings of Ywahoo line of the Cherokee and the Drikung Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.


Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, Whose vision of the Peacekeeper-back training, is in 27th generation of priestly guardian of the knowledge of their people. In Bristol, Vermont, she maintains a peace village, where in summer the teachings of the Cherokee and the Tibetans are taught and practiced. There is also the first Drikung Kagyu nunnery in the U.S.. For further interest: http://www.sunray.org/

It is managed by Angelika Peacekeeper Training Salberg. She is a teacher in the traditional Ywahoo. She is assisted by Dr. Hanna Mührl she is the healer SUNRAY School of Healing Arts. Both are prepared for 20 years by the Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo And trained for this task.

The time is calling us to bring peace into our own lives, and emissions into the family, community, contribute to the world consciousness enhanced dimension in the awareness of the connected-satisfaction of all, we walk in the Peacekeeper training in learning practice, practice apply and everyday, our mind and body cleanse, clarify, strengthen and align. Thus the development of our potential is encouraged and provoked the memory of the original, radiant wisdom.


We are born of Mother Earth, Father Sky inspired by it. Spirals sent us out, we climb to the stars, sun and moon balance, are supported by the qualities of the directions, become one with the universe ...

... return back to our daily lives, take care to implement in practice, the guardians of peace-keeping in action and attitude.

Peacekeeper training means a process of physical and mental training in a group based on the centuries-old teachings of the Cherokee and Tibetan.


Meditations, visualizations,

Physical exercises, singing, dancing, rhythm, ritual craft ...

... intended to clarify the mind and body for a clear and conscious life activity within the human community and creation.

Connectedness is experienced, explored and shared Actively.

We activate our inner wisdom-heitspotential. A network is created, established in our relationship between heaven and earth.

On the basis of willingness, compassion and active work force, we Ensure peace and harmony in ourselves, in the hearts of the people and the earth.

Price: 200, - euros, plus room rental and materials.


Registration (until 13.2.10) Sunray Peace Project, Dr. Hanna Mührl Klenzestr. 59 a

80469 Munich

089/2606099 Email: mailto:hanna.muehrl@gmx.de

I hereby register for the Peacekeeper training at 20 to 21 February 2010 and 10-to 11.4.2010.

Shortly before the start of the first weekend, there is a newsletter by email!

Church singing from Haiti

In Haiti today, Sunday morning.   The man in the picture on the left sitting in front of us in church (we visited briefly on our way to love a child) was rejoicing loudly because he was in the earthquake with his family, and no one was hurt - especially relieved about his children.  Unbelievable the sound of Big Love emanating from the hearts and throats of these strong, lovely people.  Click here to download and listen.

Dechen Mari

Sunray activities at the United Nations

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

August 10, 2009

At UN Headquarters in New York the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated with traditional indigenous ceremonies and performances by indigenous musicians and panels and workshops on various topics. This year the event was held Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 on the theme of HIV/AIDS. There was a cultural performance by the Crimean Tatar Dance Ensemble and a panel discussion with Tonya Gonella Frichner, (Onondaga) Member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Bertil Lindblad, Director, UNAIDS New York Office, Kent Lebsock, Owe Aku - Bring Back the Way - a Traditional Lakota (Sioux) Cultural Preservation Organization and others.

WHITE HOUSE FIRST EVER TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

November 5, 2009

The White House held the first ever Tribal Nations Summit on November 5, 2009. Invitations were sent to all 564 federally recognized tribes and each tribe could send one representative. Approximately 400 people attended the event held at the Department of Interior. President Obama vowed that there would be no more “going through the motions” and that his administration would face the severe economic and social problems that are the result of centuries of federal abuse and neglect. He has appointed Kimberly Teehee of the Cherokee Nation as his Native American policy advisor and Jodi Gillette of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. He and Secretary Salazar selected Larry Echo Hawk of the Pawnee Nation to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Interior Department.

WEEK OF SPIRITUALITY, VALUES AND GLOBAL CONCERNS

“The Spirit of the UN” Global Peace through Reconciliation

October 26 – 30, 2009

The Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns was created to bring about a culture of peace in which we can address together our common challenges in holistic, positive and transformative ways. The Week’s activities recognizes that spirituality and adherence to universal values (such as those expressed in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) are key to providing solutions to global concerns. Events included a Silent Meditation in the UN Meditation Room; panel discussions and programs on, Reconciliation: A Manifestation of the Science of Consciousness in Everyday Life and Peaceful Action Through Reconciliation.

Sandy Sheridan, Sunray NGO/UN Representative

Ani Tsultrim passed yesterday; please offer prayers

Our dear friend Ani Thupten Tsultrim Wangmo died at 4:20 Sunday evening, eveloped by prayers. Please offer prayers for her an all beings.

We will be offering prayers with Ani Tsultrim and from afar. Those who would like to join in a vigil today are welcome to come to Brown McClay 4 South St Bristol from 2-7pm. The nunnery shrine room is open continuously for you to drop in anytime. Whatever prayers and practices are most meaningful to you are welcome. You can also read from the Tibetan Book of the Dead, practice Amitabha, and her heart practice Vajrasattva.

You can also connect to the Lotsa Helping Hands community here.

Khenmo Drolma
Abbess
Vajra Dakini Nunnery

A personal report from Haiti

Mari Cordes (Dechen Drolkar) is part of a nursing team from Vermont that is helping in Haiti.  She sends us this report.

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

 After much effort organizing transport, gathering more supplies and continuing to develop very important infrastructure and network for this and future teams, working with the Cruz Roja in the Dominican Republic, communicating with Partners in Health in Haiti and our own reconaissance team that struck out ahead of us yesterday, we have joined the rest of our group in a large medical compound in Jimani. Jimani is a border town with Haiti on the western side of the Dominican Republic.


The compound has been established in an area that appears to belong to a church mission. There is a chapel, a larger 2 story building apprx 4000 sq ft. for supplies which currently is the command center and kitchen with food for volunteers, and another building about the same size as command center, called the orphanage.

The orphanage and the chapel are being used for patient care and surgical areas - Dr.s Charrash and Greenhouse performed 8 procedures today in the orphanage, including surgical edebridements. There is also a large tent for med surg care.

I don't yet know how many patients there are but we think more than 500 just in this compound. There are other ORs set up in Jimani as well, but what our recon team learned yesterday is that they are very chaotic. A major part of the chaos in all of these areas and in parts of Haiti is related to the fact that groups of surgeons from Puerto Rico and other countries flocked in to perform very necessary surgeries, had no nurses to provide post surgical care, and had to leave the patients on their own. There are not enough ORs for all of the surgeons, and they were fighting amongst themselves for control of them (of course not our docs). One of the co-directors of this outpost is a Nurse Practitioner - who with her Family Practice MD husband have lived in this area and provided health care to the Haitians for 12 years - said she wouldn't mind if she never saw another surgeon again, the situation was so bad. She said that they were desperate for nurses.

They are incredibly grateful that our team is here; we've already demonstrated to them a high level of skill and integrity, as well as a commitment to work with them into the future by rotating relief teams into the compound. They are relieved that we are completely self sufficient, and incredibly well organized and supplied with selfcare items (e.g. food and water) and telecommunications. They repeatedly called our group "a blessing".

Part of our team is already at work on 12 hour night shifts; the rest of us are resting from the long hard drive with our two rigs across the D.R. (if any of you have driven in a developing country, especially in a border area, you can probably imagine what the roads are like!) - and we'll take the next 12 hour shifts.

Just as we were pulling into the compound and greeting our dear dear Bill Charrash, David Greenhouse, Jeremiah ......and Brian......, an aftershock occurred - terrifying the Haitians in the buildings, causing an instantaneous mass exodus of patients from the 2 story orphanage including 3 patients jumping off of the balcony causing spinal injury and two fractures. Family members - all of the patients have family members with them - were dragging matresses with patients on them down the stairs. We jumped in and helped move patients out of the chapel as well and under the large tent because everyone was so terrified to be in a building.

Most of the patients have crush injuries and amputations. The patients have external fixation, fasciotomies ..... including children. Nearly 100%, according to one of the coordinators here, have some sort of tissue infection because they did not have post operative care. We are concerned about bacterial resistance, too, as the antibiotic administration was very irregular until command center was able to begin establishing standard of care routines for patient care. The NP director has me in line for probable PICC placements on patients that will require Vanco, Ampicillin, etc. - she said that patients arms are getting very chewed up from the meds they are getting. I'm also very concerned about sepsis, and am strategizing providing family members with many alcohol prep pads and swab caps and employing them to guard every access of their loved one's line.

Bill and David were instrumental in creating significant order in pre and post surgical care in the orphanage - they created a wound care center out of chaos. They insured that patients had a translator so that the surgeons could describe what they were going to do before they did it (which definitely has not been standard routine, on top of many of the patients having experienced surgical procedures with minimal or no anesthesia.)

We are so incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing amazing team here, and all of you that are supporting us in your own way (prayers I think must be helping, too). All of us are In very good spirits, everyone gets along fantastically, everyone is very honest and respectful to eachother, and each of us has important and highly relevant skills and experience to bring to every aspect of this mission. We have succeeded in forming the kind of bond with each other that is absolutely essntial in successful disaster management.

But by far - WAY far, the Haitian people are the most amazing of all. They model for us over and over incredible perseverance and hope, even as hell descends upon them again and again. Family members attend to one another so patiently. They are often singing. The children are so beautiful; and yet it is hardest to witness their suffering. Many have a blank look in their eyes that is very painful to see.

It is getting late, and I must sleep and prepare for another long day tomorrow. Know that we feel your love, compassion and support, and it is incredibly important to us, especially because it is helping the Haitians so significantly.

Salud y Solidaridad,

Mari
Sent from my iPhone