How It All Began
Geshe YongDong (GesheLa) began teaching small groups of students from his home in Courtenay, in 2002. The classes quickly grew from 5 - 8 students, to an average of 10-12 on a weekly basis. One-day workshops held in the tiny living room were added which regularly attracted 15 - 18 students. There were many requests to have a drop-in meditation practice and more workshops.
Several dedicated students and sangha members, committed themselves to pay a monthly annuity towards the rental of a room for a centre. The necessary paperwork was completed to create "Sherab Chamma Ling", and after a long search, our present room was agreed upon. The centre continues to be funded entirely by sangha members. These funds pay the rent and any maintenance items needed for the upkeep of the centre. Without these caring members, our centre would not be a reality.
GesheLa provided the dharma items for the centre; statues, thangkas, and altar objects. Sangha members bought the materials for meditation cushions and got busy cutting and sewing. New paint was donated and others donated their time and effort to do the painting. Friends donated chairs, cups and tea kettles, carpets, and a beautiful hand made wooden seat for GesheLa. The centre did not just happen; it came about through the effort and time of many caring people and continues to flourish because of caring people.
We created the Tibetan Bön Buddhist Society in November 2005. The first AGM was held in February 2007 and an executive was elected. Regular meetings are held every three months and are open to everyone.
Weekly drop-in meditation and teachings are available at the centre as well as a weekly Ngondro practice. Workshops and retreats are head regularly - information on all teachings and events can be viewed on the calendar page of the website.
In addition to teaching at Sherab Chamma Ling, GesheLa travels on a regular basis to teach other groups of students' at different locations on the island. These include groups on Quadra Island (which includes students from Cortez Island), Gabriola Island and Nanaimo. GesheLa also presents talks and teaches day workshops at the Malaspina University in Nanaimo and their campus location in Duncan B.C.
The Centre
At the centre are several dharma items: Tibetan Bön thangkas, Prayer Flags, Practice booklets and wall hangings for sale to students. GesheLa has recorded a few CD's of his teachings and chanting which are also available for students.
The Cd's include:
- Tibetan Bön Three Heart Mantra
- Contents: Teaching and chants
- Ngondro (Preliminary) Practice
- Contents: Teaching and chants
- Introduction to Tibetan Meditation
- Contents: Teaching
- Spirit Chant
- Contents: YungDrung Bön Chants
- Sherab Chamma Tsok
- Contents: Teaching and chants
- Phowa & Bardo Chanting
- Contents: Chants
The Future Of The Centre
The main goal of GesheLa, the Society and sangha members is:
1.) To purchase land and/or buildings to create a Tibetan YungDrung Bön international teaching and retreat centre known as: Sherab Chamma Ling, Tibetan Bö'n Buddhist Centre.
In addition to this, the Society has the following goals:
2.) To create and maintain the teaching and meditation retreat centre, "Sherab Chamma Ling"; to preserve Bön, the native religion of Tibet and its culture; to spread Bön teachings by cultivating practitioners and scholars in the west; and, to support and sustain a Spiritual Director and visiting teachers.
3.) To support and sustain the Spiritual Director/Resident Lama, and visiting teachers.
4.) To serve the community by providing an environment in which members may benefit themselves and others through the teaching and practice of Buddhist philosophies.
5.) To provide opportunities and venues for public worship and observance of religious holidays for practicing Buddhists.
To introduce and broaden Tibetan Bön Buddhism through understanding and undertaking teachings using: Meditation practice; Discussion groups; Dharma classes; Lectures; Community service; and Retreats
Special Thanks & Recognition
A sincere thank you to H.H. Menri Tritzen, H.E. Nangzhig Kabygon Rinpoche, GesehLa's root teacher - Venerable Gyaltshab Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and all the Bön monks of Menri, Nangzhig and Norbutse Monasteries, who have said many chants and prayers and offered good wishes and help in the establishment of this centre.
Dedication
Go-sum dag-pe ge-wa gang-gyi pa
Kham-sum sem-chen nam-gyi don-du ngo
Du-sum sag-pe le-drib kun-jang ne
Ku-sum dzog-pe sang-gye nyur-thob shok