Open
Heart
Annual
report 2016
This
year of 2016 has been a busy year for Open Heart, also a year of
great shifts in several ways. Here some impressions.
Bhumis
This
year has been big reg. bhumi openings. Altogether, roughly 120-130
bhumi openings of the sangha members has happened during this year.
That is a big number for such a small group (about 60) of people.
Also about 30 people have gotten awakened this year through Guidance
to Awakening, guided by myself and other teachers.
When
we began this year, there was not one 6th bhumi (with one
exception) in the sangha. Now we have a dozen of them. By December
there has also been six people who have their 11th bhumis
(and more) open. Throughout the year there has been a steady stream
of new bhumi openings in the sangha. This is unusual in the
worldwide scale as far as I am aware. It's wonderful and we're all
feeling it as love and openness. Yes!
Open
Heart becoming international
A
little story. Two years ago in late 2014 I felt very frustrated. I
had been teaching full time for six years but felt that the work and
community was not growing in number, especially abroad. It felt like
something wasn't happening, something wasn't flowing. At the time
there was only 1-2 practitioners from countries other than Finland. I
felt this huge frustration, along with sustaining difficulties with
my family's financial situation and had health problems due to having
to work so much. So I made up my mind. I vowed not to continue my
work unless in two years, until late 2016, there were some clearly
noticeable changes happening. I was dead serious about it.
Then
months passed, and gradually I started getting emails from people in
other countries. During 2016 I've received quite a bit of emails from
all over the world. I was also asked to go to Norway (twice) and New
Zealand to teach Tibetan Heart Yoga. Unfortunately my health didn't
allow the trip to NZ but hopefully it will happen at some time later.
In
January 2017 we will have a weeklong retreat at Tammisaari that will
be joined by people from NZ, Canada, Norway and US, along with Finns.
We have also opened the first ever Open Heart Meditation Center at
Tammisaari which is something that I've dreamed of for years. Our
center is open for anyone to visit, to stay for practice and most
importantly monthly retreats.
Along
these developments the former frustration has been washed away. It
flows now, like a river that has found it's way. The invitation of
Open Heart is clearly out there and is heard by people around the
world.
Not
only that people from other countries are getting awakened through
the guidance and starting to practice THY and dzogchen, in 2017, we
will also have four new THY-teachers in Norway (Karl), United Kingdom
(Rod), Australia (Nathaniel) and New Zealand (Sam). I feel such a
relief, happy and content with these developments. Yay!
Not
making compromises
Having
said that, at the same time, us teachers have been discussing how the
further growth of the sangha will be facilitated by the teachers.
Some time ago, at Teacher's Lounge, I raised the topic of putting a
limit to retreat participants, as well as limiting the maximum number
of course participants. Just saying this not to give the impression
that Open Heart needs to grow to become ”big”. I certainly don't
want OH to become a big worldwide movement of thousands of followers
because that would compromise the essentials such as one-on-one time
with teacher/s which affects how the teachings are understood,
practiced and whether fruits are attained. These are something that I
will not, and should never be compromised. And I feel that it is this
lucid and sincere attitude why our masters keep guiding the OH
Sangha, like giving this group of people an extra push, a bit of
special attention. You can see that directly in bhumi openings and
the depth of our teachings.
I
don't mean that OH would be something completely extraordinary. But I
feel that 1. the method being a complete one and 2. our attitude
being pragmatical without taboos or secrets, without inequality
between anyone including the masters, does make Open Heart special.
These two factors rarely unite in a time like this (dwapara yuga)
that is marked with self-delusion in all possible ways on individual
and communal levels. What in OH might seem special, I feel, should
be the basic standard in any teaching.
Tapping
the potential
Perhaps
I'll continue with some sharing of my personal experiences.
As
the first teacher and spokesperson of Open Heart, I've met not only
positive response from people but also anger, doubt, jealousy and
hatred. I've been publicly called crazy, schizophrenic and whatnot,
sometimes by teachers of other traditions. Name calling doesn't hurt
but the fact that there is a big mushroom*-factor in the dharma scene
is shocking to me. In many dharma circles, if you openly share your
thoughts, talk about your experiences or question the attainments of
saints or lamas, people go nuts and start throwing rocks at you
because there are taboos and questions that you cannot openly ask.
Something that was born out of practical demands has been transformed
into something largely based on religious belief. We all know the ill
history of religion. Both dharma and religion begin in the mind so
that's where the confusion begins. I think understanding this point
well explains why old traditions of what was intended as dharma
eventually brake down, becomes shattered to pieces.
*
mushroom dharma: people, like mushroom, are kept in the dark and fed
with excrement
Unfortunately
many in the world dharma scene are not tapping the potential of our
innate awareness. They are not realising, embodying, manifesting,
connecting and living it. So many people despite of hard work seem
not to get to the fruits. I have received emails from many people who
worked hard in traditional setting but in the end felt that whatever
they were being told to do was not making sense or had much effect.
The
core of this problem is the lack of recognition of our natural state,
awareness itself. There are many factors supporting this lack of
recognition but people being people, with our limited capabilities,
always seem to find ways to externally seem like they are committed
to dharma, that is, the truth of our being, while actually doing a
lot to avoid it. That is how people roll. The result of this is more
of tumbling and turning in the wheel of samsara, in the wheel of
births and deaths of indefinite forms.
For
these reasons, I feel, it is important to carry on what Open Heart
has started to offer some solid and rational dharma-help to beings to
need it.
Open
Heart Meditation Center and Retreats
Our
first center at Tammisaari, Finland, has just been opened. Yes! It is
located at the bottom floor of the building where our family lives
with 130 sq. meters of space, two separate rooms for staying with own
bathrooms, sauna and showers and a spacious kitchen. Anyone is
welcome to come for a short visit or for a longer residential
training with us teachers. Also Karl from Norway is living in the
same building and is helping with many things, also cooking for
retreats.
Since
next January we will have a proper retreat schedule here with 5-7 day
retreats every month and other intensive training, like the upcoming
12-hour Guru Rinpoche Kirtan on New Year. This type of training is
something that I felt working towards for several years. I cannot
tell you how happy I am about this place. One of my dreams come true.
I hope our sangha understands the value of this opportunity. Please
use it now, not later.
Tammisaari
is close to Helsinki so it is easy to come here either by public
transport or by car. I will still keep teaching courses at Helsinki
and other cities in Finland and elsewhere but some of the activities
will be transferred to Tammisaari. The center has been consecrated by
Padmasambhava. You can feel a spiritual charge when you come in.
Training in this place will benefit you immensely. Welcome!
Lama
Tsering's visit
Lama
Tsering is now visiting us from the US. For several months we have
been ”comparing notes” with him, so to speak, trying to make
sense of all of this dharma drama. And I think we are on to
something.
He
will teach courses here in January and February. He is a mahasiddha
and thoroughly trained in Tibetan buddhism, dzogchen and several
other traditions. He has known many of the greatest Tibetan lamas
personally and considers lamas such as Dudjom Rinpoche and Sakya
Trizin to be his close friends. Having the connection and him here is
a unique opportunity. Come see him and join his events!
Best
wishes
I
wish you all the best in your efforts and life in general. Whether
you are part of the Open Heart Sangha or not, please keep up with
your efforts. Essentially we are presence itself in all the beautiful
things. Let's make it clear, a living reality.
May
the New Year bring us all health, comfortable circumstances and
leisure time, so that we may know ourselves as awareness... of love,
connection and kindness.
Namo,
Kim,
20.12.2016
Open
Heart,
