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PART 3 IN THE HOLY VICTORIA SERIES

Sakya Buddhism

Holy Victoria: Dharma Centre Victoria celebrates Sakya

ALTERNATIVES TO CHRISTMAS: SAKYA IS ONE OF FOUR LINEAGES IN BUDDHISM, WHICH REVERES SAKYA PANDITA
By Colin Cayer
arts@mondaymag.com

he ornate meditation room at the Victoria Dharma Centre might seem a contradiction to the fundamental teaching point of emptiness. Would you like an apple? Lama Jampa Tenzin extends a bowl of the red fruit. After a second offering, the dismissive, down-to-business air lifts and Tenzin, who goes by Lama Jampa, begins explaining his faith. We are all going to Vancouver. You try ferry. You try helicopter. I try something else. It is a different viewpoint of the same place. From the Buddhism point, this [destination] is emptiness. It is very delicious!

ebrates him. He mastered all of the 10 sciences and he is the only one to have done so. His lesser-used Tibetan name is Kunga Gyaltsen Pal Zangpo. Lama Jampa came to Victoria in 2009 to continue imparting Sakya teachings to the Dharma Centre, established here in 1974. Before that he was in India where he worked with leaders from many other faiths to bring the diverse, and at times volatile population together. Here in Victoria, I think many people are educated. I have met some who speak Tibetan, not so in India. There are so many people and not all can get education. We [different faith leaders] spoke at each others houses [places of worship] and slowly people began to come together.

HONORING A GREAT SAKYA TEACHER

Dharma Centre Victoria will celebrate the most famous and learned of the five founders of the Tibetan Sakya faith on Dec. 27. Sakya is one of four lineages in Buddhism and Lama Jampa beams with pride as he speaks of Sakya Pandita. He is the most famous. Everyone calls him Sakya Pandita, the name given him by the Hindu faith, which also cel-

LIGHT, MEDITATION AND FEAST

The celebration of the great teacher, born in 1142 AD, will take place from 7-10pm at the Maplewood Road centre. Sakya Panditas text, translated as Valid Cognition, is composed entirely in Sanskrit. All Buddhist scholars must study this text and there will be readings from it to commemorate the Sakya holy man. A light offering, reading of the history prayer and poem, yoga
COLIN CAYER

Lama Jampa Tenzin will celebrate one of the founders of the Tibetan Sakya faith Dec. 27 at Dharma Centre Victoria.

and finally meditation during the feast rounds out the nights events. The Tibetan New Year, the largest Buddhist holiday, follows in February. Prayer flags from last year are removed from the Dharma

Centres roof and replaced by the prayer flags for the next year. One flag flies high above the rest honoring the Dalai Lama along with a smoke offering of sandalwood and juniper. Prayers are carried in the smoke and in the swaying of

flags to all who need them. The Dharma Centre is always open to new members, new meditation students and the simply curious. Stop in Monday evenings to learn more or visit www. victoriabuddhistdharmasociety. org. M

McBean juggles mountains both black and pink

LOCAL MUSICIAN MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN
still love to play to one hundred people in Prague whove never heard of our band. For the past decade, McBean has been at the quarter of a century ago, an underage helm of two very different bands with deceptively Stephen McBean similar names. managed to bypass In many ways, Pink Harpos air tight seMountaintops has played the PINK MOUNTAINTOPS curity to see up and friendly, though overshadowed with Himalayan Bear coming bands such as The Melfoothills to the towering Black Fri., Dec. 21 at 7pm vins and The Red Hot Chili PepMountain. Upstairs Cabaret pers, who are now hailed as legWhile Black Mountain (formerly Harpos, ends; on Friday night, McBean has played some of the larg15 Bastion Square) will return to the club, this time est venues on earth, Pink Tickets $15 in advance at as a legend in his own right. All Mountaintops has done much Ditch Records, Lyles Place of the proceeds from The Pink smaller tours throughout and online at rmts.bc.ca or Mountaintops homecoming the Mid-West and down into by phone at 250-386-6121 will go to Autism research. California. All proceeds to the McBeans rise to the top Pink Mountaintops albums Victoria Society for Children has been a long and winding are just as strong, however; with Autism road. Hes played in a number their most recent release, of bands over the years Jerk Outside Love boasts an incredWith a Bomb, Blood Meridian ibly strong track list, which just but it was Black Mountain that launched him out so happens to feature a host of Victorian talent. of tiny clubs and onto some of the worlds largest The choir consists of local musicians such as stages in support of Coldplay. Rachelle Reath, and the album was recorded at the As McBean explains, however, his idea of a good 50/50 by our own Tolan Mcneil. show hasnt really changed all that much. On Friday night, these songs, along with the Sure its great to play huge shows with thou- man who carefully crafted them into the gems sands of people. Its great to feel the energy of that they are, will return to town. It is an event not to many people in one place for one reason, but I be missed. M
arts@mondaymag.com

By Nick Lyons

PROVIDED

Stephen McBean's Pink Mountaintops comes to Upstairs Cabaret Fri., Dec. 21

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