New Beginnings!
Dear Kadampa family,
I’d like to thank the academy...whoops different dream ;)
Seriously, it is with great honor, a full heart and a loving dedication to Geshe-la, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and you my amazing Kadampa family, that I accept the position of Center Manager. How auspicious that my first day was July 6, His Holiness’s 80th birthday!
The process afforded me the great opportunity to speak clearly and honestly about why and how I would like to be of benefit to others; I wish everyone that chance in life. With each interview, and they were tough, my passion grew and my nervousness waned. In this calm before the storm of new beginnings, I am serene and my course is set.
Up until 2008, I didn’t read Buddhist texts, nor attend teachings, I simply had a torn out picture from Apple magazine of the Dalai Lama because I loved His peaceful face. By some unique decision, I attended 6 days of teachings by His Holiness in Bethlehem PA. Out of 5000 people that attended the teachings my neighbors at my camp site were David Machles and Karen Mastroianni, lucky me! During the days, I heard words like ‘Bodhisattva’, ‘Bodhicitta’, and ‘Mahayana’ with no clue what they meant. At night David and Karen lovingly answered my questions over shared dinners. I came back to Raleigh, started reading simple Buddhist books then dropped by this place called the Kadampa Center. I made quick friendships and now it is my home with people I affectionately call family. Seven years have gone by and as my practice and dedication grew, my very desire to be a ‘Bodhisattva’ by practicing ‘Bodhicitta’ with ‘Mahayana’ intention grows exponentially daily.
I’ve watched the Kadampa Center grow and change in amazing ways. I now understand how unbelievably blessed we are to have our precious Geshe-la, receive teachings from 2 Geshes and be in the presence of our amazing nuns. Our Center has remarkable karma and we created it together my dear family. To be blessed by the opportunity to spend 2 weeks with Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the LOP retreat every other year, tops our karma off like a billion cherries on a sundae the size of Mount Meru!
The teachings tell us the way to continue to receive these blessings and keep our Center thriving with loving kindness is to be harmonious together. My pledge to YOU as Center Manager is to untiringly work towards this goal. Join me every day in the powerful saying from Shantideva that “Whoever I may meet, may it never be meaningless for them.” With this wish in all our hearts each and every day we can be assured that what Rinpoche taught us “Everything exists on the tip of a wish” we and our Center will continue to be blessed.
After the proverbial ‘wetting of the feet’, I look forward to learning about the volunteers, volunteer leads and the myriad of new folks on a deeper level. This is an exciting time of growth at the Kadampa Center that is why I do not take the daunting task of Center Manager lightly.
In the past I have been an Interior designer, artist, coffee shop owner, piano player, yoga/meditation teacher and organizer. During a tad more than ½ a century, I have tried my best to “leave ‘em better than you find them” as my secret pledge no matter what my career. As I embark on my next path I ask each of you for your support, prayers and patience. I will make mistakes, step on toes and stumble as I find my way. All the while I promise to bring my energy, joyful effort and desire to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes, the Center’s wishes and my own wishes as well to grow the Kadampa Center into an even more thriving and vital Dharma Center.
Big ‘ol love,
Jill
Jill Marie
Center Manager
centermanager@kadampa-center.org
