Since the beginning of monsoon, there had been a number of landslides and problems with the phone lines which were damaged by the lightning at least three times in a few weeks. My poor nuns and a handful of monks have been working very hard to repair the burned wires and some of the pipes on Druk Amitabha Mountain. There was also some degree of flooding that we had to stop all the construction work. Insufficient storage for construction materials is also a big problem for us now, as we need a huge place to store the cement and many other kinds of construction materials. But somehow, I believe that we will manage.

Our chairman of First ADC, H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh was very concerned of the progress and preparation and he came personally with a few of his committee members from Bhutan to have a series of meeting with me and my nuns here, who are working so hard to prepare the place for our First ADC. After considering many points, since the construction of guesthouses and several meeting halls have to be delayed due to the recent problems in weather and storage, we feel that it's better to postpone the First ADC to 6th-15th April 2009, with the first two days reserved for meetings of all of us, our Dragon masters, and the representatives of centres and organisations. From 8th to 15th April 2009, there will be forums and teachings by our lineage masters, some of them will be joining in the Chakrasamvara Drubpa to be led by senior monks from the monastic body of Bhutan. I am very happy that the monastic body of Bhutan under the guidance of H.H. Je Khenpo has been by far the most supportive of the First ADC. This is also the reason we have decided to postpone for 3 months so that all the facilities will be completed to host my respected fellow colleagues from Bhutan and of course from India and Tibet.

I am also very happy that the volunteers in Bhutan have been working so hard. I think, among all the volunteers in the First ADC, they are the most active and most enthusiastic. I have not heard much from the rest of the volunteers, I hope everyone is really working like the Bhutanese volunteers who are really one-pointedly dedicating their energy towards the First ADC. I am very proud of them, and I want to thank Khamtrul Rinpoche for leading them on their spiritual path and helping them to direct their energies in the way that will benefit their own spiritual development for this life and the next. Nothing can be more important that developing one's own spirituality.

Many people from many places are telling me how bad the economic situation is, how expensive petrol is, how horrible the political situation is, how terrible their bosses are? I always feel that so long as you have the spiritual strength, the inner strength that comes from the development of your own mind which is primordially the enlightenment, which is the primordially the Great Union or the Great Perfection, then even if the world collapses, even if you lose everything that you have, you will be fine and you will be able to live happily. Of course, this is easier said than done. That's why you need to practise and keep your mind constantly in the presence.

If you look at the topics that we have in the First ADC, I think we are very lucky to have so many of our masters willing to share their wisdom and skills of living in the presence and putting spirituality into daily life and practice. It's not only just a blessing to be able to join together with all these great masters who are trying their best to come and connect with everyone of us, but also it is an effort that everyone needs to make. Every little effort you make gives you every opportunity. I always say, "No Pain No Gain", which is so true, whoever said this must have great wisdom in many ways. Of course, all these teaching sessions are very short but it will give you different points to look at spirituality. Young masters such as Their Eminences Khamtrul Rinpoches, Thuksey Rinpoche, Khamdag Rinpoche, all of them need lots of encouragement from everyone of us. I personally am really looking forward to seeing these younger generation come together and share their views of the world.

I want to thank Liam, the beloved son of Jigme Zangmo, who came several times to help with the design of the multi-purpose assembly hall for the First ADC and for our many future gatherings. I am looking forward to see the finished building and I am confident that it will definitely be a landmark and the pride of our lineage and all of us. Thanks to Philip Senge who also came all the way from Germany to help us organise many things. I hope to see him and his wife soon. We need a lot of professional help to develop Druk Amitabha Mountain for the practitioners and for the newcomers. Lastly, I want to tell you how lucky it is for us to have Joel from Australia who is now almost permanently here in my office. Besides doing retreats under my instructions, his excellent computer skills are making our life so much easier without the viruses and the burned wires.

As you can see now, even a small community like Druk Amitabha Mountain is contributed by different people with different skills. But the most important, I think, is having people with the heart, not only the skills. What's the point of having the skills, but not the heart to help or the sense of responsibility to make sure that things are finished properly? There is no point of having skills without the heart, nothing works that way.

I really feel that in everything that you do, spiritual practice or professional job or even volunteer work, you must do with a sincere and full heart to accomplish the responsibility nicely and not without the sense of responsibility or the sense of love or inspiration for what you are doing. Wouldn't it be really nice if you can use your skills to accomplish something nicely and to benefit others nicely?

Anyway, enough of gossip for tonight. This change in date for the First ADC will definitely make many people very busy to change their flights and holiday schedules. But I am sure everyone will understand that we need to be fully prepared in every way to make the First ADC an event that we are proud to be associated with. Lobsang, my Personal Assistant, will be contacting all my colleagues regarding the change in dates.

So Drubpon Ngawang requested that I should be going to Europe for New Year celebration, and... I have accepted his request. For the time being the teaching tour to America and Europe will have to be rescheduled and I will discuss with Drubpon Ngawang and other centres in America to find out more.

Regarding the South India pilgrimage, I have asked our very efficient Rigzin Namgyal to help with the organising, he has even prepared a website for me. Whoever has time to join, we will meet in South India soon!