The Cycle of Karma is a Bike Fundraising Pilgrimage From Boulder to The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya.
What do compassion, bravery and brother-sisterhood have in common?
Cycle of Karma.
What do you get when you cross a demolished Tibetan monastery, Buddhism in America, and a bunch of road and mountain bikers?
Cycle of Karma.
What do you feel when you are able to help rebuild the demolished monastery with your own personal power?
Peace!
OK, then, let’s ride!
Why: Following the example of the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, who ran 9 fundraising marathons to support the rebuilding of Surmang, his father’s monastery in Tibet, we are raising money for Surmang and Shambhala Mountain Center. We will ride from Boulder, over the Continental Divide, through Vagabond Ranch, to the Stupa, and back to Boulder. Surmang is being rebuilt not only to house and train Buddhist monks and nuns but to serve as a school for local lay people and children. Shambhala Mountain Center, the site of the Great Stupa, helps people from all walks of life to cultivate inner peace through meditation and other retreat practices in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Greg Baca, one of last years riders, says, “Impress your friends, and get rid of negative karma. What excuse do you have? We’ve already heard that one!”
The Ride:Our route last year followed 174 miles of dirt road and single track climbing 23,691 ft.and descending 21,188 ft. In 2010 the route will be adjusted to include more single track and extended to return to Boulder making a complete loop. This year we have a team of road riders follow a new route and we all meet up most evenings. The road route can be viewed on google maps by clicking the following links.
It’s a team/individual event. You can divide the race up amongst your “people”, each person doing a leg of the route, join us for a day or two, or “bring it” and do the whole thing yourself. You plan, purchase, and carry what you need for the day and we all stay at the same location overnight (what a blast!) where dinner/breakfast and beds will be available. We’ll start the route with you, ride the route with you, stay the night with you and get up with you in the morning-but you are in charge of your own Peace (piece) of the ride. We start the ride as One and help each other out as much as possible along the way. As Peace Rider Greg Baca puts it, “This is about being yourself and everybody else at the same time. Being a gate through which energy passes from someone to somebody else. Feeling the burn and going through to the other side. We all have things to rid ourselves of, and as we open ourselves to service to others and even to ourselves, we become able to see ourselves and everything around us more clearly.”
Itinerary:
Sept. 10: Send off ceremony in Boulder to Shoshone Yoga Retreat Center
Sept. 11: Shoshone Yoga Retreat Center to Devil’s Thumb Ranch or nearby house
Sept. 12: Devil’s Thumb Ranch to Vagabond Ranch
Sept. 13: Vagabond Ranch to Nokhu hut
Sept. 14: Nokhu hut to The Great Stupa Of Dharmakaya Sept. 15: Back to Boulder
Cost and Logistics:
Each rider is asked to raise what they can from pledges for their ride. In addition you are responsible for the cost of meals, lodging, and any bike repairs along the way probably in the range of $300-$400. We will help with coordinating lodging reservations. There are no support vehicles and you are responsible to coordinate any shuttle or pick up needs. We will help with gear planning and other logistics in the weeks leading up to the ride. For more details or to sign up contact Josh at joshhw@mac.com.
Pledges:
Pledges of any amount are greatly appreciated. Click here to donate the amount you have pledged to your rider. The Konchok Foundation will forward half the proceeds to Shambhala Mountain Center. Make sure to enter “Bike Pilgrimage” and the name of the rider you wish to support in the “special instructions to merchant” field on the final donation page.
Training:
Prepare for the Peace Ride! Group training rides are over for the summer. Mountain Bikers should be training for 40 mile days with 2000 vertical climbs and %50 singletrack. Road Bikers should be training for 100 mile days with similar or more vertical. We are all in training to be present and love life.
Tell all your friends and for more information email Josh at joshhw@mac.com or Margie at margie1961@netzero.net or Greg at airtime44@comcast.net.
Cycle of Karma
The Cycle of Karma is a Bike Fundraising Pilgrimage From Boulder to The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya.
What do compassion, bravery and brother-sisterhood have in common?
Cycle of Karma.
What do you get when you cross a demolished Tibetan monastery, Buddhism in America, and a bunch of road and mountain bikers?
Cycle of Karma.
What do you feel when you are able to help rebuild the demolished monastery with your own personal power?
OK, then, let’s ride!
Why: Following the example of the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, who ran 9 fundraising marathons to support the rebuilding of Surmang, his father’s monastery in Tibet, we are raising money for Surmang and Shambhala Mountain Center. We will ride from Boulder, over the Continental Divide, through Vagabond Ranch, to the Stupa, and back to Boulder. Surmang is being rebuilt not only to house and train Buddhist monks and nuns but to serve as a school for local lay people and children. Shambhala Mountain Center, the site of the Great Stupa, helps people from all walks of life to cultivate inner peace through meditation and other retreat practices in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Greg Baca, one of last years riders, says, “Impress your friends, and get rid of negative karma. What excuse do you have? We’ve already heard that one!”
The Ride: Our route last year followed 174 miles of dirt road and single track climbing 23,691 ft.
and descending 21,188 ft. In 2010 the route will be adjusted to include more single track and extended to return to Boulder making a complete loop. This year we have a team of road riders follow a new route and we all meet up most evenings. The road route can be viewed on google maps by clicking the following links.
Day 1. Day 2 Mt. Evans option 1 or RMNP option 2. Day 3. Day 4. Day 5. Day 6.
It’s a team/individual event. You can divide the race up amongst your “people”, each person doing a leg of the route, join us for a day or two, or “bring it” and do the whole thing yourself. You plan, purchase, and carry what you need for the day and we all stay at the same location overnight (what a blast!) where dinner/breakfast and beds will be available. We’ll start the route with you, ride the route with you, stay the night with you and get up with you in the morning-but you are in charge of your own Peace (piece) of the ride. We start the ride as One and help each other out as much as possible along the way. As Peace Rider Greg Baca puts it, “This is about being yourself and everybody else at the same time. Being a gate through which energy passes from someone to somebody else. Feeling the burn and going through to the other side. We all have things to rid ourselves of, and as we open ourselves to service to others and even to ourselves, we become able to see ourselves and everything around us more clearly.”
Itinerary:
Sept. 10: Send off ceremony in Boulder to Shoshone Yoga Retreat Center
Sept. 11: Shoshone Yoga Retreat Center to Devil’s Thumb Ranch or nearby house
Sept. 12: Devil’s Thumb Ranch to Vagabond Ranch
Sept. 13: Vagabond Ranch to Nokhu hut
Sept. 14: Nokhu hut to The Great Stupa Of Dharmakaya Sept. 15: Back to Boulder
Cost and Logistics:
Each rider is asked to raise what they can from pledges for their ride. In addition you are responsible for the cost of meals, lodging, and any bike repairs along the way probably in the range of $300-$400. We will help with coordinating lodging reservations. There are no support vehicles and you are responsible to coordinate any shuttle or pick up needs. We will help with gear planning and other logistics in the weeks leading up to the ride. For more details or to sign up contact Josh at joshhw@mac.com.
Pledges:
Pledges of any amount are greatly appreciated. Click here to donate the amount you have pledged to your rider. The Konchok Foundation will forward half the proceeds to Shambhala Mountain Center. Make sure to enter “Bike Pilgrimage” and the name of the rider you wish to support in the “special instructions to merchant” field on the final donation page.
Training:
Prepare for the Peace Ride! Group
training rides are over for the summer. Mountain Bikers should be training for 40 mile days with 2000 vertical climbs and %50 singletrack. Road Bikers should be training for 100 mile days with similar or more vertical. We are all in training to be present and love life.
Tell all your friends and for more information email Josh at joshhw@mac.com or Margie at margie1961@netzero.net or Greg at airtime44@comcast.net.
The Cycle of Karma Team