Throughout the year, we kept records of our courses and the students who took part in them. After doing a little analysis of this information, we've put together some details that we thought may be of interest to students and visitors past, present and future. 

Here at Tushita, we are using some of these statistics to inform upcoming decisions in relation to course programming and improvements to the centre, with the aim of continuing to provide a conducive environment for those who wish to learn more about Buddha Dharma. We hope that you will find the following information clear and pleasing to the eye, and that we will see you up here on the blessed hill in 2010.

The report is presented as follows, click on a link to take you directly to each topic, or just keep on reading!

2009 Overview

Our 2009 season ran from February to November, and in those 10 months we held a total of 38 courses and retreats - not too shabby!

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Visitors & Special Guests


Drop-in Visitors

In addition to those who attend our regular courses, here at Tushita there is a consistent flow of drop-in visitors. As well as the daily numbers of passing hikers and those who just come to have a look around, we have regular Movie screenings on Mondays and Fridays at 2pm to which anyone is welcome. We have an excellent library, which is well used throughout the year by students and people staying long-term in the local area. We also have an open door to anyone who wishes to attend any of our regular Pujas or use one of our 3 meditation halls for their own practice. It's impossible to put a figure on the number of drop-in visitors here, but we think it not unreasonable to say that most western tourists who come to Dharamsala/McLeod Ganj come by at least once on their stay.



Guest Teachers and Special Events

Lama Zopa Rinpoche stayed at Tushita twice, for around a month each time! First in March/April, and then again in November/December. These visits were packed with pujas, teachings and surprise events, often in the company of Dagri Rinpoche and Khandro-la! You can see many photos from some of the events in March/April here, here, here and here. And photos from events during Rinpoche's visit in November/December here, here, here and here.

Three Tantric Initiations were held at Tushita in 2009: in May, Dagri Rinpoche conferred the Chenrezig Initiation, principally for those who then went on to do one or more of our annual Nyung Nay sessions, but as is common, many more Buddhist practitioners from the local area attended. Our two other Initiations were for Vajrasattva (in June) and Green Tara (in October). We were incredibly blessed in having both of these ceremonies conferred by Denma Locho Rinpoche. It's difficult to put an estimate on how many people attended these events. Initiations are particularly popular within the local Tibetan community since they are held in the Tibetan language with English translation and we think it conservative to say that a total of around 400 people attended our 3 initiations in 2009.

Our old friend Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron gave two teachings on "Getting to Know your Mind" on the 17th and 18th of May, with around 200 people in attendance each day, and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo gave a wonderful talk on the topic of "The Six Perfections" on September 24th. People were sitting on the steps outside because the Gompa was so full! Photos of Jetsunma's visit are here. Finally, we were honoured to have Geshe Dorjee Damdul (His Holiness the Dalai Lama's main English translator in India) teach 2 sessions on the October 24 - November 2 "Introduction to Buddhism" course and pictures from these events can be seen here.

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On our "Introduction to Buddhism" courses in 2009, our youngest student was 17 years old, and our oldest was 79; that's 62 years of diversity! There was a significant peak in Introductory students born in the 1980s, however, while the mix of age groups among Intermediate Level students was much more even, despite representing almost exactly the same age range. 

This average age increased of course when looking at students on more advanced courses: the average Year of Birth for students on our Intermediate Level Courses in 2009 was 1972, making the average Intermediate Level student 37 years old. 

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Analysis of Students by Gender

Finally, we looked at how many men & women attended our courses:

Many Thanks

So many thanks to all our Teachers and Meditation Leaders in 2009; Glen Svensson, Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi, Geshe Graham Woodhouse, Sister Jotika, Ven. Rita Riniker, Ven. David Lungtok, Ven. Tenzin Tarchen, Hedwig Bakker, Mark Smith, Tim Van der Haegen, and last, but definitely not least, our Resident Teacher in 2008/9, Ven Jampa Dekyi. Without their generosity, discipline, patience, energy, meditation experience and wisdom, 1305 people would not have been able to explore Buddhist wisdom, while our Guest Teachers provided a rich and diverse texture to the year.

Our local staff keep Tushita functioning in a stable environment and we depend on their loyalty and hard work every year. In addition, Tushita has an ongoing need for willing volunteers. In 2009, many people brought enthusiasm, creativity, initiative and plain old hard work and helped Tushita fulfill her aim of providing  a friendly and conducive environment for people of all nationalities and backgrounds to learn about and put into practice the teachings of the Buddha.

Thanks above all go to all our students and visitors. Everybody here at Tushita finds their interest, determination, and openness truly inspiring, we sincerely hope and pray that their experience here will continue to enrich their lives, and in consequence, those of all beings.