Buddhism in Dharamsala

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (HHDL)

dalailama.com

Fantastic home page, well maintained and up-to-date. You can find His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s latest news and schedule information, as well as practical advice for attending teachings in McLeod Ganj. This site also has a great photo gallery and video-on-demand web casts of His Holiness’ teachings.

His Holiness usually gives public teachings at His main temple in McLeod Ganj 3 or 4 times a year. Tushita does NOT organise or host HHDL’s teaching events (we wish!), so this site is the best source of information. Even if HHDL is abroad while you plan to be here, it is always worth visiting his temple in McLeod Ganj.

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His Holiness the 17th Karmapa

kagyuoffice.org

HH the Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He lives at Gyuto Tantric College in Sidhbari/Sidhpur and on Wednesdays & Saturdays at 2pm he usually gives public audiences or short teachings (check before you set off from McLeod Ganj – call Gyuto on 01892-235307).

You will need to take your passport to register at least 30 minutes before the audience starts. To get to Gyuto (15 km from McLeod Ganj) take a taxi (500-700Rs, approx 45mins), or alternatively a bus/jeep to Dharamsala (25-50Rs) and one of the frequent buses to Sidhbari (25-50Rs).

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Library of Tibetan Work & Archives (LTWA)

tibetanlibrary.org

The Tibetan Library holds two one-hour weekday classes on specific topics of Buddhist philosophy & practice taught in Tibetan by highly qualified Lamas (and translated into English). Just drop in for a class to get a great taste of a Tibetan Lama teaching!

Classes are from March/April to December on Monday – Friday & every second Saturday: 9:30 – 10:30am & 11 – 12 noon. To get from McLeod Ganj to LTWA, follow Jogibara Road down the hill towards Dharamsala (approx 20mins on foot – faster by rickshaw or taxi for 100Rs)

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Dhamma Sikhara Vipassana Meditation Center

sikhara.dhamma.org

Part of the organisation which offers 10-day courses in Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka. It is possible to take part in these courses in many locations around the world, and in McLeod Ganj from March to November, starting on the 1st & 15th of each month. If you have taken one of their 10-day courses before, you can join morning and evening drop-in meditation sessions.

For more information please check at the Vipassana center office (open every day between 4-5pm) or their websites: listed above & dhamma.org (the international site). The McLeod Ganj Vipassana centre is Tushita’s next-door neighbour! To get there, walk down the driveway out of Tushita towards Dharamkot – you will see their big gate next to the chai-shop.

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Chamtrul Rinpoche

chamtrul-rinpoche.com

Chamtrul Lobsang Gyatso Rinpoche teaches on a different topic of Buddhist philosophy and practice every week (to find out this week’s topic look out for posters in McLeod Ganj). Classes are Monday to Friday from 3 to 5pm at the Bodhicitta Centre, House No.270 on Dharamkot Road (the walking path to Tushita). It is also accessible from TIPA Road, look out for the signs. Classes do not take place during winter or monsoon months.

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Institute for Buddhist Dialectics (IBD)

instituteofbuddhistdialectics.org

An organisation founded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the IBD is affiliated with the College for Higher Tibetan Studies (Sarah College). Since 2004 the Institute has been offering Philosophy classes in English with the amazing teacher Geshe Kelsang Wangmo (originally from Germany, she is the first and so far only female Geshe in the world!).

Geshe-la takes a very scholarly approach, studying a specific, traditional Buddhist text in great depth over a period of several months, so classes are best suited to those intending to study seriously here for some time. 90 minute classes are held 3 times a week – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4pm, within HHDL’s Main Temple complex. Classes are not held all year round, so check the link above for schedule information.

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Tergar Joy of Living Meditation Group

tergar.org/resources/find-a-center-or-group/dharamsala-practice-group/

This group is run by students of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. They meet once a week for 90 minutes, and the session is open to all levels of meditators – beginners to advanced. The group is free and open to all beings.

For more information about the location and other details please see link above.

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Thösamling Nunnery and Institute

thosamling.com

A Rime (non-sectarian) nunnery and institution. They offer nuns and Buddhist lay women the opportunity to live and practice as part of a spiritual community. It runs courses in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy, as well as having a few places to for women to do personal retreat. It located in Sidhpur, near The Karmapa’s Temple (about 45 minutes by taxi from Dharmsala)

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Deer Park Institute

deerpark.in

A Rime (non-sectarian) centre which runs courses and events in the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions. Established in March 2006 on the campus of a former Buddhist institute, it is a project established by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It is located in the Tibetan settlement village of Bir, about 3 hours drive from McLeod Ganj.

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Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery

palpung.org

The seat of the present 12th Kenting Tai Situpa. Students from His branch monasteries travel to Palpung Monastery to study ritual, art, retreat practices and scholarly texts. Sherab Ling often holds closed events for very long-term practitioners and monastics, so do contact the Monastery before visiting to find out what will be accessible.