By Ven. Tenzin Legtsok In November 2015, Dutch monk Ven. Tenzin Namdak completed the final exams for the 19-year geshe studies program at Sera Je Monastery in South India. He is perhaps the only Westerner to complete this program from beginning to end at any of the three seats [Sera, Ganden and Drepung Monasteries]. Due […]
Tibetan Year of the Fire Monkey Here is an overview of our 2016 schedule. To find out more about each, including how to register, follow the links! Introduction to Buddhism Courses Intermediate Courses Group practice retreats Special Guest Teachers (and more events on short notice…) Tibetan Buddhist Festival days When you can expect a special […]
During the monsoon months of 2013 Lama Zopa Rinpoche, together with Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche and Khadro la, went for a private retreat to Lahaul. This special area is also called Garsha, The Heart Land of the Dakinis. Back then Rinpoche very kindly invited the Tushita team to visit, and we had some amazing days with […]
Greetings from the Holy Hill As our season comes to an end, we celebrate all that has happened in 2015. We tried to keep it short, but as usual it is difficult with so many merit making Dharma activities happening up here. Tushita Meditation Centre hosted from February to November 2015: All total there were […]
It’s July 1st and here at Tushita Meditation Centre we have finished the first half of our 2015 season and what a first half this was! There was so much going on that we were on our toes all the time and didn’t even have time to write some news snippets. So here, finally, comes […]
Tibetan Year of the Wood Sheep Here is an overview of our 2015 schedule. To find out more about each, including how to register, follow the links! Introduction to Buddhism Courses Intermediate/Advanced Courses Special Annual Course (for those already accepted for ordination) Group practice retreats Special Guest Teachers (and more events on short […]
Greetings from our Director – Anita Kamath Dudhane Tashi Delek Friend, Change and impermanence are the reality of a Dharma centre, with volunteers who come for differing periods of time. Tushita was very lucky to have Linda Gyatso as a director for 5 years and she has left behind a thriving centre; Tushita saw a […]
Since March 2008, when Tushita’s main Gompa first opened its doors, we have been very blessed by several visits from our founder and spiritual director, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche has given extensive advice for the development of Tushita’s main Gompa. As well as the Statue Projects, Rinpoche has given detailed advice on the painting […]
Our last event of the year before we closed for our annual Winter Break was the November 17 – 26 2014 Introduction to Buddhism course, led by Rachel Wryer, pictured above left. The group of 86 wonderfully disciplined students were also very fortunate in receiving a special guest teaching from Serkong Tsenchab Rinpoche on the […]
One of the Lamas closest to Tushita’s heart, Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche, passed away into clear light meditation on Thursday October 23 2014 at his home in McLeod Ganj, after a brief illness. He was 86 years old. Denma Locho Rinpoche was a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist master and one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus. Denma Locho […]
We approach the final project in fulfilling LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE’S VAST VISION FOR TUSHITA’S GOMPA. After the extensive work done on the Gompa Painting Project, the completion of the Lama Tsong Khapa disciple statues and the commission of two further statues of Lama Atisha and Guru Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has advised us to have a large […]
Tushita held an inter-faith event by marking Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jewish people, on the final day of September 27th – October 4th Introduction to Buddhism course, led by Venerable Namgyel (pictured above right). The central themes of Yom Kippur are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy […]
One of Tushita’s happiest developments in recent years has been the deepening of our friendship with Geshe Kelsang Wangmo; Buddhist nun, scholar and teacher – and the first – and currently only – woman to be awarded a Geshe title (only for monastics, it is equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist philosophy), and we were […]
September 5 – 7, 2014: Tushita was host to Gen Gyatso, who led a 3-day non-residential Introduction to Lojong (Mind Training) teaching entitled “Healing the Aching Heart”. Gen-la’s humility, vast knowledge and ability to teach the most difficult subjects of Buddhist Philosophy in simple and understandable ways, make him an extraordinary and loved teacher by […]
Tushita took an unusual break this monsoon, as most of our staff and students attended the Kalachakra Initiation conferred by HH the Dalai Lama in Leh, Ladakh, J&K State, India from July 3 – 14, 2014. During this period, Tushita was closed and there were no courses or drop-in events between these dates. After the initiation in Leh, in order […]
We had such an amazing final week of July at Tushita, hosting the Harmony in Kalachakra intermediate course, a 10-day Introduction to Buddhism course, and a special teaching from Jhado Rinpoche (you can see more about these events in the next news item here). Ending the month in style, we celebrated Buddha’s precious turning of […]
Saka Dawa is one of the most important festival days of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar – celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana! This year Saka Dawa fell on Friday June 13th. To begin the day, we held a butterlamp light offering puja in with our resident “Old Lama Gyupa”, Ven Thubten Dorjee, to make […]
Tushita was deeply honoured to welcome Yangten Rinpoche to confer the Chenrezig Initiation on May 27th 2014, as preparation for our annual series of 8 Nyung Nay Retreats. The first Nyung Nay had 20 hardy participants. We were also profoundly fortunate in having Geshe Kelsang Wangmo translate the initiation from Tibetan into English for us. You […]
It has been a long-term wish for Tushita to be able to improve its personal retreat facilities, to provide more supportive and conducive conditions for practitioners wishing to do personal retreat. We’ve been setting plans for our new Retreat Huts in motion for some time, but construction finally began on Monday April 21st 2014! In accordance […]
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our drop-in Guided Meditation sessions from May 26 – June 15, 2014. The cancellation was decided upon with heavy hearts and our sincere apologies for any disappointment caused, but we just had to be realistic, and focus on quality not quantity. During this period we have restrictions on our space and […]
We were extremely fortunate in being able to spend the weekend in the esteemed company of Jhado Rinpoche. And as if this wasn’t enough, we heard his words in English via the translation skills of the incredible Geshe Kelsang Wangmo! Jhado Rinpoche taught over 3 sessions on the 10th and 11th of May 2014, giving […]
Change and impermanence are the reality of a Dharma centre, with volunteers who come for differing periods of time. In April 2014, the Tushita ship had a change of captain, when Dr Anita Kamath Dudhane joined us, and had the difficult task of replacing the wonderful Linda Gyatso. Linda is pictured above left when she first joined […]
Our dear friend and esteemed guest teacher Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo very graciously gave a public talk on the 4th of April 2014, entitled: “SHAMATHA & The Four Immeasurables”. Whenever Jetsunma visits us we have a full house, and this teaching was no exception, with hundreds of attendees crammed inside our Main Gompa, and others sitting […]
A report on the 2014 Pre-Ordination course by Ani Tenzin Paldron (Julie Thomas) on behalf of the 2014 participants The 2014 Pre-Ordination course began during the auspicious period of the Tibetan New Year (Losar) on the evening of March 4th, 2014 at Tushita. 13 participants (8 women and 5 men) travelled from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, […]
March 16 2014 was the Tibetan festival day of Chotrul Duchen, the full moon day that marks the end of the 15 Days of Miracles and this day is considered to be very auspicious for practice. Buddhists and admirers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the McLeod Ganj area (including Tushita’s staff, volunteers and […]