Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships - User contributions [en]

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T19:59:32Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

{{SavedApplication
|status=Submitted
|Submissiondate=2026-06-12
|Submissionyear=2026
|page=20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission
|firstname=Madison Marie
|lastname=Foley
|birthdate=1992-10-29
|birthcountry=United States of America
|nationality=United States of America
|street=2100 Dant Blvd
|city=Reno
|stateprov=NV
|postalcode=89509
|country=United States of America
|email=misasonian@gmail.com
|telephone=17757373773
|retreattype=Three-year retreat
|center=Gomde Pyrénées
|centerstreet=Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Pyrenees
|centerstreet2=Mas Can Pere Courreu Route Departementale 13
|centercity=La Bastide
|centerpostalcode=66110
|centercountry=France
|startdate=2026-09-06
|enddate=2029-12-31
|retreatmaster=Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Drupon Lama Tenzin
|retreatadministrator=Mikk Tamme
|retreatadministratoremail=mikk@gomde.fr
|retreatliaison=Mikk Tamme
|retreatliaisonemail=three_year_retreat@gomde.fr
|cvedu=Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Biology
Boise State University Boise, ID 2011-2013

Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Digital Photography and Minor in Spanish
University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 2019-2021
|cvwork=Live in Alzheimer's Caregiver
Santa Rosa, CA August 2025-May 2026
Reference: Ali Babington +1 (510) 301-2347

Workshop Chef Cobitat Natural Building
Reno, NV July 2020- June 2022
Reference: Kyle Isaacksen kisacksen@gmail.com

Head Chef
Thali Indian Cuisine
Reno, NV April 2017- Oct 2019
Reference: Serj Johan (775) 772-8652
|studiedtibetan=No
|spokentibcomprehension=None
|writtentibcomprehension=None
|tibetanrequiredforretreat=Not required
|tibetanretreatparts=Instructions will be given in Tibetan but there will be a translator. The texts and teaching materials are translated to English. Group practices will be chanted in Tibetan. Personal sessions will be chanted in Tibetan or English.
|otherlanguage1=Spanish
|otherlanguage1Prof=Near native command
|introbuddhism=I began studying Buddhism at The Buddhist Summer Studies Program at Gomde California in July 2022. Lama Tsultrim was teaching that summer. He taught on the 37 practices of the Bodhisattva and then we finished the summer with a week long Vajrakilaya retreat.
|refugehistory=I took refuge with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in August 2023.
|formalvows=Yes
|formalvowsdetails=I took the Bodhisattva vow in 2023 with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.
|ngondrocomplete=Yes
|ngondro1=NA
|ngondro1begin=2025-01-01
|ngondro1end=2026-06-01
|ngondro2=NA
|ngondro2begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro2end=2026-06-01
|ngondro3=NA
|ngondro3begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro3end=2026-06-01
|ngondro4=NA
|ngondro4begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro4end=2026-06-01
|ngondro5=NA
|ngondro5begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro5end=2026-06-01
|ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro, the page wouldn't let me submit without selecting something. It wouldn't let me select 'NO'. Please disregard the dates. When I asked Rinpoche about beginning the Ngondro, he instructed me to wait, and to focus solely on Dharma service. His words were "Do one thing at a time, first serve, then you will generate the merit to be able to practice." The preliminaries are part of the Three Year Retreat and we will begin January 2027 with detailed instructions from Lama Tenzin, which is ideal.
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes
|previousretreatsdetails=This is really a Yes/No answer. I have not officially completed a group or private retreat as a full participant, but I have participated in many retreats beginning in 2022 as a Dharma volunteer. I attached my "dharma resume". Due to volunteering at the Gomdes, I have been able to take part in many daily sessions as well as teachings and instructions from some amazing Lamas and Teachers. I became a resident at Gomde California in 2022, so I was also able to take part in the daily morning and evening sessions there for many years, and during the down time I would also spend my free time doing formal sessions. So although I have not truly practiced the four sessions a day of "one month or longer" these past five years or so I have picked up quite a lot and have practiced in many group sessions by just being part of Gomde's community.
|ynadvstudiesprogs=Yes
|advstudiesprogsdetails=I took part in the Buddhist Studies Summer Program at Gomde California 2022-2025 as a volunteer. I was able to listen in to many teaching sessions. The summer programs were guided by Lama Tsultrim, Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche and other Khenpos and visiting Lamas from the monastery.
|ynofferedservices=Yes
|offeredservicesdetails=Yes, from the moment I connected with the Dharma in 2022, I have been diligently serving the Dharma, Sangha and my Teachers in whatever ways I can. Mostly I have helped in kitchens, but I have also helped in other ways. I worked on the Tech team in Lumbini 2024 and Vietnam 2023 for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's International Seminars. I was also a full-time resident volunteer at Gomde California from 2022-2025 and helped with many day to day operational tasks doing all sorts of things from painting to gardening to lots of cleaning, as well as being their main cook for their yearly retreats, seminars and teachings.
|othercommunitywork=Yes so much community work it is hard to list here! Before coming to the Dharma I was very active in my community in Reno, Nevada, doing all kinds of activist-type things. I was involved in the arts, the food scene (working as chef, advocating for local and sustainably sourced organic food), the sustainability/environmental scene, River Justice (cleaning the Truckee River), Cobitat (A natural Building Workshop that teaches people how to build homes out of Adobe using no-harm building methods), Be the Change Project, and was just a helpful hand to Elders and parents with young children in my community...
|retreatduration=42
|StartFunding=2026-06-01
|EndFunding=2029-12-16
|costestimateCurrency=EUR
|costestimate=32,250
|requestedamountCurrency=EUR
|requestedamount=30,000
|othermoney=Right now my family does not have the means to help pay for retreat. So far I have reached out to close sangha members to help pay for the upfront costs and pre-retreat and have received from generous sponsors a total of $4,900. I have a personal savings account of $6,800.
|letterofmotivation=When I was an angsty thirteen year old, my parents sent me to spend the summer with my God-fearing Grandmother in North Carolina, who promptly signed me up for Bible Study Camp at her local church. While I was begrudgingly walking the few sweaty blocks from her house to the church that very first day, I noticed a book sitting lonely on a bus stop bench. Without thinking, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag.

During the lunch break, I wandered off alone and sat underneath a big tree and began to read. It was a book about the Buddha's life story, from birth to death. I became instantly enthralled by his life and remember relating deeply to how the young Prince felt when he looked outside his privileged castle walls. I had experienced a similar feeling, not finding any of the adults around me to be very happy. I vowed then and there to follow in the Buddha's footsteps and pursue enlightenment.

Much to my Grandmother's dismay, it was not Jesus, but Siddhartha Gautama who I came insistently asking her about. When she had nothing to offer me as far as wisdom goes, I turned to the internet to look up anything I could find about the Buddha. Even as a child, the wish to awaken was inside of my heart, blooming.

When I first met my precious teacher Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, he said to me, "Oh it's you, I know you!" Even though it was the very first time we had met, I felt the exact same way. I burst into tears, and we embraced like old friends. It felt like coming home. I could finally relax. I have been following his instructions and serving his immense activity ever since, and it is my sincere wish to offer my practice to my Teacher and to all beings. Pursuing this retreat is the only way I will possibly feel content in this life and it is my wish to not waste a single moment more of it and to practice with a genuine heart full of love and care.

I am not academic at all, I have no degrees or decoration, I'm not very smart, I do not know any Tibetan and I haven't formally practiced in retreat very much, but I think my application should be considered because of the sincere devotion I have to the dharma, my genuine faith in my Teacher and the correct motivation that drives me to truly want to spend my life practicing and serving. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I want to take part in this retreat so that I can become more kind, calm and clear (like Rinpoche says) and so that I may cut the root that causes harm, and be actually beneficial to the world and everyone I come into contact with.

Thank you so much for considering my application, I am incredibly grateful that this grant exists for people like me who need financial support in order to be able to practice. It would truly be an honor to receive it.
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin
|AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo
|AcceptLetterEmail=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|AcceptLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf
|CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk
|CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme
|CostLetterEmail=mikk@gomde.fr
|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf
|FileHaveCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_CV_Resume.pdf
|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf
|FileHavePhotoUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Photo.jpg
|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Financial_Situation.pdf
|recom1NameFirst=Lama Tenzin
|recom1NameLast=Sangpo
|recom1Email=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|recom1Relate=Retreat Lama
|recom2NameFirst=Sarah
|recom2NameLast=Krings-Lien
|recom2Email=sarahkringslien@gmail.com
|recom2Relate=Friend
}}

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T19:59:31Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

{{SavedApplication
|status=Complete
|Submissiondate=2026-06-12
|Submissionyear=2026
|page=20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission
|firstname=Madison Marie
|lastname=Foley
|birthdate=1992-10-29
|birthcountry=United States of America
|nationality=United States of America
|street=2100 Dant Blvd
|city=Reno
|stateprov=NV
|postalcode=89509
|country=United States of America
|email=misasonian@gmail.com
|telephone=17757373773
|retreattype=Three-year retreat
|center=Gomde Pyrénées
|centerstreet=Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Pyrenees
|centerstreet2=Mas Can Pere Courreu Route Departementale 13
|centercity=La Bastide
|centerpostalcode=66110
|centercountry=France
|startdate=2026-09-06
|enddate=2029-12-31
|retreatmaster=Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Drupon Lama Tenzin
|retreatadministrator=Mikk Tamme
|retreatadministratoremail=mikk@gomde.fr
|retreatliaison=Mikk Tamme
|retreatliaisonemail=three_year_retreat@gomde.fr
|cvedu=Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Biology
Boise State University Boise, ID 2011-2013

Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Digital Photography and Minor in Spanish
University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 2019-2021
|cvwork=Live in Alzheimer's Caregiver
Santa Rosa, CA August 2025-May 2026
Reference: Ali Babington +1 (510) 301-2347

Workshop Chef Cobitat Natural Building
Reno, NV July 2020- June 2022
Reference: Kyle Isaacksen kisacksen@gmail.com

Head Chef
Thali Indian Cuisine
Reno, NV April 2017- Oct 2019
Reference: Serj Johan (775) 772-8652
|studiedtibetan=No
|spokentibcomprehension=None
|writtentibcomprehension=None
|tibetanrequiredforretreat=Not required
|tibetanretreatparts=Instructions will be given in Tibetan but there will be a translator. The texts and teaching materials are translated to English. Group practices will be chanted in Tibetan. Personal sessions will be chanted in Tibetan or English.
|otherlanguage1=Spanish
|otherlanguage1Prof=Near native command
|introbuddhism=I began studying Buddhism at The Buddhist Summer Studies Program at Gomde California in July 2022. Lama Tsultrim was teaching that summer. He taught on the 37 practices of the Bodhisattva and then we finished the summer with a week long Vajrakilaya retreat.
|refugehistory=I took refuge with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in August 2023.
|formalvows=Yes
|formalvowsdetails=I took the Bodhisattva vow in 2023 with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.
|ngondrocomplete=Yes
|ngondro1=NA
|ngondro1begin=2025-01-01
|ngondro1end=2026-06-01
|ngondro2=NA
|ngondro2begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro2end=2026-06-01
|ngondro3=NA
|ngondro3begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro3end=2026-06-01
|ngondro4=NA
|ngondro4begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro4end=2026-06-01
|ngondro5=NA
|ngondro5begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro5end=2026-06-01
|ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro, the page wouldn't let me submit without selecting something. It wouldn't let me select 'NO'. Please disregard the dates. When I asked Rinpoche about beginning the Ngondro, he instructed me to wait, and to focus solely on Dharma service. His words were "Do one thing at a time, first serve, then you will generate the merit to be able to practice." The preliminaries are part of the Three Year Retreat and we will begin January 2027 with detailed instructions from Lama Tenzin, which is ideal.
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes
|previousretreatsdetails=This is really a Yes/No answer. I have not officially completed a group or private retreat as a full participant, but I have participated in many retreats beginning in 2022 as a Dharma volunteer. I attached my "dharma resume". Due to volunteering at the Gomdes, I have been able to take part in many daily sessions as well as teachings and instructions from some amazing Lamas and Teachers. I became a resident at Gomde California in 2022, so I was also able to take part in the daily morning and evening sessions there for many years, and during the down time I would also spend my free time doing formal sessions. So although I have not truly practiced the four sessions a day of "one month or longer" these past five years or so I have picked up quite a lot and have practiced in many group sessions by just being part of Gomde's community.
|ynadvstudiesprogs=Yes
|advstudiesprogsdetails=I took part in the Buddhist Studies Summer Program at Gomde California 2022-2025 as a volunteer. I was able to listen in to many teaching sessions. The summer programs were guided by Lama Tsultrim, Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche and other Khenpos and visiting Lamas from the monastery.
|ynofferedservices=Yes
|offeredservicesdetails=Yes, from the moment I connected with the Dharma in 2022, I have been diligently serving the Dharma, Sangha and my Teachers in whatever ways I can. Mostly I have helped in kitchens, but I have also helped in other ways. I worked on the Tech team in Lumbini 2024 and Vietnam 2023 for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's International Seminars. I was also a full-time resident volunteer at Gomde California from 2022-2025 and helped with many day to day operational tasks doing all sorts of things from painting to gardening to lots of cleaning, as well as being their main cook for their yearly retreats, seminars and teachings.
|othercommunitywork=Yes so much community work it is hard to list here! Before coming to the Dharma I was very active in my community in Reno, Nevada, doing all kinds of activist-type things. I was involved in the arts, the food scene (working as chef, advocating for local and sustainably sourced organic food), the sustainability/environmental scene, River Justice (cleaning the Truckee River), Cobitat (A natural Building Workshop that teaches people how to build homes out of Adobe using no-harm building methods), Be the Change Project, and was just a helpful hand to Elders and parents with young children in my community...
|retreatduration=42
|StartFunding=2026-06-01
|EndFunding=2029-12-16
|costestimateCurrency=EUR
|costestimate=32,250
|requestedamountCurrency=EUR
|requestedamount=30,000
|othermoney=Right now my family does not have the means to help pay for retreat. So far I have reached out to close sangha members to help pay for the upfront costs and pre-retreat and have received from generous sponsors a total of $4,900. I have a personal savings account of $6,800.
|letterofmotivation=When I was an angsty thirteen year old, my parents sent me to spend the summer with my God-fearing Grandmother in North Carolina, who promptly signed me up for Bible Study Camp at her local church. While I was begrudgingly walking the few sweaty blocks from her house to the church that very first day, I noticed a book sitting lonely on a bus stop bench. Without thinking, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag.

During the lunch break, I wandered off alone and sat underneath a big tree and began to read. It was a book about the Buddha's life story, from birth to death. I became instantly enthralled by his life and remember relating deeply to how the young Prince felt when he looked outside his privileged castle walls. I had experienced a similar feeling, not finding any of the adults around me to be very happy. I vowed then and there to follow in the Buddha's footsteps and pursue enlightenment.

Much to my Grandmother's dismay, it was not Jesus, but Siddhartha Gautama who I came insistently asking her about. When she had nothing to offer me as far as wisdom goes, I turned to the internet to look up anything I could find about the Buddha. Even as a child, the wish to awaken was inside of my heart, blooming.

When I first met my precious teacher Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, he said to me, "Oh it's you, I know you!" Even though it was the very first time we had met, I felt the exact same way. I burst into tears, and we embraced like old friends. It felt like coming home. I could finally relax. I have been following his instructions and serving his immense activity ever since, and it is my sincere wish to offer my practice to my Teacher and to all beings. Pursuing this retreat is the only way I will possibly feel content in this life and it is my wish to not waste a single moment more of it and to practice with a genuine heart full of love and care.

I am not academic at all, I have no degrees or decoration, I'm not very smart, I do not know any Tibetan and I haven't formally practiced in retreat very much, but I think my application should be considered because of the sincere devotion I have to the dharma, my genuine faith in my Teacher and the correct motivation that drives me to truly want to spend my life practicing and serving. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I want to take part in this retreat so that I can become more kind, calm and clear (like Rinpoche says) and so that I may cut the root that causes harm, and be actually beneficial to the world and everyone I come into contact with.

Thank you so much for considering my application, I am incredibly grateful that this grant exists for people like me who need financial support in order to be able to practice. It would truly be an honor to receive it.
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin
|AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo
|AcceptLetterEmail=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|AcceptLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf
|CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk
|CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme
|CostLetterEmail=mikk@gomde.fr
|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf
|FileHaveCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_CV_Resume.pdf
|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf
|FileHavePhotoUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Photo.jpg
|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Financial_Situation.pdf
|recom1NameFirst=Lama Tenzin
|recom1NameLast=Sangpo
|recom1Email=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|recom1Relate=Retreat Lama
|recom2NameFirst=Sarah
|recom2NameLast=Krings-Lien
|recom2Email=sarahkringslien@gmail.com
|recom2Relate=Friend
}}

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T19:34:22Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

{{SavedApplication
|status=Complete
|Submissiondate=2026-06-12
|Submissionyear=2026
|firstname=Madison Marie
|lastname=Foley
|birthdate=1992-10-29
|birthcountry=United States of America
|nationality=United States of America
|street=2100 Dant Blvd
|city=Reno
|stateprov=NV
|postalcode=89509
|country=United States of America
|email=misasonian@gmail.com
|telephone=17757373773
|retreattype=Three-year retreat
|center=Gomde Pyrénées
|centerstreet=Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Pyrenees
|centerstreet2=Mas Can Pere Courreu Route Departementale 13
|centercity=La Bastide
|centerpostalcode=66110
|centercountry=France
|startdate=2026-09-06
|enddate=2029-12-31
|retreatmaster=Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Drupon Lama Tenzin
|retreatadministrator=Mikk Tamme
|retreatadministratoremail=mikk@gomde.fr
|retreatliaison=Mikk Tamme
|retreatliaisonemail=three_year_retreat@gomde.fr
|cvedu=Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Biology
Boise State University Boise, ID 2011-2013

Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Digital Photography and Minor in Spanish
University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 2019-2021
|cvwork=Live in Alzheimer's Caregiver
Santa Rosa, CA August 2025-May 2026
Reference: Ali Babington +1 (510) 301-2347

Workshop Chef Cobitat Natural Building
Reno, NV July 2020- June 2022
Reference: Kyle Isaacksen kisacksen@gmail.com

Head Chef
Thali Indian Cuisine
Reno, NV April 2017- Oct 2019
Reference: Serj Johan (775) 772-8652
|studiedtibetan=No
|spokentibcomprehension=None
|writtentibcomprehension=None
|tibetanrequiredforretreat=Not required
|tibetanretreatparts=Instructions will be given in Tibetan but there will be a translator. The texts and teaching materials are translated to English. Group practices will be chanted in Tibetan. Personal sessions will be chanted in Tibetan or English.
|otherlanguage1=Spanish
|otherlanguage1Prof=Near native command
|introbuddhism=I began studying Buddhism at The Buddhist Summer Studies Program at Gomde California in July 2022. Lama Tsultrim was teaching that summer. He taught on the 37 practices of the Bodhisattva and then we finished the summer with a week long Vajrakilaya retreat.
|refugehistory=I took refuge with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in August 2023.
|formalvows=Yes
|formalvowsdetails=I took the Bodhisattva vow in 2023 with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.
|ngondrocomplete=Yes
|ngondro1=NA
|ngondro1begin=2025-01-01
|ngondro1end=2026-06-01
|ngondro2=NA
|ngondro2begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro2end=2026-06-01
|ngondro3=NA
|ngondro3begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro3end=2026-06-01
|ngondro4=NA
|ngondro4begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro4end=2026-06-01
|ngondro5=NA
|ngondro5begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro5end=2026-06-01
|ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro, the page wouldn't let me submit without selecting something. It wouldn't let me select 'NO'. Please disregard the dates. When I asked Rinpoche about beginning the Ngondro, he instructed me to wait, and to focus solely on Dharma service. His words were "Do one thing at a time, first serve, then you will generate the merit to be able to practice." The preliminaries are part of the Three Year Retreat and we will begin January 2027 with detailed instructions from Lama Tenzin, which is ideal.
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes
|previousretreatsdetails=This is really a Yes/No answer. I have not officially completed a group or private retreat as a full participant, but I have participated in many retreats beginning in 2022 as a Dharma volunteer. I attached my "dharma resume". Due to volunteering at the Gomdes, I have been able to take part in many daily sessions as well as teachings and instructions from some amazing Lamas and Teachers. I became a resident at Gomde California in 2022, so I was also able to take part in the daily morning and evening sessions there for many years, and during the down time I would also spend my free time doing formal sessions. So although I have not truly practiced the four sessions a day of "one month or longer" these past five years or so I have picked up quite a lot and have practiced in many group sessions by just being part of Gomde's community.
|ynadvstudiesprogs=Yes
|advstudiesprogsdetails=I took part in the Buddhist Studies Summer Program at Gomde California 2022-2025 as a volunteer. I was able to listen in to many teaching sessions. The summer programs were guided by Lama Tsultrim, Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche and other Khenpos and visiting Lamas from the monastery.
|ynofferedservices=Yes
|offeredservicesdetails=Yes, from the moment I connected with the Dharma in 2022, I have been diligently serving the Dharma, Sangha and my Teachers in whatever ways I can. Mostly I have helped in kitchens, but I have also helped in other ways. I worked on the Tech team in Lumbini 2024 and Vietnam 2023 for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's International Seminars. I was also a full-time resident volunteer at Gomde California from 2022-2025 and helped with many day to day operational tasks doing all sorts of things from painting to gardening to lots of cleaning, as well as being their main cook for their yearly retreats, seminars and teachings.
|othercommunitywork=Yes so much community work it is hard to list here! Before coming to the Dharma I was very active in my community in Reno, Nevada, doing all kinds of activist-type things. I was involved in the arts, the food scene (working as chef, advocating for local and sustainably sourced organic food), the sustainability/environmental scene, River Justice (cleaning the Truckee River), Cobitat (A natural Building Workshop that teaches people how to build homes out of Adobe using no-harm building methods), Be the Change Project, and was just a helpful hand to Elders and parents with young children in my community...
|retreatduration=42
|StartFunding=2026-06-01
|EndFunding=2029-12-16
|costestimateCurrency=EUR
|costestimate=32,250
|requestedamountCurrency=EUR
|requestedamount=30,000
|othermoney=Right now my family does not have the means to help pay for retreat. So far I have reached out to close sangha members to help pay for the upfront costs and pre-retreat and have received from generous sponsors a total of $4,900. I have a personal savings account of $6,800.
|letterofmotivation=When I was an angsty thirteen year old, my parents sent me to spend the summer with my God-fearing Grandmother in North Carolina, who promptly signed me up for Bible Study Camp at her local church. While I was begrudgingly walking the few sweaty blocks from her house to the church that very first day, I noticed a book sitting lonely on a bus stop bench. Without thinking, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag.

During the lunch break, I wandered off alone and sat underneath a big tree and began to read. It was a book about the Buddha's life story, from birth to death. I became instantly enthralled by his life and related deeply to how the young Prince felt when he looked outside his privileged castle walls. I had experienced a similar feeling, not finding any of the adults around me to be very happy. At that moment, a wish to wake up burst into my heart and I vowed then and there that I would follow in the Buddha's footsteps and pursue enlightenment.

Much to my Grandmother's dismay, it was not Jesus, but Siddhartha Gautama who I came insistently asking her about after camp. When she had nothing to offer me as far as wisdom goes, I turned to the internet to look up anything I could find about the Buddha. I even instant messaged my friends back home, stoked to tell them all about what I had discovered. Even then, the wish to awaken was inside of my heart, blooming.

When I first met my precious teacher Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, he said to me, "Oh it's you, I know you!" Even though it was the very first time we had met, I felt the exact same way. I burst into tears, and we embraced like old friends. It felt like coming home. I could finally relax. I have been following his instructions and serving Rinpoche's immense activity ever since, and it is my sincere wish to offer my practice to my Teacher and to all beings. Pursuing the ultimate goal is the only way I will possibly feel content in this life and it is my wish to not waste a single moment more and to practice with a genuine heart full of love and care.

I am not academic at all, I have no degrees or decoration, I'm not particularly bright, I do not know any Tibetan and I haven't formally practiced very much, but I think you should consider my application because of the sincere motivation and my devotion to my Teacher, to the dharma, to the Buddha and to my sangha. I am willing to put up with any discomfort in order to do so, and willing to do whatever it is my Teacher and Lamas instruct me to do in order to cause true benefit. What I do have that will be my greatest strength during retreat is the determination required to do long retreat practice, and the complete and utter faith in the lineage and my Teacher. I have been working diligently these past years in order to generate enough merit in order to be able to practice, and now that the opportunity has arisen for me to finally do so, I really wish to not to squander a single second of it.

Thank you so much for considering my application, I am incredibly grateful that this grant exists for people like me who need financial support in order to be able to practice. It would truly be an honor to receive it.
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin
|AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo
|AcceptLetterEmail=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|AcceptLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf
|CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk
|CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme
|CostLetterEmail=mikk@gomde.fr
|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf
|FileHaveCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_CV_Resume.pdf
|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf
|FileHavePhotoUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Photo.jpg
|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Financial_Situation.pdf
|recom1NameFirst=Lama Tenzin
|recom1NameLast=Sangpo
|recom1Email=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|recom1Relate=Retreat Lama
|recom2NameFirst=Sarah
|recom2NameLast=Krings-Lien
|recom2Email=sarahkringslien@gmail.com
|recom2Relate=Friend
}}

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T19:17:16Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

{{SavedApplication
|status=Saved
|Submissiondate=2026-06-12
|Submissionyear=2026
|firstname=Madison Marie
|lastname=Foley
|birthdate=1992-10-29
|birthcountry=United States of America
|nationality=United States of America
|street=2100 Dant Blvd
|city=Reno
|stateprov=NV
|postalcode=89509
|country=United States of America
|email=misasonian@gmail.com
|telephone=17757373773
|retreattype=Three-year retreat
|center=Gomde Pyrénées
|centerstreet=Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Pyrenees
|centerstreet2=Mas Can Pere Courreu Route Departementale 13
|centercity=La Bastide
|centerpostalcode=66110
|centercountry=France
|startdate=2026-09-06
|enddate=2029-12-31
|retreatmaster=Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Drupon Lama Tenzin
|retreatadministrator=Mikk Tamme
|retreatadministratoremail=mikk@gomde.fr
|retreatliaison=Mikk Tamme
|retreatliaisonemail=three_year_retreat@gomde.fr
|cvedu=Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Biology
Boise State University Boise, ID 2011-2013

Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Digital Photography and Minor in Spanish
University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 2019-2021
|cvwork=WORK EXPERIENCE
Live in Alzheimer's Caregiver
Santa Rosa, CA August 2025-May 2026
Reference: Ali Babington +1 (510) 301-2347

Workshop Chef Cobitat Natural Building
Reno, NV July 2020- June 2022
Reference: Kyle Isaacksen kisacksen@gmail.com

Head Chef
Thali Indian Cuisine
Reno, NV April 2017- Oct 2019
Reference: Serj Johan (775) 772-8652
|studiedtibetan=No
|spokentibcomprehension=None
|writtentibcomprehension=None
|tibetanrequiredforretreat=Not required
|tibetanretreatparts=Instructions will be given in Tibetan but there will be a translator. The texts and teaching materials are translated to English. Group practices will be chanted in Tibetan. Personal sessions will be chanted in Tibetan or English.
|otherlanguage1=Spanish
|otherlanguage1Prof=Near native command
|introbuddhism=I began studying Buddhism at The Buddhist Summer Studies Program at Gomde California in July 2022. Lama Tsultrim was teaching that summer. He taught on the 37 practices of the Bodhisattva and then we finished the summer with a week long Vajrakilaya retreat.
|refugehistory=I took refuge with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in August 2023.
|formalvows=Yes
|formalvowsdetails=I took the Bodhisattva vow in 2023 with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.
|ngondrocomplete=Yes
|ngondro1=NA
|ngondro1begin=2025-01-01
|ngondro1end=2026-06-01
|ngondro2=NA
|ngondro2begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro2end=2026-06-01
|ngondro3=NA
|ngondro3begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro3end=2026-06-01
|ngondro4=NA
|ngondro4begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro4end=2026-06-01
|ngondro5=NA
|ngondro5begin=2025-01-16
|ngondro5end=2026-06-01
|ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro, the page wouldn't let me submit without selecting something! It wouldn't let me select 'NO'. Please disregard the dates. When I asked Rinpoche about beginning the Ngondro, he instructed me to wait, and to focus solely on Dharma service for now. His words were "Do one thing at a time, first serve, then you will generate the merit to be able to practice." The preliminaries are part of the Three Year Retreat and we will begin January 2027 with detailed instructions from Lama Tenzin, which is ideal.
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes
|previousretreatsdetails=This is really a Yes/No answer. I have not officially completed a group or private retreat as a full participant, but I have participated in many retreats beginning in 2022 as a Dharma volunteer. I attached my "dharma resume". Due to volunteering at the Gomdes, I have been able to take part in many daily sessions as well as teachings and instructions from some amazing Lamas and Teachers. I became a resident at Gomde California in 2022, so I was also able to take part in the daily morning and evening sessions there for many years, and during the down time I would also spend my free time doing formal sessions. So although I have not truly practiced the four sessions a day of "one month or longer" these past five years or so I have picked up quite a lot and have practiced in many group sessions by just being part of Gomde's community.
|ynadvstudiesprogs=Yes
|advstudiesprogsdetails=I took part in the Buddhist Studies Summer Program at Gomde California 2022-2025 as a volunteer. I was able to listen in to many teaching sessions. The summer programs were guided by Lama Tsultrim, Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche and other Khenpos and visiting Lamas from the monastery.
|ynofferedservices=Yes
|offeredservicesdetails=Yes, from the moment I connected with the Dharma in 2022, I have been diligently serving the Dharma, Sangha and my Teachers in whatever ways I can. Mostly I have helped in kitchens, but I have also helped in other ways. I worked on the Tech team in Lumbini 2024 and Vietnam 2023 for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's International Seminars. I was also a full-time resident volunteer at Gomde California from 2022-2025 and helped with many day to day operational tasks doing all sorts of things from painting to gardening to lots of cleaning, as well as being their main cook for their yearly retreats, seminars and teachings.
|othercommunitywork=Yes so much community work it is hard to list here! Before coming to the Dharma I was very active in my community in Reno, Nevada, doing all kinds of activist-type things. I was involved in the arts, the food scene (working as chef, advocating for local and sustainably sourced organic food), the sustainability/environmental scene, River Justice (cleaning the Truckee River), Cobitat (A natural Building Workshop that teaches people how to build homes out of Adobe using no-harm building methods), Be the Change Project, and was just a helpful hand to Elders and parents with young children in my community...
|retreatduration=42
|StartFunding=2026-06-01
|EndFunding=2029-12-16
|costestimateCurrency=EUR
|costestimate=32,250
|requestedamountCurrency=EUR
|requestedamount=30,000
|othermoney=Right now my family does not have the means to help pay for retreat. So far I have reached out to close sangha members to help pay for the upfront costs and pre-retreat and have received from generous sponsors a total of $4,900. I have a personal savings account of $6,800.
|letterofmotivation=When I was an angsty thirteen year old, my parents sent me to spend the summer with my God-fearing Grandmother in North Carolina, who promptly signed me up for Bible Study Camp at her local church. While I was begrudgingly walking the few sweaty blocks from her house to the church that very first day, I noticed a book sitting lonely on a bus stop bench. Without thinking, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag.

During the lunch break, I wandered off alone and sat underneath a big tree and began to read. It was a book about the Buddha's life story, from birth to death. I became instantly enthralled by his story and related deeply to how the young Prince felt when he looked outside his privileged castle walls. I had experienced a similar feeling, not finding any of the adults around me to be very happy. I also had a deep concern for humanity's situation, for the environment, and beings, especially animals. At that moment, a wish to awaken burst into my heart and I vowed then and there that I would follow in the Buddha's footsteps and pursue awakening.

Much to my Grandmother's dismay, it was not Jesus, but Siddhartha Gautama who I came insistently asking her about that day. When she had nothing to offer me as far as wisdom goes, I turned to the internet to look up anything I could find about the Buddha. I even instant messaged my friends back home, stoked to tell them all about what I found out about enlightenment. Even then, the wish to awaken was inside of my heart, just waiting to bloom.

When I first met my precious teacher Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, he said to me, "Oh it's you, I know you!" Even though it was the very first time we had met, I felt the exact same way. I burst into tears, and we embraced like old friends. It felt like coming home. I could finally relax. I have been following and serving Rinpoche and his immense activity ever since, and it is my sincere wish to offer my practice to my Teacher and to all beings. Pursuing the ultimate goal is the only way I will possibly feel content in this life and it is my wish to not waste a single moment more and to practice with a genuine heart full of love.

I am not academic at all, I have no degrees or decoration, am not particularly bright, I do not know any Tibetan and I haven't formally practiced very much, but I think you should consider my application because of the sincere motivation and my devotion to my Teacher, to the dharma, to the Buddha and to my sangha. I am willing to put up with any discomfort in order to do so, and willing to do whatever it is my Teacher and Lamas instruct me to do. What I do have that will be my greatest strength is the grit and determination required to practice in this lineage, and I have complete and utter faith that Rinpoche is guiding my mind. I have been working diligently these past years in order to generate enough merit in order to be able to practice, and now that the opportunity has arisen for me to do so, I really wish to not to squander a single second of it.

Thank you so much for considering my application, I am incredibly grateful that this grant exists for people like me who need financial support in order to be able to practice. It would truly be an honor to receive it.
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin
|AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo
|AcceptLetterEmail=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|AcceptLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf
|CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk
|CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme
|CostLetterEmail=mikk@gomde.fr
|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf
|FileHaveCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_CV_Resume.pdf
|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf
|FileHavePhotoUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Photo.jpg
|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Financial_Situation.pdf
|recom1NameFirst=Lama Tenzin
|recom1NameLast=Sangpo
|recom1Email=lamatenzinsangpo@gmail.com
|recom1Relate=Retreat Lama
|recom2NameFirst=Sarah
|recom2NameLast=Krings-Lien
|recom2Email=sarahkringslien@gmail.com
|recom2Relate=Friend
}}

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T18:19:11Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:33:34Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:28:33Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:20:37Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:16:14Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:13:10Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:09:38Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:03:25Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:03:06Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:02:52Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:02:35Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:02:12Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:01:54Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:00:45Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T17:00:07Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:59:38Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:53:18Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:50:16Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:48:06Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:46:31Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:45:12Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T16:45:04Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:44:33Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:44:03Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:41:20Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:40:53Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:39:17Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:38:06Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:36:59Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T13:33:22Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:50:31Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:49:54Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:49:14Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:45:13Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:43:12Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:41:38Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:41:18Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:39:27Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission

2026-06-16T11:38:32Z

Madison Marie.Foley: User:Madison Marie.Foley

{{SavedApplication
|status=FirstSave
|Submissiondate=2026-06-12
|Submissionyear=2026
|firstname=Madison Marie
|lastname=Foley
|birthdate=1992-10-29
|birthcountry=United States of America
|nationality=United States of America
|street=2100 Dant Blvd
|city=Reno
|stateprov=NV
|postalcode=89509
|country=United States of America
|email=misasonian@gmail.com
|telephone=17757373773
|retreattype=Three-year retreat
}}