20260307173933-Zachary-Burgess-Submission: Difference between revisions

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 {{SavedApplication
-|status=Saved
+|status=Checked
 |Submissiondate=2026-03-7
 |Submissionyear=2026
+|page=20260307173933-Zachary-Burgess-Submission
 |firstname=Zachary
 |lastname=Burgess
@@ Line 50: / Line 51: @@
 |otherlanguage2=English
 |otherlanguage2Prof=Native command
-|introbuddhism=I first began reading books on Buddhism and learning to meditate around six years ago. I started with texts like the Dhammapada and some Theravadan sutras, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Robert Thurman's Essential Tibetan Buddhism and a bit later a couple of books by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Around five and a half years ago, I went to a couple of meditation classes at a New Kadampa centre and then attended a meditation course at a local yoga centre. These classes were helpful both in further developing the  routine of a daily meditation practice and in meeting other spiritual seekers. In 2022, I had the good luck to attend a few months of a shamatha class at the Toronto Karma Kagyu centre, taught by a couple of senior western students. This class had a big effect on me, as although I had been drawn to the the Buddhadharma for some time, there was something uniquely powerful about way meditation was taught there; it just felt different. Along with methods for shamatha, we were taught compassion practices like tonglen, which really blew me away and seemed to open things up in a new way. A few years ago, I began to frequent the Palyul Pema Mani Centre here in Toronto. Our resident teacher is Tulku Dawa Rinpoche and, in my time, we have also been very fortunate to have had visits from from highly regarded teachers like Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, Khenpo Kunzang Dechen and Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche. Tulku Dawa regularly gives both formal teachings and personal guidance, grants empowerments, leads us in regular group practice (tsog, guru yoga, green tara etc) and leads yearly retreats for phowa and nyugne. For the past three summers, I've attended month-long retreats at the Palyul retreat centre in upstate NY under the tutelage of Gyang Khang Tulku Rinpoche (empowerments, heart teachings and vows), Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso (heart teachings and vows), Luphug Tulku (ngondro) and Khenpo Tenzin Norgay (tsa lung and khorde rushen) with the indispensable guidance of beloved class lamas, Lama Pasang (ngondro), Lopbon Rabjee (tsa lung) and Lama Tsultrim (khorde rushen.) All of these wonderful teachers were trained at Namdrolling monastery under the guidance of renowned Dzogchen master Kyabje Pema Norbu Rinpoche.
+|introbuddhism=I first began reading books on Buddhism and learning to meditate around six years ago. I started with texts like the Dhammapada and some Theravadan sutras, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Robert Thurman's Essential Tibetan Buddhism and a bit later a couple of books by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Around five and a half years ago, I went to a couple of meditation classes at a New Kadampa centre and then attended a meditation course at a local yoga centre. These classes were helpful both in further developing the  routine of a daily meditation practice and in meeting other spiritual seekers. In 2022, I had the good luck to attend a few months of a shamatha class at the Toronto Karma Kagyu centre, taught by a couple of senior western students. This class had a big effect on me, as although I had been drawn to the the Buddhadharma for some time, there was something uniquely powerful about way meditation was taught there; it just felt different. Along with methods for shamatha, we were taught compassion practices like tonglen, which really blew me away and seemed to open things up in a new way. A few years ago, I began to frequent the Palyul Pema Mani Centre here in Toronto. Our resident teacher is Tulku Dawa Rinpoche and, in my time, we have also been very fortunate to have had visits from from highly regarded teachers like Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, Khenpo Kunzang Dechen and Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche. Tulku Dawa regularly gives both formal teachings and personal guidance, grants empowerments, leads us in regular group practice (tsog, guru yoga, green tara etc) and leads yearly retreats for phowa and nyugne. For the past three summers, I've attended month-long retreats at the Palyul retreat centre in upstate NY under the tutelage of Gyang Khang Tulku Rinpoche (empowerments, heart teachings and vows), Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso (heart teachings and vows), Luphug Tulku (ngondro) and Khenpo Tenzin Norgay (tsa lung and khorde rushen) with the indispensable guidance of beloved class lamas, Lama Pasang (ngondro), Lopbon Rabjee (tsa lung) and Lama Tsultrim (khorde rushen.) All of these wonderful teachers were trained at Namdroling monastery under the guidance of renowned Dzogchen master Kyabje Pema Norbu Rinpoche.
 |refugehistory=In July of 2023 I took refuge with Gyang Khang Tulku Rinpoche.
 |formalvows=Yes
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 |ynofferedservices=Yes
 |offeredservicesdetails=Not formally, so again unsure if this counts, only by helping out as a regular at the local Palyul centre and during retreats in general ways, such as cleaning, serving tea etc, offering a song at a birthday celebration for Yangsi Penor Rinpoche in Toronto and to the Sangha during my first retreat at upstate NY.
+|othercommunitywork=.
 |retreatduration=3 years
 |StartFunding=2026-06-01
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 |costestimate=32 250
 |requestedamountCurrency=EUR
-|othermoney=A handful of dharma friends have kindly offered to help support me throughout the retreat and their contributions add up to about 15, 000 euros. The cost of shrine items (approx 1500 euros) has already been covered from offerings. My parents have generously paid for my flight to Gomde (around 1200 cad.) I am bringing 2100 euros in cash to help with all the extra costs (hygiene items, offerings, medicine, all unexpected/emergency expenses.) This amount came partially from offerings and partially from my savings. I have a little over 6000$ cad in my bank account. The cost of visa renewals will be approx 300 euro/yr and health insurance is approx 500 euro/ yr, which will come from my end. As I need to provide bank statements for the visa renewal process (although my parents are also my guarantors), there is some concern of not letting my account go too low as that could jeprodize my application.
+|requestedamount=18 722
+|othermoney=A handful of dharma friends have kindly offered to help support me throughout the retreat and their contributions add up to about 13 478 euros. The cost of shrine items (approx 1500 euros) has already been covered from offerings. My parents have generously paid for my flight to Gomde (around 1200 cad). I am bringing 2100 euros in cash to help with all the extra costs (hygiene items, offerings, medicine, all unexpected/emergency expenses). This amount came partially from offerings and partially from my savings. I have a little over 6000 cad in my bank account. The cost of visa renewals will be approx 300 euro/yr and health insurance is approx 500 euro/yr, which will come from my end. As I need to provide bank statements for the visa renewal process (although my parents are also my guarantors), there is some concern of not letting my account go too low as that could jeopardize my application.
 |letterofmotivation=I have seen for myself that even a small amount of exposure to the dharma, with limited understanding, can bring great benefit and meaning to life and this gives me confidence that through the Mahayana path one can genuinely be of benefit to others as well. I believe that the opportunity to take part in this retreat would be a great help in going in this direction.
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 In conclusion, I may not be the most experienced or well studied of aspiring practitioners, but still, I think I'd make good use of this precious opportunity and I'd be deeply grateful for the support of the Tsadra Foundation in helping me to do so.Thank you for your time. (Sorry, I know this is a little long!)
-Note: I am leaving for France on May 21st. Pre-retreat starts June 1st. Please contact retreat coordinator Mikk Tamme at [email protected] or [email protected] for any further questions or clarifications after June 1st.
+Note: I am leaving for France on May 21st. Pre-retreat starts June 1st. Please contact retreat coordinator Mikk Tamme at [email protected] or [email protected] anytime after June 1st for any further questions/clarifications or to schedule an interview in the fall.
+Sincerely,
+Zack Burgess
 |FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-05-4_Zachary_Burgess_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf
 |AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin
 |AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo
 |[email protected]
+|AcceptLetterPhone=.
 |FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2026-05-4_Zachary_Burgess_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf
 |CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk
 |CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme
 |[email protected]
+|CostLetterPhone=372 553 1133
+|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2026-05-16_Zachary_Burgess_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf
 |FileHaveCVUpld=2026-05-12_Zachary_Burgess_-_CV_Resume.pdf
-|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2026-04-5_Zachary_Burgess_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf
+|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2026-05-15_Zachary_Burgess_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf
 |FileHavePhotoUpld=2026-04-5_Zachary_Burgess_-_Photo.jpg
+|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2026-05-15_Zachary_Burgess_-_Financial_Situation.pdf
 |recom1NameFirst=Tulku Dawa
 |recom1NameLast=Gyalpo Rinpoche