20250717111050-Amit -Odedra-Submission: Difference between revisions
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
20250717111050-Amit -Odedra-Submission
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{{SavedApplication | {{SavedApplication | ||
|status= | |status=Checked | ||
|Submissiondate=2025-07-17 | |Submissiondate=2025-07-17 | ||
|Submissionyear=2025 | |Submissionyear=2025 | ||
|page=20250717111050-Amit -Odedra-Submission | |||
|firstname=Amit | |firstname=Amit | ||
|lastname=Odedra | |lastname=Odedra | ||
| Line 18: | Line 19: | ||
|retreattype=Three-year retreat | |retreattype=Three-year retreat | ||
|center=Gomde Pyrénées | |center=Gomde Pyrénées | ||
|startdate=2026-09-01 | |centerstreet=Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Pyrénées | ||
|centerstreet2=Mas Can Père Courreu, RD 13 | |||
|centercity=La Bastide | |||
|centerstateprov=Pyrénées-Orientales | |||
|centerpostalcode=66110 | |||
|centercountry=France | |||
|startdate=2026-06-01 | |||
|enddate=2029-12-31 | |||
|retreatmaster=Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Drupön Lama Tenzin Sangpo | |||
|retreatadministrator=Mikk Tamme | |||
|retreatliaison=Mikk Tamme | |||
|cvedu=BSc Chemistry, University of Warwick, 2010 | |||
A level, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, Gateway sixth form college, 2007 | |||
|cvwork=Blacklane GmbH, Berlin, Germany - Partner Manager | |||
January 2019 - June 2022 | |||
BT Plc, Leicester, UK — Call Centre Manager (CCM) | |||
August 2014 - January 2017 | |||
DWP Home Finance Ltd, Leicester — Business Development Manager | |||
November 2011 - June 2014 | |||
|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 have been translated into English. Group practice (twice a month) will be chanted in Tibetan. Individual practice can be Chanted In Tibetan or in English. | |||
Most of the teachings will come from Drupön Lama Tenzin Sangpo, his English is very good and sometimes I feel he does not need a translator. | |||
I personally like to alternate between Tibetan and English, English for the meaning and Tibetan for the blessings. | |||
|otherlanguage1=English | |||
|otherlanguage1Prof=Native command | |||
|otherlanguage2=Gujarati | |||
|otherlanguage2Prof=Excellent command | |||
|otherlanguage3=Hindi | |||
|otherlanguage3Prof=Very good command | |||
|introbuddhism=June 2018, While travelling I ended up at Gomde Pyrenees (GP) as a volunteer, at the start it would of mostly been curiosity based self study and asking senior students of Rinpoche at the center questions informally. | |||
In Sept 2018 Rinpoche came to teach for a few days on Mountain retreat a text by H.H Dudjom Rinpoche, this would of been my first formal Buddhist teaching. | |||
|refugehistory=Sept 2018 With Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche | |||
I am still wearing the protection cord offered to me on that day. | |||
|formalvows=No | |||
|formalvowsdetails=Formally I have not but everyday I recite the concise Bodhisattva vows, arranged by Chatral Rinpoche in the tradition of Patrul Rinpoche. | |||
|ngondrocomplete=Yes | |||
|ngondro1=Künsang Thuktik | |||
|ngondro1begin=2023-01-01 | |||
|ngondro1end=2024-01-28 | |||
|ngondronotes=The Ngöndro was done as part of the 3 year retreat (07/2022-12/2025) | |||
|previousretreatscomplete=No | |||
|previousretreatsdetails=The only retreat I have taken part in is the one I am currently in at GP (07/2022-12/2025). | |||
|ynadvstudiesprogs=No | |||
|ynofferedservices=Yes | |||
|offeredservicesdetails=2018, June - Sept (4 months) GP : As a general volunteer, doing what ever was needed to help the new center get ready for Rinpoche's seminar and the 3 week outer Tara retreat that would follow. Tasks included gardening, cleaning, general construction, setting up the sound and translation equipment, making breakfast etc. | |||
2020 July/Aug few weeks, GP - The center was having issues with their internet connection, being in such a remote location the wired internet was rather slow and temperamental. I took ownership of the project, researched and meticulously looked into all the feasible options. We went with Satellite broadband I arranged for a generous member of the Sangha to donate and install the equipment and I donated the monthly upkeep until the start of my retreat. | |||
|othercommunitywork=- | |||
|retreatduration=40 | |||
|StartFunding=2026-09-01 | |||
|EndFunding=2029-12-31 | |||
|costestimateCurrency=EUR | |||
|costestimate=32,250 | |||
|requestedamountCurrency=EUR | |||
|requestedamount=30,000 | |||
|othermoney=My current retreat July 2022 - Dec 2025 has been funded entirely by Friends, Family and Sangha, many of whom are of limited means and have made considerable sacrifices to support me. Many are practitioners themselves and are not in a position to support me again. I will not burden such generous, kind-hearted people any further, making the Tsadra scholarship vital if I am to continue practicing at Gomde Pyreneese. | |||
|letterofmotivation=I am writing this while in retreat, my first retreat and my introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism. | |||
I have far exceeded my expectations of what is possible. I would like to continue making progress with my mind and continue to do my best to benefit as many beings as possible, doing the next retreat is the best way to make both happen. I sometimes wish I could go back in time and start the retreat with the mind I have now, since this is not possible I have the aspiration to do the next retreat. | |||
The best decision I have ever made was to come do the retreat, I feel I have gotten my life back, I now have direction and purpose, two things that were missing from my life. I hope I am able to repay Rinpoche's kindness, two ways I try to do this is by practicing with the best of my ability and being kind and compassionate to all the beings around me. | |||
The start of the retreat was extremely difficult, everything was so alien and new to me, but with perseverance, dedication and renunciation, I now feel at home and extremely happy at the prospect of doing another 3 year retreat at GP. My mind has changed so much, I do not recognise the person who came here. | |||
I had a very comfortable life before the retreat, good job, my own apartment in a hip neighborhood, great friends but I was hollow inside, always needing external objects to make me happy, be it something to watch, something to drink, eat, somewhere to go, someone to meet, it’s endless. Living like this is not sustainable, reflecting back I think deep down I knew this and that’s why I was able to leave my regular mundane life in pursuit of Dharma. The way I am now, I can just sit by myself and enjoy my own company. | |||
I was so fresh and new to Dharma, I feel i was not fully able to appreciate some of the earlier practices, for example I remember being quite depressed and fearful when contemplating the defects of samsara especially the hell realms, if i was to do the same practice now, the fear and depression will be replaced by compassion and inspiration/motivation to practice. During refuge and bodhicitta I could not let go of the fact that my visualisations were not super HD. Each step of the way I have let go of expectations, rigidity and tightness. I now understand the keys to fruitful practice is a relaxed and calm mind, free of expectations. | |||
I feel I am more kind and compassionate towards others because I have tried to develop a kind and compassionate attitude towards myself. I am much more gentle with myself, for the first time in my life I have a healthy relationship with myself. | |||
Rinpoche has been very kind in sending two masters who are linked to the monastery. In Dec 2022, Khabje Khenpo arrived, he taught me the ABC’s of dharma, that the most important thing is to be a decent person. Khabje Khenpo also helped me to connect with my Indian heritage, something I had not embraced having been born and raised in the UK. I feel more connected than ever to my Indian roots, when the time is right I would love to go on a pilgrimage to the holy sites. | |||
The second master that arrived was Tulku Pasang, in Jan 2025, he came to teach the group Tummo. I was very fortunate I had the opportunity to film him practicing and then ask him questions about the mind, his answers have instilled a confidence that has never left. | |||
Thank you for benefitting so many beings, thank you for taking the time to read my application. | |||
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Please note I have asked Heidi Koppl to write my letter of recommendation because I have been away for so long and she is in the retreat boundary, however since she is a Dharma friend, if her letter is not acceptable please let me know so I can find a replacement. | |||
************************ | |||
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-26_Amit_Odedra_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | |||
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | |||
|AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo | |||
|AcceptLetterPhone=+3725531133 | |||
|FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2025-07-26_Amit_Odedra_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf | |||
|CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk | |||
|CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme | |||
|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133 | |||
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf | |||
|FileHaveCVUpld=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_CV_Resume.pdf | |||
|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf | |||
|FileHavePhotoUpld=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Photo.jpg | |||
|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Financial_Situation.pdf | |||
|recom1NameFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | |||
|recom1NameLast=Sangpo | |||
|recom1Relate=Drupön/Lama/meditation instructor | |||
|recom2NameFirst=Heidi | |||
|recom2NameLast=Koppl | |||
|recom2Relate=Friend | |||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 01:19, 29 July 2025
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