20250722162536-Victor -Roithmann-Submission: Difference between revisions
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20250722162536-Victor -Roithmann-Submission
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{{SavedApplication | {{SavedApplication | ||
|status= | |status=Checked | ||
|Submissiondate=2025-07-22 | |Submissiondate=2025-07-22 | ||
|Submissionyear=2025 | |Submissionyear=2025 | ||
|page=20250722162536-Victor-Roithmann-Submission | |||
|firstname=Victor | |firstname=Victor | ||
|lastname=Roithmann | |lastname=Roithmann | ||
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|otherlanguage5=Nepali | |otherlanguage5=Nepali | ||
|otherlanguage5Prof=Basic communication skills | |otherlanguage5Prof=Basic communication skills | ||
|introbuddhism=I've first started to study buddhism by myself through books and internet articles at around | |introbuddhism=I've first started to study buddhism by myself through books and internet articles at around 11 years old, soon after when I was 12 I started to do regular Zazen practices at a Sōtō Zen-shu center near my house in Porto Alegre, Brasil, called 'Via Zen' under the guidence of resident Nun Shoden. Soon after that I attended short retreats at the center's rural location, 'Vila Zen' one under the guidance of Coen Roshi, the national supervisor of this specific tradition when I was 14 and later another retreat with 'Via Zen' main teacher, Monk Dengaku at 18 years old. It was only when arriving at Kathmandu though at 19 years old that I took formal refuge and started to devote myself basically full time to pratice and study, starting this process under Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's guidance. | ||
|refugehistory=I first took refuge with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in November 2016 when I was 19 years old. | |refugehistory=I first took refuge with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in November 2016 when I was 19 years old. | ||
|formalvows=Yes | |formalvows=Yes | ||
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|ngondrocomplete=Yes | |ngondrocomplete=Yes | ||
|ngondro1=Not applied - Technical problem | |ngondro1=Not applied - Technical problem | ||
|ngondro1begin=2018-06- | |ngondro1begin=2018-06-10 | ||
|ngondro1end=2025-07-30 | |ngondro1end=2025-07-30 | ||
|ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro yet. I only choose yes since there is a technical problem with this form, I've tried saving it by choosing 'no' but then this section does not appear as completed. | |ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro yet. I only choose yes since there is a technical problem with this form, I've tried saving it by choosing 'no' but then this section does not appear as completed. Since I've also noticed that when saving sometimes the next section information gets errased, I will post my answer to it here as well: I began the Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel Ngöndro in October 2018 after having the wish to do so for over a year and receiving indications that the time was appropriate. I consulted with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, who blessed me and confirmed it would be good to proceed. I then started practicing the long version, accumulating prostrations daily without missing a single day until early 2021. | ||
Retreats and Intensive Practice (2018-2020): In 2018, I did short retreats whenever possible during my studies and learned more about the practice by attending sessions of the month-long Ngöndro retreat at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling in December 2018-January 2019. In summer 2019, I completed a one-month solitary retreat at Asura Cave Practice Center accumulating prostrations. I attended almost the entire one-month Ngöndro retreat in December 2019-January 2020, missing only a few sessions when Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche gave a Phowa retreat simultaneously. During these retreats, we practiced in Ka-Nying Lhakhang guided by Lama Öpak and the monastic community with hundreds of attendees from the local Nepali Sangha, receiving teachings on each Ngöndro part and practicing them together. | |||
Completion and Pause: I finished the prostration accumulations in 2020 during the pandemic in Brazil. However, due to online studies, work commitments, and living with family, I stopped my daily Ngöndro commitment and accumulations. I never stopped my daily samaya commitments of practicing the Gyunkyi Koljang (the concise daily practice of Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel), maintaining daily morning meditation sessions, sometimes embracing the long Ngöndro version without counting accumulations. | |||
Recent Attempts and Future Plans: In 2023, I attempted to start accumulating the 100,000 Bodhicitta but had to set it aside due to demanding M.A. commitments. I focused on studies while maintaining certain practices. As I'm finishing my M.A. thesis in August and joining teachings and retreat at the 3-year retreat site at Gomde Pyrenees with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Drubpön Lama Tenzin Sangpo (for which I received a scholarship), I plan to resume Ngöndro accumulations from late September onwards. | |||
Current Practice Plan: I will follow a model proposed by my teacher Erik Pema Kunsang: doing 10,000 accumulations of each practice cycle and repeating until 5 × 100,000 is completed. I'll start with 10,000 prostrations, and after completing the first 5 × 10,000 cycle, begin with Bodhicitta since I've already completed the prostrations. I plan to do as many cycles before starting the 3-year retreat, hoping to finish the accumulations through committed daily practice sessions and short retreats during 2025 and longer retreats in 2026. | |||
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes | |previousretreatscomplete=Yes | ||
|previousretreatsdetails=I have completed multiple group and individual retreats although most not exceeding two weeks. Regarding those of one month and longer in 2019 I have completed a one-month individual retreat on the Tukdrub Barchel Kunsel Ngondro at Asura Cave Practice center in Parphing in June, and completed a one-month group retreat on the same topic during December 2019 to January 2020. | |previousretreatsdetails=I have completed multiple group and individual retreats although most not exceeding two weeks. Regarding those of one month and longer in 2019 I have completed a one-month individual retreat on the Tukdrub Barchel Kunsel Ngondro at Asura Cave Practice center in Parphing in June, and completed a one-month group retreat on the same topic during December 2019 to January 2020. | ||
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Atlantic Forest Açaí Documentary: | Atlantic Forest Açaí Documentary: | ||
Upon invitation from friend Tomaz Martins, I helped produce a short documentary about the sustainable use of Açaí Jussara in Brazil's heavily deforested Atlantic Forest. I worked on fundraising, conceptual planning, and locating communities for filming. The project aimed to raise awareness about transforming the Açaí palm from an endangered tree (illegally harvested for palm hearts) into a sustainable food source, featuring stories of a former illegal cutter turned local producer and the indigenous community Guyra Nhendu. This work aligns with my belief in finding solutions that promote sustainable human presence while preserving nature in Brazil, where colonial legacies continue driving environmental destruction for agribusiness profits, turning the country into one of the world's largest food commodity exporters while actively promoting hunger among its own population. | Upon invitation from friend Tomaz Martins, I helped produce a short documentary about the sustainable use of Açaí Jussara in Brazil's heavily deforested Atlantic Forest. I worked on fundraising, conceptual planning, and locating communities for filming. The project aimed to raise awareness about transforming the Açaí palm from an endangered tree (illegally harvested for palm hearts) into a sustainable food source, featuring stories of a former illegal cutter turned local producer and the indigenous community Guyra Nhendu. This work aligns with my belief in finding solutions that promote sustainable human presence while preserving nature in Brazil, where colonial legacies continue driving environmental destruction for agribusiness profits, turning the country into one of the world's largest food commodity exporters while actively promoting hunger among its own population. | ||
Rio Grande do Sul Flooding Relief (2024): | Rio Grande do Sul Flooding Relief (2024): | ||
While I was away in Nepal, Rio Grande do Sul was hit by unprecedented flooding caused by global warming, affecting parts of the state totaling roughly the size of England, including 10 days of flooding in areas of my city Porto Alegre. Besides making donations, I helped compile lists of affected marginalized communities - including indigenous communities, Quilombolas (communities formed by fugitive slaves during Brazil's slavery period), and MTST solidarity kitchens - sharing these with friends and Dharma communities in Brazil and abroad for targeted assistance. | While I was away in Nepal, Rio Grande do Sul was hit by unprecedented flooding caused by global warming, affecting parts of the state totaling roughly the size of England, including 10 days of flooding in areas of my city Porto Alegre. Besides making donations, I helped compile lists of affected marginalized communities - including indigenous communities, Quilombolas (communities formed by fugitive slaves during Brazil's slavery period), and MTST solidarity kitchens - sharing these with friends and Dharma communities in Brazil and abroad for targeted assistance. | ||
|retreatduration=43 | |retreatduration=43 | ||
|StartFunding=2026-06-01 | |||
|EndFunding=2029-12-31 | |||
|costestimateCurrency=EUR | |||
|costestimate=37000 | |||
|requestedamountCurrency=EUR | |||
|requestedamount=25,900 | |||
|othermoney=Crowdfunding Initiative: My primary funding strategy involves a crowdfunding campaign in both English and Portuguese. As a symbolic exchange for donations, I will offer a Tibetan language course covering alphabet basics, recitation training, and common vocabulary. For more advanced students, I have compiled an extensive list of useful learning and translation resources. Since teaching Tibetan has been my main occupation for the past 2.5 years, I believe this will be an interesting and valuable addition to the crowdfunding campaign. I plan to promote this through social media and sangha networks. | |||
Having recently received approval to join the retreat while completing my M.A. thesis, I have not yet launched this campaign and cannot predict the exact amount it will raise. | |||
Personal and Family Resources: My family has indicated they could contribute 10-15% of the total retreat costs to help cover any remaining funding gaps after scholarship and crowdfunding efforts. Additionally, I have approximately $2,000 USD in emergency savings that could be accessed if necessary, though I would prefer to preserve this for post-retreat needs. | |||
Funding Request: Given the extremely high costs relative to Brazil's socio-economic reality and our devalued currency against the Euro, and considering that I am just graduating without significant accumulated wealth, I am requesting scholarship support for 70% of the retreat costs (€25,900). Without having such a foundational guarantee, it might not be realistic to proceed with the retreat given the financial constraints. This scholarship would serve as the essential enabler that makes the retreat feasible, while I work to secure the remaining funds through crowdfunding and eventual family support. My goal is to minimize dependence on the scholarship through successful fundraising efforts, with any excess funds from crowdfunding being used to reduce the scholarship requirement, thereby allowing Tsadra Foundation resources to support additional practitioners. | |||
I deeply appreciate your consideration of this application and the opportunity to pursue this transformative practice. | |||
|letterofmotivation=To the Tsadra Foundation Scholarship Committee, | |||
With gratitude for the outstanding contributions to Western contemplative practices this institution has offered, I write to share my heartfelt wish to join the upcoming 3-year retreat at Gomde Pyrenees under the guidance of my teacher, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. | |||
Since a young age, I have felt the call for spiritual practice. In one sense, I was moved by my own personal suffering, and the unnecessary suffering I felt permeated the world. In another sense, I was filled with deep curiosity—I felt there must be more to the ordinary way of seeing life and perceiving reality. This led me to begin meditation practice, at first through books and videos, and later through practicing zazen in the Sōtō Zen-shū tradition. I attended my first retreat at 13 years old, which gave me a taste of practice that had everlasting effects. | |||
After discovering Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling in 2016 at 19 years old and meeting my teachers—Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Phakchok Rinpoche, and Chokling Rinpoche—this experience deeply touched and transformed me. I decided to devote myself full-time to the study and practice of Buddhism, joining RYI and focusing on the Tibetan language, as I felt it could be one of the best ways to contribute to Dharma, especially in Brazil, where we don't have many Tibetan translators. | |||
It was also during this time that I came to know about the existence of three-year retreats through my friendship with previous retreatants and hearing their experiences. From then, I gave rise to the deep aspiration to be able to join one as well. Although aware of impermanence, my goals became clear: to complete my studies at RYI, master the Tibetan language, and engage in a long retreat afterwards. | |||
Now the conditions for this aspiration to be fulfilled are coming together. As I stand to finish over 7 years of study, while still young but having acquired more maturity in my understanding of the Dharma, while my parents are still healthy enough to not need my care, and while purposefully not having immersed myself in marriage and having children, I feel this is the most beneficial and meaningful path I could engage in at this moment—for both myself and others. Following Gampopa's aspiration, I feel my mind has turned towards the Dharma, and now I want to be fully dedicated that it may truly become the path, that it may clear away confusion, dawning as wisdom. There is nothing I long more than to tame this mind and recognize its nature, expanding the qualities of compassion and love. | |||
With all this in mind, I hope that through this retreat I may become more able to benefit others, even if in a small way, in whatever manner possible, or at least cut through as many self-centered habits that can be harmful to any being. | |||
I deeply appreciate the opportunity that is being offered and your time in considering this application. | |||
Victor Algeri Roithmann | |||
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-28_Victor_Roithmann_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | |FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-28_Victor_Roithmann_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | ||
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin | |AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Drubpon Lama Tenzin | ||
|AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo | |AcceptLetterAuthorLast=Sangpo | ||
|AcceptLetterPhone=N/A | |||
|FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2025-07-28_Victor_Roithmann_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf | |FileHaveRetreatBudgCostUpld=2025-07-28_Victor_Roithmann_-_Retreat_Costs.pdf | ||
|CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk | |CostLetterAuthorFirst=Mikk | ||
|CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme | |CostLetterAuthorLast=Tamme | ||
|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133. | |CostLetterPhone=+3725531133 | ||
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2025-08-1_Victor_Roithmann_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf | |||
|FileHaveCVUpld=2025-08-1_Victor_Roithmann_-_CV_Resume.pdf | |||
|FileHaveDharmaCVUpld=2025-08-1_Victor_Roithmann_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf | |||
|FileHavePhotoUpld=2025-07-31_Victor_Roithmann_-_Photo.jpg | |||
|FileHaveDescriptFinSitUpld=2025-08-1_Victor_Roithmann_-_Financial_Situation.pdf | |||
|recom1NameFirst=Lama Maitri | |||
|recom1NameLast=Maite Castellano | |||
|recom1Relate=Kalyāṇamitra | |||
|recom2NameFirst=Tomaz | |||
|recom2NameLast=Martins | |||
|recom2Relate=Friend | |||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 07:32, 5 August 2025
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