20260307173933-Zachary-Burgess-Submission: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Older edit

Latest revision as of 15:08, 9 June 2026

Your application is saved. Please login using the credentials sent to you by email to view this page.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{SavedApplication
-|status=Saved
+|status=Checked
 |Submissiondate=2026-03-7
 |Submissionyear=2026
+|page=20260307173933-Zachary-Burgess-Submission
 |firstname=Zachary
 |lastname=Burgess
@@ Line 28: / Line 29: @@
 |retreatliaison=Mikk Tamme
 |[email protected]
-|cvedu=Oakwood Collegiate Institute/Subway Academy 2, High School Graduate 2010
+|cvedu=Oakwood Collegiate Institute/Subway Academy 2, Toronto Ontario
+High School Graduate 2010
-Toronto Ontario
+|cvwork=BBB Architects
-|cvwork=BBB Architects September 2022 - current. Office maintenance
+Office maintenance
+September 2022 - current
 Palmerston Painters
-February 2019- April 2020 House painter
+House painter
+February 2019 - April 2020
 Horseshoe Hill Construction
-November 2018- December 2019 Construction Labour
+Construction Labour
+November 2018 - December 2019
 |studiedtibetan=No
 |spokentibcomprehension=None
@@ Line 47: / Line 51: @@
 |otherlanguage2=English
 |otherlanguage2Prof=Native command
-|introbuddhism=I first began reading books on Buddhism and learning to meditate around 6 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. A little over 5 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 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 little over 3 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 lucky to have had visits from esteemed Lamas as 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 practices (tsog, guru yoga, green tara etc) and leads yearly retreats for phowa and nyugne. For the past three summers, I've attended 1 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 class Lamas, Lama Pasang (ngondro), Lopbon Rabjee (tsa lung) and Lama Tsultrim (khorde rushen.) All of these wonderful Rinpoches, Khenpos and Lamas were trained at Namdrolling monastery under the guidance of renowned Dzogchen master Kyabje Pema Norbu Rinpoche. Without any doubt, coming into contact with Palyul and being able to practice in this lineage has been my greatest fortune in this life. I think that the value in the gift of Vajrayana teaching and practice is beyond all reckoning, its like being given new life.
+|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
@@ Line 53: / Line 57: @@
 |ngondrocomplete=Yes
 |ngondro1=Namcho Ngondro
-|ngondro1begin=2023-07-16
+|ngondro1begin=2023-07-10
 |ngondro1end=2025-06-30
 |ngondro2=Refuge/Bodhicitta
@@ Line 59: / Line 63: @@
 |ngondro2end=2024-03-15
 |ngondro3=Mandala
-|ngondro3begin=2024-03-15
+|ngondro3begin=2024-03-01
 |ngondro3end=2024-05-31
 |ngondro4=Vajrasattva
@@ Line 67: / Line 71: @@
 |ngondro5begin=2025-04-01
 |ngondro5end=2025-06-30
-|ngondronotes=Although I'm not sure I did a very good job with these practices, I can honestly say that doing Ngondro has changed my life. As I gradually went through the accumulations, I slowly gained a more deeply felt confidence in the truth and validity of the teachings, their great relevance to my life, and perhaps some tiny sense of the vast implications of the path of dharma for all beings. On the other hand, I went through various inner and outer challenges during this time and often felt quite muddled. I sometimes also think it would have helped to have studied a little more beforehand. At any rate, I look forward to coming at these practices fresh in the 3 year retreat. Completed 400,000 Vajrasattva accumulations, as per the advice of one of my teachers.
+|ngondronotes=Although I'm not sure I did a very good job with these practices, I can honestly say that doing ngondro has changed my life. As I gradually went through the accumulations, I slowly gained a more deeply felt confidence in the validity of the Vajrayana path. Somehow, it seems like the preliminaries create the kind of circumstance where a new sort of faith in the three jewels, and thus yourself, can arise. On the other hand, I went through a lot of inner and outer challenges during this time and often felt super muddled. I also think it would have helped to have studied a little more beforehand. At any rate, I look forward to coming at these practices fresh during the three-year retreat. (During my ngondro accumulations, I completed 400,000 Vajrasattva accumulations, as per the advice of one of my teachers.)
 |previousretreatscomplete=Yes
-|previousretreatsdetails=For the past three summers I have attended month long retreats at the Palyul retreat centre in upstate NY for Ngondro(2023), Tsa Lung (2024) and Khorde Rushen (2025.)
+|previousretreatsdetails=For the past three summers I have attended month-long retreats at the Palyul retreat centre in upstate NY for ngondro (2023), tsa lung (2024) and khorde rushen (2025).
 |ynadvstudiesprogs=Yes
-|advstudiesprogsdetails=I'm not sure if this counts, but since last September, I've been taking self paced courses on Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's Vajrayana online platform and have completed courses on the view of the 4 sutra schools, Jamgon Kongtrul's text Creation and Completion and the Bodhicaryavatara. These courses have been a great help, clarifying and illuminating many tricky points and deepening my appreciation of the Dharma with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's uniquely accessible and clear explanations and a rich array of supplementary course materials.
+|advstudiesprogsdetails=I'm not sure if this counts, but since last September, I've been taking self-paced courses on Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's Vajrayana online platform and have completed courses on the view of the four sutra schools, Jamgon Kongtrul's text Creation and Completion, and the Essence of the Bodhicaryavatara. These courses have been a great help, clarifying many tricky points and deepening my appreciation of the dharma with Mingyur Rinpoche's uniquely accessible and clear explanations and a rich array of supplementary course materials.
 |ynofferedservices=Yes
-|offeredservicesdetails=Not formally, so again unsure if this counts, only by helping out as a regular at the Toronto Palyul centre and during retreats in general ways, such as cleaning, serving tea etc, offering a song at a celebration at Yangsi Penor Rinpoche's birthday celebration in Toronto and to the Sangha during my first month long retreat at upstate NY.
+|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=2027-01-01
+|StartFunding=2026-06-01
 |EndFunding=2029-12-31
-|costestimateCurrency=USD
+|costestimateCurrency=EUR
 |costestimate=32 250
-|requestedamountCurrency=USD
+|requestedamountCurrency=EUR
-|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 truly be of benefit to others in a vast way. I believe the opportunity to take part in this retreat would be a great help in going in this direction.
+|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.
+While even one month in retreat initially sounded daunting, attending the Palyul summer retreats and practicing at home have gradually instilled in me an aspiration to take part in the traditional three-year retreat. With all the free time and positive circumstances gathered, it's just easier to turn your mind to the dharma than in normal day-to-day life, full as it is with distraction. I am deeply grateful to my teachers for the opportunity that these Palyul retreats have provided; they have truly been life changing and I can't imagine where I'd be without them. At the same time, I've felt increasingly frustrated by the routine grind of life, with a leftover sense of yearning for the more immersive spiritual training that a three-year retreat offers. Tulku Dawa and I discussed it a few times over the past couple of years and he was always supportive of my aspirations.
+In my limited experience, I've sometimes felt a clearer sense of the deluded habitual tendencies that are the driving force behind one's projections and suffering, and along with that has come a deep conviction that this pattern will simply go on endlessly if left unchecked. After a sense of once again being confronted with my own samsaric delusions during a week-long Green Tara retreat in rural Ontario this past September, I felt that now was the time to research the possibility of a three-year retreat more earnestly. Wanting to continue in the Nyingma tradition and having heard that Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche was conducting a retreat in France, I got in touch with the coordinator there. Listening to some of Rinpoche's teachings online, I felt deeply inspired by his clear explanations and evident compassion, and I greatly longed to learn from this master. Also, some time back I had been amazed by his father Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's memoir, Blazing Splendor, which talks a lot about the Chokling Tersar lineage and this increased my interest to do this specific retreat. Bearing in mind the four thoughts, refuge/bodhicitta and the great force of habitual tendency, I believe practicing dharma in long-term retreat to be the ideal way to work with the samsaric state in which I find myself. This retreat in particular would be an amazing opportunity to go deeper into the tradition I feel most connected to, having at this point developed at least a little faith and connection to Guru Rinpoche through the blessings of my Palyul masters.
+Over the New Year's holiday, I spent a week at Gomde Pyrenees while Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche was visiting to open up the then just finishing first three-year retreat. Along with the spiritual impact of meeting Rinpoche and receiving his blessing to take part, it was really helpful to speak with some participants from the first group. The whole experience made me feel much more confident going forward that it is really worthwhile (and actually doable), regardless of whatever challenges one might face. Drupbon Lama Tenzin gave a talk on the history and nitty gritty of three-year retreat and said (roughly) that if by the end we're not realized, there's no need to feel bad; we will know how to practice dharma and be on the path and that's enough. I've kept this in my heart since and consider it the greatest possible privilege to be included within this sacred mandala.
-While even one month in retreat first sounded daunting, doing these summer retreats and practicing at home have gradually instilled in me an aspiration to take part in the traditional three-year retreat. I talked with my teacher in Toronto Tulku Dawa Rinpoche, about it a couple of times and he has been supportive of my aspirations. At the end of September 2025 we did a week-long retreat for Tara practice at Orgyan Osal Cho Dzong, located in an isolated area of eastern Ontario. From the limited practice that I have done, I've sometimes felt as if I was finally becoming slightly aware of beginning less delusion as the driving force behind one's projections and suffering, the sense of the current of ignorance carrying you on and on, not just theoretically and on paper, but what is actually happening, or seems to be anyway, and the endlessly frustrating pain this engenders for all...Somehow during this short time, more than ever, this experience felt vivid and after leaving I felt that now was the time to research the possibility of a three-year retreat more earnestly, while I still could. Wanting to continue in the Nyingma tradition (as far as I know, Palyul is not set up for these in the west) and having heard that Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche was doing one in France, I got in touch with the coordinator there. Listening to some of Rinpoche's teachings online, I felt deeply inspired by his clear explanations and evident compassion and greatly longed to learn from this master. Some time back I had also been inspired by reading his father Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's memoir, Blazing Splendor, which talks a lot about the Chokling Tersar history and this increased my interest to do this specific retreat. Bearing in mind the four thoughts, refuge/bodhicitta and the great force of habitual tendency, I believe practicing dharma in long-term retreat to be the ideal way to work with the samsaric state of delusion in which I find myself and that this retreat in particular would be an amazing opportunity to go deeper into the tradition I feel most connected to.
+Especially as a beginner, the difficulties of trying to balance dharma practice with everyday life's endless demands, complications and confusion are many, and given the drastic state of the world right now, it seems really important to do what you can to try to work with your own ridiculous thoughts and develop at least some basic sense of sanity and compassion. For post-retreat life, my aspiration is that whatever change I've gone through during these few years will help me to more effectively bring compassionate energy and benefit to the world, if only in whichever very small ways I may be capable of, and that I may be somewhat better prepared for death, whenever it may come. I hope to return to playing and writing music (which has been my passion in life), to find some work and, most of all, to try to honor the dharma by practicing what I've been taught to the best of my abilities.
-I spent a week over the new years holiday at Gomde Pyrenees while Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche was visiting to open up the then just finishing first 3 year retreat. This was a great experience even on its own and further cemented my committment to do the retreat if possible. Aside from the spiritual impact of meeting Rinpoche and receiving his blessing to take part, it was also really helpful to speak with some of participants of the first group and this definitely made me feel more confident going forward. Drupbon Lama Tenzin gave a talk on the 3 year retreat and said that if by the end of retreat we're not realized, there's no need to feel bad; we will know how to practice dharma and be on the path and that's enough. I've kept this in my heart since.
+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!)
-We all know the difficulties of trying to balance the spiritual path with everyday life's endless demands, complications and confusion. Especially given the drastic state of the world right now, it seems really important to do what you can to work with your own ridiculous thoughts and try to develop at least some basic compassion and wisdom. Without wanting to be too idealistic about what I may or may not accomplish, I think that being able to receive and practice in a focused manner this cycle of profound terma teachings would be a very meaningful way to spend a few years and would also provide many lifetimes worth of precious pith instructions to reflect and meditate on. Also, while I will greatly miss my Palyul teachers, I can't help but feel that all of these masters speak with one voice and am excited to train in the Chokling Tersar lineage as well.
+Note: I am leaving for France on May 21st. Pre-retreat starts June 1st. Please contact retreat coordinator Mikk Tamme at mikk@gomde.fr or mikk.tamme@gmail.com anytime after June 1st for any further questions/clarifications or to schedule an interview in the fall.
- As far as my personal life goes, I am 34 years old, single and childless. I did not go to post secondary school and have mostly spent my life trying to balance working whatever menial jobs I could get with a passion for songwriting and music recording. In this sense, I am in a good position (if not financially) to do this kind of retreat because I don't have much responsibility at the moment. My family and friends are supportive of my intention, which has been a great blessing, and my dharma friends from the Palyul sangha here and in the States have been incredibly helpful and kind in offering spiritual and financial support. 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 amazing and extremely rare opportunity and I'd be deeply grateful for the support of Tsadra in helping me to do so.Thank you for your time. (Sorry if this is too long!)
+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=2026-05-15_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
+|recom1Email=palyulpemamani@gmail.com
+|recom1Relate=Dharma teacher
+|recom2NameFirst=Heather
+|recom2NameLast=Burgess
+|recom2Email=fibbyb@hotmail.com
+|recom2Relate=Mother
 }}