20250801120812-Olof-Axelsson-Submission: Difference between revisions
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
20250801120812-Olof-Axelsson-Submission
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|formalvows=Yes | |formalvows=Yes | ||
|formalvowsdetails=I have taken refuge and bodhisattva vows with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, in October of 2019, during the annual fall seminar. | |formalvowsdetails=I have taken refuge and bodhisattva vows with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, in October of 2019, during the annual fall seminar. | ||
|ngondrocomplete= | |ngondrocomplete=Yes | ||
|ngondronotes=I have started the Ngondro, but I have not been able to complete it yet. I carry the aspiration to do so, and I keep a daily ngondro practice of about an hour | |ngondro1=xyz | ||
|ngondro1begin=2021-02-15 | |||
|ngondro1end=2026-05-30 | |||
|ngondronotes=I have started the Ngondro, but I have not been able to complete it yet. I carry the aspiration to do so, and I keep a daily ngondro practice of about an hour. | |||
|previousretreatscomplete=No | |previousretreatscomplete=No | ||
|previousretreatsdetails=I have not participated in any retreats longer than 10 days. | |previousretreatsdetails=I have not participated in any retreats longer than 10 days. | ||
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|requestedamount=25800 | |requestedamount=25800 | ||
|othermoney=I have savings of around 4000 dollars, as well as money in funds I will utilize. I also plan to work and save money, and reach out to family and friends I know would like to support, even with a small sum. With a contribution from the Tsadra foundation of 80% of the retreat cost, I am confident I can cover the rest myself. | |othermoney=I have savings of around 4000 dollars, as well as money in funds I will utilize. I also plan to work and save money, and reach out to family and friends I know would like to support, even with a small sum. With a contribution from the Tsadra foundation of 80% of the retreat cost, I am confident I can cover the rest myself. | ||
|letterofmotivation=To the respected retreat committee, | |||
I am writing to express my sincere aspiration to participate in the upcoming three-year retreat. Although I first encountered Buddhism as a teenager, it was only about six years ago that this interest began to take root in a more stable and transformative way. Since then, my faith in the Dharma has steadily grown into a deeply anchored commitment. | |||
In 2019, I had the great fortune of receiving teachings from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. One moment in particular left a lasting imprint on my heart. Rinpoche emphasized that truly understanding the Dharma requires learning Tibetan. I felt his words were spoken directly to me. Trusting him completely, I directed all my energy toward this goal. Since then, I have devoted myself to learning Tibetan language and classical Buddhist texts. My studies began with Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryāvatāra and gradually expanded to include works on Madhyamaka, Prajñāpāramitā, and the tantric path of indestructible wakefulness. What I discovered was not just the depth of Tibetan literature, but the profound clarity and beauty of the Dharma itself. Where I had once carried lingering doubts, study and reflection brought a quiet but unwavering confidence: the Dharma truly leaves no question unanswered. | |||
More recently, I’ve begun to serve as a translator, sharing teachings, translating texts, and assisting teachers when possible. This has been deeply fulfilling. At the same time, it has revealed the limits of my own experience. No matter how sincere my intentions or how hard I study, I have come to realize that without a strong foundation in meditative practice and personal realization, it is difficult to convey the heart-meaning of the teachings. Textual understanding, while indispensable, cannot substitute for embodied insight. | |||
It is this recognition that brings me to apply for the three-year retreat. My motivation is simple: I wish to deepen my understanding through direct experience, to soften the grip of afflictions, and to cultivate genuine bodhicitta and wisdom. I have no romantic notions about the retreat—it will be difficult—but I trust that it will be the most meaningful thing I can do with my life at this time. I don’t view this retreat as an endpoint, but as a step on a lifelong path of service and commitment to the Dharma. | |||
In the long run, I hope to serve the sangha and all sentient beings through a combination of practice, study, and translation. Whether by helping make texts available in English, supporting teachers, or simply offering a grounded presence in a sangha, I want my life to be shaped by the Dharma and to offer whatever I can back to the world. I am ready to commit wholeheartedly to this path. | |||
With gratitude and respect, | |||
Olof Axelsson | |||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 11:33, 3 August 2025
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