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=Complete | ||
|Submissiondate=2025-07-17 | |Submissiondate=2025-07-17 | ||
|Submissionyear=2025 | |Submissionyear=2025 | ||
| Line 83: | Line 83: | ||
|requestedamount=30,000 | |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. | |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. | |||
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|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-26_Amit_Odedra_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | |FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-26_Amit_Odedra_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | ||
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | |AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | ||
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|CostLetterPhone=+3725531133 | |CostLetterPhone=+3725531133 | ||
|FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2025-07- | |FileHaveEligibilityDocsUpld=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf | ||
|recom1NameFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | |recom1NameFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | ||
|recom1NameLast=Sangpo | |recom1NameLast=Sangpo | ||
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|recom2Relate=Friend | |recom2Relate=Friend | ||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadName- | |FFUploadedFile-UploadName-FileHaveCV=Amit Odedra - CV.pdf | ||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadBase- | |FFUploadedFile-UploadBase-FileHaveCV=amit-odedra-cv | ||
|FFUploadedFile-NewName- | |FFUploadedFile-NewName-FileHaveCV=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_CV_Resume.pdf | ||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadName-FileHaveDharmaCV=Amit Odedra - Dharma CV.pdf | |||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadBase-FileHaveDharmaCV=amit-odedra-dharma-cv | |||
|FFUploadedFile-NewName-FileHaveDharmaCV=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Dharma_Resume.pdf | |||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadName-FileHavePhoto=IMG_20250727_125945.jpg | |||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadBase-FileHavePhoto=img-20250727-125945 | |||
|FFUploadedFile-NewName-FileHavePhoto=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Photo.jpg | |||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadName-FileHaveDescriptFinSit=Financial Situation - Amit Odedra.pdf | |||
|FFUploadedFile-UploadBase-FileHaveDescriptFinSit=financial-situation-amit-odedra | |||
|FFUploadedFile-NewName-FileHaveDescriptFinSit=2025-07-27_Amit_Odedra_-_Financial_Situation.pdf | |||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 13:45, 27 July 2025
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