20260307173933-Zachary-Burgess-Submission: Difference between revisions
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
20260307173933-Zachary-Burgess-Submission
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|ngondro5begin=2025-04-01 | |ngondro5begin=2025-04-01 | ||
|ngondro5end=2025-06-30 | |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 | |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. | ||
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes | |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.) | ||
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|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 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. | ||
|ynofferedservices=Yes | |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 | |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. | ||
|retreatduration=3 years | |retreatduration=3 years | ||
|StartFunding=2027-01-01 | |StartFunding=2027-01-01 | ||
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|letterofmotivation=I have seen for myself that even a small amount of practice and 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. | |letterofmotivation=I have seen for myself that even a small amount of practice and 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. | ||
While even one month in retreat first sounded daunting, doing these summer retreats in upstate NY 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, 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 of one's mental projections and suffering. 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. Wanting to continue in the Nyingma tradition and having heard that Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche was doing a | While even one month in retreat first sounded daunting, doing these summer retreats in upstate NY 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, 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 of one's mental projections and suffering. 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. Wanting to continue in the Nyingma tradition and having heard that Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche was doing a 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 longed to study and practice under the guidance of this genuine master. I had also previously been inspired by reading his father Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's memoir, Blazing Splendor, which talks a lot about the Chokling Tersar lineage and was really interested in possibility of practicing in this lineage. 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. | ||
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 that had been done there. This was | 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 that had been done there. 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 meet and speak with some of participants of the first group and this definitely made me feel more confident going forward. Drupbon Lama Tenzin gave us a talk on the 3 year retreat and said on the subject of expectations 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. | ||
We all know the difficulties of trying to balance the spiritual path with everyday life's endless demands, complications and confusion. Especially with 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 | We all know the difficulties of trying to balance the spiritual path with everyday life's endless demands, complications and confusion. Especially with 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 also train in the Chokling Tersar tradition. | ||
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 an ideal candidate, but I strongly feel that I could make good use of this amazing opportunity and would be deeply grateful for the support of Tsadra in helping me to do so.Thank you! | 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 an ideal candidate, but I strongly feel that I could make good use of this amazing opportunity and would be deeply grateful for the support of Tsadra in helping me to do so.Thank you! | ||
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Revision as of 16:36, 20 March 2026
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