20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission: Difference between revisions
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
20260612165344-Madison Marie-Foley-Submission
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{{SavedApplication | {{SavedApplication | ||
|status= | |status=Complete | ||
|Submissiondate=2026-06-12 | |Submissiondate=2026-06-12 | ||
|Submissionyear=2026 | |Submissionyear=2026 | ||
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Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Digital Photography and Minor in Spanish | Completed coursework towards Bachelor of Arts In Digital Photography and Minor in Spanish | ||
University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 2019-2021 | University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV 2019-2021 | ||
|cvwork= | |cvwork=Live in Alzheimer's Caregiver | ||
Live in Alzheimer's Caregiver | |||
Santa Rosa, CA August 2025-May 2026 | Santa Rosa, CA August 2025-May 2026 | ||
Reference: Ali Babington +1 (510) 301-2347 | Reference: Ali Babington +1 (510) 301-2347 | ||
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|ngondro5begin=2025-01-16 | |ngondro5begin=2025-01-16 | ||
|ngondro5end=2026-06-01 | |ngondro5end=2026-06-01 | ||
|ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro, the page wouldn't let me submit without selecting something | |ngondronotes=I have not completed the Ngondro, the page wouldn't let me submit without selecting something. It wouldn't let me select 'NO'. Please disregard the dates. When I asked Rinpoche about beginning the Ngondro, he instructed me to wait, and to focus solely on Dharma service. His words were "Do one thing at a time, first serve, then you will generate the merit to be able to practice." The preliminaries are part of the Three Year Retreat and we will begin January 2027 with detailed instructions from Lama Tenzin, which is ideal. | ||
|previousretreatscomplete=Yes | |previousretreatscomplete=Yes | ||
|previousretreatsdetails=This is really a Yes/No answer. I have not officially completed a group or private retreat as a full participant, but I have participated in many retreats beginning in 2022 as a Dharma volunteer. I attached my "dharma resume". Due to volunteering at the Gomdes, I have been able to take part in many daily sessions as well as teachings and instructions from some amazing Lamas and Teachers. I became a resident at Gomde California in 2022, so I was also able to take part in the daily morning and evening sessions there for many years, and during the down time I would also spend my free time doing formal sessions. So although I have not truly practiced the four sessions a day of "one month or longer" these past five years or so I have picked up quite a lot and have practiced in many group sessions by just being part of Gomde's community. | |previousretreatsdetails=This is really a Yes/No answer. I have not officially completed a group or private retreat as a full participant, but I have participated in many retreats beginning in 2022 as a Dharma volunteer. I attached my "dharma resume". Due to volunteering at the Gomdes, I have been able to take part in many daily sessions as well as teachings and instructions from some amazing Lamas and Teachers. I became a resident at Gomde California in 2022, so I was also able to take part in the daily morning and evening sessions there for many years, and during the down time I would also spend my free time doing formal sessions. So although I have not truly practiced the four sessions a day of "one month or longer" these past five years or so I have picked up quite a lot and have practiced in many group sessions by just being part of Gomde's community. | ||
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|letterofmotivation=When I was an angsty thirteen year old, my parents sent me to spend the summer with my God-fearing Grandmother in North Carolina, who promptly signed me up for Bible Study Camp at her local church. While I was begrudgingly walking the few sweaty blocks from her house to the church that very first day, I noticed a book sitting lonely on a bus stop bench. Without thinking, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag. | |letterofmotivation=When I was an angsty thirteen year old, my parents sent me to spend the summer with my God-fearing Grandmother in North Carolina, who promptly signed me up for Bible Study Camp at her local church. While I was begrudgingly walking the few sweaty blocks from her house to the church that very first day, I noticed a book sitting lonely on a bus stop bench. Without thinking, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my bag. | ||
During the lunch break, I wandered off alone and sat underneath a big tree and began to read. It was a book about the Buddha's life story, from birth to death. I became instantly enthralled by his | During the lunch break, I wandered off alone and sat underneath a big tree and began to read. It was a book about the Buddha's life story, from birth to death. I became instantly enthralled by his life and related deeply to how the young Prince felt when he looked outside his privileged castle walls. I had experienced a similar feeling, not finding any of the adults around me to be very happy. At that moment, a wish to wake up burst into my heart and I vowed then and there that I would follow in the Buddha's footsteps and pursue enlightenment. | ||
Much to my Grandmother's dismay, it was not Jesus, but Siddhartha Gautama who I came insistently asking her about | Much to my Grandmother's dismay, it was not Jesus, but Siddhartha Gautama who I came insistently asking her about after camp. When she had nothing to offer me as far as wisdom goes, I turned to the internet to look up anything I could find about the Buddha. I even instant messaged my friends back home, stoked to tell them all about what I had discovered. Even then, the wish to awaken was inside of my heart, blooming. | ||
When I first met my precious teacher Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, he said to me, "Oh it's you, I know you!" Even though it was the very first time we had met, I felt the exact same way. I burst into tears, and we embraced like old friends. It felt like coming home. I could finally relax. I have been following and serving Rinpoche | When I first met my precious teacher Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, he said to me, "Oh it's you, I know you!" Even though it was the very first time we had met, I felt the exact same way. I burst into tears, and we embraced like old friends. It felt like coming home. I could finally relax. I have been following his instructions and serving Rinpoche's immense activity ever since, and it is my sincere wish to offer my practice to my Teacher and to all beings. Pursuing the ultimate goal is the only way I will possibly feel content in this life and it is my wish to not waste a single moment more and to practice with a genuine heart full of love and care. | ||
I am not academic at all, I have no degrees or decoration, | I am not academic at all, I have no degrees or decoration, I'm not particularly bright, I do not know any Tibetan and I haven't formally practiced very much, but I think you should consider my application because of the sincere motivation and my devotion to my Teacher, to the dharma, to the Buddha and to my sangha. I am willing to put up with any discomfort in order to do so, and willing to do whatever it is my Teacher and Lamas instruct me to do in order to cause true benefit. What I do have that will be my greatest strength during retreat is the determination required to do long retreat practice, and the complete and utter faith in the lineage and my Teacher. I have been working diligently these past years in order to generate enough merit in order to be able to practice, and now that the opportunity has arisen for me to finally do so, I really wish to not to squander a single second of it. | ||
Thank you so much for considering my application, I am incredibly grateful that this grant exists for people like me who need financial support in order to be able to practice. It would truly be an honor to receive it. | Thank you so much for considering my application, I am incredibly grateful that this grant exists for people like me who need financial support in order to be able to practice. It would truly be an honor to receive it. | ||
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | |FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2026-06-16_Madison Marie_Foley_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | ||
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin | |AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Lama Tenzin | ||
Revision as of 15:34, 16 June 2026
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