Property:Letterofmotivation
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
This is a property of type Text.
B
All my life, from a very young age, I have questioned the reason why we are here, our existence in this world, in this life. And collecting all my experiences in this life, they have led me to different answers and to question many other things. Little by little I was collecting information until I had almost completed the puzzle and I saw that the basis of everything is the most tender and pure love. I love unlearning and learning new knowledge and concepts, and applying them through practice.
One of the reasons why I want to do the retreat is because of the practice of silence and introspection, which together make a great symphony. And I am clear that I am in a perfect and beautiful place to carry out this practice. Lana Tsultrim, welcomed us from the beginning with all the love and we thank him very much, he is a great master.
You should consider my request because both my partner (Melizza) and I arrived here with the heart, jumping into the void and having great faith that everything would go well and that it is even better than we could ever imagine. We are very grateful for all this path that we have dared to undertake without fear, openly and that they have told us about your scholarship, it is incredible, because we did not know anything either, we feel very lucky, regardless of what your final decision about our case is . Thanks a lot. +
C
Meeting my beloved Guru, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche was the greatest fortune in my life. Rinpoche, the beginning, middle and end of my path, was the true embodiment of all the qualities and activities of the Buddha, which I hope to draw nearer one day, and to continue on with my aspiration to benefit beings, I wish to do this retreat.
I met Rinpoche at a point in my life where I had been disillusioned by my chosen professional path in Development Aid, which, at its core, had potential, but fell short in its application due to power structures, career plans, numbers, corruption, and mere Тfig leafУ excuses. I had realized that I was powerlessly heading into the wrong direction. And suddenly there was a way to alleviate suffering completely, and even more so Рto uproot its source by purifying the deluded mind from all its obscurations and defilements with its final purpose to unfold boundless qualities and thus able to be of real help to all sentient beings. I had arrived ТhomeУ!
I formally set out on this path with the most precious Vajrayogini practice, and thanks to my GurusХ guidance, blessings, and its profound contemplative technique, I dived over the years a little deeper into the spheres of my mind. Increasingly, I became aware of the source of my suffering and Рeven worse Рthat by which I make others suffer, mostly in hidden ways: my stubborn ego, holding adamantly onto existence and unceasingly defending boundaries, battling and finally either defeating others, or surrendering. At the same time, I became equally sad and desperate seeing others being ТcaughtУ in their egos while due to my own boundaries, and limited through my own projections, not being able to help in a skillful way. Thus, I absolutely need to break down the walls of my ego, so that one day pure loving kindness, compassion, and wisdom arise spontaneously with no more restrictions, or self-concern, but exclusively for the benefit of all. I believe that it is only possible to get anywhere near such high ideals, and break through, or dissolve this endless cycle of ego-strife through long-term retreat.
The last time I saw Rinpoche, his final advice for me was that I have good karma, and that I am a practitioner, thus should do retreat. Hence, my motivation for this retreat is not only trying to break the walls of my ego and continue with the mind work in a much more strict and focused way, and it is not only heeding the advice of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin to enter a long retreat to be of better benefit for the sentient beings. It is equally importantly a sacred practice commitment between my beloved Root Guru and me, to honestly and diligently develop my Yidam practice, and thus fulfill the heart pledge I have given to all sentient beings, that one day I may become of genuine service to the world and all the suffering living beings in it.
Having seen the suffering of the circle of existence, and not having found any other solution for true happiness and freedom, I became inclined towards the Dharma. Now that I have this precious body, the freedom to practise and the precious guidance of qualified Teachers, I must strive for freedom both for myself and for all sentient beings.
I had the wonderful opportunity to receive teachings and to have practised under the close guidance of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche and Rangdrol Rinpoche who have nurtured me as if their only child, tirelessly guiding me with teachings and instructions, ceaselessly.
I have their encouragement, along with the blessings of HH Sakya Trizin and HH Dalai Lama, to continue trying to progress in the Buddha's path, and to do so in three-year retreat situation.
I am surrounded by many favourable circumstances in this blessed place of Dordogne, which is embellished by a fervent and supporting community that devotes their life to the practice, teachings and translation.
It is my deep aspiration to be able to continue practising in retreat as I believe it presents the best conditions for one to study and practise the Buddhadharma for the sake of all sentient beings.
I have saved and worked to earn as much as I could to continue in retreat, but do not have enough to cover fully the expenses.
I need financial support to be able to continue in an uninterrupted way this flow of practice and blessings, being able to serve my Teachers' wishes for the wellfare of the teachings and the beings, wholly, with my body, my speech and my mind. +
I am not so much of an essay writer but can tell you a little about my path.
In 20 years of working in the tourist branch, at some stage I was in Zimbabwe, Africa to help out a group of Dutch travelers who got involved in a severe accident. That in itself was a very rewarding mission to have. At the same time it seemed odd to ФjustХ be there to help those few people in a country full of poverty and sickness.
Simultaneously I went through my own suffering events of life and developed a great interest in understanding why we behave like we do and suffer and keep repeating our habits. It started of a study Psychology.
A few years later I came to India and Nepal.
I got to work for an NGO but that did not seem to be IT, whatever that IT was I was looking for. I had heard of Dalai Lama and meditation from a friend. Hearing the first time a lama (Lama Zopa Rinpoche) asking us to find our mind I was blown away and happily surprised that that is what they do in those monasteries.
In 2009 I started studying and practicing my first preliminaries.
In 2011 I met Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche who I consider my rootguru. Started the Dharmagar and are doing Longchen Nyintik nogdro at the moment.
In 2012 a strong wish for staying focused and not get distracted from the teachings and its message arose. Although wavering, from it sprung the wish to do 3 year retreat. It seems the most sensible thing to do at this stage. It seemed straight away clear that La Bicanderie in Songsten, Chanteloube was the place to do it. (considering the lineage, my budget, and connection).
So I put out my interest to do such a retreat to the center in Chanteloube and beginning of this year they informed me that a new retreat was being planned. I have been asked to do a set of prepatory practices which involved a number of mantra and sutra recitations. This took about 2,5 months to complete.
We are now waiting for the decision when the retreat is starting and who will be attending. 'We have been informed that Tuku Pema Wangyal will most probably not start the retreat before the end of the fall of this year.
We are asked to get the financial side in order before the retreat starts.
I first applied with Khyentse Foundation. This could only be done since half of June. It shows that they can only support per year and suggested to apply with you.
I therefore submit my application to you right now, even though I cannot produce acceptance letter as yet.
I checked with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche if I should do the retreat in february and he told me to JUST DO IT.
Of course I can send you all the other required documents, but have to check with the center whether I can just send you their 18 pages long description of the retreat.
Do you really need a C.V. of my work history?
Can you please already look into my application and tell me what you think? Can I proceed with the application?
Thank you so much.
With warm regards form Bir in India.
Since several years ago I practiced the teachings of DzogchÐn with the Master Namkhai Norbu. But personally I feel that to go deeper in the teachings, to familiarize myself ant to keep me in a state of presence closer to the true nature, I think that is necesary to cut with various activities and vices of samsaric life;in my case I feel it is almost essential to a retreat for a relatively long time. Furthermore, and equally important I do not live in a place near to a Master of the Nygmapa school, and therefore have a relationship with the teacher and be able to receive empowerments, initiations pertinent, and their guide is really difficult in my situation. So I think approaching and retreating living near a True Master is seriously the best way for me to follow dharma. +
Since an early age I was not interested in materialistic values and was really looking for something that had true meaning. I had a feeling that true satisfaction has to do with the mind but did not know what to look for. I struggled with panic attacks and different psychological issues. When I was reading different books about spirituality and encountered something about Buddhism, I felt that it was an authentic path beyond what I had ever thought of. So I decided to go to India and learn meditation. As soon as I began to sit, I knew that it would be worthwhile to spend my whole life doing that. As I went on practicing, panic attacks and other troubles soon stopped. Seeing ordained people, it became clear to me that I wanted to get ordained and dedicate my life for the Dharma.
I first practiced Theravada as an eight-precept nun in Thailand and India but the more I practiced, the more I felt that something was missing; the goal of arhatship was not what I was looking for. I had a longing to take the Bodhisattva vow and meet a teacher who could teach me accordingly, so I went to Nepal to look for a Lama. This is where I met Trulshik Rinpoche and Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and heard about the three-year retreat for the first time. I knew right away that this was what I wanted to do and that these were the Lamas I could trust, so I requested to take part in the retreat that was about to start. At that time I also requested monastic ordination from Trulshik Rinpoche. Since then I have completed two three-year retreats under the guidance of my precious and kind Teacher Pema Wangyal Rinpoche.
Having had the great fortune to engage in intensive practice and receive numerous teachings, and seeing the suffering and confusion in my own and othersХ mind, I deeply understand the need for secluded and long term practice in order to reach perfect buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings. I feel that I really need a conducive and protected environment, so that all my time and energy goes to fulfilling my deepest aspiration towards freedom of all beings. Because life in the world leaves little time for the kind of practice I wish to engage in, and because retreat setting provides the most appropriate circumstances for mind training, I deeply wish to engage in a third, and if possible, even life-long retreat.
My Teacher supports and encourages this wish. Witnessing his numerous qualities and far reaching capacities to compassionately benefit sentient beings, my aspiration is to follow in his footsteps and engage in practice in order to reach the freedom he has found. The troubles and suffering brought about by having an untrained mind and following old habitual mental patterns appear ever more clearly to me, so I feel truly grateful to have this chance to practice under his guidance.
Although retreat life isn't always easy, I truly enjoy it and its liberating way of working with thoughts and emotions that my retreat companions and I discovered during those years of seclusion. I also feel really grateful for all the known an unknown people that made and continue to make such retreats possible whether through their inspiration, service, financial support or otherwise. May we all become free from suffering and its causes and reach perfect buddhahood.
Trying to find a solution to why people suffer has always been one of my main motivations. I went to university to study counselling and therapeutic studies to shed some light on this issue. Whilst working as an outreach worker and trying to integrate what I’d studied, I realised although very helpful and necessary for society, I still felt that the ultimate answer did not lie there with only talking therapies and psychology, I was still searching…and upon meeting the dharma I believe I found it in Buddha’s teachings and his own investigation that he so kindly shared with us.
The first time I heard about three year retreats even existing I knew I wanted to do it, but I also knew I had to find the teacher and place I had a karmic connection with. I also asked what Western mind has become enlightened as I heard all the time many Tibetans had, what is enlightenment and how does knowing my mind relate to my daily life?
So slowly, slowly I heard about Chanteloube and meeting the teachers I had strong connections with and gradually my motivation changed from not only this need to do it but if I ever get such an incredible opportunity to practice intensely under the guidance of this great teacher, one of my main teachers Pema Wangyal Rinpoche to help me progress on the path, to contribute compassion and kindness in different appropriate ways, to integrate the teachings into my everyday life then I will be very fortunate.
I realised the only way I can benefit all beings including myself is by taming my mind through practice and study. The more I study and practice the more I see how untamed my mind is and how we are all like this. But from my experience of practising in solitary retreats, group retreats, drupchens, study, work, everyday life and with the teachings and blessings of my teachers I have learnt a lot about my mind and how it reacts in different situations and with different people, which is very humbling.
So learning to work with my mind in all situations with the different tools that my teachers and the teachings have so kindly shown me has been the ultimate gift. I hope to continue to deepen and realise all the appropriate methods and continually to aspire to benefit others knowingly or unknowingly, big or small.
Sine a while I found the buddhist's teachings DzogchÐn and I consider really very important to progress in this field and actually achieve a better state in life to do a long retreat, intensive, that help me to develop the best posible the dharma. Now I found myself in a rigth time to conduct this retreat because of my age and because I'm not tied to any job, nor do I have chlidren. That's why I think that that is an unique opportunity due to this condition to deepen in the teachings. +
In 2001, I have seen the 11th of September disaster "live" on TV at Kagyu Ling, France. This was such a shock ! In one moment, my way of considering spiritual practice changed. The naive good-heartened and stubborn person that I was changed into a not-to-waste-time-with-what-is-not-essential-person. As a consequence, I moved to Nehnang Samten Choeling (Pawo Rinpoche'center) with the intention to practice intensively without distraction. The new center was supportive for this and my Lama, (Venerable Khandro Rinpoche) encouraged me. Almost at the same time, VKR began to teach the Mingling Dorsem Cycle, which was exactly what we needed then to move in the right direction. From 2003 until 2010, I've lived mostly in NSC. This was also an opportunity to follow teachings and transmissions over the years in Chanteloube and to meet Masters and Sangha members more closely. Through this, the aspiration for retreat was born, and I developed confidence in the qualities of those that had done a long term retreat.
Four or five years ago, a friend approached me : "If you have the wish to do a 3 year retreat, let me know, I will sponsor the totality, you are trustworthy. Ask VKR." The situation was new for me and I asked VKR for advice. Rinpoche: "Try in Chanteloube, if you have the karma to do a 3 year retreat, it will happen, otherwise, continue to practice." In June 2015, my sponsor was obliged to cancel the sponsorship. I was in Chanteloube, working for the stupas and I asked Yangchen-la (PWR's sister), if I should leave it like this or look for another sponsor. With a big smile she answered : " You should look for another sponsor.". As for Khandro Rinpoche : " You should look for another sponsor and most likely you will have no obstacles.". This explains how I came to request Tsadra Foundation for sponsorship.
In 2006, I met Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Mindrolling, and several times in France since then, and I consider Rinpoche one of my main teachers. Because Chanteloube is also "His" center, I'll be overjoyed to do a long term retreat there under the guidance of Kangyur Rinpoche's Family.
MOTIVATION: Wish to become stable in Bodhicitta through means of serving all sentient beings and to do what has to be done with great joy.
To be able to follow all of Rinpoche's advices without mixing them with wrong views.
To see everything good or bad as the Lama's Tsok and in happiness and sorrow be at the service of Rinpoche's three Kayas with gratitude.
Placing liberation upon our own abilities rather than on hope.
With stability and confidence remain in the inherent awakened clear mind.
TO BE my inner nature fully and with humor.
Good morning !
Born in February 1955, (no time to loose in distractions anymore...) in Belgium into a working-class family.
1994 : H.H.Dala⢠Lama visited Belgium, so the aspiration to practice Buddhadharma was born.
1995 :With my ex-partner we went to work in the largest refugee-camp at this time, in a NGO in Goma, Zaâ¢re.
The tremendous shock experienced in this war-like situation in Afrika made me change my way of life. I left everything else to practice and study the Dharma.
After Refuge, taken in Belgium (1995) I met my root-Lama (VKR) in France.
In order to be able to meet Rinpoche every year, I moved to this country and became a resident at Kagyu-Ling (K-L)There I studied tibetan and walked on the path of purification and accumulation.
11th Sept. 2011 : Another tremendous shock ! My inner world was shaken also, utterly aware of impermanence. No time to loose ! As a consequence, VKR encouraged me to spend more time in retreat.
2003-2010 : I have been practicing mostly at Nehnang Samten Choeling (NSC), Pawo Rinpoche's retreat center in Dordogne.
Around 2003 : VKR began to teach the Minling Dorsem cycle, which is since then my main practice.
In Dordogne arose the possibilitity to receive transmissions and teachings over the years at Chanteloube. I met Masters and Sangha-members more closely. The confidence in the qualities of the people gone into long-term retreat earlier became clear and my motivation grew.
More and more inclined towards retreat, I was lucky to go into retreat (2006-2007) at Samten Tse (STRC), VKR's retreat-center in India. Only short breaks for visa renewal.
This two years with Rinpoche were very precious because the difference between an idealistic view and a realistic approach became more and more obvious.
This was a very hard experience, but what matters : it liberated me from strong tendencies (fear and anxiety) which had disabled my mind for 50 years. This kind of purification is, I think, only possible through group- retreat.
I'm very grateful because In know how fortunate we are to receive so many blessings (in form of initiations also) from Rinpoche and so many great Masters.
Curious about other traditions, I became aware of the most important quality within Buddhadharma : Bodhichitta.
My wish : to go into 3 year-retreat to become stable in bodhichitta through means of serving all sentient beings with great joy and a touch of humor.
To be able to follow all of my Lama's advices without mixing them with wrong views.
To see everything good or bad as the Three Kayas of the Lama and to never be without gratitude.
Placing liberation upon our own abilities (Devotion and bodhichitta) rather than on hope.
To remain in the inherent awakened clear mind, with stability and confidence.
Guru Rinpoche year carries immense blessings. Not alone was I happy to practice in retreat for a few months, but also are we looking forward to meet H.H.Dala⢠Lama soon in France. We already had H.H.Karmapa's blessings in Paris.
Maybe causes and conditions are OK and you will be able to offer me a sponsorship an the end of the Guru Rinpoche year ?
Last but not least, I apologize for the many mistakes of my shaky english.
With deep respect and regards,
Ani Pema Choedoen
There are various reasons why I want to do another three year retreat. The main motivation is to attain enlightenment for the benefit of others. This is the over arching intention that I am using to guide my life. However, I am not sure that having such a motivation necessarily means that I should enter into a three year retreat program. There are infinite other ways to benefit beings, and also infinite ways to progress along the path. Why go back into retreat after recently completing four and a half years in retreat?
The main reason is because my teachers, Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, are advising me to do so. I have discussed various other possibilities with them, but it is clear to me that they believe I should continue to practice in retreat.
For my own part, I can honestly say that I have a long way to go on the path. My previous retreat helped me to progress so much, and I am completely different from the way I was when I began the retreat. Yet, I have a sincere intention to develop a clear and stable realization of the various aspects of the path, and I believe to do that I need to spend more time focusing without distraction on my practice. I can try to develop stability outside of retreat, and I am sure I would progress, but in my heart I feel that the progress I would make in retreat would be of much greater benefit.
The last reason why I want to do the next retreat with Pema Wangyal Rinpoche is because of impermanence. I have incredible trust in Rinpoche and his ability to guide me. Yet, I know that he will not live forever, and I will not be able to practice under his guidance forever. I want to take advantage of the current opportunity to learn and practice with Rinpoche because I know it will not be there in the future. Also, I am young, healthy, have no financial obligations, no spouse or children, and in general the outer conditions to do retreat are present. I believe that now is the best time to do more retreat: Rinpoche is still alive and guiding the retreat and my own conditions are favorable. It seems strange to wait to do more retreat in the future at a time when my teacher will have passed away, I will have a wife and children, and my health will be deteriorating. Since the conditions are present for me to do retreat now, I want to take full advantage of them.
In general, I want to do retreat so that I can attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I want to do retreat now with Pema Wangyal Rinpoche because my teachers are advising me to do so, my own heart yearns to deepen and stabilize my practice in retreat, and all the outer conditions to do retreat are present in my life.
Since my childhood, I've been searching for a path of liberation of suffering that would include all beings. To learn it and put it into practice is my deepest wish.
I've been lucky enough to met with the Dharma at the age of 19, with a perfect teacher as Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, and lucky also to be able to study under her guidance for many year a complete cycle of teachings, and for some years also to get some training in tibetan language, so I can have an easier access to the originals texts.
Now i'm 32 years old, in good health, with no family responsibility. My professional studies are completed, and so are the first part of my language learning process. I've competed several years of work in a professional environment, earned some good working recommendations and I am free of obligations.
These conditions are rare, precious, and I deeply wish to make the best use of them.
So, as great teachers have suggested, having studied and reflected, meditation is what should follow.
Pema Wangyal Rinpoche's teachings about three years retreat truly inspired me. Having made request to Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, she rejoiced, granted me her permission, some advice and her blessings.
And from now on, I'm preparing myself to undertake this journey, overjoyed.
Different good friends of mine, some in Dharma path, other just happily ready to help me on this direction, proposed or agreed to support me with part of the funding for this retreat.
It would be wonderful if you could help me with the other part of it, which would make me more at ease, knowing that all outer conditions are gathered and that i can focus more on the internal preparation.
From the depth of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read this small letter
and thank you so much for your activity, making it possible for others (and maybe me also ;) +
I wish to practice one-pointedly in intense solitary retreat because I long for nothing else than to make my precious human life meaningful by bringing the teachings of the Buddha into full fruition. Following the footsteps of my root and lineage Teachers, I am firmly committed to engage intensively in practice for however long it takes in order to attain the non-dual state of perfect enlightenment and repay the kindness of my Teachers and all mother beings.
Although I had done several Buddhist retreats, alone and in group, having had the fortune to complete a four and a half year group retreat guided directly by Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, which included initiations and profound teachings from perfectly realized Masters such as Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, was, without a doubt, the most inspiring, significant and important event in my life: a definitive turning point of no return.
Blinded by a thick veil of ignorance I have squandered what surely is more than half of my life in totally useless, selfish, trivial activities but, thanks to the infinite kindness of my Teachers, my life has now become truly meaningful. After listening, contemplating, meditating and putting into practice their precious heart pith instructions, I have gained unshakable confidence and certainty in the power of the sublime Buddha Dharma to carry us across the extremes of samsara and nirvana into ultimate liberation, but unless one puts the teachings properly and one-pointedly into practice their fruition will not be fulfilled. Every day I am aware that the time of my death is only getting closer and the sole thing that will be of any help when that inevitable time arrives without any warning is genuine Dharma practice, so, taking Guru Rinpoche, my Teachers, and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions as my witness, I am committed to renounce suffering and the cause of suffering by training assiduously to perfectly tame my mind not only for my sake but for the sake of all beings.
For these reasons, I wholeheartedly supplicated my root Teachers, Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, to please accept to continue guiding me in intensive solitary retreat 'nyongtri' style, according to my capacity and progress, and they graciously accepted to do so. At the end of the four and a half years group retreat (December 2012), I took a few weeks visiting some friends and, as advised by Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, in March of 2013 I returned to Rinchen Ling in Dordogne to enter strict solitary retreat under their guidance. As it is said in the teachings, to meet the genuine Buddha Dharma and have the perfect conditions to practice is something extremely rare which might only happen once in eons, through the blessings of my Teachers I have this rare opportunity now and I am resolute to make my life and Dharma practice one.
Acutely aware of the endless suffering infinite beings go through from the bottom to the top of samsara and clearly and fully convinced that the only thing worth achieving is supreme enlightenment, revealing the Buddha naturally present within every being without exception, day and night I yearn for nothing else than to endeavor to do so for the sake of others and fulfill my Teachers' aspirations.
Combining the group retreat and my present solitary retreat, it is now almost five years that I am in strict retreat, I have no source of income and have no sponsor, so far I was able to save money to pay in full for the four and a half years group retreat and still had enough to pay for a few months of solitary retreat, but my funds are coming to an end and I really need help to be able to continue training without impediments, this is why I am writing to you. I explained my financial situation to my root Teacher, Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, the last time he came to my hermitage in Rinchen Ling and he gave me permission to apply for the Advanced Contemplative Scholarship you offer. Since I am in strict retreat I have no outgoing or incoming mail and no direct access to email but I requested my close Dharma sibling who takes care of my supplies to please download the application form from your website, send it back to you, and be the contact person for any further needed communication.
I deeply rejoice in your activities to support the flourishing of the sublime Buddha Dharma in the West by helping serious students and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. Thank you for your consideration.
Two years ago, I moved back to the city of my childhood to be with my mother in her final years, and to integrate my early years with my current life. Gatineau, Quebec is a beautiful place, a sacred place to me, and a great place for Mahamdura practice.
My mother and I were both excited for this new chapter and our opportunity to spend more time together. However, within just seven months, my mother’s already fragile health quickly deteriorated, and she unexpectedly passed away. In the same week, I also received a cancer diagnosis that would require surgery and other treatment. The following year became a time of burying my mother, receiving medical treatment, and feeling constantly displaced.
That overall experience did what the teachings had been unable to do: vividly demonstrate impermanence, death, and the value of the teachings.
Now, without family responsibilities, and realizing that time is short (even with a great prognosis), I want to make the most of my remaining life and opportunities.
I recently asked about the possibility of joining the next cohort for the Sopa Choling 3-year retreat. However, there may not be another new cohort. Yet I have been accepted to join the current cohort in year 2 (Sept 2026).
Over the years, I have attended the Sopa Choling gate opening and closing ceremonies many times. This year, I attended the opening of the gate after year 1 (June 2025). During that time, I felt certain that this was right for me: This particular retreat was completely designed and supported by my guru Thrangu Rinpoche and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, whose sangha and teachings I have been living in for 25 years. I’m confident that following in the traditions of my teachers, I am doing the right thing. Since deciding to joining the retreat and my acceptance, many things have fallen into place, including comments made by the druppon during the gate opening that aligned with my earlier conversations with Thrangu Rinpoche, a dream about joining the retreat, and a sudden announcement of a Chakrasamvara empowerment within two weeks in Toronto (now completed) by Tulku Damcho Rinpoche (my guru’s appointee as a senior teacher).
I wish to dedicate this retreat to my mother, as well as “all mother sentient beings.” In many ways, I feel the retreat has already begun, and I am already looking for ways, in daily life, to genuinely translate my practice into better circumstances for others to live, to study, to realize the wisdom teachings of our lineage. I myself am ready to go more deeply in my practice than ever before.
My financial position, for the virtually first time in my life, allows me some financial stability. I am prepared to spend much of my savings on the retreat. However, if I were to do that, I would face completing retreat with a small financial cushion and the possibly of struggling to re-enter the workforce in my sixties. If I were to be fortunate enough to receive full or even partial grant funding, it would help me focus on the retreat with less concern for what comes after and re-enter the community with less financial strain. Therefore, I humbly ask for the support of the Tsadra Foundation.
I have been drawn to Buddhism since I was a child. I asked my grandmother for a statue of a buddha when I was 3 years old. I took Refuge with the Kalu Rinpoche in 1975. I tried many different religions: studied the Bible, the Torah and the Quran, but only Buddhism made sense to me. My earliest memories are of loving animals and wanting to help them and people . I LOVED this planet and wanted to save it from environmental collapse. Since I met Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and then my Tsawé Lama a few years later, I have been enthusiastic and focused on the teachings of Shakyamuni. Those events are almost 30 years ago, now. I finished the Longchen Nyingthig Ngöndro over 10 years ago (however, I start almost every morning session with Ngöndroto since then), have been receiving ripening empowerments and pointing out instructions from Venerable Sogan Rinpoche for years and this past summer, He introduced me to the Nature of Mind. Things immediately shifted in my mind. I knew the time was correct for the 3 year retreat. I believe ALL sentient beings have buddha nature and that due to adventitious karma and basal confusion we have all forgotten our true nature. I fully believe and have faith that any of us - given the correct causes and conditions can realize ultimate enlightenment in this lifetime. I know I can't truly be of lasting benefit to all of my mother sentient beings UNTIL I realize unsurpassable enlightenment. That is my goal for entering this traditional retreat. +
I wish to continue to grow in my practice and understanding of the dharma.
I wish to serve the dharma in any capacity requested of me.
I aspire to become knowledgeable in ritual, traditions and practice of the Dudjom Tersar Lineage of Vajrayana Bhuddism.
Ultimately I wish to attain enlightenment in this lifetime with all other sentient beings.
Reasons to consider my application are that I am committed to all of the above.I will participate fully in the retreat and strive to be of service throughout. I will utilize whatever abilities I have to be successful and to assist others. I will be attentive to the teachings of my lama and others in their various roles. +
I believe nothing is more meaningful than to give my life to the practice and training of the Dharma as deeply as I can. Because I have been given the opportunity to practice the dharma I feel the responsibility of practicing with full effort in order to make the most of my life. To practice in an environment where I am supported in training one pointedly in the dharma without distraction for over 3 years meets this place in my yearning.
There is joy in being able to do this in order to free myself, but to also have the potential of further benefitting others inspires me to do a 3 year retreat. I have tried benefiting in ways like working as a Therapist and came to see I can only benefit as much as I’ve worked with myself. To have seen all the suffering that has been beyond my ability to affect has been heartbreaking. This has helped me see the urgency of the circumstances we are in as well as led me deeper into aspiring to become a true Bodhisattva.
Through my deepening in the dharma I have connected to the Karma Kagyu Lineage and the Karmapa whom I feel drawn to serve in the Dharma however I can. Doing a 3 year retreat feels to me like a way that could nourish this connection as well as my devotion with the Lineage.
Another aspect that draws me to want to do a three year retreat is through my practice experience I can see that it takes a strong practice container, devoted retreat time and whole hearted effort to really cut through ingrained habits of suffering and transform in the way I aspire. In this life alone suffering personally for me has been a reason to not want to suffer any more and that there is nothing more to do than work towards ending suffering. I'm seeing doing a 3 year retreat could be one of the most loving things I can do to benefit myself, those around me and beyond and a very supportive way to grow along the path. I feel a sense of deep gratitude and joy with the possibility of being able to do a 3 year retreat.
I sometimes feel confident and sometimes feel fearlessness but also sometimes not, but even so I absolutely choose to go through however challenging it may be to truly transform along the path. I feel motivated to let go of comforts, attachments and everything needed in order to grow in a meaningful way with bodhichitta. I aspire to surrender up whatever ego clinging or negativity may appear along the way so that I can learn to deeply come from a place of what truly matters most and move towards becoming a Buddha.
These are the reasons why I aspire to do a 3 Year Retreat. Thank you very much for receiving this application, for the opportunity to apply for the scholarship and for taking the time to consider me.
In gratitude,
Chelsea Treiber
I have received countless Wang's, Lung's and Tri's as well participated in countless short retreats, teaching seminars, online seminars, online Tara Triple Excellence programs and so on over the past 15 years that I feel it is a total waste if I don't seriously dedicate more time now trying to put them all into practice and start peeling off more and more of my still so many layers of negative Karma +
I have been in retreat at the Caneto Meditation Retreat House ten months now, and I would very much like to continue for a total of four years.
I could perhaps consider remain for a longer time, but I have a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter in Brussels (Belgium), where she was born and lives with her mother. This is a rather awkward situation because the mother rejected me during her pregnancy, and up until now everything has proved quite difficult, though all things considered, everything is gradually improving.
I plan to move to Brussels in order get closer to my daughter when she turns five if that is possible, although for the time being it is only an idea, for, up until now, there has been no possibility for me to fulfill that wish. In fact, the mother allowed me to meet the baby only when she was an eight-month-old toddler.
I usually go to Brussels eight days every six months in order to keep some contact and relationship with my daughter. My family supports me with the travel and accommodation expenses over there. They also provide the girl with a monthly allowance. My family come from modest socio–economic background and they couldn’t possibly help me more than they do, which is definitely a lot with a considerable effort on their part.
Before starting the retreat, I worked in several places in order to gather the money for the retreat, and I managed to earn the equivalent to one year and nine months of retreat time. That is why I thought that applying for the Tsadra Foundation Scholarship could help me in the remaining two years and eight months of the retreat.
My motivation to be in retreat at the Meditation Retreat House of Caneto is that here the retreat approach is purely practical, without any cultural folklore and any personality cult, with emphasis on the mind’s observation and its conscious and unconscious states through the Mahāmudrā practice and the inner yogas in order to give birth to the awakened mind that unites everything in itself and is of spontaneous and natural benefit to every sentient being without exception.
Cristian Fernández
D
Since my teenage years Iâve been attracted to Buddhism as it gave me logical and compelling
answers to the questions of why I was here in this world, what my purpose was, and how I could
fulfill this purpose.
At the beginning, everything I learned about Buddhism was from books and not at the feet of a
lama. Then, in the late 70's when I was in my 20s, I was formally introduced to the Tibetan Buddhist
tradition in Northern India. I lived for some weeks in Tashi Jong at Jamgom Khamtrul Rinpocheâs
center, and in Bir at Tai Situ Rinpocheâs listening and learning.
This experience had a deep and lasting impact on me and in the mid 1980âs I begin studying the
Gelugpa tradition in depth with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lati Rinpoche, Geshe Sopa, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and many other lamas. Finally, In 1996, I met Geshe Michael Roach and have studied
closely with him ever since.
The quote below is at the heart of my request for your support.
âNow that you have learned all this Dharma, you must practice it, putting your whole heart into the
effort. If it were possible to achieve enlightenment without hard work, then even rabbits, cats, foxes
and such could do it.â Geshe Drolungpa (c 1200AD)
Iâve been very fortunate to have been given great and precious teachings. Now itâs time to set
worldly concerns aside and put these profound teachings into deep and sustained practice. The
best way is in a deep, 3 year retreat. This is the way to reduce the external distractions of daily life
and focus and concentrate my mind. I need to learn how my minds works, its assumptions and
prejudices, learn to grow itâs wisdom, and transform it into something powerful, wise and
compassionate for myself and others.
I am convinced my reason for living is to serve others in the highest way that I can, and this retreat
is my path for achieving this goal. I want to lessen my kleshas, attain Bodhichitta, and through this,
become a stream enterer who can truly help others.
I am in an advanced studies program at Diamond Mountain due to be completed in the
spring of 2010. This course of study began in 2005. I have also completed six years of open
teachings.
