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From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
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G
Obviously an excellent candidate for retreat. I wondered about not receiving support from his own community of students. He has been tasked with fund raising for the center and buildings.... usual Tibetan Buddhist funding focus (structures rather than practitioners). Encouraged to reach out for some support. +
Good monk and traditional student but not a lot of personal reflection. +
J
excellent candidate +
Very good candidate +
K
Clear No.
Arélien is a psychic cowboy mainly interested in the chamanistic side of tibetan buddhism. Drawn to Karma Ling for a conference on Tensegrity, he found a home that suited him. Very interested in Castenada. He is a recent Buddhist (and therefore does not fit our criteria), very solitary and not at ease with others or interpersonal relations... fairly inarticulate idea of buddhism and practice. +
OK candidate
Has the feeling of a good meditator with a basic altruistic attitude; established and led a meditation group and is apparently appreciated as a “teacher” but is aware that in order to help others needs a stronger basis in practice and deeper understanding.
His idea of practice is to become more aware and more appreciative, both within and without. Inspired by the Shangpa Teachings: 5 Golden Dharmas. Enjoys practice, liking deity and protector practices but has learned to appreciate formless practice and understands the two as inseparable. Practice is also about opening the heart.
Considers his strength in retreat to be his easy going nature and his appreciation of solitude combined with his attitude of determination. His challenge is also his appreciation of solitude as will not be able to flee or escape from conflictual or difficult situations. +
Very good candidate.
Heike is young, intelligent without being intellectual, engaging with a challenging, inquiring self-challenging view of Buddhist practice; hard working and exigent, though admits this exigence can be problematical in interpersonal relations. She had visited Samye Ling and appreciated the female druppon and discussed retreat groups of multi-nationalities. Appreciates the challenge of facing a family crisis during the retreat without being able to leave. Obviously loves practice and is keen to have time to pursue this work seriously (example she gives comparing short and long retreats is the difference between visiting a place as a tourist and moving to live there as she did in Naples, Italy, with all the mundane problems that that entails. Has the presence of a meditator. +
Strongly self reliant; Shamanic experience opened him to see mind’s fuctioning and potential; then was clearly directed to Tibetan Buddhist path; deeply appreciative of Lama Norlha but without blind follower syndrome. Good candidate. +
Sharp and intense; obviously anxious about outcome of the interview which I think made him too careful; but good mind and good heart. +
With background of practice, study and Tibetan language as well as commitment (vows) would say he is a good candidate. +
Will be 2 semesters short of degree in Psychology when going into reteat; but feels that he can accomplish that at any point, whereas retreat is not available so often; Appreciates the style of his local lama to ease his mind into realizing rather than obliging acceptance of outside truths. Resistant to obligation, but inspired by challenges; committed to discovering himself and his inner qualities. Reasonably good English for a non-native speaker. Sensitive (in the good sense) and intelligent and a lot of heart. +
A very nice person, and able to focus, commit, and dedicate himself to the task at hand. Competent. View of Dharma basically traditional. Spoke of hitting rock bottom at age 21 and then read Dalai Lama on Ethics and discovered Buddhist perspective which helped him turn his life around. Met Lama Norlha 4 years ago and has since been engaged in Tibetan Buddhist path. +
Seems to have high degree of selflessness in her approach. Down to earth. Spoke very warmly of other women going into retreat. Spoke of developing the tools through practice for being better person; having awareness enough to step out of personal story-line. Inspired by idea of being “spiritual warrior” facing own challenges and working hard. Inspired by idea of working closely with a personal teacher. +
Fully assumes responsibility for her own path; informed by teachings and past examples; understands the process is one of self-discovery. Honest appreciation of the challenges and difficulty of the task of discovering oneself, facing oneself, and opening to deeper levels of self-awareness. Committed to interpreting and translating the experience into forms appropriate for modern western culture. +
Left retreat early; claimed abusive advances on the part of the retreat attendant (an older Chinese woman) +
I feel he fits the Tsadra profile very well. Committed to understanding and interpreting what he learns in order to benefit others in our modern world. +
Very strong personality with a lot of depth and heart. Easily able to embrace challenges. Admits that anything physical is easy; but the introspective process of facing oneself is most difficult but welcomes this difficulty. Has had a very hard life, and has really come through it well; Hyper sensitive to the difficulties and suffering that is possible in this world, and deeply committed to helping free others from such suffering. A very good candidate. +
Deeply drawn to contemplative practice and retreat; has less experience in group retreats but will be an excellent candidate. +
stellar candidate +
Seems to have an honest wish to deepen his understanding through doing more retreat (rare among Tibetans who have “made it” to the west); and is conscious that in joining the western retreat he will be able to assist his co-retreatants with chanting; music and plastic arts; and possibly with his language and philosophy background. +
