Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Tushita Meditation Centre staff at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, February 2019. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre.

Tushita Meditation Centre, the FPMT center in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, enjoyed visits from Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khyongla Rato Rinpoche in 2019. Ven. Tenzin Kunphen, spiritual program coordinator, and Maria Nobuko Corrales, creative project assistant, share those stories and more.

Our 2019 season started extra early on February 5 to coincide with the Tibetan New Year and the auspicious Days of Miracles. The weather at that time of year can make things difficult in Dharamsala, but we made the best of some serious snowstorms and power cuts and didn’t have to wait long for the miracles to happen. To our great delight we welcomed our Spiritual Director Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche for ten days later in February.

We also welcomed all the students who braved the middle of winter at Tushita to attend our first Introduction to Buddhism course of 2019. One of those students was Abdulwahab, who was our first student from Kuwait. Abdulwahab’s presence made Kuwait the 100th nation represented by students attending our residential courses. In July, we welcomed Douangluethay from Laos, our 101st nation. And in August, we welcomed Dolly from Kenya, our 102nd nation. 

Dolly and fellow Introduction to Buddhism retreat students at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, August 2019. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre.

We are so excited to have reached this momentous accomplishment and rejoice deeply in what it represents: the Dharma reaching the far corners of the planet. We are now aiming to reach the auspicious number of 108 nations at Tushita since we began keeping records ten years ago.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at Tushita after midnight on February 18, the last day of the first introductory course of the year. Beautiful snowflakes began to fall as Rinpoche greeted the shivering and excited crowd, seemingly blessing the land and the fortunate students who waited in the dark to warmly welcome Rinpoche.

Khyongla Rato Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, February 2019. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre staff.

On February 25, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered a long life puja for Khyongla Rato Rinpoche at Tushita. This was an incredibly special day in which we welcomed many lamas, geshes, and Sangha. We pray that Khyongla Rato Rinpoche and all our precious gurus have long and stable lives, connecting many hearts and minds with the Dharma. May all their holy wishes be fulfilled instantly.

Still dazzled by so many blessings, we started another introductory course and an intermediate course two days later. Straight after their arrival, these lucky students (joined by the participants of our Pre-Ordination Course and many visitors) were extremely fortunate to receive two afternoons of precious teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on emptiness and guru devotion.

Geshe Tenzin Namdak returned to again lead the Pre-Ordination Course in support of eight new western Sangha members, Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, February 2019. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre staff.

Rinpoche even made time to meet with and give a teaching to all Tushita staff and volunteers before leaving Tushita on the morning of February 28, showing us how to use every moment to benefit sentient beings. May we become just like you, Rinpoche.

Tushita Receives Consecrated Vases Blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

There are many natural disasters happening all over the world today due to environmental destruction. In order to protect life and stop these natural disasters from occurring, His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised that consecrated vases be distributed wherever needed. Representatives from His Holiness’s private office, Namgyal Monastery, Gyudmed Monastery, and Gyuto Monastery came together to consecrate these vases over seven days.

Puja at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, March 2019. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre staff.

Tushita was kindly offered three vases. To our great surprise and delight, on March 4 ,the abbot of Gyudmed Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Wangdu, and a few monks from Namgyal Monastery came to conduct a puja to place these vases here at Tushita on our main altar.

Blessed by His Holiness, these vases serve to protect those who come here from obstacles, sickness, natural disasters, and harm from other beings. It also serves as a blessing to receive timely rain and water. Wherever the vase is placed there will be prosperity and flourishing without any obstacles.

Khylonga Rato Rinpoche Teaches on Bodhichitta

Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, despite his busy schedule and advanced age, very kindly returned to Tushita on April 7 before leaving for his home in the US. Rinpoche gave teachings titled “Bodhichitta: The Mind of Enlightenment” with his long-time student Simon Houlton interpreting.

Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, students, and Nyingje Chenmo at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, April 2019. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre staff.

This special event was attended by our 130 residential students from our introductory course and intermediate course on “Developing a Fearless Heart” as well as outside guests. All present were hugely inspired by Rinpoche’s bodhisattva-like qualities of a brave heart, deep humility, and quick humor. How fortunate we are to have these real life examples of amazing practitioners around to show us where the Dharma path is leading and that it’s really possible.

Towards the end of the event our Tushita canine matron Nyinje Chenmo snuck into the gompa to listen to the teachings. She circumambulated His Holiness’s throne as well as Rinpoche and enjoyed the attention of the amused audience before laying down right in front of Rinpoche. Rinpoche looked at her and, to our great surprise and delight, spoke of Nyinje Chenmo having a calm mind and being so fortunate to live at Tushita and see so many holy objects.

Pema Wangmo and Archhana Kombrabail at Nalanda, Bihar, India. Photo courtesy of Tushita Meditation Centre.

Tushita Welcomes Our First Female Tibetan Director

Early in the season we said farewell to acting director Archhana Kombrabail, who has served Tushita for the last two-and-a-half years in this role. We are grateful for all the energy, positive intentions, and beneficial actions she took on behalf of Tushita and all the students. Thank you so much, Archhana!

We are happy to welcome Pema Wangmo into the director role. Pema first joined Tushita in February 2017 as our friendly and ever-so-patient receptionist. With her particular skills and temperament Pema naturally transitioned to the role of center manager in mid-2018 before being appointed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche as director. We are so grateful for Pema’s dedication, hard work, and the kind heart she brings to the position.

Yeshe at Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, October 2017. Photo by Tushita Meditation Centre staff.

Our Beloved Dog Yeshe

It is with a heavy heart that we relay the passing of our beloved dog Yeshe on May 22. Our canine friends fulfill a very important job description at Tushita. Yeshe was our ever-so-patient therapist with excellent listening skills for our students as they undertook their difficult inner work and also a loyal companion and best friend, delighting and supporting our staff and volunteers by keeping their blood pressure steady and taking them for regular walks. 

Yeshe’s life is a lesson of love: she showed us all how we are interconnected and that we need each other for our survival and happiness, that throughout our lives we must support and benefit each other daily, and that we can practice generosity by accepting the help of others.

We miss you, dearest friend and loyal companion. But we are confident that thanks to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s and so many people’s prayers you smoothly made the transition from Tushita to the real Pure Land.

This story was extracted from “Tushita’s News July 2019”, available on Tushita’s website:
http://tushita.info/news/news-july-2019/

For information about Tushita Meditation Centre, visit their website:
http://tushita.info

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