His Eminence Yangten Rinpochey la today had the honour of briefing His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the successful completion of two batches of a residential retreat organised at the Thiksey Library and Learning Centre, with 90% scholarship support provided to the participating students.
The retreat was conducted over a total of 9 days, with around 250 students participating across the two batches. Each batch had approximately 120 students and followed a 4½-day residential programme.
The retreat focused on the profound teachings of Acharya Shantideva’s Bodhisattva’s Way of Life and was led by Ven. Geshe Lhakdor la, providing students with an opportunity to study one of the most important texts of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition in a residential learning environment.
The programme was further enriched by the presence and guidance of several distinguished Buddhist masters and teachers. His Eminence Choegon Rinpoche, His Eminence Ling Rinpoche and His Eminence Yangten Rinpochey visited the retreat and shared their valuable advice with the students.
Geshe Konchok Wangdus la also kindly visited the programme and led one of the morning teaching sessions. The official Chinese translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama also joined the retreat and led a session for the students.
Beyond the formal teachings, the retreat included a number of meaningful cultural and educational activities. Filmmaker Stanzin Gya screened his films for the students, while the participants also had the opportunity to visit Thiksey Monastery and Chamba Animal Care.
The students also expressed their devotion and gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by performing songs dedicated to his long life. At the conclusion of the retreat, the students made a heartfelt request to Ven. Geshe Lhakdor la to continue returning to Ladakh and guiding such retreats in the future.
A lunch was also organised with His Eminence Thiksey Rinpochey la and His Eminence Ling Rinpoche. The organisers and participants expressed their heartfelt gratitude to His Eminence Thiksey Rinpochey for his generous support towards the programme.
On the concluding day, Ms. Bhanu Prabha, IAS, and Sh. Smanla, Former Hon’ble Councillor, visited the programme and facilitated the presentation of certificates to the participating students.
The two residential retreats offered students a rare and valuable opportunity to receive authentic teachings, interact with eminent Buddhist masters, explore Buddhist philosophy through study and reflection, and build a deeper connection with the living tradition of Buddhist learning in Ladakh.
Today, His Eminence Yangten Rinpochey la briefed His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the successful completion of the retreats, the participation of the students and the meaningful experiences shared during the programme.
3 Comments
Tonskit
Feeling truly blessed to have been part of this beautiful retreat and to have met such wonderful people. I have learned so much in such a short period and the lessons that I will carry with me long after this retreat. So grateful for the teachings, the experiences, the beautiful souls I met, and the journey that brought me here.
Thinlay Chorol
I am deeply grateful to Geshe Lhakdor la and the entire Flowering Dharma team for organising such a meaningful and insightful four-day retreat on dealing with stressful emotions. I joined the retreat carrying many questions, thoughts and uncertainties, through Geshe la’s teachings, I was able to find clarity and a deeper understanding of my emotions. The retreat gave me a new perspective on understanding my mind and taught me to approach difficult emotions with greater awareness, patience, and confidence. In many ways it felt like a reset for my mind, leaving me with a renewed sense of clarity and inner strength.
What made this experience truly special was that the teachings went far beyond the four days of the retreat. Geshe la shared practical and timeless lessons that can be carried into everyday life and remembered for years to come. I feel fortunate to have taken the opportunity to be part of this retreat as it gave me a space to pause, reflect, learn, and reconnect with myself. My heartfelt gratitude to Geshe la and the entire Flowering Dharma team for creating such a thoughtful and enriching experience. The wisdom and lessons I received will remain with me for a long time to come.
Thinlay Chorol
Participating in the four-day retreat on dealing with stressful emotions with Geshe Lhakdor la was a truly valuable experience for me. Before joining, I had several questions and concerns about how to understand and manage difficult emotions and the retreat gave me a much clearer way of looking at them. The sessions encouraged me to observe my thoughts and emotions rather than simply be overwhelmed by them. I came away with a greater sense of calm and confidence, it genuinely felt like I had given my mind a chance to pause and start afresh.
One of the things I appreciated most was the practical nature of Geshe la’s guidance. The teachings were not limited to the retreat or to a particular situation, they were principles that can be applied in our everyday lives. I found the entire experience both thought provoking and personally enriching and I am glad I chose to step out of my routine and be part of it. I sincerely appreciate Geshe Lhakdor la and the Flowering Dharma team for putting together such a thoughtful retreat and for giving us the opportunity to learn, reflect and develop a better understanding of ourselves.
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