A Letter from Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Many Positive Changes This Year and in 2015

Dear Sangha and Friends,

I send you my greetings.  As many of you know, many positive changes have occurred this year for Ligmincha International. From my heart I wish to thank each of you who have participated in some way either directly or indirectly.

We now have in place an expanded board for Ligmincha International. I know they are working hard to create the important organizational structures that are needed to move us forward. We also held our first meeting of the Ligmincha International Mandala Council, composed of representatives from sanghas that have formed legal entities. I feel so happy to see the warmth among sangha members and the collaboration that is happening. By getting together at these meetings we hope to learn what is needed to better support our sanghas around the world.

For the year ahead of us in 2015 we have many wonderful projects taking place around the world. At Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, headquarters of Ligmincha International, we are planning to construct a new building that will house a commercial kitchen, dining room, offices, bookstore and multipurpose room. In Europe, we are looking for land for a retreat center. Ligmincha Berlin has opened a new and beautiful center in Berlin. Ligmincha Poland will be celebrating its 20th anniversary, as will Ligmincha Texas in the U.S. We have four resident lamas in three countries—Geshe Tenzin Yangton in Virginia at Serenity Ridge, Lama Kalsang Nyima and Lama Yungdrung Lodoe at Ligmincha Mexico, and Geshe Lhundup Gyaltsen at Ligmincha France. We are presently engaged in the application process for Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso to become the resident lama for Ligmincha Poland, and for Geshe Denma Gyaltsen to become the resident lama for Ligmincha Texas in the U.S.

This year we’ve had live webcasts from my home in California, from Serenity Ridge, the summer retreat in Buchenau, and from Malaga and Valle de Bravo. Thanks to the collaboration of our sanghas and many translators, 2015 will be the first year we will have a series of dedicated monthly webcasts on the topic of Soul Retrieval—on the second Saturday of each month. These free, live webcasts will be translated into many languages around the world. During the year there will be both one-and-a-half-hour and full-day practice retreats. Also new for 2015, we will be having two practice retreats in the spring at Lishu Institute in India, and will begin a three-year curriculum there in the fall. All over the world we are hosting expanded opportunities for practice and retreats.

I send my appreciation to all of you who have helped with your time, effort and financial contributions. We have accomplished a lot. As we move into 2015, we have a lot of work to do to continue our mission to have the Bon teachings preserved and available into the future.

I send you all my best wishes for the year ahead. May the teachings ripen in your hearts and minds, may your practice become more joyful and stable, and may you share the fruits of your practice with those around you, bringing warmth to your relationships, work and personal interests.

With my blessings,
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche