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Background
Pema Gatsal
Pema means "lotus" and is the symbol for the purity of enlightenment that arises from the confusion of everyday life. Gatsal is a name often used for retreat centers of the Nyingma Mindrolling branch of Tibetan Buddhism, and means "Joyful Garden." It represents the joy of the place where one attains enlightenment. Jigme Lingpa, a terton of major significance in the lineage of Dzogchen teachings, discovered a terma at Pema Gatsal in Tibet.
History
In 1994, the Baltimore Shambhala Center first hosted Her Eminence Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche for a single day of teachings. The sangha was so
impressed by her teachings that it requested her to return and teach again
the next year. Rinpoche kindly agreed, and has generously returned
to teach each year since then. What began as a single day of teachings
to a group of 20 students has now grown to a three-week annual retreat, gathering
students of Khandro Rinpoche from Canada, the United States and Europe.
The Baltimore Shambhala Center hosted this wonderful retreat with amazing
generosity and goodwill. But the Retreat outgrew its rental facility,
and responsibility for aspects of the Retreat grew to be shared by many
of Rinpoche's students across the continents, so a search for a permanent
home was undertaken by Rinpoche's students. With the opening of Lotus
Garden in September 2003, the Annual Retreat now has a permanent home,
held under the auspices of Her Eminence Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche.
Long Term Plans
Lotus Garden offers the opportunity for short and long-term Buddhist study
and practice. In addition to hosting teachers and students of the various
lineages, plans are underway to develop long-term retreat facilities and
solitary retreat cabins for extended individual practice. In addition
to a strong practice foundation, Lotus Garden will offer intensive scholastic
Buddhist studies and ongoing translation of important texts.
Governance
The Samten Tse Charitable Society, a private non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
organization, is the parent organization of Lotus Garden. It was established
to support and fund the work and various charitable projects of the Venerable Jetsün Khandro
Rinpoche in India and abroad. Samten Tse Charitable Society
is currently directed and managed by a volunteer Board of Directors with
experience and knowledge in finance, law, and non-profit management. In
addition to the Board of Directors, an Advisory Board has been created
to directly manage Lotus Garden, its building projects and schedule of
retreats.
Khandro Rinpoche's Schedule
Each year, Rinpoche resides at Lotus Garden during the Annual Fall Retreat
and at other times of the year when her schedule and responsibilities
permit. Rinpoche may ask senior nuns or monks from Samten Tse Retreat
Centre or Mindrolling Monastery to live at Lotus Garden and work with
students on translation projects or to assist and teach Western students
on ritual and practice. See Rinpoche's tour schedule
for other international programs and the Lotus Garden calendar
for our annual programs.
Programs
Unlike other land centers where different programs are offered regularly
to the public and staffed by sangha members, Lotus Garden is designed
primarily as a retreat and advanced study center. The programs
that will be offered at Lotus Garden will focus mainly on the Annual
Retreat and hosting Buddhist masters for other intensive or extended retreat
programs.
Newcomers
Lotus Garden is open to students studying with Her Eminence Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche or its visiting teachers. New students interested in attending Rinpoche's teachings are always welcome at the Annual Retreat. Regional Facilitators will help guide new students to the segments of the Annual Retreat or other programs that best fit their practice experience and interests.
Solitary or Session Retreats
In light of Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche's strong encouragement to her students that
they engage in solitary retreat, plans are underway to build two or three
solitary retreat cabins for practitioners. Session
Retreats may be arranged immediately. Practitioners of all traditions
interested in structured, solitary retreats will be accommodated as possible.
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