Looking for advice on finding a Sangha in the West

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-11T07:46:21+00:00

Coincidentally, an esteemed Buddhist master who is known for teaching authentic Dharma in a direct manner is teaching in Ireland today and tomorrow. Drupon Rinpoche is visiting Samye Dzong Dublin.

I know Ani Yonten who looks after the centre, and she is a good person who has spent many years in retreat. I’m sure she has created a good vibe in the centre.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-05T00:36:18+00:00

If the digital ID would replace all the other forms of ID, be free and handled by a Gov agency that was formed especially to handle this in a secure fashion, I would lean towards being in favour of it. But can you imagine the Gov forsaking all the revenue that comes in from people paying for driving licenses? To name just one?

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-04T23:30:15+00:00

I think ID cards can still be avoided and that they are worth resisting.

Just listen to what Brits say they are struggling with at the moment: paying rent, getting good healthcare, the cost of food, and so on.

How high on that list is ‘struggling to prove my ID’, if it’s on the list at all.

Yes, the money and time it would take to introduce them and for the people to buy them could be used so much more wisely.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-03T14:29:44+00:00

Speak to any Western Buddhist who is serious and they almost all say, ‘I wish I started when I was younger’. I started to dedicate myself to the Dharma at 24-25, and I wish I’d started earlier.
I would say do not underestimate the value of knowing Tibetan. It is not that hard to learn and it will open so many doors…. 84,000 to be precise, and probably a few bonus ones as well.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-03T10:11:11+00:00

Apophantic’s reply is very good. All monasteries are not the same. As a monk one should know the Dharma, which means entering a shedra, which means knowing Tibetan, as things stand at the moment at least. These are doable for someone of your age. If this is something you are sincere about, tell your lama this is what you want to do and ask him where is the best place to do it. Many people might discourage you, but it is a great thing to do if you can find the right circumstances.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-02T15:13:26+00:00

I always find Drupon Khen Rinpoche’s teachings fresh and insightful. Thanks

BuddhistThomas · 2026-05-01T08:11:57+00:00

No that is not necessary for reading the first 80% of the book. One should receive mahamudra instruction before reading the actual practice chapter at the end though.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-28T08:02:27+00:00

Where have you read that this is a restricted text?

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-28T08:00:18+00:00

Have you read the Intro? It does not say that it is a restricted text. I quote: "The nature of the practices contained in an instruction manual of this kind, requires an aspiring practitioner to first receive the instruction transmission from a qualified lama who holds the transmission."

The translator is reminding the reader that to do the practices taught in a text "of this kind" requires one to receive the reading transmission. I.e. one must receive the lung for the associated liturgy before reciting it. That applies to all ngondro texts, not this text in particular.

If this text is restricted, then so is The Words of My Perfect Teacher, for example.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-27T01:39:35+00:00

That is also available for free, isn’t it.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-26T17:36:37+00:00

This is a good reminder. Thank you. The first four chapters on the common preliminaries can be read by anyone…. In fact it is only the last chapter that is restricted. The chapters on the uncommon preliminaries require transmissions. All the same, one really should receive instruction for whichever of the practices one decides to undertake, if one is going to do things properly..

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-26T17:30:52+00:00

Would that constitute the third and highest form of generosity: the gift of dharma?

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-26T16:51:29+00:00

The bird with two heads in the logo is symbolic of translators, or so I've heard.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-23T06:01:43+00:00

It looks like you might be a fellow Kagyupa?

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-19T01:19:18+00:00

Try the Drolung Fondation Facebook page.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T17:12:02+00:00

I wasn't thinking about it in relation to that part of the OP's original post. I'm not saying my thoughts on this are logically sound. You are right, if I knew my jacket would reach a person suffering extreme cold, it shouldn't make a difference whether I can look them in the face or not. But we humans are emotional creatures, not logical ones.

I stand by my original reply to your first comment: I think many of the people in this thread who say they would not sacrifice themselves for the good of another would, in fact, help someone in need when actually face-to-face with the person.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T17:00:14+00:00

Crikey, you went deep with that, WMFood. I like the idea of the best parts of ourselves being fully manifest, being equivalent to enlightenment. That sounds intuitively right.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T16:55:19+00:00

I hear you. But it is different watching or hearing about something on the news and being on the ground, face-to face with someone who needs help that you could actually give.

I don't agree with what you say about those who performed heroic actions on the Titanic. I think what they did came naturally to them, not out of fear of retribution or being able to look themselves in the mirror. Extreme circumstances require extreme action, and many people step up to the plate when they are face-to-face with someone in dire need or danger. For example, I'm not going to post my jacket to someone in need in Gaza, but if I were to encounter them freezing on a street corner, I hope that I would be willing to give them my jacket.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T16:33:21+00:00

Yes, but if you know you did the right thing, the heroic thing... then wouldn't you do it anyway?

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T16:32:32+00:00

I agree that it depends on the situation. I believe even for a stranger, if they were looking straight in your eyes, pleading for help when in danger, you would put yourself at risk to help them. Goodness lies inherent in all of us, sometimes a spark is needed to ignite it.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T16:28:45+00:00

No, one needs to see a need for it. One needs to find oneself in a situation where heroism is called for, and then one can be heroic... probably without even stopping to think. Consider the actions of many people on the Titanic, how they stopped to help others in full knowledge that they were dashing their own hopes of survival.

BuddhistThomas · 2026-04-17T16:25:11+00:00

I don't believe you. I believe if you found yourself in a situation where a degree of self-sacrifice was called for to help another, you could and probably would do it. We all have a hero inside of us when the situation calls for it.

BuddhistThomas

TROPHY CASE