Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening practice is Manjushri. Saturday the 13th is Basic Buddhism practice and instruction. Sunday is Vajrasattva practice, followed by our annual Sangha meeting.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, December 13, 10am. Basic Buddhism practice. Online and in person.  This practice opens with lineage invocations and shamatha meditation, with instruction, followed by discussion of different topics in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice. Newcomers may find this short introduction to Tibetan Buddhism helpful. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, December 14, 10 am. Vajrasattva practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

The TRTCC annual sangha meeting will be held on Sunday 12/14/2025 after the 10 am morning practice. During this meeting, we’ll discuss the 2025 year in review as well as the center’s plans for 2026. The meeting will be followed by a potluck lunch. Please bring a dish of your favourite vegetarian food to share.

This year, the sangha welcomed the return of Venerable Khenpo Choephel to the center. Khenpo led many special teachings throughout the year and we look forward to many more to come. Lama Kalsang continues to grow our center spiritually through practices, workshops, and teachings, and physically through laboring to maintain the center itself.

In September we hosted Most Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche, the founder of our Dharma center, for a weekend of teachings on Bodhichitta.

Through Khenpo’s leadership and the generous donations from our sangha members, a new property was purchased for the center at 1660 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131. Practices will continue to be held at the current center while the new location is renovated. We would like to acknowledge Lama Kalsang for his tireless work helping to prepare the new center! Additional details will be provided at the annual sangha meeting.

Our center relies on many amazing volunteers to maintain the center and offer its programming. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to keep things running and any additional help is greatly appreciated. Anyone with home construction or renovation skills is especially requested for help with preparing the new center. A registration system has been created for volunteers who would like to donate their time and valuable experience to support the center. You can sign up via the form here.

The center remains financially stable due to the generous donations of our sangha members.. These donations are critical to keeping the center running, our programming updated, and our resident monks healthy. Thank you to everyone who was able to donate!

We hope to see everyone at the annual meeting on Sunday 12/14/2025!

Thank you,

The TRTCC Board

Eva, Paul, David, Ralph, Lisa and Michael

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening practice is Medicine Buddha. Saturday the 6th is Achi Chokyi Drolma practice led by Ven. Lama Kalsang. Sunday is Vajrasattva practice.

Save the date: our annual Sangha meeting will be after practice next Sunday, December 14th.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, December 6, 10am. Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Online and in person. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Ven. Lama Kalsang will lead. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, December 7, 10 am. Vajrasattva practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening practice is on pause for the Thanksgiving holiday. May we all share great generosity and love with our friends and family! Saturday the 29th is Achi Chokyi Drolma practice led by Ven. Lama Kalsang.  Sunday, November 30 is Guru Rinpoche Tsök Offering.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 29, 10am. Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Online and in person. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners. Ven. Lama Kalsang will lead. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 30, 10am. Guru Rinpoche Tsök Offering. Online and in person. Tsök is a feast-offering ceremony with prayers and chants to connect to our spiritual teachers for guidance and blessings. Ven. Lama Kalsang will lead. Join us on Zoom.

If attending in person, you may bring a food offering for the Tsök: fruit, cookies, small treats, etc.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening at 7pm is Green Tara practice. Saturday the 22nd is Vasudhara retreat led by Ven. Lama Kalsang.  Sunday, November 23 is Vajrasattva practice.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 22, 10am. Vasudhara retreat. Online and in person. Vasudhara, also known as Gold Tara, is a meditation yidam deity revered as the goddess of wealth, prosperity and abundance.  Ven. Lama Kalsang will lead. We kindly ask that you please fill out this registration form. Your response will help us plan and is greatly appreciated!

Suggested donation is $30 for this retreat. Please give what you can, no one will be excluded for lacking funds. Join us on Zoom.

The schedule for the Vasudhara retreat will be as follows (all times are EST/New York time):
Saturday 11/22/25: 10a – 12p, 1:30p – 3:30p EST

Sunday, November 23, 10 am. Vajrasattva practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening at 7pm is Chenrezig practice.  Saturday is Achi Chokyi Drolma practice with Ven. Lama Kalsang. Sunday is Vajrasattva practice.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 15, 10am. Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. Online and in person. Achi, which means “Grandmother” in Tibetan, is revered as the great female dharma protector of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and its practitioners.  Ven. Lama Kalsang will lead. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 16, 10 am. Vajrasattva practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

We have some very exciting news this week – with deep gratitude and thanks to the generosity of our teachers and sangha members with donations and loans, and the hard work of our teachers, board members, and sangha, TRTCC has closed on a property in White Oak, PA that will serve as the future home of our center! 

While we do not have a timeline for a completed move to the new space, work is already underway for the transition. We will have more information to share as the work progresses, and will have an update for everyone at our yearly general sangha meeting on December 14th.

We are still in need of donations to work on the refurbishment of the living space for Ven. Khenpo Choephel and Lama Kalsang, and construction of a new shrine room. Please email us for details on how to make contributions.

With the acquisition of the new space, upcoming holidays, and travel commitments for Khenpo Choephel and Lama Kalsang, our practice schedule in November and December will be fluid. Additionally, many practices may be led by senior students and sangha members. Please stay tuned to these emails for any changes!

This week, Wednesday evening at 7pm is Manjushri practice. On Saturday at 10am, we have Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation and instruction. Sunday, November 9 is Vajrasattva practice.

Please note: Saturday start time has moved to 10am!

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 8, 10am. Shamatha meditation. Online and in person. Instruction and practice with Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation. We may also do a simple visualization and short recitation (Chenrezig or Buddha Shakyamuni).  Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 9, 10 am. Vajrasattva practice. Online and in person. This is a foundational and ongoing training to purify our negative actions, mental disturbances, harmful tendencies and mistaken views by invoking the yidam Vajrasattva in a meditative visualization practice. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening at 7pm is Achi Chokyi Drolma practice. On Saturday at 10am, Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will offer basic Dharma teachings and will be available for Q & A. On Sunday, November 2, Khenpo will be lead a purification practice and meditation.

Please note: Saturday start time has moved to 10am!

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, November 1, 10am. Basic Dharma Talk. Online and in person. Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will give a talk on basic Buddhist topics and will instruct on Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation. Following that, a simple visualization and short recitation (Chenrezig or Buddha Shakyamuni). Khenpo will be available for our questions & answers. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, November 2, 10 am. Online and in person. Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will lead us in purification practice and a Heart Sutra / Mahamudra meditation. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening at 7pm is Medicine Buddha practice. On Saturday at 10am, Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will offer basic Dharma teachings and will be available for Q & A. On Sunday, October 26, Khenpo will be giving the Empowerment of the Ten Dharma Activities and transmission of the Diamond Sutra & Buddha of Boundless Life Dharani. Please see registration information below!

Please note: Saturday start time has moved to 10am!

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, October 25, 10am. Basic Dharma Talk. Online and in person. Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will give a talk on basic Buddhist topics and will instruct on Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation. Following that, a simple visualization and short recitation (Chenrezig or Buddha Shakyamuni). Khenpo will be available for our questions & answers. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, October 26, 10am. Venerable Kenpo Chophel Rinpoche will be giving the Empowerment of the Ten Dharma Activities and transmission of the Diamond Sutra & Buddha of Boundless Life Dharani.

Ten Dharma activities means that the practitioners engage with Dharma texts/ scriptures by 1. writing, 2. reading, 3. offering, 4. giving, 5. listening, 6. memorizing, 7. dharma talk, 8. recitation, 9. contemplation, 10. meditation. This is a very important fundamental empowerment and very much needed for generally every Dharma practitioner and especially those newer practitioners who haven’t received this empowerment.

The schedule for these teachings will be as follows on October 26th (all times are EST/New York time):

10a – 12p: Empowerment of the Ten Dharma Activities
2p – 4p: Transmission of Diamond Sutra & Buddha of Boundless Life Dharani

You may join us at the center in person or Join us on Zoom. We kindly ask that you please fill out this registration form. Your response will help us plan and is greatly appreciated!

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.

Dear Dharma Friends,

This week, Wednesday evening at 7pm is Kusali Chöd practice for Dakini day.  Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will bestow the lung (reading transmission / permission) for this important practice prior to the session. On Saturday, Khenpo will offer basic Dharma teachings and will be available for Q & A. On Sunday we will be doing a purification practice and meditation with Khenpo.

May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!

Saturday, October 18, 10am. Basic Dharma Talk. Online and in person. Ven. Khenpo Choephel Rinpoche will give a talk on basic Buddhist topics and will instruct on Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation. Following that, a simple visualization and short recitation (Chenrezig or Buddha Shakyamuni). Khenpo will be available for our questions & answers. Join us on Zoom.

Sunday, October 19, 10 am. Online and in person. On Sunday we will be doing a purification practice and meditation with Khenpo. Join us on Zoom.

Please be advised: Masks remain optional for our in person practices at the center but we encourage you to please act with caution . We do ask that only fully vaccinated people come in to the center. We will be running the air purifier in the common area. If you are not feeling well or have had a recent exposure to COVID, please ensure that you are negative with a home test before coming in or please join us online.