AUGUST 2025 NEWSLETTER
- Jul 31, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA
This is Sanskrit. I didn't know I've been chanting Sanskrit for years, and how important the language was to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Did you know Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche often preferred his students go back to the original Sanskrit instead of using Tibetan terms?
"He(CTR) even decided, whenever possible, to choose Sanskrit terms over Tibetan ones (example, for the practice of mindfulness, Chogyam Trungpa used the Sanskrit term shamatha, while other teachers preferred the Tibetan shi-ne). Furthermore, along with Greek and Latin, Sanskrit is one of the roots of all Indo-European languages; it is thus not completely foreign to us. Some terms, such as Buddha, bodhisattva, karma, and yoga, have even become household words and entered our Western dictionaries, Chogyam Trungpa wanted the same to happen to far more words." - Chogyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision by Fabrice Midal
Join us to discuss this together on Tuesday for "Sanskrit for Mere Mortals" - our next Mindful Gathering where we will discuss Sanskrit: its importance in our lineage, and how language shapes our understanding of the world. We are joined by Dr. Varun Khanna, who trained in traditional Sanskrit grammar under Dr. Pushpa Dixit in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, and earned his MPhil in Sanskrit and PhD in Hinduism from Cambridge University.
Dr. Khanna is launching a way for people to learn more in depth about the language: https://www.sanskritformeremortals.com/classes-coming-soon
Notes:
A recording of our most recent Mindful Gathering on the Four Immeasurables is available to listen to, and I am looking forward to make more events and media available to the community as we increase our efforts.
The Wednesday Night Group will be on summer break for two weeks and will not meet August 20 & 27, and will return to meet Wed, Sept 3.
As we get nearer to The Wisdom Seat Retreat, we want to remind the community that scholarships for retreats are available through The Wisdom Seat. Please reach out to us if this would benefit you.
See you soon,
Bill Moriarty
Sanskrit For Mere Mortals: Exploring the Relationship Between Language and the World
A Mindful Gathering with Dr. Varun Khanna and Bill Moriarty
Aug 5, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Zoom
For our August Mindful Gathering we will be joined by Dr. Varun Khanna, founder of Sanskrit For Mere Mortals. This session will delve into the relationship between language and the world. No prior knowledge of Sanskrit necessary!
Dr. Varun Khanna (@TheSanskritDude) has been rigorously trained in several traditional Sanskrit-learning environments in India as well as one of the top global institutions in the modern academy. He studied traditional Sanskrit grammar under Dr. Pushpa Dixit in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, and did his MPhil in Sanskrit and PhD in Hinduism at the University of Cambridge, UK. Dr. Khanna has been teaching Sanskrit and Sanskrit-related subjects since 2008 and has taught at several leading universities in the USA (University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Haverford College). Dr. Khanna utilizes a unique pedagogical method that he has developed over the last two decades in his courses, and is forever refining it to make Sanskrit and Sanskrit-related learning easier and more accessible for everyone. Dr. Khanna’s current research examines the intersections of Sanskrit and power, whereby he hopes to make the best use of his skills to make the world a better place.
Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows, Fall 2025
Sep 28, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM EDT
Pawo Khandro Ling
209 Engle Dr, Wallingford, PA 19086, USA
Online participation available
We will be offering Refuge & Bodhisattva Vows at an in-person & on-line event this September 28, 2025. These vows will be offered by Michael Carroll who has been authorized by Judy Lief to impart these vows in the tradition and lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Al San Valentin will be assisting Michael in preparing those wishing to take vows.
To request Refuge or Bodhisattva Vows, please register for this event which will send your request to Michael Carroll, who will be conducting the vow ceremony. After submitting the request, Al San Valentin, a Wisdom Seat board member, will contact you to discuss your request, answer your questions and schedule a follow up interview with Michael.
Wednesday Meditation
Wednesday Night group will be on summer break and will not meet August 20th & 27th.
Returning Wednesday, September 3rd!
Nyinthun: Everyone is welcome!
Ongoing offering: Nyinthun (in-person and online)
The first Sunday of every month.
All day sitting interspersed with walking meditation. The word nyinthun*, is Tibetan for “day session.”
In understanding dharma, Trungpa Rinpoche placed a strong emphasis on mindfulness/awareness meditation practice. This community practice of Nyinthun - all day sitting interspersed with walking meditation - gives us the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of our mind, make friends with our immediate experience and rediscover our natural sanity.
Please take a look, and sign up to join us for some nyinthun retreat days. It is ok to join for as much of the day as you can.
Collaborative practice undertaking with The Wisdom Seat & The Profound Treasury Retreat
The Wisdom Seat encourages as many opportunities for practitioners to engage in the discipline of mindfulness/awareness (shamatha/vipashyana) as one can engage in. We are happy to invite the Profound Treasury Retreat (PTR) with their offering of Sunday sitting.
PTR community is hosting a 2-hour sitting session from 9:30am to 11:30 am EST
There will be meditation instruction every third Sunday of the month, given by a qualified meditation instructor.
Dates: August 9, 26, 23, 30th
Here is the Zoom link for this session: Sunday Sitting Zoom Link
All are welcome to attend.
The Wisdom Seat Retreat
October 25 - November 2, 2025
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra
Woodstock, NY
We invite you to join us for this in-person Autumn retreat at the Karma TriyanaDharmachakra monastery in the delightful upstate New York Catskill Mountains. Michael Carroll, cofounder of The Wisdom Seat will be leading this 8-day practice intensive, supported by members of The Wisdom Seat staff. This retreat is designed to help us deepen our mindfulness-awareness meditation and integrate it into our daily life. The retreat will include:
6 - 7 hours of daily shrine room meditation alternating sitting and walking during each session
Breath and body relaxation practices
Outdoor walking meditation
Periodic group meditation instruction
Readings from Buddhist texts
Dharma talks and discussion
Individual meditation instruction upon request
An hour+ of helping hands
Participants will be asked to observe “functional silence” throughout most of the retreat, limiting verbal communication to a minimum.
Vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be offered, with access to snacks, coffee, and tea throughout the retreat.
Since the retreat will be limited to 30 participants, those attending will be expected to participate in all 8 days of the retreat.
Local Commuters may participate 8 days or less.
Durham Shambhala Center
Finding Common Ground: Communication for Difficult Times
August 5th - 26th | Tuesdays 7-8:45pm (Eastern)
Taught by Barbara Bash
In this four week online class we will explore the elements of Nonviolent Communication and practice these principles in real time. Beginning with mindfulness practice for self connection, we will move into making observations without evaluation, finding our true feelings and needs, and making connecting requests of ourselves and others.
The practice of giving and receiving empathy, central to NVC consciousness, will weave through it all.
Come to discover a set of tools and a fresh perspective on how to speak and listen so that everyone feels heard.
Barbara Bash is a longtime member of the Shambhala community. She studied with Chogyam Trungpa and has worked as a calligraphic artist for many years. Her involvement with her local sangha inspired her to train in NVC and Focusing. She facilitates an online NVC practice group and leads an online monthly circle gathering. She is currently expanding her offerings to include mediation. barbarabash.com
Registration Link: https://durham.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=791008
Dorje Denma Ling
Kyudo: The Way of the Bow 2025
with Kanjuro Shibata Sensei XXI
September 18 - 21, 2025
In-Person
Kozan Kyudojo practices in the Heki Ryu Bishu Chiko-Rin Ha tradition of Japan, following the lineage of the Shibata family.
We are honoured to welcome Kanjuro Shibata XXI, Sensei, the Imperial Bow Maker and Archer to the Emperor of Japan, for his first teaching visit to Canada. This is a rare and meaningful opportunity. Sensei teaches in English and is known for his warm, jovial style.
The Sun of Wisdom: Pith Instructions of Chögyam Trungpa
with Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
October 10 - 13, 2025
In-Person
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, a close dharma brother of the Vidyadhara, has kindly agreed to teach us from this soon-to-be-published translation of The Sun of Wisdom by the Nalanda Translation Committee. We have this unique opportunity to dive deeply into the practice and meaning of these teachings guided by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche in a 4-day retreat over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend within the natural beauty of Dorje Denma Ling. To conclude the retreat, we will celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with Rinpoche!
Registration Link: https://dorjedenmaling.org/programs-listing/2517/the-sun-of-wisdom-pith-instructions-of-chogyam-trungpa/
When the hurricane of impermanence strikes, there will be no time to wait even a minute.
- Hakuin, Zen Master (1686 – 1769)
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