Maitripa College

Yamantaka Study Group led by Venerable Lozang Yönten
2025-04-22 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-04-29 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-06 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-13 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Yamantaka Study Group, led by Venerable Lozang Yönten

The new, weekly Yamantaka Study group hosted by Maitripa College was encouraged by Yangsi Rinpoche as a method for deepening our practice of Yamantaka in general and specifically to create causes for the broader community to eventually do the full approximation retreat together.

We meet via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6-7:30pm PST. The sessions are facilitated by Venerable Yönten who studied the practice of Yamantaka Solitary Hero in depth at Chenrezig Institute, supported by her Abbot, Gyurme Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering. She has been doing the practice for many years and has led the full approximation retreat several times.

Each session will go into a specific portion of the sadhana and clarify it using many traditional commentaries. Throughout are opportunities to add knowledge, ask questions and explore experiences. The last half hour will be group practice of the short sadhana with special emphasis on the section just studied.

These sessions are only for people with active respect for and faith in the Mahayana-Vajrayana tradition and a Yamantaka empowerment, preferably Solitary Hero as opposed to 13 Deity. We request your empowerment date, place and vajra master before inclusion to this group.

Email education@maitripa.org to find out more.

*for Yamantaka initiates only*

Email education@maitripa.org for details.

Guru Puja (Lama Chöpa) with Tsog on the Tibetan 25th Day
2025-04-23 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Please join us at Maitripa College as we bring the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of practicing Guru Puja (Lama Chöpa) into our modern world and experience with our community.
Traditionally, the Guru Puja is celebrated on the 10th and 25th days of the Tibetan calendar. This puja lasts around 2 hours and consists of the recitation of a sadhana, visualizations, and prayers, including taking refuge and generating bodhicitta. Mantras, praises and requests are also usually recited. You may participate at whatever level you feel comfortable.
It is not necessary to register to attend in person; please click below to join us online by Zoom.

>Click here for resources, text, and information on Guru Puja instructions and retreats at Maitripa College

Register to attend by zoom

Saraha Has Stretched His Bow: The Life and Teachings of a Tantric Poet with Roger Jackson, PhD
2025-04-26 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Buddhist Scholar-Practitioner Speaker Series #2:
Saraha Has Stretched His Bow: The Life and Teachings of a Tantric Poet with Roger Jackson, PhD
Saraha, “the Archer,” is arguably the most important of the mahāsiddhas, the charismatic and sometimes outrageous Indian Buddhist tantric adepts of the 8th to 11th centuries CE. His poetic works – and especially his Treasury of Dohās or People Dohās – were analyzed and quoted both by his Indian successors and by scholars and contemplatives in all the great Tibetan traditions, where they are regarded as the fountainhead of the philosophical and meditative system focused on the nature of the mind known as mahāmudrā, the Great Seal.
This talk will focus on the life and teachings of Saraha, drawing on the Tibetan hagiographical tradition devoted to him and the Buddhist themes found in his songs. As a biographical subject, Saraha is elusive, and as a teacher, he appears in many guises: ecstatic poet, social critic, radical gnostic, tantric yogin, and mainstream Buddhist. Despite these complexities, we will try to understand Saraha as both a historical figure and a Buddhist master, reading selected verses attributed to him to get a sense of the paradoxes and positionings involved in his distinctive and deeply influential presentation of the Dharma. The talk is suitable for students with all levels of knowledge and experience.
Open to all; registration required (note: We offer a monastics/staff “dana according to my means now/ at door option” for every event, please email program@maitripa.org to register for this option”)
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.
About the Maitripa College Buddhist Scholar-Practitioner Speaker Series, Spring 2025
Maitripa College presents a series of talks by esteemed Buddhist scholar-practitioners who will share their decades of scholarship and meditation for today’s audiences. This spring, we explore lineages of philosophers and meditators who have developed methods for investigating the nature of mind, with a particular focus on mahamudra. We are grateful to the accomplished Buddhist Studies professors and friends of Maitripa College who will present talks in person and online, and we invite you to please join us for learning, insight, and dialogue!

Chenrezig Practice for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama With Senior Student Namdrol Miranda Adams
2025-04-27 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Chenrezig Practice for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
With Senior Student Namdrol Miranda Adams
In person at Maitripa College and online
Registration for in-person attendance is not required; click below to join by zoom online.
To join via Zoom (remote online) please click here to register:
Register to attend by zoom

Connect to Maitripa College: Virtual (On-Line Only) Event
2025-04-28 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Monday, April 28; 3-4pm
Connect to Maitripa College
Virtual (On-Line Only) Event
Join us for “Connect to Maitripa College,” a one-hour online event introducing our programs in Buddhist Studies, chaplaincy, and contemplative education. Explore courses, retreats, and community life, and discover pathways for study, practice, and service. Hosted by faculty and staff, this interactive session offers time for questions and connection—an open invitation to begin or deepen your journey with us. No cost but registration is required – please click here to register; the zoom link will be sent to you after you register.

Medicine Buddha Practice for Health and Happiness with Maitripa College Alumnus, Michael Jolliffe
2025-05-04 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Please join the Maitripa College community in the Jokhang Meditation Hall for the healing practice of Medicine Buddha dedicated for all who are ill, for healing and happiness in the world led by Maitripa College Alumnus Michael Jolliffe
The practice of Medicine Buddha focuses healing of all types of sicknesses and suffering. Prayers may be dedicated specifically for the healing of loved ones and all sentient beings to anyone who needs protection, support, strength, and love. Click here to make requests for prayers: https://maitripa.org/prayer-list/).
In-person registration is no longer necessary; see button below for Zoom link.
Register to attend by zoom

Guru Puja (Lama Chöpa) with Tsog on the Tibetan 10th Day
2025-05-07 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Please join us at Maitripa College as we bring the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of practicing Guru Puja (Lama Chöpa) into our modern world and experience with our community.
Traditionally, the Guru Puja is celebrated on the 10th and 25th days of the Tibetan calendar. This puja consists of the recitation of a sadhana, visualizations, and prayers, including taking refuge and generating bodhicitta. Mantras, praises and requests are also usually recited. You may participate at whatever level you feel comfortable.
It is not necessary to register to attend in person; please click below to join us online by Zoom.

>Click here for resources, text, and information on Guru Puja instructions and retreats at Maitripa College

Register to attend by zoomGenerosity Policy for Community Programming
We strive to operate our community programs at Maitripa College within the model of a gift economy, grounded in an understanding of interdependence, and sensitive to the dynamics of connection. In traditional Buddhist teachings as well as in indigenous cultures, deep relationship is established through giving. In this spirit, we invite you to connect to Maitripa College by giving however you are able, in order to establish the reciprocity that deepens and strengthens relationship. Click below for donation options. May your generosity ripen in abundance for yourself and all beings everywhere.
Support Maitripa College Community Programs and Special Teacher Visits

Enlightened in One Lifetime; Ganden Mahamudra Oral Tradition Masters with Dr. Jan Willis (Online Only)
2025-05-10 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Enlightened in One Lifetime; Ganden Mahamudra Oral Tradition Masters with Dr. Jan Willis (Online Only)

In this talk, Professor Jan Willis, Emerita of Religion at Wesleyan University and scholar and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism for over fifty years, will focus on the rnam thar (sacred biographies) of six of the earliest Ear-Whispered lineage-holders of the Ganden Mahamudra Oral Tradition, narrating the lives of the earliest Geluk practice-lineage masters.

Open to all; registration required
Please register here for this online event and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. You will receive the link via email by the day before the event.

Jan Willis (BA and MA in Philosophy from Cornell University; PhD in Indic and Buddhist Studies from Columbia University) is Professor of Religion Emerita at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She has studied with Tibetan Buddhists in India, Nepal, Switzerland, and the U.S. for five decades, and has taught courses in Buddhism for over fifty years. She is the author of The Diamond Light: An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation (1972), On Knowing Reality: The Tattvartha Chapter of Asanga’s Bodhisattvabhumi (1979), Enlightened Beings: Life Stories from the Ganden Oral Tradition (1995); and the editor of Feminine Ground: Essays on Women and Tibet (1989). Additionally, Willis has published numerous articles and essays on various topics in Buddhism—Buddhist meditation, hagiography, women and Buddhism, and Buddhism and race. In 2001, her memoir, Dreaming Me: An African American Woman’s Spiritual Journey was published, and in 2008, it was re-issued by Wisdom Publications as Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist, and Buddhist—One Woman’s Spiritual Journey.
In December of 2000, TIME magazine named Willis one of six “spiritual innovators for the new millennium.” In 2003, she was a recipient of Wesleyan University’s Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Newsweek magazine’s “Spirituality in America” issue in 2005 included a profile of Willis, and Ebony magazine in 2007 named Willis one of its “Power 150” most influential African Americans.
In October and November of 2012, Jan spent seven weeks in a Buddhist nunnery in Thailand and, in September of 2013, she walked the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. In April of 2020, her book Dharma Matters: Women, Race, and Tantra–Collected Essays by Jan Willis appeared. >MORE

About the Maitripa College Buddhist Scholar-Practitioner Speaker Series, Spring 2025
Maitripa College presents a series of talks by esteemed Buddhist scholar-practitioners who will share their decades of scholarship and meditation for today’s audiences. This spring, we explore lineages of philosophers and meditators who have developed methods for investigating the nature of mind, with a particular focus on mahamudra. We are grateful to the accomplished Buddhist Studies professors and friends of Maitripa College who will present talks in person and online, and we invite you to please join us for learning, insight, and dialogue!
Talks in the Series:
February 26: Buddhist Scholar-Practitioner Speaker Series: The Tantric Songs of Atiśa with Patrick Lambelet, PhD
April 26: Saraha Has Stretched His Bow: The Life and Teachings of a Tantric Poet with Roger Jackson, PhD
May 10: Enlightened in One Lifetime; Ganden Mahamudra Oral Tradition Masters with Dr. Jan Willis, PhD

Chenrezig Practice for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
2025-05-11 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Chenrezig Practice for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
In person at Maitripa College and online
Registration for in-person attendance is not required; click below to join by zoom online.
To join via Zoom (remote online) please click here to register:
Register to attend by zoom

16th Commencement Exercises
2025-05-17 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Join us as we celebrate our graduates!
2025 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Roger Jackson
Open to all; no need to register for in person attendance; please click below to join us online by Zoom.
Attend online by Zoom

Tara Retreat Day with Yangsi Rinpoche
2025-05-18 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Tara Retreat Day with Yangsi Rinpoche
This one-day retreat led by Yangsi Rinpoche will focus on connecting with and deepening our connection with Green Tara, Buddha of Enlightened Activity and Protection. We will mainly use the Four Mandala Offering Practice to Green Tara (text provided).
A simple vegetarian lunch will be provided for those joining in the Maitripa Jokhang.
All are welcome but registration is required. Please register below and choose your donation option (based on ability and intent) from the registration form. NOTE: Zoom links to join online will be emailed to participants the day before the Retreat.
Register to attend in person or online by Zoom

NOTICE: No Guru Puja Today (Tibetan 25th)
2025-05-21 | OR
Due to other activities, there is no Guru Puja today.

Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe Teaching on 7 Point Mind Training
2025-05-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
FRIDAY, MAY 23 ~ 6pm – 8pm (PT)
SATURDAY, MAY 24 ~ 10am ~ noon; 2pm – 4pm (PT)
Join us at Maitripa College for a special teaching with Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe on the profound Seven Point Mind Training, by Chekawa. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to receive guidance from one of the great living scholars of the Tibetan tradition. All are welcome!
Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe was born in 1930 in Lho-Kha, Central Tibet and became a monk at the age of 13. He is a genuine contemplative master and a member of the last generation extensively trained in old Tibet. He received his monastic education at Drepung Loseling Monastery and, in 1969, was awarded the Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree of scholarship conferred within the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is an emeritus professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (formerly formerly called Central University for Tibetan Studies) as a professor of the Indian Tradition of Buddhist Philosophy. He is an eminent scholar of both Madhyamaka and Indian Buddhist studies. >MORE
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ATTENDANCE: Please use the link below to register. Options are available to attend either day or both days; select your giving level as indicated. Online participants will receive Zoom links before each day’s event.
Click here for PDF of the text for this teaching
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance (options to attend one or both days) and select the donation level you can offer in support of this special event and our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.
And join us on Sunday for an Intrafaith Seminar: The Heart Sutra with Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe and Hogen Bays, Roshi >DETAILS

Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe Teaching on 7 Point Mind Training
2025-05-24 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
FRIDAY, MAY 23 ~ 6pm – 8pm (PT)
SATURDAY, MAY 24 ~ 10am ~ noon; 2pm – 4pm (PT)
Join us at Maitripa College for a special teaching with Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe on the profound Seven Point Mind Training, by Chekawa. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to receive guidance from one of the great living scholars of the Tibetan tradition. All are welcome!
Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe was born in 1930 in Lho-Kha, Central Tibet and became a monk at the age of 13. He is a genuine contemplative master and a member of the last generation extensively trained in old Tibet. He received his monastic education at Drepung Loseling Monastery and, in 1969, was awarded the Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree of scholarship conferred within the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is an emeritus professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (formerly formerly called Central University for Tibetan Studies) as a professor of the Indian Tradition of Buddhist Philosophy. He is an eminent scholar of both Madhyamaka and Indian Buddhist studies. >MORE
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ATTENDANCE: Please use the link below to register. Options are available to attend either day or both days; select your giving level as indicated. Online participants will receive Zoom links before each day’s event.
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance (options to attend one or both days) and select the donation level you can offer in support of this special event and our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.
And join us on Sunday for an Intrafaith Seminar: The Heart Sutra with Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe and Hogen Bays, Roshi >DETAILS

Intrafaith Dialogue: The Heart Sutra with Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe and Hogen Bays, Roshi
2025-05-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Intrafaith Seminar: The Heart Sutra with Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe and Hogen Bays, Roshi
This seminar brings together lineage holders from two Buddhist traditions to explore the Heart Sutra, one of the most revered and widely studied texts in Mahayana Buddhism. Through their unique perspectives, the speakers will illuminate the sutra’s profound teachings, and provide insight into how the Heart Sutra continues to serve as a vital source of spiritual transformation and a bridge across Buddhist lineages.
Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe was born in 1930 in Lho-Kha, Central Tibet and became a monk at the age of 13. He is a genuine contemplative master and a member of the last generation extensively trained in old Tibet. He received his monastic education at Drepung Loseling Monastery and, in 1969, was awarded the Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree of scholarship conferred within the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is an emeritus professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (formerly formerly called Central University for Tibetan Studies) as a professor of the Indian Tradition of Buddhist Philosophy. He is an eminent scholar of both Madhyamaka and Indian Buddhist studies. >MORE
Hogen Bays, Roshi, began practicing in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi and was part of the residential staff at Zen Center of Rochester in Rochester, New York until 1975. He lived and trained at Zen Center of Los Angeles under the direction of Taizan Maezumi, Roshi from 1980-1984. In 1990 he took priest’s ordination with Maezumi, Roshi. After advice and consultation with Harada, Roshi and other Zen teachers, in 2000 he received Dharma Transmission from Chozen, Roshi. Since 1990 Hogen has continued his Zen studies with Rinzai Zen teacher Shodo Harada, Roshi, abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Japan and One Drop Zendo in Tahoma, Washington. He has been a leader of Zen Community of Oregon since 1985 and worked full-time for the sangha since 1997. He is co-abbot of Great Vow Zen Monastery. Hogen holds a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Master’s Degree (MS) in Psychology. He worked for the Oregon Department of Corrections for 15 years. Hogen is a lifelong and devoted student of the Dharma and continues to broaden his practice by studying with teachers outside the Zen tradition. >MORE
Scan the QR code below to access the English Heart Sutra text:
Scan the QR code below to access the Japanese Heart Sutra text:
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of this special event and our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.Geshe Thabkhe will also teach on the 7 Point Mind Training May 23-24; click here for all details

Mahamudra Retreat with Yangsi Rinpoche
2025-06-01 - 2025-06-11 | OR
This is a strict residential retreat for a limited number of experienced students; registration is by application only.
REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN FOR A FEW SPOTS LEFT FOR DAY RETREATANTS

2025 Mahamudra Retreat with Yangsi Rinpoche (residential)
Supported by Ven. Lozang Yönten and Dr. Namdrol Adams

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

PLEASE NOTE: The selection process for attendees will be based on a number of factors, most relevant among them:
1. Your experience level and familiarity with Buddhist practice
2. Your experience level and familiarity with Yangsi Rinpoche and/or the Maitripa Community
3. The overall composition of the group
We are endeavoring to make this process as transparent and timely as possible for all. Please reach out if there are any concerns. All arrival/departure/logistics/meal/housing/scheduling details will be made available to retreatants once the group is finalized. Thank you for your patience.

Retreat Description
Mahamudra techniques have historically been transmitted through all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In this retreat, we will be focusing on the tradition of Mahamudra as taught by the First Panchen Lama, as well as the instruction of the Mahasiddha Maitripa. This retreat will present a full set of teachings for Mahamudra meditation, including the basis of meditation on single-pointed concentration, focused meditation on the mind, and insight meditation into the ultimate nature of the mind. The retreat will also highlight the preliminary practices which act as a foundation for Mahamudra practice.
Karma yoga is a daily part of the retreat environment, and all participants will be expected to participate.

Housing, Meals, Retreat Facility
This is a strict retreat for a limited number of students, suitable for intermediate or advanced students, and registration is by application only.
The retreat will take place at a beautiful retreat center near the Clackamas River, about 30 minutes by car from Portland.
There are simple residential spaces in double or triple-occupancy rooms with like genders for approximately 30 full-board residential retreatants, and space for meals and practice for 15 day-only retreatants. Residential retreatants must commit to the entire retreat. A vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner will be prepared and served at the retreat facility for all participants, and vegan options will be available at every meal.

Other Notes
This retreat will not be available for online access.
Camping at the Retreat Facility is not permitted.
The Retreat Facility is not ADA accessible and there is uneven ground, basic physical mobility is needed to attend.

Retreat Costs
Costs for the entire 10-day retreat are as follows.
Lodgers, including 3 meals and room – $154/day = $1,540 for 10 days
Day only attendees, including 3 meals = $120/day = $1,200 for 10 days
Monastics = Up to 6 monastic scholarships available to cover full room and board
These costs reflect only the retreat facility fee (which is also at cost), food and lodging, Maitripa College teachers, staff, and retreat support, and a limited number of monastic participants. No financial gain has been built into the retreat costs for Maitripa College or for the retreat facility.

Retreat Registration Deadlines
March 14 Applications due (NOTE: This deadline has been extended for a few remaining spots; registration is still open)
March 21 Notification date for Retreatants
April 1 50% Deposit due
May 1 Balance due
*Absolutely no exceptions to these dates; participants will need to make these deadlines in order to ensure their spot in the retreat*

Daily Schedule for Retreat
*Tentative and subject to change*
6:00 – 7:30 am Morning Practice Session
7:30 – 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 am Karma Yoga
10:00 – 11:30 am Mahamudra Teaching and Practice Session
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 pm Rest
2:00 – 3:00 pm Discussion Groups
3:15 – 4:30 pm Mahamudra Teaching and Practice Session
4:45 – 5:30 pm Mahamudra Teaching and Practice Session
5:45 – 6:30 pm Evening Meal
7:15 – 8:15 pm Evening Practice Session

Saka Dawa
2025-06-11 | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Celebrate Saka Dawa!
You’re warmly invited to join us in spirit by celebrating Saka Dawa, one of the most sacred and powerful days in the Buddhist calendar. This auspicious occasion commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha—a day when the merit of our prayers and positive actions is said to be multiplied many millions of times.
Although there will be no formal community practice at Maitripa College on this day, due to the completion of our Mahamudra retreat, we encourage you to mark this special day with your own personal practice. You might:

Engage in meditation or recite prayers
Dedicate your practice for the enlightenment of all beings
Make offerings on your altar or to others
Perform acts of generosity or kindness
Take and keep vows for the day

Discovering Buddhism: Presenting the Path with Venerable Tenzin Drolma
2025-06-15 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-06-22 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-06-29 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-07-06 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Discovering Buddhism Module 3: Presenting the Path with Venerable Tenzin Drolma
This module offers an overview of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path to awakening. Study the life story of the Buddha and discover a unique system for putting Buddhist philosophy into practice – the lamrim, or graduated path to enlightenment.
Meets June 15, 22, 29, & July 6
11am-12:30pm (PT)
Online & In Person.
Open to all; registration required:
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.

Buddhist Mind Science Module 1: Cultivating Lasting Happiness - What Buddhism & Science Say
2025-06-16 18:30 - 2025-07-02 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Cultivating Lasting Happiness: What Buddhism and Science Have to Say About It is the first in a new series at Maitripa College exploring the inner workings of the mind. Taught by Venerable Tenzin Drolma—a Maitripa alumna, licensed therapist, and ordained Buddhist nun—this course offers a unique perspective on the causes of suffering and the conditions for true well-being, drawing from both Buddhist wisdom and modern psychology.
Buddhist Mind Science Module 1: Cultivating Lasting Happiness – What Buddhism & Science Say
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm (PT)
June 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, July 2
In-person and online (Zoom) registration options: Register below for access to all classes and materials at the donation level of your choice.
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.

About This Series: Explore the Mind: Buddhist Mind Science—Activating Your Potential: Offered online and in person, this three-module course bridges Buddhist contemplative tradition and modern science to illuminate how we can transform our lives from the inside out. Modules include:

Module 1: Cultivating Lasting Happiness – What Buddhism and science teach us about genuine well-being
Module 2: Transforming the Mind – Training in emotional resilience and inner peace
Module 3: Getting to Know Your Mind – Guided inquiry into the functions and nature of mind

Venerable Tenzin Drolma was born in Chicago, US, in 1961. She received her undergraduate degree in religious studies, philosophy and psychology. She has graduate degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and in Buddhist Studies from Maitripa College. For 25 years she worked in the mental health field.
Ven. Drolma was ordained as a nun in the Tibetan tradition in 2009. She moved to Vajrapani Institute and was resident sangha and assistant SPC for four years. From 2015 until 2022, she taught Introduction to Buddhism at Tushita Meditation Centre in India.
Ven. Drolma’s teaching style includes the psychological aspects of Buddhism and she has been described as a very approachable teacher. While strongly based in the tradition of the Gelukpa school, her teaching emphasizes those aspects most helpful to modern students.

Introduction to Buddhist Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care
2025-06-28 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Introduction to Buddhist Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care: An Interactive Workshop Exploring Skills, Vocation, and Contemplative Foundations
IN-PERSON OR ONLINE
This one-day workshop will combine lectures, small group exercises, meditation, and practice of some practical skills for serving others in spiritual care or chaplaincy roles, or to bring a spiritual dimension into the work of those in the therapeutic and caregiving relationships at home, in communities, and at their workplaces.
Foundational worldviews, or orienting systems, unique to Buddhism that inform spiritual care:

Practicing the Chaplain’s Path with empathy and equanimity
The Buddha as a Model Spiritual Caregiver
Buddhist Contributions to Spiritual Health

Participants will experience both receiving and giving care, sharing stories, and clarifying their present or future opportunities to enhance their own spiritual formation and care of others. Participants will learn about current research in the fields of compassion and chaplaincy, resources to develop their practice, and handouts for exercises practiced to enhance communication, connection and rapport in their relationships.
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday Celebration
2025-07-06 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday
Sunday, July 6th, 10am
You are invited to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday with us on Sunday! Join us to practice ‘The Inseparability of the Spiritual Master and Avalokiteshvara: A Source of All Powerful Attainments’ with Venerable Tenzin Drolma and the Maitripa College community.
Discovering Buddhism: Presenting the Path will continue after puja. Snacks & birthday cake available for all following the teachings!
No registration necessary for in-person attendance; click below to join online by Zoom.

Join the celebration online!

Buddhist Mind Science Module 2: Transforming the Mind to Cultivate Lasting Happiness
2025-07-07 18:30 - 2025-07-23 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Transforming the Mind to Cultivate Lasting Happiness is an in-depth exploration of meditation, emotional awareness, and mental balance as pathways to inner transformation. Taught by Venerable Tenzin Drolma—a Maitripa College alumna, professional therapist, and ordained Buddhist nun for over a decade—this course offers a rare and compelling integration of Buddhist insight and therapeutic practice. Through guided practice and critical reflection, students will engage the profound potential to understand and reshape their own minds.
Buddhist Mind Science Module: Transforming the Mind to Cultivate Lasting Happiness
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm (PT)
July 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23
In-person and online (Zoom) registration options: Register below for access to all classes and materials at the donation level of your choice.
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.
Venerable Tenzin Drolma was born in Chicago, US, in 1961. She received her undergraduate degree in religious studies, philosophy and psychology. She has graduate degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and in Buddhist Studies from Maitripa College. For 25 years she worked in the mental health field.
Ven. Drolma was ordained as a nun in the Tibetan tradition in 2009. She moved to Vajrapani Institute and was resident sangha and assistant SPC for four years. From 2015 until 2022, she taught Introduction to Buddhism at Tushita Meditation Centre in India.
Ven. Drolma’s teaching style includes the psychological aspects of Buddhism and she has been described as a very approachable teacher. While strongly based in the tradition of the Gelukpa school, her teaching emphasizes those aspects most helpful to modern students.

FPMT Teacher Development Service Seminar: Contemplative Pedagogy for Dharma Teachers
2025-07-11 - 2025-07-13 | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT

Thanks to a grant from FPMT, this seminar is being offered to registered participants at NO COST live in Portland, Oregon and online. Please see registration for housing support options in Portland.

Contemplative Pedagogy for Dharma Teachers: FPMT Teacher Service Development Service (TSDS) Seminar
With Venerable Lozang Yönten and Namdrol Adams
Location: Maitripa College
Dates & Times: 7/11: 10-5 7/12: 10-5 7/13: 10-3 (all times PT)
Hybrid Model (In-person and Online)

Please review the information on this page and follow the link to register:
register hereIntroduction
The July 2025 FPMT Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) at Maitripa College marks the next step in the evolution of training and support for Dharma teachers in the FPMT. Building on nearly a decade of collaborative effort within our community, this seminar embodies the insights, aspirations, and lived experiences of senior teachers, students, and the wider FPMT community around the world.
The foundations of this seminar were established in 2017, when experienced Dharma teachers and senior students came together to shape a shared vision for teacher development. Their work culminated in the first TDSS, piloted in various regions and contexts. It laid the groundwork for this iteration, now informed by refined pedagogy, flexible formats, and emerging best practices.
The 2025 TDSS has been shaped by fresh feedback and evolving priorities identified at the April 2025 CPMT meeting, where FPMT teachers emphasized the need to better support emerging teachers, integrate contemporary pedagogy, and balance lineage fidelity with accessibility. This TDSS draws on the expertise and best practices developed across the international FPMT community.
In response to evolving needs, this TDSS has been designed as a hybrid-learning program combining online and in-person participation, to increase flexibility and accessibility. With a mix of asynchronous and hybrid modules, it aims to support diverse learners, reduce travel demands, and pilot new pedagogical approaches. This shift reflects a broader commitment to offering high-quality Dharma education beyond traditional formats, while preserving the integrity of the teachings and the value of in-person experience.
This training is grounded in the heart advice of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Abbot of Kopan Monastery and member of the FPMT International Board, and Yangsi Rinpoche, President of Maitripa College. Their shared vision guides the development of compassionate, ethical, and skillful Dharma teachers prepared to meet the world with wisdom.
We welcome you and deeply appreciate your aspiration to teach and serve. May this seminar support your personal growth, confidence, and joyful commitment to the Dharma.
Overview of the 2025 TDSS
The 2025 FPMT Teacher Development Service Seminar will contain:

Asynchronous Pre-Seminar Modules – To be completed by July 1, 2025

Foundational teachings, reflections, and preparatory content to complete at your own pace before the live sessions, helping ground and enrich your experience.

Live Hybrid Seminar – Zoom & in-person at Maitripa College, July 11-13, 2025

An interactive, community-based environment with real-time teachings, group discussions, practicum sessions, and shared reflection—accessible both in person and online.

Asynchronous Post-Seminar Modules – To be completed by July 31, 2025

Follow-up content for integration and continued reflection, supporting the deepening of understanding, the application of insights to teaching practice, and connection to ongoing mentorship within the FPMT.
The Schedule

Asynchronous Pre-Seminar Online Modules Available Online by July 1, 2025

Module
Title
Topics
Format

Module 1
Introduction to the Teacher Development Seminar
Orientation.
Lineage grounding. Schedule overview.
Video + reading PDF.

Module 2
Introduction to the Qualities of a Dharma Teacher
Study, ethics, discipline. Heart advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche, & Yangsi Rinpoche
Recorded talks + reflection prompts.

Module 3
Understanding Learners
Learning styles. Sequencing Dharma for beginners. Trauma-informed pedagogy.
Slides + short quizzes + forum.

Module 4
Facilitation Foundations
Safe spaces. Inclusive learning. Power dynamics.
Guided reflection + peer sharing forum.

Live Hybrid Seminar – Zoom & in-person at Maitripa College, July 11-13, 2025

Module 5
Day 1: Foundations of the Teacher

Time
Session
Format

10:00am–12:00pm PDT
Session 1: The Qualities of a Teacher
Live hybrid

1:00pm–3:00pm PDT
Session 2: Understanding Learners
Live hybrid

3:30pm–5:00pm PDT
Session 3: Group Dynamics & Leadership
Live hybrid

Module 6
Day 2: Pedagogy in Practice

Time
Session
Format

10:00am–12:00pm PDT
Session 4: Course Planning I: Teaching in Gompa & Classroom Settings
Live hybrid

1:00pm–3:00pm PDT
Session 5: Course Planning II: Teaching Online & Hybrid
Live hybrid

3:30pm–5:00pm PDT
Session 6: Practicum – Presenting a Simple Teaching
Live hybrid (recorded for feedback)

Module 7
Day 3: Integration, Ethics, and Community

Time
Session
Format

10:00am–12:00pm PDT
Session 7: Ethics, Authority, and Cultural Relevance
Live hybrid

1:00pm–3:00pm PDT
Session 8: Mentorship and Lifelong Development + Closing Circle
Live hybrid

Asynchronous Post-Seminar Modules – To be completed by July 31, 2025

Module
Title
Topics
Format

Module 8
Reflective Teaching Practice
Integration journaling. Personal teaching goals.
Journal upload + forum

Module 9
Mentorship Paths in FPMT
TDSS Review.
Choosing a mentor.
Video + mentor request form

Supporting Tools & Features to enhance your learning experience:

Access to all materials via Maitripa Mandala Online (launches Summer 2025)
Ongoing active discussion forums to connect, reflect and learn with peers
Live sessions recorded for flexible access across time zones
Personalized feedback through private practicum review channels
Certificate of Completion issued to recognize your full participation

Important Information About the New TDSS Format
We are happy to share that the updated Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) is now being offered in a hybrid format, with options for both in-person and online participation. At this time, the course is available only in English.
Please note the following important details about access and participation:

The online course content will be made available only to individuals who are enrolled in the full course—whether attending in person or online
Once enrolled, participants will have ongoing access to these materials for personal study and review.
Live sessions and breakout group work will not be recorded or made available after the course.
Certificates of Completion: Participants will receive a certificate of completion for either online or in-person attendance. The certificate will note your mode of participation and confirm that you’ve met the course requirements.
Pre-Seminar Modules: These will now be available starting July 1. You can complete them on your own time before the live seminar weekend. Links to access those coming this week.

We understand that time zones and schedules vary. If you are interested in doing the full course online but are unable to attend the synchronous sessions at all, please email us directly at education@maitripa.org, and we do our best to support your participation.
We are currently experimenting with various modes of delivery for the TDSS to be made available in the future. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we offer the most comprehensive experience currently possible.

FAQ: How long will the asynchronous parts of the TDSS take me to complete?
ANSWER:
Looking at Modules 1–9 of the Teacher Development Service Seminar, an average student working asynchronously and independently—without group engagement or live sessions—can expect to spend approximately 10 to 15 hours total to complete the asynchronous coursework.

Discovering Buddhism: All About Karma with Venerable Tenzin Drolma
2025-07-20 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Maitripa College, 1119 SE Market St., Portland, OR, 97214, United States
Discovering Buddhism Module 6: All About Karma with Venerable Tenzin Drolma
This module offers an overview of the essential facts about the law of actions and their results. Explore ways to deal with life more effectively and take control of your future.
Meets July 20, 27, August 3, & 10
11-12:30p (PT)
Online & In Person.
Open to all; registration required:
Please register here for In-person or online Zoom attendance and select the donation level you can offer in support of our ongoing programs. Zoom registrants will receive the link via email by the day before the event.
