Today I offer from my heart New Year greetings Tashi Delek to you.
It is fair to say that in the past few years I have been quite busy, and many meaningful events have come to pass.
Three-Year Study and Practice of Khandro Nyingthig
From 2023 through 2025, for a duration of three years, I studied in the presence of the great Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche of the Nyingma Early Translation Secret Mantra tradition. Rinpoche bestowed the oral instructions of Dzogchen Khandro Nyingthig, the explanatory teachings, empowerments, and practice training. Each year I journeyed to India and Nepal for the sake of Dharma, spending one month at Payul Monastery in south India and one month at Yangleshö in Nepal.
For the sake of Dharma, although great hardships like in ancient times are not necessary, one must sacrifice everything in one’s heart otherwise it will not work. Through the realization, experience, and wisdom sunlight of Khabje Khenchen Namdrol Tsering Rinpoche, the lotus garden of the intellect of his students, including myself, was made to flourish.
Connection with the Mindrolling Lineage and Broader Dharma Activities
During the month spanning December 2025 and January 2026, I had the good fortune of once again receiving both the empowerments and transmissions of the Early Translation Kama at Mindrolling from His Holiness Kyabje Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. This precious transmission represents the unbroken oral lineage passed down from the three kayas of all the Buddhas. In all, over 3500 people from all around the world came to attend these teachings, including reincarnated masters, khenpos, lopons, monks, nuns, and lay practitioners.
During this same period, I had the honor of presiding over a scholarly symposium gathering some of the foremost masters and scholars of the Nyingma tradition. This conference explored the profound meaning of the Kama lineage, the oral transmissions through the vast activities and great kindness of King Trisong Deutsen, Mahapandita Shantarakshita, and Guru Padmasambhava. I offered introductory and concluding remarks, gave a talk on the relationship of the Kama transmission and the Mindrolling lineage and participated in discussions with the speakers, facilitating this important dialogue on our precious lineage.
Following the Kama Wang transmission, I was invited by the International Buddhist Confederation and the Indian Minister of Culture to participate in the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit held on January 24-25, 2026, in New Delhi, India. This major international gathering, organized under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence,” brought together heads of Buddhist lineages and national Buddhist Sanghas, eminent scholars, and senior dignitaries from around the world to strengthen the bonds of our global Buddhist family.
Throughout these activities at Mindrolling, Kyabje Minling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche requested that I serve on the empowerment and transmission organizing committee, working energetically together with colleagues. I was happy to meet many old Dharma friends and to strengthen our bonds in the Dharma.
The Flourishing of Danakosha Ling
In short, the past three years passed extremely quickly, entirely like a single night’s dream. Yet within that dream, many auspicious causes and conditions ripened for the benefit of beings.
At the beautiful Danakosha Ling garden of Dharma activity in the northern land of Finland we witnessed extraordinary blessings. During the first month of the Tibetan Calendar – the miracle month of Losar, Danakosha Ling held the precious Könchok Chidü drupchod, the revealed treasures of Jatsön Nyingpo, to usher in the new year with auspiciousness.
In late July and early August of 2025, Kyabje Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Vajravarahi in person, graciously visited our center with a glorious entourage of Khenpos, Lopöns, monks, and nuns from Mindrolling Monastery. From July 31st through August 3rd, Kyabje Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche kindly bestowed empowerment and led the entire sangha in a Minling Dorsem drubchö, a sacred three-day intensive practice ceremony consecrating the Great Enlightenment Stupa.
On August 4th, 2025, we celebrated the new stupa consecration for the benefit of all beings throughout the world and in particular Finland. The gathering of over one hundred sangha members and the blessings of venerable masters from Theravadin, Mahayana, Vajrayana traditions made a profound mark on history that continues to inspire people around the world.
During this auspicious occasion, certificates were presented to students who had completed the five-year Semnyid Ngalso (Relaxing in the Nature of Mind) Dzogchen course, based on the teachings of the Omniscient Longchen Rabjam. Additionally I gave blessed statues of Mahapandita Vimalamitra and tsa-tsas as a token of appreciation for those who, for a long time, worked hard, practiced the dharma, and studied well at Danakosha Ling. I commissioned these statues of Mahapandita Vimalamitra according to the traditional texts, Tibetan quality, filled with many precious relics, and consecrated using authentic methods.
Additionally, significant developments took place at the Dharma center, including the construction of a beautiful entry gate welcoming members and visitors alike. This traditional-style gate, bears the four verses that embody the entirety of the Buddha’s teachings:
Commit not a single unwholesome action,
Cultivate a wealth of virtue,
Tame this mind of ours
These are the teachings of the Buddha.
Looking Forward: Teachings and Practice in 2026
As we enter this new year, I wish to extend a warm invitation to all to join us in the activities and teachings at Danakosha Ling.
We will begin the year with our annual Losar celebration and sang purification ceremony, welcoming the new year with auspicious prayers and merit accumulation. This gathering serves to clear obstacles and plant the seeds for a year of Dharma practice and benefit for all beings.
In the summer of 2026, from July 2nd through July 28th, I will offer a series of special teaching courses for different groups. For more information please check the danakosha.org website. To all who read this letter, whether you are longtime students or those newly interested in the Dharma, I offer this aspiration:
Through the power of wondrous great resolve like the sun drawn by seven horses,
Radiating a hundred thousand brilliant beams from the wheel of ripening and liberation,
Pervading all the realms of mind with the three types of faith,
May the light of auspiciousness bring happiness and well-being to the world.
Through the kindness and blessings of the precious lineage masters, through the diligent efforts of the sangha, and through the merit accumulated by all who support this sacred work, Danakosha Ling continues to grow as a beacon of the Buddha’s teachings in Northern Europe. May all beings benefit from these auspicious connections.
Sarva Mangalam! སརྦ་མངྒ་ལཾ།
