The precious Buddha Dharma took birth in India and thrived for centuries across the subcontinent, most notably at Nalanda mahavihara, widely considered one of the greatest centers of learning in the world. In the seventh century C.E., several Indian masters brought the Dharma from India to Tibet. There, the teachings proliferated and the Sanskrit texts were copied meticulously by Buddhist scholars and translated into Tibetan, becoming the basis for Tibetan Buddhism, which continues the philosophical traditions of Nalanda. With the destruction of Nalanda mahavihara around 1200 C.E., many of these precious Sanskrit texts were lost in India and the teachings of the Buddha Dharma began to wane in its homeland. Fortunately, the texts and the oral traditions survived in Tibet and the life-transforming practices of the Buddha Dharma continued to flourish there, passed along from master to student in unbroken lineages tracing back to the Gautam Buddha himself.
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is helping to restore these ancient teachings to their birthplace in India by making the pure and profound wisdom of the Buddha Dharma accessible to all people in India regardless of background or belief. This is the aspiration of Tergar Nalanda, and we welcome you to join us on the journey to greater awareness, love, compassion, wisdom, and joy.
Our Spiritual Guide- Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche-Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is a recognized tulku (reincarnate lama) of the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, a teacher, spiritual leader and best selling author. His teachings weave together modern science and the ancient heart wisdom of Tibet in a fresh, engaging manner. Mingyur Rinpoche’s profound yet accessible teachings and playful sense of humor have endeared him to students around the world. Uniquely, Rinpoche’s teachings weave together his own personal experiences with modern scientific research, as they relate to the practice of meditation.
As a child, Mingyur Rinpoche saw his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, teaching people from a great diversity of religious and secular backgrounds. Inspired by his father’s nonsectarian approach, he became very curious about what teachings and methods would be of greatest benefit to people from other cultures and backgrounds, and discussed these questions with some of his teachers, particularly his father and Saljey Rinpoche, his retreat master at Sherab Ling Monastery. He learned that there is a long tradition (dating back to ancient India) of teaching the essence of Buddhist philosophy meditation practices, such as mindfulness meditation and practices to develop loving-kindness and compassion, in an experiential manner that can easily be adapted for those who are interested from all faiths and cultural backgrounds.
Mingyur Rinpoche has authored several books including two best-sellers: The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness, and In Love with the World: A Monk’s Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying. Both of these books have been translated into over 20 languages. His recent TED Talk is entitled How to tap into your awareness — and why meditation is easier than you think.
“The Institute provides a transformational learning process of discovering our inner well-being. The path to this discovery begins with conceptual understanding and deepens through direct experience. We then learn to apply our insights in everyday life. This style of learning combines both the intellectual and experiential in order to build healthy habits that inform every aspect of our lives.”
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
The Joy of Living is a series of three meditation courses designed to help you uncover the wonderful qualities of your mind. Created by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, they guide participants through a step-by-step journey:
If we transform our mind, everything we experience is transformed