Annual
Report
2023
In 2023, the Tertön Sogyal Foundations supported two types of grants
Types of Grants 2023
Number of grants
128
Total amount awarded
€153,393
Study and Practice
118 grants awarded | €96,378 | 63%
Light of Dharma
10 grants awarded | €57,015 | 37%
Study and Practice Grants
Long-Term Retreat at
Dzogchen Beara Drupdra
€
0
Details
These are grants for students who want to do a Nyenpa or a long-term retreat in the Dzogchen Beara (Drupdra). Grants provide financial support for the registration, food and accommodation.
In 2023 a total of nine grants were awarded for the Long-Term retreat.
Training Practice Holders
€
0
Details
These grants are for practitioners who made a commitment to be trained by the main holders of Rigpa’s practice lineage in the Vajrayana Practice roles of Chöpön and Umdze with the aim that they will give trainings themselves in the future. These initial grants were awarded for training in Lerab Ling and Dzogchen Beara.
Sixteen grants have been awarded for Training the Practice Holders to support practitioners to be trained, as well as some of the work that made the training possible.
Short-term Retreat at a main Rigpa Centre
€
0
Details
These grants are primarily offered to students that want to attend one of the international retreats held at one of Rigpa’s main retreat centres: Lerab Ling Dzogchen Beara, Dharma Mati and Blueys Beach. Retreat duration maybe from a single week to a few months.
In 2023, twenty seven grants were awarded for these retreats:
Rabjam Rinpoche, Yonten Dzo online, Personal Retreats, Dzogchen Retreat, Ngondro Retreat, OT Rinpoche Retreat, TSND Retreat and Drupchos in Dharma Mati and Lerab Ling.
Shedra and Milinda Teacher Training
€
0
Details
These grants are for students that want to follow Shedra studies under the Rigpa Shedra program or outside such as the Milinda teachers training.
Thirty four grants were awarded for students to attend Rigpa’s Shedra program held online, as well as onsite, in Lerab Ling.
Chetsun Nyingtik
€
0
Details
The Chetsün Nyingtik or “The Heart Essence of Chetsün, the Perfect Secret Bindu” is a one month practice retreat to follow the teachings that were composed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and outlines the complete Dzogchen path from the preliminaries up to the main practices of Trekchö and Tögal.
In 2023, 5 applications were awarded for retreats in Blueys Beach, Dzogchen Beara and Lerab Ling.
ONE Month Senior Teacher Retreat
€
0
Details
Under the encouragement of Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche , the entrusted group of senior teachers & practice holders gathered together for one month, in retreat at Lerab Ling to focus on practice and take steps towards their emergence as the group of senior holders that will support the sangha and the dharma in the decades to come.
27 applications were awarded in 2023 for this retreat.
Nina Polli
Dzogchen Retreat and Rigpa Yeshe
Marion Klein
Dzogchen Retreat
Aoife Coleman
Shedra
Sandrine Ferrou
Yönten Dzö
Geographical Locations 2023
- Australia 11 %
- Belgium 7 %
- Bhutan 2 %
- Canada 1 %
- Dzogchen Beara 10 %
- France 13 %
- Germany 20 %
- Spain 6 %
- Switzerland 1 %
- Lerab Ling 25 %
- Netherlands 5 %
- UK 2 %
- US 4 %
Long-Term Retreat at
Dzogchen Beara Drupdra
€
0
Details
These are grants for students who want to do a Nyenpa or a long-term retreat in the Dzogchen Beara (Drupdra). Grants provide financial support for the registration, food and accommodation.
In 2023 a total of nine grants were awarded for the Long-Term retreat.
Training Practice Holders
€
0
Details
These grants are for practitioners who made a commitment to be trained by the main holders of Rigpa’s practice lineage in the Vajrayana Practice roles of Chöpön and Umdze with the aim that they will give trainings themselves in the future. These initial grants were awarded for training in Lerab Ling and Dzogchen Beara.
Sixteen grants have been awarded for Training the Practice Holders to support practitioners to be trained, as well as some of the work that made the training possible.
Short-term Retreat at a main Rigpa Centre
€
0
Details
These grants are primarily offered to students that want to attend one of the international retreats held at one of Rigpa’s main retreat centres: Lerab Ling Dzogchen Beara, Dharma Mati and Blueys Beach. Retreat duration maybe from a single week to a few months.
In 2023, twenty seven grants were awarded for these retreats:
Rabjam Rinpoche, Yonten Dzo online, Personal Retreats, Dzogchen Retreat, Ngondro Retreat, OT Rinpoche Retreat, TSND Retreat and Drupchos in Dharma Mati and Lerab Ling.
Shedra and Milinda Teacher Training
€
0
Details
These grants are for students that want to follow Shedra studies under the Rigpa Shedra program or outside such as the Milinda teachers training.
Thirty four grants were awarded for students to attend Rigpa’s Shedra program held online, as well as onsite, in Lerab Ling.
Chetsun Nyingtik
€
0
Details
The Chetsün Nyingtik or “The Heart Essence of Chetsün, the Perfect Secret Bindu” is a one month practice retreat to follow the teachings that were composed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and outlines the complete Dzogchen path from the preliminaries up to the main practices of Trekchö and Tögal.
In 2023, 5 applications were awarded for retreats in Blueys Beach, Dzogchen Beara and Lerab Ling.
ONE Month Senior Teacher Retreat
€
0
Details
Under the encouragement of Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche , the entrusted group of senior teachers & practice holders gathered together for one month, in retreat at Lerab Ling to focus on practice and take steps towards their emergence as the group of senior holders that will support the sangha and the dharma in the decades to come.
27 applications were awarded in 2023 for this retreat.
https://youtu.be/BLvB2ylgDXU
Nina Polli
Dzogchen Retreat and Rigpa Yeshe
https://youtu.be/dNSBVHbmeeU
Marion Klein
Dzogchen Retreat
https://youtu.be/HCXIh9mMIj4
Aoife Coleman
Shedra
https://youtu.be/vQb_OCrEJn0
Sandrine Ferrou
Yönten Dzö
- Australia 11 %
- Belgium 7 %
- Bhutan 2 %
- Canada 1 %
- Dzogchen Beara 10 %
- France 13 %
- Germany 20 %
- Spain 6 %
- Switzerland 1 %
- Lerab Ling 25 %
- Netherlands 5 %
- UK 2 %
- US 4 %
Light of Dharma Grants
Communicate Dharma in Ways that are Relevant and Accessible to all
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to bring Dharma to new audiences in order to help alleviate suffering on all levels.
Support Practitioners Accomplish their Paths
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to adopt student-centred approaches for programmes at all levels and to foster sangha unity through coordinated national and international programmes.
Support and Encourage Rigpa Teachers and Holders to Manifest
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to enable Senior Teachers to teach and to be available for students, create opportunities for Senior Holders to serve the sangha, and pass on their knowledge.
Understanding/ Communicating and Connecting with Students
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to grow a thriving community of people exploring the wisdom of the Buddhist teachings, in the spirit of Rigpa’s particular style and Sogyal Rinpoche’s vision and to communicate in ways that connect to the needs and concerns of society.
Curriculum
€
0
Details
These Light of Dharma grants were awarded to support the development of new curriculum, from concept to production.
These grants are funding the upfront investment needed during the months or in some cases years that it takes to develop new curriculum.
This way, when the new curriculum is delivered at local Rigpa centres, the majority of the registration fees remain at the local centre to support its expenses.
Other
€
0
Details
Activities to Support Students mature on their Path.
The Sacred Art
The Sacred Art Department worked under a Light of Dharma grant to install a Mandala as part of the stupa containing the relics of Sogyal Rinpoche. This mandala is about 2.5 metres in diameter.
The stupa was made under the guidance of Tulku Rigdzin Pema. Under his guidance the team first make made, digitally, an accurate mandala according to the tradition of Jigmé Lingpa, and at a scale and level of detail appropriate to the size of the finished mandala.
The final print consisted on several pieces due to the size of the finished mandala. These prints were mounted so that gold paint can be applied to highlight the details. Once the gold painting was completed the prints was mounted onto the ceiling in the Nirmanakaya shrine room where the Stupa was constructed.
TBLD in Tibetan
This Light of Dharma grant was awarded to a team that translatd “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” in Tibetan.
Part of the tranlating process inluded finding Tibetans who are part of the exile community in India that helped answearing questions on contemporary spoken Tibetan.
The PDF was delivered in May 2023, and an epub version will be created as a follow up.
AMOD Translation
The project consisted on the translation of the teaching collection ‘Meeting death with confidence’ (‘Sogyal Rinpoche’s heart advice for the moment of death’ – AMOD) into German, French, Spanish and Italian.
The translations were provided by:
- French: Thomas Demarcq
- German: Karin Behrendt
- Spanish: Javier Torales
- Italian: Daniela Muggia
Other Light of Dharma Grant Projects
- The Dzogchen Research Project
- Project Manager role for Sangha Days
- The Practical Wisdom Project
- Activities of Supporting Students to mature on their Path
Communicate Dharma in Ways that are Relevant and Accessible to all
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to bring Dharma to new audiences in order to help alleviate suffering on all levels.
Support Practitioners Accomplish their Paths
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to adopt student-centred approaches for programmes at all levels and to foster sangha unity through coordinated national and international programmes.
Support and Encourage Rigpa Teachers and Holders to Manifest
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to enable Senior Teachers to teach and to be available for students, create opportunities for Senior Holders to serve the sangha, and pass on their knowledge.
Understanding/ Communicating and Connecting with Students
€
0
Details
These grants are offered to grow a thriving community of people exploring the wisdom of the Buddhist teachings, in the spirit of Rigpa’s particular style and Sogyal Rinpoche’s vision and to communicate in ways that connect to the needs and concerns of society.
Curriculum
€
0
Details
These Light of Dharma grants were awarded to support the development of new curriculum, from concept to production.
These grants are funding the upfront investment needed during the months or in some cases years that it takes to develop new curriculum.
This way, when the new curriculum is delivered at local Rigpa centres, the majority of the registration fees remain at the local centre to support its expenses.
Other
€
0
Details
Activities to Support Students mature on their Path.
The Sacred Art
The Sacred Art Department worked under a Light of Dharma grant to install a Mandala as part of the stupa containing the relics of Sogyal Rinpoche. This mandala is about 2.5 metres in diameter.
The stupa was made under the guidance of Tulku Rigdzin Pema. Under his guidance the team first make made, digitally, an accurate mandala according to the tradition of Jigmé Lingpa, and at a scale and level of detail appropriate to the size of the finished mandala.
The final print consisted on several pieces due to the size of the finished mandala. These prints were mounted so that gold paint can be applied to highlight the details. Once the gold painting was completed the prints was mounted onto the ceiling in the Nirmanakaya shrine room where the Stupa was constructed.
TBLD in Tibetan
This Light of Dharma grant was awarded to a team that translatd “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” in Tibetan.
Part of the tranlating process inluded finding Tibetans who are part of the exile community in India that helped answearing questions on contemporary spoken Tibetan.
The PDF was delivered in May 2023, and an epub version will be created as a follow up.
AMOD Translation
The project consisted on the translation of the teaching collection ‘Meeting death with confidence’ (‘Sogyal Rinpoche’s heart advice for the moment of death’ – AMOD) into German, French, Spanish and Italian.
The translations were provided by:
- French: Thomas Demarcq
- German: Karin Behrendt
- Spanish: Javier Torales
- Italian: Daniela Muggia
- The Dzogchen Research Project
- Project Manager role for Sangha Days
- The Practical Wisdom Project
- Activities of Supporting Students to mature on their Path
The Grantmaking Committee
The Grantmaking Committee approves the grants and the boards of the Tertön Sogyal Foundations ratify such approval in order to fund the grants in part or in full.
Alain Beauregard
ONE Rigpa Board
Anneke Hakman
Tertön Sogyal
Foundations Team
Christian Hauser
Investment Committee
Fiona Feather
Tertön Sogyal Trust (UK)
France Manghardt
Rigpa’s ICG
Heinz Siepmann
Tertön Sogyal Stifung
(Germany)
Jane Gray
International Steering Group
Jessical DuVal
Tertön Sogyal Foundations Team
Tertön Sogyal Foundation (US) Board member
Juan Brouilhet
Fundación Tertön Sogyal
(Spain)
Malcolm MacClancy
Tertön Sogyal
Foundations Team
Mauro de March
Vision Board
Michele Phamtan
Fonds Tertön Sogyal
(France)
Pedro Beroy
Tertön Sogyal Foundation
(US)
The Investment Committee
The majority of the Restricted Funds and all of the Endowment Fund moneys held by the three Tertön Sogyal Foundations are invested through the advisory of the Investment Committee comprised of Rigpa students with experience in financial markets and that hold a close relationship with Rigpa and the Tertön Sogyal Foundations. All members of the Investment Committee are contributing their time and expertise on a voluntary basis.
Christian Hauser
Investment Committee
Dan Schuessler
Investment Committee
Heinz Siepmann
Tertön Sogyal Stifung (Germany)
Pedro Beroy
Tertön Sogyal Foundation (US)
A big
Thank You
to all donors who so generously supported the Tertön Sogyal Foundations. This is a major endeavour that we aim to continue long into the future to benefit a growing number of Buddhist students. Your support to make this happen is vital.
Please continue to support us.