Since H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche established Odsal Ling in 1993, the São Paulo sangha has evolved from a small number of Tara practitioners into a flourishing group with several hundred participants. At our center, Lama Tsering maintains an ongoing schedule of weeknight teachings and events. Over the years, she has noticed how the stress of living in a big city affects her students. Bringing the sangha together to participate in weekend retreats has always been difficult because most members generally leave town and recuperate on weekends. For this reason, Lama Tsering has always felt the need for a rural retreat center in a location conducive to both individual and group practice.
For months, Lama Tsering and her students researched the possibilities, but what they found was either too expensive or too far away. Then last February, a man attending Rinpoche’s chöd retreat at Odsal Ling said he knew of a place that might be of interest. His neighbor, a man named Sa- buru, along with his two brothers, owned about four acres of beautiful land on the outskirts of São Paulo. Having lived there most of his life, he was now interested in selling the land, but not to just any buyer. In his youth, his family had lovingly planted many flowering trees, eucalyptus, and pines on the property, and he did not want it cleared for condominiums.
When Lama Tsering went to see the land for the first time, she had to suppress the urge to jump up and down with joy. The property was very appealing, with an old, colonial-style house, sloping woodlands, and open meadows—ideal for a retreat center. As Lama Tsering walked the land with Saburu, he spoke about his Korean mother. She had been a devout Buddhist, with an unflagging faith in the power of prayer to remove obstacles and bring about blessings. Though she had been dead for many years, he felt that our plans for the land made her very happy. Saburu had hosted weddings and large events for children there, and hoped that such beneficial use of the land would continue.
When the sangha attended a picnic there a few weeks later, they fell in love with it. They appreciated the fact that it was accessible, only twelve miles outside the city limits, but still had a rural feel. When Rinpoche came to see the property, he sat on the front porch of the old house and simply commented, “This land is good.”
At a fund-raising meeting, Lama Tsering described the property as a place of refuge for the sangha, and thus it was provisionally named Refugio. At that meeting, more than a third of the purchase cost was raised, and pledges continue to come in.
However, even after Saburu and his brothers accepted the final offer, there was still a major obstacle— the paperwork— which ended up requiring months of effort. As plans advanced, decisions to be made and tasks arose at such a rate that Lama Tsering asked Rinpoche for help. At the time, I was still in retreat, hoping to complete the traditional three years, but I knew from the beginning that there remained the possibility of being called out to help if necessary.
During the Losar Vajrakilaya ceremonies, Rinpoche and several of the Chagdud Gonpa lamas joined me in my retreat for a few days. At that time Rinpoche mentioned Lama Tsering’s request for help. He told me that I could either stay in retreat or leave in order to help with the project, but that the decision was mine alone to make. I have always felt that one of the purposes of my life is to help create practice environments for others. So, with some regret, some anticipation, and Rinpoche’s blessings, I left retreat for the time being, to help with Refugio.
Shortly after arriving in São Paulo, I discovered that many sangha members had professional skills and were eager to help. Several architecture students helped design the temple and facilities, those with technical skills offered their assistance in designing the infrastructure, and others helped with the estimates and material purchases.
The plan is to remodel the house first in order to quickly provide a functioning shrine room, kitchen, and dining facilities, which will later serve as the lama residence. Later, as funds become available, a moderately sized Tibetan-style temple, kitchen and dining facilities, and guest quarters will be added.
When I asked sangha members about their aspirations for Refugio, many of their answers were similar— they envisioned a peaceful environment for extended meditation practice, a place they could call their own and where the dharma could be experienced, a safe place for children, and finally, a source of teachings and inspiration to be taken to heart and integrated into daily life. Lama Tsering added her own aspiration that Refugio be a rest stop for all those of pure heart, a place where the enlightened intent of all masters of the Great Perfection can be realized.
By Lama Norbu
Since H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche established Odsal Ling in 1993, the São Paulo sangha has evolved from a small number of Tara practitioners into a flourishing group with several hundred participants. At our center, Lama Tsering maintains an ongoing schedule of weeknight teachings and events. Over the years, she has noticed how the stress of living in a big city affects her students. Bringing the sangha together to participate in weekend retreats has always been difficult because most members generally leave town and recuperate on weekends. For this reason, Lama Tsering has always felt the need for a rural retreat center in a location conducive to both individual and group practice.
For months, Lama Tsering and her students researched the possibilities, but what they found was either too expensive or too far away. Then last February, a man attending Rinpoche’s chöd retreat at Odsal Ling said he knew of a place that might be of interest. His neighbor, a man named Sa- buru, along with his two brothers, owned about four acres of beautiful land on the outskirts of São Paulo. Having lived there most of his life, he was now interested in selling the land, but not to just any buyer. In his youth, his family had lovingly planted many flowering trees, eucalyptus, and pines on the property, and he did not want it cleared for condominiums.
When Lama Tsering went to see the land for the first time, she had to suppress the urge to jump up and down with joy. The property was very appealing, with an old, colonial-style house, sloping woodlands, and open meadows—ideal for a retreat center. As Lama Tsering walked the land with Saburu, he spoke about his Korean mother. She had been a devout Buddhist, with an unflagging faith in the power of prayer to remove obstacles and bring about blessings. Though she had been dead for many years, he felt that our plans for the land made her very happy. Saburu had hosted weddings and large events for children there, and hoped that such beneficial use of the land would continue.
When the sangha attended a picnic there a few weeks later, they fell in love with it. They appreciated the fact that it was accessible, only twelve miles outside the city limits, but still had a rural feel. When Rinpoche came to see the property, he sat on the front porch of the old house and simply commented, “This land is good.”
At a fund-raising meeting, Lama Tsering described the property as a place of refuge for the sangha, and thus it was provisionally named Refugio. At that meeting, more than a third of the purchase cost was raised, and pledges continue to come in.
However, even after Saburu and his brothers accepted the final offer, there was still a major obstacle— the paperwork— which ended up requiring months of effort. As plans advanced, decisions to be made and tasks arose at such a rate that Lama Tsering asked Rinpoche for help. At the time, I was still in retreat, hoping to complete the traditional three years, but I knew from the beginning that there remained the possibility of being called out to help if necessary.
During the Losar Vajrakilaya ceremonies, Rinpoche and several of the Chagdud Gonpa lamas joined me in my retreat for a few days. At that time Rinpoche mentioned Lama Tsering’s request for help. He told me that I could either stay in retreat or leave in order to help with the project, but that the decision was mine alone to make. I have always felt that one of the purposes of my life is to help create practice environments for others. So, with some regret, some anticipation, and Rinpoche’s blessings, I left retreat for the time being, to help with Refugio.
Shortly after arriving in São Paulo, I discovered that many sangha members had professional skills and were eager to help. Several architecture students helped design the temple and facilities, those with technical skills offered their assistance in designing the infrastructure, and others helped with the estimates and material purchases.
The plan is to remodel the house first in order to quickly provide a functioning shrine room, kitchen, and dining facilities, which will later serve as the lama residence. Later, as funds become available, a moderately sized Tibetan-style temple, kitchen and dining facilities, and guest quarters will be added.
When I asked sangha members about their aspirations for Refugio, many of their answers were similar— they envisioned a peaceful environment for extended meditation practice, a place they could call their own and where the dharma could be experienced, a safe place for children, and finally, a source of teachings and inspiration to be taken to heart and integrated into daily life. Lama Tsering added her own aspiration that Refugio be a rest stop for all those of pure heart, a place where the enlightened intent of all masters of the Great Perfection can be realized.
By Lama Norbu
Since H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche established Odsal Ling in 1993, the São Paulo sangha has evolved from a small number of Tara practitioners into a flourishing group with several hundred participants. At our center, Lama Tsering maintains an ongoing schedule of weeknight teachings and events. Over the years, she has noticed how the stress of living in a big city affects her students. Bringing the sangha together to participate in weekend retreats has always been difficult because most members generally leave town and recuperate on weekends. For this reason, Lama Tsering has always felt the need for a rural retreat center in a location conducive to both individual and group practice.
For months, Lama Tsering and her students researched the possibilities, but what they found was either too expensive or too far away. Then last February, a man attending Rinpoche’s chöd retreat at Odsal Ling said he knew of a place that might be of interest. His neighbor, a man named Sa- buru, along with his two brothers, owned about four acres of beautiful land on the outskirts of São Paulo. Having lived there most of his life, he was now interested in selling the land, but not to just any buyer. In his youth, his family had lovingly planted many flowering trees, eucalyptus, and pines on the property, and he did not want it cleared for condominiums.
When Lama Tsering went to see the land for the first time, she had to suppress the urge to jump up and down with joy. The property was very appealing, with an old, colonial-style house, sloping woodlands, and open meadows—ideal for a retreat center. As Lama Tsering walked the land with Saburu, he spoke about his Korean mother. She had been a devout Buddhist, with an unflagging faith in the power of prayer to remove obstacles and bring about blessings. Though she had been dead for many years, he felt that our plans for the land made her very happy. Saburu had hosted weddings and large events for children there, and hoped that such beneficial use of the land would continue.
When the sangha attended a picnic there a few weeks later, they fell in love with it. They appreciated the fact that it was accessible, only twelve miles outside the city limits, but still had a rural feel. When Rinpoche came to see the property, he sat on the front porch of the old house and simply commented, “This land is good.”
At a fund-raising meeting, Lama Tsering described the property as a place of refuge for the sangha, and thus it was provisionally named Refugio. At that meeting, more than a third of the purchase cost was raised, and pledges continue to come in.
However, even after Saburu and his brothers accepted the final offer, there was still a major obstacle— the paperwork— which ended up requiring months of effort. As plans advanced, decisions to be made and tasks arose at such a rate that Lama Tsering asked Rinpoche for help. At the time, I was still in retreat, hoping to complete the traditional three years, but I knew from the beginning that there remained the possibility of being called out to help if necessary.
During the Losar Vajrakilaya ceremonies, Rinpoche and several of the Chagdud Gonpa lamas joined me in my retreat for a few days. At that time Rinpoche mentioned Lama Tsering’s request for help. He told me that I could either stay in retreat or leave in order to help with the project, but that the decision was mine alone to make. I have always felt that one of the purposes of my life is to help create practice environments for others. So, with some regret, some anticipation, and Rinpoche’s blessings, I left retreat for the time being, to help with Refugio.
Shortly after arriving in São Paulo, I discovered that many sangha members had professional skills and were eager to help. Several architecture students helped design the temple and facilities, those with technical skills offered their assistance in designing the infrastructure, and others helped with the estimates and material purchases.
The plan is to remodel the house first in order to quickly provide a functioning shrine room, kitchen, and dining facilities, which will later serve as the lama residence. Later, as funds become available, a moderately sized Tibetan-style temple, kitchen and dining facilities, and guest quarters will be added.
When I asked sangha members about their aspirations for Refugio, many of their answers were similar— they envisioned a peaceful environment for extended meditation practice, a place they could call their own and where the dharma could be experienced, a safe place for children, and finally, a source of teachings and inspiration to be taken to heart and integrated into daily life. Lama Tsering added her own aspiration that Refugio be a rest stop for all those of pure heart, a place where the enlightened intent of all masters of the Great Perfection can be realized.
By Lama Norbu
Since H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche established Odsal Ling in 1993, the São Paulo sangha has evolved from a small number of Tara practitioners into a flourishing group with several hundred participants. At our center, Lama Tsering maintains an ongoing schedule of weeknight teachings and events. Over the years, she has noticed how the stress of living in a big city affects her students. Bringing the sangha together to participate in weekend retreats has always been difficult because most members generally leave town and recuperate on weekends. For this reason, Lama Tsering has always felt the need for a rural retreat center in a location conducive to both individual and group practice.
For months, Lama Tsering and her students researched the possibilities, but what they found was either too expensive or too far away. Then last February, a man attending Rinpoche’s chöd retreat at Odsal Ling said he knew of a place that might be of interest. His neighbor, a man named Sa- buru, along with his two brothers, owned about four acres of beautiful land on the outskirts of São Paulo. Having lived there most of his life, he was now interested in selling the land, but not to just any buyer. In his youth, his family had lovingly planted many flowering trees, eucalyptus, and pines on the property, and he did not want it cleared for condominiums.
When Lama Tsering went to see the land for the first time, she had to suppress the urge to jump up and down with joy. The property was very appealing, with an old, colonial-style house, sloping woodlands, and open meadows—ideal for a retreat center. As Lama Tsering walked the land with Saburu, he spoke about his Korean mother. She had been a devout Buddhist, with an unflagging faith in the power of prayer to remove obstacles and bring about blessings. Though she had been dead for many years, he felt that our plans for the land made her very happy. Saburu had hosted weddings and large events for children there, and hoped that such beneficial use of the land would continue.
When the sangha attended a picnic there a few weeks later, they fell in love with it. They appreciated the fact that it was accessible, only twelve miles outside the city limits, but still had a rural feel. When Rinpoche came to see the property, he sat on the front porch of the old house and simply commented, “This land is good.”
At a fund-raising meeting, Lama Tsering described the property as a place of refuge for the sangha, and thus it was provisionally named Refugio. At that meeting, more than a third of the purchase cost was raised, and pledges continue to come in.
However, even after Saburu and his brothers accepted the final offer, there was still a major obstacle— the paperwork— which ended up requiring months of effort. As plans advanced, decisions to be made and tasks arose at such a rate that Lama Tsering asked Rinpoche for help. At the time, I was still in retreat, hoping to complete the traditional three years, but I knew from the beginning that there remained the possibility of being called out to help if necessary.
During the Losar Vajrakilaya ceremonies, Rinpoche and several of the Chagdud Gonpa lamas joined me in my retreat for a few days. At that time Rinpoche mentioned Lama Tsering’s request for help. He told me that I could either stay in retreat or leave in order to help with the project, but that the decision was mine alone to make. I have always felt that one of the purposes of my life is to help create practice environments for others. So, with some regret, some anticipation, and Rinpoche’s blessings, I left retreat for the time being, to help with Refugio.
Shortly after arriving in São Paulo, I discovered that many sangha members had professional skills and were eager to help. Several architecture students helped design the temple and facilities, those with technical skills offered their assistance in designing the infrastructure, and others helped with the estimates and material purchases.
The plan is to remodel the house first in order to quickly provide a functioning shrine room, kitchen, and dining facilities, which will later serve as the lama residence. Later, as funds become available, a moderately sized Tibetan-style temple, kitchen and dining facilities, and guest quarters will be added.
When I asked sangha members about their aspirations for Refugio, many of their answers were similar— they envisioned a peaceful environment for extended meditation practice, a place they could call their own and where the dharma could be experienced, a safe place for children, and finally, a source of teachings and inspiration to be taken to heart and integrated into daily life. Lama Tsering added her own aspiration that Refugio be a rest stop for all those of pure heart, a place where the enlightened intent of all masters of the Great Perfection can be realized.
By Lama Norbu
Since H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche established Odsal Ling in 1993, the São Paulo sangha has evolved from a small number of Tara practitioners into a flourishing group with several hundred participants. At our center, Lama Tsering maintains an ongoing schedule of weeknight teachings and events. Over the years, she has noticed how the stress of living in a big city affects her students. Bringing the sangha together to participate in weekend retreats has always been difficult because most members generally leave town and recuperate on weekends. For this reason, Lama Tsering has always felt the need for a rural retreat center in a location conducive to both individual and group practice.
For months, Lama Tsering and her students researched the possibilities, but what they found was either too expensive or too far away. Then last February, a man attending Rinpoche’s chöd retreat at Odsal Ling said he knew of a place that might be of interest. His neighbor, a man named Sa- buru, along with his two brothers, owned about four acres of beautiful land on the outskirts of São Paulo. Having lived there most of his life, he was now interested in selling the land, but not to just any buyer. In his youth, his family had lovingly planted many flowering trees, eucalyptus, and pines on the property, and he did not want it cleared for condominiums.
When Lama Tsering went to see the land for the first time, she had to suppress the urge to jump up and down with joy. The property was very appealing, with an old, colonial-style house, sloping woodlands, and open meadows—ideal for a retreat center. As Lama Tsering walked the land with Saburu, he spoke about his Korean mother. She had been a devout Buddhist, with an unflagging faith in the power of prayer to remove obstacles and bring about blessings. Though she had been dead for many years, he felt that our plans for the land made her very happy. Saburu had hosted weddings and large events for children there, and hoped that such beneficial use of the land would continue.
When the sangha attended a picnic there a few weeks later, they fell in love with it. They appreciated the fact that it was accessible, only twelve miles outside the city limits, but still had a rural feel. When Rinpoche came to see the property, he sat on the front porch of the old house and simply commented, “This land is good.”
At a fund-raising meeting, Lama Tsering described the property as a place of refuge for the sangha, and thus it was provisionally named Refugio. At that meeting, more than a third of the purchase cost was raised, and pledges continue to come in.
However, even after Saburu and his brothers accepted the final offer, there was still a major obstacle— the paperwork— which ended up requiring months of effort. As plans advanced, decisions to be made and tasks arose at such a rate that Lama Tsering asked Rinpoche for help. At the time, I was still in retreat, hoping to complete the traditional three years, but I knew from the beginning that there remained the possibility of being called out to help if necessary.
During the Losar Vajrakilaya ceremonies, Rinpoche and several of the Chagdud Gonpa lamas joined me in my retreat for a few days. At that time Rinpoche mentioned Lama Tsering’s request for help. He told me that I could either stay in retreat or leave in order to help with the project, but that the decision was mine alone to make. I have always felt that one of the purposes of my life is to help create practice environments for others. So, with some regret, some anticipation, and Rinpoche’s blessings, I left retreat for the time being, to help with Refugio.
Shortly after arriving in São Paulo, I discovered that many sangha members had professional skills and were eager to help. Several architecture students helped design the temple and facilities, those with technical skills offered their assistance in designing the infrastructure, and others helped with the estimates and material purchases.
The plan is to remodel the house first in order to quickly provide a functioning shrine room, kitchen, and dining facilities, which will later serve as the lama residence. Later, as funds become available, a moderately sized Tibetan-style temple, kitchen and dining facilities, and guest quarters will be added.
When I asked sangha members about their aspirations for Refugio, many of their answers were similar— they envisioned a peaceful environment for extended meditation practice, a place they could call their own and where the dharma could be experienced, a safe place for children, and finally, a source of teachings and inspiration to be taken to heart and integrated into daily life. Lama Tsering added her own aspiration that Refugio be a rest stop for all those of pure heart, a place where the enlightened intent of all masters of the Great Perfection can be realized.
By Lama Norbu
