What People Are Saying
“I have participated in the Gateway program for five years now. It has profoundly changed my life. Being given access to these precious teachings in a structured and progressive format has been a great gift. Having the support of Sangha, Teachers and, of course, Lama la…well…there are no words. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to participate.”
L. Treasure, Garuda Cohort 2013
“By committing myself to practice for two hours a day, I started on a path that has activated a REAL process of stripping away what’s false in my life. The commitment has necessitated a lot of distraction falling away, and the outcome is a reorientation of my value system and my way of being in the world. Seven years into the practices, I feel a great deal of inner simplification and clarity. I am constantly touched by the deep psychological wisdom in these ancient processes and the way each step catalyzes the next layer to open. The feedback that comes from life in the world becomes part of this dialogue. During my time in the program, I have experienced deeply disorientating personal tragedy and loss, but I was able to relax into the groundlessness by staying with the process and through the support of Lama and the Sangha. In this way, it became a doorway to understanding the true groundless state of awareness.”
Rosemary Bourne, Acupuncturist
In 2013 I entered the Gateway program, as it afforded me the opportunity to become immersed in traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices while living as a lay person. It was with some trepidation that I made the commitment: I was not sure that I was ready to practise so intensively; in addition, I live in South Africa, which seemed far away physically and culturally from Tara Mandala and this lineage. Lama Tsultrim gave me the sound advice to take things year by year. As I did so, Dzinpa Rangdröl practices gave me many gifts: discipline; insights into and understanding of myself and the world around me; the joy of practising and sharing in community; to name just a few. The love and support of the Teachers and Sangha at Tara Mandala helped me negotiate practice obstacles and form deep spiritual bonds; and allowed me to recognize that we are all connected, no matter how far apart we may sometimes feel. Much gratitude to Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche and Lama Tsultrim for bringing this practice cycle to us.
Helen Friedlande
Pretoria, South Africa
Garuda Cohort 2013
Joining the Gateway Program was taking a deep dive into Tibetan Buddhism. I had been practicing vipassana/mindfulness meditation and knew a little bit about the preliminary practices/ Ngöndro. I met Lama Tsultrim at a Wisdom Dakini retreat and felt a strong connection to her.
I have both loved and felt challenged by each stage of the program and the different practices. I remember Lama Tsultrim saying that Ngöndro is a bit like going through the washing machine. I would say that is true for all the practices. It has been transformational for me, through both the thinning of my ego and the strengthening of my spirit and connection to the lineage.
I have had the good fortune of a strong connection with my Kalyanamitra, a great therapist/practitioner as well as some buddies to reach out to for support and comradery. It has been an enormous blessing which continues to deepen and expand.
Jeanne Mahon
Tiger Cohort 2016
When I joined the Gateway program in 2013, I was yearning for a way to deepen my Buddhist practice and make it a central part of my life. The profound practices in the Dzinpa Rangdröl cycle, and the discipline required, gave me the tools to do that. The systemic approach – starting with ngöndro and moving up through esoteric practices – led me through examining (and transforming) my way of being in the world. I feel lighter and more at ease because I’m less attached to circumstances and identity. The Gateway program provided a container, with support and guidance from teachers as well as a cohort of practitioners who became dear friends.
Nancy Thompson
Garuda Cohort 2013
At Trungpa Rinpoche’s cremation, I went for refuge with Khyentse Rinpoche, and, received direct introduction to the nature of mind! 20 years later, LamaTsultrim gave me transmission to the Longchen Nyinthig ngöndro . Finishing that 6 years later, I was at a loss. Being a married-with-children-householder, a 3-year retreat was not in the cards. Aspiring to be a ’serious practitioner’, I was excited to hear about the Gateway Program and joined immediately. It enabled me to navigate committed relationship, child rearing, and intense practice to stay on the path of the precious transmission I received 25 years earlier.”
Anonymous
Lama Tsultrim, Lopön Beth and the Tara Mandala staff have established the Gateway Program for the benefit of laypersons willing to study and practice a precious set of teachings that is historically reserved for the monastic community. They have thoughtfully crafted the program and have supported and continue to support 3 cohorts of students. It is a very rigorous and challenging program that has impacted me in ways that were unexpected. I joined because Lama thought it would benefit my cultivation. I believe that is true. My awareness continues to shift and expand. Each teaching has a profound effect. The process is not easy. It is made possible because there is support; the teachings are offered, Kalyanamitras (spiritual friends) are available for ongoing check-ins, and cohort members help each other. Help also comes from other realms. If there is something in you that wants to practice a very sophisticated set of teachings that can lead you to liberation, this program is a choice with significant potential.
Karen Fong
Garuda Cohort 2013
