Echoes of Compassion: Art, Mantra and Wisdom. Come celebrate H.H. The Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday!

Please join us for a special online course this June, inspired by H.H. the Dalai Lama’s Four Principal Commitments:

• Saturday, June 21 | 9:00–10:30 AM EST Speakers: Lobsang Nyandak, Geshe Tashi Dorje, and Tashi Chodron

• Wednesday, June 25 | 9:00–11:00 AM EST Speakers: Khensur Rinpoche and Tashi Chodron

• Saturday, June 28 | 9:00–10:30 AM EST Speakers: Tenzin Dolkar, and Tashi Chodron, with a special appearance by world renowned singer Michel Pascal.

  
  

You can attend one or all three series.

Highly recommend reading His Holiness most recent book :

Voices for the Voiceless  & Beyond Religion-Secular Ethics 

Echoes of Compassion: Art, Mantra, and Wisdom

Come celebrate H.H. The Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday!

Discover the heart of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom in this online workshop series, inspired by H.H. Dalai Lama’s four principal commitments: Nurturing human values, Promoting religious harmony, Preserving Tibetan culture and environment, and Reviving ancient Indian wisdom.

World renown guest speakers Khensur Rinpoche Founder of Siddhartha School, Ladakh and Senior Abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe South India currently in Ladakh, Former representative of HHDL, President of Tibet Fund, Currently Director of Norbulinga, Kasur Lobsang Nyandak la, Geshe Tashi Dorje la, a world renown chant master, Founder and Director of the Center for Universal Peace in NY. Tenzin Dolkar la, Former TIPA and more than two decades of Tibetan Cultural Dance teacher in Bylakuppe CST school, South India currently teaching Tibetan dance and Song for NY & NJ.

Curated & hosted by Tashi Chodron, Himalayan Programs and Communities Ambassador at Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art. Each session offers one of Holiness four principal commitment teachings rooted in compassion, mindfulness, and ethical living. Whether you are new to Buddhist thought or looking to deepen your understanding, this series offers a meaningful space to reflect, learn and grow. Join us to explore how these timeless principles can help us lead more peaceful and purposeful lives in an interconnected world.

Below are the presenters: 

Lobsang Nyandak, one of the most prominent and experienced leaders in the Tibetan diaspora.

Currently serving as Director of the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamsala, India, Nyandak brings a wealth of leadership experience spanning government, diplomacy, civil society, and international advocacy. He served as Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America from 2008 to 2013, and led Tibet Fund as Executive Director and later President for a decade until 2023.

His distinguished public service includes his term as a Member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (1996–2001) and as Kalon (Minister) for the Departments of Finance, Health, and Information & International Relations (DIIR) in the Central Tibetan Administration under the leadership of Kalon Tripa Professor Samdhong Rinpoche. He also served for over a decade as a member of the Sino-Tibetan Dialogue Task Force, including an official visit to Beijing and holding meetings with relevant Chinese government officials to advance dialogue efforts.

A dynamic figure in Tibetan civil society, Nyandak served as General Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) – the largest network of Tibetan non-governmental organizations globally – and as Vice President and Secretary of the Executive Committee of the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT), supporting democratic development in exile.

He is the founding Executive Director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a pioneering institution that monitors and promotes human rights in Tibet and around the world. Over the years, Nyandak has represented Tibet at numerous international conferences and has met with elected leaders and government officials across the globe.

Geshe Tashi Dorje is the Director of the Center for Universal Peace & Co-founder of NY & NJ Dolchok Tsokpa in New York. He was born in the border of Tibet and Nepal in a remote village. He is currently 40 years old. His father, Tsering Dorjee passed away when he was very young. With the passage of his father, he decided to join monastery in 1989. He decided to be a monk and join Sera Mey Monastic University located, Bylakuppe, KS, South India. 

In 1991, he received the Getsul (Samsrana) ordination blessing from His Eminence Kachen Lobsang Soepa, former abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and in 1993, he received Bikshu (Gelong) Ordination Blessing from His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama. In 2003 he was awarded the Rigchung degree on completion of the perfection of wisdom course. In September 2005, he was appointed to be the "Chant Master" which was the third highest rank official of Sera Mey Monastery. He did it thoroughly for 9 years. He studied the Buddhist education for almost 17 years in the Five Major Text of Buddha teaching. He was eligible to appear for Gelugpa Board of Examination. On the November 25th, 2012, Ihewas honored with exceptional Geshe Lharampa Graduation ceremony on special consideration at Gelugpa University named Sera, Gaden and Drepung. On December 25th, 2012, he got his Doctorate degree in Tibetan Buddhism majoring in the Five Major Text from H.H The 14th Dalai Lama.  Around the end of 2012, he was invited to USA by fellow westerners who were dharma followers. It was my first time visiting USA. Since then, he has been teaching and also taught Tibetan language to the young and elder Tibetans and also to the Westerners. He looks forward to continuing what he is doing right now.

Khensur Rinpoche (former Abbot) Lobzang Tsetan is a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Ladakh, India, who has lived between India and the United States for more than thirty years, teaching and raising awareness of the needs of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile. He began his monastic life at age seven in Stok, his family village.  At age thirteen he joined the Stok Monastery to study and memorize Buddhist scriptures.

In 1996, shortly after founding the Siddhartha School in Stok, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, appointed then Geshe Tsetan to be Abbot of  Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India. This was a great honor for him, and one that was humbly set aside, so that he could devote himself completely to the Siddhartha School. The Dalai Lama gave his blessings and support.

However, in 2005 His Holiness the Dalai Lama again asked Geshe Tsetan to accept the Abbot position. This time, Geshe Tsetan accepted.  In July 2005 Geshe Tsetan was installed as Khenchen, or head Abbot, of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile, in Bylakuppe southern India.

His title became Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan, and he assumed his new responsibilities of over-seeing the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile. Since summer 2005 he has worked ceaselessly to fulfil the charge of increasing the number of monks at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the poorest of the Tibetan monasteries in exile, and of raising the funds for their support and the rebuilding of the monastery to its former greatness.

Ms. Tenzin Dolker is a graduate from Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), Dharamsala, India. She has dedicated her life to teaching and performing Tibetan Cultural music and dance throughout India, North America and Europe.  

A former Tibetan Music and Dance teacher at Central School for Tibetan (CST), Bylakuppe, Mysore District, India. She currently teachers Tibetan music and dance to Tibetan Children in New York City in order to preserve its unique cultural heritage. 

After immigrating to the U.S.A. She has performed all over North American including Metropolitan Museum of Arts, Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Baruch College, Tibet House and most recently performed at UBS area in Long Island in Aug of 2024 for His Holiness and Dalai Lama and more then 20,000 live audience. 

Michel Pascal, a meditation teacher for 25 years, has led successful programs for prisoners, which help prevent suicides and reduce reoffending. He’s written 20 books on spirituality, including Meditation for Daily Stress: 10 Practices for Immediate Well-Being. Known as “The Medicine Voice,” he’s performed at Carnegie Hall and played at the Peace Day Concert in Times Square in September 2023. In December 2023 he presented his methods at the United Nations.

Tashi Chödrön , a lay Buddhist practitioner, is one of the first women of her generation in exile to receive the entire teachings of the Vajrayana path directly from HH Penor Rinpoche (one of the greatest masters of the 20th century). This training included Ngondro—the preliminary teachings, Tsalung and Dzogchen, the pinnacle teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, which emphasises the direct realization of one’s true nature. This sublime path is the most direct path to awakening, focusing on recognizing our pure, basic goodness that is within each of us. 

As the Himalayan Programs and Communities Ambassador at the Rubin Museum of  Himalayan Art, Tashi is the host of the  Rubin’s popular weekly mindfulness meditation at New York Insight meditation center. She has taught a series of sold out Awakening Practice mindfulness meditation classes on selected Saturdays along with guest teachers, and educates university students and adults through gallery tours and classes on Himalayan Art and Culture.  

Tashi curated and hosted popular monthly program on Himalayan Art and Culture called “Himalayan Heritage” prior to the museum’s physical space closing in October of 2024. During the Pandemic She also lead virtual sessions with Tibet House New York, the Center for Adults Living Well @ the YMCA, and hosted virtual meditation sessions for Mayors Morning Mindfulness and Prayers (audio only) including virtual Himalayan children Sunday virtual Mindfulness meditation since the pandemic to help Parents and Children and led a meditation session on the 21 Feminine Attributes for UN Women’s USA. Tashi  taught the Awakening Practice at Kripalu in partnership with NY Yoga and Life Magazine for many years and taught Awakening Wisdom Experience at Asia Society, Williams College, Baruch, Adjunct at Baruch and University Open Air at Brooklyn Public Library. She helped raise funds for Hospitals, winter warm cloths including raided funds for Heifer project founded by President Jimmy Carter for sustainable living for Tibetans in Tibet. Board of directors of UN Women USA, New York Chapter.  

Recipient of gold star award from American Himalayan Foundation for tirelessly sharing and preserving Tibetan Culture Heritage. Tashi was Recently awarded a citation of honor by Queens President Donovan Richards Jr. for her tireless contribution to the New York Community.

As part of the JMMTA’s Global Resonance Project, this program is offered free of charge supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.