Teaching Archive

In this introductory retreat, Tulku Migmar Tsering led us through the Buddhist path of meditation. Experiential guidance in the traditional path of meditation was combined with dedicated practice sessions, suitable for absolute beginners as well as those who wish to reconnect with their sitting practice.   Tulku Migmar elucidated the path from the outset of the four mind-changings up until essential Mahamudra, the peak of all of Buddha’s teachings. During these sessions, he presented ever-more-refined meditation techniques, depending upon one's personal level of experience.  He also offered priceless pith instructions and different methods for overcoming various obstacles that can occur…

In winter of 2024 during the New Year of the Tibetan lunar calendar, known as Losar, Samye New York hosted an immersive retreat on the Four Foundations of the Dharma. According to tradition, the actions carried out during these first days of the year are believed to carry a potency magnified a millionfold.   Guided by Tulku Migmar Tsering and instructor Matthew Zalichin, we explored the Four Foundations, also referred to as the "preliminary practices" or ngondro in Tibetan. These encompass the taking of refuge and cultivating bodhicitta, engaging in confession and purification practices, making mandala offerings, and delving into…

In the summer of 2023, Tulku Migmar Tsering guided us toward a deeper experience of compassion. Over a week-long series of personalized teachings and practice sessions, Tulku Migmar led us into ever greater insights into how we can develop ever greater compassion, the heart of Buddhist path. This style of mind-training is a powerful mechanism to purify our mental obscurations and help us train in bodhicitta, the mind set on awakening for the sake of sentient beings.   These teachings also provided the opportunity to learn one of the key practices of this mind-training tradition, giving-and-taking (tonglen), which was brought…

In this retreat, Tulku Migmar Tsering taught on the fundamentals of tantric practice, including the three samadhis, four stakes, and other essentials, with daily group practice of the Trinley Nyingpo. This condensed sadhana practice is drawn from the Lamé Tukdrup Barché Kunsel (The Guru’s Heart Practice, Dispeller of All Obstacles), which was discovered by the great treasure revealer Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa in the 18th century with the support of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgön Kongtrul Lodro Thaye. The chief figure in this practice is Guru Padmsambhava, with the sambhogakaya Avalokiteshvara and the dharmakaya Amitabha, surrounded by the Guru's twelve emanations.…

In the fall of 2023, our resident meditation instructor, Matthew Zalichin, offered a series of classes dedicated to The Song of Lodro Thaye by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, a concise yet profound poem from the Kagyu Gyurtso. Closely aligned with Phakchok Rinpoche’s presentations on Mahamudra, this text lays out the essentials of Mahamudra—the ground, path, and fruition—in a clear and accessible way.   During this course, we focused especially on the path, gaining insight into how these teachings provide a broader context for Phakchok Rinpoche’s Mahamudra instructions. Through Kongtrul Rinpoche’s direct and lucid guidance, participants were able to deepen their…

In fall of 2025, Samye Hermitage New York hosted a weekend retreat on lojong—the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of “mind training.” Lojong teachings show us how to transform adversity into the path, open the heart of compassion, and bring Dharma practice directly into everyday life.   Guided by Matthew Zalichin, this retreat focused on The Seven Points of Mind Training. Across five teaching sessions, participants were introduced to lojong’s transformative slogans and methods, exploring how these can strengthen bodhicitta and support resilience in modern life.   This showcase includes five full class recordings. Each session runs approximately 90 minutes.