Lama Tsering Dakpa of Palpung Thubten Choling monastery will visit Richmond to teach Bringing Peace into Everyday Life. He will also give two empowerments: Chadrupa (6-armed Mahakala) and Medicine Buddha. This is Lama’s second visit to RVA. We’re very happy to see him again and listen to his teachings!

• All events will be in person at Ekoji Buddhist Sangha and Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market
  Ekoji Buddhist Sangha 3411 Grove Avenue, Richmond 23221
  Ellwood Thompson’s 4 N Thompson St, Richmond, VA 23221
• Friday evening session will also be available via Zoom link. Empowerments are in-person only.
• You are welcome to come to any or all of the events.
• No reservations, registration, or tickets are required, but if you can, please consider contributing toward expenses. Donate here online.

April 30 – May 3

(Schedule may change and there may be a few more events added, so do check back in!)

• Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 pm | Ekoji Buddhist Sangha
  Chanting practice of Medicine Buddha
  Join us — and Lama Tsering — for our weekly practice. A brief introduction will be given, and chanting texts provided. Here is a basic orientation for new people.
• Friday, 6:00 – 7:45 pm | Ellwood Thompson’s
  Bringing Peace into Everyday Life
  Whatever our spiritual practice is, the ups and downs of everyday life can be a challenge. Lama will give us practical advice on how to manifest peace within ourselves and with others.
• Sunday, 1:30 – 5:30 pm | Ellwood Thompson’s
  Medicine Buddha teaching & empowerment
  The practice of Medicine Buddha connects physical health with mental well-being, reducing stress through mindfulness to improve overall health. Doing the practice inspires us to cultivate compassion, alleviate the suffering of all beings, and embrace our own physical and mental healing. More detail on Medicine Buddha

“Receiving a Vajrayana Empowerment is like planting a seed for Enlightenment. A special and sacred rite, empowerment prepares our body, speech and mind just as tilling the soil and adding nutrient-rich compost encourages the seed to sprout and grow.… Empowerment is an important step toward our own enlightened mind.” More about empowerments here

Lama Tsering Dakpa has resided at Palpung Thubten Chöling Monastery since July 2017. His first visit to PST took place in August 2025. Lama Tsering began his formal practice in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in 1970, at the age of 10, at Mahey Monastery, India, where he received basic monastic education. In 1989 he received full ordination from Tai Situ Rinpoche. He has received and practiced many teachings, including completion of the traditional 3-year retreat and a long, strict solitary retreat in the Himalayan mountains.