Dear Friends,

Over the past eighteen months, the Palmo Center has experienced a period of remarkable growth, activity, and blessing. So much has unfolded so quickly that the close of 2025 passed without our usual year-end reflection. Now, in the midst of continuing expansion and Dharma activity, we pause with gratitude to share some of what has been taking shape within our community. 
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The Kangyur Transmission 
In 2025, Rinpoche spent more than three months at Benchen Monastery in Kathmandu receiving the rare and precious transmission of the Kangyur—the complete teachings of the Buddha—from HE Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. During this time, Rinpoche also hosted a gratitude luncheon for Sangye Nyenpa  Rinpoche and over 200 monks.

This transmission further inspired Rinpoche to acquire a set of these precious teachings which had to be ordered from Tibet. These will be housed in the temple in Cottage Grove.

That same year also marked the completion of the purchase of retreat land in Namo Buddha, Nepal, future home of the Sukhavati Retreat and Wellness Center. Initial work began with roads and retaining walls, while Rinpoche continued offering practical, emotional, and spiritual support to local Nepali families and villagers.  

​Sukhavati Retreat and Wellness Center
In March 2026, the project reached a joyful milestone with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by more than 600 people. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche presided over the blessing ceremony on a beautifully decorated hilltop adorned with marigold garlands and prayer flag. Monks, local villagers, schoolchildren, dignitaries, and students from around the world gathered together in celebration and prayer.

Construction is now underway to complete additional retaining walls and roads, and eventually to build a temple, retreat  residences, and guest accommodations. Situated in the sacred region where the Buddha, in a previous life, offered himself to a starving tigress to save her cubs, this retreat center is envisioned as a place for deep practice, healing, and renewal  in a landscape with a panoramic view of the Himalayas.  

​Rinpoche was a guest speaker at the commemoration of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings August 6, 2025 . Along with former mayor Kitty Piercy and Professor Mark Unno, Rinpoche delivered words on how peace begins with us. ​

The ultimate Peace activity was Boomtsok, the 3 days of prayer for world peace, the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and for the Tibetans still living in Tibet. This was a special opportunity for many of the Sangha to be immersed in Tibetan prayers at the NW cultural Center in Portland. In 2026, this annual event will take place on September 4,5 and 6 with the Venerable Jigme Rinpoche again presiding. We strongly suggest all students of the Dharma consider attending. ​

The Sacred Journey 2026:
India/Nepal
The Sacred Journey always brings both the sublime and the unexpected. From the outset, flexibility and openness to opportunity became recurring themes. When we discovered that the National Museum in Delhi was unexpectedly closed, what first appeared to be a disappointment soon revealed itself as a blessing. By chance, we met a man who told us of a newly opened traveling exhibition, Light of the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One.
This unexpected encounter led us to an extraordinary opportunity—to stand in the presence of authentic bone relics of the Buddha, only recently prepared for public viewing. Inspired by the occasion, Rinpoche offered teachings on the Bodhisattva Vow, reflecting on the vast aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. Together, in the presence of these sacred relics, we renewed our commitment by formally taking the Bodhisattva Vow as a group.

The Sacred Journey traveled on to  Dehra Dun which included a visit to Her Eminence Khandro Rinpoche, the head of the monastery Mindrolling. She spoke on karma as the base of samsara. “karma can be changed and connected to nirvana”. We had the blessing to sit before the Venerable Chewang Tulku Rinpoche who shared words on karma, saying our intention and aspiration are the result of past karma. Rinpoche requested an empowerment for the group but Tulku Chewang Rinpoche said that Jigme Rinpoche should give the empowerment himself. Later the  pilgrims took a side trip to Mussoorie where the 14th Dalai Lama, at the age of 24,  first settled  when arriving in India.  
 

In Dharmshala, the Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson, joined the pilgrimage. We were able to meet the president of the Tibetan government in exile, the head of the security council, a Tibetan doctor, Tibetan astrologer, and the head of the Tibetan archives. It seemed impossible that such  prominent figures would take time out of their busy schedules to share their experiences and shed light on  the history of Tibet  and the Tibetans in exile. The highlight was, of course, when the pilgrims were graced by being in  the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Receiving his blessing is a gift greater than any other. We were told that he met with  over 1000 people that day. Yet his composure never wavered. One could only wonder what karma we all had to be given so many teachings, insights  and experiences in such a short time. ​

Arriving in Dharamsala was literally a breath of fresh air. We anticipated our audience with His Holiness Dalai Lama the next day. From our hotel we could see his residence and employees of the hotel said that they could sometimes see him walking outside from the back of the hotel. Just looking out over the foothills thinking HH Dalai Lama was so nearby was awe inspiring. We couldn't imagine what the next day would bring. ​

The next morning we dressed in our best  and walked to the complex where His Holiness greets visitors. We passed through security and surrendered out phones and cameras so the impressions had to be in our hearts rather than in our files. Because we were with Jigme Rinpoche we were brought close to the front of the line.  This was the 10 year anniversary of His Holiness Dalai Lama's visit to Eugene so it was particularly special that we were now able to come to visit him in Dharmasala. 
After waiting, we saw His Holiness enter. At first it seemed surreal that this was really the incarnation of the Boddhisattva of compassion.  One by one we were led in front of His Holiness to pay our respect and to receive his blessing. His Holiness sat on a throne in the Tibetan style. We were told by attendants how to place our hands and even if we were bowing, we were told to look up. In front of His Holiness some asked a question, others a blessing. For that brief moment we were each transported into his presence. It was like an eternity and a nano second all at once. Perhaps we had a brief moment of feeling what emptiness truly feels like. We were back in our reality in no time but something was different. Something had changed, even if we didn't feel it or know it. ​

We walked from our hotel to the Sakya Monastery. His Holiness Sakya Trichin resides in Dehra Dun but we would not see him until Bodhgaya where he was visiting with his family. Instead, at the request of Jigme Rinpoche, we were gifted with an empowerment from Chewang Tulku Rinpoche. The precious ritual of the long life empowerment left a lasting impression on all the pilgrims. Just to be in the presence of a master who spent 27 years in retreat studying Vajrayonini takes the expression "beyond words" to yet another level.  He left retreat only at the request of his teacher, His Holiness Sakya Trichin, and he now rarely leaves his quarters at the monastery. To have him come into the shrine room for us was an extraordinary blessing. It is a testament to his kindness and generosity and to the respect that he paid to Jigme Rinpoche. Even as he walked into the shrine room, we could feel the radiance of his being. Most people said they had never been in such a joyous presence. 
Jigme Rinpoche reminded us that in seeing and hearing such a being, a seed was planted in us so that we could be inspired to emulate his life of practice. ​

We walked the grounds of the monastery complex with 300 resident monks. They included a World Peace Stupa and an inspiring statue of Guru Rinpoche. We went inside the stupa and heard teachings from Jigme Rinpoche. Each teaching immersed us yet more fully into the Sacred Journey. ​

To end the day the pilgrims made a stop at Delhi’s famous stepwell. This ancient structure from the 14th century was used, not only to store water, but as a community gathering place.  Now, hundreds of years later it still serves as a cool quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Delhi. ​

​Rinpoche took some time to elaborate on the meaning of Ghandi in relation to the Sacred Journey. Even though Ghandi was secular, his moral code was a model for anyone on the path to enlightenment. 
"What we can take from Ghandi is his sheer dedication and commitment to doing something...not giving up...that's what being on the path means. Mahatma Ghandi knew where his destination was—peace and not violence. Speed, aggression and  violence are very quick and expedient in solving problems but fundamentally are not long lasting or stable. Peace, the path of nonviolence, though arduous and tiring and difficult...(is  the only path that is) fundamentally strong,  stable and long lasting.

Ghandi is a world wide known figure yet he was not particularly notable until one day his first class passage  on a South African train was questioned due to the color of his skin. Rinpoche explained that such a pivotal moment often occurred in the lives of great public figures. Ghandi worked tirelessly for Indian freedom and equality for all. The memorial honors him with an eternal flame on a base of black marble which marks the spot of his cremation after his assasination in 1948. The expansive gardens included blooming dahlias of all colors and trees planted by prominent world leaders including Nelson Mandela. 

The pilgrims walked Kora around the flame and contemplated Gandhi’s last words “Hey Ram”.​

Arrival in India was in Delhi on February 7 early in the morning and wasted no time in immersing the group in the Journey. Within hours we were treated to a special opportunity to meet with Geshe Dorji Domdul, the director of Tibet House in New Delhi and a former translator for His Holiness Dalai Lama. Rinpoche had requested that he speak on the meaning of pilgrimage and the importance of merit. 

We were introduced to something that would become a theme of the Sacred Journey — humility. Geshe-la explained how he became the translator to His Holiness as if by accident, giving himself no credit for all of his learning and expertise. The teaching helped us all to see the importance of the Journey we were beginning and how it will affect our lives. Afterwards Rinpoche elaborated on the teachings. We forgot all about jet lag and were ready for our Journey. ​