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Nalandabodhi’s international community includes people from diverse cultures who share a commitment to kindness and clarity. We’re united and inspired to lead a more meaningful life and bring more joy to the world.
Our community provides space for individual exploration and ensures we aren’t alone on our journey. We work together to bring kindness and compassion into our daily lives and our world. By supporting each other during the difficult times and celebrating the happy ones, our personal transformative process is enhanced by the richness of interconnection.
Join our Facebook page to connect with our vibrant online community.
Nalandabodhi Akasha hosts an online sitting meditation practice every Sunday at 9am Pacific Time, which is often followed by a lively discussion of a Buddhist topic. (Check your time zone at http://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/)
Please join our email list to receive reminders about open meditation and announcements of other events hosted by Nalandabodhi Akasha.
If you are new to Buddhism or want to deepen your knowledge, another way to get to know us is through the Nalandabodhi Path of Study, which begins with the four-part Introduction to Buddhism. This self-paced series of online classes explores the basic principles of the Buddha’s teachings, provides practical advice for applying these teachings in our lives, broadens our understanding of the world around us, and lays the groundwork for more advanced courses in our curriculum.
Many of our Nalandabodhi online offerings (including classes, meditation, and webcasts) are open and available to the general public. We happily accept donations, but all are welcome, regardless of ability to pay. For those interested, membership provides access to a greater range of study and practice opportunities.
Click here for more information about membership.
Nalandabodhi’s web-based community uses a council governing structure rather than a single sangha director. In early 2020, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche approved the following people to be on the initial Akasha Council. Because everyone started at the same time, the terms have been staggered so that there will be continuity going forward.
Andreas Fosdal (top row, left) lives in Denmark and started to practice the dharma when he met a Kagyu lama in Copenhagen in 2012. In 2014, Andreas met Ponlop Rinpoche at the Nitartha Summer Institute and became a grateful student of his in 2017. That same year, he became a member of Nalandabodhi and is happy to be part of this lovely sangha.
Beth Patterson (top row, middle) took refuge vows with Ponlop Rinpoche in 1995 and became his formal student in 2003. In her role on the Akasha Council, Beth’s focus is Member Care. She also serves as Nalandabodhi International’s Sangha Care director. Beth previously served on the Karma Sangha board of directors. She is also a Nalandabodhi Practice Instructor. (Term expires Losar 2022)
Crystal Hui (top row, right) has been an online student of the Nalandabodhi Path of Study since mid-2017. She joined the Nitartha Summer Institute in 2018 and became a very grateful student of DPR that same year. She participated in the Three-Path Residential Program at Nalanda West in the summer of 2019. Currently living in France, she loves being connected to Nalandabodhi worldwide and joyfully supports all Akasha members from around the world.
Betsy Dain (bottom row, left) has been a student and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism since 2007 and feels very fortunate to have become a student of Rinpoche’s in 2014. She’s the Practice Coordinator of our online sangha and loves the Akasha community. (Term expires Losar 2022)
Brigette Sarabi (bottom row, middle) is a new member of Nalandabodhi Akasha (since early 2019) and a very grateful student of DPR since December 2019. Prior to finding her spiritual home with Nalandabodhi, she practiced for many years in the Theravada tradition. She thinks that the Nalandabodhi community is a wonderful support and inspiration, and she is happy to contribute in some small way as a member of the Akasha Council. (Term expires Losar 2023)
Brigitte Lause (bottom row, right) met Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche around 2000 and since then has been connected with the Nalandabodhi Paths of Study and Practice and Nitartha Institute. Brigitte lived in the US and Asia for many years and has experienced sangha in many countries around the globe. She is the director of Nitartha Institute and works at Kamalashila Institute in Germany (where she currently lives) with a focus on offering Buddhist teachings online.
