This newsletter is a tribute to generosity: The kind that arises naturally when people give from the heart and that keeps our community moving. Over the past months, many of you have offered time, skills, and resources to support teachings, community members, and global causes. We will highlight some of these contributions here and share a few ways you can continue to support the lineage and our community.

Enjoy reading and again: Many thanks for all the contributions! ❤️

Lama Tashi

As many of you read in previous newsletters, Lama Tashi offered us a beautiful two-day teaching on the Path of Liberation. With heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to receive these free teachings online, we offered dana to Lama Tashi, supporting the lineage through a financial contribution.

In the picture above: On behalf of Tergar South Africa, Alex Kunkhyen offers dana for the online event to Lama Tashi 🙏 Kunkhyen shared: "He was very happy and continues to feel deeply connected with our South African community." What a blessing for our community!

About the Offering of Dana

In many Buddhist traditions, dana means generosity, the practice of giving freely from the heart. It’s one of the foundational qualities on the path, because it reminds us that our practice is supported not only by teachings, but by the kindness and commitment of the community.

Dana can take many forms:
⁠❁ Offering time: volunteering, organising, supporting others;
⁠❁ Offering skills: sharing what you know to help the community grow;
⁠❁ Offering resources: financial support that helps keep teachings accessible;
⁠❁ Offering presence: showing up with care, steadiness, and goodwill.

The essence of dana is that it’s voluntary, joyful, and rooted in appreciation. It’s not a transaction; it’s a way of participating in something larger than ourselves. When people offer dana, they help ensure that meditation spaces, teachings, and community activities remain open to everyone, regardless of financial means.

Looking back: Global support for those affected in Nepal and Tibet

In response to the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal, Tergar Edinburgh created a 24-hour global silent meditation practice for Nepal and Tibet, in solidarity with all those affected.

Tergar meditation groups and practice communities around the world came together to join this special event and amazing dedication to everyone affected by the disaster: Those who have lost their lives, those who are missing, those who have lost homes and livelihoods, and all those involved in rescue, relief and recovery.

Twenty three Tergar communities took responsibility for one or more one-hour shifts, including South Africa, with members of the community joining the online event and sitting together in silence during their allocated hour.

Thank you all for joining and offering your quiet presence in meditation 🙏

2027: Tsunma Kunsang Palmo

Next year, we have the wonderful opportunity to welcome Tsunma Kunsang Palmo, one of the Tergar International Facilitators, to South Africa. She has kindly offered to visit us in February 2027 and share some teachings.

As Tergar South Africa, we are very honoured and excited about this news and would like to invite the community to help make her visit and teachings possible, including through financial support. We would be deeply grateful for any contributions toward her flight tickets, so that she can travel to South Africa and stay with us. The total amount needed is ZAR 30,000.

About Tsunma Kunsang Palmo

Tsunma Kunsang Palmo grew up in England and spent over a decade as an art teacher in international schools around the world. Everything changed in 2005 when a meeting with Lama Zopa Rinpoche inspired her to remain in Asia and immerse herself fully in the Dharma.

While serving in a nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, she encountered Mingyur Rinpoche and, inspired by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, undertook a four-year Mahamudra retreat at Sherabling Monastery, followed by years of solitary practice.

Since 2019, Kunsang has brought her practice into the world — teaching internationally, serving as a contemplative mentor at the Tergar Institute, and leading retreats worldwide, including annual visits to Ringu Tulku's Bodhicharya sangha in Trinidad. In 2028, at the request of Mingyur Rinpoche, she will serve as Assistant Retreat Master for Tergar's three-year Mahamudra retreat.

Information & Offering

We will keep you updated about Kunsangs visit and teachings via our social media, our WhatsApp groups and the newsletter. If you would like to support by offering resources, you are welcome to make a donation via EFT:
Account name: Tergar South Africa NPC
Bank: First National Bank
Branch code: 255355
Account number: 63127631405
Swift: FIRNZAJJ
Reference: Kunsang Palmo - (your name)

or via our website:

🎬 "Behind the scenes"

In this new feature, we highlight the volunteers who make our community come alive. Every week, community members offer their time, energy, skills and heart, to support our activities, our practice spaces, and each other. This often happens quietly and behind the scenes. Through a few short questions, we share their stories and celebrate the spirit behind their work.

This time in the spotlight: Janique Marshall and Jean van der Mescht from our Marketing Team.

First, we asked Paul Boyter, who lead the Marketing Team over the past year, to share a bit more about how the team has been developing:
"We had a lot of excitement in 2025 with Mingyur Rinpoche’s visit to South Africa. Our Marketing Team came together, with everyone playing their part and contributing to the success of the visit. Since then, the Marketing Team has continued to develop. In late July 2026, we were sad to say goodbye to one of our team members who helped shape the core of the team, Roseanne Tuner. We remain grateful for the time, energy, and commitment she shared with us. More recently, we have welcomed two new additions to the Marketing Team, Janique Marshall and Jean van der Mescht. In a very short time, both have shown tremendous drive and motivation towards sharing Rinpoche’s teachings with everyone, while helping to keep our community up to date with the latest offerings and events. We are so happy to have them both with us."

Both Janique and Jean answered the following questions for us:

❁⁠ What part of your work in Marketing energises you the most right now?
Janique: Seeing others in the community volunteering their time and energy to Tergar SA.
Jean: The idea that we are growing this beautiful community in South Africa and making it available and accessible to more people from all walks of life.

⁠❁ ⁠What is something people might not realise happens behind the scenes in Marketing?
Janique: The coordination and communication! Staying on the same page – especially when we're based in different cities and all work full time – takes a lot of effort and consideration.
Jean: The planning, strategising and making time to get the footage and the photos to create content with.

❁⁠ ⁠If you could describe the Marketing team in three words, what would they be?
Janique: Passionate, Kind and Open-hearted.
Jean: Dynamic, Warm & approachable, Team

❁⁠ ⁠What is one thing you’re excited about for the coming months?
Janique: Helping others benefit from Mingyur Rinpoche's teachings and growing the Johannesburg community.
Jean: Definitely the anticipated visit of Kunsang Palmo - and possibly being able to be of service where needed. I'm a newbie to meditation and this path and continually learning about the people, what to observe an adopt as part of choosing this way to live life. Just excited about the teachings of Mingyur Rinpoche and everything that encompasses Tergar SA and Tergar as a whole. Continually learning and growing as I go.

❁ ⁠How does your meditation practice support you in your volunteer work, and what inspires you to offer your time and energy to the community in this way?
Janique: My practice has benefitted me, and continues to benefit me, so much that it continually inspires me to help others benefit from Tergar's offerings. I feel motivated when I think about how many people – here in South Africa and globally – give of themselves to this community.
Jean: One of the teachers in my life gifted me these two lessons - You can only keep what you have by giving it away and, a life of purpose is a life of service to others. I find that building my life around those two points along with my meditation practice as the centre, is having a tremendous effect on how I experience this life and ineract with others. I'm also someone who, when I find something I truly believe in I naturally want to share it with as many people as I am able to. Hope that all makes sense.

❁ Is there something else you want to share or say?
Janique: I love this quote from Jon Kabat Zinn, which feels accurate for how life (including being a volunteer) is our practice: ‘The real meditation is how you live your life.’
Jean: I am deeply grateful for the teachings of Mingyur Rinpoche - the existence of Tergar SA and Tergar International - to all those that came before and made access to this path and community possible. Gratitude for the entire Tergar SA community. There are ao many people that have touched my life and spirit and just really a profound Thank you to all.

If you’d like to highlight a volunteer who works behind the scenes or want to be involved as a volunteer yourself, please contact Ilonka by sending an email to ilonka@tergarsouthafrica.org 🙏

Tergar International: Prayer requests

Tergar International offers community members the possiblity to make a prayer request when we, or our very close relatives and loved ones, may find ourselves facing serious, or life-threatening, medical issues. The link below takes you to their webpage, where you can find more information about their support of the lineage.🙏

Community meditation in October: in-person

Cape Town

❁ First Sunday Community Meditation, 4th October · 09:00 - 11:00. 64 East lake island drive, Marina da Gama, Muizenberg
Whether you're new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, you're warmly welcome. Practice coordinator Adam.

❁ Community Meditation at The Commons, Muizenberg
Tuesdays, 18:15 – 19:15
Everyone is welcome. This is a chance to pause, drop in, and reconnect — with yourself and with others. Practice coordinator Jaco du Plooy.

Johannesburg

❁ Sunday Community Meditation, 18th of October · 10:00 - 12:00. HeartCore Contemplative Studio.
Beginner and experienced meditators are invited to join this gentle morning of meditation, reflection and connection. Practice coordinators Angelic & Paul.

Community meditation in October: online

❁ Open Awareness Open Heart · 18:00 - 19:00.
Come sit with us. No experience needed. Practice coordinator Alex Kunkhyen.
ID: 871 7555 4077. Passcode: 637704.

❁ Sunday Meditation Session · 07:00 - 08:00.
All welcome. Practice coordinator Alex Kunkhyen.
ID: 895 4632 1830. Passcode: 887093.

Joy of Living cohort groups: online

These online groups have already started and meet weekly for practice, video teachings, and group discussions in a supportive environment. Each cohort combines self-paced online learning with the support of a local practice community. Please note that completion of each level is a prerequisite for progressing to the next course.
If you are interested in joining one of the cohorts, please contact Paul Boyter via email: practicegroups@tergarsouthafrica.org.

❁ Joy of Living 1 (JOL1): Calming the Mind
When: Every Tuesday evening from 18:00 - 19:15.
Practice coordinators: Angelic Pieplenbosch & Janique Marshall

❁ Joy of Living 2 (JOL2): Opening the Heart
When: Every Tuesday evening from 18:00 - 19:15.
Practice coordinator: Paul Boyter.
When: Every Monday evening from 18:30 - 19:45.
Practice coordinator: Janni Younge.

❁ Joy of Living 3 (JOL3): Awakening Wisdom
When: Every Monday evening from 18:00 - 19:15.
Practice coordinator: Fiona Anderson.

Mingyur Rinpoche's books

The Joy of Living and Joyful Wisdom

If you need copies of The Joy of Living and/or Joyful Wisdom by Mingyur Rinpoche, you can order these books with Huni via WhatsApp on 0829012178.