Precious moments
Every month carries its own constellation of precious moments. Some are bright and unmistakable, others subtle and tucked into the rhythm of daily life. In this edition, we share the stories, gatherings, and practices of our community members that have brought gratitude, insight, and connection.
As we look ahead, we are happy to invite you to a special upcoming event with Lama Tashi and a community practice day in Cape Town. Next to these two opportunities to deepen our practice, you can also join our monthly in-person mediation gatherings and new online Joy of Living cohort groups!
Standing Quietly in a New Life
Voices from the Sacred Nepal Pilgrimage — pilgrims who travelled to Kathmandu for the Grand Opening of Tergar Ösel Ling and teachings from His Holiness Tai Situ Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche.
❁ The Guide Kunkhyen
I worked joyfully on this pilgrimage for about five months. When we set off on the first day — these incredible people with me — heading towards places I’ve come to know and love over the years, I was filled with boundless joy, and it stayed until the very last day. What surprised me most was the depth of connection and love I felt for everyone in this group: the blessings, the teachings, the practice, and equally the difficulties and hardships. Through all of it, I feel part and parcel of everyone.
- Kunkhyen - Cape Town
❁ The Teachings & The Sacred Sites
In his teaching Pointing Out the Dharmakaya, His Holiness Tai Situpa Rinpoche spoke of the importance of receiving Mahamudra teachings in such a sacred place — of Tergar Ösel Ling, and of Kathmandu as a blessed site traversed by buddhas and bodhisattvas of countless eras. Each day was a remarkable immersion, led beautifully by Alex Kunkhyen. On the eighth day we visited Pharping and the Asura Cave, where Padmasambhava attained enlightenment. Sitting there, we connected to the past, to the lineage, and to the possibilities for ourselves. I am drawn to return without delay.
- Paul - Los Angeles
❁ At The Teacher's Home
Wow — what an incredible Yatra; one my heart is still processing. Alex organised such a well-planned and sacred pilgrimage. I loved seeing Mingyur Rinpoche at his home, waiting in his garden overlooking the mountains. Being in the aura of so many beautiful teachers was transformative and inspiring.
- Jai & Maya - Cape Town & London
❁ On The People, And The Masters
What struck me most is how gentle and calm the people are — kind and polite, no matter what. And how ordinary the great masters are, in a way. No complication, no affectation. Just so natural and kind.
- Johan - Cape Town
❁ An Unexpected Pilgrim
I was apprehensive — I’d never been to India or Nepal, and didn’t think of myself as pilgrimage material. What I found was an amazing cohort of seasoned sangha, led by Alex Kunkhyen, who set an example of what it is to be immersed in Buddhist ritual. My trip to Everest Base Camp felt fitting — the Medicine Buddha mantra was in my mind the whole time. What’s striking is that I want to go back. My practice has already become more intimate and joyful.
- Betül - Turkey
❁ Witnessing The Grand Opening
The pilgrimage deepened both my understanding and appreciation of the path. Being present for the Grand Opening was especially moving. Hearing Tai Situ Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche teach reminded me of one of the most liberating truths of the Dharma: that our experience, just as it is in this moment, is already complete and fundamentally okay. I return home with renewed gratitude, inspiration, and confidence. Thank you to Alex and everyone at Tergar South Africa.
- Can - Istanbul
❁ Meeting The Real Thing
I encountered so much more than I expected. Kunkhyen led us with a light touch, starting with the magnificent opening of Ösel Ling — imprinted on my mind forever. I could fulfil a dream of being in the presence of Tai Situ: true, holy and sacred. I felt close to my karmic family and all the Kagyu lamas. Thank you, Kunkhyen and Tergar SA. If I die tomorrow or not, I have met the real thing.
- Lilly - Cape Town
❁ Meeting The Dakinis
Our pilgrimage was an absolute feast of delights. Each day, Kunkhyen introduced us to another aspect of the sacred landscape, helping us weave it into the Vajrayana tradition and our daily practice. Meeting the dakinis — Vajrayogini and her wrathful manifestation, Vajravārāhī — was the true highlight for me. Mingyur Rinpoche introduced us to this embodiment of enlightened wisdom energy, and Tai Situ Rinpoche led us through the Vajravārāhī empowerment. With their power to transform our kleshas into awakening, even ordinary experience becomes a higher path. We are truly blessed to bring Vajravārāhī back to Africa (and to the USA and Turkey too)!
- Julia - Cape Town
❁ A Reflection
After fifteen years, this pilgrimage was uniquely different — held in the light of my Heart Guru, Akong Rinpoche, and my beloved mother, my first guide into Tibetan Buddhism, both now gone. Tergar Ösel Ling rose like the full moon on Saka Dawa — a lotus-birth from the chaotic spin of the Kathmandu valley below.
I felt the dutsi on the very first day, as our vehicle strained up the monastery hill — from Simon’s Town at sea level to 1,400 metres in three days. I knew my slow, wheezing, but steady and stoic tortoise pace, while younger pilgrims trotted up like windhorses. The arrival was a vision: a Pure Realm above the smog, where crows, black kites and kestrels soar.
On the last day came a Mendrup awakening — the Vajravarahi empowerment from Tai Situ Rinpoche — all the symbols of Enlightenment dancing as Vajrayogini, awake in this moment of Infinity. Thank you, to the last blade of grass.
My boat has struck something deep
Nothing happened
Sounds, Silence, Waves
Nothing happened
Or perhaps everything happened
And I am standing now quietly in my new life.
- Lindi - Cape Town
With gratitude to every pilgrim who walked, climbed, laughed and sat with us — and to the lineage that holds us all.
TERGAR SOUTH AFRICA
Khenpo Pema Oser
On Friday 26th of June Tergar South Africa hosted their first online event with Khenpo Pema Oser, giving us a reading transmission and teaching on Mingyur Rinpoche's text: "A reminder of your true nature - A simple Feast Offering".
Khenpo Pema Oser is a senior teacher and Headmaster of the Shedra (monastic college) at Tergar Osel Ling Monastery in Kathmandu.
We like to share some participant feedback and reflections to give you a deeper sense of what a tsok offering is.
❁ For the benefit of all beings
"Last week, we were fortunate to have Khenpo Pema Oser giving us the oral reading transmission of the Tsok Offering, “A Reminder of Your True Nature” by Mingyur Rinpoche.
In a delightful hour with him, we learned about the meaning and symbolism of this feast offering as well as how to actually offer food and drink, along with meditation, for the benefit of all beings.
Khenpo-la truly brought this to life, giving us a much-appreciated understanding and an accessible way to work daily with the practice".
- Julia -
❁ Compassionate intention and visualisation
"I was privileged enough to be able to attend the simple but profound teachings: A Reminder of Your True Nature with Khenpo Pema Oser online. It was arranged by Tergar South Africa and I was happy to be able support by leading the chanting of the opening and Tsok prayers.
Khenpo explained the importance of this simplified offering practice composed by Mingyur Rinpoche. In my understanding from the teaching, it helps with both the positive merit accumulated by doing the practice of offering to the Buddhas with compassionate intention as well as with purifying past negativities through the transformational practice of visualisation, particularly when combined with an understanding of our underlying empty nature that has unlimited potential.
We would love to do this practice again in the future to improve our understanding and well as be grateful to again receive teachings from Khenpo".
- Adam -
❁ Blessed offerings
"A tsok is a sacred Vajrayana feast offering that serves as a profound practice of accumulation and purification. Traditionally observed on the 10th and 25th days of the lunar calendar, it provides an opportunity for practitioners to purify obscurations, confess downfalls, restore samaya commitments, and accumulate merit and wisdom through making offerings and practicing together.
Before the ceremony begins, participants prepare simple offerings such as fruit, biscuits, juice and water. Through the liturgy and the power of visualisation, these ordinary offerings are transformed into vast and inexhaustible offerings for all buddhas, bodhisattvas, lineage gurus, yidams, dakinis, dharma protectors and all sentient beings. At the conclusion of the feast, the blessed offerings are shared among participants as a reminder of the inseparability of generosity, devotion, and awakened awareness. The practice conclude with prayers of aspiration and the dedication of any merit generated for the benefit of all beings".
- Roseanne -
With heartfelt gratitude to Khenpo Pema Oser for the opportunity to receive this transmission and teaching online, and to the organisers and facilitators whose quiet dedication made this possible.
Upcoming event in August: A special Reunion with Lama Tashi - For POL 1 & 2 Participants Only
One year on from our unforgettable Path of Liberation gathering (29 August–1 September 2025), we are delighted to welcome back Lama Tashi for an intimate online reunion. Offered exclusively to those who joined us in person for POL 1 & 2 last year.
Saturday & Sunday 29–30 August
Time 4–7pm SAST | Live on Zoom
Registration Free, with Dana offered to Lama Tashi
This is a rare and special offering. Rather than opening it widely, we wanted to honour the group who shared that journey together, gathering once more to deepen what was begun.
About Lama Tashi
Lama Tashi is a true yogi who has devoted his life to the service of Mingyur Rinpoche and his family lineage, including the great masters Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche.
His own path carries a quality of blessing: by extraordinary fortune, he met Mingyur Rinpoche purely by chance at the Boudhanath Stupa, while Rinpoche was on wandering retreat and had come down incognito for supplies. After some persuasion, Lama Tashi was granted the rare privilege of joining Rinpoche on that wandering retreat — spending years first at his side, and later in solitude, to complete a rare and demanding form of retreat.
His teaching style reflects all of this: direct, grounded, and utterly free of abstraction — pure practice-lineage Dharma, exactly as many of you will warmly remember.
Over two afternoons, he will guide us through refuge and bodhicitta, the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, and the purification practice of Vajrasattva, revisiting the meditation instructions of POL 1 & 2, with time for practice and questions throughout.
Registration & Offering
Open to all POL 1 & 2 in-person participants — Gold Pass, international friends, and all who were with us. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and detailed programme. Dana to Lama Tashi is warmly invited as your offering of gratitude.
A detailed programme will follow. Spaces are reserved for our POL family — we hope you’ll join us. Please save the date! Registration details to follow soon via email and on our communication channels.
!Save the date: 2nd of August
Community Practice Day in Cape Town!
Details will be released soon on our Tergar South Africa WhatsApp group and social media.
Mingyur Rinpoche's books
Announcement of Mingyur Rinpoche's new book:
A World of Difference, finding peace and freedom in times of fear and chaos.
In this book Mingyur Rinpoche offers a clear and accessible way to work with fear, uncertainty, end emotional overwhelm. Rather than asking us to escape difficulty or control everything around us, he shows how we can discover a deeper stability within the mind, one that remains available even when life feels unpredictable.
The book explores core qualities at the heart of his teachings:
- Inner Refuge
- Awareness
- Compassion
- Wisdom
- Freedom in Daily Life
You can register for book updates and/or preorder the book via the Tergar website:
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.
Community meditation in July (in-person)
Cape Town: Join our First Sundays Community Meditation at 64 Eastlake Island Way, Marina de Gama on July 5th, from 09:00 - 11:00.
Beginner and experienced meditators are invited to join this gentle morning of meditation, reflection and connection.
Joy of Living cohort groups (online)
These online groups meets weekly for practice, video teachings, and group discussions in a supportive environment.
❁ Joy of Living 1 (JOL1): Calming the Mind
When: Every Tuesday evening from 18:00 - 19:15. Starting on the 14th of July.
Practice coordinators: Angelic Pieplenbosch & Janique
❁ Joy of Living 2 (JOL2): Opening the Heart
When: Every Tuesday evening from 18:00 - 19:15. Starting on the 7th of July.
Practice coordinator: Paul Boyter.
When: Every Monday evening from 18:30 - 19:45. Started on the 4th of May.
Practice coordinator: Janni Younge.
❁ Joy of Living 3 (JOL3): Awakening Wisdom
When: Every Monday evening from 18:00 - 19:15. Starting on the 6th of July.
Practice coordinator: Fiona Anderson.
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.