6 Saturdays and 2 Sundays : August 1 to September 13, 2026
Nalandabodhi is excited to announce that we will be offering a series of online and hybrid talks in the weeks preceding Tārā Drupchen that will take place September 17-20, 2026.
Some people are a little shy about attending vajrayana practices when they don’t understand their benefits. They can wonder: “How is this relevant for me as someone living in the 21st Century?” While the answer to that question could be quite extensive, the simple answer is that it aligns our heart and mind with compassion and the desire to genuinely benefit all beings. As Rinpoche stated in his teachings at last year’s Tārā Drupchen, “The world really needs Tārā’s blessings right now!”
It is also an opportunity to magnify our impact by joining with others and by relying upon a tradition that holds the power of an unbroken lineage.
The series will highlight the importance of the drupchen and the connection with Tārā. It will include eight one-hour talks with excerpts from Rinpoche’s teaching given during the 2025 Tara Drupchen.
The first six talks will be at 8:00 am Pacific time and will be ONLINE only
Talk 1: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Karunika Stephanie Johnston will explore the iconography of Ārya Tārā and how connecting with the visual embodiments of Tārā and her iconography can vivify our practice.
Talk 2: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Acharya Lhakpa Tshering will address how Tārā is regarded in lineage and cultural presentation, how to appreciate historical and cultural roots and how to construct a bridge for the students of the 21st century.
Talk 3: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen will discuss Application Bodhicitta and Tārā’s quality as a protector.
Talk 4: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Acharya Jampa will talk about Tārā practice and its role in liberating practitioners from self-fixation.
Talk 5: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Mitra Lee Worley will discuss the significance of Tārā as a female buddha and her key qualities.
Talk 6: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Karunika Kristina Bichoff will discuss the singing and music of Tārā practice.
The final two talks, that you need to register for separately, will take place on two consecutive Sundays at 11:00 am Pacific time hybrid onsite and online from Nalanda West following their 10 am open shamatha practice session.
Talk 7: Sunday, September 6, 2026 – Register here
Talk 8: Sunday, September 13, 2026 – Register here
During these two talks, Mitra Tyler will invite us deeper into deity practice in general and the meditation and mantra recitation of Ārya Tārā in particular. He will explore how a deity practice helps us get to know our own mind, the mechanism by which Tārā is renowned for the ability to dispel fear and obstacles and how we can relate to the ritual elements of the practice if they feel intimidatingly complex.
Please register to join this inspiring series to deepen your knowledge of and connection to Tārā and to prepare for Tārā Drupchen. Recordings will be available until October 11, 2026.
These talks are offered on a donation basis. Thank you for your generosity! It will help us make offerings to the teachers in gratitude for their talk.
Date/Time
Date(s) - Sat., August 1, 2026
8:00 am PDT - 9:00 am PDT
