{"id":126765,"date":"2025-04-16T14:38:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T19:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/?post_type=blog&p=126765"},"modified":"2025-04-16T14:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T19:38:25","slug":"serving-a-larger-vision-in-nepal-2025","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/blog\/community\/serving-a-larger-vision-in-nepal-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Serving a Larger Vision in Nepal 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″ el_class=”head-post”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Serving a Larger Vision in Nepal<\/h2>\n

By Franka Cordua-von Specht \u2022 4 min read[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”sharepost”]\n\t\t\t\t

SHARE:\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t<\/p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Joy of Living” style=”outline” color=”peacoc” align=”left” el_class=”btn-post” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fjoy.tergar.org%2Fjoy-of-living%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column lms_has_clearfix=”0″][vc_single_image image=”126570″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1716248108748{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”126571″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1716248123917{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”visible-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]When Arun Poudel met Mingyur Rinpoche at Osel Ling monastery in 2017, he was immediately captivated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was extraordinary,\u201d he said. \u201cThe humility and compassion with which he taught was nothing I had ever experienced before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>It was Arun\u2019s introduction to Tibetan Buddhist teachings. Though there were hundreds in the audience, he felt a direct transmission of the teachings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An academic who teaches a survey course of Buddhist philosophy at Lumbini <\/span>Buddhist <\/span>University in Nepal, Arun instantly recognized the profundity of the Joy of Living<\/a> teachings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is full of wisdom and the practice tools that give us a better understanding of ourselves and others,\u201d Arun said in an interview from his Kathmandu home, where he lives with his wife, twin sons, and a golden retriever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arun instantly took to Rinpoche, started to attend all of his teachings, and became involved in the local Tergar practice groups, later founding the<\/span> Anamnagar<\/span><\/a> group<\/span> in Kathmandu.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Arun\u2019s offer to be of service to Rinpoche has not wavered. He now works as the executive director of <\/span>Buddha Prakash<\/span><\/a>, a Nepalese foundation started two years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

The foundation is dedicated to bringing out the teachings of the two brothers, Mingyur Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche, to the <\/span>Buddhist communities<\/span> in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. Currently, there are 15 <\/span>khenpos<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>lopons<\/span><\/i> taking out the teachings. Additionally, the foundation interacts with academic institutions, non-Buddhist communities, and secular audiences to clarify the Buddhist view and make meditation accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n

One might assume that the teachings would be ubiquitous in Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha.\u00a0 \u201cThe people have all the religious and devotional aspects in the culture, but somehow the chain of the wisdom teachings is somewhat broken,\u201d said Arun, speaking with his characteristic warmth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoth Rinpoches realized this and wanted to take the teachings out to the communities and make them easily accessible,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

He finds the work for Buddha Prakash fulfilling and congruent with what he had been seeking: a life of meaningful service. In past years, Arun has worked in media and public relations in Nepal. Although it was a successful career that enabled him to support his family, it did not fulfill a deeper spiritual calling.<\/span><\/p>\n

GROWING UP HINDU<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Arun was not raised in a Buddhist home. His was a traditional Hindu family, with his mother a particularly devoted practitioner. His father, however, held more moderate views.<\/span><\/p>\n

A highly educated man who worked at the highest level of civil service for the Government of Nepal, his father greatly loved learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In his childhood home, without cell phones, a landline, or television, Arun was surrounded by books on Hindu meditation, yoga, and philosophy. He fondly recalled his father recounting stories of saints, yogis, and miracles. \u201cYou can imagine a 10 or 11-year-old listening to these stories very closely!\u201d said Arun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His path would take him on a rich study that would include kundalini yoga, hatha yoga, Jain systems of meditation, as well as teachings from S.N. Goenka, Ravi Shankar and Paramahansa Yogananda and then the Buddhist teacher of Chan master Venerable Hin Hung. Indeed, Arun left\u00a0 Nepal in 2013 and completed a Master’s in Buddhist Studies founded by Venerable Hin Hung in Hong Kong.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

It was <\/span>Venerable Hin Hung\u2019s <\/span>visit to Nepal that prompted Arun\u2019s first visit to Osel Ling. Although Rinpoche was not present, Arun became curious and bought three of Rinpoche\u2019s books. A year later, when he returned to the 2017 teachings and met Mingyur Rinpoche, the door to Vajrayana Buddhism via the Joy of Living teachings opened.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRinpoche has so beautifully given the essence in such a simple and accessible manner that other masters would hesitate to give until the student has spent maybe twenty years with them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MEDITATION TEACHER PROGRAM<\/h4>\n

Last September, Arun enrolled in the Tergar Meditation Teacher program. \u201cIt\u2019s so wonderful. It\u2019s profound. <\/span>I\u2019m talking to everyone about the Meditation Teacher Program.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though we may not have full realization or perfect practice, there are many things that can help to make you a teacher.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people train in an authentic system with a direct connection to Mingyur Rinpoche, there is little chance of deviating from the real practice,\u201d he said. \u201cThe students that graduate will be deeply rooted in practice, tradition, and pedagogy!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He is looking forward to graduating and sharing the teachings \u2014 the Anytime Anywhere Meditation curriculum \u2014 in Nepal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is this important to him? \u201cI see myself as a small component of the bigger goal that both Rinpoches have for humanity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

May 2024<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n

Franka Cordua-von Specht, co-founder of the Tergar Vancouver Practice Group and Tergar Canada, works for Tergar International’s marketing and communication team. She is a Tergar Guide and facilitates Joy of Living workshops.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-cielo-post”][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog”]<\/p>\n

Joy of Living Online Training<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157115208{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Theory and practice of meditation, step-by-step.<\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157098798{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Learn meditation under the skillful guidance of world-renowned teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche at your own pace.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”txt-link-landing btn-mb20″]LEARN MORE <\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”92705″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cRinpoche has so beautifully given the essence in such a simple and accessible manner that other masters would hesitate to give until the student has spent maybe twenty years with them.” – Arun Poudel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":126562,"template":"","tags":[197,198,130,65,153,199,200,133,119],"blog":[129],"class_list":["post-126765","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arun-poudel","tag-buddha-prakash","tag-community","tag-mingyur-rinpoche","tag-seeking-deeper-meaning","tag-serving-in-nepal","tag-tergar-practice-group-in-nepal","tag-the-joy-of-living","tag-yongey-mingyur-rinpoche","blogs-community"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/126765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126765"},{"taxonomy":"blogs","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qa.tergar.org\/posts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog?post=126765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}