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Pema Dragpa

Lama Pema Dragpa has been a resident Dharma teacher at Padma Samye Ling (PSL) since 2004, the main monastery & retreat center of the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center founded by the Nyingma Dzogchen masters Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche & Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. Ordained as a lama by Rinpoches, Dragpa graduated with honors in philosophy & religious studies from NYU in 2002, is a senior editor of over 20 books on Buddhist philosophy & meditation, and is a certified Hospice volunteer. He regularly travels to lead PBC events on traditional & contemporary Buddhist philosophy and meditation. Here's the website of the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center.

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE: THE NEED FOR MORE INTEGRALLY-INFORMED BUDDHISTS

Welcome to a new age of communication and implementation that deeply cares about honoring both preservation and adaptation—a very necessary and important step towards a more integrated Buddhism that strives to maintain its relevance and thus its extraordinary helpfulness and integrity to actually remain a complete path to enlightenment in the 21st century.

SOFT-SPOKEN GUIDE OF DAZZLING MAJESTRY & FEROCIOUS ABANDON

Homage to the sole protector, Wish-fulfilling vase of goodness. Reliable Guide who knows. Dazzling King of utter beauty. Ferocious Destroyer of all hesitation. Hear our longing cries for help.
Precious, supreme bhikkhu. Of soft words and gentle gestures. Careful steps and immediate attention. Your hands reach out for us. Every time we trip up and begin to fall again.

WHY DON’T WE WORK HARDER TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS?

This election has caused me to spend time deeply reflecting on my own life choices and beliefs, and a deep question has been continually weighing on my mind: Why don’t more loving, intelligent people work harder to eliminate Big Money’s negative influence on almost every sphere of human activity?

CHANGING FROM THE TOP DOWN OR THE BOTTOM UP

Meditation develops one’s open-mindness, sensitivity and appreciation, while enhancing one’s ability to stay focused and engaged with more challenging experiences. Wouldn’t meditators of all traditions therefore have a key role in contributing to solutions for the difficulties the world is now facing?
The debate is open.

STAINLESS VAJRA MASTER

Your love sweetens us. Your compassion soothes us. Your wisdom lends itself to our own minds, uplifting what we know is good and true and beautiful. Mighty warrior who freely uses every moment as the greatest weapon, please bless all well-intentioned aspirations to freshly blossom without end.