Our Story
Our Founder
Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche was born in Golok, Eastern Tibet in 1935. Recognized at an early age as a reincarnate lama (tulku), he received an unparalleled education in Tibet before leaving for India in 1958. He received transmission of important Tibetan Buddhist lineages from nearly 40 masters, including such extraordinary luminaries as Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje, Zhechen Kongtrul, and Tarthang Chogtrul. While in India he also received rare teaching transmissions from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H. Trulshik Rinpoche, and H.E. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, among others.
In 1968, Tarthang Tulku became the first lama of the Nyingma lineage to settle in the United States. He has written over 40 books that have been translated into various Western languages and adopted for class use by universities around the world. His books and private teachings form the core of the Nyingma Institute’s manifold courses of study. Among his many unique accomplishments, Tarthang Tulku is the founder of the Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center and the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo World Peace Ceremony held annually at Bodh Gaya, India, where, since 1989, he has freely distributed more than six million sacred texts to lamas, monks, and nuns of the Tibetan community.
Our Mission
Ratna Ling Retreat Center’s mission is to offer education, healing, and spirituality to integrate into everyday life. Guided by the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, we aim to share what is best, most beautiful, and most meaningful in this precious human existence.
Our Vision
Our name, “Ratna Ling” means “Land of Treasures”. It is Rinpoche’s vision that the precious jewels of the teachings he brought to our country from a land far away, will touch hearts, open minds, and reveal the deep peace within that can be felt while staying in a place of gentle, natural beauty, supported by a spiritual community.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to serve humanity by leading others toward wholeness and wellness on the path of Enlightenment. Our resident volunteers practice so that they may become guardians, protectors, and examples of this sacred wholeness and wellness.
Our Beliefs
- We follow the path of awakening brought to the United States by Tarthang Tulku, one of the first Tibetan Lamas to come to this country in 1960.
- We value every human being without exclusion.
- We treat each human being (and all other beings) with care, compassion, respect, and honor their dignity.
- We seek to help every human being find their innate goodness and take advantage of the precious opportunity human afforded by their human life.
- We celebrate the accomplishments of others.
- We improve our lives by study, practice and work.
- We use the opportunity of working for the benefit of ourselves and others as practice; to see our patterns, habits, and misconceptions about ourselves as a path to obtain freedom.
- We learn to work with our thoughts and behavior to free ourselves from attachment, hatred and ignorance.
- We follow a path of generosity, ethical behavior, effort, patience, meditation, and wisdom.
- It is through the development of heart and mind, in an environment of external and emotional safety that people find true peace, inner safety and joy.
