Mission

Phuntsok Chö Ling wants, to serve the welfare of others for present and future generations , under the guidance of Lama (“teacher”) Jigmé Namgyal. Through study and meditation, based on Tibetan Buddhist wisdom focused on meaning issues and the properties of the mind, own (negative) emotions are investigated and can be managed more and more. By developing personal skills, everyone for themselves and in relationships with others, both at work and in the home situation, is able to create harmony and balance, which leads to more inner satisfaction. Phuntsok Chö Ling, and in particular Lama Jigmé Namgyal, connect their profound knowledge and wisdom to our Western reality and beliefs, making them accessible to everyone, regardless of religion, age, or background, with an emphasis on practical application of Buddhist wisdom in daily life. Core values within our activities are: harmony, equanimity, open and transparent communication, connection. These core values remain not just ‘good intentions’ or a ‘wish’, but are actually integrated into daily life, decisive and mindful in intentions, word and actions.

Vision

Western society and western way of life in many ways is different from Buddhist culture. Our society is characterized by freedom and full of opportunities for self-fulfilment. However, the speed with which our society moves, the unlimited possibilities and choices, can also entail great responsibilities and stress. It is a challenge to constantly unite our different roles and identities and to meet many conflicting expectations, partly imposed by social norms but often also by ourselves and our immediate environment. This can entail big questions about meaning, but also very practical issues such as: how do I find peace and balance in my busy and complicated life? How can I become more effective in my work? How do I deal with conflict and anger more constructively? How do I improve getting in touch with others? How do I handle my energy better? How do I become a good harmonious parent for my children? How do I deal with my loneliness or other obstacles in my social life?

In Buddhist culture one grows up within the context of a philosophy and lifestyle, which is steeped in basic spiritual concepts (mindfulness), contemplation and meditation. Skills that can be an antidote to western people and the western mind against our struggle with our western dilemmas and issues. Lama Jigmé Namgyal is uniquely able to teach us how to apply these skills in our daily lives. Many have already benefited from this.

Lama Jigmé Namgyal and Phuntsok Chö Ling offer a place where, regardless of religion, age or background, the right guidance, study or skills are available for everyone. Based on everyone’s individual needs for skills or guidance, we provide an offer that is as close as possible to individual capacity in terms of time, effort or commitment.. This offer may include meditation training and practice, self-conduct research, study of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, retreats, or seeking deepening in specific topics such as love and compassion, living and dying, or other spiritual themes . By giving public lectures, teachings and workshops we make the Buddhist wisdom and skills available to the widest possible audience, with the wish that the visitor will go home happier than he or she has arrived.

The ultimate goal of Lama Jigmé Namgyal and Phuntsok Chö Ling is that an active attitude, valuable and useful actions actually contribute to greater happiness. Our ambition is to propagate these values in a concrete, accessible and practical way and to let them live on, now and for future generations.

The past 10 years Lama Jigmé Namgyal and Phuntsok Chö Ling have worked from a centre in the city-centre of Rotterdam, from where we have been able to provide courses and training for a limited group of people. From there a solid foundation has been formed to now realize future-proof growth. The ambition is to be able to offer services to a wider public, and also to establish a permanent centre to enable further development from there. We want a permanent out of town location for retreats, training and deepening, also to make connections with the local community in which this intended centre is located. By developing activities with local civil society organizations such as community centres, hospitals and stakeholders, we want to employ a broader group of people who need it and make themselves useful.

In addition, there is an ambition to also realize a location in Rotterdam, a kind of “workshop”. This should replace the current, small centre and provide space for a larger number of students and interested parties from the city of Rotterdam and the surrounding area. Lama Jigmé and Phuntsok Chö Ling also want to strongly emphasize the connection with society in this centre. In addition to offering the regular range of courses, they would like to give lectures and workshops there for a wide audience, from the urban environment, and thus contribute to stronger cohesion in the neighbourhood, and beyond. In this “workplace”, we would also like to explicitly create an accessible offer, and get into contact with local residents and stakeholders in an accessible way. This in order to contribute to the neighbourhood by, for example, volunteer work, coffee mornings and guidance of people who need it. All of the above from the humane core values of compassion, respect, and kindness.