About Us

Thubten Lekshey Ling (Dharma Subhashita) is an Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and Study Center founded under the spiritual guidance of His Holiness Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche and inspired by the advice of His Holiness Dalai Lama.

The Study Group received its name from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. The name means, "The Place of Elegant Speech Explaining the Teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha".

We conduct Meditation classes and spiritual discourses that are open for all. Regular classes in Bangalore are taught by experienced lamas from Namdroling, the reputed Buddhist monastic institution at Bylakuppe, Karnataka. Occasionally, we also have special teaching programs by Buddhist masters across traditions.

Dharma Subhashita follows Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, upholding the non-sectarian values of the ri-me' movement. With regard to spiritual practice, Dharma Subhashita emphasizes the "Great Perfection teachings (Dzogchen)" of the Nyingma tradition.

Our Vision

1. To enrich the experience of life through Meditations & Lessons in Dharma:

Dharma can be applied in the limited scope of improving the quality of life - for present and future. We can learn to overcome the stress and strain of daily life, to reduce disturbing emotions, and to live with increased wisdom, peace and love.

2. To reconnect with the vibrant intellectual and spiritual heritage of India epitomized by Nalanda:

The intellectual and spiritual quest in India reached its pinnacle during the brilliant era of the spiritual academies like Nalanda. This tradition was preserved and enriched in the Himalayas, specifically in Tibet. Inspired by the advices from HH the 14th Dalai Lama, we participate in reconnecting and assimilating values from this Indian heritage. His constructive dialogues with the scientific community world over have set the standard for such initiatives.

3. To facilitate 'Path to Awakening' under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist masters:

When we clear away the cloud-like mental impurities that obscure the luminous nature of our mind, the sunshine of Bodhi pervades the space-like expanse of our sphere of experience. The Buddha within us is awakened by realizing our true nature. We facilitate genuine seekers to take on such a path and to meet the great masters of Tibetan Buddhism.

Indo-Tibetan Buddhism

Mahayana/ Vajrayana Buddhism during its glorious past in India excelled both in its intellectual tradition - exemplified by the great Panditas and Mahasiddhas like Nagarjuna, Asanga, Candrakirti, Santarakshita, Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, Saraha, Tilopa, Naropa, Virupa, etc. This complete spectrum of Buddha-dharma was transmitted to Tibet during the four centuries beginning with the journey of Guru Padmasambhava and Acarya Santarakshita to Tibet in the 8th century. Tibet not only preserved the pristine purity of this tradition, but also enriched it through further teachings and commentaries, exactly the way it progressed earlier in India. We refer to this unbroken continuum covering all level of the teachings of Sutra, Tantra, Sastra (commentaries) and Upadesa (pith instructions) as the tradition of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. The teaching of the Buddha remained a living tradition and led to many practitioners achieving high realizations and becoming Buddhas in India and Tibet.

The Four Major Traditions

The Tibetan Buddhism is organized into four main traditions based on the lineage of transmission, philosophical position, method of practice, etc. These are Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug. All of these are valid ways of practicing Buddhism with their varying emphases. For example, Nyingma emphasizes on the Great Perfection (Dzogchen, Mahasandhi) teachings, Kagyu on Mahamudra, Sakya on Lamdre based on Virupa's lineage and Gelug on Lama Tsongkhapa's gradual path (LamRim). While the emphasis varies, there is great overlap between these traditions as the goal remains the same.

The Nyingma Tradition

The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Nyingma means "the ancient tradition", to distinguish it from the three later traditions founded after 11th Century. Nyingma represents the early transmission of Buddhism to Tibet. Guru Padmasambhava, Acarya Santarakshita Mahapandita Vimalamitra, Buddhaguhya, Shantipa, Vairotsna and Kamalasila were some of the great masters involved. Masters like Rongzom Mahapandita, Kunkhyen Longchen Rabjam and Mipham Rinpoche gave a renewed impetus and enrichment to this tradition from time to time. Nyingma has also accepted many teachings from the later transmission from time to time.

The Terma Lineages of the Nyingma:

Padmasambhava, known as the precious teacher or Guru Rinpoche, bestowed many Vajrayana teachings and pith instructions to his twenty-five principal Tibetan disciples, the foremost being Lady Yeshe Tsogyal. They all became accomplished with extraordinary abilities. Guru Rinpoche and his disciples concealed many of his teachings in earth, water and in the mind-stream of the disciples, since the time was not ripe for their widespread understanding. These teachings are revealed by predestined masters in appropriate time. This is known as Terma, or Lineage of Treasures. New Termas are revealed even in our time, so that the teachings always remain fresh and most suitable.

Ri-mé Movement:

We uphold the spirit of Ri-mé (non-sectarian) in our approach. The Ri-mé movement started in Tibet in 19th century to discover the threads connecting the four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, without diluting the teachings of any tradition while accepting values from each of them. There is an acceptance of variety in the Ri-mé movement for the benefit of practitioners with different needs. Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgon Kongtrul and Patrul Rinpoche of the 19th century were great Ri-mé masters. The spirit of Ri-mé can be extended to a context beyond Tibet.

Great Perfection Teachings - The Pinnacle of Buddhist Paths

At the heart of the Nyingma tradition as well as that of the Ri-mé movement is 'the Great Perfection' teaching (also known as Dzogchen or Mahasandhi-Yoga). It is the spontaneous and natural perfection of pristine wisdom right at its primordial purity. As HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche explained,

"Dzogchen is a state, the primordial state, the state of total awakening that is the heart-essence of all Buddhas and all spiritual paths, and the summit of an individual's spiritual evolution."

Dzogchen's approach is to work at the level of primordial awareness (rigpa), not with the formations of conceptual mind. Hence, Dzogchen can not be known without being pointed out by a realized Guru. In HH 14th Dalai Lama's words,

"Dzogchen practice is unlike other kinds of meditation where we use 'the mind'. These types of meditation involve using our faculty of mind to its full, and with exertion. In Dzogchen meditation, the practice is done in a non-dualistic manner … the meditation is undertaken at a level where the mind is returned to the primordial and natural state."

For this reason, Dzogchen is known as the effortless vehicle towards natural perfection. All the effort in the path of Dzogchen is then to sharpen one's faculties to enter the effortless vehicle and receive the pointing out.

Our Programs

Programs are conducted at various levels. We have introductory lectures and regular meditation sessions for beginners. One can approach these with a critical mind and explore the truth for oneself. For those who want to enter the path after having developed certainty, we also conduct empowerments and advanced teachings. The preliminary practices for the Great Perfection will also be introduced shortly.

How can I help ?

The programs by the Centre are completely free of charge. You are welcome to volunteer organizational support and to sponsor events in whole or part. You may also make offerings to the monastic teachers.