Dharmata Foundation

Pause Your Mind

Sacredness is not strictly the property of religion, it is a universal phenomenon. It is something to be revered, loved, respected, and embraced. It can be personal and subjective. Inner peace, quietude, compassion, and notions of absolute truth such as the great emptiness or the Buddha within are all sacred. One of the most powerful and yet utterly accessible gateways to the sacred is silence.

Let's take a few moments to remember to pause in silence throughout the day and turn our attention toward sacredness. The highest sacredness lies within each of us, beyond the realm of concepts, logic, or ideas. When we drop into silence, we are able to experience the sacredness within, which is our true nature, the unborn Buddha within. We feel that we are no longer bound by our habits, and we begin experiencing the dimension of our being that lies outside ego identities. When we are in that state, we may feel we are in touch with the true nature of who we are, already complete and perfect. Nothing needs to be added or subtracted from it.

(painting of Mount Kailash by Melissa Parhm)

Registration is now live! Anam Thubten welcomes Lama Lakshey Zangpo Rinpoche back to Dhumatala Temple in Point Richmond, CA, for a special two day retreat July 11-12,2026 “Awakening Through the Body." Lama Lakshey will teach subtle body practices from the Nyingma tradition. This retreat is in-person only and you can register here: https://events.humanitix.com/awakening-through-the-body-2026

To learn more about Lama Lakshey go to https://www.tsintamani.org/lama-bio.

We are excited to welcome Lhamen Foundation and Lama Freddie to Dhumatala Temple later this month.

Announcement of a New Collaboration! Gampo Abbey is joining the Dharmata Hermitage Project as part of Rinpoche's vision for establishing the Dudjom Lingpa lineage in Canada. Ani Pema Chödrön and Anam Thubten Rinpoche are encouraging their communities to collaborate in the new project named, Kadak Dzong (Fortress of Original Purity), offering individual and group retreats, as well as temporary monasticism, at Gampo Abbey under the guidance and oversight of Anam Thubten Rinpoche. May all beings benefit!
Full Announcement: https://mailchi.mp/dharmata/june_3

Meditation, Dharma Talk & Book Launch Celebration
“Releasing the Knot of the Mind”
This Sunday, May 31 – In Person and on Zoom

Join us to celebrate Anam Thubten’s new book, a commentary on Dudjom Lingpa’s Dzogchen meditation guide. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at Dhumatala Temple and Anam Thubten will sign copies after the morning practice and talk. A reception for the community will be held in the garden immediately after.

In-person: Dhumatala Temple, 235 Washington St, Richmond, CA
10:00 am - 2:00 pm PT

Zoom Webinar: Morning only 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PT: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81235688405?pwd=cWNhQVpDTWdSQ3k2Q09pRDByN29Odz09

The Sacred Anchor

There are stories about refugees escaping from political turmoil by crossing the ocean, and that whenever these people ran into challenges on the sea, if everybody freaked out, most probably they would not survive. But if one person was somehow calm and grounded, then that person's equilibrium helped them find a sense of peace, and most probably they would all survive.

So you might like to think that the world is a boat and that you are the person who's going to play that role and hold equilibrium. You can call yourself the sacred anchor.

You are a sacred anchor not for yourself, but for the entire ship and that ship can represent your family, your neighborhood, or even the whole human world. So from now on, when you feel challenged, when you feel ready to fall prey to powerful internal afflictions as well as the afflictions of others, remember to return to that state of calm. Use whatever method works — maybe watching the breath, or chanting mantras, or prayer, or maybe just remembrance.

Sometimes all that's required is remembrance. There's a place that you can go: the pure awareness within you. Whenever you are dealing with powerful human experiences, just remember to witness and not to give in to them. And you may realize that the one who's witnessing is actually not the "I am," but the state of your mind that can be called pure awareness.

Imagine that even if the whole world is lost in anxiety, fear, confusion, you can actually remain as the sacred anchor embodying compassion and courage, not just for yourself, but for the whole world.

All are welcome to join Anam Thubten for a Meditation and Dharma Talk: “We are Pure Consciousness”

Sun, May 10, 10 am - 12 pm PST (1-3 pm EST)

Zoom or in person: Dhumatala Temple (Pt. Richmond, CA)
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81235688405?pwd=cWNhQVpDTWdSQ3k2Q09pRDByN29Odz09
Webinar ID: 812 3568 8405
Passcode: 829258

We're so happy to have Anam Thubten's book, Releasing the Knot of the Mind, published today.

It's a powerful exploration of Dudjom Lingpa’s essential Dzogchen teachings. Through clear, accessible language, Anam Thubten reveals traditional Tibetan Buddhist methods for recognizing and resting in our natural state of awareness.

Special Discount for One Month:
30% off discount code: RKMIND30
https://www.shambhala.com/releasing-the-knot-of-the-mind.html

All are welcome to join Anam Thubten for a Meditation and Dharma Talk: “Sky-Like Mind”

Sun, April 26, 10 am - 12 pm PST (1-3 pm EST)

Zoom or in person: Dhumatala Temple (Pt. Richmond, CA)
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81235688405?pwd=cWNhQVpDTWdSQ3k2Q09pRDByN29Odz09
Webinar ID: 812 3568 8405
Passcode: 829258