April "One Community" Gathering

For Vajrayana practitioners, the home altar is more than just a place for meditation—it is a sacred space that supports and deepens our connection to the lineage, the Three Jewels, and the path of awakening. Over time, we’ve received many requests for guidance on how to properly establish a home shrine, and in this month’s One Community Dharma Talk, Dorlop Choenyi Sangmo will offer instruction on the key principles of preparing for practice and creating a meaningful altar in alignment with the Vajrayana tradition.

This session will explore:

• Preparing for practice – cultivating the right intention and aligning body, speech, and mind before engaging in meditation or ritual.
• Creating a conducive environment – setting up a space that enhances devotion, focus, and stability.
• Setting up a home shrine – understanding the significance of various sacred objects, such as representations of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

This 90-minute session will begin with a dharma talk, followed by a Q&A session. After the formal session, participants are welcome to stay for an informal discussion for up to 30 minutes.

This month’s Sangha gathering: Tuesday, April 8th, 5:30-7:00 pm MDT

Location: Online via Zoom and in-person at the Namchak office, 250 Station Dr, 2nd Fl Missoula, MT.

About Dorlop Chonyi Sangmo

From secretly studying Dharma texts while she worked in fields as a child to a dangerous night trek from Tibet into Nepal to completing two three-year retreats, Dorlop has never doubted her calling to be a nun.

At age 30, she began her first three-year retreat at Tulku Sangak Rinpoche’s Turquoise Leaf Nunnery. After that, her teachers wanted her to study more Buddhist philosophy. She continued studying and teaching at Turquoise Leaf Monastery and Nomdroling Monastery for seven more years. During that time, she was also the Vajra Master for another three-year retreat.

With the Namchak three-year retreat site under construction, Tulku Sangak Rinpoche asked Dorlop to move to Missoula, Montana. She will be an integral part of Namchak’s three-year retreats.

Dorlop is a title, short for Dorje Lopön or Vajra Master. She held this position in the monastery after her three-year retreat and now holds it at the Namchak Retreat Ranch. Lopön means teacher or professor. When students graduate from a Nyingma Shedra, they receive the title Lopön.

About One Community

Each month, we come together for an evening of connection and learning to deepen our understanding of the dharma and build meaningful relationships within the sangha. Led by a Namchak teacher, thought leader, or staff member, each gathering revolves around a specific theme and lasts 90 minutes.

The session begins with a dharma talk, followed by a Q&A and sometimes a brief meditation.

We invite Learning Circles, meditation buddies, and individuals to join us, and encourage you to bring friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers along to share the experience.

Address and Zoom Link

Missoula address and Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Namchak Buddhist Practice and Retreat, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, United States