2025 Nepal Pilgrimage

Dear Friends-

I am reaching out for help to raise funds to attend the 2025 pilgrimage to Nepal to study with my teacher, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. I will be attending both the Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings, one week each, then traveling for four days to visit sacred sites around Kathmandu. My visit will be March 14-April 8.

I am a long-time student of Rinpoche, having first encountered him while I was living at Karme Choling Buddhist retreat center in 1986. I first met his father, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1981, attending the 1984 Vajradhatu Seminary. To travel to Nepal to receive these teachings is a highlight of my life after studying and practicing the dharma for over forty years.

As some of you know, I have been gradually healing from a serious neurological injury that I sustained in 2020 when I tapered off several prescription medications I had been taking for many years. These last four years have been the most challenging of my life. My brain is healing, but I am still working with a great deal of central and peripheral nervous system pain. Faced with a life-altering traumatic brain injury, severe chronic pain, and near-total social isolation, in the midst of a pandemic, no less, I had no choice but to work intimately with my own mind. It was a challenging and very painful journey, but I am finally emerging into the sunlight with a deep and profound appreciation for the preciousness of human birth; insight into the role suffering plays in one's journey of waking up; a newfound joy and delight in the impermanent nature of our existence; and new insight into the nature of my own mind, my connection to others, and the sacredness of the phenomenal world.

What truly sustained me during this difficult time was my nearly lifelong connection to my teachers and the Buddhist teachings and practices that I have received since I was nineteen years old. Now that I am healing, there is nothing I would rather be doing than embarking on a pilgrimage to study dharma in the sacred land of Nepal at the foot of my teacher.

Any amount of donation you are able to make will be greatly appreciated. I am always deeply moved by the generosity of the sangha and other friends.

With love and appreciation,

Eric Laufe

Notes about fundraising goal:

I've calculated the basic costs for the teachings in Nepal, plus airfare, housing in Pharping, passport, travel clinic, ground transport, insurance, housing in Kathmandu, and other expenses, at around $5500. Thank you for any help you are able to offer!