Lesa's Nepal 2023 Pilgrimage

Dear Friends,

I have a rare opportunity to go on pilgrimage in Nepal at the end of March/beginning of April. With your support, I’ll be able to attend a retreat with my spiritual teacher of 31 years, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, at the beautiful Rigon Tashi Choeling Monastery in Pharping, and also have the honor of being present as his eldest daughter is empowered as his spiritual successor – a historic event!

I’ve longed to do pilgrimage for decades—to meditate at historic Buddhist sacred sites that hold the blessings of centuries of Buddhist saints who realized their fundamental awake nature in order to most benefit sentient beings. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that this trip will also allow me to do just that, at the many sacred Buddhist sites in the surrounding areas of the monastery!

When the pilgrimage was announced last fall, I couldn’t see my way forward to go—I had become a full-time live-in caregiver for the second time in 9 years—first for my mother for 5 years and now for my step-father, whose health had rapidly declined with six emergency hospitalizations in as many months. It was only at the beginning of January that I realized he’s recovered enough that I could explore the possibility of going.

Miraculously, all the pieces began coming together quite quickly. I'm able to arrange for respite care for my step-father; there was a spot open to attend the teachings; my fiancé encouraged me to go—offering his air miles for the US part of my flight etc.

I’m reaching out to you to raise the needed funds for this trip because, as many of you know, I’ve spent the last eighteen years prioritizing living a life in service to others—the first half, devoting my time to the Shambhala Buddhist community and the second half, providing care for multiple elders. While I’ve been content to lead a life of “voluntary simplicity”, post-pandemic I find I’m now living hand-to-mouth with some ongoing health challenges of my own. I’m able to fit part-time jobs around my caregiving responsibilities but it’s not enough to be able to cover the pilgrimage without your assistance.

Updated Trip Budget $3500:

As one of my fellow pilgrims explained, it's traditionally said to be 'good merit' for pilgrims to rely on the generosity of others to support their journey; and your offering of support is also considered to be VERY 'good merit' for you. The idea is that if you can't come with us in body, you can join the journey energetically by supporting the pilgrimage monetarily.

Whether you ascribe to such traditional notions or not, any level of offering you feel inspired/able to give will help tremendously! And I will indeed hold you in my heart and meditation practice as I take this sacred journey.

With inspiration and enormous gratitude,

Lesa Ricci