Developing Peace of Mind

The Hay River  and Twin Cities Karma Thegsum Chöling (KTC) Buddhist Meditation Centers are affiliate centers of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) in Woodstock, NY.  Under the guidance of Lama Tsultrim Yeshe, a fully ordained monk, our purpose is to promote well being, compassion and wisdom through teachings on meditation and the practices of Buddhism.  In particular, our focus is on the teachings of the Karma Kagyu, one of the four Tibetan Buddhist lineages.  This tradition emphasizes meditation practice and putting the teachings into action in our daily life.  In-person meetings take place at the KTC Hay River site near Ridgeland, WI.  See the practice schedule for location details.

Learning

Meditation

Learning to Meditate

Any time is a good time to learn to meditate. Whether you are on top of the world or dealing with a burnout or emotional crisis, everyone can benefit from a daily meditation practice. As you contemplate starting a meditation practice, we suggest you think about when during the day you will carve out time to meditate. Chose a time that will have the least chance of interruption. You should also think about a space in your home that is your “meditation space,” preferably behind a closed door where you can hang a sign that says “Meditating.” Explain to family members what you are doing and why, so they can respect your practice, thus becoming part of your support system.

Thinking these things through before instruction will be helpful in getting started right away.

Weekly Sitting Meditation

Twin Cities and Hay River KTCs in provide several opportunities each week for meditation instruction and sitting meditation sessions.  These sessions take place via Zoom, at the Hay River center near Ridgeland, WI, and at the Stillwater Public Library.   Check the programs and events section of this website for more details.

You can subscribe to our events and meditation calendar by using this feed link in your calendar program:
https://twincitiesktc.org/?mec-ical-feed=1

Schedule

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The Karma Kagyu

The Karma Kagyu tradition emphasizes practice – not only learning about Buddhist concepts, but also putting the teachings into action, both on the cushion and in daily life.

about

Lama Tsultrim Yeshe

Lama Tsultrim Yeshe (John Samuelson) has been a student of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche since 1989. He completed the first three-year retreat at Karme Ling Under the direction of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche earning the title “Retreat Lama.” He took novice monk vows in 1994 from Tai Situ Rinpoche and fully ordained monastic vows in 2008 from Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.

Lama Yeshe is the resident Lama at the Hay River Karma Thegsum Choling located in Western Wisconsin. He travels throughout the country to other Buddhist centers to teach and lead retreats, as well as holistic learning centers like the Omega Institute.

He worked for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for 8 years as a prison Chaplain. He continues to do volunteer work in the prison teaching meditation, Buddhism and giving guidance. He has gained valuable experience working with inmates in a medium security prison. Many of them having difficult and abusive childhoods, anger management problems, and high levels of anxiety and stress.

Lama Yeshe has a BS degree in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma and did graduate work in Sociology at the University of Minnesota. He taught Sociology 4 years at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

He has also worked doing construction, building new houses and remodeling, and before that, furniture reupholstery. He likes woodworking, building and working with his hands. The Hay River KTC is in a stone building he built, with some help from friends, in 1977 as a shop. It was later remodeled, with the help of volunteers from the center, and converted into its present form.

Lama Yeshe has lived at his present location, a farmstead built in the 1890’s, near Ridgeland Wisconsin since 1971.

Lama Tsultrim Yeshe is available for meditation instruction and personal consultation.  This can be set up with him personally; the Lama can be reached at (715) 949-1407 by phone, or at [email protected].

Lama Tsultrim Yeshe, second from left, with Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, center, and other Lamas with who also did three-year seclusive retreats at Karme Ling Retreat Center in upstate New York. Location of the photo: Namo Buddha, in Nepal.

THE HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS.

Lama Yeshe recently presented a weekend program at the Gainesville KTC on The healing Power of Forgiveness, offered in its entirety here.

This series was inspired by his work as a prison chaplain where he would often hear inmates say “I wish I could forgive myself” or “I wish my family would forgive me.” What the inmates usually left out was forgiving those that had hurt them, their enemies.

These three types of forgiveness will be covered during the program: forgiving yourself, having those you have hurt forgive you, and forgiving those toward whom you have anger and resentment.

The sessions include teachings, meditation, and discussion.

The four meditation sessions are Tong Len practice: loving yourself, forgiving yourself, working with people you want to forgive you, forgiving people who have harmed you.

Emotional Healing: A Buddhist Perspective

Lama Yeshe took part in a program in Newtown, Connecticut in March of 2013: Sandy Hook Promise: Violence, Loss and Emotional Healing: A Buddhist Perspective at Congregation Adath Israel.

The panel consisted of Lama Yeshe, David Kaczynski (brother of the Unabomber), James Knoll IV (forensic psychiatrist) and Lama Kathy Wesley (3-year retreatant).

KTC stands for the Tibetan name for our group “Karma Thegsum (pronounced Tegsum) Chöling” and roughly means “place of dharma teaching.”

We hope you will enjoy our “sangha,” or community of practitioners.

Blog

News & Upates

Deity Practice in Tibetan Buddhism, Part One

Deity Practice in Tibetan Buddhism, Part One

Visualizing a deity or deities while meditating or performing a puja is one of the principal methods used in the Tibetan tradition to transform our experience with the world. Deities are highly symbolic representations of awakened minds that have appeared to past masters in visions.

Lama Rinpocheama Prayers

A teaching by Lama Tsultrim Yeshe on August 28, 2022 based on prayers written by the great Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye of Palpung Monastery and contained in Ground, Path, and Fruition by Tai Situpa, Chamgon Kenting.1  Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé (1813-1899) is...

Visualization in Vajrayana

A teaching by Lama Tsultrim Yeshe on August 7, 2022 All quotations, unless noted, are from the book, Wish Fulfilling Jewel by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. Vajrayana is a branch of Mahayana so in order to be meaningful and effective, listening, teaching, and practicing...

Compassionate Response, part one

A teaching by Lama Tsultrim Yeshe on July 31, 2022 Material is taken from the book, The Heart is Noble, by the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. All quotations are taken from this book. No matter what is going on we have ways to make life meaningful for...

Lama Karma Drodhul on Nyenne Practice

The following guide is taken from four teachings Lama Karma Drodhul gave to the KTC Hay River sangha in March 2022. The text for this practice is taken from the longer purification practice called Nyungne, which is available from the KTD bookstore, Namse Bangdzo....

What Is a Chakravartin?

A question came up during the Tuesday night book discussion about the wheel-turning ruler or Chakravartin. Following is a brief explanation of a Chakravartin (universal monarch) and why his wheel turns. From...

NOTE:  Due to concerns regarding COVID-19 and the health of our precious lama, please do not visit the Center if you have any symptoms of illness or any reason to believe you have been exposed to the virus.  Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. Please sign up for the newsletter if you wish to receive Zoom links or updates regarding upcoming programs.

Visitor’s Guide

The Hay River KTC Buddhist Meditation Center loves to welcome new visitors – it’s an important part of our broader mission to be an open and harmonious place for people to make contact with the Dharma.

Wondering what we do at Hay River KTC?  Right here on this website, you can view our recorded teachings, learn to meditate, or view recorded commentaries of excellent dharma books.

Best Times to Visit:

Due to concerns regarding COVID-19 and the health of our precious lama, please do not visit the Center if you have any symptoms of illness or any reason to believe you have been exposed to the virus. 

10 a.m. Sundays – Meditation or Chanting, depending on the week

11:00 a.m. Sundays – usually a teaching by our resident lama, Lama Tsultrim Yeshe.

Check the calendar to confirm there is a group practice or teaching when you want to attend.

What to Wear:

Comfortable clothing that is appropriate for sitting cross-legged on cushions. Short-shorts, short skirts and tank tops are discouraged. Note: We also have chairs for sitting, so feel free to use them during your visit!

Where we are located:

The Hay River KTC Buddhist Meditation Center is located in Ridgeland, Wisconsin.    Directions here.

The Hay River KTC Buddhist Meditation Center was organized in 1997 as an affiliate center of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, KTD (Woodstock, NY). Our purpose is to make available to all who are interested the teachings and practices of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Our main teachers are His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. We are located in rural west central Wisconsin just outside of Ridgeland.

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, right, with translator Jigme.

The property and buildings use environmental best practices and woodland management guidelines in line with the guidance of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa – read about the green initiatives here.

One of the best ways to support our mission is to become a member!