Dear friends, near and far,

As I look ahead to the coming year, one aspiration continues to shine through everything else: to return to Nepal in spring 2026 for pilgrimage and retreat with my teacher, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

In the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Nepal to receive teachings and practice in the sacred spaces where generations of practitioners have trained their minds and opened their hearts. These journeys have shaped my practice and my life in profound ways. Each time I went, I carried with me a deep wish to stay longer — to fully immerse in the experience — but responsibilities at home made it necessary to return sooner than I hoped.

This year, I am making a wholehearted commitment to attend the full pilgrimage and extended retreat. It feels like a rare opportunity to take the next step on this path, to deepen my training, and to offer service to my sangha in a meaningful way.

As a self-employed person, I’m fortunate to have a flexible schedule and work I care about. However, when I travel, my income stops entirely — and being away for more than a month makes the financial piece difficult to manage on my own. The cost of airfare, ground travel, retreat offerings, meals, and lodging is significant, and the pause in income adds an additional layer of challenge.

With that in mind, if you feel moved to support this journey — through financial help or simply through good wishes — I would be deeply grateful. Every offering, no matter the size, helps make it possible for me to step more fully into this precious experience.

It is my sincere aspiration that this pilgrimage, the teachings I receive, and the practice I engage in will be of benefit far beyond myself — to my community, to my work, and to all beings.

Thank you for your time, your kindness, and your presence in my life.

With love and gratitude,

Joan