UPDATE February 20, 2025: Unexpected expenses have arisen, mostly in the form of a very large jump in the price of travel vaccinations. Therefore, I have increased my fundraising goal, and am still seeking those last few hundred dollars.

[January 2025 update]

You did it! Twenty-five amazing people, along with the Facing East scholarship fund, have reached my fundraising goal, and I’m so grateful! May this create all kinds of merit and auspiciousness for each one of them. I look forward to practicing on their behalf in the sacred Dollu Valley.

For those who are still interested in supporting pilgrims, there are other people still raising funds to support this trip. Many of them can be found here by clicking here.

Or on GoFundMe, search for “2025 Nepal Pilgrimage”

May our practice and your generosity benefit all sentient beings!

With a deep bow of gratitude,

Brian

[original text of fundraising appeal is below]

Thank you for considering this appeal to support a month of pilgrimage and solitary retreat. The tradition says that one gains merit by supporting pilgrimages and retreatants. I hope that is true, and that all patrons will generate much positive merit from associating with this trip. Even $10 makes a difference.

My Buddhist teacher, Kongma Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, invited his students to make a pilgrimage to the Dollu Valley in Nepal, just outside Kathmandu, where he resides. Known as Yangleshö to Tibetans, this is where Guru Padmasambhava attained a high state of realization practicing Vajrakilaya on retreat before traveling to Tibet to teach.

I have been Rinpoche’s student for over two decades, and this is a rare opportunity to visit him and his family in their home culture and environment, to receive teachings, to experience what a society based on Buddhism looks and feels like, and to visit a number of sacred power spots associated with this form of Buddhism.

After the pilgrimage, I will join a small group of Rinpoche’s students who will remain in the Dollu Valley for two weeks of solitary retreat under his direction.

As a retired person living on a fixed income, my resources are limited. Airfare has been paid for, so I seek to raise approximately $3,000 to cover the four weeks of pilgrimage and solitary retreat. This includes expenses for the programs themselves as well as food and lodging at modest accommodations in the Dollu Valley.

My inspiration for this trip is to bring light and compassion to an increasing dark, divided, and aggressive world. My daily Mahayana Buddhist commitment is to work for the benefit of all beings, even those “I don’t like”, to ease their suffering and make the world a better place. Pilgrimage is a powerful method for supporting that intention. The vajrayana practices that I practice under Rinpoche’s guidance are potent ways of releasing the internal confusion that interferes with this commitment to benefit others. Practicing them in solitary retreat is like supercharging their effectiveness, especially in such a sacred location and under his direction. With the blessings of the Practice Lineage of Nyingma and Kagyü wisdom teachers, I aspire that the result will be that I am able to be more of a help to others, and less of a cause of their suffering myself.

With gratitude for anything you might contribute, no matter how small it seems,

Brian