Don Handrick is a touring teacher for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), sharing the Dharma with centers and study groups in North America and other parts of the world, both in-person and online.

Don's study of Buddhism began in 1993 after reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. Over the next two years he practiced with Sogyal Rinpoche's organization, until he began attending classes in 1996 with Venerable Robina Courtin at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco.

Don left the Bay Area in 1998 to attend the FPMT's Masters Program of Buddhist Studies in Sutra and Tantra, a seven-year residential study program conducted at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Tuscany, Italy, taught by the scholar and kind Spiritual Friend, Geshe Jampa Gyatso. He successfully completed all five subjects of this program in 2004, receiving an FPMT final certificate with high honors. Don then moved to Santa Fe, serving as the Spiritual Program Coordinator for Thubten Norbu Ling, before being appointed as their resident teacher in 2006.

Don served as the resident teacher for Thubten Norbu Ling until the end of 2020. During that time, he also taught regularly in Taos at Ksitigarbha Tibetan Buddhist Center and volunteered for the Liberation Prison Project, teaching Buddhism once a month at a prison in nearby Santa Rosa. Since 2012 he has been an active member of the Interfaith Leadership Alliance of Santa Fe.

In 2015, Don had the honor of being selected by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to lead the renowned November Course, a one month teaching and meditation retreat held annually at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Don has received teachings from many esteemed lamas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Ribur Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, and Khensur Jampa Tegchok.

He is also available for personal consultation on Buddhist practice upon request through the “Contact Don” page.

ONLINE & LOCAL OFFERINGS IN NEW MEXICO

Weekly teachings - WedneSDAYs : December 4, 2024 - FebruarY 26, 2025, 7:00-8:30 Pm MT

Getting to Know Your Mind: A Practical Approach to Buddhist Psychology (IN Person and online)

The Buddha said that all of our experiences of suffering and happiness arise from our own minds. Thus, in order to achieve more lasting peace and wellbeing, it is essential to know how our minds function and to increase our awareness of the contents of our minds, particularly through understanding the salutary states that are ideal to foster and identifying the unwholesome ones that can be reduced and eventually eliminated. In this course, we will investigate Buddhist psychology using the basic teachings from the traditional study of lo-rig, "mind and cognition", but we will do so particularly with an approach geared toward practicality and easy application in our daily lives.   

Thubten Norbu Ling

=======================================================

Weekly teachings - MONdays : January 6 - February 24, 2025, 6:00-7:30 Pm PT, With a Practice day on March 16, 1:00-4:30 Pm PT

FPMT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM - MODULE 4: The Spiritual Teacher (CLASSES online only; practice day will be both in person & Online)

​In this module you will investigate the role of the teacher on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities of a teacher, the qualities of a student, and how to relate to a teacher for the greatest benefit in one’s spiritual life. The spiritual teacher or guide is the most fundamental aspect of the Buddhist Path. It is not possible to become enlightened from books or even recordings alone. In this module, we will learn how to recognize a perfectly qualified teacher and how to take them as your guide. 
The Spiritual Teacher is the fourth in the Discovering Buddhism series of classes. Starting at the beginning of a new topic is best, but don't worry about the module number or the order in the series.

Tse Chen Ling

=======================================================

Weekly teachings - SUNDAYs : February 2 - 23, 2024, 10:00-11:30 Am MT

Four Paths to Awaken A kind Heart (IN Person and online)

The Four Immeasurables are powerful and inviting meditation techniques to activate the heart of kindness, counter the distortions in our relationship to ourselves, and deepen our relationships to others. In this course, we will explore these four attitudes – the cultivation of equanimity, loving kindness, compassion, and empathetic joy – and learn how to skillfully advance them to a limitless degree, eventually making our hearts as wide as the world.

Thubten Norbu Ling

=======================================================

Weekly teachings - THurSDAYs : FebruarY 6 - March 20, 2025, 6:00-7:30 Pm MT

How to Live the Compassionate Life: Lama Atisha’s The Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland (IN Person and online)

Bodhisattvas are driven by their deep compassion to attain enlightenment, the fully developed state in which they can benefit other beings most effectively. In this course, we will examine a brief and lyrical text by Lama Atisha, the great Indian master who came to Tibet in the 11th century, in which he presents the most essential instructions for living one’s life perfectly as a bodhisattva. Like a string of precious gems, these guidelines are to be worn like a beautiful garland by all those who wish to journey the path of full awakening.   

Ksitigarbha Tibetan Buddhist Center

=======================================================

Weekly teachings - MONdays : MARCH 17 - April 21, 2025, 6:00-7:30 Pm PT, With a Practice day on April 27, 1:00-4:30 Pm PT

FPMT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM - MODULE 8: Establishing a Daily Practice (March 17 In Person & online; Remaining sessions are online only)

​Through maintaining an ongoing meditation practice, we can make each day into an opportunity for a blissful transformation of ourselves and the world around us. In this course participants are introduced to a standard daily practice in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, through which they become familiar with the various elements necessary to enable the growth of wisdom, compassion, and other beneficial qualities. The course also includes useful advice on how to overcome obstacles to sustaining a regular practice, as well as practical instruction on setting up an altar, making offerings and engaging in other aspects of Buddhist practice.

Establishing a Daily Practice is the eighth in a series of classes called Discovering Buddhism. Starting at the beginning of a new topic is best, but don't worry about the module number or the order in the series.

Tse Chen Ling

=======================================================

Weekly teachings - MONdays : MAy 5 - June 16, 2025, 6:00-7:30 Pm PT, With a Practice day on june 22, 1:00-4:30 Pm PT

FPMT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM - MODULE 9: Samsara & Nirvana (online only)

​Shortly after attaining enlightenment, the Buddha taught his first discourse, the Four Noble Truths Sutra, which clearly and concisely sets out the essence of what the Buddha in his enlightened wisdom newly discerned. In this sutra, the Buddha first revealed the nature of Samsara – our current situation of dissatisfaction and continual rebirth – along with all its causes, and then explained the reality of Nirvana – a total transformation of our existence and the cessation of all our dissatisfaction – along with the method for attaining that liberated state. This course will offer a detailed investigation of the Four Noble Truths in the context of how we might clearly understand our present experience of conditioned existence and actualize a state of complete and utter freedom through following in the footsteps of the Buddha. We will also briefly explore the topic of the Twelve Links of Dependent Arising, which was also taught by the Buddha as a means to understand the steps involved in our continual cycling in a state of imperfection.

Samsara & Nirvana is the ninth in a series of classes called Discovering Buddhism. Starting at the beginning of a new topic is best, but don't worry about the module number or the order in the series.

Tse Chen Ling

=======================================================

Weekly teachings - TueSDAYs : May 21 - june 18, 2025, 7:30-9:00 Pm ET

How to Live the Compassionate Life: Lama Atisha’s The Bodhisattva's Jewel Garland (online)

Bodhisattvas are driven by their deep compassion to attain enlightenment, the fully developed state in which they can benefit other beings most effectively. In this course, we will examine a brief and lyrical text by Lama Atisha, the great Indian master who came to Tibet in the 11th century, in which he presents the most essential instructions for living one’s life perfectly as a bodhisattva. Like a string of precious gems, these guidelines are to be worn like a beautiful garland by all those who wish to journey the path of full awakening.   

Shantideva Center

Teachings at other locations IN NORTH AMERICA

VISIT TO SOquel, CA - February 28 - March 5, 2025

WHat’s merit got to do with it?: WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2024, 7:00-8:30 Pm PT (IN person and online)

It is taught that the path to enlightenment encompasses the accumulation of the two factors of merit and wisdom, with both being essential components for the attainment of Buddhahood.  In this session, we will examine the concept of merit or positive potential, and explore the means of creating vast and extensive merit in our daily lives.

Land of Medicine Buddha

Eight verses loop walk: SaturDAY, March 2, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm PT (IN person only)

Come join Don and like-minded friends on a walk along the Eigjt Verses trail at Land of Medicine Buddha.

The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation was written in the 12th century by Geshe Langri Tangpa. This centuries old beloved mind training (lojong) text offers some of the most immediate and direct methods to transform our problems and difficult situations into the practice of compassion, and can help us get along better with others and maintain a more peaceful mind.

The trail is approximately one mile and relatively flat, winding through the Redwood forest, with benches along the way at each of the eight verses for seated reflection. We will walk to each verse, read the posted verse by Geshe Langri Tangpa and the brief commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and then hear a short explanation from Don on the essence of the practice suggested, with time for a short practice.

 NOTE: Please register in advnace as this walk will be limited to 15 people. We will meet at the Mahabodhi Stupa Gate at 1;00 pm and the walk will conclude by 3:00 pm. All ages are welcome.

Land of Medicine Buddha

Simplifying Emptiness; ways to Develop deep wisdom without your head exploding: SunDAY, March 2, 2025, SEE LMB WEBSITE for Times (IN person and online)

Realizing the concept of sunyata, or emptiness, is essential on the Buddhist path but it can be quite difficult to get our heads around it, particularly in the light of the number of detailed and somewhat complicated analyses that the Buddha set out. In this workshop we will explore approaches to this topic that bring emptiness out of the purely philosophical realm and onto the solid ground where we can taste this fundamental truth about ourselves and the world in which we live. In addition to teachings on this subject, the workshop will include practical exercises and guided reflections to enhance our understanding and integration of this vital topic.

Land of Medicine Buddha

MAKing Friends with Ourselves: MonDAY, March 3, 2025, 7:00-8:30 Pm PT (IN person and online)

One factor that can be troublesome in our practice of Buddhism is our own negative view of ourselves, the fault-finding and self-demeaning attitude that makes us into our own worst enemy, impeding our progress and dampening our joy. 

In this session, we’ll examine the sources of this view and explore how we might nurture a kinder and more forgiving stance towards ourselves. We’ll also discuss what it really means to become our own best friend so that we more clearly understand how to make our lives and practice more joyful and productive.

Land of Medicine Buddha

STAying sane in trying times: WednesDAY, March 5, 2025, 7:00-8:30 Pm PT (IN person and online)

It’s pretty clear that we are living in quite challenging times, and it is important to have some perspective on things in order to maintain our sanity. The Buddha’s eternal advice is to work with our minds in the midst of whatever we encounter, using our spiritual practice to make the best out of these trying times – but perhaps we haven’t been that successful! In this session we will examine the ways that we are being continually tested in this era and discuss how to transform the current world situation into “grist for the mill,” allowing us to truly learn and grow from all that we’re experiencing.

Land of Medicine Buddha

=======================================================

VISIT TO Boulder Creek, CA - March 8 - 15, 2025

The Buddha’s Path to Bliss: A Kopan West Lamrim Retreat: SaturDAY, March 8 = Saturday, March 15, 2025, (IN person only)

​​Comprising a combination of daily teaching and meditation sessions, as well as group discussions and opportunities for Q&A , this retreat is based on the time-honored “Stages of the Path to Enlightenment” (Lamrim) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. As the name suggests, the “Stages of the Path to Enlightenment” offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the journey to full awakening. It is a synthesis of all the main topics addressed in the Buddhist Sutras (canonical scriptures).

 This retreat will also teach you the fundamentals of Buddhist meditation, and give you the tools you need to begin or to further develop a daily meditation practice. Throughout the week, you will learn about the theory and practice of meditation, and will also be led in guided meditations using proven techniques of concentration, visualization, and analytical meditation to open our hearts. This famous course is known to be incredibly transformative, and many past retreaters have been deeply moved by what they experienced at this course, all set on Vajrapani’s peaceful land in a beautiful redwood forest. 

 Retreat topics include:

• The Life of the Buddha

• The Four Noble Truths

• Developing Loving-Kindness and Compassion

• The Mind, Emotions, and Karma

• Death, and Rebirth

• Impermanence

• The Awakening Mind (bodhicitta)

• The Wisdom of Emptiness – The Nature of Reality

• Concentration and Analytical Meditation

Vajrapani Institute

=======================================================

VISIT TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA - March 16 - 17, 2025

Guided Meditation session: SUNDAY, March 16, 2025, 10:30 am-12:00 Pm PT (IN person and online)

​​Topic to be announced.

Tse Chen Ling

“The Spiritual Teacher” PRACTICE DAY: SUNDAY, March 16, 2025, 1:00-4:30 Pm PT (IN person and online)

This is an opportunity for group practice of the meditations and discussion of the topics covered in Module 4 of Discovering Buddhism. All are welcome to attend, regardless of whether you ahve attended the teachings on that module or not.

Tse Chen Ling

=======================================================

FPMT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM - MODULE 8: Establishing a Daily Practice: First Session of this course on MoNDAY, March 17, 2025, 6:00-7:30 Pm PT (IN person and online)

This is the first session of Module 8 of Disovering Buddhism Module 8, Establishing a Daily Practice. Remaining sessions and practice day will be offered online only.

Tse Chen Ling