What We Do
&
Why We Exist
Our Mission
Forest of Wisdom supports a thriving monastic community - with the four requisites of food, shelter, clothing, and medicine - who educate and inspire people of all cultures and backgrounds to create lasting happiness and peace within themselves and in the world, through learning, research, and practice grounded in the example and experience of the Buddha.
We strive to enact the vast vision for a more harmonious and compassionate world held by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Under the Dalai Lama’s leadership, since 2016 several dozen nuns have completed the full Geshe studies program, a 20-year course in advanced Buddhist philosophy, logic, and psychology. In line with this leadership, at Forest of Wisdom, we are hosting Geshema Tenzin Lhadron as our Resident Teacher, who is the first nun Geshe to ever teach in a full-time position directly in the English language anywhere in the world.
Our Vision
All activities of Forest of Wisdom are based on the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as expressed in his Four Commitments, to the best of the ability of the Board of Directors and others involved in the monastery’s activities. The Four Commitments are: (1) Promoting inner human values like compassion; (2) Promoting religious harmony; (3) Preserving Tibetan culture; and (4) Reviving the Nalanda Tradition in India (which will be aided through our efforts to preserve and promote the Nalanda Tradition in general).
Forest of Wisdom will be a place for members of the local community and global community to experience peace of mind and joy of heart for centuries to come through the following specific endeavors:
1. Creating a stable foundation and infrastructure for a thriving residential monastic Sangha, and then nurture and maintain the residential monastic Sangha.
2. Hosting regular classes, events, and workshops that teach the Nalanda Tradition methods to positively transform human psychology, whereby people who visit will learn to challenge themselves by changing their thoughts, emotions, and perceptions, leading to more compassionate and ultimately successful lifestyle choices.
3. Collaborating with interested members of universities to promote the Nalanda Tradition’s novel educational models and practices in an academic context, conduct original research, and engage in dialogue.
4. Encouraging the practice of Nalanda Debate– a powerful critical thinking tool, with social, emotional, and cognitive benefits– by incorporating it into classes and by holding workshops specifically teaching this practice.
5. Hosting a variety of traditional prayer and meditation-based practices; to some, these will be a curious journey into Tibetan and other Buddhist cultures, while for others, they will be the powerful inspiration to engage in deep internal transformation and mental improvement.
6. Hosting short and long-term retreats, as well as providing support for retreat in external venues by organizing retreats, giving teaching and guidance, and providing resources.
7. Serving the local Tibetan ethnic community through providing space for communal prayer and social gatherings, classes in Tibetan language and culture for children and youth, and hosting public religious functions.
8. Developing relationships with local religious institutions to foster inter-faith harmony, including organization of public inter-faith events.
9. Developing and providing resources for a complete education in the Nalanda Tradition as contained in the curriculum of the Geshe Studies Program, including Tibetan language education, for the residential community.
10. Supporting Dharma activities of other Buddhist institutions, scholars, and practitioners, both domestic and international, as well as other humanitarian efforts (i.e., medical, food, housing support, education, climate action, etc.)