On Sunday, June 28th, 2026 at the Wisdom Center in Santa Cruz, a non-sectarian Buddhist teaching and meditation center, Rinpoche gave teachings on the life of the Great Tibetan Yogi Saint, Jetsun Milarepa, with an oral transmission, teaching, and tsok/ganachakra offering. His interpreter/translator was a brilliant young woman named Isis, who had interpreted for him previously with the Transitional Life Care group. The meditation hall was very beautiful, and a tsok table was arranged at the front. Rinpoche and many others contributed food and flowers for the ritual food offering.
Rinpoche told the story Shen Dromo, a wealthy woman, a single mother who built a profitable business, had many servants, and much wealth. Milarepa came begging for food at her door, and she at first refused him, but she had heard of this yogi, and decided not to turn him away. As he waited for his meal he sang, and it was as if each word was just for her–she had wealth, but no contentment. She wanted true happiness, and tears streamed down her eyes. She became one of Milarepa’s best students, giving all her wealth to support the Dharma and her community. Rinpoche drew one of Milarepa’s ten-thousand songs and taught on each line.
Rinpoche also prepared a text that pays homage to Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa–he have the oral transmission and led us through the text and tsok offering (ritual food offering, ritual eating of that offering). It was a very blessed and special day.
