Samye Institute Summer Immersion 2026
Samye Institute Summer Immersion 2026
June 15 - July 27, 2026
About this Retreat
Phakchok Rinpoche was born in 1981 and is a lineage holder of the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa from the Nyingma School of Early Translations and one of the throne-holders of the Riwoche Taklung Kagyu Lineage. Phakchok Rinpoche’s primary root gurus are his grandfather, the late Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and late Kyabje Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.
Phakchok Rinpoche has received a traditional education from the Dzongsar Shedra in India, the complete Chokling New Treasures lineage from Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and Kyabje Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, and the Great Perfection lineage from Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. Rinpoche’s teaching style is direct, addressing the needs of those present; traditional, not compromising the methods of practice and transmission in the slightest; and, accessible, teaching the profound meaning in a way that is able to be understood and glimpsed by people of diverse backgrounds.
As a yogi practitioner with a family and the responsibility of monastic institutions, Rinpoche is deeply familiar with both ways of life and practice. Rinpoche’s life defines what it means to be a dharma practitioner in today’s world by emphasising that a practitioner should find a balance in their life. There should be a base of study and contemplation in order to understand the profound views of the Buddhas teachings, and practice should be emphasized in a way that genuinely reduces ego clinging and negative emotions through a range of methods and practices. Altruistic activity should address the needs of those in one’s community and beyond as an expression of the compassion and wisdom cultivated in practice. These are some of the main principles that Rinpoche practices and teaches to his own students.
Tulku Migmar Tsering is a master of the Chokling New Treasures lineage of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Nubri, Nepal in 1975 and began his training at an early age after having been recognized as a reincarnate lama.
Tulku Migmar began his formal education in 1983 at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Kathmandu. Through the years, Tulku Migmar proved to be an outstanding practitioner, mastering all of the elaborate vajrayana rituals and sacred arts so essential to the Chokling New Treasures tradition. Tulku-la completed a 3-year retreat under the close guidance of his root guru, the renowned Dzogchen master, Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. He has received extensive teachings and empowerments from Kyabje Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, Kyabje Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche. He then went on to study for six years in the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Shedra or Monastic College. There he excelled at the intricacies of Buddhist philosophy in the monastery’s advanced Buddhist studies program. Tulku-la has also been an integral part of humanitarian and cultural preservation activities within Nepal.
Tulku Migmar has been a friend of Phakchok Rinpoche since childhood and they share a close dharma bond. Tulku-la continues to work hard to develop his English language skills so that he can share the dharma in a way that allows his audience to truly understand and gain experience. For the past five years, Tulku Migmar has been based in Singapore, where he has fulfilled multiple roles of lama, spiritual advisor, ritual specialist, counselor, organizer, cook, and center manager. In addition, he has traveled throughout Asia and North America teaching and inspiring students at many centers. Tulku-la is a keen observer and is quick to understand the difficulties faced by students from many nationalities and walks of life. Phakchok Rinpoche has appointed him the senior lama and supporting teacher for his sangha based upon his wonderful qualities as a lama and his strong capacity and desire to help others.
Trained in Chinese intellectual history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Sophie teaches Asian history and philosophy, including Buddhism, as an associate professor at Agnes Scott College. Her current academic research focuses on Chinese and Tibetan independent films and contemplative education. As a longtime student of Buddhism, Sophie is a board member and meditation instructor for Phakchok Rinpoche’s organization. She lives in Atlanta with her husband. In her (imaginary) free time, Sophie enjoys home-roasted coffee, nature hikes, and traveling.
Tawni Tidwell, TMD, PhD, is a biocultural anthropologist and Tibetan medical doctor, the first non-Asian to complete formal Tibetan medical training alongside Tibetan peers. She integrates Tibetan medicine, neuroscience, and Buddhist epistemology in her research, focusing on diagnostic practices for cancer and metabolic disorders. As a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she bridges Tibetan and Euroamerican medical traditions, leading studies on meditative states, Tibetan medicine for COVID-19, and meditation’s link to the gut microbiome. She also maintains a clinical practice in Wisconsin and Austria, treating chronic conditions with Tibetan medicine. Tawni credits her success to her Tibetan medical teachers and dharma teacher, Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche
Urgyen Gyalpo is a traditionally trained Himalayan artist specializing in authentic Buddhist Thangka painting. From 1996 to 2006, he studied at the renowned Tsering Art School in Kathmandu, Nepal, under the mentorship of the esteemed master painter Venerable Konchog Ladrepa. He was trained in the Karma Gadri style—an Eastern Tibetan tradition known for its spacious landscapes and luminous, transparent hues.
In 2004, Urgyen participated in a UNESCO workshop on Thangka restoration and conservation in Nepal. He later contributed significant mural and fresco works at Shechen Monastery in Bodh Gaya, India, and Khawalung Monastery in Nepal, including depictions of the Life of the Buddha and the terma revelations of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
His work has taken him internationally, restoring sacred art and creating new commissions. While serving as a resident artist at Riwoche Temple in Toronto, he adorned the main prayer hall with intricate murals, patterns, and sacred symbols.
Currently, Urgyen continues his artistic practice, offering traditional Thangka painting, realistic art, line illustrations, graphic design, and custom logo work.
Tsunma Jamyang Donma, RP, CRPO, is a certified clinical chaplain and pastoral counselor. She serves as Lead for Spiritual & Religious Care and The Mindfulness Project at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada and is an ordained Buddhist nun. Tsunma provides ongoing support to patients, families, and staff, as well as on-call throughout the hospital as needed. She is also an active supporting participant in the Pediatric Advanced Care Team at SickKids. Originally of the Anglican Christian faith, she took ordination as a Buddhist nun, within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition.
Tsunma has over 25 years’ experience in meditation/mindfulness, Buddhist philosophy, contemplative bedside care, and Tibetan yoga. Tsunma is often asked to be a therapeutic presence for children and their families. Assisting families to be at peace with the circumstances they find themselves in with contemplative support at bedside. This includes: consultation, meditation, compassion, loving kindness practices, and clinical hypnosis.
Encouraged by senior administration, Tsunma currently leads a hospital wide initiative called "The Mindfulness Project". This initiative offers a dedicated website with resources for staff, an annual Mindfulness Month, Mindfulness & Compassion Rounds, the Compassion Champion Program, as well as ongoing mindfulness sessions for staff, as well as bedside care for families here at SickKids. The Mindfulness Project also provides presentations and trainings from qualified facilitators with skills in applied mindfulness in healthcare as well as a bi-annual Mindfulness Research Symposium.
Tsunma is also a founding member of the Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Toronto as well as an instructor for Samye Institute and Samye Hermitage in Cooperstown, NY. Tsunma has studied and practiced with such Masters as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Khen Rinpoche Sonam Tobgyal, Roshi Joan Halifax, Jetsunmma Tenzin Palmo, Ven Dhyani Ywahoo, His Eminence Chokling Rinpoche, and Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche.
Andrea Sherman, Ph.D., is a gerontologist, educator, trainer and end-of-life doula, and is co-author of Transitional Keys: Rituals to Improve Quality of Life for Older Adults. She is Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, and New York Academy of Medicine, former Curriculum Consultant to the Bronx VA, and National Center for Creative Aging, and teaches Aging for Beginners at Westchester Meditation Center. As an educator her focus is on palliative and end of life care.
Seth Auster-Rosen is a PhD candidate in Philosophy of Religions at the University of Chicago and has been attending teachings at Samye NY for ten years. His dissertation is a study and translation of two Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical texts by the 8th Karmapa Mikyö Dorje on the nature of reality, what we can know about it, and how Madhyamaka is connected to Mahamudra. Seth also has interests in ecology and the philosophy of technology. He is the Academic Coordinator of the Samye Institute Summer Immersion program.
Alexander Yiannopoulos, PhD, had the good fortune to take refuge with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche under the Bodhi Tree in 2005, and has been engaged in the study and practice of Buddhadharma ever since. To date, his academic research has focused on the epistemological works of Ratnākaraśānti and Dharmakīrti, with a particular emphasis on the topic of “reflexive awareness” (rang rig) or “luminosity” (‘od gsal). Currently, he is working on the mathematical formalization of Buddhist metaphysics as a unified quantum field theory.
Hilary Herdman, PhD, studied and taught at Rangjung Yeshe Institute at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery since 2000. Hilary was a founding member of the Dharmachakra Translation Committee. She completed an MA and later a Ph.D in Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol, UK. Her thesis concerned the origins of pilgrimage and her research interests include pilgrimage, devotional and ritual practices, and their significance in the Buddhist tradition. She is a member of Samye Institute Manager team, serving as Content Manager. She humbly wishes to thank her teachers, Khyabje Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Phakchok Rinpoche for their tremendous compassion, wisdom and kindness. Hilary feels deep gratitude to all the excellent Buddhist teachers throughout the years, and the lamas, khenpos, and nuns associated with Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery.
Details of this retreat
Experience Buddhism as a Living, Holistic Path
The Samye Institute Summer Immersion (SISI) invites students of all backgrounds to explore Buddhism as a living, integrated way of life.
Over the course of six weeks, participants engage with both the inner sciences of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ethics, and the outer arts and sciences—logic and debate, language and translation, medicine and healing, astrology and geomancy, and the fine arts and craftsmanship.
Through study, meditation, and creative practice in community, students discover how Buddhist wisdom can illuminate every aspect of life—body, mind, and environment. The program weaves together the intellectual, the contemplative, and the practical to cultivate clarity, compassion, and joyful discipline.
2026 Summer Program Highlights
June 1–7Sustainable Compassion & Wisdom Training — Retreat with Lama John MakranskyA week-long meditation retreat exploring the foundations of sustainable compassion grounded in awareness and interdependence.
This retreat takes place before the start of the Samye Institute Summer Immersion program and requires separate registration.
June 7–9Arrival & Campus OrientationOptional volunteer opportunities and community integration.
June 10–12Opening Days & OrientationIntroduction to the curriculum of the inner and outer sciences, the foundations of community life, and contemplative “sit-spot” practice with Tawni Tidwell (live via Zoom).
June 15–July 24Core Summer Immersion CurriculumSix weeks of study, meditation, and experiential modules:
The Path of Dignity — Foundations of Buddhist thought and practice
Medicine & Wellness — Cultivating harmony in body, mind, and environment
Artisanry & Craftsmanship — Creating environments for awakening
The Path of Transformation — Compassion in action and the Mahayana view
Buddhist Literature & Philosophy — Knowing the world by knowing the mind
Integration Module — Bridging Buddhist arts and sciences with modern life
Faculty: Tulku Migmar Tsering, Sophie (Shu-Chin Wu), Tawni Tidwell, Urgyen Gyalpo, Tsunma Jamyang Dolma, Andrea Sherman, Seth Auster-Rosen, Alex Yiannopoulos, and Hilary Herdman.
Phakchok Rinpoche’s Program — Dates to Be Announced
The summer concludes with in-person teachings by Phakchok Rinpoche, followed by a Mahamudra Meditation Retreat and Mahayoga Practice Retreat to deepen and integrate the summer’s learning.
Rinpoche’s program is included for those enrolled in the full Summer Immersion.
Tuition & Registration
Full Program
We offer a community-based pricing model to support access and inclusivity:
Community Rate: $1,800 — for non-residential commuters
Sustaining Rate: $2,500 — covers full residential program costs
Benefactor Rate: $3,000 — includes a $500 contribution toward scholarships
A limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Weekly Enrollment
Join for one or more themed weeks for $550 per week.
Enrollment for individual weeks will begin in Spring 2026.
Early Registration Discount
Register by March 1, 2026 to receive $200 off your tuition with the code SISI2026.
Deposit & Payment Plan
A $500 deposit secures your place. Monthly payment plans are available on request.
Why Join
The Samye Institute Summer Immersion is more than a course — it’s a holistic experience of learning, reflection, and community.
Each day blends meditation, study, and embodied practice. Students live and learn together in the peaceful environment of Samye Hermitage New York, cultivating both wisdom and compassion as foundations for a meaningful life.
The Samye Institute Summer Immersion (SISI) invites students of all backgrounds to explore Buddhism as a living, integrated way of life.
Over the course of six weeks, participants engage with both the inner sciences of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ethics, and the outer arts and sciences—logic and debate, language and translation, medicine and healing, astrology and geomancy, and the fine arts and craftsmanship.
Through study, meditation, and creative practice in community, students discover how Buddhist wisdom can illuminate every aspect of life—body, mind, and environment. The program weaves together the intellectual, the contemplative, and the practical to cultivate clarity, compassion, and joyful discipline.
2026 Summer Program Highlights
June 1–7Sustainable Compassion & Wisdom Training — Retreat with Lama John MakranskyA week-long meditation retreat exploring the foundations of sustainable compassion grounded in awareness and interdependence.
This retreat takes place before the start of the Samye Institute Summer Immersion program and requires separate registration.
June 7–9Arrival & Campus OrientationOptional volunteer opportunities and community integration.
June 10–12Opening Days & OrientationIntroduction to the curriculum of the inner and outer sciences, the foundations of community life, and contemplative “sit-spot” practice with Tawni Tidwell (live via Zoom).
June 15–July 24Core Summer Immersion CurriculumSix weeks of study, meditation, and experiential modules:
The Path of Dignity — Foundations of Buddhist thought and practice
Medicine & Wellness — Cultivating harmony in body, mind, and environment
Artisanry & Craftsmanship — Creating environments for awakening
The Path of Transformation — Compassion in action and the Mahayana view
Buddhist Literature & Philosophy — Knowing the world by knowing the mind
Integration Module — Bridging Buddhist arts and sciences with modern life
Faculty: Tulku Migmar Tsering, Sophie (Shu-Chin Wu), Tawni Tidwell, Urgyen Gyalpo, Tsunma Jamyang Dolma, Andrea Sherman, Seth Auster-Rosen, Alex Yiannopoulos, and Hilary Herdman.
Phakchok Rinpoche’s Program — Dates to Be Announced
The summer concludes with in-person teachings by Phakchok Rinpoche, followed by a Mahamudra Meditation Retreat and Mahayoga Practice Retreat to deepen and integrate the summer’s learning.
Rinpoche’s program is included for those enrolled in the full Summer Immersion.
Tuition & Registration
Full Program
We offer a community-based pricing model to support access and inclusivity:
Community Rate: $1,800 — for non-residential commuters
Sustaining Rate: $2,500 — covers full residential program costs
Benefactor Rate: $3,000 — includes a $500 contribution toward scholarships
A limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Weekly Enrollment
Join for one or more themed weeks for $550 per week.
Enrollment for individual weeks will begin in Spring 2026.
Early Registration Discount
Register by March 1, 2026 to receive $200 off your tuition with the code SISI2026.
Deposit & Payment Plan
A $500 deposit secures your place. Monthly payment plans are available on request.
Why Join
The Samye Institute Summer Immersion is more than a course — it’s a holistic experience of learning, reflection, and community.
Each day blends meditation, study, and embodied practice. Students live and learn together in the peaceful environment of Samye Hermitage New York, cultivating both wisdom and compassion as foundations for a meaningful life.
Getting Here
Accommodation
Sustaining Rate: Full Program (6 Weeks)
Experience the tranquil embrace of nature in one of our brand-new tent cabins, nestled upon raised platforms beside the serene pond on our Samye campus, and a selection closer to our campus core. Each cabin offers a cozy retreat, providing the perfect blend of comfort and immersion, available throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. These cabins come with bedding, rug, small table, and a portable lamp.
Benefactor Rate: Full Program (6 Weeks)
Experience the tranquil embrace of nature in one of our brand-new tent cabins, nestled upon raised platforms beside the serene pond on our Samye campus, and a selection closer to our campus core. Each cabin offers a cozy retreat, providing the perfect blend of comfort and immersion, available throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. These cabins come with bedding, rug, small table, and a portable lamp.
Community Rate: Full Program (6 Weeks)
Experience the program in-person, whether you commute from home are are staying at one of the many hotels or inviting bed & breakfasts in the Cooperstown area. Choosing to attend as a commuter ensures the inclusion of all meals and participation in in-person-only retreat activities. Our Standard Rate covers the cost of facilities use and meals.
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