Sakyadhita Pilgrims: Dusty and Divine in Dharamshala | Sandra Henville | 1 August 2025

Sandra is a long-time BSWA member who enjoys holding space for group meditations. She has led the Spiritual Education Group at BSWA and Mindfulness Meditation sessions at her workplace. She also enjoys bringing people together for a good yarn and has suppported the Kalyana Friendship Group at BSWA. These days she collaborates with others at the Buddhist Council of WA and volunteers at Sakyadhita Australia Perth Chapter. Credits: - Thank you to Tour Leader Vikas Kumar and all the team at Ekno Travels who made our journey possible. - Unless otherwise noted, this shared collection of photographs was supplied by Vikas Kumar, Helen Richardson, Sharon Thrupp, Kathy Uno, Deanne McKenzie, Sandra Henville and Venerable Thubten Chokyi who travelled together from 1 – 15 June 2025, to the place mapped in this presentation. - Maps produced using ESRI © OpenStreetMap contributors - Videos of chanting nuns at Dormaling Nunnery and traditional Tibetan dancers near Norbilingka and were recorded by Sandra Henville 10 June 2025 - Vicki Mackenzie (1998) Cave In The Snow, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1998 - Khyentse Norbu (2000) The Cup Film Release date: 20 April 2000 (Australia); Director: Khyentse Norbu, Producers: Raymond Steiner, Malcolm Watson - Geleck Palsang (2022) Amala - The Life and struggle of Dalai lama's sister (2022) Director: Geleck Palsang. https://youtu.be/nkkb7hkRRCY?si=qbrfcR0MSBY_O-F9 - Tenzin Yankyi (2025) Golden Flowers of Dhamma. Director: Tenzin Yankyi 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_IftsyDwFk - Presentation compiled by Sandra Henville Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk. Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube