The Active Community

Ratna Ling is a place for learning through doing. The larger Nyingma mandala of organizations is active and dynamic. Its members take on dozens of projects simultaneously, challenging themselves to do more than seems possible, mindful of each moment and the possibilities it offers.

 
Those who come to Ratna Ling agree to share in this dynamic. They are students of mind and students of life. They study themselves, and they learn to go beyond themselves. Ongoing classes, guidance from senior members of the community, and countless informal interactions with fellow students help them integrate study and meditation into their daily activities, participating in ongoing classes and receiving guidance from senior community members as needed.

At Ratna Ling, the path of lifelong learning can unfold through cultivating a wide range of skills:

  • Skills relating to the work of Dharma Mangalam Press: software design, typesetting, image creation, graphics, multimedia, office and warehouse management, and book production.
  • Skills relating to the land: landscape architecture and gardening, developing sustainable agriculture and energy resources, and experiments in cultivating healing herbs.
  • Skills relating to healing and wellness: alternative medicine of all kinds, massage, and Kum Nye Healing Yoga.
  • Skills relating to Ratna Ling as a retreat center open to the public: cooking, hospitality, management, guidance and counseling, and teaching.
  • Skills relating to Ratna Ling's potential role as a care-giving center for community members ready to retire from active work and devote themselves to spiritual practice.