Welcome to Awam Tibetan Buddhist Institute
and Meditation Center
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"The Heart Essence of Tibetan Buddhism"
Begins October 5, 9:30
Awam Tibetan Buddhist Institute
3400 E Speedway Blvd., Ste 204, Tucson AZ
(in the Rancho Center, east of Whole Foods)
These our our core teachings on Tibetan Buddhism based on Padmasambhava's teachings, organized into a condensed version in the Nyingma tradition. There are 52+ incremental practices (usually one each week) from basic mindfulness through advanced Dzogchen. Text: Innate Happiness by Khenchen Drimed Dawa (Amazon). Classes will be available in-person, on Zoom, and recorded in an online video format. See classes page for syllabus and details. EmailAwamTBI@gmail.com to sign up. No fee.
Special Event Announcement
Kalachakra Sand Mandala
by Venerable Lama Losang Samten
October 12 to 18, 2025
at University of Arizona
Arizona Friends of Tibet are honored and delighted
to welcome Venerable Lama Losang Samten to
Tucson to create his Kalachakra sand mandala —
the same sand mandala he built in 1988 at the
Museum of Natural History in New York,
the first sand mandala ever built in the West. Click here for details.
Hooking back Longevity and Vitality
Guided Practice and Ceremony with Lama Pema Rigdzin
October 14, 6-8pm
at Awam Tibetan Buddhist Institute
3400 E Speedway Blvd., Ste 204, Tucson AZ
(in the Rancho Center, east of Whole Foods)
La is the protective energy, the pure aspect of the five elements, which flows around our body in accordance with the lunar cycle to protect and support the physical body and the mind. There are various causes and conditions, such as illnesses, emotional and physical traumas, grief, distress, and so forth, which may destabilize the La. This results in further illnesses, chronic fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
In this program, Lama Perna Rigdzin will expand upon the meaning of La in the ancient Tibetan healing system and in the Vajrayana tradition. He will then perform the ceremony of hooking back the lost la in order to repair and restore vitality, health, joy and clarity. The ritual will be performed according to the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition.
This program is open to all practitioners as well as those seeking integrative healing or a deeper understanding of the Tibetan system of spiritual healing.
Drubpon Pema Rigdzin has trained in Tibetan Buddhism for thirty years and completed extensive Vajrayana retreats under Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. He is a lead ritual chanter (umdze) at the Vajrayana Foundation Pema Ose Ling and the resident lama for Drub Nyiy Dojo Gatsal, the Three-Year Retreat Center. He is also a Chaplain with Stanford Health Care and the Hospice of Santa Cruz County, an acupuncturist with a BA in Physical Therapy, and a keen researcher of ancestral forms of healing as well as the founder of Drangsong Foundation (drangsong.org)
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Awam refers to compassion and wisdom leading to awakening and liberation. We focus on Nyingma Dzogchen teachings, classes, and practices for all. Our spiritual director is His Holiness Khenchen Lama Rinpoche, and our resident teacher is Khenchen Drimed Dawa, along with visiting teachers. We offer weekly classes and practices, along with online videos to assist in your study and practice.
We offer in-person classes and class videos on YouTube. This link provides descriptions, texts, and direct links to specific classes available on online. Our focus is on Tibetan Buddhism, especially Dzogchen, but include other core teachings as well.
Our regular weekly schedule includes our Sunday Meditation Hour (11-12 am) and Wednesday Mindfulness Practices (6-6:30 pm). We celebrate festivals on special days on the Tibetan calendar: Losar (new year) and Four Great Festivals (Duchens).
In addition to extensive classes (above), HH Khenchen Lama Rinpoche and Yogi Lama Gursam are visiting teachers at our center in Tucson, Arizona.
Email: EmailAwamTBI@gmail.com
Phone no longer available
Meditation Center: 3400 E Speedway Blvd., Ste 204, Tucson AZ (in the Rancho Center, east of Whole Foods)
Mailing address: 301 N Longfellow Ave, Tucson AZ 85711
We send a monthly newsletter regarding classes, events, etc., as well as occasional updates to our schedule. To sign up for our newsletter, select this link.
This page includes links to some other videos, a selection of online empowerments for those not able to access them in person, texts used for our meditation practices as well as sadhanas for other practices, our code of conduct, some dharma talk notes and commentaries, books by Khenchen (as Khenpo) Drimed Dawa, a link to outdoor sites for meditation, and links to other website resources.
We offer prayer requests suitable within key Buddhist practices and our ability to meet your requests. See this link for specific offerings. Free.
Even the Buddha depended upon benefactors. We appreciate your support to help with our operating expenses. Generosity is the very first of the Six Perfections taught by the Buddha. Our donors, students and other participants make donations to help us help others. We deeply appreciate whatever contributions you can make to help continue our programs. Thank you!
Several books are available from Khenchen Drimed Dawa (as Khenpo at the time they were published): Innate Happiness - a detailed guidance manual for western practitioners (and our Heart Essence of Tibetan Buddhism classes), Profound Peace - a concise summary of key principles and practices of Buddhism, and A Yogi's Book of Notes - notes from meditation, an inner dialogue.