January 2026 Lhagsam Newsletter

by Tara Wilson-Gürler

With prayers for a peaceful new year, I have been reflecting on our Lamrim Year meditations and discussions during Together on the Path. These reflections remind me why we can have confidence and hope in our spiritual development: we are not practicing alone.

On Day 149 of the Lamrim Year teachings, Lama Yeshe says, “Those who are endowed with wisdom and can help us along the way are Sangha.” The absolute Sangha are the Āryas—those who have realized emptiness. The relative Sangha are the ordained, and Lama Yeshe also reminds us of the spirit of Sangha among lay practitioners—us “trying to help each other” toward Buddhahood through the positive energy of our virtue.

Over the years, I have encountered warm hearts and meaningful Dharma insights through the Sangha. With our precious human rebirth and a bodhicitta motivation, we can naturally reduce afflictions and accumulate merit through listening, reflecting, and meditating the Dharma. While a physical pilgrimage may deepen faith, I have found my own faith equally strengthened through the thoughtful words and lively debates of Sangha friends around the world on Zoom. In spirit, we are surrounded by buddhas and bodhisattvas, our teachers and gurus, all rejoicing in our practice.

As we move into this new year, in the Lamrim Year, when Lama Yeshe speaks of the absolute and relative Sangha, he is pointing to us as Dharma friends. Together, we support one another in cultivating bodhicitta, calm abiding and special insight on the journey toward enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. May we engage in this practice with joyous effort.