Karma Tashi Ling
Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Society
Edmonton, Alberta
Tibetan Buddhism
The practices and teachings of Tibetan Buddhism are an effective and profound means to generate and expand our innate compassion, and to provide insight into the nature of the mind.
They have been developed and passed from teacher to student for 2500 years, since the time of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.
For a brief introduction to the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, please see our About Buddhism page. Buddhist teachings are available and beneficial to us today, and can be learned and practiced by anyone.
Our History
Karma Tashi Ling Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Society (1986) was established by students of the Very Venerable 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a great scholar and extraordinary teacher. He is a master of Mahamudra meditation, also called the Great Seal.
Mahamudra is the culmination and quintessence of meditation forms in the Karma Kagyu school. Thrangu Rinpoche was also appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso to be the personal tutor to the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje.
For an interesting look at Thrangu Rinpoche’s background and his connection to the Karma Kagyu tradition, please see his biography. For more information about the Karmapas, please go to our Kagyu Lineage page.
Thrangu Rinpoche maintains an active teaching schedule visiting his numerous international centres, including Edmonton. He has worked to alleviate the inequality with respect to the education that nuns receive. Rinpoche had long held the intention to establish a monastic center for women to make available to them the full range of monastic, liturgical, philosophical and meditation training available to monks.
He has also published numerous books, maintains monasteries, retreat centres, a university, a school for refugee children, a clinic and other projects. His knowledge, skill and compassion are boundless.
Our resident teacher, Ani Kunsang, was trained at Rinpoche’s Tara Abby, Kathmandu, Nepal. She was selected by Thrangu Rinpoche to serve as teacher and spiritual mentor for Karma Tashi Ling. Her presence is very beneficial for all of us.
Karma Tashi Ling serves to bring people of the Edmonton area together for Tibetan Buddhist practice and teaching. People who are interested in connecting with their spiritual life, and who may be interested in Buddhism and meditation, may find the practices we engage in at the centre helpful along those lines.
We encourage and welcome visitors to our centre for meditation, chanting, study and discussion. The primary meditation form practiced at the centre is called deity meditation, which helps to develop focus and quietens the mind. You can learn more about this form on our Sunday Sadhana page.
In the Buddhist tradition, listening, contemplating and meditating are considered to be very useful methods in understanding the nature of mind. Also, in the Tibetan tradition in particular, having a reliable guru to learn these methods from and to help explore and investigate mind’s true nature is considered very important.
Karma Tashi Ling welcomes memberships and is grateful for donations which are tax deductible.
About The Program
Tibetan Buddhism is commonly associated with the Vajrayana, which may be translated as the Adamantine Vehicle, but it includes the Foundational Vehicle and Mahayana teachings as well.
For the most part, Buddha Shakyamuni presented Foundational Vehicle and Sutra Mahayana teachings, while Guru Padmasambhava taught the Vajrayana.
Both revealed the complete and perfect path to awakening so that individuals of all capacities would benefit
Latest News
Celebrates the Birthday of The 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
This Sunday, November 18, 2018. All are welcome to take part in this Very special occasion. November 18th
V.V. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche visits Edmonton – July 13, 14, and 15
Karma Tashi Ling is delighted to be hosting Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche as part of Rinpoche's trip to Canada this year.
Milarepa Guru Yoga and Feast Offering
Karma Tashi Ling is honored to host the teaching visit of Dungse Lama Pema, the current abbot of Thrangu Monastery