It’s been a few years that I have been able to reflect on the previous year(s) and extend my New Years’ greetings to you all. I am happy, to be able to take up this tradition and continue where I left of.

As some of you probably know, I have been fighting for my dear life during the last five years on a “breath-to-breath” basis, just like many others, diagnosed as terminal cancer patient. Meanwhile, we have gotten the cancer under control whereas the secondary damage caused by the treatment is still an issue. Deep inside my heart I know that Guru Vajradhara pulled me off the active process of dying many times during the last years. Now it is up to me and from the bottom of my soul, it is my matter of heart to be able to give again.

During the previous year, I was able to work off everything that had piled up on my desk during the last five years, in small steps; gain an overview of many things, the project and other issues.

About the project: I was able to completely plan through the Retreat Institute and figure out the missing steps, problems, bring order into the chaos of five years, investigate and find good solutions. All that is left is to implement them and of course generate the funds. In 2026, for example, the façade must be completed and I found a local company, willing to take on the big job with a quote of € 130,000.

Talking of requests: Kindly do not forget or ignore the really huge, running loans and mortgages! Please everyone help. Share this information and article in your networks, both personal and professional, consider making an offering and provide many people with the opportunity to do good, to accumulate merit, to make the holy dharma available and lighten my load and my activities, as I am still not completely fit. All info is extensively available on our website.

The first step to completion is our retreat apartment. I am very happy that it is now renovated, refreshed and clean after having served as my personal dwelling for more than ten years. From now on it will be available to genuine practitioners on basis of self-catering. Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you would like to temporarily use if for your personal practice.

Further, I have been painting all the statues for the main and other shrines in the Retreat Institute, typed in mantras, made all arrangements to fill them and am currently in the midst of completing the task which will probably take another month. Photos, of course, will then be available on our website and our social media accounts. Additionally, both the City Institute’s garden and the Retreat Institute’s little pond received an outdoor statue which will bless the area and all beings getting in touch with them in whichever way.

In my mind, both houses including their outdoors are designed as sanctuaries, havens and protected spaces for all beings and each and every detail has a meaning and is designed to help discover our Buddha nature, to nurture it and attain realization. The City Institute already mirrors this vision as it is 99% complete. The Retreat Institute will have the exactly same features and actually more, but so far, it is only complete in my mind.

In the new year, there will be a schedule which I just wrote, details will continuously be added. Therefore, kindly check out the website’s program regularly!

Else, there is not much left to say: I request all of you who, for whichever reason have been staying away during the last years or even longer and pause and consider your own impermanence in order to then realign your priorities and get in contact with us again, the Institutes, Your spiritual home. It is never too late to resume practice, no matter how long you might have turned your mind to other things. Remember: Our human life is precious and we should use any moment to being of service to others; in words, deeds and thoughts.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas season and a productive, healthy, content New Year!

With prayers,

Chöje Lama Palmo