Don Handrick is a touring teacher for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), sharing the Dharma with centers and study groups in North America and other parts of the world, both in-person and online.

Don's study of Buddhism began in 1993 after reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. Over the next two years he practiced with Sogyal Rinpoche's organization, until he began attending classes in 1996 with Venerable Robina Courtin at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco.

Don left the Bay Area in 1998 to attend the FPMT's Masters Program of Buddhist Studies in Sutra and Tantra, a seven-year residential study program conducted at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Tuscany, Italy, taught by the scholar and kind Spiritual Friend, Geshe Jampa Gyatso. He successfully completed all five subjects of this program in 2004, receiving an FPMT final certificate with high honors. Don then moved to Santa Fe, serving as the Spiritual Program Coordinator for Thubten Norbu Ling, before being appointed as their resident teacher in 2006.

Don served as the resident teacher for Thubten Norbu Ling until the end of 2020. During that time, he also taught regularly in Taos at Ksitigarbha Tibetan Buddhist Center and volunteered for the Liberation Prison Project, teaching Buddhism once a month at a prison in nearby Santa Rosa. Since 2012 he has been an active member of the Interfaith Leadership Alliance of Santa Fe.

In 2015, Don had the honor of being selected by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to lead the renowned November Course, a one month teaching and meditation retreat held annually at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Don has received teachings from many esteemed lamas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Ribur Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, and Khensur Jampa Tegchok.

He is also available for personal consultation on Buddhist practice upon request through the “Contact Don” page.

IN PERSON & ONLINE OFFERings IN sANTA fE

AT THUBTEN NORBU LING

FPMT Basic Program - Middle-length Lamrim

The genre of teachings known as the Stages of the Path (Tibetan: lamrim) represents a synthesis of the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment as set out in the Mahayana scriptures. Among the many texts in this genre, Lama Tsongkhapa’s Middle Length Lamrim is a comprehensive and straightforward presentation of the essential instructions that support the progressive stages of meditation and practice leading to the attainment of Buddhahood. Easy to understand and apply in meditation, these teachings establish a foundation and context for daily spiritual practice within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment is taught in four sequential parts.

Part 2: Traversing the common ground (IN Person and online)

Weekly teachings - WedneSDAYs : May 13 - August 19, 2026, 7:00-9:00 Pm MT

Part Two: Traversing the Common Ground (The Small and Intermediate Levels)

In order to travel the path to enlightenment, the journey begins by navigating the first two levels of the Stages of the Path which are shared with those who seek the goals of higher rebirth and individual liberation. The first level is that shared with the person of small capacity, which initially involves realizing the reality of death and impermanence, as well as the possible states of suffering that could occur in future lives. With awareness of those subjects, a reliable refuge that can provide protection from such suffering is sought, and with faith in the Buddha’s teachings on karma, the law of cause and effect, such safe direction to a favorable rebirth is provided. The next level, that shared with the person of intermediate capacity, encompasses becoming cognizant of the Buddha’s teachings regarding the process by which we enter into samsara (the cycle of existence) and attain nirvana (the cessation of all suffering and dissatisfaction). Meditation on these teachings is used as a means to induce the mind of renunciation that strives to emerge from the unsatisfactory situation of cyclic existence and proceed to the peaceful state of liberation.

LINK: Thubten Norbu Ling

Part 3: Striving For enlightenment (IN Person and online)

Weekly teachings - WedneSDAYs : September 9 - December 2, 2026, 7:00-9:00 Pm MT

Part Three: Striving for Enlightenment (The Great Level, First Section)

To enter the third and final level of the Stages of the Path, that of the person of great capacity who has the highest goal of complete enlightenment, it is essential to generate bodhichitta, the mind that aspires to that aim through the development of boundless compassion and love for all beings along with an altruistic intention to benefit them. With bodhichitta, the focus is then placed on engaging in the bodhisattva’s deeds – primarily the| six perfections of generosity, ethical discipline, patience, joyous effort, concentration, and wisdom – that support progress towards the result of buddhahood.

LINK: Thubten Norbu Ling

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The Thirty-Seven Practices of bodhisattvas (In person and online)

Weekly teachings - SUNdays : June 28 - August 30, 2026, 10:00-11:30 Am MT

“T​he Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas” was composed in the fourteenth century by the great sage Togme Sangpo and is one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most treasured texts. Recognizing their true potential and letting go of everything that could hinder them on their spiritual journey, bodhisattvas entrust themselves to the Mahayana path taught by the Buddha. The simple verses in this brief text summarize that path to perfection, providing a wonderful and lucid explanation of how each of us can engage in the practices of bodhisattvas, coming to cherish living beings as the source of all happiness and ultimately being able to work solely for the welfare of all.

LINK: Thubten Norbu Ling

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IN PERSON & ONLINE OFFERings IN taos

AT KSITIGARBHA TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTER

The Thirty-Seven Practices of bodhisattvas (In person and online)

Weekly teachings - tHURSDAYs : JULy 2 - sEPTEMBER 3, 2026, 6:00-7:45 pm MT

T​he Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas was composed in the fourteenth century by the great sage Togme Sangpo and is one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most treasured texts. Recognizing their true potential and letting go of everything that could hinder them on their spiritual journey, bodhisattvas entrust themselves to the Mahayana path taught by the Buddha. The simple verses in this brief text summarize that path to perfection, providing a wonderful and lucid explanation of how each of us can engage in the practices of bodhisattvas, coming to cherish living beings as the source of all happiness and ultimately being able to work solely for the welfare of all.

LINK: Ksitigarbha Tibetan Buddhist Center

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