Thubten Norbu Ling, also known as The Buddhist Center, was established almost twenty-five years ago by Ajna Seret after he was deeply moved by the teachings of Geshe Lama Konchog at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. The center was founded under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who suggested that Ajna become the director when he was just 19 years old.
The center began in a yurt in the backyard of Ajna’s parents’ home, with Ven. Robina Courtin coming once a week to teach and lead meditations. Over the years, many respected teachers contributed to the center’s growth, including Ven. Connie Miller, Ven. George Churinoff, and Dr. David Komito. As the center expanded, Lama Zopa Rinpoche appointed Geshe Thubten Sherab and Gen Don Handrick as joint resident teachers.
After moving through various locations over the years, Thubten Norbu Ling now has its own permanent home – a 5,000 square-foot former church sitting on three acres, located five miles from downtown Santa Fe at the intersection of St Francis Drive and Interstate 25. The building was consecrated by monks from Drepung Monastery on November 4, 2022, and features two event spaces for Buddhist teachings, meditations, children’s classes, yoga, and Qi Gong. The center is equipped with advanced video conferencing technology to stream classes on Zoom.
Thubten Norbu Ling is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), one of over 130 organizations in more than 30 countries that make up the FPMT family. The center’s Buddhist teachings are rooted in the fourteenth-century Gelug tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa and inspired by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
