VIa Tricycle \\\ Sacred Sites and Cultural Preservation

 

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May 16, 2026

The Monasteries of Zanskar

At nearly 13,000 feet, the monasteries and nunneries of the Zanskar Valley in India are not only places of worship but living records of Tibetan and Himalayan craftsmanship.   One architecture firm is on a mission to preserve these sacred structures. Studio Nyandak, based in New York City and Dharamshala, is on a research expedition to document these monasteries and engage the communities that sustain them.      In this month’s Film Club pick, Living Sanctuaries: The Monasteries of Zanskar, directed by Tenzin Tsetan Choklay, we get an intimate look at Studio Nyandak’s fieldwork, with a focus on the challenges of preservation when history, devotion, and architecture remain deeply intertwined. At a time when the region is confronting increasing pressures from seismic instability, climate change, and changing demographics, Living Sanctuaries highlights the cultural and environmental importance of these sacred sites.   Subscribers can stream the film now through the end of the month.

Watch the film »

Also this week: Announcing the 2026 Buddhist Film Festival! Experience journeys of self-discovery, tradition, and transformation in these 10 films from across the Buddhist world. See the full lineup here. What happens to your mind when you spend forty-nine days in the dark? In a new episode of Tricycle Talks, meditation teacher Andrew Holecek sheds light on dark retreat. Don’t miss our upcoming Premium event with Soto Zen teacher and author Ben Connelly, exploring the teachings of Huayan Buddhism and the Flower Garland Sutra. Register here to join us on May 19.

Basic Buddhist Knowledge

 

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Via Daily Dharma: Understanding Emotions

 

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Understanding Emotions

Intentionally regulating emotions is a slippery slope toward suppressing them.   Margaret Cullen, “Seeing with Grandmother’s Eyes”   CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States

 

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Via How Buddhism Explains Interdependent Origination: The Power of Connection \\ How Buddhism Explains Interdependent Origination: The Power of Connection

How Buddhism Explains Interdependent Origination: The Power of Connection

In Buddhist philosophy, Pratītyasamutpāda—Interdependent Origination—is the very heartbeat of reality. As taught by Gautama Buddha:

“Because this exists, that exists; because this arises, that arises.”

Nothing stands alone. Everything is connected, flowing together in a vast web of causes and conditions.

1. The Web of Cause and Effect

Just like the Four Harmonious Friends in traditional Thangka art—the bird, rabbit, monkey, and elephant—each depends on the other to reach the fruit. In the same way, your life today is not “just yours.”

It comes from your parents, the food grown by unseen hands, the air given by forests, and the society around you.

You are not separate—you are a living connection.

2. Harmony Over Hierarchy

This beautiful story teaches something simple but powerful:

Growth doesn’t come from dominance, but from cooperation.

The elephant gives strength, the monkey agility, the rabbit support, and the bird vision. No one is above or below—they rise together.

This is the wisdom of Buddhism: when we understand interdependence, competition softens into compassion.

3. The Cessation of “Self”

When we look deeply, what we call “I” is just a collection of changing parts—body, thoughts, feelings, experiences.

As Gautama Buddha taught, there is no fixed, independent self.

And this is not a loss—it is freedom.

Because when you see that your happiness depends on others, helping others becomes the most natural thing in the world.

Om Mani Padme Hum

This mantra of compassion reminds us:

Just like a lotus grows from muddy water, wisdom and compassion arise from this interconnected world.

Chanting it gently opens the heart to all beings—because we are all part of the same whole.

Experience the Art of Harmony

Bring this living philosophy into your daily space.

A hand-painted Four Harmonious Friends Thangka is not just art—it is a reminder to live with respect, balance, and connection. - Lama Yeshe

 

ia Daily Dharma: No Time to Lose

 

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No Time to Lose

We don’t know how long our lives will be or what misfortunes we may encounter later that may make it difficult to make real moral progress. So there is no time to lose!   Jay L. Garfield, “No Time to Lose”   CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings

 

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Pope Leo XIV Just Revealed Who He Really Is — And No One Saw It Coming

 

Via Daily Dharma: A Simple Gesture

 

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A Simple Gesture

Each of us, when in extremity, may, in that moment, find it impossible to escape the net of anguish, but a single person with a simple gesture can open such a door for us.    Douglas J. Penick, “On Pain”   CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Bodily Action

 

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