Ter - gar
Treasure (Wisdom) - Gathering Place
Ter is a Tibetan word meaning “treasure.” It refers to the wisdom and practical methods that help relieve suffering and awaken our highest potential.
Gar means “gathering,” suggesting the coming together of people or elements.
Together, Tergar can be understood as a place where people gather to discover this precious treasure. It also points to the bringing together of the right causes and conditions that make deep inner transformation and discovery possible.
About Mingyur Rinpoche
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher and bestselling author, offers a path to inner peace and joy in a world often filled with stress and uncertainty.
Born in 1975 in a small Himalayan village near the border of Nepal and Tibet, he was recognised at a young age as the seventh incarnation of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. He began formal Buddhist training early, undertaking rigorous practice including a three-year meditation retreat at age 13. By 23, he had received full monastic ordination.
His teachings, rooted in ancient wisdom and supported by modern science, provide practical tools for cultivating happiness and well-being.
As a child, Mingyur Rinpoche watched his father teach people from many different backgrounds, religious and non-religious. This open, nonsectarian approach sparked his interest in how Buddhist teachings could be shared in ways that would genuinely serve people across cultures, including in the West.
Through guidance from his teachers, he came to appreciate the long tradition, dating back to ancient India, of presenting the essence of Buddhist philosophy and meditation in a practical, experiential way. Practices such as mindfulness and the cultivation of compassion can be taught in forms that are accessible for people of diverse faiths and modern contexts.
As founder of the Tergar Meditation Community, Mingyur Rinpoche has established a global organisation active in more than 30 countries, offering structured meditation programs for all students, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners. By emphasising that meditation can be practised anywhere, anytime, he has helped make these authentic teachings both accessible and relevant for people in today’s world.
Alongside his training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy, Mingyur Rinpoche has a long-standing interest in psychology and neuroscience. As a young man, he had informal discussions with neuroscientist Francisco Varela, who came to Nepal to study with his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.
In 2002, at the Dalai Lama’s request, he joined a small group of experienced meditators in research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to explore how meditation affects the brain. He continues to support this work as both an advisor and participant.
Research from institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and the University of Wisconsin points to a growing body of evidence that meditation can have a meaningful impact on the brain and overall wellbeing. It has been linked to improvements in focus, memory, and positive emotional states, and suggests that even a few minutes of daily practice is beneficial.
Through his Tergar Meditation Community and related initiatives, Mingyur Rinpoche supports humanitarian projects in Tibet, Nepal, and India.
Tergar Charity Nepal
A charitable, non-governmental organization (NGO), working on: education, healthcare, and spiritual awareness projects. It works to provide services to support and equip remote mountain communities with skills for better resilience, sustainable development, and social wellbeing.
In 2023, Tergar Charity Nepal was awarded the Equator Prize, an initiative from the United Nations Development Programme.
Himalayan Environment and Life Protection (HELP)
To continue Tergar Charity Nepal’s work to mitigate climate change in the Himalayas, Rinpoche has created Himalayan Environment and Life Protection (H.E.L.P.), to empower communities to become resilient in the face of climate change and protect the environment in the Himalayas.
Tergar Schools
Tergar Schools offers a transformational model of education that cultivates kind, resilient human beings who embody awareness, compassion, wisdom, and joy.
Mingyur Rinpoche is a bestselling author whose book The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness. became a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into more than 20 languages.
His personal story is equally inspiring. In 2011, he left his monastery to live as a wandering yogi for four years, a life-changing experience he recounts in his bestselling book In Love with the World.
In the sequel Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom, Mingyur Rinpoche explores how difficult emotions and life’s challenges can become stepping stones to greater joy and freedom.
Gallery
Images from Tergar Asia and Tergar International
Email: christchurch@community.tergar.org
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