Ryan Johnson
Unfortunately I did not have the welcoming experience others have described. I emailed Tom about attending a "12 Links of Depending Origination" workshop and mentioned I was a dharma practitioner. Tom inquired about my previous practice and replied that based on discussion with senior practitioners I was requested not to come. I replied that I did not carry any agenda other than to meditate with the sangha and learn more about the Nyingma tradition. Tom doubled down on his rejection and said members who have attended the same center as me in the past carry "bad energy" and they needed to "protect their vajra master". I've been to 20+ dharma centers and consider myself non-sectarian. I deeply enjoy meeting others devoted to removing delusions from their minds, regardless of tradition. This has been the only time I have not been welcomed somewhere, or rather, banned without even stepping foot inside. To be honest, it hurt my feelings to read that email - it felt like an unjust rejection based on a guilt by association. Especially unfortunate since I'm local and the pictures look like a wonderful center, with an authentic and qualified teacher. I gently encourage the sangha to meditate on their current (Dec '25) policy towards rejecting newcomers, and to evaluate practitioners on individual merits, and not turn past unpleasant experiences into full-blown prejudice. For a sangha that reads Shantideva weekly, I ask how he would respond to a similar situation - with compassion and openness or aversion and blanket bans? For what it's worth, I am grateful for the difficult situation and the opportunity to practice remaining calm in the face of this . As a white male American, I don't typically feel excluded anywhere, so this situation gave me an opportunity to experience what others feel daily and experience compassion.
