About Fairhope Tibetan Society

The Fairhope Tibetan Society belongs to the Gelugpa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Society's mission is

To sponsor and participate in local educational and community events,
To increase mutual understanding among various religions of the world,
To provide charitable aid to Tibetan refugees,
And to promote awareness of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture.

The Society's intent is to provide a vehicle for the cultivation of a compassionate heart and a clear intellect, producing inner peace, community understanding, and global healing.

The Society was founded by the Venerable Geshe Thupten Dorjee in 1997 with the invaluable support of many people desiring more knowledge in Tibetan Buddhism. Geshe Dorjee recently accepted a position as resident teacher and helped co-found the Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas in Fayetteville. We miss him greatly but we are thrilled that he is able to teach the Dharma to so many people there.

Our group is led by Holly Nelson, an FTS member and a qualified lay teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. She is highly knowledgeable in Buddhist philosophy and is the recipient of numerous Tibetan Buddhist transmissions and initiations. Holly was also the teaching assistant for our founder, Geshe Thupten Dorjee.