Meditation Teacher Program by Mingyur Rinpoche

The application period for this year's program runs until June 20, 2025.

Meditation Teacher Program by Mingyur Rinpoche

The application period for this year's program runs until June 20, 2025.

What’s so unique about
the Meditation Teacher Program?

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  • Learn to teach meditation using the approach of Mingyur Rinpoche, one of the world’s leading meditation teachers.
  • Receive direct support from distinguished faculty and guest speakers, including scientists, Buddhist scholars, teaching experts, and experienced meditation teachers.
  • Blend traditional wisdom teachings with contemporary science, going beyond mindfulness to include teachings on compassion, wisdom, and teaching skills.
  • Gain certification to teach introductory meditation programs and the Anytime Anywhere Meditation program (AAM) using Tergar’s secular meditation framework.
  • Receive individual mentoring throughout the year from our expert faculty.

The MTP is a  240-hour immersive experience and transformative deep dive that blends timeless wisdom with modern science.

Enhance Your Skills to Transform Lives through Meditation with the Support of our Distinguished Faculty

This online course is led by senior Tergar faculty under the direct guidance of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
Special guests include Dr. Cortland Dahl, Dr. Richie Davidson, Edwin Kelley, Myoshin Kelley, Caroline Leach, Tim Olmsted, Antonia Sumbundu and many more.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Special Guest
Mingyur Rinpoche integrates traditional Buddhist practice and philosophy with the current scientific understanding of the mind and mental health — making the practice of meditation relevant and accessible to students around the world.

Antonia Sumbundu

Special Guest
Antonia Sumbundu is a psychologist, MBCT instructor, and Tergar instructor. She combines mindfulness with clinical practice and plays a key role in training and mentoring Tergar leaders in Europe.

Caroline Leach

Special Guest
Caroline Leach, LPC, is a psychotherapist and adjunct faculty member at Naropa University. She develops trauma-informed meditation programs and supervises counselors in clinical practice.

Cortland Dahl

Special Guest
Cortland Dahl, Ph.D., is a meditation teacher, neuroscientist, and translator. He developed the Healthy Minds Program and serves as Tergar International’s executive director and a Tergar instructor.

Daniela Labra Cardero

Special Guest
Daniela Labra Cardero, founder of AtentaMente, integrates meditation and mental health education. She develops impactful programs for educators, reaching thousands in Mexico and beyond.

Edwin Kelley

Special Guest
Edwin Kelley is a meditation instructor and former Theravada monk. He helped Mingyur Rinpoche establish his worldwide Tergar Meditation Community. He has served in leadership roles at Tergar and IMS, supporting students and fostering meditation communities worldwide.

Myoshin Kelley

Special Guest
Myoshin Kelley, a Tergar instructor, helped Mingyur Rinpoche establish his worldwide Tergar Meditation Community. She first began practicing in 1975 and has since practiced under the guidance of several prominent meditation teachers in all three major Buddhist traditions.

Dr. Richard Davidson

Special Guest
Dr. Richard Davidson, neuroscientist and founder of Healthy Minds Innovations, researches well-being and emotional styles. He co-authored Altered Traits and leads groundbreaking contemplative studies.

Tim Olmsted

Special Guest
Tim Olmsted, founder and president of the Pema Chödrön Foundation, is a meditation instructor and worked as a psychotherapist. Tim has been one of the five instructors for Tergar International since its inception, and he also leads a vibrant community in Colorado.

Tzunma Miao Rong

Special Guest
Born in Taipei in 1975, Tzunma Miao Rong is a Buddhist nun, translator, and educator. She leads Nagarjuna Institute, supports temples, and creates programs like “The Five Stages of Meditation on Emptiness.”

Vin Harris

Special Guest
Vin Harris, a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, co-founded the Mindfulness Association and Hart Knowe Trust. He’s a craftsman who helped build the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the West. He also teaches mindfulness and mentors meditation teachers.

Who Should Apply?

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Meditation Practitioners: Those who have been profoundly impacted by their own meditation practice and are eager to teach secular meditation according to the framework developed by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Yoga Teachers, Healthcare Professionals, and Psychologists: Individuals looking to integrate meditation into their professional practice
Educators: Those wishing to incorporate meditation into their learning environments to foster mindfulness and well-being
Community Workers: Professionals committed to social transformation and bringing the benefits of meditation to the people they serve
Lifelong Learners: Individuals who seek to understand meditation more deeply and explore how it can be embraced as a way of life

Tergar’s experiential approach will allow you not only to become a teacher for others, but a teacher for yourself.

Module Syllabus:
Three Pillars Of Study

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  • Graduation and Beyond

    Upon the successful completion of the MTP, you will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Tergar International and become a Tergar Certified Anytime Anywhere Meditation Teacher (TCAAMT).
With this certificate you can:
  • Develop your own introductory meditation program within the framework of the Tergar Teaching Methodology
  • Become a Licensed Anytime Anywhere Meditation Teacher (LAAMT) and teach the Anytime Anywhere Meditation program (There is no fee to become a Licensed AAM Teacher, nor is there a fee to teach AAM).
As a Tergar Certified AAM Teacher, you will be able to:
  • Integrate Meditation Principles into Teaching
    Combine awareness, compassion, and wisdom to develop a transformative teaching methodology that resonates with diverse audiences.
  • Cultivate and Model a Daily Meditation Practice
    Maintain a consistent personal meditation practice as a foundation to inspire and equip others to embody awareness, compassion, and wisdom in daily life.
  • Create Inclusive and Empowering Learning Environments
    Nurture dynamic, safe, and trusting spaces where participants from diverse backgrounds can deepen their practice and build a supportive community.
  • Guide and Communicate Meditation Practices Effectively
    Deliver clear, guided meditations and present engaging, impactful talks on foundational meditation principles, including awareness, compassion, and wisdom.

Testimonials

Ivonne Atmojo, Indonesia
Mark McGrath, Ireland
Kate Mondloch, USA
Stephanie Wagner, USA
Andrea Loreto, Italy/USA
Juliet Waters, Canada
Rod Fiorito, Spain
Kate Mondloch, USA
Klaus Fischbach, Germany

Not planning to beacome a teacher but want to make a difference?

The MTP Fund supports training meditation teachers from underserved areas, bringing these transformative practices where they're needed most. Your donation helps make these teachings accessible to all.
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How the program works

The program is divided into 30% synchronous and 70% asynchronous elements.
Synchronous:
  • Weekly 75-minute Live Session with Peers and Trainer (mandatory participation)
  • 90-minute Live Sessions with Guest Speaker — 2X per month
  • Monthly 30-minute individual mentoring sessions
Asynchronous:
  • Video recordings, audio recordings, and readings
  • Rich, in-depth engagement with these materials through assignments in written and video format, video feedback, and reflection questions
  • Weekly quiz
  • Daily 30-minute meditation practice
The MTP includes approximately 240 hours of training.
Participants are expected to commit around 30 hours per month, averaging 7–8 hours per week. The program is conducted online through the course platform, with live sessions conducted via Zoom.

A Glimpse into Your Daily Life during the Program

Daily Meditation

Asynchronous

• 30 minutes daily individual meditation

Daily

Individual Study

Asynchronous

• Video, audio, and reading contents

• Preparation for live session activities

• Quiz

Weekly

Live Session with peers and trainer

Synchronous

• 75 minutes long
• Held on Zoom

Weekly

Live Session and Q&A with guest speaker

Synchronous

• 90 minutes long
• Held on Zoom

2x Month

Assignments

Asynchronous

• Writen and video assignments

• Feedback for assignments

Weekly

Individual mentoring sessions

Synchronous

• 30 minutes long
• Held on Zoom

Monthly

Participants are required to attend at least 85% of the weekly 75-minute live sessions of each trimester during the entire program.
Participants who fail to do this will not be granted certification.

About the Weekly Live Sessions:

Once you are accepted into the program, we will reach out to you to present various options for weekly live sessions based on the information you provided during the application process. Most live sessions will be conducted in English. However, if there is a sufficient number of students interested in sessions conducted in Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and/or Spanish, we will also offer live sessions in those languages.

Language

Course materials and discussions will be mainly in English, with AI translation provided for the written content (Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish).

Initially, the live sessions and discussions will be held in English. However, if there is a minimum of 8 students who wish to participate in discussion groups in Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and/or Spanish, discussion groups will be offered in those languages as well.

Students can submit their assignments in English, Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.

Dates to keep in mind

Application Period
February 18 - June 20, 2025
Classes Period
September 15, 2025 - July 26, 2026
Breaks
Dec 15, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026 & April 6-26, 2026.
Any applications received after June 20, 2025 will be added to the 2026 waitlist.

Prerequisites

Option 1
To have completed Tergar Joy of Living Levels 1 and 2 and the corresponding homework at the moment of application. (You will have to complete Joy of Living Level 3 and the corresponding homework before the start of the MTP.)
Option 2
To have had a regular daily meditation practice for at least 3 years and to have completed Joy of Living Levels 1 and 2 without the corresponding homework at the moment of application. (You will have to complete Joy of Living Level 3 (without the corresponding homework) before the start of the MTP.)
Option 3
If you have had a regular daily meditation practice for at least five years, you can qualify for the MTP by watching all of the videos for Joy of Living Levels 1, 2, and 3. Write to mtp@tergar.org to get access to the videos.
Why do I have to watch the Joy of Living videos even if I am an experienced meditator?
In the Meditation Teacher Program, you will learn how to teach meditation according to the Anytime Anywhere Meditation (AAM) framework. AAM is the essence of the Joy of Living program. To succeed in the MTP you must have a strong foundational understanding of its framework and be familiar with the unique teaching style and approach of Mingyur Rinpoche.
Note: If you participated in the Joy of Living program some time ago and haven't practiced the corresponding meditations recently, we highly recommend that you review and familiarize yourself with them again before the MTP begins.

Use of technology

This is an online program that requires some familiarity with technology and access to softwares like Zoom, WhatsApp, Youtube, Google Drive, and Vimeo. You will be asked to record and share videos via a shareable link on an online cloud platform of your choice.

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Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

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What is the tuition for the Meditation Teacher Program?

Acceptance letters will be emailed in the second half of July 2025. If you are accepted into the program, you can secure your place by paying an enrollment deposit within ten business days of acceptance. This deposit is only a portion of the total tuition, and the remaining balance can be paid either in installments or as a lump sum.
Tuition Rates for the MTP
There are 3 available rates for MTP:
Sponsor rate
US$5,500
This rate is intended for those with a fortunate financial situation who wish to support fellow students in need of financial assistance.
Base rate
US$4,500
This is the general rate of the program.
Subsidized rate
US$ 2,500
This rate is available for Tergar Community Leadership and also those in need of financial assistance. In order to support Rinpoche’s vision of sharing meditation across all regions of the world, the MTP aims to ensure an equitable selection process with an emphasis on diversity (age, geographical region, language, ethnicity, etc.), and a limited number of places are available at subsidized rates.
If these payment and installment options don’t work for you, please contact us for a Student Tailored Installments Option, such as an arrangement to make monthly installments, for example.
All payments can be made via credit/debit card.
Note: By paying a sponsor rate, you contribute to the education of fellow or future MTP students. You will be considered a “Tergar Donor” and will receive a tax-deductible receipt.

Cancellation Policy

Full refunds will be granted for cancellations made on or before August 22, 2025.
No refunds will be issued after this date. Students are responsible for the full tuition payment as outlined in the payment options above, regardless of how much they progress through the program.

Schedule

The MTP is more than just a program—it’s a 240-hour immersive experience and transformative deep dive that blends timeless wisdom with modern science, and equips you with the wisdom, skills, and confidence to inspire and guide others toward meaningful change.

The Meditation Teacher Program is a year-long program that runs from September 15, 2025 to July 2026.
The program is divided into three main pillars:
Program
Dates
Length
Orientation
Sept 15–21, 2025
1 week
Pillar 1: Developing the Foundation
Sept 22–Dec 14, 2025
12 weeks
Break
Dec 15, 2025 –Jan 11, 2026
4 weeks
Pillar 2: Deepening Teaching Skills Pillar 3: Sharing Your Knowledge with the World
Jan 12–April 5, 2026
12 weeks
Break
April 6–26, 2026
3 weeks
Pillar 2: Deepening Teaching Skills Pillar 3: Sharing Your Knowledge with the World
April 27–Jul 19, 2026
12 weeks
Closing: Bringing It All Together
Jul 20-26, 2026
1 week
Live classes might be cancelled throughout the program if they conflict with Mingyur Rinpoche’s main teachings.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact mtp@tergar.org

The application period for this year's program runs until June 20, 2025.

Not planning to beacome a teacher but want to make a difference?

The MTP Fund supports training meditation teachers from underserved areas, bringing these transformative practices where they're needed most. Your donation helps make these teachings accessible to all.