Life & Work with Kunga Nyima Drotos of the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kunga Nyima Drotos

Hi Kunga Nyima, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Japan where my parents were both stationed as members of the United States Air Force. My family traveled around the world when I was young and I went to first grade in Nairobi, Kenya and second and third grade in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was raised Christian but didn’t begin attending church regularly until I met my spouse who is Catholic. I studied painting and received a MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and worked as a art gallery coordinator and adjunct art instructor in Virginia and Ohio before going back to school for a MSW in Social Work. I have worked as a hospice social worker since 2007.
I was first introduced to Buddhism in the late 90s through the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. When I moved to Michigan in 2007 I was inspired to begin practicing with a Shambhala meditation group in Portage. I received by Tibetan Buddhist name Kunga Nyima which means “All Joy Sun” from the teacher Judith Lief in 2012. I coordinated a Buddhist meditation group in St. Joseph for about ten years that met in the local library. Our group held annual one day retreats and met weekly for meditation and discussion of Buddhist teachings. During COVID our local group stopped meeting and I began watching online services at the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple. In 2021, I began studying Buddhism at the temple and became a Dharma Teacher in 2022. In 2024, I was ordained as a Teaching Monk at the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle has been finding a larger Buddhist community to practice with. When I was practice with the Shambhala group in Portage, MI I had to make 100 mile round trip drives to attend classes and training. Later, I started the St. Joseph Buddhist Sangha in St. Joseph where I live but we never had more than a handful of members attending each week. Now I am driving 150 miles roundtrip to Grand Rapids about twice per month to participate in services and teaching activities. Another challenge has been providing Dharma Talks at the temple. I consider myself an introvert and not a fan of public speaking. Overcoming my nervousness about speaking in public so that I could share my understanding of the Buddha’s teaching has been both challenging and fulfilling.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Senior Teaching Monk at the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple. I lead the temple’s Dharma Council which develops, organizes, and provides all the Buddhist teachings provided at the temple. During my tenure at the temple we have built on and extended the offerings to our Sangha (community). Some of the specific offerings include a series of classes and trainings that teach beginning Buddhism, meditation, the five precepts, and the Bodhisattva path. The temple offers Sunday services every week that include chanting, meditation, dharma talk and opportunities for our community to share joys and concerns. We also provide space for weekly recovery meetings, dharma book discussions, and virtual meditation groups. Our temple is unique in that the Dharma Council includes representation from Zen and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. We strive to provide the 2,500 year old teachings of Buddhism in a fresh meaningful way that can be utilized easily by out members. The community we serve includes students, professionals, and retired individuals. We strive to maintain an environment that is open and safe for all regardless of race, gender orientation, sexual orientation, economic status or political perspective.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My training included studying under Ven. Am Koe Su David Beighley and Ven. Yong Su Mark Hepper both Teaching Monks and past members of the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple. Everything that I have assisted with at the temple could not have been realized without the ongoing support of our Dharma Council and Board. The Board keeps the Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple operating by managing the day to day business of processing donations, paying bills, managing our building, communicating our programs with the public, and guiding us through all of the processes and task necessary to maintain a non profit organization. Our Dharma Council in turn provides the knowledge and expertise to develop, create and teach the Buddha’s Dharma to our community. Our teachers have committed themselves to Buddhist practice and are actively engaged in their own studies of Buddhism with established teachers. The Dharma Council members alternate teaching classes, providing Sunday dharma talks, and creating other trainings to our community on an ongoing basis. An additional support for the temple are the Dharma Disciples a group of dedicated sangha members who donate their time to assist with Sunday service, clean and maintain our temple space.

Pricing:

• Sunday Services are free to the public
• Class Tuitions vary but no one is turned away for inability to pay.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zengr.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grbuddhisttemple/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandRapidsBuddhistTemple/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg