Learn Tibetan with Lama David Curtis One-on-One

  • Individually paced

  • Direct feedback and suggestions

  • Lessons arranged to fit your schedule and Lama David’s availability

Lama David can discuss private lessons with students once they have first completed the Level I and Level 2 Courses. All students are encouraged to start with the materials in TLI’s Beginners Package. Students then advance to Level II Manual and then Level III Manual.

Having this as a foundation, students then begin working privately with Lama David on reading and translating core texts such as TLI’s Heart Sutra Translation Workbook, the 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas Workbook, etc. Advanced students can potentially arrange to study various prayers and texts of their own choosing after discussion with Lama David.

Student Testimonials

  • My aspiration is to be able to read the sadhana texts in the original Tibetan and to increase my dharma vocabulary.  Studying a Buddhist text such as The Heart Sutra is a realizable future goal.—Marilyn, CA
  • Studying Tibetan has absolutely transformed my retirement for the better. Such excitement when a formerly opaque liturgy or text suddenly jumps off the page with meaning! So I can’t thank David enough. –Martin, WI

Private Lessons with Lama David Curtis

10 lessons at $90-$108/hour (student will discuss with Lama David). Students are encouraged for 10 initial lessons in advance, if possible. 

You will meet with Lama David one hour per week via Zoom or phone. 

Please complete the form to inquire further about this option.

A master teacher, Lama David Curtis will guide you through the intricacies of the Tibetan language. He will help you study the language in a way that gives deeper meaning to your Tibetan prayers and practice texts. If your aspiration is to make the language of your Tibetan Buddhist texts and sadhanas come alive, then private study with David might be for you.

Lama David has given private lessons by telephone to dozens of students of all lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, including those entering the traditional three-year retreat, graduate school, and various translation schools. He also has worked with many students who seek mainly to enhance their private Buddhist practice.

David has given private lessons by telephone to dozens of students of all lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, including those entering the traditional three-year retreat, graduate school, and various translation schools. He also has worked with many students who seek mainly to enhance their private Buddhist practice.

“Somehow, you [at TLI] manage to simplify access to classical Tibetan, while at the same time communicating its unique beauty, complexity and sophistication…. I have learned so much about language, about learning itself, about life, and about dharma in your classes[…].You invite and you empower each of your students as a full partner with you on the magical journey that is learning Classical Tibetan.”

Jim L., CA

“TLI’s classes have become an essential support of my practice. David Curtis’ knowledge, kindness and unquenchable curiosity for Dharma and language make me feel like an authentic scholar – he’s guided me through the translation of prayers I say daily and even some classic texts. This introduction to Tibetan has opened a window into the Tibetan masters’ minds[…].”

Linda L., NY

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Help Bring the Profound and Beautiful Tibetan Language to Modern Dharma Students All Over the World

We are committed to supporting practitioners from all Tibetan spiritual lineages by empowering students to read and translate the transcendent language of Classical Tibetan.

TLI is a 501( c)(3) educational nonprofit organization. We often operate with very limited funds. Please help us continue this work.

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