Western Buddhist nun Gen Kelsang Losel is not a stranger to the Grand Valley. It was once on her schedule, not that long ago, of places to visit each month. Losel stopped returning to Grand Junction after participation slowly dwindled and it was no longer feasible for her to make the long drive from Denver.

Now, once again Losel plans to make the trek through the Johnson tunnel and over Vail pass to visit those seeking enlightenment, peace and happiness. With renewed interest she visited Grand Junction about two weeks ago and gave a talk titled, “The Path to Inner Peace,” at the Harris Office Building downtown. She will return this Saturday to local yoga studio Yoga West Collective.

Gen, a resident teacher at the Avalokitashvara center in Denver, has been in Colorado since 1999. She studied and taught Buddhism as part of the New Kadampa School of Buddhism in England under Geshe Kelsang Gyato. Kadampa Buddhism is an ancient school founded by Indian Buddhist Master Atisha around 1000 A.D. These practitioners take Buddha’s teachings as their own personal instruction guide and practice according to this. New Kadampa Buddhism began in the 14th century and follows similar principles.

During Losel’s visits she will share her Buddhist teachings and lead discussions as well as a guided inner-focus meditation.

“You do not have to be a Buddhist to attend, but only willing to look at things from a Buddhist perspective,” Yoga West instructor Lauren Bleck said.

Bleck attended the last talk in Grand Junction and explained that it was great to ease the mind.

“[Losel] has a certain way of relating the Buddhist philosophy to the western world,” Bleck said.

Bleck encourages anyone who has never been to a Buddhist talk to go and says they are not forcing of their ideas, but really teaching something that everyone needs; how to ease the mind. The class, “The Healing Power of Meditation,” will be held at 1 p.m. and is located at 1025 Main St.

Gen Losel isn’t the only Buddhist monk that has been visiting the area. Another monk by the name of Geshe Phuntsok will also be in town this weekend and has been making bi-monthly trips. Because Phuntsok lives in Montrose he is more easily permitted to visit twice a month.

Phuntsok is from a small village in eastern India and in 1982 joined the Tibetan Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India. He received a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy in 2001, made his first trip to teach Buddhism in the United States in 2002 with the South Carolina Dharma Group and has been in Montrose with the Asanga Institute since 2006. He is one of only ten Tibetan Buddhis monks the world who speak English.

Phuntsok leads discussions in whatever topics the audience would like to hear about, and like Losel he provides guided meditations during the session. He will be in town Friday at 5:30 at A Natural Way located on 1000 N. 9th street right across from the CMU campus. Those who are interested are encouraged to pre-register for both of these events online at www.yogawest.org by clicking on workshops for Saturday’s event or searching “Buddhism” on www.meetup.com. Both events are free but do ask for a $10 donation to assist in travel costs.