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Jess McNally

@jmcnally7

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@ucalgarymed MD student class of ‘28, meditation teacher @tergaronline
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Truly saddened to hear @bob__thurman passed away today. I had the blessing of working as his assistant some years ago, and got to know him and his wife Nena quite well. He was always kind, and one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met—really a genius. His library was so extensive he had to build extra supports under his house so it wouldn’t fall down, and he could remember entire passages and the page numbers from almost any book you asked him about. It was remarkable. He learned Tibetan by living in a Tibetan refugee camp with no formal instruction, and within a year his Tibetan was so fluent he was able to be a simultaneous translator for HH Dalai Lama, which is completely mind boggling. Most people take years to become proficient. And he was still passionate about translation when I knew him, almost every day talking about the best word to describe or translate a certain Tibetan word. Bob was also the first Westerner ordained as a monk by HH Dalai Lama. Though he decided to give up his robes and started a family, he was unbelievably devoted to the dharma and to HH Dalai Lama his entire life. He was posting and teaching up until a few days ago, and was consistently tireless in translating, teaching and supporting Buddhist practice and understanding. He taught at Columbia University for many years and wrote countless books. He also helped start and run Tibet House in NYC and Menla Retreat Centre, and had so many other projects he helped with quietly behind the scenes. I remember when I started working for him I couldn’t believe the barrage of emails he got every day and the dozens he would respond to. A lot of my job was just trying to keep track of the dozens of projects he had on the go at any given time. His default when anyone asked him to teach or participate was always yes. He was incredibly devoted and in love with his wife Nena, and cared deeply for his children (who include Uma the famous actress). He was truly a bodhisattva, and I feel blessed to have known him. My heart goes out to @nenabthurman and his family. May he swiftly be reborn in Dewachen. Om ami dewa hri. 🙏 (Photo from Bob’s instagram.) by @jmcnally7
Some highlights from 2025 💫 It’s hard to believe how much happened this year! Finding out I got into medical school in May and starting in July was by far the huge highlight. I’ve loved school so far and am so excited to become a doctor! I also had some amazing experiences teaching meditation in Portugal and Toronto. I got more into rock climbing, and started rowing again indoors - it had taken me over 15 years after burning out with the sport in college but I’m enjoying it again! I traveled to some beautiful places- Mexico, the Azores, Portugal. And I had some wonderful adventures close to home skiing at Talus Lodge with my stepdad Tom and some amazing hikes around the mountains. Some hard things too this year. In March we said goodbye to my grandfather Hal who was an amazing, loving person and an inspiration. He lived a very full life and was 93 years old. I also had to find a new home for Pema my dog when I started med school. That was heartbreaking but she’s really happy in Toronto. Feeling excited about 2026! Most of the year will be studying med school- by this time next year I’ll be done with classes / preclerkship if all goes well! 🤞 Thanks for all your love and support! More than anything I’m grateful for all the incredible people in my life. Happy New Year! 🥳❤️⭐️ by @jmcnally7
Yellow aspens and first snowfall on Mount Yamnuska last weekend. 🍂💛❄️🏔️ by @jmcnally7
Our med school class had a “Stethoscope Ceremony” to welcome us to the medical profession today, and my cousin @bella_bzz_ made me the most incredible cake ever to celebrate that and my birthday! Felt very grateful to have my family together and my dear friends @lindahoffmanstudio and @arielmatisse visiting from Boston too! by @jmcnally7
First day of med school! So excited to be part of the @ucalgarymed class of 2028. 😀👩‍⚕️🥳 by @jmcnally7
I’m excited to be heading back to Portugal this May to lead two residential Tergar retreats on the Joy of Living 3 and Nectar of the Path with my longtime friend @lama_holgeryeshe. Registration is now open at tergar-retreats.org These retreats both have prerequisites but I hope some of you will be able to join me there! For my Tergar friends especially, I’d also be grateful if you can help spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested in joining. Thanks! @tergarretreats @tergaronline @tergarlisboa @tergarcoimbra @tergar.deutschland @tergaredinburgh @mingyurrinpoche #joyofliving #tergar #tergaronline #tergarretreats #mingyurrinpoche by @jmcnally7
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! 🌼🌸🌺 Besides the beautiful gladiolas, my gift to myself today was finishing the final class of the 10-week MCAT prep course I’ve been taking (for those who don’t know, the MCAT is the medical school entrance exam). I’ve been studying full-time the last 2.5 months, and it’s been pretty all-consuming. I write the exam in 2 weeks and am applying to med school this fall, and it feels like an exciting way to be starting my 37th year. Of course there’s no guarantee I’ll get in, but you miss every chance you don’t take. And whatever happens, it’s been fulfilling to spend this time learning about how our bodies work (it’s amazing) and to be working towards a goal. Becoming a medical doctor is something I’ve thought about my whole life, and that I regretted not pursuing. This past year I decided it’s not too late to go for it. Please wish me luck! Looking forward to dinner tonight with friends, and the year ahead. Thanks to all of you for being in my life! 💕 by @jmcnally7
So great to see my friend Jordan Coleman! Thanks for stopping by on your road trip. 🚙🗺️ by @jmcnally7
Join me online from retreat in Portugal! More info and registration link in my bio. Repost from @tergarretreats Join us daily online May 19-24 from our Open Practice Retreat in Portugal. We will offer a live 90-minute daily session that includes meditation and a talk by our Tergar Guides Kell Julliard and Jess McNally. This program is open to everyone and offered by donation. Time: 19:30 – 21:00 in Portugal (WEST) 20:30 – 22:00 Central Europe (CET) 2:30 pm – 4 pm New York (EDT) 11:30 am – 1pm Los Angeles (PDT) The talks will be on themes related to meditation retreat practice. They will be relevant to those who have an existing meditation practice and are considering doing retreat in the future, or who have done meditation retreat before and are interested in exploring these topics in greater depth. The meditation sessions will be loosely guided, with much of the time left silent to do your own meditation practice. Daily Talk Schedule Sunday, May 19 – Entering Retreat Monday, May 20 – The Value of Silence Tuesday, May 21 – Meditating With and Caring for the Body Wednesday, May 22 – Working Skilfully with Thoughts and Emotions Thursday, May 23 – Awareness, Kindness and Curiosity – Three Essential Qualities on the Path Friday, May 24 – Coming Out of Retreat Register here: https://tergar-retreats.org/upcoming-retreats/#/event/91/exploring-retreat-six-daily-meditation-and-practice-talks-online by @jmcnally7
Happy birthday to my amazing dad Bill McNally 🎂🎉 Grateful for your great sense of humour, your adventurous spirit, and more than anything the way you are there for me always. It has also been so wonderful to explore meditation practice together this past year. I hope you have an incredible year with many mountain peaks, great music, art, parties and good times. Here’s some memories from our trip to the BVIs and NYC last year. That was such a fun trip! 😎🌴🎭 by @jmcnally7
Throwback to watching the eclipse in 2017 with @anipemachodron and other monastic friends in Crestone, Colorado during retreat with @tsoknyi_rinpoche. Love all the smiles 😎😀 I still feel so grateful and blessed to have had this opportunity to spend time and laugh with Pema Chodron. She is one of my personal heroes and mentors, and who I named my dog Pema after. ☺️ We also did a fire offering and aspiration prayers that day, which are apparently an especially good thing to do during an eclipse! So for my Buddhist friends, maybe something to think about for tomorrow. 🙏 by @jmcnally7
Usually I ignore these autogenerated memory slideshows that my phone suggests to me periodically, but this one was too cute to not share. Lots of great memories with Pema and friends! Can’t wait for summer. With @amberinbanff @thehareruns @banff.cigar @anaagarciaaa @adamo1979 by @jmcnally7

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