Melinda Földiné Irtl

Teacher at the Dharma Gate Buddhist College
(yoga, meditation, Buddhist pedagogy, fundamental Buddhist teachings, Buddhist ecology)

The Desire to Know Dream and Reality
The desire to understand dream and reality has accompanied me since childhood. The blessings of yoga have supported this process of understanding informally since I was nine years old, but I only truly learned the words Buddhism and Yoga around the age of eleven or twelve through books recommended by my sibling and father. Even then, I instinctively turned toward the teachings of Jesus and Eastern traditions in parallel, as I perceived no contradiction between them—only new perspectives that brought me closer to answering my questions.

From a Festival to a Doctorate
I first heard about Dharma Gate Buddhist College (DGBC) around 1995 at a meditation/Reiki healing tent at a music festival. I immediately decided that I would join the college after finishing high school. Though I was only 15 years old at the time, it turned out to be the best decision of my life! I began my BA studies at the college in 1998, and since then, my life has been infused with the practice of the Dharma, while Yoga has become the practical tool for walking the path and achieving realization. I took refuge in 2002. Every day, I dedicate myself to studying the Teachings and practicing them, integrating this with raising my two children and fulfilling my professional duties. Between 2004 and 2007, I studied at SVYASA University in South India, then completed my Master’s degree at DGBC between 2012 and 2014. In 2016, I joined the Doctoral School of Education at ELTE to gain pedagogical expertise that could support the College and the Buddhist Sangha.

Selfless Giving
I have been teaching at DGBC for nearly two decades. I have never considered teaching a job, as it is part of walking the path and the highest opportunity to practice dāna pāramitā (selfless giving). I teach only what I personally practice and only to the extent that my present understanding of reality allows. Every day, I express gratitude that my own practice can serve as a tool to support other beings’ awakening.
For me, satipatthāna, samatha, vipassanā meditation, and yoga (including āsana, prānāyāma, mudrā, bandha, kriyā, dhāranā, and dhyāna practices) alongside sīla provide the foundation and guidance in daily life. Each academic year, I find teachers among my students—some who reveal the dust or veils covering my vision, while others simply provide an opportunity to practice patience. At times, I become a lantern, at times a crutch, at times a mirror. And through it all, I strive to be role-free—to simply be who I am: nothing and something at the same time…

The True Opportunity
At first, students sometimes perceive me as strict because I encourage them to develop consistency and cultivate open and honest self-communication. My wish for them is to realize as soon as possible that studying at TKBF is not about acquiring worldly knowledge—it is a genuine opportunity for awakening for all of us. I strive to offer practical guidance to every student who turns to me, even years after they have completed their studies.
In my personal life, my greatest obstacles are stubbornness and impatience—qualities that demand great patience from my family, colleagues, and friends. Yet, in many cases, these very shortcomings become strengths, as I persistently strive to overcome my self-imposed limitations each day. I sometimes joke that if my impatience leads me to make mistakes, I console myself with the thought that even in this, I can support the development of others—by offering them opportunities to practice patience and compassion!

My Sincere Wish:
May all beings be HAPPY, PEACEFUL, and FREE!