Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At karmakagyucalendar.org, your privacy is treated with great care and compassion. Just as we value the teachings of the Dharma, we value your trust and treat your personal information with awareness, respect and the utmost care. Protecting your privacy is not just a legal obligation for us - it is a reflection of our values.

Data Controller Information

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal information when you visit karmakagyucalendar.org or participate in our community activities. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with international data protection laws, including:

• India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023

• EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• Australia's Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)

• United States federal and state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

• Nepal's Right to Information Act and emerging privacy regulations

• Other applicable local privacy laws in jurisdictions where our users reside

Information We Collect with Your Gracious Permission

Personal Information We Carefully Gather:

• Name and email address (for newsletter subscriptions and event registrations, both online and at the Kagyu Mönlam)

• Postal address and contact details (for printed calendar orders and event attendance)

• Date of birth (for birthday calculations and astrological services)

• Payment information (processed securely through trusted third-party processors)

• Information collected with your consent at the Kagyu Mönlam event (newsletter registrations and donation details)

• Personal donation information when you generously contribute at Buddhist events

• Mantra count submissions for Chenrezig practice

• Any other information you kindly choose to share with us
  
  

Automatically Collected Data (With Transparency):

• IP addresses and browser information (to improve your experience)

• Website usage data and analytics (to serve you better)

• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (always with your awareness)

How We Mindfully Use Your Information

We process your personal data with care and intention for the following purposes:

• Newsletter delivery via MailerLite to keep you lovingly informed about Buddhist calendar events and precious teachings

• Order fulfillment for printed calendars and related dharma materials

• Event coordination for Kagyu Mönlam and other sacred Buddhist gatherings

• Processing your generous donations both online and those graciously given at events

• Spiritual services including birthday calculations and mantra count tracking

• Website analytics to continuously improve your experience with us

• Legal compliance with applicable privacy and tax regulations (while maintaining our compassionate approach)

Legal Basis for Processing (Explained with Care)

Under applicable privacy laws, we process your data based on:

• Your kind consent for newsletters and optional services

• Contract performance for calendar orders and event registrations

• Legitimate interest for website analytics and service improvement (always balanced with your privacy)

• Legal obligation for tax and regulatory compliance

How We Respectfully Share Your Information

We share your precious information only when necessary and always with great care:

• MailerLite for newsletter distribution (they also maintain high privacy standards)

• Fulfillment partners and shipping carriers for order delivery (only the minimum necessary details)

• Payment processors for secure transaction handling (with full encryption)

• Donation processing partners for both online and event-based contributions

• Legal requirements when compelled by law or court order (we will notify you when legally possible)
  
  

We never sell your information or use it for purposes unrelated to our Buddhist mission.

International Transfers with Protection: Your data may be transferred internationally as we serve the global Buddhist community. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

• Standard Contractual Clauses for EU data transfers

• Adequate security measures for all international data processing

• Compliance with applicable cross-border transfer requirements

• Always maintaining the same level of care regardless of location

How We Lovingly Store and Protect Your Data

Your precious information is stored with the greatest care:

• On Google servers with enterprise-grade security and Buddhist mindfulness

• On MediaCenter servers with appropriate technical safeguards

• Offline in secure, limited-access environments when necessary (always locked and protected)

• Event-collected data from Kagyu Mönlam stored with the same careful attention

We implement comprehensive security measures including encryption, access controls, and regular security assessments to protect your data from any unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. 

How Long We Carefully Keep Your Information

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary:

• Newsletter subscribers: Until you choose to unsubscribe or request deletion (you're always free to leave our community)

• Order information: For tax and legal compliance periods (typically 7 years, as required by law)

• Event data and donation records: For the duration necessary to provide services and maintain proper records

• Analytics data: Only in aggregated, anonymized form for website improvement

Your Precious Rights

We deeply respect your rights and will respond to your requests with kindness and promptness:

• Access your personal data and receive a complete copy

• Correct any inaccurate or incomplete information

• Delete your data (subject to legal retention requirements)

• Object to certain types of processing

• Withdraw consent for voluntary data processing (no questions asked)

• Data portability to transfer your information elsewhere

• Restrict processing in certain circumstances
  
  

For our dear friends in India: Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, you have additional rights to seek correction and erasure of your data, which we will honor with the same compassion.

To exercise your rights: Simply contact us at office@karmakagyucalendar.org, and we will respond with care and attention within the required timeframes.

Cookies and Tracking (Explained Simply)

Our website uses cookies with transparency:

• Essential website functionality (necessary for the site to work)

• Analytics via Google Analytics (to understand how to serve you better)

• User experience improvement (to make your visits more pleasant)

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. We will always respect your choices regarding non-essential cookies.

Protecting Young Friends

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction) without loving parental consent. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately, and we will handle the situation with care and appropriate action.

Our Trusted Third-Party Partners

We work only with partners who share our commitment to data protection:

• MailerLite for email newsletters (with strong privacy policies)

• Google Analytics for website analytics (with anonymization)

• Payment processors for secure transactions (PCI compliant)

• Shipping carriers for order fulfillment (minimal data sharing)

Each service has its own privacy policy, and we encourage you to review them.

Event-Specific Privacy (Kagyu Mönlam and Buddhist Gatherings)

When you visit our events:

• Newsletter registration is completely voluntary and can be done in person

• Personal donations are gratefully accepted with proper receipting

• We collect only necessary information for communication and acknowledgment

• All event-collected data receives the same careful protection as online data

• You can always opt out of future communications, even after in-person registration

Changes to This Policy (With Advance Notice)

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to serve you better. Material changes will be communicated through:

• Clear notice on our website for 30 days prior to implementation

• Email notification to our beloved newsletter subscribers

• Gentle communication about what's changing and why
  
  

Continued use of our services after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us with Confidence

For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please reach out with complete confidence:

Email and general inquiries: office@karmakagyucalendar.org

Website: karmakagyucalendar.org

We promise to respond to all inquiries with the care and attention you deserve, typically within 72 hours.

Regional Privacy Authorities

For Indian residents: You may also file complaints with the Data Protection Board of India, though we hope to resolve any concerns directly with our compassionate approach.

For EU residents: You have the right to lodge complaints with your local supervisory authority, but please give us the opportunity to address your concerns first.

For Australian residents: You can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or phone 1300 363 992, though we encourage you to reach out to us first.

For US residents: Depending on your state, you may have additional rights under local privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). California residents can contact the California Privacy Protection Agency.

For Nepalese residents: You may contact the National Information Commission of Nepal for privacy-related concerns, though we welcome direct communication with us first.

For residents of other countries: Please consult your local data protection authority, but we always encourage direct contact with us as the first step toward resolution.

Our Promise to All

In the spirit of Buddhist compassion and mindfulness, we promise:

• To always handle your data with the same care we would show to a dear friend

• To be transparent about our practices and honest about our limitations

• To continuously improve our data protection in line with both legal requirements and ethics

This Privacy Policy is effective as of 22/06/2025 and applies to all users of karmakagyucalendar.org regardless of location.

May your trust in us contribute to your practice, and may your data always be safe in our caring hands.