Welcome to Sukhasiddhi Foundation
A SHANGPA AND DAKPO KAGYU BUDDHIST COMMUNITY
Go directly and deeply into the heart of the rich and ancient practices of Tibetan Buddhism in an atmosphere that supports, enlivens and radically changes our daily lives. Most of the practices and teachings of the Shangpa lineage come from two fully and completely awakened women, Sukhasiddhi and Niguma. The Kagyu lineage comes down through Tilopa and others including Milarepa.
Join us at our new location: Wisdom River Meditation Center | 7110 Redwood Blvd, Suite B., Novato, CA
Welcome message from Lama Döndrup,
Sukhasiddhi Foundation’s Resident Lama
UPDATE! Thank you so much for your support! We’ve raised $10,000 so far and are 2/3 of the way to our goal.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Winter Solstice Meditation and Sound Healing with Lama Palden & Barbara Juniper
Saturday, December 21
7:00 - 9:00 PM PT
Wisdom River Meditation Center
This is an in person event only.Please join us for an evening of meditation and sound healing as we usher in this time of light. Lama Palden will begin the evening by guiding us in meditation, aspirations, and mantra practice. Then we will settle on our mats as Barbara Juniper carries us into a deep and restorative sound healing journey.
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New Year's Eve Celebration & Reflection with Trinity Sipila & Barbara Juniper
Tuesday, December 31
6:00-9:00 PM PT
In person and onlineYou are invited to join us in person at Wisdom River Meditation Center or online for an evening of meditation and singing to say farewell to this year and welcome 2025.
Participants are welcome to come and leave as they wish. There is no fee for this celebration, but donations are always welcome.
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Dharma Training Program
New Module Begins in January 2025!
The Dharma Training Program explores the principles and practices foundational to Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism, offering an opportunity to deepen dharma practice and develop an integrated spiritual practice designed for modern-day life.
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Monday Meditation
7 - 8:15 PM PDT
Join us every Monday for a free, donation-based open sitting. Finding center and home in our own being is now more important than ever. No prior experience is necessary and there is no need to register in advance – just drop in!
First Monday of the month: Guided meditation and short dharma talk
Other Mondays: Silent Meditation and short dharma talk
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Tuesday & Thursday Lujong (Tibetan Yoga)
Join us every Tuesday & Thursday for a free, donation-based session consisting of approximately 40-minutes of Lujong followed by a quiet meditation, with instruction and guidance as needed. No prior experience is necessary and there is no need to register in advance – just drop in.
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Monday Meditation: Green Tara
7 - 8:15 PM PDT
Join us on the last Monday of each month for a free, donation-based Green Tara meditation.
The Green Tara practice transforms our distorted view of self and helps us recognize our innate radiant, compassionate nature.
No experience or registration required - just drop in!
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Full Calendar
View the full list of upcoming events.
Meditate, Transform & Grow
Sukhasiddhi Foundation (Pronounced SooK-a-CiDY) is a place where the profound and transformative teachings of Tibetan Buddhism are studied and practiced. We meditate, transform, and grow in a community of mutual respect, loving kindness, and joy. Sukhasiddhi welcomes people of all religions, ages, racial backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities.
OFFERINGS
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Blogs
Articles and Interviews from Lamas, students, members, and more discussing a wide range of Buddhist perspectives
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Recordings
Past classes and retreats edited for returning listeners covering beginning to advanced topics; Available for free or low-cost
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Weekly Meditations
Free - Donation Based
Monday Night Meditation
Tuesday / Thursday Morning Lujong (Tibetan Yoga) -
Events
Regularly scheduled series of courses and classes on relevant topics, special events, and an annual week-long retreat
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Programs of Study
Develop and deepen your meditation practices while moving through a curriculum of general Buddhist teachings and the teachings of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage
Women-led Vajrayana Buddhism
Lama Palden, Senior Lama | Lama Döndrup, Resident Lama
ARTICLES, PODCASTS, & TALKS FROM OUR LAMAS
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The Heart of Now Podcast
Living Joyfully with Lama Palden Drolma
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Buddhadharma Magazine | Spring 2024
The Playful Dance of Awakened Mind by Lama Döndrup Drölma
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Lion's Roar Magazine | March 2024
You Are the Embodiment of Compassion (Chenrezig) by Lama Döndrup Drölma
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Edge of Mind Podcast
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Lion's Roar Magazine | September 2023
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Tsadra Foundation
Our Mission
To share the Buddha’s teachings with everyone, to provide an environment for people to recognize their innate wisdom and compassion and embody it in all aspects of daily life.
Our Vision
To create an equitable community of diverse people that supports one another on the path of recognizing and actualizing their awakened nature individually, and as a community, to foster cooperation among our whole human family and benefit all beings.
THE SHANGPA LINEAGE
The lineages of Tibetan Buddhism offer an unbroken stream of blessings from the Buddha down to us, which enables us to practice deeply while in the midst of our everyday experience. Most of the practices and teachings of the Shangpa lineage come from two fully and completely awakened women, Sukhasiddhi and Niguma. The Shangpa lineage was founded by Khyungpo Naljor in the 12th century. The current lineage holder is Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche.
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Vajrayana Buddhism
Learn about the beliefs, meditations, and practices of Vajrayana. Like many religions, Buddhism inspired various paths of practice, philosophy, and ceremony. While there are many different lineages of Buddhism, the two main branches are Theravada and Mahayana. Vajrayana is part of the Mahayana.
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Sukhasiddhi's Story
Both Sukhasiddhi and Niguma were born in Kashmir, although there is no record of any meeting between them. They are cited together only as teachers of the same disciple, Kyungpo Naljor, yet according to the Nyingma tradition, they are related from past lives.
Sukhasiddhi arrived at tantric Buddhism late in life. She lived as an impoverished housewife and mother of six children until the age of fifty-nine.
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Kalu Rinpoche
Kalu Rinpoche is lineage head of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition. He received full transmission of the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage from Venerable Bokar Rinpoche and completed his three-year retreat in 2008.
Rinpoche continues the unbroken transmission of the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu Lineages, ensuring that these precious teachings remain available to those who seek to walk the blessed Path of Liberation.
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Niguma's Story
This wisdom dakini was born the daughter of the great Brahmin Shantivarma [Zhiwé Gocha] and the Brahmini Shrimati [Palgyi Lodrö]. Her name was Shrijnana [Palgyi Yéshé]. She was pandit Naropa’s sister and a member of the Brahmin caste.
During three previous incalculable eons of time, she actualized her training on the spiritual path.
A Short Introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism
Like many religions, Buddhism inspired various paths of practice, philosophy, and ceremony. While there are many different lineages of Buddhism, the two main branches are Theravada and Mahayana. Vajrayana is part of the Mahayana.
BUDDHIST VOCABULARY
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Merit
Merit refers to the accumulation of beneficial karma or virtue through actions, thoughts, and intentions. It is considered to be a force that leads to favorable outcomes both in this life and in future lives.
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Lojong
Lojong is in a specific category of methods to train the mind or reorient ourselves to respond to ourselves, others, and the circum-stances of our lives from the perspective of altruism.
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Vajrayana
Vajrayana is the diamond path that lifts the veils that keep us from recognizing our indestructible, ever-present buddha nature, innate goodness, our inherent potential for enlightenment.
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Lineage
An unbroken stream of spiritual masters through which the sacred teachings of the dharma flow, allow our present-day teachings to be traced back to their original source.
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Compassion
One recognizes and experiences that another’s pain and suffering is no different than one’s own, and wishes for all beings to be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
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Mahamudra
Mahamudra is a practice of relaxing directly into our present experience and recognizing its true nature. The essential nature of mahamudra is like all-encompassing space.
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Sangha
Sangha literally means that which is struck together well. In common usage, it generally refers to a community. It has been adopted by multiple religions. In Buddhism, it is generally used to indicate a group of Buddhist practitioners.
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More Buddhist Vocabulary
