Blog
Building on the Beauty That’s Already Here: A Creative Time for Sukhasiddhi
An interview with Leslie Shelton, Sukhasiddhi’s new Executive Director Tell me a bit about how you came to Sukhasiddhi. I’ve studied Buddhism since the 1970s, taking classes and workshops and doing a lot of reading. For years, I watched for a teacher. Then I attended a Green Tara retreat at Spirit Rock that Lama Palden was teaching, and I thought: This is someone I’d
The First Shangpa Kagyu Monlam in North America
Lama Pat Berube reports on this traditional aspiration prayer festival, held August 1-4 in Santa Fe, New Mexico I arrived to a warm and sunny Santa Fe and after a brief afternoon rain, the most delightful—almost spicy—desert aroma permeating the air. Many years ago, I lived in New Mexico, and with that wonderful aroma, I relaxed with fond memories of that magical high desert country.
Entering a New Phase at Sukhasiddhi
An interview with Lama Döndrup, Sukhasiddhi’s new Resident Lama As of January 1, 2020, Lama Döndrup will step into the role of Resident Lama at Sukhasiddhi, as Lama Palden moves into a more advisory role as Senior Lama. Jane Brunette spoke with Lama Döndrup about her new role, and what she sees going forward for Sukhasiddhi. Tell me a little about your new role as
Phowa Practice Transforms Death into an Opportunity for Spiritual Realization
Lama Palden will teach a non-residential retreat on Phowa, the transfer of consciousness at the time of death, from Sept 12-15 at the Sukhasiddhi Center. Here she talks a bit about the practice she will transmit and the benefits of learning it. Phowa is one of the six yogas or six doctrines. There are three systems of the six yogas: Naropa, Niguma and Sukhasiddhi. I
Addressing the Shadow in Buddhist Communities
Lama Palden, Lama Döndrup, and Annik Brunet attended the Sakyadhita Conference, an international gathering of Buddhist women that was held in the Blue Mountains of Australia this past July. Here, Annik shares the highlights of the conference: The Sakyadhita conference opened with a deep acknowledgment of Aboriginal culture, highlighting the essential connection between dharma and the wisdom of the ancient inhabitants of the Australian continent.
What Six Years of In-the-World Retreat Brought to the Shangpa Group
By Barbara Juniper In January, my cohort of dharma brothers and sisters celebrated the completion of a six-year commitment of training in the foundational practices of the traditional Vajrayana three-year retreat. Starting with the two-year Bodhi training and moving on to the four-year Shangpa training was, for me, a one-day-at-a-time process involving all the ups and downs of deep practice. It was also a time