A Year in Review and Welcoming the New
Leslie Shelton, Ph.D. Executive Director
As the New Year unfolds, we at Sukhasiddhi are pleased to celebrate having successfully navigated another year of pandemic/post pandemic programming and excited for 2023 as we launch new cycles of two Depth Practice Programs of study – the Dharma Training Program and the Bodhi program - with the possibility of beginning a Vajrayana program in the Spring. The more advanced Shangpa program will move into the 3rd of 6 or more years of teaching and Vajra sangha members continue to meet the last Saturday of month for a yidam practice as well as studying individually with teachers after completing all our group programs.
We are immensely grateful to Lama Palden Drolma and Lama Döndrup Drolma for the huge amount of thought and work that they put into redesigning the structure of the Depth Practice programs to ensure that participants engage in significant amounts to study and practice time in order to ground and move through these transformative processes effectively. These programs of significant study and practice are the core of Sukhasiddhi’s offerings, and also provide the teachings and meditations made available to a broader public through the Sunday class series called the Dharma Deep Dive with Lama Döndrup and Awake in the World with Susan Shannon.
These practice programs continue to be complimented by invaluable weekly meditation and lujong sessions, a monthly Women’s Group, other teachings and empowerments, a Summer Retreat, and special events. Huge gratitude to Barbara Juniper, who leads the weekly Monday evening Opening the Gate meditations, and to Gitte Dobrer and Trinity Sipila, who lead Lujong and meditation sessions every Tuesday and Thursday morning. The level of their dedication is remarkable and greatly beneficial. Much gratitude to Lama Palden for continuing to lead the exploration of deep topics of study with the monthly Women’s Group. All of these offerings provide a variety of meaningful ways to engage with Sukhasiddhi Foundation activities.
Mark Your Calendars: A few things to look forward to
Dharma Deep Dive classes begin Jan. 15 – Four Noble Truths and Shantideva: Way of the Bodhisattva
Losar Celebration - Tues. Feb. 21, 6 – 8:30 pm in person and online - Location TBD
Exploring Diversity - virtual screening of a movie, then we’ll come together for keynote event this spring
Summer Retreat – Mon., June 19 thru Sunday, June 25 at Santa Sabina Center – in person & hybrid
Returning to a physical center in the San Rafael area in near future.
Highlights of 2022
The Dharma Training Program concluded nearly 3 years of classes, with all of 2022 focused on an in-depth exploration of the Karma Kagyu lineage masters. Outcomes: 47 individuals participated; 15 just completed the full program and will move on to the Bodhi program or other studies.
After 4 years’ absence, we were thrilled to host an in-person/ hybrid week-long Summer Retreat at Santa Sabina Center in June. Topic: Mahamudra and the Wisdom of Milarepa taught by Lama Döndrup and Lama Palden. 42 participants attended the retreat - 23 in person and 19 online.
Kalu Rinpoche gave two weekends of teachings in late August and early September online due to delays in receiving his visa. 90 individuals attended one or both weekends. His topics included: Shamatha & Vipashyana of Mahamudra, a mahamudra text by Sukhasiddhi, and Niguma’s Amulet Mahamudra text.
Kalu Rinpoche also gave the Amitabha empowerment that was followed by a day-long teaching on the Amitabha practice with Lama Döndrup the end of September.
Weekly evening meditations and lujong classes were offered throughout the full year.
We successfully raised at least $16,000 to match the $15,000 matching grant for a total of $31,000 to dedicate towards rental costs for a physical center.
