Our Teachers
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo was born in England and is one of the first westerners to be ordained as a Buddhist nun. She is a brilliant teacher who is able to touch the hearts of many with her presence and her profound understanding of the Dharma,and its relevance and application in daily life. She is also a powerful voice for female Buddhist practitioners and has founded the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh,India.
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche is a Tibetan/Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and writer. He is the author of many books such as, What Makes You Not a Buddhist; Not for Happiness: A Guide to the So-Called Preliminary Practices; The Guru Drinks Bourbon and Best Foot Forward: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Sacred Sites of the Buddha (Shambhala, 2018), to name a few.
Venerable Sudhammacara
Venerable Sudhammacara was ordained in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition in 1983, under Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. He practiced and taught zazen meditation for more than 18 years, including several years at Valley Zendo in Massachusetts, USA. In 2001, he took Theravadan bhikku ordination in the Burmese forest monk tradition, and trained in shamatha and vipassana meditation in Burma and Sri Lanka. Since 2006, he has also been studying Tibetan Buddhism under Trulshik Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
Geshe Lhakdor
Venerable Geshe Lhakdor is the Director of the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives. Lhakdor-la has been in the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has served as Religious Assistant and Translator to His Holiness since August 1989 and has co-translated several books with him. A brilliant scholar, he is skilled at articulating and making both accessible and relevant Buddhist texts to lay persons.
Ani Pema
Venerable Pema (Karen Schaefer) ordained and trained in Bhutan and Taiwan. Prior to taking up Buddhist studies, she studied classical Yoga and Indian Philosophy for 8 years in an Ashram in Maharashtra.
Ani Pema is a highly skilled counselor and yoga therapist, specializing in anxiety and trauma disorders. Her teaching emphasizes an integration of physical, psychological and wisdom wellbeing practices.
She has been a student of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche since 1990.
Geshe Dorji Damdul
Venerable Geshe Dorji Damdul is a distinguished Buddhist scholar whose interest lies in the relation between Buddhism and science, especially in physics. He has been official translator to His Holiness since 2005 and is currently director of Tibet House, New Delhi, India. Geshe-la gives regular lectures at Tibet House and many universities and institutes.
He travels widely within India and abroad to teach Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic and practice.