Featured

Larry Mermelstein

Beginning in 1971, Larry Mermelstein became a close student of the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Tibetan Buddhist meditation master and scholar. He has served as a senior teacher in the Vajradhatu/Shambhala community for many years, as well as having been a member of the board of directors. He is a founding member and the executive […]

Dorothée Rosen

Dorothée stumbled into the dharma - as if by accident - when she moved from her native rural German village into a Buddhist household on Halifax’s Bland Street in 1989. In 1990, Dorothée took refuge with Tenga Rinpoche and completed a Pema Chodrön Dathun at Gampo Abbey. She went to Seminary in 1992, and received Vajrayogini Abisheka in […]

Leandra Ziegler

Born to students of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Leandra Ziegler grew up in Nova Scotia and has been practicing meditation for 21 years. Inspired by the dharma art teachings, she trained as a modern dancer and studied creative writing at Skidmore College. Leandra has worked as a professional dancer, ESL teacher, and freelance magazine editor. She has […]

Joseph Litven

Joe Litven has been teaching Buddhist and Shambhala programs for over 40 years.  He has taught Shambhala Training in Europe and in North and South America.  For many years he was Dean of Shambhala Training in Halifax, whose responsibility was to mentor and train prospective teachers.  Recently he has been a teacher and head of […]

Margaret Jones Callahan

​Margaret believes in the transformative power of Mindfulness Based Art. She leads mindfulness-based education programs combining her coaching skills with her experience as a senior meditation instructor, clinical counselor and registered art therapist. Margaret has taught Mindfulness Art for 40 years, and offers Open Studio sessions at Windhorse Studio, in Indian Harbour, NS. In 2011, […]

Valerie Lorig

Valerie Lorig, M.Ed., LPC, has been a meditation practitioner and student of Tibetan Buddhism since she was 20 years old; studying extensively with Trungpa Rinpoche for fourteen years. A faculty member at Naropa University, she teaches courses on The Psychology of Mindfulness Meditation, Learning from Trauma, and Hakomi Somatic Psychology. A Licensed Professional Counselor at […]

Ellen Korman Mains

Ellen Korman Mains is a practitioner of Inner Relationship Focusing and has been a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage for over four decades. A close student of Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche and Kanjuro Shibata Sensei XX, she has taught the Japanese art of Kyudo (Zen Archery) at Naropa University and internationally. In 2006, Ellen […]

Juanita Evans

Juanita Evans became a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1980 and attended the 1984 and 1986 Vajradhatu Seminaries. She has since studied with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Thrangu Rinpoche, and other Kagyu teachers. In 2019, she completed a 10-year Nyingma course of practice and study with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. Juanita was an active leader […]

Martin Evans

Martin Evans began studying Buddhism in the early 1970’s and began to study and practice with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1976. Martin has been teaching Buddhism and Shambhala Training since 1981. He oversaw practice and education at the Vancouver Shambhala Centre, acting as Centre Director and Shambhala Training Director for many years. For the past […]

Karen Porterfield

Karen became a Buddhist in 1984 in Bodh Gaya, India, with Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche.  After receiving teachings from Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche, she continued her studies with many prominent Nyingma and Kagyü teachers over the next few years before landing in Boulder, where she became a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.  Since then, she has followed […]

The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya - Five-Week Retreat, The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya - Part 1 (Two-Week Retreat), The Wisdom Weapon of Compassion: Vajrakilaya - Part 2 (Three-Week Retreat),

Matilda Perks

Matilda (Tillie) Perks is a Ph.D. student at McGill University who studies the history of Buddhist modernism(s) and Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet with a focus on the life and works of Tibetan lama, Chögyam Trungpa (1940-1987), and the development of the Vajradhatu community. She was born into the Shambhala community and has been a […]

Donna MacKenzie

Donna began studying and practicing Limitlessgate Qigong with Dr. Eva Wong in 2010. She is a Zen Buddhist practitioner, taught yoga for 18 years, plays music, and currently works as an ecologist and jack-of-all-trades.  She spends her time between Southern Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Limitlessgate Qigong Gathering: Level 1/2 and Level 3 Review and Practice Sessions, The Three Pillars of Self-Care: Extended Qigong Levels 1 & 2 with Taoist Meditation & Lifestyle Practices, Peaceful Body, Peaceful Mind: a Limitlessgate Qigong Levels 1 & 2 Two-Day Retreat, The Gourd and the Cauldron: a Limitlessgate Qigong Level 3 Two-Day Retreat,

Brian Callahan

Brian began studying Buddhism in 1972 while also studying for ordination as a Catholic priest. Ordained in 1981, Brian resigned from ministry in 1985 when he became a Buddhist. He joined the Shambhala community in 1986, received transmission from the Vajra Regent in 1988, and received Vajrayogini Abhisheka from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 1994. Brian […]

Mark Nowakowski

Mark Nowakowski met the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1972 and has been his student ever since. He also studies and translates with many other Kagyü and Nyingma Buddhist masters. Mark is particularly inspired by the works of Chögyam Trungpa and his teacher Khenpo Gangshar. He recently coordinated the translation and publication of Songs of Realization […]

[Online] The Tibetan Buddhist Path: Glimpses of Awakening, Diamond Sky Dancer -- Vajrayogini Retreat,

Elizabeth Callahan

(Joining Via Zoom) Elizabeth Callahan began her contemplative training and Tibetan studies in 1977, and completed two three-year retreats at Kagyu Thubten Chöling, New York, under the direction of Kalu Rinpoche. She is a student of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, and has translated key texts of the Karma Kagyu tradition, including Mahamudra: Ocean of Definitive […]

Hope Martin

Hope Martin has taught the Alexander Technique for 40 years, trained Alexander teachers for over two decades at the American Center for the Alexander Technique, and operates Hope Martin Studio in New York City. She is also a Meditation Instructor and a Focusing trainer. Hope had a 20 year teaching partnership with David Rome where […]

The Shape of Awake®: Weekend Option, The Shape of Awake®: Meditation and the Alexander technique, Embodied Listening®,

John McQuade

John McQuade is the founder of Nalanda Miksang Photography, and has established Nalanda Miksang teachers in North America, Europe and Australia. He is also co-author of two books in his field: Looking and Seeing, and Heart of Photography. He is currently on the faculty of the Halliburton School of Art and Design and is completing a PhD on the […]

[Online] Heaven and Earth: Contemplative Landscape Photography,

Kristine McCutcheon

Kristine McCutcheon has been meditating in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition for over 30 years including a three year retreat. Studying the dharma has led her to travel to Nepal and India and then back to Nova Scotia. Drawing on her background as a Montessori teacher, Kristine presents the dharma in a hands-on way, incorporating movement, […]

Alain Beauregard

Alain Beauregard is a Rigpa senior teacher as well as a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Alain lives in Montreal and has been teaching healing internationally since 2011, based on his own healing story. At the age of 46, Alain was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bladder cancer which was inoperable and had spread to such […]

[Online] The Healing Power of the Mind – How to Transform Suffering into Strength,

Scott Wellenbach

Scott Wellenbach has been a member of the Nalanda Translation Committee for over 40 years. He was an early student of Trungpa Rinpoche and studied Mahamudra with Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and with Ponlop Rinpoche at Nitartha Institute, where he serves on the faculty. Scott is known for his learned and accessible […]

Mahamudra Retreat: Pointing Out the Dharmakaya,

Sam West

Sam began kyudo in Boulder in 1980 with Shibata Kanjuro Sensei XX, Sendai. In 1984, Sam became responsible (Somo) for Toko Kyudojo in Manhattan. He traveled to kyudo programs with Sendai during the 80’s and, in 1987, became responsible for Kozan Kyudojo in Nova Scotia. From there, Sam helped Sendai foster kyudo and develop dojos […]

Kyudo: The Way of the Bow,

Shastri Steve Gleich

Shastri Steve Gleich feels very fortunate to have received teachings from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and their senior students and to have been in the Shambhala Buddhist world since 1982. He is now retired from 30+ years career in psychology and mental health and 10+ years career as woodworker. He has been married […]

Tom Bell, Senior Teacher

Tom Bell became a student of the Vidyadhara in 1972, and has been active since then in direct service to both of the Sakyongs and also to the current Sakyong Wangmo. He was on the staff of RMDC (Shambhala Mountain Centre) in the mid-70s, was the director of Karme Choling from 2000-2003, and has been […]

John Rockwell

John Rockwell has been on the path of dharma for 45 years. He met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1975 and studied and practiced the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings for 12 years with him, and in particular worked with him on translating Tibetan texts into English. For ten years, he studied and taught at Naropa University […]

Christine Heming

Christine Heming has been a meditation instructor and teacher of the buddhadharma for over 40 years. She is particularly skilled in bringing the teachings into our sitting practice and our daily life.

Eve Rosenthal

Eve Rosenthal is a long-time practitioner and teacher, well versed in the Shambhala and Buddhist practices offered in our community. She has many years of retreat experience and is eager to support others in retreat practice. She is also a long-time practitioner and teacher of Tai Chi and will offer exercises from this tradition.