The Shambhala community is organised as a mandala, a circular framework that connects the teachers and teachings with the community of practitioners.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of the Shambhala Mandala, had the profound conviction that the teachings he held could be transmitted to students in other cultures and that they, in turn, could be empowered to teach and lead others. Thus, within the Shambhala Mandala, there is a strong emphasis on cultivating different levels of teachers and leaders.
There are programs to train Shambhala guides, meditation instructors, Buddhist teachers and directors and assistant directors of Shambhala training.
Our primary teacher is The Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche.
The Sakyong Wangmo, Khandro Tseyang
Khandro Tseyang is the wife of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and honoured with the title of Sakyong Wangmo. She is from a very old Tibetan family which fled from Tibet to South India and Nepal after the Chinese invasion.
Born in Orissa she is the youngest daughter of His Eminence Terton Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, the sixth throne holder of the Ripa family lineage and the Ripa monasteries. Her grandmother, Mayum Palden Tsomo, was an advanced Dzogchen practitioner and the granddaughter of the yogini Drubwand Shakya Shri. Her mother, Sangyum Chime Dolkar, is regarded as an emanation of Red Tara.
Educated at an English school, Khandro Tseyang studied Tibetan texts with her grandmother in the evenings and was educated in the tradition of Gesar of Ling dances with the Lingdro dance ensemble which her father founded. It was dancing with the ensemble that she met Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 2005. They were married on 10 June 2006.
In August 2008, she were enthroned as Sakyong Wangmo by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. The Shambhala teachings have basic goodness as their foundation, which is inherent in every human being as their birthright. According to the Shambhala view, the Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo are examples of these awakened qualities which every human being can discover.
Directly translated, the title of Sakyong Wangmo means ‘earth protectress’. ‘For me personally’, she says, ‘this means that I try to encourage justice through clear communication and patience and that I try to create compassionate and peaceful human interactions’.
Acharyas
Acharya is a Sanskrit word that means ‘teacher’. Shambhala acharyas are individuals who Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has empowered to represent him and the lineages he holds. The Sakyong chose these individuals because of their knowledge, wisdom and commitment to the confluence of teachings found in Shambhala.
One of the most beloved senior teachers in Shambhala is Acharya Pema Chödron.
Shastris
In 2010, the Sakyong began appointing teachers to the new role of shastri (literally, ‘teacher learned in the texts and commentaries’). The shastris’ role includes bringing the current understanding of the Shambhala Buddhist vision, teachings and path to their centres, supporting the development of local teachers and guiding students at all stages of the path.
Shastri Loretta Geuenich
Loretta is a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and is the senior teacher at the Adelaide Shambhala Meditation Group and is, at this time, Australia’s only shastri. Loretta is currently undertaking postgraduate studies exploring contemplative practices in higher education.