Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet and enthroned as the Supreme Abbott of Thrangu Monastery by His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa.Rinpoche. He has undergone rigorous scholastic and meditative training under various Tibetan Kagyü and Nyingma masters in India and came to Australia in 1980. Rinpoche is the spiritual director of E-Vam Institute in Melbourne, Australia; E-Vam Institute, New York in USA; Nyima Tashi in Auckland, New Zealand; and other affiliated centres including Maitripa Centre in Healesville.
Rinpoche has become well known for his erudition, fluency in English and background in western psychology, comparative religion and philosophy. He inaugurated the annual Buddhist Summer School, now in its 28th year, and the bi-annual Buddhism and Psychotherapy Conferences, which have been hosted for more than a decade. He is the author of a number of books including The Essence of Buddhism now in its third printing.
Dzigar Kongtrul
Rinpoche
Venerable Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche was born in the Northern Indian
province of Himachel Pradesh to Tibetan parents and grew up in a monastic
environment. Recognized as an incarnation of Jamgon Kongtrül Lodro
Thaye, he received extensive training in the Buddhist teachings from
H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and also from Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyöshul
Khen Rinpoche and Khenpo Rinchen. In 1989 Rinpoche moved to the United
States and began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy
at the Naropa Institute. Rinpoche also founded Mangala Shri Bhuti to
further the wisdom and practice of the Longchen Nyingthik lineage. Rinpoche
moved to southern Colorado and established a mountain retreat center
where he spends much of his time in retreat guiding students in longterm
retreat practice.
Khandro Trinlay Chodon
Khandro Thrinlay Chodon comes from a family of great yogis of the Drukpa
Kagyud lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism. The great grand daughter of the
renowned Drukpa Kagyu Master, Drubwang Shakya Shri, she received all
the empowerments, transmissions and teachings of her lineage from the
late Gegen Khyentse Rinpoche. After her father, Apho Rinpoche, passed
away, she studied with many great teachers including H.H. Dilgo Khyentse
Rinpoche. She has a B.A. in Psychology at Punjab University and a Masters
degree in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral
Studies.
Garrie O'Toole
Garrie O’Toole has been involved in Buddhist practice and study
since 1978. He has been a student of Traleg Rinpoche since 1984 and
is a meditation instructor at Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute. He has
completed a Master of Arts Degree in Buddhist Studies and regularly teaches at E-Vam
Institute.
Felicity Lodro
Felicity is the resident teacher at Yeshe Nyima. She has been a student of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche’s for over 25 years and has done a number of long meditational retreats during that time. Felicity has been practicing Yoga for over 25 years and has been teaching Yoga for around 18 years. She received her yoga teaching qualifications from the International Yoga Teachers Association in 1986. Her training is strongly influenced by the Iyengar and Desikachar methods. In more recent years under the guidance of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, Felicity has been training in Lujong (Tibetan Physical Training) and combining these practices with Hatha Yoga. She has been conducting Indo-Tibetan Yoga courses in Melbourne and now more recently in Sydney for around 5 years. The classes present a unique approach to Yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques. Felicity received her Degree in Empirical Psychology in 2007.
Ekai Korematsu Osho
Ekai Korematsu Osho is resident teacher of Jikishoan Zen community in
Melbourne. He is a transmitted teacher in the lineage of the Soto Zen
tradition in Japan and has practised and taught meditation in Japan,
India and the USA for over 30 years. Since 1997 he has been a Faculty
Member of Antioch University, USA, for Education Abroad Buddhist Studies
Program.
Dr Barry Clark
Dr. Barry Clark was born in England and trained in the Himalayas for
eighteen years in almost all the theoretical and practical aspects of
the ancient Tibetan medical system, under the tuition of the great,
renowned Master of Medicine, Dr. Yeshe Donden, who was the personal
physician of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for eighteen years. In his
first seven years, he also studied with the famous Dr. Pema Dorje. Throughout
all these years, his theoretical training consisted of teachings on
150 of the 156 chapters of the “Four Tantras” of Tibetan
Medicine, as well as a three and a half year teaching on a 460 page
work on Materia Medica. He also received several years of clinical training
with Dr. Yeshe Donden before beginning his own independent medical practice,
sixteen years ago. Dr. Barry Clark is also the translator of The Quintessence
Tantras of Tibetan Medicine. In it he presents clear and accurate translations
of the Root and Explanatory Tantras, two works of fundamental importance
in the Tibetan medical system.
Dr Graham Priest
Graham Priest works at the Philosophy Department at the University of
Melbourne. as the Boyce Gibson Professor of Philosophy. He is also a
Professorial Fellow at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Graham
studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and
received his doctorate from the London School of Economics. He has held
full time positions at the Universities of St Andrews and Western Australia,
and was the Professor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland
before coming to Melbourne. He has held visiting research positions
at many universities, including the Australian National University,
the Universities of Cambridge, New York, Pittsburgh, Sao Paulo, Kyoto,
and the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Graham's research interests are
in logic and related areas, such as metaphysics and the history of philosophy
(East and West). He is the author of a number of books including: In
Contradiction, Beyond the Limits of Thought, Towards Non-Being, Doubt
Truth to be a Liar, and An Introduction to Non-Classical Logic.
Dr. Sonam Thakchoe
Dr Sonam Thakchoe graduated from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, India. After nine-intensive years of training in the History of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy, he was awarded Shastri and Acharya Degrees with Gold Medal Recognition. He obtained his PhD in 2002 from the University of Tasmania, and is currently lecturing in the areas Buddhist Philosophy (Mahayana, Theravada, Zen), Chinese Philosophy (Confucianism and Taoism) and Indian (Orthodox and Heterodox Schools), Ethics and Philosophy of Nonviolence (Buddha, Gandhi, Martin Luther King). Sonam is a keen follower of the Vipassana tradition, and he teaches philosophy combined with the mindfulness-based meditation technique in local schools, prisons, health clinics, and Buddhist centres.
Chagdud Khandro
Chagdud Khandro met His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in March 1978,
married him in November 1979, and remained his devoted student for twenty
three years. At the time of her ordination as a lama in 1997, Rinpoche
invested her as the future Spiritual Director of Chagdud Gonpa Brasil.
Since Rinpoche’s Parinirvana in 2002, she has focused on maintaining
the high calibre of Vajrayana training he had established.
During her time with Rinpoche, Khadro received constant training from
him both in organizing dharma activities and in the teachings and practice
of Vajrayana. She was among the collaborators for his autobiography
Lord of the Dance and with his guidance, she compiled commentaries of
his teachings on the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro, the Longsal Nyingpo Phowa,
and the concise version of Apong Terton’s Red Tara. Formerly the
managing editor of Padma Publishing in the United States, Khadro has
edited many translations of Tibetan works.
Christine Biddle
Christine Biddle has been a student of Buddhism for twenty-eight years
during which she has studied and practiced in India and Canada. She
currently studies under the direction of the Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
and has completed a traditional three-year retreat under Ven Kalu Rinpoche.
Chris is a meditation instructor at E-Vam Institute.
Khenpo Jamyang Lodro
Khenpo Jamyang Lodro is a professor of Buddhist Philosophy from Tibet. He studied at Serda Monastery and has also spent three years teaching at Thrangu Monastery, the seat of Traleg Rinpoche in Eastern Tibet. The translator will be Ani Jampa Tsomo, an Australian born nun who has spent several years studying in India.
Dr Robert Miller
Rober Miller was born and educated in Ayr, Scotland, before going to Edinburgh University where he did an MA on Philosophy. He did postgraduate research at Cambridge University on themes in Existentialism and Zen Buddhism and practised at the San Francisco Zen Centre. He came to Monash on a scholarship to do a PhD on themes in the philosophy of religion and ethics. Since 1990 he has been teaching Philosophy at RMIT. Over the years he has given many talks at KEBI synthesising Eastern and Western ideas. He has recently published a book "Existentialism and Buddhism".
David Templeman
David works at Monash Asia Institute at Monash University and regularly lectures at Visva Bharati University in India. David recently completed his
PhD on the Tibetan Lama Taranatha which will be
published as a book in 2011. David is a well respected historian who has translated
many spiritual biographies. He has presented papers at a number of
international Tibetan studies conferences worldwide and has published a number
of works including a book on the Mahasiddhas of India
by Taranatha.
Princess Maitrie Pandji Sakti
Princess Maitrie has been teaching for
the past 11 years and is the Director of
the King Pandji Sakti Buddhist Society
International that continues to preserve
the Indonesian Vajrayana Buddhist
teachings in Australia, Europe and Bali,
Indonesia. She currently studying under
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche and Sogyal
Rinpoche in his three-year retreat at
Lerab Ling, France.
Samuel Bercholz
Samuel Bercholz is a senior
teacher in the Kagyu, Nyingma, and the
Shambhala lineages of Chogyam
Trungpa Rinpoche. He has taught
Buddhist meditation and philosophy
courses and Shambhala Training courses
throughout North America, Europe and
Australasia since the early 1970s. He is
the founder of Shambhala Publications,
the leading publisher of Buddhist books
in the English language, a founding
trustee of The Naropa University in
Boulder, Colorado, and co-editor of The
Buddha and His Teachings. He has taught
at the Buddhist Summer School since
2003.
Sara Bercholz
Sara Bercholz is a 29 year-old first-generation Buddhist born in the West.
She is a Vice President and Editor at
Shambhala Publications in Boston,
Massachusetts. Sara holds a degree in
English literature from McGill University,
is a practitioner of the Buddhadharma in
the Nyingma lineage, and has trained as
a yoga teacher in the Ashtanga tradition.
Gerard O'Riley
Gerard O'Riley has been teaching Puru Sotham Yoga (a component of the traditional healing martial art called Pancha Tanmantra) for over 14 years. He studied and practiced these Buddhist art forms under the late Price Ratu Pandji Pandita of Indonesia since 1991.
Dr Peter Oldmeadows
Peter has held a long interest in Buddhism which he has pursued both personally and within an academic framework. He recently retired as head of the Department of Indian Sub continental Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney where he taught Sanskrit and Indian and Buddhist philosophy. He is particularly interested in comparative philosophy and religion and how different perspectives can be mutually informing.
Venerable Tejadhammo Bhikku
Venerable Tejadhammo Bhikku (Bhante) was born in Sydney, Australia, and has been ordained in the Thai Theravada tradition since 1981. Apart from the usual teachings and retreat activities, works with people who are seriously ill in various hospitals, hospices and their homes in and around Sydney. Bhante has studied and taught in Thai Universities and jails. He is resident Teacher at for the Association of Engaged Buddhists at Sangha Lodge. Bhante considers the Dhamma to be larger than any particular school , tradition or sect, and although ordained in Theravadin tradition has also received teachings in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
Ani Dechen
Ani Dechen has been studying and practicing Buddhism for 10 years as a student of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche. Ani was ordained in 2001. As well as leading guided meditation sessions at Yeshe Nyima Ani teaches Buddhism to classes at Bondi and North Katoomba Public Schools.
Rasa Pandji
Rasa has been studying with the late Prince Ratu and Princess Maitri of the Vajrayana Buddhist Lineage of Indonesia at their Melbourne Centre since 1999. She has been practicing Puru Sothama movements for the last 8 years. Puru Sothama is a system of 21 gentle movements designed to stimulate Chi through the body. In recent years Rasa has also studied Buddhism under the guidance of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche.
Dr Kathleen Gregory
Kathleen is a counselling psychologist, academic, and a Buddhist practitioner for over sixteen years. She has an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies and a PhD in Comparative Philosophy. She coordinates the Master of Counselling program at La Trobe University, works in private practice, and has been a regular presenter at the E-Vam Institute on Buddhism and Psychotherapy.
Lama Pema Dorji Rinpoche
Rinpoche is a Yogi of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and was born into a renowned family of Tibetan Yogis. He was a student of some of the great masters including H.H Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Chagdud Rinpoche, and Trinley Norbu Rinpoche. He is considered a master of Lu Jong. This is Rinpoche’s second trip to Australia. Don’t miss this rare and fortunate opportunity to receive teachings and Yoga instructions from such a world renowned master.
Michael Carroll
Michael is the author of Awake at Work (Shambhala 2004) and The Mindful Leader (Shambhala 2007) and over his 26 year business career has held executive positions with such companies as Shearson Lehman/American Express, Simon & Schuster and The Walt Disney Company. Michael has been studying Tibetan Buddhism since 1976, graduated from Buddhist seminary in 1980 and is an authorized teacher in the Kagyu Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Michael received his bachelor’s degree in theology and philosophy from the University of Dayton and his master’s degree in adult education from Hunter College.
Lama Tsering
Lama Tsering was born in USA and served the Buddhist Master His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche as his translator for more than 11 years. After completing a traditional Tibetan Buddhist three year retreat in 1995 she was ordained as a Lama and recognised by Rinpoche as a holder of the Red Tara Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche authorized her to give teachings and empowerments. In the same year she was invited back to Brazil, and now is the Resident Lama of Odsal Ling Buddhist Centre, San Paulo. The main focus of her teachings are training the mind, cultivating compassion, and applying the teachings in daily life.
Jakob Leschly
Jakob Leschly began his studies of Buddhism in 1974 and has studied with numerous great teachers, particularly Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Jakob completed a three year retreat in 1984 and has since worked as a translator and interpreter as well as a philosophy and meditation instructor. He has also completed a BA in Tibetan Studies. He now lives with his family in New South Wales and teaches in Australia and New Zealand.
Professor Geoffrey Samuel
Geoffrey is the
Professional Fellow; Director of Cardiff Humanities Research Institute, Chair,
Religious Research Committee, in the School of Religious and Theological
Studies at Cardiff University in the UK. He is in Sydney as a visiting Professor at University of Sydney for the
2nd Semester 2010. He
is a well known author and scholar in the field of Indo-Tibetan Studies.
Geoffrey has authored many books including The Origins of the Indic Religions:
Yoga and Tantra before 13th Century;
Tantric; Revisioning: New Understanding of Tibetan
Buddhism and Indian Religion; Longevity practices and Concepts in Tibet. He
brings his vast knowledge of Eastern studies and practices to his audiences in
a way that is extremely captivating and knowledgeable.
Ruth Gamble
Ruth Gamble is
currently completing her PhD on the songs of the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje at the Australian National University. She has worked
as an interpreter for Tibetan Buddhist teachers in the Kagyu, Nyingma and Gelug traditions, and
as an editor and translator for Buddhist publishing houses. She has contributed
chapters to books on Himalayan history and the environment, and in a previous
career, worked as a journalist in Melbourne and Japan.
Dr Peter Friedlander
Dr Peter Friedlander is a Senior Lecturer
in Hindi and Buddhist Studies at La Trobe University. He first travelled to
India in 1977 where he learned Hindi and became involved in Indian studies.
During this period he also made his first visits to the Buddhist sacred sites
and since 1986 he has been involved in Buddhist practice. He is currently
interested in research on how Asian Buddhists have seen India and how India
sees Asian Buddhists.
Khenpo Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche
Khenpo Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche is a meditation master in the Nyingma lineage of the Buddhist tradition. He studied for ten years at Larung Gar in Serta, eastern Tibet, with his teacher, the great Jigmed Phuntsok Rinpoche, who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of the 20th century. Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is the founder and spiritual director of Atiamrita (www.atiamrita.org), an organization dedicated to promoting happiness, inner peace, and enlightenment. He offers seminars and lectures throughout North America and is currently completing work on his first book.
Heather Mariott
Heather is an experienced psychotherapist, supervisor and educator and works in private practice in Clifton Hill, Victoria. She has been a practicing psychologist for twenty years working at some of the largest counseling
and psychotherapy agencies in Melbourne. Heather has been a Buddhist
practitioner under the guidance of the Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche for fifteen years.
Virginia Golding
Virginia has practiced as a consultant, trainer, supervisor and psychotherapist working in early childhood settings, schools, large community service organisations and in private practice. She specializes in working with families and larger systems where children, adolescents and individuals present with social and emotional issues. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psych, Phil), and she has completed Postgraduate study in Family Therapy. She is a Clinical Member of the Victorian Association of Family Therapists.
Belinda Kelly
Belinda Kelly has been studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche since 1991. She has completed 7 three-month retreats and a six-month retreat as part of a three-year retreat program
Dan Winter
Dan Winter is a U.S based physicist who has conducted pioneering research in the measurement of meditative experience using scientific instruments. In particular, Dan is interested in the meditative experience of bliss, and the use of brainwave harmonics to measure enlightened experience. His work in fractal science and the golden ratio has implications for the physics of sacred geometry and consciousness.
