Teachers
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Karmê Chöling's founder, Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, was one of the great spiritual figures of the twentieth century. In the less than two decades between his arrival in the USA in 1970 and his death in 1987, Trungpa Rinpoche played a pivotal role in establishing authentic Vajrayana Buddhism in the West; developed and propagated the Shambhala teachings; and established the international network of meditation practitioners, teachers, and centers now known as Shambhala International.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
The eldest son of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is lineage holder of Shambhala and spiritual and temporal head of Shambhala International. Born in India, he spent his early years receiving a Buddhist education, later joining his father in the West where he continued his studies. Tibetan Buddhists around the world revere him as an emanation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. He is a poet, calligrapher, meditation master, marathon runner, and author of the national bestseller Turning the Mind Into an Ally, and the prize-winning Ruling Your World. He travels extensively, teaching internationally.
Acharyas
Acharyas are appointed by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche as senior teachers in the Shambhala community. The following acharyas play an integral role in the community at Karmê Chöling.
Resident Ashe Acharya John Rockwell
Ashe Acharya John Rockwell is resident head teacher at Karmê Chöling. Acharya Rockwell entered into the Shambhala Buddhist path in 1975 as a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche recognized him as an acharya in 1996, and as Ashe (senior) Acharya in 2001, and placed him in charge of the Shambhala Office of Practice and Education. A Buddhist scholar and translator, John is a member of the Nalanda Translation Committee. He worked with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche on co-editing The Rain of Wisdom, The Life of Marpa, and other texts. He leads beginning and advanced meditation retreats, and sits on the faculty of Karmê Chöling's Mukpo Institute, an in-depth program of study and practice.
Acharya Suzann Duquette
A student in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage for more than thirty years, Acharya Duquette is senior teacher-in-residence at Karmê Chöling. She teaches a wide variety of programs, including introductory meditation retreats, dathüns, and retreats for Vajrayana practitioners. Acharya Duquette is former co-director of Karmê Chöling, and is a member of the Denma Translation Group, which published Sun Tzu's Art of War, A New Translation.
Acharya Michael Greenleaf
Acharya Greenleaf has been a member of the sangha established by Trungpa Rinpoche since 1974. He is a member of Karmê Chöling's teaching faculty and sits on of the Board of Trustees. Acharya Greenleaf lives in West Barnet, Vermont, and teaches classes and programs frequently at Karmê Chöling and in the surrounding area.
Acharya Arawana Hayashi
A long-time student of Buddhism and the Shambhala teachings, Acharya Arawana Hayashi is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, with roots in Asian and Western arts. She has been on the faculty of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and Naropa University. Acharya Hayashi teaches meditation and creative process at the Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership in Halifax and innovative leadership workshops. She recently completed a three-year term as teacher-in-residence at Karmê Chöling.
