Lady Diana Mukpo

With full hearts we invite you to join us in a Funeral Ceremony and Celebration of Life for Lady Diana Mukpo, wife of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, mother, accomplished equestrian, and unwavering protector of the vision and teachings of the Vidyadhara.

Lady Diana passed away September 11, 2025 leaving behind a profound legacy of courage, devotion to the dharma, and a life that touched the hearts of many.

Her journey was intricately woven in with the Vidyadhara. She once reflected on their marriage and life together at court, saying, "It was not always easy to be the guru’s wife, but I must say, it was rarely boring." Their union began in 1970 when, at the age of 16, she left school and her upper-class English family to join the Tibetan Buddhist teacher and refugee making his way to North America. Together, they initially arrived in Montreal, before settling in Vermont with the support of students. They shared 17 years together before the Vidyadhara’s passing in 1987.

Lady Diana’s life extended beyond her role as a partner to the Vidyadhara and protector of the teachings. She was an avid student of dressage, one of the few women to train at the esteemed Spanish Riding School in Vienna. She competed internationally and dedicated herself to teaching the discipline to others, passing on her expertise and passion.

Her contribution to the Shambhala lineage was equally strong. She often accompanied the Vidyadhara to retreats and seminars, teaching and offering her support. Lady Diana was particularly interested in the Shambhala Household Practice. She especially loved the ability to create beauty and inspiration within the home, not through expense, but by paying attention to the sensory details with an open heart and intention.

When she decided to enter hospice care, she asked that this message be shared with the community:

Throughout my life, the one thread which has remained constant is my love for the Vidyadhara and appreciation of his blessings for the Shambhala community. His love for all sentient beings was the foundation of our community and we have all benefited from that. I want to thank all of you for the love that you have extended to me in my lifetime. Let us use him as an example of how one person can change the lives of many. It is a profound legacy and I offer my gratitude to it, and to you all.

Lady Diana Mukpo

There will be two days dedicated to honoring Lady Diana at Karmê Chöling.

Lady Diana will lie in state on Tuesday, September 16. This day is a time when people are welcomed to come into the Main Shrine Room to pay their respects and practice.

• 9:00am - 6:30pm: The Main Shrine will be open to the Community. There will be kasung onsite to escort people into the shrine room.
• Meals: Please note there will be no meals offered at Karme Choling on this day of practice. (except for the pre-registered guests staying in the Main House.) We kindly ask that you bring your own food and beverages with you. The Dining Tent is set up with tables and chairs where you can sit down to eat.

This will be the day of final rememberances and ceremony. The schedule includes:

• 9:30am - 11:30am: The Funeral Ceremony as part of the Sadhana of Mahamudra practice.
• 11:30am - 1:00pm: Lunch break with a suggested $15 donation
• 1:00pm - 3:00pm: Celebration of Life

Because the final ceremonies for Lady Diana will be held in the Main Shrine Room with limited capacity, registration is required to attend. Registration is for the ceremonies only and does not include accommodations.

Registration closes for the Day of the Ceremony: Registration will close when we reach capacity. There is no charge for this event but there is a suggested donation of $15 if you are staying for lunch.

Onland attendance: At this time, we are unable to accommodate additional overnight guests at Karmê Chöling. We encourage you to explore options with our local sangha, who often offer accommodations—details can be found at our Local Accommodations page. You might also consider nearby hotels in St. Johnsbury and surrounding areas.

Online: If you wish to attend the Funeral Ceremony and Celebration of Life online, please go to Shambhala Onlineto register as an online participant and a Zoom link will be sent to you.