Mission:
To preserve and spread the wisdom teachings of Yeshe Tsogyal, particularly as they are transmitted through "The Dakini Heart Essence" (mkha 'gro thug thig), the mind-treasure of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.

Vision:

1. To provide a creative and supportive vessel for transmitting the knowledge and experience of "The Dakini Heart Essence"
2. To link this vesse to the mindstreams of karmically connected persons; and,
3. Ultimately, to realize and manifest all aspects of "The Dakini Heart Essence" for the benefit of all beings.

Values:
As a community, we value an environment of wisdom and compassion, which nurtures connectedness, creativity, and opens the minds and hearts of all beings.

Logo:
The wheel of spiritual joy rises majestically from the lotus of realization. This image, designed by Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo in collaboration with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, embodies the path to enlightenment as well as the expression of its resultant qualities.

Leadership:

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, Spiritual Advisor

Rinpoche is a Dzogchen, Great Perfection, master of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. He is the tenth lineage holder of the Repkong Ngakpas, once the largest community of non-monastic practitioners in Tibet. Rinpoche was educated in His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche's monastery in Kongpo, Tibet, where he completed eight years of retreat. His other teachers include his uncle, Lama Sherab Dorje, Chatral Rinpoche, and Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Lama Tharchin left Tibet in 1959 and came to the United States in 1984. In California, he founded Vajrayana Foundation and Pema Osel Ling, and in Hawaii, Vajrayana Foundation Hawaii and a retreat center, Orgyen Dechen Cho Dzong on the Big Island. As a householder with two sons, Rinpoche has a wonderfully kind and wise approach especially suited to Westerners.

Rinpoche advises Jnanasukha in many matters including long-term development, sacred art, publications, teaching programs, and practice. Jnanasukha has hosted him for intensive retreats at Pema Osel Ling (twice), in Boise, Idaho, and in Hawaii. We are now working on bringing Rinpoche to Texas as soon as possible. Rinpoche's web sites: Vajrayana Foundation; Lama Tharchin Hawaii; Friends of Lama Tharchin; Rinchen Barwa (tormas created under Rinpoche's guidance)

Lama Tsering Gyaltsen, Translation Consultant, Teacher, and Ritual Master

Born in western Tibet in 1945, Lama left Tibet in 1959 and went to live at His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche’s resettlement monastery in India where he completed a three-year retreat. Lama attended Varanasi Tibetan Institute of High Studies within Sanskrit University and, in 1982, received an Acharya degree. He now lives with family in Corvallis, Oregon. Lama has selflessly assisted our translation project and taught several ritual practices, which have been videotaped for future distribution. As Jnanasukha develops its educational programs, we hope to be seeing more and more of this hidden jewel, highly recommended to us by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. Purchase lama's recording of the Throma Nakmo ritual.

Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo, Founder, President, Translator

Born in 1949 in Montreal, Canada, Yeshe Wangmo has thirty-one years experience studying, practicing, translating, and teaching Vajrayana. Her training began when she met the 16th Karmapa. She completed a traditional three-year retreat in 1985 and in 1992 was authorized as a teacher by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. She directs Orgyen Dechen Cho Dzong on the Big Island of Hawaii established by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. Yeshe was one of the original members of Kalu Rinpoche's International Translation Group and has worked for Bero Jeydren Translations. She has created an experiential model of spiritual growth based on the life-story of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, she called The Eight Mirrors. She is a certified Hakomi Therapist and Hakomi Teacher and an apprentice of Matrixworks. Read Tharchin Rinpoche's letter of introduction.

Ellis Widner, Managing Director and Vice President


Ellis has served on the Board of the Little Rock Ecumenical Buddhist Society and is a senior Vajrayana student. Employed as a journalist, he is also a certified Reiki Jin Kei Do practitioner and teacher. Ellis is Jnanasukha's English editor for all translations and publications and he manages our online store, Dakini Emporium. He also oversees all legal agreements with lamas and artists and facilitates a Dakini Heart Essence practice group in Little Rock. He has a special place in his heart for sacred art and serving the needs of practitioners. Email Ellis.

Kunzang Laurie Brown, Associate Director

Kunzang is a co-founder of Bodhi House, a retreat center in Olympia, Washington which promotes and supports Dharma. She is a senior Vajrayana student and a Certified Hakomi Practitioner who works in prisons and with the dying. She facilitates a Dakini Heart Essence practice group at Bodhi House and is the behind-the-scenes energy for Jnanasukha fundraisers such as the online Dakini Spring Fling. She is curenty developing an oline and on- site educational program (shedra) for Jnanasukha. Email Kunzang. Visit Bodhi House.

Rikzin Kadak Smith, Associate Director & Secretary

LiAnne Takeuchi Hunt, Associate Director

LiAnne is a heart student of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and is particularly devoted to establishing The Dakini Heart Essence in the West. She is the director of Eclipse Foundation, which promotes traditional arts and Buddhist activity in Idaho. An accomplished practitioner of Charya Nritya, a Newar classical Vajrayana dance from Nepal, LiAnne directs the performance group, Dance Mandal Boise Ensemble. She has a rich background in Asian and Pacific dance and offers workshops and lectures as a Teaching Artist in the Schools through the Idaho Commission on the Arts. Originally from Hawaii, she resides in Eagle, Idaho with her family. LiAnne is currently developing our volunteer community and assisting in organizing Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's visit to Austin, Texas, in November. Email Lianne. Visit her websites:
vajradance.com; www.eclipseweb.org

Ryan Hunt, Treasurer

Ryan is a senior student of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and . . .

Chuck Goldman, Advisory Council, Legal Perspectives

Chuck is an attorney and a senior student of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. He provides legal assistance to several Dharma organizations. Chuck guided us through the incorporation and 501(C) process and continues to advise us on our By-Laws and other legal matters. He likes to work creatively but legally and provides Jnanasukha with security and a wonderful feeling that everything is in order.

Mukara Meredith, Advisory Council, Community Development

Mukara is committed to creating new patterns of nourishment and effectiveness in spiritual and business organizations. She is President of Matrixworks and a Certified Hakomi Trainer. A student of Tibetan Buddhism since 1986, she is presently studying and practicing with Khenpo Namdrol and Sangye Khandro. Mukara coaches Jnanasukha in how to grow and prosper through the power of care and compassion and thereby become a sustainable vehicle for The Dakini Heart Essence. Visit Matrixworks and Leadership Mandala.

Bob Bayley, Advisory Council, Information Technology

Bob is a student of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche since 1985. He met Lama Yeshe Wangmo at Bodhgaya Stupa in 1988. Bob has sixteen years of information technoogy experience in systems, networking, security and project management at a variety of large network and network security companies. He is currently a consultant in Silicon Valley.

Sangha Advisory Council
Stacy Miyagawa, Los Angeles, California
Maria Jangchub Kennedy, Houston, Texas
Willis Brown, Olympia, Washington
Lianne Hunt, Boise, Idaho
Cara Smith, Little Rock, Arkansas,
Austin, Texas, TBA

Translators
Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo, Hawaii
Heidi Nevin, Oregon
Erick Sherab Zangpo, India

Kevin Orme, CPA
Registered in the State of Hawaii but now living in Wisconsin, Kevin reviews our financial records twice a year and prepares Jnanasukha's IRS forms.

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