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A Message from the Director and the Team at Gampo Abbey
Some Jolly Good News!
Our first Abbot, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (1933-2023), served at the request of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche for many years until his passing in 2023, and Ani Pema has been our Principal Teacher for all those years.
Today, we are very pleased to share some exceptionally good news. Bhiksunni Pema Chödrön has agreed to be the Abbess of Gampo Abbey. She has a vision for moving forward, keeping the monastic tradition alive in the Western world, and we are very pleased. You can see a video of her comments on the occasion of her appointment below.
We have recently completed the Yarne deep winter retreat, a tradition that goes back to the time of the Buddha Shakyamuni. This year, Ani Pema presented the seminal work of Chögyam Trungpa's Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior. Trungpa Rinpoche offered these teachings to his early students, emphasizing that they would be important for the difficult times ahead. Each day, Ani Pema asked us to reflect on how these teachings are relevant to our times.
We also offer an interview with Dagmar Waldau, a community member who is trained in the practice of Kado Ikebana. Dagmar has supported the Abbey community for many years, helping to lead the Yarne retreat and offering ikebana arrangements for the house and the shrine. We are fortunate that she also offers an ikebana workshop for Yarne participants. Read more about Dagmar's view on how this practice fits into these times of chaos.
Because images can tell such a good story, we also offer a selection of recent scenes in and around the Abbey, particularly from our recent Yarne retreat. The sound of lobster boats on the bay signals the coming of spring, as the animals become more active, plants awaken in the garden, and retreat cabins fill up.
—Trinkar Ötso, Director
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