Teachers


Acharya Adam Lobel

Kalapa Acharya Adam Lobel was drawn to the path of meditation when he was 16 years old, in response to the social and ecological injustices he saw. He soon encountered the writings and vision of Tibetan meditation master, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Inspired by the path of warriorship and the vision of enlightened society, he pursued meditation retreats and training in the Shambhala Buddhist path. Adam connected with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, head of the Shambhala lineage, while on retreat in Parphing, Nepal in 1997. He was co-editor of the Sakyong’s book Turning the Mind into an Ally. Adam was named an…

Acharya Fleet Maull, PhD

He been a Shambhala practitioner for more than 40 years and was named an acharya in 2009. He leads Shambhala programs and retreats throughout North America, Europe and Latin America. Fleet is also a Roshi (senior lineage teacher) in the Zen Peacemaker and Soto Zen lineages. He is a consultant, executive coach, an internationally renowned social activist and founder of numerous engaged organizations including Prison Mindfulness Institute, Engaged Mindfulness Institute, Center for Mindfulness in Public Safety and the National Prison Hospice

Acharya Gaylon Ferguson

Soon after reading Meditation in Action, Gaylon heard the Vidyadhara teach several summer seminars in Vermont. In 1973, after giving a “particularly panic-stricken and disorganized ” open house talk, Gaylon joined Tail of the Tiger Buddhist Community (now Karme Choling) where he worked in the garden, set the tractor on fire, and took people into retreat. After attending the 1975 Vajradhatu Seminary, Gaylon taught briefly at The Naropa Institute, led a dathun at the now deceased Padma Jong, and finally returned to Karme Choling, first as a staff member in the practice and study department, and then as Executive Co-director. In…

Acharya Holly Gayley

Holly Gayley arrived at Shambhala Mountain Center in time to put up tents for the Sakyong’s first seminary in 1992. The following year, she returned to join the staff for two years and, in the late 1990s, served as Machen (cook) to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche during his visits to Colorado. Holly pursued an M.A. in Buddhist Studies at Naropa University (2000) and moved to Boston for a Ph.D. in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies at Harvard (2009). Her research into contemporary Buddhist literature and its lived contexts brought her to the rolling grasslands of Golok, the land of Gesar in eastern…

Acharya Susan Chapman

Acharya Susan Chapman completed three year retreat at Gampo Abbey, and another six years retreat master. She has lead many mahamudra retreats at various centres in North America. Susan is the author of The Five Keys to Mindful Communication and she presently works as a part time consultant, leads workshops in mindful communication and is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Community.

Ani Boudreau

Anie uses advanced, cutting-edge mindfulness techniques based on 15 years experience and insights to help you improve your overall physical and emotional well-being. She works one-on-one with individuals, teaches classes, and facilitates programs & workshops specializing in topics such as living with chronic pain, addictions, and emotional distress. Anie can serve clients both in-person and online, and has extensive experience working remotely.

Cameron Wenaus

As a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, has been practicing and studying in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition since 2000.  His professional work includes developing IT projects in the international Shambhala mandala. He has been living in Nelson for 15 years.

Jane DiGiacomo

Jane DiGiacomo has been a buddhist practitioner since 1998, when she began practicing with Roshi Peter Muryo Matthiessen.  She was first involved with Shambhala while completing a long term retreat at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia.  Since moving to Nelson in 2008, she has been a member and practitioner at the Kootenay Shambhala Centre.  Jane has been the Executive Director of the Nelson & District Hospice Society since 2012.

Joe Hetherington

Joe has been an active member of the Kootenay Shambhala Center for 5 years. She has gained her experience with death and dying by being a hospice volunteer  for the past 3 years. She currently is a founding member of the Nelson End of Life Society,an organization that provides information and support for those who want to bring death back home.

Lynn Dragone

Lynn Dragone has been practicing in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition for thirty years and has been a Tantric practitioner for ten years. She is certified as a meditation instructor in this tradition and has spent nine months as a temporary monastic at Gampo Abbey (with Pema Chodron). Lynn also teaches Shambhala Art, Big Brush Calligraphy and has a private practice in Nelson as a dance/movement therapist.Lynn is certified in Laban Movement Analysis.

Matthew Lyon

Shastri Matthew Lyon has been a student of Shambhala Buddhism since 1974, and has been teaching in this tradition for over 30 years. He is the former Director of the Burlington, Vermont Shambhala Center, and he served as the longtime Director of the Seattle Shambhala Center as well. In 2010 Matthew was appointed by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, as a Shastri, or senior teacher, in this wisdom tradition, and he has led numerous meditation programs. He has been in business as financial advisor for 32 years, and is also a musician, a composer, and an astrologer with an active counseling practice in…

Pema Chodron

Pema Chödrön is an American Tibetan Buddhist. She is an ordained nun, acharya and disciple of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Pema has written several books and is the director of the Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, Canada. Pema Chödrön teaches the traditional “Yarne” retreat at Gampo Abbey each winter and the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life in Berkeley each summer. A central theme of her teaching is the principle of “shenpa”, or “attachment”, which she interprets as the moment one is hooked into a cycle of habitual negative or self-destructive thoughts and actions. According to Chödrön, this occurs when something in…

Sally Albert

SALLY ALBERT has been a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for about 30 years. She serves at the Kootenay Shambhala Centre as a meditation instructor and teacher and the Shambhala Training Resident Director. She enjoys living on rural land, growing a garden and relating to her lovely grandchildren.

Shastri Jason Revulsen

Shastri Jason Ruvelson began studying and practicing the Shambhala wisdom teachings in 1992 and formally became a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 1999. Mr. Ruvelson completed a Masters in Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa University, and worked as a psychotherapist for a number of years. After moving to Bellingham, WA he served in a number of positions including head of Practice and Education, Center Director, and most recently as Chadzo for the Bellingham Shambhala Center. Additionally, Mr. Ruvelson works as the Finance Director for North Cascades Institute whose goal is to: inspire and empower environmental stewardship for all through transformative…

Shastri Jason Revulson

Shastri Jason Ruvelson began studying and practicing the Shambhala wisdom teachings since 1992 and formally became a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 1999. Mr. Ruvelson completed a Masters in Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa University, and worked as a psychotherapist for a number of years. After moving to Bellingham, WA he served in a number of positions including head of Practice and Education, Center Director, and most recently as Chadzo for the Bellingham Shambhala Center. Additionally, Mr. Ruvelson works as the Finance Director for North Cascades Institute whose goal is to: inspire and empower environmental stewardship for all through transformative…

Shastri John Fox

Shastri John Fox lives in Vancouver. He has been a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham since 1974. He is close to Thrangu Rinpoche and has served as President of Namo Buddha Foundation, active in raising funds for projects in Nepal and India. Now retired, John was partner in an Insurance Consulting firm for 25 years. A father of 3, he has grand children and great grand children. John has held numerous positions within the Vancouver Shambhala Centre. In 2012 he was appointed as Shastri for Vancouver.

Shastri Russell Rodgers

Shastri Russell Rodgers became a student of Chögyam Trungpa in 1975. Shortly after that, he moved to the Kootenay region of British Columbia, where he has resided since. During that time he has occupied many administrative and teaching positions. He helped to create the Shambhala Centre’s retreat land, and had a large part in buying and renovating the new building for the Nelson Shambhala Centre. Before he retired, he managed a drop-in centre for people with mental illnesses. He has a wife and three grown children, two of whom live with their families in Asia. He was appointed Shastri (senior teacher)…

Tim Albert

Tim Albert has been a student of the Shambhala-Buddhist Lineage since 1978. He has participated in many weekthuns and is a meditation instructor. His passions are reading and puttering around the yard.

Trisha Wilson

Trisha Wilson is a dedicated yogini, mother and community activator.  She has a strong focus in therapeutic alignment, a loving curiosity for the great mysteries of life and a deep fondness for play.  A yoga teacher since 2005, Trisha is also a full mesa carrier in the Mountain Shamanism tradition (as taught by the Q’ero Medicine people of Peru).  She leads earth wisdom rituals bringing people together in celebrations of heart and spirit.  Her yoga classes weave asana with mythology, philosophy, poetry and mantra.  She is dedicated to the yogic path as sacred activism and infuses her classes with inspiration…