VEN. NAMGYAL RINPOCHE
Born Leslie George Dawson in Canada and studied under U Thila Wunta and Mahasi Sayadaw in Bodh Gaya and Rangoon (where he was ordained as Ananda Bodhi). He became a Samatha-Vipassana-Kammathan-Acariya, a master teacher of meditation. In 1971 he was recognized by the 16th Karmapa, Kalu Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin Rinpoche and others as an embodiment of Namgyal Rinpoche, and received transmissions of the Karma Kargyu lineage.
TARCHIN HEARN
Since 1977 Tarchin has taught in many countries and has helped establish a number of centres. Tarchin’s approach is thoroughly non-sectarian and universal in nature. Rooted in Buddhist principles, his teachings frequently link personal healing with a deep ecological perspective. Under Rinpoché’s guidance, Tarchin explored the Theravadin, Mahayana and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism, as well as Christian Mysticism. At the age of 24 he received the novice ordination in the Karma Kagyu tradition from Kalu Rinpoché who was his second main teacher, at 27 he received the full Gelong/Bhikkhu ordination from H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.
Ven. Sayadaw U Thila Wunta
Born June 28, 1912 in Wekalaung, Mon State, Burma (Myanmar). His parents named him Botaya “one who loves the dhamma.” At the age of 15 he took the vows of a samanera or novice monk, and was given the name Thila Wunta “Great Sila (Virtue).” In May 1932 he received full ordination as a bhikkhu under the preceptorship of Kyaw Sayadaw. He then met his main teacher Bodaw Aung Min Gaung, a fully realized Burmese saint and a great meditator in the Weizzer forest tradition of Burma. In Burma “weizzers” are forest yogis known as accomplished masters, similar to tantric yogis or siddhis.
ChimÉ SHORE
A founding teacher of the Wangapeka Centre (1974) and the Origins Centre (1983) in W.A. He has studied and taught for over 40 years and received ordination in the Theravada and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism. Chimé has studied with many eminent teachers such as HH 16th Karmapa, Ven. Kalu Rinpoche and Ven. Sayadaw U Thila Wunta. His central teacher was Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche, a very early western rinpoche and a thera (elder).
LAMA MARK WEBBER
Lama Yongdu Chokyi Gyaltsen has been studying and teaching Buddha-dharma for almost 50 years. For 30 years his main root teacher was the great Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche who taught all three cycles of the Buddha’s teachings, including Abhidhamma, Vipassana in the lineage of Mahāsi Sayādaw, generation and completion stage practices of the Tantrayana and Mahamudra/Dzogchen of many lineages, especially of the Karma Kagyu and Sakya. Under the guidance and transmissions of the late Drikung Kyabje Ontul Rinpoche and transmissions from H.E. Lho Ratna Rinpoche, Lama Webber has been teaching principally the richness of the Drikung Mahamudra, Drikung Dzogchen Yangzab and Orgyen Nuden Dorje Dzogchen traditions.
BoNNI ROSS
Bonni Ross has taught extensively in New Zealand over the last 30 years and is a deeply respected ‘Elder’ at the Wangapeka. She guides individuals in developing focused and skillful meditation and leads retreats for depth unfoldment.
Bonni began exploring the teachings of liberation in the early sixties. In the mid 70’s she met her principal teacher, Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche, whose direct, eclectic teaching and example are central to her life. Bonni teaches from a deep wealth of meditative experience. She communicates with sensitivity, creativity and humour in a way that resonates with each individual present.
Leander KAne
Leander is a New Zealander. She combines more than 20 years of experience in Buddhism with her Body-orientated work as a Feldenkrais Practitioner; student of Kum Nye and Massage Therapist. She studied with Tarchin Hearn in the early years; traveling with him and attending yearly three month Retreats. He inspired her to Teach. Other teachers have been Venerable Namgyal Rinpoché, H.E. Beru Khentse Rinpoche; Bonni Ross; Cecelie Kwiat and the work of Moshe Feldenkrais.
Jangchub Reid
Since 1975 Jangchub has trained in mindfulness and Dharma with his main teacher, Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche, master of the main Buddhist traditions. Jangchub teaches in an open, relaxed way that is direct and accessible to people of any background. He encourages people to experience for themselves the true nature of their minds, thus liberating a profound flow of peace and compassion. Since 2003, Jangchub has taught in the UK, France and Brazil, as well as New Zealand. In 2011, he established Casa Namgyal, in Botucatu (SP). In 2013, he founded Mindfulness Trainings International (MTi).
AUCKLAND BASED TEACHERS
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