Teachers of Tonglen and Lojong

There are not as many teachers of these methods as you would think. My own teacher is Tulku Thubten Rinpoche, who teaches in many other places including Marin County, Texas, Hawaii, Arkanas, and Louisiana. Tulku Thubten has an excellent website, buddhamandala.org that contains some inspired and inspiring on-line teachings on tonglen and the Mind Training proverbs, as well as his teaching schedule and contact information. The teachings specifically on Mind Training are currently at buddhamandala.org/textdocs/lojong.htm

Another excellent teacher, and the one who introduced me to these practices, is Michael Conklin (conklin@kcc.org. He teaches in the Portland, OR. area and is the Lama of the KCC Buddhist center, whose program can be found on-line at http://www.kcc.org. He teaches several workshops a year in Portland, in Washington state, and on Saltspring Island in British Columbia.

Probably the most well-known teacher of these practices is Pema Chodron. She teaches at Gampo Abbey (gampo@shambhala.org) and at various locations in the U.S. and Canada. She is an extremely popular teacher and her programs generally fill months, if not years, in advance. More information about her programs and an on-line discussion group are available through her website

Both the above teachers are exceptionally well-qualified in that they have devoted their lives to the Dharma, studied with the greatest Tibetan masters, and also lived in the same Western society and faced the same challenges of everyday life and relationship that we all do. They both also have intuitive empathy and a wonderful sense of humor.

As far as the other commentators are concerned: both Osho and Trungpa have passed away, but both have left substantial and vital organizations and disciples behind them - for Osho, Osho Foundation International and for Trungpa, the Shambhala Organization.

Ken McLeod (kenneth.mcleod3@verizon.net) translated Jamgon Kongtrul's manual on Mind Training, 'The Great Path of Awakening', into English. Based in Los Angeles, he has done two three-year retreats and was a student of Kalu Rinpoche. For information about his classes and retreats, see his website http://www.unfetteredmind.org .